Biligand metal chelates of 1,10-phenanthroline and several salicyclic acid derivatives in solution

Summary Mixed ligand complexes of copper(II), zinc(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) ions involving 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as primary and 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (dnsa), 5-nitrosalicylic acid (nsa), 5-chlorosalicylic acid (csa) and 3,5-dibromosalicylic acid (dbsa) as secondary ligands in solution have been investigated potentiometrically [25°, µ = 0.1 M [NaClO₄], medium 50% v: v aqueous ethanol]. The stability order of mixed ligand complexes with respect to the metal ions obeys the natural order: cobalt(II) < nickel(II) < copper(II) > zinc(II). The stabilities of the heterometal chelates have been compared with the corresponding homometal chelates of the secondary ligands and have been interpreted in terms of metal-ligand effects and coulombic interactions between various ligand anion species present.     

Structure–reactivity studies of chloro and isothiocyanato diorganotin (IV) complexes based on multidentate N‐donor ligands: Synthesis,spectral characterization and crystal structures

The reaction of [SnMe₂Cl₂] with the bidentate ligand 4,7‐phenanthroline (4,7‐phen) resulted in the formation of [SnMe₂Cl₂ (4,7‐phen)]_n ( 1a ) which is probably a polymeric chain in solution. On the other hand, the reaction of [SnEt₂Cl₂] with 4,7‐phen afforded the complex [Sn₂Et₄Cl₄ (κ¹‐N‐4,7‐phen)₂(μ‐κ²‐N,N‐4,7‐phen)] ( 1b ) which dissociates in dimethylsulfoxide solution. The reaction of [SnR₂Cl₂] (R = Me, Et) with 2,2′‐biquinoline (biq) yielded the complexes [SnMe₂Cl₂ (κ²‐N,N‐biq)] ( 2a ) and [SnEt₂Cl₂ (κ¹‐N‐biq)₂] ( 2b ) in the solid state. Moreover, the reaction of [SnR₂Cl₂] (R = Me, Et) with the tridentate ligand 4′‐(2‐furyl)‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine (ftpy) resulted in the formation of ionic penta‐ and hexa‐coordinated tin complexes [SnMe₂Cl (ftpy)][SnMe₂Cl₃] ( 3a ) and [SnEt₂Cl (ftpy)]Cl ( 3b ). The reaction of [SnMe₂ (NCS)₂] with ftpy afforded the hepta‐coordinated complex [SnMe₂ (NCS)₂(ftpy)] ( 4a ). The products were fully characterized using elemental analysis, and infrared, UV–visible, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, DEPT‐135°, HH‐COSY and HSQC NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure of complex 3a reveals that it contains the simultaneous presence of penta‐ and hexa‐coordinated tin (IV) atoms. Notably, the crystal structure of complex 4a shows that tin (IV) is hepta‐coordinated in a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry SnC₂N₅ by three nitrogen atoms of ftpy, two nitrogen atoms of NCS^? and two Me groups with trans‐[SnMe₂] configuration. These data indicate the influence of halide or pseudo‐halide group on the coordination number and geometry of tin. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two‐dimensional fingerprint plots were calculated for 3a and 4a which show the π–π interaction between molecules in the solid is relatively weak.     

Elimination of autofluorescence background from fluorescence tissue images by use of time-gated detection and the AzaDiOxaTriAngulenium (ADOTA) fluorophore

Sample autofluorescence (fluorescence of inherent components of tissue and fixative-induced fluorescence) is a significant problem in direct imaging of molecular processes in biological samples. A large variety of naturally occurring fluorescent components in tissue results in broad emission that overlaps the emission of typical fluorescent dyes used for tissue labeling. In addition, autofluorescence is characterized by complex fluorescence intensity decay composed of multiple components whose lifetimes range from sub-nanoseconds to a few nanoseconds. For these reasons, the real fluorescence signal of the probe is difficult to separate from the unwanted autofluorescence. Here we present a method for reducing the autofluorescence problem by utilizing an azadioxatriangulenium (ADOTA) dye with a fluorescence lifetime of approximately 15 ns, much longer than those of most of the components of autofluorescence. A probe with such a long lifetime enables us to use time-gated intensity imaging to separate the signal of the targeting dye from the autofluorescence. We have shown experimentally that by discarding photons detected within the first 20 ns of the excitation pulse, the signal-to-background ratio is improved fivefold. This time-gating eliminates over 96 % of autofluorescence. Analysis using a variable time-gate may enable quantitative determination of the bound probe without the contributions from the background.     

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Non-enzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Nanostructured Co3O4 Thin Films Using the Sol-gel Method

In this work we report an easy and efficient way to fabricate nanostructured cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) thin films as a non-enzymatic sensor for H₂O₂ detection. Co₃O₄ thin films were grown on ITO glass substrates via the sol-gel method and characterized with several techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical absorbance. The Co₃O₄ thin films’ performance regarding hydrogen peroxide detection was studied in a 0.1 M NaOH solution using two techniques, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry. The films exhibited a high sensitivity of 1450 μA.mM⁻¹.cm⁻², a wide linear range from 0.05 μM to 1.1 mM, and a very low detection limit of 18 nM. Likewise, the Co₃O₄ thin films produced showed an exceptional stability and a high selectivity.     

