Raman spectroscopic investigation of the antimalarial agent mefloquine

The antimalarial agent mefloquine was investigated using Fourier transform near-infrared (FT NIR) Raman and FT IR spectroscopy. The IR and Raman spectra were calculated with the help of density functional theory (DFT) and a very good agreement with the experimental spectra was achieved. These DFT calculations were applied to unambiguously assign the prominent features in the experimental vibrational spectra. The calculation of the potential energy distribution (PED) and the atomic displacements provide further valuable insight into the molecular vibrations. The most prominent NIR Raman bands at 1,363 cm⁻¹ and 1,434 cm⁻¹ are due to C=C stretching (in the quinoline part of mefloquine) and CH₂ wagging vibrations, while the most intense IR peaks at 1,314 cm⁻¹; 1,147 cm⁻¹; and 1,109 cm⁻¹ mainly consist of ring breathings and δCH (quinoline); C–F stretchings; and asymmetric ring breathings, C–O stretching as well as CH₂ twisting/rockings located at the piperidine moiety. Since the active agent (mefloquine) is usually present in very low concentrations within the biological samples, UV resonance Raman spectra of physiological solutions of mefloquine were recorded. By employing the detailed non-resonant mode assignment it was also possible to unambiguously identify the resonantly enhanced modes at 1,619 cm⁻¹, 1,603 cm⁻¹ and 1,586 cm⁻¹ in the UV Raman spectra as high symmetric C=C stretching vibrations in the quinoline part of mefloquine. These spectroscopic results are important for the interpretation of upcoming in vitro and in vivo mefloquine target interaction experiments.     

An application of near-infrared and mid-infrared spectroscopy to the study of selected tellurite minerals: xocomecatlite,tlapallite and rodalquilarite

Near-infrared and mid-infrared spectra of three tellurite minerals have been investigated. The structures and spectral properties of copper bearing xocomecatlite and tlapallite are compared with an iron bearing rodalquilarite mineral. Two prominent bands observed at 9,855 and 9,015 cm⁻¹ are assigned to ²B_1g → ²B_2g and ²B_1g → ²A_1g transitions of Cu²⁺ ion in xocomecatlite. The cause of spectral distortion is the result of many cations of Ca, Pb, Cu and Zn in the tlapallite mineral structure. Rodalquilarite is characterised by ferric ion absorption in the range 12,300–8,800 cm⁻¹. Three water vibrational overtones are observed in xocomecatlite at 7,140, 7,075 and 6,935 cm⁻¹ whereas in tlapallite bands are shifted to lower wavenumbers at 7,135, 7,080 and 6,830 cm⁻¹. The complexity of rodalquilarite spectrum increases with the number of overlapping bands in the near-infrared. The observation of intense absorption feature near 7,200 cm⁻¹ confirms hydrogen bonding water molecules in xocomecatlite. Weak bands observed near 6,375 and 6,130 cm⁻¹ in tellurites are attributed to the hydrogen bonding between (TeO₃)²⁻ and H₂O. A number of overlapping bands at low wave numbers 4,800–4,000 cm⁻¹ are caused by combinational modes of tellurite ion. (TeO₃)²⁻ stretching vibrations are characterised by three main absorptions at ~1,070, 780 and 665 cm⁻¹. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

MIR and NIR spectroscopy of sol–gel hydrotalcites with various trivalent cations

Three different hydrotalcites were synthesized from magnesium ethoxide, and aluminium, gallium and indium acetylacetonate, using the sol–gel technique. The colloid suspensions initially obtained were gelled and separated by centrifugation. XRD diffraction patterns confirmed that all solids thus obtained possessed a hydrotalcite structure. The resulting hydrotalcites were characterized by mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopies. The two types of spectra were found not to depend on the synthetic medium or trivalent metal used and were thus quite similar. The MIR spectra for the three solids included a strong band at 3500–3000 cm⁻¹ due to stretching vibrations of the different types of O–H groups in them. The signal at about 1370 cm⁻¹ observed for all solids indicates that the sole interlayer anion present was carbonate. The NIR spectra exhibited the bands for the first and second overtone of the O–H stretching vibration in addition to various combination bands.     

