The reactions of a mother solution of RuCl(3) with benzimidazole derivatives 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (2,2'-PyBIm, L(1)) and 2-hydroxymethylbenzimidazole (2-CH(2)OHBIm, L(2)) yielded three novel ruthenium complexes: (H(2)L(1))(2)[Ru(III)Cl(4)(CH(3)CN)(2)](2)[Ru(IV)Cl(4)(CH(3)CN)(2)]·2Cl·6H(2)O (1), mer-[Ru(III)Cl(3)L(1)(CH(3)CN)]·L(1)·3H(2)O (2), and (HL(2))(4)[Ru(IV)Cl(6)]·2Cl·4H(2)O (3). The isolated compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The nature of the ligands bound to the metal ions of these compounds and the experimental conditions significantly influenced the ruthenium complexes in different oxidation states. The N,N-donor ligand bound to the metal centre is a recognised stabiliser of the +III state of ruthenium, whereas the lack of ligand coordination promotes the formation of a mixed (Ru(III)/Ru(IV)) complex. In the case of complex 3, the absence of a N,O-donor ligand in the coordinate sphere facilitates the formation of the compound in a higher oxidation state. X-ray single crystal analyses revealed an octahedral geometry in each of the complexes. The crystal structure of ruthenium complexes is formed by a network of intermolecular classical and unconventional (C-H···π) hydrogen bonds. The most interesting feature of the supramolecular architecture of complexes is the existence of a very rare Cl(-)···π interaction and π···π stacking, which also contribute to structural stabilisation. Ruthenium compounds 2 and 3 behave as paramagnets with an octahedral geometry, corresponding to the presence of one or two unpaired electrons, respectively. The cyclic voltammetric data of complex 2 show three one-electron redox processes. The first redox couple is reversible, whereas the two other couples have a quasi-reversible nature. In the case of complex 3, two redox couples are reversible and the electrode processes are connected with exchange of one electron.

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The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of two new ruthenium complexes against E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa PAO1 (laboratory strain) and P. aeruginosa LES B58 (clinical strain) were evaluated. Complexes, mer‐[RuIII(2‐bimc)3] ⋅ H2O (1) and cis‐[RuIVCl2(2,3‐pydcH)2] ⋅ 4H2O (2), were obtained using aromatic carboxylic acid ligands, namely, 1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐carboxylic acid (2‐bimcH) and pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid (2,3‐pydcH2). Compounds were physicochemically characterized using X‐ray diffraction, Hirshfeld surface analysis, IR and UV/VIS spectroscopies, as well as magnetic and electrochemical measurements. Structural characterization revealed that Ru(III) and Ru(IV) ions in the complexes adopt a distorted octahedral geometry. The intermolecular classical and weak hydrogen bonds, and π⋅⋅⋅π contacts significantly contribute to structure stabilization, leading to the formation of a supramolecular assembly. Biological studies have shown that the Ru complexes inhibit the growth of bacteria and biofilm formation by the tested strains and the complexes seem to be a potential as antimicrobial agents.

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The electrochemical oxidation of the antioxidants tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ), tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) has been investigated by voltammetry at platinum microelectrodes in glacial acetic acid containing sodium perchlorate or sodium acetate as a background electrolyte. BHQ, a compound with para-diphenyl groups, was typically found to have lower oxidation potential than isolated phenols BHA and BHT. Particular attention has been devoted to the mechanism of the electrode processes. Linear scan voltammograms recorded under steady-state conditions showed well-defined oxidation waves of the compounds studied even at relatively high concentrations (2 mM), due to a low proclivity for adsorption of the oxidation products on the electrode surface in acetic acid. The optimal conditions for the voltammetric determination of BHQ, BHA and BHT have also been studied. The results reveal that sensitive response for all the oxidants studied can be obtained in solution containing 0.1 M NaClO 4 and 0.1 M CH 3 COONa by using the differential pulse voltammetry and squarewave voltammetry. Peak currents were found to vary linearly with the antioxidant concentration over the range 3 Â 10 À5 À 1 Â 10 À3 M.

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Electrochemical sensors in electroanalysis are a particularly useful and relatively simple way to identify electroactive substances. Among the materials used to design sensors, there is a growing interest in different types of carbon. This is mainly due to its non-toxic properties, low cost, good electrical conductivity, wide potential range, and the possibility of using it in both aqueous and nonaqueous media. The electrodes made of carbon, and especially of carbon modified with different materials, are currently most often used in the voltammetric analysis of various compounds, including preservatives. The objective of this paper is to present the characteristics and suitability of different carbon materials for the construction of working electrodes used in the voltammetric analysis. Various carbon materials were considered and briefly discussed. Their analytical application was presented on the example of the preservatives commonly used in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical preparations. It was shown that for the electroanalysis of preservatives, mainly carbon electrodes modified with various modifiers are used. These modifications ensure appropriate selectivity, high sensitivity, low limits of detection and quantification, as well as a wide linearity range of voltammetric methods of their identification and determination.

The electrochemical properties of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, called parabens, were investigated on a carbon fiber microelectrode and on a glassy carbon macroelectrode in glacial acetic acid containing 20 % acetonitrile (v/v) and sodium acetate as a supporting electrolyte. The anodic oxidation of parabens in this medium proceeds in a single stage giving well-shaped peaks or waves in the same potential region of above 1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The electrode process was characterized as being quasireversible, diffusion-controlled, and proceeds with the exchange of one electron and one proton. Phenoxyl radicals as products of the electrode process are chemically unstable and participate in the successive irreversible homogenous reactions resulting in electroinactive products (E q C i mechanism). Smaller oxidation potentials for parabens in comparison to such unsaturated fatty acids as oleic, linoleic, and linolenic ones indicate that these compounds can show antioxidative properties. Since parabens are often used as preservatives in many products, the results presented can be found useful in the determination of their total content in real samples.