Synthesis of a novel family of water-soluble 2H,3H-[1,3]thia- and -selenazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ium heterocycles by annulation reactions

Regioselective synthesis of a novel family of water-soluble 2H,3H-[1,3]chalcogenazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-4-ium derivatives was developed based on 2-pyridinesulfenyl and -selenenyl halides and unsaturated compounds. The annulation reactions with divinyl sulfide, selenide and N-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one led to addition of the chalcogen atom to the terminal carbon of the double bond whereas the reaction with tetravinylsilane proceeded with opposite regiochemistry. Tricyclic condensed heterocycles were obtained from 2,3-dihydrofuran and cycloalkenes. The products represent novel promising scaffolds for organic synthesis and possible drug discovery.     

Comparison of reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for analysis of dietary tocopherols

ESI and APCI ionization techniques in both negative and positive ion modes were evaluated for simultaneous LC-MS analysis of the four tocopherol homologues (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). The ESI and APCI ionization of tocopherols in positive ion mode was not efficient and proceeded via two competitive mechanisms, with the formation of protonated pseudo-molecular ions and molecular ions, which adversely influenced the repeatability of MS signal. Ionization in negative ion mode in both ESI and APCI was more efficient as it only produced target deprotonated pseudo-molecular ions. The APCI in negative ion mode showed larger linearity range, lower detection limits and was less sensitive to the differences in chemical structure of analytes and nature of applied solvents than negative ion ESI. Negative ion APCI was, therefore, chosen for the development of LC-MS method for simultaneous determination of the four tocopherols in foods. A baseline separation of the tocopherols was achieved on novel pentafluorophenyl silica-based column Fluophase PFP. The use of methanol-water (95:5, v/v) as a mobile phase was preferable to the use of acetonitrile-water due to considerable gain in MS signal. The limits of quantifications were 9 ng/mL for alpha-tocopherol, 8 ng/mL for beta- and gamma- and 7.5 ng/mL for delta-tocopherol when 2 microL was injected. This method was successfully applied to determination of tocopherols in sunflower oil and milk.     

Role of the ancillary ligand N,N-dimethylaminoethanol in the sensitization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence in dimeric beta-diketonates

Two types of dimeric complexes [Ln2(hfa)6(mu2-O(CH2)2NHMe2)2] and [Ln(thd)2(mu2,eta2-O(CH2)2NMe2)]2 (Ln = YIII, EuIII, GdIII, TbIII, TmIII, LuIII; hfa- = hexafluoroacetylacetonato, thd- = dipivaloylmethanato) are obtained by reacting [Ln(hfa)3(H2O)2] and [Ln(thd)3], respectively, with N,N-dimethylaminoethanol in toluene and are fully characterized. X-ray single crystal analysis performed for the TbIII compounds confirms their dimeric structure. The coordination mode of N,N-dimethylaminoethanol depends on the nature of the beta-diketonate. In [Tb2(hfa)6(mu2-O(CH2)2NHMe2)2], eight-coordinate TbIII ions adopt distorted square antiprismatic coordination environments and are O-bridged by two zwitterionic N,N-dimethylaminoethanol ligands with a Tb1...Tb2 separation of 3.684(1) A. In [Tb(thd)2(mu2,eta2-O(CH2)2NMe2)]2, the N,N-dimethylaminoethanol acts as chelating-bridging O,N-donor anion and the TbIII ions are seven-coordinate; the Tb1...Tb1A separation amounts to 3.735(2) A within centrosymmetric dimers. The dimeric complexes are thermally stable up to 180 degrees C, as shown by thermogravimetric analysis, and their volatility is sufficient for quantitative sublimation under reduced pressure. The EuIII and TbIII dimers display metal-centered luminescence, particularly [Eu2(hfa)6(O(CH2)2NHMe2)2] (quantum yield Q(L)Ln = 58%) and [Tb(thd)2(O(CH2)2NMe2)]2 (32%). Consideration of energy migration paths within the dimers, based on the study of both pure and EuIII- or TbIII-doped (0.01-0.1 mol %) LuIII analogues, leads to the conclusion that both the beta-diketone and N,N-dimethylaminoethanol ligands contribute significantly to the sensitization process of the EuIII luminescence. The ancillary ligand increases considerably the luminescence of [Eu2(hfa)6(O(CH2)2NHMe2)2], compared to [Ln(hfa)3(H2O)2], through the formation of intra-ligand states while it is detrimental to TbIII luminescence in both beta-diketonates. Thin films of the most luminescent compound [Eu2(hfa)6(O(CH2)2NHMe2)2] obtained by vacuum sublimation display photophysical properties analogous to those of the solid-state sample, thus opening perspectives for applications in electroluminescent devices.     

Polymerization and Catalytic Properties of Cluster-Containing Monomers and Polymers

Summary : Cluster-containing monomers were obtained and characterized. Mono- and disubstituted products were obtained under mild conditions via the interaction of Rh₆(CO)₁₆ with 4-vinylpyridine (4-VPy). Substitution of labile acetonitrile ligand in Rh₆(CO)₁₅NCMe by allyldiphenylphosphine (AlPPh₂) yields Rh₆(CO)₁₄(µ,η²-PPh₂CH₂CHCH₂) with formation of π-complex. The copolymerization of cluster-containing monomers synthesized with traditional monomers has been studied. It was found that Rh₆- containing monomers change neither the ligand surroundings nor the structure of cluster monomer framework during polymerization reaction. Polymer-immobilized clusters were found to be active in hydrogenation reactions of cyclohexene.     

