Inorganic electrides

Inorganic electrides are a novel kind of ionic compounds in which the anions are electrons confined in a complex array of cavities or channels and the cations are nanoscale arrays of alkali metal ions that provide charge balance. In electrides the donated electron behaves like a low-density correlated electron gas, whereby the dimensionality of the electron gas and its electronic and magnetic properties are determined by the topology of the cavities in the host matrix. Unlike traditional electrides, in which alkali cations are encapsulated within an organic cage, inorganic electrides are thermally stable. The current inorganic electrides based on alkali metal loaded zeolites can be designed as useful reduced-dimensionality materials. Inorganic electrides are powerful reducing agents, and they are able to reduce small aromatic molecules to the radical anions within the channels of the zeolite.     

Photophysical studies of anion-induced colorimetric response and amplified fluorescence quenching in dipyrrolylquinoxaline-containing conjugated polymers

The dipyrrolylquinoxaline (DPQ)-containing monomer and polymers were synthesized and employed as chromogenic and fluorescent chemosensors for inorganic anions. We have found that in the presence of fluoride or pyrophosphate, the receptors do not form hydrogen bonds between the pyrrole protons and anions. The colorimetric responses and fluorescence quenching in these chemosensors are indeed the result of deprotonation of the N-H proton. The anion selectivity is primarily determined by the relative basicity of anions. The sensitivity of DPQ-based chemosensor was found to display a 34-fold enhancement by incorporation into the conjugated polymer. The anion-induced deprotonation generates low-energy, non-fluorescent trapping sites and is responsible for the signal amplification where the quenching of the excited state occurs from the deprotonated DPQ site in the network by rapid exciton migration along the polymeric backbone.     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, carboxylic and aromatic carboxylic acids by capillary zone electrophoresis with direct UV detection

Co-electroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with direct UV detection was developed for simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, carboxylic and aromatic carboxylic acids. These solutes were separated using a 30 mM phosphate buffer containing 1.0 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and 20% (v/v) acetonitrile at pH of 6.5 and directly detected by UV at 190 nm. Calibration curves were linear in the range 0.01-2.0 mM, depending of the solutes. The detection limits ranged from 1.0 to 8.0 microM and the relative standards deviations (n=5) in range from 1.9 to 3.6% for the peak area. The proposed method was used to determine inorganic anions and carboxylic and aromatic acids in soil and plant tissue extracts.     

Lanthanide luminescence quenching as a detection method in ion chromatography. Chromate in surface and drinking water

Dynamic quenching of Eu(III) and Tb(III) luminescence by inorganic anions as a detection method in ion chromatography was investigated. To obtain a high luminescence intensity, lanthanide(III) complexes are formed with ligands which make indirect excitation of the ions possible. Only a few anions (e.g., nitrite, chromate) induce efficient dynamic luminescence quenching. Chromate is an efficient quencher of Tb-acac luminescence. Samples of tap water and surface water, spiked with chromate, were injected into a high-performance liquid chromatographic system with post-column addition of the luminescent complex. In this way, a detection limit of 1.1 . 10(-7) M (13 ppb) of chromate could be obtained.     

10-Methylacridinium ion as a fluorimetric probe measuring the activity of halide anions in aqueous solutions of cationic surfactants

The quenching of fluorescence of 10-methylacridinium ion by inorganic anions in aerated aqueous solutions was studied at room temperature. In the case of cationic surfactants, with chloride and bromide anions as counterions, characteristic breaks on the Stern-Volmer plots could be observed at concentrations corresponding to the critical micelle concentration of the surfactants. It is shown that the ratio of the slopes of the two linear fragments of the plots, in the micellar and premicellar concentration ranges, gives an estimate of the value of the ionization degree, alpha, of the micelles. This approach is applicable also in aqueous-alcohol systems.     

Dipyridine modified silica--a novel multi-interaction stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography

A novel multi-interaction stationary phase based on 4,4'-dipyridine modified silica was synthesized and characterized, by infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Mechanism involved in the chromatographic separation is the multi-interaction including π-π, hydrophobic, hydrogen-bonding, electrostatic and anion-exchange interactions. Based on these interactions, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols were successfully separated respectively in reversed-phase chromatography; inorganic and organic anions were also separated individually in anion-exchange chromatography by using the same column. Furthermore, the simultaneous separation of neutral organics, inorganic and organic anions was obtained on this stationary phase with the appropriate mobile phase. Therefore, such stationary phase has the characteristics of multi-interaction mechanism and multi-modal separation, and has potential application on complex samples.     

