Synthesis and crystal structure of [{V3(μ-Cl)4(μ 3-Cl) (μ 3-OH)(thf)2(teeda)}2]·2(thf) (teeda = N,N,N′N′-tetraethylethane-1,2-diamine)

The title complex was prepared from the reaction of [V₂(-Cl)₃(thf)₃]₂[Zn₂Cl₆] with N,N,NN-tetraethylethane-1,2-diamine (teeda) in refluxing thf and its crystal structure exhibits two triangulo-[V₃(-Cl)₃(-Cl)( ₃-OH)(thf)₂(teeda)]⁺ cations bridged by two chlorides. The molecular structure (monoclinic, space group P2 ₁/n, Z = 2, a = 11.8005(7) Å, b = 18.7492(14) Å, c= 15.6253(9) Å, = 103.600(4) shows each vanadium site in a distorted octahedral geometry. V1 and V2 have two thf molecules bounded in cis configuration, and V3 completes the hexa-coordination with the diamine teeda. Main bond distances are 2.5149(12) Å for V(1)--Cl(1), 2.062(3) Å for V(1)- ₃-O(3), 2.5554(12) Å for V(1)- ₃-Cl(4), 2.140(3) Å for V(1)–O(1)(thf), 2.243(4) Å for V(3)–N(1)(teeda), and 3.0437(9) for V(1)···V(2).     

Molecular structure of 4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)benzoic acid trifluoroacetate

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound has been determined by X-ray analysis. 4-(3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-l-yl)benzoic acid trifluoroacetate crystallizes in the 12/a space group witha=20.6584(13),b=9.9068(3),c=14.9467(6) , =106.195(4),V=2937.6(2) ų, Dc=1.494 g/cm³ andZ=8. The ions pack in chains parallel to thea axis through O–HO and N–HO hydrogen bond interactions. Solid-state¹³C CPMASNMR spectroscopy has been used to compare the structure of the trifluoracetate with that of the neutral molecule [4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-l-yl)benzoic acid].     

(Imidazole)(3,3′-trimethylenedinitrilo bis (2-butanone oximate)) copper(II) perchlorate: Synthesis and crystal structure of a five-coordinate copper-protein model complex

The synthesis and crystal structure of the novel pentacoordinated complex [Cu(DOHPN)(IMI-DAZOLE)] (ClO4), (DOHPN=(3,3′-trimethylenedinitrilo bis 2-butanone oxime) are reported. The X-ray crystal structure (space groupP2₁/n, a=11.349(2) Å,b=14.241(3) Å,c= 12.635(3) Å; α=90°, β=100.21 (3)°, γ=90°) shows that the copper(II) ion occupies a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with the imidazole ligand occupying the axial position. The copper(II)-(N)imidazole distance is 2.125(3) Å and the copper(II)-tetraaza plane distance is 0.385/Å. The tetraaza ligand DOHPN adopts a “butterfly-like” geometry with a dihedral angle of 149.69°. The title complex is the first structurally characterized compound of the series [Cu(DOHPN)(axial ligand)]ⁿ⁺ where the axial ligand is a neutral N-heterocycle with known biological relevance. A comparison of the structural parameters with those observed when the axial ligand is H₂O or NCS^? (N-bonded) gives the following series with increasing metal-ligand interaction: H₂O>IMIDAZOLE>NCS^? (N-bonded).     

Toward the synthesis of cobyric acid. Enantioselective syntheses of completely differentiated ring D synthons

Alkyne acids 11 were prepared in an enantioselective fashion from allylic ester derivatives 18 or 20 by Ireland-Claisen rearrangement, followed by Si-assisted elimination of HBr. The title compounds are attractive ring D synthons for an ongoing synthesis of cobyric acid.     

Photophysical characterization of a highly conjugated bipyridyl-based dye synthesized by a unique two-step approach

In this article, we present a new and simple, yet efficient, two-step approach to synthesize 4,4'-bis(dibutylaminostyrylstyryl)-2,2'-bipyridine with high yield, as well as its linear and nonlinear optical characterizations in THF and toluene solutions. We show that its one- and two-photon absorption spectra are similar in both solvents. Nevertheless, the relaxation processes of this compound exhibit dependence on the solvent polarity. The one- and two-photon induced fluorescence signal of this molecule in solution reveals that its excited state is highly stabilized in THF solution rather than in toluene. Analysis of the fluorescence quantum yield, lifetime, and radiative and nonradiative decay rates are in agreement with Lippert's model for solute-solvent interactions. The optical measurements demonstrate that this dye is a promising candidate for multiphoton fluorescence imaging, optical limiting, and dye lasers.     

