Synthesis and structure of a zinc(II)-carboxylate trimer containing the π···π stacking, 1,8-naphthalimide synthon: A supramolecular metal-organic framework

The reaction of the bifunctional ligand 3-(1,8-naphthalimido)propanoate (L_C2⁻), which combines a 1,8-naphthalimide strong π···π stacking synthon and a carboxylate donor group, with Zn(O₂CCH₃)₂(H₂O)₂ in methanol yields trimetallic Zn₃(L_C2)₆(MeOH)₄. The solid state structure has a central zinc(II) linked to two equivalent outer zinc(II) by both μ-κ¹ and μ-κ² carboxylate ligands. The two equivalent five-coordinate terminal zinc centers are also bonded to a third nonbridging κ²-carboxylate and to the oxygen atom of a methanol molecule. The central zinc(II) is six-coordinate with the four bridging carboxylate oxygen atoms forming a square planar arrangement and two trans oriented methanol molecules completing the coordination sphere. These trimers are organized into an extended structure exclusively by noncovalent interactions. Two types of strong π···π stacking interactions between sets of three stacked naphthalimide rings from three different trinuclear molecules organize the structure into two-dimensional thick sheets. The third dimension is organized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the methanol molecules bonded to the terminal zinc(II) and the free oxygen of the μ-κ¹-carboxylates from adjacent trimeric units. This interaction is supported by weak π···π stacking. Overall the structure is a highly organized supramolecular metal-organic framework (SMOF) solid.     

Dinuclear triply bridged copper(II)-carboxylato compounds with different bischelating ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties

Three new triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds containing carboxylato bridges, [Cu₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹)(dpyam)₂](BF₄) (1), [Cu₂(μ-CH₂CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)(μ-OH)(μ-OH₂)(bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Cu₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)(μ-OH)(μ-OH₂)(phen)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) (in which dpyam = di-2-pyridylamine, bpy = 2,2-bipyridine, phen = phenanthroline), have been synthesized in order to investigate the magnetic super-exchange pathway between coupled copper(II) centres. All three compounds display a distorted square-pyramidal arrangement around each copper(II) ion with a CuN₂O₃ chromophore. Compound 1 has three acetato bridges, two of which connect each square pyramid at two equatorial sites in a triatomic bridging mode and the third acetato bridge acts at the apical site in the monoatomic bridging mode. The structures of compounds 2 and 3 are mutually similar. In each dinuclear unit, both copper(II) ions are linked at two equatorial positions through a hydroxo bridge and a triatomic carboxylato bridge and at the axial position through a water molecule.The magnetic susceptibility measurements, measured from 5 to 300 K, revealed an antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) ions in compound 1 and a ferromagnetic interaction for compounds 2 and 3 with singlet-triplet energy gaps (J) of −56, 149 and 120 cm⁻¹, for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of 0D-, 1D- and 3D-metal compounds of 4-(pyrid-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazole with zinc(II) and cadmium(II)

The potentially tritopic bridging ligand 4-(pyrid-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (pytz) reacts with cadmium(II) nitrate tetrahydrate, Cd(NO₃)₂·4H₂O and sodium dicyanamide (Na-dca) to form the molecular complex [Cd(dca)₂(κN_py-pytz)₂(H₂O)₂] (1). The cadmium atom lies on a center of inversion and is coordinated in a slightly distorted octahedral geometry by the trans-oriented pytz ligands, dicyanamide anions and aqua ligands. The pytz ligand coordinates through the N_pyridin atom to the metal atom. The molecular complexes are connected to a 3D supramolecular network by O-H···N_dca and O-H···N_triazole hydrogen bonds. From zinc(II) bromide and pytz the compound 1D-[ZnBr₂(μ-κN_py,N_tz-pytz)] (2) is obtained where the pytz-ligand bridges between the tetracoordinated zinc(II) atoms through coordination of its N_pyridine- and N_triazole-atoms. Adjacent chains are connected through C-H···Br and C-H···N hydrogen bonds to form a 3D supramolecular structure. Single crystals of 2 crystallize homochiral in the non-centrosymmetric space group P2₁2₁2₁. The origin of the homochirality is the formation of hydrogen-bonded helices around the 2₁ screw axes with the same sense of rotation (left-handed or M in the investigated crystal). Cd(NO₃)₂·4H₂O, pytz and sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) give the framework 3D-[Cd(μ-SCN)₂(μ-κN_py,N_tz-pytz)] (3). Parallel layers of 2D-{Cd(μ-SCN)₂}-nets with distorted (6,3)-net topology are assembled by the bridging pytz-ligands into a 3D-structure. The pytz-ligand bridges between two cadmium atoms by N_pyridine- and N_triazole-coordination.     

