Reduced molybenum-oxide-based core-shell hybrids: "blue" electrons are delocalized on the shell

The present study refers to a variety of reduced metal-oxide core-shell hybrids, which are unique with regard to their electronic structure, their geometry, and their formation. They contain spherical {Mo72Fe30} Keplerate-type shells encapsulating Keggin-type polyoxomolybdates based on very weak interactions. Studies on the encapsulation of molybdosilicate as well as on the earlier reported molybdophosphate, coupled with the use of several physical methods for the characterization led to unprecedented results (see title). Upon standing in air at room temperature, acidified aqueous solutions obtained by dissolving sodium molybdate, iron(II) chloride, acetic acid, and molybdosilicic acid led to the precipitation of monoclinic greenish crystals (1). A rhombohedral variant (2) has also been observed. Upon drying at room temperature, compound 3 with a layer structure was obtained from 1 in a solid-state reaction based on cross-linking of the shells. The compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been characterized by a combination of methods including single-crystal X-ray crystallography, magnetic studies, as well as IR, M?ssbauer, (resonance) Raman, and electronic absorption spectroscopy. In connection with detailed studies of the guest-free two-electron-reduced {Mo72Fe30}-type Keplerate (4) and of the previously reported molybdophosphate-based hybrids (including 31P NMR spectroscopy results), it is unambiguously proved that 1, 2, and 3 contain non-reduced Keggin ion cores and reduced {Mo72Fe30}-type shells. The results are discussed in terms of redox considerations (the shell as well as the core can be reduced) including those related to the reduction of "molybdates" by FeII being of interdisciplinary including catalytic interest (the MoVI/MoV and FeIII/FeII couples have very close redox potentials!), while also referring to the special formation of the hybrids based on chemical Darwinism.     

Electronic coupling through intramolecular π-π interactions in biscobaltocenes: a structural, spectroscopic, and magnetic study

The paramagnetic dinuclear complexes 1,8-bis(cobaltocenyl)naphthalene (2) and 1,8-bis[(pentamethyl-η(5)-cyclopentadienyl)(η(5)-cyclopentadiendiyl)cobalt(II)]naphthalene (4) were synthesized. The molecular structures were characterized by X-ray structure analysis and consisted of two cobaltocenes linked through a distorted naphthalene clamp. Electronic interactions between the two cobalt atoms were observed by cyclic voltammetric studies. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements of the pure compounds and diluted in their diamagnetic iron derivatives, as well as variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy experiments in solution are presented. Magnetic measurements revealed an antiferromagnetic coupling of the electrons in complexes 2 and 4. From NMR spectroscopy experiments, Curie behavior in the temperature range from -60 to +60 °C can be deduced. The electronic structure and magnetic behavior is supported by results of broken-symmetry DFT and multireference calculations along with UV/Vis spectroscopic data, which revealed an intramolecular through space π-π interaction between the cobaltocene units.     

Shear and NMR experiments of materials with flow behaviour depending on the deformation history

Oxide ceramic masses react to simple shearing with hardening (peptisation: increase in the shear stress with the shear deformation). In the present study the correlation between the increase in the shear stress and the porosity, agglomeration processes and the type of flow are analysed. For this purpose oxide ceramic masses are tested in a shear device especially developed for pastes and analysed by rheometric experiments, NMR methods and particle size analysis. The results support the hypothesis that structural changes (hardening, increase in the mean porosity) of the material during the peptisation mainly depend on the magnitude and not on the kind of the energy input and thus of the type of flow. The fraction of bound (more generally, the immobilised) water increases with the shear displacement. Also crushing of primary particles could be observed. Both the crushing of solid particles causing an increased solid surface and the formation of a three-dimensional gel structure are microscopic effects capable of resulting in the binding or retaining water. On a macroscopic scale these phenomena cause hardening. Magnetic resonance imaging visualises flow-induced agglomerates, which form owing to the shear flow and increase the porosity averaged over the whole sample. After the shear experiment rolls of paste can be seen which indicate that the general assumption of a plane shear flow in the shear device is not warrantable. Received: 19 July 2001 Accepted: 25 October 2001     

Characterization and quantification of metallothionein isoforms by capillary electrophoresis–inductively coupled plasma–isotope-dilution mass spectrometry

In a new approach to the characterization and quantification of metallothionein isoforms an on-line isotope-dilution method in combination with the coupling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) to an inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometer (ICP-SFMS) is reported. Metallothionein (MT) isoforms are separated by CE and the elements Cu, Zn, Cd, and S are detected simultaneously by use of ICP-SFMS in the medium resolution mode. On-line isotope dilution is performed by continuous introduction of an isotopically enriched, species-unspecific spike solution after the separation step. MT from rabbit liver and a further purified MT-1 isoform were quantified by determination of sulfur, and the stoichiometric compositions of the metalloprotein complexes are characterized by determination of their sulfur-to-metal ratios.     

