Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with cupric laurate–benzoin system as initiator

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by cupric laurate in combination with benzoin has been investigated in carbon tetrachloride medium at 60°C. The rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to the square root of both cupric ion and benzoin concentrations, and to the 1.5th power of the monomer concentration. Spectral studies indicated that there is a complex formation between cupric ion and the monomer methyl methacrylate. A reaction scheme, based on initial formation of the complex and its subsequent reaction with benzoin to produce the free radicals responsible for initiation has been postulated to explain the observed results.     

Dipyridyl bridged coordination polymers of Cu(II): Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic study

Two coordination polymers, [Cu(bpp)(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n (1) and {[Cu(bpds)₂(ClO₄)₂] · 1.5(H₂O)}_n (2) [bpp, 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane and bpds, 4,4′-bipyridyl disulfide] have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction study and magnetic measurement. Both the coordination polymers display 1D chains with perchlorate anions acting as pendant ligands. In 1 undulated polymers are built by Cu(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂ units connected by single bpp and in complex 2 Cu(ClO₄)₂ fragments are linked by pairs of bpds ligands to form a double-stranded chain. The crystal packing evidences polymers of 1 involved in weak H-bonding interactions leading to a 3D supramolecular network. Magnetic study reveals weak antiferromagnetic interactions in both complexes.     

A Two‐Dimensional Coordination Compound as a Zinc Ion Selective Luminescent Probe for Biological Applications

A 2D coordination compound {[Cu₂(HL)(N₃)]?ClO₄}_∞ ( 1 ; H₃L=2,6‐bis(hydroxyethyliminoethyl)‐4‐methyl phenol) was synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction to be a polymer in the crystalline state. Each [Cu₂(HL)(N₃)]⁺ species is connected to its adjacent unit by a bridging alkoxide oxygen atom of the ligand to form a helical propagation along the crystallographic a axis. The adjacent helical frameworks are connected by a ligand alcoholic oxygen atom along the crystallographic b axis to produce pleated 2D sheets. In solution, 1 dissociates into [Cu₂(HL)₂(H₃L)]?2H₂O ( 2 ); the monomer displays high selectivity for Zn²⁺ and can be used in HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) as a zinc ion selective luminescent probe for biological application. The system shows a nearly 19‐fold Zn²⁺‐selective chelation‐enhanced fluorescence response in the working buffer. Application of 2 to cultured living cells (B16F10 mouse melanoma and A375 human melanoma) and rat hippocampal slices was also studied by fluorescence microscopy.     

Dispersion of thiol stabilized gold nanoparticles in lyotropic liquid crystalline systems

A new method of forming stable dispersions of alkanethiol and aromatic thiol stabilized gold nanoparticles in two different lyotropic liquid crystalline mediums, namely, a columnar hexagonal phase made up of a Triton X-100/water system and an inverse columnar hexagonal phase made up of pure AOT, are presented. The dispersions have been characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and polarizing optical microscopy. Our studies show that the gold nanoparticles are distributed outside the columns formed by both the surfactants. Such dispersions can find applications in the study of nanoparticles as well as in the development of devices based on some unique properties of metal nanoparticles.     

Cobalt(II)-(dpyo)-dicarboxylate networks: unique H-bonded assembly and rare bridging mode of dpyo in one of them [dpyo = 4,4'-dipyridyl N,N'-dioxide

Polymeric networks, {[Co(dpyo)(ox)]}(n) (1), {[Co(dpyo)(fum)(H(2)O)(2)]}(n) (1) and {[Co(dpyo)(tp)(H(2)O)(2)] x [Co(H(2)O)(6)] x (tp) x (H(2)O)}(n) (3) [ox = oxalate dianion, fum = fumarate dianion, tp = terephthalate dianion and dpyo = 4,4'-dipyridyl N,N'-dioxide] have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The structural determination reveals 1 and 2 are covalent bonded 2D networks of 4,4 topology and of these, complex 2 undergoes a H-bonding scheme resulting in a 3D supramolecular architecture. Complex 3 is a 1D coordination polymer built up by almost collinear hexacoordinated Co(ii), doubly bridged by a tp carboxylate group and a dpyo oxygen, which in combination with lattice [Co(H(2)O)(6)](2+), tp and water molecules shows an unprecedented 3D supramolecular network through H-bonding. In the polymer the dpyo shows novel mu-4,4 bridging mode towards the cobalt ion. Low temperature magnetic interaction reveals antiferromagnetic coupling in all of the complexes.     

