DFT investigation of homotrinuclear and heterotrinuclear [M3(Phz)2], [MM′2(Phz)2], [M3(CO)2(Phz)2], [MM′2(CO)2(Phz)2] sandwich complexes (M = Ti,Cr, Fe and Ni; M′ = V and Mn,Phz = C12H8N2): predicted models and electronic structures

Structural Chemistry - The results described in this work report a DFT/BP86 (using the TZ2P basis) study concerning the molecular and electronic structures of homotrinuclear and heterotrinuclear...     

Bis(Tetramethylselenophosphoramidoyl) Methylamine Complexes of Cd(Ii) and Zn(Ii): Synthesis and Multinuclear (31P, 77Se,and 113Cd) Nmr Characterization in Solution

Abstract

Five new complexes ZnL₂(ClO₄)₂ (1), CdL₂(ClO₄)₂ (2), CdL₂(BF₄)₂ (3), CdLCl₂ (4), and CdL(NO₃)₂ (5) [L = ((Me₂N)₂PSe)₂NMe] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR) and multinuclear (³¹P, ⁷⁷Se, and ¹¹³Cd), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The ³¹P and ⁷⁷Se NMR data showed that the title ligand is coordinated in a bidentate fashion to the metal center via its both P=Se groups. The solution structure of the cadmium complexes was further confirmed by its ¹¹³Cd NMR spectra, which displayed a quintuplet for the perchlorate complex and a triplet for each of the nitrate and chloride complexes, respectively due to coupling with four (two ligands) and two (one ligand) equivalent phosphorus nuclei, consistent with a four-coordinate tetrahedral geometry for the cadmium center. The results are discussed and compared with the corresponding oxo and thio analogues.     

Determination of the polyphenolic content of a Capsicum annuum L. extract by liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection and evaluation of its biological activity

The present study was aimed to investigate the polyphenolic profile of a pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) extract from Algeria and evaluate its biological activity. The total polyphenol content of the extract was determined as 1.373 mg of gallic acid equivalents (±0.0046), whereas the flavonoids were determined as 0.098 mg of quercetin (±0.0015). The determination of the complete polyphenolic profile of the extract was achieved by liquid chromatography with an RP‐amide column in combination with photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection through an electrospray ionization interface. A total of 18 compounds were identified, of which five were reported for the first time in the sample tested. Quercetin rhamnoside was the most abundant compound (82.6 μg/g of fresh pepper) followed by quercetin glucoside (19.86 μg/g). The antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects were also determined. For the antimicrobial tests assessed against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, kaempferol showed the strongest inhibitory effect followed by quercetin and caffeic acids. In the study of the cytotoxicity of the extract, the cancer cells (U937) were more affected than the normal cells (peripheral blood mononucleated cells), with more than 62% inhibition at the highest concentration.     

Symbiotic signaling in actinorhizal symbioses

Actinorhizal symbioses are mutualistic associations between plants belonging to eight angiosperm families and soil bacteria of the genus Frankia. These interactions lead to the formation of new root organs, actinorhizal nodules, where the bacteria are hosted and fix atmospheric nitrogen thus providing the plant with an almost unlimited source of nitrogen for its nutrition. It involves an elaborate signaling between both partners of the symbiosis. In recent years, our knowledge of this signaling pathway has increased tremendously thanks to a series of technical breakthroughs including the sequencing of three Frankia genomes [1] and the implementation of RNA silencing technology for two actinorhizal species. In this review, we describe all these recent advances, current researches on symbiotic signaling in actinorhizal symbioses and give some potential future research directions.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Fe-JLU-15 Mesoporous Silica Via a Microwave-Hydrothermal Process

Fe-JLU-15 materials with different Si/Fe ratios (Si/Fe = 90, 50, 10) have been synthesized by microwave-hydrothermal process and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. Electrons spin resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopies, along with electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, allowed differentiation of several iron species. These species correspond to hematite particles, very small “isolated” or oligomeric Fe^III species possibly incorporated in the mesoporous silica wall, and Fe^III oxide clusters either isolated or agglomerated, forming “rafts” at the surface of the silica and exhibiting ferromagnetic ordering. Because of their agglomeration, these clusters appear with a two-peak size distribution, with one peak corresponding to the isolated clusters formed in the mesopores and still embedded in them and the other corresponding to the agglomerates spread on the surface of the mesoporous silica particles.     

