An integrative approach for analyzing metal–polyelectrolyte interactions

An integrative approach based on the combined use of both experiments and modelling is discussed here aimed at investigating metal–polyelectrolyte interactions in solution. Electrochemical techniques are applied because of their potential to measure the actual speciation without disturbing the solution physico–chemical equilibrium. The experimental methodologies are complementary since the ranges of applicability depend on the solution composition itself. To complement and interpret the results of these experimental techniques, a physico–chemical association model, based on the so-called ‘chemical model’ of counterion condensation theory, is used. The model considers that, in addition to the usual electrostatic interactions and entropic effects, territorial affinity and chemical bonding interactions take place between the small counterions in solution and the polyelectrolyte. A number of particular cases of metal/polyelectrolyte systems are discussed aimed at showing that the integrative approach leads to additional information about the solution system which can not be deduced from experimental results solely. Future challenges with respect to the applications in the study of natural aquatic systems are pointed out.     

The crystal and molecular structure of tris[(triphenylstannyl)methyl]methane

The title compound, C₅₈H₅₂Sn₃, belongs to the triclinic space group P$\text{1}$, with a 10.165, b 13.365, c 18.670 Å, α 96.28, β 93.88, γ 103.15°, V = 2443.8 ų, f_w = 1105.1, Z = 2, D_calc 1.501 g cm^?3, m.p. 206.5–208°C, λ(Mo-K_$\text{α}$) 0.71069 Å. The structure was refined on 2684 nonzero reflections to an R factor of 0.044. The crystal contains molecules in which the (SnCH₂)₃CH core possesses an approximate C₃ symmetry. The three SnC(H₂) bonds are gauche to the C(4)-H bond. Repulsive interactions involving the bulky Ph₃Sn substituents lead to large SnC(H₂)C(H) angles (av. 117.3°), whereas the C(H₂)C(H)C(H₂) angles at the tertiary carbon average 111.3°. Little distortion of the Ph₃Sn groups themselves is present, since the PhSnPh angles (av. 109.8°) are almost equal to the C(H₂)SnPh angles (av. 109.9°). The molecule as a whole has no symmetry because the aromatic rings in the three Ph₃Sn groups have different orientations. The phenyl groups create a pocket in the middle of the molecule which encloses and shields the tertiary hydrogen atom. The resulting inaccessibility of this hydrogen accounts in part for the low reactivity of the title compound in redox reactions.     

Electronic Structure of Rh(2)(&mgr;-CO)(CO)(2)(H(2)PCH(2)PH(2))(2). An Example of a Non-A-Frame Structure

Calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock configuration interaction (HF-CI) methodology have been carried out to investigate the rhodium-rhodium coupling in Rh(2)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2), 1 (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) and in Rh(2)(&mgr;-CO)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2), 2. DFT geometries, obtained with the Dgauss program, are in good agreement with those determined from X-ray, but HF geometries, calculated using the same basis sets, yield bond distances systematically too long. Calculations indicate that the rhodium atoms in 1 are linked by a single bond. The insertion of a semibridging carbonyl between the two metal atoms leads to a shortening of the rhodium-rhodium distance and also to a noticeable weakening of the metal-metal interaction. Both effects, and also the stabilization of the HOMO of 2, are related to an observed change from square planar to tetrahedral of the ligand environment of the Rh atom proximal to the inserted CO. Both MO analysis and bond characterization from the topology of the charge density confirm the existence of a bonding interaction between the semibridging carbonyl and the distal rhodium atom. The electronic structures of the dicationic complex [Rh(2)(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)](2+) and of the A-frame-like, isoelectronic system Rh(2)Br(2)(&mgr;-CO) (dppm)(2) are also discussed. The electron deformation density is derived from 2 by means of several methodological approaches, namely, HF, HF-CI, DFT, and DFT + gradient corrections. The HF deformation density obtained in the plane containing the metals and the three CO ligands is discussed, as well as the "correlation density" obtained from the difference maps DFT - HF and CI - HF.     

