The oxidative addition of hydrogen sulfide to the electron-rich triple bond: The isolation and characterization of compounds that contain the Re2(μ-H)(μ-SH) cluster unit

The reactions of Re₂X₄(-dppm)₂ (X=Cl or Br; dppm=Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂) with H₂S in THF afford the dirhenium (III) complexes Re₂(-H)(-SH)X₄(-dppm)₂, the first examples of the oxidative addition of an S-H unit across an electron-rich metal-metal triple bond. The bromide complex Re₂(-H)(-SH)Br₄(-dppm)₂ (C₂H₅)₂O crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n witha=16.631(2) Å,b=15.967(3) Å,c=19.904(2) Å, =92.698(7)°,V=5279(2) ų, andZ=4. The structure which was refined toR=0.053 (R _w=0.070) for 4903 data withI>3.0(I), shows the presence of an edge-shared bioctahedral geometry with a very short Re-Re distance of 2.4566(7) Å. While the hydrogen atoms of the -H and -SH ligands were not located in the X-ray structure determination, their presence is confirmed by IR and¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Ab initio MRD-CI calculations for breaking a chemical bond in a molecule in a crystal or other solid environment. III. Me2N?NO2 decomposition of dimethylnitramine in a large crystalline environment

Recently we extended our strategy for MRD-CI (multireference double excitation-configuration interaction) calculations, based on localized/local orbitals and an “effective” CI Hamiltonian, for molecular decompositions of large molecules to breaking a chemical bond in a molecule in a crystalline or other solid environment. Our technique begins with an explicit quantum chemical SCF calculation for a reference molecule surrounded by a number of other molecules in the multipole environment of more distant neighbors. The resulting canonical molecular orbitals are then localized, and the localized occupied and virtual orbitals in the region of interest are included explicitly in the MRD-CI with the remainder of the occupied localized orbitals being folded into an “effective” CI Hamiltonian. The MRD-CI calculations are then carried out for breaking a bond in the reference molecule. This method is completely general in that the space treated explicitly, as well as the surrounding space, may contain voids, defects, deformations, dislocations, impurities, dopants, edges and surfaces, boundaries, etc. Dimethylnitramine is the smallest prototype of the energetic R₂N—NO₂ nitramines, such as the 6-member ring RDX or the 8-member ring HMX. Decomposition of energetic compounds is initiated in the solid by a breaking of the target bond. Thus, it is crucial to know the difference in energy between breaking a bond in an isolated energetic molecule versus in the molecule in a solid. In the present study, we have carried out MRD-CI calculations for the Me₂N—NO₂ dissociation of dimethylnitramine in a dimethylnitramine crystal. The cases we investigated were one dimethylnitramine molecule (surrounded by 53 and 685 neighboring dimethylnitramine molecules represented by multipoles), three dimethylnitramine molecules, and three dimethylnitramine molecules (surrounded by 683 neighbors). All multipoles were cumulative atomic multipoles up through quadrupoles. The MRD-CI calculations on dimethylnitramine required large numbers of reference configurations from which were allowed all single and double excitations.     

Rapid analysis of intact phospholipids from whole bacterial cells by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry combined with on-probe sample pretreatment

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), utilizing an on-probe sample pretreatment, was applied to the rapid and direct detection of intact phospholipids from whole bacterial cells. The sample preparation procedure involved depositing growing bacterial colonies from culture dishes directly onto the MALDI probe followed by treatment of the sample spot with a 3 micro L aliquot of an aqueous 0.05 M solution of sodium iodide prior to the addition of a 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix solution (ca. 8 mg dissolved in 70% acetonitrile/30% H(2)O containing 0.1% of trifluoroacetic acid). The MALDI spectra obtained from whole bacteria cells showed a series of ions generated from bacterial phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanol-amines (PEs) and phosphatidylglycerols (PGs), which were clearly observed as well-resolved peaks. The ranges of the observed total carbon numbers in two acyl groups for PEs and PGs (30-36 and 33-36, respectively) were in good agreement with those reported previously. Furthermore, the distinct discrimination of four species of the Enterobacteriaceae family cultured identically was achieved by using principal components analysis (PCA) conducted on the relative peak intensities of phospholipids observed from the MALDI spectra.     

