Revision of iron(III)–citrate speciation in aqueous solution. Voltammetric and spectrophotometric studies

A detailed study of iron (III)–citrate speciation in aqueous solution (θ = 25 °C, I_c = 0.7 mol L⁻¹) was carried out by voltammetric and UV–vis spectrophotometric measurements and the obtained data were used for reconciled characterization of iron (III)–citrate complexes. Four different redox processes were registered in the voltammograms: at 0.1 V (pH = 5.5) which corresponded to the reduction of iron(III)–monocitrate species (Fe:cit = 1:1), at about −0.1 V (pH = 5.5) that was related to the reduction of FeL₂⁵⁻, FeL₂H⁴⁻ and FeL₂H₂³⁻ complexes, at −0.28 V (pH = 5.5) which corresponded to the reduction of polynuclear iron(III)–citrate complex(es), and at −0.4 V (pH = 7.5) which was probably a consequence of Fe(cit)₂(OH)_x species reduction. Reversible redox process at −0.1 V allowed for the determination of iron(III)–citrate species and their stability constants by analyzing E_p vs. pH and E_p vs. [L⁴⁻] dependence. The UV–vis spectra recorded at varied pH revealed four different spectrally active species: FeLH (log β = 25.69), FeL₂H₂³⁻ (log β = 48.06), FeL₂H⁴⁻ (log β = 44.60), and FeL₂⁵⁻ (log β = 38.85). The stability constants obtained by spectrophotometry were in agreement with those determined electrochemically. The UV–vis spectra recorded at various citrate concentrations (pH = 2.0) supported the results of spectrophotometric–potentiometric titration.     

Hexacyanometallate anions as precursors of two new trinuclear heterobimetallic assemblies: Syntheses,structures and cryomagnetic properties

Two new cyano bridged Cu–Co and Cu–Fe trinuclear bimetallic assemblies, [(CuL)[Co(CN)₆](CuL)]ClO₄ · 3.5H₂O (1) and [(CuL)[Fe(CN)₆](CuL)] · 13H₂O (2) where [L = (3E,5E)-N¹,N⁴-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)butane-1,4-diamine] have been prepared using cyanometallates as anion precursors and characterised by elemental analyses, spectroscopic studies, single crystal X-ray diffraction and cryomagnetic susceptibility measurements. Magneto-structural correlations have been drawn from cryomagnetic susceptibility measurements over a wide temperature range (2–300 K) under 0.5 T magnetic fields. Weak antiferromagnetic interactions with J = −0.81 and −0.73 cm⁻¹ are found for 1 and 2, respectively, showing a very weak coupling, as expected from the diamagnetic long chain –NC–Co–CN–CN– and –NC–Fe–CN–CN– bridges revealed from the single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Pre-concentration of phenolic compounds in water samples by novel liquid–liquid microextraction and determination by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Pre-concentration and determination of 8 phenolic compounds in water samples has been achieved by in situ derivatization and using a new liquid–liquid microextraction coupled GC–MS system. Microextraction efficiency factors have been investigated and optimized: 9 μL 1-undecanol microdrop exposed for 15 min floated on surface of a 10 mL water sample at 55 °C, stirred at 1200 rpm, low pH level and saturated salt conditions. Chromatographic problems associated with free phenols have been overcome by simultaneous in situ derivatization utilizing 40 μL of acetic anhydride and 0.5% (w/v) K₂CO₃. Under the selected conditions, pre-concentration factor of 235–1174, limit of detection of 0.005–0.68 μg/L (S/N = 3) and linearity range of 0.02–300 μg/L have been obtained. A reasonable repeatability (RSD ≤ 10.4%, n = 5) with satisfactory linearity (0.9995 ≥ r² ≥ 0.9975) of results illustrated a good performance of the present method. The relative recovery of different natural water samples was higher than 84%.     

Free-standing anion-exchange PEO–SiO2 hybrid membranes

Free-standing anion-exchange polyethylene oxide (PEO)–SiO₂ hybrid membranes with higher flexibility and good mechanical strength (tensile strength (TS) as high as 20.55 MPa) as well as high temperature tolerance (thermal degradation temperature in air, T_d, in the range of 220–240 °C) were prepared through sol–gel reaction of different precursors: charged alkoxysilane-functionalized PEO-1000 (PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂(+)), N-triethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium iodine (A-1100(+)), monophenyltriethoxysilane (EPh) and in some cases also tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). Properties of the hybrid membranes, such as the thermal stability, tensile properties, hydrophilicity, and electrical performances, can be controlled by changing the feed ratio of the different sol–gel precursors. The results showed that some of the membranes have relatively good conductivity (∼0.003 S/cm) and so may find potential applications in alkaline membrane fuel cells.     

