The cation as a tool to get spin-canted three-dimensional ironIII networks

Alkyl-substituted ammonium cations (X) allow the preparation of a series of spin-canted oxo- and oxalato-bridged three-dimensional iron(III) networks, exhibiting magnetic ordering at T(c) values ranging from 40 to 56 K. The value of T(c) varies with the cation despite the lack of significant structural modifications.     

Degradation of the ruthenium-based metathesis catalyst [RuCl2(CHPh)(H2IPr)(PCy3)] with primary alcohols

A new ruthenium hydride species, showing high catalytic isomerization and hydrogenation properties, was isolated via a ligand exchange reaction. The same species was also present in the mixture of degradation products of the monophosphinic complex RuCl(CO)(PCy)₃(IPr)CH(Ph), 3, after reaction with alcohols under basic conditions.     

Making sense of molecular signatures in the immune system

The development of Functional Genomics technologies has opened new avenues to investigate the complexity of the immune system. Microarray technology has been particularly successful because of its relatively low cost and high genome coverage. Consequently to our ability to monitor the expression of a significant proportion of an organism genome, our understanding of the molecular dynamics behind cell differentiation and cell response has greatly improved. Molecular signatures associated to immune cells have provided important tools to investigate the molecular basis of diseases and have been often associated to diagnostic and prognostic markers. The availability of such large collection of data has stimulated the application of complex machine learning techniques in the attempt to link molecular signatures and cell physiology. Here we review the most recent developments in the analysis of molecular signatures in the immune system.     

Determination of Pesticides in the Respirable Fraction of Airborne Particulate Matter by High-performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Potential harmful effects of pesticides include risks to human health of workers involved in the wet spray application in cultivated areas. Inhalation exposure depends on several factors including pesticide concentrations in the respirable fraction of airborne particulate matter (PM₄). To ensure a high level of protection, the use of tractors with cabins provides protection against dust, aerosols, and vapors. Since tractors not providing maximum protection are still in use, PM₄ was sampled during spreading operations in agricultural fields inside and outside tractor cabins. Sample preparation technique based on accelerated solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction cleanup was optimized before analysis of nine pesticides in PM₄. Meptyldinocap, deltamethrin, myclobutanil, fluopyram, methoxyfenozide, dimethomorph, fluopicolide, cyflufenamid, and metrafenone were simultaneously determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–MS–MS). The results demonstrated the efficacy of the tractor cabs used in the sampling sites.     

Model proficiency testing scheme for serological diagnosis of Brucellosis: interlaboratory study

A model interlaboratory testing scheme was developed by the Italian National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis. This scheme was planned for both qualitative (Rose Bengal Plate Test; RBPT) and quantitative (Complement Fixation Test; CFT) serological tests and involved a total of 42 laboratories. In the preparation of this scheme, reference was made to general protocols and guidelines and to methods reported in the literature, which were applicable to analytical chemistry laboratories. Six field sera from naturally infected animals, one positive serum at a titer below the European Union (EU) positivity threshold, and 5 sera positive at titers between 20 and 851 International Units of Complement Fixation Test (IUCFT)/mL plus one negative serum were used to produce a panel of test sera. To evaluate laboratory performances in the quantitative test for each tested sample examined, z-scores based on robust summary statistics (the median and normalized interquartile range) were used. To evaluate overall laboratory performance, 2 types of combined z-scores were used: Rescaled Sum of Scores and Sum of Squared Scores. In the case of the qualitative test (RBPT), results were analyzed by a Bayesian approach. A Beta distribution, based on the result of each laboratory, was calculated and used to estimate the probability of each laboratory giving a correct result and its uncertainty.     

