Investigation of the mechanisms of the action of chemical modifiers for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: what for and how?

Modern trends in the research of the action of chemical modifiers for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) are discussed critically. The most prolific approach is that of investigation of processes occurring during the drying and pyrolysis stages with wide application of data from different fields of chemistry and physics.     

The role of polar, lamdba (Λ)-shaped building units in noncentrosymmetric inorganic structures

A methodology for the design of polar, inorganic structures is demonstrated here with the packing of lambda (Λ)-shaped basic building units (BBUs). Noncentrosymmetric (NCS) solids with interesting physical properties can be created with BBUs that lack an inversion center and are likely to pack into a polar configuration; previous methods to construct these solids have used NCS octahedra as BBUs. Using this methodology to synthesize NCS solids, one must increase the coordination of the NCS octahedra with maintenance of the noncentrosymmetry of the bulk. The first step in this progression from an NCS octahedron to an inorganic NCS solid is the formation of a bimetallic BBU. This step is exemplified with the compound CuVOF(4)(H(2)O)(7): this compound, presented here, crystallizes in an NCS structure with ordered, isolated [Cu(H(2)O)(5)](2+) cations and [VOF(4)(H(2)O)](2-) anions into Λ-shaped, bimetallic BBUs to form CuVOF(4)(H(2)O)(6)·H(2)O, owing to the Jahn-Teller distortion of Cu(2+). Conversely, the centrosymmetric heterotypes with the same formula MVOF(4)(H(2)O)(7) (M(II) = Co, Ni, and Zn) exhibit ordered, isolated [VOF(4)(H(2)O)](2-) and [M(H(2)O)(6)](2+) ionic species in a hydrogen bond network. CuVOF(4)(H(2)O)(7) exhibits a net polar moment while the heterotypes do not; this demonstrates that Λ-shaped BBUs give a greater probability for and, in this case, lead to NCS structures.     

Determination of oil–water partition coefficients of polar compounds: silicone membrane equilibrator vs. SPME passive sampler

Experimental determination of oil-water partition coefficients often poses difficulties associated with emulsion formation. The aim of this work was to find an appropriate technique for determination of oil–water partition coefficients of polar, nonvolatile compounds. Two different methods were tested. The first method used a “silicone membrane equilibrator.” For the second method, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers with a polyacrylate (PA) coating were used as a passive sampler. With both methods, oil–water partition coefficients for 14 compounds with polar functional groups were determined at 37 °C with good repeatability (standard deviation 0.11 log units or lower). The partition coefficients determined with the silicone membrane equilibrator method ranged from 0.50 to 3.49 log units. The oil–water partition coefficients obtained with the PA-SPME passive sampling approach were significantly higher than those obtained with the silicone membrane equilibrator method for nine of 14 compounds. The differences were up to 0.39 log units (i.e., a factor of 2.5). Additional experiments suggested that this difference occurred because the sorption properties of the PA fibers used were influenced by the surrounding phase, e.g., through swelling of the polymer phase. Therefore, the SPME passive sampling method using PA fibers seems to be less reliable, whereas the silicone membrane equilibrator method was found to be a convenient technique for the determination of oil–water partitioning.     

Effect of organic modifiers on the capacity factor in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Organic modifiers were effective both to extend the migration time window and to improve the separation of very hydrophobic compounds in MEKC.An iteration method was used to determine the migration time of micelles.The quantitative relationship between the capacity factor k' and the concentration of organic modifiers was derived,which was investigated experimentally.The linear solvation energy relationships (LSER) methodology was applied to MEKC,and good linear relationships between Ink' and solvatochromic parameters of 15 solutes were obtained in the presence of organic modifier in different concentrations,which indicated a new access in MEKC to predict k' from the structural parameters of solutes.The effect of column temperature T on k' was also investigated.     

Thermodynamic properties of binary mixtures: Hexamethylphosphoric triamide + a polar liquid at 25°C

Excess enthalpies H _m ^E excess isobaric heat capacities C _p,m ^E , densities, and speeds of sound of hexamethylphosphoric triamide (HMPA)+acetonitrile (AN), + N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and + dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were measured at 25degrC. H _m ^E =–1200 J-mol^–1 for HMPA + AN, –180 J-mol^–1 for HMPA + DMF, and 75 J-mol^–1 for HMPA + DMSO C _p,m ^E is positive and considerably larger than C _v,m ^E . V _m ^E for HMPA + DMSO was small and changed sign from negative to positive around HMPA mole fraction x=0.6. V _m ^E for the other two mixtures were negative. The excess compressibilities, K _m ^E for the other two mixtures were negative. The excess compressibilities, K _S ^E and K _T ^E were similar to V _m ^E Presented at the Symposium, 76^th CSC Congress, Sherbrooke, Quebec, May 30-June 3, 1993, honoring Professor Donald Patterson on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.     

