Ian J. Scowen

Neutral gadolinium(III) complexes of bulky octadentate dtpa derivatives as potential contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

A series of bulky and neutral gadolinium complexes of [bis(R-amide)dtpaH3] (where R = Pri,, Bui,, Bz and phenylethyl, L1--L4)) with potential application as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging has been prepared and characterized ; the relaxivity of these complexes is comparable to the contrast agent [Gd(dtpa)(H2OO)]; which is which is currently used in clinics; the X-ray structure analysis of the gadolinium(III) complex of L3 reveals a neutral nine-coordinate complex featuring a water molecule in the tricapped trigonal prismatic metal coordination sphere.

Cooperative reactivity of early-late heterodinuclear transition metal complexes with polar organic substrates

A comprehensive investigation into the cooperative reactivity of two chemically complementary metal-complex fragments in early-late heterodinuclear complexes has been carried out. Reaction of the partially fluorinated tripodal amidozirconium complexes [HC-(SiMe2NR)3Zr(mu-Cl)2Li(OEt2)2] (R = 2-FC6H4: 2a, 2,3,4-F3C6H4: 2b) with K[CpM(CO)2] (M=Fe, Ru) afforded the stable metal-metal bonded heterodinuclear complexes [HC[SiMe2NR]3-Zr-MCp(CO)2] (3-6). Reaction of the dinuclear complexes with methyl isonitrile as well as the heteroallenes CO2, CS2, RNCO and RNCS led to insertion into the polar metal-metal bond. Two of these complexes, [HC[SiMe2N(2-FC6-H4)]3Zr(S2C)Fe(CO)2Cp] (9a) and [HC-[SiMe2N(2-FC2H4)]3Zr-(SCNPh)Fe(CO)2-Cp] (12), have been structurally characterized by a single crystal X-ray structure analysis, proving the structural situation of the inserted substrate as a bridging ligand between the early and late transition metal centre. The reactivity towards organic carbonyl derivatives proved to be varied. Reaction of the heterobimetallic complexes with benzyl and ethylbenzoate led to the cleavage of the ester generating the respective alkoxozirconium complexes [HC[SiMe2N(2-FC6H4)]3ZrOR] (R = Ph-CH2: 13a, Et: 13b) along with [CpFe-[C(O)Ph](CO)2], whereas the analogous reaction with ethyl formate gave 13b along with [CpFeH(CO)2]; this latter complex results from the instability of the formyliron species initially formed. Aryl aldehydes were found to react with the Zr-M complexes according to a Cannizzaro disproportionation pattern yielding the aroyliron and ruthenium complexes along with the respective benzoxyzirconium species. The transfer of the aldehyde hydrogen atom in the course of the reaction was established in a deuteriation experiment. [HC[SiMe2-N(2-FC6H4)]3Zr-M(CO)2Cp] reacted with lactones to give the ring-opened species containing an alkoxozirconium and an acyliron or acylruthenium fragment; the latter binds to the early transition metal centre through the acyl oxygen atom, as evidenced from the unusuallly low-field shifted 13C NMR resonances of the RC(O)M units. Ketones containing a-CH units react with the Zr-Fe complexes cooperatively to yield the aldol coupling products coordinated to the zirconium complex fragment along with the hydridoiron compound [CpFeH(CO)2], whereas 1,2-diphenylcyclopropenone underwent an oxygen transfer from the keto group to a CO ligand to give a linking CO2 unit and a cyclopropenylidene ligand coordinated to the iron fragment in [HC-[Si(CH3)2N(2,3,4-F3C6H2)]3Zr(mu-O2C)-Fe(CO)[C3Ph2)Cp] (19). The atom transfer was established by 17O and 13C labelling studies. Similar oxygen-transfer processes were observed in the reactions with pyridine N-oxide, dimethylsulfoxide and methylphenylsulfoxide.

