Towards improving the electroanalytical speciation analysis of indium.

The geochemical fate of indium in natural waters is still poorly understood, while recent studies have pointed out a growing input of this trivalent element in the environment as a result of its utilisation in the manufacturing of high-technology products. Reliable and easy-handling analytical tools for indium speciation analysis are, then, required. In this work, we report the possibility of measuring the total and free indium concentrations in solution using two complementary electroanalytical techniques, SCP (Stripping chronopotentiometry) and AGNES (Absence of Gradients and Nernstian Equilibrium Stripping) implemented with the TMF/RDE (Thin Mercury Film/Rotating Disk Electrode). Nanomolar limits of detection, i.e. 0.5 nM for SCP and 0.1 nM for AGNES, were obtained for both techniques in the experimental conditions used in this work and can be further improved enduring longer experiment times. We also verified that AGNES was able (i) to provide robust speciation data with the known In-oxalate systems and (ii) to elaborate indium binding isotherms in presence of humic acids extending over 4 decades of free indium concentrations. The development of electroanalytical techniques for indium speciation opens up new routes for using indium as a potential tracer for biogeochemical processes of trivalent elements in aquifers, e.g. metal binding to colloidal phases, adsorption onto (bio)surfaces, etc.

The spontaneous formation of single-molecule junctions via terminal alkynes.

Herein, we report the spontaneous formation of single-molecule junctions via terminal alkyne contact groups. Self-assembled monolayers that form spontaneously from diluted solutions of 1, 4-diethynylbenzene (DEB) were used to build single-molecule contacts and assessed using the scanning tunneling microscopy-break junction technique (STM-BJ). The STM-BJ technique in both its dynamic and static approaches was used to characterize the lifetime (stability) and the conductivity of a single-DEB wire. It is demonstrated that single-molecule junctions form spontaneously with terminal alkynes and require no electrochemical control or chemical deprotonation. The alkyne anchoring group was compared against typical contact groups exploited in single-molecule studies, i.e. amine (benzenediamine) and thiol (benzendithiol) contact groups. The alkyne contact showed a conductance magnitude comparable to that observed with amine and thiol groups. The lifetime of the junctions formed from alkynes were only slightly less than that of thiols and greater than that observed for amines. These findings are important as (a) they extend the repertoire of chemical contacts used in single-molecule measurements to 1-alkynes, which are synthetically accessible and stable and (b) alkynes have a remarkable affinity toward silicon surfaces, hence opening the door for the study of single-molecule transport on a semiconducting electronic platform.

Cyclopalladated and cycloplatinated benzophenone imines: antitumor, antibacterial and antioxidant activities, DNA interaction and cathepsin B inhibition.

The antitumor, antibacterial and antioxidant activity, DNA interaction and cathepsin B inhibition of cyclo-ortho-palladated and -platinated compounds [Pd(C,N)]2(µ-X)2 [X=OAc (1), X=Cl (2)] and trans-N,P-[M(C,N)X(PPh3)] [M=Pd, X=OAc (3), M=Pd, X=Cl (4), M=Pt, X=Cl (5)] are discussed [(C,N)=cyclo-ortho-metallated benzophenone imine]. The cytotoxicity of compound 5 has been evaluated towards human breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) and colon (HCT-116) cancer cell lines and that of compounds 1-4 towards the HCT-116 human colon cancer cell line. These cytotoxicities have been compared with those previously reported for compounds 1-4 towards MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Compound 3 and 4 were approximately four times more active than cisplatin against the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, and compound 5, was approximately four times more potent than cisplatin against the HCT-116 cancer cell line. The antibacterial activity of compounds 1-5 was in between the ranges of activity of the commercial antibiotic compounds cefixime and roxithromycin. Complexes 1-2 and 4-5 presented also antioxidant activity. Compounds 1-5 alter the DNA tertiary structure in a similar way to cisplatin, but at higher concentration, and do not present a high efficiency as cathepsin B inhibitors. Compound 5 has not been previously described, and its preparation, characterization, and X-ray crystal structure are reported.