Structural analysis of the conformational flexibility of tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands and their analogues

Database analysis and molecular mechanics were used to determine the conformational flexibility of tridentate scorpionate ligands. The tris(pyrazolyl)methane and tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands act like molecular vises, opening their tripodal structure for larger metals and closing around smaller metal ions. Tris(3-tert-butylpyrazolyl)methane has significant preference for larger metal ions than its unsubstituted parent compound. Tris(pyrazolyl)methanes and tris(pyrazolyl)borates have similar conformational flexibilities. Placing sterically hindered groups on the central carbon or boron has only a minor effect on the geometry of the tris(pyrazolyl)methanes and tris(pyrazolyl)borates. However, it does influence the flexibility of the ligands, particularly when they have to open far from their ideal geometry, which commonly occurs.     

The Yellow Polymorphs of Mercuric Iodide (HgI2)

HgI₂ crystallizes under ambient conditions from various solvents and by sublimation into three concomitant polymorphs whose colors are red, orange, and yellow. The orange and yellow phases are metastable and transform into the red phase when touched. A phase transition from red to yellow occurs at 400 K. The reverse transition from yellow to red shows a huge hysteresis. We established that the structures of the metastable yellow^M phase (determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction) and the high‐temperature yellow^HT phase (determined by powder synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and second‐harmonic generation) are different, albeit closely related. Both show analogous packings of I? Hg? I molecules, which are straight in the first and bent with an angle of ca. 160° in the second. The red and orange phases are tetrahedral semiconductor structures that sublime even at room temperature. The growth of the yellow^M phase from 2‐chloroethanol and the kinetics of the reconstructive phase transition red to yellow^HT and back were studied by optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy in solution, luminescence, and powder synchrotron X‐ray diffraction as a function of time at various temperatures. Both yellow phases grow by accretion of HgI₂ molecules, present in the solution or liberated from the red crystals, on the surface of the crystal. In contrast, the reverse transformation from yellow to red occurs in the bulk of the crystal, presumably by migration of Hg in the packing of I and subsequent rearrangement of I. The displacement parameters of Hg in both structures are considerably larger than those of I and apparently not dominated by disorder effects.     

Absolute line intensity measurements of hot bands for carbonyl sulfide at 12 microm

Using diode-laser spectroscopy, the intensities of 58 lines of the v(1) + v(1/2) - v(1/2) band and 36 lines of the 2v(1) - v(1) band of OCS have been measured. The corresponding band strengths S(0)(v) and the vibrational transition dipoles micro(v) have been derived through least squares fitting of these individual intensities. The band strengths values have been determined with a precision better than 2.5%.     

Platinum(II) 1,10-phenanthroline complexes of acetylides containing redox-active groups

The new diimine ligand 3,8-di-n-pentyl-4,7-di(phenylethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (1) was used for the synthesis of a range of Pt(II) complexes, viz.[Pt(1)Cl2], [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Ph)2], [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Fc)2] and [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-p-C6H4-C triple bond C-Fc)2](Fc = ferrocenyl). Crystal structure analyses were performed for [Pt(1)Cl2] and [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Ph)2] and revealed that the di(acetylide)pi-tweezer of the latter binds a molecule of chloroform through C-H...pi hydrogen bonds. The redox and optical properties of 1 and its complexes were investigated by (spectro-)electrochemistry, UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopy, and an energy level diagram was derived for [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Fc)2] and related compounds on the basis of the data collected. The ferrocenyl-substituted Pt(II) complexes are donor-sensitiser assemblies. Intramolecular quenching of the photoexcited Pt(II) diimine unit leads to very short luminescence lifetimes for [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-p-C(6)H(4)-C triple bond C-Fc)2](2 ns) and [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Fc)2](0.3 ns), as opposed to [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Ph)2](0.7 micros). Excimer formation has been observed for [Pt(1)(C triple bond C-Ph)(2)] at room temperature in dichloromethane and at low temperatures in frozen glassy dichloromethane and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran solution, but not in the solid state.     

