Some ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon ligands: syntheses, structures and extent of electronic communication in binuclear systems

The preparation of several ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon anions is reported. Deprotonation (KOBu^t) of [Ru(NCCH₂CN)(PPh₃)₂Cp]PF₆ (1) gives Ru{NCCH(CN)}(PPh₃)₂Cp (2), which adds a second [Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp]⁺ unit to give [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂(μ-NCCHCN)]⁺ (3). Attempted deprotonation of the latter to give the μ-NCCCN complex was unsuccessful. Similar chemistry with tricyanomethanide anion gives Ru{NCC(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (4) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)CN}]PF₆ (5), and with pentacyanopropenide, Ru{NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (6) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)CN}]PF₆ (7). The Ru(dppe)Cp* analogues of 6 and 7 (8 and 9) were also prepared. Thermolysis of 6 (refluxing toluene, 12 h) results in loss of PPh₃ and formation of the binuclear cyclic complex {Ru(PPh₃)Cp[μ-NC{C(CN)C(CN)₂}CN]}₂ (10). The solid-state structures of 2-4 and 8-10 have been determined and the nature of the isomers shown to be present in solutions of the binuclear cations 7 and 9 by NMR studies has been probed using Hartree-Fock and density functional theory.     

Substrate specificity of the acyl transferase domains of EpoC from the epothilone polyketide synthase

The production of epothilone mixtures is a direct consequence of the substrate tolerance of the module 3 acyltransferase (AT) domain of the epothilone polyketide synthase (PKS) which utilises both malonyl- and methylmalonyl-CoA extender units. Particular amino acid motifs in the active site of AT domains influence substrate selection for methylmalonyl-CoA (YASH) or malonyl-CoA (HAFH). This motif appears in hybrid form (HASH) in epoAT3 and may represent the molecular basis for the relaxed specificity of the domain. To investigate this possibility the AT domains from modules 2 and 3 of the epothilone PKS were examined in the heterologous DEBS1-TE model PKS. Substitution of AT1 of DEBS1-TE by epoAT2 and epoAT3 both resulted in functional PKSs, although lower yields of total products were observed when compared to DEBS1-TE (2% and 11.5% respectively). As expected, epoAT3 was significantly more promiscuous in keeping with its nature during epothilone biosynthesis. When the mixed motif (HASH) of epoAT3 within the hybrid PKS was mutated to HAFH (indicative of malonyl-CoA selection) it resulted in a non-productive PKS. When this mixed motif was converted to YASH (indicative of methylmalonyl-CoA selection) the selectivity of the hybrid PKS for methylmalonyl-CoA showed no statistically significant increase, and was associated with a loss of productivity.     

Fast release of lipophilic agents from circulating PEG-PDLLA micelles revealed by in vivo forster resonance energy transfer imaging

Understanding the in vivo behavior of nanoparticles is critical for the translation of nanomedicine from laboratory research to clinical trials. In this work, in vivo Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging was employed to monitor the release of hydrophobic molecules from circulating poly(ethylene glycol)-poly( D, L-lactic acid) (PEG-PDLLA) micelles. A lipophilic FRET pair (DiIC(18) and DiOC(18)) was physically entrapped into micelle cores by mimicking the loading of hydrophobic drugs. The FRET efficiency was found significantly reduced within 15 min after intravenous injection, implying that DiIC(18) and DiOC(18) quickly escaped from the circulating micelles. FRET spectroscopy studies further demonstrated that alpha- and beta-globulins were major factors for the observed fast release, while gamma-globulins, albumin, and red blood cells played minor roles. These results provide useful information for developing blood-stable micelles to deliver hydrophobic drugs to the target site via prolonged circulation and extravasation from the vascular system.     

The preparation and characterisation of ruthenium cyanovinylidene complexes

Reactions of half-sandwich ruthenium metal acetylide complexes with 1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium salts afford complexes containing mono- or di-cyanovinylidene ligands; the procedure can be adapted to permit the simple synthesis of a cyanoacetylide complex, via the in situ deprotonation of a primary cyanovinylidene complex.     

Integrating bimetallic AuPd nanocatalysts with a 2D aza-fused π-conjugated microporous polymer for light-driven benzyl alcohol oxidation

Efficient catalytic system with low energy consumption exhibits increasing importance due to the upcoming energy crisis.Given this situation,it should be an admirable strategy for reducing energy input by effectively utilizing incident solar energy as a heat source during catalytic reactions.Herein,aza-fused7 r-conjugated microporous polymer(aza-CMP)with broad light absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency was synthesized and utilized as a support for bimetallic AuPd nanocatalysts in light-driven benzyl alcohol oxidation.The AuPd nanoparticles anchored on aza-CMP(aza-CM P/Au_xPdy)exhibited excellent catalytic performance for benzyl alcohol oxidation under 50 mW/cm^2 light irradiation.The improved catalytic performance by the aza-CMP/Au_xPdy is attributed to the unique photothermal effect induced by aza-CMP,which can promote the catalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation occurring at Au Pd.This work presents a novel approach to effectively utilize solar energy for conventional catalytic reactions through photothermal effect.     

