Bio-inspired consolidants derived from crystalline nanocellulose for decayed wood.

Novel bio-inspired materials derived from crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) have been tested as wood consolidants. A suspension of CNC, produced by acid hydrolysis of cellulose and used as such or mixed with lignin and/or siloxane derivatives (PDMS), was applied on rotted wood samples of Norway spruce. X-Ray diffraction analysis on CNC powder showed high crystallinity index. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement indicated a nearly uniform particle size distribution with an average hydrodynamic diameter for pure CNC smaller than that in the mixtures. Raman and FTIR spectroscopies suggested interactions between lignin, PDMS and CNC components. The storage modulus of wood samples, measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis on the same specimen before and after consolidation, confirmed the efficiency of pure CNC, which displayed a considerable improvement of stiffness. A substantial increase of E' was observed particularly for most decayed classes. These results suggest a closer interaction between nanocellulose and decayed wood.

Hydrogen bonds and π-π inter-actions in two new crystalline phases of methyl-ene blue.

Two unprecedented solid phases involving the 3,7-bis-(di-methyl-amino)-pheno-thia-zin-5-ium cation, i.e. methyl-ene blue (MB+ ), have been obtained and structurally characterized. In the crystals of 3,7-bis-(di-methyl-amino)-pheno-thia-zin-5-ium chloride dihydrate, C16H18N3S+·Cl-·2H2O (I) and 3,7-bis-(di-methyl-amino)-pheno-thia-zinium bis-ulfite, C16H18N3S+·HSO4- (II), the cationic dye mol-ecules are planar and disposed in an anti-parallel mode, showing π-π stacking inter-actions, with mean inter-planar distances of 3.326 (4) and 3.550 (3) Šin (I) and (II), respectively. In compound (I), whose phase was found affected by merohedral twinning [BASF = 0.185 (3)], the presence of water mol-ecules allows a network of hydrogen bonds involving MB+ as both a donor and an acceptor, whereas in compound (II), the homo-inter-action of the anions causes an effective absence of classical hydrogen-bond donors. This substantial difference has important consequences for the stacking geometry and supra-molecular inter-actions of the MB+ cations, which are analysed by Hirshfeld fingerprint plots and subsequently discussed.

Hierarchy of Supramolecular Arrangements and Building Blocks: Inverted Paradigm of Crystal Engineering in the Unprecedented Metal Coordination of Methylene Blue.

The aromatic methylene blue cation (MB+) shows unprecedented ligand behavior in the X-ray structures of the trigonal-planar (TP) complexes MBMCl2 (M = CuI, AgI). The two isostructural compounds were exclusively synthesized by grinding together methylene blue chloride and MCl solids. Only in the case of AuCl did the technique lead to a different, yet isoformular, AuI derivative with separated MB+ and AuCl2- counterions and no direct N-Au linkage. While the density functional theory (DFT) molecular modeling failed in reproducing the isolated Cu and Ag complexes, the solid-state program CRYSTAL satisfactorily provided for Cu the correct TP building block associated with a highly compact π stacking of the MB+ ligands. In this respect, the dispersion interactions, evaluated with the DFT functional, provide to the system an extra energy, which likely supports the unprecedented metal coordination of the MB+ cation. The feature seems governed by subtle chemical factors, such as, for instance, the selected metal ion of the coinage triad. Thus, the electronically consistent AuI ion does not form the analogous TP building block because of a looser supramolecular arrangement. In conclusion, while a given crystalline design is generally fixed by the nature of the building block, a peculiarly efficient supramolecular packing may stabilize an otherwise unattainable metal complex.

Raman and NMR kinetics study of the formation of amidoamines containing N-hydroxyethyl groups and investigations on their Cu(II) complexes in water.

Three amidoamines containing the N-hydroxyethyl group (HOEt), namely (HOEt)2N(CH2)2C(O)NH2 (1), [(HOEt)2N(CH2)2C(O)NH]2CH2 (2) and HOEtN[(CH2)2C(O)NH2]2 (3) have been synthesized by reacting diethanolamine HOEt2NH with acrylamide and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (respectively 1 and 2) and ethanolamine HOEtNH2 with acrylamide (3). Four other compounds corresponding to 1 and 2, but derived from sec-amines Me2NH (4 and 5) and Et2NH (6 and 7) have been prepared for the sake of comparison of the spectroscopic features. All compounds have been obtained by the well-known aza-Michael addition between an N-nucleophile and an activated vinyl group. The reaction in water between diethanolamine and acrylamide leading to 1 has been monitored in situ by Raman and NMR spectroscopy, both techniques confirming second order kinetics and giving values for kinetic constants in excellent agreement. The coordination ability of 1 and 2 towards Cu2+ in water has been studied by the Job's plot method. Spectroscopic data indicate that ligand 1 prevalently forms a 4:1 Ligand/Metal complex with a (N,O3) coordination set on the equatorial plane of Cu2+, whereas ligand 2, containing two amide functionalities bridged by a methylene group, appears able to form a 1:1 Ligand/Metal chelate species, again with a (N,O3) donor set around copper.

