Non-Targeted Spectranomics for the Early Detection of Xylella fastidiosa Infection in Asymptomatic Olive Trees, cv. Cellina di Nardò.

Olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) is a disease that has been seriously affecting olive trees in southern Italy since around 2009. During the disease, caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca sequence type ST53 (Xf), the flow of water and nutrients within the trees is significantly compromised. Initially, infected trees may not show any symptoms, making early detection challenging. In this study, young artificially infected plants of the susceptible cultivar Cellina di Nardò were grown in a controlled environment and co-inoculated with additional xylem-inhabiting fungi. Asymptomatic leaves of olive plants at an early stage of infection were collected and analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), hyperspectral reflectance (HSR), and chemometrics. The application of a spectranomic approach contributed to shedding light on the relationship between the presence of specific hydrosoluble metabolites and the optical properties of both asymptomatic Xf-infected and non-infected olive leaves. Significant correlations between wavebands located in the range of 530-560 nm and 1380-1470 nm, and the following metabolites were found to be indicative of Xf infection: malic acid, fructose, sucrose, oleuropein derivatives, and formic acid. This information is the key to the development of HSR-based sensors capable of early detection of Xf infections in olive trees.

A Novel qNMR Application for the Quantification of Vegetable Oils Used as Adulterants in Essential Oils.

Essential oils (EOs) are more and more frequently adulterated due to their wide usage and large profit, for this reason accurate and precise authentication techniques are essential. This work aims at the application of qNMR as a versatile tool for the quantification of vegetable oils potentially usable as adulterants or diluents in EOs. This approach is based on the quantification of both 1H and 13C glycerol backbone signals, which are actually present in each vegetable oil containing triglycerides. For the validation, binary mixtures of rosemary EO and corn oil (0.8-50%) were prepared. To verify the general feasibility of this technique, other different mixtures including lavender, citronella, orange and peanut, almond, sunflower, and soy seed oils were analyzed. The results showed that the efficacy of this approach does not depend on the specific combination of EO and vegetable oil, ensuring its versatility. The method was able to determine the adulterant, with a mean accuracy of 91.81 and 89.77% for calculations made on 1H and 13C spectra, respectively. The high precision and accuracy here observed, make 1H-qNMR competitive with other well-established techniques. Considering the current importance of quality control of EOs to avoid fraudulent practices, this work can be considered pioneering and promising.

Collaborative Study to Validate Purity Determination by 1H Quantitative NMR Spectroscopy by Using Internal Calibration Methodology.

NMR spectroscopy has recently been utilized to determine the absolute amounts of organic molecules with metrological traceability since signal intensity is directly proportional to the number of each nucleus in a molecule. The NMR methodology that uses hydrogen nucleus (1H) to quantify chemicals is called quantitative 1H-NMR (1H qNMR). The quantitative method using 1H qNMR for determining the purity or content of chemicals has been adopted into some compendial guidelines and official standards. However, there are still few reports in the literature regarding validation of 1H qNMR methodology. Here, we coordinated an international collaborative study to validate a 1H qNMR based on the use of an internal calibration methodology. Thirteen laboratories participated in this study, and the purities of three samples were individually measured using 1H qNMR method. The three samples were all certified via conventional primary methods of measurement, such as butyl p-hydroxybenzoate Japanese Pharmacopeia (JP) reference standard certified by mass balance; benzoic acid certified reference material (CRM) certified by coulometric titration; fludioxonil CRM certified by a combination of freezing point depression method and 1H qNMR. For each sample, 1H qNMR experiments were optimized before quantitative analysis. The results showed that the measured values of each sample were equivalent to the corresponding reference labeled value. Furthermore, assessment of these 1H qNMR data using the normalized error, En-value, concluded that statistically 1H qNMR has the competence to obtain the same quantification performance and accuracy as the conventional primary methods of measurement.

Uncovering Intramolecular π-Type Hydrogen Bonds in Solution by NMR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations.

Reaction between the phosphinito bridged diplatinum species [(PHCy2 )Pt(µ-PCy2 ){κ(2) P,O-µ-P(O)Cy2 }Pt(PHCy2 )](Pt-Pt) (1), and (trimethylsilyl)acetylene at 273 K affords the σ-acetylide complex [(PHCy2 )(η(1) -Me3 SiC≡C)Pt(µ-PCy2 )Pt(PHCy2 ){κP-P(OH)Cy2 }](Pt-Pt) (2) featuring an intramolecular π-type hydrogen bond. Scalar and dipolar couplings involving the POH proton were detected by 2D NMR experiments. Relativistic DFT calculations of the geometry, relative energy, and NMR properties of model systems of 2 confirmed the structural assignment and allowed the energy of the π-type hydrogen bond to be estimated (ca. 22 kJ mol(-1) ).

Performance Assessment in Fingerprinting and Multi Component Quantitative NMR Analyses.

