Electrochemistry of niobium(V) in sulfuric and methanesulfonic acids: formation of the Nb3O2(SO4)6(H2O)(3)(5-) cluster and designed electrochemical generation of "Nb3O2" core clusters by double potential pulse electrolysis

The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of niobium(V) and the Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(5-) cluster in sulfuric acid and methanesulfonic acid were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, constant potential electrolysis, and spectroelectrochemistry. These chemical systems were suitable to probe the formation of "Nb(3)O(2)" core trinuclear clusters. In 9 M H(2)SO(4) the cluster Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(5-) exhibited a reversible 1-electron reduction peak at E(pc) = -1.30 V vs Hg/Hg(2)SO(4) electrode, as well as a 4-electron irreversible oxidation peak at E(pa) = -0.45 V. Controlled potential reduction at E = -1.40 V produced the green Nb(3.33+) cluster anion Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(6-). In 12 M H(2)SO(4) Nb(V) displayed two reduction peaks at E(pc) = -1.15 V and E(pc) = -1.30 V. It was determined that the first process involves a quasi-reversible 2-electron reduction. After reduction of Nb(V) to Nb(III) the following chemical step involves formation of [Nb(III)](2) dimer, which further reacts with Nb(V) to produce the Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6(H(2)O)(3)(5-) cluster (ECC process). The second reduction peak at E(pc) = -1.30 V corresponds to further 2-electron reduction of Nb(III) to Nb(I). The electrogenerated Nb(I) species also chemically reacts with starting material Nb(V) to produce additional [Nb(III)](2). In 5 M H(2)SO(4), the rate of the second chemical step in the ECC process is relatively slower and reduction of Nb(V) at E = -1.45 V/-1.2 V produces a mixture of Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(5-) and [Nb(III)](2) dimer. [Nb(III)](2) can be selectively oxidized by two 2-electron steps at E = -0.65 V to Nb(V). However, if the oxidation is performed at E = -0.86 V, the product is Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(5-). A double potential pulse electrolysis waveform was developed to direct the reduction of Nb(V) toward selective formation of the Nb(3)O(2)(SO(4))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(5-) cluster. Proper application of dc-voltage pulses alternating between E(1) = -1.45 V and E(2) = -0.86 V yields only the target trinuclear cluster. Analogous double potential pulse electrolysis of Nb(V) in methanesulfonic acid generates the "Nb(3)O(2)" core cluster Nb(3)O(2)(CH(3)SO(3))(6)(H(2)O)(3)(+).     

Regiospecific synthesis of mono- and bicyclic 6-alkoxy-2-pyrones and their use in the preparation of substituted aromatics,anthraquinones, and tetracyclic intermediates for 11-deoxyanthracycline synthesis

Several mono- and bicyclic 6-methoxy-2-pyrones having substituents at C4 and C5 can be prepared regiospecifically by either of two routes: (1) regiospecific construction of a glutaconic half-ester followed by dehydrative cyclization, and (2)regiospecific Friedel-Crafts acylation of 6-methoxy-2-pyrones at C5. These pyrones undergo clean and regiospecific Diels-Alder cycloadditions with various unsymmetrical dienophiles, e.g., quinones, unsaturated esters, etc, with subsequent loss of carbon dioxide. In this manner several polycyclic aromatic natural products have been prepared such as chrysophanol, helminthosporin, pachybasin, 2-acetylemodin and the purported structure for orientalone. The utility of this approach for the synthesis of the anthracyclines is demonstrated by its use in the preparation of various tetracyclic intermediates for anthracycline synthesis.     

