Metallic copper for the standardization of edta solution

The standardization of EDTA solution against metallic copper as primary standard is studied. Six indicators were examined; titration with PAN as indicator at pH 6 is recommended.     

Crystal structures ofcatena-[diligatocadmium(II) tetra-μ-cyanocadmate(II)] host clathrates: Diamminecadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-benzene(1/2), diamminecadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-aniline(1/2), ethylenediaminecadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-aniline(1/2), and a novel type bis(aniline)cadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-aniline(2/1)

The crystal structures of the four title clathrate compounds Cd(NH₃)₂Cd(CN)₄ · 2C₆H₆,I, Cd(NH₃)₂Cd(CN)₄ · 2C₆H₅NH₂,II, Cd(NH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂)Cd(CN)₄ · 2 C₆H₅NH₂,III, and Cd(C₆H₅NH₂)₂Cd(CN)₄ · 0.5C₆H₅NH₂,IV, have been analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. CompoundI crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupC2/c,a = 12.063(2),b = 12.174(2),c = 14.621(1) Å,β = 90.976(9)°,Z = 4,R = 0.042 for 2388 reflections;II: monoclinic C₂/c,a = 12.1951(9),b = 12.078(1),c = 14.6921(7) Å,β = 93.436(5)°,Z = 4,R = 0.039 for 2374 reflections;III: monoclinicCc,a = 11.027(1),b = 12.0767(9),c = 15.837(1) Å,β = 92.059(9)°,Z = 4,R = 0.041 for 2883 reflections; andIV: monoclinicP2₁/n,a = 15.169(2),b = 16.019(2),c = 8.866(1) Å,β = 95.73(1)°,Z = 4,R = 0.052 for 3612 reflections. The three-dimensionalcatena-[diamminecadmium(II) tetra-μ-cyanocadmate(II)] hosts ofI andII are substantially isostructural to that of the already known Hofmann-Td-type Cd(NH₃)₂Hg(CN)₄ · 2C₆H₆. The three-dimensional en-Td-typecatena-[catena-μ-ethylenediaminecadmium(II) tetra-μ-cyanocadmate(II)] host ofIII, reinforced by the catena-μ-en linking between the octahedral Cd atoms, accommodates the aniline as the guest with a monoclinic distortion from the tetragonal symmetry of the previously reported en-Td-type benzene clathrate. InIV dual behavior of aniline, one as the unidentate ligand in the three-dimensional host and the other as the guest in the cage-like cavity, has been demonstrated.     

Observation of an Unusual Molecular Switching Device. The Position of One 1,2-Dimethylimidazole Switched "On" or "Off" the Rotation of the Other 1,2-Dimethylimidazole in cis,cis,cis-Ru(II)Cl(2)(Me(2)SO)(2)(1,2-dimethylimidazole)(2)

Some cis,cis,cis-RuX(2)(Me(2)SO)(2)(1,2-Me(2)Im)L complexes [L = 1,2-Me(2)Im (1,2-dimethylimidazole) or Me(3)Bzm (1,5,6-trimethylbenzimidazole), X = Cl or Br, and Me(2)SO = S-bonded DMSO] have been synthesized and their rotamers studied in CDCl(3). From 2D NMR data, cis,cis,cis-RuCl(2)(Me(2)SO)(2)(1,2-Me(2)Im)(Me(3)Bzm) has 1,2-Me(2)Im in position "a" (cis to both Me(2)SO's and cis to "b") and Me(3)Bzm in position "b" (trans to one Me(2)SO and cis to the other). There are two stable atropisomers [head-to-tail (HT, 84%) and head-to-head (HH, 16%), defining the aromatic H of Ru-N-C-H as head for both ligands]. Me(3)Bzm has the same orientation in both atropisomers. In this orientation, the unfavorable interligand steric interactions of Me(3)Bzm with the Me(2)SO and 1,2-Me(2)Im ligands appear to be countered by favorable electrostatic attraction between the delta+ N(2)CH moiety of Me(3)Bzm and the delta- cis Cl ligands. The 1,2-Me(2)Im lacks a delta+ N(2)CH group, and its orientation is dominated by steric effects of the 2-Me group. The NMR spectrum of cis,cis,cis-RuCl(2)(Me(2)SO)(2)(1,2-Me(2)Im)(2) is consistent with four rotamers in restricted rotation about both Ru-N bonds: two HH and two HT. 2D NMR techniques (NOESY and ROESY) afforded complete proton signal assignments. The ligand disposition could be assessed from the large chemical shift dispersion of some 1,2-Me(2)Im ligand signals (Delta 0.86-1.52 ppm) arising from cis-1,2-Me(2)Im shielding modulated by deshielding influences of the cis halides. The relative stability of the four rotamers correlates best with steric interactions between the 2-Me groups and the Me(2)SO ligands. The most favorable conformer (46%) is the HH rotamer with both 2-Me groups pointing away from the Me(2)SO ligands. The least favorable conformer (14%) was also HH, but the methyl groups in this case point toward the Me(2)SO ligands. In the HT conformers of intermediate stability ( approximately 20%), one 2-Me group is toward and the other is away from the Me(2)SO ligands. The exchange cross-peaks in the 2D spectra are unusually informative about the dynamic processes in solution; the spectra provide evidence that the rotamers interchange in a definite pattern of succession. Thus, all conceivable exchange pathways are not available. 1,2-Me(2)Im "b" can rotate regardless of the orientation of 1,2-Me(2)Im "a". 1,2-Me(2)Im "a" can rotate only when "b" has the orientation with its 2-Me group directed away from "a". Thus, 1,2-Me(2)Im "b" can switch 1,2-Me(2)Im "a" rotation on or off.     