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline TiO2 with application as photoactive coating on stones.

UNLABELLED: Self-cleaning photocatalytic coatings for biocalcarenite stones, based on TiO2 nanoparticles obtained by sol-gel processes at different pH values and also adding gold particles, have been investigated. The selected test material is a biocalcarenite named "pietra di Lecce" (Lecce stone), outcropping in Southern Italy. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman investigations were carried out to characterize the TiO2 nanoparticles and coatings. Nanocrystalline anatase and, to a lesser extent, brookite phases are obtained. Photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 sols and of the coatings on "pietra di Lecce" was assessed under ultraviolet irradiation, monitoring methyl orange (MeO) dye degradation as a function of time. To evaluate the harmlessness of the treatment, colorimetric tests and water absorption by capillarity were performed. The results show good photodegradation rates for titania nanosols, particularly when putting in Au particles, whereas a satisfactory chromatic compatibility between the sol and the surface of the calcarenite is found only without Au addition. HIGHLIGHTS: Sols of nanocrystalline titania at different pH values and with Au particles were prepared and characterized. Satisfactory photodegradation of MeO by the sols in solution and on calcarenite-coated surfaces is obtained. The addition of Au particles improves the photodegradation activity but gives poor chromatic results on "pietra di Lecce."

Bis(triphenyl-phosphanyl-idene)iminium dichloridotriphenyl-stannate(IV).

The structure of the title compound, [Ph(3)P=N=PPh(3)](+)[Ph(3)SnCl(2)](-) or (C(36)H(30)NP(2))[Sn(C(6)H(5))(3)Cl(2)], obtained as a by product of the reaction between Ph(3)SnCl and [Ph(3)P=N=PPh(3)](+)·HSeO(3) (-), consists of discrete essentially isolated ions. Both the cation and the anion lie on twofold axes which pass through the central N atom in the cation and through the Sn(IV) atom in the anion. In the crystal, the ions inter-act only through a weak inter-action between the Cl atom of the anion and an H atom of a phenyl ring of the cation.

Investigation of novel sol-gel hydrophobic surfaces for desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis.

Sol-gel-based materials were synthesized, characterized and finally tested as solid supports for desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) analysis of a mixture of compounds of different polarity. Films with thickness in the 2-4 µm range were obtained by a dip-coating process using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) as sol-gel precursors. Three types of surface with different hydrophobic character were obtained by varying the TEOS/OTES ratio in the sol-gel mixture. Each coating was characterized by atomic force microscopy investigations, gaining insight into homogeneity, smoothness and thickness of the obtained films. To study hydrophobicity of each surface, surface free energy measurements were performed. Different DESI-MS responses were observed when different solvent mixture deposition procedures and solvent spray compositions were investigated. Results were finally compared to those obtained by using commercial polytetrafluoroethylene-coated slides. It was found that surface free energy plays an important role in the desorption/ionization process as a function of the polarity of analytes.

Self-assembly of polyoxoselenitopalladate nanostars [Pd15(µ3-SeO3)10(µ3-O)10Na]9⁻ and their supramolecular pairing in the solid state.

An anionic Pd15-oxo-cluster [Pd15(µ3-SeO3)10(µ3-O)10Na]9⁻ has been synthesized. It is the result of an unprecedented self-assembly of Pd(2+) and Na(+) cations, SeO3²â» and oxo anions. It has been found for the first time, that selenito groups can give rise to supramolecular interactions in the solid state with palladium atoms, through the selenium electron lone pairs.

Reactivity of the zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2P[double bond, length as m-dash]NPPh2C(S)NEt towards [Ru3(CO)12]. Sulfur transfer and ligand fragmentation leading to the methideylamide [-N(Et)-CH(R)-] micro3-bridging moiety.

