Templated synthesis of the novel layered silver-antimony sulfides [H3NCH2CH2NH2][Ag2SbS3 and [H3NCH2CH2NH2]2[Ag5Sb3S8

Two new silver-antimony sulfides, [C(2)H(9)N(2)][Ag(2)SbS(3)] (1) and [C(2)H(9)N(2)](2)[Ag(5)Sb(3)S(8)] (2), have been prepared solvothermally in the presence of ethylenediamine and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and elemental analysis. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group Pn (a = 6.1781(1) A, b =11.9491(3) A, c = 6.9239(2) A, beta =111.164(1) degrees ) and 2 in the space group Pm (a = 6.2215(2) A, b = 15.7707(7) A, c = 11.6478(5) A, beta = 92.645(2) degrees ). The structure of 1 consists of chains of fused five-membered Ag(2)SbS(2) rings linked to form layers, between which the template molecules reside. Compound 2 contains honeycomb-like sheets of fused silver-antimony-sulfide six-membered rings linked to form double layers. The idealized structure can be considered to be an ordered defect derivative of that of lithium bismuthide, Li(3)Bi, and represents a new solid-state structure type.     

Photophysics of monodisperse platinum-acetylide oligomers: delocalization in the singlet and triplet excited states

A series of monodisperse Pt-acetylide polymers that contain the [-CC-(p-C6H4)-CC-(t-Pt(PBu3)2)-]n repeat unit has been prepared for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. The photophysical properties of the series provide information concerning the relationship between the oligomer length and delocalization in the singlet and triplet excited states of the pi-conjugated electron system. The results imply that the singlet excited state is delocalized over approximately 6 repeat units; however, the triplet state is considerably more localized. The triplet energy is almost invariant with oligomer length, but the phosphorescence spectra and triplet nonradiative decay rates indicate that the electron-vibrational coupling in the triplet state decreases with increasing oligomer length.     

Radiolysis of Aqueous Solutions of Benzoate Ion: A Radiation Chemistry Experiment for Undergraduates

This investigation describes the chemical effects of ionizing radiation on dilute aqueous solutions of benzoate ion. We have composed an experimental procedure that allows undergraduate chemistry students to identify and to quantitatively determine the amount of the products that are produced. The student investigators determine the absorbed dose that a sample receives when exposed to a ⁶⁰Co source, irradiate dilute aqueous solutions of benzoate ion, and analyze the resulting mixture of hydroxybenzoate ions using high-performance liquid chromatography. The radiolysis of dilute solutions of benzoate ion results in the formation of a mixture of ortho-, meta-, and para-hydroxybenzoate ions that are readily separated on a C₁₈ -Bondapak column. By the use of appropriate calibration curves, the yield (G values) of each of the isomers may be determined and compared.This paper was presented at the 15th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, August 1998 by N. Zevos and at the 26th Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society by Evon Powell.     

Tetradentate vs pentadentate coordination in copper(II) complexes of pyridylbis(aminophenol) ligands depends on nucleophilicity of phenol donors

The ligand binding preferences of a series of potentially pentadentate pyridylbis(aminophenol) ligands were explored. In addition to the previously reported ligands 2,2'-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)diphenol (H(2)L(1)) and 6,6'-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (H(2)L(1-tBu)), four new ligands were synthesized: 6,6'-(2-methyl-2(pyridine-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2,4-dibromophenol) (H(2)L(1-Br)), 6,6'-(2-methyl-2(pyridine-2-yl)propane-1,3diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2-methoxyphenol) (H(2)L(1-MeO)), 2,2'-(2-methyl-2(pyridine-2-yl)propane-1,3diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(4-nitrophenol) (H(2)L(1-NO2)), and 2,2'-(2-phenylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)diphenol (H(2)L(2)). These ligands, when combined with copper(II) salts and base, form either tricopper(II) species or monocopper(II) species depending on the nucleophilicity of the phenol groups in the ligands. All copper complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and spectroscopic methods in solution. The ligands in trimeric complexes [{CuL(1)(CH(3)CN)}(2)Cu](ClO(4))(2) (1), [{CuL(1)Cl}(2)Cu] (1a), and [{CuL(2)(CH(3)CN)}(2)Cu](ClO(4))(2) (1b) and monomeric complex [CuL(1-tBu)(CH(3)OH)] (2) coordinate in a tetradentate mode via the amine N atoms and the phenolato O atoms. The pyridyl groups in 1, 1a, and 2 do not coordinate, but instead are involved in hydrogen bonding. Monomeric complexes [CuL(1-Br)] (3a), [CuL(1-NO2)] (3b), and [CuL(1-MeO)Na(CH(3)OH)(2)]ClO(4) (3c) have their ligands coordinated in a pentadentate mode via the amine N atoms, the phenolato O atoms, and the pyridyl N atom. The differences in tetradentate vs pentadentate coordination preferences of the ligands correlate to the nucleophilicity of the phenolate donor groups, and coincide with the electrochemical trends for these complexes.     

