New Molybdenyl Iodates: Hydrothermal Preparation and Structures of Molecular K2MoO2(IO3)4 and Two-Dimensional β-KMoO3(IO3)

Two new molybdenyl iodates, K₂MoO₂(IO₃)₄ (1) and β-KMoO₃(IO₃) (2), have been prepared from the reactions of MoO₃ with KIO₄ and NH₄Cl at 180°C in aqueous media. The structure of 1 consists of molecular [MoO₂(IO₃)₄]²⁻ anions separated by K⁺ cations. The Mo(VI) centers are ligated by two cis-oxo ligands and four monodentate iodate anions. Both terminal and bridging oxygen atoms of the iodate anions form long ionic contacts with the K⁺ cations. β-KMoO₃(IO₃) (2) displays a two-dimensional layered structure constructed from ²_∞[(MoO₃(IO₃)]¹⁻ anionic sheets separated by K⁺ cations. These sheets are built from one-dimensional chains formed from corner-sharing MoO₆ octahedra that run along the b-axis that are linked together through bridging iodate groups. K⁺ cations separate the layers from one another and form long contacts with oxygen atoms from both the iodate anions and molybdenyl moieties. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=12.8973(9) Å, b=6.0587(4) Å, c=17.694(1) Å, β=102.451(1)°, Z=4, MoKα, λ=0.71073, R(F)=2.64% for 97 parameters with 1584 reflections with I>2σ(I); 2, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=7.4999(6) Å, b=7.4737(6) Å, c=10.5269(8) Å, β=109.023(1)°, Z=4, MoKα, λ=0.71073, R(F)=2.73% for 83 parameters with 1334 reflections with I>2σ(I).     

Measurement of cell migration on surface-bound fibronectin gradients

A novel technique for the quantitative observation of cell migration along linear gradient substrates functionalized with adhesive proteins is presented. Gradients of the cell adhesion molecule fibronectin are generated by the cross diffusion of functionalizable alkanethiols on gold and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. Two distinct migration assays are described that characterize the movement of either sparsely populated noncontacting cells or a confluent monolayer of cells into free space. The drift speed of bovine aortic endothelial cells is measured and shown to increase along a fibronectin gradient when compared to a uniform control substrate using both assays. The results of these experiments establish reproducible conditions for studies of cell migration on gradients of surface-bound ligands.     

On the choice of active space orbitals in MCSCF calculations

We describe a procedure which may be used to aid selection of the active space in multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) calculations for general chemical systems. Starting from a restricted Hartree-Fock calculation, we define a hierarchy of interacting virtual orbitals for every occupied orbital. The most strongly interacting orbitals are then taken to constitute the active space in a configuration interaction (CI) calculation. The natural orbital occupation numbers obtained from the CI calculation are then used to choose the active space to be used in a subsequent MCSCF calculation. We illustrate our method on a number of systems (Li₂, B₂, C₂, carbonyl oxide and the transition state for oxidation of H₂S by dioxirane). In all these cases, ‘intuitive’ active spaces are inadequate, as are active spaces derived from the natural orbitals of unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations.     

Competitive decay at two- and three-state conical intersections in excited-state intramolecular proton transfer

We demonstrate the existence of a simultaneous degeneracy (not required by symmetry) of three electronic states in malonaldehyde. This is one of the first reports of such a triple degeneracy involving S0, S1, and S2 in a molecule with a closed-shell ground state. We further report on a two-state S2/S1 conical intersection which is higher in energy than the three-state intersection, but closer to the Franck-Condon point. First-principles quantum dynamics calculations of the photochemistry after excitation to S2 show that there is a competition between these intersections, with more than half of the population decaying to S1 through the higher energy S2/S1 intersection. Surprisingly, much of the population which makes it to the triple degeneracy point is not funneled directly to S0, but rather remains trapped on S1. We attribute this to the large dimensionality of the branching plane at a three-state intersection (the degeneracy is lifted along at least five distinct molecular displacements).     

Coligand role in the NHC nickel catalyzed C–F bond activation: investigations on the insertion of bis(NHC) nickel into the C–F bond of hexafluorobenzene

The reaction of [Ni(Mes₂Im)₂] (1) (Mes₂Im = 1,3-dimesityl-imidazolin-2-ylidene) with polyfluorinated arenes as well as mechanistic investigations concerning the insertion of 1 and [Ni(ⁱPr₂Im)₂] (1ipr) (ⁱPr₂Im = 1,3-diisopropyl-imidazolin-2-ylidene) into the C–F bond of C₆F₆ is reported. The reaction of 1 with different fluoroaromatics leads to formation of the nickel fluoroaryl fluoride complexes trans-[Ni(Mes₂Im)₂(F)(Ar^F)] (Ar^F = 4-CF₃-C₆F₄2, C₆F₅3, 2,3,5,6-C₆F₄N 4, 2,3,5,6-C₆F₄H 5, 2,3,5-C₆F₃H₂6, 3,5-C₆F₂H₃7) in fair to good yields with the exception of the formation of the pentafluorophenyl complex 3 (less than 20%). Radical species and other diamagnetic side products were detected for the reaction of 1 with C₆F₆, in line with a radical pathway for the C–F bond activation step using 1. The difluoride complex trans-[Ni(Mes₂Im)₂(F)₂] (9), the bis(aryl) complex trans-[Ni(Mes₂Im)₂(C₆F₅)₂] (15), the structurally characterized nickel(i) complex trans-[Ni^I(Mes₂Im)₂(C₆F₅)] (11) and the metal radical trans-[Ni^I(Mes₂Im)₂(F)] (12) were identified. Complex 11, and related [Ni^I(Mes₂Im)₂(2,3,5,6-C₆F₄H)] (13) and [Ni^I(Mes₂Im)₂(2,3,5-C₆F₃H₂)] (14), were synthesized independently by reaction of trans-[Ni(Mes₂Im)₂(F)(Ar^F)] with PhSiH₃. Simple electron transfer from 1 to C₆F₆ was excluded, as the redox potentials of the reaction partners do not match and [Ni(Mes₂Im)₂]⁺, which was prepared independently, was not detected. DFT calculations were performed on the insertion of [Ni(ⁱPr₂Im)₂] (1ipr) and [Ni(Mes₂Im)₂] (1) into the C–F bond of C₆F₆. For 1ipr, concerted and NHC-assisted pathways were identified as having the lowest kinetic barriers, whereas for 1, a radical mechanism with fluoride abstraction and an NHC-assisted pathway are both associated with almost the same kinetic barrier.

