Crystal structure of aquo (hydroxo) (ethylenediaminetetraacetato) sodium(I) tin(IV), NaSn(OH)(edta)(H2O)

NaSn(OH)(edta)(H₂O) is monoclinic, space groupP2₁/c, witha=9.747(3)Å,b=9.121(3)Å,c=16.430(6)Å, =98.69(4)°, ų, andZ=4. The coordination environment of Sn(IV) is a capped octahedron. Sn–O distances range from 1.990(6)Å to 2.351(7)Å. Na(I) is five coordinated to three different edta molecules. Na–O distances range from 2.283(9)Å to 2.414(7)Å. The edta ligand presents the E, G/R conformation. The crystal structure is composed of sheets parallel to (001): inside a sheet Sn(OH)(edta) molecules are connected to each other by the Na(I) interactions.     

Formation of negative oxidation states of platinum and gold in redox ionic liquid: Electrochemical evidence

The electrochemical reduction of noble metal electrodes in the presence of redox ionic liquid, 1-ferrocenylethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [FcEMIM][TFSI], was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Our experiments suggest the formation of metal with negative oxidation states, in the cases of platinum and gold electrodes [M_n⁻, FcEMIM⁺]. By analogy with the previous work, the formation of these phases is concomitant with the insertion of the supporting electrolyte; which correspond in our experimental condition to the redox cation of the ionic liquid. As an exciting result, the electrochemical investigations of the reduced electrode in electrolytic solution, containing solvent and supporting electrolyte, evidence the presence of the ferrocene groups at the electrode surface. Moreover, the reduced electrode exhibits the presence of the ferrocene even after, contact with air, after ultrasound, and after physical polishing, highlighting the large stability of this organo-metallic phases formed in this media. The AFM investigations demonstrate the morphological change of the platinum surface after the reduction process. Finally, our works bring a formal electrochemical proof of the presence of the ionic liquid cation inside the electrode material after the cathodic treatment in this media.     

Weak chemiluminescence emission during base induced rearrangement of G-factors

A rearrangement in basic medium of the natural endoperoxide G3-factor extracted from Eucalyptus grandis is described. Evidence to support a 1,2-dioxetane intermediate that decomposes with weak luminescence emission (quantum yield) is presented.     

Formation of nematic liquid crystals of sterically stabilized layered double hydroxide platelets

Colloidal platelets of hydrotalcite, a layered double hydroxide, have been prepared by coprecipitation at pH 11-12 of magnesium nitrate and aluminum nitrate at two different magnesium to aluminum ratios. Changing the temperature and ionic strength during hydrothermal treatment, the platelets were tailored to different sizes and aspect ratios. Amino-modified polyisobutylene molecules were grafted onto the platelets following a convenient new route involving freeze-drying. Organic dispersions in toluene were prepared of the particles with the largest size and highest aspect ratio. The colloidal dispersions prepared in this way showed isotropic-nematic phase transitions above a limiting concentration in a matter of days. The number density at the transition and the width of the biphasic region were determined and compared to theory. The orientation of the platelets in nematic droplets (tactoids) and at the isotropic-nematic interface were analyzed by polarization microscopy. It was observed that sedimentation induces a nematic layer in samples that are below the limiting concentration for isotropic-nematic phase separation. No nematic phase was observed in the initial aqueous suspensions of the ungrafted particles.     

Comparison of solvent mixtures for pressurized solvent extraction of soil fatty acid biomarkers

The extraction and transesterification of soil lipids into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) is a useful technique for studying soil microbial communities. The objective of this study was to find the best solvent mixture to extract soil lipids with a pressurized solvent extractor system. Four solvent mixtures were selected for testing: chloroform:methanol:phosphate buffer (1:2:0.8, v/v/v), chloroform:methanol (1:2, v/v), hexane:2-propanol (3:2, v/v) and acetone. Soils were from agricultural fields and had a wide range of clay, organic matter and microbial biomass contents. Total lipid fatty acid methyl esters (TL-FAMEs) were the extractable soil lipids identified and quantified with gas chromatography and flame ionization detection. Concentrations of TL-FAMEs ranged from 57.3 to 542.2 n mole g⁻¹ soil (dry weight basis). The highest concentrations of TL-FAMEs were extracted with chloroform:methanol:buffer or chloroform:methanol mixtures than with the hexane:2-propanol or acetone solvents. The concentrations of TL-FAMEs in chemical groups, including saturated, branched, mono- and poly-unsaturated and hydroxy fatty acids were assessed, and biological groups (soil bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, saprophytic fungi and higher plants) was distinguished. The extraction efficiency for the chemical and biological groups followed the general trend of: chloroform:methanol:buffer ≥ chloroform:methanol > hexane:2-propanol = acetone. Discriminant analysis revealed differences in TL-FAME profiles based on the solvent mixture and the soil type. Although solvent mixtures containing chloroform and methanol were the most efficient for extracting lipids from the agricultural soils in this study, soil properties and the lipid groups to be studied should be considered when selecting a solvent mixture. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of soil lipid extraction with hexane:2-propanol or acetone in a pressurized solvent extraction system.     

