Reactivity of 3d transition metal cations in diethylene glycol solutions. Synthesis of transition metal ferrites with the structure of discrete nanoparticles complexed with long-chain carboxylate anions

Study of the reactivity of 3d transition metal cations in diethylene glycol solutions revealed several key features that made it possible to develop a new method for synthesis of the nanocrystalline transition metal ferrites. The 3-7 nm particles of [MFe2O4]n[O2CR]m, where M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn, ligated on their surface with long-chain carboxylate anions, have been obtained in an isolated yield of 75-90%. The key features are the following. Complexation of the first-row transition metal cations with diethylene glycol at a presence of alkaline hydroxide is sufficient to enable control over the rate of their hydrolysis. The reaction of hydrolysis leads to the formation of metal oxide nanocrystals in colloidal solution. The nanoparticles growth is terminated by an added long-chain carboxylic acid, which binds to their surface and acts as a capping ligand. The isolated nanocrystalline powders are stable against agglomeration and highly soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.     

Cation-controlled self-assembly of a hexameric europium wheel

The simple asymmetric tetradentate ligand 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine-6-carboxylic acid leads to the self-assembly of the first europium nanowheel containing europium ions in two different coordination environments. Moreover the self-assembly of bis(terpyridinecarboxylate) europium species to form a hexameric wheel capable of strongly binding LnIII cations is controlled by the ligand/cation ratio.     

Surface organometallic chemistry of main group elements: selective synthesis of silica supported [triple bond Si-OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-)[HNEt(2)Ph](+)

The reaction of the Lewis acid B(C(6)F(5))(3) with silanol groups of silica surfaces, dehydroxylated at different temperatures (300, 500, 700, and 800 degrees C), has been investigated in presence of the Br?nsted base NEt(2)Ph. The structure of the resulting modified silica supports [triple bond Si-OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-)[HNEt(2)Ph](+) (1) has been carefully identified by IR and multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopies, isotopic (2)H and (18)O labeling, elemental analysis, molecular modeling, and comparison with synthesized molecular models. Highly dehydroxylated silica surfaces were required to transform selectively each silanol group into unique [triple bond Si-OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-)[HNEt(2)Ph](+) fragments. For lower dehydroxylation temperatures, two sorts of surface sites were coexisting on silica: the free silanol groups [triple bond SiOH] and the ionic species 1.     

The Structure of Bis[N‐6‐aminopyridyl‐N‐(1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonylamino]palladium in the Solid State and in Solution

The complex, bis[N‐6‐aminopyridyl‐N‐(1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonylamino]palladium, Pd[(S)‐APCS]₂, 1 , was prepared by reaction of 2‐[(1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonamino]‐6‐aminopyridine with PdCl₂ in THF. Complex 1 has been characterized by spectroscopic methods and its structure has been determined by X‐ray crystallography. Crystal data: space group C2, a= 16.082 (2), b = 17.104 (2), c = 13.051 (2)Å, β = 99.95 (1)°, V = 3535.9 (8) ų, Z = 2 with final residuals R1 = 0.0491 and wR2 = 0.0944. Two independent molecules, (S,S)‐Pd[(S)‐APCS]2, 1a , and (R,R)‐Pd[(S)‐APCS]2, 1b , were found in each asymmetric unit, which exchange to each other via a series of nitrogen inversion and C‐C bond rotation. The inversion energy (ΔGc₁^≠) and the energy barrier (δGc₂^≠) were 11.5 ± 0.1 Kcal mol^?1 at 246 K and 9.8 ± 0.1 Kcal mol^?1 at 199 K, respectively, calculated by dynamic NMR data.     

A convergent approach to huperzine A and analogues

We describe a concise and convergent synthesis of (rac)-5-methoxy-6-azatricyclco[7.3.1.0(2,7)]trideca-2(7),3,5,11-tetraen-13-ol, which has the basic ring system of huperzine A, a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. We also describe the synthesis of the novel system 5-methoxy-6-azatricyclo[7.2.2.0(2,7)]trideca-2(7),3,5-trien-10-one and a series of related systems.     

