Formation of negative oxidation states of platinum and gold in redox ionic liquid: Electrochemical evidence

The electrochemical reduction of noble metal electrodes in the presence of redox ionic liquid, 1-ferrocenylethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [FcEMIM][TFSI], was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Our experiments suggest the formation of metal with negative oxidation states, in the cases of platinum and gold electrodes [M_n⁻, FcEMIM⁺]. By analogy with the previous work, the formation of these phases is concomitant with the insertion of the supporting electrolyte; which correspond in our experimental condition to the redox cation of the ionic liquid. As an exciting result, the electrochemical investigations of the reduced electrode in electrolytic solution, containing solvent and supporting electrolyte, evidence the presence of the ferrocene groups at the electrode surface. Moreover, the reduced electrode exhibits the presence of the ferrocene even after, contact with air, after ultrasound, and after physical polishing, highlighting the large stability of this organo-metallic phases formed in this media. The AFM investigations demonstrate the morphological change of the platinum surface after the reduction process. Finally, our works bring a formal electrochemical proof of the presence of the ionic liquid cation inside the electrode material after the cathodic treatment in this media.     

Crystal-to-crystal transformations in heterometallic yttrium(III)-copper(I) iodide derivatives in a confined solvent-free environment: influence of solvated yttrium cations on the nuclearity and dimensionality of iodocuprate clusters

The solvated yttrium iodide precursors [Y(L)(8)]I(3) (L = DMSO or DMF), prepared in situ by stirring YI(3)(Pr(i)OH)(4) in DMSO or DMF, react with CuI in the presence of NH(4)I to give ionic hetero-metallic species [Y(DMSO)(8)][Cu(2)(mu-I)I(4)] (1) and [Y(DMF)(8)][Cu(4)(mu(3)-I)(2)(mu-I)(3)I(2)] (2) in excellent yields. Re-crystallization of 1 from DMF afforded the mixed-solvate complex [Y(DMSO)(6)(DMF)(2)][CuI(3)][I] (3). Compounds 2 and 3 undergo unique crystal-to-crystal transformation via progressive substitution of DMF by water molecules in a confined, solvent-free environment. Thus, crystals of 3 transform into [Y(DMSO)(6)(H(2)O)(2)][CuI(3)][I] (4), whereas a discrete ion-pair assembly of 2 is first converted into a 1-D zig-zag structure [Y(DMF)(6)(H(2)O)(2)](3+)[Cu(7)(mu(4)-I)(3)(mu(3)-I)(2)(mu-I)(4)(I)](1infinity)(3-) (5) and finally into a 2-D sheet containing mixed-valent copper atoms, [Y(DMF)(6)(H(2)O)(3)](3+)[Cu(I)(7)Cu(II)(2)(mu(3)-I)(8)(mu-I)(6)](2infinity)(3-) (6). The bi- and tetrafurcate H-bonding between water ligands on yttrium and iodides of the Cu-I cluster plays a pivotal role in the evolution of structures 4-6. Formation of a wide range of iodocuprate structures in 1-6, from discrete mono-, di- or tetranuclear units to one- and two-dimensional extended arrays, reflects the influence of solvated yttrium cations on the nuclearity and dimensionality of Cu-I clusters. TG-DTA-MS studies and DFT calculations for these complexes have also been carried out in order to determine their thermal stability and have insight about aforesaid transformations.     

Synthesis of hydroxycinnamic acid glucuronides and investigation of their affinity for human serum albumin

Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) are among the most abundant dietary polyphenols. Recent bioavailability studies have shown that HCAs enter the blood circulation mainly as glucuronides, which are thus most likely to express their potential health effects. In this work, an efficient synthesis of HCA O-arylglucuronides is developed. As for many xenobiotics, the resilience of HCA O-arylglucuronides in plasma and subsequent delivery to tissues could be governed by their binding to human serum albumin (HSA). Hence, the affinity of HCA O-arylglucuronides for HSA and its possible binding site were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. HCA O-arylglucuronides turn out to be moderate HSA ligands (K in the range 1-4 x 10(4) M(-1)) that bind HSA in sub-domain IIA, competitively or noncompetitively with other sub-domain IIA ligands such as dansylamide and the flavonol quercetin.     

