Inversion of Optical Activity in the Synthesis of Mercury Sulfide Nanoparticles: Role of Ligand Coordination

Optical activity in inorganic colloidal materials was controlled through interactions of chiral molecules with the nanoparticle (NP) surface. An inversion of optical activity in the synthesis of mercury sulfide (HgS) NPs was demonstrated with an intrinsically chiral crystalline system in the presence of an identical chiral capping ligand. A continuous decrease in the positive first Cotton effect and an eventual reversal of CD profile were observed upon heating the aqueous solution of HgS NPs capped with N‐acetyl‐l ‐cysteine (Ac‐l ‐Cys) at 80 °C. Ac‐l ‐Cys afforded two bidentate coordination configurations with an almost mirror image of each other using the thiolate and either of carboxylate or acetyl–carbonyl groups on the HgS core. Experiment and calculation suggest that a shift in the distribution of the NP formation with energy in response to the combinations of ligand coordination structure and chiral crystalline surface is responsible for the inversion of optical activity.     

Direct bonds between metal atoms: Zn, Cd, and Hg compounds with metal-metal bonds

The synthesis and characterization of [Zn(2)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(2)], a stable molecular compound with a Zn-Zn bond and the first example of a dimetallocene structure, has opened a new chapter in the organometallic chemistry of zinc and in metallocene chemistry. The existence of two directly bonded zinc atoms demonstrates that the [Zn-Zn](2+) unit, the lightest Group 12 homologue of the well-known [Hg-Hg](2+) ion, can be stabilized by appropriate ligands. Activity in this area has increased enormously in the few years since the determination of the structure of this molecule. Numerous theoretical studies have been devoted to the investigation of the electronic, structural, and spectroscopic properties of this and related compounds, and new metal-metal coordination and organometallic compounds of zinc, cadmium, and mercury have been synthesized and structurally characterized. This Minireview gives an overview of activity in this field during the past three to four years.     

燃煤电站布袋除尘器和静电除尘器脱汞性能比较

采用国际上通用的Ontario Hydro方法（OHM）对中国五个燃煤电站布袋除尘器（FF）/静电除尘器（ESP）前、后的烟气进行采样,应用美国EPA标准方法测定了烟气中Hg0、Hg2+和HgP的浓度。应用DMA80测定固体样品（煤、底灰、ESP飞灰）中的汞浓度。由汞平衡得出各个环节中汞所占的份额。由此得到FF和ESP脱除烟气中汞的性能。安装FF的电站1和2的综合脱除效率约为80%和20%,安装ESP的电站3、4和5的综合脱除效率分别为6%、20%和4%左右。这说明FF比ESP有更加优良的脱汞性能,而且FF/ESP脱除烟气中的汞受到很多因素的影响。     

Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of HgTe Nanoplatelets Using Mercury（I） Source

Mercury telluride （HgTe） nanoplatelets were obtained via a facile solvothermal reaction of mercury（I） chloride and tellurium powder in ethylenediamine （en）. Mercury（I） was first applied as the mercury sources to prepare nanocrystal HgTe; moreover, the proposed mechanism for the fabrication of the sample was discussed in detail. The HgTe nanoplatelets were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction （PXRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy （HRTEM） and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FT-IR）. The absence of IR absorption may render the title nanocrystal useful as an IR transparent material in the region.     

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic and optical properties of the compounds [Hg3Te2][UCl6] and [Hg4As2][UCl6]

Two new quaternary salts, [Hg₃Te₂][UCl₆] and [Hg₄As₂][UCl₆], have been synthesized and their structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. [Hg₃Te₂][UCl₆] is the product of a reaction involving UCl₄, HgCl₂, and HgTe at 873 K. The compound crystallizes in space group P2₁/c of the monoclinic system. [Hg₄As₂][UCl₆] results from the reaction of U, Hg₂Cl₂, and As at 788 K. It crystallizes in space group Pbca of the orthorhombic system. [Hg₃Te₂][UCl₆] has a two-dimensional framework of layers, whereas [Hg₄As₂][UCl₆] has a three-dimensional framework of layers interconnected by Hg atoms linearly bonded to As atoms. Both framework structures contain discrete [UCl₆]²⁻ anions between the layers. [Hg₃Te₂][UCl₆] exhibits temperature-independent paramagnetism. The optical absorption spectra of these compounds display f-f transitions.     