Synthesis, characterisation and crystal structure of hydroxylamido-κN,O(iodo)[tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borato]nitrosylmolybdenum(II)

The unusual 18e seven-coordinate Mo(II) complex [Mo(NO)(H₂NO-κ²N,O)(Tp^Me2)I] (1; [Tp^Me2]⁻ is hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) has been synthesised and characterised by IR, ¹H NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopies and by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The complex has a distorted pentagonal bipyramid structure with equatorial κ²-NH₂O⁻ ligand (d_N-O = 1.387 Å, d_Mo-N and d_Mo-O equal 2.049 and 2.092 Å, respectively). In the solid state 1 exists as a dimer (the point group C_i) due to the formation of two NH?O hydrogen bonds (d_N-H?O = 2.064 Å) between the adjacent NH₂O⁻ ligands, whilst in solution at/or above RT it resolves itself giving a monomer, which readily isomerises to more thermodynamically stable diastereoisomer.     

Phosphomolybdate cluster based solids mediated by transition metal complexes

Reaction of molybdate and phosphate precursors in the presence of 3d transition metal ions and pyrazole (pz) under hydrothermal condition resulted in the crystallization of four new phosphomolybdate cluster based solids: (pz)₂[{Co(pz)₄}₅{P₂Mo₅O₂₃}₂]·6H₂O (1), (pz){Ni(pz)₄(H₂O)₂}[{Ni(pz)₄}₅{P₂Mo₅O₂₃}₂]·2H₂O (2), {Cu(pz)₄(H₂O)₂}[{Cu(pz)₄}{Cu(pz)₄(H₂O)}{P₂Mo₅O₂₃}]·2H₂O (3) and (pz)[{Zn(pz)₃}₃{P₂Mo₅O₂₃}]·2H₂O (4). In all the solids, a metal complex {M(pz)_n} covalently links{P₂Mo₅O₂₃} clusters to form a chain. The dimensionality of the structures differs in the way the chains link or self assemble with counter ions and water molecules. To the best of our knowledge, 4 is the first example of a zinc complex incorporated with {P₂Mo₅O₂₃} cluster. The paper discusses the self assembly occurring between in situ metal pyrazole complex and phosphomolybdate clusters through coordinate/covalent and noncovalent interactions during crystallization of a particular solid.     

Unusual ligand design: A platinum(II) mediated [2+2] photocycloaddition followed by a nickel(II) induced methoxyactivation

