Design of Mononuclear Ruthenium Catalysts for Low‐Overpotential Water Oxidation

Water oxidation is a key reaction in natural photosynthesis and in many schemes for artificial photosynthesis. Inspired by energy challenges and the emerging understanding of photosystem II, the development of artificial molecular catalysts for water oxidation has become a highly active area of research in recent years. In this Focus Review, we describe recent achievements in the development of single‐site ruthenium catalysts for water oxidation with a particular focus on the overpotential of water oxidation. First, we introduce the general scheme to access the high‐valent ruthenium–oxo species, the key species of the water‐oxidation reaction. Next, the mechanisms of the O? O bond formation from the active ruthenium–oxo species are described. We then discuss strategies to decrease the onset potentials of the water‐oxidation reaction. We hope this Focus Review will contribute to the further development of efficient catalysts toward sustainable energy‐conversion systems.     

Physical aspects of heterogeneities in multi-component lipid membranes

Ever since the raft model for biomembranes has been proposed, the traditional view of biomembranes based on the fluid-mosaic model has been altered. In the raft model, dynamical heterogeneities in multi-component lipid bilayers play an essential role. Focusing on the lateral phase separation of biomembranes and vesicles, we review some of the most relevant research conducted over the last decade. We mainly refer to those experimental works that are based on physical chemistry approach, and to theoretical explanations given in terms of soft matter physics. In the first part, we describe the phase behavior and the conformation of multi-component lipid bilayers. After formulating the hydrodynamics of fluid membranes in the presence of the surrounding solvent, we discuss the domain growth-law and decay rate of concentration fluctuations. Finally, we review several attempts to describe membrane rafts as two-dimensional microemulsion.     

Hydrogen-bonded extended structure of the 1:3 adduct of a C3 symmetric cobalt(III) complex with a tripod-ligand involving three imidazolate groups and hydroquinone or resorcinol

The assembly reaction arising from hydrogen bonding between a chiral C3 symmetric cobalt(III) complex and a tripod-ligand involving three imidazolate groups [tris[2-(((2-methylimidazolato-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine]cobalt(III) and either hydroquinone or resorcinol gave the 1:3 adducts, with 3D extended structures showing the template effect of the complex.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction equilibrium of gallium(III) with 2-methyl-8-quinolinol and 2-methyl-5-butyloxymethyl-8-quinolinol

This work performed fundamental studies for the extraction of gallium(III) with 2-methyl-8-quinolinol (HMQ) and 2-methyl-5-butyloxymethyl-8-quinolinol (HMO(4)Q) into supercritical carbon dioxide (SF-CO(2)) from a weakly acidic solution. The distribution constants of HMO(4)Q between aqueous and SF-CO(2) phases were determined at 45 degrees C, 8.6-20.4 MPa and I=0.1 M (H, Na)NO(3) (M=mol dm(-3)). At 45 degrees C and 15.7 MPa, gallium(III) was hardly extracted with HMQ into SF-CO(2), but was quantitatively extracted with HMO(4)Q in the pH range of 2.20-2.84. The extraction constant, K(ex, SF-CO(2)) (=[Ga(OH)(MO(4)Q)(2)](SF-CO(2))[H(+)](3)[Ga(3+)](-1)[HMO(4)Q](SF-CO(2))(-2)), of gallium(III) with HMO(4)Q was determined to be 10(-2.6+/-0.1) at 45 degrees C, 15.7 MPa and I=0.1 M (H, Na)NO(3), which was 63 times larger than that in heptane at 45 degrees C and 0.10 MPa. It was also found that the addition of 3,5-dichlorophenol as a synergist enhanced the extractability of gallium(III) with HMO(4)Q into SF-CO(2).     

Syntheses, characterization, and photochemical properties of amidate-bridged Pt(bpy) dimers tethered to Ru(bpy)3(2+) derivatives

Amidate-bridged diplatinum(II) entities [Pt(2)(bpy)(2)(μ-amidato)(2)](2+) (amidate = pivalamidate and/or benzamidate; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) were covalently linked to one or two Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-type derivatives. An amide group was introduced at the periphery of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) derivatives to give metalloamide precursors [Ru(bpy)(2)(BnH)](2+) (abbreviated as RuBnH, n = 1 and 2), where deprotonation of amide BnH affords the corresponding amidate Bn, B1H = 4-(4-carbamoylphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine, and B2H = ethyl 4'-[N-(4-carbamoylphenyl)carbamoyl]-2,2'-bipyridine-4-carboxylate. From a 1:1:1 reaction of [Pt(2)(bpy)(2)(μ-OH)(2)](NO(3))(2), RuBnH, and pivalamide, trinuclear complexes [Pt(2)(bpy)(2)(μ-RuBn)(μ-pivalamidato)](4+) (abbreviated as RuBn-Pt(2)) were isolated and characterized. Tetranuclear complexes [Pt(2)(bpy)(2)(μ-RuBn)(2)](6+) (abbreviated as (RuBn)(2)-Pt(2)) were separately prepared and characterized in detail. The quenching of the triplet excited state of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) derivative (i.e., Ru*(bpy)(3)(2+)) upon tethering the Pt(2)(bpy)(2)(μ-amidato)(2)(2+) moiety is strongly enhanced in RuB1-Pt(2) and (RuB1)(2)-Pt(2), while it is only slightly enhanced in RuB2-Pt(2) and (RuB2)(2)-Pt(2). These are partly explained by the driving forces for the electron transfer from the Ru*(bpy)(3)(2+) moiety to the Pt(2)(bpy)(2)(μ-amidato)(2)(2+) moiety (ΔG°(ET)); the ΔG°(ET) values for RuB1-Pt(2), (RuB1)(2)-Pt(2), RuB2-Pt(2), and (RuB2)(2)-Pt(2) are estimated as -0.01, 0.00, +0.22, and +0.28 eV, respectively. The considerable difference in the photochemical properties of the B1- and B2-bridged systems were further examined based on the emission decay and transient absorption measurements, which gave results consistent with the above conclusions.     

