Boronic acids for sensing and other applications - a mini-review of papers published in 2013

Boronic acids are increasingly utilised in diverse areas of research. Including the interactions of boronic acids with diols and strong Lewis bases as fluoride or cyanide anions, which leads to their utility in various sensing applications. The sensing applications can be homogeneous assays or heterogeneous detection. Detection can be at the interface of the sensing material or within the bulk sample. Furthermore, the key interaction of boronic acids with diols allows utilisation in various areas ranging from biological labelling, protein manipulation and modification, separation and the development of therapeutics. All the above uses and applications are covered by this mini-review of papers published during 2013

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Biological Activities of Metal Complexes of 4-((4-Chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-2-((p-tolylimino)methyl)phenol

Azo Schiff base complexes of VO(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) have been synthesized from 4-((4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-2-((p-tolylimino)methyl)phenol (CDTMP). The nature of bonding and the structural features of the complexes have been deduced from elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR, UV-Vis, 1H-NMR, EPR, mass, SEM, and fluorescence spectral studies. Spectroscopic and other analytical studies reveal square-planar geometry for copper, square-pyramidal geometry for oxovanadium, and octahedral geometry for other complexes. The EPR spectra of copper(II) complex in DMSO at 300 K and 77 K were recorded, and its salient features are reported. Antimicrobial studies against several microorganisms indicate that the complexes are more potent bactericides and fungicides than the ligand. The electrochemical behavior of the copper(II) complex was studied by cyclic voltammetry. All the synthesized compounds can serve as potential photoactive materials as indicated from their characteristic fluorescence properties. The second harmonic conversion efficiency of the synthesized azo Schiff base was found to be higher than that of urea and KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate). SEM image of copper(II) complex implies the crystalline state and surface morphology of the complex

Bis[bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)phosphinato]copper(II), [Cu{O<SUB>2</SUB>P(N<SUB>2</SUB>C<SUB>3</SUB>HMe<SUB>2</SUB>)<SUB>2</SUB>}<SUB>2</SUB>]

The title compound, [Cu(C<SUB>10</SUB>H<SUB>14</SUB>N<SUB>4</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB>P)<SUB>2</SUB>], consists of pairs of bis(dimethylpyrazolyl)phosphinato groups coordinated to copper(II) atoms sitting on inversion centers. The compound has Cu-N bond distances of 2.009 (4) and 2.010 (4) &#197; and an N-Cu-N angle of 89.27 (13)&#176; . The phosphinato O atoms weakly coordinate the copper ions with bond distances of 2.490 (3) &#197;