Intramolecular donor-acceptor interaction in stilbene and styrene π-complexes with tricarbonylchromium. Observation in the IR spectra

The IR spectra of complexes derived from conjugated arylalkenes and tricarbonylchromium, namely (stilbene)tricarbonylchromium and (styrene)tricarbonylchromium, displayed three absorption bands instead of two expected in the region of carbonyl stretching vibrations (1800–2000 cm⁻¹). Additional absorption bands also appeared in the region corresponding to metal-π-fragment stretching vibrations (250–400 cm⁻¹). These findings indicated additional interaction involving the central metal atom, carbonyl ligands, and aromatic π-system. Such interaction increases mobility of the tricarbonylchromium fragment which may become capable of readily migrating from one π-fragment to another under certain conditions.     

Molecular structure of phthalocyaninato lanthanide LnPc(OAc) complexes derived from the FTIR and FT Raman studies

Room temperature Fourier transform IR and Raman spectra in the range 30–4000 cm⁻¹ and 80–4000 cm⁻¹ of Dy, Ho, Er and Lu phthalocyanide PcLn(OAc)-type complexes have been measured, respectively. The assignment of the bands observed has been made on the literature data. The molecular structure of the PcLnX-type derivatives has been discussed on the basis of the group theory taking into account the shape and number of the bands corresponding to the stretching and bending vibrations of the LnN₄O coordination polyhedron as well as whole PcLn(OAc) complex.     

Development of a methodology for the determination of americium and thorium by ICP-AES and their inter-element effect

Due to the scarcity of good quality uranium resources, the growth of nuclear technology in India is dependent on the utilization of the vast thorium resources. Therefore, Advance Heavy Water Reactor is going to acquire significant role in the scenario of Indian nuclear technology, where (Th, Pu)O₂ will be utilized as fuel in the outermost ring of the reactor core. This will lead to a complex matrix containing thorium as well as americium, which is formed due to β- decay of plutonium. The amount of americium is dependent on the burn up and the storage time of the Pu based fuels. In the present case, attempt was made to develop a method for the determination of americium as well as thorium by ICP-AES. Two emission lines of americium were identified and calibration curves were established for determination of americium. Though the detection limit of 283.236 nm line (5 ng mL⁻¹) of americium was found to be better than that of 408.930 nm (11 ng mL⁻¹), the former line is significantly interfered by large amount of thorium. Three analytical lines (i.e. 283.242, 283.730 and 401.913 nm) of thorium were identified and calibration curves were established along with their detection limits. It was observed that 283.242 and 401.913 nm line are having similar detection limits (18 and 13 ng mL⁻¹, respectively) which are better than that of 283.730 nm (60 ng mL⁻¹). This can be attributed to the high background of 283.273 nm channel of thorium. The spectral interference study revealed that even small amount of americium has significant contribution on 283.242 nm channel of thorium while the other two channels remain practically unaffected. Considering both these facts, spectral interference and analytical performance (detection limits and sensitivity), it was concluded that 401.913 nm line is the best analytical line out of the three lines for determination of thorium in presence of americium.     

U determination in environmental samples by delayed neutron activation analysis in Korea

A delayed neutron counting system has been implemented at the HANARO research reactor in 2007. Thermal neutron flux measured at the NAA #2 irradiation hole coupled to the delayed counting system, was higher than 3 × 10¹³ n cm⁻² s⁻¹. The delayed neutron counting system is composed of 18 ³He detectors which are divided into three groups with six detectors and the collected signals of each group are processed to a digital signal. The count numbers were measured with the uranium mass by using NIST SRMs under fixed analytical condition and their correlation could be determined. Finally, delayed neutron activation analysis has been carried out for the determination of uranium mass fraction in the collected environmental samples.     

