Syntheses, characterization and solid state thermal studies of N-propyl-1,2-diaminoethane (L) and N-isopropyl-1,2-diaminoethane (L′) complexes of nickel(II) nitrite: X-ray single crystal structure of trans-[NiL2(NO2)2]

Linkage isomers trans-bis(N-propyl-1,2-diaminoethane)dinitronickel(II) (brown, 1), trans-bis(N-isopropyl-1,2-diaminoethane)dinitritonickel(II) (blue-violet, 2a) and trans-bis(N-isopropyl-1,2-diaminoethane)dinitronickel(II) (brown, 2b) have been synthesized from solution and X-ray single crystal structure analysis of complex (1) has been performed. Simultaneous TG-DTA analyses reveal that complex (1) exhibits two successive phase transitions before to undergo decomposition (initial temperature of decomposition, Ti = 215 °C). The first one is reversible (82–98 °C; ΔH = 1.75 kJ mol⁻¹ for heating and 93–77 °C; ΔH = −1.65 kJ mol⁻¹ for cooling) and the second one is irreversible endothermic (135–150 °C kJ mol⁻¹; ΔH = 1.80 kJ mol⁻¹) phase transition. No visual color changes are observed in any of the two transitions. The causes related to the first phase transition remain unexplored. However, on the basis of IR spectral studies the second phase transition is supposed to be due to conformational changes of the diamine chelate rings. On the other hand, complexes (2a) and (2b) undergo decomposition without showing any phase transition [Ti = 185 and 195 °C for (2a) and (2b), respectively].     

Phonon mediation of solid state photoreaction: Photodimerization of o -methoxy cinnamic acid

The solid state photodimerization reaction ofo-methoxy cinnamic acid is shown to be mediated by a lattice phonon. The phonon participation, in this case, is through a mode softening and not through strong exciton-phonon coupling as is generally observed. Raman phonon spectroscopy suggests that the reaction is heterogeneous. Infrared spectroscopy has been used to study the internal vibrations of the reactant and the product. Partly presented at the International Laser Science Conference II, 1986 held at Seattle, USA.     

Role of the transition metal in metallaborane chemistry. Reactivity of (Cp*ReH2)2B4H4 with BH3.thf, CO, and Co2(CO)8

The reaction of Cp*ReCl4, [Cp*ReCl3]2, or [Cp*ReCl2]2 (Cp* = eta 5-C5Me5) with LiBH4 leads to the formation of 7-skeletal-electron-pair (7-sep) (Cp*ReH2)2(B2H3)2 (1) together with Cp*ReH6. Compound 1 is metastable and eliminates H2 at room temperature to generate 6-sep (Cp*ReH2)2B4H4 (2). The reaction of 2 with BH3.thf produces 7-sep (Cp*Re)2B7H7, a hypoelectronic cluster characterized previously. Heating of 2 with 1 atm of CO leads to 6-sep (Cp*ReCO)(Cp*ReH2)B4H4 (3). Both 2 and 3 have the same bicapped Re2B2 tetrahedral cluster core structure. Monitoring the reaction of 2 with CO at room temperature by NMR reveals the formation of a 7-sep, metastable intermediate, (Cp*ReCO)(Cp*ReH2)(B2H3)2 (4), which converts to 3 on heating. An X-ray structure determination reveals two isomeric forms (4-cis and 4-trans) in the crystallographic asymmetric unit which differ in geometry relative to the disposition of the metal ancillary ligands with respect to the Re-Re bond. The presence of these isomers in solution is corroborated by the solution NMR data and the infrared spectrum. In both isomers, the metallaborane core consists of fused B2Re2 tetrahedra sharing the Re2 fragment. On the basis of similarities in electron count and spectroscopic data, 1 also possesses the same bitetrahedral structure. The reaction of 2 with CO2(CO)8 results in the formal replacement of the four rhenium hydrides with a 4-electron CO2(CO)5 fragment, thereby closing the open face in 2 to produce the 6-sep hypoelectronic cluster (Cp*Re)2CO2(CO)5B4H4 (5). These reaction outcomes are compared and contrasted with those previously observed for 5-sep (Cp*Cr2)2B4H8.     

S2 fluorescence and ultrafast relaxation dynamics of the S2 and S1 states of a ketocyanine dye

Dynamics of the excited singlet (both the S2 and S1) states of a ketocyanine dye, namely, 2,5-bis[(2,3-dihydroindolyl)-propylene]-cyclopentanone (KCD), have been investigated in different kinds of media using steady-state absorption and emission as well as femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. Steady-state fluorescence measurements, following photoexcitation of KCD to its second excited singlet state, reveal dual fluorescence (emission from both the S2 and S1 states) behavior. Although the intensity of the S2 --> S0 fluorescence is weaker than that of the S1 --> S0 fluorescence in solutions at room temperature (298 K), the former becomes as much as or more intense than the latter in rigid matrixes at 77 K. The lifetime of the S2 state is short and varies between 0.2 and 0.6 ps in different solvents. After its creation, the S2 state undergoes two simultaneous processes, namely, S2 --> S0 fluorescence and S2 --> S1 internal conversion. Time-resolved measurements reveal the presence of an ultrafast component in the decay dynamics of the S1 state. A good correlation between the lifetime of this component and the longitudinal relaxation times (tauL) of the solvents suggests that this component arises due to solvation in polar solvents. More significant evolution of the spectroscopic properties of the S1 state in alcoholic solvents in the ultrafast time domain has been explained by the occurrence of the repositioning of the hydrogen bonds around the carbonyl group in the excited state of KCD. In 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, a strongly hydrogen bond donating solvent, it has even been possible to establish the existence of two distinct forms of the S1 state, namely, the non-hydrogen-bonded (or free) molecule and the hydrogen-bonded complex.     