The fate of the hydroxyalkoxy radical in the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene

Rate constants for several intermediate steps in the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene were determined using laser‐photolysis/laser‐induced fluorescence of OH radicals at total pressures between 3 and 4 Torr at 295 K. The rate constant for decomposition of the hydroxyalkoxy radical was determined to be (3.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁴ s^?1 in this pressure range, which is in fair agreement with previous work. The presence of a prompt alkoxy decomposition pathway was also investigated and found to contribute less than 10% to the total hydroxyalkoxy radical decomposition. The rate constant for the reaction of the hydroxyperoxy radical with NO was determined to be (2.5 ± 0.5) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, which is moderately higher than previously reported. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 255–261, 2002     

En route to coordination chemistry under confined conditions in a porous capsule: Pr3+ with different coordination shells

The highly charged nanocontainer capsule of the type [pentagon]12[linker]30 identical with [(Mo)Mo5O21(H2O)6]12[Mo2O4(SO4)]30 with 20 nanosized pores and channels allows the entrance of cations like Pr3+: the latter are positioned at two different sites and have two different coordination shells, corresponding to a coordination chemistry under confined conditions; a fascinating aspect is that capsule encapsulated water shells fixed by hydrogen bonds act formally as polydentate ligands.     

Micellar shape change and internal segregation induced by chemical modification of a tryptych block copolymer surfactant

We report the detailed characterization of micelles formed by two nonionic, amphiphilic ABC triblock copolymers. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(styrene)-b-1,2-poly(butadiene) (PEO-b-PS-b-PB) triblock copolymer "OSB" forms core-corona spherical micelles in aqueous solution, and the two hydrophobic blocks S and B are mixed homogeneously within the micelle core. PEO-b-PS-b-PB:C6F13I triblock copolymer "OSF" was prepared by selective fluorination of the B block in OSB with n-perfluorohexyl iodide. Fluorination of the B block induces internal segregation into an inner F core and an intermediate S shell. Furthermore, the strong incompatibility that results from fluorination drives a shape change into an oblate ellipsoid. These micellar morphologies are confirmed by combined light, neutron, and X-ray scattering measurements, as well as TEM imaging.     

Improved access to 19-nor-7β, 8β-methylene-taxoids and formation of a 7-membered C-ring analog of doxetaxel by electrochemistry

A new route to semisynthetic 19-nor-7β, 8β-methylene taxoids, such as compound 8, from the 7-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl derivative 6 is reported. Evidence for a dissociation of the triflate to form a carbocation at C-7 under the reaction conditions is presented. Electrochemical reduction of the cyclopropane taxoid 8 gives, besides the expected 10-dehydroxy-cyclopropane analog 10, the 7-membered C-ring derivative 11.     

Ziziphus nummularia: A Comprehensive Review of Its Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties

Ziziphus nummularia, a small bush of the Rhamnaceae family, has been widely used in traditional folk medicine, is rich in bioactive molecules, and has many reported pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Objective: To gather the current knowledge related to the medicinal characteristics of Z. nummularia. Specifically, its phytochemical contents and pharmacological activities in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, are discussed. Methods: Major scientific literature databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Chemical Abstracts, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts, Henriette’s Herbal Homepage, Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, were searched to retrieve articles related to the review subject. General web searches using Google and Google scholar were also utilized. The search period covered articles published between 1980 and the end of October 2021.The search used the keywords ‘Ziziphus nummularia’, AND (‘phytochemical content’, ‘pharmacological properties, or activities, or effects, or roles’, ‘anti-inflammatory’, ‘anti-drought’, ‘anti-thermal’, ‘anthelmintic’, ‘antidiabetic’,’ anticancer’, ‘anticholinesterase’, ‘antimicrobial’, ‘sedative’, ‘antipyretic’, ‘analgesic’, or ‘gastrointestinal’). Results: This plant is rich in characteristic alkaloids, especially cyclopeptide alkaloids such as nummularine-M. Other phytochemicals, including flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, and phenolic compounds, are also present. These phytochemicals are responsible for the reported pharmacological properties of Z. nummularia, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, anticancer, analgesic, and gastrointestinal activities. In addition, Z. nummularia has anti-drought and anti-thermal characteristics. Conclusion: Research into the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Z. nummularia has demonstrated that this plant is a rich source of novel bioactive compounds. So far, Z. nummularia has shown a varied pharmacological profile (antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective), warranting further research to uncover the therapeutic potential of the bioactives of this plant. Taken together, Z. nummularia may represent a new potential target for the discovery of new drug leads.