On the variation of cluster core characteristics by an endohedral atom. Shape variation in 8-ce [EAu(PPh)] (E = N, P, As, Sb) clusters.

Atomically precise gold superatoms have attracted interest owing to their suitable use as building blocks for cluster-assembled materials, favoring ordered structures with advanced properties. In this sense, expanding their versatility is a relevant issue for controlling their properties and retaining a specific nuclearity. Interestingly, the reported structure for isoelectronic [AuN(PPh)] and [AuSb(PPh)] clusters denotes two contrasting shapes featuring a tetrahedral and square pyramidal structure, respectively.

Biological Activity of Complexes Involving Nitro-Containing Ligands and Crystallographic-Theoretical Description of 3,5-DNB Complexes.

Drug resistance in infectious diseases developed by bacteria and fungi is an important issue since it is necessary to further develop novel compounds with biological activity that counteract this problem. In addition, new pharmaceutical compounds with lower secondary effects to treat cancer are needed. Coordination compounds appear to be accessible and promising alternatives aiming to overcome these problems.

Antifungal activity of Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes containing 1,3-bis(benzotriazol-1-yl)-propan-2-ol on the growth and virulence traits of fluconazole-resistant Candida species: synthesis, DFT calculations, and biological activity.

Relevant virulence traits in Candida spp. are associated with dimorphic change and biofilm formation, which became an important target to reduce antifungal resistance. In this work, Co(II) complexes containing a benzotriazole derivative ligand showed a promising capacity of reducing these virulence traits.

Cl@SiX cages: evaluation of encapsulation nature, structural rigidity, and Si-NMR patterns using relativistic DFT calculations.

The experimental characterization of Cl@Si endohedral clusters, featuring different ligands such as [Cl@SiH] (1) [Cl@SiHCl] (2), and [Cl@SiCl] (3), provides insight into the variable encapsulation environment for chloride anions. The favorable formation of such species enables the evaluation of the encapsulation nature and the role of the inner anion in the rigidity of the overall cluster. Our results show a sizable interaction which increases as -66.

From 8- to 18-Cluster Electrons Superatoms: Evaluation via DFT Calculations of the Ligand-Protected W@Au(dppm) Cluster Displaying Distinctive Electronic and Optical Properties.

The iconic W@Au icosahedral bare cluster reaches the favorable closed-shell superatomic electron configuration 1S 1P 1D, making it an 18-cluster electron (18-ce) superatom. Here, we pursue the evaluation of a ligand-protected counterpart based on the construction of a fully phosphine-protected [W@Au(dppm)] cluster strongly related to the characterized [Au(dppm)] homometallic counterpart. The later cluster has the same total number of valence electrons as the former but is considered an 8-ce superatom with 1S 1P configuration.

Machine learning approach to discovery of small molecules with potential inhibitory action against vasoactive metalloproteases.

With the advancement of combinatorial chemistry and big data, drug repositioning has boomed. In this sense, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques offer a priori information to identify the most promising candidates. In this study, we combine QSAR and docking methodologies to identify compounds with potential inhibitory activity of vasoactive metalloproteases for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Theoretical Evaluation of Novel Thermolysin Inhibitors from . Possible Antibacterial Agents.

The search for new antibacterial agents that could decrease bacterial resistance is a subject in continuous development. Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria possess a group of metalloproteins belonging to the MEROPS peptidase (M4) family, which is the main virulence factor of these bacteria. In this work, we used the previous results of a computational biochemistry protocol of a series of ligands designed in silico using thermolysin as a model for the search of antihypertensive agents.

Heterobimetallic Catalysts for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate: Efficient Burning Rate Catalysts for Solid Rocket Motors and Missiles.

We show the synthesis and characterization of four heterobimetallic compounds derived from -indacene of general formula [{(CO)Mn}--Ic-{MCp*}] with M = Fe, Co, Ni, and Ru; = 0, 1+. The complexes reported here were characterized by H and C NMR, elemental analysis and FT-IR. Additionally, the X-ray crystal structure of [(CO)Mn--Ic-FeCp*] () and Mössbauer spectra are reported.

Full recombinant flagellin B from Vibrio anguillarum (rFLA) and its recombinant D1 domain (rND1) promote a pro-inflammatory state and improve vaccination against P. salmonis in Atlantic salmon (S. salar).