Ab initio properties of Li-group-II molecules for ultracold matter studies

We perform a systematic investigation of the electronic properties of the (2)Σ(+) ground state of Li-alkaline-earth dimers. These molecules are proposed as possible candidates for quantum simulation of lattice-spin models. We apply powerful quantum chemistry coupled-cluster method and large basis sets to calculate potential energies and permanent dipole moments for the LiBe, LiMg, LiCa, LiSr, and LiYb molecules. Agreement of calculated molecular constants with existing experimental data is better than or equal to 8%. Our results reveal a surprising irregularity in the dissociation energy and bond length with an increase in the reduced mass of the molecule. At the same time, the permanent dipole moment at the equilibrium separation has the smallest value between 0.01 a.u. and 0.1 a.u. for the heaviest (LiSr and LiYb) molecules and increases to 1.4 a.u. for the lightest (LiBe), where 1 a.u. is one atomic unit of dipole moment. We consider our study of the (2)Σ(+) molecules a first step towards a comprehensive analysis of their interactions in an optical trap.     

OpticalIy Pumped Chemiluminescence of Indole-3-Acetic Acid

Optically pumped chemiluminescence of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was observed and studied. Rose Bengal (RB) was used as a photosensitizer. Long-lived chemiluminescence (CL) appeared after irradiation of the IAA/RB reaction mixture by monochromatic light at 550 nm (the maximum of RB absorption) or by visible light. The CL spectrum had a maximum at 480 nm. The kinetics of the CL decay were single exponential. Single-exponential kinetics were characterized by two experimentally measured values: initial CL intensity and exponential lifetime of the CL decay. We studied the influence of five parameters: (1) the rate of irradiation fluence, (2) the time of irradiation, (3) RIB concentration, (4) IAA concentration and (5) buffer pH on the initial CL intensity and the CL lifetime. Initial CL intensity was proportional to the rate of irradiation fluence and the concentration of RB. Saturation was observed in dependencies of initial CL intensity on the time of irradiation, the concentration of IAA and the buffer pH. The lifetime of the CL decay decreased with increasing pH and did not depend on the other four parameters. The mechanism explaining the experimental results was suggested and detailed kinetic analysis was performed to prove the proposed mechanism. Quantum yield of the CL and five rate constants that are involved in the mechanism were determined.     

Dinuclear 3D metal complexes based on a carbacylamidophosphate ligand: redetermination of the ligand crystal structure

Dinuclear Ni(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes of general formula $ \left[ {{\text{M}}_{ 2}^{\text{II}} {\text{Cl}}_{ 4} \left( {\text{HL}} \right)_{ 4} \left( {\text{i-PrOH}} \right)_{ 2} \cdot 2\left( {\text{i-PrOH}} \right)} \right] $ with a carbacylamidophosphate ligand, namely 2,2,2-trichloro-N-(dipiperidine-1-yl-phosphoryl)acetamide (CCl₃C(O)N(H)P(O)[N(CH₂)₅]₂), were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Electronic absorption spectra of the nickel and cobalt complexes were measured at room temperature in toluene and in the solid state. The crystal structures of HL and [Ni₂Cl₄(HL)₄(i-PrOH)₂·2(i-PrOH)] have been determined by single-crystal XRD studies. Earlier, the structure of a monoclinic C2/c modification of HL was reported. In this paper, redetermination of the structure of HL with triclinic crystal system, P $ \overline{1} $ , was made. The nickel complex is a chloro-bridged dimer, in which the Ni(II) centers are in a distorted octahedral geometry and the neutral HL is coordinated via its phosphoryl oxygen atom. This coordination mode was determined for the first time for 3D metal carbacylamidophosphate complexes.     

General Synthesis of 1‐Substituted 2‐Methylbenzimidazoles from Ketones and 2‐Aminoacetanilide

A novel method for preparation of 1‐substituted benzimidazoles via reductive amination of ketones with N‐differentiated 1,2‐diaminobenzenes is described. The method appears to be general in application to acyclic and cyclic ketones, as well as heteroatom‐substituted cyclic ketones.     

The Preorganization Effect of the Calix[4]arene Platform on the Extraction Properties of Acetylhydrazide Groups with Transition Metal Ions

The binding properties of the cone conformer of O,O,O,O-tetrakis[hydrazinocarbonylmethyl]-4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, the cone and the 1,3-alternate conformers of the corresponding thia analogue have been evaluated by means of liquid–liquid extraction for a large variety of metal ions. The extraction constants and the stoichiometries of the complexes formed have been determined. Comparison of the extraction properties of calix[4]arenes with their acyclic monomeric analogue clearly demonstrated, that the preorganization of acetylhydrazide groups on the calix[4]arene platform is the cause for a significant improvement of its binding properties. The presence of additional “soft” nitrogen binding sites in acetylhydrazide derivatives of calix[4]arenes compared to their amide derivatives leads to a shift from their classical selectivity for alkali and alkaline earth cations to transition metals. The cone conformer of tetrathiacalix[4]arene shows higher selectivity in a series of d-metal ions compared with its “classical” analogue. The 1,3-alternate conformer exhibits an excellent extraction selectivity for Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺.     

Apertureless near-field laser nanotechnology

We consider apertureless near-field optics that provides subwavelength resolution. We study the enhancement of the electromagnetic field near nanospheres and under the tip of a scanning probe microscope using the finite difference time-domain (FDTD) method. We discuss the mechanisms of field enhancement connected with the system geometry (“lightning rod effect”) and resonance excitation of local plasmon eigenmodes for different materials of the tip and various geometrical parameters of the system. We describe the possible applications in nano-optics and nanotechnology. We present the experimental achievements in apertureless near-field nanolithography.