Exploring the self-assembly of dumbbell-shaped polyoxometalate hybrids,from molecular building units to nanostructured soft materials

The formation of hierarchical nanostructures using preformed dumbbell-like species made of covalent organic–inorganic polyoxometalate (POM)-based hybrids is herein described. In this system, the presence of charged subunits (POM, metal linkers, and counter ions) in the complex molecular architecture can drive their aggregation, which results from a competition between the solvation energy of the discrete species and intermolecular electrostatic interactions. We show that the nature of the POM and the charge of the metal linker are key parameters for the hierarchical nanoorganization. The experimental findings were corroborated with a computational investigation combining DFT and molecular dynamics simulation methods, which outlines the importance of solvation of the counter ion and POM/counter ion association in the aggregation process. The dumbbell-like species can also form gels, in the presence of a poorer solvent, displaying similar nanoorganization of the aggregates. We show that starting from the designed molecular building units whose internal charges can be controlled by redox trigger we can achieve their implementation into soft nanostructured materials through the control of their supramolecular organization.

The formation of hierarchical nanostructures using supramolecular dumbbell-like species made of organic–inorganic polyoxometalate-based hybrids is investigated by combination of SAXS and computational methods.     

Determination of in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of propofol

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a hypnotic intravenous agent with in vivo antioxidant properties. This study was undertaken to examine the in vitro antioxidant activity of propofol using different antioxidant tests including by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH.) radical scavenging, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activities. At the concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 microg/ml, propofol exhibited 97.7, 98.6 and 100% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively. On the other hand, at the 75 microg/ml concentration of standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and alpha-tocopherol exhibited 88.7, 94.5, and 70.4% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively. In addition, at same concentrations, propofol was shown that it had effective reducing power, DPPH. free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities. These various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as BHA, BHT and alpha-tocopherol. These results indicate that propofol prevents lipid peroxidation and radicalic chain reactions. At the same time, propofol revealed more effective antioxidant capacity than BHA, BHT and alpha-tocopherol.     

Silver nitrate-promoted ring enlargement of 1-tribromomethyl-1,2-dihydro- and 1-tribromomethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinoline derivatives: application to the synthesis of the anti-anginal zatebradine

The one step AgNO₃-mediated ring enlargement of 1-tribromomethyl-1,2-dihydro- and 1-tribromomethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinoline derivatives into 1,2-dihydro- and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzo[d]azepin-2-ones, respectively, is reported. This reaction offers a convenient entry to potentially active substances such as the anti-anginal zatebradine.     

Novel Methods of Synthesis of Dibenzo[3n]crown-n and Their Cation Binding Studied by Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Part V

The dibenzo[3n]crown-n were synthesised starting from bis[2-(o-hydroxyphenoxy)ethyl]ether obtained from bis[2-(o-formylphenoxy)ethyl]ether via Baeyer-Villiger oxidation in H₂O₂/CH₃COOH in a good yield. The cyclic condensation ofbis[2-(o-hydroxyphenoxy)ethyl]etherwith tri- and tetraethylene glycol bisdichlorides andthe bisditosylate of pentaethylene glycol in DMF/Me₂CO₃ afforded the large cyclic ethers of dibenzo[21]crown-7, dibenzo[24]crown-8 and dibenzo[27]crown-9. The structures were analysed with IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and low-resolution mass spectroscopy methods. The Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ cations' recognition of the molecules were conducted withsteady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. The 1:1 association constants, K_a, in acetonitrile were estimated. Dibenzo[21]crown-7 was the best both for K⁺ and Rb⁺ binding but showed too small an effect on Cs⁺. Dibenzo[24]crown-8 exhibited the binding power in the order of Rb⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺ > Cs⁺. However, dibenzo[27]crown-9 displayed marked binding with only K⁺ but not with Rb⁺ or with Cs⁺ cations probably due to the heavy atom effect of fluorescence quenching.     

