H-type aggregation of functional metal ion sensing phthalocyanines: Synthesis,characterization and electrochemistry

We report, in this study, the preparation and physical characterization of the peripherally functionalized ionophore ligand, 4,5-bis(6-hydroxyhexan-3ylthio)-1,2-dicyanobenzene (1) and its branched thioalcohol-substituted phthalocyanines, 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis{6-hydroxyhexan-3-ylthio)-metal (II) or (III) phthalocyanines {M{Pc[SCH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₈} {M = Pb(II) (2), Zn(II) (3), Cu(II) (4), Co(II) (5) and Mn(III), X = Cl⁻ (6)} which can selectively bind soft-metal ions such as silver (I) and palladium (II). It was observed by means of UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry that the aggregates formed lead to a low solubility of the phthalocyanines in protic solvents, such as low molecular alcohols. However, the addition of AgNO₃ and Na₂PdCl₄ into a THF–MeOH solution of {M{Pc[SCH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₈X} {M = Pb(II) (2), Zn(II) (3), Cu(II) (4), Co(II) (5) and Mn(III), X = Cl⁻ (6)} induced optical changes, which indicated the formation of twisted H-type dimers (blue shift, face-to-face fashion) of {M{Pc[SCH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₈} complexes, bound by four PdCl₂ and AgNO₃ units in THF solution. Elemental analysis data, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS), FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and UV–Vis spectral data were used as complementary techniques. Voltammetry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of the complexes were performed on Pt in DMSO/TBAP. The first reduction and oxidation processes of 5 were found to be split due to the presence of facile equilibria between the species coordinated differently at axial positions. The Mn(III)Pc(−2)X⁻ complex (6) displayed well-defined colour changes during its reduction processes. The redox behaviour of the Mn(III)Pc(−2)X⁻ complex was observed to be affected significantly by the existence of oxygen in solution due to the formation of μ-oxo MnPc species, Mn(III)Pc–O–PcMn(III). This effect was clarified well by in situ spectroelectrochemical measurements.     

Synthesis, H- or J-type aggregations,electrochemistry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of metal ion sensing lead(II) phthalocyanines

We report, in this study, peripherally 3- and 4-substituted functionalized ionophore ligands (1–3) and their α- and β-tetra polyalcohol substituted lead(II) phthalocyanines M{Pc[S–CH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₄} (7, 9 and 11) and M{Pc[S–C₆H₁₂(OH)]₄} (8, 10 and 12) which are a mixture of different isomers. The complexes have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS (MALDI-TOF) and UV–Vis spectral data. These complexes induced H-type (face-to-face fashion) or J-aggregate (edge-to-edge) dimers when titrated with AgNO₃ or Na₂PdCl₄ in a THF–MeOH solution. Cyclic and square wave voltammetry studies showed that the complexes gave three one-electron ligand-based reductions and two one-electron oxidation couples having diffusion controlled mass transfer character. Assignments of these redox couples were confirmed by spectroelectrochemical measurements. The observation of split Q bands, which are characteristic spectral behavior of metal-free phthalocyanines, indicates demetallization of the complexes during the spectroelectrochemical measurement under the applied potentials. The types of the substituents on the ring of the phthalocyanines affect the demetallization process of the complexes.     

Pretreatment of landfill leachate by chemical oxidation processes

Kinetics and efficiency of Fenton’s and ozonation processes for the pretreatment of two landfill leachates (fresh and mature) resulting from municipal waste disposal were studied. Both samples presented high organic load, high toxicity and low biodegradability. These were the reasons why oxidative treatment was proposed. Fresh and mature leachate showed different behaviors in the oxidation experiments. The final extents of removal were attained in comparable time intervals in both oxidation systems. Maximal removal of organics by the Fenton’s oxidation reached more than 50 % according to COD. Zero or first order kinetics were found the best to describe the organic components (in terms of COD and DOC) removal by the Fenton’s oxidation for both landfill leachates. Higher reaction rate values of the Fenton’s oxidation were achieved with fresh leachate samples. The efficiency of initial organics removal with ozone was about 70 % for mature leachate, while in case of the fresh one only 41 % of COD were removed. The best fits of COD and DOC experimental data from oxidation of fresh and mature leachates were obtained by a combined kinetic model. No significant improvement of the biodegradability of landfill leachates was achieved using these treatment procedures. Regarding toxicity, ozonation showed to be more effective than the Fenton’s oxidation. Advanced oxidation experiments confirmed that the Fenton’s oxidation and ozonation are comparable oxidative treatment techniques for the reduction of organic pollution in the investigated municipal landfill leachates. However, neither of them is effective enough to be used as a pretreatment method followed by biological treatment.     