Positively charged GdIII cryptates: slow, associative water exchange

A combined variable-temperature and multiple field 17O NMR, EPR and NMRD study has been performed for the first time on gadolinium(III) complexes of cryptand ligands, L1 and L2, where L1 contains three 2,2'-bipyridine units ([bpy.bpy.bpy]) and L2 is the disubstituted methyl ester derivative of L1. The experimental data have been analysed in a simultaneous fit in order to determine parameters for water exchange, rotational dynamics and electronic relaxation for both complexes. The cryptates have three water molecules in the inner sphere which exchange with a rate of k(ex)298 = 1.8 x 10(6) s(-1) and 0.97 x 10(6) s(-1) for [GdL1(H2O)3]3+ and [GdL2(H2O)3)]3+, respectively. The k(ex)298 values obtained for these positively charged cryptates are smaller than those of the negatively charged Gd-poly(amino carboxylate) complexes. The water exchange mechanism was assessed for [GdL2(H2O)3]3+ by variable-pressure 17O NMR relaxation measurements. Based on the activation volume, DeltaV++ = -2.5 cm3 mol(-1), the water exchange is an associative interchange process. The proton relaxivities, r1, of the cryptate complexes are 9.79 mM(-1) s(-1) for [GdL1(H2O)3]3+ and 11.18 mM(-1) s(-1) for [GdL2(H2O)3]3+ (298 K, 20 MHz), which, due to the presence of three inner sphere water molecules, represent much higher values than those obtained for Gd3+ poly(amino carboxylate) complexes of similar molecular weight.     

Thermal and photochemical reactivity of phosphaalkenes

Abstract

The reactivity of acyclic dicoordinated phosphorus derivatives has intensively been studied. Nevertheless, up to date, a very few examples of photochemical reactivity of these compounds have been described. We wish to report here some thermal and photochemical reactions of phosphaalkenes 1–4. ¹     

Magnetic Fe2O3-polystyrene/PPy core/shell particles: bioreactivity and self-assembly

This paper describes the synthesis of new magnetic, reactive polystyrene/polypyrrole core/shell latex particles. The core consists of a polystyrene microsphere containing gamma-Fe2O3 superparamagnetic nanoparticles (PSmag), and the shell is made of reactive N-carboxylic acid-functionalized polypyrrole (PPyCOOH). These PSmag-PPyCOOH latex particles, average diameter 220 nm, were prepared by copolymerization of pyrrole (Py) and the active carboxyl-functionalized pyrrole (PyCOOH) in the presence of PSmag particles. PNVP was used as a steric stabilizer. The functionalized polypyrrole-coated PSmag particles were characterized in terms of their particle size, surface morphology, chemical composition, and electrochemical and magnetic properties using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry, and SQUID magnetometry. Activation of the particle surface carboxyl groups was achieved using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), which helps transform the carboxyl groups into activated ester groups (NSE). The activated particles, PSmag-PPyNSE, were further evaluated as bioadsorbents of biotin used as a model biomolecule. It was shown that biotin was immobilized at the surface of the PSmag-PPyNSE particles by forming interfacial amide groups. The assemblies of PSmag-PPyCOOH particles on glass plates were further investigated. When no magnetic field is applied, the particles assemble into 3D colloidal crystals. In contrast, under a magnetic field, one-particle-thick chains gathered in hedgehog-like architectures are obtained. Furthermore, PSmag-PPyCOOH coated ITO electrodes were shown to be electroactive and electrochemically stable, thus offering potentialities for creating novel high-specific-area materials for biosensing devices where the conducting polymer component would act as the transducer through its conductive properties.     

High activities of iron-FSM-16 materials synthesized by a microwave-hydrothermal process in friedel-crafts alkylations

Iron-FSM-16 materials with different Si/Fe ratios (Si/Fe = 90, 60, and 10) have been synthesized by microwave-hydrothermal process and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. X-ray diffraction, electron spin resonance, diffuse reflectance UV-visual and Mössbauer absorption spectroscopies allowed differentiation of several iron species. These species correspond to hematite particles, very small isolated Fe (III) species possibly incorporated in the mesoporous silica wall, and iron oxide clusters either isolated or agglomerated, forming “rafts” at the surface of the silica and exhibiting ferromagnetic ordering. Very importantly, catalytic data in benzylation of aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene with benzyl chloride shows that Fe-FSM-16 synthesized by microwave-hydrothermal process samples are very active and recycle catalysts.