Formation and growth of embedded indium nanoclusters by In<Superscript>2<Emphasis Type="Bold">+</Emphasis></Superscript> implantation in silica

Indium nanoclusters are synthesized in an amorphous silica matrix using an ion-implantation technique. Indium ions (In²⁺) with energy of 890 keV are implanted on silica to fluences in the range of 3×10¹⁶–3×10¹⁷ cm^-2. The formation of indium nanoclusters is confirmed by optical absorption spectrometry and glancing incidence X-ray diffraction studies. A low frequency Raman scattering technique is used to study the growth of embedded indium nanoclusters in the silica matrix as a function of fluence and post-implantation annealing duration. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry studies show the surface segregation of implanted indium. Photoluminescence studies indicate the formation of a small quantity of indium oxide phase in the ion-implanted samples. PACS 85.40.Ry; 78.67.Bf; 73.20.Mf; 82.75.Fq     

Nitrite and Nitric Oxide Interconversion at Mononuclear Copper(II): Insight into the Role of the Red Copper Site in Denitrification

Nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitric oxide (NO) interconversion is crucial for maintaining optimum NO flux in mammalian physiology. Herein we demonstrate that [ L ₂Cu^II(nitrite)]⁺ moieties (in 2 a and 2 b ; where, L = Me₂PzPy and Me₂PzQu ) with distorted octahedral geometry undergo facile reduction to provide tetrahedral [ L ₂Cu^I]⁺ (in 3 a and 3 b ) and NO in the presence of biologically relevant reductants, such as 4-methoxy-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (4-MeO-2,6-DTBP, a tyrosine model) and N-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH, a NAD(P)H model). Interestingly, the reaction of excess NO gas with [ L ₂Cu^II(MeCN)₂]²⁺ (in 1 a ) provides a putative {CuNO}¹⁰ species, which is effective in mediating the nitrosation of various nucleophiles, such as thiol and amine. Generation of the transient {CuNO}¹⁰ species in wet acetonitrile leads to NO₂⁻ as assessed by Griess assay and ¹⁴N/¹⁵N-FTIR analyses. A detailed study reveals that the bidirectional NO_x-reactivity, namely, nitrite reductase (NIR) and NO oxidase (NOO), at a common Cu^II site, is governed by the geometric-preference-driven facile Cu^II/Cu^I redox process. Of broader interest, this study not only highlights potential strategies for the design of copper-based catalysts for nitrite reduction, but also strengthens the previous postulates regarding the involvement of red copper proteins in denitrification.     

Reactive Oxygen Species Play an Important Role in the Bactericidal Activity of Quinolone Antibiotics

Recent studies posit that reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the cell lethality of bactericidal antibiotics. However, this conjecture has been challenged and remains controversial. To resolve this controversy, we adopted a strategy that involves DNA polymerase IV (PolIV). The nucleotide pool of the cell gets oxidized by ROS and PolIV incorporates the damaged nucleotides (especially 8oxodGTP) into the genome, which results in death of the bacteria. By using a combination of structural and biochemical tools coupled with growth assays, it was shown that selective perturbation of the 8oxodGTP incorporation activity of PolIV results in considerable enhancement of the survival of bacteria in the presence of the norfloxacin antibiotic. Our studies therefore indicate that ROS induced in bacteria by the presence of antibiotics in the environment contribute significantly to cell lethality.     

Engaging the pyridine-DMAD zwitterion in a novel strategy for the selective synthesis of highly substituted benzene and cyclopentenedione derivatives

[reaction: see text] The pyridine-mediated reaction of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and cyclobutene-1,2-diones affords selective access to either hexasubstituted benzene derivatives or cyclopentenedione derivatives depending on the concentration of pyridine.     

Practical synthesis of triaryl- and triheteroarylmethanes by reaction of aldehydes and activated arenes promoted by gold(III) chloride

[reaction: see text] Electron-rich arenes condense efficiently with various aldehydes under the influence of AuCl3, thus opening up a practical route to triarylmethanes, which have important applications. The mild conditions employed are especially noteworthy.     