Complexation of metal ions with double-armed diazadithia lariat ether carrying anthracene moieties in acetonitrile–dioxane

A new 14-membered crown ether with nitrogen–sulfur donor atom carrying two anthryl groups was designed and synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding macrocyclic compound and 9-(chloromethyl) anthracene. The influence of metal cations such as Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ on the spectroscopic properties of the ligand was investigated in acetonitrile–dioxane solution (1/1) by means of absorption and emission spectrometry. The results of spectrophotometric titration experiments disclosed the complexation stoichiometry and complex stability constant of the novel ligand with Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ cations. Absorption spectra show isobestic points in the spectrophotometric titration of these cations. The presence of excess of Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ cations caused an enhancement of anthryl fluorescence. Especially, the enhancement in case of the interaction of Hg²⁺ and Al³⁺ cations with the ligand was pronounced.     

Silica hydrogel formation and aging monitored by pyrene-based fluorescence probes

Fluorescent probes pyrene (Py), di(1-pyrenylmethyl)ether (DiPyM) and newly synthesized 2,3-bis-[4-(1-pyrenemethoxy)methylphenyl]butane (DiPyS) were used to monitor the formation and aging of silica hydrogel prepared from poly(glyceryl silicate) (PGS) sol. The fluorescence emission spectra of these probes are sensitive to their environment and this feature is utilized for monitoring the evolution of silica hydrogels prepared in this work. The polarity of hydrogel matrix during sol–gel transition assessed by all three pyrene probes decreases in the first stage of hydrogel formation, for about 2 h, followed by a gradual increase in polarity and reaching the constant level after 24 h for at least 2 weeks. The process of crosslinking was assessed by DiPyM and DiPyS. These fluorescent probes possess two pyrene structures, which ability to form a dynamic intramolecular excimer can be used to monitor the degree of hydrogel crosslinking with time. These data support the polarity measurements that the hydrogel network is predominatly formed within the first 2 h, stabilized within the 24 h, and that there is a minor increase in the network density for about 10 days until reaching the constant level. In addition, utilizing the second-order diffraction of scattered excitation light may also be used to obtain an adequate information about the silica hydrogel evolution. In summary, this paper demonstrates that pyrene-type fluorescent probes represent simple and precise tool for characterization of formation and aging of the silica hydrogels.     

The synthesis and characterization of single substitute melamine cored Schiff bases and their [Fe(III) and Cr(III)] complexes

In this study, firstly, two single substitute novel ligands have been synthesized by reacting melamine with 3,4,-dihydroxybenzaldeyhde or 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. Then, eight new mono nuclear single substitute [Salen/Salophen Fe(III) and Cr(III)] complexes have been synthesized by reacting the ligands [2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzimino)-4,6-diamimo-1,3,5-triazine and 2-(4-carboxybenzimino)-4,6-diamimo-1,3,5-triazine)] with tetradentate Schiff bases N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine-(salenH₂) or bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine-(salophen H₂). And then, all ligands and complexes have been characterized by means of elementel analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, LC–MS, thermal analyses and magnetic suscebtibility measurements. Finally, metal ratios of the prepared complexes were determined using AAS. The complexes have also been characterized as disorted octahedral low-spin Fe(III) and Cr(III) bridged by catechol and COO^? groups.     

