Hyaluronidase inhibitor delphinidin inhibits cancer metastasis.

Cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, with metastasis being a key contributor to its lethality. Abundant high molecular mass hyaluronic acid, a major non-protein component of extracellular matrix, protects naked mole rats from cancer and reduces cancer incidence in mice. Hyaluronidase plays a critical role in degrading hyaluronic acid and is frequently overexpressed in metastatic cancer. Here we investigated the potential of targeting hyaluronidases to reduce metastasis. A high throughput screen identified delphinidin, a natural plant compound found in fruits and vegetables, as a potent hyaluronidase inhibitor. Delphinidin-mediated inhibition of hyaluronidase activity led to an increase in high molecular weight hyaluronic acid in cell culture and in mouse tissues, and reduced migration and invasion behavior of breast, prostate, and melanoma cancer cells. Moreover, delphinidin treatment suppressed melanoma metastasis in mice. Our study provides a proof of principle that inhibition of hyaluronidase activity suppresses cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, we identified a natural compound delphinidin as a potential anticancer therapeutic. Thus, we have identified a path for clinical translation of the cancer resistance mechanism identified in the naked mole rat.

CMS121 Partially Attenuates Disease Progression in Mouse Models of Huntington's Disease.

There are currently no drugs that meaningfully slow down the progression of Huntington's disease (HD). Moreover, drug candidates against a single molecular target have not had significant success. Therefore, a different approach to HD drug discovery is needed. Previously we showed that the flavonol fisetin is efficacious in mouse and fly models of HD (Hum. Mol. Gen. 20:261, 2011). It is also effective in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), ischemic stroke, and the CNS complications of diabetes, all of which share some pathological features with HD. Potent derivatives of fisetin with improved pharmacology were made that maintain its multiple biological activities (J. Med. Chem. 55:378, 2012). From 160 synthetic fisetin derivatives, one, CMS121, was selected for further study in the context of HD based on pharmacological parameters and its efficacy in animal models of AD. Both R6/2 and YAC128 mouse models of HD were used in these studies. We examined motor function using multiple assays as well as survival. In the R6/2 mice, we also looked at the effects of CMS121 on striatal gene expression. In both models, we found a slowing of motor dysfunction and an increase in median life span. Interestingly, in the YAC128 mice, the effects on the slowing in motor function loss became increasingly more pronounced as the mice aged. CMS121 also reduced HD-driven changes in the expression of genes associated with the proteasome and oxidative phosphorylation. Overall, these results suggest that CMS121 could provide some benefits for HD patients, particularly with regard to increasing health span.

Naked mole-rats are extremely resistant to post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent disabling disease, affecting quality of life and contributing to morbidity, particularly during aging. Current treatments for OA are limited to palliation: pain management and surgery for end-stage disease. Innovative approaches and animal models are needed to develop curative treatments for OA. Here, we investigated the naked mole-rat (NMR) as a potential model of OA resistance. NMR is a small rodent with the maximum lifespan of over 30 years, resistant to a wide range of age-related diseases. NMR tissues accumulate large quantities of unique, very high molecular weight, hyaluronan (HA). HA is a major component of cartilage and synovial fluid. Importantly, both HA molecular weight and cartilage stiffness decline with age and progression of OA. As increased polymer length is known to result in stiffer material, we hypothesized that NMR high molecular weight HA contributes to stiffer cartilage. Our analysis of biomechanical properties of NMR cartilage revealed that it is significantly stiffer than mouse cartilage. Furthermore, NMR chondrocytes were highly resistant to traumatic damage. In vivo experiments using an injury-induced model of OA revealed that NMRs were highly resistant to OA. While similarly treated mice developed severe cartilage degeneration, NMRs did not show any signs of OA. Our study shows that NMRs are remarkably resistant to OA, and this resistance is likely conferred by high molecular weight HA. This work suggests that NMR is a useful model to study OA resistance and NMR high molecular weight HA may hold therapeutic potential for OA treatment.

LINE1 Derepression in Aged Wild-Type and SIRT6-Deficient Mice Drives Inflammation.