A combined experimental and theoretical study on the mechanism of the C–F bond activation of C₆F₆ with [Ni(NHC)₂] is provided.     

Chiral imides as potential chiroptical switches: synthesis and optical properties

A series of chiral aromatic imides and diimides were synthesized and their electrochemical, absorption, fluorescent, and chiroptical properties were examined for their potential application as molecular chiroptical switches. These compounds exhibit strong UV-vis absorptions, and can be electrochemically reduced to radical anions that absorb in the near infrared (NIR) region. Further reduction to the dianionic states results in new absorptions in the visible region. The changes in circular dichroism upon redox switching were apparent in the UV-vis region but were absent in the NIR region.     

Response Characteristics of Arsenic-Sensitive Bioreporters Expressing the gfp Reporter Gene

This paper describes the development of an analytical technique for arsenic analyses that is based on genetically-modified bioreporter bacteria bearing a gene encoding for the production of a green fluorescent protein (gfp). Upon exposure to arsenic (in the aqueous form of arsenite), the bioreporter production of the fluorescent reporter molecule is monitored spectroscopically. We compared the response measured as a function of time and concentration by steady-state fluorimetry (SSF) to that measured by epi-fluorescent microscopy (EFM). SSF is a bulk technique; as such it inherently yields less information, whereas EFM monitors the response of many individual cells simultaneously and data can be processed in terms of population averages or subpopulations. For the bioreporter strain used here, as well as for the literature we cite, the two techniques exhibit similar performance characteristics. The results presented here show that the EFM technique can compete with SSF and shows substantially more promise for future improvement; it is a matter of research interest to develop optimized methods of EFM image analysis and statistical data treatment. EFM is a conduit for understanding the dynamics of individual cell response vs. population response, which is not only a matter of research interest, but is also promising in the practical terms of developing micro-scale analysis.     

Analysis of partially resolved liquid chromatographic peaks using dynamic modeling with the kalman filter

Establishing a calibration model is an important part of any mathematical method for multi-component determination. Use of a calibration model based on single spectra is subject to error, because the model spectrum chosen may not be representative of the response over the full range of the calibration. Alternative calibration models require more time to establish calibration, an these may not be convenient for real-time determinations. A novel calibration method is reported for use with Kalman filters. The method, dynamic modeling, is based on the use of libraries of calibration spectra. The set of used to describe the model at any time is based on component concentrations, estimated for the multi-component mixture, as determined from the Kalman filter, so that several spectra can be used to best describe a varying response. Through application of the dynamic modelingt to simulated and real chromatograms, it is demonstrated that use of the method decreases estimation errors cause by model data mismatches, and that full benefit can be obtained from relatively small libraries.     

Structural models of the bimetallic subunit at the A-cluster of acetyl coenzyme a synthase/CO dehydrogenase: binuclear sulfur-bridged Ni-Cu and Ni-Ni complexes and their reactions with CO

The Ni(II)-dicarboxamido-dithiolato complexes (Et4N)2[Ni(NpPepS)] (1) and (Et4N)2[Ni(PhPepS)] (2) were used as Nid metallosynthons in the construction of higher nuclearity dinuclear Ni-Cu and Ni-Ni species to model the bimetallic Mp-Nid site of the A-cluster of acetyl coenzyme A synthase/CO dehydrogenase (ACS/CODH). Reaction of 1 with [Cu(neo)Cl] and [Ni(terpy)Cl2] in MeCN affords the dinuclear complexes (Et4N)[Cu(neo)Ni(NpPepS)] (3) and [Ni(terpy)Ni(NpPepS)] (4), respectively. Reaction of 2 with [Ni(dppe)Cl2] in MeCN yields [Ni(dppe)Ni(PhPepS)] (6). The Ni-Cu complex 3 exhibits no redox chemistry at the Nid site and no reaction with CO. In contrast, the Nip sites in 4 and 6 are readily reduced (characterized by their Ni(I) EPR spectra) and bind CO, exhibiting nuco bands at 2044 and 1997 cm-1, respectively, indicating terminal CO binding. The present Ni-Ni systems replicate the structural and chemical properties of the A-cluster site in ACS/CODH and support the presence of Ni at Mp in the catalytically active enzyme.     

Theoretical Definition of a Functional Group and the Molecular Orbital Paradigm

It is the purpose of this review to demonstrate that the empirical classification of the observations of chemistry in terms of the properties assigned to functional groups is a consequence of and is predicted by physics. This is accomplished by showing that the atoms and functional groups of chemistry can be identified with bounded space-filling objects whose properties are defined by quantum mechanics. The quantum mechanical definition of a group is combined with a new pictorial representation of its form to obtain a unified picture which should make it eminently recognizable to chemists. This picture, when combined with the demonstrated ability of these groups to recover the measured properties of atoms in molecules, is offered as one which meets the expectations a chemist associates with the concept of a functional group. The manner in which this physical definition of a group differs fundamentally from models of functional groups based upon molecular orbital theory is discussed.