Ruthenium(II) complexes possessing the η-p-cymene ligand

Complexes possessing a soft donor η⁶-arene and hard donor acetylacetonate ligand, [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac-μ-CH)]₂[OTf]₂ (1) (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate; acac = acetylacetonate) and {Ar′ = 3,5-(CF₃)-C₆H₃}, were prepared and fully characterized. The lability of the μ-CH linkage for complex 1 and the THF ligand of 2 allow access to the unsaturated cation [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac)]⁺. The reaction of with KTp {Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate} produces . The azide complex forms upon reaction of with N₃Ar (Ar = p-tolyl), and reaction of with CHCl₃ at 100 °C yields the chloride-bridged binuclear complex . The details of solid-state structures of [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac-μ-CH)]₂[OTf]₂ (1), and are disclosed.     

Maillard reaction of ribose 5-phosphate generates superoxide and glycation products for bovine heart cytochrome c reduction

Ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) is a sugar known to undergo the Maillard reaction (glycation) at a rapid rate. In a reaction with the lysines of bovine heart cytochrome c, R5P generates superoxide () that subsequently reduces ferri-cytochrome c to ferro-cytochrome c. The rate equation for the observed cytochrome c reduction is first order in respect to cytochrome c and half order in respect to R5P. The addition of amines to the cytochrome c-R5P system greatly increases the generation with rates of approximately 1.0 μM min⁻¹ being observed with millimolar levels of R5P and amine at 37 °C. Pre-incubation of R5P with the amine prior to cytochrome c addition further enhances the rate of cytochrome c reduction approximately twofold for every 30 min of incubation. While clearly accounting for a portion of the reduction of cytochrome c, is not the sole reductant of the system as the use of superoxide dismutase only partially limits cytochrome c reduction, and the contribution of proportionally decreases with longer amine-R5P incubation times. The remainder of the cytochrome c reduction is attributed to either the Amadori product or a cross-linked Schiff base created when a Maillard reaction-derived dicarbonyl compound(s) reacts with the amine. It is believed that these compounds directly transfer electrons to ferri-cytochrome c and subsequently become stable free-radical cations. ATP, a putative regulator of cytochrome c activity, does not inhibit electron transport from or the cross-linked Schiff base but does prevent R5P from reacting with surface lysines to generate superoxide. The spontaneous reaction between R5P and amines could serve as an alternative system for generating in solution.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: Biodistribution of technetium-99m pertechnetate in infected rats

With the aim of investigating the biodistribution of technetium-99 m pertechnetate () in rats infected with Y strain of Tripanosoma Cruzi, at the peak of parasitemia, (14th day of infection), we injected Wistar rats with 0.1 ml of (3.7 MBq). After 60 min, the percentage of radioactivity per gram was counted in several isolated organs and blood, using a gamma counter (1470 Wizard, PerkinElmer Finland). The uptake of increased significantly in blood and decreased in the colon of infected animals (p < 0.05). A significant reduction in serum iron and red blood cells and a significant increase in total proteins, leukocytes and lymphocytes in the infected rats were observed, compared with controls (p < 0.05). A reduction in muscle layer thickness of the colon and mononuclear inflammation were observed. These results conclusively demonstrate that T. cruzi infection would be associated with changes in the biodistribution of and in colon morphology, with potential clinical implications.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of oxalic acid by tetrachloroaurate(III) ion

The oxidation of oxalic acid by tetrachloroaurate(III) ion in 0.005 ? [HClO₄] ? 0.5 mol dm⁻³ is first order in and a fractional order in [oxalic acid], the reactive entities being AuCl₃(OH)⁻ and ions. The pseudo first-order rate, k_obs, with respect to [Au(III)], is retarded by increasing [H⁺] and [Cl⁻]. The retardation by H⁺ ion is caused by the dissociation equilibrium . A mechanism in which a substitution complex, is formed from AuCl₃(OH)⁻ and ions prior to its rate limiting disproportionation into products is suggested. The rate limiting constant, k, has been evaluated and its activation parameters are reported. The equilibrium constant K₁ for the formation of the substitution complex and its thermodynamic parameters are also reported.     