QUENCHING OF FLUORESCENCE OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS BY PROTONS IN CAFFEINE- SOLUBILIZED AQUEOUS SOLUTION. INTRACOMPLEX ENERGY TRANSFER

The fluorescence of pyrene and five other aromatic hydrocarbons solubilized with caffeine in aqueous solution was quenched by 0.001–1mol dm^?3 sulfuric acid; this quenching did not occur in the absence of caffeine. Exceptionally a non-alternative hydrocarbon, fluoranthene, showed an increase of the fluorescence intensity by the acid. The observed quenching rate was explained by the rate of energy transfer from the aromatic molecules to protonated caffeine in the complex.     

pH dependence of the interaction between rhodamine B and the water-soluble poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)

The binding of rhodamine B (RB) to the polyanion containing aromatic groups poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) is studied by separation and spectroscopic techniques at pH between 2 and 7. Significant binding is found at pH below 5, together with a red-shift of the RB maximum of absorbance to 564 nm, and RB fluorescence quenching. The dependence of the pH is related with protonation of RB molecules. Fluorescence quenching is a consequence of a more hydrophobic environment and may occur on territorially or site-specifically bound molecules, and/or on self-aggregated molecules in a hydrophobic polymer domain. Remarkably, the basicity of RB is increased by the influence of the polymer.     

Host-guest complexation behaviour of emissive calix[3]naphthobipyrrole toward aromatic guests

A new hexapyrrolic macrocycle composed of three naphthobipyrrole units has been synthesized which exhibited different emission changes with hydrogen pyrophosphate and benzoate ions. Phosphate ions caused red shifting of the fluorescence band of calixnaphthobipyrrole while benzoate ions resulted in quenching of the same. The fluorescence quenching was further utilized for investigating binding preferences of the probe with neutral aromatic guest molecules substituted with groups having varied electron withdrawing abilities. The extent of quenching with the neutral guests increased with the increasing electron deficiency on the aromatic ring of the guest. The fluorescence quenching has been ascribed to electron transfer from the host to the guest species.     

Chitosan-silica hybrid-coated open tubular column for hydrophilic interaction capillary electrochromatography

A novel and convenient protocol for the preparation of an open-tubular column coated with chitosan-silica hybrid using chitosan and silane-coupling agent (γ-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane) was developed for CEC, in which, chitosan was covalently bonded to the inner wall of a fused-silica capillary using γ-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane as a cross-linking agent. The stationary phase was hydrophilic due to the chitosan-silica hybrid with abundant amine and hydroxyl functional groups. The chromatographic characteristics of the column were evaluated by the separation of some organic acids and inorganic anions. The column showed good selectivity for nucleotides, aromatic acids, and inorganic anions. The mechanism for the separation of these compounds was primarily based on the hydrophilic and electrostatic interactions combined with the electrophoretic mechanism. The CEC method on the column for the separation of these compounds was compared with CE method in a bare capillary.     

Rim,Side Arms,and Cavity: Three Sites for the Recognition of Anions by Tetraazolium Resorcinarene Cavitands

Two tetrabenzoimidazolium‐resorcinarene cavitands were prepared and used for the recognition of chloride, bromide, iodide, cyanide, nitrate, perchlorate, hexanoate, benzenesulfonate, and p‐toluenesulfonate. Binding affinities of the two cavitands were determined by ¹H NMR titration and computational analysis. The observed spectral changes were related to specific interaction sites, which were supported by the computational studies. In the case of the C2?H tetrabenzoimidazolium‐resorcinarene, the recognition region of the inorganic anions and hexanoate was located at the rim of the cavitand, although chloride and bromide also interacted with the aromatic C?H bonds located between adjacent arms of the cavitand. By contrast, the recognition of the two anions with an aromatic ring (benzenesulfonate and p‐toluenesulfonate) results from encapsulation of the aromatic part of the anions inside the hydrophobic cavity of the host. In the case of the C2?Me tetrabenzoimizazolium‐resorcinarene receptor, the ability of the molecule to bind all inorganic anions and hexanoate was suppressed, but the receptor maintained its ability to strongly bind benzenesulfonate and p‐toluenesulfonate. This is interpreted in terms of suppression of the ability of the cavitand to form hydrogen bonds at the rim of the molecule due to replacement of the C2?H proton by a methyl group, while the hydrophobic pocket of the molecule maintains its binding abilities.     