Stabilization of the trivalent oxidation state of copper by tridentate imine–oxime–amine ligands

Two tridentate imine–oxime–amine ligands have been synthesized and their corresponding copper(II) complexes have been isolated. These copper(II) complexes are readily oxidized both chemically and electrochemically to give relatively stable copper(III) complexes. In the pH range 1.5–3.0 the electron transfer process is electrochemically reversible with ΔE_p = 60 mV and i_pa/i_pc ∼ 1. Plots of E_1/2 versus pH are linear with a slope = −60 indicating the involvement of one proton in the electron transfer process. Aqueous solutions of copper(III) complexes have high molar absorption at λ_max with ε > 10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Solid samples of the complexes are diamagnetic consistent with a d⁸ square planar geometry. It seems that only imine–oxime nitrogens are coordinated to copper(II) with the NH₂ group being free as indicated by i.r. spectra. Substitution of a –CH₃ group on the carbon atom adjacent to the oxime group by the more electron donating group –CH(CH₃)₂ lowers electrode potential by more than 90 mV. This is consistent with an earlier observation that electron-donating substituents on the carbon atom adjacent to the oxime group lower the potential of Cu^III/Cu^II couples and stabilize the higher oxidation state.     

A method for rapid screening of interactions of pharmacologically active compounds with albumin

We determine the association constants for ligand–protein complex formation using the flow injection method. We carry out the measurements at high flow rates (F = 1 mL min⁻¹) of a carrier phase. Therefore, determination of the association constant takes only a few minutes. Injection of 1 nM of the ligand (10 μL of 1 μM concentration of the ligand solution) is sufficient for a single measurement. This method is tested and verified for a number of complexes of selected drugs (cefaclor, etodolac, sulindac) with albumin (BSA). We obtain K = 4.45 × 10³ M⁻¹ for cefaclor, K = 1.00 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for etodolac and K = 1.03 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for sulindac in agreement with the literature data. We also determine the association constants of 20 newly synthesized 3β- and 3α-aminotropane derivatives with potential antipsychotic activity – ligands of 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A and D₂ receptors with the albumin. Results of the studies reported here indicate that potential antipsychotic drugs bind weakly to the transporter protein (BSA) with K ≈ 10²–10³ M⁻¹. Our method allows measuring K in a wide range of values (10²–10⁹ M⁻¹). This range depends only on the solubility of the ligand and sensitivity of the detector.     

New isothermal vapor–liquid equilibria for the CO2 + n-nonane,and CO2 + n-undecane systems

Experimental vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) for the CO₂ + n-nonane and CO₂ + n-undecane systems were obtained by using a 100-cm³ high-pressure titanium cell up to 20 MPa at four temperatures (315, 344, 373, and 418 K). The apparatus is based on the static-analytic method; which allows fast determination of the coexistence curve. For the CO₂ + n-nonane system, good agreement was found between the experimental data and those reported in literature. No literature data were available for the CO₂ + n-undecane system at high temperature and pressure. Experimental data were correlated with the Peng–Robinson equation of state using the classical and the Wong–Sandler mixing rules.     

Incorporation of methamphetamine and amphetamine in human hair following controlled oral methamphetamine administration

Background

Although hair testing is well established for the assessment of past drug exposure, uncertainties persist about mechanisms of drug incorporation into hair and interpretation of results. The aim of this study was to administer methamphetamine (MAMP) under controlled conditions as a model drug to investigate drug incorporation into human hair.

Material and methods

Seven volunteers with a history of stimulant use received 4 × 10 mg (low) doses of sustained release S-(+)-MAMP HCl within 1 week, with weekly head hair samples collected by shaving. 3 weeks later, 4 of them received 4 × 20 mg (high) doses. After extensive isopropanol/phosphate buffer washing of the hair, MAMP and its metabolite amphetamine (AMP) concentrations were determined in all weekly hair samples by LC–MS–MS in selected reaction monitoring mode with the undeca- and deca-deuterated drugs, respectively, as internal standards (LLOQ, 0.005 ng mg⁻¹).