Functional characterization of two-dimensional gel-separated proteins using sequential staining

Proteins separated by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis can be visualized using various protein staining methods. This is followed by downstream procedures, such as image analysis, gel spot cutting, protein digestion, and mass spectrometry (MS), to characterize protein expression profiles within cells, tissues, organisms, or body fluids. Characterizing specific post-translational modifications on proteins using MS of peptide fragments is difficult and labor-intensive. Recently, specific staining methods have been developed and merged into the 2-D gel platform so that not only general protein patterns but also patterns of phosphorylated and glycosylated proteins can be obtained. We used the new Pro-Q Diamond phosphoprotein dye technology for the fluorescent detection of phosphoproteins directly in 2-D gels of mouse leukocyte proteins, and Pro-Q Emerald 488 glycoprotein dye to detect glycoproteins. These two fluorescent stains are compatible with general protein stains, such as SYPRO Ruby stain. We devised a sequential procedure using Pro-Q Diamond (phosphoprotein), followed by Pro-Q Emerald 488 (glycoprotein), followed by SYPRO Ruby stain (general protein stain), and finally silver stain for total protein profile. This multiple staining of the proteins in a single gel provided parallel determination of protein expression and preliminary characterization of post-translational modifications of proteins in individual spots on 2-D gels. Although this method does not provide the same degree of certainty as traditional MS methods of characterizing post-translational modifications, it is much simpler, faster, and does not require sophisticated equipment and expertise in MS.     

Probing ruthenium-acetylide bonding interactions: synthesis, electrochemistry, and spectroscopic studies of acetylide-ruthenium complexes supported by tetradentate macrocyclic amine and diphosphine ligands

The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of trans-[RuL4(C[triple bond]CAr)2] (L4 = two 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane, (dmpe)2; 1,5,9,13-tetramethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadecane, 16-TMC; 1,12-dimethyl-3,4:9,10-dibenzo-1,12-diaza-5,8-dioxacyclopentadecane, N2O2) are described. Investigations into the effects of varying the [RuL4] core, acetylide ligands, and acetylide chain length for the [(-)C[triple bond]C(C6H4C[triple bond]C)(n-1)Ph] and [(-)C[triple bond]C(C6H4)(n-1)Ph] (n = 1-3) series upon the electronic and electrochemical characteristics of trans-[RuL4(C[triple bond]CAr)2](0/+) are presented. DFT and TD-DFT calculations have been performed on trans-[Ru(L')4(C[triple bond]CAr)2](0/+) (L' = PH3 and NH3) to examine the metal-acetylide pi-interaction and the nature of the associated electronic transition(s). It was observed that (1) the relationship between the transition energy and 1/n for trans-[Ru(dmpe)2{C[triple bond]C(C6H4C[triple bond]C)(n-1)Ph}2] (n = 1-3) is linear, and (2) the sum of the d(pi)(Ru(II)) --> pi*(C[triple bond]CAr) MLCT energy for trans-[Ru(16-TMC or N2O2)(C[triple bond]CAr)2] and the pi(C[triple bond]CAr) --> d(pi)(Ru(III)) LMCT energy for trans-[Ru(16-TMC or N2O2)(C[triple bond]CAr)2]+ corresponds to the intraligand pi pi* absorption energy for trans-[Ru(16-TMC or N2O2)(C[triple bond]CAr)2]. The crystal structure of trans-[Ru(dmpe)2{C[triple bond]C(C6H4C[triple bond]C)2Ph}2] shows that the two edges of the molecule are separated by 41.7 A. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these complexes can be systematically tuned by modifying L4 and Ar to give E(1/2) values for oxidation of trans-[RuL4(C[triple bond]CAr)2] that span over 870 mV and lambda(max) values of trans-[RuL4(C[triple bond]CAr)2] that range from 19,230 to 31,750 cm(-1). The overall experimental findings suggest that the pi-back-bonding interaction in trans-[RuL4(C[triple bond]CAr)2] is weak and the [RuL4] moiety in these molecules may be considered to be playing a "dopant" role in a linear rigid pi-conjugated rod.     

