New Homoleptic Rare‐Earth Metal Complexes Comprising the Unsymmetrically Substituted Amidinate Ligand [MeC(NEt)(NtBu)]–

New homoleptic complexes of selected rare‐earth elements containing the unsymmetrically substituted amidinate ligand [MeC(NEt)(NtBu)]^– [= (L)^–] were synthesized and fully characterized. Treatment of in situ‐prepared Li(L) ( 1 ) with anhydrous lanthanide(III) chlorides, LnCl₃ (Ln = Sc, La, Ce, Ho), afforded three different types of amidinate complexes depending on the ionic radius of the central metal atom. The large La³⁺ formed the octa‐coordinate DME solvate La(L)₃(DME) ( 2 ). Using Ce³⁺, the octa‐coordinate “ate” complex Li(THF)[Ce(L)₄] ( 3 ) was formed. Depending on the crystallization conditions, compound 3 could be crystallized in two modifications differing in the coordination environment around Li. In the case of the smaller Sc³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions, six‐coordinate homoleptic Sc(L)₃ ( 4 ) and Ho(L)₃ ( 5 ) were isolated. The title compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods as well as single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. With Ln = La and Ce, several by‐products incorporating lithium, chlorine and/or oxygen were also isolated and structurally characterized.     

Determination of the activity of diamine oxidases, urease and histidine ammonia-lyase by enzymatic assay of ammonia

Summary The activities of diamine oxidases (DAO) from submaxillary glands, parotid glands and kidneys, from human serum during the pregnancy and from pig serum and of DAO from pea seedlings and the activities of urease and histidine ammonia-lyase have been determined by measuring NH₄ ⁺ released from the corresponding substrates. Ammonia has been determined with the aid of glutamate dehydrogenase reaction in the coupled optic test. The specifity and sensitivity of the method, by which still 3×10^–9 Mol of NH₄ ⁺ could be measured, is excellent, the performance simple and rapid. The sensitivity could be enhanced by fluorometric determination of NAD⁺ in strong alkali solution. A method for the preparation of tissues for the spectrophotometric test of DAO is described. The importance of DAO determination in different diseases is briefly discussed.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Aktivität von Diaminoxydasen aus Speicheldrüsen und Nieren, aus menschlichem Serum während der Schwangerschaft und Schweineserum und aus Erbsenkeimlingen sowie die Aktivität der Urease und Histidase wurden anhand der NH₃-Abspaltung aus ihren entsprechenden Substraten bestimmt. Das entstehende Ammoniak wurde dabei mit Hilfe der Glutamatdehydrogenasereaktion im gekoppelten optischen Test gemessen. Spezifität und Empfindlichkeit der Methode, mit der noch 3 · 10^–9 Mol NH₄ ⁺ bestimmt werden können, sind ausgezeichnet, die Durchführung einfach und rasch. Die Empfindlichkeit konnte außerdem noch durch die fluorimetrische Bestimmung von NAD⁺ gesteigert werden. Für die Bestimmung der Diaminoxydasen im Gewebe wird eine Methode der Aufarbeitung des Gewebes angegeben, die praktisch keinen Verlust an Gesamtaktivität gegenüber dem Ausgangshomogenat aufweist. Die Bedeutung der Diaminoxydasebestimmung für die Klinik wird kurz diskutiert.

---

---

Supported by a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

New evaporative light scattering detector for high temperature gel permeation chromatography

A new evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) for the analysis of polyolefins by high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was recently introduced by Agilent Technologies. For the first time, we investigated the possibility to use this detector to measure the molecular weight distributions (MWD) of different type of polyolefines (polypropylene, linear, and low-density polyethylene). These samples were previously characterized by GPC with a differential refractive index (DRI) detector by several companies, in an interlaboratory study conducted by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.^[1 Luruli, N. 2010. PHASE 1: IUPAC SEC/GPC Round Robin Project Report: Repeatability and Reproducibility of Sample Preparation and Analysis in High-Temperature SEC, http://media.iupac.org/projects/2005/2005-011-3-400_rpt-phase1_110510.pdf [Google Scholar]^] The excellent baseline stability of ELSD as compared with DRI was reflected in a better reproducibility of the measured average molecular weights. More importantly, after applying required corrections to linearize the response of the ELSD as a function of concentration, we obtained similar results as previously obtained with DRI for the MWD of analyzed resins, covering typical applications of polyolefins.     

Cross‐Linked Aptamer–Lipid Micelles for Excellent Stability and Specificity in Target‐Cell Recognition

The specific binding ability of DNA–lipid micelles (DLMs) can be increased by the introduction of an aptamer. However, supramolecular micellar structures based on self‐assemblies of amphiphilic DLMs are expected to demonstrate low stability when interacting with cell membranes under certain conditions, which could lead to a reduction in selectivity for targeting cancer cells. We herein report a straightforward cross‐linking strategy that relies on a methacrylamide branch to link aptamer and lipid segments. By an efficient photoinduced polymerization process, covalently linked aptamer–lipid units help stabilize the micelle structure and enhance aptamer probe stability, further improving the targeting ability of the resulting nanoassembly. Besides the development of a facile cross‐linking method, this study clarifies the relationship between aptamer–lipid concentration and the corresponding binding ability.     

