A new class of hybrid materials via salt inclusion: novel copper(II) arsenates Na(5)ACu(4)(AsO(4))(4)Cl(2) (A = Rb,Cs) composed of alternating covalent and ionic lattices

Two novel copper(II) arsenates Na5ACu4(AsO4)4Cl2 (A = Rb, Cs) were synthesized by conventional solid-state methods using reactive molten salt media. These compounds are isostructural and crystallize in an orthorhombic lattice (Fmmm, No. 69; Z = 8). The cell constants are a = 14.632(3) A, b = 18.872(2) A, c = 14.445(3) A, V = 3989(1) A3, for A = Rb; a = 14.638(3) A, b = 18.990(4) A, c = 14.418(3) A, V = 4008(1) A3, for A = Cs. Single-crystal structure studies reveal a new composite framework consisting of alternating covalent and ionic lattices. The covalent lattice contains highly oriented oligomeric mu-oxo [Cu4O12]16- tetrameric units with a cyclo-S8-like Cu4O4 magnetic core that resembles the building block of layered cuprates. The ionic slab consists of a novel framework of mixed alkali metal chloride lattice and rarely seen Na6O8 clusters. Similar to organic-inorganic hybrid materials, the title compounds present a new class of host-guest chemistry via salt inclusion reactions.     

Reactions of N-silylphosphoranimines with alcohols: synthesis and structure of cyclotriphosphazenes with nongeminal methyl and phenyl substituents

The reactions of Me(3)SiN=P(OR")RR'(R" = Ph, CH(2)CF(3); R, R' = Me, Ph) with alcohols were investigated. With nonequivalent amounts of CF(3)CH(2)OH, the reactions produced high yields of the cyclic phosphazene (Me(2)PN)(3) and both the cis and trans isomers of nongeminally substituted [(Ph)(Me)PN](3). The isomers of this new cyclic phosphazene were separated by column chromatography and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Crystals of the cis isomer 6a have a monoclinic crystal system, while the trans isomer 6b has a triclinic crystal system with two different molecules in an asymmetric unit. The bond lengths and bond angles are very similar to those of the simpler cyclic trimers (Me(2)PN)(3) and (Ph(2)PN)(3.) A likely pathway for the formation of these compounds is discussed.     

Protective properties of redox polymer film deposited on stainless steel

We propose a novel composite organic-inorganic coating in the form of a redox polymer film for protection of stainless steel against general corrosion in strong acid medium (2 M H₂SO₄). We utilize an anion exchange polymer, protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine), into which hexacyanoferrate anions have been introduced. Owing to the presence of Fe(CN)₆^3–/4– at the interface formed by the film and the steel, a sparingly soluble metal hexacyanoferrate (mostly Prussian blue, PB) is formed as an overcoating on the steels surface, presumably on the passive (metal oxide) layer. The redox polymer film on the steel seems to act as a composite three-dimensional bilayer-type coating in which hexacyanoferrate(III,II) anions (that are capable of effective charge storage) exist in the outer portions of the film, whereas the inner PB layer improves the systems overall adherence and stability. By analogy to a conducting polymer (e.g. polyaniline, polypyrrole), introduction of the redox polymer composite film leads to stabilization of the steel substrates potential within the passive range.Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

Interactions of porphyrin covalently attached to poly(methacrylic acid) with liposomal membranes

The interactions between the 5-(4-acryloyloxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tritolylporphyrin covalently attached to poly(methacrylic acid) chain (PMA-Po) and phosphatidylcholine liposomes in aqueous solution at different pH values were studied. The binding constants (K(b)) for the liposome- PMA-Po in solutions in the pH range from 6.5 to 9.2 were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding was found to be efficient. The acid-base properties of the porphyrin chromophores were also studied. Both pK values associated with imine-N protonation of the porphyrin core were found to be 6.4. The quantum yield (Phi(Delta)) of singlet oxygen production by Po in the lipid-PMA-Po system was found to be high (0.88 +/- 0.05).     

The electronic absorption study of imide anion radicals in terms of time dependent density functional theory

The absorption spectra of the N-(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl) phthalimide (1-), N-(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (2-) and N-(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-perylene-3,4-dicarboximide (3-) anion radicals are studied in terms of time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). For these anion radicals a large number electronic states (from 30 to 60) was found in the visible and near-IR regions (5000-45,000 cm(-1)). In these regions the TD/B3LYP treatment at the 6-1+G* level is shown to reproduce satisfactorily the empirical absorption spectra of all three anion radicals studied. The most apparent discrepancies between purely electronic theory and the experiment could be found in the excitation region corresponding to D0-->D1 transitions in the 2- and 3- molecules. For these species we argue that the structures seen in the lowest energy part of the absorptions of the 2- and 3- species are very likely due to Franck-Condon (FC) activity of the totally symmetric vibrations not studied in this Letter.     

