Crystal and molecular structure of sodium picrate monohydrate

Na⁺ [C₆H₂(NO₂)₃O]^– H₂O,M _r=269.11, monoclinic,C2/m (No. 12),a=13.065(1),b=20.065(2),c=3.6957(4) Å,=90.75(1)°,V=968.7(1) ų,Z=4,D _m=1.848 g cm^–3 (by flotation),D _x=1.845 g cm^–3, (CuK)=1.54184 Å,(CuK)=17.5 cm^–1,F(000)=540,T=295 K,R=0.055,wR=0.060 for 879 observed reflections withI2.5(I). p]In the structure the picrate anion has exact twofold symmetry, the water molecule has exact mirror symmetry and the two sodium cations occupy special positions on inversion centers at (0, 1/2, 0) and (1/2, 1/2, 1/2). The phenyl ring together with the four substituent N and O atoms is strictly planar, but the phenyl ring is severely distorted from hexagonal symmetry, as is commonly observed in structures containing the picrate fragment. Both sodium ions are eight-coordinated with Na(1) and Na(2) in a cubic and distorted cubic arrangement, respectively. Na(1) coordinates to four charged phenoxide O atoms and four O atoms of nitro groups, and Na(2) to four O atoms of nitro groups and four water molecules. The water molecule donates two hydrogen bonds to symmetry-related O(2) atoms ofortho nitro groups. Two symmetry-related O(3) atoms ofortho nitro groups serve as acceptors in a very unusual asymmetric bifurcated C-HO hydrogen bond.     

Sampling, storage, and analysis of C2-C7 non-methane hydrocarbons from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cooperative Air Sampling Network glass flasks

An analytical technique was developed to analyze light non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), including ethane, propane, iso-butane, n-butane, iso-pentane, n-pentane, n-hexane, isoprene, benzene and toluene from whole air samples collected in 2.5l-glass flasks used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth System Research Laboratory, Global Monitoring Division (NOAA ESRL GMD, Boulder, CO, USA) Cooperative Air Sampling Network. This method relies on utilizing the remaining air in these flasks (which is at below-ambient pressure at this stage) after the completion of all routine greenhouse gas measurements from these samples. NMHC in sample aliquots extracted from the flasks were preconcentrated with a custom-made, cryogen-free inlet system and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (FID). C2-C7 NMHC, depending on their ambient air mixing ratios, could be measured with accuracy and repeatability errors of generally < or =10-20%. Larger deviations were found for ethene and propene. Hexane was systematically overestimated due to a chromatographic co-elution problem. Saturated NMHC showed less than 5% changes in their mixing ratios in glass flask samples that were stored for up to 1 year. In the same experiment ethene and propene increased at approximately 30% yr(-1). A series of blank experiments showed negligible contamination from the sampling process and from storage (<10 pptv yr(-1)) of samples in these glass flasks. Results from flask NMHC analyses were compared to in-situ NMHC measurements at the Global Atmospheric Watch station in Hohenpeissenberg, Germany. This 9-months side-by-side comparison showed good agreement between both methods. More than 94% of all data comparisons for C2-C5 alkanes, isoprene, benzene and toluene fell within the combined accuracy and precision objectives of the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO-GAW) for NMHC measurements.     

A Lock-and-Kill Anticancer Photoactivated Chemotherapy Agent†

Photosubstitutionally active ruthenium complexes show high potential as prodrugs for the photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) treatment of tumors. One of the problems in PACT is that the localization of the ruthenium compound is hard to trace. Here, a ruthenium PACT prodrug, [Ru(3)(biq)(STF-31)](PF₆)₂ (where 3 = 3-(([2,2′:6′,2″-ter- pyridin]-4′-yloxy)propyl-4-(pyren-1-yl)butanoate) and biq = 2,2′-biquinoline), has been prepared, in which a pyrene tracker is attached via an ester bond. The proximity between the fluorophore and the ruthenium center leads to fluorescence quenching. Upon intracellular hydrolysis of the ester linkage, however, the fluorescence of the pyrene moiety is recovered, thus demonstrating prodrug cellular uptake. Further light irradiation of this molecule liberates by photosubstitution STF-31, a known cytotoxic nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitor, as well as singlet oxygen via excitation of the free pyrene chromophore. The dark and light cytotoxicity of the prodrug, embedded in liposomes, as well as the appearance of blue emission upon uptake, were evaluated in A375 human skin melanoma cells. The cytotoxicity of the liposome-embedded prodrug was indeed increased by light irradiation. This work realizes an in vitro proof-of-concept of the lock-and-kill principle, which may ultimately be used to design strategies aimed at knowing where and when light irradiation should be realized in vivo.     