Photocatalysis of chloroform degradation by μ-dichlorotetrachlorodipalladate(II)

Unlike other chlorometallate complexes that catalyze the photodecomposition of haloalkanes through photodissociation of a chlorine atom, both and catalyze chloroform decomposition through a process that appears to involve C-H bond breakage from an excited state association complex with chloroform. This would account for the greatly retarded rate of decomposition in CDCl₃ and for the generation of CCl₄ as a side product. In chloroform, and are in slow equilibrium with each other. The rate for the conversion of - in chloroform at 23 °C obeys the expression (0.03 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) [][Cl⁻]. The equilibrium constant, K = [][Cl⁻]²/[]², was estimated to be 3 × 10⁻³ M in CHCl₃.     

Species-dependence of the redox potential of the primary quinone electron acceptor QA in photosystem II verified by spectroelectrochemistry

The redox potentials E_m(Q_A/) of the primary quinone electron acceptor Q_A in oxygen-evolving photosystem II complexes of three species were determined by spectroelectrochemistry. The E_m(Q_A/) values were experimentally found to be −162 ± 3 mV for a higher plant spinach, −171 ± 3 mV for a green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and −104 ± 4 mV vs. SHE for a red alga Cyanidioschyzonmerolae. On the basis of possible deviations for the experimental values, as estimated to differ by 9-29 mV from each true value, plausible causes for such remarkable species-dependence of E_m(Q_A/) are discussed, mainly by invoking the effects of extrinsic subunits on the delicate structural environment around Q_A.     

Effect of magnesium chloride (2:1 electrolyte) on the aqueous solution behavior of some saccharides over the temperature range of 288.15-318.15 K: a volumetric approach

Infinite-dilution standard partial molar volumes, , for various mono-, di-, and trisaccharides, and their derivatives (methyl glycosides) at molalities ranging from 0.04 to 0.12 mol kg⁻¹ in aqueous solutions of magnesium chloride of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mol kg⁻¹, have been evaluated over a range of temperatures from 288.15 to 318.15 K by density measurements employing a vibrating-tube densimeter. These data have been utilized to determine the corresponding standard partial molar volumes of transfer, , of saccharides and methyl glycosides from water to aqueous magnesium chloride solutions. The values have been found to be positive, and their magnitudes increase with an increasing concentration of magnesium chloride in all cases. Partial molar expansion coefficients, and second derivatives thereof, have been estimated. The magnitude of values increases with an increase in temperature, indicating that hydration effects in solutions are strongly sensitive to temperature. Pair and higher order volumetric interaction coefficients (V_AB, V_ABB) have also been obtained from values by using the McMillan-Mayer theory. The various parameters have been discussed in terms of the solute (saccharide or methyl glycoside)-co-solute (magnesium chloride) interactions and are thus used to understand the mixing effects due to these interactions. These results have been compared with those earlier reported in the presence of electrolytes. An attempt is made to interpret the volumetric properties data in terms of the stereochemistry of the solutes.     

In situ spectroelectrochemical investigation of Pt(II/IV) oxidation in aqueous solution using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The oxidation from to in HCl aq. was studied in situ by combining electrochemistry with XAFS spectroscopy. During the oxidation of , isosbestic points were observed in Pt L_III and L_II XANES spectra as a function of time, indicating that the Pt(II/IV) redox equilibrium is the only reaction in the system. The Pt L_III and L_II X-ray absorption edge energies of the initial Pt^IICl₄²⁻ are 11562.9 and 13271.8 eV, respectively, while those of the electrolyzed species are 11564.6 and 13273.7 eV which are identical with those of a reference sample. The coordination of the electrolyzed species was characterized by structural parameters derived from the EXAFS curve fit, and identified to .     

