Setting thresholds is not enough: Beach litter as indicator of poor environmental status in the southern Adriatic Sea.

This study deals with the issue of beach litter pollution in the context of the Descriptor 10 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Good Environmental Status of EU waters and Ecological objective 10, Common indicator 22 of IMAP. Analyses of the amount, distribution and categorization of beach litter were conducted on nine beaches during 108 surveys covering the area of 206.620 m in Albania, Italy and Montenegro.

Luminescent supramolecular soft nanostructures from amphiphilic dinuclear Re(I) complexes.

Luminescent metallo-surfactants based on highly emissive dinuclear Re(I) complexes have been synthesized combining the peculiar photophysical behaviour of this class of neutral hydrophobic complexes with new properties imparted by hydrophilic chains anchored on the coordinated chromophoric ligand. In solution, the resulting neutral amphiphiles tend to self-assembly in soft structures. The aggregation properties have been thoroughly investigated in dioxane-water mixtures, where all the complexes assembly in globular-like supramolecular architectures with well-defined size (hydrodynamic diameter = 200-400 nm).

A luminescent poly(amidoamine)-iridium complex as a new singlet-oxygen sensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

A polymer complex (1P) was synthesized by binding bis(cyclometalated) Ir(ppy)2(+) fragments (ppy = 2-phenylpyridyl) to phenanthroline (phen) pendants of a poly(amidoamine) copolymer (PhenISA, in which the phen pendants involved ∼6% of the repeating units). The corresponding molecular complex [Ir(ppy)2(bap)](+) (1M, bap = 4-(butyl-4-amino)-1,10-phenanthroline) was also prepared for comparison. In water solution 1P gives nanoaggregates with a hydrodynamic diameter of 30 nm in which the lipophilic metal centers are presumed to be segregated within polymer tasks to reduce their interaction with water.

Dinuclear rhenium complexes as redox-active pendants in a novel electrodeposited polycyclopentadithiophene material.

The novel [Re2(μ-H)(μ-OOC-CPDT)(CO)6(μ-3-Me-pydz)] complex (1; OOC-CPDT = 4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene-4-carboxylate, 3-Me-pydz = 3-methylpyridazine) has been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, density functional theory (DFT), and time-dependent DFT computations, UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The measured properties indicate the lack of electronic communication in the ground state between the CPDT and the rhenium diazine moieties. Oxidative electropolymerization of 1, achieved by repeated potential cycling (-0.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized by a poly(amidoamine)-rhenium complex as potential theranostic probe.

Three-component nanocomposites, constituted by a superparamagnetic iron oxide core coated with a polymeric surfactant bearing tightly bound Re(CO)3 moieties, were prepared and fully characterized. The water soluble and biocompatible surfactant was a linear poly(amidoamine) copolymer (PAA), containing cysteamine pendants in the minority part (ISA23SH), able to coordinate Re(CO)3 fragments. For the synthesis of the nanocomposites two methods were compared, involving either (i) peptization of bare magnetite nanoparticles by interaction with the preformed ISA23SH-Re(CO)3 complex, or (ii) "one-pot" synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles in the presence of the ISA23SH copolymer, followed by complexation of Re to the SPIO@ISA23SH nanocomposite.

Luminescent rhenium and ruthenium complexes of an amphoteric poly(amidoamine) functionalized with 1,10-phenanthroline.

A new amphoteric copolymer, PhenISA, has been obtained by copolymerization of 4-(4'-aminobutyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (BAP) with 2-methylpiperazine and bis(acrylamido)acetic acid (BAC) (6% of phenanthroline-containing repeating units). The copolymer showed excellent solubility in water, where it self-aggregated to give clear nanoparticle suspensions (hydrodynamic diameter = 21 ± 2 nm, by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis). The phenanthroline pendants of the polymer stably coordinated either Re(CO)(3)(+) or Ru(phen)(2)(2+) fragments, affording luminescent Re-PhenISA, Re-Py-PhenISA, and Ru-PhenISA polymer complexes, emitting from triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ((3)MLCT) excited states (with λ(em) = 608, 571, and 614 nm, respectively, and photoluminescence quantum yields Φ(em) = 0.

Phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes with outstanding external quantum efficiency using dinuclear rhenium complexes as dopants.

The photophysical and electroluminescence properties of two dinuclear rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes bearing 1,2-diazines are comprehensively investigated. The bromo-bridged complex is successfully used as triplet emitter for the preparation of vacuum-processed OLEDs with outstanding external quantum efficiencies, reaching a value of 10%.

Mitochondrial DNA regionalism and historical demography in the extant populations of Chirocephalus kerkyrensis (Branchiopoda: Anostraca).

Background: Mediterranean temporary water bodies are important reservoirs of biodiversity and host a unique assemblage of diapausing aquatic invertebrates. These environments are currently vanishing because of increasing human pressure. Chirocephalus kerkyrensis is a fairy shrimp typical of temporary water bodies in Mediterranean plain forests and has undergone a substantial decline in number of populations in recent years due to habitat loss.

Electrochemical, computational, and photophysical characterization of new luminescent dirhenium-pyridazine complexes containing bridging OR or SR anions.

A series of [Re(2)(μ-ER)(2)(CO)(6)(μ-pydz)] complexes have been synthesized (E = S, R = C(6)H(5), 2; E = O, R = C(6)F(5), 3; C(6)H(5), 4; CH(3), and 5; H, 6), starting either from [Re(CO)(5)O(3)SCF(3)] (for 2 and 4), [Re(2)(μ-OR)(3)(CO)(6)](-) (for 3 and 5), or [Re(4)(μ(3)-OH)(4)(CO)(12)] (for 6). Single-crystal diffractometric analysis showed that the two μ-phenolato derivatives (3 and 4) possess an idealized C(2) symmetry, while the μ-benzenethiolato derivative (2) is asymmetrical, because of the different conformation adopted by the phenyl groups. A combined density functional and time-dependent density functional study of the geometry and electronic structure of the complexes showed that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and LUMO+1 are the two lowest-lying π* orbitals of pyridazine, whereas the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) are mainly constituted by the "t(2g)" set of the Re atoms, with a strong Re-(μ-E) π* character.

Aggregation induced colour change for phosphorescent iridium(III) complex-based anionic surfactants.

We describe a new class of water soluble metallosurfactant molecules based on luminescent neutral iridium(III) complexes. The compounds possess an alkyl chain terminated with a negatively charged group, a sulphate. Due to their amphiphilic nature they assemble in aggregates in water and their photophysical properties, as well as the morphological characterization of the assemblies are presented.

Highly emitting concomitant polymorphic crystals of a dinuclear rhenium complex.

The dinuclear complex [Re(2)(μ-Cl)(2)(CO)(6)(μ-4,5-(Me(3)Si)(2)pyridazine)] gives in the solid state two polymorphs (yellow, 1Y, and orange, 1O), which can be either concomitantly or separately obtained on varying the crystallization rate. Both crystal phases exhibit intense photoluminescence from the lowest lying triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer state, much stronger than in solution (quantum yields 0.56 and 0.

Luminescent conjugates between dinuclear rhenium(I) complexes and peptide nucleic acids (PNA) for cell imaging and DNA targeting.

New luminescent dinuclear rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complex-PNA conjugates have been synthesized through a reliable solid-phase synthetic methodology. Their photophysical properties have been measured. The most luminescent Re-PNA conjugate 7 showed interesting two-photon absorption (TPA) properties, that were exploited for imaging experiments, to demonstrate its easy uptake into living cells.

Tricarbonyl-rhenium complexes of a thiol-functionalized amphoteric poly(amidoamine).

An amphoteric thiol-functionalized poly(amidoamine) nicknamed ISA23SH(10%) was synthesized. Rhenium complexes 1 and 2, containing 0.5 and 0.

Tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes containing a bridging 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole ligand: structural, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational characterization.