Spin‐State Ordering on One Sub‐lattice of a Mononuclear Iron(III) Spin Crossover Complex Exhibiting LIESST and TIESST

The two‐step spin crossover in mononuclear iron(III) complex [Fe(salpm)₂]ClO₄ ? 0.5 EtOH ( 1 ) is shown to be accompanied by a structural phase transition as concluded from ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and single crystal X‐ray diffraction, with spin‐state ordering on just one of two sub‐lattices in the intermediate magnetic and structural phase. The complex also exhibits thermal‐ and light‐induced spin‐state trapping (TIESST and LIESST), and relaxation from the LIESST and TIESST excited states occurs via the broken symmetry intermediate phase. Two relaxation events are evident in both experiments, that is, two T(LIESST) and two T(TIESST) values are recorded. The change in symmetry which accompanies the TIESST effect was followed in real time using single crystal diffraction. After flash freezing at 15 K the crystal was warmed to 40 K at which temperature superstructure reflections were observed to appear and disappear within a 10 000 s time range. In the frame of the international year of crystallography, these results illustrate how X‐ray diffraction makes it possible to understand complex ordering phenomena.     

Activation of Open‐Cage Fullerenes with Ruthenium Carbonyl Clusters

Reactions of the open‐cage fullerene C₆₃NO₂(Py)(Ph)₂ ( 1 ) with [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] produce [Ru₃(CO)₈(μ,η⁵‐C₆₃NO₂(Py)(Ph)₂)] ( 2 ), [Ru₂H(CO)₃(μ,η⁷‐C₆₃N(Py)(Ph)(C₆H₄))] ( 3 ), and [Ru(CO)(Py)₂₍η³‐C₆₃NO₂(Py)(Ph)₂)] ( 4 ), in which the orifice sizes are modified from 12 to 8, 11, and 15‐membered ring, through ruthenium‐mediated C?O and C?C bond activation and formation.     

Development and validation of an ELISA kit for the detection of ricin toxins from biological specimens and environmental samples

Ricin is a toxin that can be easily extracted from seeds of Ricinus communis plants. Ricin is considered to be a major bio-threat as it can be freely and easily acquired in large quantities. A deliberate release of such toxin in civilian populations would very likely overwhelm existing public health systems, resulting in public fear and social unrest. There is currently no commercially available or FDA-approved prophylaxis such as vaccines, or therapeutic antitoxins or antidotes, available for ricin intoxication. Patient treatment is typically supportive care based on symptoms, often designed to reinforce the body’s natural response. This paper describes the development and validation of a robust ELISA test kit, which can be used to screen for ricin in biological specimens such as whole blood and faeces. Faecal specimens are shown in this study to have better diagnostic sensitivity and a wider diagnostic window compared to whole blood. From these results, it is concluded that faeces is the most suitable clinical specimen for diagnosis of ricin poisoning via the oral route. The ELISA test kit can also detect ricin in environmental samples. An advantage of this ELISA kit over other commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) detection kits currently on the market that are developed to screen environmental samples only is its ability to diagnose ricin poisoning from clinical specimens as well as detect ricin from environmental samples.     

An experimental design based strategy to optimize a capillary electrophoresis method for the separation of 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Because of their high toxicity, international regulatory institutions recommend monitoring specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental and food samples. A fast, selective and sensitive method is therefore required for their quantitation in such complex samples. This article deals with the optimization, based on an experimental design strategy, of a cyclodextrin (CD) modified capillary zone electrophoresis separation method for the simultaneous separation of 19 PAHs listed as priority pollutants. First, using a central composite design, the normalized peak-start and peak-end times were modelled as functions of the factors that most affect PAH electrophoretic behavior: the concentrations of the anionic sulfobutylether-β-CD and neutral methyl-β-CD, and the percentage of MeOH in the background electrolyte. Then, to circumvent computational difficulties resulting from the changes in migration order likely to occur while varying experimental conditions, an original approach based on the systematic evaluation of the time intervals between all the possible pairs of peaks was used. Finally, a desirability analysis based on the smallest time interval between two consecutive peaks and on the overall analysis time, allowed us to achieve, for the first time in CE, full resolution of all 19 PAHs in less than 18 min. Using this optimized capillary electrophoresis method, a vegetable oil was successfully analyzed, proving its suitability for real complex sample analysis.     

An Isolated Nitridyl Radical‐Bridged {Rh(N.)Rh} Complex

Photochemical activation of [(PNNH)Rh(N₃)] (PNNH=6‐di‐(tert‐butyl)phosphinomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) complex 2 produced the paramagnetic (S=1/2), [(PNN)Rh?N^.‐Rh(PNN)] complex 3 (PNN^?=methylene‐deprotonated PNNH), which could be crystallographically characterized. Spectroscopic investigation of 3 indicates a predominant nitridyl radical (^.N^2?) character, which was confirmed computationally. Complex 3 reacts selectively with CO, producing two equivalents of [(PNN)Rh^I(CO)] complex 4 , presumably by nitridyl radical N,N‐coupling.