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Copper nanoparticles fabricated onto reduced graphene oxide (Cu NPs/rGO) were successfully synthesized via a one-pot dimethylformamide (DMF) reduction approach with an addition of nominal water. Th...

Modification of graphene oxide (GO) with porphyrins, TPP and ZnTPP (TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine), was achieved by facile synthesis through a self-assembly process. GO–porphyrins composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible, fluorescence, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed the successful attachment of TPP and ZnTPP onto the GO surface via π–π stacking. The coordination of oxygen functional groups on GO to the Zn center of ZnTPP was also observed. The latter interaction was proposed to account for the lower catalytic activity of the GO–ZnTPP composite compared to that of the GO–TPP one because it hindered the accessible active sites on the GO surface, i.e. epoxy groups. Compared to unmodified GO and pristine porphyrins, the GO–porphyrin composites exhibited remarkable photocatalytic enhancement under irradiation using a light emitting diode. Moreover, the GO–TPP composite was shown to be a competent and reusable photocatalyst for selective alcohol oxidation under mild conditions, affording desired products in moderate to excellent yields.

An indole-reacted calcium oxalate crystallization index (iCOCI) test was developed to quantify the total competence of urine to precipitate calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals. We conducted the prospective cohort study in accordance with the STARD guideline to evaluate the accuracy of urinary iCOCI test (index test) for diagnosing urolithiasis. A total of 281 participants were recruited for the study. Levels of urinary iCOCI were determined in the pre-diagnostic 24-h urine samples. Positive urinary iCOCI (≥ 0.6 COM eqv., g/L) was accounted for 51% (144/281), and the rest of 49% (137/281) were negative. Non-contrast CT imaging (reference standard) was subsequently performed for the definite diagnosis of urolithiasis to divide the participants into two groups, non-stone subjects (NSS, n = 122) and stone-forming subjects (SFS, n = 159). It should be noted that only subjects who currently had urinary stone at the time of study were classified as SFS. Urinary iCOCI levels in the SFS were significantly higher than the NSS. ROC analysis revealed an area under curve (AUC) of 0.893 (95% CI: 0.855–0.932) in separating NSS from all SFS. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, positive likelihood ratio (LH+) and negative likelihood ratio (LH−) of urinary iCOCI test for diagnosis of all urolithiasis were 87%, 80%, 84%, 84%, 83%, 4.44 and 0.16, respectively. Of 159 SFS, 38 were confirmed to have CaOx stones. Among these 38 CaOx SFS, only 2 had negative urinary iCOCI test. The AUC of urinary iCOCI test for separating CaOx SFS from NSS was markedly high (0.946, 95% CI: 0.914–0.978). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, accuracy, LH+ and LH− of urinary iCOCI test for diagnosing CaOx urolithiasis were 95%, 86%, 68%, 98%, 88%, 6.80 and 0.06, respectively. Conclusion, we clinically validated that an innovative non-invasive urinary iCOCI test was highly accurate to diagnose urolithiasis, especially CaOx stone. With its high sensitivity and NPV, urinary iCOCI test is clinically intended to use as a screening test for CaOx urolithiasis. LH− of 0.06 indicates that negative result of urinary iCOCI test is highly accurate to rule out the CaOx stone formation. It is noted that urinary iCOCI level is expressed as arbitrary unit, and it is not directly related to the actual physiological level of urinary oxalate.

A new and facile approach to stabilise copper(I) complexes in aqueous solution by the addition of zinc(II) ions in combination with acetate ions (OAc−) was demonstrated. This stability enhancement toward the aerobic oxidation of copper(I) species was investigated by various techniques including UV-vis spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, FT-IR, and ESI-MS. Our experimental results together with DFT calculations led to a proposed structure of [(adpa)Cu-OAc-Zn(OAc)(H2O)2]+/2+. It was also postulated that zinc(II) with its Lewis acidity may attract electrons from the Cu centre through the bridging ligands (OAc−), resulting in the lower reactivity of Cu(I) with O2. In addition, this strategy was shown to be applicable to ascorbic acid detection by monitoring a change in the redox states of copper complexes using fluorescence spectroscopy. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the method was sensitive and accurate for the quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablets.

