Multifunctional one-dimensional rhodium(I)-semiquinonato complex: substituent effects on crystal structures and solid-state properties.

Two new one-dimensional (1D) rhodium(I)-semiquinonato complexes formulated as [Rh(3,6-DBSQ-4,5-PDO)(CO)2]∞ (4; 3,6-DBSQ-4,5-PDO(•-) = 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-(1,3-propanedioxy)-1,2-benzosemiquinonato) and [Rh(3,6-DBSQ-4,5-(N,N'-DEN))(CO)2]∞ (5; 3,6-DBSQ-4,5-(N,N'-DEN)(•-) = 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-(N,N'-diethylenediamine)-1,2-benzosemiquinonato) were synthesized to explore the nature of the unusual structural phase transition and magnetic and conductive properties recently reported for [Rh(3,6-DBSQ-4,5-(MeO)2)(CO)2]∞ (3; 3,6-DBSQ-4,5-(MeO)2(•-) = 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethoxy-1,2-benzosemiquinonato). Their crystal structures and magnetic and conductive properties were investigated. Compounds 4 and 5 comprise neutral 1D chains of complex molecules stacked in a staggered arrangement with fairly short average Rh-Rh distances of 3.06 Å for 4 and 3.10 Å for 5. These distances are similar to those for 3 (3.09 Å); however, the molecules of 5 are strongly dimerized in the 1D chain. Compound 4 undergoes a first-order phase transition at Ttrs = 229.1 K, and its magnetic properties drastically change from antiferromagnetic coupling in the room-temperature (RT) phase to strong ferromagnetic coupling in the low-temperature (LT) phase. In addition, compound 4 exhibits a long-range ordering of net magnetic moments originating from the imperfect cancellation of antiferromagnetically coupled spins between the ferromagnetic 1D chains at TN = 10.9 K. Furthermore, this compound exhibits an interesting crossover from a semiconductor with a small activation energy (Ea = 31 meV) in the RT phase to a semiconductor with a large activation energy (Ea = 199 meV) in the LT phase. These behaviors are commonly observed for 3. Alternating current susceptibility measurements of 4, however, revealed a frequency-dependent phenomenon below 5.2 K, which was not observed for 3, thus indicating a slow spin relaxation process that possibly arises from the movements of domain walls. In contrast, compound 5, which possesses a strongly dimerized structure in its 1D chain, shows no sign of strong ferromagnetic interactions and is an insulator, with a resistivity greater than 7 × 10(7) Ω cm.

Development of bioactive porous α-TCP/HAp beads for bone tissue engineering.

Porous beads of bioactive ceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HAp) and tribasic calcium phosphate (TCP) are considered a promising scaffold for cultivating bone cells. To realize this, α-TCP/HAp functionally graded porous beads are fabricated with two main purposes: to maintain the function of the scaffold with sufficient strength up to the growth of new bone, and is absorbed completely after the growth. HAp is a bioactive material that has both high strength and strong tissue-adhesive properties, but is not readily absorbed by the human body. On the contrary, α-TCP is highly bioabsorbable, resulting in a scaffold that is absorbed before it is completely replaced by bone. In this study, we produced porous, bead-shaped carriers as scaffolds for osteoblast culture. To control the solubility in vivo, the fabricated beads contained α-TCP at the center and HAp at the surface. Cell adaptability of these beads for bone tissue engineering was confirmed in vitro. It was found that α-TCP/HAp bead carriers exhibit low toxicity in the initial stages of cell seeding and cell adhesion. The presence of HAp in the composite bead form effectively increased ALP activity. In conclusion, it is suggested that these newly developed α-TCP/HAp beads are a promising tool for bone tissue engineering.