The novel dimer of the composition [Pt₂Cl₄(μ-(κP¹:κP²-o-MeO-trans-dppen))₂] (1) (o-MeO-trans-dppen = 1,2-(bis(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphanyl)ethylene) has been prepared and characterized by a single crystal X-ray structure analysis, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. This latter compound undergoes a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction yielding the tetraphosphane all-trans-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(di(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphanyl)cyclobutane (o-MeO-dppcb). The X-ray structure of the dimeric Ni(II) complex that contains the latter ligand, of the formula [Ni₂Cl₄(μ-(κP¹:κP²:κP³:κP⁴-o-MeO-dppcb))] (2) reveals that the apical coordination sites of both square pyramidal Ni(II) coordination spheres are occupied by methoxy-oxygen atoms of the ligand. As a consequence, this dimeric Ni(II) complex 2 is prone to a thermally induced regio- and diastereoselective metal-assisted methoxy-group cleavage. The stepwise formed new mono- and bis-phenolate complexes [Ni₂Cl₃(μ-(κO¹,κP¹:κP²:κP³:κP⁴-o-MeO-O-dppcb))] (3) and [Ni₂Cl₂(μ-(κO¹,κP¹:κP²:κO²,κP³:κP⁴-o-MeO-O,O′-dppcb))] (4), respectively, contain the novel chiral tetraphosphane ligands all-trans-1,2,3-tris((di-o-methoxyphenyl)phosphano)-4-((o-methoxy-phenyl)(o-phenolate)phosphano)cyclobutane (o-MeO-O-dppcb) and all-trans-1,2-bis((di-o-methoxyphenyl)phosphano)-3,4-bis((o-methoxyphenyl)(o-phenolate)phosphano)cyclobutane (o-MeO-O,O′-dppcb). Compounds 3 and 4 have been synthesized independently and are also fully characterized by both single crystal X-ray structure analyses, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analyses. The conversion of 2 into 3 and then further into 4 has been followed by a variable-temperature ³¹P{¹H} NMR experiment with compound 2 in DMF-d⁷, revealing that the cleavage of the second methoxy group is kinetically disfavoured. This is in agreement with the X-ray structure analysis of 3, indicating the lack of any methoxy-oxygen atom coordination that could easily induce a further methoxy-group cleavage. o-MeO-O-dppcb and o-MeO-O,O′-dppcb are rare P-stereogenic tetraphosphine ligands and contribute to the synthetic field of new κ³-P,P,O-coordinating phosphanylphenolate ligands that are believed to be important for the SHOP process (SHOP, Shell Higher Olefin Process).     

Anionic effects on the formation of tridentate 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine copper(II) complexes having 1:1 or 1:2 ratio of metal and ligand and their crystal symmetry

A facile synthetic procedure has been used to prepare one five-coordinate and four six-coordinate copper(II) complexes of 4′-chloro-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpyCl) ligand with different counterions (, , , , and ) in high yields. They are formulated as [Cu(tpyCl-κ³N,N′,N′′)(SO₄-κO)(H₂O-κO)] · 2H₂O (1), trans-[Cu(tpyCl-κ³N,N′,N″)(NO₃-κO)₂(H₂O-κO)] (2), [Cu(tpyCl-κ³N,N′,N″)₂](BF₄)₂ (3), [Cu(tpyCl-κ³N,N′,N″)₂](PF₆)₂ (4) and [Cu(tpyCl-κ³N,N′,N″)₂](ClO₄)₂ (5) and versatile interactions in supramolecular level including coordinative bonding, O-H?O, O-H?Cl, C-H?F, and C-H?Cl hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking play essential roles in forming different frameworks of 1-5. It is concluded that the difference of coordination abilities of the counterions used and the experimental conditions codominate the resulting complexes with 1:1 or 1:2 ratio of metal and ligand.     

Role of Phe113 at the distal side of the heme domain of an oxygen-sensor (Ec DOS) in the characterization of the heme environment

The heme-based oxygen-sensor enzyme from Escherichia coli (Ec DOS) is a heme-regulated phosphodiesterase with activity on cyclic-di-GMP and is composed of an N-terminal heme-bound sensor domain with the PAS structure and a C-terminal functional domain. The activity of Ec DOS is substantially enhanced by the binding of O₂ to the Fe(II)-protoporphyrin IX complex [Fe(II) complex] in the sensor domain. The binding of O₂ to the Fe(II) complex changes the structure of the sensor domain, and this altered structure becomes a signal that is transduced to the functional domain to trigger catalysis. The first step in intra-molecular signal transduction is the binding of O₂ to the Fe(II) complex, and detailed elucidation of this molecular mechanism is thus worthy of exploration. The X-ray crystal structure reveals that Phe113 is located close to the O₂ molecule bound to the Fe(II) complex in the sensor domain. Here, we found that the O₂ association rate constants (>200 × 10⁻³ μM⁻¹ s⁻¹: F113L; 26 × 10⁻³ μM⁻¹ s⁻¹: F113Y) of the Fe(II) complexes of Phe113 mutants were markedly different from that (51 × 10⁻³ μM⁻¹ s⁻¹) of the wild-type enzyme, and auto-oxidation rates (0.00068 min⁻¹: F113L; 0.039 min⁻¹: F113Y) of the Phe113 mutants also differed greatly from that (0.0062 min⁻¹) of the wild-type enzyme. We thus suggest that Phe113, residing near the O₂ molecule, has a critical role in optimizing the Fe(II)-O₂ complex for effective regulation of catalysis by the oxygen-sensor enzyme. Interactions of CO and cyanide anion with the mutant proteins were also studied.     