Mice deficient for SIRT6 exhibit a severely shortened lifespan, growth retardation, and highly elevated LINE1 (L1) activity. Here we report that SIRT6-deficient cells and tissues accumulate abundant cytoplasmic L1 cDNA, which triggers strong type I interferon response via activation of cGAS. Remarkably, nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which inhibit L1 retrotransposition, significantly improved health and lifespan of SIRT6 knockout mice and completely rescued type I interferon response. In tissue culture, inhibition of L1 with siRNA or NRTIs abrogated type I interferon response, in addition to a significant reduction of DNA damage markers. These results indicate that L1 activation contributes to the pathologies of SIRT6 knockout mice. Similarly, L1 transcription, cytoplasmic cDNA copy number, and type I interferons were elevated in the wild-type aged mice. As sterile inflammation is a hallmark of aging, we propose that modulating L1 activity may be an important strategy for attenuating age-related pathologies.

Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy of metalloproteins and high-valent metal-complexes at room temperature using free-electron lasers.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the L-edge of 3d transition metals provides unique information on the local metal charge and spin states by directly probing 3d-derived molecular orbitals through 2p-3d transitions. However, this soft x-ray technique has been rarely used at synchrotron facilities for mechanistic studies of metalloenzymes due to the difficulties of x-ray-induced sample damage and strong background signals from light elements that can dominate the low metal signal. Here, we combine femtosecond soft x-ray pulses from a free-electron laser with a novel x-ray fluorescence-yield spectrometer to overcome these difficulties. We present L-edge absorption spectra of inorganic high-valent Mn complexes (Mn ∼ 6-15 mmol/l) with no visible effects of radiation damage. We also present the first L-edge absorption spectra of the oxygen evolving complex (Mn4CaO5) in Photosystem II (Mn < 1 mmol/l) at room temperature, measured under similar conditions. Our approach opens new ways to study metalloenzymes under functional conditions.

High-spin Mn-oxo complexes and their relevance to the oxygen-evolving complex within photosystem II.

The structural and electronic properties of a series of manganese complexes with terminal oxido ligands are described. The complexes span three different oxidation states at the manganese center (III-V), have similar molecular structures, and contain intramolecular hydrogen-bonding networks surrounding the Mn-oxo unit. Structural studies using X-ray absorption methods indicated that each complex is mononuclear and that oxidation occurs at the manganese centers, which is also supported by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies. This gives a high-spin Mn(V)-oxo complex and not a Mn(IV)-oxy radical as the most oxidized species. In addition, the EPR findings demonstrated that the Fermi contact term could experimentally substantiate the oxidation states at the manganese centers and the covalency in the metal-ligand bonding. Oxygen-17-labeled samples were used to determine spin density within the Mn-oxo unit, with the greatest delocalization occurring within the Mn(V)-oxo species (0.45 spins on the oxido ligand). The experimental results coupled with density functional theory studies show a large amount of covalency within the Mn-oxo bonds. Finally, these results are examined within the context of possible mechanisms associated with photosynthetic water oxidation; specifically, the possible identity of the proposed high valent Mn-oxo species that is postulated to form during turnover is discussed.

Synthesis and reactivity of tripodal complexes containing pendant bases.

The synthesis of a new tripodal ligand family that contains tertiary amine groups in the second-coordination sphere is reported. The ligands are tris(amido)amine derivatives, with the pendant amines attached via a peptide coupling strategy. They were designed to function as new molecular catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), in which the pendant acid/base group could improve the catalyst performance. Two members of the ligand family were each metalated with cobalt(II) and zinc(II) to afford trigonal-monopyramidal complexes. The reaction of the cobalt complexes [Co(L)](-) with dioxygen reversibly generates a small amount of a cobalt(III) superoxo species, which was characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Protonation of the zinc complex Zn[N{CH2CH2NC(O)CH2N(CH2Ph)2}3)](-) ([Zn(TN(Bn))](-)) with 1 equiv of acid occurs at a primary-coordination-sphere amide moiety rather than at a pendant basic site. The addition of excess acid to any of the complexes [M(L)](-) results in complete proteolysis and formation of the ligands H3L. These undesired reactions limit the use of these complexes as catalysts for the ORR. An alternative ligand with two pyridyl arms was also prepared but could not be metalated. These studies highlight the importance of the stability of the primary-coordination sphere of ORR electrocatalysts to both oxidative and acidic conditions.

Preparation and Properties of an MnIV-Hydroxide Complex: Proton and Electron Transfer at a Mononuclear Manganese Site and its Relationship to the Oxygen Evolving Complex within Photosystem II.