Selective dissolution of TiO2 crystalline phases: Physicochemical characterization and photocatalytic activity

In this study, different commercially available TiO₂ powders (Degussa P25, pure anatase, and rutile) were submitted to selective dissolution treatments, with H₂O₂/NH₄OH and 10% HF, known to remove rutile and anatase from physical mixtures. The aim was to check whether a particular separation method designed to remove a specific crystalline phase influences the properties of the other phase from the mixture or not. More precisely, we have studied how the HF dissolution method designed to selectively remove the anatase affected the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of rutile. In a similar way, the changes in the anatase properties were studied, after the H₂O₂/NH₄OH treatment, initially used to remove rutile from the mixture. All the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance (DR) ultraviolet–visible, and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of these powders was tested in the oxidation of p-chlorophenol from water. The selective treatment methods not only dissolved the target phase but also changed some physicochemical and the photocatalytic performances of the other TiO₂ crystalline phase in a considerable manner. These aspects should be taken into account in the studies regarding the synergistic effects of anatase and rutile, especially in reconstructed TiO₂ photocatalysts.     

f-Element disiloxanediolates: novel Si-O-based inorganic heterocycles

The preparation and structural characterization of scandium and f-element complexes derived from the disiloxanediolate dianion, [(Ph2SiO)2O]2-, are reported. Reactions of in situ prepared Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = Eu, Sm, Gd) with (Ph2SiOH)2O in different stoichiometries afforded the lanthanide disiloxanediolates [Eu[[(Ph2SiO)2O]Li(Et2O)]3] (1), [[[(Ph2SiO)2O]Li(dme)]2SmCl(dme)] (2), and [[[((Ph2SiO)2O]Li(thf)2]2GdN(SiMe3)2] (3). In situ formed (Ph2SiOLi)2O reacted with anhydrous NdBr3 (molar ratio 3:1) to give polymeric [[Nd[(Ph2SiO)2O]3[mu-Li(thf)]2[mu2LiBrLi(thf)(Et2O)]]n] (4). Treatment of 3 with Ph2Si(OH)2 in the presence of acetonitrile yielded the dilithium trisiloxanediolate derivative [[Ph2Si(OSiPh2O)2][Li(MeCN)]2]2 (5), which according to an X-ray analysis displays an Li4O4 heterocubane structure. The trinuclear scandium complex [[[(Ph2SiO)2O]Sc(acac)2]2Sc(acac)] (6) was obtained by reaction of [(C5Me5)Sc(acac)2] (C5Me5 = eta5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) with (Ph2SiOH)2O in a 3:2 molar ratio. Selective formation of the colorless uranium(VI) derivative [U[Ph2Si(OSiPh20)2]2[(Ph2SiO)2O]] (7) was observed when uranocene, U(eta8-C8H8)2, was allowed to react with (Ph2SiOH)2O. An X-ray diffraction study of the solvated derivative [U[Ph2Si(OSiPh2O)2]2[(Ph2SiO)2O]].Et2O.TMEDA (TMEDA= N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-ethylenediamine) (7a) revealed the presence of both the original [(Ph2SiO)2O]2- dianion as well as the ring-enlarged [Ph2Si(OSiPh2O)2]2- ligand in the same molecule.     

Thermisches Verhalten von Caesiumchloroferraten(III) und Caesiumchloroferrat(III)-Hydraten. II. Die Rehydratation der Zersetzungsprodukte von Cs3[FeCl6] – Eine ramanspektroskopische Untersuchung unter definierter Wasserdampfatmosphäre [1]

The Thermal Behaviour of Caesiumchloroferrates(III) and Caesiumehloroferrate(III) Hydrates. II. The Rehydration of Decomposition Products of Cs₃[FeCl₆] — A Raman Spectroscopic Study under Definite Atmosphere of Water Vapour Cs₃[FeCl₆] formed by dehydration of Cs₃[FeCl₆] · H₂O at about 160°C does not change at normal atmosphere within 3 till 4 hours. Rehydration under the vapour pressure of the eliminated water yields the monohydrate in nearly the same time. In the same manner rehydration of the solid mixture of Cs[FeCl₄] and 2 CsCl formed by thermal decomposition of the metastable Cs₃[FeCl₆] (280°C) produces the intermediates Cs₃[Fe₂Cl₉] and Cs₂[Fe(H₂O)Cl₅] in mixtures with CsCl and, finally, Cs₃[FeCl₆] · H₂O. The formation of Cs₃[Fe₂Cl₉] from Cs[FeCl₄] and CsCl is accelerated by water. The reaction cycle has been studied using Raman and IR spectroscopy. The results will be discussed with respect to thermoanalytical data.     

Sorption of aqueous antimony and arsenic species onto akaganeite

Two akaganeite materials were tested for the removal of antimonate, trimethyl antimonate, arsenate, arsenite, and dimethyl arsenate from water: a commercial product (GEH) and a synthesized akaganeite. The two materials show similar q(max) values, but differ in their K(L) values. This could be a result of their different crystal sizes indicated by sharper XRD reflections of the synthesized akaganeite compared with GEH. Batch experiments were carried out using all species to investigate the influence of the pH on their sorption onto the commercial material. The best results for the removal of antimonate and arsenate were achieved under acidic conditions, while the sorption of arsenite has an optimum at pH 7. The maximum loadings vary from 450 mg g(-1) (antimonate at pH 2.2.) to 2 mg g(-1) (trimethyl antimonate at pH 7). Competition reactions (up to a 10-fold excess of the competitor ion) were studied with antimonate, arsenate, and phosphate. The sorption capacity of arsenate decreases up to 12.5% by adding phosphate (ratio 1:10), but the addition of antimonate did not influence the sorption of arsenate. Conversely, the sorption of antimonate decreases due to the addition of 10-fold concentration of arsenate (31%) or phosphate (27%).