Polypyrrole modified solvent resistant nanofiltration membranes

New solvent resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) membranes with polypyrrole (PPy) modified toplayer were prepared on different types support by in situ pyrrole polymerization. The morphology of the membranes was studied by SEM. The PPy modified membranes were applied in the filtration of organic solvents. All the PPy modified membranes showed a very high retention of the negatively charged RB in different solvent systems, comparable to those of the MPF-50 and STARMEM 122 commercial membranes, but at much higher flux. The extended filtration experiment in strong aprotic DMF of PPy modified membranes showed a clearly stable permeability and retention over 30 h. In addition, the PPy modified membranes showed a much higher flux in THF systems than for earlier reported crosslinked poly(imide) membranes.     

Evaluation of the interaction of propranolol with 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) liposomes: the Langmuir model

The interaction of the amine containing beta-receptor blocking agent propranolol (Ppn) with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles was studied. Using a centrifugation assay, the protonated as well as unprotonated amount of the drug sorbed was verified, whereas the binding of the protonated Ppn was deduced from the surface charge density of the vesicles as calculated from electrophoretic mobility measurements. Assuming a 1:1 binding, a Langmuir model with only two parameters was found to be sufficient to fit all experimental data. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the estimated values of these parameters were reliable and independent from each other. These parameters were truly intrinsic, as electrostatic interactions were accounted for in the model. It was found that the pKa of Ppn shifted from 9.24, when dissolved in water, downward by 1.34 units upon sorption, indicating that the intrinsic partition coefficient of the unprotonated Ppn was about 22 times higher than that of the protonated analog. In addition, a significant increase in the affinity of both Ppn analogs with increasing salt concentration was found. Theoretical analysis revealed that the Langmuir sorption model may be considered as a partitioning model with decreasing partition coefficient as the sorbed amount increases. Thus, the Langmuir model provides a better fit than a simple partition model at conditions that induce a substantial amount of propranolol sorbed, such as high pH and high propranolol concentrations.     

Iron(II) complexes with bio-inspired N,N,O ligands as oxidation catalysts: olefin epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation

The Rieske dioxygenases are a group of non-heme iron enzymes, which catalyze the stereospecific cis-dihydroxylation of its substrates. Herein, we report the iron(II) coordination chemistry of the ligands 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (L1) and its neutral propyl ester analogue propyl 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (PrL1). The molecular structures of two iron(II) complexes with PrL1 were determined and two different coordination modes of the ligand were observed. In [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)](BPh(4))(2) (3) the ligand is facially coordinated to the metal with an N,N,O donor set, whereas in [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)(MeOH)(2)](OTf)(2) (4) a bidentate N,N binding mode is found. In 4, the solvent molecules are in a cis arrangement with respect to each other. Complex 4 is a close structural mimic of the crystallographically characterized non-heme iron(II) enzyme apocarotenoid-15-15'-oxygenase (APO). The mechanistic features of APO are thought to be similar to those of the Rieske oxygenases, the original inspiration for this work. The non-heme iron complexes [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)](OTf)(2) (2) and [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)](BPh(4))(2) (3) were tested in olefin oxidation reactions with H(2)O(2) as the terminal oxidant. Whereas 2 was an active catalyst and both epoxide and cis-dihydroxylation products were observed, 3 showed negligible activity under the same conditions, illustrating the importance of the anion in the reaction.     

The effect of processing method on dry sliding performance of polyimides at high load/high velocity conditions

Polyimides can be processed by sintering or injection moulding, depending on their molecular structure. Raman spectroscopy shows differences in imide I (CO stretch), imide II (CNC axial vibration) and imide III (CNC transverse vibration) bands for both polyimide types, indicating that (i) further imidisation happens during sintering, while being amorphous and (ii) crystallisation happens during melt processing. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates no glass transition or melting temperatures until degradation at 592 °C after sintering, while moulded polyimides show a glass transition temperature at 250 °C. A dehydration reaction at 180 °C will importantly influence the sliding properties of both sintered and injection moulded polyimides. For sintered polyimide, friction and wear in cylinder-on-plate tests is mechanically controlled and mainly determined by normal loads. Overload for sintered polyimides is due to brittleness above 150 N, as also observed in debris morphology. For moulded polyimide, both normal loads and sliding velocity cause a decrease in friction and increase in wear. Overload for moulded polyimide is thermo-mechanically controlled. Sliding stability is controlled by smooth transfer, which is influenced by thermal action, plastic deformation or shear and promoted by elongation at break. Overload conditions are further discussed in relation to deformation of the Hertz line contact, recovery after sliding and the pv-limit (contact pressure × sliding velocity) related to frictional heating.     

A liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry method to measure a selected panel of uremic retention solutes derived from endogenous and colonic microbial metabolism

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease, which is, at least partly, mediated by the accumulation of so-called uremic retention solutes. Although there has been an increasing interest in the behavior of these solutes, derived from both the endogenous and colonic microbial metabolism, methods to simultaneously and accurately measure a broad panel of relevant uremic retention solutes remain scarce.