Thermal behavior of Co(II) and Ni(II) hydroxycarboxylate complexes obtained by two original synthesis methods

This paper presents a facile and rapid synthesis route of metallic Ni and Co nanocrystallites at ~150 °C in the mixture composed of the corresponding metal nitrates and 1,3-propanediol, as reducing agent. The metal oxides NiO, CoO, Co₃O₄ nanocrystallites were, also, successfully synthesized by thermal decomposition at 300 °C of the hydroxycarboxylate coordination products, obtained in the redox reaction between 1,3-propanediol and Ni(II) and Co(II) nitrates. The formation of the Ni(II) and Co(II) hydroxycarboxylate complexes depends on the diol which generates the carboxylate anion, the transition metal and the process parameters. Ni(II) and Co(II) nanocomposites were also synthesized by thermal decomposition of the complex combinations formed within the pores of the hybrid silica gels. One of the purposes of the present study was to investigate the phase constitution of the composites obtained in similar synthesis conditions, from Ni(II) and Co(II) complex combinations embedded in silica gels. These gels were submitted to various thermal treatments and the changes occurring during these treatments were described by X-ray diffraction. Thermal analysis is an excellent tool for the study of the processes implied in the formation and decomposition of the Co(II) and Ni(II) carboxylate complexes. X-ray diffraction evidenced the nanometer sized metal and/or metal oxide phases.     

Hybrid polymeric latexes containing magnetite

The work describes a study for preparing polystyrene (PSt) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) latex, containing magnetite (Fe₃O₄), covalently bounded to the polymeric chains. The magnetite was functionalized with various alkoxysilanes containing double bonds: vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), methacryloyl propyl trimethoxysilane (MPTS) and vinyldimethylethoxysilane (VMe₂TES). The ferrite-silane composite forms higher average size particles with MPTS than with VTES. Ferrite functionalized with VMe₂TES forms stable latexes with both PSt and PMMA polymers. PSt forms also stable latexes with ferrite functionalized with VTES but unstable with ferrite functionalized with MPTS.     

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa L. and Allium ursinum Extracts in a Cellular Model of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Natural products black cumin—Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and wild garlic—Allium ursinum (AU) are known for their potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk factors, including antracycline chemotherapy. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of N. sativa and AU water and methanolic extracts in a cellular model of doxorubicin (doxo)-induced cardiotoxicity. The extracts were characterized using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Antioxidant activity was evaluated on H9c2 cells. Cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) release was evaluated using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate (DHCF-DA) and mitochondria-targeted superoxide indicator (MitoSOX red), respectively. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was evaluated by flow cytometry. LC-MS analysis identified 12 and 10 phenolic compounds in NSS and AU extracts, respectively, with flavonols as predominant compounds. FT-IR analysis identified the presence of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids in both plants. GC-MS identified the sulfur compounds in the AU water extract. N. sativa seeds (NSS) methanolic extract had the highest antioxidant activity reducing both intracellular and mitochondrial ROS release. All extracts (excepting AU methanolic extract) preserved H9c2 cells viability. None of the investigated plants affected the mitochondrial membrane depolarization. N. sativa and AU are important sources of bioactive compounds with increased antioxidant activities, requiring different extraction solvents to obtain the pharmacological effects.     

Parahydrogen studies of H2 addition to Ir(I) complexes containing chiral phosphine-thioether ligands: implications for catalysis

Ir(CO)[CpFe{eta5-C5H3(PPh2)CH2SR}]Cl [R = Ph and (t)Bu], containing a kappa2:P,S ligand, undergoes H2 addition across the S-Ir-CO axis under kinetic control to form two distinct diastereoisomeric products, which then rearrange via S dissociation in a process that can be hijacked for useful catalysis, but ultimately form a single diastereoisomer of the thermodynamic product where the hydride ligands are trans to chloride and phosphine.     

Solution state structure determination of silicate oligomers by 29SI NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling

Evidence for nine new solution state silicate oligomers has been discovered by (29)Si NMR homonuclear correlation experiments of (29)Si-enriched samples. In addition to enhancing signal sensitivity, the isotopic enrichment increases the probability of the (29)Si-(29)Si two-bond scalar couplings that are necessary for the observation of internuclear correlations in 2-D experiments. The proposed assignments are validated by comparisons of experimental and simulated cross-peaks obtained with high digital resolution. The internuclear connectivity indicated by the NMR data suggests that several of these oligomers can have multiple stereoisomers, including conformers and/or diastereomers. The stabilities of these oligomers and their possible stereoisomers have been investigated by electronic structure calculations.     

Low-temperature fluorination of fluoro-containing polymers: EPR studies of polyvinylidenefluoride and the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with ethylene

The direct fluorination of polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with ethylene (CTE) was studied at 35-300 K. The dependence of radical formation on temperature and reaction time was obtained by use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Primary alkyl radicals formed as a result of the reaction of fluorine abstracting a hydrogen from the polymer were detected at 35 K. These radicals rapidly react with molecular oxygen producing long-lived (∼48 h at 300 K) peroxy radicals. The peroxy radicals when subjected to UV-irradiation (λ < 280 nm) give rise to other radicals that are not stable at T > 77 K. The concentration of the radicals produced during fluorination of PVDF at 77-200 K is one order of magnitude less than that formed from CTE under similar conditions. A mechanism based on the abstraction of the H and the energies of the C-H bonds is given. Density functional theory was used to predict the structures and EPR parameters for a number of fluorinated radicals to explain the observed spectra. The FOO radical was detected at low temperatures.     

