In vitro investigation of mammalian early embryonic development.

Mammalian embryonic development starts from a fertilized egg, which cleaves to form morula and blastocyst. At the same time, the early embryo is transported from the fallopian tube to the uterus for implantation. After implantation, the embryo undergoes gastrulation and forms a gastrula, further developing a new individual.

Inorganic Ferrocene Analogue [Fe(P)].

Inorganic metallocene derivatives containing only cyclo-P ligands have been targeted for more than 20 years, but their syntheses have never been achieved by pursuing the conventional route of using P phosphorus except for the generation of [Ti(η-P)]. Herein, we report a facile one-step method for the synthesis of the homoleptic iron complex [Fe(P)] by the Zintl-phase-type precursor KP. P NMR analyses indicate that upon dissolving the KP phase in ethylenediamine P was generated only in the presence of 2,2,2-crypt.

A sandwich-type cluster containing Ge@Pd planar fragment flanked by aromatic nonagermanide caps.

Sandwich-type clusters with the planar fragment containing a heterometallic sheet have remained elusive. In this work, we introduce the [K(2,2,2-crypt)]{(Ge)[η-Ge(PdPPh)]} complex that contains a heterometallic sandwich fragment. The title compound is structurally characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which reveals the presence of an unusual heteroatomic metal planar fragment Ge@Pd.

σ-Aromaticity-Induced Stabilization of Heterometallic Supertetrahedral Clusters [Zn Ge ] and [Cd Ge ].

In this work, the largest heterometallic supertetrahedral clusters, [Zn Ge ] and [Cd Ge ] , were directly self-assembled through highly-charged [Ge ] units and transition metal cations, in which 3-center-2-electron σ bonding in Ge Zn or Ge Cd triangles plays a vital role in the stabilization of the whole structure. The cluster structures have an open framework with a large central cavity of diameter 4.6 Å for Zn and 5.

All-metal σ-antiaromaticity in dimeric cluster anion {[CuGeMes]}.

In this work, we report a dimeric cluster anion, {[CuGe9Mes]2}4-, which was isolated as the [K(2,2,2-crypt)]+ salt and characterized by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and ESI mass spectroscopy. The title cluster represents the first locally σ-antiaromatic compound in the solid state, as well as the first heteroatomic antiaromatic compound.

Structural isomerism in the [(Ni@Sn)In(Ni@Sn)] Zintl ion.

A new Zintl cluster, [(Ni@Sn)In(Ni@Sn)], has been isolated in two distinct isomeric forms, one where both Ni@Sn units are coordinated to the bridging In atom in an η- mode, the other where one is η- and the other η-. Density functional theory indicates that the energetic separation between these two structures is minimal, suggesting that crystal packing plays a decisive role in the structural chemistry. A comparison of the electronic structure of [(Ni@Sn)In(Ni@Sn)] with [(Ni@Ge)Ni(Ni@Ge)], which has four fewer valence electrons, sheds some light on possible mechanisms that lead to the fusion of cluster fragments.

A fast and highly selective Congo red adsorption material based on a cadmium-phosphonate network.

In this work, a cadmium-phosphonate network was prepared based on a tetrahedral shaped tetraphosphonic acid linker. The resulting three-dimensional compound Cd(HL)(phen)(HO) (1) exhibited a rapid and efficient adsorption of Congo red (CR) dye, the adsorption capacity of which reached 684 mg g. Furthermore, this adsorbent showed excellent structural stability and adsorptive recyclability after three times of adsorption and desorption.