Unusual metal ion selectivities of the highly preorganized tetradentrate ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide: a thermodynamic and fluorescence study

Some metal ion complexing properties of the ligand PDAM (1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamide) in aqueous solution are reported. Using UV-visible spectroscopy to follow the intense π-π* transitions of PDAM as a function of metal ion concentration, log K(1) values in 0.1 M NaClO(4) and at 25 °C are, for Cu(II), 3.56(5); Ni(II), 3.06(5); Zn(II), 3.77(5); Co(II), 3.8(1); Mg(II), 0.1(1); Ca(II), 1.94(4); and Ba(II), 0.7(1). For more strongly bound metal ions, competition reactions between PDAM and EDTA (ethylenedinitrilo-tetraacetic acid) or tetren (1,4,7,10,13-pentaazatridecane), monitored following the UV spectrum of PDAM, gave the following log K(1) values in 0.1 M NaClO(4) and at 25 °C: Cd(II), 7.1(1); Pb(II), 5.82(5); In(III), 9.4(1); and Bi(III), 9.4(1). The very low log K(1)(PDAM) values for small metal ions such as Cu(II) or Zn(II) are unprecedented for a phen-based ligand (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), which is rationalized in terms of the low basicity of the N donors of the ligand (pK(a) = 0.6) and the fact that PDAM has a best-fit size corresponding to large metal ions of ionic radius ~1.0 ?. Large metal ions with ionic radius ≥1.0 ? show large increases in log K(1) relative to their phen complexes, which in turn produces unparalleled selectivities, such as a 3.5 log units greater log K(1)(PDAM) for Cd(II) than for Cu(II). PDAM shows strong fluorescence in aqueous solution, suggesting that its carboxamide groups do not produce a fluorescence-quenching photon-induced electron transfer (PET) effect. Only Ca(II) produces a weak CHEF (chelation enhanced fluorescence) effect with PDAM, while all other metal ions tested produce a decrease in fluorescence, a CHEQ (chelation enhanced quenching effect). The production of the CHEQ effect is rationalized in terms of the idea that coordination of metal ions to PDAM stabilizes a canonical form of the carboxamide groups that promotes a PET effect.     

Multipronged Biomimetic Approach To Create Optically Tunable Nanoparticles

Current biomimetics for medical applications use a single biomimetic approach to imitate natural structures, which can be insufficient for reconstructing structurally complex natural systems. Multipronged efforts may resolve these complexities. To achieve interesting nanostructure‐driven optical properties, a dual‐biomimetic system contained within a single nanoagent was engineered to recapitulate chlorosomes, efficient light‐harvesting organelles that have unique dye assemblies and tunable photonic properties. A series of chlorin dyes was synthesized, and these hydrophobic assemblies were stabilized inside a high‐density lipoprotein, a second biomimetic that enabled in vivo utility. This system resulted in tunable tumor imaging of intact (photoacoustic) and disrupted (activatable fluorescence) nanostructures. The successful demonstration of this multipronged biomimetic approach opens the door for reconstruction of complex natural systems for biomedical applications.     

Copper + nickel-in-charcoal (Cu-Ni/C): a bimetallic, heterogeneous catalyst for cross-couplings

A new heterogeneous catalyst composed of copper and nickel oxide particles supported within charcoal has been developed. It catalyzes cross-couplings that traditionally use palladium, nickel, or copper, including Suzuki-Miyaura reactions, Buchwald-Hartwig aminations, vinylalane alkylations, etherifications of aryl halides, aryl halide reductions, asymmetric conjugate reductions of activated olefins, and azide-alkyne "click" reactions.     

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.     

Gas-phase halonium metathesis and its competitors. Skeletal rearrangements of cationic adducts of saturated ketones

The methyl cation and CF(3)(+) attack saturated, acyclic ketones to make vibrationally excited adduct ions. Despite their high internal energies and short lifetimes, these adducts undergo deep-seated rearrangements that parallel slower processes in solution. Observed pathways include alkene and alkane expulsions, in addition to (in the case of CF(3)(+)) the precedented loss of CF(2)O + HF. For the vast majority of ketones, the principal charged products are the CF(3)(+) adducts of lighter carbonyl compounds, ions that are not easily prepared by other avenues. Evidence for ion structures comes from collisionally activated unimolecular decomposition and bimolecular ion-molecule reactions. Typical examples are di-n-propyl and diisopropyl ketones (both of which produce CH(3)CH=OCF(3)(+) as the principal ion-molecule reaction product) and pentamethylacetone (which produces (CH(3))(2)C=OCF(3)(+) as virtually the sole ion-molecule reaction product). Isotopic labeling experiments account for mechanisms, and DFT calculations provide a qualitative explanation for the relative abundances of products from unimolecular decompositions of the chemically activated CF(3)(+) adduct ions that are initially formed.     

