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Methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside (methyl β-chitobioside), (IV), crystallizes from aqueous methanol at room temperature to give a structure (C₁₇H₃₀N₂O₂₂·CH₃OH) containing conformational disorder in the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group of one of its βGlcNAc residues. As observed in other X-ray structures of disaccharides containing β-(1→4)O-glycosidic linkages, inter-residue hydrogen bonding between O3H of the βGlcNAc bearing the OCH₃aglycone and O5 of the adjacent βGlcNAc is observed based on the 2.79 Å internuclear distance between the O atoms. The structure of (IV) was compared to that determined previously for 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose (β-chitobiose), (III). TheO-glycosidic linkage torsion angles,phi(ϕ) andpsi(ψ), in (III) and (IV) differ by 6–8°. TheN-acetyl side chain conformation in (III) and (IV) shows some context dependence, with the C1—C2—N—C_cartorsion angle 10–15° smaller for the βGlcNAc residue involved in the internalO-glycosidic linkage. In (IV), conformational disorder is observed in the exocyclic hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) group in the βGlcNAc residue bearing the OCH₃aglycone, and a fitting of the electron density indicates an approximate 50:50 distribution of thegauche–gauche(gg) andgauche–trans(gt) conformers in the lattice. Similar behavior is not observed in (III), presumably due to the different packing structure in the vicinity of the –CH₂OH substituent that affects its ability to hydrogen bond to proximal donors/acceptors. Unlike (IV), a re-examination of the previously reported electron density of (III) revealed conformational disorder in theN-acetyl side chain attached to the reducing-end βGlcNAc residue caused by rotation about the C2—N bond. 

Ultra-high vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV-STM) was used to investigate two related molecules pulse-deposited onto Au(111) surfaces: indoline-2-carboxylic acid and proline (pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid). 

Redox-inert metal cations change the reaction between thiolate anions and elemental sulfur. Spectroscopic and electrochemical data show that metal–sulfur covalency determines the favorability of sulfur catenation vs. sulfur reduction. 

The 2,2′-bipyridyl-6,6′-dicarboxylate ligand (bdc) has been shown in prior work to effectively capture the uranyl(VI) ion, UO2 2+, from aqueous solutions. However, the redox properties of the uranyl complex of this ligand have not been addressed despite the relevance of uranium-centered reduction to the nuclear fuel cycle and the presence of a bipyridyl core in bdc, a motif long recognized for its ability to support redox chemistry. Here, the bdc complex of UO2 2+ (1-UO2) has been synthetically prepared and isolated under nonaqueous conditions for the study of its reductive chemical and electrochemical behavior. Spectrochemical titration data collected using decamethylcobaltocene (Cp*2Co) as the reductant demonstrate that 1e− reduction of 1-UO2 is accessible, and companion near-infrared and infrared spectroscopic data, along with theoretical findings from density functional theory, provide evidence that supports the accessibility of the U(V) oxidation state. Data obtained for control ruthenium complexes of bdc and related polypyridyl dicarboxylate ligands provide a counterpoint to these findings; ligand-centered reduction of bdc in these control compounds occurs at potentials more negative than those measured for reduction of 1-UO2, further supporting the generation of uranium(V) in 1-UO2. Taken together, these results underscore the usefulness of bdc as a ligand for actinyl ions and suggest that it could be useful for further studies of the reductive activation of these unique species. 

The redox non-innocent 2-isocyano-6,6′-biazulenic ligand platform exhibits reduction potential inversion and offers construction of molecular organometallic electron reservoirs with 2e⁻-per-ligand reversible redox capacity. 

Atomically precise thiolate-protected gold nanomolecules have attracted interest due to their distinct electronic and chemical properties. The structure of these nanomolecules is important for understanding their peculiar properties. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structure of a 24-atom gold nanomolecule protected by 16 tert -butylthiolate ligands. The composition of Au 24 (S-C 4 H 9 ) 16 {poly[hexadecakis(μ- tert -butylthiolato)tetracosagold]} was confirmed by X-ray crystallography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS). The nanomolecule was synthesized in a one-phase synthesis and crystallized from a hexane–ethanol layered solution. The X-ray structure confirms the 16-atom core protected by two monomeric and two trimeric staples with four bridging ligands. The Au 24 (S-C 4 H 9 ) 16 cluster follows the shell-closing magic number of 8. 

Co-crystal engineering is a promising method to create new classes of advanced materials. Co-crystal structure prediction is more challenging when one or more of the lattice constituents (tectons) are flexible molecules. This study reports four co-crystals that were prepared by mixing HAuCl 4 or HAuBr 4 with C 3 -symmetric tectons based on a 1,3,5-(methylacetamide)benzene scaffold. X-ray analysis of the co-crystals revealed the presence of three dominant supramolecular interactions; (a) hydrogen bonding between tecton amide NH residues and the AuX 4 − anion, (b) electrostatic stacking of the Au center against the tecton's π-electrons, (c) very short hydrogen bonds within a proton-bridged-carbonyls motif. Within all four co-crystals, the sterically-geared tecton was trapped in a high energy molecular conformation, which increased the number of favorable intermolecular interactions in the lattice. We infer from the results that the likelihood of high energy molecular conformations within a co-crystal increases if there are multiple dominant intermolecular interactions. Application of this generalizable rule should lead to improved crystal structure prediction. 

Ethylene cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycles are known to produce kinetically stable transition metal complexes that can act as robust oxidation catalysts under harsh aqueous conditions. We have synthesized ligand analogs with single acetate pendant arms that act as pentadentate ligands to Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn. These complexes have been synthesized and characterized, including the structural characterization of four Co and Cu complexes. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that multiple oxidation states are stabilized by these rigid, bicyclic ligands. Yet, redox potentials of the metal complexes are modified compared to the “parent” ligands due to the pendant acetate arm. Similarly, gains in kinetic stability under harsh acidic conditions, compared to parent complexes without the pendant acetate arm, were demonstrated by a half-life seven times longer for the cyclam copper complex. Due to the reversible, high oxidation states available for the Mn and Fe complexes, the Mn and Fe complexes were examined as catalysts for the bleaching of three commonly used pollutant model dyes (methylene blue, methyl orange, and Rhodamine B) in water with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The efficient bleaching of these dyes was observed.