New zinc phosphates decorated by imidazole-containing ligands

Four new zinc phosphates [Zn(HPO4)(C6H9N3O2)] (1), [Zn(HPO4)(C4H6N2)].H2O (2), [Zn2(HPO4)2(C14H14N4)].2H2O (3), and [Zn(HPO4)(C14H14N4)] (4) were synthesized in the presence of d-histidine, 1-methylimidazole, 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (L1), and 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (L2), respectively, and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. The inorganic framework of compounds 1, 2, and 3 is composed of vertex-shared ZnO3N and HPO4 tetrahedra that form four rings, which, in turn, are linked to generate a one-dimensional ladder structure. In 1 and 2 the organic groups (monoimidazole ligand) are located at each side of the ladders, while in 3 the bisimidazole ligand, 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, links the ladders together to form a novel 2D structure. Compound 1 is the first zinc phosphate framework to be templated by an N-bonded chiral amino acid. In 4 the zero-dimensional four rings are joined together by the linear bridging ligand, 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, to generate a one-dimensional framework with a new face-to-face structural motif. The 3D structure of compound 4 is stabilized by hydrogen-bonding, pi-pi interactions, and C-H...pi interactions. The approach of incorporating multifunctional ligands into zinc phosphate frameworks and linking the inorganic zinc phosphates subunits by an organic ligand provides opportunities for the design of new inorganic-organic open frameworks.     

Os(bpy)2(CO)(enIA)][OTf]2: a novel sulfhydryl-specific metal-ligand complex

The synthesis and physical-chemical characterization of the metal-ligand complex [Os(bpy)2(CO)(enIA)][OTf]2 (where enIA = ethylenediamine iodoacetamide) with a sulfhydryl-specific functional group is described. The UV and visible absorption and luminescence emission, including lifetime and steady-state anisotropy, are reported for the free probe and the probe covalently linked to two test proteins. The spectroscopic properties of the probe are unaffected by chemical modification and subsequent covalent linkage to the proteins. The luminescence lifetime in aqueous buffer is approximately 200 ns and the limiting anisotropy is greater than 0.125, suggesting a potentially useful probe for biophysical investigations.     

Multiple rate-determining steps for nonideal and fractal kinetics

We show that the kinetic model of a single rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism can be extended to systems with multiple overall reactions for which the elementary reactions obey nonideal or fractal kinetics. The following assumptions are necessary: (1) The system studied is either closed or open, but no constraints exist preventing the evolution toward equilibrium. (2) Elementary reactions occur in pairs of forward and backward steps. (3) The kinetics of the elementary steps are either nonideal or fractal and are compatible with equilibrium thermodynamics. (4) The number of reaction routes is identical with the number of rate-determining steps. If these hypotheses are valid, then the overall reaction rates can be explicitly evaluated: they have a form similar to the kinetic equations for the elementary reactions and the apparent reaction orders and fractal coefficients can be expressed analytically in terms of the kinetic parameters of the elementary reactions. We derive a set of relationships which connect the equilibrium constants of the reaction routes, the corresponding overall rate coefficients, and the stoichiometric numbers of the rate-determining steps. We also derive a set of generalized Boreskov relations among the apparent activation energies of the forward and backward overall processes, the corresponding reaction enthalpies, and the stoichiometric coefficients of the rate-determining steps. If the elementary reactions obey fractal kinetics, the same is true for the rate-determining steps. The fractal exponents of the forward and backward overall reactions are linear combinations of the fractal exponents of the fractal elementary reactions. Similar to the theory of single rate-determining steps, our approach can be used for selecting suitable reaction mechanisms from experimental data.     

Monte Carlo simulations of segregation in Pt-Ni catalyst nanoparticles

We have investigated the segregation of Pt atoms in the surfaces of Pt-Ni nanoparticles, using modified embedded atom method potentials and the Monte Carlo method. The nanoparticles are constructed with disordered fcc configurations at two fixed overall concentrations (50 at. % Pt and 75 at. % Pt). We use octahedral and cubo-octahedral nanoparticles terminated by {111} and {100} facets to examine the extent of the Pt segregation to the nanoparticle surfaces at T=600 K. The model particles contain between 586 and 4033 atoms (particle size ranging from 2.5 to 5 nm). Our results imply that a complete {100}-facet reconstruction could make the cubo-octahendral Pt-Ni nanoparticles most energetically favorable. We predict that at 600 K due to segregation the equilibrium cubo-octahedral Pt50Ni50 nanoparticles with fewer than 1289 atoms and Pt75Ni25 nanoparticles with fewer than 4033 atoms would achieve a surface-sandwich structure, in which the Pt atoms are enriched in the outermost and third atomic shells while the Ni atoms are enriched in the second atomic shell. We also find that, due to an order-disorder transition, the Pt50Ni50 cubo-octahedral nanoparticles containing more than 2406 atoms would form a core-shell structure with a Pt-enriched surface and a Pt-deficient homogenous core.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2-phenylproline framework