Structural analysis of 2,6-[bis(alkyloxy)methyl]-phenyltin derivatives using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry was applied to the structural analysis of 23 2,6-[bis(alkyloxy)methyl]phenyltin(IV) derivatives. The mass spectra were measured in both polarity modes and multistage tandem mass spectrometric (MS(n)) measurements were performed on the ion trap analyser for positively charged tin-containing ions. The sum of complementary ions observed in the positive-ion mode (i.e. [M-R(3)](+) ion) and in the negative-ion mode (i.e. [R(3)](-) ion) permits molecular mass determination in spite of the fact that the molecular adducts were often missing even in the first-order mass spectra. The subsequent fragmentation of [M-R(3)](+) ions studied by MS(n) and the correlation of observed fragment ions with the expected structures of synthesized organotin(IV) compounds allowed us to understand the fragmentation behaviour and the mechanism of the ion formation for studied compounds. The typical neutral losses are alkenes, alcohols and aldehydes. The fragmentation pattern of one selected compound was supported by MS(n) measurements of an isotopically labelled analogue to confirm unusual ion-molecule reactions of some fragment ions with water in the ion trap.     

Glass transition study of blends of poly(N-methyldodecano-12-lactam) with poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid)

The blends of poly(N-methyldodecano-12-lactam) (MPA) with poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (PSAA) prepared from dioxane solutions were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The experimental DSC data of glass transition temperature T_g as a function of composition of amorphous phase were fitted for the as-prepared and re-scanned samples using theoretical approaches. The as-prepared blends show monotonic single-T_g dependence. The values of the Gordon-Taylor coefficient not far from unity suggest miscibility of the blend system in amorphous phase in the whole concentration range. As documented by FTIR, this miscibility is associated with hydrogen bonds between COOH groups of the acrylic acid units in PSAA molecules acting as the H-bond donor and CO groups of MPA acting as the H-bond acceptor. The T_g-dependencies obtained form the second runs have a profound sigmoid character. The Schneider treatment induced an idea of partial limited miscibility in the MPA/PSAA blends caused by prevalence of homogeneous contacts. The difference in T_g between the first and second run can partly be attributed to higher crystallinities in the former.     

Characterization and determination of 28 elements in fly ashes collected in a thermal power plant in Argentina using different instrumental techniques

Different techniques were selected for comprehensive characterization of seven samples of fly ashes collected from the electrostatic precipitator of the San Nicolás thermal power plant (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Particle size was measured using laser based particle size analyzer. X-ray diffraction powder (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the mineral phase present in the matrix consisting basically of aluminosilicates and large amounts of amorphous material. The predominant crystalline phases were mullite and quartz. Major and minors elements (Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Na, S, Si and Ti) were detected by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn) content was quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Different acid mixtures and digestion procedures were compared for subsequent ICP OES measurements of the dissolved samples. The digestion procedures used were: i) a mixture of FH + HNO₃ + HClO₄ (open system digestion); ii) a mixture of FH + HNO₃ (MW-assisted digestion); iii) a mixture of HF and aqua regia (MW-assisted digestion). Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was employed for the determination of As, Ba, Co, Cr, Ce, Cs, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, La, Lu, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, U and Yb. The validation of the procedure was performed by the analysis of two certified materials namely, i) NIST 1633b, coal fly ash and ii) GBW07105, rock. Mean elements content spanned from 41870 μg g^− 1 for Fe to 1.14 μg g^− 1 for Lu. The study showed that Fe (41870 μg g^− 1) ? V (1137 μg g^− 1) > Ni (269 μg g^− 1) > Mn (169 μg g^− 1) are the main components. An enrichment, with respect to crustal average, in many elements was observed especially for As, V and Sb that deserve particular interest from the environmental and human health point of view.     

Dynamic Light Scattering and NMR Studies of Napin

We analyze the structure of napin (BngNAP1), a storage protein (m.w. 14.5 kDa) from Brassica napus. On the basis of the results of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies, the overall shape and secondary structure of the molecule are estimated.