Thermodynamics of mixtures containing a very strongly polar compound: IV – application of the DISQUAC,UNIFAC and ERAS models to DMSO+ organic solvent systems

Binary mixtures of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) with alkane, benzene, toluene 1-alkanol, or 1-alkyne have been investigated in terms of DISQUAC. The corresponding interaction parameters are reported. ERAS parameters for 1-alkanol + DMSO mixtures are also given. ERAS calculations were developed considering DMSO as a not self-associated compound.

DISQUAC represents fairly well a complete set of thermodynamic properties: molar excess enthalpies, molar excess Gibbs energies, vapor–liquid equilibria, natural logarithms of activity coefficients at infinite dilution, or partial molar excess enthalpies at infinite dilution. DISQUAC improves UNIFAC calculations for H ^E . Both models yield similar results for VLE. In addition, DISQUAC also improves, ERAS results for 1-alkanol + DMSO mixtures. This may be due to ERAS cannot represent the strong dipole–dipole interactions present in such solutions.     

Synthesis and characterization of α,ω-disubstituted quaterthiophenes functionalized with polar groups for solution processed OTFTs

A series of soluble quaterthiophenes (4Ta-g) bearing ester groups in the α,ω-terminal positions separated from the quaterthiophene core by ethylene (4Ta-c), vinylene (4Td-f) or ethynylene (4Tg) spacers was synthesized by means of a Pd-catalyzed homocoupling of bithiophenes proceeding via C-H bond activation. The synthetic approach gave satisfying yields of 4Ta-f but resulted in only 3% yield of 4Tg due to the competitive hydrofluorination of the triple bond. The quaterthiophenes 4Ta-g were characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-vis, PL spectroscopies, HRMS, TGA and CV. Thin-films of 4Ta-g were deposited either by spin-coating or by thermal evaporation on Si/SiO₂ for the fabrication of top-contact OTFTs. The devices prepared using 4Ta-c bearing the ester functional group separated from the quaterthiophene core by an ethylene spacer showed average hole field-effect mobility up to 2.7×10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and up to 6×10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for solution processed and for thermally evaporated OTFTs, respectively. The remarkably high solubility of 4Ta-c, along with their respectable performances in OTFTs render these molecules promising for practical applications as active layers in chemically-sensitive devices.     

Azomesogens with polar chloro,nitro and phenolic –OH substituents

Two new mesogenic homologous series containing chloro, nitro and phenolic hydroxy groups were synthesised and their molecular structures characterised by a combination of element analysis and standard spectroscopic methods. The mesomorphic behaviour of the compounds of both series was investigated by polarising optical microscopy and, in some cases, differential scanning calorimetry. All the compounds of both the series exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase. In series I higher members also exhibit an enantiotropic smectic A (SmA) mesophase, whereas in series II the enantiotropic SmA mesophase commences somewhat earlier for the middle members. The mesomorphic properties of both series are compared with each other and also with the properties of other structurally related series to evaluate the effects of different polar substituents on mesomorphism.     

Application of LA–ICP–MS in polar ice core studies

The direct determination of element signatures in polar ice core samples from Greenland by laser ablation with subsequent inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis has been investigated. A cryogenic sample chamber enables the element determination in ice directly from the solid (frozen) state. A procedure was developed to analyse up to 38 elements (traces: Mg, Al, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and rare earth elements; minor constituents: Na) in ice samples from Greenland with a previously unachievable spatial resolution of 4 mm along the core axis. This resolution is helpful to detect seasonal variations of element concentration in thin annual layers of deep ice. We report operating conditions and analytical performance of the experimental set up, the improvement of signal stability by (17)OH internal standardisation and application of a desolvation unit. Calibration of the system was performed with frozen multielement standard solutions along a special preparation procedure. Detection limits for the tracers Na, Mg (sea salt), Al (mineral dust) and Zn (anthropogenic source) are 0.1-1 microg kg(-1). Best detection limits in the range of 0.001-0.01 microg kg(-1 )were reached for Co, Pb and all rare earth elements. To validate the method, frozen standard reference materials were measured. The recovery is about +/-10%. Greenland ice core samples from different ages were analysed with the new technique. The results obtained by laser ablation were compared with values from solution analysis, available published data and the particle content. Most elements have shown good correlation with the particle content in the Greenland samples; however, differences could be seen between the values obtained by laser ablation and solution bulk analysis after a tri-acid digestion. The influence of particles is discussed. The high spatially resolved 2D mapping of element concentrations shows strong inhomogeneities along the core axis most probably due to seasonal variations of element deposition.     

