UVB-INDUCED PHOTOPEROXIDATION OF LIPIDS OF HUMAN LOW and HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS. A POSSIBLE ROLE OF TRYPTOPHAN RESIDUES

Ultraviolet radiation of the UVB region readily destroy tryptophan (Trp) residues of low (LDL) and high (HDL) density lipoproteins. The photooxidation of tryptophan residues is accompanied by the peroxidation of low and high density lipoproteins unsaturated fatty acids, as measured by the thiobarbituric acid assay. Moreover, low and high density lipoproteins are natural carriers of vitamin E and carotenoids. These two antioxidants are also rapidly bleached by UVB. The UVA radiation promotes neither tryptophan residue destruction nor lipid photoperoxidation. The redox cycling Cu2+ ions considerably increase lipid photoperoxidation. The synergistic action of photo and auto (Cu2(+)-induced) peroxidation induces marked post-irradiation modifications of apolipoproteins as illustrated by the degradation of most tryptophan residues after overnight incubation in the dark of pre-irradiated samples.     

Cooperative spin crossover and order-disorder phenomena in a mononuclear compound [Fe(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2) [DAPP = [bis(3-aminopropyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine], abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole

The synthesis and detailed characterization of the new spin crossover mononuclear complex [Fe(II)(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2), where DAPP = [bis(3-aminopropyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] and abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, are reported. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and M?ssbauer spectroscopy have revealed the occurrence of an abrupt spin transition with a hysteresis loop. The hysteresis width derived from magnetic susceptibility measurements is 10 K, the transition being centered at T(c) downward arrow = 171 K for decreasing and T(c) upward arrow = 181 K for increasing temperatures. The crystal structure was resolved in the high-spin (293 and 183 K) and low-spin (123 K) states. Both spin-state structures belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (Z = 4). The thermal spin transition is accompanied by the shortening of the mean Fe-N distances by 0.177 A. The two main structural characteristics of [Fe(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2) are a branched network of intermolecular links in the crystal lattice and the occurrence of two types of order-disorder transitions (in the DAPP ligand and in the perchlorate anions) accompanying the thermal spin change. These features are discussed relative to the magnetic properties of the complex. The electronic structure calculations show that the structural disorder in the DAPP ligand modulates the energy gap between the HS and LS states. In line with previous studies, the order-disorder phenomena and the spin transition in [Fe(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2) are found to be interrelated.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of uranium(IV) complexes with compartmental Schiff bases: from mononuclear species to tri- and tetranuclear clusters

Treatment of U(acac)4 with the hexadentate Schiff base H2L(i) gave the [UL(i)2] complexes 1-4 [H2L1=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-2-methyl-1,2-propanediamine, H2L2=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine, H2L3=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-2-aminobenzylamine and H2L4=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine for 1-4, respectively]. The [U(L(i))(acac)2] compounds could not be isolated because of their ready disproportionation into [UL(i)2] and U(acac)4. Compounds 2 and 4 adopt a meridional configuration in the solid state and in solution, while exists in solution as the two equilibrating meridional and sandwich isomers and crystallizes in the meridional isomeric form. Reaction of U(acac)4 with H4L5 afforded the expected compound [U(H2L5)(acac)2] (5) [H4L5=N,N'-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-2-methyl-1,2-propanediamine] but, in the presence of H4L6 and H4L7, U(acac)4 was transformed in a serendipitous and reproducible manner into the tri- and tetranuclear U(IV) complexes [U3(L6)(HL6)2(acac)2] (6) and [U4(HL7)4(H2L7)2] (7) [H4L6=N,N'-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine and H4L7=N,N'-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-2-aminobenzylamine]. The crystal structures of 6.3thf and 7.5thf show the assembling role of the Schiff-base ligands.     

Mass effect on the equienergetic high-spin/low-spin states of spin-crossover in 4,4'-bipyridine-bridged iron(II) polymeric compounds: synthesis,structure, and magnetic,Mössbauer,and theoretical studies

The suitability of the system [Fe(4,4'-bipy)(H(2)O)(2)(NCX)(2)].(4,4'-bipy), where 4,4'-bipy stands for 4,4'-bipyridine and X = S (1) and Se (2), as a precursor for the synthesis of new polymeric spin-crossover compounds has been studied. The reaction of 1 or 2 with bt (2,2'-bithiazoline) afforded the polymeric compounds of formula [Fe(4,4'-bipy)(bt)(NCX)(2)] (X = S (3), Se (4)). Compounds 3 and 4 are isostructural, but only the crystal structure of 3 has been fully determined. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, Fdd2 space group, Z = 24, with a = 38.962(8) A, b = 11.545(2) A, c = 30.889(6) A, V = 13895(5) A(3). The structure consists of linear chains constituted by trans-4,4'-bipy linked iron(II) ions; two cis equatorial positions are occupied by two pseudohalide ligands, and the remaining positions are filled by the bidentate bt ligand. Investigation of their magnetic properties and M?ssbauer spectra has revealed the occurrence of a low-spin (LS) <--> high-spin (HS) conversion involving 12% (3, S) and 20% (4, Se) of the Fe(II) ions. The thermal variation of the HS fraction is gradual with onset temperatures as low as 60 K. A theoretical approach based on the Ising-like model, completed with molecular vibrations, through harmonic oscillators, fits the data successfully, leading to an energy gap of 65 cm(-1) (3) and 86 cm(-1) (4) between the lowest LS and HS levels, and an average vibration frequency ohgrmacr;(LS) of 382 cm(-1) (3) and 365 cm(-1) (4) in the LS state. The ca. 1.05 omega(LS(3))/omega(LS(4)) ratio is close to the ca. 1.09 Se/S molar mass ratio. The simple electrovibrational Ising-like model permits us to explain, for the first time, a mass effect through the molecular vibrations in a spin-crossover complex that is in the unusual situation of equienergy among the HS and LS states.     