An interlaboratory comparison (ILC) was organized with the aim to set up quality control indicators suitable for multicomponent quantitative analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A total of 36 NMR data sets (corresponding to 1260 NMR spectra) were produced by 30 participants using 34 NMR spectrometers. The calibration line method was chosen for the quantification of a five-component model mixture. Results show that quantitative NMR is a robust quantification tool and that 26 out of 36 data sets resulted in statistically equivalent calibration lines for all considered NMR signals. The performance of each laboratory was assessed by means of a new performance index (named Qp-score) which is related to the difference between the experimental and the consensus values of the slope of the calibration lines. Laboratories endowed with a Qp-score falling within the suitable acceptability range are qualified to produce NMR spectra that can be considered statistically equivalent in terms of relative intensities of the signals. In addition, the specific response of nuclei to the experimental excitation/relaxation conditions was addressed by means of the parameter named NR. NR is related to the difference between the theoretical and the consensus slopes of the calibration lines and is specific for each signal produced by a well-defined set of acquisition parameters.

Sulfur-Assisted Phenyl Migration from Phosphorus to Platinum in PtW2 and PtMo2 Clusters Containing Thioether-Functionalized Short-Bite Ligands of the Bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine-Type.

The reactivity of dichloroplatinum(II) complexes containing thioether-functionalized bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amines of formula (Ph2P)2N(CH2)2SR (R = (CH2)5CH3, CH2Ph) toward group 6 carbonylmetalates Na[M(CO)3Cp] (M = Mo or W, Cp = cyclopentadienyl) was explored. Reactions with two or more equivalents of Na[M(CO)3Cp] (M = Mo or W) afforded the trinuclear complexes of general formula [PtPh{M(CO)3Cp}{µ-P(Ph)N(CH2CH2SR)(PPh2)-κ(3)P,P,S}M(CO)2Cp] (3 M = Mo, R = (CH2)5CH3; 4 M = Mo, R = CH2Ph; 9 M = W, R = (CH2)5CH3; 10 M = W, R = CH2Ph), the structure of which consists of a six-membered platinacycle condensed with a four-membered M-P-N- P cycle, together with small amounts of isomeric PtM2 clusters [PtM2(CO)5Cp2{(Ph2P)2N(CH2CH2SR)-κ(2)P,P}] (5 M = Mo, R = (CH2)5CH3; 6 M = Mo, R = CH2Ph; 11 M = W, R = (CH2)5CH3; 12 M = W, R = CH2Ph) in which the ligand (Ph2P)2NR solely chelates the Pt atom or bridges an M-Pt bond as in [PtM2(CO)5Cp2{µ-(Ph2P)2N(CH2CH2SR)-κ(2)P,P}] (7 M = Mo, R = (CH2)5CH3; 8 M = Mo, R = CH2Ph; 13 M = W, R = (CH2)5CH3; 14 M = W, R = CH2Ph). The synthesis of the trinuclear complexes 3, 4, 9, and 10 entails an unexpected P-phenyl bond cleavage reaction and phenyl migration onto Pt. When only 1 equiv of Na[M(CO)3Cp] (M = Mo or W) was used, the heterodinuclear products of monosubstitution [PtCl{M(CO)3Cp}{Ph2PN(R)PPh2-P,P}] (15 M = Mo, R = (CH2)5CH3; 16 M = Mo, R = CH2Ph; 17 M = W, R = (CH2)5CH3; 18 M = W, R = CH2Ph) were obtained, which are the precursors to the bicyclic products 3, 4, 9, and 10, respectively. Density functional calculations were performed to study the thermodynamics of the formation of all the new complexes, to evaluate the relative stabilities of the isomeric chelated and bridged forms, and to trace the mechanism of formation of the phosphanido-bridged products 3, 4, 9, and 10. It was concluded that Pt(II) complexes containing a thioether-functionalized short-bite ligand, [PtCl2{Ph2PN(R)PPh2}], react with Na[M(CO)3Cp] to yield first heterodinuclear Pt-M and then heterotrinuclear PtM2 complexes resulting from the activation of a P-C bond in one of the PPh2 groups and phenyl migration to Pt. The critical role of an intramolecular thioether group was demonstrated.

Multinuclear Solid-State NMR and DFT Studies on Phosphanido-Bridged Diplatinum Complexes.