Effects of steric/basic properties of Lewis bases on the degree of aggregation of zinc(II) pivalate complexes

A triangular [Zn₃(μ₃-OH)(OC(O)^tBu)(μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O′-O₂C^tBu)₄(3,5-lutidine)₃] (1), a paddlewheel based dinuclear [Zn(μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O′-O₂C^tBu)₂L]₂ [L = 2,4-lutidine (2), 3,4-lutidine (3), and 2,3-lutidine (4)] and an hourglass based linear trinuclear [Zn₃(μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O′-O₂C^tBu)₆(pyridine)₂] (5) complexes were synthesized to understand the role of subtle steric/basic properties of Lewis bases on the degree of aggregation of the products. The mononuclear Zn(OC(O)^tBu)₂·2H₂O was also prepared in order to probe the origin of the μ₃-OH moiety in complex 1. Complexes 1-5 and Zn(OC(O)^tBu)₂·2H₂O were characterized by microanalytical, IR, TGA/DTA, solution (¹H and ¹³C) NMR, solid-state cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) ¹³C NMR, mass spectral data and single crystal X-ray diffraction data. Complex 1 represents the first example of a discrete trinuclear zinc(II) carboxylate complex that contains a [Zn₃(μ₃-OH)]⁵⁺ core with zinc atoms in three distinct geometries namely a distorted tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and octahedral. A plausible mechanism for the formation of complexes 1-5 was explained with the aid of point zero charge (pzc) model.     

Synthesis of coordination compounds via dehalogenation of zinc bromoacetate in presence of some amines

The dehalogenation reactions of pure zinc bromoacetate and its mixtures with hexamethylenetetramine, 2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline were studied in water solutions. Due to the decomposition of hexamethylenetetramine during reaction, the cadmium bromoacetate-hexamethylenetetramine system was also studied. The four new coordination compounds, catena-[bis(μ₂-α-hydroxyacetato-κ³O¹,O²:O^1′)-zinc], catena[μ₂-1-(8-carboxylateethyl)-1,3,5,7-tetra-aza-adamantan-1-ium-N,O′]-dibromo-cadmium, dibromo-(2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′)-zinc, dibromo-(1,10-phenanthroline-N,N′)-zinc were synthesised and characterised by elemental and thermal analysis, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. All compounds are air stable and well soluble in water. The zinc hydroxyacetate creates two-dimensional 4-c uninodal net. The zinc atoms are four and six coordinated and the cadmium atom is five coordinated. The coordination polyhedra of central atoms can be described as octahedron and trapezoidal pyramid for Zn and Cd polymers, respectively, and as trigonal pyramid for ZnBr₂ complexes. The bond valences considerations show that the chelating amines are bonded almost two times stronger to the central atoms than the chelating carboxylate groups. In the structures of polymeric compounds exist O-H?O, C-H?O, C-H?N and C-H?Br hydrogen bonds. The IR spectra show typical vibrations for chelating amine molecules. The thermal decomposition of studied compounds proceeds via multiple steps with gradual evolution of ligands.     