Influence of oxygen on semiconducting properties of polycrystalline zinc oxide in its surface region

The influence of oxygen adsorption on electrical conductivity of sintered ZnO has been studied. The concentration of conduction electrons and their mobility were determined by Hall effect method in the temperature range 200–550 K. It was found that adsorbed oxygen decreases the conduction electron concentration as well as their mobility.

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ZnO. 200–550 . , , .

     

Reactions of Group 8, 9, and 10 monocations (Fe+, Co+, Ni+, Ru+, Rh+, Pd+, Os+, Ir+, Pt+) with phosphane in the gas phase

The reactions of Group 8, 9 and 10 monocations with phosphane were studied under single-collision conditions in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. Fe(+) is completely unreactive, Co(+) reacts slowly and shows both adduct formation and P-H bond activation, and Ni(+) reacts slowly as well but shows adduct formation only. In contrast to their first-row congeners, the investigated second- and third-row transition metal monocations show facile P-H bond activations. Remarkably, extensive dehydrogenations of the collision complexes yield cations MPH(+), MP(2) (+), MP(3)H(+), MP(4) (+) and so on. Exceptional behaviour is shown by the two d(9) cations palladium (whose "dehydrogenation power" is rather limited) and platinum (which gives rise to a great manifold of only partially dehydrogenated species as well). Collision-induced dissociation experiments suggest that P(2) and PH units are formed as ligands.     

Solvatochromism of 3-[2-(aryl)benzoxazol-5-yl]alanine derivatives

The photophysical properties of N-Boc-3-[2-(9-anthryl)benzoxazol-5-yl]-l-alanine methyl ester (BoxAnt) and N-Boc-3-[2-[4-(9′-(10′-butyl)anthryl)phenyl]benzoxazol-5-yl]-l-alanine methyl ester (BoxPhAnt) were studied in a series of solvents. Their absorption spectra are less sensitive to the solvent polarity than the corresponding fluorescence spectra which show a pronounced solvatochromic effect leading to large Stokes shifts. Using an efficient solvatochromic method, based on the empirical solvent polarity parameter , a large change of the dipole moment on excitation for BoxPhAnt has been found. From an analysis of the solvatochromic behaviour of the absorption and fluorescence spectra in terms of bulk solvent polarity functions, f(_r, n) and g(n), a larger excited-state dipole moment (about 8 D, ψ = 56) was obtained for BoxPhAnt than for BoxAnt (about 3 D, ψ = 0). Both applied methods gave similar values of the excited-state dipole moments for both compounds studied.     

Revisiting catechol derivatives as robust chromogenic hydrogen donors working in alkaline media for peroxidase mimetics

Colloidal noble metal-based nanoparticles are able to catalyze oxidation of chromogenic substrates by H₂O_2, similarly to peroxidases, even in basic media. However, lack of robust chromogens, which work in high pH impedes their real applications. Herein we demonstrate the applicability of selected catechol derivatives: bromopyrogallol red (BPR) and pyrogallol (PG) as chromogenic substrates for peroxidase-like activity assays, which are capable of working over wide range of pH, covering also basic values. Hyperbranched polyglycidol-stabilized gold nanoparticles (HBPG@AuNPs) were used as model enzyme mimetics. Efficiency of several methods of improving stability of substrates in alkaline media by means of selective suppression of their autoxidation by molecular oxygen was evaluated. In a framework of presented studies the impact of borate anion, applied as complexing agent for PG and BPR, on their stability and reactivity towards oxidation mediated by catalytic AuNPs was investigated. The key role of high concentration of hydrogen peroxide in elimination of non-catalytic oxidation of PG and improvement of optical properties of BPR in alkaline media containing borate was underlined. Described methods of peroxidase-like activity characterization with the use of BPR and PG can become universal tools for characterization of nanozymes, which gain various applications, among others, they are used as catalytic labels in bioassays and biosensors.     

Alkylation of Potassium 1-(N-Benzyloxycarbonylamino)alkylphosphonates and Phosphinates in the Presence of 18-Crown-6

During past several years we have been engaged in the synthesis of phosphono peptides, peptide analogues with phosphonic acid replacing C-terminal or N-terminal carboxylate moiety. These compounds are of interest not only because of their promise of direct practical applications^1,2 but also as a source of information about mechanisms of enzymatic reactions. ^1,3–5 Esters of N-blocked 1 -aminoalkylphosphonic and phosphinic acids are popularly used as starting substrates in multistep syntheses of phosphono peptides.^6–9 Although several methods for their preparation have been described ^6,10–13 the search for the new and useful methods of their synthesis is still in progress. In this paper we report that the use of complexes of potassium 1-(N- benzyloxycarbonylamiuo)alkylphosphonates and phosphates with 18-crown-6 as nucleophiles in the reaction with alkyl halides afforded the desired esters in good yields.