Die Deprotonierung silylierter Amido-Komplexe von Seltenerdelementen

Deprotonation Reactions of Silylated Amido Complexes of Rare Earth Elements The deprotonation of the rare earth element-tris(bistrimethylsilyl)amides Ln[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃ of scandium, ytterbium, and lutetium with sodium-bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in THF leads to the complexes [Na(THF)₃LnCH₂SiMe₂NSiMe₃{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂] [Ln = Sc ( 1 ), Yb ( 2 ), and Lu ( 3 )]. According to crystal structure analyses of 1 and 2 the metal atoms Sc and Yb are constituents of planar LnCSiN four-membered rings. At the same time, the C atom of the CH₂ group is coordinated with the sodium ion in a linear axis Ln–C–Na; the sodium ion obtains a distorted tetrahedral arrangement by three THF molecules. The equatorial positions of the methylene-C atom, which is coordinated in a trigonal bipyramidal fashion, are occupied by the two H atoms and the Si atom of the four-membered ring. 2.6-dimethylbenzoisonitrile can be inserted into the Yb–CH₂ bond of 2 and the new five-membered heterocylce YbNCSiN originates, the exocyclic CH₂ group of which enters into a C–C coupling with the centrosymmetric dimer 4 while the ytterbium undergoes reduction. At the same time, sodium-7-methyl indolate is formed, which together with [NaN(SiMe₃)₂(THF)₂] forms the centrosymmetric dimeric molecular aggregate [NaN(SiMe₃)₂(THF)₂Na(C₉H₁₆N)]₂ ( 5 ). 1 : Space group P2₁/n, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = 2941.4(2), b = 1205.5(1), c = 2952.4(3) pm; β = 113.455(8)°; R₁ = 0.0625. 2 : Space group P2₁/n, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = 2943.9(1), b = 1219.5(1), c = 2944.3(1) pm; β = 113.372(4)°; R₁ = 0.0361. 4 : Space group P 1, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = 1117.0(1), b = 1207.5(1), c = 1614.3(2) pm; α = 73.634(10)°, β = 82.091(10)°, γ = 74.391(10)°; R₁ = 0.0525. 5 : Space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = 1126.7(1), b = 1459.3(1), c = 1741.1(1) pm; β = 96.461(8)°; R₁ = 0.0458. Quantum chemical DFT calculations of the scandium model compound [Na(Me₂O)₃ScCH₂SiMe₂NSiH₃{N(SiH₃)₂}₂] ( 1 M ) give a very large negative charge at the pentacoordinated carbon atom of the four-membered ring that is concentrated in a lone-pair orbital which has mainly p character. The carbon atom interacts with the positively charged scandium atom mainly by Coulombic interactions.     

Formation of 3-Sulfonyl-Substituted Benzo[a]heptalene-2,4-diols from Heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylates and Lithiomethyl Phenyl Sulfones

On treatment with 6 mol-equiv. of lithiomethyl phenyl sulfone at −78° in THF, dimethyl 5,6,8,10-tetramethylheptalene-1,2-dicarboxylate ( 1′b ) gives, after raising the temperature to −10° and addition of 6 mol-equiv. of BuLi, followed by further warming to ambient temperature, the corresponding 3-(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene-2,4-diol 2b in yields up to 65% (cf. Scheme 6 and Table 2), in contrast to its double-bond-shifted (DBS) isomer 1b which gave 2b in a yield of only 6% [1]. The bisanion [ 9 ]²⁻ of the cyclopenta[a]heptalen-1(1H)-one 9 (cf. Fig. 1), carrying a (phenylsulfonyl)methyl substituent at C(11b), seems to be a key intermediate on the reaction path to 2b , because 9 is transformed in high yield into 2b in the presence of 6 mol-equiv. of BuLi in the temperature range of −10° to room temperature (cf. Scheme 7). Heptalene-dicarboxylate 1′b was also transformed into benzo[a]heptalene-2,4-diols 2c – g by a number of lithiated methyl X-phenyl sulfones and BuLi (cf. Scheme 9 and Table 3).     

