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Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has averaged roughly 5 percent per year over the past decade, improving living standards and bolstering human development indicators across the continent. Stronger public institutions, a supportive, private sector focused policy environment, responsible macroeconomic management, and a sustained commitment to structural reforms have greatly expanded opportunities for countries in SSA to participate in global markets. In recent years, many countries in the region have benefited from an increasingly favorable external environment, high commodity prices, and an especially strong demand for natural resources by emerging economies, particularly China. Over the longer term, leveraging Chinese investment to support broad-based growth will require policies designed to boost the competitiveness of sectors in which China s economic rebalancing may create a comparative advantage for SSA. To date, few African countries have been able to benefit from large-scale Chinese investment outside the resource sector. However, as China s growth slows and its economy shifts toward a more consumption-driven model, it is likely that global demand for resource imports will slow as well. Countries with the most heavily concentrated export mix, particularly in the mineral and oil sectors are the most vulnerable to China s economic rebalancing and should be ready to adopt measures to mitigate the impact of negative terms-of-trade shocks. By contrast, as wage rates in China continue to rise and firms refocus their attention on domestic demand, countries in SSA will be well positioned to exploit emerging opportunities for investment in export-oriented manufacturing. Ethiopia provides an instructive example, as its inexpensive yet relatively skilled labor force, coupled with the government s proactive efforts to court Chinese investors, have enabled Ethiopia to attract substantial investments in labor-intensive industries. Infrastructure enhancement, workforce development, and good-governance reforms offer a promising strategy for many countries in the region. Although the establishment of industrial zones has yielded mixed results, several salient success stories warrant careful attention. This report discusses how Africa could take advantage of the untapped opportunities offered by China s progressively intensifying investment and trade ties with SSA. It is hoped that this analysis will enrich the ongoing dialogue between policy makers, private firms, and civil society regarding China s increasingly important role in the growth and development of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The interactions between cytochrome c and cis-PtCl 2 (NH 3 ) 2 under different conditions are reported. It is found that cis-PtCl 2 (NH 3 ) 2 is highly selective to bind to sulfur-containing Met residue and the interaction mode of cis-PtCl 2 (NH 3 ) 2 with cytochrome c is different from that of PtCl 4 2− with cytochrome c. The binding sites of platinum complex in the protein were characterized by analysis of the molar ratio of two metal atoms (Pt and Fe), 1 H NMR spectra, UV-vis spectra, and differential pulse voltammetry.

The compound [(tmpa)Zn(im)Zn(tmpa)](ClO 4 ) 3 [where tmpa is tris(2-pyridyl)-methylamine and im is imidazolate anion] was synthesized, and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The structure consists of a dimeric complex bridged by the deprotonated imidazole. The geometry of the coordination polyhedron around the zinc(II) ions is very near to trigonal bipyramidal. The electronic spectrum indicates the corresponding copper(II) dimer has the same geometrical structure as the zinc(II) dimer. Its ESR powder X-band spectrum shows features typical of an S = 1 system. Variable-temperature (4.2–300 K) magnetic susceptibility data give the antiferromagnetic interaction parameter J = −32.0 cm −1 . This behaviour is best accounted for by a super-exchange mechanism involving σ-exchange pathways.

The reactions between cytochrome c and [Pt-dien] 2+ under different conditions are reported. It is found that the yield of modified protein derivatives as well as the likely binding sites for platinum complex in cytochrome c are sensitive to the reaction conditions. It is first reported that transition-metal complex [Pt-dien] 2+ can bind to Met 80 residue under mild conditions, which causes the FeS bond of ferricytochrome c to be broken. The binding sites of the platinum complex in the modified protein derivatives were identified by analysis of the molar ratio of the two metal atoms (Pt and Fe), 1 H NMR spectra, and UV-vis spectra.

The normal coordinate analysis of a model compound for Cu, Zn-SOD: [(dtma)CuImZn(dtma)]CIO4 · 2.5H2O (where dtma = 4-diethylenetriamineacctate; Im = imidazolate) has been carried out by using a Urey-Bradley force field. According to the molecular structure, 240 internal coordinates were established and 174 theoretical vibrational frequencies were calculated. Due to introducing an appropriate set of internal coordinates and force constants in the course of calculation, the calculated frequencies agree well with the observed values, with the average difference 4.40cm−1 and the maximum deviation 24.2cm−1 between them, although the structure of the title compound is complicated. Some structural and spectral properties are here discussed.

