Structurally characterized group 4 metal alkoxides modified with the pyridyl-based ligands 2-mercapto pyridine n-oxide and 3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine

An investigation of a series of substituted pyridyl-based ligands was undertaken using 2-mercapto pyridine n-oxide (H-2MPO) and 3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine (H₂-OBPy) as the modifying reagents of a series of titanium alkoxides. The resultant products were identified as (2MPO)₂Ti(OR)₂ [OR = OCHMe₂ (1), OCH₂CMe₃ (2), OCMe₃ (3)] and [(OR)₂M(μ_c-OBPy)]₃ where MOR = TiOCH₂CMe₃ (4) along with ZrOCMe₃ (5) from Zr(OCMe₃)₄ (μ_c = chelating bridging). The structure of 1–3 were found to adopt similar monomeric structures with octahedrally (Oh) bound Ti metal centers using two terminal OR and two chelating 2MPO derivatives. Switching to the OBPy ligand, cyclic trinuclear species with Oh bound metals that employed two terminal OR and two μ_c-OBPy ligands were isolated. The two rings of the bridging OBPy were rotated such that one O and one N from different rings chelate to a single metal. The synthesis and characterization of these compounds and comparison to appropriate literature species are presented.     

Ultrastable complexes for in vivo use: a bifunctional chelator incorporating a cross-bridged macrocycle

The synthesis, copper(II) complexation and biotin conjugation of a bifunctional chelator incorporating a cross-bridged macrocycle are described.     

Vibrational effects on the reaction of NO(2)(+) with C(2)H(2): effects of bending and bending angular momentum

NO(2)(+) in six different vibrational states was reacted with C(2)H(2) over the center-of-mass energy range from 0.03 to 3.3 eV. The reaction, forming NO(+)+C(2)H(2)O and NO+C(2)H(2)O(+), shows a bimodal dependence on collision energy (E(col)). At low E(col), the reaction is quite inefficient (<2%) despite this being a barrierless, exoergic reaction, and is strongly inhibited by E(col). For E(col)> approximately 0.5 eV, a second mechanism turns on, with an efficiency reaching approximately 27% for E(col)>3 eV. The two reaction channels have nearly identical dependence on E(col) and NO(2)(+) vibrational state, and identical recoil dynamics, leading to the conclusion that they represent a single reaction path throughout most of the collision. All modes of NO(2)(+) vibrational excitation enhance both channels at all E(col), however, the effects of bend (010) and bend overtone (02(0)0) excitation are particularly strong (factor of 4). In contrast, the asymmetric stretch (001), which intuition suggests should be coupled to the reaction coordinate, leads to only a factor of approximately 2 enhancement, as does the symmetric stretch (100). Perhaps the most surprising effect is that of the bending angular momentum, which strongly suppress reaction, even though both the energy and angular momentum involved are tiny compared to the collision energy and angular momentum. The results are interpreted in light of ab initio and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations.     

Disinfection of drinking water contaminated with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts under natural sunlight and using the photocatalyst TiO2

The results of a batch-process solar disinfection (SODIS) and solar photocatalytic disinfection (SPCDIS) on drinking water contaminated with Cryptosporidium are reported. Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst suspensions were exposed to natural sunlight in Southern Spain and the oocyst viability was evaluated using two vital dyes [4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and propidium iodide (PI)]. SODIS exposures (strong sunlight) of 8 and 12h reduced oocyst viability from 98% (+/-1.3%) to 11.7% (+/-0.9%) and 0.3% (+/-0.33%), respectively. SODIS reactors fitted with flexible plastic inserts coated with TiO2 powder (SPCDIS) were found to be more effective than those which were not. After 8 and 16 h of overcast and cloudy solar irradiance conditions, SPCDIS reduced oocyst viability from 98.3% (+/-0.3%) to 37.7% (+/-2.6%) and 11.7% (+/-0.7%), respectively, versus to that achieved using SODIS of 81.3% (+/-1.6%) and 36.0% (+/-1.0%), respectively. These results confirm that solar disinfection of drinking water can be an effective household intervention against Cryptosporidium contamination.