The three complexes [Re2(mu-X1)(mu-X2)(CO)6(mu-ppd-kappaN3:kappaN4)] (X1, X2 ) H, 1; X1 ) H, X2 ) Cl, 2; X1, X2 ) Cl, 3; ppd) 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole) have been synthesized by different routes, involving the reaction of [Re4(mu3-H)4(CO)12]with ppd for 1, the reaction of 1 with HCl for 2, and the reaction of [ReCl(CO)5] with ppd for 3. The three complexes possess a different number of valence electrons, so the formal Re-Re bond order varies from 2 to 1 to 0 in complexes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This is reflected in the Re-Re bond distance (277.

Determination of lead and cadmium in titanium dioxide by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry.

A procedure for the simultaneous determination of lead and cadmium in TiO(2) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) has been developed. The key feature of the method is the use of triethanolamine (TEA) to remove titanium interference: TiO(2) undergoes acidic digestion with HF/H(2)SO(4) at atmospheric pressure, TEA is added to the HCl solution of the residue and the solution is analysed using a standard ASV instrumentation, equipped with a hanging mercury drop electrode. The calibration curves for both lead and cadmium are linear up to 50 mugl(-1) of solution, and the detection limits are 1 mugl(-1), corresponding to 1 mugg(-1) of TiO(2).

A new class of luminescent tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes containing bridging 1,2-diazine ligands: electrochemical, photophysical, and computational characterization.

A novel class of luminescent tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes of general formula [Re2(mu-X)2(CO)6(mu-diaz)] (X=halogen and diaz=1,2-diazine) was prepared by reacting [ReX(CO)5] with 0.5 equiv of diazine (seven different ligands were used). The bridging coordination of the diazine in these dinuclear complexes was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Luminescent hydrido-carbonyl clusters of rhenium containing bridging 1,2-diazine ligands.

The reaction of the electronically unsaturated (56 valence electrons, ve) tetrahedral cluster [Re4(mu3-H)4(CO)12] (1) with pyridazine (pydz) gives as the main initial product the tetranuclear cluster [Re4(mu-H)4(mu-pydz)(pydz)2(CO)12] (2a), with 64 ve and four hydrogen-bridged metal-metal interactions, with a spiked-triangle geometry. One of the three pydz ligands bridges, in a cis configuration, the cluster edge opposite to the vertex bearing the spike, as indicated by the X-ray single-crystal analysis. This species slowly decomposes, affording the dinuclear unsaturated (32 ve) complex [Re2(mu-H)2(mu-pydz)(CO)6] (3a) and two isomers of the tetranuclear cluster [Re4(mu-H)4(mu-pydz)2(CO)12] (64 ve), sharing an unusual square cluster geometry and differing in the trans (major, 85%, 4a) or cis (4a') configuration of the bridging pydz ligands.

A Re(CO)5 fragment bonded to a polyhedral oligomeric hydroxysilsesquioxane as a model which gives further evidence to the existence of an unexpected Re(CO)5 surface species.

Reaction of Re(CO)5O3SCF3 with (c-C6H11)7Si8O12O-Li+ at 273 K under a CO atmosphere affords the [Re(CO)5OR] (R = (c-C6H11)7Si8O12) derivative (1). 1 is the first example of a rhenium pentacarbonyl bearing an OR ligand (R = alkyl, aryl, or silyl) stable enough to be characterized, and it represents also the first molecular model of the surface [Re(CO)5OSi] species formed by reductive carbonylation of silica-supported [Re(CO)3OH]4. At room temperature, 1 loses one carbonyl ligand and dimerizes to afford {Re(CO)4[(mu-O)O12Si8(c-C6H11)7]}2 (2), which has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and is the first reported example of a rhenium tetracarbonyl mu-oxo-bridged dimer of the type [Re(CO)4(mu-OR)]2.

Synthesis and reactivity of N-heterocycle-B(C6F5)3 complexes. 4. Competition between pyridine- and pyrrole-type substrates toward B(C6F5)3: structure and dynamics of 7-B(C6F5)3-7-azaindole and [7-Azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]-.