Regioselective strategies mediated by lanthanide triflates for efficient assembly of oligomannans

Readily prepared mannosyl n-pentenylorthoesters (NPOEs) serve as donors in themselves and as convenient intermediates for other glycosyl donors, such as n-pentenyl glycosides (NPGs), thioglycosides, and trichloroacetimidates. These various donors are activated by different reagents, and are therefore amenable to versatile, discriminate use. Scandium and ytterbium triflates respond very differently to these donors, with the result that chemoselective discrimination between NPOEs, NPGs, trichloroacetimidates as well as ethyl and phenyl thioglycosides can be achieved. Appropriate NPOEs are also able to provide 2,6 and 3,6 diol acceptors via rearrangement or glycoside formation, and these can be used for one-pot, sequential glycosidations based on orthogonal donors, and in situ double differential glycosidations. Thus NPOEs activated by iodonium ion, specifically generated from ytterbium triflate/N-iodosuccinimide, can be used to monoglycosidate the diols rapidly, with exquisite regio, and sometimes chemo, selectivity. The residual NPOE is converted into disarmed NPG, which is refractory to the reaction conditions, and so poses no threat to the free-OH of the monoglycosidation product. Further glycosidation of the latter can then achieved by direct addition of a trichloroacetimidate or ethyl thioglycoside. This basic strategy has been used to prepare a branched chain pentadecamannan. The success is an example of the efficiency of donor/acceptor MATCH concept for regioselective glycosylation.     

An experimental and computational analysis on the differential role of the positional isomers of symmetric bis-2-(pyridyl)-1H-benzimidazoles as DNA binding agents

Three symmetrical positional isomers of bis-2-(n-pyridyl)-1H-benzimidazoles (n=2, 3, 4) were synthesized and DNA binding studies were performed with these isomeric derivatives. Like bisbenzimidazole compound Hoechst 33258, these molecules also demonstrate AT-specific DNA binding. The binding affinities of 3-pyridine (m-pyben) and 4-pyridine (p-pyben) derivatized bisbenzimidazoles to double-stranded DNA were significantly higher compared to 2-pyridine derivatized benzimidazole o-pyben. This has been established by combined experimental results of isothermal fluorescence titration, circular dichroism, and thermal denaturation of DNA. To rationalize the origin of their differential binding characteristics with double-stranded DNA, computational structural analyses of the uncomplexed ligands were performed using ab initio/Density Functional Theory. The molecular conformations of the symmetric head-to-head bisbenzimidazoles have been computed. The existence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding was established in o-pyben, which confers a conformational rigidity to the molecule about the bond connecting the pyridine and benzimidazole units. This might cause reduction in its binding affinity to double-stranded DNA compared to its para and meta counterparts. Additionally, the predicted stable conformations for p-, m-, and o-pyben at the B3LYP/6-31G* and RHF/6-31G* levels were further supported by experimental pKa determination. The results provide important information on the molecular recognition process of such symmetric head to head bisbenzimidazoles toward duplex DNA.     

Structural diversity in manganese squarate frameworks using N,N-donor chelating/bridging ligands: syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Three new polymeric squarato-bridged manganese complexes {[Mn(H(2)O)(2)(bpe)(sq)].bpe.H(2)O}(n) (1), [Mn(2)(H(2)O)(4)(phen)(2)(sq)(2)](n) (2) and [Mn(2)(H(2)O)(2)(phen)(4)(sq)].(sq).8(H(2)O) (3) [bpe, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane; phen, 1,10-phenanthroline; sq, squarate dianion] have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and variable temperature magnetic studies. Complex 1 is a 2D rectangular grid-like structure, achieved through flexible bpe bridging ligands and squarate dianions. On the other hand the use of chelating phen instead of bpe gives rise to a 1D polymeric chain in complex 2 and to a dinuclear entity in 3. In all the three complexes weak interactions play a vital role in stabilizing the solid-state structure. Variable temperature (2-300 K) magnetic studies indicate weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal centres in all the complexes.