Molecular structure and mass spectrum of dicarbonylbis(tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)molybdenum

The crystal structure on dicarbonylbis(tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)molybdenum has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data collected by counter methods. The structure consists of monomeric units with each Mo atom bonded to two carbonyl and two Ph₄C₄ groups. Excluding phenyl substituents, the local symmetry about Mo is very nearly C_2υ. Both cyclobutadiene (CBD) groups are asymmetrically bonded to Mo, and the spread in Mo—C(CBD) distances (2.26 to 2.38 Å;) is significantly larger than that found with other structures containing substituted cyclobutadiene groups. The carbonyl groups show several short intramolecular C?C contacts with the cyclobutadiene C atoms (2.68 to 3.03 Å;) and with each other (2.63 Å;). They appear to be wedged between the Ph₄C₄ groups and to be responsible for the asymmetric bonding of the cyclobutadiene groups. The mass spectrum, which shows the characteristic fragmentation pattern of cyclobutadienemetal complexes, suggests a relatively high thermal stability for the title compound. Crystallographic data are as follows: space group P2₁/n; unit cell a 20.15(2), b 18.82(3), c 11.03(1) Å;, β 91.59(6)°; V 4181 Å;³; d_calc for Z = 4 is 1.380 and d_obs is 1.365(7) g/cm³. A total of 1659 reflections with F² ≥ 2σ were used to refine the structure to final values of R_F = 0.063 and R_wF = 0.041.     

Analysis of egg-based model wall paintings by use of an innovative combined dot-ELISA and UPLC-based approach

The chemical analysis of egg-based wall paintings—the mezzo fresco technique—is an interesting topic in the characterisation of organic binders. A revised procedure for a dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) able to detect protein components of egg-based wall paintings is reported. In the new dot-ELISA procedure we succeeded in maximizing the staining colour by adjusting the temperature during the staining reaction. Quantification of the colour intensity by visible reflectance spectroscopy resulted in a straight line plot of protein concentration against reflectance in the wavelength range 380–780 nm. The modified dot-ELISA procedure is proposed as a semi-quantitative analytical method for characterisation of protein binders in egg-based paintings. To evaluate its performance, the method was first applied to standard samples (ovalbumin, whole egg, egg white), then to model specimens, and finally to real samples (Giotto’s wall paintings). Moreover, amino acid analysis performed by innovative ultra-performance liquid chromatography was applied both to standards and to model samples and the results were compared with those from the dot-ELISA tests. In particular, after protein hydrolysis (24 h, 114 °C, 6 mol L^?1 HCl) of the samples, amino acid derivatization by use of 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate enabled reproducible analysis of amino acids. This UPLC amino acid analysis was rapid and reproducible and was applied for the first time to egg-based paintings. Because the painting technique involved the use of egg-based tempera on fresh lime-based mortar, the study enabled investigation of the effect of the alkaline environment on egg-protein detection by both methods.

Structures of 1‐hydrophenanthroimidazoles: building blocks in the synthesis of expanded‐ring bis(imidazoles)

The structures of 1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole, C₁₅H₁₀N₂, (I), and 3,6‐dibromo‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole hemihydrate, C₁₅H₈Br₂N₂·0.5H₂O, (II), contain hydrogen‐bonded polymeric chains linked by columns of π–π stacked essentially planar phenanthroimidazole monomers. In the structure of (I), the asymmetric unit consists of two independent molecules, denoted (Ia) and (Ib), of 1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole. Alternating molecules of (Ia) and (Ib), canted by 79.07 (3)°, form hydrogen‐bonded zigzag polymer chains along the a‐cell direction. The chains are linked by π–π stacking of molecules of (Ia) and (Ib) along the b‐cell direction. In the structure of (II), the asymmetric unit consists of two independent molecules of 3,6‐dibromo‐1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole, denoted (IIa) and (IIb), along with a molecule of water. Alternating molecules of (IIa), (IIb) and water form hydrogen‐bonded polymer chains along the [110] direction. The donor–acceptor distances in these N(imine)...H—O(water)...H—N(amine) hydrogen bonds are the shortest thus far reported for imidazole amine and imine hydrogen‐bond interactions with water. Centrosymmetrically related molecules of (IIa) and (IIb) alternate in columns along the a‐cell direction and are canted by 48.27 (3)°. The present study provides the first examples of structurally characterized 1H‐phenanthroimidazoles.     

