Chloride Binding Modulated by Anion Receptors Bearing Tetrazine and Urea

Modulation and fine-tuning of the strength of weak interactions to bind anions are described in a series of synthetic receptors. The general design of the receptors includes both a urea motif and a tetrazine motif. The synthetic sequence towards three receptors is detailed. Impacts of H-bond strength and linker length between urea and tetrazine on chloride complexation are studied. Binding properties of the chloride anion are examined in both the ground and excited states using a panel of analytical methods (NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, UV/Visible spectroscopies, and fluorescence). A ranking of the receptors by complexation strength has been determined, allowing a better understanding of the structure-properties relationship on these compounds.     

The key role of the intermolecular pi-pi interactions in the presence of spin crossover in neutral [Fe(abpt)2A2] complexes (A = terminal monoanion N ligand)

New iron(II) complexes of formulas [Fe(abpt) 2(tcm) 2] ( 1), [Fe(abpt) 2(tcnome) 2] ( 2), and [Fe(abpt) 2(tcnoet) 2] ( 3) (abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, tcm (-) = [C(CN) 3] (-) = tricyanomethanide anion; tcnome (-) = [(NC) 2CC(OCH 3)C(CN) 2] (-) = 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-methoxypropenide anion; tcnoet (-) = [(NC) 2CC(OC 2H 5)C(CN) 2] (-) = 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-2-ethoxypropenide anion) have been synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, magnetic properties and by variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure determinations of 1 and 2 reveal in both cases centrosymmetric discrete iron(II) monomeric structures in which two abpt chelating ligands stand in the equatorial plane and two terminal polynitrile ligands complete the distorted octahedral environment in trans positions. For 3, the crystallographic studies revealed two polymorphs, 3- A and 3- B, exhibiting similar discrete molecular structures to those found for 1 and 2 but with different molecular arrangements. In agreement with the variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, the magnetic susceptibility measurements, performed in the temperature range 2-400 K, showed a spin-crossover phenomenon above room temperature for complexes 1, 3- A, and 3- B with a T 1/2 of 336, 377, and 383 K, respectively, while complex 2 remains in the high-spin ground state ( S = 2) in the whole temperature range. To understand further the magnetic behaviors of 1, 3-A, and 3-B, single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements were performed at high temperatures. The crystal structures of both polymorphs could not be obtained above 400 K because the crystals decomposed. However, single-crystal X-ray data have been collected for compound 1, which reaches the full high-spin state at lower temperatures. Its crystal structure, solved at 400 K, showed a strong modification of the iron coordination sphere (average Fe-N = 2.157(3) A vs 1.986(3) A at 293 K). In agreement with the magnetic properties. Such structural behavior is a signature of the spin-state transition from low-spin (LS) to high-spin (HS). On the basis of the intermolecular pi stacking observed for the series described in this paper and for related complexes involving similar discrete structures, we have shown that complexes displaying frontal pi stacking present spin transition such as 1, 3-A, and 3-B and those involving sideways pi stacking such as complex 2 remain in the HS state.     

Can undoped calcium tetraborides exist? An answer from the comparison of its density functional theory electronic structure with that of rare-earth metal tetraboride

Periodic density functional theory calculations are used to discuss the existence of metal tetraborides MB4 with divalent metals. Tetraborides which contain metal atoms inserted in a three-dimensional boron network made of B6 octahedra and B2 dumbbells exhibit a pseudo energy gap for a count of 60 valence electrons per M4(B6)2(B2)2 formula unit. Such a count satisfies the stability electron requirement for B6(2-) (20 electrons) octahedra and B2(2-) (8 electrons) units and allows the filling of two supplementary low-lying bands deriving from the valence metallic d atomic orbitals. This favored electron count is not reached for CaB4 which is then formally deficient by one electron per metal atom. This indicates that CaB4 is unlikely to exist without n-doping.     

Binary shuffle bases for quasi-symmetric functions

We construct bases of quasi-symmetric functions whose product rule is given by the shuffle of binary words, as for multiple zeta values in their integral representations, and then extend the construction to the algebra of free quasi-symmetric functions colored by positive integers. As a consequence, we show that the fractions introduced in Guo and Xie (Ramanujan J 25:307–317, 2011) provide a realization of this algebra by rational moulds extending that of free quasi-symmetric functions given in Chapoton et al. (Int Math Res Not IMRN 2008, no. 9, Art. ID rnn018, 2008).     