Synthesis,characterization, antifungal,antibacterial and DNA cleavage studies of some heterocyclic Schiff base metal complexes

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of the Schiff base derived from indole-3-carboxaldehyde and m-aminobenzoic acid were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, UV–Vis, magnetic moment, powder XRD and SEM. The IR results demonstrate the bidentate binding mode of the ligand involving azomethine nitrogen and carboxylato oxygen atoms. The electronic spectral and magnetic moment results indicate that Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes have tetrahedral geometry, while Cu(II) complex is square planar. Powder XRD and SEM indicate the crystalline state and surface morphology studies of the complexes. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized ligand and its complexes were screened by disc diffusion method. The results show that the metal complexes were found to be more active than the ligand. The nuclease activity of the ligand and its complexes were assayed on CT DNA using gel electrophoresis in the presence of H₂O₂. The Cu(II) complex showed increased nuclease activity in the presence of an oxidant when compared to the ligand and other complexes.     

Methyl rotational tunneling dynamics of p-xylene confined in a crystalline zeolite host

The methyl rotational tunneling spectrum of p-xylene confined in nanoporous zeolite crystals has been measured by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and analyzed to extract the rotational potential energy surfaces characteristic of the methyl groups in the host-guest complex. The number and relative intensities of the tunneling peaks observed by INS indicate the presence of methyl-methyl coupling interactions in addition to the methyl-zeolite interactions. The INS tunneling spectra from the crystals (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with four crystallographically inequivalent methyl rotors) are quantitatively interpreted as a combination of transitions involving two coupled methyl rotors as well as a transition involving single-particle tunneling of a third inequivalent rotor, in a manner consistent with the observed tunneling energies and relative intensities. Together, the crystal structure and the absence of additional peaks in the INS spectra suggest that the tunneling of the fourth inequivalent rotor is strongly hindered and inaccessible to INS measurements. This is verified by proton NMR measurements of the spin-lattice relaxation time which reveal the tunneling characteristics of the fourth inequivalent rotor.     

Automatic flow procedure for the determination of glycerol in wine using enzymatic reaction and spectrophotometry

An automatic flow procedure for the determination of glycerol in wines by employing a flow system based on multicommutation and enzymatic reaction is described. Glycerol dehydrogenase was immobilized on aminopropyl glass beads and packed into a column that was coupled to the flow system. The NADH produced by the enzymatic reaction was monitored by spectrophotometry at 340 nm and its radiation absorption presented a relationship with glycerol concentration. The system manifold comprised a set of three-way solenoid valves controlled by a microcomputer, which was furnished with electronic interfaces and runs a software that was designed to carry out on-line sample dilution, reagent addition, and data acquisition. The procedure allows the determination of glycerol in wine samples without any prior pretreatment. The procedure presented as profitable features a linear response range between 2.0 and 10.0 g l⁻¹ glycerol (R=0.998), a detection limit of 0.006 g l⁻¹ glycerol, a relative standard deviation of 1.8% (n=14) for a typical wine sample presenting 5.3 g l⁻¹ glycerol, a sampling throughput of 33 determinations per hour, and a NAD⁺ consumption of 0.8 mg per determination. The results were compared with those obtained using a reference method and no significant difference at 90% confidence level was observed.     

A general and efficient synthesis of sulfonylbenzotriazoles from N-chlorobenzotriazole and sulfinic acid salts

One-pot reactions of sulfinic acid salts (produced from organometallic reagents with SO2) with N-chlorobenzotriazole gave the corresponding N-alkane-, N-arene-, and N-heteroenesulfonylbenzotriazoles 3a-j in 41-93% yields. Reagents 3a-j are efficient sulfonylating agents, reacting at 20-80 degrees C with various primary and secondary aliphatic amines to yield the corresponding sulfonamides in 64-100% yields.     

Circular logic: nonribosomal peptide-like macrocyclization with a ribosomal peptide catalyst

A protease from ribosomal peptide biosynthesis macrocyclizes diverse substrates, including those resembling nonribosomal peptide and hybrid polyketide-peptide products. The proposed mechanism is analogous to thioesterase-catalyzed chemistry, but the substrates are amide bonds rather than thioesters.