A twofold interpenetrated two-dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer for the highly sensitive detection of nitrofurantoin in aqueous medium

A novel ZnII coordination polymer, namely, poly[{μ2-bis[4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]methanone-κ2N3:N3'}(μ2-5-bromobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ2O1:O3)zinc(II)], [Zn(C8H3BrO4)(C21H18N4O)]n or [Zn(Br-BDC)(MIPMO)]n, (I), has been synthesized by the solvothermal method using 5-bromoisophthalic acid (Br-H2BDC), bis[4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]methanone (MIPMO) and Zn(NO3)2·6H2O. Structure analysis showed that compound (I) displays twofold parallel interwoven sql nets. Fluorescence experiments confirmed that the compound can sensitively and selectively detect nitrofurantoin (NFT) in aqueous medium. In addition, the possible fluorescence quenching mechanisms of compound (I) toward NFT are investigated.

Assembly of two novel coordination polymers by selecting ditopic or chelating auxiliary ligands with naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid: synthesis, structure and luminescence sensing

The Fe^III ion as a ubiquitous metal plays a key role in biochemical processes. Iron deficiency or excess in the human body can induce various diseases. Thus, effective detection of the Fe^III ion has been deemed an issue of focus. To develop more crystalline chemical sensors for the selective detection of Fe³⁺, two novel two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers, namely, poly[[[μ-bis(pyridin-4-yl)amine-κ²N:N'](μ-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ²O²:O⁶)zinc(II)] 0.5-hydrate], {[Zn(C₁₂H₆O₄)(C₁₀H₉N₃)]·0.5H₂O}_n, 1, and poly[(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-κ²N,N')(μ-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ²O²:O⁶)hemi(μ-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid-κ²O²:O⁶)copper(II)] [Cu(C₁₂H₆O₄)(C₁₂H₁₂N₂)(C₁₂H₈O₄)_0.5]_n, 2, have been prepared using solvothermal methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that compound 1 is an undulating twofold interpenetrated 2D (4,4)-sql network and compound 2 is a twofold interpenetrated 2D honeycomb-type network with a (6,3)-hcb topology. In addition, 1 exhibits highly selective sensing for the Fe³⁺ ion.

A novel three-dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer based on 3,3'-{[1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid and 1,4-bis(pyridin-4-yl)benzene: synthesis, crystal structure and photocatalytic properties

A novel three-dimensional (3D) Zn^II coordination polymer, namely, poly[[[1,4-bis(pyridin-4-yl)benzene](μ₃-3,3'-{[1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoato)zinc(II)] 1,4-bis(pyridin-4-yl)benzene], {[Zn(C₂₂H₁₆O₆)(C₁₆H₁₂N₂)]·C₁₆H₁₂N₂}_n or {[Zn(PMBD)(DPB)]·DPB}_n, 1, where H₂PMBD is 3,3'-{[1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid and DPB is 1,4-bis(pyridin-4-yl)benzene, has been synthesized by self-assembly using zinc nitrate, a semi-rigid dicarboxylic acid and a nitrogen-containing ligand. The single-crystal X-ray structure determination indicates that 1 possesses an intriguing 3D architecture with a 4-connected uninodal cds topology, which is constructed from dinuclear {Zn₂} clusters and V-shaped PMBD^2- linkers. Compound 1 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity on the degradation of the organic dyes Rhodamine B (RhB), Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and Methyl Red (MR).

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and methyl tert-butyl ether for gallbladder stones

Twenty-one patients with gallbladder stones of 1.1-2.6 cm in diameter were treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) combined with dissolution using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). In 18 of 21 patients, ESWLs were followed by MTBE instillation through a catheter placed percutaneously via the liver and the gallbladder bed under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. As a result, 15 of the 18 patients were cleared of their stones after 54 minutes to 3 hours of dissolution. In the other three cases initially treated by MTBE, ESWLs were added because of no dissolution or poor efficacy. Consequently, after additional 3-5 hours of instillation, complete dissolution in one and subtotal dissolution in two were achieved. Our preliminary results indicated that ESWL followed by MTBE dissolution in the management of cholesterol gallbladder stones was reasonable. On the one hand, ESWL can enhance dissolution by increasing the surface area of stone, and on the other hand MTBE can instantly clear the fragments created by ESWL, so that long-term bile acid intake and potential side effects caused by fragment migration might be avoided.

Cepholosporium acremonium. A new strain of fungus causing white piedra

A strain of fungus (CZ408) was isolated from white piedra of a female child. Mycological identification showed that it is the first case in the world. Asymptomatic white nodules were noted on the hair of the scalp, and they were distributed irregularly along the shaft 4-10 cm from the scalp. The nodules, hard, not easily broken or removed, consist of hyphae, spores and metabolic materials around the hair. Oral antimycotic drugs are effective in treating this disease.