Copper(II) complexes with ligands derived from 4-amino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one: synthesis and biological activity

The synthesis of Cu(II) complexes derived from Schiff base ligands obtained by the condensation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde or terephtalic aldehyde with 4-amino-antipyrine (4-amino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one) is presented. The newly prepared compounds were characterized by( 1)H-NMR, UV-VIS, IR and ESR spectroscopy. The determination of the antimicrobial activity of the ligands and of the complexes was carried out on samples of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter boumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida sp. The qualitative and quantitative antimicrobial activity test results proved that all the prepared complexes are very active, especially against samples of Ps. aeruginosa, A. Boumanii, E. coli and S. aureus.     

Low temperature synthesis of Co<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposite using a modified sol–gel method

The paper presents a study on the preparation of Co₂SiO₄/SiO₂ nanocomposites by a new modified sol–gel method. We have prepared gels starting from tetraethylorthosilicate (Si(OC₂H₅)₄), cobalt nitrate Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and some diols: ethylene glycol (C₂H₆O₂), 1,2propanediol (C₃H₈O₂) and 1,3propanediol (C₃H₈O₂), for a final composition: 30% CoO/70% SiO₂. During the heating of the gels at 140 °C, a redox reaction takes place between NO₃ ⁻ ions and diol with formation of some carboxylate anions. These carboxylate anions react with the Co(II) ions to form coordination compounds embedded in silica matrix, as evidenced by FT-IR spectrometry and thermal analysis. These Co(II) coordinative compounds thermally decompose in the range 250–300 °C to the corresponding oxides: CoO and/or Co₃O₄ inside the matrices pores. When CoO results, it reacts with SiO₂ at low temperature leading to Co₂SiO₄, which crystallizes at 700 °C. XRD patterns of the samples annealed at temperatures lower than 700 °C were characteristic to amorphous phases. The samples annealed at temperatures ≥700 °C, contain Co₂SiO₄ (olivine) as unique crystalline phase inside the amorphous silica matrix, according to XRD patterns. As evidenced by TEM images, Co₂SiO₄ nanoparticles are homogenously dispersed inside the silica matrix.     

Entrance effects at nanopores of nanocapsules functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) and their flow through nanochannels

We studied the effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the extrusion of large, multilamellar nanocapsules (also called liposomes or vesicles) through nanochannels with a length of 6 microm. For the generation of the nanocapsules, we used a lipid mixture with lecithin consisting of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)), cholesterol, and 2-8 mol % PEG linked to a lipid anchor (distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE)) or the plain lipid anchor without PEG. An increase in PEG leads to a decrease of the critical tension for nanocapsule rupture (lysis tension) between 20-30%, whereas the pure lipid anchor does not produce any differences. We interpret these findings to be produced by a partial intrusion of the polymeric chain into the phospholipid bilayer of the nanocapsule which weakens its tensile strength. We evaluate statistically the discrepancies of lysis tensions found for different channels widths (50-100 nm) and two or four channels in series. Comparing our results on the flow resistance of either nanocapsules or pure water with lubrication theory, we find that the calculated viscous forces are not sufficient to account for the measured friction of nanocapsules. This shows that the nanocapsules are decelerated in the nanochannels by van der Waals interactions between channel and capsule walls and the intermediate water layer. The strength of these forces is 24 times higher for PEG and 94 times higher for the pure lipid anchor than the respective calculated viscous forces alone, showing that nanocapsule flow in nanochannels cannot be considered under the classical continuum assumption of the intermediate water layer.     

Prediction of vibrational frequencies of UO2(2+) at the CCSD(T) level

Electronic structure calculations at the coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) and density functional theory levels with relativistic effective core potentials and large basis sets were used to predict the isolated uranyl ion frequencies. The effects of anharmonicity and spin-orbit corrections on the harmonic frequencies were calculated. The anharmonic effects are larger than the spin-orbit corrections, but both are small. The anharmonic effects decreased all the frequencies, whereas the spin-orbit corrections increased the stretches and decreased the bend. Overall, these two corrections decreased the harmonic asymmetric stretch frequency by 6 cm-1, the symmetric stretch by 3 cm-1, and the bend by 3 cm-1. The best calculated values for UO22+ for the asymmetric stretch, symmetric stretch, and bend were 1113, 1032, and 174 cm-1, respectively. The separation between the asymmetric and the symmetric stretch band origins was predicted to be 81 cm-1, which is consistent with experimental trends for substituted uranyls in solution and in the solid state. The anharmonic vibrational frequencies of the isoelectronic ThO2 molecule also were calculated and compared to experiment to calibrate the UO22+ results.