Exploring Group 14 Structures: 1D to 2D to 3D

Various one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional Group 14 (C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb) element structures at P=1 atm are studied in this work. As expected, coordination number (CN)—not an unambiguous concept for extended structures—plays an important part in the stability of structures. Carbon not only favors four‐coordination, but also is quite happy with π‐bonding, allowing three‐ and even two‐coordination to compete. Highly coordinated (CN>4) discrete carbon molecules are rare; that “saturation of valence” is reflected in the instability of C extended structures with CN>4. Si and Ge are quite similar to each other in their preferences. They are less biased in their coordination than C, allowing (as their molecular structures do) CN=5 and 6, but tending towards four‐coordination. Sn and Pb 3D structures are very flexible in their bonding, so that in these elements four‐ to twelve‐coordinate structures are close in energy. This lack of discrimination among ordered structures also points to an approach to the liquid state, consistent with the low melting point of Sn and Pb. The Group 14 liquid structures we simulate in molecular dynamics calculations show the expected, effective, first coordination number increase from 5.1 for Si to 10.4 for Pb. A special point of interest emerging from our study is the instability of potential multilayer graphene structures down Group 14. Only for C will these be stable; for all the other Group 14 elements pristine, unprotected, bi‐ and multilayer graphenes should collapse, forming “vertical” bonds as short as the in‐plane ones.     

Immunosuppressive Resveratrol Aneuploids from Hopea chinensis

Two novel resveratrol aneuploids, hopeachinols A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), as well as a potent immunosuppressive polyphenol diptoindonesin G ( 3 ) were characterized from the ethanol extract of Hopea chinensis stem barks. The structure of the polyphenols was accommodated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis with the absolute stereochemistry determined by the CD approach coupled with theoretical ECD spectra computer‐generated through the Gaussian 03 program. The distinct structure and biological profile of 3 recommended it as a starting molecule for the relevant drug discovery.     

A Flexible Pro‐porous Coordination Polymer: Non‐conventional Synthesis and Separation Properties Towards CO2/CH4 Mixtures

The novel coordination polymers [Cu(Hoxonic)(H₂O)]_n ( 1 ) and [Cu(Hoxonic)(bpy)_0.5]_n ? 1.5 n H₂O ( 2?H₂O ) (H₃oxonic: 4,6‐dihydroxy‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2‐carboxylic acid; bpy: 4,4′‐bipyridine) have been isolated and structurally characterised by ab initio X‐ray powder diffraction. The dense phase 1 contains 1D zig‐zag chains in which Hoxonic dianions bridge square‐pyramidal copper(II) ions, apically coordinated by water molecules. On the contrary, 2?H₂O , prepared by solution and solventless methods, is based on 2D layers of octahedral copper(II) ions bridged by Hoxonic ligands, further pillared by bpy spacers. The resulting pro‐porous 3D network possesses small hydrated cavities. The reactivity, thermal, magnetic and adsorptive properties of these materials have been investigated. Notably, the adsorption studies on 2 show that this material possesses unusual adsorption behaviour. Indeed, guest uptake is facilitated by increasing the thermal energy of both the guest and the framework. Thus, neither N₂ at 77 K nor CO₂ at 195 K are incorporated, and CH₄ is only minimally adsorbed at 273 K and high pressures (0.5 mmol g^?1 at 2500 kPa). By contrast, CO₂ is readily incorporated at 273 K (up to 2.5 mmol g^?1 at 2500 kPa). The selectivity of 2 towards CO₂ over CH₄ has been investigated by means of variable‐temperature zero coverage adsorption experiments and measurement of breakthrough curves of CO₂/CH₄ mixtures. The results show the highly selective incorporation of CO₂ in 2 , which can be rationalised on the basis of the framework flexibility and polar nature of its voids.     

