Javier Tercero

Density functional study of magnetostructural correlations in cubane complexes containing the Cu4O4 core

A study of the magnetostructural correlations in polynuclear complexes containing a Cu4O4 cubane structure has been carried out employing theoretical calculations based on Density Functional Theory. We have analyzed independently the magnetic properties of three different families of cubane complexes, classified according to the number of short and long Cu⋯Cu distances as 2 + 4, 4 + 2 or 6 + 0. The results indicate that coupling through four short Cu–O bridges can be from weakly ferromagnetic to strongly antiferromagnetic, while that through two or three short bridges can be from moderately ferromagnetic to weakly antiferromagnetic.

Magnetic structure of the large-spin Mn10 and Mn19 complexes: a theoretical complement to an experimental milestone.

High-spin molecules have been proposed as candidates for the storage of information at the molecular level. The electronic structure of two complex magnetic molecular systems, Mn 10 and Mn 19, is characterized by means of a computational study based on density functional theory. All the exchange interactions in the recently reported Mn 19 complex with the highest known spin value of 83/2, and in its highly symmetric Mn 10 parent compound, are ferromagnetic. In these complexes, there are two kinds of ferromagnetic coupling: the first one corresponds to Mn (II)-Mn (III) interactions through a double mu 2-alkoxo-mu 4-oxo bridge where the high coordination number of the Mn (II) cations results in long Mn (II)-O bond distances, while the second one involves Mn (III)-Mn (III) interactions through mu 2-alkoxo-mu 3-eta (1):eta (1):eta (1) azido bridging ligands with long Mn (III)-N distances due to a Jahn-Teller effect.

Exchange coupling in transition-metal complexes via density-functional theory: Comparison and reliability of different basis set approaches

Theoretical methods based on density-functional theory with Gaussian, plane waves, and numerical basis sets were employed to evaluate the exchange coupling constants in transition-metal complexes. In the case of the numerical basis set, the effect of different computational parameters was tested. We analyzed whether and how the use of pseudopotentials affects the calculation of the exchange coupling constants. For the three different basis sets, a comparison of the exchange coupling constants and spin distributions shows that both the plane-wave and the numerical basis set approaches are accurate and reliable alternatives to the more established Gaussian basis functions.

Postoperative Pain Relief After Hepatic Resection in Cirrhotic Patients: The Efficacy of a Single Small Dose of Ketamine Plus Morphine Epidurally

In cirrhotic patients undergoing hepatic surgery, postoperative analgesia remains a challenge. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a single dose of morphine combined with small-dose ketamine given epidurally for postoperative pain relief. One-hundred-four classification “Child A” cirrhotic patients were randomly assigned to two groups: 1) (MKG, n = 54): epidural morphine (3.5–5 mg) plus ketamine (20/30 mg); and 2) epidural morphine (3.5/5 mg) (MG, n = 50). The level of analgesia, side effects, psychomimetic and neurological disorders, additional analgesic needs, and overall quality of the analgesia were recorded. The mean duration of analgesia was longer in the MKG group (27.2 ± 8 h versus 16.4 ± 10 h;P < 0.05). In the MKG group, the visual analog scale (VAS) score began to be significantly lower from 14 h at rest and 12 h on coughing until the end of the study. The need for additional analgesia was also smaller in the MKG group (P < 0.05): at 24 h, only 10% of patients in the MKG group needed complementary analgesia, whereas in the MG group it was 100% (P = 0.003). Side effects were similar in both groups. Psychomimetic side effects and neurological disorders were not detected. These results suggest that postoperative analgesia provided by a single dose of epidural morphine with small-dose ketamine is effective in cirrhotic Child’s A patients having major upper abdominal surgery.

