Organo-tricyanoborates as tectons: illustrative coordination polymers based on copper(I) derivatives

The first systematic study on the use of tricyanoborates as ligands is presented. The tricyanoborates [RB(CN)3]- (R = oct and Ph) can be prepared by direct cyanation of RBCl2 precursors as well as by thermolysis of the corresponding isocyanides [RB(NC)3]-. The first organo-cyanogallates [RGa(CN)3]- (R = Bu, C6H2-2,4,6-Me3) were prepared from the corresponding dichloride, the structure of Et4N[mesGa(CN3] being confirmed crystallographically. The reaction of equimolar [RB(CN)3]- (R = oct, Ph) and [Cu(MeCN)4]+ afforded two-dimensional polymers [RB(CN)3Cu(NCMe)]. The sheets arise via conjoined hexagonal B3Cu3(CN)6 rings with chair conformations. The reaction of excess [PhB(CN)3]- and [Cu(MeCN)4]+ gives the polymer [K(18-crown-6)]{Cu[PhB(CN)3]2}. Treatment of [PhB(CN)3]- with [Cu(PCy3)2(NCMe)x]PF6 gave the one-dimensional polymer [PhB(CN)3Cu(PCy3)2], wherein two of the three BCN substituents are coordinated.     

Effect of Dosimetric and Physiological Factors on the Lethal Photosensitization of Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the effect of dosimetric and physiological factors on the lethal photosensitization of Porphyromonas gingivalis using tolui-dine blue O (TBO) and light from a helium/neon (HeNe) laser; (2) determine the influence of sensitizer concentration, preirradiation time, serum and growth phase on sensitizer uptake by P. gingivalis. The dosimetric factors studied were concentration of TBO, light dose and preirradiation time. The physiological factors were presence of serum, pH and bacterial growth phase. Sensitizer uptake by P. gingivalis under various conditions was determined using tritiated TBO (³H-TBO). In the presence of TBO, a light dose-dependent increase in kill was attained (100% kill at 4.4 J). There was no significant effect on the numbers killed when TBO was increased from 12.5 to 50 µg/mL. An increase in preirradiation time gave slightly increased kills. High kills were achieved at all three pH (6.8–8.0). Although kills were substantial in the presence of serum, they were significantly less than those obtained in the presence of saline. Cells in all three growth phases were susceptible to lethal photosensitization, although stationary phase cells were slightly less susceptible. Maximum uptake of TBO occurred within 60 s and uptake in serum was less than in saline. The uptake by the log phase cells was greater at lower concentrations of sensitizer (50 µg/mL), compared to the other two phases.     

Push-pull effects and emission from ternary complexes of platinum(II), substituted terpyridines, and the strong-field cyanide ion

As part of an effort to develop new lumaphors involving late transition metal ions, this report describes the synthesis and characterization of the first platinum(II) derivatives containing 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (trpy) and cyanide as co-ligands. According to existing models, including cyanide in the coordination sphere should raise the energies and minimize the influence of short-lived d-d excited states that otherwise compromise the excited-state lifetime. Both [Pt(trpy)(CN)]+ and the 4'-cyano-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine analogue [Pt(CN-T)(CN)]+ are emissive in dichloromethane solution, but the signals are weak. Part of the problem is that the d-pi* charge-transfer excited states also rise in energy, so that the emission actually originates from a (3)pi-pi* state with a relatively low radiative rate constant. However, another member of the series, the 4'-dimethylamino-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (dma-T) derivative [Pt(dma-T)(CN)]+, proves to be a very promising platform with an emission quantum yield of phi= 0.26 and an excited-state lifetime of tau = 22 micros in room-temperature, deoxygenated dichloromethane solution. In the dma-T complex the electron-rich dimethylamino substituent provides the basis for an emissive, but largely ligand-based, charge-transfer excited state. The orbital parentage is such that the photoluminescence persists in donating solvents like dimethylformamide, which ordinarily quenches d-pi* excited states in complexes of this type.     

Pseudophomins A and B,a class of cyclic lipodepsipeptides isolated from a Pseudomonas species

The crystal structures of pseudophomins A and B, with primary structures β‐hydroxy­decanoyl–l ‐Leu–d ‐Glu–d ‐allo‐Thr–d ‐Ile–d ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Ile monohydrate, C₅₅H₉₇N₉O₁₆·H₂O, and β‐hydroxy­dodecanoyl–l ‐Leu–d ‐Glu–d ‐allo‐Thr–d ‐Ile–d ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Leu–d ‐Ser–l ‐Ile monohydrate, C₅₇H₁₀₁N₉O₁₆·H₂O, new cyclic lipodepsipeptides isolated from Pseudomonas fluorescens strain BRG100, have been solved. The absolute configuration of pseudophomin A has been determined from anomalous dispersion and the stereochemistry of the β‐hydroxy acid group is R.     