Resistance to induction of micronuclei,chromosomal aberrations and apoptosis by <Superscript>60</Superscript>Co gamma-ray in a cell strain M5, derived from Chinese hamster V79 cells

The paper aims to investigate cytogenetic and apoptotic responses of γ-irradiation in a radio-resistant cell strain designated as M5. Induced micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations, nuclear fragmentation and nucleosomal ladders by γ-irradiation were less at equal doses in M5 cells in comparison with that obtained in the parental Chinese hamster V79 cells. However, at equal survival, there were no differences in the end points studied. Results indicate that the residual damages that lead to reproductive cell death also resulted in the cytogenetic and apoptotic responses. We speculate that the repair efficiency in M5 cells was more efficient and increased DNA repair could be the cause of radiation resistance observed in M5 cells.     

Modeling side-on NO coordination to type 2 copper in nitrite reductase: structures, energetics, and bonding

DFT calculations reveal the existence of metastable side-on {CuNO}10 and {CuNO}11 species relevant to the type 2 copper site of nitrite reductase (CuNIR). Side-on NO coordination seems especially favorable in energy terms for the {CuNO}11 species. The {CuNO}11 geometry parameters also seem to be in better agreement with those reported for a crystallographically characterized CuNIR intermediate, relative to the {CuNO}10 parameters.     

Metal-promoted aromatic ring amination and deamination reactions at a diazo ligand coordinated to rhodium and ruthenium

Reactions of MCl(3).3H(2)O (M = Rh and Ru) with the ligand 2-[(2-N-arylamino)phenylazo]pyridine [HL(1); NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(6)H(4)(H) (HL(1a)), NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(6)H(4)(CH(3)) (HL(1b)), and NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(5)H(4)N (HL(1c))] in the presence of dilute NEt(3) afforded multiple products. In the case of rhodium, two green compounds, viz. [Rh(L(1))(2)](+) ([2](+)) and [RhCl(pap)(L(1))](+) ([3](+)), where L(1) and pap stand for the conjugate base of [HL(1)] and 2-(phenylazo)pyridine, respectively, were separated on a preparative thin layer chromatographic plate. The reaction of RuCl(3).3H(2)O, on the other hand, produced two brown compounds, viz. [RuCl(HL(1))(L(1))] (4) and [RuCl(pap)(L(1))] (5), respectively, as the major products. The X-ray structures of the representative complexes are reported. Except for complex 2, and 4, the products are formed due to the cleavage of an otherwise unreactive C(phenyl)-N(amino) bond. In complex 4, one of the tridentate ligands (HL(1)) does not use its maximum denticity and coordinates as a neutral bidentate donor. Plausible reasons for the differences in their modes of coordination of the ligands as in 2 and 4 have been discussed. The ligand pap in the cationic mixed ligand complex [3](+) reacts instantaneously with ArNH(2) to produce an ink-blue compound, [RhCl(HL(2))(L(1))](+) ([6](+)) in a high yield. The ligand HL(2) is formed due to regioselective fusion of ArNH(2) residue at the para carbon of the phenyl ring (with respect to the azo fragment) of pap in [3](+). The above complexes are generally intensely colored and show strong absorptions in the visible region, which are assigned to intraligand charge transfer transitions. These complexes undergo multiple and successive one-electron-transfer processes at the cathodic potentials. Electrogenerated cationic complexes of ruthenium(III), [4](+) and [5](+), showed rhombic EPR spectra at 77 K.     

Conformational study of papain in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate in aqueous medium

The interactions between a globular protein, papain and the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) have been investigated in aqueous medium using fluorimetric, circular dichroism, Fourier transform infra-red, UV-vis spectrophotometric, dynamic light scattering, and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The conformational change of papain in aqueous solution has been studied in the presence of SDS. The results show the high alpha-helical content and unfolded structure of papain in the presence of SDS due to strong electrostatic repulsion leading to a "necklace and bead model" in protein-surfactant complexes.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-tetrahydrolipstatin: an anti-aldol-based strategy

A stereoselective synthesis of (-)-tetrahydrolipstatin is described. The synthesis involves an asymmetric ester derived titanium enolate anti-aldol reaction, a nitro-aldol reaction to append the C-2' C(11) side chain, and a diastereoselective reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone to an anti-1,3-diol functionality followed by its elaboration to (-)-tetrahydrolipstatin.     

Hydromagnetic laminar flow of a conducting fluid in an annulus in presence of a radial magnetic field

The object of the present paper is to study the MHD effects on the laminar flow of a viscous, incompressible and conducting fluid in an annulus with arbitrary time-varying pressure gradient and arbitrary initial velocity in presence of a radial magnetic field. Using finite Hankel transform, solutions for both the unsteady and steady flows under different prescribed pressure gradients have been found out.Notation H a constant characterising the intensity of the magnetic field - p hydrostatic pressure - _e magnetic permeability - coefficient of viscosity - kinematic coefficient of voscosity - conductivity of the medium - density - a radius of the inner cylinder - b radius of the outer cylinder - parameter - s positive root - J (sr) Bessel's function of first kind of ordergl - Y (sr) Bessel's function of second kind of order