Capillary electrophoresis method for the analysis of inorganic anions, organic acids, amino acids, nucleotides, carbohydrates and other anionic compounds.

A previously developed capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with indirect UV detection for the simultaneous determination of inorganic and organic anions, amino acids and carbohydrates using 20 mM 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDC) as the background electrolyte was extended to allow determination of 206 anions including those above--mentioned and physiological amino acids, nucleotides, aromatic acids, haloacetic acids, alcohols, phosphorylated saccharides, oxyhalides, metal oxoacids, metal-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complexes, forensic anions, Good's buffers and herbicides. Every compound could be analyzed and their electrophoretic mobility determined simply by selecting detection wavelength. This method is simple and universal for anion analysis, and could be readily applied to the simultaneous determination of anionic compounds. In this work, it was used to identify and quantify important anions in sea urchin and sake.     

Analysis of trace inorganic anions in weak acid salts by single pump cycling‐column‐switching ion chromatography

The application of ion chromatography with the single pump cycling‐column‐switching technique was described for the analysis of trace inorganic anions in weak acid salts within a single run. Due to the hydrogen ions provided by an anion suppressor electrolyzing water, weak acid anions could be transformed into weak acids, existing as molecules, after passing through the suppressor. Therefore, an anion suppressor and ion‐exclusion column were adopted to achieve on‐line matrix elimination of weak acid anions with high concentration for the analysis of trace inorganic anions in weak acid salts. A series of standard solutions consisting of target anions of various concentrations from 0.005 to 10 mg/L were analyzed, with correlation coefficients r ≥ 0.9990. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.67 to 1.51 μg/L, based on the signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 and a 25 μL injection volume. Relative standard deviations for retention time, peak area, and peak height were all less than 2.01%. A spiking study was performed with satisfactory recoveries between 90.3 and 104.4% for all anions. The chromatographic system was successfully applied to the analysis of trace inorganic anions in five weak acid salts.     

Accommodating unwelcome guests in inorganic layered hosts: inclusion of chloranil in a layered double hydroxide

The host-guest chemistry of most inorganic layered solids is limited to ion-exchange reactions. The guest species are either cations or anions to compensate for the charge deficit, either positive or negative, of the inorganic layers. Here, we outline a strategy to include neutral molecules like ortho- and para-chloranil, that are known to be good acceptors in donor-acceptor or charge-transfer complexes, within the galleries of a layered solid. We have succeeded in including neutral ortho- and para-chloranil molecules within the galleries of an Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) by using charge-transfer interactions with preintercalated p-aminobenzoate ions as the driving force. The p-aminobenzoate ions are introduced in the Mg-Al LDH via ion exchange. The intercalated LDH can adsorb ortho- and para-chloranil from chloroform solutions by forming charge-transfer complexes with the p-aminobenzoate anions present in the galleries. We use X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations to establish the nature of interactions and arrangement of the charge-transfer complex within the galleries of the layered double hydroxide.     

A new and selective capillary column coated with cationic diazacrown ether for separation of organic and inorganic anions by capillary electrophoresis

A new coated capillary has been introduced for capillary electrophoretic separation of anions by using a positively charged diazacrown ether with a 12-membered ring. A positive charge spread over the inner capillary surface led to a substantial anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) over the range of migrating buffer of pH 2-11. Under the optimum conditions of 25 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7, the diazacrown-coated capillary showed a successful simultaneous separation of 7 inorganic anions and 13 aromatic anions (including positional isomers) in less than 15 min. The migration times of the sample anions and EOF marker for consecutive runs on a single column were highly reproducible, giving a relative standard deviation of 1%. Theoretical treatment of the migration behavior clearly demonstrated that ion association between the diazacrown and analyte anions is strongly dependent on the nature of the functional groups of anions (e.g., sulfonate groups > carboxyl groups) and the number of negative charges (e.g., trivalent anions > divalent anions > monovalent anions) on the analyte.     