Multinuclear ((31)P, (195)Pt, (19)F) solid-state NMR experiments on (nBu4N)2[(C6F5)2Pt(µ-PPh2)2Pt(C6F5)2] (1), [(C6F5)2Pt(µ-PPh2)2Pt(C6F5)2](Pt-Pt) (2), and cis-Pt(C6F5)2(PHPh2)2 (3) were carried out under cross-polarization/magic-angle-spinning conditions or with the cross-polarization/Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill pulse sequence. Analysis of the principal components of the (31)P and (195)Pt chemical shift (CS) tensors of 1 and 2 reveals that the variations observed comparing the isotropic chemical shifts of 1 and 2, commonly referred to as "ring effect", are mainly due to changes in the principal components oriented along the direction perpendicular to the Pt2P2 plane. DFT calculations of (31)P and (195)Pt CS tensors confirmed the tensor orientation proposed from experimental data and symmetry arguments and revealed that the different values of the isotropic shieldings stem from differences in the paramagnetic and spin-orbit contributions.

Synthesis and reactivity of the unsaturated trinuclear phosphanido complex [(C6F5)2Pt(µ-PPh2)2Pt(µ-PPh2)2Pt(PPh3)].

The reaction of [NBu(4)][(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(O,O-acac)] (48 VEC) with [HPPh(3)][ClO(4)] gives the 46 VEC unsaturated [(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(1)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(2)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(3)(PPh(3))](Pt(2)-Pt(3)) (1), a trinuclear compound endowed with a Pt-Pt bond. This compound displays amphiphilic behavior and reacts easily with nucleophiles L, yielding the saturated complexes [(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(II)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(II)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(II)(PPh(3))L] [L = PPh(3) (2), py (3)]. The reaction with the electrophile [Ag(OClO(3))PPh(3)] affords the adduct 1·AgPPh(3), which evolves, even at low temperature, to a mixture in which [(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(III)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(III)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(II)(PPh(3))(2)](2+)(Pt(III)-Pt(III)) and 2 (plus silver metal) are present. The nucleophilic nature of 1 is also demonstrated through its reaction with cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)], which results in the formation of [Pt(4)(µ-PPh(2))(4)(C(6)F(5))(4)(PPh(3))] (4). The structure and NMR features indicate that 1 can be better considered as a Pt(II)-Pt(III)-Pt(I) complex instead of a Pt(II)-Pt(II)-Pt(II) derivative. Theoretical calculations (density functional theory) on similar model compounds are in agreement with the assigned oxidation states of the metal centers. The strong intermetallic interactions resulting in a Pt(2)-Pt(3) metal-metal bond and the respective bonding mechanism were verified by employing a multitude of computational techniques (natural bond order analysis, the Laplacian of the electron density, and localized orbital locator profiles).

Addition of nucleophiles to phosphanido derivatives of Pt(III): formation of P-C, P-N, and P-O bonds.

The reactivity of the dinuclear platinum(III) derivative [(R(F))2Pt(III)(µ-PPh2)2Pt(III)(R(F))2](Pt-Pt) (R(F) = C6F5) (1) toward OH(-), N3(-), and NCO(-) was studied. The coordination of these nucleophiles to a metal center evolves with reductive coupling or reductive elimination between a bridging diphenylphosphanido group and OH(-), N3(-), and NCO(-) or C6F5 groups and formation of P-O, P-N, or P-C bonds. The addition of OH(-) to 1 evolves with a reductive coupling with the incoming ligand, formation of a P-O bond, and the synthesis of [NBu4]2[(R(F))2Pt(II)(µ-OPPh2)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(R(F))2] (3). The addition of N3(-) takes place through two ways: (a) formation of the P-N bond and reductive elimination of PPh2N3 yielding [NBu4]2[(R(F))2Pt(II)(µ-N3)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(R(F))2] (4a) and (b) formation of the P-C bond and reductive coupling with one of the C6F5 groups yielding [NBu4][(R(F))2Pt(II)(µ-N3)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(R(F))(PPh2R(F))] (4b). Analogous behavior was shown in the addition of NCO(-) to 1 which afforded [NBu4]2[(R(F))2Pt(II)(µ-NCO)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(R(F))2] (5a) and [NBu4][(R(F))2Pt(II)(µ-NCO)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(R(F))(PPh2R(F))] (5b). In the reaction of the trinuclear complex [(R(F))2Pt(III)(µ-PPh2)2Pt(III)(µ-PPh2)2Pt(II)(R(F))2](Pt(III)-Pt(III)) (2) with OH(-) or N3(-), the coordination of the nucleophile takes place selectively at the central platinum(III) center, and the PPh2/OH(-) or PPh2/N3(-) reductive coupling yields the trinuclear [NBu4]2[(R(F))2Pt(II)(µ-Ph2PO)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(µ-PPh2)2Pt(II)(R(F))2] (6) and [NBu4][(R(F))2Pt(1)(µ3-Ph2PNPPh2)(µ-PPh2)Pt(2)(µ-PPh2)Pt(3)(R(F))2](Pt(2)-Pt(3)) (7). Complex 7 is fluxional in solution, and an equilibrium consisting of Pt-Pt bond migration was ascertained by (31)P EXSY experiments.

Oxidatively induced P-O bond formation through reductive coupling between phosphido and acetylacetonate, 8-hydroxyquinolinate, and picolinate groups.