Detection of carbohydrate-binding proteins by oligosaccharide-modified polypyrrole interfaces using electrochemical surface plasmon resonance

This paper reports on the use of electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (E-SPR) for the detection of carbohydrate-binding proteins. The generation of an SPR sensor specific to lectins Arachis hypogaea (PNA) and Maackia amurensis (MAA) is based on the electrochemical polymerization of oligosaccharide derivatives functionalized by pyrrole groups. The resulting thin conducting polymer films were characterized using E-SPR and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The specific binding of PNA to polypyrrole-lactosyl and of MAA to polypyrrole-3'-sialyllactosyl films was investigated using SPR. The detection limit was 41 nM for PNA and 83 nM for MAA. Through Scatchard analysis and linear transformation of the SPR sensorgram data, association (k(ass)) and dissociation rate constants (k(diss)) could be determined.     

NIR‐to‐NIR Two‐Photon Scanning Laser Microscopy Imaging of Single Nanoparticles Doped by YbIII Complexes

The photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of water‐soluble chromophore‐functionalised tris‐dipicolinate complexes [LnL₃]^3? (Ln=Yb and Nd) are thoroughly studied, revealing that only the Yb^III luminescence can be sensitized by a two‐photon excitation process. The stability of the complex in water is strongly enhanced by embedding in dispersible organosilicate nanoparticles (NPs). Finally, the spectroscopic properties of [NBu₄]₃[YbL₃] are studied in solution and in the solid state. The high brightness of the NPs allows imaging them as single objects using a modified two‐photon microscopy setup in a NIR‐to‐NIR configuration.     

Redox Non‐Innocence of Nitrosobenzene at Nickel

Nitrosobenzene (PhNO) serves as a stable analogue of nitroxyl (HNO), a biologically relevant, redox‐active nitric oxide derivative. Capture of nitrosobenzene at the electron‐deficient β‐diketiminato nickel(I) complex [ⁱPr₂NN_F6]Ni results in reduction of the PhNO ligand to a (PhNO)^./? species coordinated to a square planar Ni^II center in [ⁱPr₂NN_F6]Ni(η²‐ONPh). Ligand centered reduction leads to the (PhNO)^2? moiety bound to Ni^II supported by XAS studies. Systematic investigation of structure–reactivity patterns of (PhNO)^./? and (PhNO)^2? ligands reveals parallels with superoxo (O₂)^./? and peroxo (O₂)^2? ligands, respectively, and forecasts reactivity patterns of the more transient HNO ligand.     

A coupled cluster study of the electronic spectroscopy and photochemistry of Cr(CO)6

The transition energies to the low-lying singlet and triplet excited states of Cr(CO)(6) are computed by equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) and similarity transformed equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (STEOM-CCSD) methods with all-electrons basis sets. Both experimental and optimized geometries are used for the calculations. Calculations with various basis sets, among them one of the largest calculations performed at the EOM-CCSD level, based on atomic natural orbitals with 627 functions, were used to evaluate the basis set influence on computed transition energies. The presence of a shoulder at 3.9 eV in the experimental absorption spectrum, assigned to the (1)A(1g)-->(1)T(2u) transition, which was not reproduced by recent density functional theory (DFT) or multi-state complete active space perturbation theory (MS-CASPT2) is supported by the present STEOM-CCSD calculations with a theoretical value of 3.92 eV. In addition to this weak (1)A(1g)--> a (1)T(2u) absorption, we observe two strong absorptions corresponding to (1)A(1g)--> a (1)T(1u) at 4.37 eV (vs. an experimental value of 4.46 eV) and (1)A(1g)--> b (1)T(1u) at 5.20 eV (vs. an experimental value of 5.53 eV). Both are characterized as metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) allowed transitions. The first metal-centered (MC) absorption at 4.37 eV in our best calculation is degenerate with the lowest MLCT absorbing state. The one-dimensional potential energy curves associated to the low-lying singlet MLCT and MC states as a function of the chromium axial carbonyl bond distance q(a) = [Cr-CO(axial)] show that an avoided crossing exists between the a (1)T(1g) (MC) and a (1)T(1u) (MLCT) states near 1.92 A, which is very close to the equilibrium Cr-CO distance. Moreover, the MC state seems to be dissociative for the CO loss. These two important features could explain the ultra-fast dissociation of CO (100 fs) observed in recent low intensity laser probed gas phase experiments.     

Iterative maximum-likelihood trellis decoding for block codes

An iterative trellis search technique is described for the maximum-likelihood (ML) soft decision decoding of block codes. The proposed technique derives its motivation from the fact that a given block code may be a subcode for a parent code whose associated trellis has substantially fewer edges. Through the use of list-Viterbi (1967) decoding and an iterative algorithm, the proposed technique allows for the use of a trellis for the parent code in the ML decoding of the desired subcode. Complexity and performance analyses, as well as details of potential implementations, indicate a substantial reduction in decoding complexity for linear block codes of practical length while achieving ML or near-ML soft decision performance