In this work, a facile and controllable method to fabricate high-density silver nanofilaments (Ag NFs) from β -silver sulfide ( β -Ag 2 S) for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates was reported. The β -Ag2S crystal structure affects the growth of Ag NF significantly. The optimal silver nanofilaments with a density of 5.93 × 109 NF/cm 2 and length of 0 . 46 ± 0 . 04 μ m were formed when the β -Ag2S substrate was irradiated by a 20kV electron beam for 10 min. The Ag NF substrate possesses the SERS enhancement factor (EF) of 1.57 × 106 at 1 mM Methylene blue (MB), nevertheless, the detection limit for Methylene blue can reach up to 1.18 × 10−11 M. It was found that by controlling the accelerating voltage and irradiation time, the surface morphology of the Ag NFs as SERS substrates can be tailored to obtain the optimal SERS EF. The simple yet controllable method presented here opens a new path to fabricate Ag nanofilament SERS substrates for ultra-low chemical concentration analysis.

UV-vis spectral titrations of a manganese(III) corrolazine complex [MnIII(TBP8Cz): TBP8Cz = octakis(p-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazinato3−] with HOTf in benzonitrile (PhCN) indicate mono- and diprotonation of MnIII(TBP8Cz) to give MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)) and [MnIII(OTf)(H2O)(TBP8Cz(H)2)][OTf] with the protonation constants of 9.0 × 106 M−1 and 4.7 × 103 M−1, respectively. The protonated site of MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)) and [MnIII(OTf)(H2O)-(TBP8Cz(H)2)][OTf] were identified by X-ray crystal structures of the mono- and diprotonated complexes. In the presence of HOTf, the monoprotonated manganese(III) corrolazine complex [MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H))] acts as an efficient photocatalytic catalyst for the oxidation of hexamethylbenzene and thioanisole by O2 to the corresponding alcohol and sulfoxide with 563 and 902 TON, respectively. Femtosecond laser flash photolysis measurements of MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)) and [MnIII(OTf)(H2O)(TBP8Cz(H)2)][OTf] in the presence of O2 revealed the formation of a tripquintet excited state, which was rapidly converted to a tripseptet excited state. The tripseptet excited state of MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)) reacted with O2 with a diffusion-limited rate constant to produce the putative MnIV(O2•−)(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)), whereas the tripseptet excited state of [MnIII(OTf)(H2O)(TBP8Cz(H)2)][OTf] exhibited no reactivity toward O2. In the presence of HOTf, MnV(O)(TBP8Cz) can oxidize not only HMB but also mesitylene to the corresponding alcohols, accompanied by regeneration of MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)). This thermal reaction was examined for a kinetic isotope effect, and essentially no KIE (1.1) was observed for the oxidation of mesitylene-d12, suggesting a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism is operative in this case. Thus, the monoprotonated manganese(III) corrolazine complex, MnIII(OTf)(TBP8Cz(H)), acts as an efficient photocatalytic for the oxidation of HMB by O2 to the alcohol.

A series of copper complexes bearing polypyridyl tridentate ligands have been prepared to fine tune their reactivity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). During the process of preparation of our copper complexes, we successfully obtained two new crystal structures which are [Cu2(μ-Cl)2(adpa)2](ClO4)2 (2b) and [Cu2(addpa)(CH3CN)2(ClO4)2](ClO4)2 (3a) and a new structure [Cu2(addpa)(CH3CN)2(H2O)2](ClO4)4 (3b) captured after the catalytic ORR. Electrochemical studies and stoichiometric chemical reduction of copper(ii) complexes by ascorbic acid indicated that the presence of an anthracene unit helps to facilitate the reduction of Cu(ii) as well as the stabilisation of Cu(i) species. Regarding oxygen activation, the dinuclear Cu(i) complex 3a showed significantly higher ORR activity than its analogous mononuclear complex 2a. Complex 3a was also found to be relatively robust and competent in catalytic O2 reduction. The observed H2O2 product after this catalysis, together with the data obtained from DFT calculations supported that 3a exhibited a 2H+, 2e- catalytic activity towards the ORR as opposed to the expected 4H+, 4e- process usually found in copper complexes with tridentate ligands. The proton (H+) source for this process was expected from ascorbic acid which also serves as a reducing agent in this reaction. This work highlighted an approach for tuning the ORR activity of the copper complexes by the introduction of a conjugated-π moiety to the supporting ligand.