An orthogonal ferromagnetically coupled tetracopper(II) 2 × 2 homoleptic grid supported by µ-O4 bridges and its DFT study

A pyrazole based ditopic ligand (PzOAP), prepared by the reaction between 5-methylpyrazole-3-carbohydrazide and methyl ester of imino picolinic acid, reacts with Cu(NO3)2·6H2O to form a self-assembled, ferromagnetically coupled, alkoxide bridged tetranuclear homoleptic Cu(II) square grid-complex [Cu4(PzOAP)4(NO3)2] (NO3)2·4H2O (1) with a central Cu4[µ-O4] core, involving four ligand molecules. In the Cu4[µ-O4] core, out of four copper centers, two copper centers are penta-coordinated and the remaining two are hexa-coordinated. In each case of hexa-coordination, the sixth position is occupied by the nitrate ion. The complex 1 has been characterized structurally and magnetically. Although Cu–O–Cu bridge angles are too large (138–141°) and Cu–Cu distances are short (4.043–4.131 A), suitable for propagation of expected antiferromagnetic exchange interactions within the grid, yet intramolecular ferromagnetic exchange (J = 5.38 cm−1) is present with S = 4/2 magnetic ground state. This ferromagnetic interaction is quite obvious from the bridging connections (dx2−y2) lying almost orthogonally between the metal centers. The exchange pathways parameters have been evaluated from density functional calculations.

Anesthetic management of a patient in prone position with a drill bit penetrating the spinal canal at C1-C2, using a laryngeal mask

UNLABELLED Airway management in patients with penetrating neck trauma must guarantee cervical spine stability. Moreover, the prone position increases the risk of difficult ventilation and cervical spine injury. A 19-yr-old patient was brought to the emergency room in prone position with a drill bit protruding from the posterolateral aspect of his neck. The bit had entered the spinal canal below the first cervical vertebra, and placed near the odontoid peg. He was referred for surgical removal of the drill. The use of an inhaled induction of anesthesia, avoiding muscle relaxants, and ventilation through a laryngeal mask airway inserted in the prone position seemed to offer a satisfactory approach. IMPLICATIONS Management of patients with penetrating neck trauma must guarantee cervical spine stability. Moreover, the prone position increases the risk of difficult ventilation and cervical spine injury. Anesthesia may be induced and the airway can be managed with the patient already in the prone position for surgery.

Structure, Magnetic Properties, Polarized Neutron Diffraction, and Theoretical Study of a Copper(II) Cubane

The paper reports the synthesis, X-ray and neutron diffraction crystal structures, magnetic properties, high field-high frequency EPR (HF-EPR), spin density and theoretical description of the tetranuclear CuII complex [Cu4L4] with cubane-like structure (LH2=1,1,1-trifluoro-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-aza-hept-3-en-2-one). The simulation of the magnetic behavior gives a predominant ferromagnetic interaction J1 (+30.5 cm(-1)) and a weak antiferromagnetic interaction J2 (-5.5 cm(-1)), which correspond to short and long Cu-Cu distances, respectively, as evidence from the crystal structure [see formulate in text]. It is in agreement with DFT calculations and with the saturation magnetization value of an S=2 ground spin state. HF-EPR measurements at low temperatures (5 to 30 K) provide evidence for a negative axial zero-field splitting parameter D (-0.25+/-0.01 cm(-1)) plus a small rhombic term E (0.025+/-0.001 cm(-1), E/D = 0.1). The experimental spin distribution from polarized neutron diffraction is mainly located in the basal plane of the CuII ion with a distortion of yz-type for one CuII ion. Delocalization on the ligand (L) is observed but to a smaller extent than expected from DFT calculations.

Discovering the Complex Chemistry of a Simple NiII/H3L System: Magnetostructural Characterization and DFT Calculations of Di- and Polynuclear Nickel(II) Compounds

