Electrostatic interaction between ion-penetrable membranes in a salt-free medium

A set of coupled equations is given which determines the distributions of the electric potential and counterions in a system of two interacting identical ion-penetrable membranes of thickness d at separation h immersed in a salt-free medium containing only counterions. The solution to these coupled equations also gives the electrostatic repulsive force between the membranes. It is shown that the interaction force remains finite at h-->0, unlike the case of the interaction between two planar charged surfaces (d-->0), and that the interaction force becomes independent of the membrane fixed charge and membrane thickness d at very large h. Finally, an approximate single transcendental equation giving the solution to the coupled equations is derived.     

Optimized POCl3-assisted synthesis of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole/1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as anti-influenza agents

Although recent decades have witnessed the synthesis of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles via phosphorus POCl₃-promoted cyclization reaction, simultaneous access to 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole and 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole analogs remains unexpected and elusive. Herein, a detailed regiocontrolled synthesis of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles in good to high yields with good regioselectivities from readily available thiosemicarbazides using POCl₃ was disclosed. Meantime, to establish a comprehensive structure–activity relationship, 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as single regioisomers were prepared via EDCI·HCl-triggered cyclization of the thiosemicarbazide intermediates. The in vitro anti-influenza assays proved that the selected compounds with the pyrazine/pyridine ring exhibited certain inhibitory activities against influenza A virus strains A/HK/68 (H3N2) and A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) in MDCK cells. Among them, N-(adamantan-1-yl)-5-(5-(azepan-1-yl)pyrazin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine (4j) was the most active compound, and exhibited favorable activity with EC₅₀ values of 3.5 μM and 7.5 μM, respectively. In addition, the molecular docking results explained the reason why compound 4j had dual inhibitory activity and revealed the reasonable binding mode of this compound with the M2-S31N and M2-WT ion channels. This compound had the potential to be further developed as an anti-influenza drug.     

Incorporation of rare-earth ions in Mg-Al layered double hydroxides: intercalation with an [Eu(EDTA)] chelate

Reaction of an aqueous slurry of an Mg₂Al-NO₃ layered double hydroxide with a four-fold excess of Na[Eu(EDTA)] gives a material which analyses for Mg_0.68Al_0.32(OH)₂[Eu(EDTA)]_0.10(CO₃)_0.11·0.66H₂O. The interlayer spacing of the material is 13.8 Å, corresponding to a gallery height of 9.0 Å, which accords with the maximal dimensions (9-10 Å) of the anion in metal-EDTA complex salts as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Geometrical considerations show that the charge density on the layered double hydroxide layers is too high to be balanced by intercalation of [Eu(EDTA)]⁻ alone, necessitating the co-intercalation of carbonate ions which have a much higher charge density.     

Syntheses, structures, and vibrational spectroscopy of the two-dimensional iodates Ln(IO3)3 and Ln(IO3)3(H2O) (LnYb, Lu)

The reaction of Lu³⁺ or Yb³⁺ and H₅IO₆ in aqueous media at 180 °C leads to the formation of Yb(IO₃)₃(H₂O) or Lu(IO₃)₃(H₂O), respectively, while the reaction of Yb metal with H₅IO₆ under similar reaction conditions gives rise to the anhydrous iodate, Yb(IO₃)₃. Under supercritical conditions Lu³⁺ reacts with HIO₃ and KIO₄ to yield the isostructural Lu(IO₃)₃. The structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data are (MoKα, λ=0.71073 Å): Yb(IO₃)₃, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=8.6664(9) Å, b=5.9904(6) Å, c=14.8826(15) Å, β=96.931(2)°, V=766.99(13), Z=4, R(F)=4.23% for 114 parameters with 1880 reflections with I>2σ(I); Lu(IO₃)₃, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=8.6410(9), b=5.9961(6), c=14.8782(16) Å, β=97.028(2)°, V=765.08(14), Z=4, R(F)=2.65% for 119 parameters with 1756 reflections with I>2σ(I); Yb(IO₃)₃(H₂O), monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=27.2476(15), b=5.6296(3), c=12.0157(7) Å, β=98.636(1)°, V=1822.2(2), Z=8, R(F)=1.51% for 128 parameters with 2250 reflections with I>2σ(I); Lu(IO₃)₃(H₂O), monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=27.258(4), b=5.6251(7), c=12.0006(16) Å, β=98.704(2)°, V=1818.8(4), Z=8, R(F)=1.98% for 128 parameters with 2242 reflections with I>2σ(I). The f elements in all of the compounds are found in seven-coordinate environments and bridged with monodentate, bidentate, or tridentate iodate anions. Both Lu(IO₃)₃(H₂O) and Yb(IO₃)₃(H₂O) display distinctively different vibrational profiles from their respective anhydrous analogs. Hence, the Raman profile can be used as a complementary diagnostic tool to discern the different structural motifs of the compounds.     

Synthesis and characterization of new strontium 4-carboxyphenylphosphonates

Several new strontium 4-carboxyphenylphosphonates, i.e., two modifications of Sr(HOOCC₆H₄PO₃H)₂, SrH(OOCC₆H₄PO₃)·H₂O, Sr₃(OOCC₆H₄PO₃)₂·4H₂O and Sr₃(OOCC₆H₄PO₃)₂·5.7H₂O were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. It was found that the compositions of these compounds depend on the acidity of the reaction medium. In addition, the presented compounds are interconvertible in dependence on pH. The position of the acid hydrogen atom in SrH(OOCC₆H₄PO₃)·H₂O was determined from the IR spectra of the studied compounds.The structure of the β modification of Sr(HOOCC₆H₄PO₃H)₂ was solved from its X-ray powder diffraction pattern using an ab initio method (the FOX program) with subsequent Rietveld refinement in the FULLPROF program. The compound is monoclinic, with the space group P2₁/c (No. 14), a=49.88(2), b=7.867(2), c=5.602(3) Å, β=128.68(2)°, and Z=4. It has a one-dimensional structure with an inorganic part built of SrO₈ distorted tetragonal antiprisms.     

