Structural diversity and supramolecular aggregation in calcium, strontium, and barium salicylates incorporating 1,10-phenanthroline and 4,4'-bipyridine: probing the softer side of group 2 metal ions with pyridinic ligands

Group 2 metal complexes [Ca(SA)2(phen)]n (1), [Sr2(SA)4(phen)4] (2), and [Ba(SA)2(phen)2]n (3) (SA = salicylate) have been obtained by the addition of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) to the corresponding metal salicylates, while the bipyridine derivatives {[Ca3(SA)6(H2O)4](4bpy)2}n (4), {[Sr(SA)2(H2O)3](4bpy)1.5(H2O)}n (5), and {[Ba(SA)2(H2O)3]-(4bpy)1.5(H2O)}n (6) have been synthesized starting from the respective metal carbonates, salicylic acid (SA-H), and 4,4'-bipyridine (4bpy). The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, pH measurements, thermal analysis, and spectroscopic measurements (IR, NMR, ultraviolet, and fluorescence). Molecular structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction has been carried out for all the compounds. The thermal analysis studies indicate the loss of coordinated and/or lattice water molecules below 200 degrees C in 4-6 and the absence of any coordinated or uncoordinated water molecules in compounds 1-3. Compounds 1 and 3-6 exist as one-dimensional polymers while compound 2 crystallizes as a discrete dimer. Considerable variations have been observed in the molecular structures of 1-6 in terms of the geometry around the metal, the binding mode of salicylate, and the coordination behavior of the pyridine ligand. Calcium ion is hexacoordinated in 1, while in 4 both hexa- and heptacoordinated calcium ions are simultaneously present. Strontium exhibits coordination numbers of nine and eight in 2 and 5, respectively. The barium ions in 3 and 6 assume coordination numbers of eight and seven, respectively. While the OH group of the salicylate ligand does not directly bind the metal in 1-3, it coordinates to the metal ions in complexes in 4-6 in the un-ionized form. The 4bpy molecules show no direct ligation to the metal in 4-6; the phen ligands in 1-3, however, occupy one side of the coordination sphere around the metal. The presence of additional O-H...O, C-H...O, and N-H...O hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking in these compounds results in the formation of polymeric structures. The results obtained for the calcium complexes in this study have been compared with the available data in structural calcium chemistry with the aid of a detailed analysis of the Cambridge Structural Database.     

Conformationally locked bridged bicyclic diselenides: synthesis, structure, Se...O interaction, and theoretical studies

A general synthetic methodology has been developed for the synthesis of a conformationally locked, bridged diselena-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton by regio- and stereospecific tandem nucleophilic ring opening of cis-1,4-aziridino-epoxides with tetraethylammonium tetraselenotungstate [Et4N]2WSe4, 1, in a one-pot synthesis. Some correlations have been made on the physicochemical characteristics of the diselenides with a change in the dihedral angles.     

Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of beta-sulfonamidodisulfides and beta-sulfonamidosulfides from aziridines using tetrathiomolybdate as a sulfur transfer reagent

A comprehensive study of a general and effective one-step procedure for the synthesis of beta-sulfonamidodisulfides directly from N-tosyl aziridines in a regio- and stereospecific manner under neutral conditions without the use of any Lewis acid or base has been reported. This methodology is extended to the synthesis of an optically pure cyclic seven-membered disulfide 29. Synthesis of a variety of beta-sulfonamidosulfides involving tandem, multistep reactions in one pot is also reported.     

Influence of alkyl chain length on phosphate self-assembled monolayers

A series of alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C10 to C18 have been synthesized. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were prepared on titanium oxide surfaces by immersion of the substrates in alkyl phosphate solutions of 0.5 mM concentration in n-heptane/isopropanol. The SAMs were characterized by means of dynamic water contact angle (dCA) measurements, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). A higher degree of order and packing density within the monolayers was found for alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths exceeding 15 carbon atoms. This is reflected in a lower dCA hysteresis, as well as a film thickness measured by VASE and XPS close to the expected values for SAMs with an average alkyl chain tilt angle of 30 degrees to the surface normal. Additionally a shift of the symmetric and antisymmetric C-H stretching modes in the PM-IRRAS spectra to lower wave numbers was observed. These findings imply a higher two-dimensional crystallinity of the films derived from alkyl phosphates with a longer alkyl chain length.     

