Synthesis, characterization, and study of octanuclear iron-oxo clusters containing a redox-active Fe4O4-cubane core

A one-pot synthetic procedure yields the octanuclear Fe(III) complexes Fe(8)(micro(4-)O)(4)(micro-pz(*))(12)X(40, where X = Cl and pz(*) = pyrazolate anion (pz = C(3)H(3)N(2)-) (1), 4-Cl-pz (2), and 4-Me-pz (3) or X = Br and pz(*) = pz (4). The crystal structures of complexes 1-4, determined by X-ray diffraction, show an Fe(4)O(4)-cubane core encapsulated in a shell composed of four interwoven Fe(micro-pz(*))(3)X units. Complexes 1-4 have been characterized by 1H NMR, infrared, and Raman spectroscopies. M?ssbauer spectroscopic analysis distinguishes the cubane and outer Fe(III) centers by their different isomer shift and quadrupole splitting values. Electrochemical analyses by cyclic voltammetry show four consecutive, closely spaced, reversible reduction processes for each of the four complexes. Magnetic susceptibility studies, corroborated by density functional theory calculations, reveal weak antiferromagnetic coupling among the four cubane Fe centers and strong antiferromagnetic coupling between cubane and outer Fe atoms of 1. The structural similarity between the antiferromagnetic Fe(8)(micro(4-)O)(4) core of 1-4 and the antiferromagnetic units contained in the minerals ferrihydrite and maghemite is demonstrated by X-ray and M?ssbauer data.     

Probing the aromaticity of the [(H(t)Ac)3(μ2-H)6], [(H(t)Th)3(μ2-H)6],(+), and [(H(t)Pa)3(μ2-H)6] clusters

In this study we report about the aromaticity of the prototypical [(H(t)Ac)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)], [(H(t)Th)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)](+), and [(H(t)Pa)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)] clusters via two magnetic criteria: nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) and the magnetically induced current density. All-electron density functional theory calculations were carried out using the two-component zeroth-order regular approach and the four-component Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian, including scalar and spin-orbit relativistic effects. Four-component current density maps and the integration of induced ring-current susceptibilities clearly show that the clusters [(H(t)Ac)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)] and [(H(t)Th)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)](+) are non-aromatic whereas [(H(t)Pa)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)] is anti-aromatic. However, for the thorium cluster we find a discrepancy between the current density plots and the classification through the NICS index. Our results also demonstrate the increasing influence of f orbitals, on bonding and magnetic properties, with increasing atomic number in these clusters. We think that the enhanced electron mobility in [(H(t)Pa)(3)(μ(2)-H)(6)] is due the significant 5f character of its valence shell. Also the participation of f orbitals in bonding is the reason why the protactinium cluster has the shortest bond lengths of the three clusters. This study provides another example showing that the magnetically induced current density approach can give more reliable results than the NICS index.     

Carbon paste electrodes modified with Bi(2)O(3) as sensors for the determination of Cd and Pb

Carbon paste electrodes bulk-modified with Bi(2)O(3)were used for the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II). The best composition was 1% (wt%) Bi(2)O(3) in the paste. The measurements were made by differential pulse voltammetry in the potential range from -1.2 V to -0.3 V. The peak potential of the reoxidation of Cd is -0.85 V, and of Pb -0.60 V vs. SCE. The lowest concentration that could be determined was 5 microg L(-1) of both metals (preconcentration time 240 s), the relative standard deviation was 3.5%-5.0% (four determinations). The correlation coefficient ( r(2)) of the calibration curves was 0.9966 (for Cd) and 0.9971 (for Pb). The Bi(2)O(3)-modified electrode could be used for the analysis of drinking water, mineral water and urine.     

Copper(II) and cobalt(II) hydroxypyridinecarboxylates: Synthesis, crystal structures, spectral and magnetic properties