Enterococcal cytolysin: a novel two component peptide system that serves as a bacterial defense against eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

The cytolysin is a novel, two-peptide lytic toxin produced by some strains of Enterococcus faecalis. It is toxic in animal models of enterococcal infection, and associated with acutely terminal outcome in human infection. The cytolysin exerts activity against a broad spectrum of cell types including a wide range of gram positive bacteria, eukaryotic cells such as human, bovine and horse erythrocytes, retinal cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and human intestinal epithelial cells. The cytolysin likely originated as a bacteriocin involved with niche control in the complex microbial ecologies associated with eukaryotic hosts. However, additional anti-eukaryotic activities may have been selected for as enterococci adapted to eukaryotic cell predation in water or soil ecologies. Cytolytic activity requires two unique peptides that possess modifications characteristic of the lantibiotic bacteriocins, and these peptides are broadly similar in size to most cationic eukaryotic defensins. Expression of the cytolysin is tightly controlled by a novel mode of gene regulation in which the smaller peptide signals high-level expression of the cytolysin gene cluster. This complex regulation of cytolysin expression may have evolved to balance defense against eukaryotic predators with stealth.     

Performance characteristics of suspended particulate reagent-iminodiacetate as a binding agent for diffusive gradients in thin films

The performance characteristics of an alternative binding agent, suspended particulate reagent-iminodiacetate (SPR-IDA), for use with DGT methodology were investigated. The parameters investigated during this study included gel hydration, blank levels, elution factor (f_e), capacity, the effects of pH on the binding of trace metals by DGT. The novel application of this resin for use as a quantitative standard for laser ablation ICP-MS was also evaluated. To further constrain the results for the SPR-IDA binding agent, parallel experiments were performed using resin gel containing Chelex 100, which has been widely reported in the literature. Hydration results showed that the SPR-IDA resin gel reached a stable dimension and weight within ∼30 min and was dimensionally stable for ≤6 months. The measured DGT blanks for the SPR-IDA resin were 0.0023, 0.15, 0.21, 0.0033 and 0.011 ng disc⁻¹ for Co, Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb, respectively. The elution factor differed for the two resin types with the Chelex 100 recoveries slightly lower than previous reports and the SPR-IDA resin showing on average ∼5-9% better recoveries than DGT containing Chelex 100. The measured capacity of DGT discs containing the SPR-IDA binding agent was 0.26 mg Cd, similar to the calculated value of 0.29 mg Cd, indicating the entire resin layer was available for metal uptake.Both resin types performed equally well when deployed in 1 mM NaNO₃ solutions with DGT measurements of ∼100% of direct solution measurements for Co, Ni and Cd. However, DGT measurements of Cu and Pb systematically decreased with increasing solution pH down to ∼50% of solution values at pH 8.0, due to artifacts resulting from colloid formation during the addition of the metals. This was remedied by adding the metals as dilute salt standards and addition of Mg(NO₃)₂ to eliminate adsorption to the container walls. In the latter experiments, DGT measured concentrations of Co, Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb were in agreement with solution concentrations. Deployment of DGT in solutions with increasing concentrations of trace metals yielded linear results, suggesting that quantitative analysis using simplified laser ablation techniques should be possible using this newly characterized SPR-IDA resin gel.     

In situ determination of orientational distributions in Langmuir monolayers by total internal reflection fluorescence

A new application of the polarized total internal reflection fluorescence (PTIRF) technique to study the orientation distribution of a fluorophore within a Langmuir monolayer in situ on an aqueous subphase is described. The technique utilizes the measurement of polarized fluorescence, excited by the evanescent field appearing upon total internal reflection. The excitation by the evanescent field is achieved by launching the beam into a prism that is brought into contact with the monolayer from above. We also show here that a combination of PTIRF of monolayers on water and those freshly deposited onto the prism by horizontal lift in the same experiment provide enough data to determine the dielectric constant of the actual local environment of the fluorophore in the monolayer to eliminate the ambiguity of the orientation determination, arising from uncertainty in the normal component of excitation field. The new technique was applied to several model systems: fatty acid monolayers containing amphiphilic dyes DiI or BODIPY and also a monolayer of a synthetic amphiphilic porphyrin-binding peptide AP0. This technique is more accurate than polarized epifluorescence (PEF) in determining the fluorophore orientation distribution due to the much higher normal component of the excitation, achievable in the evanescent field, and to the lack of surface vibrations caused by capillary waves. Comparison of the new PTIRF approach with PEF shows that the monolayer structure is not disturbed by weak van der Waals attachment to the hydrophobic substrate.     

