Green photoluminescence from platinum(II) complexes bearing silylacetylide ligands

The synthesis, structural characterization, photoluminescence properties, and density functional theory analysis of three Pt(II) diimine complexes, Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond CR)2 [dbbpy = 4,4'-di(tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine; R = -SiMe3, -CC-SiMe3, or -t-Bu], are presented. The Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond C-tBu)2 complex serves as a carbon-based ligand structure for which the photophysical properties of the two silicon-bearing complexes are compared in dichloromethane. Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond C-SiMe3)2 and Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond C-C triple bond C-SiMe3)2 display visible absorptions with strong green emission (lambda(emmax) = 526 and 524 nm, respectively) while Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond C-t-Bu)2 displays efficient, long-lived yellow emission (lambda(emmax) = 557 nm). Direct side by side comparisons of Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond C-SiMe3)2 and Pt(dbbpy)(C triple bond C-t-Bu)2 suggest that the difference in excited state energy results from the relative sigma-donor strength of the acetylide ligands.     

Enantioselective synthesis and selective monofunctionalization of (4R,6R)-4,6- dihydroxy-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane

An efficient, enantioselective synthesis of a disubstituted bis-THF scaffold 5 is described, as well as an efficient differentiation of the 1,3-diol unit. [reaction: see text]     

Excited-state absorption properties of platinum(II) terpyridyl acetylides

A comprehensive photophysical study is presented which compares the ground- and excited-state properties of four platinum(II) terpyridyl acetylide compounds of the general formula [Pt(tBu3tpy)(CCR)]+, where tBu3tpy is 4,4',4' '-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and R is an alkyl or aryl group. [Ru(tBu3tpy)3]2+ and the pivotal synthetic precursor [Pt(tBu3tpy)Cl]+ were also investigated in the current work. The latter two complexes possess short excited-state lifetimes and were investigated using ultrafast spectrometry while the other four compounds were evaluated using conventional nanosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy. The original intention of this study was to comprehend the nature of the impressive excited-state absorptions that emanate from this class of transition-metal chromophores. Transient-absorbance-difference spectra across the series contain the same salient features, which are modulated only slightly in wavelength and markedly in intensity as a function of the appended acetylide ligand. More intense absorption transients are observed in the arylacetylide structures relative to those bearing an alkylacetylide, consistent with transitions coupled to the pi system of the ancillary ligand. Reductive spectroelectrochemical measurements successfully generated the electronic spectrum of the tBu3tpy radical anion in all six complexes at room temperature. These measurements confirm that electronic absorptions associated with the tBu3tpy radical anion simply do not account for the intense optical transitions observed in the excited state of the Pt(II) chromophores. Transient-trapping experiments using the spectroscopically silent reductive quencher DABCO clearly demonstrate the loss of most transient-absorption features in the acetylide complexes throughout the UV, visible, and near-IR regions following bimolecular excited-state electron transfer, suggesting that these features are strongly tied to the photogenerated hole which is delocalized across the Pt center and the ancillary acetylide ligand.     

Synthesis of 2-(1-aminocyclopropyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diol derivatives applying titanium-mediated reaction conditions

The titanium-mediated cyclopropanation reaction using Ti(OⁱPr)₃Me/EtMgBr/BF₃·OEt₂ has been applied to various 2-cyanopyrrolidines for the synthesis of functionalized 2-(1-aminocyclopropyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diol derivatives (dideoxyiminoalditols). Under the same experimental conditions the trans-5-azidomethyl-2-cyanopyrrolidine derivative was not cyclopropanated but reduced into the corresponding 5-amino-2-cyano derivative. After polyol deprotection 2-(1-aminocyclopropyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diols were obtained and their inhibitory activity towards 13 glycosidases has been evaluated. (2S,3S,4R,5S)-2-(1-Aminocyclopropyl)-5-methylpyrrolidine-3,4-diol (38), which has the same absolute configuration as l-fucose, is a moderate (IC₅₀=44 μM), but selective, inhibitor of α-l-fucosidase from human placenta.     

The status of strontium in biological apatites: an XANES/EXAFS investigation

Osteoporosis represents a major public health problem through its association with fragility fractures. The public health burden of osteoporotic fractures will rise in future generations, due in part to an increase in life expectancy. Strontium‐based drugs have been shown to increase bone mass in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients and to reduce fracture risk but the molecular mechanisms of the action of these Sr‐based drugs are not totally elucidated. The local environment of Sr²⁺ cations in biological apatites present in pathological and physiological calcifications in patients without such Sr‐based drugs has been assessed. In this investigation, X‐ray absorption spectra have been collected for 17 pathological and physiological calcifications. These experimental data have been combined with a set of numerical simulations using the ab initioFEFF9 X‐ray spectroscopy program which takes into account possible distortion and Ca/Sr substitution in the environment of the Sr²⁺ cations. For selected samples, Fourier transforms of the EXAFS modulations have been performed. The complete set of experimental data collected on 17 samples indicates that there is no relationship between the nature of the calcification (physiological and pathological) and the adsorption mode of Sr²⁺ cations (simple adsorption or insertion). Such structural considerations have medical implications. Pathological and physiological calcifications correspond to two very different preparation procedures but are associated with the same localization of Sr²⁺versus apatite crystals. Based on this study, it seems that for supplementation of Sr at low concentration, Sr²⁺ cations will be localized into the apatite network.     

