The triclinic polymorph of di­bromo[(–)‐sparteine‐κ2N,N′]­zinc(II)

The title compound, [ZnBr₂(C₁₅H₂₆N₂)], when synthesized starting from Zn⁰, is obtained in two polymorphic forms, one belonging to space group P2₁2₁2₁ and one to P1. The present contribution deals with the triclinic phase, which is isostructural with the orthorhombic form but presents a larger metal–metal intermolecular separation; the Zn⃛Zn distance is 7.4715 (6) Å for the triclinic polymorph as opposed to 6.534 Å for the orthorhombic polymorph.     

Spectroscopic studies of novel porphyrin-copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes that share the pinch-porphyrin family structure of iron(III) complex models of peroxidases

Six novel pinch-porphyrin complexes [(picdien)(protoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]copper(II) (7), [(picdien)(mesoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]copper(II) (8) and [(picdien)(deuteroporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]copper(II) (9), [(picdien)(protoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]zinc(II) (13), [(picdien)(mesoporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]zinc(II) (14) and [(picdien)(deuteroporphyrinate dimethyl ester)]zinc(II) (15), were prepared from the corresponding free copper(II)-porphyrins (4–6), and zinc(II)-porphyrins (10–12) and picdien (N-(3H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-N-{2-[(3H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-amino]-ethyl}-ethane-2,3-diamine). Spectroscopic studies show that complexes (7–9) and (13–15) have the pinch-porphyrin type structure previously found in iron(III) complex models of peroxidases. Complexes (7–9), were characterized by u.v.–vis., m.c.d., and e.s.r. spectroscopy. E.s.r. spectra of the copper parent compounds (4–6) at ca. 10^–2–10^–4 M concentrations were typical of copper(II)-dimers. The addition of the picdien ligand broke up the dimers as detected by e.s.r. Compounds (7–9) are predominantly monomeric at ca. 10^–3 M concentration. The presence of picdien in (7–9) distorts the porphyrin internal portion of the plane so as to make these four internal nitrogen atoms, coordinated to copper(II), e.s.r.-distinguishable. MO and ligand field theories were used to characterize and to evaluate the directional covalence parameters of compounds (7–9). A non-fully axial, out-of-the-porphyrin-plane bonding was found for (7–9), similar to the bonding of the pinch-porphyrins-iron(III). However the in-plane distortion produced by the presence of the picdien ligand on copper(II) is significantly larger than in pinch-porphyrin-iron(III). The n.m.r. data show that the porphyrin-zinc(II) is the less strained and has the weakest bonded structure. The coordination number of the pinch-porphyrin with iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II), is in all cases six.     

Magnetic properties and crystal structure of a one-dimensional phase of tetrakis(mu2-benzoato-O,O')-bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)dicopper(II)

A new crystalline polymorphic phase of tetrakis(mu2-benzoato-O,O')-bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)dicopper(II) was obtained by direct synthesis, in space group P2(1)/n. The copper coordination is in a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry with an intramolecular Cu...Cu distance of 2.6494(8) angstroms. The Cu-O distances of the two copper in a dimer are different, giving different chemical environments for each Cu ion. The crystal structure is built up of well-separated stacking columns oriented along the b-axis, with units uniformly spaced, producing a one-dimensional (1-D) zigzag chain through Cu(II)-S...S-Cu(II) interdimer interactions [S...S separation: 3.975(2) angstroms]. Magnetization measurements in the range 2-300 K indicate two magnetic orderings, at low temperature (T < 10 K) a weak ferromagnetic ordering is observed, and above this temperature an antiferromagnetic behavior takes place. ESR spectra at 300 and 77 K of a polycrystalline sample show the characteristic signal of zero-field with D = 0.354 cm(-1), consistent with a ferromagnetic Cu...Cu exchange interaction at low temperature.     

Industrial Waste Utilization for Low-Cost Production of Raw Material Oil Through Microbial Fermentation

In view of ever-growing demand of biodiesel, there is an urgent need to look for inexpensive and promising renewable raw material oils for its production. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of industrial wastes for low-cost production of oils through microbial fermentation. Among the strains tested, Yarrowia lipolytica grew best and produced highest lipid when grown on decanter effluent from palm oil mill. When crude glycerol by-product from a biodiesel plant was added into the effluent as a co-substrate, Y. lipolytica produced a higher biomass of 3.21 g/L and a higher amount of lipid of 2.21 g/L which was 68 % of the dry weight. The scale up and process improvement in a 5-L bioreactor increased the biomass and lipid up to 5.53 and 2.81 g/L, respectively. A semi-continuous mode of operation was an effective mode for biomass enhancement while a fed-batch mode was effective for lipid enhancement. These yeast lipids have potential to be used as biodiesel feedstocks because of their similar fatty acid composition to that of plant oil.     

A candidate for a single‐chain magnet: [Mn3(OAc)6(py)2(H2O)2]n (OAc is acetate and py is pyridine)

The title complex, catena‐poly[di‐μ₃‐acetato‐κ⁶O:O:O′‐tetra‐μ₂‐acetato‐κ⁴O:O;κ⁴O:O′‐diaquabis(pyridine‐κN)trimanganese(II)], [Mn₃(CH₃COO)₆(C₆H₅N)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, is a true one‐dimensional coordination polymer, in which the Mn^II centres form a zigzag chain along [010]. The asymmetric unit contains two metal centres, one of which (Mn1) lies on an inversion centre, while the other (Mn2) is placed close to an inversion centre on a general position. Since all the acetates behave as bridging ligands, although with different μ₂‐ and μ₃‐coordination modes, a one‐dimensional polymeric structure is formed, based on trinuclear repeat units (Mn1...Mn2...Mn2′), in which the Mn2 and Mn2′ sites are related by an inversion centre. Within this monomeric block, the metal–metal separations are Mn1...Mn2 = 3.36180 (18) Å and Mn2...Mn2′ = 4.4804 (3) Å. Cation Mn1, located on an inversion centre, displays an [MnO₆] coordination sphere, while Mn2, on a general position, has a slightly stronger [MnO₅N] ligand field, as the sixth coordination site is occupied by a pyridine molecule. Both centres approximate an octahedral ligand field. The chains are parallel in the crystal structure and interact via hydrogen bonds involving coordinated water molecules. However, the shortest metal–metal separation between two chains [5.3752 (3) Å] is large compared with the intrachain interactions. These structural features are compatible with a single‐chain magnet behaviour, as confirmed by preliminary magnetic studies.