Second-generation mimics of ganglioside GM1 oligosaccharide: a three-dimensional view of their interactions with bacterial enterotoxins by NMR and computational methods

As a step to delineate a strategy of ligand design for cholera toxin (CT), NMR studies were performed on several mimics of the GM1 ganglioside oligosaccharide. The conformation of these analogues was investigated first in solution and then upon binding to cholera toxin by transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (TR-NOE) measurements. It was demonstrated that CT selects a conformation similar to the global minima of the free saccharides from the ensemble of presented conformations. No evidence of major conformational distortions was obtained, but one or two of the available conformers of the hydroxyacid side chain appear to be selected in the bound state. The NMR data were interpreted with the aid of computer models, generated and analyzed by using a combination of different approaches (MacroModels' MC/EM and MC/SD, Autodock, and GRID). Analysis of the NMR data supported by computational studies allowed us to interpret the experimental observations and to derive workable models of the ligand:toxin complexes. These models suggest that the higher affinity of the (R)-lactic acid derivative 3 may stem from lipophilic interactions with a hydrophobic area in the toxin binding site located in the vicinity of the sialic acid side chain binding region of the CT:GM1 complex, and formed by the side chain of Ile-58 and Lys-34. Thus, the models obtained have allowed us to make useful design suggestions for the improvement of ligand affinity.     

Experimental and Computational Study of the Thermal Decomposition of 3‐Methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol in m‐Xylene Solution

An experimental study of the thermal decomposition of a β‐hydroxy alkene, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution, has been carried out at five different temperatures in the range of 513.15–563.15 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants for the decomposition of this compound in the corresponding Arrhenius equation is given by ln k (s^?1) = (25.65 ± 1.52) ? (17,944 ± 814) (kJ·mol^?1)·T^?1. A computational study has been carried out at the M05–2X/6–31+G(d,p) level of theory to calculate the rate constants and the activation parameters by the classical transition state theory. There is a good agreement between the experimental and calculated rate constants and activation Gibbs energies. The bonding characteristics of reactant, transition state, and products have been investigated by the natural bond orbital analysis, which provides the natural atomic charges and the Wiberg bond indices. Based on the results obtained, the mechanism proposed is a one‐step process proceeding through a six‐membered cyclic transition state, being a concerted and slightly asynchronous process. The results have been compared with those obtained previously by us (Struct Chem 2013, 24, 1811–1816) for the thermal decomposition of 3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution. We can conclude that in the compound studied in this work, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, the effect of substitution at position 3 by a weakly activating CH₃ group is the stabilization of the transition state formed in the reaction and therefore a small increase in the rate of thermal decomposition.     

A tris(pyrazolyl) eta6-arene ligand that selects Cu(I) over Cu(II)

1,3,5-Tris{2'-[(pyrazol-1-yl)methyl]phenyl}benzene, 4, and its complexes with Cu(I) and Ag(I) have been prepared and characterized. Both CuI4 and AgI4 triflate crystallize in the rhombohedral space group R3, with the cations and anions each exhibiting crystallographically imposed 3-fold (C3) symmetry. In both complexes, 4 behaves as a tris(pyrazolyl) eta6-arene ligand whose arms act as three-pronged tweezers to form chiral, propeller-like cations with pyramidal MN(pyrazole)3 coordination geometries. Centers of symmetry in the space group ensure that the crystals are racemates, with equal numbers of P,P,P and M,M,M enantiomers. In broad outline, each cation is shaped like a three-legged stool, with the metal ion centered at the top and pointed downward from a triangular N(pyrazole) plane toward the center of gravity (Cg) of the central benzene ring (a metal-endo conformation), which constitutes the bottom shelf of the stool. The Cu(I)...Cg and Ag(I)...Cg distances, 3.195(2) and 3.165(2) A, respectively, support the existence of an eta6 bonding interaction with Ag(I) and, to a lesser extent, with Cu(I). NMR data for AgI4 suggest rapid interconversion of this cation in solution between P,P,P and M,M,M enantiomers. Our inability to prepare any Cu(II) complexes with 4 is consistent with cyclovoltammetric results, which suggest that the ligand is more easily oxidized than Cu(I).     

Chemical composition and volatile constituents of Anthyllis barba-jovis

Six flavonol glycosides were isolated and identified from the aerial parts of Anthyllis barba-jovis L. (Leguminosae), together with two coumarins and D-pinitol, a taxonomic marker of Leguminosae family. The structural elucidation of all compounds was based on their (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectral data and bidimensional experiments. The total flavonoid content was also determined, according to the method described in the Italian pharmacopoeia. In order to complete the phytochemical investigation on A. barba-jovis, the essential oils from flowers and seeds were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-MS; fresh flowers were analysed also directly by solid phase micro extraction (SPME).     

高聚合度Ⅱ-型聚磷酸铵的合成

用聚合反应-热处理两段工艺合成了高聚合度的聚磷酸铵（APP）阻燃材料,其结构经XRD,粒度及平均聚合度表征。优化反应条件为：磷酸氢二铵1mol,n（磷酸氢二铵）：n（五氧化二磷）：n（脲）：1．0：1．0：0．3．干燥氨气氛下于290℃反应30min,再经250℃-280℃后处理100min-110min。APP的平均聚合度大于150,粒度小于50μm。     

Theory of scattering in multimode optical fibres

The problem of scattering in multimode optical fibres is treated in a rigorous way by means of both a ray and a statistical approach. These two methods are interlaced and harmonized. Applications to microbending, ellipticity, core radius and maximum numerical aperture variations, and fluctuations of index profile shape are performed. Useful results about power distribution and fibre attenuation are derived in each case.