Comparison of whole blood, plasma and nails as monitors for the dietary intake of selenium

Haem peroxidases are globular proteins with an iron-porphyrin complex as prosthetic group. They catalyze the oxidation of substrate by peroxides, frequently via free-radical intermediates. The catalytic cycle involves changes in the redox states of the prosthetic group, that can be monitored by changes in the intense absorption spectra. During the past decades, considerable scientific effort has been put into the elucidation of the mechanisms of reactions catalyzed by these enzymes. Radiation-chemical techniques have made an important contribution by providing information on the redox states of the enzymes and their interconversions, as well as on the properties of the free-radical intermediates involved.     

pH-controlled change of the metal coordination in a dicopper(II) complex of the ligand H-BPMP: crystal structures, magnetic properties, and catecholase activity

The dinucleating ligand 2,6-bis[(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)methyl]-4-methylphenol (H-BPMP) has been used to synthesize the three dinuclear Cu(II) complexes [Cu2(BPMP)(OH)][ClO4](2).0.5C4H8O (1), [Cu2(BPMP)(H2O)2](ClO4)(3).4H2O (2), and [Cu2(H-BPMP)][(ClO4)4].2CH3CN (3). X-ray diffraction studies reveal that 1 is a mu-hydroxo, mu-phenoxo complex, 2 a diaqua, mu-phenoxo complex, and 3 a binuclear complex with Cu-Cu distances of 2.96, 4.32, and 6.92 A, respectively. Magnetization measurements reveal that 1 is moderately antiferromagnetically coupled while 2 and 3 are essentially uncoupled. The electronic spectra in acetonitrile or in water solutions give results in accordance with the solid-state structures. 1 is EPR-silent, in agreement with the antiferromagnetic coupling between the two copper atoms. The X-band spectrum of powdered 2 is consistent with a tetragonally elongated square pyramid geometry around the Cu(II) ions, in accordance with the solid-state structure, while the spectrum in frozen solution suggests a change in the coordination geometry. The EPR spectra of 3 corroborate the solid-state and UV-visible studies. The 1H NMR spectra also lead to observations in accordance with the conclusions from other spectroscopies. The electrochemical behavior of 1 and 2 in acetonitrile or in water solutions shows that the first reduction (Cu(II)Cu(II)-Cu(II)Cu(I) redox couple) is reversible and the second (formation of Cu(I)Cu(I) irreversible. In water, 1 and 2 are reversibly interconverted upon acid/base titration (pK 4.95). In basic medium a new species, 4, is reversibly formed (pK 12.0), identified as the bishydroxo complex. Only 1 exhibits catecholase activity (oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the corresponding quinone, vmax = 1.1 x 10(-6) M-1 s-1 and KM = 1.49 mM). The results indicate that the pH dependence of the catalytic abilities of the complexes is related to changes in the coordination sphere of the metal centers.     

Magic numbers in the mass distribution of the benzene+-argonn ions: evaporation dynamics and cluster structure

The intensity distribution of benzene⁺-Ar_n cluster ions formed by laser ionization of neutral clusters has been investigated: two main intensity anomalies (magic numbers atn=20 and 45) have been observed in the 15–60 size range. The evaporation dynamics of these species in the 2–50 microsecond time window following ionization has been studied using the electrostatic mirror of a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer as a kinetic energy analyser capable to distinguish parent and daughter ions. The magic numbers are interpreted in terms of size dependent evaporation behaviors: beyondn=20, a sudden decrease of the evaporation energy is observed; in then=45–47 size range, the magic number is accounted for by the specific dynamics of then=46 and 47 clusters, in particular the possible loss of two argon atoms forn=47 within the experimental time window. These results and their implications on the cluster structure are discussed in the light of the evaporative ensemble model and compared to the evaporation characteristics of similar species, in particular the neat rare gas clusters.     

Stabilization of the unhybridized Sn2+ stannous ion in the BaClF structure and its characterization by119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy

In divalent tin halides, when the halogen is small and highly electronegative (F, Cl), the tin valence orbitals are hybridized, the tin(II) non-bonded electron pair is located on one of the hybrid orbitals, and the resulting large electric field gradient gives a large quadrupole splitting. The reaction of barium chloride and tin difluoride in aqueous solutions, for large BaCl₂.2H₂O/SnF₂ ratios (>10) results in the precipitation of a white powdered material, which is identified by X-ray diffraction to be BaCIF. However, Tin-119 Mossbauer spectroscopy shows the material contains a fairly large amount of divalent tin in the Sn²⁺ ionic form, with unhybridized orbitals, like in SnCl₂. Using X-ray diffraction, we have established that Sn²⁺ ions substitute 15% of the Ba²⁺ ions at random, and chemical analysis shows the material has the formula Ba_5.66SnCl_7.30F_6.04 and thus is enriched in chlorine.     