The dinuclear anionic complexes [NBu4][(RF)2M(II)(µ-PPh2)2M'(II)(N(^)O)] (RF = C6F5. N(^)O = 8-hydroxyquinolinate, hq; M = M' = Pt 1; Pd 2; M = Pt, M' = Pd, 3. N(^)O = o-picolinate, pic; M = Pt, M' = Pt, 4; Pd, 5) are synthesized from the tetranuclear [NBu4]2[{(RF)2Pt(µ-PPh2)2M(µ-Cl)}2] by the elimination of the bridging Cl as AgCl in acetone, and coordination of the corresponding N,O-donor ligand (1, 4, and 5) or connecting the fragments "cis-[(RF)2M(µ-PPh2)2](2-)" and "M'(N(^)O)" (2 and 3). The electrochemical oxidation of the anionic complexes 1-5 occurring under HRMS(+) conditions gave the cations [(RF)2M(µ-PPh2)2M'(N(^)O)](+), presumably endowed with a M(III),M'(III) core. The oxidative addition of I2 to the 8-hydroxyquinolinate complexes 1-3 triggers a reductive coupling between a PPh2 bridging ligand and the N,O-donor chelate ligand with formation of a P-O bond and ends up in complexes of platinum(II) or palladium(II) of formula [(RF)2M(II)(µ-I)(µ-PPh2)M'(II)(P,N-PPh2hq)], M = M' = Pt 7, Pd 8; M = Pt, M' = Pd, 9. Complexes 7-9 show a new Ph2P-OC9H6N (Ph2P-hq) ligand bonded to the metal center in a P,N-chelate mode. Analogously, the addition of I2 to solutions of the o-picolinate complexes 4 and 5 causes the reductive coupling between a PPh2 bridging ligand and the starting N,O-donor chelate ligand with formation of a P-O bond, forming Ph2P-OC6H4NO (Ph2P-pic). In these cases, the isolated derivatives [NBu4][(Ph2P-pic)(RF)Pt(II)(µ-I)(µ-PPh2)M(II)(RF)I] (M = Pt 10, Pd 11) are anionic, as a consequence of the coordination of the resulting new phosphane ligand (Ph2P-pic) as monodentate P-donor, and a terminal iodo group to the M atom. The oxidative addition of I2 to [NBu4][(RF)2Pt(II)(µ-PPh2)2Pt(II)(acac)] (6) (acac = acetylacetonate) also results in a reductive coupling between the diphenylphosphanido and the acetylacetonate ligand with formation of a P-O bond and synthesis of the complex [NBu4][(RF)2Pt(II)(µ-I)(µ-PPh2)Pt(II)(Ph2P-acac)I] (12). The transformations of the starting complexes into the products containing the P-O ligands passes through mixed valence M(II),M'(IV) intermediates which were detected, for M = M' = Pt, by spectroscopic and spectrometric measurements.

Special Issue: Novel Approaches for the Analytical Evaluation of Food Quality and Authenticity.

Verifying the quality and authenticity of agri-food products is essential to guaranteeing adequate food safety for consumers [...].

Exploring the xylem-sap to unravel biological features of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca ST53 in immune, resistant and susceptible crop species through metabolomics and in vitro studies.

Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 (Xfp) is a pathogenic bacterium causing one of the most severe plant diseases currently threatening the olive-growing areas of the Mediterranean, the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). The majority of the olive cultivars upon infections more or less rapidly develop severe desiccation phenomena, while few are resistant (e.g. Leccino and FS17), being less impacted by the infections. The present study contributes to elucidating the basis of the resistance phenomenon by investigating the influence of the composition of the xylem sap of plant species on the rate of bacterial multiplication. Xylem saps from Xfp host and non-host species were used for growing the bacterium in vitro, monitoring bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and the expression of specific genes. Moreover, species-specific metabolites, such as mannitol, quinic acid, tartaric acid, and choline were identified by non-targeted NMR-based metabolomic analysis in olive, grapevine, and citrus. In general, the xylem saps of immune species, including grapevine and citrus, were richer in amino acids, organic acids, and glucose. The results showed greater bacterial growth in the olive cultivar notoriously susceptible to Xfp (Cellina di Nardò), compared to that recorded in the resistant cultivar Leccino. Conversely, higher biofilm formation occurred in Leccino compared to Cellina di Nardò. Using the xylem saps of two Xfp-immune species (citrus and grapevine), a divergent bacterial behavior was recorded: low planktonic growth and biofilm production were detected in citrus compared to the grapevine. A parallel evaluation of the expression of 15 genes showed that Xfp directs its molecular functions mainly to virulence. Overall, the results gained through this multidisciplinary study contribute to extending the knowledge on the host-pathogen interaction, while confirming that the host response and resistance mechanism have a multifactorial basis, most likely with a cumulative effect on the phenotype.