Results

MAMP T_max occurred from 1 to 2 weeks after both doses, with C_max ranging from 0.6 to 3.5 ng mg⁻¹ after the low and 1.2 to 5.3 ng mg⁻¹ after the high MAMP doses. AMP C_max in hair was 0.1–0.3 ng mg⁻¹ and 0.2–0.5 ng mg⁻¹, respectively, for low and high doses. Highly dose-related concentrations within subjects, but large variability between subjects were observed. MAMP concentrations were above the 0.2 ng mg⁻¹ cut-off for at least 2 weeks following administration of both low and high doses. The overall AMP/MAMP ratio ranged from 0.07 to 0.37 with a mean value of 0.15 ± 0.07, and a median of 0.13. The percentage of MAMP and AMP removed with the washing procedure decreased with time after administration. A strong correlation was found between area under the curve of MAMP (r² = 0.90, p = 0.00) and AMP (r² = 0.94, p = 0.00) concentrations calculated for the 3-week period following administration and the total melanin concentration in hair. Significant correlations were observed also between C_max and melanin.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that despite large inter-individual differences, the incorporation of MAMP and AMP into hair is dose-related with much of the observed scatter of MAMP and AMP concentrations explained by melanin concentration in hair.     

Thin Pd–23%Ag/stainless steel composite membranes: Long-term stability,life-time estimation and post-process characterisation

The long-term stability of Pd–23%Ag/stainless steel composite membranes has been examined in H₂/N₂ mixtures as a function of both temperature and feed pressure. During continuous operation, the membrane shows a good stability at 400 °C while the N₂ leakage increases very slowly at a temperature of 450 °C (P_feed = 10 bar). After 100 days of operation (P_feed = 5–20 bar, T = 350–450 °C), the N₂ permeance equals 7.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹, which indicates that the H₂/N₂ permselectivity still lies around 500, based on a H₂ permeance equal to 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹. Despite the generation of small pinholes, a membrane life-time of several (2–3) years (T ≤ 425 °C) is estimated for the experimental conditions employed based on long-term stability tests over 100 days. Post-process characterisation shows a considerable grain growth and micro-strain relaxation in the Pd–23%Ag membrane after the prolonged permeation experiment. Changes in surface area are relatively small. In addition, segregation of Ag to the membrane surfaces is observed. The formation of pinholes is identified as the main source for the increased N₂ leakage during testing at higher temperature.     

Effect of oxygen addition on the hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming in a Pd–Ag membrane reactor

In this communication, a porous stainless steel (PSS) tube was electrolessly plated into Pd–Ag membrane reactor which was used for separating hydrogen produced in an ethanol steam reforming reaction with the addition of oxygen, which has not been reported before. Palladium and silver were deposited on porous stainless steel tube via the sequential electroless plating procedure with an overall film thickness of 20 μm and Pd/Ag weight ratio of 78/22. Ethanol–water mixture (n_water/n_ethanol = 1 or 3) and oxygen (n_oxygen/n_ethanol = 0.2 or 0.7) were fed concurrently into the membrane reactor packed with MDC-3. The reaction temperatures were set at 593–723 K and the pressures 3–10 atm. The effect of oxygen addition plays a vital role on the ethanol steam reforming reaction, especially for the Pd–Ag membrane reactor in which a higher flux of hydrogen is required. If oxygen in the feed is not sufficient, it would be possible that steam reforming reaction prevails. Inversely, high O₂ addition will shift the reaction scenario to be partial oxidation dominating, and selectivity of CO₂ increases with increasing oxygen feed. At high pressure, autothermal reaction of ethanol would be easily reached.     