The synthesis and electronic structure of a novel [NiS4Fe2(CO)6] radical cluster: implications for the active site of the [NiFe] hydrogenases

A novel [NiS4Fe2(CO)6]cluster (1: 'S(4)'=(CH(3)C(6)H(3)S(2))(2)(CH(2))(3)) has been synthesised, structurally characterised and has been shown to undergo a chemically reversible reduction process at -1.31 V versus Fc(+)/Fc to generate the EPR-active monoanion 1(-). Multifrequency Q-, X- and S-band EPR spectra of (61)Ni-enriched 1(-) show a well-resolved quartet hyperfine splitting in the low-field region due to the interaction with a single (61)Ni (I=3/2) nucleus. Simulations of the EPR spectra require the introduction of a single angle of non-coincidence between g(1) and A(1), and g(3) and A(3) to reproduce all of the features in the S- and X-band spectra. This behaviour provides a rare example of the detection and measurement of non-coincidence effects from frozen-solution EPR spectra without the need for single-crystal measurements, and in which the S-band experiment is sensitive to the non-coincidence. An analysis of the EPR spectra of 1(-) reveals a 24 % Ni contribution to the SOMO in 1(-), supporting a delocalisation of the spin-density across the NiFe(2) cluster. This observation is supported by IR spectroscopic results which show that the CO stretching frequencies, nu(CO), shift to lower frequency by about 70 cm(-1) when 1 is reduced to 1(-). Density functional calculations provide a framework for the interpretation of the spectroscopic properties of 1(-) and suggest that the SOMO is delocalised over the whole cluster, but with little S-centre participation. This electronic structure contrasts with that of the Ni-A, -B, -C and -L forms of [NiFe] hydrogenase in which there is considerable S participation in the SOMO.     

Synthesis of 8-substituted naphtho[2,1-b]thiophenes with cationic side chains at position 4

A series of five 8-substituted α-[bis(2-hydroxyethyi)aminoethyl]naphtho[2,1-b]thiophenes 7 and a series of seven N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-8-substituted naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene-4-carboxamides 8 have been synthesized. The naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene-4-carboxylic acids 4 were prepared by photooxidative cyclization of α-(2-thienyi)-β-arylacrylic acids 3. The carboxylic acids 4 were converted by a conventional five step route involving α-bromoketone intermediates to the a-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]-8-substituted naphtho-[2,1-6]thiophene-4-methanols 7 and by a standard two-step amide preparation to the N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-8-substituted naphtho[2,1-6]thiophene-4-carboxamides 8 .     

Quantitative determination of limonin in citrus juices by HPLC using computerized solvent optimization

The commercially available computer program, Drylab, for optimization of separations by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using binary solvent mixtures is used to improve an HPLC method for separation of the bitter principle, limonin, in grapefruit and navel orange juices. Best conditions for separation of limonin in a reasonable time are 30 to 32% acetonitrile in water at 0.9 mL/min using a 5-micron C18 column 10 cm long. These conditions are used to analyze grapefruit and navel orange juice samples, and these HPLC results are compared with values determined by enzyme immunoassay or thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on the same samples.     

Essay Review-Scholarly froth and engineering skeletons

Holography is a two-stage process of photography using coherent light from a laser to illuminate the scene. In the first stage a hologram is formed by combining the light scattered from the object and the direct laser beam on a photographic plate. In the second stage a three-dimensional image is reconstructed without the use of lenses, by directing the laser beam through the hologram. Applications of holography include information storage, recording of images in depth, the use of holograms as optical elements, and as a means of performing precise interferometric measurements on three-dimensional objects of any shape and surface finish.     

Cosmic radiation: The primary particles

Observations of primary cosmic-ray particles entering the upper atmosphere show that the solar system is situated in an isotropic flow of protons and of heavier nuclei, and that these particles carry energy which can vary from small values to values so great that we cannot at present define the upper limit of energy carried by a single particle.

These primary particles are constrained to diffuse through the galaxy as if in a reservoir and must initially have been injected into the reservoir from specific sources. In many ways the turbulent clouds which remain at the site of eruption of supernovae meet the requirements of such sources, and this property can be related to the identification of these objects as sources of strong radio-emission or radio-stars.