Insertion of a spin crossover Fe(III) complex into an oxalate-based layered material: coexistence of spin canting and spin crossover in a hybrid magnet

The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of the compounds of formula [Fe (III)(sal 2trien)] 2[Mn (II) 2(ox) 3].4H 2O.C 3H 7NO ( 1) and [In (III)(sal 2trien)] 2[Mn (II) 2(ox) 3].3H 2O.CH 3OH (2) are reported. The structure presents a homometallic 2D honeycomb anionic layer formed by Mn (II) ions linked through oxalate ligands and a cationic double layer of [Fe(sal 2trien)] (+) or [In(sal 2trien)] (+) complexes intercalated between the 2D oxalate network. The magnetic properties and M?ssbauer spectroscopy of 1 indicate the coexistence of a magnetic ordering of the Mn(II) oxalate network that behaves as a weak ferromagnet and a gradual spin crossover of the intercalated [Fe(sal 2trien)] (+) complexes.     

Coaxial metal and magnetic alloy nanotubes in polycarbonate templates by electroless deposition

We present a novel technique for the preparation of coaxial metal and magnetic alloy nanotubes, which is demonstrated for the coaxial nanotubes of Ni/Co and Ni/CoNiFe alloys deposited in activated polycarbonate templates using electroless plating. For each metal or alloy the tube wall thickness was controlled to be less than 100 nm. The process involved two consecutive deposition steps from hypophosphite and/or borane reducing agent based electroless plating solutions. We further characterise the magnetic properties of the ternary magnetic alloy films and coaxial nanotubes. The coaxial tubes show homogenous wall thickness and composition, which is delineated from the magnetic measurements.     

Theoretical study of [Hg3(o-C6F4)3]n · {benzene} (n = 1, 2) complexes

The electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of [Hg₃(o-C₆F₄)₃]_n · {benzene} (n = 1, 2) were studied at the HF, MP2 and PBE levels. The interaction between [Hg₃(o-C₆F₄)₃] and benzene at the HF and MP2 levels was analyzed. Secondary π-interactions (Hg–benzene) were found to be the main contribution short-range stability in the [Hg₃(o-C₆F₄)₃] · {benzene} complex. At the MP2 and PBE levels equilibrium Hg–C distances of 338.4 and 361.4 pm; and interaction energies of 46.6 and 29.2 kJ/mol were found, respectively. The absorption spectra of these complexes were calculated by the single excitation time-dependent method at PBE level.     

Streamlined process for the chemical synthesis of RNA using 2'-O-thionocarbamate-protected nucleoside phosphoramidites in the solid phase

An improved method for the chemical synthesis of RNA was developed utilizing a streamlined method for the preparation of phosphoramidite monomers and a single-step deprotection of the resulting oligoribonucleotide product using 1,2-diamines under anhydrous conditions. The process is compatible with most standard heterobase protection and employs a 2'-O-(1,1-dioxo-1λ(6)-thiomorpholine-4-carbothioate) as a unique 2'-hydroxyl protective group. Using this approach, it was demonstrated that the chemical synthesis of RNA can be as simple and robust as the chemical synthesis of DNA.     

Primary photophysical properties of moxifloxacin--a fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Abstract The photophysical properties of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin (MOX) were investigated in aqueous media. MOX in water, at pH 7.4, shows two intense absorption bands at 287 and 338 nm (epsilon = 44 000 and 17 000 dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1), respectively). The absorption and emission properties of MOX are pH-dependent, pK(a) values for the protonation equilibria of both the ground (6.1 and 9.6) and excited singlet states (6.8 and 9.1) of MOX were determined spectroscopically. MOX fluoresces weakly, the quantum yield for fluorescence emission being maximum (0.07) at pH 8. Phosphorescence from the excited triplet state in frozen ethanol solution has a quantum yield of 0.046. Laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis studies have been carried out to characterize the transient species of MOX in aqueous solution. On laser excitation, MOX undergoes monophotonic photoionization with a quantum yield of 0.14. This leads to the formation of a long-lived cation radical whose absorption is maximum at 470 nm (epsilon(470) = 3400 dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1)). The photoionization process releases hydrated electron which rapidly reacts (k = 2.8 x 10(10) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) with ground state MOX, yielding a long-lived anion radical with maximum absorption at 390 nm (epsilon(390) = 2400 dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1)). The cation radical of MOX is able to oxidize protein components tryptophan and tyrosine. The bimolecular rate constants for these reactions are 2.3 x 10(8) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) and 1.3 x 10(8) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1), respectively. Singlet oxygen sensitized by the MOX triplet state was also detected only in oxygen-saturated D(2)O solutions, with a quantum yield of 0.075.     

