Synthesis,Thermal Isomerization in Solution and in Solid Phase of the Complexes [Pt(RCN)2Cl2]

The interaction of the clathrate Pt₆Cl₁₂ · 0.1 EtCl · 5.7H₂O with RCN nitriles results in cis-[Pt(PhCH₂CN)₂Cl₂] and in [Pt(RCN)₂Cl₂] (R = CH₂CO₂Et, Ph) complexes as a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers which separated and characterized. Cis-[Pt(MeCN)₂Cl₂] has been synthesized using a well known technique of K₂[PtCl₄] interaction with acetonitrile in water. Heating cis-[Pt(RCN)₂Cl₂] (R = Me, CH₂Ph, CH₂CO₂Et) in the solid phase leads to cis-trans isomerization. In case of cis-[Pt(PhCN)₂Cl₂] thermal conversion results in trans-[Pt(PhCN)₂Cl₂] but the process of geometrical isomerizations accompained by a considerable decomposition of starting material and/or final products. Boiling of cis-[Pt(PhCH₂CN₂)Cl₂] in mixture of EtNO₂? PhCH₂CN or cis-[Pt(EtCO₂CH₂CN)₂Cl₂] in MeNO₂ or EtNO₂ solutions results in complete cis-trans conversion. Similarily heating of cis-[Pt(RCN)₂Cl₂] (R = Me, Ph) in solution produces an equilibrium mixture of cis- and transisomers.     

Electrochemical Study of the Lipid‐Transfer Protein

Electrochemical study of barley grain lipid‐transfer protein (LTP) revealed that it may belong to the metal‐binding protein class. Using differential pulse polarography the presence of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in the native LTP structure was proved, as well as its affinity for binding Ni(II) ion. Application of a more sensitive electroanalytical technique, such as anodic stripping voltammetry with analyte preconcentration, revealed the presence of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions and also enabled the following Hg(II) ion binding. Possible biological role of LTP in plant stress response and its contribution to barley phytoextraction potential are discussed.     

Dinuclear Cobalt(III) Complexes Showing a Co2O2 Metallacycle

The heptadentate Schiff base H₃L reacts with cobalt(II) acetate in methanol to form the discrete dinuclear complex Co₂L(OAc)₂(OMe)(H₂O)₂ ( 1 ·2H₂O). The reaction of 1 ·2H₂O with NMe₄OH·5H₂O in methanol gives rise to displacement of the acetate by methanolate groups, yielding Co₂L(OMe)₃(H₂O) ( 2 ·1H₂O). Recrystallizations of the Schiff base, 1 ·2H₂O and 2 ·H₂O in different solvents, produce single crystals of H₃L, 1 ·2.5H₂O and 2 ·2MeOH, respectively. The crystal structures of 1 ·2.5H₂O and 2 ·2MeOH show the cobalt atoms double bridged by and endogenous phenol oxygen atom and an exogenous methanolate oxygen donor, giving rise to Co₂O₂ cores with Co···Co distances of ca. 2.87 Å.     

Strukturelle Untersuchungen einiger neutraler Komplexe des zweiwertigen Molybdäns

Unit cell parameters have been calculated from x-ray powder diffraction data of Mo₂Br₄ Py ₄ (A), Mo₂I₄ Py ₄ (B), Mo₂I₄ Pic ₄ (C), Mo₂(SCN)₄ Py ₄ (D) and Mo₂(SCN)₄ Pic ₄ (E), A, B and C crystallize tetragonal. A witha=9,4₂,c=15,O₂ Å; B witha=9,4₆,c=14,9₈ Å and C witha=9,6₆ andc=15,7₂ Å D and E crystallize orthorhombic. D witha=10,0₉,b=9,1₄,c=15,0₈ Å; E witha=10,2₂,b=9,4₁ andc=15,1₅ Å.Py=pyridine,Pic=4-methylpyridine.

