α-Picolinic acid and quinaldinic acid in the separation and volumetric determination of palladium

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - Palladium can be determined volumetrically after separation with α-picolinic or quinaldinic acid by dissolving the complex in an excess of standard...     

Oxidation of carbon monoxide and formic acid on bulk and nanosized Pt–Co alloys

Bulk Pt₃Co and nanosized Pt₃Co and PtCo alloys supported on high area carbon were investigated as the electrocatalysts for the CO_ads and HCOOH oxidation. Pt₃Co alloy with Co electrochemically leached from the surface (Pt skeleton) was employed to separate electronic from ensemble and bifunctional effects of Co. Cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M HClO₄ showed reduced amount of adsorbed hydrogen on Pt sites on Pt₃Co alloy compared to pure Pt. However, no significant difference in hydrogen adsorption/desorption and Pt-oxide reduction features between Pt₃Co with Pt skeleton structure and bulk Pt was observed. The oxidation of CO_ads on Pt₃Co alloy commenced earlier than on Pt, but this effect on Pt₃Co with Pt skeleton structure was minor indicating that bifunctional mechanism is stronger than the electronic modification of Pt by Co. The HCOOH oxidation rate on Pt₃Co alloy was about seven times higher than on bulk Pt when the reaction rates were compared at 0.4 V, i.e., in the middle of the potential range for the HCOOH oxidation. Like in the case of CO_ads oxidation, Pt skeleton showed similar activity as bulk Pt indicating that the ensemble effect is responsible for the enhanced activity of Pt₃Co alloy toward HCOOH oxidation. The comparison of CO_ads and HCOOH oxidation on Pt₃Co/C and PtCo/C with the same reaction on Pt/C were qualitatively the same as on bulk materials.     

Influence of the reaction parameters on the Pd—HCl catalysed synthesis of phenylacetic acid derivatives via reduction of mandelic acid derivatives with carbon monoxide

The catalytic system Pd/C—HCl is highly active in the reduction of mandelic acid derivatives to phenylacetic acid derivatives with carbon monoxide when the aromatic ring is para-substituted with a hydroxy group. Typical reaction conditions are: 70–110 °C, 20–100 atm of carbon monoxide, benzene—ethanol as reaction medium, substrate/Pd=10²–10⁴/1, HCl/substrate=0.3–0.8/1. [Pd] = 10⁻² −10⁻⁴ M. When the catalytic system is used in combination with PPh₃ a slightly higher activity is observed. Comparable results are observed when using a Pd(II) catalyst precursor such as PdX₂, in combination with PPh₃, or PdX₂(PPh₃)₂ (XCl, AcO). When operating at 110 °C, decomposition to metallic palladium occurs. Pd(II) complexes with diphosphine ligands, such as diphenylphosphinemethane, -ethane, -propane or -butane, do not show any catalytic activity and are recovered unchanged. These observations suggest that Pd(0) complexes play a key role in the catalytic cycle. The proposed catalytic cycle proceeds as follows: the chloride ArCHClCOOR, formed in situ upon reaction of ArCHOHCOOR with hydrochloric acid, oxidatively adds to a Pd(0) species with formation of a catalytic intermediate having a Pd—[CH(Ar)COOR] moiety, which inserts a CO molecule, yielding an acyl intermediate of the type Pd—[COCH(Ar)COOR]. The nucleophilic attack of H₂O on the carbon atom of the carbonyl ligand gives back the Pd(0) complex to the catalytic cycle and yields a phenylmalonic acid derivative, which produces the final product, ArCH₂COOR, upon CO₂ evolution. Alternatively, protonolysis of the intermediate having a Pd—[CH(Ar)COOR] moiety yields directly the final product and a Pd(II) species, which is then reduced by CO to Pd(0). Moreover, no catalytic activity is observed when the Pd/C—HCl system is used in combination with any one of the above diphosphine ligands, probably because these ligands block the sites on the catalyst able to promote the catalytic cycle or because they prevent the reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(0). The influence of the following reaction parameters has been studied: concentration of HCl, PPh₃, palladium and substrate, pressure of carbon monoxide, the temperature, reaction time and solvent. The results are compared with those obtained in the carbonylation of aromatic aldehydes to phenylacetic acid derivatives catalyzed by the same system, for which it has been proposed that the catalysis occurs via carbonylation of the aldehyde to a mandelic acid derivative as an intermediate, which is further reduced with CO to yield the final product.     

