Richness of isomerism in labile octahedral Werner-type cobalt(II) complexes demonstrated by 19F NMR spectroscopy: structure and stability

The cobalt(II) complexes [CoL2(R2-Py)2] (1-4) where HLA = 1,1,1-trifluoro-5,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexanedione, R2-Py = 4-methylpyridine (1), HLB = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione, R2-Py = 4-methylpyridine (2), 4-phenylpyridine (3) and S-(-)-1-(4-pyridyl)ethanol (4) were prepared by two-step reactions. X-ray structure analysis of [CoLA2(CH3-Py)2] revealed the {trans(N)-trans(CF3)-trans} configuration for the complex obtained by crystallization from ethanol. A dynamic equilibrium between the five possible stereoisomers was observed for each complex 1-4 in solution by 19F NMR spectroscopy. The criteria used for full NMR assignment (180-265 K) include comparison of integral ratios, cis(N) and trans(N) differentiation in presence of the chiral amine [S-(-)-1-(4-pyridyl)ethanol], effect of solvent polarity on the relative stabilities of the five isomers and observation of trans influences in a mixture of complexes. Thermodynamic parameters for the equilibria between the isomers of 2 in CD2Cl2 (DeltaHi,j, DeltaSi,j and Ki,j) were obtained from signal integrals. The two trans(N) isomers are slightly more stable than the three cis(N) isomers at low temperature [DeltaGdegreesi,j (max) = 2.8 kJ mol(-1) at 179.8 K], but this stability difference almost vanishes with increasing temperature [DeltaGdegreesi,j (max) = 1.0 kJ mol(-1) at 265.0 K]. The values found for DeltaHdegreesi,j are relatively small and largely entropy compensated.     

Liquid-liquid phase separation of a surfactant-solubilized membrane protein

Solubilization of membrane proteins requires surfactants, whose structural properties play a crucial role in determining the protein phase behavior. We show that ionization of a pH-sensitive surfactant, lauryldymethylamino-N-oxide, bound to the bacterial photosynthetic Reaction Center, induces protein phase segregation in micrometric "droplets." Liquid-liquid phase separation takes place in a narrow pH range, is promoted by increasing temperature, and vanishes by adding salt. After a fast initial droplet growth, the nearly arrested kinetics at a later stage leaves the system in a finely divided, long-lasting emulsified state.     

Rare fluctuations of native proteins sampled by equilibrium hydrogen exchange

We present a method for determining the ensembles of native protein structures that result from the large fluctuations of low probability revealed by hydrogen-exchange experiments. The measured protection factors are used to bias Monte Carlo simulations to sample the structures of the exchange competent species. The approach is illustrated by its application to the case of alpha-lactalbumin.     

The pi complexation of alkali and alkaline earth ions by the use of meso-octaalkylporphyrinogen and aromatic hydrocarbons

The full metallation of meso-octaalkylporphyrinogens [R8N4H4] (R=Et, 1; nBu, 2; CH2Ph, 3; (CH2)4, 4) with heavy alkali metals (M = K, Rb, Cs) leads to the porphyrinogen-M4 compounds, in which the solvation of the alkali cations is largely assured by the intra- and intermolecular phi-interactions with the pyrrolyl anions. Such a mode of complexation results in a structural diversity as a function of the meso substituents, the size of the metal ion, and the solvent. The structure of the unsolvated polymers [R8N4M4]n (R= Et, M=K, 5; M=Rb, 6; M=Cs, 7; R= (CH2)4, M = Rb, 8; M = Cs, 9) have been clarified through the X-ray analysis of 7 recrystallized from diglyme. The structure shows that the tetraanion binds two Cs ions inside the cavity, which display in one case eta1:eta1:eta1:eta1 and in the other eta5:eta5:eta5:eta5 interaction modes. Bidimensional polymerization is assured by four Cs ions, which each bind at the eta5 position on the exo face of each pyrrole. With bulkier meso substituents, different polymeric forms are obtained (R = nBu, M = K, 10; M = Rb, 11; M = Cs, 12), and their structures were clarified through the X-ray analysis of 10, which was recrystallized from dimethoxyethane. The polymeric units are made up by the monomeric units [Bu8N4K2]2-, in which one potassium is eta1:eta1:eta1:eta5 and the other eta5:eta1:eta5:eta1 bonded inside the porphyrinogen cavity. In the case of R=CH2Ph, the monomeric anion [(PhCH2)8N4K2]2- (13) has been structurally identified. The metallation of 1 and 2 with active forms of alkaline earth metals (M' = Ca, Sr, Ba) led to dinuclear compounds [R,N4M'2] (R = Et, M' = Ca, 14; M'=Sr, 15; M'=Ba, 16; R=nBu. M'=Ba, 18), in which both metals inside the cavity are eta1:eta3:eta1:eta3 (Ca) and eta1:eta5:eta1:eta5 (Sr and Ba) bonded to the porphyrinogen tetraanion. The coordination sphere of each metal ion is completed by two THF molecules, which, in the case of Ba, are easily replaced by an arene ring [Bu8N4Ba2(eta6-arene)2] (arene=durene, 22; naphthalene, 23; toluene, 24; benzene, 25). The X-ray structures of 14, 15, 18, 22, and 23 are described in detail. We have tried to establish a relationship between the solid-state and solution structures by analyzing the 1H NMR spectra of the porphyrinogen complexes.     

Synthesis of octahedral zirconium complex bearing [NHC?O] ligands,and its behavior as catalyst in the polymerization of olefins

The synthesis and characterization of a zirconium complex, having two alkoxide functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands, and its behavior as catalyst in the polymerization of ethylene and propylene, have been reported. NMR analysis showed that more than one species was obtained during synthesis. These data were confirmed by ethylene polymerization that gave rise to a linear polyethylene having a high Molecular weight and a polydispersity index (MDI) > 2 and often bimodal. The same catalytic system was able to produce highly isotactic polypropylene together with an atactic fraction. DFT studies on the complex stereoisomer stability gave indications on the species possibly involved in the polymerizations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Questioni di realità sulle curve trigonali reali

Sunto. In relazione a curve trigonali reali (di genere e specie assegnati) vengono svolte alcune questioni di realità, ed in particolare quella concernente il numero dei circuiti della parte reale ed il loro comportamento rispetto alla g ₃ ⁴ il che dà luogo ad una classificazione di tali curve. Sono perciò riprese od introdotte svariate considerazioni che potrebbero anche venire più largamente utilizzate.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">ϕ</Emphasis>-pairs and common fixed points in cone metric spaces

In this paper we introduce a contractive condition, called ϕ-pair, for two mappings in the framework of cone metric spaces and we prove a theorem which assures existence and uniqueness of common fixed points for ϕ-pairs. Also we obtain a result on points of coincidence. These results extend and generalize well-known comparable results in the literature. The authors are supported by Università degli Studi di Palermo, R. S. ex 60%.     

Invilappi di sfere sulle cui focali si corrispondono le linee di curvatura e le linee asintotiche

Sunto. In questa Memoria vengono formati gl'inviluppi di sfere, sulle cui focali si corrispondono le linee di curvatura e le linee asintotiche, con la considerazione della congruenzaaggiunta; il problema è ridotto ad un sistema diCauchy e la soluzione generale dipende da quattro funzioni arbitrarie di una sola variabile.