Ultrafast excited state dynamics of Pt(II) chromophores bearing multiple infrared absorbers

The paper reports the synthesis, structural characterization, electrochemistry, ultrafast time-resolved infrared (TRIR) and transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy associated with two independent d (8) square planar Pt(II) diimine chromophores, Pt(dnpebpy)Cl 2 ( 1) and Pt(dnpebpy)(C[triple bond]Cnaph) 2 ( 2), where dnpebpy = 4,4'-(CO 2CH 2- (t) Bu) 2-2,2'-bipyridine and CCnaph = naphthylacetylide. The neopentyl ester substitutions provided markedly improved complex solubility relative to the corresponding ethyl ester which facilitates synthetic elaboration as well as spectroscopic investigations. Following 400 nm pulsed laser excitation in CH 2Cl 2, the 23 cm (-1) red shift in the nu C=O vibrations in 1 are representative of a complex displaying a lowest charge-transfer-to-diimine (CT) excited state. The decay kinetics in 1 are composed of two time constants assigned to vibrational cooling of the (3)CT excited-state concomitant with its decay to the ground state (tau = 2.2 +/- 0.4 ps), and to cooling of the formed vibrationally hot ground electronic state (tau = 15.5 +/- 4.0 ps); we note that an assignment of the latter to a ligand field state cannot be excluded. Ultrafast TA data quantitatively support these assignments yielding an excited-state lifetime of 2.7 +/- 0.4 ps for the (3)CT excited-state of 1 and could not detect any longer-lived species. The primary intention of this study was to develop a Pt (II) complex ( 2) bearing dual infrared spectroscopic tags (C[triple bond]C attached to the metal and CO (ester) attached to the diimine ligand) to independently track the movement of charge density in different segments of the molecule following pulsed light excitation. Femtosecond laser excitation of 2 in CH 2Cl 2 at 400 nm simultaneously induces a red-shift in both the nu C=O (-30 cm (-1)) and the nu C[triple bond]C (-61 cm (-1)) vibrations. The TRIR data in 2 are consistent with a charge transfer assignment, and the significant decrease of the energy of the nu C[triple bond]C vibration suggests a considerable contribution from the acetylide ligands in the highest occupied molecular orbital. Therefore, we assign the lowest energy optical transitions in 2 as a combination of metal-to-ligand and ligand-to-ligand charge transfers. The excited-state of 2 is emissive at RT, with an emission maximum at 715 nm, quantum yield of 0.0012, and lifetime of 23 ns.     

Calcifications in human osteoarthritic articular cartilage: ex vivo assessment of calcium compounds using XANES spectroscopy

Calcium (Ca²⁺)‐containing crystals (CCs), including basic Ca²⁺ phosphate (BCP) and Ca²⁺ pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals, are associated with severe forms of osteoarthritis (OA). Growing evidence supports a role for abnormal articular cartilage mineralization in the pathogenesis of OA. However, the role of Ca²⁺ compounds in this mineralization process remains poorly understood. Six patients, who underwent total knee joint replacement for primary OA, have been considered in this study. Cartilage from femoral condyles and tibial plateaus in the medial and lateral compartments was collected as 1 mm‐thick slices cut tangentially to the articular surface. First, CCs presence and biochemical composition were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). Next, Ca²⁺ compound biochemical form was further assessed using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) performed at the Ca²⁺K‐absorption edge. Overall, 12 cartilage samples were assessed. Using FT‐IR, BCP and CPPD crystals were detected in four and three out of 12 samples, respectively. Ca²⁺ compound biochemical forms differed between areas with versus without CCs, when compared using XAS. The complete set of data shows that XANES spectroscopy can be used to accurately characterize sparse CCs in human OA cartilage. It is found that Ca²⁺ compounds differ between calcified and non‐calcified cartilage areas. In calcified areas they appear to be mainly involved in calcifications, namely Ca²⁺ crystals.     

Investigation of Cl corrosion products of iron archaeological artefacts using micro-focused synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Synchrotron-based micro-X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used in the present study to obtain chemical information at the microscopic scale such as coordination and oxidation state of Fe atoms in phases constituting corrosion products within archaeological iron artefacts buried in soil. This technique is required in order to answer questions about the iron corrosion process related to the presence of chloride, particularly for restoration and conservation of metallic artefacts of the cultural heritage. The samples available for X-ray microprobe analyses are cross sections from corroded iron archaeological objects. Previously, complementary techniques have been used such as μXRD and μRaman. This specific study applies micro-X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the spatial variation of the predominant Fe oxidation state and to identify the corresponding crystallographic phase. The analyses performed at Fe and Cl K-edges (μXANES) reveal the correlation between the valence distribution in the corrosion products and the evolution of the chloride concentration. In addition to the presence of the well-known iron oxyhydroxide β-FeOOH: akaganeite, we highlight the presence of another important phase, the β-Fe₂(OH)₃Clhydroxychloride. These important findings help to gain new insights concerning the influence of such phases in the iron corrosion mechanism within their precise characterization. PACS 61.10.Ht; 61.10.-i; 68.49.Uv