Complexation of metal ions with the novel diazadithia crown ether carrying two anthryl pendants in acetonitrile–tetrahydrofuran

A new crown ether carrying two anthryl groups with nitrogen–sulfur donor atom was designed and synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding macrocyclic compound and 9-chloromethyl anthracene. The influence of metal cations such as Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ on the spectroscopic properties of the ligand was investigated in acetonitrile–tetrahydofuran solution (1/1) by means of absorption and emission spectrometry. Absorption spectra show isosbestic points in the spectrophotometric titration of Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺. The results of spectrophotometric titration experiments disclosed the complexation stoichiometry and complex stability constant of the novel ligand with Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺and Hg²⁺cations. The presence of excess amounts of Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ cations caused an enhancement of anthryl fluorescence. The ligand showed good sensitivity for Zn²⁺ with respect to other metal cations with linear range and detection limit of 1.4 × 10^?7 to 4.1 × 10^?6 M and 1.0 × 10^?8 M respectively.     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies of some dimethylpyrazine cadmium (II) tetracyanonickelate benzene clathrates: [Cd(C6H8N2)Ni(CN)4]·C6H6

Two new cadmium dimethylpyrazine (2,3-dimethylpyrazine or 2,5-dimethylpyrazine) tetracyanonickelate benzene clathrates, [Cd(C₆H₈N₂)Ni(CN)₄]·C₆H₆, have been prepared in powder form and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses and elemental analyses. Vibrational assignments are proposed for the bands of the host lattice and guest molecule. It is shown that the spectra are consistent with a proposed crystal structure for these compounds derived from X-ray diffraction measurements. The C, H, N, Cd and Ni analyses were carried out for all the compounds. Thermal behaviors of these compounds are followed using TG and DTA techniques. The FT-IR, Raman spectroscopic, XRD, thermal and elemental analyses results propose that these compounds are similar in structure to the Hofmann-type clathrates. Their structure consists of planar polymeric layers, {M–Ni(CN)₄}_∞, formed from Ni(CN)₄ anions coordinated to the bridging 2,3- or 2,5-dimethylpyrazine molecules bound directly to the cadmium. The cadmium atoms are bound to four N atoms of the CN ions and, the Ni atoms are surrounded by four C atoms of the CN groups in a square-planar layer.     

Electrochemical behavior of silver-impregnated Al-pillared smectite in alkaline solution

In order to enhance silver effectiveness for oxygen reduction reaction, pillared clay was used as a support for silver nanodispersion. Silver particles incorporation into pillared clay pores was attempted by impregnation/thermal degradation technique. X-ray diffraction as well as adsorption-desorption isotherms confirmed that pillaring procedure was successful. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced that a part of silver appeared outside the pillared clay cavities. Ag-pillared clay composite homogenized with 10 wt.% of nanodispersed carbon black (Vulcan), was applied on a flat glassy carbon surface and used as an electrode material. Oxygen reduction reaction was investigated in an O₂-saturated aqueous 0.1 M NaOH solution.     

Analysis of the Effect of Potential Cycles on the Reflective Infrared Signals of Nitro Groups in Nanofilms: Application of the Fractional Moments Statistics

The effect of the potential cycles on the reflective IR signals of nitro‐groups in nanofilms was studied for the statistical characterization of nitrobenzene (NB) and nitroazobenzene (NAB)‐modified glassy carbon (GC) surfaces. Both NB and NAB nanofilms were obtained by the electrochemical reduction of the diazonium tetrafluoroborate salts in acetonitrile using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The modified surfaces were denoted as GC‐(NB)_n and GC‐(NAB)_n, respectively, where n indicates the number of CV cycles performed during modification. Reflective IR signals of the normalized NB and NAB nanofilms and GC were used for the quantitative evaluation of the effect of the potential cycles on the reflective IR signals of nitro‐groups in nanofilms. The detection and quantitative ‘reading’ of the influence of number of CV cycles were realized in the frame of a new error controllable approach that was applied for analysis of all available set of data. This approach includes in itself the following basic steps: (a) the procedure of the division (normalization) on the GC spectra, (b) the comparison of the smoothed spectra for their statistical proximity in the frame of the statistics of the fractional moments, (c) extraction of possible calibration parameters for possible calibration of the normalized spectra with respect to the number of CV cycles. These three basic steps are becoming effective for detection of the influence of some external factors. In our case it is important to detect the influence of the factor n characterizing CV cycles.