Infrared spectra of diphenylphthalide and polydiphenylenephthalide

The splitting of the ν(C=O) absorption band (AB) of about 12 cm⁻¹ is found in the IR spectra of diphenylphthalide (DPP) in the crystalline phase and CCl₄ solution. In the crystalline phase, this splitting is likely to be caused by the inequivalence of DPP molecules in the crystallographic cell, while in the solution, by the dimerization of DPP molecules via dipole-dipole and/or hydrogen bonds. A theoretical low-frequency shift of the ν(C=O) AB for a complex of two DPP molecules (in comparison with a single molecule) is 14 cm⁻¹ in the PBE/3ξ approximation, which is close to the experimentally observed splitting. In two quantum chemical approximations (B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) (I) and PBE/3ξ (II)) the optimal structure and vibrational spectrum of DPP are calculated. Approximation I better reproduces the intensities, whereas approximation II better reproduces the IR frequencies of the DPP spectrum. Almost all 48 ABs of the IR spectrum of DPP are assigned to theoretical normal vibrations (modes). Based on the potential energy distribution over natural coordinates and the visualization of vibrations, experimental ABs (and the corresponding modes) are assigned to the stretching and bending vibrations of certain bonds in the DPP molecule. In particular, ABs at 1107 cm⁻¹ and 970 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the ν(-OC-O-) and ν(-C-O-) stretching vibrations, respectively, of the DPP lactonic ring, which differs from the previously accepted assignment. The results of the interpretation of the DPP spectrum are used to assign a number of ABs in the IR spectrum of polydiphenylenephthalide (PDP), for which DPP is a model compound. According to the calculations in approximation II of the vibrational spectrum of a model valence-bonded dimeric molecule, the intense complex AB at 800–870 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectrum of PDP is mainly due to the out-of-plane bending vibrations of C-H bonds in the 1,4-substituted benzene rings of polymer biphenyl moieties and the bending vibrations of the lactonic ring.     

Thermogravimetric analysis and hot-stage Raman spectroscopy of cubic indium hydroxide

The transition of cubic indium hydroxide to cubic indium oxide has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis complimented with hot-stage Raman spectroscopy. Thermal analysis shows the transition of In(OH)₃ to In₂O₃ occurs at 219 °C. The structure and morphology of In(OH)₃ synthesised using a soft chemical route at low temperatures was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. A topotactical relationship exists between the micro/nano-cubes of In(OH)₃ and In₂O₃. The Raman spectrum of In(OH)₃ is characterised by an intense sharp band at 309 cm⁻¹ attributed to ν₁ In–O symmetric stretching mode, bands at 1137 and 1155 cm⁻¹ attributed to In-OH δ deformation modes, bands at 3083, 3215, 3123 and 3262 cm⁻¹ assigned to the OH stretching vibrations. Upon thermal treatment of In(OH)₃, new Raman bands are observed at 125, 295, 488 and 615 cm⁻¹ attributed to In₂O₃. Changes in the structure of In(OH)₃ with thermal treatment is readily followed by hot-stage Raman spectroscopy.     

Determination of trace elements in high purity copper by INAA, GFAAS and ICP/AES

Trace impurity elements in high purity copper metal (4 mine class) put on the market were analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and the results compared with those from Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GFAAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). The sample irradiation was done at the irradiation facilities (thermal neutron flux, 5·10¹² n·cm⁻²·s⁻¹) of the TRIGA Mark-III research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Four unalloyed copper standards (NIST SRM # 393, 394, 395 and 398) were used to identify the accuracy and precision of the analytical procedure. The homogeneity of samples was assessed by means of the elements such as Ag, As, Co, Sb, Se and Zn. The analytical results of INAA, GFAAS and ICP-AES were in good agreement within expected uncertainties each other and showed the possibility of using them for the analytical quality control.     

