Extraction of Cesium-137 and Americium-241 by Calix[n]arenes from Carbonate-Alkaline Media

Trends of cesium-137 and americium-241 extraction from carbonate–alkaline media with p-tert-butylcalix[n]arenes with macrocycles of different size (n = 4, 6, 8), including monofunctional derivatives with lipophilic substituents for increasing their solubility in organic media, were studied. It was demonstrated that O-n-octyl ethers of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene appeared to be the most efficient extractants for Cs(I) cations, while it was p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene for and americium(III) cations.     

Graphene oxide promoted synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine antioxidants

Three p-phenylenediamine antioxidants (p-phenylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetrapropionic acid tetramethyl ester, p-phenylenediamine-N,N,N′-tripropionic acid trimethyl ester, and p-phenylenediamine-N, N′-dipropionic acid dimethyl ester) were successfully synthesized via atom-economic aza-Michael addition of pphenylenediamine to methyl acrylate p-romoted by graphene oxide in water. The synthesized compounds were characterized by NMR, ESI-MS spectra, and elemental analyses. The effects of the solvent and graphene oxide on the reaction were investigated.     

Theoretical and experimental prediction of the redox potentials of metallocene compounds

The standard redox electrode potential (E°) values of metallocene compounds are obtained theoretically with density functional theory (DFT) method at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level and experimentally with cyclic voltammetry (CV). The theoretical E° values of metallocene compounds are in good agreement with experimental ones. We investigate the substituent effects on the redox properties of metallocene compounds. Among the four metallocene compounds, the E° values is largest for titanocene dichloride and smallest for ferrocene.     

Characteristics of the hydrogen bond and the structure of Н-complexes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-n-propyloxybenzoic acid and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-n-propyloxy-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>′-cyanobiphenyl

The conformational properties of p-n-propyloxybenzoic acid and p-n-propyloxy-p′-cyanobiphenyl molecules, which can exhibit liquid crystalline properties in the formation of Н-complexes, are studied (DFT/B3LYP)/cc-pVTZ method). It is found that a molecule of p-n-propyloxybenzoic acid has 16 conformers that can be divided into four groups with respect to relative energies (0 kcal/mol, 1.6 kcal/mol, 6.5 kcal/mol, and 8.1 kcal/mol), and a molecule of p-n-propyloxy-p′-cyanobiphenyl has six conformers with relative energies of 0 kcal/mol (two conformers, φ(С_Ph–O–C–C)=180°) and 1.6 kcal/mol (four conformers, φ(С_Ph–O–C–C)=64.4°). In all conformers of the 3-AOCB molecule, phenyl rings are turned at 35° relative to each other. A conformation with the planar arrangement of two rings has a higher energy by 1.5 kcal/mol. Barriers to the internal rotation of different groups are determined and it is established that the structural nonrigidity of the molecules is mainly due to the possible rotation of the–C₂Н₅ moiety about the C–C bond. It is shown that with increasing temperature the vibrational amplitudes of the OC₃H₇ substituent, which enhance the probabilities of transitions between the conformers, become appreciably larger. It is found that p-n-propyloxybenzoic acid and p-n-propyloxy-p′-cyanobiphenyl can form Н-complexes with the medium hydrogen bond. Two types of the structural organization of Н-complexes are considered: linear and angular. The similarity of energies of Н-complexes with different structures (NBO analysis) can be the reason for the occurrence of two liquid crystalline subphases of p-n-propyloxybenzoic acid and p-n-propyloxy-p′-cyanobiphenyl system.     

Crystalline inclusion complexes of diterpenoid isosteviol with aromatic compounds

Crystalline inclusion complexes of diterpenoid isosteviol (ent-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid) with individual benzene, o-, m-, p-xylenes, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, o-and m-nitoranilins, benzaldehyde, styrene and naphthalene are obtained and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. As determined by GC and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, isosteviol selectively includes toluene from the equimolar benzene-toluene mixture, o-xylene from a commercial mixture of xylenes, o-and m-nitroanilins from their mixture with p-nitroanilin, and also styrene from styrene-ethylbenzene and styrene-isopropylbenzene mixtures thus yielding crystalline inclusion complexes.     

