Electroactive thiazole derivatives capped with ferrocenyl units showing charge-transfer transition and selective ion-sensing properties: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The synthesis, optical and electrochemical properties, and X-ray characterization of two thiazole derivatives capped by ferrocenyl groups (5 and 7) and their model compounds with one ferrocenyl, either at 2 or 5 position of the mono- or bis-thiazolyl rings (3, 9, 11, and 14), are presented. Bisferrocenyl thiazole 5 forms the mixed-valence species 5*+ by partial oxidation which, interestingly, shows an intramolecular electron-transfer phenomenon. Moreover, the reported heteroaromatic compounds show selective ion-sensing properties. Thus, ferrocenylthiazoles linked across the 5 position of the heteroaromatic ring are selective chemosensors for Hg2+ and Pb2+ metal ions; 5-ferrocenylthiazole 3 operates through two channels, optical and redox, for Hg2+ and only optical for Pb2+, whereas 1,1'-bis(thiazolyl)ferrocene 14 is only an optical sensor for both metal ions. Moreover, complex 3 behaves as an electrochemically induced switchable chemosensor because of the low metal-ion affinity of the oxidized 3*+ species. On the other hand, ferrocenylthiazole 9, in which the heterocyclic ring and the ferrocene group are linked across the 2 position, is a selective redox sensor for Hg2+ metal ions, and it responds optically, as does bis(thiazolyl)ferrocene 11, to a narrow range of cations (Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+). Finally, bis(ferrocenyl)thiazole 5 is a dual optical and redox sensor for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+, whereas bis(ferrocenyl) compound 7, bearing a bis(thiazole) unit as a bridge, is only a chromogenic sensor for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+. The experimental data and conclusions about both the electronic and ion-sensing properties are supported by DFT calculations which show, in addition, an unprecedented intramolecular electron-transfer reorganization after the first one-electron oxidation of compound 5.     

Stabilization of acepentalene by coordination to transition metals: a DFT investigation

The possibility of stabilizing the unstable acepentalene (acp) molecule through coordination to transition metals is investigated by means of DFT calculations. Comparison with related experimentally known pentalene complexes indicate that their acp homologues are just slightly less stable, suggesting that they could be synthesized and isolated. Other original mono- and trinuclear species, such as M(acp)2 (M = Zr, Hf), Co3(acp)2-, and Nb3(acp)2+, are also predicted to be stable.     

Application of microwave-assisted micellar extraction combined with solid-phase microextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in different mud samples

Abstract

A sequential injection analysis method for the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of phosphate and silicate has been developed. The method is based on the different reaction rates of the heteropolymolybdate formation reactions. Concentrations within the range 0.026—0.485 mmol P l^?1 and 0.125—2.848 mmol Si l^?1 have been determined at a frequency of 30 samples per hour. An R.S.D. of 2.1% was obtained for 0.162 mmol P l^?1 and of 1.1% for 1.424 mmol Si l^?1. The method was found to be suitable for the determination of phosphate and silicate in wastewater.     

Trace determination of organotin compounds in water,sediment and mussel samples by low-pressure gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A fast method for the determination of eight organotin compounds (OTs), monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), tetrabutyltin (TeBT), monophenyltin (MPhT), diphenyltin (DPhT), triphenyltin (TPhT) and tetraphenyltin (TePhT), in water, sediments and mussels, was developed using low-pressure gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LPGC/MS/MS). The method is based on sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) complexation of the ionic organotins, followed by extraction of the target matrices and derivatization by a Grignard reagent, as described in a previously published method for water samples. Solid-phase extraction was selected as extraction method from water samples after comparison with liquid-liquid extraction, but extraction of the OTs from sediment and mussel samples was performed using toluene. Matrix-matched calibration standards were used to minimize matrix effects. The analytical process was validated by the analysis of spiked blank samples. Performance characteristics such as linearity, detection limit (LOD), quantitation limit (LOQ), precision, and recovery were determined. Recoveries of OTs in spiked matrices ranged from 86-108% in water and from 78-110% in sediments and mussels, with precision values lower than 18%. Detection limits ranged from 0.1-9.6 ng L(-1) in water, and 0.03-6.10 microg kg(-1) in the other matrices. The present implementation of LPGC rather than conventional capillary GC permitted use of large-volume injection and reduced analysis time by a factor of two. The proposed methodology was applied to the determination of OTs in real samples of water, marine sediments and mussels from the west coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Spain).     