A new sensor for ammonia based on cyanidin-sensitized titanium dioxide film operating at room temperature

Design and fabrication of an ammonia sensor operating at room temperature based on pigment-sensitized TiO₂ films was described. TiO₂ was prepared by sol–gel method and deposited on glass slides containing gold electrodes. Then, the film immersed in a 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ M ethanol solution of cyanidin to absorb the pigment. The hybrid organic–inorganic formed film here can detect ammonia reversibly at room temperature. The relative change resistance of the films at a potential difference of 1.5 V is determined when the films are exposed to atmospheres containing ammonia vapors with concentrations over the range 10–50 ppm. The relative change resistance, S, of the films increased almost linearly with increasing concentrations of ammonia (r = 0.92). The response time to increasing concentrations of the ammonia is about 180–220 s, and the corresponding values for decreasing concentrations 240–270 s. At low humidity, ammonia could be ionized by the cyanidin on the TiO₂ film and thereby decrease in the proton concentration at the surface. Consequently, more positively charged holes at the surface of the TiO₂ have to be extracted to neutralize the adsorbed cyanidin and water film. The resistance response to ammonia of the sensors was nearly independent on temperature from 10 to 50 °C. These results are not actually as good as those reported in the literature, but this preliminary work proposes simpler and cheaper processes to realize NH₃ sensor for room temperature applications.     

Copper(I) complexes of a thioether-functionalized short-bite aminobis(phosphonite), [PhN{P(–OC10H6(μ-S)C10H6O–)}2]

Copper(I) complexes of short-bite aminobis(phosphonite), PhN{P(–OC₁₀H₆(μ-S)C₁₀H₆O–)}₂ (1) have been synthesized. Reactions of 1 with an excess of CuX (X = Cl, Br, and I) afforded the ligand-bridged binuclear complexes, [PhN(PR-κP)₂{Cu(μ-X)(MeCN)}₂] (2, X = Cl; 3, X = Br; 4, X = I; R = –OC₁₀H₆(μ-S)C₁₀H₆O–), whereas treatment with 0.5 equiv. of [Cu(MeCN)₄]PF₆ produces the mononuclear bischelated cationic complex, [{PhN(PR-κP)₂}₂Cu](PF₆) (5). Single crystal X-ray structures of complexes 3 and 4 are reported. Complex 3 shows strong π–π stacking interactions between the naphthyl moieties, whereas complex 4 shows ligand-supported Cu?Cu metallophilic interactions.     

Evaluation of low-cost disposable polymeric materials for sorptive extraction of organic pollutants in water samples

The capabilities of four commercially available and low cost polymeric materials for the extraction of polar and non-polar contaminants (log K_ow = −0.07–6.88, from caffeine to octocrylene, respectively) from water samples was compared. Tested sorbents were polyethersulphone, polypropylene and Kevlar, compared to polydimethylsiloxane as reference material. Parameters that affect the extraction process such as pH and ionic strength of the sample, extraction time and desorption conditions were thoroughly investigated. A set of experimental partition coefficients (K_pw), at two different experimental conditions, was estimated for the best suited materials and compared with the theoretical octanol–water (K_ow) partition coefficients of the analytes. Polyethersulphone displayed the largest extraction yields for both polar and non-polar analytes, with higher K_pw and lower matrix effects than polydimethylsiloxane and polypropylene. Thus, a sorptive microextraction method, followed by large volume injection (LVI) gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS), was proposed using the former sorbent (2 mg) for the simultaneous determination of model compounds in water samples. Good linearity (>0.99) was obtained for most of the analytes, except in the case of 4-nonylphenol (0.9466). Precision (n = 4) at 50 and 500 ng L⁻¹ levels was in the 2–24% and limits of detection (LODs) were in the 0.6–25 ng L⁻¹ range for all the analytes studied.     

Solid–liquid equilibrium and hydrogen solubility of trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene for a new hydrogen storage medium in fuel cell system

Solid–liquid equilibrium was measured for benzene + cyclohexane, trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene under the atmospheric pressure in the temperature range from 226.69 to 353.14 K. The apparatus was specially designed in this study, and it was based on a cooling method. The phase diagram with the complete immiscible solids was observed for the three systems, and the eutectic point was found at x₂ = 0.2709 and T_eu = 232.11 K for benzene + cyclohexane, x₂ = 0.9816 and T_eu = 241.98 K for trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and x₃ = 0.9822 and T_eu = 225.74 K for cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, respectively. Hydrogen solubility was also measured for the two pure substances, trans-decahydronaphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene, and the three mixtures, trans-decahydronaphthalene + cis-decahydronaphthalene, trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, in the pressure range from 1.702 to 4.473 MPa at 303.15 K. Considering the solid–liquid equilibrium data, mole ratio of trans-decahydronaphthalene:cis-decahydronaphthalene was set to 50:50, and those of trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene to 85:15. The hydrogen solubility increased linearly with the pressure following the Henry's law for all systems. The experimental solubility data were correlated or predicted with the Peng–Robinson equation of state [D.Y. Peng, D.B. Robinson, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam. 15 (1976) 59–64; R. Stryjek, J.H. Vera, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 64 (1986) 323–333].     