Highly diastereoselective (>20:1) bromo-lactonization of N-sulfonyl-2-allyl-2-phenylglycine methyl ester (11) was observed. Successive treatment of the chiral lactone with MeONa gave the desired (2S,4R)-4-hydroxy-2-phenylproline derivative in high yield without erosion of the diastereoselectivity. The starting chiral non-racemic compound (5) was prepared from the racemic 2-phenylglycine using a classical kinetic resolution (crystallization), an asymmetric phase transfer alkylation, and an enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution.     

A biomimetic strategy for the synthesis of the tricyclic dibenzofuran-1,4-dione core of popolohuanone E

A concise synthesis of the complete tricyclic dibenzofuran-1,4-dione aromatic core of popolohuanone E has been demonstrated by mild base treatment of a biquinone intermediate, thus establishing a biomimetic route to this family of heterocyclic ring systems and the total synthesis of popolohuanone E.     

Synthesis,renal vasodilator and dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities of O-Methyl derivatives of 6-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetr ahydro-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-3-benzazepin-7,8-diol (SK&F 82526)

The three possible mono-O-methyl derivatives of 6-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-3-benzazepin-7,8-diol (SK&F 82526) ( 1 ) have been synthesized to facilitate the isolation and characterization of metabolites of this compound and for biological testing. The syntheses generally involved preparation of appropriately substituted benzaldehydes, conversion of these to phenylacetic acids and use of these to N-acylate arylethanolamines. The phenylacetamides thus formed were reduced to amines and these were deprotected and cyclized to the desired final products. In one case deprotection followed cyclization. These compounds were tested as activators of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase (a measure of DA-1 agonist activity) and as renal vasodilators. All three O-methyl derivatives were much less potent than 1 in cyclase activation and as renal vasodilators. Weak inhibition of adenyl cyclase was also observed for all three compounds and one showed weak renal vasoconstrictor activity. Preliminary investigation of the metabolism of 1 disclosed that two of the three monomethoxy compounds were formed in trace amounts in the rat and the dog. In a related investigation, the trimethoxy derivative of 1 was subjected to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis conditions. The relative ease of cleavage of methoxy groups was 7 > > 4′ > 8.     

Enhancing SMM properties in a family of [Mn6] clusters

The complex [Mn(6)O(2)(Et-sao)(6)(O(2)C(11)H(15))(2)(EtOH)(6)] has U(eff) = 80 K.     

Alkali metal complexes of a phosphine-borane-stabilised carbanion: influence of co-ligands on structure

The adducts [[(Me(3)Si)(2){Me(2)P(BH(3))}C]K(L)(n)](m) [L = THF, n = 0.5, m = infinity (2a); L = tmeda (2b), pmdeta (2c), n = 1, m = 2] may be synthesised by treatment of solvent-free [[(Me(3)Si)(2){Me(2)P(BH(3))}C]K](infinity) (2) with the corresponding Lewis base (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine; pmdeta = N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine). X-Ray crystallography reveals that, whereas 2 crystallises with a complex 2-dimensional sheet structure, 2a crystallises as a ribbon-type one-dimensional polymer and both 2b and 2c crystallise as dimers. The corresponding complex with 12-crown-4, [K(12-crown-4)(2)][(Me(3)Si)(2){Me(2)P(BH(3))}C] (2d) crystallises as a separated ion pair. The complexes [[(Me(3)Si)(2){Me(2)P(BH(3))}C]M(pmdeta)](n) [M = Na, n = 1 (6); M = Rb, n = 2 (7)] may be synthesised by treatment of [(Me(3)Si)(2){Me(2)P(BH(3))}C]M with pmdeta. Whereas crystallises as a discrete monomer, compound 7 crystallises as a dimer. Compounds 2, 2a-2d, 6, 7 and the corresponding caesium derivative [[(Me(3)Si)(2){Me(2)P(BH(3))}C]Cs(pmdeta)](2) () provide an opportunity to consider the influence of the ionic radius of the metal and the nature of the co-ligands on the structures of alkali metal complexes of a phosphine-borane-stabilised carbanion.