The simple nickel(II) acetate/H(3)L system (H(3)L = 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine) presents an unusually complicated reactivity scheme, which strongly depends on the Ni(OAc)(2)/H(3)L molar ratio and on the pH of the medium. Thus, in addition to the formerly reported compounds [Ni(2)L(OAc)(H(2)O)(2)][Ni(2)L(OAc)(H(2)O)(HOAc)].3.25H(2)O, 1.3.25H(2)O; [{Ni(3)L(OAc)(OH)(H(2)O)(MeOH)(2)}(CO(3)){Ni(2)L(OAc)(MeOH)(2)}].2.7H(2)O.1.5MeOH, 2.2.7H(2)O.1.5MeOH; and [Ni(3)L(OAc)(2)(OH)(H(2)O)(MeOH)(2)].3H(2)O.0.5MeOH, 3.3H(2)O.0.5MeOH, this system can also yield some other complexes as [Ni(2)L(o-O-C(6)H(4)-CHO)(H(2)O)].1.75H(2)O, 4.1.75H(2)O; [Ni(2)L(OH)(H(2)O)(MeOH)].3H(2)O.1.5MeOH, 5.3H(2)O.1.5MeOH; [Ni(2)L(OAc)(MeOH)(2)].H(2)O.3MeOH, 6.H(2)O.3MeOH; and [{Ni(2)L(MeOH)}(CO(3)){Ni(2)L(MeOH)(2)}].4.75H(2)O.2MeOH, 7.4.75H(2)O.2MeOH. A detailed study of the reaction scheme that allows obtaining all of these complexes is presented herein, as well as the structural characterization of the novel compounds 4.1.75H(2)O to 7.4.75H(2)O.2MeOH. X-ray analyses show that all of them present stereoisomery in the solid state. In this way, 6.H(2)O.3MeOH appears particularly interesting, as its molecular and supramolecular chirality is only controlled by hydrogen bonds. Magnetic studies of 5.3H(2)O to 7.4.75H(2)O.2MeOH are also discussed, and the complicated magnetic superexchange pathway shown by 7.4.75H(2)O.2MeOH is analyzed in light of DFT calculations.

2D copper(II) complex built from N-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanolate and azide ligands: structure, magnetic, and DFT studies.

The synthesis, structural characterization, and magnetic behavior of a new 2D copper(II) compound with formula {[Cu2(mu-O2CMe)(mu-MedapO)(mu1,1-N3)2]n (CH3OH)n} 1, in which MedapOH is N-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanol is reported herein. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with unit cell parameters a = 6.688(5) A, b = 10.591(6) A, c = 12.100(7) A, alpha = 113.01(3) degrees, beta = 105.08(4) degrees, gamma = 93.93(3) degrees, Z = 2. The structure of 1 consists of neutral alternate 1D chains formed by the sequence of [Cu(1)-(mu1,1-N3)2-Cu(1)-(MedapO/acetate)-Cu(2)-(mu1,1-N3)2-Cu2)]. Each dinuclear [Cu(1)-Cu(2)] unit interacts with similar dinuclear units of neighbor chains in basis to large Cu-N(azido) distances to give a 2D arrangement. The magnetic behavior of 1 has been checked giving a net ferromagnetic coupling. The fit of the chiM versus T data as dinuclear compound affords a J value of 53.0 cm(-1) as a consequence of the orbital countercomplementarity phenomenon. The exchange pathways have been justified by density functional calculations.

Pressure inside the neuroendoscope: correlation with epidural intracranial pressure during neuroendoscopic procedures.

Background During neuroendoscopic procedures, pressure inside the neuroendoscope (PIN) monitored through the irrigation channel correlates with the occurrence of postoperative complications. Our aim was to analyze the reliability of PIN measurement as a surrogate for intracranial pressure (ICP) by comparing PIN with simultaneously epidural ICP measurement as the standard. Methods Seventeen consecutive patients undergoing neuroendoscopy were studied prospectively. Type and length of procedure and PIN and epidural ICP values during neuroendoscopy were recorded. Lins concordance coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis of agreement were used to assess correspondence between the 2 systems. Results A consistent relation between PIN and epidural ICP waveforms was observed during neuroendoscopic navigation. A strong Pearson correlation between PIN and epidural ICP data were found in 15 patients. Epidural ICP values were systematically higher than PIN values in 15 patients. Lin concordance coefficients showed moderate global agreement between the 2 methods, at 0.58 (95% confidence interval, 0.577-0.592). In 6 cases (35.2%) concordance was good according to this analysis, in 7 cases (41.2%) agreement was moderate/fair, and in 4 cases (23.5%) agreement was poor. The Bland-Altman analysis of patient data showed good agreement between the PIN and epidural ICP measurements for most patients, although discrepancies were greater at higher ICP values for 11 patients. Bland-Altman analysis of the complete dataset, after the normalization of individuals measurements, showed good overall agreement. Conclusions PIN measurement seems useful for evaluating ICP changes related to neuroendoscopic procedures and seems to be more consistent than epidural ICP at high pressures.