Theoretical study of long range electron transfer in Phthalimide–Peptide–Methyl Aminoacetate Model molecules

Long-range electron transfer (ET) matrix elements (V_PS), rate constants (k_ET) and reorganization energies for ET from phthalimide radical (pha) moiety to methyl aminoacetate radical (aa) moiety in pa–(gly)_n = 0–6–aa (pa = C₆H₄(CO)₂N–(CH₂CO), gly = glycine, aa = HNCH₂COOCH₃) ionic molecules have been investigated using two-state variational method (TSVM) and classical rate model. Calculations on V_PS reveal that the overlap between the frontier orbitals of two diabatic states is quite small, which leads to a small value of V_PS. k_ET has a minimum at the range n = 1–3 for β-strand conformation, but linearly increases as the peptide chain length (n) increases for pro II-helix conformation. These results are in good agreement with the experimental predictions. Relevant ET mechanisms are elucidated. The transition energies for charge transfer in such systems are also calculated to test the influences of local dipoles on the potentials of the donor and acceptor. For comparison electron couplings in [pa–(gly)_n = 1,3–aa]⁺ cations are calculated and the effects of electron correlation on inner reorganization energies in pha + pha^−/+ self-exchange reactions are examined at different levels of theory respectively. Calculated results are discussed also.     

Stimulated Raman scattering measurements of H2 vibration–vibration transfer

We present a new set of V–V rate coefficients for vibrational levels 0–5 in H₂ at 300 K, measured using a stimulated Raman–spontaneous Raman pump/probe apparatus. The measured rate of the non-resonant process, H₂(v = 1) + H₂(v = 1) → H₂(v = 0) + H₂(v = 2), is consistent with the previously reported experimental value of Kreutz et al. However, semi-classical predictions of such non-resonant processes, using the identical inter-molecular potential and methodology to that given by Cacciatore and Billing, results in rates which are too slow, by a factor of approximately 3. For the “resonant” V–V process, H₂(v = 1) + H₂(v = 0) → H₂(v = 0) + H₂(v = 1), the semi-classical rate is found to be too slow by an even larger factor, of approximately 30, compared to the experimental rate, but consistent with the previously reported experimental result of Farrow and Chandler. Further, unlike the semi-classical model prediction in which the (1, 1 → 2, 0) process rate is predicted to exceed that of the (1, 0 → 0, 1) process, the experimental data shows it to be a factor of approximately 2.5 less, suggesting that semi-classical methods that treat the rotational motion classically are unsuitable for the highly anharmonic H₂ molecule. The ratio of pure rotation and rotation–vibration Raman cross sections for scattering from levels 0 and 1 is also determined, with results which agree with calculations of Schwartz and LeRoy, but are somewhat larger than previous experimental results of Cureton.     

A novel blue luminescent high-spin iron(III) complex with interlayer O–H⋯Cl bridging: Synthesis,structure and spectroscopic studies

A blue luminescent high-spin (s = 5/2) iron(III) complex, [Fe^III(HL¹)₂]Cl (2), was synthesized with the acyclic tridentate salicylaldehyde 2-pyridyl hydrazone ligand, H₂L¹ (1), and it can subsequently be deprotonated and methylated into blue luminescent iron(III) complexes, [Fe^III(L²)₂]Cl (3) and [Fe^III(MeL¹)₂]Cl (4) respectively. On excitation at 390 nm, the ligand and the complexes display fluorescence in the blue region (λ_em = 440–450 nm) of the spectrum. The association constant, (K_ass = 4.6421 × 10⁴ at 298 K) and the thermodynamic parameters for complex 2 have been determined by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The iron(III)–iron(II) reduction potentials lie near – 0.2 V versus SCE. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex, [Fe^III(HL¹)₂]Cl · H₂O (2), was determined, revealing meridional binding of the two ligands affording a cis-FeN₄O₂ geometry with alternate chlorine and water molecules at the interface of the main molecule, resulting in interesting interlayer O–H?Cl bridging.