Reaction between 7-azaindole and B(C6F5)3 quantitatively yields 7-(C6F5)3B-7-azaindole (4), in which B(C6F5)3 coordinates to the pyridine nitrogen of 7-azaindole, leaving the pyrrole ring unreacted even in the presence of a second equivalent of B(C6F5)3. Reaction of 7-azaindole with H2O-B(C6F5)3 initially produces [7-azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]- (5) which slowly converts to 4 releasing a H2O molecule. Pyridine removes the borane from the known complexes (C6F5)3B-pyrrole (1) and (C6F5)3B-indole (2), with formation of free pyrrole or indole, giving the more stable adduct (C6F5)3B-pyridine (3).

NMR investigation of the dihydrogen-bonding and proton-transfer equilibria between the hydrido carbonyl anion [HRe2(CO)9]- and fluorinated alcohols.

The interaction of fluorinated alcohols with the anionic hydrido complex [HRe2(CO)9]- (1) has been investigated by NMR spectroscopy. According to the acidic strength of the alcohols, the interaction may result not only in the formation of dihydrogen-bonded ROH..

Oxygen-bridged borate anions from tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane: synthesis, NMR characterization, and reactivity.

The previously known anion [(C6F5)3B(mu-OH)B(C6F5)3]- (2) has been prepared by a two-step procedure, involving deprotonation of (C6F5)3BOH2 to give [B(C6F5)3OH]- (1), followed by addition of B(C6F5)3. The solution structure and the dynamics of 2 have been investigated by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. The reaction of [NHEt3]2 with NEt3 resulted in the formation of [NHEt3]+ [(C6F5)3BOH]-, [NHEt3]+ [(C6F5)3BH]-, and (C6F5)3B- (CH2CH=N+ Et2).

Solution conformation and dynamics of the ion pairs originating from the reaction of B(C6F5)3 with bisindenyl dimethyl zirconium complexes.

The two ion pairs [(4,7-Me(2)indenyl)(2)ZrMe](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (1 b) and [(indenyl)(2)ZrMe](+) [MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (2 b) have been generated in situ by reaction of stoichiometric B(C(6)F(5))(3) with the corresponding dimethyl zirconocenes. It has been shown that molecular mechanics computations, guided by experimental (1)H/(1)H NOE correlations, can provide information on the conformers present in solution. The dynamics of the ion pairs has also been investigated, showing the occurrence of both the processes previously characterized for this class of compounds, namely the B(C(6)F(5))(3) migration between the two methyl groups and dissociation-recombination of the whole [MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) anion, the latter process being much faster than the first one (about three order of magnitude).

An intramolecular N-H...(mu-H)Re2 dihydrogen bond and a novel mu 3-eta 2 coordination mode of the pyrazolate anion on a triangular cluster face.

The quantitative addition of pyrazole (Hpz) to the 44 valence-electron, triangular cluster anion [Re3(mu 3-H)-(mu-H)3(CO)9]- gives the novel unsaturated anion [Re3(mu-H)4(CO)9(Hpz)]- (1, 46 valence electrons), which contains a pyrazole molecule that is terminally coordinated on a cluster vertex. Solidstate X-ray and IR analyses reveal a rather weak hydrogen-bonding interaction between the NH proton and one of the hydrides bridging the opposite triangular cluster edge (delta H degree = -3.1 kcal mol-1 from the Iogansen equation).

NMR and DFT analysis of [Re(2)H(2)(CO)(9)]: evidence of an eta(2)-H(2) intermediate in a new type of fast mutual exchange between terminal and bridging hydrides.

Protonation of the anion [Re(2)H(CO)(9)](-) (1) with a strong acid at 193 K affords the neutral complex [Re(2)H(2)(CO)(9)] (2), that in THF above 253 K irreversibly loses H(2) to give [Re(2)(CO)(9)(THF)], previously obtained by room-temperature protonation of 1. Treatment of 2 with NEt(4)OH restores the starting anion 1. Variable temperature (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra as well as T(1) measurements agree with the formulation of 2 as a classical [Re(2)H(mu-H)(CO)(9)] complex, in which two dynamic processes takes place.