Determination of Mercury with a Miniature Sensor for Point-of-care Testing

In developing countries, subsistence gold mining entails mixing metallic mercury with crushed sediments to extract gold. In this approach, the gold−mercury amalgam is heated to evaporate mercury and obtain gold. Thus, the highly volatile mercury can be absorbed through inhalation, resulting in adverse health effects. Urinalysis can be used to detect mercury, which is excreted in urine and feces, and correlate exposure with toxic effects. The current gold standard analytical methods are based on fluorescence or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry methods, but are expensive, time consuming, and are not easily accessible in countries where testing is needed. In this work, we report on a miniature electrochemical sensor that can rapidly detect mercury in urine at levels well below the US Biological Exposure Index (BEI) limit of 50 ppb (μg/L). The sensor is based on a thin-film gold electrode and anodic stripping voltammetry electroanalytical approach. The sensor successfully detected mercury at trace levels in urine, with a limit of detection of ∼15 ppb Hg in the linear range of 20–80 ppb. With the low-cost disposable sensors and portable instrumentation, it is well suited for point-of-care applications.     

一种新颖的二维4f-3d-5d多金属-异烟酸配合物的合成、晶体结构和磁性研究

通过水热方法合成了一种新颖的异金属金属-异烟酸无机-有机杂化体[Zn0.5(H2O)]{(Hg2Cl5)[Er(C6NO2H4)3(H2O)2]}(HgCl2)·0.5CH3OH·0.5H2O (1)并对其进行了单晶X-射线衍射结构表征。该化合物是首例4f-3d-5d多金属-异烟酸配合物。化合物1属于单斜晶系C2/c空间群,每个单胞中有8个分子,晶体学参数为：a = 34.165(4) Å,b = 9.4692(8) Å,c = 24.575(3) Å,β = 115.090(5)°,V = 7200(1) Å3,C18.50H21Cl7ErHg3N3O10Zn0.50,Mr = 1495.25,Dc = 2.759 g/cm3,T = 293(2) K,μ(MoKα) = 15.954 mm-1,F(000) = 5400, R1/wR2 = 0.0561/0.0909,共有6468个独立衍射点,其中[I > 2σ(I)]的有3157个。该化合物具有新颖的二维{(Hg2Cl5)[Er(C6NO2H4)3(H2O)2]}层状结构,由Hg2Cl5–连接[Er(C6NO2H4)3(H2O)2]链形成。该二维层和氯化汞及结晶水之间通过氢键形成三维结构,甲醇分子和水合锌离子位于该三维结构的空隙中。对化合物1的磁性测试显示该化合物具有反铁磁作用。     

A Dinuclear Mercury(II)‐Mediated Base Pair in DNA

The first dinuclear metal‐mediated base pair containing divalent metal ions has been prepared. A combination of the neutral bis(monodentate) purine derivative 1,N⁶‐ethenoadenine (ϵA), which preferentially binds two metal ions with a parallel alignment of the N−M bonds, and the canonical nucleobase thymine (T), which readily deprotonates in the presence of Hg^II and thereby partially compensates the charge accumulation due to the two closely spaced divalent metal ions, yields the dinuclear T‐Hg^II₂‐ϵA base pair. This metal‐mediated base pair stabilizes the DNA oligonucleotide duplex as shown by an increase of 8 °C in its melting temperature. Formation of the base pair was demonstrated by temperature‐dependent UV spectroscopy as well as by titration experiments monitored by UV and CD spectroscopy.