Crystal Structure of a Trinuclear Mercury(II) Cyanide Complex of Tetramethylthiourea, [{(Tetramethylthiourea)2Hg(CN)2}2·Hg(CN)2]

Abstract  

The title compound was prepared by reacting mercury(II) cyanide and tetramethylthiourea (Tmtu) in the molar ratio of 1:1.75. It was characterized by IR and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The appearance of a band around 2,200 cm⁻¹ in IR and a resonance around 145 ppm in ¹³C NMR indicated the binding of cyanide to mercury(II). The crystal structure of the title complex, [{(tetramethylthiourea)₂Hg(CN)₂}₂·Hg(CN)₂] (1) consists of two independent [(Tmtu)₂Hg(CN)₂] moieties bridged by a Hg(CN)₂ unit. The mercury atom in [(Tmtu)₂Hg(CN)₂] unit is coordinated to two thione sulfur atoms of Tmtu and to two cyanide carbon atoms in a distorted tetrahedral mode.     

Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial activity of palladium(II) bromide complexes of thioamides; X-ray structure of [Pd(tetramethylthiourea)<Subscript>4</Subscript>]Br<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Palladium(II) bromide complexes of thioamides having the general formulae [PdL₂Br₂] and [PdL₄]Br₂ where L = Thiourea (Tu), Methylthiourea (Metu), Dimethylthiourea (Dmtu), Tetramethylthiourea (Tmtu), Imidazolidine-2-thione (Imt), Mercaptopyridine (Mpy), Mercaptopyrimidine (Mpm) and Thionicotinamide (Tna) were prepared by reacting K₂[PdCl₄] with KBr and the corresponding thioamides. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and one of them, [Pd(Tmtu)₄]Br₂ (1) by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of 1 shows a square-planar coordination environment around the Pd(II) atoms with the average cis and trans S–Pd–S bond angles of 90.0° and 180.0°, respectively. The synthesized complexes were screened for antibacterial effects, and the results showed that the complexes exhibit significant activities against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.     

Regioselective Synthesis of 4‐(Arylsulfanyl)‐2‐hydroxyhomophthalates by [4+2] Cycloaddition of 3‐(Arylsulfanyl)‐1‐(trimethylsilyloxy)buta‐1,3‐dienes with Dimethyl Penta‐2,3‐dienedioate

The [4+2] cycloaddition of 3‐(arylsulfanyl)‐1‐(trimethylsilyloxy)buta‐1,3‐dienes with dimethyl penta‐2,3‐dienedioate provides a convenient and regioselective approach to a variety of 4‐(arylsulfanyl)‐2‐hydroxyhomophthalates.     

Characterization of polyoxyalkylene block copolymers by combination of different chromatographic techniques and MALDI-TOF-MS

Polyoxyalkylene diblock copolymers (consisting of PEO as hydrophilic block and PBO or PHO as hydrophobic block) are characterized by combination of two dimensional liquid chromatography and MALDI-TOF-MS. Liquid chromatography under critical conditions (LCCC) is used as first dimension and fractions are collected, mobile phase evaporated and diluted in the mobile phase used in the second dimension (SEC, LCCC or LAC). This two-dimensional chromatography in combination of MALDI-TOF-MS gives information about purity of reaction products, presence of the byproducts, chemical composition and molar mass distribution of all the products.     

Recycling Functional Colloids and Nanoparticles

The stability and separation of colloids and nanoparticles has been addressed in numerous studies. Most of the work reported to date requires high cost, energy intensive approaches such as ultracentrifugation and solvent evaporation to recover the particles. At this point of time, when green science is beginning to make a real impact, it is vital to achieve efficient and effective separation and recovery of colloids to provide environmental and economic benefits. This article explores recent advances in strategies for recycling and reusing functional nanomaterials, which indicate new directions in lean engineering of high‐value nanoparticles, such as Au and Pd.     

Voltammetric and spectroscopic investigations of 4-nitrophenylferrocene interacting with DNA

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) coupled with UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to probe the interaction of potential anticancer drug, 4-nitrophenylferrocene (NFC) with DNA. The electrostatic interaction of the positively charged NFC with the anionic phosphate of DNA was evidenced by the findings like negative formal potential shift in CV, ionic strength effect, smaller bathochromic shift in UV–vis spectroscopy, incomplete quenching in the emission spectra and decrease in viscosity. The diffusion coefficients of the free and DNA bound forms of the drug were evaluated from Randles–Sevcik equation. The binding parameters like binding constant, ratio of binding constants (K_red/K_ox), binding site size and binding free energy were determined from voltammetric data. The binding constant was also determined from UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy with a value quite close to that obtained from CV.     

Electrochemical Investigation of Na‐Salt of 2‐Methyl‐3‐(4‐nitrophenyl)acrylate on Glassy Carbon Electrode

The electrochemical behavior of Na‐salt of 2‐methyl‐3‐(4‐nitrophenyl)acrylate (NPA) and its reduction product was studied by cyclic (CV), differential pulse(DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The results revealed that NPA is irreversibly reduced leading to the formation of a reduction product (P_NPA). For pH<9.0 the peak potential was linearly dependent on pH. For pH>9.0 the peak potential was pH‐independent and the value of pK_b≈9.0 was determined. The adsorbed P_NPA exhibited reversible redox reaction. The reduction of P_NPA was pH dependent. To ensure that the electrochemical behavior of NPA is due to the reducible moiety, NO₂, closely related compounds to NPA were also studied, and a redox mechanism was proposed for NPA.     

Dimeric supramolecular motifs of two carboxylate–guanidinium compounds

The structures of N‐benzyl‐N′‐{6‐[(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)aminocarbonyl]‐2‐pyridylmethyl}guanidinium, C₂₃H₂₃N₅O₃, (I), and N‐[2‐(benzylaminocarbonyl)ethyl]‐N′‐{6‐[(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)aminocarbonyl]‐2‐pyridylmethyl}guanidinium monohydrate, C₂₆H₂₈N₆O₄·H₂O, (II), both form three‐dimensional supramolecular hydrogen‐bonded networks based on a dimeric primary synthon involving carboxylate–guanidinium linkages. The differences in the geometries and hydrogen‐bonding connectivities are driven by the additional methylpropionamide group and water of crystallization of (II).     

Titanium-doped sputter-deposited AlN infrared whispering gallery mode microlaser on optical fibers

Optical fibers of 12 μm diameter were coated with a sputter-deposited layer (4 μm thick) of titanium (1 at. %)-doped amorphous aluminum nitride. When optically pumped by an Nd:YAG green laser at 532 nm, laser action was observed in whispering gallery modes around the fiber (in a ring shape) at 780.5 nm with a quality factor Q > 1500. Other modes were also observed between 775 and 800 nm. The primary and secondary modes give a mode separation of 4.6 nm. No waveguide modes were observed in the cavity.     

Voltammetric Determination of 4‐Nitrophenol Using a Novel Type of Silver Amalgam Paste Electrode

A differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was developed for the determination of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) at a newly developed silver amalgam paste electrode (AgA‐PE) in Britton–Robinson buffer pH 3.0. The electrode is based on a disposable plastic pipette tip filled with paste amalgam based on a mixture of mercury and fine silver powder (9 : 1, w/w). The experimental parameters, such as pH of Britton–Robinson buffer and activation and regeneration potential of the electrode surface were optimized. The reduction peak current dependences were linear for the concentration of 4‐NP from 0.2 to 100 μM. The method showed reproducible results with RSD (n=45) of 1.7%. The limit of determination (LOD) was 0.3 μM. The method was successfully applied for the direct determination of 4‐NP in drinking water.