Temperature dependence of trapped electrons in crystalline D2O ice from 77 to 6 k

The temperature dependence of the abundance of trapped electrons which absorb in the visible (e^?_vis) and infrared (e^?_IR) in crystalline D₂O ice has been studied by pulse radiolysis between 77 and 6 k. The yield (G) and decay of e^?_vis show little dependence on temperature or doping with NH₄F. At 6 K G(e^?_vis) is 0.54 and the electron decays by half within 5 μs. These observations are consistent with e^?_vis being mainly located in spurs. The yield and decay of e^?_IR, on the other hand, show a more marked dependence on temperature. In the pure crystal G(e^?_IR) increases more than tenfold from ≈ 0.1 at 77 K to 1.3 at 6 K and its decay rate is greatly decreased at the lower temperature. Doping with NH₄F increases G(e^?_IR) to 0.85 to 77 K and to 1.8 at 6 K and some decay is observed at 6 K but not at 77 K. These results are interpreted on the basis that geminate recombination between electrons and holes is very fast at 77 K but becomes sufficiently slow for the electrons to be observed at 6 K. It is also inferred that the hole is more mobile than e^?_IR. The mechanisms causing the decays of e^?_vis and e^?_IR are discussed.     

Dextran‐Coated Antiferromagnetic MnO Nanoparticles for a T1‐MRI Contrast Agent with High Colloidal Stability

A simple approach to synthesize carboxymethyl dextran‐coated MnO nanoparticles (CMDex‐MnONPs) with high colloidal stability in physiological saline solutions is described here for potential applications as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T₁ contrast agent. The thermal decomposition methodology is used to produce uniform MnONPs with an average size of around 20 nm, and its hydrophobic surface is modified with CMDex molecules, conferring hydrophilic properties. After CMDex coating, the nanoparticle presents high colloidal stability in concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 μg mL^?1, average hydrodynamic size (Z‐average) of 130 nm, polydispersity degree of ≈12%, and negative surface charge in both simulated body fluid solutions and pure water with zeta‐potential of –20 and –40 mV, respectively. The CMDex‐MnONPs with 20 nm show antiferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, and the magnetic properties are found to be strongly dependent of the nanoparticle size, increasing the contribution of the ferromagnetic Mn₃O₄ phase with decreasing size for nanoparticles about 3 nm. Cytotoxicity evaluation in cancerous and noncancerous cells in the range of 5.0–50.0 μg mL^?1 shows low toxicity for cancerous cells and lack of the same for healthy cells lines. Related to the magnetic properties, CMDex‐MnONP presents significant r₁ relaxivity and low r₂/r₁ relaxivity ratio. The results suggest that these nanoparticles display characteristics for potential applications as an MRI T₁ contrast agent.     

"Click" dendrimers: synthesis, redox sensing of Pd(OAc)2, and remarkable catalytic hydrogenation activity of precise Pd nanoparticles stabilized by 1,2,3-triazole-containing dendrimers

"Click" dendrimers containing 1,2,3-triazolyl ligands that coordinate to PdII(OAc)2 have been synthesized in view of catalytic applications. Five of these dendrimers contain ferrocenyl termini directly attached to the triazole ligand in order to monitor the number of PdII that are introduced into the dendrimers by cyclic voltammetry. Reduction of the PdII-triazole dendrimers by using NaBH4 or methanol yields Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) that are stabilized either by several dendrimers (G0, DSN) or by encapsulation inside a dendrimer (G1 and G2: DEN), as confirmed by TEM. Relative to PAMAM-DENs (PAMAM=poly(amidoamine)), the "click" DSNs and DENs show a remarkable efficiency and stability for olefin hydrogenation under ambient conditions of various substrates. The influence of the reductant of PdII bound to the dendrimers is dramatic, reduction with methanol leading to much higher catalytic activity than reduction with NaBH4. The most active NPs are shown to be those derived from dendrimer G1, and variation of its termini groups (ferrocenyl, alkyl, phenyl) allowed us to clearly delineate, optimize, and rationalize the role of the dendrimer frameworks on the catalytic efficiencies. Finally, hydrogenation of various substrates catalyzed by these PdNPs shows remarkable selectivity features.     

Native defect changes in cds single crystal platelets induced by vacuum heat treatments at temperatures up to 600°C

Physical properties of selected CdS single crystal platelets as-grown and after vacuum heat treatments at temperatures up to 600°C have been studied using u.v. excited edge emission, mass spectrometry, electrical resistivity and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). It was found that sulfur leaves the crystal at temperatures as low as 100°C creating a depletion layer. The native defect changes were monitored by edge emission studies at 4.2°K in combination with etch treatments. The defect structure throughout the crystal is not only dependent upon the temperature and atmosphere of the treatments, but is also strongly dependent upon the cooling rate.