The generation of a new high-valent iron terminal imido complex prepared with a corrolazine macrocycle is reported. The reaction of [Fe(III)(TBP8Cz)] (TBP8Cz = octakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazinato) with the commercially available chloramine-T (Na(+)TsNCl(-)) leads to oxidative N-tosyl transfer to afford [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz(+•))(NTs)] in dichloromethane/acetonitrile at room temperature. This complex was characterized by UV-vis, Mössbauer (δ = -0.05 mm s(-1), ΔE(Q) = 2.94 mm s(-1)), and EPR (X-band (15 K), g = 2.10, 2.00) spectroscopies, and together with reactivity patterns and DFT calculations has been established as an iron(IV) species antiferromagnetically coupled with a Cz-π-cation-radical (S(total) = 1/2 ground state). Reactivity studies with triphenylphosphine as substrate show that [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz(+•))(NTs)] is an efficient NTs transfer agent, affording the phospharane product Ph3P═NTs under both stoichiometric and catalytic conditions. Kinetic analysis of this reaction supports a bimolecular NTs transfer mechanism with rate constant of 70(15) M(-1) s(-1). These data indicate that [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz(+•))(NTs)] reacts about 100 times faster than analogous Mn terminal arylimido corrole analogues. It was found that two products crystallize from the same reaction mixture of Fe(III)(TBP8Cz) + chloramine-T + PPh3, [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz)(NPPh3)] and [Fe(III)(TBP8Cz)(OPPh3)], which were definitively characterized by X-ray crystallography. The sequential production of Ph3P═NTs, Ph3P═NH, and Ph3P═O was observed by (31)P NMR spectroscopy and led to a proposed mechanism that accounts for all of the observed products. The latter Fe(III) complex was then rationally synthesized and structurally characterized from Fe(III)(TBP8Cz) and OPPh3, providing an important benchmark compound for spectroscopic studies. A combination of Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopies led to the characterization of both intermediate spin (S = 3/2 and low spin (S = 1/2) Fe(III) corrolazines, as well as a formally Fe(IV) corrolazine which may also be described by its valence tautomer Fe(III)(Cz(+•)).

The addition of Lewis or Brönsted acids (LA = Zn(OTf)2, B(C6F5)3, HBArF, TFA) to the high-valent manganese—oxo complex MnV(O)(TBP8Cz) results in the stabilization of a valence tautomer MnIV(O-LA)(TBP8Cz•+). The ZnII and B(C6F5)3 complexes were characterized by manganese K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The position of the edge energies and the intensities of the pre-edge (1s to 3d) peaks confirm that the Mn ion is in the +4 oxidation state. Fitting of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) region reveals 4 N/O ligands at Mn−Nave = 1.89 Å and a fifth N/O ligand at 1.61 Å, corresponding to the terminal oxo ligand. This Mn−O bond length is elongated compared to the MnV(O) starting material (Mn−O = 1.55 Å). The reactivity of MnIV(O-LA)(TBP8Cz−+) toward C−H substrates was examined, and it was found that H• abstraction from C−H bonds occurs in a 1:1 stoichiometry, giving a MnIV complex and the dehydrogenated organic product. The rates of C−H cleavage are accelerated for the MnIV(O-LA)(TBP8Cz•+) valence tautomer as compared to the MnV(O) valence tautomer when LA = ZnII, B(C6F5)3, and HBArF, whereas for LA = TFA, the C−H cleavage rate is slightly slower than when compared to MnV(O). A large, nonclassical kinetic isotope effect of kH/kD = 25–27 was observed for LA = B(C6F5)3 and HBArF, indicating that H-atom transfer (HAT) is the rate-limiting step in the C−H cleavage reaction and implicating a potential tunneling mechanism for HAT. The reactivity of MnIV(O-LA)(TBP8Cz•+) toward C−H bonds depends on the strength of the Lewis acid. The HAT reactivity is compared with the analogous corrole complex MnIV(O−H)(tpfc•+) recently reported.

