Crystal structure of 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane copper(II) tribromocuprate(I)

The title compound is a mixed valence compound obtained as one of the products of the reaction of Cu(15-ane N₄)Br₂ with CoBr₂·6H₂O in water/acetone solvent (15-ane N₄=1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane). The compound is tetragonal, space group P4₂/mbc witha=16.675(2)Å,c=13.185(3)Å,V=3666(1)ų, withZ=8, for p_calc=2.106 g/cc. Refinement of 674 unique observed reflection yielded final values ofR=0.088 andR _w=0.083. The compound contains chains of alternating Cu(15-ane N₄)²⁺ cations and CuBr ₃ ^2– anions. The chains run perpendicular to thec axis, and are arranged in alternate layers running parallel toa andb. The chains lie athwart the mirror planes atz=0 andz=1/2, with disorder observed for both the (15-ane N₄) rings and the CuBr ₃ ^2– anions. The Cu(II) ion is coordinated by the tetradentate macrocycle to yield an approximate square planar coordination. The CuBr ₃ ^2– anions are nearly planar with Cu–Br(ave.)=2.37Å. Long semi-coordinate Cu(II)...Br bonds of 3.0Å link the cations and anions.     

Preconcentration of trace elements by aluminium hydroxide

Summary Coprecipitation of traces of cobalt, zinc, chromium, ruthenium and mercury with freshly precipitated aluminium hydroxide has been investigated by a radiotracer method. Investigations were performed over a wide range of pH. The results indicate that traces of cobalt, zinc and chromium could be almost completely coprecipitated between pH 6 and 10. On the other hand coprecipitation yield for ruthenium in this pH range do not exceed 95%, which is believed to be the consequence of the various physicochemical states of ruthenium. The coprecipitation yields for mercury are very low as a consequence of the presence of non-ionized HgCl₂.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Mitfällung von Spuren Kobalt, Zink, Chrom, Ruthenium und Quecksilber mit frisch gefälltem Aluminiumhydroxid wurde radiochemisch untersucht. Die dazu nötigen Experimente erstreckten sich über ein weites pH-Gebiet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß Spuren Kobalt, Zink und Chrom zwischen pH 6 und 10 fast vollständig mitgefällt werden konnten. Andrerseits sind die Mitfällungsausbeuten für Ruthenium in diesem pH-Gebiet nicht größer als 95%, was vermutlich die Folge der verschiedenen physikalischchemischen Zustände des Rutheniums ist. Die Mitfällungsausbeuten für Queckilber sind infolge der nur geringen Dissoziation des HgCl₂ sehr gering.

     

Quantum dynamics of the femtosecond photoisomerization of retinal in bacteriorhodopsin

The membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin contains all-trans-retinal in a binding site lined by amino acid side groups and water molecules that guide the photodynamics of retinal. Upon absorption of light, retinal undergoes a subpicosecond all-trans-->13-cis phototransformation involving torsion around a double bond. The main reaction product triggers later events in the protein that induce pumping of a proton through bacteriorhodopsin. Quantum-chemical calculations suggest that three coupled electronic states, the ground state and two closely lying excited states, are involved in the motion along the torsional reaction coordinate phi. The evolution of the protein-retinal system on these three electronic surfaces has been modelled using the multiple spawning method for non-adiabatic dynamics. We find that, although most of the population transfer occurs on a timescale of 300 fs, some population transfer occurs on a longer timescale, occasionally extending well beyond 1 ps.     

"Like-charge attraction" between anionic polyelectrolytes: molecular dynamics simulations

"Like-charge attraction" is a phenomenon found in many biological systems containing DNA or proteins, as well as in polyelectrolyte systems of industrial importance. "Like-charge attraction" between polyanions is observed in the presence of mobile multivalent cations. At a certain limiting concentration of cations, the negatively charged macroions cease to repel each other and even an attractive force between the anions is found. With classical molecular dynamics simulations it is possible to elucidate the processes that govern the attractive behavior with atomistic resolution. As an industrially relevant example we study the interaction of negatively charged carboxylate groups of sodium polyacrylate molecules with divalent cationic Ca2+ counterions. Here we show that Ca2+ ions initially associate with single chains of polyacrylates and strongly influence sodium ion distribution; shielded polyanions approach each other and eventually "stick" together (precipitate), contrary to the assumption that precipitation is initially induced by intermolecular Ca2+ bridging.     

