Construction of database of effective energy‐loss functions

Effective energy‐loss functions for Al, Cu, Ag and Au were derived from the reflection electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra for 1 keV electrons using extended Landau theory. Features of the obtained effective energy‐loss functions are close to those of optical surface energy‐loss functions, revealing the significant contribution of the low energy loss below a few tens of electron‐volts in the REELS spectrum for Cu, Ag and Au. The REELS spectra were reproduced using the newly derived effective energy‐loss functions, leading to the confirmation that this type of database of the effective energy‐loss function is very useful not only for more comprehensive understanding of the measured spectrum of surface electron spectroscopies but also for practical background subtraction in surface electron spectroscopy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phanes with Three- and Four-Membered Rings as Building Elements

The systematic integration of the small 2π- and 4π-electron systems cyclopropenylium ion, cyclopropenone, oxo-cyclobutenylium ion, and cyclobutadiene into phane chemistry was initiated only a few years ago. [n₂]Cyclopropenylophanes, [n₂]cyclopropenonophanes, metal-capped [n₄]cyclobutadienosuperphanes, and other new families of double-decker phane species became available from cycloalkydiynes through special methods of double [2+1]cycloaddition with carbenes and metal complex induced dimerization by double [2+2]cycloaddition. Phane-specific structural features were elucidated by X-ray structural analyses. Cyclic voltammetry and PE spectroscopy as well as MO calculations reealed considerable interactions between closely spaced π-electron systems. Decapping cyclobutadienosuperphanes formally extended the synthetic principle to threefold [2+2]cycloadditions resulting in [n₄]-bridged tricyclo-[4.2.0.0^{3, 5}]octa-3,7-dienes, which represent a new type of cage compounds. Moreover, completion to fourfold [2+2]addition was achieved with the photoinduced transformation of [3₄]bridged tricyclo[4.2.0.0^{3, 5}]octa-3,7-diene into propella[3₄]cubane.     

Development of a one-step immunochromatographic strip test for the rapid detection of nevirapine (NVP), a commonly used antiretroviral drug for the treatment of HIV/AIDS

Currently, high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods are mainly used to measure antiretroviral plasma concentrations in HIV-infected patients. Although the utility of routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) as an additional tool to optimize long-term antiretroviral therapy is unclear, if TDM is to be widely used, the availability of simple, cheap and reliable methods for the measurement of antiretroviral drug levels are needed, particularly in resource-limited settings. In this study, an immunochromatograhic (IC) strip test to detect the presence of nevirapine (NVP) in body fluids has been developed. Antiserum to NVP was first raised in rabbits by immunization against NVP chemically conjugated with bovine serum albumin, and subsequently validated by Western immunoblotting and competitive indirect ELISA. The partially purified anti-NVP antibodies were conjugated with colloidal gold particles. The conjugation of the colloidal gold and polyclonal antibodies was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy, while transmission electron microscopy images were used to characterize the particle size and shape of the conjugates. The resulting colloidal gold conjugates were used for the production of an IC strip test to detect nevirapine in human plasma. Preliminary assessment suggests no-cross reactivity of the NVP polyclonal antibodies but assessment of plasma samples from HIV-infected patients receiving HAART needs to be conducted. This assay could potentially be used for drug monitoring as part of the clinical care of HIV infected patients.     

Diaminocarbene- and Fischer-carbene complexes of palladium and nickel by oxidative insertion: preparation, structure, and catalytic activity

Oxidative insertion of [Pd(PPh3)4] or [Ni(cod)2]/PPh3 into the C-Cl bond of various 2-chloroimidazolinium- and other -amidinium salts affords metal-diaminocarbene complexes in good to excellent yields. This procedure is complementary to existing methodology in which the central metal does not change its oxidation state, and therefore allows to incorporate carbene fragments that are difficult to access otherwise. The preparation of a variety of achiral as well as enantiomerically pure, chiral metal-NHC complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) and metal complexes with acyclic diaminocarbene ligands illustrates this aspect. Furthermore it is shown that oxidative insertion also paves a way to prototype Fischer carbenes of Pd(II). Since the required starting materials are readily available from urea- or thiourea derivatives, this novel approach allows for substantial structural variations of the ligand backbone. The catalytic performance of the resulting library of nickel- and palladium-carbene complexes has been evaluated by applications to prototype Suzuki-, Heck-, and Kumada-Corriu cross-coupling reactions as well as Buchwald-Hartwig aminations. It was found that even Fischer carbenes show appreciable catalytic activity. Moreover, representative examples of all types of neutral and cationic metal-carbene complexes formed in this study have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