Theoretical prediction on HBeN− and HNBe− anions using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The HBeN^? and HNBe^? anions have been investigated for the first time using the CASSCF, CASPT2, and DFT/B3LYP methods with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO) and cc‐pVTZ basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points along the potential energy surfaces were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO and B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ levels. The ground and the first excited states of HBeN^? are predicted to be X²Π and A²Σ⁺ states, respectively. It was predicted that the ground state of HNBe^? is X²Σ⁺ state. The A²Π state of HNBe^? has unique imaginary frequency. A bend local minimum M1 was found along the 1²A″ potential energy surface and the A²Π state of HNBe^? should be the transition state of the isomerization reactions for M1 ? M1. The CASPT2/ANO potential energy curves of isomerization reactions were calculated as a function of HBeN bond angle. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Fabrication of Bienzymatic Glucose Biosensor Based on Novel Gold Nanoparticles‐Bacteria Cellulose Nanofibers Nanocomposite

An exploration of gold nanoparticles–bacterial cellulose nanofibers (Au‐BC) nanocomposite as a platform for amperometric determination of glucose is presented. Two enzymes, glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were immobilized in Au‐BC nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode at the same time. A sensitive and fast amperometric response to glucose was observed in the presence of electron mediator (HQ). Both of GOx and HRP kept their biocatalytic activities very well in Au‐BC nanocomposite. The detection limit for glucose in optimized conditions was as low as 2.3 µM with a linear range from 10 µM to 400 µM. The biosensor was successfully applied to the determination of glucose in human blood samples.     

Highly efficient and diastereoselective synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidines featuring a palladium-catalyzed cyclization reaction of 2-butene-1,4-diol derivatives and imines

A palladium-catalyzed protocol for effective synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidines has been reported. This method is featured by the high diastereoselectivity (dr up to >98/2) and using the readily available 2-butene-1,4-diol derivatives and imines as substrates.     

Assembly of a Novel Dumbbell‐type Dinuclear Copper(II) Complex: Synthesis,Structure and Properties

A new dumbbell‐type 4,4′‐bipy‐bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu₂(4,4′‐bipy)L₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₄ · 8CH₃OH · 10H₂O, where L = 1‐[bis(3‐aminopropyl)amino]‐2‐ propanol and bipy = bipyridine, has been synthesized and characterized, X‐ray crystallographic analysis shows that the [Cu₂(4,4′‐bipy)L₂(H₂O)₂]⁴⁺ cations and water molecules generate layer structures extending parallel to bc planes through hydrogen bonding interactions of O–H ··· O and C–H ··· O. The layers are also connected by hydrogen bonding interactions involving methanol, water, and perchlorate anions. These interactions lead to the formation of rectangular channels of 12.3 Å × 6.0 Å along the crystallographic c axis. Perchlorate anions fill in each channel in a sandwich‐like packing mode, they are joined with the adjacent layers by water heptamers. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the magnetic exchange interaction is weak although it has a regular π‐type electron transfer pathway. Furthermore, the electrochemical and thermogravimetric properties of the complex were also investigated.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and magnetic properties of the metallamacrocycle [Fe6(C11H11N2O3)6(C4H9NO)6]

Abstract  

The 18-metallacrown-6 metallamacrocycle [Fe₆(pmshz)₆(C₄H₉NO)₆] has been synthesized by the self-assembly reaction of iron ions with N-substituted salicylhydrazide ligands. Six Fe(III) ions and six deprotonated N-propanoyl-4-methylsalicylhydrazide (H₃ pmshz) ligands construct a planar 18-membered ring based on Fe–N–N–Fe linkage. Because of the coordination, the ligand enforces the stereochemistry of the Fe(III) ions as a propeller shape with alternating …ΔΛΔΛ… configurations. There is a strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the paramagnetic iron centers.     

A new griseofulvin derivative from the mangrove endophytic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporothrix</Emphasis> SP.

A new griseofulvin derivative, 7-chloro-2',5,6-trimethoxy-6'-methylspiro(benzofuran-2(3H),1'-(2) cyclohexene)3,4'-dione (1), together with the known 2-acetyl-7-methoxybenzofuran (2), was isolated from the marine-derived mangrove endophytic fungus Sporothrix sp. (No. 4335). The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data.