Biosecurity Dogs Detect Live Insects after Training with Odor-Proxy Training Aids: Scent Extract and Dead Specimens.

Detector dogs could be trained to find invasive insect pests at borders before they establish in new areas. However, without access to the live insects themselves, odor training aids are needed to condition dogs to their scent. This proof-of-concept study assessed 2 potential training aids for insect detection: a scent extract and dead specimens of the target species. Using Musgraveia sulciventris (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae) as an experimental model, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were carried out to compare the chemical headspaces that make up the odors of live specimens and these 2 training aids. This was then followed by canine scent-detection testing to investigate biosecurity detector dogs' (n = 4) responses to training in an ecologically valid context. Both the scent extract and the dead specimens shared the majority of their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with live insects. Of the dogs trained with scent extract (n = 2), both were able to detect the live insects accurately, and of those trained with dead specimens (n = 2), one detected the live insects accurately. These findings lend support for these training aids as odor-proxies for live insects-particularly scent extract, which is a relatively novel product with the potential for broad application to facilitate and improve insect-detection training.

Copper complexes as a source of redox active MRI contrast agents.

The study reports an advance in designing copper-based redox sensing MRI contrast agents. Although the data demonstrate that copper(II) complexes are not able to compete with lanthanoids species in terms of contrast, the redox-dependent switch between diamagnetic copper(I) and paramagnetic copper(II) yields a novel redox-sensitive contrast moiety with potential for reversibility.

New reagents for detecting free radicals and oxidative stress.

Free radicals and oxidative stress play important roles in the deterioration of materials, and free radicals are important intermediates in many biological processes. The ability to detect these reactive species is a key step on the road to their understanding and ultimate control. This short review highlights recent progress in the development of reagents for the detection of free radicals and reactive oxygen species with broad application to materials science as well as biology.

Reactivity studies of oxo-Mo(IV) complexes containing potential hydrogen-bond acceptor/donor phenolate ligands.

Reactivity studies of oxo-Mo(IV) complexes, Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R-κ(2)O,O'} (R = Me, Et, OMe, OEt, OPh, NHPh), containing chelated hydrogen-bond donor/acceptor phenolate ligands are reported. Hydrolysis/oxidation of Tp(iPr)MoO(2-OC(6)H(4)CO(2)Ph-κ(2)O,O') in the presence of methanol yields tetranuclear [Tp(iPr)MoO(µ-O)(2)MoO](2)(µ-OMe)(2) (1), while condensation of Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)Me-κ(2)O,O'} and methylamine gives the chelated iminophenolate complex, Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(Me)NMe-κ(2)O,N} (2), rather than the aqua complex, Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(Me)NMe-κO}(OH(2)). The oxo-Mo(IV) complexes are readily oxidized by dioxygen or hydrogen peroxide to the corresponding cis-dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes, Tp(iPr)MoO(2){2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}; in addition, suitable one-electron oxidants, e.g., [FeCp(2)]BF(4) and [N(C(6)H(4)Br)(3)][SbCl(6)], oxidize the complexes to their EPR-active (g(iso) ≈ 1.942) molybdenyl counterparts (3, 4). Molybdenyl complexes such as Tp(iPr)MoOCl{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R} (5) and Tp(iPr)MoOCl(2) also form when the complexes react with chlorinated solvents. The ester derivatives (R = OMe, OEt, OPh) react with propylene sulfide to form cis-oxosulfido-Mo(VI) complexes, Tp(iPr)MoOS{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}, that crystallize as dimeric µ-disulfido-Mo(V) species, [Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}](2)(µ-S(2)) (6-8). The crystal structures of [Tp(iPr)MoO(µ-O)(2)MoO](2)(µ-OMe)(2), Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(Me)NMe}, Tp(iPr)MoOCl{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)NHPh}·{2-HOC(6)H(4)C(O)NHPh}, and [Tp(iPr)MoO{2-OC(6)H(4)C(O)R}](2)(µ-S(2)) (R = OMe, OEt) are reported.

Novel paramagnetic AT1 receptor antagonists.

Novel paramagnetic selective angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonists (sartans) bearing nitroxides (3, 4) have been prepared and their pharmacology evaluated in vitro as well as in vivo. Compounds 3, 4 proved to be effective sartans with pK(B) estimates in the range 6.2-9.1. In addition, the sodium salt (11) of 4 (R = Bu) is able to protect against vascular injury in hypertensive rats as determined by its ability to attenuate the development of intimal thickening caused by balloon injury of the carotid artery.

Paramagnetic oxotungsten(V) complexes containing the hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate ligand.