Evolution of the composition and structure of PAN carbon fiber during preoxidation

Using scanning electronic microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, PYR-GCMS and IR etc., we studied the evolving process of the composition and structure of PAN carbon fiber during preoxidation. In the initial stage of preoxidation, PAN filament tows disappear and become semi-thaw. At first, reactions happen between the copolymers and esters disappear. The molecules annularly crosslink and the index of cyclation slowly increases. It is easy to fix the structure and form defects during the initial and the medium stages, which are most reactive. More traction is advised in these stages to minimize the structural deficiencies. In the medium stage of preoxidation, the fiber was reshaped into new sheet stacks and gradually changed to sheet sectors, and this structure tends to be stable in the final stage. Induced by acid and ester copolymer, PAN fiber forms a very stable cycle structure in the final stage. Besides, monomer, dimmer and trimer obviously decrease. In the final stage of the preoxidation, there exi     

Synthesis of arylglycine and mandelic acid derivatives through carboxylations of α-amido and α-acetoxy stannanes with carbon dioxide

Incorporation reactions of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) with N-Boc-α-amido and α-acetoxy stannanes were developed using CsF as a mild tin activator. Monoprotected α-amido stannanes could be used, and the corresponding arylglycine derivatives were obtained in moderate-to-high yields under 1 MPa (10 atm) of CO(2) pressure. α-Acetoxy stannanes also underwent carboxylation to afford mandelic acid derivatives in excellent yields under ambient CO(2) pressure. Both transformations enabled the synthesis of α-tertiary and α-quaternary carboxylic acid derivatives. In addition, the chirality of (S)-N-tert-butylsulfonyl-α-amido stannanes was transferred with up to 90% inversion of configuration at 100 °C.     

Dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in dimethylacetamide and a dimethylacetamide–cholic acid mixture

A way of dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes in preparing stable suspensions with high concentrations of individual nanotubes in amide solvents is described. The obtained suspensions are studied via Raman spectroscopy. The dependence of the degree of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) dispersion in individual and mixed amide solvents on the type of solvent, the mass of nanotubes, and the concentration of cholic acid is established. A technique for processing spectral data to estimate the diameters and chiralities of individual nanotubes in suspension is described in detail.     

Chemical modification and the photoluminescence stabilization of titanic acid nanotubes

1 Introduction In 1998, Kasuga et al. obtained a new kind of nanotubular materials by treating anatase TiO2 power with concentrated NaOH aqueous solution[1,2]. This work soon aroused general concern due to their exten- sive applications in the photoelectr…     

Effect of the functionalizing of carbon nanotubes on the electrodeposited catalysts’ structure and catalytic properties

The structure and hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes are studied by the standard porosimetry method. It is shown that the functionalized nanotubes have highly hydrophilic surface; at that the summary surface area measured “by octane” decreased, as a result of the functionalizing, due to the blocking of the nanotubes’ inner channels by the functional groups located at the nanotubes’ ends. The nanotubes’ capacitive properties are studied; their charging-discharging curves appeared being highly reversible, unlike those of other carbonaceous materials. Catalytic properties of the functionalized nanotubes are studied, with particular tendency toward their using as a carrier of platinum catalysts for the methanol oxidation and oxygen electroreduction reactions. When minor amounts (5–10 μg cm⁻²) of platinum or platinum-ruthenium alloy are deposited onto the nanotubes’ hydrophilic surface, uniform layer of the catalyst is formed, with specific surface area up to 150–300 m² g⁻¹; high current of the methanol oxidation or oxygen electroreduction is observed at these catalysts. When the catalyst deposit mass increased, its specific surface area decreased, as well as the specific current of the reactions occurring thereon. When the current is related to the electrochemically active unit surface, the catalytic activity is nearly the same both for different catalyst mass deposited onto the nanotubes and the same catalyst mass at different carbonaceous carriers.     