Targeting mitochondrial impairment for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: From hypertension to ischemia-reperfusion injury, searching for new pharmacological targets.

Mitochondria and mitochondrial proteins represent a group of promising pharmacological target candidates in the search of new molecular targets and drugs to counteract the onset of hypertension and more in general cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Indeed, several mitochondrial pathways result impaired in CVDs, showing ATP depletion and ROS production as common traits of cardiac tissue degeneration. Thus, targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes can represent a successful strategy to prevent heart failure. In this context, the identification of new pharmacological targets among mitochondrial proteins paves the way for the design of new selective drugs. Thanks to the advances in omics approaches, to a greater availability of mitochondrial crystallized protein structures and to the development of new computational approaches for protein 3D-modelling and drug design, it is now possible to investigate in detail impaired mitochondrial pathways in CVDs. Furthermore, it is possible to design new powerful drugs able to hit the selected pharmacological targets in a highly selective way to rescue mitochondrial dysfunction and prevent cardiac tissue degeneration. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the onset of CVDs appears increasingly evident, as reflected by the impairment of proteins involved in lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dynamics, respiratory chain complexes, and membrane polarization maintenance in CVD patients. Conversely, little is known about proteins responsible for the cross-talk between mitochondria and cytoplasm in cardiomyocytes. Mitochondrial transporters of the SLC25A family, in particular, are responsible for the translocation of nucleotides (e.g., ATP), amino acids (e.g., aspartate, glutamate, ornithine), organic acids (e.g. malate and 2-oxoglutarate), and other cofactors (e.g., inorganic phosphate, NAD+, FAD, carnitine, CoA derivatives) between the mitochondrial and cytosolic compartments. Thus, mitochondrial transporters play a key role in the mitochondria-cytosol cross-talk by leading metabolic pathways such as the malate/aspartate shuttle, the carnitine shuttle, the ATP export from mitochondria, and the regulation of permeability transition pore opening. Since all these pathways are crucial for maintaining healthy cardiomyocytes, mitochondrial carriers emerge as an interesting class of new possible pharmacological targets for CVD treatments.

Solution and solid-state dynamics of metal-coordinated white phosphorus.

The dynamic behavior in solution of eight mono-hapto tetraphosphorus transition metal-complexes, trans-[Ru(dppm)(2)(H)(η(1)-P(4))]BF(4) ([1]BF(4)), trans-[Ru(dppe)(2)(H)(η(1)-P(4))]BF(4) ([2]BF(4)), [CpRu(PPh(3))(2)(η(1)-P(4))]PF(6) ([3]PF(6)), [CpOs(PPh(3))(2)(η(1)-P(4))]PF(6) ([4]PF(6)), [Cp*Ru(PPh(3))(2)(η(1)-P(4))]PF(6) ([5]PF(6)), [Cp*Ru(dppe)(η(1)-P(4))]PF(6) ([6]PF(6)), [Cp*Fe(dppe)(η(1)-P(4))]PF(6) ([7]PF(6)), [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)(η(1)-P(4))]OTf ([8]OTf), and of three bimetallic Ru(µ,η(1:2)-P(4))Pt species [{Ru(dppm)(2)(H)}(µ,η(1:2)-P(4)){Pt(PPh(3))(2)}]BF(4) ([1-Pt]BF(4)), [{Ru(dppe)(2)(H)}(µ,η(1:2)-P(4)){Pt(PPh(3))(2)}]BF(4) ([2-Pt]BF(4)), [{CpRu(PPh(3))(2))}(µ,η(1:2)-P(4)){Pt(PPh(3))(2)}]BF(4) ([3-Pt]BF(4)), [dppm=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane; dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane; triphos=1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)ethane; Cp=η(5)-C(5)H(5); Cp*=η(5)-C(5)Me(5) ] was studied by variable-temperature (VT) NMR and (31)P{(1)H} exchange spectroscopy (EXSY). For most of the mononuclear species, NMR spectroscopy allowed to ascertain that the metal-coordinated P(4) molecule experiences a dynamic process consisting, apart from the free rotation about the M-P(4) axis, in a tumbling movement of the P(4) cage while remaining chemically coordinated to the central metal. EXSY and VT (31)P NMR experiments showed that also the binuclear complex cations [1-Pt](+)-[3-Pt](+) are subjected to molecular motions featured by the shift of each metal from one P to an adjacent one of the P(4) moiety. The relative mobility of the metal fragments (Ru vs. Pt) was found to depend on the co-ligands of the binuclear complexes. For complexes [2]BF(4) and [3]PF(6), MAS, (31)P NMR experiments revealed that the dynamic processes observed in solution (i.e., rotation and tumbling) may take place also in the solid state. The activation parameters for the dynamic processes of complexes 1(+), 2(+), 3(+), 4(+), 6(+), 8(+) in solution, as well as the X-ray structures of 2(+), 3(+), 5(+), 6(+) are also reported. The data collected suggest that metal-coordinated P(4) should not be considered as a static ligand in solution and in the solid state.

