Two polymorphic malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of formula ([Cu(bpy)(H2O)][Cu(bpy)(mal)(H2O)])-(ClO4)2 (1 and 2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine and mal = malonate dianion) have been prepared and their structures solved by X-ray diffraction methods. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a, with a = 23.743(3) A, b = 9.7522(5) A, c = 27.731(2) A, beta = 114.580(10) degrees, and Z = 4. Compound 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn, with a = 23.700(5) A, b = 25.162(5) A, c = 9.693(5) A, and Z = 4. The structures of 1 and 2 are made up of uncoordinated perchlorate anions and malonate-bridged zigzag copper(II) chains grouped in an isosceles triangle running parallel to the b (1) and c (2) axes. These chains are built by a [Cu(bpy)(mal)(H2O)] unit acting as bis-monodentate ligand toward two [Cu(bpy)(H2O)] adjacent units through its OCCCO skeleton in an anti-anti conformation, whereas the OCO carboxylate bridges exhibit the anti-syn conformation. Compounds 1 and 2 contain four crystallographically independent copper(II) atoms, but the environment of all of them is distorted square pyramidal: the axial position is occupied by a water molecule, whereas the equatorial plane is formed by a chelating bpy and either a bidentate malonate or two carboxylate oxygens from two malonate groups. The equatorial Cu-O(mal) (1.911(4)-1.978(4) (1) and 1.897(5)-1.991(4) A (2)) and Cu-N(bpy) (1.983(4)-2.008(5) (1) and 1.971(6)-2.007(6) A (2)) bonds are somewhat shorter than the axial Cu-O(w) one (2.257(5)-2.524(5) (1) and 2.236(5)-2.505(6) A (2)). The angles subtended at the copper atom by the chelating bpy vary in the ranges 80.9(2)-81.8(2) degrees (1) and 80.4(2)-82.1(2) degrees (2), values which are somewhat smaller than those of the chelating malonate (80.4(2)-82.1(2) degrees (1) and 93.0(2)-93.6(2) degrees (2)). The intrachain copper-copper separations through the OCCCO fragment are 8.227(1) (1) and 8.206(2) A (2), whereas those through the OCO bridging unit are 4.579(1)-5.043(1) (1) and 4.572(2)-5.040(2) A (2). The magnetic behavior of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 2.0-290 K is very close, and it corresponds to an overall ferromagnetic coupling, the chi MT versus T curve exhibiting a maximum at 18 K. The analysis of the magnetic data through a numerical expression derived for the real topology of 1 and 2, that is, chains of isosceles triangles with two intrachain exchange pathways J1 (exchange coupling through the OCO carboxylate) and J2 (exchange coupling through the OCCCO malonate), indicates the occurrence of ferro- (J1 = +4.6 cm-1) and antiferromagnetic couplings (J2 = -4.2 cm-1). The magnetic coupling through these exchange pathways is further analyzed and substantiated by density functional theory calculations on a malonate-bridged trinuclear copper(II) model system.

Novel core-shell quinone-rich poly(dopamine)-magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by using an in situ polymerization method. Catechol groups were oxidized to quinone by using a thermal treatment. MNPs were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, UV/Vis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. The hybrid nanomaterial showed an average core diameter of 17 nm and a polymer-film thickness of 2 nm. The core-shell nanoparticles showed high reactivity and were used as solid supports for the covalent immobilization of glucose oxidase (Gox) through Schiff base formation and Michael addition. The amount of Gox immobilized onto the nanoparticle surface was almost twice that of the nonoxidized film. The resulting biofunctionalized MNPs were used to construct an amperometric biosensor for glucose. The enzyme biosensor has a sensitivity of 8.7 mA M(-1)  cm(-2) , a low limit of detection (0.02 mM), and high stability for 45 days. Finally, the biosensor was used to determine glucose in blood samples and was checked against a commercial glucometer.

The new water-soluble ligand dmPTA(OSO(2)CF(3))(2) (1) (dmPTA = N,N'-dimethyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) has been synthesized by reaction of PTA with MeOSO(2)CF(3) in acetone (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricycle[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decane). The reaction of 1 with KOH gave rise to the new water-soluble ligand dmoPTA (3) (dmoPTA = 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) by elimination of the -CH(2)- group located between both NCH(3) units. Compound dmPTA(BF(4))(2) (2) and complex [RuClCp(HdmoPTA)(PPh(3))](OSO(2)CF(3)) (4) have also been synthesized, while compounds HdmoPTA(BF(4)) (3a) and [RuClCp(dmPTA)(PPh(3))](OSO(2)CF(3)) (5) were characterized but not isolated. The new ligands and the complex have been fully characterized by NMR, IR, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystal structure determination (ligand 1 and complex 4). The synthetic processes for 3 and 4 were studied.

The isomerization of allylic alcohols in water, catalytically mediated by watersoluble metal complexes, is an elegant synthetic procedure for obtaining carbonyl compounds in a completely atom-economical eco-benign process with useful applications in naturalproduct synthesis and bulk chemical processes. This overview aims to provide a view of the goals attained in catalyzed allylic alcohol isomerization in water and its promising applications.