Easy synthesis of heterocyclic carbene complexes by activation of chalcogenopyrones and benzopyrones to pyrylium salts and subsequent addition of carbanion of methoxy(methyl)pentacarbonyltungsten carbene complex

Methylenechalcogenopyran and benzopyran Fischer carbene complexes are easily obtained from commercially available chalcogenopyrones or benzopyrones and carbanion of methoxy(methyl)carbene tungsten complex. The key of the heterocyclic carbene formation is the activation of the carbonyl group by alkylation with alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonate reagent.     

Bonding and redox properties of [Os(3)(CO)(9)(tmbp)(L)] (tmbp=4,4',5,5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-biphosphinine; L=CO, PPh(3)) clusters with an unprecedented electron-deficient metallic core and doubly bridging biphosphinine dianion

Herein we describe in detail the bonding properties and electrochemical behavior of the first known triosmium carbonyl clusters with a coordinated redox-active ligand 4,4',5,5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-biphosphinine (tmbp), the phosphorus derivative of 2,2'-bipyridine. The clusters investigated were [Os(3)(CO)(10)(tmbp)] (1) and its derivative [Os(3)(CO)(9)(PPh(3))(tmbp)] (2). The crystal structures of both clusters are compared with those of relevant compounds; they served as the basis for density functional theory (DFT and time-dependent DFT) calculations. The experimental and theoretical data reveal an unexpected and unprecedented bridging coordination mode of tmbp, with each P atom bridging two metal atoms. The tmbp ligand is formally reduced by transfer of two electrons from the triangular cluster core that consequently lacks one of the metal-metal bonds. Both 1 and 2 therefore represent 50e(-) clusters with a coordinated 8e(-) donor, [tmbp](2-). The HOMO and LUMO of 1 and 2 possess a predominant contribution from different pi*(tmbp) orbitals, implying that the lowest energy excited state possesses a significant intraligand character. This is in agreement with the photostability of these clusters. DFT calculations also predict the experimentally observed structure of 1 to be the most stable one in a series of several plausible structural isomers. Stepwise two-electron electrochemical reduction of 1 and 2 results in dissociation of CO and PPh(3), respectively, and formation of the [Os(3)(CO)(9)(tmbp)](2-) ion. The initially produced radical anions of the parent clusters, in which the odd electron is predominantly localized on the tmbp ligand, are sufficiently stable at low temperatures and can be observed with IR spectroelectrochemistry. The electron-deficiency of the cluster core in 1 permits facile electrocatalytic substitution of a CO ligand by tertiary phosphane and phosphite donors.     

Ferrocenyltrithiocarbonates : I. Direct access from α-ferrocenylcarbinols by a SNi mechanism. Absolute x-ray structure determination of (R)-ferrocenylmethylmethane S-methyl-trithiocarbonate

¹⁰³Rh Chemical shifts of a variety of mono- and di-nuclear rhodium carbonyl complexes are reported together with the modifications to the probe and decoupler unit of a JEOL PS-100 PFT spectrometer which enable these ¹⁰³Rh-decoupled ¹³C NMR measurements to be made. These data are discussed in conjunction with ¹³C NMR data on other rhodium carbonyls.     

Formation of nitric acid in the gas-phase HO2 + NO reaction: effects of temperature and water vapor

A high-pressure turbulent flow reactor coupled with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer was used to investigate the minor channel (1b) producing nitric acid, HNO3, in the HO2 + NO reaction for which only one channel (1a) is known so far: HO2 + NO --> OH + NO2 (1a), HO2 + NO --> HNO3 (1b). The reaction has been investigated in the temperature range 223-298 K at a pressure of 200 Torr of N2 carrier gas. The influence of water vapor has been studied at 298 K. The branching ratio, k1b/k1a, was found to increase from (0.18(+0.04/-0.06))% at 298 K to (0.87(+0.05/-0.08))% at 223 K, corresponding to k1b = (1.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(-14) and (10.4 +/- 1.7) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively at 298 and 223 K. The data could be fitted by the Arrhenius expression k1b = 6.4 x 10(-17) exp((1644 +/- 76)/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at T = 223-298 K. The yield of HNO3 was found to increase in the presence of water vapor (by 90% at about 3 Torr of H2O). Implications of the obtained results for atmospheric radicals chemistry and chemical amplifiers used to measure peroxy radicals are discussed. The results show in particular that reaction 1b can be a significant loss process for the HO(x) (OH, HO2) radicals in the upper troposphere.