Pt-Mo and Pt-W mixed-metal clusters with chelating or bridging diphosphine short-bite ligands (Ph2P)2NH and (Ph2P)2N(CH2)9CH3: a combined synthetic and theoretical study.

The reactivity of the complexes [PtCl(2){Ph(2)PN(R)PPh(2)-P,P}] (R = -H, 3; R = -(CH(2))(9)CH(3), 8) toward group 6 carbonylmetalates Na[MCp(CO)(3)] (M = W or Mo, Cp = cyclopentadienyl) was explored. When R = H, the triangular clusters [PtM(2)Cp(2)(CO)(5)(µ-dppa)] (M = W, 4; M = Mo, 5), in which the diphosphane ligand bridges a Pt-M bond, were obtained as the only products. When R = -(CH(2))(9)CH(3), isomeric mixtures of the triangular clusters [PtM(2)Cp(2)(CO)(5){Ph(2)PN(R)PPh(2)-P,P}], in which the diphosphane ligand chelates the Pt center (M = W, 11; M = Mo, 13) or bridges a Pt-M bond (M = W, 12; M = Mo, 14), were obtained. Irrespective of the M/Pt ratio used when R = -(CH(2))(9)CH(3), the reaction of [PtCl(2){Ph(2)PN(R)PPh(2)-P,P}] with Na[MCp(CO)(3)] in acetonitrile stopped at the monosubstitution stage with the formation of [PtCl{MCp(CO)(3)}{Ph(2)PN(R)PPh(2)-P,P}] (R = -(CH(2))(9)CH(3), M = W, 9; M = Mo, 10), which are the precursors to the trinuclear clusters formed in THF when excess carbonylmetalate was used. The dynamic behavior of the dppa derivatives 4 and 5 in solution as well as that of their carbonylation products 6 and 7, respectively, is discussed. Density functional calculations were performed to study the thermodynamics of formation of 4 and 5 and 11-14, to evaluate the relative stabilities of the chelated and bridged forms and to trace a possible pathway for the formation of the trinuclear clusters.

Formation of P-C bond through reductive coupling between bridging phosphido and benzoquinolinate groups. Isolation of complexes of the Pt(II)/Pt(IV)/Pt(II) sequence.

The rational synthesis of dinuclear asymmetric phosphanido derivatives of palladium and platinum(II), [NBu(4)][(R(F))(2)M(µ-PPh(2))(2)M'(κ(2),N,C-C(13)H(8)N)] (R(F) = C(6)F(5); M = M' = Pt, 1; M = Pt, M' = Pd, 2; M = Pd, M' = Pt, 3; M = M' = Pd, 4), is described. Addition of I(2) to 1-4 gives complexes [(R(F))(2)M(II)(µ-PPh(2))(µ-I)Pd(II){PPh(2)(C(13)H(8)N)}] (M = M' = Pt, 6; M = Pt, M' = Pd, 7; M = M' = Pd, 8; M = Pd, M' = Pt 10) which contain the aminophosphane PPh(2)(C(13)H(8)N) ligand formed through a Ph(2)P/C^N reductive coupling on the mixed valence M(II)-M'(IV) [NBu(4)][(R(F))(2)M(II)(µ-PPh(2))(2)M'(IV)(κ(2),N,C- C(13)H(8)N)I(2)] complexes, which were identified for M(II) = Pd, M'(IV) = Pt (9), and isolated for M(II) = Pt, M'(IV) = Pt (5). Complex 5 showed an unusual dynamic behavior consisting in the exchange of two phenyl groups bonded to different P atoms, as well as a "through space" spin-spin coupling between ortho-F atoms of the pentafluorophenyl rings.

Characterization of Dextran Produced by the Food-Related Strain Weissella cibaria C43-11 and of the Relevant Dextransucrase Gene.

A metabolic feature of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which have technological and functional properties of interest to the food sector. The present study focused on the characterization of the Weissella cibaria strain C43-11, a high EPS producer in the presence of sucrose, in comparison with a low-producing strain (C2-32), and on possible genetic regulatory elements responsible for the modulation of dextransucrase (dsr) genes expression. NMR analysis of the polymeric material produced by the C43-11 strain indicated the presence of dextran consisting mainly of a linear scaffold formed by α-(1-6) glycosidic linkages and a smaller amounts of branches derived from α-(1-2), α-(1-3), and α-(1-4) linkages. Molecular analysis of the dsr genes and the putative transcriptional promoters of the two strains showed differences in their regulatory regions. Such variations may have a role in the modulation of dsr expression levels in the presence of sucrose. The strong upregulation of the dsr gene in the C43-11 strain resulted in a high accumulation of EPS. This is the first report showing differences in the regulatory elements of the dsr gene in W. cibaria and indicates a new perspective of investigation to identify the regulatory mechanism of EPS production.