Cooperative spin crossover and order-disorder phenomena in a mononuclear compound [Fe(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2) [DAPP = [bis(3-aminopropyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine], abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole

The synthesis and detailed characterization of the new spin crossover mononuclear complex [Fe(II)(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2), where DAPP = [bis(3-aminopropyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] and abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, are reported. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and M?ssbauer spectroscopy have revealed the occurrence of an abrupt spin transition with a hysteresis loop. The hysteresis width derived from magnetic susceptibility measurements is 10 K, the transition being centered at T(c) downward arrow = 171 K for decreasing and T(c) upward arrow = 181 K for increasing temperatures. The crystal structure was resolved in the high-spin (293 and 183 K) and low-spin (123 K) states. Both spin-state structures belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (Z = 4). The thermal spin transition is accompanied by the shortening of the mean Fe-N distances by 0.177 A. The two main structural characteristics of [Fe(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2) are a branched network of intermolecular links in the crystal lattice and the occurrence of two types of order-disorder transitions (in the DAPP ligand and in the perchlorate anions) accompanying the thermal spin change. These features are discussed relative to the magnetic properties of the complex. The electronic structure calculations show that the structural disorder in the DAPP ligand modulates the energy gap between the HS and LS states. In line with previous studies, the order-disorder phenomena and the spin transition in [Fe(DAPP)(abpt)](ClO(4))(2) are found to be interrelated.     

Two-dimensional optimization using different pairs of variables for the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of a mixture of acidic compounds

A cryptand-based anion exchanger has been developed in which the capacity and to a lesser degree, selectivity are adjustable simply by the choice of the mobile phase. Although much work has been done in the past using cryptand-based anion exchangers, these stationary phases were based on adsorbed cryptands rather than covalently bound cryptands. These phases suffered from the usual problems associated with adsorbed systems. A novel styrene-based cryptand has been synthesized which can be covalently attached to a solid support. A brief review of cryptands and binding constants as well as comparisons of adsorbed phases versus covalently bound phases will be discussed. Some of the unique chromatographic properties of this prototype column will be illustrated as well.     

The decay chain162Yb (19·0 min) →162Tm (21·8 min) →162Er and the decay of160Tm (9·2 min) TO160Er

The decay of¹⁶²Yb,¹⁶²Tm and¹⁶⁰Tm has been investigated with Ge(Li) and Si(Li) detectors using isotopically separated samples produced by the YASNAPP facility at Dubna. The singles -ray spectrum, - and - coincidences were measured. Strong ytterbium and thulium activities were used for conversion electron measurements with high resolution magnetic -spectrographs. 3, 134 and 39 new -rays were attributed to the decays of¹⁶²Yb,¹⁶²Tm and¹⁶⁰Tm, respectively. Decay schemes of these isotopes are proposed. Three and 12 new levels were found in¹⁶²Er and¹⁶⁰Er, respectively. TheQ-values of¹⁶²Yb,¹⁶²Tm and¹⁶⁰Tm were determined to be 2·2, MeV, 4·6±0·3 MeV and 4·9±0·5 MeV, respectively.On leave from theUniversity Tashkent, USSR.On leave fromZfK Rossendorf/Dresden, DDR.On leave from theNuclear Research Institute, e near Prague, CSSR.On leave from theTechnical University, Dresden, DDR.It is a pleasure to thank Professor V. P.Dhzelepov, Dr. D.Netzband and Dr. L.Funke for their support. The valuable assistance of the synchrocyclotron staff of the JINR Dubna and of the electronics teams of the measuring centre of the LNP JINR is gratefully acknowledged.     

Mechanistic aspects of the metal catalyzed alternating copolymerization of epoxides and carbon monoxide

The cobalt-catalyzed alternating copolymerization of epoxides and CO is a novel, direct approach to aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). This reaction was found to be catalyzed by Ph3Si[Co(CO)4] (4) and pyridine affording in a first step the stable mono-insertion product Ph3Si-O-CH(CH3)-CH2-CO-Co(CO)4 (5). However, a profound mechanistic understanding, especially of the role of pyridine as the key component for the polymerization reaction was missing. ATR-IR online monitoring under catalytic conditions and DFT calculations were used to show that an acylpyridinium cation is formed by cleavage of the cobalt-acyl bond of 5 in the presence of pyridine. The Lewis acid thus generated activates the next incoming epoxide monomer for ring opening through [Co(CO)4]-. The catalytic cycle is completed by a subsequent CO insertion in the new cobalt-alkyl bond. The calculations are used to explore the energetic hypersurface of the polymerization reaction and are complemented by extended experimental investigations that also support the mechanistic hypotheses.