Sol–gel synthesis and characterisation of nanoporous zirconium titanate coated on 316L SS for biomedical applications

In this study, the nanoporous zirconium titanate was prepared using sol–gel process and coated over 316L SS implants via dip-coating technique. XRD patterns of zirconium titanate are crystalline and orthorhombic in structure. FT-IR spectra showed a broad band between 3,500 and 3,300 cm⁻¹, which was assigned to fundamental stretching vibrations of hydroxyl groups. The set of overlapping peaks in the range of 810–520 cm⁻¹ are related to Zr–O and Zr–O–Ti groups. SEM-EDAX and TEM showed the surface morphology of coated zirconium titanate to be porous and uniform. Excellent adhesion of the coating to the substrate has been achieved. The contact angle value was found to be 12°. The coating acts as a barrier layer to the metallic implants and induces the formation of hydroxyapatite layer on the metal surfaces. These results revealed that the nano zirconium titanate coated 316L SS exhibit higher bioactivity compared to that of uncoated 316L SS.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study of the antimonate mineral bindheimite Pb2Sb2O6(O,OH)

Raman spectroscopy complimented with infrared spectroscopy has been used to characterise the antimonate mineral bindheimite Pb₂Sb₂O₆(O,OH). The mineral is characterised by an intense Raman band at 656 cm⁻¹ assigned to SbO stretching vibrations. Other lower intensity bands at 664, 749 and 814 cm⁻¹ are also assigned to stretching vibrations. This observation suggests the non-equivalence of SbO units in the structure. Low intensity Raman bands at 293, 312 and 328 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the OSbO bending vibrations. Infrared bands at 979, 1008, 1037 and 1058 cm⁻¹ may be assigned to δOH deformation modes of SbOH units. Infrared bands at 1603 and 1640 cm⁻¹ are assigned to water bending vibrations, suggesting that water is involved in the bindheimite structure. Broad infrared bands centred upon 3250 cm⁻¹ supports this concept. Thus the true formula of bindheimite is questioned and probably should be written as Pb₂Sb₂O₆(O,OH,H₂O).     

Different level of fluorescence in Raman spectra of montmorillonites

The paper presents the study of selected montmorillonite standards by Raman spectroscopy and microscopy supported by elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction analysis and thermal analysis. Dispersive Raman spectroscopy with excitation lasers of 532 nm and 780 nm, dispersive Raman microscopy with excitation laser of 532 nm and 100× magnifying lens, and Fourier Transform-Raman spectroscopy with excitation laser of 1064 nm were used for the analysis of four montmorillonites (Kunipia-F, SWy-2, STx-1b and SAz-2). These mineral standards differed mainly in the type of interlayer cation and substitution of octahedral aluminium by magnesium or iron. A comparison of measured Raman spectra of montmorillonite with regard to their level of fluorescence and the presence of characteristic spectral bands was carried out. Almost all measured spectra of montmorillonites were significantly affected by fluorescence and only one sample was influenced by fluorescence slightly or not at all. In the spectra of tested montmorillonites, several characteristic Raman bands were found. The most intensive band at 96 cm⁻¹ belongs to deformation vibrations of interlayer cations. The band at 200 cm⁻¹ corresponds to deformation vibrations of the AlO₆ octahedron and at 710 cm⁻¹ can be assigned to deformation vibrations of the SiO₄ tetrahedron. The band at 3620 cm⁻¹ corresponds to the stretching vibration of structural OH groups in montmorillonites.     

