Coherent manipulation of electron spins in the {Cu3} spin triangle complex impregnated in nanoporous silicon.

We report on coherent manipulation of electron spins in an antiferromagnetically coupled spin triangle {Cu3-X} (X=As, Sb) impregnated in freestanding nanoporous silicon (NS) by using 240 GHz microwave pulses. Rabi oscillations are observed and the spin coherence time is found to be T(2)=1066 ns at 1.5 K. This demonstrates that the {Cu3-X}:NS hybrid material provides a promising scheme for implementing spin-based quantum gates. By measuring the spin relaxation times of samples with different symmetries and environments we give evidence that a spin chirality is the main decoherence source of spin triangle molecules.

Observation of a half step magnetization in the {Cu3}-type triangular spin ring.

We report pulsed field magnetization and ESR experiments on a {Cu3} nanomagnet, where antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(2+) (S = 1/2) ions form a slightly distorted triangle. The remarkable feature is the observation of a half step magnetization, hysteresis loops, and an asymmetric magnetization between a positive and a negative field in a fast sweeping external field. This is attributed to an adiabatic change of magnetization. The energy levels determined by ESR unveil that the different mixing nature of a spin chirality of a total S = 1/2 Kramers doublet by virtue of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions is decisive for inducing half step magnetization.

Sandwich-type silicotungstates: structure and magnetic properties of the dimeric polyoxoanions[[SiM2W9O34(H2O)]2]12- (M = Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+).

The novel dimeric silicotungstates [[SiM2W9O34(H2O)]2]12- (M = Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) have been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and magnetic measurements. X-ray single-crystal analyses were carried out on K4Na6Mn[[SiMn2W9O34(H2O)]2].33H2O (1), which crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 12.2376(7) A, b = 13.6764(8) A, c = 15.6177(9) A, alpha = 70.2860(10) degrees, beta = 79.9150(10) degrees, gamma = 70.2760(10) degrees, and Z = 1; K3Na5[[SiCu2W9O34(H2O)]2].26H2O (2) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 11.4271(12) A, b = 12.5956(13) A, c = 15.3223(16) A, alpha = 80.456(2)degrees, beta = 76.383(2) degrees, gamma = 76.968(2) degrees, and Z = 1; K4Na6[[SiZn2W9O34(H2O)]2].34H2O (3) crystallizes also in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 12.2596(14) A, b = 13.2555(15) A, c = 16.2892(18) A, alpha = 96.431(2) degrees, beta = 100.944(2) degrees, gamma = 110.404(2) degrees, and Z = 1. The polyanions consist of two lacunary B-alpha-[SiW9O34]10- Keggin moieties linked via a rhomblike M4O16 (M = Mn, Cu, Zn) group leading to a sandwich-type structure. Magnetic measurements show that the central Mn4 unit in 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic (J = -1.77(5) cm(-1)) as well as weak ferromagnetic (J' = 0.08(2) cm(-1)) Mn-Mn exchange interactions. In 2 the Cu-Cu exchange interactions are antiferromagnetic (J = -0.10(2) cm(-1), J' = -0.29(2) cm(-1)).

Mechanism of polyoxometalate-mediated inactivation of DNA polymerases: an analysis with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase indicates specificity for the DNA-binding cleft.

The anti-DNA polymerase activity of a structural family of polyoxometalates has been determined. Two representative compounds of this family, possessing a saddle-like structure [(O3POPO3)4W12O36]16- (polyoxometalate I) and [(O3PCH2PO3)4W12O36]16- (polyoxometalate II) were found to inhibit all the DNA polymerases tested, with IC50 values ranging from 2 to 10 microM. A comparative study with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and Klenow polymerase as representative DNA polymerases indicated that protection from inactivation was achieved by inclusion of DNA but not by deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs). Kinetic analysis revealed that the mode of HIV-1 RT inhibition is competitive with respect to DNA, and non-competitive with respect to dNTP binding. Cross-linking experiments confirmed that the inhibitors interfere with the DNA-binding function of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Interestingly, a number of drug-resistant mutants of HIV-1 RT exhibit a sensitivity to polyoxometalate comparable to the wild-type HIV-1 RT, suggesting that these polyoxometalates interact at a novel site. Because different polymerases contain DNA-binding clefts of various dimensions, it should be possible to modify polyoxometalates or to add a link to an enzyme-specific drug so that more effective inhibitors could be developed. Using a computer model of HIV-1 RT we performed docking studies in a binary complex (enzyme-polyoxometalate I) to propose tentatively a possible interacting site in HIV-1 RT consistent with the available biochemical results as well as with the geometric and charge constraints of the two molecules.

Synthesis and characterization of copper-, zinc-, manganese-, and cobalt-substituted dimeric heteropolyanions, [(alpha-XW9O33)2M3(H2O)3](n-) (n = 12, X =As(III), Sb(III), M = Cu(2+), Zn(2+); n = 10, X = Se(IV), Te(IV), M = Cu(2+) and [(alpha-AsW9O33)2WO(H2O)M2(H2O)2](10-) (M = Zn(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+).

Interaction of the lacunary [alpha-XW9O33](9-) (X = As(III), Sb(III)) with Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) ions in neutral, aqueous medium leads to the formation of dimeric polyoxoanions, [(alpha-XW9O33)2M3(H2O)3](12-) (M = Cu(2+), Zn(2+); X = As(III), Sb(III)), in high yield. The selenium and tellurium analogues of the copper-containing heteropolyanions are also reported: [(alpha-XW9O33)2Cu3(H2O)3](10-) (X = Se(IV), Te(IV)). The polyanions consist of two [alpha-XW9O33] units joined by three equivalent Cu(2+) (X = As, Sb, Se, Te) or Zn(2+) (X = As, Sb) ions. All copper and zinc ions have one terminal water molecule resulting in square-pyramidal coordination geometry. Therefore, the title anions have idealized D3h symmetry. The space between the three transition metal ions is occupied by three sodium ions (M = Cu(2+), Zn(2+); X = As(III), Sb(III)) or potassium ions (M = Cu(2+); X = Se(IV), Te(IV)) leading to a central belt of six metal atoms alternating in position. Reaction of [alpha-AsW9O33](9-) with Zn(2+), Co(2+), and Mn(2+) ions in acidic medium (pH = 4-5) results in the same structural type but with a lower degree of transition-metal substitution, [(alpha-AsW9O33)2WO(H2O)M2(H2O)2](10-) (M = Zn(2+), Co(2+), Mn(2+)). All nine compounds are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The solution properties of [(alpha-XW9O33)2Zn3(H2O)3](12-) (X = As(III), Sb(III)) were also studied by 183W-NMR spectroscopy.