Photosynthetic water oxidation is catalyzed by a Mn4O5Ca cluster with an unprecedented arrangement of metal ions in which a single manganese center is bonded to a distorted Mn3O4Ca cubane-like structure. Several mechanistic proposals describe the unique manganese center as a site for water binding and subsequent formation of a high valent Mn-oxo center that reacts with a M-OH unit (M = Mn or CaII) to form the O-O bond. The conversion of low valent Mn-OHn (n = 1,2) to a Mn-oxo species requires that a single manganese site be able to accommodate several oxidation states as the water ligand is deprotonated. To study these processes, the preparation and characterization of a new monomeric MnIV-OH complex is described. The MnIV-OH complex completes a series of well characterized Mn-OH and Mn-oxo complexes containing the same primary and secondary coordination spheres; this work thus demonstrates that a single ligand can support mononuclear Mn complexes spanning four different oxidation states (II through V) with oxo and hydroxo ligands that are derived from water. Moreover, we have completed a thermodynamic analysis based on this series of manganese complexes to predict the formation of high valent Mn-oxo species; we demonstrated that the conversion of a MnIV-OH species to a MnV-oxo complex would likely occur via a stepwise proton transfer-electron transfer mechanism. The large dissociation energy for the MnIVO-H bond (~95 kcal/mol) diminished the likelihood that other pathways are operative within a biological context. Furthermore, these studies showed that reactions between Mn-OH and Mn-oxo complexes lead to non-productive, one-electron processes suggesting that initial O-O bond formation with the OEC does not involve an Mn-OH unit.

Characterization of monomeric Mn(II/III/IV)-hydroxo complexes from X- and Q-band dual mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.

Manganese-hydroxo species have been implicated in C-H bond activation performed by metalloenzymes, but the electronic properties of many of these intermediates are not well characterized. The present work presents a detailed characterization of three Mn(n)-OH complexes (where n = II, III, and IV) of the tris[(N'-tert-butylureaylato)-N-ethylene]aminato ([H3buea](3-)) ligand using X- and Q-band dual mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Quantitative simulations for the [Mn(II)H3buea(OH)](2-) complex demonstrated the ability to characterize similar Mn(II) species commonly present in the resting states of manganese-containing enzymes. The spin states of the Mn(III) and Mn(IV) complexes determined from EPR spectroscopy are S = 2 and 3/2, respectively, as expected for the C3 symmetry imposed by the [H3buea](3-) ligand. Simulations of the spectra indicated the constant presence of two Mn(IV) species in solutions of [Mn(IV)H3buea(OH)] complex. The simulations of perpendicular- and parallel-mode EPR spectra allow determination of zero-field splitting and hyperfine parameters for all complexes. For the Mn(III) and Mn(IV) complexes, density functional theory calculations are used to determine the isotropic Mn hyperfine values, to compare the excited electronic state energies, and to give theoretical estimates of the zero-field energy.

L-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Dilute Systems Relevant to Metalloproteins Using an X-ray Free-Electron Laser.

L-edge spectroscopy of 3d transition metals provides important electronic structure information and has been used in many fields. However, the use of this method for studying dilute aqueous systems, such as metalloenzymes, has not been prevalent because of severe radiation damage and the lack of suitable detection systems. Here we present spectra from a dilute Mn aqueous solution using a high-transmission zone-plate spectrometer at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The spectrometer has been optimized for discriminating the Mn L-edge signal from the overwhelming O K-edge background that arises from water and protein itself, and the ultrashort LCLS X-ray pulses can outrun X-ray induced damage. We show that the deviations of the partial-fluorescence yield-detected spectra from the true absorption can be well modeled using the state-dependence of the fluorescence yield, and discuss implications for the application of our concept to biological samples.

Preparation and properties of a monomeric high-spin Mn(V)-oxo complex.