Sky-blue Tp*WOCl(2) has been synthesized from the high-yielding reaction of Tp*WO(2)Cl with boron trichloride in refluxing toluene. Dark-red Tp*WOI(2) was prepared via thermal decarbonylation followed by aerial oxidation of Tp*WI(CO)(3) in acetonitrile. From these precursors, an extensive series of mononuclear tungstenyl complexes, Tp*WOXY [X = Cl(-), Y = OPh(-), SPh(-); X = Y = OPh(-), 2-(n-propyl)phenolate (PP(-)), SPh(-), SePh(-); XY = toluene-3,4-dithiolate (tdt(2-)), quinoxaline-2,3-dithiolate (qdt(2-)), benzene-1,2-diselenolate (bds(2-)); Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate], was prepared by metathesis with the respective alkali-metal salt of X(-)/XY(2-) or (NHEt(3))(2)(qdt). The complexes were characterized by microanalysis, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, IR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electronic absorption spectroscopies, and X-ray crystallography (for X = Y = OPh(-), PP(-), SPh(-); XY = bds(2-)). The six-coordinate, distorted-octahedral tungsten centers are coordinated by terminal oxo [W≡O = 1.689(6)-1.704(3) Å], tridentate Tp*, and monodentate or bidentate O/S/Se-donor ligands. Spin Hamiltonian parameters derived from the simulation of fluid-solution X-band EPR spectra revealed that the soft-donor S/Se ligand complexes had larger g values and smaller (183)W hyperfine coupling constants than the less covalent hard-donor O/Cl species. The former showed low-energy ligand-to-metal charge-transfer bands in the near-IR region of their electronic absorption spectra. These oxotungsten(V) complexes display lower reduction potentials than their molybdenum counterparts, underscoring the preference of tungsten for higher oxidation states. Furthermore, the protonation of the pyrazine nitrogen atoms of the qdt(2-) ligand has been examined by spectroelectrochemistry; the product of the one-electron reduction of [Tp*WO(qdtH)](+) revealed usually intense low-energy bands.

Tandem free-radical addition/substitution chemistry and its application to the preparation of novel AT1 receptor antagonists.

Benzothiophene and benzoselenophene analogues of the thiophene-containing antihypertensives milfasartan and eprosartan were prepared and tested for AT(1) receptor antagonist properties. While the sulfur-containing systems were prepared following existing methodology, the selenium-containing analogues required the development of novel, tandem free-radical chemistry involving addition of aryl radicals to alkynes, followed by intramolecular homolytic substitution at the higher heteroatom. All four compounds prepared proved to be excellent AT(1) receptor antagonists, with pK(B) estimates of 7.2-9.5.

cis-Dioxo- and cis-(hydroxo)oxo-Mo(V) complexes stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen-bonding.

The reactions of Tp(iPr)Mo(VI)O(2)Cl with salicylanilides and NEt(3) produce cis-Tp(iPr)Mo(VI)O(2)(2-OC(6)H(4)CONHR) (Tp(iPr) = hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, R = Ph, 4-C(6)H(4)Cl, 4-C(6)H(4)OMe). The N-methyl complex, Tp(iPr)MoO(2){2-OC(6)H(4)CON(Me)Ph}, is similarly prepared. Reduction of the amido complexes by cobaltocene produces green, EPR-active compounds, [CoCp(2)][Tp(iPr)Mo(V)O(2)(2-OC(6)H(4)CONHR)], that exhibit strong, low energy, ν(MoO(2)) IR bands at ∼ 895 and 790 cm(-1) (cf. ∼ 935 and 900 cm(-1) for the Mo(VI) analogues). The X-ray structures of all seven complexes have been determined. In each case, the Mo center exhibits a distorted octahedral coordination geometry defined by mutually cis oxo and phenolate ligands and a tridentate fac-Tp(iPr) ligand. The Mo(V) anions exhibit greater Mo═O distances (av. 1.738 Å vs 1.695 Å) and O═Mo═O angles (av. 112.4° vs 102.9°) than their Mo(VI) counterparts, indicative of the presence of a three-center (MoO(2)), π* semioccupied molecular orbital in these d(1) complexes. The amido Mo(VI) and Mo(V) complexes exhibit an intramolecular hydrogen-bond between the NH and O(phenolate) atoms. Protonation of [CoCp(2)][Tp(iPr)Mo(V)O(2)(2-OC(6)H(4)CONHR)] by lutidinium tetrafluoroborate is quantitative and produces EPR-active, cis-(hydroxo)oxo-Mo(V) complexes, Tp(iPr)Mo(V)O(OH)(2-OC(6)H(4)CONHR), related to the low pH Mo(V) forms of sulfite oxidase.

Toward multifunctional Mo(VI-IV) complexes: cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes containing hydrogen-bond acceptors or donors.

