Influence of mixed thiolate/thioether versus dithiolate coordination on the accessibility of the uncommon +I and +III oxidation states for the nickel ion: an experimental and computational study

Sulfur-rich nickel metalloenzymes are capable of stabilizing Ni(I) and Ni(III) oxidation states in catalytically relevant species. In an effort to better understand the structural and electronic features that allow the stabilization of such species, we have investigated the electrochemical properties of two mononuclear N(2)S(2) Ni(II) complexes that differ in their sulfur environment. Complex 1 features aliphatic dithiolate coordination ([NiL], 1), and complex 2I is characterized by mixed thiolate/thioether coordination ([NiL(Me)]I, 2I). The latter results from the methylation of a single sulfur of 1. The X-ray structure of 2I reveals a distorted square planar geometry around the Ni(II) ion, similar to what was previously reported by us for 1. The electrochemical investigation of 1 and 2(+) shows that the addition of a methyl group shifts the potentials of both redox Ni(II)/Ni(I) and Ni(III)/Ni(II) redox couples by about 0.7 and 0.6 V to more positive values. Through bulk electrolyses, only the mononuclear dithiolate [Ni(I)L](-) (1(-)) and the mixed thiolate/thioether [Ni(III)L(Me)](2+) (2(2+)) complexes were generated, and their electronic properties were investigated by UV-vis and EPR spectroscopy. For 1(-) (Ni(I), d(9) configuration) the EPR data are consistent with a d(x(2))(-)(y(2)) based singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs). However, DFT calculations suggest that there is also pronounced radical character. This is consistent with the small g-anisotropy observed in the EPR experiments. The spin population (Mulliken analysis) analysis of 1(-) reveals that the main contribution to the SOMO (64%) is due to the bipyridine unit. Time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations attribute the most prominent features observed in the electronic absorption spectrum of 1(-) to metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. Concerning 2(2+), the EPR spectrum displays a rhombic signal with g(x) = 2.236, g(y) = 2.180, and g(z) = 2.039 in CH(3)CN. The g(iso) value is larger than 2.0, which is consistent with metal based oxidation. The unpaired electron (Ni(III), d(7) configuration) occupies a Ni-d(z(2)) based molecular orbital, consistent with DFT calculations. Nitrogen hyperfine structure is observed as a triplet in the g(z) component of the EPR spectrum with A(N) = 51 MHz. This result indicates the coordination of a CH(3)CN molecule in the axial position. DFT calculations confirm that the presence of a fifth ligand in the coordination sphere of the Ni ion is required for the metal-based oxidation process. Finally, we have shown that 1 exhibits catalytic reductive dehalogenation activity below potentials of -2.00 V versus Fc/Fc(+) in CH(2)Cl(2).     

Anthraquinone profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of bark extracts of Rhamnus catharticus and R. orbiculatus

The anthraquinone profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the total phenol and total flavonoid contents were determined in methanol extracts of the barks of Rhamnus catharticus L. and R. orbiculatus Bornm. The most abundant anthraquinone derivatives in R. catharticus were physcion (67.8%) and emodin (26.2%), while R. orbiculatus contained mostly physcion (81.3%) and chrysophanol (14.6%). R. catharticus displayed better activity in the beta-carotene-linoleic acid assay, as well as chelating activity, whereas its activity in the reducing power assay was significantly lower than that of R. orbiculatus. Both methanol extracts showed antimicrobial activity against all microbial species tested (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Microsporum gypseum) with MIC values either equal to or lower than 2.50 mg/mL. R. catharticus and R. orbiculatus contained several anthranoid aglycones and their bark extracts demonstrated notable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The results obtained indicate the medicinal potential of these two species.     

Anodic TiO2 Nanotube Layers for Wastewater and Air Treatments: Assessment of Performance Using Sulfamethoxazole Degradation and N2O Reduction

The preparation of anodic TiO₂ nanotube layers has been performed using electrochemical anodization of Ti foil for 4 h at different voltages (from 0 V to 80 V). In addition, a TiO₂ thin layer has been also prepared using the sol–gel method. All the photocatalysts have been characterized by XRD, SEM, and DRS to investigate the crystalline phase composition, the surface morphology, and the optical properties, respectively. The performance of the photocatalyst has been assessed in versatile photocatalytic reactions including the reduction of N₂O gas and the oxidation of aqueous sulfamethoxazole. Due to their high specific surface area and excellent charge carriers transport, anodic TiO₂ nanotube layers have exhibited the highest N₂O conversion rate (up to 10% after 22 h) and the highest degradation extent of sulfamethoxazole (about 65% after 4 h) under UVA light. The degradation mechanism of sulfamethoxazole has been investigated by analyzing its transformation products by LC-MS and the predominant role of hydroxyl radicals has been confirmed. Finally, the efficiency of the anodic TiO₂ nanotube layer has been tested in real wastewater reaching up to 45% of sulfamethoxazole degradation after 4 h.     