In-situ detection of single particles of explosive on clothing with confocal Raman microscopy

Confocal Raman microscopy is shown to detect picogram quantities of explosives in-situ on undyed natural and synthetic fibres, and coloured textile specimens leaving potentially evidential materials unaltered. Raman spectra were obtained from pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), and ammonium nitrate particles trapped between the fibres of the specimens. Despite the presence of spectral bands arising from the natural and synthetic polymers and dyed textiles, the explosive substances could be identified by their characteristic Raman bands. Furthermore, Raman spectra were obtained from explosives particles trapped between highly fluorescent clothing fibres. Raman spectra were collected from explosives particles with maximum dimensions in the range 5-10 microm. Spectra of the explosives on dyed and undyed clothing substrates were readily obtained in-situ within 90 s and without sample preparation.

In-situ detection of drugs-of-abuse on clothing using confocal Raman microscopy

This study describes the application of confocal Raman microscopy to the detection and identification of drugs-of-abuse in situ on undyed natural synthetic fibres, and coloured textile specimens. Raman spectra were obtained from drug particles trapped between the fibres of the specimens. Pure samples of cocaine hydrochloride and N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine HCl (MDMA-HCl) were used in this study. Raman spectra were collected from drug particles of an average size in the range 5-15 microm. Despite the presence of spectral bands arising from the natural and synthetic polymer and dyed textiles, the drugs could be identified by their characteristic Raman bands. If necessary, interfering bands could be successfully removed by spectral subtraction. Furthermore, Raman spectra were recorded from drug particles trapped between the fibres of highly fluorescent specimens. Interference from the fibres, including background fluorescence, was overcome by careful focusing of the confocal beam and the resulting spectra allow ready differentiation from interference from the fibres substrate bands. Spectra of several drugs-of-abuse on dyed and undyed clothing substrates were readily obtained within 3 min with little or no sample preparation and with no alteration of the evidential material.

Identification of a new cocrystal of citric acid and paracetamol of pharmaceutical relevance

Cocrystals have been increasingly recognized as an attractive alternative delivery form for solid drug products. In this work, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction/X-ray crystallography, and differential scanning calorimetry have been used to study the phenomenon of cocrystal formation in stoichiometric mixtures of citric acid with paracetamol. Raman spectroscopy was particularly useful for the characterization of the products and was used to determine the nature of the interactions in the cocrystals. It was observed that little change in the vibrational modes associated with the phenyl groups of the respective reactants took place upon cocrystal formation but changes in intensities of the vibrational modes associated with the amide and the carboxylic acid groups were observed upon cocrystal formation. Several new vibrational bands were identified in the cocrystal which were not manifest in the raw material and could be used as diagnostic features of cocrystal formation. An understanding of the effects of cocrystal formation on the vibrational modes was obtained by the complete assignment of the spectra of the starting materials and of the cocrystal component. The results show that the cocrystals was obtained in a 2 : 1 molar ratio of paracetamol to citric acid. The asymmetric unit of the crystal contains two paracetamol molecules hydrogen-bonded to the citric acid; one of these acts as a phenolic-OH hydrogen bond donor to the carbonyl of a carboxylic acid arm of citric acid. In contrast, the other phenolic-OH acts as a hydrogen bond acceptor from the quaternary C–OH of citric acid.

Solid-state carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance investigations of bismuth citrate complexes and crystal structure of Na2[Bi2(cit)2]·7H2O