Evaluation of an analytical method for determining phthalate esters in wine samples by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography coupled with ion-trap mass spectrometer detector

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed for extraction and analysis of six phthalate esters in wine samples using Carbograph 1 sorbent. The SPE procedure allowed efficient recovery of the investigated phthalates ranging between 78% and 105% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤6.5 for an ethanolic phthalic acid ester (PAE) standard solution and between 73–71% and 96–99% with a RSD ≤8.4 for red wine samples spiked with 20 and 50 ng mL⁻¹ of PAE, respectively. The adsorption isotherms and breakthrough curves for Carbograph 1/water solution were reported. Gas chromatography coupled with an ion-trap mass spectrometer detector (GC/IT-MS) was used for analysis. The instrumental analytical protocol was found to yield a linear calibration in the range 0.01-10.0 μg mL⁻¹ with R ² values ≥0.9992. The limits of detection in GC/IT-MS (SIM mode) vary between 0.2 and 14 ng mL⁻¹ (RSD ≤5.6) whereas the limits of quantification range between 0.5 and 25 ng mL⁻¹ (RSD ≤5.9); the intra- and inter-day repeatabilities calculated as RSD for wine samples, were between 0.9–7.8 and 1.0–10.5, respectively. The analytical method developed was applied to several commercial wine samples. Furthermore, the investigated methods are simple, reliable, reproducible, and not expensive.     

Structure of NR<Subscript>4</Subscript>BR-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CoBr<Subscript>2</Subscript>-NR<Subscript>4</Subscript>BR-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O solutions according to electronic and IR spectroscopy data

Absorption spectra of NR₄Br-H₂O and CoBr₂-NR₄Br-H₂O (R = Et, Bu) aqueous solutions were measured within the range of 1000–25000 cm⁻¹, and the influence of tetraalkylammonium cations on the equilibrium between cobalt octahedral and tetrahedral complexes was revealed. The specificity of hydration interactions in solutions under study in various concentration ranges and resulting from them difference in spectral characteristics were analyzed. Variously directed changes in positions of bands in the region of stretching vibrations, a composite frequency of 5200 cm⁻¹, and the first water overtone occurring due to the concentration variation were found.     

Effect of molecular and crystal structure ofN-naphthylurethanes (carbamates) on their IR spectra

A comparative analysis of the IR spectra in the region of 3000–400 cm⁻¹ of four urethanes (methyl-(N-(1-naphthyl) carbamate, ethyl-N-(1-naphthyl) carbamate, dimethyl-N,N′-(1,5-naphthylene) dicarbamate, and diethyl-N,N′-(1,5-naphthylene) dicarbamate) with known molecular and crystal structures was carried out. The assignment of the bands related to the vibrations of the urethane and naphthyl fragments was refined on the basis of the study of the crystalline samples, melts, solutions, and deuterated analogs. The effect of the degree of conjugation of the urethane group with the naphthalene ring on the Amide II vibration frequency in the crystals was shown. It was suggested that the stretching vibrations of the C(Ar)−N bond in naphthylurethanes (unlike aliphatic derivatives) make a considerable contribution to the Amide II vibration, while the planar deformation vibration of the N−H bond was proved to be more significant for Amide III than for Amide II. In addition, strong nonspecific intermolecular interactions in the crystal can weaken valent bonds. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 300–303, February, 1998.     

Determination of fluoroquinolone residues in poultry muscle in Portugal

A total of 98 poultry samples, including chicken and turkey muscle, were analysed, using a sensitive and reliable analytical method based on liquid chromatography (LC) with spectrofluorimetric detection, for simultaneous determination of four fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics, namely enrofloxacin (ENRO), ciprofloxacin (CIPRO), norfloxacin (NOR), and sarafloxacin (SARA). The method involved extraction with 0.15 mol L⁻¹ HCl and clean-up by solid-phase extraction using Oasis HLB cartridges. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a C₁₈ TSK gel column, in isocratic mode, with 0.025 mol L⁻¹ H₃PO₄ solution, adjusted to pH 3.0 with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide-methanol (78:22) as mobile phase. Good linearity over the investigated concentration range was observed, with mean values of correlation coefficients higher than 0.9989 for all the analytes studied. The limits of quantification (LOQ), expressed as the lowest fortification level with acceptable precision were 15 μg kg⁻¹ for ENRO, CIPRO, and NOR, and 30 μg kg⁻¹ for SARA; these values are in compliance with requirements for monitoring of maximum residues levels (MRLs). Overall recoveries from spiked samples ranged from 80% to 92% with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 6.1%. Of the chicken and turkey samples analysed, 44.2% and 37.8%, respectively, were contaminated. The levels found in the analysed poultry samples, collected from markets of Oporto and Coimbra, located in the north and central zones of Portugal, respectively, were lower than 114.2 and 87.6 μg kg⁻¹ in chicken and turkey muscle samples, respectively. One positive chicken sample was contaminated with ENRO at levels higher than the MRL.     