Oxidation of the Fe(III) complex (TBP(8)Cz)Fe(III) [TBP(8)Cz = octakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazinate] with O-atom transfer oxidants under a variety of conditions gives the reactive high-valent Fe(O) complex (TBP(8)Cz(+•))Fe(IV)(O) (2). The solution state structure of 2 was characterized by XAS [d(Fe-O) = 1.64 Å]. This complex is competent to oxidize a range of C-H substrates. Product analyses and kinetic data show that these reactions occur via rate-determining hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT), with a linear correlation for log k versus BDE(C-H), and the following activation parameters for xanthene (Xn) substrate: ΔH(++) = 12.7 ± 0.8 kcal mol(-1), ΔS(++) = -9 ± 3 cal K(-1) mol(-1), and KIE = 5.7. Rebound hydroxylation versus radical dimerization for Xn is favored by lowering the reaction temperature. These findings provide insights into the factors that control the intrinsic reactivity of Compound I heme analogues.

Two derivatives of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes 1 and 2 containing diethyl ester and amidoferrocene units as cation and anion binding sites, respectively, have been synthesized. Both compounds were isomeric with different topology for accommodating ions. 1H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and square-wave voltammetry were used to study the binding abilities of receptors 1 and 2 toward anions. Both receptors were found to bind Br− and I− selectively in the presence of Na+. The electrochemically oxidized ferrocenium form of para-isomer 2 in the free form was found to sense AcO− selectively, but demonstrated a negative sensing in the presence of Na+. In contrast, the electrochemically oxidized ferrocenium form of meta-isomer 1 was found to enhance sensing of AcO− and Cl− in the presence of Na+.

X-ray crystallographic structures of the synthesized bis(phenylamido)ferrocene, compound 1, were determined in two forms: cis-conformer (1a) and trans-conformer (1b). Structures 1a and 1b possessed their enantiomeric pairs 1a′ and 1b′, respectively in the crystal structures. B3LYP/LanL2DZ-optimized structures of all conformers of 1 were obtained as Z1, Z2 and E2 and their corresponding enantiomers Z4, Z3 and E2′. Conformers Z1 and E2 are found to be the most stable conformers. The structures of enantiomeric pairs Z1/Z4 and E2/E2′ are in good agreement with crystal structures of 1a/1a′ and 1b/1b′, respectively. Their relative energies are in order Z1 (Z4)

The reaction of 1,1′-bis(chlorocarbonyl)ferrocene with bis-aminobenzylcalix[4]arene gave amidoferrocene calix[4]arene monomer 1. Compound 1 crystallized in the monoclinic system P21/c with a = 11.196(6) A, b = 14.971(11) A, c = 32.007(2) A, β = 96.413(4)° and V = 5330.9(6) A3. X-ray diffraction analyses of 1 showed that the calix[4]arene scaffold was in cone conformation in which the intramolecular hydrogen bonding were formed through OH groups at the lower rim to stabilize the structure. Moreover, the intramolecular hydrogen bond between the amide groups of the amidoferrocene unit also presented in the crystal structure. On the other hand, the condensation of 1,1′-bis(chlorocarbonyl)ferrocene with p-tert-bis-aminobenzylcalix[4]arene resulted in the monomeric 2 and [2 + 2] dimeric compounds 3. 1H-NMR studies signified that the calix[4]arene building block in compounds 2 and 3 adopted the cone conformation. Synthesis and Characterization of Monomeric and Dimeric Structures of Calix[4]arenes Containing Amidoferrocene Chomchai Suksai*, Pannee Leeladee, Colin Jennings, Thawatchai Tuntulani*, Palangpon Kongsaeree The condensation of 1,1′-bis(chlorocarbonyl)ferrocene with p-tert-bis-aminobenzylcalix[4]arene resulted in the monomeric and [2 + 2] dimeric compounds.

The manganese(V) oxo complex (TBP(8)Cz)Mn(V)(O) (1) is shown to catalyze the epoxidation of alkenes with a series of iodosylarenes (ArIO) as oxidants. Competition experiments reveal that the identity of ArIO influences the product ratios, implicating an unusual coordinated oxo-metal-ArIO intermediate (1-OIAr) as the active catalytic species. The isoelectronic manganese(V) imido complex (TBP(8)Cz)Mn(V)(NMes) (2) does not participate in NR transfer but does catalyze epoxidations with ArIO as the O-atom source, suggesting a mechanism similar to that seen for 1. Direct evidence (ESIMS) is obtained for 1-OIMes.