Generic method for systematic phase selection and method development of biochromatographic processes. Part I. Selection of a suitable cation-exchanger for the purification of a pharmaceutical protein

Even if the first protein therapeutics are now for more than 20 years on the market the selection of suitable adsorbents for the preparative downstream processing (DSP) of these biomolecules as well as the method development towards process conditions are still based mainly on 'trial and error'. Therefore, theses processes are not perfectly efficient, but indeed very time consuming and laborious. In this study a novel systematic method is introduced to find a suitable adsorbent (not necessarily the best one) with appropriate separation parameters for a specific separation with reduced effort. Following this strategy, the adsorbents must first be packed into columns under preparative conditions and then characterized completely with regard to, e.g. pressure drop, k'-values, plate heights (HETP curves), selectivity and capacity by using test substances, which are similar in their characteristics (molecular mass, size, charge distribution, hydrophobicity) to the target proteins. With the database once determined, a preselection of most suitable adsorbents including separation parameters is made regarding chromatographic and also economical properties. After this, preparative experiments must be conducted with a reduced number of adsorbents to figure out the individual influence of side components. This approach is demonstrated for the separation of an exemplary industrial protein mixture using cation-exchange chromatography (CEX). Characterization of different weak CEX-adsorbents is illustrated. After comparing these phases with each other, a first preselection and a prediction of suitable adsorbents is made. In the following preparative separation conditions (load, velocity, gradient) are determined for the preparative separations using the database and results of some additional experiments. The final comparison of separation performance in preparative scale confirms this selection and so the applicability of the new method.     

Condensation reaction of 3-(methacryloxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane and diisobutylsilanediol in non-hydrolytic sol-gel process

The condensation reaction of 3-methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPTS) and diisobutylsilanediol (DIBSD) in a non-hydrolytic sol-gel process was investigated in terms of the reaction time and the catalyst amount for fabrication of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. The degree of condensation, which was characterized by ²⁹Si NMR, ¹H NMR and Abbe refractometry, increases with increased the reaction time and greater catalyst amount. However, a the large catalyst amount breaks the methacryl group during the condensation reaction. Thus, the reaction time and the catalyst amount were optimized to synthesize the condensed methacryl oligosiloxanes.     

Ultraviolet photochemistry of ethane: implications for the atmospheric chemistry of the gas giants

Chemical processing in the stratospheres of the gas giants is driven by incident vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light. Ethane is an important constituent in the atmospheres of the gas giants in our solar system. The present work describes translational spectroscopy studies of the VUV photochemistry of ethane using tuneable radiation in the wavelength range 112 ≤ λ ≤ 126 nm from a free electron laser and event-triggered, fast-framing, multi-mass imaging detection methods. Contributions from at least five primary photofragmentation pathways yielding CH₂, CH₃ and/or H atom products are demonstrated and interpreted in terms of unimolecular decay following rapid non-adiabatic coupling to the ground state potential energy surface. These data serve to highlight parallels with methane photochemistry and limitations in contemporary models of the photoinduced stratospheric chemistry of the gas giants. The work identifies additional photochemical reactions that require incorporation into next generation extraterrestrial atmospheric chemistry models which should help rationalise hitherto unexplained aspects of the atmospheric ethane/acetylene ratios revealed by the Cassini–Huygens fly-by of Jupiter.

The vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of ethane provide clues for modelling the atmospheric chemistry of the gas giants.     

Chloro­bis­(thio­urea‐κS)copper(I) bis(4,5‐di­aza­fluoren‐9‐one) mono­hydrate

The title compound, [CuCl(CH₄N₂S)₂]·2C₁₁H₆N₂O·H₂O, consists of mol­ecules of a Cu^I–thio­urea complex, free 4,5‐di­aza­fluoren‐9‐one (dafone) and crystalline water. The planar complex mol­ecule has trigonal coordination geometry around the Cu^I atom. The dafone and water mol­ecules, which are hydrogen bonded to the Cu^I complex, are approximately coplanar with this complex. The crystal displays a sheet structure and π–π stacking is observed between neighbouring sheets.     

Synthesis of 4-[3-(1H)-indolyl]-2-[N-guanidinomethyl]thiazole dihydrochloride

The title compound 3b was synthesized in three steps from acetaminothioacetamide ( 4b ) in 15% overall yield. This represents the first synthesis of a 2-guanidinomethylthiazole, which is a homolog of an important pharmacophore, 2-guanidinothiazole.