The effect of hydrogen bonding in two crystal modifications of aquabis(N,N-dimethylglycinato-κN,κO)copper(II): Experimental and theoretical study

From the crystals of trans aquabis(N,N-dimethylglycinato-κN,κO)copper(II) dihydrate (compound 1, space group P2₁2₁2₁) novel crystal structure of trans aquabis(N,N-dimethylglycinato-κN,κO)copper(II) (compound 2, space group Pbca) was obtained and analysed by X-ray diffraction. In the crystal structure 1, the O-H?O hydrogen bonds form three-dimensional network. In the crystal structure 2, two-dimensional layers stacking to each other are formed, with non-polar N,N-dimethyl groups placed on the opposite sides of the layers, and with the polar part in the middle forming CO?O-H and C-H?O hydrogen bonds. Different hydrogen bonding patterns in 1 and 2 do not pronouncedly affect molecular geometry of the title compound. Molecular mechanics force field suited for studying the properties of bis(amino acidato)copper(II) complexes in the solid state can follow the differences between the experimental molecular structures in the two diverse crystalline surroundings. To make possible direct comparison between crystal lattices, the force field was applied to predict unit cell packing of supposed anhydrous bis(N,N-dimethylglycinato)copper(II) in space group Pbca. Relative intermolecular energies of hypothetic anhydrous crystal and simulated 1 and 2 crystals are discussed. On the basis of experimental and theoretical results we conclude that the main effect of two water molecules of crystallisation in 1 is to stabilise the crystal packing via hydrogen bonding, whilst similar pyramidal copper(II) coordination geometry in 1 and 2 is due to axially coordinated water molecule and its intermolecular interactions.     

Preparation, characterisation and crystal structure of two zinc(II) benzoate complexes with pyridine-based ligands nicotinamide and methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate

Two benzoate complexes namely tetrakis(μ₂-benzoato-O,O^′)-bis(μ₂-benzoato-O,O)-bis(nicotinamide-N)-tri-zinc(II), [Zn₃(benz)₆(nia)₂] (I) and bis(benzoato-O)-bis(methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate-N)-zinc(II), [Zn(benz)₂(mpcm)₂] (II) (benz=benzoate anion, nia=nicotinamide, mpcm=methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate) were prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray structure determination. The structure of the complex I is centrosymmetric, formed by a linear array of three zinc atoms. The central zinc atom shows octahedral coordination and is bridged to each of the terminal zinc atoms by three benzoate anions. Two of them act as bidentate, one as monodentate ligand. By additional coordination of the nia ligand, the terminal Zn atoms adopt tetrahedral surrounding. The structure of complex II contains two crystallographically independent [Zn(benz)₂(mpcm)₂] molecules. In each molecule, the zinc atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by two monodentate benzoate and two methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate ligands. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the N-H?O type connect molecules in the structures of complexes I and II to form a two-dimensional network. The three different types of carboxylate binding found in the complexes were distinguished also by values of carboxylate stretching vibrations in FT-IR spectra as well as by thermal decomposition of the complexes in nitrogen.     

Synthesis and structures of pyridinecarboxylate-containing zinc(II) complexes in dien and tren system

Four new zinc(II) complexes [Zn(dien)(μ-nic)]₂(BPh₄)₂·2CH₃OH (1), {[Zn(dien)(isonic)]BPh₄}_n (2), [Zn(tren)(nic)]BPh₄ (3) and [Zn(tren)(isonic)]BPh₄ (4) (dien/tren = diethylenetriamine/triethylenetriamine, nic/isonic = nicotinate/isonicotinate anion) were synthesized and structurally characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the zinc(II) complexes of dien, both nicotinate and isonicotinate connect the zinc(II) ions via N,O-bis-monodentate mode. Complex 1 contains a centrosymmetric dinuclear unit bridged by two nicotinate anions in anti-parallel way. Complex 2 is characterized by an infinite one-dimensional zigzag chain bridged by isonicotinate anion in an end-to-end mode. The Zn···Zn distance is 6.782 for 1 and 8.805 Å for 2. While in the complexes of tren, both 3 and 4 are mononuclear complexes with nicotinate and isonicotinate coordinated to zinc(II) ion through only one oxygen atom of their carboxylate groups. The zinc(II) ions in all of the four complexes are in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Complex 3 forms a dinuclear unit and complex 4 forms an infinite 2D sheet structure through intermolecular H-bonds. In all of the crystal lattices, the counterions act to balance the electronic charge at the same time to construct different 3D structures through noncovalent interactions such as C-H···π, N-H···π and van der Waals interactions.     