Boron(iii) β-diketonate-based small molecules for functional non-fullerene polymer solar cells and organic resistive memory devices

A class of acceptor–donor–acceptor chromophoric small-molecule non-fullerene acceptors, 1–4, with difluoroboron(iii) β-diketonate (BF₂bdk) as the electron-accepting moiety has been developed. Through the variation of the central donor unit and the modification on the peripheral substituents of the terminal BF₂bdk acceptor unit, their photophysical and electrochemical properties have been systematically studied. Taking advantage of their low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels (from −3.65 to −3.72 eV) and relatively high electron mobility (7.49 × 10⁻⁴ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹), these BF₂bdk-based compounds have been employed as non-fullerene acceptors in organic solar cells with maximum power conversion efficiencies of up to 4.31%. Moreover, bistable resistive memory characteristics with charge-trapping mechanisms have been demonstrated in these BF₂bdk-based compounds. This work not only demonstrates for the first time the use of a boron(iii) β-diketonate unit in constructing non-fullerene acceptors, but also provides more insights into designing organic materials with multi-functional properties.

Boron(iii) β-diketonates have been demonstrated to serve as multi-functional materials in NFA-based OPVs and organic resistive memories.     

Three 4,7‐diaryl‐2‐ethylsulfanylpyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazines

The molecular dimensions of 2‐ethylsulfanyl‐7‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazine, C₂₀H₁₈N₄S, (I), 7‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐ethylsulfanyl‐4‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazine, C₁₉H₁₅ClN₄S, (II), and 4,7‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐(ethylsulfanyl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazine, C₁₉H₁₄Cl₂N₄S, (III), show evidence for some aromatic delocalization in the pyrazole rings. The conformations adopted by the ethylsulfanyl substituents are different in all three compounds. There are no hydrogen bonds in any of the crystal structures, but pairs of molecules in (II) and (III) are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by π‐stacking interactions.     

Hydrogen‐bonded sheet structures in neutral,anionic and hydrated 6‐amino‐2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)‐5‐nitrosopyrimidines

In each of 6‐amino‐3‐methyl‐2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)‐5‐nitrosopyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one, C₉H₁₃N₅O₃, (I), morpholin‐4‐ium 4‐amino‐2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)‐5‐nitroso‐6‐oxo‐1,6‐dihydropyrimidin‐1‐ide, C₄H₁₀NO⁺·C₈H₁₀N₅O₃⁻, (II), and 6‐amino‐2‐(morpholin‐4‐yl)‐5‐nitrosopyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one hemihydrate, C₈H₁₁N₅O₃·0.5H₂O, (III), the bond distances within the pyrimidine components are consistent with significant electronic polarization, which is most marked in (II) and least marked in (I). Despite the high level of substitution, the pyrimidine rings are all effectively planar, and in each of the pyrimidine components, there are intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In each compound, the organic components are linked by multiple N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form sheets of widely differing construction, and in compound (III) adjacent sheets are linked by the water molecules, so forming a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded framework. This study also contains the first direct geometric comparison between the electronic polarization in a neutral aminonitrosopyrimidine and that in its ring‐deprotonated conjugate anion in a metal‐free environment.     

Dimethyl 6‐[1,2‐bis(methoxycarbonyl)‐2‐(triphenyl‐λ5‐phosphanylidene)ethylideneamino]‐2‐methylsulfanyl‐3,4‐pyridinedicarboxylate forms a chain of hydrogen‐bonded rings

In the title compound, C₃₄H₃₁N₂O₈PS, the intramolecular distances provide evidence for polarization of the molecular–electronic structure. The molecules are linked into complex chains of rings by three independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The significance of this study lies in its finding that two of the four carbonyl O atoms play no role in the hydrogen bonding, despite the large excess of potential hydrogen‐bond donors present.     

Hexamethylenediammonium bis(chloroacetate): a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded framework structure

In the title compound, C₆H₁₈N₂²⁺·2C₂H₂ClO₂⁻, the cation lies across an inversion centre in the P space group. The ions are linked by two two‐centre N—H...O hydrogen bonds and by one three‐centre N—H...(O)₂ hydrogen bond to form a three‐dimensional framework structure. The significance of this study lies in the analysis of the complex hydrogen‐bonded structure and in the comparison of this structure with those of other simple hexamethylenediammonium salts.