The Synthesis of Dibenzo[3n]crown-n by Novel Methods and their Cation Binding Studied by Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Part IV

The dibenzo[3n]crown-n were synthesised from1,2-bis(o-hydroxyphenoxy)ethane obtained from 1,2-bis(o-formylphenoxy)ethane via Bayer-Willigeroxidations with H₂O₂/CH₃COOH in good yields. The cyclic condensation of 1,2-bis(o-hydroxyphenoxy)ethanewith dichlorides, and ditosylates of polyethylene glycols in DMF/Me₂CO₃ gave the macrocyclesdibenzo[15]crown-5, dibenzo[18]crown-6, dibenzo[21]crown-7 anddibenzo[24]crown-8. The structures were identified using IR, mass, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Therecognition of the molecules for the cations, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Zn²⁺were conducted quantitatively with steady state fluorescencespectroscopy. The 1:1 association constants in acetonitrileshowed a good relation of the appropriate size of the macrocyclic ether towards the fitting cationradii. Namely, dibenzo[15]crown-5 was the best for Li⁺ binding and more than 100 times better thanNa⁺ and K⁺. Dibenzo[21]crown-7 was excellent for Rb⁺ binding while K⁺ is 100 timesless preferred. The largest crown ether studied, dibenzo[24]crown-8, exhibited the order of binding power,Rb⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺. Zn²⁺ displayed, however, a marked binding with only dibenzo[18]crown-6.p>     

Superstructures of temporarily stabilized nanocrystalline CaCO3 particles: morphological control via water surface tension variation

In this paper, the formation of different complex morphologies of nanocrystalline CaCO3 under the control of double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) carrying phosphate groups is described. The DHBCs consist of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block and a pendant poly[2-(2-hydroxy ethyl)ethylene] block with different degrees of phosphorylation up to 40%, some of which show surface activity. The polymers furthermore temporarily stabilize CaCO3 nanocrystals, which are formed by slow CO2 evaporation from a supersaturated Ca(HCO3)2 solution (Kitano method). The polymers are active down to concentrations of 10(-4) g/L. In dependence of the nature and concentration of the DHBC, tunable complex shuttlecock flowerlike and other superstructures are formed, which are aggregates of CaCO3 vaterite nanoparticles with an enhanced stability of at least 2 months. It is shown that the aggregation starts around template CO2 gas bubbles at the air/water interface. The size and morphology of the growing aggregates depends on the polymer concentration, phosphorylation degree, and water surface tension. The latter determines when the aggregate sinks to the bottom, interrupting the further growth process. Variation of the water surface tension by addition of the nonionic surfactant Antharox CO880 also allows a variation of the aggregate morphology, thus implying the described method as simple and versatile for the generation of complex CaCO3 morphologies.     

Glassy crystalline state and water sorption of alkyl maltosides

A differential scanning calorimetric and sorption calorimetric study of two alkyl maltosides, C8G2 and C10G2, was performed. In the dry state, C8G2 and C10G2 do not form solid crystals but undergo a glass transition upon temperature change. The glass is partly ordered and has the same lamellar structure as the liquid crystals formed by the two maltosides. To reflect the presence of the glass transition and the structure, the terms "glassy crystals" and "glassy liquid crystals" can be used. A mechanism of the relaxation of the glassy crystals based on the results of small-angle X-ray scattering experiments is proposed. Experiments on water sorption showed that the glassy crystals turn into lyotropic liquid crystals upon sorption of water at constant temperature. This isothermal glass transition can be characterized by water content and change of partial molar enthalpy of mixing of water. A method to calculate the phase diagram liquid crystals-glassy liquid crystals is proposed.     

SAMs of shape-persistent macrocycles: structure and binding on HOPG and Au(111)

Self-assembled monolayers of shape-persistent macrocycles have been adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and Au(111) substrates. Their structure and binding characteristics have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. Special functionalization of the macrocycles for the first time has enabled their self-assembling and binding on a metal substrate and opened a new route for new functional nanostructures.     

Quantitative analysis of conformational exchange contributions to 1H-15N multiple-quantum relaxation using field-dependent measurements. Time scale and structural characterization of exchange in a calmodulin C-terminal domain mutant

Multiple-quantum spin relaxation is a sensitive probe for correlated conformational exchange dynamics on microsecond to millisecond time scales in biomolecules. We measured differential 1H-15N multiple-quantum relaxation rates for the backbone amide groups of the E140Q mutant of the C-terminal domain of calmodulin at three static magnetic field strengths. The differential multiple-quantum relaxation rates range between -88.7 and 92.7 s(-1), and the mean and standard deviation are 7.0 +/- 24 s(-1), at a static magnetic field strength of 14.1 T. Together with values of the 1H and 15N chemical shift anisotropies (CSA) determined separately, the field-dependent data enable separation of the different contributions from dipolar-dipolar, CSA-CSA, and conformational exchange cross-correlated relaxation mechanisms to the differential multiple-quantum relaxation rates. The procedure yields precise quantitative information on the dominant conformational exchange contributions observed in this protein. The field-dependent differences between double- and zero-quantum relaxation rates directly benchmark the rates of conformational exchange, showing that these are fast on the chemical shift time scale for the large majority of residues in the protein. Further analysis of the differential 1H-15N multiple-quantum relaxation rates using previously determined exchange rate constants and populations, obtained from 15N off-resonance rotating-frame relaxation data, enables extraction of the product of the chemical shift differences between the resonance frequencies of the 1H and 15N spins in the exchanging conformations, deltasigma(H)deltasigma(N). Thus, information on the 1H chemical shift differences is obtained, while circumventing complications associated with direct measurements of conformational exchange effects on 1H single-quantum coherences in nondeuterated proteins. The method significantly increases the information content available for structural interpretation of the conformational exchange process, partly because deltasigma(H)deltasigma(N) is a signed quantity, and partly because two chemical shifts are probed simultaneously. The present results support the hypothesis that the exchange in the calcium-loaded state of the E140Q mutant involves conformations similar to those of the wild-type apo (closed) and calcium-loaded (open) states.