     

Synthesis of functionalized rab GTPases by a combination of solution- or solid-phase lipopeptide synthesis with expressed protein ligation

Prenylated proteins with non-native functionalities are generally very difficult to obtain by recombinant or enzymatic means. The semisynthesis of preparative amounts of prenylated Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) from recombinant proteins and synthetic prenylated peptides depends largely on the availability of functionalised prenylated peptides corresponding to the proteins' native structure or modifications thereof. Here, we describe and compare solution-phase and solid-phase strategies for the generation of peptides corresponding to the prenylated C terminus of Rab7 GTPase. The solid-phase with utilisation of a hydrazide linker emerges as the more favourable approach. It allows a fast and practical synthesis of pure peptides and gives a high degree of flexibility in their modification. To facilitate the analysis of semisynthetic proteins, the synthesised peptides were equipped with a fluorescent group. Using the described approach, we introduced fluorophores at several different positions of the Rab7 C terminus. The position of the incorporated fluorescent groups in the peptides did not influence the protein-ligation reaction, as the generated peptides could be ligated onto thioester-tagged Rab7. However, it was found that the positioning of the fluorescent group had an influence on the functionality of the Rab7 proteins; analysis of the interaction of the semisynthetic Rab7 proteins with REP (Rab escort protein) and GDI (guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor) molecules revealed that modification of the peptide side chains or of the C-terminal isoprenoid did not significantly interfere with complex formation. However, functionalisation of the C terminus was found to have an adverse effect on complex formation and stability, possibly reflecting low structural flexibility of the Rab GDI/REP molecules in the vicinity of the lipid-binding site.     

A study of peralkylated derivatives of bis(η6-benzene)chromium by gas-phase electronic absorption spectroscopy

The gas-phase electronic absorption spectra of (⁶-C₆R₆)₂Cr (R = Me (1) and Et (2)) reveal Rydberg structures, which disappear on going to the condensed phase. Each spectrum shows a Rydberg series converging to the ionization threshold. The first ionization potential determined as the series convergence limit is 4.662±0.008 eV for 1 and 4.667±0.019 eV for 2. The Rydberg bands are due to the transitions from the non-bonding MO 3d_z2 to the R4s and Rnp (n = 4—10) levels. The influence of methyl and ethyl substituents on the term values of the Rydberg transitions depends on the principal quantum number of the Rydberg MO.     

Electrochemical studies of Tl(I) crown-ether complexes in nonaqueous media

Summary Complexation equilibria of the Tl(I) ion with 18-crown-6 and dibenzo-18-crown-6 were studied polarographically in 10 nonaqueous solvents. The stability of the complexes is strongly influenced by the nature of solvents and varies with their Lewis basicities. It has been found that the logK _s value (K _s is the stability constant of the complex) can be well described by empirical relation logK _s=a DN+b, whereDN stands for the Gutmann donor number anda andb mark the regression coefficient. Addition of the second explanatory parameter, the acceptor number, is not statistically significant. This result is in agreement with the predominant role of Tl(I) ion solvation.

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Elektrochemische Untersuchungen von Tl(I)-Kronenetherkomplexen in nichtwäßrigen Medien

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Komplexierungsgleichgewichte des Tl(I)-Ions mit 18-Krone-6 und Dibenzo-18-krone-6 polarographisch in 10 nichtwäßrigen Lösungsmitteln untersucht. Die Stabilität der Komplexe wird sehr stark vom Solvens beeinflußt, wobei eine starke Abhängigkeit von der Lewis-Basizität beobachtet wird. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die logK _s-Werte (K _s ist die Komplexstabilitätskonstante) gut mit der empirischen Beziehung logK _s=a DN+b beschrieben werden können, wobeiDN die Gutmann'sche Donorzahl unda undb die Regressionskonstanten bedeuten. Hinzunahme der Akzeptorzahl als zweiten Parameter bleibt statistisch insignifikant. Dieses Ergebnis stimmt mit dem dominierenden Einfluß der Tl(I)-Ionensolvatation überein.