Boronate Ligands in Materials: Determining Their Local Environment by Using a Combination of IR/Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopies and DFT Calculations

Boronic acids (R‐B(OH)₂) are a family of molecules that have found a large number of applications in materials science. In contrast, boronate anions (R‐B(OH)₃^?) have hardly been used so far for the preparation of novel materials. Here, a new crystalline phase involving a boronate ligand is described, Ca[C₄H₉‐B(OH)₃]₂, which is then used as a basis for the establishment of the spectroscopic signatures of boronates in the solid state. The phase was characterized by IR and multinuclear solid‐state NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹B and ⁴³Ca), and then modeled by periodic DFT calculations. Anharmonic OH vibration frequencies were calculated as well as NMR parameters (by using the Gauge Including Projector Augmented Wave—GIPAW—method). These data allow relationships between the geometry around the OH groups in boronates and the IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic data to be established, which will be key to the future interpretation of the spectra of more complex organic–inorganic materials containing boronate building blocks.     

A novel four-component reaction for the synthesis of functionalised dihydropyrimidines

In a multi-component reaction (MCR) of a phosphonate, nitriles, aldehydes and isocyanates, N3-functionalised dihydropyrimidines can be synthesised efficiently via a Horner-Emmons/aza Diels-Alder pathway.     

ToF-SIMS imaging and depth profiling of HeLa cells treated with bromodeoxyuridine

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry 2D images and molecular depth profiles of human HeLa cells treated with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) were acquired in the dual beam mode (Bi(3) (+) analysis beam, C(60) (+) etching beam). Several preparation protocols were investigated and were compared to a simple wash-and-dry method. The feasibility of using C(60) to clean the samples prior to imaging with Bi was also investigated quantitatively by calibrating full depth profiles of the cells using atomic force microscopy. BrdU was used as a marker for the cell nucleus, facilitating identification and localization of sub-cellular features during depth profiling. Results show that C(60) can be used to remove the surface contamination and to access different layers within the cells for 2D imaging. For a 1 nA, 10 keV C(60) (+) beam incident at 45° and rastered over a 500 × 500 μm(2) area, ~1 nm of biological material was sputtered every second. Our results show that HeLa cells were completely removed after etching with 1.3×10(15) C(60) (+) ions per cm(2), giving an average etching rate of 3.9 nm for every 10(13) C(60) per cm(2) at 10 keV and 45° incidence.     

A recommended and verified procedure for in situ tryptic digestion of formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues for analysis by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) is a molecular imaging technology uniquely capable of untargeted measurement of proteins, lipids, and metabolites while retaining spatial information about their location in situ. This powerful combination of capabilities has the potential to bring a wealth of knowledge to the field of molecular histology. Translation of this innovative research tool into clinical laboratories requires the development of reliable sample preparation protocols for the analysis of proteins from formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues, the standard preservation process in clinical pathology. Although ideal for stained tissue analysis by microscopy, the FFPE process cross‐links, disrupts, or can remove proteins from the tissue, making analysis of the protein content challenging. To date, reported approaches differ widely in process and efficacy. This tutorial presents a strategy derived from systematic testing and optimization of key parameters, for reproducible in situ tryptic digestion of proteins in FFPE tissue and subsequent MALDI IMS analysis. The approach describes a generalized method for FFPE tissues originating from virtually any source.     

Rapid, low pressure, and simultaneous ion chromatography of common inorganic anions and cations on short permanently coated monolithic columns

Short permanently coated reversed-phase silica based monolithic columns have been investigated for the rapid separation of inorganic anions and cations. One 2.5 x 0.46 cm column was permanently coated with didodecyldimethylammonium (DDAB), for anion analysis; and a second 5.0 x 0.46 cm column was coated with dioctylsulphosuccinnate (DOSS), for cation analysis. The use of a single combined eluent of 2.5 mM phthalate/1.5 mM ethylenediamine, at flow rates of between 4.0 and 8.0 mL/min, resulted in the rapid separation of 8 anions (in under 100 s) and 5 cations (in under 100 s) on the above columns when used individually, with detection limits for common anions ranging from approximately 0.25 to 5 mg/L, and between 2.5 and 50 mg/L for alkaline earth metals, by direct and indirect conductivity detection, respectively. However, with both columns subsequently connected in parallel, with the eluent delivered using a flow splitter from a single isocratic pump, the simultaneous analysis of anions and cations was also possible, based on a single conductivity detector. The potential of this system for the rapid, complete screening of water samples for multiple common anions and cations is shown.