Radiation synthesis of starch-acrylic acid–vinyl sulfonic acid/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite for the removal of 134Cs and 152+154Eu from aqueous solutions

Starch-acrylic acid-co-vinyl sulfonic acid/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (starch-AA-VSA/f-MWCNTs) bionanocomposite was successfully synthesized using gamma radiation for initiate the grafting of AA/VSA on starch in the presence of f-MWCNTs by template polymerization technique. The structural characteristics were confirmed by FTIR, SEM, and TGA. The adsorption behaviors of bionanocomposite toward Eu(III) and Cs(I) were examined using the batch adsorption experiments. Langmuir and Freundlich’s models were used to fit the experimental data of the adsorption isotherms. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption data followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the reaction was favorable at high temperature and endothermic process.

     

Platinum nanoparticles–decorated graphene-modified glassy carbon electrode toward the electrochemical determination of ascorbic acid,dopamine, and paracetamol

In the present study, we report the synthesis and characterization of platinum nanoparticles decorated graphene (GPtNPs) nanocomposite toward the electrochemical determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and paracetamol (PCT). GPtNPs demonstrated synergistic catalytic activity with enhanced currents in all of the measurements when compared with graphene-modified glassy carbon electrode (G-GCE) and bare GCE. The nanocomposite exhibited low overpotential for AA oxidation and good peak-to-peak separation of 218.0, 218.0, and 436.0 mV for AA–DA, DA–PCT, and AA–PCT, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) determination of AA, DA, and PCT showed wide linearity ranges. CV determination of AA exhibited linearity range from 300 μM to 20.89 mM and from 22.02 to 39.87 mM. DA determination using CV exhibited linearity range from 5 to 104 μM and from 114 to 684 μM, whereas CA determination of PCT showed a linearity range from 20 μM to 6.43 mM. Differential pulse voltammetry determinations of AA, DA, and PCT exhibited low detection limits of 300, 5, and 5 μM, respectively.     

Electrochemical determination of acetaminophen at a carbon electrode modified in the presence of β-cyclodextrin: role of the activated glassy carbon and the electropolymerised β-cyclodextrin

Acetaminophen is a well-known drug commonly used to provide pain relief, but it can also lead to acute liver failure at high concentrations. Therefore, there is considerable interest in monitoring its concentrations. Sensitive and selective acetaminophen electrochemical sensors were designed by cycling a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to high potentials in the presence of β-CD in a phosphate electrolyte, or by simply activating the GCE electrode in the phosphate solution. Using cyclic voltammetry, adsorption-like voltammograms were recorded. The acetaminophen oxidation product, N-acetyl benzoquinone imine, was protected from hydrolysis, and this was attributed to the adsorption of acetaminophen at the modified GCE. The rate constants for the oxidation of acetaminophen were estimated as 4.3 × 10^–3 cm² s^–1 and 3.4 × 10^–3 cm² s^–1 for the β-CD-modified and -activated electrodes, respectively. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the limit of detection was calculated as 9.7 × 10^–8 M with a linear concentration range extending from 0.1 to 80 μM. Furthermore, good selectivity was achieved in the presence of caffeine, ascorbic acid and aspirin, enabling the determination of acetaminophen in a commercial tablet. Similar electrochemical data were obtained for both the β-CD-modified and activated GCE surfaces, suggesting that the enhanced detection of acetaminophen is connected mainly to the activation and oxidation of the GCE. Using SEM, EDX and FTIR, no evidence was obtained to indicate that the β-CD was electropolymerised at the GCE.

     

Studies on the solvent dependence of the carbamic acid formation from ω-(1-naphthyl)alkylamines and carbon dioxide