Investigation of the insulin-like properties of zinc(II) complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones: identification of a compound with glucose lowering effect in STZ-induced type I diabetic animals

Results from an investigation in an in vivo model of STZ-induced diabetic rats demonstrate that compound bis(1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinonate)zinc(II), Zn(dmpp)₂, significantly lowers the blood glucose levels of individuals, thus showing evidence of glucose lowering activity.The compound was selected from a set of eight zinc(II) complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones with diverse lipophilicity that were prepared and characterized in our laboratory. Assessment of insulin-like activity of the complexes was firstly performed in vitro by measuring the inhibition of FFA release in isolated rat adipocytes. The results indicate that compounds bis(2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonate)zinc(II), Zn(mpp)₂ and Zn(dmpp)₂ display significantly higher activity than that of the respective positive control thus suggesting its selection for in vivo tests.Safety evaluation of the active zinc(II) compounds was performed in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. The results support that cell viability is not significantly different from the control set after 1 and 2 h of incubation with both zinc(II) complexes.     

Bidentate palladium(II) chelation by the common aldoses

The [Pd^II{(R,R)-chxn}(OH)₂] reagent (chxn = 1,2-diaminocyclohexane) is introduced as a metal probe for the detection of the bidentate chelating sites of a glycose. Two moles of hydroxide per mole palladium support double deprotonation of potentially chelating diol functions at a glycose’s backbone. The individual chelating sites are detected using one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. At equimolar amounts of palladium(II) and aldose, the metal-binding sites include mostly the hydroxy function at the anomeric carbon atom. Chelators are derived from both the pyranose and the furanose isomers. Most pyranose-based chelators form five-membered chelate rings by using their 1,2-diol function. Though 1,2-diolate bonding is also common to the furanoses, the formation of six-membered chelate rings by 1,3-bonding is more significant for them. Metal-excess conditions provoke mostly bis-bidentate 1,2;3,4-chelation but unusual isomers form also: thus d-xylose is dimetallated in its all-axial β-pyranose form, and erythrose’s dimetallation results in the formation of two isomers of a metal derivative of the open-chain hydrate. The spectroscopic results are supported by crystal-structure determinations on [Pd{(R,R)-chxn}(α-d-Xylp1,2H₋₂-κO^1,2)]·H₂O (Xyl = xylose), [Pd{(R,R)-chxn}(α-d-Ribp1,2H₋₂-κO^1,2)]·2.25H₂O (Rib = ribose), [Pd{(R,R)-chxn}(α-l-Thrf1,3H₋₂-κO^1,3)]·2H₂O (Thr = threose) and [Pd{(R,R)-chxn}(α-d-Eryf1,3H₋₂-κO^1,3)]·3H₂O (Ery = erythrose).     

Synthetic, structural and spectroscopic studies of complexes derived from the copper(II) perchlorate/succinamic acid/N,N′-donor tertiary reaction systems

The use of succinamic acid (H₂sucm) in Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O/N,N′-donor [2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dmbpy), 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy)] reaction mixtures yielded compounds [Cu₂(Hsucm)₃(bpy)₂](ClO₄)·0.5MeOH (1·0.5MeOH), [Cu₂(Hsucm)(OH)(H₂O)(bpy)](ClO₄)₂ (2), [Cu₄(Hsucm)₅(dmbpy)₄]_n(ClO₄)_3n·nH₂O ·0.53nMeOH (3·nH₂O·0.53nMeOH), [Cu₂(Hsucm)₂(dmbpy)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O (4·2H₂O), [Cu₂(Hsucm)₂(phen)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·1.8MeOH (5·1.8MeOH), [Cu₂(Hsucm)₂(phen)₂(MeOH)₂](ClO₄)₂·MeOH (6·MeOH) and [Cu(Hsucm)₂(H₂O)(4,4′-bpy)]_n (7). The succinamate(−1) ligand exists in five different coordination modes in the structures of 1-7, i.e. the common syn, syn μ₂-κO:κO′ in 1-6, the μ₂-κ²O in 1, the μ₂-κ²O:κO′ in 1, the μ₃-κ²O:κ²O′ in 3, and the monodentate κO in 7. The primary amide group of Hsucm⁻ remains uncoordinated and participates in intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions leading to interesting crystal structures. Characteristic IR bands of the complexes are discussed in terms of the known structures and the coordination modes of the Hsucm⁻ ligands. The thermal decomposition of representative complexes was monitored by TG/DTG and DTA measurements.     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt oxide nanoparticles by thermal treatment process