     

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of half-sandwich Ru(II) complexes containing phosphine, arsine, stibine, and bismutine ligands

The synthesis and some reactions of the Ru(II) and Ru(IV) half-sandwich complexes [RuCp(EPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ (E=P, As, Sb, Bi) and [RuCp(EPh₃)(η³-C₃H₅)Br]⁺ have been investigated. The chemistry of this class of compounds is characterized by a competitive coordination of EPh₃ either via a RuE or a η⁶-arene bond, where the latter is favored when the former is weaker, that is in going down the series. Thus in the case of Bi, the starting material [RuCp(CH₃CN)₃]⁺ does not react with BiPh₃ to give [RuCp(BiPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ but instead gives only the η⁶-arene species [RuCp(η⁶-PhBiPh₂)]⁺ and [(RuCp)₂(μ-η⁶,η⁶-Ph₂BiPh)]²⁺. Similarly, the EPh₃ ligand can be replaced by an aromatic solvent or an arene substrate. Thus, the catalytic performance of [RuCp(EPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ for the isomerization of allyl-phenyl ethers to the corresponding 1-propenyl ethers is best with E=P, while the conversion drops significantly using the As and Sb derivatives. By the same token, only [RuCp(PPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ is stable in a non-aromatic solvent, whereas both [RuCp(AsPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ and [RuCp(SbPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ rearrange upon warming to [RuCp(η⁶-PhEPh₂)]⁺ and related compounds. In addition, the potential of [RuCp(EPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]⁺ as precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and cyclohexanone has been investigated. Again aromatic substrates are clearly less suited than non-aromatic ones due to facile η⁶-arene coordination leading to catalyst's deactivation.     

γ-Zirconium and γ-Titanium Phosphates Platinum Intercalation Compound Preparation, characterization and thermal behaviour

Inorganic ion-exchangers with a layered structure such as γ-zirconium and γ-titanium phosphates, intercalated with organic diamines, are able to exchange Pt²⁺ ions to give new intercalation compounds that can be utilized in heterogeneous catalysis. The experiments performed at different temperatures (25 and 45°C), show different ion uptakes, greater at 45°C and for the materials derived from γ-zirconium phosphate. After platinum exchange, all the materials show an amorphization in the XRD if compared with their precursors. The thermal behaviour of the platinum materials is specific, depending on the exchanger used and the ligand inside the exchanger. Pt²⁺ ion has a catalytic effect on ligand elimination in the γ-zirconium phosphate platinum compounds, but not in those derived from γ-titanium. All the obtained yellow materials show a small step in the TG curves and simultaneously we have the Pt²⁺→Pt⁰ reduction: this is confirmed by XRD registered at the temperatures of the thermal effect, showing peaks at d_hkl=2.27 and 1.95 Å. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the High Viscosity of Aqueous Solution of Lysozyme Induced by Some Organic Solvents

A remarkably high viscosity has been induced in protein aqueous solutions by the addition of certain structurally related organic solvents. The effect has been observed for lysozyme aqueous solutions containing tetramethylurea (TMU), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide, and hexamethylphosphortriamide. The effect has also been induced in ferrocytochrome c aqueous solutions by TMU. Critical concentrations for both the protein and organic solvent were verified for the onset of the viscosity increase. A common feature of the solvents which were able to induce the effect is a dipolar moiety (C=O, S → O and P → O) and a nonpolar region represented by the methyl groups. The resulting fluids show an extremely restricted flow and a typical non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behavior. Use was made of¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy to characterize protein structural modifications and of¹³C NMR to investigate changes in relaxation times and chemical shifts in the solvent/water solutions. A systematic rheological characterization of the systems was undertaken for some of the solvents, and unusual patterns of viscous effects were identified for the solvent/water systems both with and without protein. The process was found to be at least partially reversible, as concluded from the recovered original solution rheological characteristics and the original protein¹H NMR spectrum, after eliminating the organic solvent by ultrafiltration. The whole process was characterized as consisting of two mutually independent stages. The first involves an extensive conformational transition of the polypeptide backbone, from a predominantly α-helical to increased random coiled and β-sheet structures, with the occurrence of nonorthodox protein secondary structures at regions above the solvent critical point. The second stage consists of short-lived interchain contacts leading to an entanglement of the macromolecular system as a whole. A microphase reversion in the organic solvent/water mixture, supported by¹³C NMR and rheological results, is proposed as the driving force causing the observed behavior.