Behavior of neutral phosphido derivatives of platinum and palladium toward silver centers.

The reaction of the neutral binuclear complexes [(R(F))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))(2)M(phen)] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, R(F) = C(6)F(5); M = Pt, 1; M = Pd, 2) with AgClO(4) or [Ag(OClO(3))(PPh(3))] affords the trinuclear complexes [AgPt(2)(µ-PPh(2))(2)(R(F))(2)(phen)(OClO(3))] (7a) or [AgPtM(µ-PPh(2))(2)(R(F))(2)(phen)(PPh(3))][ClO(4)] (M = Pt, 8; M = Pd, 9), which display an "open-book" type structure and two (7a) or one (8, 9) Pt-Ag bonds. The neutral diphosphine complexes [(R(F))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))(2)M(P-P)] (P-P = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, dppm, M = Pt, 3; M = Pd, 4; P-P = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppe, M = Pt, 5; M = Pd, 6) react with AgClO(4) or [Ag(OClO(3))(PPh(3))], and the nature of the resulting complexes is dependent on both M and the diphosphine. The dppm Pt-Pt complex 3 reacts with [Ag(OClO(3))(PPh(3))], affording a silver adduct 10 in which the Ag atom interacts with the Pt atoms, while the dppm Pt-Pd complex 4 reacts with [Ag(OClO(3))(PPh(3))], forming a 1:1 mixture of [AgPdPt(µ-PPh(2))(2)(R(F))(2)(OClO(3))(dppm)] (11), in which the silver atom is connected to the Pt-Pd moiety through Pd-(µ-PPh(2))-Ag and Ag-P(k(1)-dppm) interactions, and [AgPdPt(µ-PPh(2))(2)(R(F))(2)(OClO(3))(PPh(3))(2)][ClO(4)] (12). The reaction of complex 4 with AgClO(4) gives the trinuclear derivative 11 as the only product. Complex 11 shows a dynamic process in solution in which the silver atom interacts alternatively with both Pd-µPPh(2) bonds. When P-P is dppe, both complexes 5 and 6 react with AgClO(4) or [Ag(OClO(3))(PPh(3))], forming the saturated complexes [(PPh(2)C(6)F(5))(R(F))Pt(µ-PPh(2))(µ-OH)M(dppe)][ClO(4)] (M = Pt, 13; Pd, 14), which are the result of an oxidation followed by a PPh(2)/C(6)F(5) reductive coupling. Finally, the oxidation of trinuclear derivatives [(R(F))(2)Pt(II)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(II)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(II)L(2)] (L(2) = phen, 15; L = PPh(3), 16) by AgClO(4) results in the formation of the unsaturated 46 VEC complexes [(R(F))(2)Pt(III)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(III)(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(II)L(2)][ClO(4)](2) (17 and 18, respectively) which display Pt(III)-Pt(III) bonds.

Synthesis, dynamic behavior, and reactivity of new unsaturated heterotrinuclear 46 valence electron complexes.

The reaction of [NBu(4)](2)[(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pd(µ-PPh(2))(2)Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)] (1a) with [AgPPh(3)](+) results in the oxidation of two bridging diphenylphosphanides to give the 46e species [(PPh(3))(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(2)(µ-P(2)Ph(2))Pd(µ-PPh(2))(µ-Ph(2)P(4)-P(3)Ph(2))Pt(1)(C(6)F(5))(2)] (3). Complex 3 displays two tetracoordinated terminal platinum centers and a central Pd atom that is bonded to three P atoms and that completes its coordination sphere by a rather long (3.237 Å) dative Pt(2) → Pd bond. Complex 3 is also obtained when [(R(F))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))Pd(µ-PPh(2))(µ-Ph(2)P-PPh(2))Pt(R(F))(2)] (2) is reacted with PPh(3). Analogously, the addition of PPh(2)Et, CO or pyridine to 2 affords the 46e complexes of general formula [(L)(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(2)(µ-P(2)Ph(2))Pd(µ-PPh(2))(µ-Ph(2)P(4)-P(3)Ph(2))Pt(1)(C(6)F(5))(2)] (L = PPh(2)Et, 4; L = CO, 6; L = pyridine, 7). The geometry around Pt(2) is determined by the bulkiness of L bonded to Pt. Thus, in complexes 3 (L = PPh(3)) and 4 (L = PPh(2)Et), the ligand L occupies the trans position with respect to µ-P(2), and in 6 (L = CO), the ligand L occupies the cis position with respect to µ-P(2). Interestingly, for 7 (L = py), both isomers 7-trans and 7-cis, could be isolated. Although 4 did not react with an excess of PPh(2)Et, the reaction with the less sterically demanding CH(3)CN ligand resulted in the opening of the Pt(2)-P(2)-Pd cycle with formation of the saturated 48e species [(PPh(2)Et)(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))Pd(MeCN)(µ-PPh(2))(µ-Ph(2)P-PPh(2))Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)] (8). The saturated 48e complex [(CO)(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(µ-PPh(2))Pd(MeCN)(µ-PPh(2))(µ-Ph(2)P-PPh(2))Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)] (9) was obtained by acetonitrile addition to 6. Beside the hindered rotation of the pentafluorophenyl groups and a flip-flop motion of the Pd-P-Pt(1)-P-P ring observed at low T, a rotation about the Pt(2)-P(2) bond and a P-C oxidative addition/reductive elimination process occur for 3 and 4 at room temperature. A "through-space" (19)F-(31)P spin-spin coupling between an ortho-F and the P(4) is observed for complexes 3 and 4, having the C(6)F(5) groups bonded to Pt(2) in mutually trans position. The XRD structures of complexes 3, 6, 7-trans, 7-cis, 8, and 9 are described.