The simple preparation of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles from a solid organometallic molecular precursor N-N′-bis(salicylaldehyde)-1,2-phenylenediimino cobalt(II); Co(salophen) has been achieved via two simple steps: firstly, the Co(salophen) precursor was precipitated from the reaction of cobalt(II) acetate and N-N′-bis(salicylaldehyde)-1,2-phenylenediimino; H₂salophen; in propanol under nitrogen condition; then, cubic phase Co₃O₄ nanoparticles with the size of mostly 30-50 nm could be produced by thermal treatment of the Co(salophen) in air at 773 K for 5 h. The as-synthesized products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). These results confirm that the resulting oxide was pure single-crystalline Co₃O₄ nanoparticles. The optical property test indicates that the absorption peak of the nanoparticles shifts towards short wavelength, and the blue shift phenomenon might be ascribed to the quantum effect. The hysteresis loops of the obtained samples reveal the ferromagnetic behaviors the enhanced coercivity (H_c) and decreased saturation magnetization (M_s) in contrast to their respective bulk materials.     

Conformational fluctuation in palladium(II)-methyl aldopentopyranoside complexes

Four methyl d-pentopyranosides (β-Ara, α-Lyx, β-Rib, β-Xyl), as well as Me-β-l-Ara, some of them residing in a well-defined conformation in the solution state (Ara, Xyl) and some showing pronounced chair inversion in solution (Lyx, Rib), form bidentate chelates of the general formula [Pd(chxn)(LH₋₂)-κO,O′] and [Pd(tmen)(LH₋₂)-κO,O′], chxn = (R,R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine, tmen = N,N,N′,N′-ethane-1,2-diamine and L = glycoside, with Pd^IIN₂-type metal probes. The dynamic behaviour of the free glycosides is maintained in their chelates, the only case where the metal is bonded by a cis-vicinal diol function. Thus, one fluctuating chelate was detected with the lyxopyranoside in the κO^2,3 binding mode, and two fluctuating chelates were found for the ribopyranoside (κO^2,3 and κO^3,4). No fluctuating chelate was found for the arabinopyranoside (the free arabinopyranoside being non-fluctuating as well), or for the xylopyranoside (no cis-vicinal diol function). In addition, syn-diaxial chelation (κO^2,4) was observed for the ribopyranoside and the xylopyranoside. The spectroscopic results were supplemented by X-ray analyses.     

Photosynthetic response of clusterbean chloroplasts to UV-B radiation: Energy imbalance and loss in redox homeostasis between QA and QB of photosystem II

The effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280-320 nm) radiation on the photosynthetic pigments, primary photochemical reactions of thylakoids and the rate of carbon assimilation (P_n) in the cotyledons of clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) seedlings have been examined. The radiation induces an imbalance between the energy absorbed through the photophysical process of photosystem (PS) II and the energy consumed for carbon assimilation. Decline in the primary photochemistry of PS II induced by UV-B in the background of relatively stable P_n, has been implicated in the creation of the energy imbalance_. The radiation induced damage of PS II hinders the flow of electron from Q_A to Q_B resulting in a loss in the redox homeostasis between the Q_A to Q_B leading to an accumulation of Q_A⁻. The accumulation of Q_A⁻ generates an excitation pressure that diminishes the PS II-mediated O₂ evolution, maximal photochemical potential (F_v/F_m) and PS II quantum yield (Φ_{PS II}). While UV-B radiation inactivates the carotenoid-mediated protective mechanisms, the accumulation of flavonoids seems to have a small role in protecting the photosynthetic apparatus from UV-B onslaught. The failure of protective mechanisms makes PS II further vulnerable to the radiation and facilitates the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) indicating the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism in UV-B-induced damage of photosynthetic apparatus of clusterbean cotyledons.