Electroactive ligands: the first metal complexes of tetrathiafulvenyl-acetylacetonate

The reaction of tris(alkylthio)tetrathiafulvalene thiolates with 3-chloro-2,4-pentanedione affords tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) moieties substituted by the acetylacetone function (TTFSacacH), precursors of novel redox-active ligands: the acetylacetonate ions (TTFSacac). These TTFSacacHs have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses, and similar trends have been observed, such as a TTF core almost planar and the acetylacetone substituent located in a plane almost perpendicular to the plane formed by the TTF core. Their chelating ability has been demonstrated by the formation of the corresponding M(TTFSacac)2(pyridine)2 complexes in the presence of M(II)(OAc)2.H2O (M = Ni2+, Zn2+). These complexes with TTFSacac moieties, Ni(TTFSacac)2(pyridine)2, 6b, and Zn(TTFSacac)2(pyridine)2, 7b, have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses, showing in all structures the metal(II) center chelated by two TTFacac units in the equatorial plane and the octahedral coordination geometry around the metal completed by two axial pyridine ligands. Cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible-near infrared spectroscopic measurements have evidenced a sizable interaction between the two electroactive ligands and the stabilization of a mixed-valence state in the one-electron oxidized complexes.     

Oxidative dearomatization of phenols and anilines via lambda(3)- and lambda(5)-iodane-mediated phenylation and oxygenation

Treatment of 2-methylphenols with chloro(diphenyl)-lambda(3)-iodane led to their regioselective dearomatizing 2-phenylation into cyclohexa-2,4-dienone derivatives via a proposed ligand coupling reaction. In the same vein of investigation, treatment of 2-methylanilines with the lambda(5)-iodane 2-iodoxybenzoic acid IBX reagent led to their regioselective dearomatization into previously undescribed ortho-quinol imines.     

Neutron activation analysis of high purity Selenium: Determination of Bromine

Neutron activation analysis for 2–0.8 p.p.m. bromine in selenium was performed by irradiating i-g samples for 2 h at a neutron flux of 4.10¹¹ n/cm²/sec. The bromine was separated by a double precipitation technique as silver bromide to obtain adequate decontamination and the isotope ⁸²Br (T_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}=35.87 h) measured. Errors due to self-shielding in the standards and flux-depression in the selenium were calculated. Measurements on 2 different photopeaks were made to avoid errors from interfering isotopes.     

The determination of sulphur and phosphorus in steel by neutron activation analysis

Sulphur and phosphorus in steel were determined by neutron activation analysis, being counted as ³⁵S and ³²P respectively. For steels with sulphur to phosphorus ratios larger than 10, it seems possible to determine both elements by counting ³²P, making use of a double irradiation technique at different fast to slow neutron fluxes.     

Non-destructive neutron activation determination of silver and antimony in bismuth byγ.γ-coincidence spectrometry

A non-destructive neutron activation method was developed for the determination of silver and antimony in high-purity bismuth ; γ,γ-coincidence counting of ^110mAg or ¹²⁴Sb was applied. The activity of the matrix or other impurities did not interfere. When 1-g samples were irradiated at a neutron flux of 4·10¹¹ n cm^-2 sec^-1 for 25 days, the sensitivity of the method was in the p.p.b. region.     

Effect of Groundwater Composition on Arsenic Detection by Bacterial Biosensors

A luminescent bacterial biosensor was used to quantify bioavailable arsenic in artificial groundwater. Its light production above the background emission was proportional to the arsenite concentration in the toxicologically relevant range of 0 to 0.5 μM. Effects of the inorganic solutes phosphate, Fe(II) and silicate on the biosensor signal were studied. Phosphate at a concentration of 0.25 g L⁻¹ phosphate slightly stimulated the light emission, but much less than toxicologically relevant concentrations of the much stronger inducer arsenite. No effect of phosphate was oberved in the presence of arsenite. Freshly prepared sodium silicate solution at a concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹ Si reduced the arsenite-induced light production by roughly 37%, which can be explained by transient polymerization leading to sequestration of some arsenic. After three days of incubation, silicate did not have this effect anymore, probably because depolymerization occurred. In the presence of 0.4 mg L⁻¹ Fe(II), the arsenite-induced light emission was reduced by up to 90%, probably due to iron oxidation followed by arsenite adsorption on the less soluble Fe(III) possibly along with some oxidation to the stronger adsorbing As(V). Addition of 100 μM EDTA was capable of releasing all arsenic from the precipitate and to transform it into the biologically measurable, dissolved state. The biosensor also proved valuable for monitoring the effectiveness of an arsenic removal procedure based on water filtration through a mixture of sand and iron granules.     

The simultaneous determination of silver,gold and mercury in high-purity lead by neutron activation analysis

A radiochemical method was developed to separate the group of the noble metals simultaneously from a lead matrix after irradiation with thermal neutrons. The resulting complex γ-spectrum was resolved by matrix calculus. Smoothing of the obtained data to determine the presence of small photopeaks among the background fluctuations, was done by convolution, based on a least squares approximation. The interference of antimony and bromine was studied. Amounts as low as 20–30 p.p.b. of Hg and less than 1 p.p.b. of Au were determined in the presence of up to 9 p.p.m. of Ag.     

The determination of oxygen in silicon by alpha and helium-3 activation analysis

A non-destructive analytical method for oxygen in silicon by both helium-3 and α-particle activation analysis was applied to different samples, containing 0.05–10 p.p.m. of oxygen. The accuracy and precision of the method were studied. For concentrations above 1 p.p.m., the average coefficient of variation is about 6% for α-activation and 13% for helium-3 activation. For concentrations of about 60 p.p.b., the corresponding figure is about 20%. The results of both methods, which agree within 8%, are compared to infrared analysis. The determination limit of the method is 4 p.p.b. for helium-3 activation and 22 p.p.b. for α-activation.     

Interferences in the determination of trace elements in high-purity tin

Reactor neutron activation analysis of antimony, indium and cadmium in high-purity tin is interfered with by nuclear reactions on the tin matrix. For a number of interfering reactions the cross-sections were determined. The following results were obtained:¹²²Sn(n,γ)^123mSn:σ_th=0.145 barn, I=0.79 barn;¹²²Sn(n,γ)¹¹³Sn:σ_th=0.52, I=25.4 barn;¹¹²Sn(n, 2n)¹¹¹Sn: microbarn;¹¹⁸Sn(n, α)¹¹⁵Cd: microbarn; and¹¹⁴Sn(n, p)^114m1In: microbarn.