Applicability of new spin trap agent, 2-diphenylphosphinoyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole N-oxide, in biological system

Electron spin resonance using spin-trapping is a useful technique for detecting direct reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide (). However, the widely used spin trap 2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole N-oxide (DMPO) has several fundamental limitations in terms of half-life and stability. Recently, the new spin trap 2-diphenylphosphinoyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole N-oxide (DPhPMPO) was developed by us. We evaluated the biological applicability of DPhPMPO to analyze in both cell-free and cellular systems. DPhPMPO had a larger rate constant for and formed more stable spin adducts for than DMPO in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) system. In the phorbol myristate acetate-activated neutrophil system, the detection potential of DPhPMPO for was significantly higher than that of DMPO (k_DMPO = 13.95 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_DPhPMPO = 42.4 M⁻¹ s⁻¹). These results indicated that DPhPMPO is a potentially good candidate for trapping in a biological system.     

Anation kinetics of pentacyanoaquachromate(III) by thiocyanate and azide

The kinetics of the reaction of Cr(CN)₅(H₂O)²⁻ with NCS⁻ and were studied at pH 5.0 and at pH 6.3-7.0, respectively, as a function of the temperature between 25.0 and 55.0 °C, and at various ionic strengths. Anation occurs in competition with aquation of CN⁻, with rate constants that exhibit less-than-first-order dependence on the concentration of the entering anions. The results are interpreted in terms of ligand interchange in a context of association of the two reacting anions mediated by the Na⁺ or Ca²⁺ counterions. The degree of aggregation depends mainly on the total cationic charge rather than on the ionic strength, and is ca. 2-fold larger for than for NCS⁻. Within the associated species, is a better entering ligand than NCS⁻ by a factor of 4.5. The Cr(CN)₅(NCS)³⁻ and Cr(CN)₅(N₃)³⁻ complexes were also synthesized, and the rates of aquation of NCS⁻ and were measured at pH 5.0 and between 55.0 and 80.0 °C, over the same range of ionic strengths. The ionic strength enhances the anation rates but has little effect on the aquation rates. The average activation enthalpies of the interchange step are 80 ± 3 and 76 ± 3 kJ mol⁻¹ for entry of NCS⁻ and , respectively. Those of the corresponding aquation reactions are 94 ± 4 and 107 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹. Within error limits, all ΔH^‡ values are independent of the ionic strength. The results are consistent with an I_d mechanism for substitution in Cr(CN)₅X^z− complexes.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aquation of the trinuclear cation, [μ3-oxo-triaqua-hexakis(acetato)tris(iron(III))]in perchloric acid media

The aquation of the title complex cation in aqueous perchloric acid proceeded via two steps, both postulated to be the proton attack on the oxygen atom which binds the acetate ligand to the metal centre, followed by Fe-O bond cleavage. This was followed by rapid decomposition to produce aqueous iron(III) and acetate ions. The first-order rate constants for the first and second steps at 25 °C are: k₁ = (4.16 ± 0.58) × 10⁻² s⁻¹ and k₂ = (2.09 ± 0.42) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, respectively, and their corresponding activation parameters are . The spontaneous hydrolysis rate constants for the first and second steps were also determined at 25 °C and ionic strength of 1 mol dm⁻³ and they are k₀ = (3.10 ± 0.82) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ and , respectively. The corresponding activation parameters are .     

Heterodimetallic Pd-based carboxylate-bridged complexes: Synthesis and structure of single-crystalline Pd-M (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nd, Eu, Ce) acetates

A series of crystalline Pd^II-based heterodimetallic acetate-bridged complexes containing the transition (Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II), post-transition (Zn^II) and rare-earth (Ce^IV, Nd^III, Eu^III) metals were synthesized starting from Pd₃(OOCMe)₆ and the complementary metal(II, III) acetates. The crystal and molecular structures of the binuclear Pd^IIM^II(μ-OOCMe)₄L (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; L = H₂O, MeCN), trinuclear and tetranuclear (M = Nd, Eu) and complexes were established by X-ray diffraction.