Using second-order calibration to identify and quantify aromatic sulfonates in water by high-performance liquid chromatography in the presence of coeluting interferences

We used the Generalized Rank Annihilation Method (GRAM), a second-order calibration method, to quantify aromatic sulfonates in water with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) when interferences coeluted with the analytes of interest. With GRAM, we can quantify in only two chromatographic analyses, one for a calibration sample and one for the unknown sample. The calculated concentrations were not statistically different to those obtained when the chromatographic separation of the unknown sample was modified in order to completely separate the analyte from the interferences before univariate calibration. With GRAM, the concentrations are determined much more quickly because a complete resolution is not required.     

Technological quality determination of pharmaceutical disintegrant by DSC cooling and DSC photovisual

A number of disintegrants are available on the market. They improve tablets’ disintegration. The objective of this work is the comparison of the technological quality parameters of disintegrants using different analytical techniques. Three batches of disintegrants and their binary mixtures (water:disintegrants) were investigated. Cooling experiments were used from –30 up to 200°C. The data obtained showed calorimetric differences between the samples. In the binary mixtures water showed different crystallization behaviour from the one found in the literature. According to the results DSC technique helped the quality control of different disintegrants.     

Detection of banned meat and bone meal in feedstuffs by near-infrared microscopic analysis of the dense sediment fraction

In this paper we present an alternative method for detection of meat and bone meal (MBM) in feedstuffs by near-infrared microscopic (NIRM) analysis of the particles in the sediment fraction (dense fraction (d >1.62) from dichloroethylene) of compound feeds. To apply this method the particles of the sediment fraction are spread on a sample holder and presented to the NIR microscope. By using the pointer of the microscope the infrared beam is focussed on each particle and the NIR spectrum (1112–2500 nm) is collected. This method can be used to detect the presence of MBM at concentrations as low as 0.05% mass fraction. When results from the NIRM method were compared with the classical microscopic method, a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.87 was obtained. The results of this study demonstrated that this method could be proposed as a complementary tool for the detection of banned MBM in feedstuffs by reinforcement of the monitoring of feeds.     

Preferred orientation in filtercakes of kaolinite

The orientational order parameter of dense colloidal dispersions of plate-like particles as a function of volume fraction is measured using neutron diffraction. This non-invasive experimental approach directly provides the full particle orientation distribution from which the order parameters can be calculated. The orientation parameters are shown to be linked to the solids fractions of the cakes and the macroscopic permeability of the samples. However, this study suggests that, although orientation can be relevant for a given system, other factors can have a stronger influence, for example, the degree of dispersion or colloidal stability of the clay and may be the principle factor that controls permeability. In addition, we report enhanced ordering of these materials under the influence of an external cross-flow field.     

Double domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder strategy towards bis-pyrano-1,4-benzoquinones

Several bis-pyrano-l,4-benzoquinones have been synthesized by a double domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder reaction. The synthetic approach is highly efficient allowing the construction of complex polycyclic scaffolds with six new σ-bonds. These reactions performed more efficiently and more rapidly using microwave irradiation. The resulting bis-pyrano-1,4-benzoquinones are the first examples of a double domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder reaction. Our approach represents a novel contribution to the chemistry of 2,5-dihydroxy-l,4-benzoquinones and the first general method for the synthesis of bis-pyranobenzoquinones.     

Multifunctionality in spin crossover materials

One of the most important trends in the spin crossover (SCO) field is focused on the synthesis of new molecule-based functional materials in which the SCO properties may be combined with other physical or chemical properties in a synergic fashion. The current stage of investigations regarding interplay and synergic effects between SCO, magnetic coupling, liquid crystalline properties, host-guest interactions, non-linear optical properties, electrical conductivity, and ligand isomerization is highlighted and discussed.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the dinuclear complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)-propionato-O,O′]bis(aqua)dicopper(II)}

Structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic data of a new dinuclear copper(II) complex with (±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionic acid are reported. The complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionato-O,O′]-bis(aqua)dicopper(II)} crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a = 14.149(1) ?, b = 7.495(1) ?, c = 19.827(1) ?, β = 90.62(1) and Z = 4. X-ray diffraction data show that the two copper(II) ions are held together through four carboxylate bridges, coordinated as equatorial ligands in square pyramidal geometry. The coordination sphere around each copper ion is completed by two water molecules as axial ligands. Thermogravimetric data are consistent with such results. The ligand has an “L” type shape due to the angle formed by the β-carbon of the propionic chain and the linked p-methoxyphenoxy group. This conformation contributes to the occurrence of a peculiar structure of the complex. The complex retains its dinuclear nature when dissolved in acetonitrile, but it decomposes into the corresponding mononuclear species if dissolved in ethanol, according to the EPR measurements. Further, cyclic voltammograms of the complex in acetonitrile show that the dinuclear species maintains the same structure, in agreement with the EPR data in this solvent. The voltammogram shows two irreversible reduction waves at E _pc = −0.73 and −1.04 V vs. Ag/AgCl assigned to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu° redox couples, respectively, and two successive oxidation waves at E _pa =− 0.01 and +1.41 V vs. Ag/AgCl, assigned to the Cu°/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox couples, respectively, in addition to the oxidation waves of the carboxylate ligand.     

Synthesis and characterization of the aqueous solution chemistry of the food-derived carcinogen model N-acetoxy-N-(1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,5-b]indol-3-yl)acetamide and its N-pivaloyloxy analogue

We report the synthesis of N-acetoxy-N-(1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,5-b]indol-3-yl)acetamide, 7, its N-pivaloyloxy analogue, 9, and improved synthesis of indole-2-acetonitrile, 3 (70% in five steps from indole-2-carboxylic acid), the carcinogenic amine Trp-P-2, 4 (40% from 3), and the nitro compound, 5 (40% from 4 by oxidation with H₂O₂ using Mo(CO)₆ catalyst). In aqueous solution at neutral pH, 7 primarily undergoes C-O bond cleavage to yield the hydroxamic acid, 8, but under the same conditions the sterically hindered 9 decomposes predominately by N-O bond cleavage with a pH independent rate constant that is 7.5-fold smaller than that for 7. In the pH range 0.5-7.0 three different processes for the decomposition of 9 were detected by kinetics. Only the process that dominates at neutral pH generates a nitrenium species that can be trapped by N₃⁻.     

Synthesis of hydrocarbons and alcohols from CO and H2 in the presence of CO-Rh catalysts

Catalysts of 4.5% Co- 0.1% Rh- 5:10% Cu/TiO ₂ display high activity in the synthesis from CO and H₂ of a mixture of hydrocarbons and alcohols at 250–300°C and pressures of 0.1–6.0 MPa; these catalysts are more selective than traditional Co catalysts with respect to alcohol formation.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1707–1709, August, 1990.     

Computationally-assisted approach to the vibrational spectra of molecular crystals: study of hydrogen-bonding and pseudo-polymorphism.

A new computationally-assisted methodology (PiMM), which accounts for the effects of intermolecular interactions in the crystal, is applied to the complete assignment of the Raman and infrared vibrational spectra of room temperature forms of crystalline caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. The vibrational shifts due to crystal packing interactions are evaluated from ab initio calculations for a set of suitable molecular pairs, using the B3LYP/6-31G* approach.The proposed methodology provides an answer to the current demand for a reliable assignment of the vibrational spectra of these methyl-xanthines, and clarifies several misleading assignments. The most relevant intermolecular interactions in each system and their effect on the vibrational spectra are considered and discussed. Based on these results, significant insights are obtained for the structure of caffeine in the anhydrous form (stable at room temperature), for which no X-ray structure has been reported. A possible structure based on C((8))--H...N((9)) and C((1,3))--H...O intermolecular interactions is suggested.