Reductive acylamination of pyridine <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxide with ethylenediamine and phenylenediamines

Reactions of pyridine N-oxide with ethylenediamine and o- and p-phenylenediamines in the presence of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in alkaline medium lead to the formation of the corresponding N,N′-bis-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-yl)diamines as a result of reductive acylamination.     

Efficient synthesis of bis-indolyloxindoles from (phenylimino)indolin-2-ones and 1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-indole catalyzed by <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-toluenesulfonic acid

p-Toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) efficiently catalyzed the reaction of (phenylimino)indolin-2-ones with 1H-indole in dichloromethane at room temperature to afford 3,3-di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones in 2-3 min with high yields.     

Evaluation of Acid Dissociation Constants in DMSO and DMF by Quantum-Chemical Methods

We have calculated total electronic energies (E) and Gibbs energies (G) of a large number of acids and their anions in water, dimethylsulfoxide, and dimethylformamide using the hybrid B3LYP functional DFT method in the 6-31++G(d,p) basis set, taking into account the solvent effect by the conductor-like polarizable continuum model method. A linear correlation has been found between the experimental values of acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of different nature and the difference between anion and acid E values, and between pK_a and the difference between anion and acid G values. The obtained correlations allowed us to evaluate the pK_a values of both inorganic and organic acids. Such an evaluation is of special importance for nonaqueous solvents as it is quite problematic to determine these dissociation constants.     

Synthesis of Bisthiacalix[4]arene: Reaction of Piperazine with Monoacrylamide Derivative of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butylthiacalix[4]arene

The reaction of acryloyl chloride with the monoamine derivative of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene was used to synthesize p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene monoacrylamide in the 1,3-alternate conformation. The effect of the nature of the amine on the result of its Michael reaction with the synthesized p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene monoacrylamide was studied. The latter was reacted with piperazine to obtain bisthiacalix[4]arene with the macrocyclic fragments in the 1,3-alternate conformation.     

Reaction of 3-carene with perfluoroalkanoic acids

The addition of perfluoroalkanoic acids to 3-carene involves opening of the cyclopropane ring at the peripheral bonds with formation of a mixture of isomeric p-menth-1-en-8-yl and m-menth-1-en-8-yl perfluoroalkanoates. The reaction rate decreases as the length of the perfluoroalkyl radical of the acid increases. Trichloroacetic acid reacted with 3-carene at a lower rate than does trifluoroacetic acid, but the products are analogous p-menth-1-en-8-yl and m-menth-1-en-8-yl trichloroacetates.     

Formation of solvate structures by the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">meta</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-isomers of hydroxybenzoic acid in supercritical fluid

The solvate structures formed by the ortho-, meta-, and para-isomers of hydroxybenzoic acid (o-HBA, m-HBA, and p-HBA) with a polar co-solvent (methanol at a concentration of 0.030 and 0.035 mole fractions) in supercritical carbon dioxide at a constant density of 0.7 g/cm³ and temperatures of 318 and 328 K have been studied by the classic molecular dynamics. It has been determined that a stable hydrogen-bonded complex with the co-solvent forms via the hydrogen of the carboxyl group for all isomers. The probability of this complex existence is high at all temperatures and concentrations. In the o-HBA molecule, the other functional groups are engaged in the intramolecular hydrogen bond, but not involved in interactions with methanol. It has been found that m-HBA and p-HBA can be involved in hydrogen bonds with methanol via hydroxyl hydrogen and oxygen atoms; they are characterized by the presence of one more co-solvent molecule (rarely, two molecules) in their solvation shell and intermittent formations/breakages of hydrogen bonds via other functional groups. These bonds are far less stable, and their formation is sensitive to change of temperature and co-solvent concentration. It has been concluded that the degree of selective solvation of m-HBA and p-HBA by co-solvent molecules is approximately the same, but the rate of structural rearrangements in the nearest environment of m-HBA is higher than that of p-HBA.     