Oxomanganese(V) species have been implicated in a variety of biological and synthetic processes, including their role as a key reactive center within the oxygen-evolving complex in photosynthesis. Nearly all mononuclear Mn(V)-oxo complexes have tetragonal symmetry, producing low-spin species. A new high-spin Mn(V)-oxo complex that was prepared from a well-characterized oxomanganese(III) complex having trigonal symmetry is now reported. Oxidation experiments with [FeCp(2)](+) were monitored with optical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies and support a high-spin oxomanganese(V) complex formulation. The parallel-mode EPR spectrum has a distinctive S = 1 signal at g = 4.01 with a six-line hyperfine pattern having A(z) = 113 MHz. The presence of an oxo ligand was supported by resonance Raman spectroscopy, which revealed O-isotope-sensitive peaks at 737 and 754 cm(-1) assigned as a Fermi doublet centered at 746 cm(-1)(Δ(18)O = 31 cm(-1)). Mn Kß X-ray emission spectra showed Kß' and Kß(1,3) bands at 6475.92 and 6490.50 eV, respectively, which are characteristic of a high-spin Mn(V) center.

Mn7 species with an S = 29/2 ground state: high-frequency EPR studies of a species at the classical/quantum spin interface.

A high spin (S) compound has been synthesized whose properties straddle the interface between the classical and quantum mechanical spin descriptions. The cluster [Mn(7)O(4)(pdpm)(6)(N(3))(4)](ClO(4))(2) (Mn(7)) has an unprecedented core structure comprising an octahedral [Mn(III)(6)(µ(4)-O)(µ(3)-O)(3)(µ(3)-N(3))(4)](6+) unit with one of its faces capped by a Mn(II) ion. Magnetization and susceptibility studies indicate an S = (29/2) ground state, the maximum possible. Variable-temperature, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR) spectra on powder and single-crystal samples of Mn(7) exhibit sharp spectral features characteristic of a quantum spin that are well resolved in a certain temperature range but which transform to a continuum of peaks characteristic of a classical spin in another; these features have been well reproduced by computer simulations. A fast Fourier transform analysis of the sharp spectral features and the low temperature EPR spectra suggests that more than one spin state are involved.

Mn8 and Mn16 clusters from the use of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine, and comparison with the products from bulkier chelates: a new high nuclearity single-molecule magnet.

The synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization of two new Mn clusters [Mn(8)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(10)(hmp)(4)(MeOH)(2)] (1; 6Mn(II), 2Mn(III)) and [Mn(16)O(8)(OH)(2)(O(2)CPh)(12)(hmp)(10)(H(2)O)(2)](O(2)CPh)(2) (2; 6Mn(II), 10Mn(III)) are reported. They were obtained from the use of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmpH) under the same reaction conditions but differing in the presence or absence of added base. Thus, the reaction of hmpH with Mn(O(2)CPh)(2) in CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH led to isolation of octanuclear complex 1, whereas the analogous reaction in the presence of NEt(3) gave hexadecanuclear complex 2. Complexes 1 and 2 possess either very rare or unprecedented core structures that are related to each other: that of 1 can be described as a linked pair of incomplete [Mn(4)O(3)] cubanes, while that of 2 consists of a linked pair of complete [Mn(4)O(4)] cubanes, on either side of which is attached a tetrahedral [Mn(4)(µ(4)-O)] unit. Solid-state direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1 and 2 establish that they possess S = 5 and 8 ground states, respectively. Complex 2 exhibits frequency-dependent out-of-phase (χ(M)") ac susceptibility signals at temperatures below 3 K suggestive of a single-molecule magnet (SMM). Magnetization versus applied dc field sweeps on single crystals of 2·10MeOH down to 0.04 K exhibited hysteresis, confirming 2 to be a new SMM. Comparison of the structure of 2 (Mn(16)) with Mn(12) or Mn(6) clusters previously obtained under the same reaction conditions but with two Me or two Ph groups, respectively, added next to the alkoxide O atom of hmp(-) indicate their influence on the nuclearity and structure of the products as being due to the overall bulk of the chelate plus the decreased ability of the O atom to bridge.

Unusual Fe9 and Fe18 structural types from the use of 2,6-pyridinedimethanol in Fe(III) cluster chemistry.