Insertion of tin(II) bromide into Pt–X (X = Cl,Br) bond of dimethylplatinum(IV) complexes: A novel polymorphic form of [PtBr2(bpy)]

The platinum(II) complex [PtMe₂(bpy)] (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) reacted with a large excess of dihaloalkanes X(CH₂)_nX (n = 1, X = Cl; n = 4, X = Br) to form the platinum(IV) complexes [PtMe₂X{(CH₂)_nX}(bpy)] (n = 1, X = Cl, 1a; n = 4, X = Br, 1b). The reaction of complexes 1a and 1b with SnBr₂ resulted in insertion of SnBr₂ into Pt–X (X = Cl, Br) bond to afford the trihalostannyl complexes [PtMe₂(SnBr₂X){(CH₂)_nX}(bpy)] (n = 1, X = Cl, 2a; n = 4, X = Br, 2b). The synthesis of such trihalostannylplatinum(IV) complexes is reported for the first time. The complex 2a was decomposed in CH₂Cl₂ solution and single crystals of [PtBr₂(bpy)] (3a) were obtained. The X-ray structure determination of 3a revealed a new polymorphic form of [PtBr₂(bpy)]. The molecules undergo a remarkable stacking along the b-axis to form a zigzag Pt?Pt?Pt chain containing both short (3.799 Å) and long (5.175 Å) Pt?Pt separations through the crystal. The crystal structure is compared to that of the yellow modification of [PtBr₂(bpy)].     

Structural study and physical properties of a new phosphate KCuFe(PO4)2

Single crystals of a new phosphate KCuFe(PO₄)₂ have been prepared by the flux method and its structural and physical properties have been investigated. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the space group P2₁/n and its parameters are: a=7.958(3) Å, b=9.931(2) Å, c=9.039(2) Å, β=115.59(3)° and Z=4. Its structure consists of FeO₆ octahedra sharing corners with Cu₂O₈ units of edge-sharing CuO₅ polyhedra to form undulating chains extending infinitely along the b-axis. These chains are connected by the phosphate tetrahedra giving rise to a 3D framework with six-sided tunnels parallel to the [101] direction, where the K⁺ ions are located. The Mössbauer spectroscopy results confirm the exclusive presence of octahedral Fe³⁺ ions. The magnetic measurements show the compound to be antiferromagnetic with C_m=5.71 emu K/mol and θ=−156.5 K. The derived experimental effective moment μ_ex=6.76μ_B is somewhat higher than the theoretical one of μ_th=6.16μ_B, calculated taking only into account the spin contribution for Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ cations. Electrical measurements allow us to obtain the activation energy (1.22 eV) and the conductivity measurements suggest that the charge carriers through the structure are the potassium cations.     

Detection of delamination defects in CFRP materials using ultrasonic signal processing

In this paper, signal processing techniques are tested for their ability to resolve echoes associated with delaminations in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer multi-layered composite materials (CFRP) detected by ultrasonic methods. These methods include split spectrum processing (SSP) and the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. A simulation study on defect detection was performed, and results were validated experimentally on CFRP with and without delamination defects taken from aircraft. Comparison of the methods for their ability to resolve echoes are made.     

Effect of styrene–acrylonitrile content on 0.5?M NaI/0.05?M I2 liquid electrolyte encapsulation for dye-sensitized solar cells

The effect of a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) as the redox electrolyte used in dye-sensitized solar cells was studied. A GPE solution consisting of 0.5?M sodium iodide, 0.05?M iodine, and ethylene carbonate/propylene carbonate (1:1 w/w) binary solvents was mixed with increasing amounts of styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN). Bulk conductivity measurements show a decreasing trend from 4.54 to 0.83×10^?3?S?cm^?1 with increasing SAN content. The GPE exhibits Newtonian-like behavior and its viscosity increases from 0.041 to 1.093?Pa?s with increasing SAN content. A balance between conductivity (1.3?×?10^?3?S?cm^?1) and viscosity (1.4?Pa?s) is observed at 19?wt.% SAN. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy detects elevated ring torsion at 706?cm^?1 upon the addition of SAN into the liquid electrolyte. This indicates that SAN does not bond with the liquid electrolyte. Finally, the potential stability window of 19?wt.% SAN, which ranges from ?1.68 to 1.38?V, proves its applicability in solar cells.     

Green synthesis of biogenic metal nanoparticles by terrestrial and aquatic phototrophic and heterotrophic eukaryotes and biocompatible agents

The size, shape and controlled dispersity of nanoparticles play a vital role in determining the physical, chemical, optical and electronic properties attributing its applications in environmental, biotechnological and biomedical fields. Various physical and chemical processes have been exploited in the synthesis of several inorganic metal nanoparticles by wet and dry approaches viz., ultraviolet irradiation, aerosol technologies, lithography, laser ablation, ultrasonic fields, and photochemical reduction techniques. However, these methodologies remain expensive and involve the use of hazardous chemicals. Therefore, there is a growing concern for the development of alternative environment friendly and sustainable methods. Increasing awareness towards green chemistry and biological processes has led to a necessity to develop simple, cost-effective and eco-friendly procedures. Phototrophic eukaryotes such as plants, algae, and diatoms and heterotrophic human cell lines and some biocompatible agents have been reported to synthesize greener nanoparticles like cobalt, copper, silver, gold, bimetallic alloys, silica, palladium, platinum, iridium, magnetite and quantum dots. Owing to the diversity and sustainability, the use of phototrophic and heterotrophic eukaryotes and biocompatible agents for the synthesis of nanomaterials is yet to be fully explored. This review describes the recent advancements in the green synthesis and applications of metal nanoparticles by plants, aquatic autotrophs, human cell lines, biocompatible agents and biomolecules.