Glass forming region and physical properties in the system P2O5-Na2O–Fe2O3

The glass forming region of the system P₂O₅–Na₂O–Fe₂O₃ was determined, using phosphate salts as precursor materials. The glasses were produced in non-wetting gold/platinum crucibles in order to avoid contamination. Glass formation was confirmed using XRD and the final composition determined using EDX. The glass forming region was found to be relatively short at 50% P₂O₅ content in comparison to both lower and higher P₂O₅ content. As expected, the inclusion of Fe₂O₃ had a significant effect on both glass transition temperature and density with a peak seen at around 30 mol% Fe₂O₃. This coincides with previously reported abrupt structural changes in the glass. The inclusion of Na₂O has little effect on the glass transition temperature but causes a small increase in density.     

Differential cross-sections for pp → π−π+, K−K+ between 0.8 and 2.4 GeV/c

We present measurements from a spark chamber experiment of the differential cross-sections for $\text{p}$p → π^?π⁺, K^?K⁺ at 20 momenta in the range 0.8–2.4 GeV/c (c.m. energy 2.02 to 2.57 GeV). The c.m. angular range was $\text{?0.95 <}\text{cos}\text{θ}{}^1\text{< 0.95}$. There are about 2000π^?π⁺ events and about 300 K^?K⁺ events at each momentum.     

Development of candidate reference materials for the measurement of lead in bone

The production of modest quantities of candidate bone lead (Pb) reference materials is described, and an optimized production procedure is presented. The reference materials were developed to enable an assessment of the interlaboratory agreement of laboratories measuring Pb in bone; method validation; and for calibration of solid sampling techniques such as laser ablation ICP-MS. Long bones obtained from Pb-dosed and undosed animals were selected to produce four different pools of a candidate powdered bone reference material. The Pb concentrations of these pools reflect both environmental and occupational exposure levels in humans. The animal bones were harvested post mortem, cleaned, defatted, and broken into pieces using the brittle fracture technique at liquid nitrogen temperature. The bone pieces were then ground in a knife mill to produce fragments of 2-mm size. These were further ground in an ultra-centrifugal mill, resulting in finely powdered bone material that was homogenized and then sampled-scooped into vials. Testing for contamination and homogeneity was performed via instrumental methods of analysis.

An efficient synthesis of nitroalkenes by alkene cross metathesis: facile access to small ring systems

A synthesis of highly functionalized nitroalkenes is reported that utilizes a cross metathesis (CM) reaction between simple aliphatic nitro compounds and a range of substituted alkenes. This chemistry offers a simple and attractive route to nitroalkenes that would otherwise be difficult to prepare, and that have a very useful application as precursors to a variety of heterocyclic entities.     

A novel class of metal-directed supramolecular DNA-delivery systems

The bis-complexes [Cu(L(dt))(2)](OTf)(2) (1) and [Cu(L(ot))(2)](OTf)(2) (2), where L(dt) = 1-dodecyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, L(ot) = 1-octadecyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane and OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate, formed a novel class of metallo-liposomes in water that transfect pEGFP-N1 plasmids into HEK 293-T cells at 38% and 4% efficiency, respectively.     

Dual triggering of DNA binding and fluorescence via photoactivation of a dinuclear ruthenium(II) arene complex

The dinuclear RuII arene complexes [{(eta6-arene)RuCl}2(mu-2,3-dpp)](PF6)2, arene=indan (1), benzene (2), p-cymene (3), or hexamethylbenzene (4) and 2,3-dpp=2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, have been synthesized and characterized. Upon irradiation with UVA light, complexes 1 and 2 readily underwent arene loss, while complexes 3 and 4 did not. The photochemistry of 1 was studied in detail. In the X-ray structure of [{(eta6-indan)RuCl}2(mu-2,3-dpp)](PF6)2 (1), 2,3-dpp bridges two RuII centers 6.8529(6) A apart. In water, aquation of 1 in the dark occurs with replacement of chloride with biexponential kinetics and decay constants of 100+/-1 min-1 and 580+/-11 min-1. This aquation was suppressed by 0.1 M NaCl. UV or visible irradiation of 1 in aqueous or methanolic solution led to arene loss. The fluorescence of the unbound arene is approximately 40 times greater than when it is complexed. Irradiation of 1 also had a significant effect on its interactions with DNA. The DNA binding of 1 is increased after irradiation. The non-irradiated form of 1 preferentially formed DNA adducts that only weakly blocked RNA polymerase, while irradiation of 1 transformed the adducts into stronger blocks for RNA polymerase. The efficiency of irradiated 1 to form DNA interstrand cross-links was slightly greater than that of cisplatin in both 10 mM NaClO4 and 0.1 M NaCl. In contrast, the interstrand cross-linking efficiency of non-irradiated 1 in 10 mM NaClO4 was relatively low. An intermediate amount of cross-linking was observed when the sample of DNA already modified by non-irradiated 1 was irradiated. DNA unwinding measurements supported the conclusion that both mono- and bifunctional adducts with DNA can form. These results show that photoactivation of dinuclear RuII arene complexes can simultaneously produce a highly reactive ruthenium species that can bind to DNA and a fluorescent marker (the free arene). Importantly, the mechanism of photoreactivity is also independent of oxygen. These complexes, therefore, have the potential to combine both photoinduced cell death and fluorescence imaging of the location and efficiency of the photoactivation process.     

Tripodal borate ligands from tris(dimethylamino)borane: the first synthesis of a chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligand, and the crystal structure of a single diastereomer pseudo-C3-symmetric Ru(II) complex

The activation of tris(dimethylamino)borane towards reaction with a chiral methimazole by N-methylimidazole has been used to prepare the first example of a chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligand. Coordination of this neutral ligand to Ru(II) has been achieved by reaction with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) to provide a single diastereomer complex in which the chirality of the methimazolyl substituents dictate the chirality of the bicyclo[3.3.3]cage formed by the ligand on coordination to the metal. The alternative approach to chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligands involving the introduction of a chiral group onto the boron atom has been explored by replacing N-methylimidazole in the above reaction by chiral oxazolines as activating bases in reaction with simple methimazole. However, although the B(NMe(2))(3) is activated to reaction with methimazole by these oxazolines, an intramolecular oxazoline ring-opening by a coordinated methimazolyl sulfur occurs and prevents the successful synthesis of these ligands.