Nature of Cl···Cl intermolecular interactions via experimental and theoretical charge density analysis: correlation of polar flattening effects with geometry

The experimental charge density distribution in three compounds, 2-chloro-3-quinolinyl methanol, 2-chloro-3-hydroxypyridine, and 2-chloro-3-chloromethyl-8-methylquinoline, has been obtained using high-resolution X-ray diffraction data collected at 100 K based on the aspherical multipole modeling of electron density. These compounds represent type I (cis), type I (trans), and type II geometries, respectively, as defined for short Cl···Cl interactions. The experimental results are compared with the theoretical charge densities using theoretical structure factors obtained from a periodic quantum calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G** level. The topological features derived from the Bader's theory of atoms in molecules (AIM) approach unequivocally suggest that both cis and trans type I geometries show decreased repulsion, whereas type II geometry is attractive based on the nature of polar flattening of the electron density around the Cl atom.     

Spectroscopic studies of multiple charge transfer complexes of p-toluidine with π-acceptor picric acid in different polar solvents

The charge transfer complexes of the donor p-toluidine with π-acceptor picric acid have been studied spectrophotometrically in various solvents such as acetone, ethanol, and methanol at room temperature using absorption spectrophotometer. The results indicate that formation of CTC in less polar solvent is high. The stoichiometry of the complex was found to be 1: 1 ratio by straight line method between donor and acceptor with maximum absorption bands. The data are discussed in terms of formation constant (K _CT), molar extinction coefficient (?_CT), standard free energy (ΔG°), oscillator strength (f), transition dipole moment (μ_EN), resonance energy (R _N) and ionization potential (I _D). The results indicate that the formation constant (K _CT) for the complex were shown to be dependent upon the nature of electron acceptor, donor and polarity of solvents which were used.     

Accuracy of geometries: influence of basis set,exchange–correlation potential,inclusion of core electrons,and relativistic corrections

The geometries of a set of small molecules were optimized using eight different exchange–correlation (xc) potentials in a few different basis sets of Slater-type orbitals, ranging from a minimal basis (I) to a triple-zeta valence basis plus double polarization functions (VII). This enables a comparison of the accuracy of the xc potentials in a certain basis set, which can be related to the accuracies of wavefunction-based methods such as Hartree–Fock and coupled cluster. Four different checks are done on the accuracy by looking at the mean error, standard deviation, mean absolute error and maximum error. It is shown that the mean absolute error decreases with increasing basis set size, and reaches a basis set limit at basis VI. With this basis set, the mean absolute errors of the xc potentials are of the order of 0.7–1.3 pm. This is comparable to the accuracy obtained with CCSD and MP2/MP3 methods, but is still larger than the accuracy of the CCSD(T) method (0.2 pm). The best performing xc potentials are found to be Becke–Perdew, PBE and PW91, which perform as well as the hybrid B3LYP potential. In the second part of this paper, we report the optimization of the geometries of five metallocenes with the same potentials and basis sets, either in a nonrelativistic or a scalar relativistic calculation using the zeroth-order regular approximation approach. For the first-row transition-metal complexes, the relativistic corrections have a negligible effect on the optimized structures, but for ruthenocene they improve the optimized Ru–ring distance by some 1.4–2.2 pm. In the largest basis set used, the absolute mean error is again of the order of 1.0 pm. As the wavefunction-based methods either give a poor performance for metallocenes (Hartree–Fock, MP2), or the size of the system makes a treatment with accurate methods such as CCSD(T) in a reasonable basis set cumbersome, the good performance of density functional theory calculations for these molecules is very promising; even more so as density functional theory is an efficient method that can be used without problems on systems of this size, or larger.     