Hydrido phosphanido bridged polynuclear complexes obtained by protonation of a phosphinito bridged Pt(I) complex with HBF4 and HF.

The protonation of the phosphinito-bridged Pt(I) complex [(PHCy(2))Pt(µ-PCy(2)){κ(2)P,O-µ-P(O)Cy(2)}Pt(PHCy(2))](Pt-Pt) (1) by aqueous HBF(4) or hydrofluoric acid leads selectively to the hydrido-bridged solvento species syn-[(PHCy(2))(H(2)O)Pt(µ-PCy(2))(µ-H)Pt(PHCy(2)){κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}](Y)(2)(Pt-Pt) ([2-H(2)O]Y(2)) {Y = BF(4), F(HF)(n)} when an excess of acid was used. On standing in halogenated solvents, complex [2-H(2)O](BF(4))(2) undergoes a slow but complete isomerization to [(PHCy(2))(2)Pt(µ-PCy(2))(µ-H)Pt{κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}(H(2)O)](BF(4))(2)(Pt-Pt) ([4-H(2)O][BF(4)](2)) having the P(OH)Cy(2) ligand trans to the hydride. The water molecule coordinated to platinum in [2-H(2)O][BF(4)](2) is readily replaced by halides, nitriles, and triphenylphosphane, and the acetonitrile complex [2-CH(3)CN][BF(4)](2) was characterized by XRD analysis. Solvento species other than aqua complexes, such as [2-acetone-d(6)](2+) or [2-CD(2)Cl(2)](2+) were obtained in solution by the reaction of excess etherate HBF(4) with 1 in the relevant solvent. The complex [2-H(2)O](Y)(2) [Y = F(HF)(n)] spontaneously isomerizes into the terminal hydrido complexes [(PHCy(2))Pt(µ-PCy(2)){κ(2)P,O-µ-P(O)Cy(2)}Pt(H)(PHCy(2))](Y)(Pt-Pt) ([6](Y)). In the presence of HF, complex [6](Y) transforms into the bis-phosphanido-bridged Pt(II) dinuclear complex [(PHCy(2))(H)Pt(µ-PCy(2))(2)Pt{κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}](Y)(Pt-Pt) ([7](Y)). When the reaction of 1 with HF was carried out with diluted hydrofluoric acid by allowing the HF to slowly diffuse into the dichloromethane solution, the main product was the linear 60e tetranuclear complex [(PHCy(2)){κP-P(O)Cy(2)}Pt(1)(µ-PCy(2))(µ-H)Pt(2)(µ-PCy(2))](2)(Pt(1)-Pt(2)) (8). Insoluble compound 8 is readily protonated by HBF(4) in dichloromethane, forming the more soluble species [(PHCy(2)){κP-P(OH)Cy(2)}Pt(1)(µ-PCy(2))(µ-H)Pt(2)(µ-PCy(2))](2)(BF(4))(2)(Pt(1)-Pt(2)) {[9][BF(4)](2)}. XRD analysis of [9][BF(4)](2)·2CH(2)Cl(2) shows that [9](2+) is comprised of four coplanar Pt atoms held together by four phosphanido and two hydrido bridges. Both XRD and NMR analyses indicate alternate intermetal distances with peripheral Pt-Pt bonds and a longer central Pt···Pt separation. DFT calculations allow tracing of the mechanistic pathways for the protonation of 1 by HBF(4) and HF and evaluation of their energetic aspects. Our results indicate that in both cases the protonation occurs through an initial proton transfer from the acid to the phosphinito oxygen, which then shuttles the incoming proton to the Pt-Pt bond. The different evolution of the reaction with HF, leading also to [6](Y) or 8, has been explained in terms of the peculiar behavior of the F(HF)(n)(-) anions and their strong basicity for n = 0 or 1.