New enantiopure C2 symmetric bis(2-oxazolinyl)cage (Cage-Box) ligands from 4,5-dicyanopyridazine

7,8-Dicyanotetracyclo[7.3.0.0^2,60^5,10]dodec-7-ene 3, obtained from 4,5-dicyanopyridazine 1 and cycloocta-1,5-diene 2 through a three-step pericyclic homodomino process, was found to react with optically active β-amino alcohols 4a–d, under zinc chloride catalysis, to afford a new class of enantiopure C₂ symmetric bis(oxazolinyl)cage (Cage-Box) ligands 6a–d, along with the corresponding mono(oxazolinyl) derivatives 5a–d.     

Rhenium(IV)-copper(II) heterobimetallic complexes with a bridge malonato ligand. Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

The Re(IV) complex [ReCl4(mal)]2-, in the form of two slightly different salts, (AsPh4)1.5(HNEt3)0.5[ReCl4(mal)] (1a) and (AsPh4)(HNEt3)[ReCl4(mal)] (1b), and the Re(IV)-Cu(II) bimetallic complexes [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(phen)2].CH3CN (2), [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(bpy)2] (3), and [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(terpy)] (4) (mal=malonate dianion, AsPh4=tetraphenylarsonium cation, HNEt3=triethylammonium cation, phen=1,10-phenanthroline, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine and terpy=2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) have been synthesized and the structures of 1a, 1b, 2, and 3 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of 1a and 1b are made up of discrete [ReCl4(mal)]2- anions and AsPh4+ and HNEt3+ cations, held together by electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonds. The Re(IV) atom is surrounded by four chloride anions and a bidentate malonate group, in a distorted octahedral environment. The structure of 2 consist of neutral dinuclear units [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(phen)2], with the metal ions united through a bridge carboxilato. The environment of Re(IV) is nearly identical to that in the mononuclear complex, and Cu(II) is five coordinate, being surrounded by four nitrogen atoms of two bidentate phen ligands and one oxygen atom of the malonato ligand. In 3, there are also dinuclear units, [ReCl4(mu-mal)Cu(bpy)2], but the Cu(II) ions complete a distorted octahedral coordination by binding with the free malonato oxygen atom of a neighbor unit, resulting in an infinite chain. The magnetic properties of 1-4 were also investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. The magnetic behavior of 1a and 1b is as expected for a Re(IV) complex with a large value of the zero-field splitting (2D ca. 110 cm(-1)). For the bimetallic complexes, the magnetic coupling between Re(IV) and Cu(II) is antiferromagnetic in 2 (J=-0.39 cm(-1)), ferromagnetic in 4 (J=+1.51 cm(-1)), and nearly negligible in 3 (J=-0.09 cm(-1)).     

Heterobimetallic oxalato-bridged M(II)Re(IV) complexes (M = Mn,Fe, Co,Ni): synthesis,crystal structure,and magnetic properties

Four rhenium(IV)-M(II) bimetallic complexes of formula [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)M(dmphen)(2)].CH(3)CN with M = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3), and Ni (4) (ox = oxalate anion, dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and the crystal structures of 1 and 3 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 and 3 are isostructural and crystallize in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 16.008(4) A, b = 12.729(2) A, c = 18.909(5) A, beta = 112.70(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 1 and a = 15.998(4) A, b = 12.665(2) A, c = 18.693(5) A, beta = 112.33(2) degrees, and Z = 4, for 3. The structure of 1 and 3 is made up of neutral [ReCl(4)(mu-ox)M(dmphen)(2)] bimetallic units (M = Mn (1), Co (3)) and acetonitrile molecules of crystallization. M(II) and Re(IV) metal ions exhibit distorted octahedral coordination geometries being bridged by a bis(bidentate) oxalato ligand. The magnetic behavior of 1-4 has been investigated over the temperature range 2.0-300 K. A very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between Re(IV) and Mn(II) occurs in 1 (J = -0.1 cm(-)(1)), whereas a significant ferromagnetic interaction between Re(IV) and M(II) is observed in 2-4 [J = +2.8 (2), +5.2 (3), and +5.9 cm(-)(1) (4)].