Stepwise synthesis of [Ru(trpy)(L)(X)](n+) (trpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine; L = 2,2'-dipyridylamine; X = Cl-, H2O, NO2-, NO+, O2-). Crystal structure, spectral, electron-transfer, and photophysical aspects

Ruthenium-terpyridine complexes incorporating a 2,2'-dipyridylamine ancillary ligand [Ru(II)(trpy)(L)(X)](ClO(4))(n) [trpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine; L = 2,2'-dipyridylamine; and X = Cl(-), n = 1 (1); X = H(2)O, n = 2 (2); X = NO(2)(-), n = 1 (3); X = NO(+), n = 3 (4)] were synthesized in a stepwise manner starting from Ru(III)(trpy)(Cl)(3). The single-crystal X-ray structures of all of the four members (1-4) were determined. The Ru(III)/Ru(II) couple of 1 and 3 appeared at 0.64 and 0.88 V versus the saturated calomel electrode in acetonitrile. The aqua complex 2 exhibited a metal-based couple at 0.48 V in water, and the potential increased linearly with the decrease in pH. The electron-proton content of the redox process over the pH range of 6.8-1.0 was calculated to be a 2e(-)/1H(+) process. However, the chemical oxidation of 2 by an aq Ce(IV) solution in 1 N H(2)SO(4) led to the direct formation of corresponding oxo species [Ru(IV)(trpy)(L)(O)](2+) via the concerted 2e(-)/2H(+) oxidation process. The two successive reductions of the coordinated nitrosyl function of 4 appeared at +0.34 and -0.34 V corresponding to Ru(II)-NO(+) --> Ru(II)-NO* and Ru(II)-NO* --> Ru(II)-NO(-), respectively. The one-electron-reduced Ru(II)-NO* species exhibited a free-radical electron paramagnetic resonance signal at g = 1.990 with nitrogen hyperfine structures at 77 K. The NO stretching frequency of 4 (1945 cm(-1)) was shifted to 1830 cm(-1) in the case of [Ru(II)(trpy)(L)(NO*)](2+). In aqueous solution, the nitrosyl complex 4 slowly transformed to the nitro derivative 3 with the pseudo-first-order rate constant of k(298)/s(-1) = 1.7 x 10(-4). The chloro complex 1 exhibited a dual luminescence at 650 and 715 nm with excited-state lifetimes of 6 and 1 micros, respectively.     

The twotrans-[NiL2(NCS)2] (L =N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine) isomers in the solid state and in solution

Summary Two complextrans-NiL₂ (NCS)2] (L =N, N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine) synthesised from solution in two isomeric forms (1) and (2), exhibit similar colours, magnetic moments and electronic spectra, but differ in their i.r. spectra and x-ray powder diffraction patterns. We suggest they possesstrans- chair-chair andcis-chair-chair chelate conformations, respectively. Complexes (1) (2) isomerise (temperature range 382–397.5 K; H = 5.12 kJ mol^–1) in the solid state. Isomer (2) is converted into isomer (1) upon recrystallisation from chloroform. Thetrans-[NiL₂NCSe)₂] complex does not isomerise upon heating. The compound [NiL(NCS)₂], prepared by thermal decomposition of [NiL₂(NCS)₂], possesses octahedral polymeric structure in which the diamine is chelated and all the thiocyanato groups are bridging.     

Simple and Efficient Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Primary Alcohols with Molecular Oxygen

Oxidative transformations utilizing molecular oxygen (O₂) as the stoichiometric oxidant are of paramount importance in organic synthesis from ecological and economical perspectives. Alcohol oxidation reactions that employ O₂ are scarce in homogeneous catalysis and the efficacy of such systems has been constrained by limited substrate scope (most involve secondary alcohol oxidation) or practical factors, such as the need for an excess of base or an additive. Catalytic systems employing O₂ as the “primary” oxidant, in the absence of any additive, are rare. A solution to this longstanding issue is offered by the development of an efficient ruthenium‐catalyzed oxidation protocol, which enables smooth oxidation of a wide variety of primary, as well as secondary benzylic, allylic, heterocyclic, and aliphatic, alcohols with molecular oxygen as the primary oxidant and without any base or hydrogen‐ or electron‐transfer agents. Most importantly, a high degree of selectivity during alcohol oxidation has been predicted for complex settings. Preliminary mechanistic studies including ¹⁸O labeling established the in situ formation of an oxo–ruthenium intermediate as the active catalytic species in the cycle and involvement of a two‐electron hydride transfer in the rate‐limiting step.     