Simultaneous Determination of Inorganic Anions and Organic Acids in Environmental Samples by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis with Indirect UV Detection

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of inorganic anions and organic acids in environmental samples. Various aromatic acids (benzoic, phthalic, trimellitic, and pyromellitic acids) were evaluated as background electrolytes (BGEs) to give high resolution and detection sensitivity. Co-electroosmotic conditions such as the concentration of BGE, electrolyte pH, and EOF modifier were systematically investigated. Three inorganic anions and ten organic acids were determined simultaneously in 10 min using an electrolyte containing 10 mM phthalic acid, 0.5 mM myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MTAB), and 5% methanol (MeOH) (v/v) at pH 5.60. Linear plots for the test solutes were obtained in the concentration range 0.01–1.0 mM with detection limits in the range 5–30 μM. The proposed method was successfully demonstrated for the determination of inorganic anions and organic acids in natural water, soil, and plant extracts after direct sample injection.     

BEDT–TTF charge-transfer salts: new structures,new functionalities

In the continuing search for new physical properties and combinations of properties in molecular materials, novel phenomena and structures are identified in three categories of TTF and BEDT–TTF (bis-ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene) charge-transfer salts with inorganic complex anions. When the anion is a 3d complex containing NCS^– and an aromatic donor, long range π–d ferrimagnetic order is established by donor-anion π–π overlap; when the anion is a tris-oxalato-metallate(III) complex, both normal state and superconducting behaviour are dramatically influenced by changing guest molecules in the lattice, while incorporating columns of crown ether and H₃O⁺/H₂O leads to metallic conductors that simultaneously transport protons. To cite this article: P. Day, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

New Type of Aromatic π-Systems for Anion Recognition: Strong Anion-π and C−H⋅⋅⋅Anion Interactions Between Halides and Aromatic Ligands in Half-Sandwich Compounds

Half-sandwich compounds of benzene, cyclopentadienyl, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, and indenyl were studied as a new type of aromatic π-systems for interactions with halide anions. Although uncoordinated benzene forms only C−H⋅⋅⋅anion interactions, and hexafluorobenzene forms only anion-π interactions, aromatic ligands in half-sandwich compounds can form both types of interactions, because their entire electrostatic potential surface is positive. These aromatic ligands can form stronger anion-π interactions than organic aromatic molecules, as a consequence of more pronounced dispersion and induction energy components. Moreover, C−H⋅⋅⋅anion interactions of aromatic ligands are stronger than anion-π interactions, and significantly stronger than C−H⋅⋅⋅anion interactions of benzene. Our study shows that transition-metal coordination can make aromatic moieties suitable for strong interactions with anions, and gives insight into the design of new anion receptors.     

Molecular Recognition Based on Membrane Potential Changes Induced by Host–Guest Complexation with Inorganic and Organic Guests

Guest-induced changes in membrane potentials are one of the representative modes of electrochemical signal transduction by molecular recognition at the interface of an organic membrane and an aqueous solution. Recent approaches based on synthetic hosts capable of effecting membrane potential changes by host–guest complexation with inorganic and organic guests are described. Although the studies in this area have mainly been aimed at inorganic cations as the target guests, recent approaches for recognition of inorganic anions and further organic guests are also documented. Highly selective changes in membrane potentials can be achieved for inorganic cations by sophisticated design of crown ethers and related compounds. Hosts with complementary charge(s) or multiple hydrogen bonding sites are effective for the recognition of inorganic anions and also of the polar moieties of organic ions. On the other hand, the recognition of nonpolar moieties of organic guests can be achieved by inclusion into well-defined cavities of host molecules. Quaternary onium and protonated amine salts are recently found to be capable of effecting membrane potential changes by complexation with neutral phenolic guests.     

A FLUORESCENCE STUDY OF THE INTERACTION OF INDOLIC COMPOUNDS WITH SYNTHETIC POLYELECTROLYTES

Abstract— –The interaction of indole derivatives with synthetic polyelectrolytes was investigated using UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The presence of both sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and sodium polyvinyl sulfonate) (PVS) inhibits the fluorescence quenching of 1-pyrene sulfonic acid by tryptamine. The effect is more marked for PSS than for PVS. There was no polyelectrolyte effect on the quenching by tryptophan. It was also found that aromatic polyelectrolytes strongly quench the fluorescence of indole derivatives of opposite charge by a static mechanism. This is accompanied by a new absorption in the red extreme of the UV spectrum of the mixtures. The systems investigated were tryptamine-PSS and polyvinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) with the anions of indole-3-alkanoic acids. Equilibrium constants for the binding of the indole derivatives to the polyelectrolytes were determined. The fluorescence of zwitterionic tryptophan is not affected by the presence of the polyelectrolytes.