The reaction of EtNHC(S)Ph2P[double bond, length as m-dash]NP+Ph2C(S)N(-)Et (HEtSNS) with [Ru3(CO)12] has been carried out under two different experimental conditions: in the first case [Ru3(CO)12], previously turned into the labile intermediate [Ru3(CO)10(CH3CN)2], afforded, at room temperature in dichloromethane, the trinuclear clusters [Ru3(CO)11(CNEt)] (1), [Ru3(CO)9(micro-H)[(micro-S:kappa-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(S)NEt]] (2), [Ru3(CO)9(micro-H)[(micro-S:kappa-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]P(S)Ph2]] (3) and [Ru3(CO)10[(micro-kappa2P)Ph2PNHPPh2]] (3). Ligand fragmentation occurs via loss of EtNC or EtNCS, without sulfur transfer to the cluster core. In the second case, [Ru3(CO)12] reacted with HEtSNS in toluene at 70 degrees C, giving the trinuclear clusters , [Ru3(CO)7(CNEt)(micro3-S)[(micro2-N:eta1-C:kappa1-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(H)NEt]] (6), [Ru3(CO)8)(micro3-S)[(micro2-N:eta-C:kappa-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(H)NEt]] (6) and [Ru3(CO)6(micro3-CO)(micro3-S)(EtNC)[(micro-kappa2P) Ph2PNHPPh2]] (7). The last three compounds derive from ligand fragmentation and sulfur transfer to the metal cluster. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopy (NMR, IR) and the molecular structures of , and were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Cluster preserves the original Ru3 triangular core in which an edge is bridged by a hydride ligand and by the sulfur atom of the Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(S)NEt ligand. Cluster shows an open triangle of Ru atoms capped by a micro3-sulfide and by the unprecedented methideylamide -N(Et)CH(R)-micro3-bridging moiety of the Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(H)NEt ligand. It formally derives from cluster by substitution of ethyl isonitrile with one CO molecule. Finally, cluster displays a Ru3(micro3-S)(micro3-CO) trigonal bipyramidal core.

Glutathione and N-acetylcysteinylglycine: protonation and Zn2+ complexation.

The speciation study of the Zn(2+)/glutathione (GSH, H(3)G) and Zn(2+)/N-acetylcysteinylglycine (NAcCG, H(2)L) was performed in aqueous solution by means of potentiometry and ESI mass spectrometry. The ligand N-acetylcysteinylglycine was synthesized by protection/activation strategies. (1)H NMR data for the Zn(2+)/NAcCG system at different pH were also collected, to gain insight in the coordination modes for the ligand. The information collected for the NAcCG model ligand were used to propose the structure in solution for the Zn(2+)/GSH complexes. Dinuclear complexes of GSH with Zn(2+), which have never been proposed previously in the literature, were identified in solution and a model of their structure was proposed. Moreover, the Zn(2+) promoted deprotonation of the cysteinyl peptidic NH with formation of five membered (S,N(Cys)(-)) chelating rings was evidenced. The speciation study of the ternary Zn(2+)/GSH/NAcCG system was also performed, showing that the Zn(2+) does not bind preferentially to GSH in presence of NAcCG. The (1)H NMR protonation studies of both GSH and NAcCG were also performed, and a novel proton dissociation microconstant calculation procedure has been proposed and applied to GSH equilibria.

Trapping a pseudo-Hofmann rearrangement on a ruthenium cluster.

In the clusters [Ru3(micro(3)-NPPh(3))(micro(3)-OSiMe(3))(micro-X)(micro(C,O)-OC[double bond]NPPh(3))(micro-CO)(CO)6] (X = NCO, 2; X = Cl, 3), which were prepared by a pyrolytic reaction of Ph(3)PNSiMe(3) with Ru(3)(CO)12, the ligands result from a cluster-mediated pseudo-Hofmann rearrangement involving the micro-NCO, micro(C,O)-Ph(3)P[double bond]N-CO and micro(3)-NPPh(3) fragments.

Experimental and computational studies on the solvent-controlled cluster isomerism of Ru3(H)(CO)9(NPPh3) and related dynamics.

The species Ru3(H)(mu3-NPPh3)(CO)9 occurs in the solid state as two isomers, characterized either by one capping hydride and three CO bridges (1a) or by one bridging hydride and all terminals COs (1b); key intermediates for the formation, fluxionality and solvent-dependent interconversion of the isomers are highlighted through a DFT MO analysis.

Oxidative stress and phytochelatin characterisation in bread wheat exposed to cadmium excess.

