Interactions between giant unilamellar vesicles and charged core-shell magnetic nanoparticles.

This work combined two tools, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (CSMNs), to develop a simplified model for studying interactions between the cell membrane and nanoparticles. We focused on charged functionalized CSMNs that can be either cationic or anionic. Using optical, electron, and confocal microscopy, we found that giant vesicle-nanoparticle interactions did not result from a simple electrostatic phenomenon because cationic CSMNs tended to bind to positively charged bilayers, whereas anionic CSMNs remained inert.

A quinhydrone-type 2 ratio 1 acceptor-donor charge transfer complex obtained via a solvent-free reaction.

A 2 : 1 2-methoxybenzoquinone (BQ(OMe))-hydroquinone (H2Q) complex (5), obtained as single crystals by a solvent-free reaction, combines dipolar and pi-pi interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Optically Active Polymeric Homo- and Bimetallic Oxalate-Bridged Networks [M(2)(ox)(3)](n)().

The synthesis of the enantiomeric forms of the two- and three-dimensional polymers: {[NBu(4)][MnCr(ox)(3)]}(n)() (1) (Bu = n-butyl, ox = oxalate), {[M(bpy)(3))][LiCr(ox)(3)]}(n)() (M = Ni (2), Ru (4)) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), {[M(bpy)(3))][Mn(2)(ox)(3)]}(n)() (M = Ni (3), Ru (5)) using resolved [Cr(ox)(3)](3)(-) and [M(bpy)(3)](2+) (M = Ni, Ru) species as chiral building blocks, and their structural characterization are reported. The optical activity of these systems arises from the helical chirality of the tris-chelated subunits with Delta or Lambda configurations. Bimetallic two-dimensional optically active network 1 results from the stacking of similar metallo-oxalate honeycomblike layers containing [Cr(ox)(3)](3)(-) units of the same chirality. The assembly of homochiral species leads to optically active three-dimensional 3-connected 10-gon nets 2-5. Solid state circular dichroism (CD) measurements demonstrate the enantiomeric character of the obtained polymers. Absolute configurations of the metal centers have been assigned according to circular dichroism and X-ray diffraction data. Enantiomerically pure single crystals of the two enantiomeric forms, {[Ru(Delta)(bpy)(3))][Li(Delta)Cr(Delta)(ox)(3)]H(2)O}(n)() (4Delta) and {[Ru(Lambda)(bpy)(3))][Li(Lambda)Cr(Lambda)(ox)(3)]H(2)O}(n)() (4Lambda), have been obtained and the structures determined by X-ray diffraction studies (crystals data: cubic system, space group P2(1)3, a (Å) = 15.293(8) (4Delta), 15.289(2) (4Lambda), Z = 4).

An eco-friendly route to magnetic silica microspheres and nanospheres.

A green and inexpensive alternative to existing methods for the preparation of magnetic iron oxide/silica nanocomposite particles has been investigated. The use of water-in oil emulsions based on vegetable oils instead of usual solvents led to microsized or nanosized magnetic silica spheres exhibiting similar characteristics to those of classical procedures. Furthermore this approach is very general since a large class of porous magnetic colloids differing in size or iron oxide fraction has been obtained. This work emphasizes the importance of the level of the shearing during the emulsification step with regard to the size and monodispersity of the prepared beads. All the materials prepared were fully characterized (SEM and TEM microscopies, SQUID magnetometry, N(2) sorption volumetry, etc.). In addition, samples functionalized by thiol groups have been synthesized and successfully tested for the removal of heavy metals in water-treatment.

Enantioselective self-assembly of bimetallic [Mn(II) (delta)-Cr(III)(C2O4)3]- and [Mn(II) (lambda)-Cr(III)(C2O4)3]- layered anionic networks templated by the optically active (Rp)- and (Sp)-[1-CH2N(n-C3H7)3-2-CH3-C5H3Fe-C5H5]+ ions.

The ferrocenic ammonium (Rp)- and (Sp)-[1-CH2NR(3-)-2-CH3-C5H3Fe-C5H5] iodide salts with R=CH3, C2H5, n-C3H7, n-C4H9, were synthesized starting from the (Rp)- and (Sp)-[1-CH2N(CH3)2-2-CH3-C5H3Fe-C5H5] amines obtained in their optically active forms through asymmetric cyclopalladation of [C5H5Fe-C5H4CH2N(CH3)2]. 1H NMR studies of these planar chiral 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenic ammonium iodide salts in the presence of the (Delta)-(tris(tetrachlorobenzenediolato)phosphate(V) anion), [(Delta)-Trisphat] support the formation of specific diastereomeric ion pairs. Such intermolecular interactions can be related to the self-assembly of the two-dimensional optically active compounds [[(Sp)-1-CH2N(n-C3H7)3-2-CH3-C5H3Fe-C5H5][Mn (Delta)-Cr(C2O4)3]] and [[(Rp)-1-CH2N(n-C3H7)3-2-CH3-C5H3Fe-C5H5][Mn (Lambda)-Cr(C2O4)3]] starting from the resolved (Rp)- and (Sp)-[1-CH2N(n-C3H7)3-2-CH3-C5H3Fe-C5H5]+ ion associated to the racemic anionic building block rac-[Cr(C2O4)3]3- and Mn2+. Both enantiomeric forms of the networks behave as ferromagnets with a Curie temperature of 5.7 K.