Synthesis,Docking Studies and Pharmacological Evaluation of Serotoninergic Ligands Containing a 5-Norbornene-2-Carboxamide Nucleus

A new series of 5-norbornene-2-carboxamide derivatives was prepared and their affinities to the 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT_2C receptors were evaluated and compared to a previously synthesized series of derivatives characterized by exo-N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboximidenucleus, in order to identify selective ligands for the above-mentioned subtype receptors. Arylpiperazines represents one of the most important classes of 5-HT_1AR ligands, and recent research concerning new derivatives has been focused on the modification of one or more portions of such pharmacophore. The combination of structural elements (heterocyclic nucleus, propyl chain and 4-substituted piperazine), known to be critical to the affinity to 5-HT_1A receptors, and the proper selection of substituents led to compounds with high specificity and affinity towards serotoninergic receptors. The most active compounds were selected for further in vivo assays to determine their functional activity. Finally, to rationalize the obtained results, molecular docking studies were performed. The results of the pharmacological studies showed that Norbo-4 and Norbo-18 were the most active and promising derivatives for the serotonin receptor considered in this study.     

The intense neutron generator of 14 MeV neutrons

An innovative intense neutron generator of 14 MeV neutrons for the irradiation of future reactor materials is presented. Negative pions are produced inside a 5–10 T magnetic field by an intense deuteron beam interacting with a carbon target. The pions and the muons from pion decay in flight are collected in the backward direction and stopped in a deuterium-tritium-hydrogen target of high density. Using an 18 MW deuteron beam at 1.5 GeV (12 mA=7.5 × 10¹⁶d/s), circa 10¹⁶gt^– /s can be generated, decaying to muons of which up to 10¹⁵ µ^–/s stop in the D/T/H mixture. Assuming X_c=100 fusions per muon, the µCF source produces 14 MeV neutrons with a source strength of up to 10¹⁷ n/s, i.e. a neutron power of 200 kW. The environment of the second target, the neutron source itself, can be made to resemble part of the Tokamak ring to be simulated for irradiation test samples.     

Screening of rationally designed oligopeptides for Listeria monocytogenes detection by means of a high density colorimetric microarray

The aim of this work was to optimize, by means of molecular modeling software, biomimetic-based traps for pathogen detection suitable for analytical applications like screening or pre-analytical methods. The pathogen prototype system chosen was Listeria monocytogenes because of the large number of X ray and NMR structures available. 298 oligopeptides were computationally designed mimicking the binding pocket of the mammalian protein E-cadherin, the target of Listeria monocytogenes adhesion, internalin A. The contribution of individual peptides to bind was investigated using FRED, a protein-ligand docking program. Ten peptides were selected for experimental analysis taking as selection parameters the length, the position in the docking pocket and the score of simulated binding energy. A series of competition assays were carried out using high density colorimetric microarray using various bacteria species (Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria monocytogenes genetically modified without internalin A, Listeria innocua and Lactococcus lactis) in solution with computationally selected peptides. The data demonstrated that peptides could be able to distinguish Listeria monocytogenes with an EC₅₀ up to 10⁷cfu × mL^?1. In particular the peptide with the best calculated binding score gave the highest statistically unambiguous response toward Listeria monocytogenes compared to other bacteria, demonstrating that rationally simulated approach can be useful as preliminary screening in the choice of biomimetic ligands.     

Anomalous flow at the inlet of pitot tubes in dilute polymer solutions part II

Summary Some correlations are presented of experimental data, which mainly concern the transition from normal to anomalous flow at the inlet of Pitot tubes in dilute polymer solutions.Such transition is associated with the onset of pressure defect, and reveals some aspects of statistical regularity; when the polymer solution is fresh, it happens at a given value of the ratio of flow velocity to Pitot tube diameter v/d, and it seems not dependent or only slightly dependent on the diameter value alone. But the aging of the solution enhances the importance of the diameter value, and the transition value of v/d increases in a different way for different diameters, more quickly in the case of the bigger ones.This behaviour together with the observation that the viscosity does not affect significantly the phenomenon, brings the authors to confirm that such solutions cannot be considered as a viscoelastic continuum, but as a fluid with a structure due to large associations of water molecules and macromolecules, whose linear dimension is significant with respect to the probe diameter.

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Sommario Vengono presentate alcune correlazioni fra i dati sperimentali che riguardano essenzialmente la transizione da flusso normale a flusso anomalo in prossimità ed all'interno della bocca dei tubi di Pitot immersi in soluzioni diluite di polimeri.La transizione è associata alla genesi del recupero incompleto di pressione e presenta caratteri di regolarità in senso statistico; con soluzioni fresche si ha transizione mediamente attorno ad un dato valore del rapporto v/d tra la velocità del flusso ed il diametro del Pitot, in modo indipendente o scarsamente dipendente dal valore del solo diametro.Ma, invecchiando la soluzione, anche il valore del diametro in sè rivela influenza, poiché il valore relativo alla transizione del rapporto v/d cresce più rapidamente per i diametri più grandi. Questo comportamento, assieme alla constatazione che la viscosità non ha influenza rilevante sul fenomeno, conduce a confermare che queste soluzioni non possono essere ritenute un continuo visco-elastico, ma piuttosto un fluido strutturato da larghe associazioni di molecole di acqua e macromolecole, con una dimensione lineare non insignificante in confronto al diametro del Pitot.

     

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of aryl iodides with mono and disubstituted acetylenes: a new synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes.

Mono and disubstituted acetylenes react with aryl iodides containing a variety of functional groups in the presence of palladium catalyst, formic acid and a tertiary amine to give trisubstituted alkenes.