Structures and vibrational spectra for protonated carbonyl sulfide

The HOCS⁺ form of protonated OCS was identified in 1987 using high-resolution difference frequency laser spectroscopy by assigning the vibrational frequency (ν=3435cm⁻¹) as the O-H stretch. The isomer HSCO⁺ was not detected in spite of a search of the S-H stretching region. Theoretical calculations indicate, however, that the S-protonated form lies significantly lower than the O-protonated form. To resolve this apparent discrepancy between experiments and theoretical calculations, highly accurate ab initio studies of both species have been carried out. Our results indicate that the S-protonated form lies about 5 kcal/mol below the O-protonated one. The SH stretching frequency is predicted to be found around 2496cm⁻¹. A new search for the ν₁ band of HSCO⁺ using a diode spectrometer showed no evidence of HSCO⁺. Received: 26 November 1996 / Accepted: 3 March 1997     

Development of a sequential injection anodic stripping voltammetry (SI-ASV) method for determination of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) in wastewater samples from coatings industry

This paper describes the development and validation of a sequential injection (SI) anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) method using the hanging mercury drop electrode for accumulation of the heavy metal cations Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II). The method was applied to wastewater samples after proper acid digestion in open vessels to eliminate matrix effects. For a deposition time of 90 s at the flow rate of 10 μl s⁻¹, the detection limits of the method were 0.06, 0.09 and 0.16 μmol L⁻¹ for Cd, Pb and Cu, respectively. Under these conditions the linear dynamic range was between 0.20 and 9.0 μmol L⁻¹ and the sampling frequency was 30 analyses per hour. The relative standard deviation of the method was 3%(n=7) at the concentration level of 2.0 μmol L⁻¹. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by spiking the samples with known amounts of the metal cations, and by comparison with an independent analytical technique, the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Average recoveries were around of 84%, and the results showed no evidence of systematic errors in comparison to the ICP-AES.     

Vibrational spectroscopic characterization of the phosphate mineral hureaulite – (Mn,Fe)5(PO4)2(HPO4)2·4(H2O)

This research was done on hureaulite samples from the Cigana claim, a lithium bearing pegmatite with triphylite and spodumene. The mine is located in Conselheiro Pena, east of Minas Gerais. Chemical analysis was carried out by Electron Microprobe analysis and indicated a manganese rich phase with partial substitution of iron. The calculated chemical formula of the studied sample is: (Mn_3.23, Fe_1.04, Ca_0.19, Mg_0.13)(PO₄)_2.7(HPO₄)_2.6(OH)_4.78. The Raman spectrum of hureaulite is dominated by an intense sharp band at 959 cm⁻¹ assigned to PO stretching vibrations of HPO₄²⁻ units. The Raman band at 989 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the PO₄³⁻ stretching vibration. Raman bands at 1007, 1024, 1047, and 1083 cm⁻¹ are attributed to both the HOP and PO antisymmetric stretching vibrations of HPO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ units. A set of Raman bands at 531, 543, 564 and 582 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the ν₄ bending modes of the HPO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ units. Raman bands observed at 414, and 455 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the ν₂ HPO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ units. The intense A series of Raman and infrared bands in the OH stretching region are assigned to water stretching vibrations. Based upon the position of these bands hydrogen bond distances are calculated. Hydrogen bond distances are short indicating very strong hydrogen bonding in the hureaulite structure. A combination of Raman and infrared spectroscopy enabled aspects of the molecular structure of the mineral hureaulite to be understood.