Complexes of N-Phosphorylated Thioureas RNHC(S)NHP(O)(OiPr)2 (R = 2-MeC6H4, 2,6-Me2C6H3, 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) With Nickel(II)

The reaction of O,O′-diisopropylphosphoric acid isothiocyanate (iPrO)₂P(O)NCS with 2-methylaniline 2-MeC₆H₄NH₂, 2,6-dimethylaniline 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NH₂, or 2,4,6-trimethylaniline 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂NH₂ leads to the N-phosphorylated thioureas RNHC(S)NHP(O)(OiPr)₂ (R = 2-MeC₆H₄?, HL^I ; 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃?, HL^II ; 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂?, HL^III ). Reaction of the potassium salts of HL^{I –III} with Ni(II) in aqueous EtOH leads to [Ni(L^I–III-N,S)₂] ([NiL^I–III ₂ ]) chelate complexes. The compounds obtained were investigated by ¹H, ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy and microanalysis. The molecular structure of the thiourea HL^III was elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed that HL^III forms both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which in turn leads to the formation of polymeric chains. One of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds is of the type N?H…S. Moreover, the formation of intermolecular C?H…η⁶-phenyl interactions was established.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Linked Supramolecular Building Blocks for Enhanced Cluster Formation

Methylene‐bridged calix[4]arenes have emerged as extremely versatile ligand supports in the formation of new polymetallic clusters possessing fascinating magnetic properties. Metal ion binding rules established for this building block allow one to partially rationalise the complex assembly process. The ability to covalently link calix[4]arenes at the methylene bridge provides significantly improved control over the introduction of different metal centres to resulting cluster motifs. Clusters assembled from bis‐calix[4]arenes and transition metal ions or 3d‐4f combinations display characteristic features of the analogous calix[4]arene supported clusters, thereby demonstrating an enhanced and rational approach towards the targeted synthesis of complex and challenging structures.     

Synthesis of cobalt ferrite core/metallic shell nanoparticles for the development of a specific PNA/DNA biosensor

Controlled synthesis of cobalt ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticles covered with a gold shell has been achieved by an affinity and trap strategy. Magnetic nanoparticles are functionalized with a mixture of amino and thiol groups that facilitate the electrostatic attraction and further chemisorption of gold nanoparticles, respectively. Using these nanoparticles as seeds, a complete coating shell is achieved by gold salt-iterative reduction leading to monodisperse water-soluble gold-covered magnetic nanoparticles, with an average diameter ranging from 21 to 29 nm. These constitute a versatile platform for immobilization of biomolecules via thiol chemistry, which is exemplified by the immobilization of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers that specifically hybridize with complementary DNA molecules in solution. Hybridation with DNA probes has been measured using Rhodamine 6G fluorescence marker and the detection of a single nucleotide mutation has been achieved. These results suggest the PNA-nanoparticles application as a biosensor for DNA genotyping avoiding commonly time-consuming procedures employed.     

The search for a new model structure of β-Factor XIIa

We present the search for a new model of -factor XIIa, a blood coagulation enzyme, with an unknown experimental 3D-structure. We decided to build not one but three different models using different homologous proteins as well as different techniques and different modellers. Additional studies, including extensive molecular dynamics simulations on the solvated state, allowed us to draw several conclusions concerning homology modelling, in general, and -factor XIIa, in particular.     

New insights from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy into the chemistry of covalent enzyme immobilization, with glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) on silicon dioxide as an example

A three-step process for immobilization of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) on the surface of silicon dioxide has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The enzyme layer was deposited on the silicon dioxide surface after first exposing the surface to 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTS) and reacting the silylated surface with glutaraldehyde (GA). Fine XPS analysis, performed after each step of the chemical procedure, revealed unknown details of the step-by-step construction of the enzyme layer under different experimental conditions.     

Thermochemistry of 2,2′-dipyridil N-oxide and 2,2′-dipyridil N,N′-dioxide. The dissociation enthalpies of the N−O bonds

In this paper, the first, second and mean (N?O) bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) were derived from the standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, ${\mathrm{\Delta }}_{\text{f}}{H}_{\text{m}}^{°}(\text{g})$, at T = 298.15 K, of 2,2′-dipyridil N-oxide and 2,2′-dipyridil N,N′-dioxide. These values were calculated from experimental thermodynamic parameters, namely from the standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the crystalline phase, ${\mathrm{\Delta }}_{\text{f}}{H}_{\text{m}}^{°}(\text{cr})$, at T = 298.15 K, obtained from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, ${\mathrm{\Delta }}_{\text{c}}{H}_{\text{m}}^{°}$, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and from the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, determined from Knudsen mass-loss effusion method.     

Luminescence quantum yield determination for molecules adsorbed onto solid powdered particles.

A new methodology for the determination of the fluorescence quantum yield of dyes adsorbed onto microcrystalline cellulose is presented and applied to rhodamine 101, cresyl violet and auramine O. It is based on a previously reported method by Ruetten and Thomas (J. Phys. Chem., 1998, 102, 598-606), which is not applicable to the dyes used in the present study. It uses ground-state diffuse reflectance spectra obtained with and without filters, which prevents the luminescence of the dye from reaching the integrating sphere and the photodetector. New equations are presented here, correcting for the fluorescence emission of the dye, which depends on the detector sensitivity. Cut-on filters, which have a transmittance close to unity in the absorption region, and close to zero in the emission region, of the dye are used to obtain corrected reflectance spectra. The influence of the substrate was also taken into account. This methodology may be applied to other probes and surfaces or emissions of a different nature (i.e., phosphorescence or delayed fluorescence), and constitutes a very simple and general procedure to solve the important problem of luminescence quantum yield determination of probes adsorbed onto solid powdered surfaces.     

Multistep energy transfer in single molecular photonic wires

We demonstrate the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of an unidirectional photonic wire based on four highly efficient fluorescence energy-transfer steps (FRET) between five spectrally different chromophores covalently attached to double-stranded DNA. The DNA-based modular conception enables the introduction of various chromophores at well-defined positions and arbitrary interchromophore distances. While ensemble fluorescence measurements show overall FRET efficiencies between 15 and 30%, single-molecule spectroscopy performed on four spectrally separated detectors easily uncovers subpopulations that exhibit overall FRET efficiencies of up to approximately 90% across a distance of 13.6 nm and a spectral range of approximately 200 nm. Fluorescence trajectories of individual photonic wires show five different fluorescence intensity patterns which can be ascribed to successive photobleaching events.