The complexes cis-TpiPrMoVIO2(OAr-R) (TpiPr=hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, -OAr-R=hydrogen-bonding phenolate derivative) are formed upon reaction of TpiPrMoO2Cl, HOAr-R, and NEt3 in dichloromethane. The orange, diamagnetic, dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes exhibit strong nu(MoO2) IR bands at ca. 935 and 900 cm(-1) and NMR spectra indicative of Cs symmetry. They undergo electrochemically reversible, one-electron reductions at potentials in the range -0.836 to -0.598 V vs SCE; the only exception is the 2-CO2Ph derivative, which exhibits an irreversible reduction at -0.924 V. The complexes display distorted octahedral geometries, with a cis arrangement of terminal oxo ligands and with d(Mo=O)av=1.695 A and angle(MoO2)av=103.2 degrees. The R groups of the 2-CHO and 2-NHCOMe derivatives are directed away from the oxo groups and into a cleft in the TpiPr ligand; these derivatives are characterized by Mo-O-Cipso angles of ca. 131 degrees (conformation 1). The R group(s) in the 2-CO2Me and 2,3-(OMe)2 derivatives lie above the face of the three O-donor atoms (directed away from the TpiPr ligand) and the complexes display Mo-O-Cipso angles of 153.1(2) and 149.7(2) degrees, respectively (conformation 2). Conformations 1 and 2 are both observed in the positionally disordered 2-COMe and 2-COEt derivatives, the two conformers having Mo-O-Cipso angles of 130-140 and >150 degrees, respectively. The 3-COMe and 3-NEt2 derivatives have substituents that project away from the TpiPr ligand and Mo-O-Cipso angles of 134.2(2) and 147.7(2) degrees, respectively. Many of the complexes exhibit fluxional behavior on the NMR time scale, consistent with the rapid interconversion of two conformers in solution.

Highly-oxidised, sulfur-rich, mixed-valence vanadium(IV/V) complexes.

The reactions of [V(2)(micro-S(2))(2)(S(2)CNR(2))(4)] (R = alkyl) with NOBF(4) produce highly-oxidised, sulfur-rich, V(iv/v) complexes, [V(2)(micro-S(2))(2)(S(2)CNR(2))(4)]BF(4), that exhibit 15-line EPR spectra and structures consistent with Class III mixed-valence behaviour.

Modelling the impact of geometric parameters on the redox potential of blue copper proteins.

The synthesis and structure of a homologous series of cationic N(2)S(2) copper(I) Schiff base complexes constructed using o-tert-butylthiobenzaldehyde and a series of terminal diamines (ethane, propane, butane) are reported. The complexes differ only in the length of the methylene chain between the imine groups. This simple modification forces the copper centre to shift geometry from a planar (1,2-diaminoethane) to a more distorted tetrahedral motif (1,4-diaminobutane). The redox potentials of the three cations were measured using cyclic voltammetry in donor (acetonitrile) and non-donor solvents (dichloromethane). The S-Cu-N angles for each complex are correlated against the respective redox potential allowing an analysis of the geometric impact on the redox potential in soft copper centres. The redox potential is observed to increase as the metal centre moves from a planar towards a tetrahedral motif. Comparing this data with the reported structures of the blue copper proteins (rusticyanin and plastocyanin) allows an assessment of the contribution of the geometry of the metal binding site to the operating potential of these proteins to be made.

N,N'-Bis(2-methoxybenzylidene) adducts of ethane-1,2-diamine, propane-1,3-diamine and butane-1,4-diamine.

We have isolated and crystallographically characterized the three homologous compounds N,N'-bis(2-methoxybenzylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine (MeSalen), C18H20N2O2, N,N'-bis(2-methoxybenzylidene)propane-1,3-diamine (MeSalpr), C19H22N2O2, and N,N'-bis(2-methoxybenzylidene)butane-1,4-diamine (MeSalbu), C20H24N2O2. In contrast with MeSalpr, the molecules of MeSalen and MeSalbu, which have an even number of methylene units, have crystallographic -1 symmetry. Comparing these methoxy-substituted species with their hydroxy equivalents shows that the aryl rings rotate upon removal of the O-H.N hydrogen bonds. The packing of MeSalen and MeSalpr is controlled by C-H.pi interactions, whereas that of MeSalbu has only van der Waals contacts.

A highly stable N-heterocyclic carbene complex of trichloro-oxo-vanadium(V) displaying novel Cl-Ccarbene bonding interactions.

Reaction of 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene and trichloro-oxo-vanadium(V) yields an air stable 1:1 adduct, which demonstrates the utility of N-heterocyclic carbenes to stabilize metal complexes in high oxidation states. The molecular structure of this compound reveals that the chloride ligands cis to the carbene are oriented toward the Ccarbene atom. Density functional theory calculations show that a bonding interaction occurs between lone pairs of these chlorides and the formally unoccupied p-orbital of the carbene. Previous studies indicated that this orbital was not involved in the bonding of N-heterocyclic carbenes to transition metals. The observed interaction therefore represents a new bonding mode for these widely used ligands.