Spectrophotometric determination of aromatic primary amines and nitrite by flow injection analysis

Aromatic primary amines are determined by injection into dilute hydrochloric acid carrier which merges sequentially with 4-N-methylaminophenol and dichromate. The purple-red color formed by oxidative coupling of amines with 4-N-methylaminophenol is measured at 530 nm. In contrast to the manual procedure, the flow-injection procedure avoided errors arising from the instability of the coupling intermediate, oxidation of the amine, and too great an excess of the oxidant. The method improves the selectivity for certain amines in the presence of those which are sterically hindered or have an electron-deficient aromatic nucleus. Nitrite is determined by diazotization of sulfanilamide and quantifying the residual sulfanilamide by oxidative coupling. The sample thourghout for the assay of amines (0.05–20 μg ml^?1 NH₂-N) and nitrite (1–10 μg ml^?1 NO₂^--N) was 120 h^?1. A system for the consecutive determination of aromatic primary amines and nitrite is decribed.     

Solid State NMR and TG/MS Study on the Transformation of Methyl Groups During Pyrolysis of Preceramic Precursors to SiOC Glasses

The sol-gel method was used to prepare two different starting gels containing SiCH₃-groups for the preparation of SiOC ceramics. To understand the role of Si—H bonds in the incorporation of carbon into the SiOC network, gels prepared from a 1:2 mixture of triethoxysilane and methyldiethoxysilane (T^HD^H2) and solely methyltriethoxysilane (T^Me) were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy (TG-MS) in inert atmosphere was performed to attain an insight into the decomposition reactions involved during gel-glass transformation. Samples calcined at different temperatures up to 1000°C were characterized by ²⁹Si and ¹³C magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy. The presence of SiH groups in the starting gel allows an efficient conversion of Si—CH₃ groups into CSi₄ sites at lower temperatures. As a result, despite a much lower amount of carbon in the starting T^HD^H2 gel (C/Si = 0.33) compared to the T^Me gel (C/Si = 1), the amount of carbon inserted into the SiOC network of both glasses is equivalent, but the T^Me sample contains the 10 fold amount of free carbon.     

Reactions of the Dirhenium(II) Complexes Re(2)X(4)(&mgr;-dppm)(2) (X = Cl, Br; dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) with Isocyanides. 11.(1) A Triply Bonded Dirhenium Complex Containing a Labile Acetonitrile Ligand. Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Reactivity of [(XylNC)(CH(3)CN)ClRe(&mgr;-dppm)(2)ReCl(2)(CO)]O(3)SCF(3)

The reaction of the open bioctahedral form of Re(2)Cl(4)(&mgr;-dppm)(2)(CO)(CNXyl) (1), where XylNC = 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide, with TlO(3)SCF(3) in the presence of acetonitrile proceeds with retention of stereochemistry at the dirhenium unit to afford the complex [Re(2)Cl(3)(&mgr;-dppm)(2)(CO)(CNXyl)(NCCH(3))]O(3)SCF(3) (3). The single-crystal X-ray structure determination of 3 shows that a Re&tbd1;Re bond is retained (the Re-Re distance is 2.378(3) ?) and that it is the chloride ligand trans to the XylNC ligand of 1 which is labilized. Complex 1 reacts with TlO(3)SCF(3) in a noncoordinating solvent to produce the unsymmetrical complex [Re(2)Cl(3)(&mgr;-dppm)(2)(CO)(CNXyl)]O(3)SCF(3) (2), through loss of this same chloride ligand of 1 and CO transfer from the adjacent Re center. The acetonitrile ligand of 3 is very labile and is readily displaced by XylNC and t-BuNC, with retention of stereochemistry, to produce complexes of stoichiometry [Re(2)Cl(3)(&mgr;-dppm)(2)(CO)(CNXyl)(CNR)]O(3)SCF(3) (R = Xyl, 4a; R = t-Bu, 4b). In a noncoordinating solvent, the nitrile ligand of 3 is lost and 2 is formed following CO transfer; this conversion is reversed upon the reaction of 2 with acetonitrile. When 3 is treated with CO, the acetonitrile ligand is again displaced, but in this instance the reaction is accompanied by a structure change to produce an edge-sharing bioctahedral complex of the type [Re(2)(&mgr;-CO)(&mgr;-Cl)(&mgr;-dppm)(2)Cl(2)(CO)(CNXyl)]O(3)SCF(3) (5).     

Graphical unitary group approach to spin–spin interaction

A detailed exposition of spin–spin operator matrix elements is presented in the context of the graphical unitary group approach (GUGA ) to atomic and molecular physics and quantum chemistry. A compendium of subgraph types and formulae is given. Aspects of computer implementation within the structure of the Columbus CI programs is discussed.