Structure of the N-acetylpseudaminic acid-containing capsular polysaccharide of Acinetobacter baumannii NIPH67

Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) was isolated from a nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) NIPH67 and studied by sugar analysis, Smith degradation, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The CPS was found to contain 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-l-glycero-l-manno-non-2-ulosonic acid (di-N-acetylpseudaminic acid, Pse5Ac7Ac), and the structure of the linear trisaccharide repeating unit of the CPS was established as →4)-α-Psep5Ac7Ac-(2→6)-β-d-Galp-(1→3)-α-d-GalpNAc-(1→. The genetic content of the capsule biosynthesis cluster of A. baumannii NIPH67, designated KL33, is consistent with the established CPS structure, and thus the capsule of the investigated strain was assigned to K33 group. Functions of proteins including two glycosyltransferases encoded by the genes of the K33 locus were assigned based on the structure of CPS and by the comparison with related proteins of other capsular types of A. baumannii.     

Compounds of the menthane series. Synthesis of unsaturated primary alcohols with the <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-menthane skeletons

Precursors to terpene alcohols of the o- and p-menthane series (o-cimen-7-ol and o- and p-cimen-9-ols) were synthesized, and their reduction with lithium in ethylenediamine was studied. The reduction of o- and p-cimen-9-ols in the presence of isopropyl alcohol selectively afforded the corresponding 1,4-dihydro derivatives. Under analogous conditions, o-cimen-7-ol was converted into a mixture of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The reduction with lithium in ethylenediamine in the absence of isopropyl alcohol in all cases gave mixtures of menthene alcohols.     

A procedure for studying the sorption of ethanol vapor on a monomolecular Langmuir-Blodgett arachic acid film

The paper presents the results of studies of the sorption of ethanol from the gas phase by a monomolecular arachic acid layer deposited by the Langmuir-Blodgett method onto the surface of a nickel substrate. Studies were performed using a working model based on a field-effect transistor. Sorption was accompanied by changes in the potential of the nickel substrate. The dependence of transistor current I _D on time t was related to the conditions of Langmuir-Blodgett film deposition. The value and characteristic time of signal variations as the atmosphere changed depended on the pressure of monolayer deposition and, therefore, monolayer phase state on the surface of water when it was transferred to the solid substrate. The experimental I _D (t) dependence was compared with the time dependence of arachic monolayer surface coverage with sorbent molecules calculated by the Langmuir model. The conclusion was drawn that the model was capable of describing the sorption of ethanol vapor by the Langmuir-Blodgett arachic acid monolayer at low partial pressures p ≤ 0.05p ₀, where p ₀ is the saturated vapor pressure.     

Synthesis and some transformations of polybrominated quinone diazides

The reduction of polybrominated o- and p-nitrophenols with granular tin in concentrated aqueous HCl gave polybrominated aminophenols which were diazotized with sodium nitrite in concentrated sulfuric acid at 0°C to obtain polybrominated o- and p-quinone diazides. Their thermolysis with elimination of nitrogen generated ketocarbenes which reacted with acetylacetone to form insertion products at the activated methylene group. Ketocarbenes generated from o-quinone diazides reacted with typical dipolarophiles such as acetonitrile, benzonitrile, styrene, and phenylacetylene to afford the corresponding [3 + 2]-cycloaddition products.     

Amperometric detection of chloramine-T based on its reaction with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-aminophenylboronic acid

The authors describe a method for amperometric determination of chloramine-T that is based on the indirect detection of chloramine-T by detecting p-quinone imine (p-QI) that is generated by oxidation of p-aminophenylboronic acid by chloramine-T. p-QI can be detected with excellent selectivity and at low potential by using a glassy carbon electrode. Hence, the method displays attractive features such as high sensitivity, wide detection range and excellent selectivity. The electrode has two linear responses in the 50 nM to 100 μM concentration range and a 6 nM detection limit. Compared to other electrochemical methods, this assay has a detection limit that is better by three orders of magnitude. The relative standard deviation is 3.4% for the determination of 10 μM of the medical chloramine-T sample, and the recovery of a samples containing chloramine-T at a level of 10 μM is 115%.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract Highly sensitive electrochemical detection of chloramine-T is achieved based on the reaction of chloramine-T with p-aminophenylboronic acid with a detection limit of 6 nM.

