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An iron(III)-catecholate complex [L(1)Fe(III)(DBC)] (2) and an iron(II)-o-aminophenolate complex [L(1)Fe(II)(HAP)] (3; where L(1) = tris(2-pyridylthio)methanido anion, DBC = dianionic 3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholate, and HAP = monoanionic 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-aminophenolate) have been synthesised from an iron(II)-acetonitrile complex [L(1)Fe(II)(CH(3)CN)(2)](ClO(4)) (1). Complex 2 reacts with dioxygen to oxidatively cleave the aromatic C-C bond of DBC giving rise to selective extradiol cleavage products. Controlled chemical or electrochemical oxidation of 2, on the other hand, forms an iron(III)-semiquinone radical complex [L(1)Fe(III)(SQ)](PF(6)) (2(ox)-PF(6); SQ = 3,5-di-tert-butylsemiquinonate). The iron(II)-o-aminophenolate complex (3) reacts with dioxygen to afford an iron(III)-o-iminosemiquinonato radical complex [L(1)Fe(III)(ISQ)](ClO(4))(3(ox)-ClO(4); ISQ = 4,6-di-tert-butyl-o-iminobenzosemiquinonato radical) via an iron(III)-o-amidophenolate intermediate species. Structural characterisations of 1, 2, 2(ox) and 3(ox) reveal the presence of a strong iron-carbon bonding interaction in all the complexes. The bond parameters of 2(ox) and 3(ox) clearly establish the radical nature of catecholate- and o-aminophenolate-derived ligand, respectively. The effect of iron-carbon bonding interaction on the dioxygen reactivity of biomimetic iron-catecholate and iron-o-aminophenolate complexes is discussed.

Immobilization of transition-metal complexes by surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has recently attracted the attention for several applications.[1] Thiolprotected AuNPs [2] are stable and soluble in organic solvents. Therefore, immobilization of metal complexes on AuNPs permits reactions in common organic solvents and also induces properties of the metal complex to the NP.[3] AuNPs functionalized by thiol-appended transition metal complexes are expected to find applications as immobilized catalysts to bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The high surface area of a nanocatalyst increases the contact between the reactant and catalyst dramatically. These catalysts are easy to synthesize through desired surface modification and can be characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Moreover, the catalyst can easily be separated from the reaction mixture. Several reports are now available where immobilization of metal catalysts on AuNPs has been shown to increase the catalytic reactivity.

Biofouling, the unwanted growth of sessile microorganisms on submerged surfaces, presents a serious problem for underwater structures. While biofouling can be controlled to various degrees with different microstructure-based patterned surfaces, understanding of the underlying mechanism is still imprecise. Researchers have long speculated that microtopographies might influence near-surface microfluidic conditions, thus microhydrodynamically preventing the settlement of microorganisms. It is therefore very important to identify the microfluidic environment developed on patterned surfaces and its relation with the antifouling behaviour of those surfaces. This study considered the wall shear stress distribution pattern as a significant aspect of this microfluidic environment. In this study, patterned surfaces with microwell arrays were assessed experimentally with a real-time biofilm development monitoring system using a novel microchannel-based flow cell reactor. Finally, computational fluid dynamics simulations were carried out to show how the microfluidic conditions were affecting the initial settlement of microorganisms.

The synthesis and characterization of an iron-catecholate model complex of a tridentate 2-N-1-carboxylate ligand derived from L-proline are reported. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex [(L)(3)Fe(3)(DBC)(3)] (1) (where L is 1-(2-pyridylmethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate and DBC is the dianion of 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol) reveals that the tridentate ligand binds to the iron center in a facial manner and mimics the 2-his-1-carboxylate facial triad motif observed in extradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases. The iron(III)-catecholate complex (1) reacts with dioxygen in acetonitrile in ambient conditions to cleave the C-C bond of catecholate. In the reaction, an equal amount of extra- and intradiol cleavage products are formed without any auto-oxidation product. The iron-catecholate complex is a potential functional model of extradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases.

Microstructure-based patterned surfaces with antifouling capabilities against a wide range of organisms are yet to be optimised. Several studies have shown that microtopographic features affect the settlement and the early stages of biofilm formation of microorganisms. It is speculated that the fluctuating stress-strain rates developed on patterned surfaces disrupt the stability of microorganisms. This study investigated the dynamic interactions of a motile bacterium (Escherichia coli) with microtopographies in relation to initial settlement. The trajectories of E. coli across a patterned surface of a microwell array within a microchannel-based flow cell system were assessed experimentally with a time-lapse imaging module. The microwell array was composed of 256 circular wells, each with diameter 10 μm, spacing 7 μm and depth 5 μm. The dynamics of E. coli over microwell-based patterned surfaces were compared with those over plain surfaces and an increased velocity of cell bodies was observed in the case of patterned surfaces. The experimental results were further verified and supported by computational fluid dynamic simulations. Finally, it was stated that the nature of solid boundaries and the associated microfluidic conditions play key roles in determining the dynamic stability of motile bacteria in the close vicinity over surfaces.

Iron(II) tris(2-pyridylthio)methanido (1) containing an Fe-C bond, obtained from the reaction of tris(2-pyridylthio)methane (HL(1)) and iron(II) triflate, reacts with protic acid to generate iron(II) bis(2-pyridylthio)carbene (1a). The carbene complex is converted to an iron(II) complex (2) of the 1-[bis(2-pyridylthio)methyl]pyridine-2-thione ligand (L(3)) upon treatment with a base. Complex 2 reversibly transforms to 1a in the presence of an acid. During the transformation of 1 to 2, a novel rearrangement of L(1) to L(3) takes place. The iron(II) complexes are reactive toward dioxygen to form the corresponding iron(III) complexes.

The synthesis and molecular structure of a novel iron(II) complex of an acyclic non-NHC bis(2-pyridylthio)carbene ligand containing a S-N-C facial triad are discussed. The iron carbene complex is formed in situ during the reaction of tris(2-pyridylthio)methane with an iron(II) salt. In the six-coordinate iron(II) complex, a strong Fe-C interaction (1.776 A) is observed crystallographically and the complex exhibits a singlet-spin ground state. Density functional theory calculations that reproduce the geometry as well as the spin ground state indicate that the electronic structure of the complex is best described as an iron(II) carbene. The carbene center is stabilized by extensive back-bonding from iron(II) and delocalization into the adjacent thiopyridine units.