Synthesis and reactivity of a (mu-1,1-hydroperoxo)(mu-hydroxo)dicopper(II) complex: ligand hydroxylation by a bridging hydroperoxo ligand

A new tetradentate tripodal ligand (L3) containing sterically bulky imidazolyl groups was synthesized, where L3 is tris(1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-imidazolylmethyl)amine. Reaction of a bis(mu-hydroxo)dicopper(II) complex, [Cu2(L3)2(OH)2]2+ (1), with H2O2 in acetonitrile at -40 degrees C generated a (mu-1,1-hydroperoxo)dicopper(II) complex [Cu2(L3)2(OOH)(OH)]2+ (2), which was characterized by various physicochemical measurements including X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of 2 revealed that the complex cation has a Cu2(mu-1,1-OOH)(mu-OH) core and each copper has a square pyramidal structure having an N3O2 donor set with a weak ligation of a tertiary amine nitrogen in the apex. Consequently, one pendant arm of L3 in 2 is free from coordination, which produces a hydrophobic cavity around the Cu2(mu-1,1-OOH)(mu-OH) core. The hydrophobic cavity is preserved by hydrogen bondings between the hydroperoxide and the imidazole nitrogen of an uncoordinated pendant arm in one side and the hydroxide and the imidazole nitrogen of an uncoordinated pendant arm in the other side. The hydrophobic cavity significantly suppresses the H/D and 16O/18O exchange reactions in 2 compared to that in 1 and stabilizes the Cu2(mu-1,1-OOH)(mu-OH) core against decomposition. Decomposition of 2 in acetonitrile at 0 degrees C proceeded mainly via disproportionation of the hydroperoxo ligand and reduction of 2 to [Cu(L3)]+ by hydroperoxo ligand. In contrast, decomposition of a solid sample of 2 at 60 degrees C gave a complex having a hydroxylated ligand [Cu2(L3)(L3-OH)(OH)2]2+ (2-(L3-OH)) as a main product, where L3-OH is an oxidized ligand in which one of the methylene groups of the pendant arms is hydroxylated. ESI-TOF/MS measurement showed that complex 2-(L3-OH) is stable in acetonitrile at -40 degrees C, whereas warming 2-(L3-OH) at room temperature resulted in the N-dealkylation from L3-OH to give an N-dealkylated ligand, bis(1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-imidazolylmethyl)amine (L2) in approximately 80% yield based on 2, and 1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-formylimidazole (Phim-CHO). Isotope labeling experiments confirmed that the oxygen atom in both L3-OH and Phim-CHO come from OOH. This aliphatic hydroxylation performed by 2 is in marked contrast to the arene hydroxylation reported for some (mu-1,1-hydroperoxo)dicopper(II) complexes with a xylyl linker.     

Coordination assembled rings of ferrocene-bridged trisporphyrin with flexible hinge-like motion: selective dimer ring formation, its transformation to larger rings, and vice versa

Ferrocene-bridged trisporphyrin (2) was synthesized by two-steps condensation of corresponding aldehydes and dipyrromethanes, and its self-assembling behavior based on the complementary coordination motif of imidazolylporphyrinatozinc(II) was investigated in conjunction with hinge-like flexibility given by freely rotating cyclopentadienyl rings of ferrocene connector. Ferrocene-bridged trisporphyrin (2) spontaneously and exclusively generated the dimeric ring (7) upon simple zinc(II) insertion, indicating that the freely rotating hinge connector favored the smallest ring formation. Taking advantage of the unique hinge-like flexibility of ferrocene, we attempted to transform the dimer ring into a mixture of porphyrin macrocycles by reorganizing the structure cleaved once by pyridine. A series of porphyrin macrocycles from trimer to decamer can be separated into its components by preparative gel permeation chromatograms. Macrocycles obtained are kept stable in the absence of coordinating solvents. On the other hand, they were easily transformed to the dimer ring in the presence of coordinating solvents such as methanol, showing that the transformation is completely reversible and can be controlled by the choice of the solvent system. A series of porphyrin macrocycles was confirmed via covalent linking of each complementary coordination dimer pair by metathesis reaction in the presence of Grubbs's catalyst. The coordination behavior of the bidentate ligands with different spacer lengths toward the dimer ring revealed that only the bidentate ligand (15) with a spacer length that matched the facing central porphyrins was selectively accommodated inside the ring. Coordination assembled flexible rings with tunable cavities and multiple coordination sites will be used as versatile hosts for a wide variety of guest molecules.     

Spectrophotometric determination of iron(II) after separation by adsorption of its complex with 3-(4-phenyl-2-pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine and tetraphenylborate on microcrystalline naphthalene

Trace iron(II) is determined spectrophotometrically after adsorption of its ternary complex with 3-(4-phenyl-2-pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine and tetraphenylborate on microcrystalline naphthalene at pH 5.1–7.4. The absorption maximum is at 567 nm; the molar absorptivity is 2.9 × 10⁴lmole⁻¹cm⁻¹.     