     

Resonant photoemission and absorption spectroscopy study of the Cu<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>TiSe<Subscript>2</Subscript> electronic structure

The Cu3p and Cu2p resonance photoelectron spectra of the valence bands and core levels as well as Ti and CuL _2,3 absorption spectra for monocrystals 1T-Cu _x TiSe₂ were studied. The valence spectra obtained at Cu3p and Cu2p resonance drastically differ from each other. For Cu 3p-3d resonance, there are several bands corresponding to different channels of excited state decay. Spectra of the valence bands at Cu 2p-3d resonance are virtually identical to the spectra of pure TiSe₂. As follows from the absorption spectra, titanium atoms have the oxidation state 4+, whereas copper atoms are close to the free ion state.     

Power consumption for an agitated vessel equipped with pitched blade turbine and short baffles

Power characteristics for an agitated vessel equipped with planar short baffles of length L and pitched blade turbine of pitch β are presented in the paper. The studies were carried out in the vessel of inner diameter D = 0.6 m, where the baffles were located in the distance p from the vessel bottom (p + L = H). Torque was measured using strain gauge method within the turbulent regime of the flow of Newtonian liquid in the agitated vessel. The effects of the pitch β and geometrical parameter p/H on the power number Ne were determined mathematically. The results showed that, for the assumed value of the angle β, the function Ne = f (L/H) decreases with the decrease in the baffle length L (i.e. with the increase in the parameter p). Moreover, for the assumed value of the baffle length L, the function Ne = f (β) increases with the increase in the angle β of the inclination of the impeller blade.     

Conducting materials prepared by the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

p-Phenylenediamine was oxidized with p-benzoquinone in the aqueous solutions of methanesulfonic acid (MSA). The conductivity of the products increased with increasing concentration of MSA from 1.5?×?10^?12 S cm^?1 in 0.1 M MSA up to 3.4?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 in 5 M MSA. The low-molecular-weight products are basically composed of one p-benzoquinone and two p-phenylenediamine molecules. Their molecular structure is discussed on the basis of mass, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman, NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The formation of 2,5-di(p-phenylenediamine)-p-benzoquinone protonated with methanesulfonic acid best complies with the information provided by spectroscopic techniques. Its conversion to hydroquinone tautomer explains the formation of unpaired spins observed by EPR and their potential contribution to the conduction.     

New acetaminophen amperometric sensor based on ferrocenyl dendrimers deposited onto Pt nanoparticles

In this work, the electrocatalytical properties and kinetic characteristics of new electrodes modified with Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) and three generations of ferrocene functionalized dendrimers have been investigated as new acetaminophen amperometric sensors. The catalytic synergy of PtNPs with the ferrocene groups is discussed in relation to the ferrocenyl dendrimer generation and their properties. The modified electrodes show excellent catalytic responses toward the oxidation of acetaminophen, with good reproducibility. The overpotential for oxidation of acetaminophen at pH 7 is decreased, and the current response significantly enhanced. The best dendrimer/PtNPs/Pt electrode shows several wide linear concentration ranges for the acetaminophen oxidation from 0 to beyond 17 mM. At 0.5 V vs. SCE, the first linear range extends from 0 to 100 μM (y = 0.0131x ? 0.0028; R ² = 0.9996) and the last from 10 mM to at least 17 mM (y = 0.0024x + 26.6; R ² = 0.9977). This fact turns the developed acetaminophen sensor in the device with the widest application range. In addition, the sensor allows measuring acetaminophen in the presence of interfering substances as glucose, dopamine, uric acid, and ascorbic acid, and it has been successfully applied to the determination of acetaminophen in three pharmaceutical formulations.