The complex Na2[Bi2(cit)2]·7H2O (H4cit = 3-carboxy-3-hydroxypentane-1,5-dioic acid) crystallized during reactions of the antiulcer drug ranitidine bismuth citrate with the tripeptide glutathione (γ-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly) at low pH. X-Ray analysis showed one [Bi(cit)]– fragment per asymmetric unit with Bi3+ chelated to a terminal carboxylate group; citrate also binds, in tridentate mode, to the bismuth of an equivalent [Bi(cit)]– unit (related to the first by a C2 axis)via one oxygen donor from each of the remaining two carboxylate groups and the alkoxy group. Both ends of the resultant dimeric anion {Bi(µ-cit)2Bi}2– bind to adjacent dimers, related by n-glide plane symmetry, via double carboxylate bridges, to form a continuous polymeric anionic chain [{Bi(µ-cit)2Bi}n]2n– running throughout the crystal. In this way each bismuth atom achieves six-co-ordination [Bi–O 2.210(10)–2.505(10)A] with a nido-pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry, the vacant axial site providing evidence for a stereochemically active lone pair and the second axial site being occupied by the alkoxy donor. The parallel polyanionic chains are linked by anion–cation interactions [Na ⋯ O (cit) 2.37–2.50 A] and by bonds of largely ionic character (Bi ⋯ O 3.003–3.095 A) to give the overall three-dimensional solid-state structure which incorporates seven water molecules per dianionic subunit. The solid-state cross-polarization magic angle spinning 13C NMR spectrum of this complex is assigned with the aid of dipolar-dephasing and inversion-recovery cross-polarization experiments, and compared to those of ranitidine bismuth citrate and bismuth citrate Bi(Hcit). The IR and solid-state 13C NMR data suggested that the alkoxy group is protonated in Bi(Hcit) but deprotonated in ranitidine bismuth citrate, and that the latter contains similar dimeric units to Na2[Bi2(cit)2]·7H2O. The general modes of aggregration of dimeric [{Bi(µ-cit)2Bi}n]2n– units and the relevance to antiulcer activity are discussed.

Rapid preparation of pharmaceutical co-crystals with thermal ink-jet printing

Thermal ink-jet printing (TIJP) is shown to be a rapid (minutes) method with which to prepare pharmaceutical co-crystals; co-crystals were identified in all cases where the co-formers could be dissolved in water and/or water/ethanol solutions.

The effect of laser wavelength on the Raman Spectra of phenanthrene, chrysene, and tetracene: Implications for extra-terrestrial detection of polyaromatic hydrocarbons

Raman spectroscopy, with visible laser (514 and 633 nm) and near infrared (785 and 1064 nm) excitation, has been used to obtain high quality spectra of phenanthrene, chrysene, and tetracene. Samples with dimensions from a minimum size of 10 microm have been analyzed utilizing a Raman microprobe fitted with a charge-coupled device (CCD) array detector and a FT-Raman instrument. Fluorescence is observed for samples using visible 514, 633 and near infrared 785 nm excitation but most of the samples can be measured with a near infrared 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser.

Identification of a new co-crystal of salicylic acid and benzamide of pharmaceutical relevance

Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction/X-ray crystallography and differential scanning calorimetry have been used to study the phenomenon of co-crystal formation in stoichiometric mixtures of salicylic acid with benzamide. Raman spectroscopy was particularly useful for the characterization of the products and was used to determine the nature of the interactions in the co-crystals. It was observed that little change in the vibrational modes associated with the phenyl groups of the respective reactants took place upon co-crystal formation, but changes in intensities of the vibrational modes associated with the amide and the carboxylic acid groups were observed upon co-crystal formation. Several new vibrational bands were identified in the co-crystal which were not manifested in the physical mixture of both components and could be used as diagnostic features of co-crystal formation.

A ‘passe-partout’ for the stabilization of highly polar unsupported M–M′ bonds (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; M′= Fe, Ru) and α-addition of the metal nucleophile–electrophile pairs to an isocyanide

The coordination of a novel type of tripodal amido ligand provides the key to the synthesis of stable M–M′(M = Ti, Zr, Hf; M′= Fe, Ru) heterobimetallic complexes, [MeSi{SiMe2N(C6H4Me-4)}3M–M′(η5-C5H5)(CO)2] 4–9, with unsupported metal–metal bonds and thus enables systematic studies of these complexes; the crystal structures of the Ti–Fe (4) and Zr–Fe (6) complexes are reported, the latter being the first X-ray structure of a compound containing a Zr–Fe bond; reaction of the M–M′ complexes with methyl isocyanide leads to the immediate insertion into the metal–metal bond, a reaction which is analogous to α-additions to isocyanides.