Nickel-catalyzed selective conversion of two different aldehydes to cross-coupled esters

In the presence of a Ni(0)/NHC catalyst, an equimolar mixture of aliphatic and aryl aldehydes can be employed to selectively yield a single cross-coupled ester. This reaction can be applied to a variety of aliphatic (1°, 2°, cyc-2°, and 3°) and aryl aldehyde combinations. The reaction represents 100% atom efficiency and generates no waste. Mechanistic studies have revealed that the striking feature of the reaction is the simultaneous coordination of two aldehydes to Ni(0).     

Protein labeling with red squarylium dyes for analysis by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Two new red luminescent asymmetric squarylium dyes (designated "Red-1c and Red-3") have been shown to exhibit absorbance shifts to longer wavelengths upon the addition of protein, along with a concomitant increase in fluorescence emission. Specifically, the absorbance maxima for Red-1c and Red-3 dyes are 607 and 622 nm, respectively, in the absence of HSA, and 642 and 640 nm in the presence of HSA, making the excitation of their protein complexes feasible with inexpensive and robust diode lasers. Fluorescence emission maxima, in the presence of HSA, are 656 and 644 nm for Red-1c and Red-3, respectively. Because of the inherently low fluorescence of the dyes in their free state, Red-1c and Red-3 were used as on-column labels (that is, with the dye incorporated into the separation buffer), thus eliminating the need for sample derivatization prior to injection and separation. A comparison of precolumn and on-column labeling of proteins with these squarylium dyes revealed higher efficiencies and greater sensitivities for on-column labeling, which, when conducted with a basic, high-salt content buffer, permitted baseline resolution of a mixture of five model proteins. LOD for model proteins, such as transferrin, alpha-lactalbumin, BSA, and beta-lactoglobulin A and B, labeled with these dyes and analyzed by CE with LIF detection (CE-LIF) were found to be dependent upon dye concentration and solution pH, and are as low as 5 nM for BSA. Satisfactory linear relationships between peak height (or peak area) and protein concentration were obtained by CE-LIF for this on-column labeling method with Red-3 and Red-1c.     

Synthesis of 2-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives as modulators of multidrug resistance for tumor cells

We have investigated 3-substituted-2-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives and herein we have discussed their pharmaceutical activities. We found that some 2-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-b]-benzothiazoles could overcome multidrug resistance for tumor cells. Among them, 2-phenyl-3-(N-methyl-3-piperidyl)carbonylammomiinomemyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydVoimidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole [N276-12] demonstrated the most potent activity for overcoming multidrug resistance.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of centrosymmetric multinuclear nickel(II) complexes with neutral tetradentate N6-ligand

A neutral tetradentate ligand L1 [L1?=?3,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-pyridazine] reacts with Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O and undergoes counterion exchange with PF ^?₆ to give di- and tetranuclear complexes [Ni₂(L1)₂(CH₃CN)₄](PF₆)₄·4H₂O (1) and [Ni₄(L1)₄(µ-OH)₄](ClO₄)₄·2H₂O (2), respectively. The presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as base controls the nuclearity of the complex formation. Both complexes were structurally characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Their crystal structures revealed that both complexes are centrosymmetric and adopt slightly distorted octahedral geometry. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group C2/c as the Ni(II) center is octahedrally bound to L1 in a trans-isomer arrangement. Complex 2 crystallizes in tetragonal space group I4₁/amd with four L1 and four hydroxy bridging ligands linked to Ni(II) center in cis-isomer arrangement. Cyclic voltammograms of complexes 1 and 2 were measured under Ar and CO₂. Under CO₂, the quasireversible peaks of both complexes become irreversible and a current enhancement occurs under reduction.

     

Simulation of solid–fluid mixture flow using moving particle methods

A new basic framework for solid–fluid mixture flow simulation was developed using moving particle methods. The interactions between solid and fluid were modeled by the finite volume particle (FVP) method. The distinct element method (DEM) together with a multi-time-step algorithm was introduced into the FVP method to calculate the effects of contact between solid bodies and between solid bodies and walls. The introduced DEM model was verified by experimental analyses for the collapse of multiple solid cylinder layers. The proposed algorithm using the optimized DEM model was then applied to a water dam breaking, involving multiple solid cylinder layers. A comparison between experiments and simulations demonstrated the DEM model introduced into the FVP method is effective in representing solid–fluid mixture flows reasonably well.