Thermodynamic parameters of SO2 dissolution in polar organic solvents at 295–323 K

The solubility of sulfur dioxide in N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, sulfolane, tributyl phosphate, and diethanolamine was measured in temperature range 295.15–323.15 K. Dissolution enthalpy and entropy were calculated from the solubility data. The interactions between solute and solvent are discussed. The obtained data are helpful for the development of sulfur dioxide removal technologies.     

Anion-π aromatic neutral tweezers complexes: are they stable in polar solvents?

The impact of the solvent environment on the stabilization of the complexes formed by fluorine (T-F) and cyanide (T-CN) substituted tweezers with halide anions has been investigated theoretically. The study was carried out using computational methodologies based on density functional theory (DFT) and symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). Interaction energies were obtained at the M05-2X/6-31+G* level. The obtained results show a large stability of the complexes in solvents with large dielectric constant and prove the suitability of these molecular tweezers as potential hosts for anion recognition in solution. A detailed analysis of the effects of the solvent on the electron withdrawing ability of the substituents and its influence on the complex stability has been performed. In particular, the interaction energy in solution was split up into intermonomer and solvent-complex terms. In turn, the intermonomer interaction energy was partitioned into electrostatic, exchange, and polarization terms. Polar resonance structures in T-CN complexes are favored by polar solvents, giving rise to a stabilization of the intermonomer interaction, the opposite is found for T-F complexes. The solvent-complex energy increases with the polarity of the solvent in T-CN complexes, nonetheless the energy reaches a maximum and then decreases slowly in T-F complexes. An electron density analysis was also performed before and after complexation, providing an explanation to the trends followed by the interaction energies and their different components in solution.     

Low-molecular-weight organoiodine and organobromine compounds released by polar macroalgae – The influence of abiotic factors

The influence of temperature, light, salinity and nutrient availability on the release of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons was investigated in the Antarctic red macroalgal species Gymnogongrus antarcticus Skottsberg. Compared to standard culture condition, an increase in the release rates of iodocompounds was generally found for the exposure of the alga to altered environmental conditions. Macroalgae exhibited higher release rates after adaptation for two months to the changed factors, than after short-term exposure. Monitoring the release rates during a 24 h incubation period (8.25 h light, 15.75 h darkness) showed that changes between light and dark periods had no influence on the release of volatile halocarbons. Compounds like bromoform and 1-iodobutane exhibited constant release rates during the 24 h period. The formation mechanisms and biological role of volatile organohalogens are discussed. Although marine macroalgae are not considered to be the major source of biogenically-produced volatile organohalogens, they contribute significantly to the bromine and iodine cycles in the environment. Under possible environmental changes like global warming and uncontrolled entrophication of the oceans their significance may be increase.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of tolane‐based liquid crystals with a fluorinated polar end group

Three series of tolane‐based liquid crystalline compounds with a fluorinated polar end group have been synthesized. Their phase transition temperatures were measured by texture observation in a polarizing microscope and confirmed by DSC. The all‐fluorinated trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy group have a tendency to promote the smectic A phase, but the difluoromethoxy group has the tendency to promote a wide nematic phase.     

Reaction of CH acids with 2-arylidenecycloalkanones: Synthesis of β-keto acid anilide derivatives of naphthalene,indene, fluorene,and phenanthrene

Summary 2-Arylidene-cyclohexanone1, -cyclopentanone2, -1-indanone3 and-1-tetralone4 react with acetoacetanilide5 yielding 2-oxo-4-aryl-3-carboxylic acid anilides derivatives of naphthalene7, indene8, fluorene9 and phenanthrene10. Reaction of1 and3 with benzoylacetanilide6 yields the corresponding Michael adducts11 and12.

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Reaktion von CH-Säuren mit 2-Arylidencycloalkanonen. Synthese von -Ketosäureanilid-Derivaten von Naphthalin, Inden, Fluoren und Phenanthren

Zusammenfassung 2-Arylidencyclohexanone1, -cyclopentanone2, -1-indanone3 und -1-tetralone4 reagieren mit Acetoacetanilid5 unter Bildung von 2-Oxo-4-aryl-3-carbonsäureanilid-Derivaten von Naphthalin7, Inden8, Fluoren9 und Phenanthren10. Die Reaktion von1 und3 mit Benzoylacetanilid6 ergibt die entsprechenden Michael-Addukte11 und12.