Development and optimization of water treatment reactors using TiO2-modified polymer beads with a refractive index identical to that of water

Optical Review - Various water purification reactors were constructed using beads of TiO2-coated MEXFLON, which is a fluoropolymer exhibiting a refractive index identical to that of water. The...     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Iron(III) After Separation by Adsorption of its 2-Thenoyltrifluoroacetone Complex on Microcrystalline Naphthalene

Summary A new spectrophotometric method for the determination of iron (III) after adsorption of its red TTA complex onto microcrystalline naphthalene has been developed. Iron(III) reacts with 2-thenoyltri-fluoroacetone in pH range 2.4–5.2 to form a water-insoluble 13 red complex which is easily adsorbed onto microcrystalline naphthalene from its acetone solution. The naphthalene mixture is separated, dried and dissolved in 10 ml dioxane. The red organic phase has a plateau around 480–500 nm while the reagent has no absorbance beyond 420 nm. The system obeys Beer's law over 20–120g iron(III) in 10 ml of dioxane solution or 0.4–2.4 ppm aqueous. The molar absorptivity of the complex species is 3.9×10³·l·mol^–1·cm^–1, while the sensitivity for Fe(III) extends to 1.43×10^–2 g cm^–2 for 0.001 absorbance. Samples containing 80g of iron gave a relative standard deviation of 1.23%. The effects of experimental variables such as pH, amount of reagents, shaking and digestion time, aqueous volume and diverse ions have been examined. The method has been applied to the determination of iron(III) in standard reference and environmental samples and results compared with other standard colorimetric procedures.

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Spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Eisen(III) nach Adsorption seines 2-Thenoyltrifluoraceton-Komplexes an mikrokristallines Naphthalin

Zusammenfassung Eine neue spektrophotometrische Methode zur Bestimmung von Eisen (III) nach Adsorption seines roten TTA-Komplexes an mikrokristallines Naphthalin wurde ausgearbeitet. Fe(III) reagiert mit 2-Thenoyltrifluoraceton bei pH 2,4-5,2 unter Bildung eines roten, wasser-unlöslichen 13-Komplexes, der sich aus seiner acetonischen Lösung leicht an mikrokristallines Naphthalin adsorbieren läßt. Das Naphthalin-Gemisch wird abgetrennt, getrocknet und in 10 ml Dioxan gelöst. Die rote organische Phase hat ein Adsorptions-Plateau bei 480–500 nm, während das Reagens jenseits 420 nm nicht adsorbiert. Das System entspricht dem Beerschen Gesetz von 20–120g Fe(III) in 10 ml Dioxan-Lösung bzw. 0,4–2,4 ppm in wäßriger Lösung. Die molare Extinktion der Komplexverbindung beträgt 3,9× 10³l·mol^–1·cm^–1. Die Empfindlichkeit für Fe(III) entspricht 1,43×10^–2 g cm^–2 für 0,001 Absorptionseinheiten. Proben mit 80g Fe(III) zeigen eine rel. Standardabweichung von 1,23%. Die Wirkung variabler Versuchsbedingungen pH, Reagensmenge, Zeit, Volumen und diverse Fremdionen wurden geprüft. Das Verfahren wurde an Standardsubstanzen geprüft und seine Ergebnisse mit denen anderer kolorimetrischer Verfahren verglichen.

     

Morphological and structural features of heat-treated drawn polypropylene/high-density polyethylene blends

The ion etching technique has been applied to a morphological study of mechanically blended polypropylene (PP) with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Samples blended to PP/HDPE compositions of 65/35 and 85/15 by weight were highly drawn and then heat treated for 30 min at selected temperatures up to 163°C. When these samples are carefully ion-etched several features are observed in electron micrographs, namely (i) crosshatched, and (ii) twisted or layered textured inclusions of HDPE crystals within arrays of lamellalike PP crystals situated perpendicular to the direction of drawing. X-ray diffraction measurements of the drawn samples heat treated in the range 145–163°C for 30 min shows that oriented HDPE crystallizes with b-axis orientation along the drawing direction. Supporting evidence is obtained from electron diffraction measurements. The molecular weight of the HDPE component is a major factor in the b-axis-oriented growth of HDPE crystals in PP/HDPE blends.     

Tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene as a pH dependent artificial acetylcholine receptor

This communication describes the facile synthesis of tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene and its high and pH dependent affinities toward biologically important acetylcholine in the physiological pH region.     

Two novel cucurbitacins, neocucurbitacins A and B, from the Brazilian folk medicine "Buchinha" (Luffa operculata) and their effect on PEBP2alphaA and OCIF gene expression in a human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cell line

Two novel cucurbitacins designated as neocucurbitacins A (1), possessing inhibitory activity of polyoma enhancer binding protein 2alphaA (PEBP2alphaA) and osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory factor (OCIF) gene expression in human osteoblast-like cells, and B (2) were isolated from the fruit of Luffa operculata. Their structures have been determined by extensive spectroscopic investigation.