Carbamic acid formation from amine and carbon dioxide in a variety of solvents was investigated by measuring NMR (¹H, ¹³C, HMBC) and IR spectra in situ. Bubbling of CO₂ through solutions of naphthylalkylamines 1-3 in DMSO, DMF or pyridine (protophilic, highly dipolar, aprotic solvent) resulted in complete conversion of the amines to the corresponding carbamic acids 4-6. In dioxane (protophilic, dipolar, aprotic solvent), the carbamic acid and a small amount of the ammonium carbamate were formed. By contrast, in MeCN (protophobic, dipolar, aprotic solvent), in benzene or CHCl₃ (apolar, aprotic solvent), or in 2-PrOH or MeOH (dipolar, amphiprotic solvent), ammonium carbamates 7-9 rather than 4-6 were formed, although the ammonium bicarbonates/carbonates were competitively formed in MeOH. The ammonium carbamates precipitated in many cases and hence they could be separated. The selective generation of the undissociated carbamic acids in preference to the ammonium carbamates in protophilic, dipolar, aprotic solvents (DMSO, DMF, pyridine, and dioxane) is rationalized by considering the acid-base equilibria between the amines 1-3 and the carbamic acids 4-6 in nonaqueous media. The obtained selectivity is likely due to the larger pK_a values for 4-6 than the amines 1-3 in these solvents. Interestingly, the fluorescence intensities for 1-3 were dramatically enhanced (4-50 times) in DMSO or DMF upon introduction of CO₂, while they were not altered very much in dioxane, MeCN, benzene, CHCl₃, 2-PrOH, and MeOH, except small to medium increases (1.3-3 times) for 1 in dioxane, MeCN, 2-PrOH and MeOH. As a whole, the solvent effects observed in these fluorescence studies are consistent with those observed in the above NMR and IR studies. Finally, methoxycarbonylation of amine 3 into the methyl carbamate was successfully accomplished by using (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane in the presence of CO₂.     

Mechanism and controlling strategy of the production and accumulation of propionic acid for anaerobic wastewater treatment

The production and accumulation of propionic acid affect significantly anaerobic wastewater treatment system, but the reasons are not approached until now. Based on the results of continuous-flow tests and the analysis of biochemistry and ecology, two mechanisms of producing propionic acid have been put forward. It is demonstrated that the reasons of propionic acid production and accumulation are not caused by higher hydrogen partial pressure. The combination of specific pH value and ORP is the ecological factor affecting propionic acid production, and the equilibrium regulation of NADH/NAD+ ratio in cells is the physiological factor. Meanwhile, it is put forward that using the two-phase anaerobic treatment process and the ethanol type fermentation in anaerobic reactor to avoid propionic acid accumulation are efficient methods.     

Influence of β-cyclodextrin on the protolytic and complexing ability of p-aminobenzoic acid

UV spectroscopy was used to study the protolytic properties and determine the ionization constants of p-aminobenzoic acid in the presence of β-cyclodextrin. Formation of supramolecular structures of 1: 1 composition was established. Stability constants of the β-cyclodextrin-p-aminobenzoic acid inclusion complex were calculated, as were the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) of its formation. The complexing process between β-cyclodextrin and p-aminobenzoic acid was found to occur spontaneously in the temperature range under investigation while being accompanied by energy liberation and leading to a reduction in the system’s entropy.     

Synthesis of novel β2,2-amino acid from D-mannose and attempted synthesis of peptides from the amino acid

The study describes the synthesis of new α,α-disubstituted β-amino acid (β^2,2-Caa) and attempts the synthesis of peptides from it. The β^2,2-Caa was prepared from D-(+)-mannose, using crossed aldol and Cannizzaro reactions.     

Energies of π*- and π-states of the conduction band and valence band of chiral carbon nanotubes

Nanotubes (NTs) are mainly represented by (n,p) chiral NTs with chirality indices 0 < p < n delimited by (n,0) and (n,n) for achiral NTs. In (n,p) chiral NTs, the unit cell hexagons have a helical arrangement on the cylindrical surface of an NT and common angular and axial translations. An analytical formula was derived for calculation of the band structure of both chiral and achiral NTs with chirality indices 0 ≤ p ≤ n and band diagrams of some chiral NTs. Chiral NTs significantly extend the range of semiconducting NTs. An equation for the band gap width ΔЕ of semiconducting chiral and achiral NTs was derived: \(\frac{{\vartriangle E}}{{{\gamma _0}}} = \frac{{2\pi }}{{\sqrt {3{n^2} + 3np + 3{p^2}} }}\). Tables of the band structure parameters of metallic and semiconducting chiral NTs are presented.