A new μ3-O triiron(III) complex [Fe3O(OBZ)6(CH3OH)3](NO3)(CH3OH)2 (HOBZ = benzoic acid) has been synthesized, its structure has been determined and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility has been measured. In the cation of the complex, three iron atoms form an equilateral triangle with μ3-O in the centre. An intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interaction occurs with J = −27.06 cm−1, and a weaker intermolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interaction occurs with zJ′ = −2.59 cm−1.

The normal coordinate analysis of cis -diamminetetrachloroplatinum has been carried out by using a modified Urey—Bradley force field. According to the molecular structure, 45 internal coordinates were established and 33 theoretical vibrational frequencies were calculated. Due to considering the interaction between non-neighbouring stretching vibrations and between bending vibrations and introducing an appropriate set of internal coordinates in the course of calculation, the calculated frequencies agree well with the observed values, with an average difference 3.61 cm −1 between them. The rationality and the reliability of the results are discussed and the questionable empirical assignment of ν(PtCl) in the literature is corrected.

The compound of the formula [(dtma)Cu(im)Cu(dtma)]ClO4·2.5H2O (where dtmaH is 4-diethylenetriamineacetic acid and im is the imidazole anion) was synthesized and its crystal structure determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The structure consists of a dimeric complex bridged by the deprotonated imidazole. The geometries of the coordination polyhedron around the copper(II) ions are very near to tetragonal pyramid. The X-band ESR powder spectrum shows broad ΔM = 1 and weak ΔM = 2 absorptions. Variable-temperature (4.2–300 K) magnetic susceptibility data gave the antiferromagnetic interaction parameters J = −37 cm−1. This behaviour is best accounted for by a superexchange mechanism involving σ- and π-exchange pathways.

The products of the reaction of ferricytochrome c with K 2 PtCl 4 were separated and purified. Three kinds of cytochrome c derivatives—single-labeled monomer, triple-labeled dimer, and hexa-labeled trimer—were obtained. The binding sites of the platinum complex in these modified protein derivatives were identified by the measurement of the molecular weight, the analysis of the molar ratio of the two metal atoms (Pt and Fe), and the study of the reaction of the His-33 blocked cytochrome c with K 2 PtCl 4 .

A new imidazolate bridged Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ binuclear complex [(dtma) CuImZn (dtma)]ClO 4 · 2.5H 2 O taken as an active site model for Cu,Zn-SOD has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been determined. All the bond lengths, bond angles and the distance between copper and zinc atoms in the CuImZn core of the model complex are close to those in Cu,Zn-SOD. ESR parameters of the model complex as a function of pH show that the imidazolate bridge is stable in the pH range 10–12, and is broken on the zinc side at pH ∼ 9. With decreasing pH, the imidazole is released at pH ∼ 4 and the dtma ligand dissociates from the copper-containing fragment at pH ∼ 2.4.

Alkylcobalt(III) Schiff base B(12) model complexes with secondary alkyls or a bulky diamine in the equatorial position were synthesized and characterized. Structures have been first determined by X-ray diffraction analysis for i-C(4)H(9)Co(salen)(gamma-pic) (I), n-C(3)H(7)Co(salen)(gamma-pic) (II) and C(2)H(5)Co(SB) (III), where salen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneamine) dianion; SB = 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneamine) dianion, gamma-pic = gamma-picoline. Crystal data for I (CoC(26)N(3)O(2)H(30)): space group P2(1)/c with a = 6.661(5) Å, b = 18.612(2) Å, c = 19.533(3) Å, beta = 98.93(1) degrees, V = 2392.10 Å(3), D(calcd) = 1.320 g.cm(-3), Z = 4, and R = 0.048 for 4469 measured reflections. Crystal data for II (CoC(25)N(3)O(2)H(28)): space group P2(1)/c, a = 9.609(6) Å, b = 19.169(8) Å, c = 12.995(9) Å, beta = 106.9(7) degrees, V = 2290.4 Å(3), D(calcd) = 1.332 g.cm(-1), Z = 4, and R = 0.048 for 4358 measured reflections. Crystal data for III (CoC(22)N(2)O(2)H(27)): space group P2(1)/c, a = 8.318(3) Å, b = 21.579(2) Å, c = 11.572(2) Å, beta = 93.35(1) degrees, V = 2073.7 Å(3), D(calcd) = 1.314 g.cm(-1), Z = 4, and R = 0.060 for 3954 measured reflections. The crystal structure data reveal that complexes I and II display six-coordinate octahedral geometry; their Co-C, Co-N bond lengths, as well as the Co-C-C angles, are very close to those in 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. Complex III is one of the very few compounds having five-coordinate square pyramidal geometry and observed instability of the Co-C bond.