Flagellin is the major component of the flagellum, and a ligand for Toll-like receptor 5. As reported, recombinant flagellin (rFLA) from Vibrio anguillarum and its D1 domain (rND1) are able to promote in vitro an upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) macrophages. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo stimulatory/adjuvant effect for rFLA and rND1 during P.

Structural characterization, reactivity, and vibrational properties of silver clusters: a new global minimum for Ag.

In the present work, the lowest energy structures and electronic properties of Agn clusters up to n = 16 are investigated using a successive growth algorithm coupled with density functional theory calculations (DFT). In the literature, a number of putative global minimum structures for silver clusters have been reported by using different approaches, but a comparative study for n = 15-16 has not been undertaken so far. Here, we perform a comparative study using the PW91/cc-pVDZ-PP level to more precisely determine the optimal configuration.

Evaluation of new antihypertensive drugs designed using Thermolysin as a target.

The search for new therapies for the treatment of Arterial hypertension is a major concern in the scientific community. Here, we employ a computational biochemistry protocol to evaluate the performance of six compounds (Lig783, Lig1022, Lig1392, Lig2177, Lig3444 and Lig6199) to act as antihypertensive agents. This protocol consists of Docking experiments, efficiency calculations of ligands, molecular dynamics simulations, free energy, pharmacological and toxicological properties predictions (ADME-Tox) of the six ligands against Thermolysin.

Interactions of 2-phenyl-benzotriazole xenobiotic compounds with human Cytochrome P450-CYP1A1 by means of docking, molecular dynamics simulations and MM-GBSA calculations.

2-phenyl-benzotriazole xenobiotic compounds (PBTA-4, PBTA-6, PBTA-7 and PBTA-8) that were previously isolated and identified in waters of the Yodo river, in Japan (Nukaya et al., 2001; Ohe et al., 2004; Watanabe et al.

Influence of Ag(+) on the Magnetic Response of [2.2.2]Paracyclophane: NMR Properties of a Prototypical Organic Host for Cation Binding Based on DFT Calculations.

The complexation of metal cations into a host-guest situation is particularly well exemplified by [2.2.2]paracyclophane and Ag(I), which leads to a strong cation-π interaction with a specific face of the host molecule.

Toward the synthetic control of the HOMO-LUMO gap in binuclear systems: insights from density functional calculations.

Computational methods based on density functional theory have been applied to address the design of tailored HOMO-LUMO gap bimetallic complexes. We focus our attention on the [Cp*Fe-(L)-FeCp*] system, where two ferrocenyl units are linked through the dianion of fused ring ligands such as pentalene, s-indacene, dicyclopenta-[b,g]-naphthalene, dicyclopenta-[b,i]-anthracene and dicyclopenta-[b,l]-tetracene. Our DFT calculations on the title organometallic complexes suggest a controlled decrease in the HOMO-LUMO gap, which is desirable for studies on electron-transfer phenomena, as well as the design potential devices for molecular electronic purposes.

Inside a superatom: the M7q (M=Cu, Ag, q=1+, 0, 1-) case.

All-electron relativistic density functional calculations are performed to obtain the electronic structure and nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) of D(5h) pentagonal-bipyramidal (PBP) Cu(7)(q) and Ag(7)(q) (q=1+,0,1-) clusters. Scalar and spin-orbit relativistic effects are taken into account at two levels: the two-component zero-order regular approximation (ZORA) Hamiltonian and fully relativistic four-component calculations via the Dirac equation. These clusters are treated by including the spin-orbit effect in the jellium model, within the double-valued point group (D(5h)*) establishing the symmetry correlations between the molecular and the atomic spinors given by the full rotation group.

Pi-donor/acceptor effect on Lindqvist type polyoxomolibdates because of various multiple-bonded nitrogenous ligands.

The electronic structures of Lindqvist type functionalized polyoxometalates (POM) ([Mo6O18R]n- R=O, NO, NAr, NNAr, NNAr2; n=2, 3) have been investigated using density functional methods. We discuss the role of the replacement of terminal oxo ligands by pi-donor/acceptor multiple-bonded nitrogenous ligands on the basis of geometrical parameters, charge analyses, reactivity indexes, and vibrational spectra. The calculated reactivity indexes (chemical potential, electronegativity, hardness, and electrophilicity) indicate that the most reactive functionalized POMs are those substituted by pi-acceptor ligands.