Dititanium-containing 19-tungstodiarsenate(III) [Ti2(OH)2As2W19O67(H2O)]8-: synthesis, structure, electrochemistry, and oxidation catalysis

The dititanium-containing 19-tungstodiarsenate(III) [Ti(2)(OH)(2)As(2)W(19)O(67)(H(2)O)](8-) (1) has been synthesized and characterized by IR, TGA, elemental analysis, electrochemistry, and catalytic studies. Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out on Cs(8)[Ti(2)(OH)(2)As(2)W(19)O(67)(H(2)O)].2CsCl.12H(2)O (Cs-1), which crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/m, with a=12.7764(19), b=19.425(3), c=18.149(3) A, beta=110.234(3) degrees, and Z=2. Polyanion 1 comprises two (B-alpha-As(III)W(9)O(33)) Keggin moieties linked through an octahedral {WO(5)(H(2)O)} fragment and two unprecedented square-pyramidal {TiO(4)(OH)} groups, leading to a sandwich-type structure with nominal C(2v) symmetry. Synthesis of 1 was accomplished by reaction of TiOSO(4) and K(14)[As(2)W(19)O(67)(H(2)O)] in a 2:1 molar ratio in aqueous, acidic medium (pH 2). Polyanion 1 could also be isolated as a tetra-n-butyl ammonium (TBA) salt, {(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N}(5)H(3)[Ti(2)(OH)(2)As(2)W(19)O(67)(H(2)O)] (TBA-1). TBA-1 was studied by cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile (MeCN) solutions containing 0.1 M LiClO(4) and compared with the results obtained with Cs-1 in aqueous media. In MeCN, the Ti(IV) and W(VI) waves could not be separated distinctly. An important adsorption phenomenon on the glassy carbon working electrode was encountered both in cyclic voltammetry and in controlled potential electrolysis and was confirmed by Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) studies on a carbon film. TBA-1, dissolved in MeCN, reacts with H(2)O(2) to give peroxo complexes stable enough for characterization by UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and EQCM. TBA-1 shows high catalytic activity (TOF=11.3 h(-1)) in cyclohexene oxidation with aqueous H(2)O(2) producing products typical of a heterolytic oxidation mechanism. The stability of TBA-1 under turnover conditions was confirmed by using IR, UV-visible spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry.     

Tensyuic acids, new antibiotics produced by Aspergillus niger FKI-2342

Six new alkylitaconic acids, designated tensyuic acids A to F, were isolated from the culture broth of Aspergillus niger FKI-2342 by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including UV, NMR, and MS. They are all alkylitaconic acid derivatives. Only tesyuic acid C showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis.     

Total synthesis of borrelidin

The total synthesis of borrelidin has been achieved. The best feature of our synthetic route is macrocyclization at C11-C12 for the construction of an 18-membered ring after esterification between two segments. A detailed examination of the macrocyclization led us to the samarium(II) iodide-mediated intramolecular Reformatsky-type reaction as the most efficient synthetic approach. The two key segments were synthesized through regioselective methylation, directed hydrogenation, stereoselective Reformatsky-type reaction, and MgBr2.Et2O-mediated chelation-controlled allylation.     

Efficient hydrogen-evolving cathodes based on proton and electron reservoir behaviors of the phosphotungstate [H7P8W48O184](33-) and the Co(II)-Containing Silicotungstates [Co(6)H2O)(30){Co(9)Cl(2)(OH)(3)(H(2)O)(9)(beta-SiW(8)O(31))(3)}](5-) and [{Co(3)(B-beta-SiW(9)O(33)(OH))(B-beta-SiW(8)O(29)OH)(2)}(2)](22-)

Original and simple procedures for glassy carbon electrode modification with polyoxometalates (POMs), phosphotungstate [H7P8W48O184]33-, and Co(II)-containing silicotungstates [Co6(H2O)30{Co9Cl2(OH)3(H2O)9(beta-SiW8O31)3}]5- and [{Co3(B-beta-SiW9O33(OH))(B-beta-SiW8O29OH)2}2]22- give stable and very active surfaces for the hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER). For this purpose, the selected POMs fixed on Vulcan XC-72 were adsorbed on the electrode surface or were directly entrapped in polyvinylpyridine films on the electrode. Cyclic voltammetry and confocal microscopy results converge to indicate that the activation is related to the proton and electron reservoir-like behaviors of these molecular oxides and not to any electrode surface area increase. However, the Tafel parameters of the HER process, which are different from one POM to the next, are in the range of those of the best metallic electrodes.     

Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of 2-Nonenal and Its Application to Body Odor Analysis

The odors and emanations released from the human body can provide important information about the health status of individuals and the presence or absence of diseases. Since these components often emanate from the body surface in very small quantities, a simple sampling and sensitive analytical method is required. In this study, we developed a non-invasive analytical method for the measurement of the body odor component 2-nonenal by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry by selective ion monitoring. Using a StableFlex PDMS/DVB fiber, 2-nonenal was efficiently extracted and enriched by fiber exposition at 50 °C for 45 min and was separated within 10 min using a DB−1 capillary column. Body odor sample was easily collected by gauze wiping. The limit of detection of 2-nonenal collected in gauze was 22 pg (S/N = 3), and the linearity was obtained in the range of 1–50 ng with a correlation coefficient of 0.991. The method successfully analyzed 2-nonenal in skin emissions and secretions and was applied to the analysis of body odor changes in various lifestyles, including the use of cosmetics, food intake, cigarette smoking, and stress load.     

Electrochemically induced transformations of heteropolyanions: new electroactive metal oxide films studied by the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

New oxide films have been electrodeposited from [P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻ by potential cycling in mildly acidic aqueous media. To obtain an adherent and persistent film, it is necessary that more than six electrons/molecule be fixed on the framework of the heteropolyanion. The film is then studied in pure supporting electrolyte. In this medium, a remarkable current increase is observed during the potential cycling. Whether the film is deposited on a glassy carbon electrode or on the gold electrode of an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), exactly the same steady current increase up to a maximum is obtained in cyclic voltammetric measurements. The EQCM reveals a steady mass increase during the continuous cycling of the film in the supporting electrolyte. This behaviour is interpreted as featuring an irreversible water and electrolyte intake into the film, up to a maximum, after which the phenomena observed during reduction and oxidation processes are taken as featuring intercalation/deintercalation, respectively. This behaviour is much the same as described in the literature for WO₃ and MoO₃ bronzes, except that the present films seem very stable and have shown no tendency to dissolve or deactivate. Received: 2 December 1998 / Accepted: 26 January 1999     

Magnetic Bistability of Individual Single‐Molecule Magnets Grafted on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes

A POM to remember : Hexanuclear Fe^III polyoxometalate (POM) single‐molecule magnets (see structure) can be noncovalently assembled on the surface of single‐wall carbon nanotubes. Complementary characterization techniques (see TEM image and magnetic hysteresis loops) demonstrate the integrity and bistability of the individual molecules, which could be used to construct single‐molecule memory devices.

     

Lariatins, antimycobacterial peptides produced by Rhodococcus sp. K01-B0171, have a lasso structure

Two antimycobacterial agents, lariatins A and B, were isolated from the culture broth of Rhodococcus sp. K01-B0171. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and advanced protein chemical methods to be unique cyclic peptides, which consist of 18 and 20 L-amino acid residues with an internal linkage between the gamma-carboxyl group of Glu8 and the alpha-amino group of Gly1. The three-dimensional structure of lariatin A deduced from NMR data by dynamical simulated annealing method indicates that the tail segment (Trp9-Pro18) passes through the ring segment (Gly1-Glu8) to form a 'lasso' structure.