The syntheses, crystal structures and magnetochemical characterization are reported for two new Fe(III) complexes [Fe(18)O(6)(OH)(8)(pdm)(10)(pdmH)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(10) (3) and [Fe(9)O(4)(OH)(2)(O(2)CMe)(10)(pdm)(pdmH)(4)](NO(3)) (4). They were synthesized from the use of the potentially O,N,O tridentate chelate, 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (pdmH(2)), in the presence or absence of carboxylate groups. Octadecanuclear complex 3 was obtained during reactivity studies on previously-reported [Fe(8)O(3)(OEt)(pdm)(4)(pdmH)(4)(EtOH)(2)](ClO(4))(5) (2), the latter undergoing hydrolysis to 3 on recrystallization from undried MeCN. The reaction of pdmH(2) with preformed [Fe(3)O(O(2)CMe)(6)(py)(3)](NO(3)) in CH(2)Cl(2) gave enneanuclear complex 4. Both complexes 3 and 4 are unprecedented structural types. The core of 3 comprises a central [Fe(4)O(6)] defective-dicubane attached on either side to a [Fe(7)O(11)] unit, which can be described as two [Fe(4)(µ(4)-O)] tetrahedra fused at a common Fe atom. The core of 4 can be considered as four vertex-fused triangular [Fe(3)(µ(3)-O)] units. Variable-temperature (T) and -field (H) solid-state dc and ac magnetization (M) studies were carried out on complexes 3 and 4 in the 1.8-300 K range. Analysis of the obtained data revealed that complexes 3 and 4 possess an S = 4 and S = 5/2 ground state spin, respectively.

Mn(7) and Mn(12) clusters from use of 2-(pyridine-2-yl)propan-2-ol: a new half-integer single-molecule magnet.

The syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization are reported for two new Mn clusters, [Mn(7)O(3)(OH)(3)(O(2)CBu(t))(7)(dmhmp)(4)] (1) and [Mn(12)O(7)(OH)(OMe)(2)(O(2)CPh)(12)(dmhmp)(4)(H(2)O)] (2). They were obtained from the use of 2-(pyridine-2-yl)propan-2-ol (dmhmpH), a more bulky version of the 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmpH) reagent commonly employed previously in Mn chemistry. The reaction of dmhmpH with MnCl(2).4H(2)O and NaO(2)CBu(t) in MeCN/MeOH led to the heptanuclear complex 1, whereas the analogous reaction with Mn(O(2)CPh)(2) gave dodecanuclear complex 2. Complexes 1 and 2 are both mixed-valent and are of unprecedented structural types. Complex 1 (Mn(II), 6Mn(III)) can be described as the fusion of butterfly-like [Mn(4)(mu(3)-O)(2)] and tetrahedral [Mn(4)(mu(4)-O)] units by the sharing of a common Mn atom. Complex 2 (3Mn(II), 9Mn(III)) possesses a central [Mn(4)O(6)] face-sharing incomplete dicubane, on either side of which is a tetrahedral [Mn(4)(mu(4)-O)] unit attached to the oxide ions of the former. Solid-state dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1 and 2 establish that they possess unusual S = 7/2 and 13/2 ground states, respectively. The ac susceptibility studies on 2 revealed nonzero frequency-dependent out-of-phase (chi(M)'') signals at temperatures below 3 K, indicating a single-molecule magnet (SMM). Magnetization versus applied dc field sweeps on single crystals of 2.3CH(2)Cl(2) down to 0.04 K exhibited hysteresis, thus confirming complex 2 to be a new half-integer SMM.

Mn4, Mn6, and Mn11 clusters from the use of bulky diphenyl(pyridine-2-yl)methanol.

The synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetochemical characterization are reported of three new Mn clusters [Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)CBu(t))(5)(dphmp)(3)] (1), [Mn(6)O(4)(OMe)(2)(O(2)CPh)(4)(dphmp)(4)] (2), and [Mn(11)O(7)(OMe)(7)(O(2)CPh)(7)(dphmp)(4)(MeOH)(2)] (3). They were obtained from the use of diphenyl(pyridine-2-yl)methanol (dphmpH), a bulkier version of the 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmpH) reagent commonly employed previously in Mn chemistry. The reaction of dphmpH with MnCl(2) x 4 H(2)O and NaO(2)CBu(t) in MeCN/MeOH (30 mL, 5:1 v/v) led to the isolation of tetranuclear complex 1, whereas the analogous reaction with NaO(2)CPh gave hexanuclear complex 2. When the 5:1 solvent ratio in the latter reaction was changed to 1:29, the isolated product was now undecanuclear complex 3. Complexes 1-3 all possess rare or unprecedented Mn(x) topologies: Complex 1 possesses a [Mn(4)(mu(3)-O)(2)](8+) (4 Mn(III)) butterfly core, one edge of which is additionally bridged by an alkoxide arm of a dphmp(-) chelate; complex 2 possesses a [Mn(6)(mu(4)-O)(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)(mu(3)-OMe)(2)](8+) (6 Mn(III)) core with a face-sharing double cubane topology; and complex 3 (Mn(II), 10 Mn(III)) possesses a [Mn(4)(mu(4)-O)(3)(mu(3)-OMe)](5+) cubane unit, attached on one side to a Mn(II) atom by a mu(4)-O atom and alkoxide groups, and on the other side to a [Mn(5)(mu(4)-O)(mu(3)-O)(3)(mu(3)-OMe)(mu-OR)(3)](3+) unit consisting of three face-sharing defective cubanes linked to an additional Mn(III) atom by a mu(3)-O atom. Solid-state dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1-3 establish that they possess S = 0, 3, and 5/2 ground states, respectively. ac susceptibility studies on 2 and 3 reveal weak non-zero frequency-dependent out-of-phase (chi(M)'') signals at temperatures below 3 K, possibly indicative of single-molecule magnets with very small barriers. The combined results demonstrate a ligating difference between bulky dphmp(-) and hmp(-), and the resulting usefulness of the former to provide access to a variety of Mn(x) molecular species not known with the latter.

New Fe4, Fe6, and Fe8 clusters of iron(III) from the use of 2-pyridyl alcohols: structural, magnetic, and computational characterization.

The syntheses, crystal structures, magnetochemical characterization, and theoretical calculations are reported for three new iron clusters [Fe 6O 2(NO3) 4(hmp) 8(H 2O) 2](NO3)2 (1), [Fe4(N3)6(hmp)6] (2), and [Fe8O3(OMe)(pdm)4(pdmH) 4(MeOH)2](ClO4)5 (3) (hmpH=2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine; pdmH2=2,6-pyridinedimethanol). The reaction of hmpH with iron(III) sources such as Fe(NO3) 3.9H2O in the presence of NEt 3 gave 1, whereas 2 was obtained from a similar reaction by adding an excess of NaN3. Complex 3 was obtained in good yield from the reaction of pdmH 2 with Fe(ClO4)3.6H2O in MeOH in the presence of an organic base. The complexes all possess extremely rare or novel core topologies. The core of 1 comprises two oxide-centered [Fe3(mu3-O)](7+) triangular units linked together at two of their apexes by two sets of alkoxide arms of hmp(-) ligands. Complex 2 contains a zigzag array of four Fe (III) atoms within an [Fe4(mu-OR) 6](6+) core, with the azide groups all bound terminally. Finally, complex 3 contains a central [Fe 4(mu4-O)](10+) tetrahedron linked to two oxide-centered [Fe3(mu3-O)](7+) triangular units. Variable-temperature, solid-state dc and ac magnetization studies were carried out on complexes 1-3 in the 5.0-300 K range. Fitting of the obtained magnetization versus field (H) and temperature (T) data by matrix diagonalization and including only axial anisotropy (zero-field splitting, ZFS) established that 1 possesses an S=3 ground-state spin, with g=2.08, and D=-0.44 cm(-1). The magnetic susceptibility data for 2 up to 300 K were fit by matrix diagonalization and gave J1=-9.2 cm(-1), J2=-12.5 cm(-1), and g=2.079, where J 1 and J 2 are the outer and middle nearest-neighbor exchange interactions, respectively. Thus, the interactions between the Fe(III) centers are all antiferromagnetic, giving an S=0 ground state for 2. Similarly, complex 3 was found to have an S=0 ground state. Theoretically computed values of the exchange constants in 2 were obtained with DFT calculations and the ZILSH method and were in good agreement with the values obtained from the experimental data. Exchange constants obtained with ZILSH for 3 successfully rationalized the experimental S = 0 ground state. The combined work demonstrates the ligating flexibility of pyridyl-alcohol chelates and their usefulness in the synthesis of new polynuclear Fex clusters without requiring the copresence of carboxylate ligands.

Improving the performance of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell using MgO-coated TiO2 nanoporous film.

An ultrathin overlayer of MgO on TiO2 is shown to drastically improve the stability of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell using CuI as a hole conductor in addition to solar energy conversion efficiency.