Advantages of hydride generation interface for selenium speciation in waters by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupling

This paper focuses on the analytical performance improvement of the coupled technique HPLC-ICPMS using on-line collision/reaction cell technology for selenium elemental and speciation analyses at the ng (Se) l(-1) level in aquatic environment. Collision/reaction cell operating parameters were optimised, resulting in selected conditions of 5.5 ml min(-1) H(2) and 0.5 ml min(-1) He mixture. The detection limits obtained were around 5 ng (Se) l(-1) for total analysis, and between 7 and 15 ng (Se) l(-1) depending on the species for speciation analysis. The capability of UV irradiation-hydride generation interfacing to increase detector sensitivity was also evaluated for speciation analysis. The detection limits obtained were in the range 2-8 ng (Se) l(-1) depending on the species. Moreover, such interface allowed to prevent bromine introduction to the ICPMS which is particularly convenient for selenium trace analysis in natural waters as (80)Se is preserved free from BrH interferences. The developed method was validated using certified water with low selenium content (TM Rain 95, NWRI, Canada) and applied to the analysis of different waters.     

Nuclear proteome analysis of undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem and germ cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and embryonic germ cells (EGCs) provide exciting models for understanding the underlying mechanisms that make a cell pluripotent. Indeed, such understanding would enable dedifferentiation and reprogrammation of any cell type from a patient needing a cell therapy treatment. Proteome analysis has emerged as an important technology for deciphering these biological processes and thereby ESC and EGC proteomes are increasingly studied. Nevertheless, their nuclear proteomes have only been poorly investigated up to now. In order to investigate signaling pathways potentially involved in pluripotency, proteomic analyses have been performed on mouse ESC and EGC nuclear proteins. Nuclei from ESCs and EGCs at undifferentiated stage were purified by subcellular fractionation. After 2‐D separation, a subtractive strategy (subtracting culture environment contaminating spots) was applied and a comparison of ESC, (8.5 day post coïtum (dpc))‐EGC and (11.5 dpc)‐EGC specific nuclear proteomes was performed. A total of 33 ESC, 53 (8.5 dpc)‐EGC, and 36 (11.5 dpc)‐EGC spots were identified by MALDI‐TOF‐MS and/or nano‐LC‐MS/MS. This approach led to the identification of two isoforms (with and without N‐terminal acetylation) of a known pluripotency marker, namely developmental pluripotency associated 5 (DPPA5), which has never been identified before in 2‐D gel‐MS studies of ESCs and EGCs. Furthermore, we demonstrated the efficiency of our subtracting strategy, in association with a nuclear subfractionation by the identification of a new protein (protein arginine N‐methyltransferase 7; PRMT7) behaving as proteins involved in pluripotency.     

The C3N- anion: first detection of its electronic luminescence in rare gas solids

The 193 nm laser irradiation of cyanoacetylene (HCCCN) that was isolated in rare gas solids led to a long-lived luminescence (origin at 3.58 eV), which was assigned to the a (3)Sigma(+)-X (1)Sigma(+) system of cyanoacetylide (CCCN(-)). The identification, which involved (15)N and (2)H isotopic substitution studies, is based on vibronic spacings in the phosphorescence spectrum (compared to previous infrared absorption measurements and to theoretical results regarding CCCN(-) vibrational frequencies), as well as on a BD(T)/cc-pVTZ prediction for the singlet-triplet energy gap in this anion (3.61 eV). The same emission was also generated from KrHC(3)N mixtures subjected to a glow electric discharge immediately before the solidification (cold-window-radial-discharge technique).     

High-pressure phase behaviour of the binary system {CO2 + cis-decalin} from (292.75 to 373.75) K

The phase behaviour of the {CO₂ (1) + cis-decalin (2)} binary system has been experimentally studied at temperatures ranging from (292.75 to 373.75) K. Saturation pressures, ranging from (15.9 to 490.5) bar, were obtained using a variable volume high-pressure cell by visual observation of phase transitions at constant overall composition. For this system, no literature data are available and the results obtained in this study reveal the occurrence of vapor–liquid, liquid–liquid, and vapor–liquid–liquid phase transitions in the investigated temperature range. A total of 133 experimental points are reported including bubble points, dew points, liquid–liquid phase equilibria, and coordinates of the three-phase line. The experimental data can be reasonably predicted by the PPR78 model in which the temperature-dependent binary interaction parameter is calculated by a group contribution method.