Electrode processes in the oxidation of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives

The electrochemical oxidation of the alkaloid laudanosine (Ia) to O-methylflavinantine (II) has been studied in acetonitrile solvent. Using cyclic voltammetry, rotating disc voltammetry and preparative electrolyses on several alkaloids, simple aliphatic amines and aromatic compounds, some aspects of the mechanism of this coupling reaction are elucidated. The first anodic wave for laudanosine at platinum has E_p=0.55 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺. The electrode rapidly becomes partially passivated at potentials above 0.5 V. This is due to a film which “dissolves” below 0.5 V, at a rate independent of the potential. It is shown that the reaction (Ia)→(II) proceeds at 0.5 V by initial oxidation of the amine moiety. If acids such as sodium bicarbonate are added to the anolyte the amine is protonated causing the first wave to disappear. Oxidation at 1.1 V under these acidic conditions produces the same product, but more rapidly and in significantly higher yield because electrode filming and side reactions resulting from the amine oxidation are abrogated.     

Determination of Ultratrace Levels of Mercury in Three SRMs by Combustion RNAA

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) combustion method coupled with a neutron exposure normalization technique was used to determine low g/kg mercury levels in three National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). Two coals (sub-bituminous and bituminous) and a diet material were analyzed. The results obtained provided recommended values of approximately 5 g/kg for SRM 1548a Typical Diet, 24 g/kg for SRM 1635 Trace Elements in Coal (sub-bituminous), and 100 g/kg for SRM 1632b Trace Elements in Coal (bituminous).     

Biosynthesis of 4-methylproline in cyanobacteria: cloning of nosE and nosF genes and biochemical characterization of the encoded dehydrogenase and reductase activities

The biosynthesis of the unusual amino acid 4-methylproline in the Nostoc genus of cyanobacteria was investigated on the genetic and enzymatic level. Two genes involved in the biosynthesis were cloned and the corresponding enzymes, a zinc-dependent long-chain dehydrogenase and a Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C) reductase homologue, were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. Putative substrates were synthesized to test enzyme substrate specificities, and deuterium labeling studies were carried out to reveal the stereospecificities of the enzymatic reactions with respect to the substrates as well as to the coenzymes.     

Acyl- und Alkylidenphosphane. XXVII [I.]. Molekül- und Kristallstruktur des Methyl[(N-phenyl,N-tri-methylsilyl)thiocarbamoyl]trimethylsilylphosphans

Acyl- and Alkylidenephosphines. XXVII. Molecular and Crystal Structure of Methyl-[(N-phenyl, N-trimethylsilyl)thiocarbamoyl]trimethylsilylphosphine . Methyl[(N-phenyl, N-trimethylsilyl)thiocarbamoyl]trimethylsilylphosphine 1a formed via an addition of methylbis(trimethylsilyl)phosphine to phenyl isothiocyanate [1], crystallizes in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space group P2₁/n with following dimensions of the unit cell determined at a temperature of measurement of ?80±3°C: a=1041.2(4);b=1706.9(12);c=1001.1(6)pm; β=106.41(4)°; Z = 4. An X-ray structure determination (R_w = 0.039) confirms the constitution of the compound as already derived from its nmr spectra. One trimethylsilyl group is bound to the phosphorus atom, whereas the other is connected with the sp²-hybridized nitrogen atom. Characteristic rounded bond lenghts and angles are: P? Si 231, P? CH₃ 184, P? C(S) 187, C?S 167, N? C(S) 137, and N? Si 181 pm as well as P? C? S 122°, P? C? N 117°, and S? C? N 121°.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of ceramic components for solid oxide fuel cells

For the determination of trace impurities in ceramic components of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), some mass spectrometric methods have been applied such as spark source mass spectrometry (SSMS), laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Due to a lack of suitable standard reference materials for quantifying of analytical results on La _x Sr _y MnO₃ cathode material a matrix-matched synthetic standard-high purity initial compounds doped with trace elements-was prepared in order to determine the relative sensitivity coefficients in SSMS and LA-ICP-MS. Radiofrequency glow discharge mass spectrometry (rf-GDMS) was developed for trace analysis and depth profiling of thick non-conducting layers. Surface analytical techniques, such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and sputtered neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS), were used to determine the element distribution on surfaces (homogeneity) and the surface contaminants of SOFC ceramic layers.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Comparative studies of MCs+-SIMS and e–-beam SNMS for quantitative analysis of bulk materials and layered structures

For the quantification of heterostructure depth profiles the knowledge of relative sensitivity factors (RSF) and the influence of matrix effects on the measured profiles is necessary. Matrix dependencies of the measured ion intensities have been investigated for sputtered neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS) and MCs(+)-SIMS. The use of Cs as primary ions for SNMS is advantageous compared to Ar because the depth resolution is improved without changing RSFs determined under Ar bombardment. No significant amount of molecules has been found in the SNMS spectra under Cs bombardment. Using MCs(+)-SIMS the RSFs are matrix dependent. An improvement of depth resolution can be achieved by biasing the sample against the primary ion beam for SNMS due to a reduction of the net energy of the primary ions and a resulting more gracing impact angle.     

The determination of adsorbable organically bound halogens (AOX) in soil: interlaboratory comparisons and reference materials

The interlaboratory variability in the quantification of adsorbable organically bound halogens (AOX) in industrially contaminated soil is presented. Three consecutive rounds of a proficiency testing scheme, in which between 88 and 119 routine laboratories participated, yielded relative reproducibility standard deviations between 7 and 20% at AOX contents between 10.9 and 268 mg kg⁻¹. Nineteen laboratories with established proficiency were invited to participate in the certification of the AOX content in three soil reference materials meant for the internal quality control in analytical laboratories. The certified values are (1349 ± 59) mg kg⁻¹, (80 ± 7) mg kg⁻¹ and (102 ± 8) mg kg⁻¹, respectively.