α‐Tris(2,4‐pentanedionato‐κ2O,O′)cobalt(III) at 240, 210, 180, 150 and 110 K

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Co(C₅H₇O₂)₃], has been investigated by a multi‐temperature measurement. In contrast to the isomorphous Al compound, the title compound exists in the studied temperature range as its monoclinic α polymorph (space group P2₁/c) and does not undergo a phase transition. Rigid‐body TLS analyses have been performed and the anisotropic thermal expansion tensor α_ij has been determined. The cell axes show a linear expansion behavior with respect to the temperature, but the slope is significantly different. A possible explanation are the different strengths of different intermolecular C—H...O contacts, which run in different crystallographic directions.     

A complete family of isostructural cluster compounds with cubane-like M(3)S(4)M' cores (M = Mo,W; M' = Ni,Pd, Pt): comparative crystallography and electrochemistry

By reaction of the geometrically incomplete cubane-like clusters [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4))][pts] and [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)W(3)S(4)][pts] (Cp' = methylcyclopentadienyl; pts = p-toluenesulfonate) with group 10 alkene complexes, three new heterobimetallic clusters with cubane-like cluster cores were isolated: [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)W(3)S(4)M'(PPh(3))][pts] ([5][pts], M' = Pd; [6][pts], M' = Pt); [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)Ni(AsPh(3))][pts] ([7][pts]). The compounds [5][pts]-[7][pts] are completing the extensive series of clusters [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)M(3)S(4)M'(EPh(3))][pts] (M = Mo, W; M' = Ni, Pd, Pt; E = P, As) which allows the consequences of replacing a single type of atom on structural and NMR and UV/vis spectroscopic as well as electrochemical properties to be determined. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of [5][pts]-[7][pts] revealed that [5][pts] was not isomorphous to the other members of the series [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)M(3)S(4)M'(EPh(3))][pts] due to distinctly different cell parameters, which in the molecular structure of [5](+) is reflected in a slightly different orientation of the PPh(3) ligand. Electrochemical measurements on the series showed that the Mo-based clusters were more difficult to oxidize than their W-based analogues. The Pd-containing clusters underwent two-electron oxidation processes, whereas the Ni- and Pt-containing clusters underwent two separated one-electron oxidation processes.     

Conformation and Dynamics of (−)-β-Caryophyllene

(?)-β-Caryophyllene (1) adopts three conformations in solution: αα(48%), βα(28%), and ββ(24%). The conformations were identified by an analysis of the ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR spectra at ?87.2 and ?153.8° in connection with APT, HETCOR, and COSY spectra, and subsequent NOESY experiments. The activation parameters of the conversion αα → βα were determined from a bandshape analysis of exchange-broadened ¹³C-NMR spectra of 8-[methylene-¹³C]- 1 to give ΔH^≠ = 5.9 ± 0.3 kcal/mol, ΔS^? = ?8.1 ± 1.8 cal/mol. · K. and ΔG = ?8.3 ± 0.8 kcal/mol. The observed population ratio of the different conformers is best described by MM3.     

A novel isomerization on interaction of antitumor-active azole-bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complexes with 9-ethylguanine. Platinum(II) atom migration from N2 to N3 on 1,2,3-triazole

The reactions of the dinuclear platinum(II) complexes, [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)](2)(mu-OH)(mu-pz)](NO(3))(2) (1, pz = pyrazolate), [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)](2)(mu-OH)(mu-1,2,3-ta-N1,N2)](NO(3))(2) (2, 1,2,3-ta = 1,2,3-triazolate), and a newly prepared [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)](2)(mu-OH)(mu-4-phe-1,2,3-ta-N1,N2)](NO(3))(2) (3, 4-phe-1,2,3-ta = 4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazolate), whose crystal structure was determined, with 9-ethylguanine (9EtG) have been monitored in aqueous solution at 310 K by means of (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The dinuclear platinum(II) complexes 1-3 each react with 9EtG in a bifunctional way to form 1:2 complexes, [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(9EtG-N7)](2)(mu-pz)](3+) (4), [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(9EtG-N7)](2)(mu-1,2,3-ta-N1,N3)](3+) (5), and [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(9EtG-N7)](2)(mu-4-phe-1,2,3-ta-N1,N3)](3+) (6). The reactions of 2 and 3 involve a novel isomerization, in which the Pt atom, initially bound to N2 on the 1,2,3-ta, migrates to N3 after the first substitution by N7 of 9EtG. This isomerization reaction has been unambiguously characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and pH titration. The reactions of 2 and 3 with 9EtG show faster kinetics, and the second-order rate constants (k) for the reactions of 1-3are 1.57 x 10(-4), 2.53 x 10(-4), and 2.56 x 10(-4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. The pK(a) values at the N1H site of 9EtG were determined for 4-6 from the pH titration curves. Cytotoxicity assays of 1-3 were performed in L1210 murine leukemia cell lines, respectively sensitive and resistant to cisplatin. In the parent cell line, 2 and 3 exhibit higher cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin, especially, 2 is 10 times as active as cisplatin. 1 was found to be less cytotoxic than cisplatin, but still in the active range and more active than cisplatin in a cisplatin-resistant cell line.     

Transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal cortex modulates working memory performance: combined behavioural and electrophysiological evidence

Background  

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a technique that can systematically modify behaviour by inducing changes in the underlying brain function. In order to better understand the neuromodulatory effect of tDCS, the present study examined the impact of tDCS on performance in a working memory (WM) task and its underlying neural activity. In two experimental sessions, participants performed a letter two-back WM task after sham and either anodal or cathodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).     

NMR at very low fields

Although nuclear magnetic resonance in low fields around or below the Earth's magnetic field is almost as old as nuclear magnetic resonance itself, the recent years have experienced a revival of this technique that is opposed to the common trend towards higher and higher fields. The background of this development is the expectation that the low-field domain may open a new window for the study of molecular structure and dynamics. Here, we will give an overview on the specific features in the low-field domain, both from the technical and from the physical point of view. In addition, we present a short passage on the option of magnetic resonance imaging in fields of the micro-Tesla range.