Tandem one pot synthesis of 1,5-benzodiazocine-2-one by isocyanide based Ugi multicomponent reaction

We have developed an efficient one-pot, two-step reaction protocol for the synthesis of eight-membered 1,5-benzodiazocine-2-ones by Ugi four-center three-component coupling reaction (U-4C-3CR) and subsequent reductive cyclization using Fe/NH₄Cl in protic solvent.     

The Effects of Salts and Ionic Surfactants on the Micellar Structure of Tri‐Block Copolymer PEO‐PPO‐PEO in Aqueous Solution

The micelles of two poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(propylene oxide)‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO‐PPO‐PEO) block copolymers, P123 and F127 (same mol wt of PPO but different % PEO) in aqueous solution in the absence and presence of salts as well as ionic surfactants were mainly examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The study is further supported by cloud point and viscosity measurements. The change in cloud point (CP), as well as the size of micelles in aqueous solution in presence of salts obeys the Hofmeister lyotropic series. Addition of both cationic cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) surfactants in the aqueous solution of P123 show initial decrease of micellar size from 20 nm to nearly 7 nm and then increasing with a double relaxation mode, further in the presence of NaCl this double relaxation mode vanishes. The effect of surfactant on F127, which has much bigger hydrophilic part is different than P123 and have no double relaxation. The relaxation time distributions is obtained using the Laplace inversion routine REPES. Two relaxation modes for P123 are explained on the bases of Pluronic rich mixed micelles containing ionic surfactants and the other smaller, predominantly surfactant rich micelles domains.     

Kinetics and mechanism of biphasic substitution reactions of a platinum(II) complex with thioglycollic acid and 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide in aqueous solution

The kinetics of interactions between cis-diaqua(2-aminomethylpyridine)platinum(II) perchlorate (1) [Pt(pic)(OH₂)₂](ClO₄)₂, thioglycollic acid (TGA), and 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (MTSC) have been studied spectrophotometrically in aqueous medium as a function of the [complex (1)] as well as [TGA] or [MTSC], pH and temperature at constant ionic strength. The observed pseudo-first-order rate constants were proportional to [TGA] or [MTSC]. At pH 4.0, the interactions of (1) with both TGA and MTSC show two distinct consecutive steps; the first step is dependent and second independent of [TGA] or [MTSC]. The association equilibrium constant (K _E) for the outer sphere complex formation has been evaluated, along with the rate constants for the two steps. The first step is assigned to ligand-assisted anation and the second to chelation of TGA or MTSC. The activation parameters for both the steps were evaluated using Eyring’s equation. On the basis of the kinetic observations and evaluated activation parameters, an associative mechanism is proposed for both the reactions.     

A mitochondrial-targeted two-photon probe for zinc ion

We report a two-photon probe (SZn-Mito) for mitochondrial zinc ions ([Zn2+]m). This probe shows a 7-fold enhancement of two-photon-excited fluorescence in response to Zn2+ with a dissociation constant (Kd(TP)) of 3.1 ± 0.1 nM and pH insensitivity in the biologically relevant range, allowing the detection of [Zn2+]m in a rat hippocampal slice at a depth of 100?200 μm without interference from other metal ions through the use of two-photon microscopy.     

Efficient and Simple Approaches Towards Direct Oxidative Esterification of Alcohols

The present article describes novel oxidative protocols for direct esterification of alcohols. The protocols involve successful demonstrations of both “cross” and “self” esterification of a wide variety of alcohols. The cross‐esterification proceeds under a simple transition‐metal‐free condition, containing catalytic amounts of TEMPO (2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy)/TBAB (tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide) in combination with oxone (potassium peroxo monosulfate) as the oxidant, whereas the self‐esterification is achieved through simple induction of Fe(OAc)₂/dipic (dipic=2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid) as the active catalyst under an identical oxidizing environment.