The synthesis and reactivity of the heptanuclear dianion [Os7(CO)20]2− including the synthesis and structural characterizations of the compounds [Os7(CO)20(AuPEt)3 2] and [Os8(CO)20(η6-C6H6]

Reduction of the heptaosmium cluster [Os₇(CO)₂₁] With [Et₄N][NH₄) gives the cluster dianion [Os₇(CO)₂₀]^2–,1, in high yield. The reaction of the dianion with [AuPR ₃Cl] (R=Et or Ph) in the presence of TlPF₆ forms [Os₇((CO)₂₀(AuPR ₃)₂] [R=Et (2a);R = Ph(2b)] in 80% yield, while the corresponding reaction with (Os(C₆H₆)(CH₃CN)₃]²⁺ gives [Os₈(CO)₂₀ ( ⁶-C₆H₆)] (3) in reasonable yield (ca. 30%). The dianion,1, and the clusters2 and3 have been fully characterized by bout spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The crystal structure of the [Ph₄P]⁺ salt of1 shows that the metals in the anion adopt a capped octahedral geometry, with all twenty carbonyl ligands in terminal sites. The metal core geometry in2a is best described as a tricapped octahedron, and is based on the structure of the dianion1 with two adjacent octahedral faces capped by the Au atoms of the two AuPEt₃ groups. In a similar fashion, the geometry of3 is related to that of1 with the addition of an Os(C₆H₆) unit capped to a triangular face, to give a bicapped octahedral framework.     

Palladium complexes with ethylene-bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) for C-C coupling reactions

A series of new ethylene-bridged bis(imidazolium) halides with various N-substitutions were synthesized. Complexation of these imidazolium halides with Pd(OAc)₂ produced new Pd(II) ethylene-bridged bis(carbene) complexes. Crystallographic analyses of some of the new imidazolium salts and Pd(II) complexes were determined. Applications of these seven-member palladacycles in Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions produced comparable catalytic activities to those of six-member analogs.     

Rhodium(I) catalyzed four-component reaction of Fischer alkenyl carbene complexes and 1,1-diphenylallene

Alkyl substituted chromium Fischer carbene complexes react with 1,1-diphenylallene in the presence of rhodium(I) catalysts (10 mol%) to yield highly substituted dienyl indenone derivatives. In this process a catalytic chromium(0)-rhodium(I) exchange occurs, four new C-C bonds are created, and four-components (two allenes, the carbene ligand and one CO ligand) are joined in a chemo- and regioselective manner.     

(Alk-1-ynyl)organylthiocarbenes: generation and reactions with olefins

1-Substituted 1-chloro-3-organylthiopropa-1,2-dienes 1a–f belonging to previously unknown type of allenic compounds were synthesized by chlorination of 1-organylthioalk-1-ynes 3a–f with N-chlorosuccinimide. The reactions of compounds 1a–f with Bu^tOK in hexane at –20 °C are accompanied by -elimination of HCl to give new alk-1-ynyl(organylthio)carbenes 2a–f, which add to olefins to form the corresponding 1-(alk-1-ynyl)-1-organylthiocyclopropanes 5 in yields of up to 60%. The electrophilic properties of carbenes 2 were confirmed experimentally.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2440–2447, November, 2004.     

Anthill Earth as a Gold Occurrence Indicator,and Gold Determination by Solid Sampling Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

With the aim of avoiding cumbersome sample treatment, we present a device for the introduction of solid soil samples into AAS-flames for gold determination, as well as the proposition of earth from anthills as a gold occurrence indicator. A previous ground sample of anthill earth (0.50 mg) was weighed directly into a small recipient of polyethylene which was then connected to a sampling boronsilicate glass chamber. The sample was carried by an airflow (5 L min⁻¹) to a quartz cell positioned between the burner top and the optical beam. The generated atomic vapor produced a transient signal which was totally integrated in three seconds. The performance was compared with conventional flame atomic absorption spectrometry after proper sample digestion. No significant differences were observed between both procedures (mean deviation ±1.90%), and a LOQ of 0.03 μg Au was achieved using the proposed method. The anthill earth was found to be very suitable for indication of gold occurrence in soils and related materials.