Chemical modification of zinc hydroxide nitrate and Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide with dicarboxylic acids

A zinc hydroxide nitrate (ZHN), Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2.2H2O, and a layered double hydroxide (LDH), Zn/Al-NO3 were doped with 0.2 mol% of Cu2+ during alkaline chemical precipitation. Both compounds were intercalated with adipate ((-)OOC(CH2)4COO(-)), azelate ((-)OOC(CH2)7COO(-)), and benzoate (C6H5COO(-)) ions through ion exchange reactions. Solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed only one signal of carboxylic carbon for adipate and azelate intercalated into LDH, indicating that the carboxylic ends of both acids were equivalent, whereas the signal split when the intercalation was into the ZHN matrix. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of copper in octahedral cation sites of LDH layers showed a Hamiltonian parameter ratio g ||/A ||=170 cm and, after intercalation of adipate, the change was not significant: g ||/A ||=174 cm. This result indicates that the carboxylate ions did not coordinate with copper centers. Nonetheless, the intercalation of azelate increased the ratio to g ||/A ||=194 cm, similar to the spectra of ZHN modified with adipate, g ||/A ||=199 cm, and azelate, g ||/A ||=183 and 190 cm, which are associated with the coordination of copper by weak carboxylate anion ligands. Copper occupies octahedral or tetrahedral sites in ZHN layers, and the EPR spectra indicate that the dicarboxylate anions reacted preferentially with octahedral sites, whereas benzoate reacted with both sites.     

Synthesis and characterisation of helical beta-peptide architectures that contain (S)-beta3-HDOPA(Crown Ether) derivatives

A new set of beta-amino acids that carry various crown ether receptors on their side chains of the general formula (S)-beta(3)-HDOPA(crown ether) (HDOPA: homo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine; (crown ether): [15]crown-5 ([15-C-5]), [18]crown-6 ([18-C-6]), [21]crown-7 ([21-C-7]), 1,2-Benzo-[24]crown-8 ([Benzo-24-C-8]) and (R)-Binol-[20]crown-6 ([(R)-Binol-20-C-6])) was prepared. Peptides that are based on these new crowned beta-amino acids combined with (1S,2S)-ACHC (2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid), which is known to be a potent 3(14)-helix inducer, to the hexamer level, with two crowned residues at the i and i+3 positions of the main-chain, were synthesized in solution by stepwise coupling using Boc-N(alpha)-protection (Boc: tert-butoxycarbonyl) and the EDC/HOAt C-activation method. Their conformational analysis was performed by using FTIR absorption, NMR and CD spectroscopy techniques. Our results are in full agreement with a 3(14)-helix conformation.     

Determination of the oxidation stability of biodiesel and oils by spectrofluorimetry and multivariate calibration

Oxidation stability is an important quality parameter for biodiesel. In general, the methods used to evaluate the oxidation stability of oils and biodiesels are time-consuming. This work reports the use of spectrofluorimetry, a fast analytical technique, associated with multivariate data analysis as a powerful analytical tool to prediction of the oxidation stability. The prediction of the oxidation stability showed a good agreement with the results obtained by the EN14112 reference method Rancimat. The models presented high correlation (0.99276 and 0.97951) between real and predicted values. The R² values of 0.98557 and 0.95943 indicated the accuracy of the models to predict the oxidation stability of soy oil and soy biodiesel, respectively. The residual distribution does not follow a trend with respect to the predicted variables indicating the good quality of the fits.     

Simultaneous determination of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in nail samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after tetramethylammonium hydroxide solubilization at room temperature: comparison with ETAAS

A simple method is described for the determination of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in nails by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Prior to analysis, 10-20 mg of nail samples were accurately weighed into (15 mL) conical tubes. Then, 1 mL of 25% (w/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution was added to the samples, incubated at room temperature overnight and then further diluted to 10 mL with 1% (v/v) HNO(3). After that, samples were directly analyzed. Rhodium was used as internal standard for ICP-MS analysis. Method detection limits (3 s, n=20) were 0.1, 3.0, 1.0, 4.5, 1.5, 5.0 ng g(-1) for Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively for ICP-MS, and 24, 26, 30, 143, 130 and 1000 ng g(-1), respectively for ETAAS. The key issue addressed here is the elimination of the acid digestion prior to analysis. Moreover, with the use of the proposed method there is a considerable improvement in the sample throughput comparing to the traditional methods using microwave-assisted acid sample digestion prior to analysis. For validation purposes, six ordinary nail samples were solubilized and then directly analyzed by ICP-MS and ETAAS, with no statistical difference between the two techniques at 95% level on applying the t-test.