Hydrogen-bond interactions of nicotine and acetylcholine salts: a combined crystallographic, spectroscopic, thermodynamic and theoretical study

The hydrogen-bond (HB) interactions of the monocharged active forms of nicotine and acetylcholine (ACh) have been compared theoretically by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimentally on the basis of crystallographic observations and the measurement of equilibrium constants in solution. The 2,4,6-trinitrophenolate (picrate) counterion was used to determine the experimental HB basicity of the cations despite its potential multisite HB acceptor properties. The preferred HB interaction site of the ammonium picrate salts was determined from a survey of crystallographic data found in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and is supported by theoretical calculations. Two distinct classes of ammonium groups were characterised depending on the absence (quaternary ammonium) or presence (tertiary, secondary and primary ammoniums) of an N(+)HO hydrogen bond linking the two ions. The crystal structure of nicotinium picrate was determined and compared with that of ACh. This analysis revealed the peculiar behaviour of the ammonium moiety of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands towards the picrate anion. Dedicated methods have been developed to separate the individual contributions of the anion and cation accepting sites to the overall HB basicity of the ion pairs measured in solution. The HB basicities of the picrate anions associated with the two different ammonium classes were determined in dichloromethane solution by using several model ion pairs with non-basic ammonium cations. The experimental and theoretical studies performed on the nicotine and ACh cations consistently show the significant HB ability of the acceptor site of nAChR agonists in their charged form. Both the greater HB basicity of the pyridinic nitrogen over the carbonyl oxygen and the greater HB acidity of the N(+)H unit relative to N(+)CH could contribute to the higher affinity for nAChRs of nicotine-like ligands relative to ACh-like ligands.     

Preparation of functionalized aryl- and heteroarylpyridazines by nickel-catalyzed electrochemical cross-coupling reactions

A general efficient electrochemical method for the preparation of aryl- and heteroarylpyridazines in a nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 3-chloro-6-methoxypyridazine and 3-chloro-6-methylpyridazine with a range of functionalized aryl or heteroaryl halides is reported.     

Characterization of the glycosidic linkage of underivatized disaccharides by interaction with Pb(2+) ions

Electrospray ionization in combination with tandem mass spectrometry and lead cationization is used to characterize the linkage position of underivatized disaccharides. Lead(II) ions react mainly with disaccharides by proton abstraction to generate [Pb(disaccharide)(m)-H](+) ions (m = 1-2). At low cone voltages, an intense series of doubly charged ions of general formula [Pb(disaccharide)(n)](2+) are also observed. Our study shows that MS/MS experiments have to be performed to differentiate Pb(2+)-coordinated disaccharides. Upon collision, [Pb(disaccharide)-H](+) species mainly dissociate according to glycosidic bond cleavage and cross-ring cleavages, leading to the elimination of C(n)H(2n)O(n) neutrals (n = 2-4). The various fragmentation processes allow the position of the glycosidic bond to be unambiguously located. Distinction between glc-glc and glc-fru disaccharides also appears straightforward. Furthermore, for homodimers of D-glucose our data demonstrate that the anomericity of the glycosidic bond can be characterized for the 1 --> n linkages (n = 2, 4, 6). Consequently, Pb(2+) cationization combined with tandem mass spectrometry appears particularly useful to identify underivatized disaccharides.     

The exceptional hydrogen-bond properties of neutral and protonated lobeline

The X-ray diffraction structure of (-)-lobeline, a high affinity nicotinic ligand, has been determined. A comparison with its hydrobromide and hydrochloride salts shows the great flexibility of the two lateral chains of the N-methylpiperidine ring. Infrared studies carried out on the same species, in the solid state and in solution, reveal the propensity of this molecular framework to accommodate very specific hydrogen bonds (HBs) depending on the state-neutral or protonated-of the molecule. In solution, a strong internal HB between the hydroxyl group and the piperidine nitrogen gives an exceptionally high HB affinity to the hydroxyl oxygen of the lobeline base. In the ionic form, both NH+ and OH groups of the molecule cooperate as HB donors to chelate the counterion. These interactions provide very stable structures and indicate that protonated lobeline can also act as a strong HB donor.     

A LabVIEW®-based software for the control of the AUTORAD platform: a fully automated multisequential flow injection analysis Lab-on-Valve (MSFIA-LOV) system for radiochemical analysis

A LabVIEW^®-based software for the control of the fully automated multi-sequential flow injection analysis Lab-on-Valve (MSFIA-LOV) platform AutoRAD performing radiochemical analysis is described. The analytical platform interfaces an Arduino^®-based device triggering multiple detectors providing a flexible and fit for purpose choice of detection systems. The different analytical devices are interfaced to the PC running LabVIEW^®VI software using USB and RS232 interfaces, both for sending commands and receiving confirmation or error responses. The AUTORAD platform has been successfully applied for the chemical separation and determination of Sr, an important fission product pertinent to nuclear waste.

     

New ferrocenyl-chalcones and bichalcones: Synthesis and characterization

Ferrocenyl-chalcones and their bichalcone analogues were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, as well as electrochemically. Their UV–visible spectra were recorded, and the electronic transitions were assigned by time-dependent DFT calculations. The single-crystal X-ray structures were determined for two ferrocenyl bichalcones.