Antiferromagnetic three-dimensional order induced by carboxylate bridges in a two-dimensional network of [Cu3(dcp)2(H2O)4] trimers

A new Cu(II) complex, [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](n), with the ligand 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid monohydrate (H(3)dcp) has been prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, and it crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 11.633(2) A, b = 9.6005(14) A, c = 6.9230(17) A, beta = 106.01(2) degrees, and Z = 2. In the solid state structure of [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](n), trinuclear [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)] repeating units in which two dcp(3-) ligands chelate the three Cu(II) ions with the central Cu(II) ion, Cu(1) (on an inversion center), link to form infinite 2D sheets via syn-anti equatorial-equatorial carboxylate bridges between Cu(2) atoms in adjacent trimers. These layers are further linked by syn-anti axial-equatorial carboxylate bridging between Cu(1) atoms in adjacent sheets resulting in the formation of a crystallographic 3D network. A detailed analysis of the magnetic properties of [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](n) reveals that the dcp(3-) ligand acts to link Cu(II) centers in three different ways with coupling constants orders of magnitude apart in value. In the high temperature region above 50 K, the dominant interaction is strongly antiferromagnetic (J/k(B) = -32 K) within the trimer units mediated by the pyrazolate bridges. Below 20 K, the trimer motif can be modeled as an S = 1/2 unit. These units are coupled to their neighbors by a ferromagnetic interaction mediated by the syn-anti equatorial-equatorial carboxylate bridge. This interaction has been estimated at J(2D)/k(B) = +2.8 K on the basis of a 2D square lattice Heisenberg model. Finally, below 3.2 K a weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J(3D)/k(B) = -0.1 K) which is mediated by the syn-anti axial-equatorial carboxylate bridges between the 2D layers becomes relevant to describe the magnetic (T, H) phase diagram of this material.     

A first-principles density-functional calculation of the electronic and vibrational structure of the key melanin monomers

We report first-principles density-functional calculations for hydroquinone (HQ), indolequinone (IQ), and semiquinone (SQ). These molecules are believed to be the basic building blocks of the eumelanins, a class of biomacromolecules with important biological functions (including photoprotection) and with the potential for certain bioengineering applications. We have used the difference of self-consistent fields method to study the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, Delta(HL). We show that Delta(HL) is similar in IQ and SQ, but approximately twice as large in HQ. This may have important implications for our understanding of the observed broadband optical absorption of the eumelanins. The possibility of using this difference in Delta(HL) to molecularly engineer the electronic properties of eumelanins is discussed. We calculate the infrared and Raman spectra of the three redox forms from first principles. Each of the molecules have significantly different infrared and Raman signatures, and so these spectra could be used in situ to nondestructively identify the monomeric content of macromolecules. It is hoped that this may be a helpful analytical tool in determining the structure of eumelanin macromolecules and hence in helping to determine the structure-property-function relationships that control the behavior of the eumelanins.     

Secondary metabolites produced by fungi derived from a microbial mat encountered in an iron-rich natural spring

A collection of fungal isolates was obtained from a complex microbial mat, which occupied an iron-rich freshwater spring that feeds into Clear Creek, Golden, Colorado, USA. Two of the fungal isolates, a Glomeromycete (possibly Entrophospora sp.) and a Dothideomycete (possibly Phaeosphaeria sp.), were investigated for bioactive secondary metabolites. In total, six new compounds consisting of clearanols A-E (5, 6, 10-12) and disulochrin (7) were purified and their structures were determined. Disulochrin exhibited modest antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, whereas clearanol C showed weak inhibitory activity against Candida albicans biofilm formation.     

A Novel Synthesis of 5-Aryltropoxe Derivatives

The reaction of substituted arylboronic acids with 5-bromo-2-methoxytropone catalyzed by palladium(0) complex furnished 5-arylated tropone derivatives in good yield.