Inhibition of Cellobiohydrolases from Trichoderma reesei. Synthesis and Evaluation of Some Glucose-, Cellobiose-, and Cellotriose-Derived Hydroximolactams and Imidazoles

The lactam 16 , the hydroximolactams 8 , 20 , 23 , and 27 , and the imidazole 32 were prepared following known methods. They were tested together with the known tetrazole 35 and the hydroximolactams 2 and 36 as inhibitors of the cellobiohydrolases Cel7A and Cel6A from Trichoderma reesei. Cel7A is only weakly inhibited by these compounds. Comparing their inhibitory activity evidences the importance of occupying subsites +1 and +2. The results strongly suggest that the shape of none of the variants of the lactone-type inhibitor motif embodied by these inhibitors is complementary to the subsite −1, i. e., analogous to the transition state. Cel6A is rather strongly inhibited by the cellobiose analogues 20 , 23 , and 32 , and by the cellotriose analogue 27 . Their relative inhibitory activities evidence that binding at subsite −2 depends upon the shape of the moiety occupying subsite −1. There is only a small difference between the inhibition by the hydroximolactams 20 and 23 , which may be (partially) protonated by the catalytic acid of either anti- or syn-protonating glycosidases, and the imidazole 32 , which can only be protonated by anti-protonating glycosidases. The results strongly suggest that shape requirements must be met by glycosidase inhibitors before they can be used to characterize the proton trajectory of glycosidases.     

Quantitation of major elements with secondary ion mass spectrometry by using M 2 + -molecular ions

A new quantitation method, based on the detection of M ₂ ⁺ molecular ions, is presented. It has been shown that M ₂ ⁺ molecular ions are formed by a recombination process between independently sputtered M and M⁺ particles. Based on this formation mechanism, it will be demonstrated that M ₂ ⁺ molecular ions can be used to quantitate major elements. The method will be used for quantitation of an Al _x Ga_1?x As multilayer. Furthermore, it will be shown that some matrix effects can be explained by the energy dependence of instrument transmission.     

A novel and efficient alkyl radical trap in aqueous medium

A simple water soluble diselenide derivative 1 shows radical scavenger properties towards alkyl and hydroxyl radicals (k₃ (0°C)=6.8×10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) in Fenton-type chemistry. The reaction rate between produceded alkyl radicals 2 and the diselenide overwhelms self-termination and halogen transfer reactions.     

Effect of pH on interface composition and on quality of oil-in-water emulsions made with hen egg yolk

Constituents of egg yolk are key ingredients of many food emulsions. They contribute to create an interfacial film between oil and water, which determines largely the characteristics of the emulsions. Food emulsions prepared with yolk are made at various pHs. However, the effect of pH on the adsorption of yolk constituents and on the composition of the interfacial film is not known. The present study deals with the influence of pH (3, 6 and 9), on protein interface concentration and composition, change in interfacial tension, and oil droplet diameter, of emulsions made with yolk. Emulsions were prepared as follows: 0.5% w/v of yolk; oil volume fraction: 0.375, homogenisation rate: 20 000 rpm/2 min. pH 6 provided the best conditions to prepare emulsion with yolk. The average diameter of oil droplets was lower at pH 6 (8.5 μm) than at pH 3 (11.8 μm) and pH 9 (13.5 μm). The interfacial protein concentration was higher at pH 6 (1.7 mg m⁻²) than at pH 3 and pH 9 (0.5 mg m⁻²). At pH 6, all the proteins of yolk, except phosvitin, were adsorbed at the interface and the interfacial tension at steady-state was lower (10 mN m⁻¹) than at pH 3 (15 mN m⁻¹) and pH 9 (30 mN m⁻¹). At pH 3, proteins at the interface are mainly phosvitin, and, at pH 9, some apoproteins of LDL and HDL. The pH modulates the composition of yolk proteins at the interface, mainly by modifying the net charge of the proteins causing their repulsion or dimerisation.