Adsorption of citric acid from dilute aqueous solutions by hydroxyapatite

The role of citric acid in the demineralization of dental enamel, which is mainly constituted by hydroxyapatite, is important for periodontal regeneration and in the conditioning of enamel or dentin for bonding restorative resins. The adsorption of citric acid from aqueous solutions onto synthetic hydroxyapatite at 278, 288, 298, and 308 K and pH 4.8 has been studied by means of UV spectroscopy. The adsorption reaction, which takes place by an interaction between phosphate groups and citrate anions at the solid-solution interface, yields an adsorbate-adsorbent complex of high stability. The adsorption isotherms fit the Langmuirian shape. The proposed adsorption model, where citrate species interact in a bidentate manner (one citrate ion links two phosphate sites), is coherent with the experimental data. The activation standard heat and activation standard entropy were calculated. All the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were in concordance with the adsorption reaction proposed in this work.     

Interatomic distance measurement in solid-state NMR between a spin- 1/2 and a spin- 5/2 using a universal REAPDOR curve

A universal curve for the solid-state NMR REAPDOR experiment on an isolated spin-1/2-spin-5/2 pair is proposed that provides a simple means to measure their interatomic distance. REAPDOR data were obtained at three separate REAPDOR experiments using different values of the rotor spinning frequency. All points were fitted simultaneously to the universal formula without a need for full density matrix calculations. The 13C-17O distance of 2.45 A was measured between the C6 carbon and the 17O label in a tyrosine sample. The error of 8% in the dipolar coupling (Dfit = 278 Hz) is well within the 15% theoretical tolerance of this curve.     

17α,21‐Di­hydroxy‐16β‐methylpregna‐1,4‐diene‐3,11,20‐trione (meprednisone)

The title compound, C₂₂H₂₈O₅, is a commercial therapeutic agent of the steroid class. Both independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit have six‐membered A rings that are planar, while the B and C rings adopt normal chair conformations. The five‐membered D ring is in a 13β,14α‐half‐chair con­formation, and the B/C and C/D ring junctions are in trans positions. Cohesion in the crystal is provided by O—H⃛O hydrogen bonds, which generate chains of mol­ecules that are organized in a plane that lies along the crystallographic b axis.     

Experimental investigation of the link between static and dynamic wetting by forced wetting of nylon filament

Forced wetting experiments with various liquids were conducted to study the dynamic wetting properties of nylon filament. The molecular-kinetic theory of wetting (MKT) was used to interpret the dynamic contact angle data and evaluate the contact-line friction zeta0 at the microscopic scale. By taking account of the viscosity of the liquid, zeta0 could be related exponentially to the reversible work of adhesion. This clearly establishes an experimental link between the static and dynamic wetting properties of the material. Moreover, statistical analysis of the equilibrium molecular displacement frequency K0 and the length of the displacements lambda reveals that these two fundamental parameters of the MKT are strongly correlated, not only in the linearized form of the theory (valid close to equilibrium) but also when the nonlinear form of the equations has to be considered at higher wetting speeds.     

4‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine and the 2‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐, 2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐ and 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐substituted derivatives

The 1,5‐benzodiazepine ring system exhibits a puckered boat‐like conformation for all four title compounds [4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₁H₁₈N₂O, (I), 2‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (II), 2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (III), and 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (IV)]. The stereochemical correlation of the two C₆ aromatic groups with respect to the benzodiazepine ring system is pseudo‐equatorial–equatorial for compounds (I) (the phenyl group), (II) (the 2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl group) and (III) (the 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl group), while for (IV) (the 2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl group) the system is pseudo‐axial–equatorial. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl OH group and a benzodiazepine N atom is present for all four compounds and defines a six‐membered ring, whose geometry is constant across the series. Although the molecular structures are similar, the supramolecular packing is different; compounds (I) and (IV) form chains, while (II) forms dimeric units and (III) displays a layered structure. The packing seems to depend on at least two factors: (i) the nature of the atoms defining the hydrogen bond and (ii) the number of intermolecular interactions of the types O—H...O, N—H...O, N—H...π(arene) or C—H...π(arene).