Synthesis and characterization of six copper(II) and cobalt(II) octahedral complexes [M(6-OHpic)₂(H₂O)₂] (6-OHpic is 6-hydroxypicolinato), [M(2-OHnic)₂(H₂O)₂] (2-OHnic is 2-hydroxynicotinato), [Cu(6-OHnic)₂(H₂O)₂] (6-OHnic is 6-hydroxynicotinato) as well as [Co(H₂O)₆](6-OHnic)₂ are reported. Their characterization was carried out using elemental analysis, infrared, and magnetic measurements. Based on IR spectra, N,O-coordination of 6-OHpic (via the oxygen atom of the carboxyl group and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring), O,O-asymmetrically chelating coordination of the carboxyl groups as well as ionic coordination of 6-OHnic and chelating O,O-coordination (through the oxygen atom of the carboxyl group and the oxygen atom of the amide group) of keto(amide) tautomer of 2-OHnic were supposed. Moreover, crystal structures of 2-OHnicH and the complex [Co(2-OHnic)₂(H₂O)₂]) were determined by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The system of hydrogen bonds predominantly stabilizes the keto(amide) tautomer of both 2-hydroxynicotinic acid and 2-OHnic anion in the cobalt(II) complex. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds (between the oxygen atom of the amide group and the hydrogen atom of the NH group) interconnect two neighbouring molecules of 2-OHnicH forming dimers. Cobalt(II) in complex [Co(2-OHnic)₂(H₂O)₂] has nearly a regular compressed tetragonal bipyramidal arrangement. Presented at the 1st International Conference “Applied Natural Sciences” on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Trnava, 7–9 November 2007.     

Escaping the large fine-tuning and little hierarchy problems in the next to minimal supersymmetric model and h --> aa decays

We demonstrate that the next to minimal supersymmetric model can have small fine-tuning and modest top-squark mass while still evading all experimental constraints. For small tan(beta (large tan(beta), the relevant scenarios are such that there is always (often) a standard-model-like Higgs boson that decays to two lighter--possibly much lighter--Higgs pseudoscalars.     

Large parity violation effects in the vibrational spectrum of organometallic compounds

Large parity violation effects of the order of 1 Hz are predicted for the vibrational spectrum of two organometallic species, Os(eta5-C5H5)(=CCl2)Cl(PH3) and Re(eta5-Cp*)(=O)(CH3)Cl. It should therefore be possible to detect such effects in molecules by high-resolution spectroscopy for the first time.     

Amperometric Detection of 4‐Chlorophenol on Two Types of Expanded Graphite Based Composite Electrodes

The assessment of an expanded graphite‐Ag‐zeolite‐epoxy composite (EG‐Z‐Ag‐Epoxy) electrode for the determination of 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP) is described and compared to the corresponding expanded graphite‐epoxy composite (EG‐Epoxy) electrode. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the electrochemical behavior and determination of 4‐CP at both electrodes in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ and 0.1 M NaOH supporting electrolytes. A substantial enhancement of sensitivity for the determination of 4‐CP at the EG‐Z‐Ag‐Epoxy electrode was reached by applying a chemical preconcentration step prior to voltammetric quantification. Also, under these last conditions the lowest limit of detection of 1 μM illustrates the analytical versatility of this electrode in a concentration range where aquatic 4‐chlorophenol pollution is known to occur.     

Simultaneous Determination of Acetaminophen and Ascorbic Acid at an Unmodified Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode by Differential Pulse Voltammetry in Buffered Media

A boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDDE) was used for the simultaneous anodic determination of L ‐ascorbic acid (AA) and acetaminophen (AC) in aqueous buffered media by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Linear calibration plots of anodic current peaks versus concentration were obtained for both analytes in the concentration range 0.01–0.1 mM with very high correlation coefficients. RSD of 2–3% and high sensitivities were obtained from DPV data in single and dicomponent systems. The potential applicability of the DPV technique associated with standard addition was illustrated by simultaneous determination of AA and AC in real sample solutions made up from pharmaceutical products.     

LiSc(BH4)4: a novel salt of Li+ and discrete Sc(BH4)4(-) complex anions

LiSc(BH4)4 has been prepared by ball milling of LiBH4 and ScCl3. Vibrational spectroscopy indicates the presence of discrete Sc(BH4)4(-) ions. DFT calculations of this isolated complex ion confirm that it is a stable complex, and the calculated vibrational spectra agree well with the experimental ones. The four BH4(-) groups are oriented with a tilted plane of three hydrogen atoms directed to the central Sc ion, resulting in a global 8 + 4 coordination. The crystal structure obtained by high-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction reveals a tetragonal unit cell with a = 6.076 A and c = 12.034 A (space group P-42c). The local structure of the Sc(BH4)4(-) complex is refined as a distorted form of the theoretical structure. The Li ions are found to be disordered along the z axis.     

Enantioselective reductions of [m] ferrocenophanones

Enantioselective reductions of prochiral ferrocenophane ketones were investigated. Oxazaborolidine mediated reduction led to corresponding chiral alcohols generally in good yields and enantioselectivities up to 97% ee. Ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation was rather unsuccessful in reducing cyclic ferrocene ketones. Proline-derived activator together with trichlorosilane also proved to be an effective method for some substrates (up to 99% ee). Pronounced tendency of α-ferrocenyl ketones toward reductive deoxygenation was studied by DFT computational methods.