In this work, we first investigated if the bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Albimonte can be defined as "shoot cadmium excluder"--by comparing the cadmium (Cd) content in leaves and roots and by calculating the shoot-to-root Cd concentration ratio. Furthermore, we evaluated if the exposure to Cd excess could generate oxidative stress in leaves and roots of this cv., in terms of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) accumulation, NAD(P)H oxidation rate, and variations in reduced glutathione (GSH) content and peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) activity. Finally, we surveyed possible quali- quantitative differences in thiol-peptide compound pattern between roots and leaves, in order to verify whether phytochelatins (PCs) and related thiol-peptides could contribute in limiting the Cd-induced oxidative stress. Unambiguous characterisation of PCs and related forms present in the root samples was obtained by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and ESI-tandem MS (ESI-MS/MS). Our results indicate that in leaves the stress generated by the low accumulation of Cd (due to a moderate translocation in planta) seems to be counteracted by the antioxidant response and by the PC biosynthesis. On the contrary, in roots, in spite of the elevated presence of PCs and related thiol-peptide-compounds, the excess of Cd causes a decline in the antioxidant protection of the organ, with the consequent generation of considerable amounts of H(2)O(2), a direct agent of oxidative stress.

On the reaction of Ph2PNHPPh2 with RNCS (R=Et, Ph, p-NO2C6H4): preparation of the zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2P==NPPh2C(S)NEt (HSNS) and the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)].

The reaction of Ph(2)PNHPPh(2) (PNP) with RNCS (Et, Ph, p-NO(2)(C(6)H(4))) gives addition products resulting from the attack of the P atoms of PNP on the electrophilic carbon atom of the isothiocyanate. When PNP is reacted with EtNCS in a 1:2 molar ratio, the zwitterionic molecule EtNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)Et (HSNS) is obtained in high yield. HSNS can be protonated (H(2)SNS(+)) or deprotonated (SNS(-)), behaving in the latter form as an S,N,S-donor pincer ligand. The reaction of HSNS with [(acac)Rh(CO)(2)] (acac=acetylacetonate) affords the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)]. Other products can be obtained depending on the R group, the PNP/RNCS ratio (1:1 or 1:2), and the reaction temperature. The proposed product of the primary attack of PNP on RNCS, Ph(2)PN==PPh(2)C(S)NHR (A), cannot be isolated. Reaction of A with another RNCS molecule leads to 1:2 addition compounds of the general formula RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (1), which can rearrange into the non-zwitterionic product RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2) (2) by eliminating a molecule of RNC. Two molecules of A can react together, yielding 1:1 PNP/RNCS zwitterionic products of the formula RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)]PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (3). Compound 3 can then rearrange into RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)](2) (4) by losing a RNC molecule. When R=Et (a), compounds 1 a, 2 a (HSNS), and 4 a have been isolated and characterized. When R=Ph (b), compounds 2 b and 4 b can be prepared in high yield. When R=p-NO(2)C(6)H(4) (c), only compound 3 c is observed and isolated in high yield. The crystal structures of HSNS, [(SNS)Rh(CO)], and of the most representative products have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.

Metal chelates of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid in animal feeding. Part 2: Further characterizations, in vitro and in vivo investigations.

The alpha-hydroxyacid 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (the so-called methionine hydroxy-analogue, MHA), largely used in animal nutrition as a source of methionine, forms stable metal chelates with divalent metals of formula [{CH(3)SCH(2) CH(2)CH(OH)COO}(2)M].nH(2)O. Protonation and iron(III) and copper(II) complex formation constants have been determined by potentiometry at 25 degrees C. Distribution diagrams show that no free Fe(3+) cations are present in solution at pH>2.5. ESI-MS (Electron-Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry) investigations carried out both on iron and zinc complexes in solution have evidenced various species with different MHA/metal ratios. In vivo trials were carried out with rats. After receiving a zinc-deficient diet for 3 weeks, animals were fed the same diet added with zinc sulfate or zinc/MHA chelate; the zinc content of faeces was higher (+45%; P<0.05) in sulfate fed rats, whereas zinc retention was higher (+61%; P<0.05) in the Zn/MHA diet. Experiments in vitro with human intestinal Caco-2 cells indicated that the MHA/Fe chelate was taken up by the cells without any apparent toxic effect. The iron uptake was higher than that of iron nitrilotriacetate (Fe(3+)NTA), an effective chelate for delivering iron to milk diets. In conclusion, these data indicate that the use of MHA chelates could be a valuable tool to increase bioavailability of trace minerals and reduce the environmental impact of animal manure.

