Barrie J. Marsh

One-Pot o-Nitrobenzenesulfonylhydrazide (NBSH) Formation-Diimide Alkene Reduction Protocol

A one-pot protocol for the formation of 2-nitrobenzenesulfonylhydrazide (NBSH) from commercial reagents and subsequent alkene reduction is presented. The transformation is operationally simple and generally efficient for effecting diimide alkene reductions. A range of 16 substrates have been reduced, highlighting the unique chemoselectivity of diimide as a reduction system.

Fine-tuning of ferrocene redox potentials towards multiplex DNA detection

Electron-withdrawing or -donating groups are known to directly affect the Fe(III/II) formal potential of ferrocene derivatives by affecting their energy levels relative to the vacuum level. However, perhaps surprisingly, also more subtle indirect “tuning” of the formal potential is possible by changing the “dielectric environment”. This is demonstrated here by systematically changing the chain length of alkyl-chain derivatives. The resulting formal potentials are shown to be correlated to the hydrophobicity of the ferrocene molecule which can be used to predict the redox potential of a ferrocene.

Ratiometric electrochemical detection of Pd•••π interactions: application towards electrochemical molecular logic gates

Abstract The widespread and large scale use of platinum group metals, especially palladium, in a wide variety of industrial applications has seen their levels in wastewater streams, roadside dust and even pharmaceuticals significantly rise over recent years. Due to the possible environmental damage and potential health risk this may cause, there is now substantial demand for inexpensive, efficient and robust methods for the detection of palladium. Based upon self-immolative linker technologies, we have designed and synthesised a number of allyl ether-functionalised electrochemical probes to determine the optimum probe structure required to deliver a ratiometric electrochemical detection method capable of achieving a limit of detection of <1 mg/mL within 20 min through the use of disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. Combined with an enzymatic assay, this method was then used to achieve a proof-of-principle ratiometric electrochemical molecular logic gate.