Application of 1-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid to protein nanostructure computer design

Conformationally restricted amino acids are promising candidates to serve as basic pieces in redesigned protein motifs which constitute the basic modules in synthetic nanoconstructs. Here we study the ability of constrained cyclic amino acid 1-aminocyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid (Ac6c) to stabilize highly regular beta-helical motifs excised from naturally occurring proteins. Calculations indicate that the conformational flexibility observed in both the ring and the main chain is significantly higher than that detected for other 1-aminocycloalkane-1-carboxylic acids (Acnc, where n refers to the size of the ring) with smaller cycles. Incorporation of Ac6c into the flexible loops of beta-helical motifs indicates that the stability of such excised building blocks as well as the nanoassemblies derived from them is significantly enhanced. Thus, the intrinsic Ac6c tendency to adopt folded conformations combined with the low structural strain of the cyclohexane ring confers the ability to both self-adapt to the beta-helix motif and to stabilize the overall structure by absorbing part of its conformational fluctuations. Comparison with other Acnc residues indicates that the ability to adapt to the targeted position improves considerably with the ring size, i.e., when the rigidity introduced by the strain of the ring decreases.     

Cellular adhesion, proliferation and viability on conducting polymer substrates

This work reports a comprehensive study about cell adhesion and proliferation on the surface of different electroactive substrates formed by pi-conjugated polymers. Biological assays were performed considering four different cellular lines: two epithelial and two fibroblasts. On the other hand, the electroactivity of the three conducting systems was determined in physiological conditions. Results indicate that the three substrates behave as a cellular matrix, even though compatibility with cells is larger for PPy and the 3-layered system. Furthermore, the three polymeric systems are electro-compatible with the cellular monolayers.     

Connectivity and design of planar global attractors of Sturm type. II: Connection graphs

Based on a Morse-Smale structure we study planar global attractors Af of the scalar reaction-advection-diffusion equation ut=uxx+f(x,u,ux) in one space dimension. We assume Neumann boundary conditions on the unit interval, dissipativeness of f, and hyperbolicity of equilibria. We call Af Sturm attractor because our results strongly rely on nonlinear nodal properties of Sturm type.The planar Sturm attractor consists of equilibria of Morse index 0, 1, or 2, and their heteroclinic connecting orbits. The unique heteroclinic orbits between adjacent Morse levels define a plane graph Cf which we call the connection graph. Its 1-skeleton consists of the unstable manifolds (separatrices) of the index-1 Morse saddles.We present two results which completely characterize the connection graphs Cf and their 1-skeletons in purely graph theoretical terms. Connection graphs are characterized by the existence of pairs of Hamiltonian paths with certain chiral restrictions on face passages. Their 1-skeletons are characterized by the existence of cycle-free orientations with certain restrictions on their criticality. Such orientations are called bipolar in [H. de Fraysseix, P.O. de Mendez, P. Rosenstiehl, Bipolar orientations revisited, Discrete Appl. Math. 56 (1995) 157-179].In [B. Fiedler, C. Rocha, Connectivity and design of planar global attractors of Sturm type. I: Orientations and Hamiltonian paths, Crelle J. Reine Angew. Math. (2007), in press] we have shown the equivalence of the two characterizations. Moreover we have established that connection graphs of Sturm attractors indeed satisfy the required properties. In the present paper we show, conversely, how to design a planar Sturm attractor with prescribed plane connection graph or 1-skeleton of the required properties. In [B. Fiedler, C. Rocha, Connectivity and design of planar global attractors of Sturm type. III: Small and Platonic examples, 2007, submitted for publication] we describe all planar Sturm attractors with up to 11 equilibria. We also design planar Sturm attractors with prescribed Platonic 1-skeletons.     

Materials for hydrogen storage: current research trends and perspectives

Storage and transport of hydrogen constitutes a key enabling technology for the advent of a hydrogen-based energy transition. Main research trends on hydrogen storage materials, including metal hydrides, porous adsorbents and hydrogen clathrates, are reviewed with a focus on recent developments and an appraisal of the challenges ahead. .