Reactivity of Ph2P(Se)CH2C6H4CH2P(Se)Ph2 with [M3(CO)12] (M=Ru or Fe). Synthesis and characterization of the new carbene cluster [Ru3(mu3-Se)(mu3-H)(mu2-PPh2)(CO)6(mu2-CHC6H4CH2PPh2)].

The reactions of [M3(CO)12] (M=Ru or Fe) with 1,2 bis[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]benzene diselenide (dpmbSe2) in hot toluene afford a variety of phosphine-substituted selenido carbonyl clusters. They belong to the following three families: (i) 50-electron clusters with a M3Se2 core (2, 3, 5-7), (ii) 48-electron clusters with a M3Se core (1, 8), (iii) 34-electron clusters with a M2Se2 core (4). All these species derive from the P=Se bond cleavage. Cluster 1, which contains a hydrido, a phosphido, and a carbene ligand, is produced by multiple fragmentation of the diphosphine. This fragmentation appears related to the presence of the selenido ligand on the cluster, as the reaction of [Ru3(CO)12] with dpmb (not selenized) produces only carbonyl substitution by the phosphine to give [Ru3(CO)10(mu-dpmb)] (9). All the clusters synthesized have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques, and in some cases fluxional behavior has been detected in solution by NMR analysis. The structures of 1, 2, and 7-9 have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.

Metal chelates of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid in animal feeding: preliminary investigations on stability and bioavailability.

The alpha-hydroxyacid 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (the so-called methionine hydroxy-analogue, MHA), largely used in animal nutrition as a source of methionine, forms stable metal chelates with divalent metals of formula [[CH(3)SCH(2)CH(2)CH(OH)COO](2)M].ZnH(2)O. Protonation and zinc(II) complex formation constants have been determined by pH-metry at 25 degrees C; the ternary system Zn(2+)/MHA/glycine was also studied by pH-metry and the formation constant of the species [ZnLA] was determined [log beta=6.57(11)]. Experiments in vitro with human intestinal CACO-2 cells indicated that the MHA/Fe chelate was taken up by the cells without any apparent toxic effect.

Reactivity of the heterometallic clusters [HMCo3(CO)12] and [Et4N][MCo3(CO)12] (M = Fe, Ru) toward phosphine selenides, including selenium transfer. Crystal structures of [HRuCo3(CO)7(mu-CO)3(mu-dppy)], [MCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppy)], and [RuCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppm)] [dppy = Ph2(2-C5H4N)P, dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2].

The reactivity of [HMCo3(CO)12] and [Et4N][MCo3(CO)12] (M = Fe, Ru) toward phosphine selenides such as Ph3PSe, Ph2P(Se)CH2PPh2, Ph2(2-C5H4N)PSe, Ph2(2-C4H3S)PSe, and Ph2[(2-C5H4N)(2-C4H2S)]PSe has been studied with the aim to obtain new selenido-carbonyl bimetallic clusters. The reactions of the hydrido clusters give two main classes of products: (i) triangular clusters with a mu3-Se capping ligand of the type [MCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)(9-x)L(y)] resulting from the selenium transfer (x = y = 1, 2, with L = monodentate ligand; x = 2, 4, and y = 1, 2, with L = bidentate ligand) (M = Fe, Ru) and (ii) tetranuclear clusters of the type [HMCo3(CO)12xL(y)] obtained by simple substitution of axial, Co-bound carbonyl groups by the deselenized phosphine ligand. The crystal structures of [HRuCo3(CO)7(mu-CO)3(mu-dppy)] (1), [MCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppy)] (M = Fe (16) or Ru (2)), and [RuCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppm)] (12) are reported [dppy = Ph2(2-C5H4N)P, dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2]. Clusters 2, 12, and 16 are the first examples of trinuclear bimetallic selenido clusters substituted by phosphines. Their core consists of metal triangles capped by a mu3-selenium atom with the bidentate ligand bridging two metals in equatorial positions. The core of cluster 1 consists of a RuCo3 tetrahedron, each Co-Co bond being bridged by a carbonyl group and one further bridged by a dppy ligand. The coordination of dppy in a pseudoaxial position causes the migration of the hydride ligand to the Ru(mu-H)Co edge. In contrast to the reactions of the hydrido clusters, those with the anionic clusters [MCo3(CO)12]- do not lead to Se transfer from phosphorus to the cluster but only to CO substitution by the deselenized phosphine.