Towards the rational design of MRI contrast agents: δ-substitution of lanthanide(III) NB-DOTA-tetraamide chelates influences but does not control coordination geometry

LnDOTA-tetraamide chelates (DOTA=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) have received considerable recent attention as a result of their potential to act as PARACEST contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although PARACEST agents afford several advantages over conventional contrast agents they suffer from substantially higher detection limits; thus, improving the effectiveness of LnDOTA-tetraamide chelates is an important goal. In this study we investigate the potential to extend conformational control of LnDOTA-type ligands to those applicable to PARACEST. Furthermore, the question of whether δ- rather than α-substitution of the pendant arms could be used to control the chelate coordination geometry is addressed. Although δ-substitution does influence coordination geometry it does not afford control. However, it can play an important role in governing the conformation of the amide substituent relative to the chelate in such as way that suggests a PARACEST agent could be designed that has detection limits at least as low as a conventional MRI contrast agent.     

Metallophilic bonding and agostic interactions in gold(I) and silver(I) complexes bearing a thiotetrazole unit

Gold(I) and silver(I) complexes of 1-methyl-5-thio-tetrazole (1) have been prepared and the coordination chemistry of this ligand toward metal-phosphine frameworks has been explored. As indicated by IR and Raman data, ligand 1 is deprotonated and the resulted anion acts as a bidentate (S,N)-tetrazole-5-thiolato unit in the new gold(I) complexes, [Au(SCN(4)Me)(PPh(3))] (2), [{Au(SCN(4)Me)}(2)(μ-dppm)] (3), and [{Au(SCN(4)Me)}(2)(μ-dppe)] (4), while it is coordinated only through the sulfur atom as its neutral tetrazole-5-thione form in the silver(I) derivative, [Ag(HSCN(4)Me)(PPh(3))](2)(OTf)(2) (5). Further characterization of the new compounds was performed using multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, (31)P, (19)F) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and DSC measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed basically linear P-M-S arrangements in complexes 3-5. The bidentate (S,N) coordination pattern results in a T-shaped (S,N)PAu core in 3 and 4, whereas, in 5, a similar coordination geometry is achieved in the dimer association based on S-bridging ligand 1. Herein, weak (C)H···Au and (C)H···Ag agostic interactions were observed. An intramolecular Au···Au contact occurs in 3, while in 4 intermolecular aurophilic bonds lead to formation of a chain polymer. An intermolecular Ag···Ag contact is also present in the dimer unit of 5. Low-temperature (31)P NMR data for 5 evidenced the presence of monomer and dimer units in solution. Theoretical calculations on model of the complexes 2 and 4 are consistent with the geometries found by X-ray diffraction studies.     

The application of holographic techniques to kinetic studies of photopolymerization reactions

The holographic techniques are applied to the kinetic study of a photopolymerization reaction under steady state illumination. A theoretical approach of this problem is introduced which allows the intrinsic initiating activity of several amine-derived radicals to be determined.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Zinc Borate Zn3B4O9

The new zinc borate Zn₃B₄O₉ was synthesized at high-pressure/high-temperature conditions of 10 GPa and 1173 K in a Walker-type multianvil pressure device. It crystallizes in the space group P (no. 2) with a=5.5028(2) Å, b=6.7150(3) Å, c=7.8887(3) Å, α=83.99(1)°, β=73.38(1)°, γ=74.75(1)°, V=269.35(2) ų, and two formula units (Z=2) per unit cell. The structure was confirmed via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Zn₃B₄O₉ can be synthesized phase pure, which is shown with a Rietveld refinement. IR-spectroscopic data of a powder sample were collected.