A dual-phase oscillatory behavior in Belousov–Zhabotinsky system with vanillin as the substrate

Dual-phase oscillations are observed in Belousov–Zhabotinsky system with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin) as the substrate and manganous sulphate or ammonium Ce(IV) sulphate as the catalyst. The nonoscillatory period of time between the two phases decreases with increase in the concentration of the catalyst and the substrate. Under uncatalyzed and ferroin catalyzed conditions the system exhibits single-phase oscillations. The first-phase oscillations are due to vanillin whereas the second-phase oscillations are brought about by 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (vanillic acid) formed during the course of the first-phase reactions. The reactions are explained with relevant steps of the FKN mechanism. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J. Chem. Kinet 30: 201–206, 1998.     

A study of Src SH2 domain protein-phosphopeptide binding interactions by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The noncovalent binding of various peptide ligands to pp60^src (Src) SH2 (Src homology 2) domain protein (12.9 ku) has been used as a model system for development of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) as a tool to study noncovalently bound complexes. SH2 motifs in proteins are critical in the signal transduction pathways of the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors and recognize phosphotyrosine-containing proteins and peptides. ESI-MS with a magnetic sector instrument and array detection has been used to detect the protein-peptide complex with low-picomole sensitivity. The relative abundances of the multiply charged ions for the complex formed between Src SH2 protein and several nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated peptides have been compared. The mass spectrometry data correlate well to the measured binding constants derived from solution-based methods, indicating that the mass spectrometry-based method can be used to assess the affinity of such interactions. Solution-phase equilibrium constants may be determined by measuring the amount of bound and unbound species as a function of concentration for construction of a Scatchard graph. ESI-MS of a solution containing Src SH2 with a mixture of phosphopeptides showed the expected protein-phosphopeptide complex as the dominant species in the mass spectrum, demonstrating the method’s potential for screening mixtures from peptide libraries.     

Controlling the Structure of Manganese(II) Phosphates by the Choice and Ratio of Organophosphate and Auxiliary Ligands

Tetranuclear manganese(II) phosphates [Mn(dipp)(bpy)]₄?4 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Mn₄(dmpp)₂(dmppH)₄(bpy)₄(H₂O)₂]?H₂O ( 2 ) have been prepared from Mn(OAc)₂?4 H₂O and 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH₂) or 2,6‐dimethylphenyl phosphate (dmppH₂) in the presence of 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy). In contrast, the reaction between [Mn(bpy)₂(OAc)(ClO₄)]?H₂O and dippH₂ affords [Mn(bpy)₂(dippH)]₂?2 ClO₄?2 CH₃OH ( 3 ). The reactions of Mn(OAc)₂?4 H₂O, dippH₂, and pyridine (py) or 3,5‐dimethylpyrazole (dmpz) in CH₃CN under reflux afford hexanuclear complexes [Mn₆(dipp)₆(py)₈]?2CH₃CN ( 4 ) and [Mn₆(dipp)₆(dmpz)₆(AcOH)₂]?2 H₂O ( 5 ), respectively. Although compounds 1 and 2 are tetrameric, the former is a closed cubane‐like structure resembling the D4R secondary building unit of zeolites, whereas the latter exists in a staircase structure with fused Mn₂O₄P₂ rings. The core structure of 3 contains a Mn₂O₄P₂ eight‐membered ring that resembles the S4R building block of zeolites. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies reveal that compounds 4 and 5 have a similar core structure and differ from each other by the neutral ligands coordinated to manganese ions. All six phosphate ligands exist in a doubly deprotonated [(RO)PO₃^2?] form and exhibit two types of binding modes [5.222] and [3.111]. An interesting feature of compounds 1 – 5 is that although they are oligonuclear complexes, there is an absence of oxido bridges. The magnetic properties of compounds 1 – 5 have been investigated in the temperature range 5–298 K, and it was found that all the compounds obey the Curie law.     

High-speed camera study of Stage III crack propagation in chemically strengthened glass

Thermally or chemically strengthened glass is more resistant to damage and breakage compared to non-strengthened glass. Both strengthening mechanisms are based on incorporation of a compressive stress profile in the surface of the glass, which must be balanced by an equivalent amount of integrated tensile stress in the interior of the glass. This tensile stress is believed to affect the kinetics of Stage III crack propagation upon fracture of the sample. In this study, we use a high-speed camera to perform direct measurement of the kinetics of Stage III fracture in a strengthened glass sample. Data including crack propagation speed, crack bifurcation distance, and bifurcation angles are collected at a rate of 500,000 frames per second and then characterized. The authors believe that these data will provide a foundation for understanding the physics of Stage III fracture in strengthened glass samples.