Cu2(bipy)2V6O17: A new type of layered inorganic–organic hybrid copper(II) vanadate

Hydrothermal reaction of copper(II) acetate, 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) and NH₄VO₃ at 170 °C lead to a new layered polyoxovanadate with organically covalent-bonded copper(II) complex, Cu₂(bipy)₂V₆O₁₇ (1). Cu₂(bipy)₂V₆O₁₇ (1) is a new copper(II) vanadium(V) oxide featuring a new layered architecture, in which the V₂O₇ dimeric units and the cyclic tetranuclear V₄O₁₂ cluster units are interconnected via corner sharing into a unique one-dimensional {V₆O₁₇}⁴⁻ anionic chain, such chains are further bridged by {Cu(bipy)}²⁺ complex cations into a 010 organic–inorganic hybrid layer.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of Cs6[(UO2)4(W5O21)(OH)2(H2O)2]: a new polar uranyl tungstate

The hydrothermal reaction of UO₃, WO₃, and CsIO₄ leads to the formation of Cs₆[(UO₂)₄(W₅O₂₁)(OH)₂(H₂O)₂] and UO₂(IO₃)₂(H₂O). Cs₆[(UO₂)₄(W₅O₂₁)(OH)₂(H₂O)₂] is the first example of a hydrothermally synthesized uranyl tungstate. It's structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data: tetragonal, space group I4 cm, , , Z=4, MoKα, , R(F)=2.84% for 135 parameters with 2300 reflections with I>2σ(I). The structure is comprised of two-dimensional anionic layers that are separated by Cs⁺ cations. The coordination polyhedra found in the novel layers consist of UO₇ pentagonal bipyramids, WO₆ distorted octahedra, and WO₅ square pyramids. The UO₇ polyhedra are formed from the binding of five equatorial oxygen atoms around a central uranyl, UO₂²⁺, unit. Both bridging and terminal oxo ligands are employed in forming the WO₅ square pyramidal units, while oxo, hydroxo, and aqua ligands are found in the WO₆ distorted octahedra. In the layers, four (UO₂)O₅ polyhedra corner share with equatorial oxygen atoms to form a U₄O₂₄ tetramer entity with a square site in the center; a tungsten atom populates the center of each of these sites to form a U₄WO₂₅ pentamer unit. The pentamer units that result are connected in two dimensions by edge-shared dimers of WO₆ octahedra to form the two-dimensional [(UO₂)₄(W₅O₂₁)(OH)₂(H₂O)₂]^6- layers. The lack of inversion symmetry in Cs₆[(UO₂)₄(W₅O₂₁)(OH)₂(H₂O)₂] can be directly contributed to the WO₅ square pyramids found in the pentamer units. In the structure, all of these polar polyhedra align their terminal oxygens in the same orientation, along the c axis, thus resulting in a polar compound.     

The extraction,antioxidant and against β-amyloid induced toxicity of polyphenols from Alsophila spinulosa leaves

Alsophila spinulosa is a tree-like fern, and many evidences suggested that plant polyphenols had the potential therapeutic for Alzheimer s disease (AD). Herein, polyphenols (ASP) was isolated from A. spinulosa leaves and its major constituent were isoorientin and vitexin. ASP displayed excellent antioxidant activity and obvious anti-lipid peroxidation capacity in vitro. ASP improved the survival rate of C. elegans under high temperature by enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities and decreasing the lipid peroxidation level. Moreover, ASP alleviated β-amyloid (Aβ) induced paralysis and reduced Aβ deposition, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and improved the level of skn-1 mRNA. In addition, ASP decreased the levels of pdk-1 and akt-1 mRNA in P13K/AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, ASP may be a potential ingredient for the alleviation of AD.     

Hydrothermal syntheses, characterizations and crystal structures of three new cadmium (II) amino-diphosphonates: effects of substitute groups on the structures of metal phosphonates

Hydrothermal reactions of cadmium(II) chloride with three amino-diphosphonic acids, C₆H₅CH₂N(CH₂PO₃H₂)₂ (H₄L¹), C₆H₅CH₂CH₂N(CH₂PO₃H₂)₂ (H₄L²) and 4-CH₃-C₆H₄CH₂N (CH₂PO₃H₂)₂) (H₄L³) resulted in three new metal amino-diphosphonates, namely, Cd(H₃L¹)₂, 1 Cd(H₃L²)₂·2H₂O 2 and Cd(H₃L³)₂3. In all three complexes, the Cd(II) ion is octahedrally coordinated by six phosphonate oxygen atoms from six ligands. Complexes 1 and 3 have a similar structure in which the CdO₆ octahedra are cross-linked by bridging ligands into a double chain along the c-axis, such double chains are further interlinked via hydrogen bonds between non-coordinated phosphonate oxygen atoms to form 〈100〉 and 〈200〉 layers with the phenyl groups of the ligands orientated toward the interlayer space. The structure of complex 2 features a 〈100〉 cadmium(II) diphosphonate layer. The effects of the substitute groups attached to the amine groups on the structures of the metal phosphonates are also discussed.     

Microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis of tin niobates nanosheets with high cycle stability as lithium-ion battery anodes

SnNb₂O₆ and Sn₂Nb₂O₇ nanosheets were synthetized via microwave assisted hydrothermal method, and innovatively employed as anode materials for lithium-ion battery. Compared with Sn₂Nb₂O₇ and the previously reported pure Sn-based anode materials, the SnNb₂O₆ electrode exhibited outstanding cycling performance.