Precision control of the surface structure of gelatin films using micropit plates

We attempted to use micropit plates as a silicon mold in order to control the surface structures of gelatin films. The three-dimensional micropit plates, fabricated with micromachining technology, have uniform quadrangular or circular pits with side lengths or diameters from 25-400 microm and depths of 40 microm. The micropit plates were originally hydrophilic because of silanol groups on the surface. In order to facilitate peeling the aqueous gelatin film from the micropit plates, the plate was therefore modified with hexamethyldisilazane. Gelatin films with precisely microfabricated structures on the surfaces were obtained by using the modified micropit plates. The release behavior of the films with different surface structures was examined.     

Arg-72 of pharaonis phoborhodopsin (sensory rhodopsin II) is important for the maintenance of the protein structure in the solubilized states

In bacteriorhodopsin (bR), Arg-82bR has been proven to be a very important residue for functional role of this light-driven proton pump. The arginine residue at this position is a super-conserved residue among archaeal rhodopsins. pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR; or called as "pharaonis sensory rhodopsin II") has its absorption maximum at 498 nm and acts as a sensor in the membrane of Natronobacterium pharaonis, mediating the negative phototaxis from the light of wavelength shorter than 520 nm. To investigate the role of the arginine residue (Arg-72ppR) of ppR corresponding to Arg-82bR, mutants whose Arg-72ppR was replaced by alanine (R72A), lysine (R72K), glutamine (R72Q) and serine (R72S) were prepared. These mutants were unstable in low concentrations of NaCl and lost their color gradually when the proteins were solubilized with 0.1% n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside. The order of instability was R72S > R72A > R72K > R72Q > the wild type. The rates of denaturation were reduced in a solution of high concentrations of monovalent anions.     

Sensitive determination of bisphenol A and alkylphenols by high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization with 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole

A new and sensitive high-performance chromatographic method for the determination of bisphenol A and 8 alkylphenols with fluorescence detection is reported. Each phenol was derivatized by reaction with 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole at 40 degrees C for 60 min. The fluorescence derivatives were separated on a Wakosil 5C18 column (4.0 i.d. x 300 mm, 5 microm) with methanol:water (10:90) as mobile phase (detection wavelength: lambda(ex) 336 nm, lambda(em) 440 nm). The detection limits were in the range of 0.1-10.0 pg/mL in serum. The calibration graphs were linear to 1.0 microg/mL. The relative standard deviations were 7.2-8.9%, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of bisphenol A in mother and infant rat serum.     

Conformational studies of basic poly (α-amino acid)s in reversed micelles

The conformation of various basic poly (-amino acid)s was investigated by CD measurements in aqueous solutions containing bis (2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) as well as in the AOT reversed micelles. The addition of AOT into an aqueous solution of poly(L-lysine) induces the conformational transition from coil to ordered structure, followed by aggregation. On the other hand, poly(L-lysine) assumes-structure in the reversed micelles at low w_ovalue (w_o=[H₂O]/[AOT]). Similarly to poly(L-lysine), poly(L-ornithine) takes an ordered structure in the aqueous solution containing AOT and-structure in the reversed micelles. In this case, however, these ordered structures are not so stable, compared with that of poly(L-lysine). Poly(L-arginine) undergoes the conformational transition from coil to helix by addition of AOT into the aqueous solution. Further addition of AOT allows transformation into-structure. Copoly(L-lysyl-L-leucine) with 63% leucine residue was shown to take a stable helical conformation even in pure water. In the reversed micelles, however, this ordered structure is significantly changed probably because the hydrophobic interaction among the leucyl residues is lowered in the reversed micelles.     

N-Arylation of 4-fluoro-5-trimethylsilyl-1H-pyrazole

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of fluoro(trimethylsilyl)acetylene prepared in situ with an excess of diazomethane smoothly proceeded to give the corresponding 4-fluoro-5-trimethylsilyl-1H-pyrazole in 84% yield. The copper iodide-catalyzed N-arylation of the fluorinated pyrazole with a variety of aryl iodides afforded N-aryl-4-fluoropyrazoles as desilylation products in good to excellent yields.     

Isotropic transition behaviour of an amphiphilic di-block copolymer under pressure

The present work deals with the interactions between carbon dioxide, used as pressure medium, either in the gas state (GCO₂) or in the supercritical state (SCCO₂) and amphiphilic di-block copolymers PEO_m-b-PMA(Az)_n. The effect of pressure on the isotropic transition of the PEO_m-b-PMA(Az)_n copolymer was investigated using scanning transitiometry (ST). The experimental results were compared with those measured when using ‘relatively inert’ mercury (Hg) as pressure medium. Morphological observation of a PEO_m-b-PMA(Az)_n thin film submitted to SCCO₂ was performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the nano-structure organization. These results indicate the possibility of modifying the nano-structure in a specific way depending on the CO₂ physical state.     

Preparation of prolonged-release spherical micro-matrix of ibuprofen with acrylic polymer by the emulsion-solvent diffusion method for improving bioavailability

Prolonged-release spherical micro-matrices of ibuprofen with acrylic polymer (Eudragit RS) were prepared using a novel emulsion-solvent diffusion method. It was found by examining cross sections of the spherical matrix before and after dissolution tests with a scanning electron microscope and a porosimeter that the resultant micro-matrix had a sponge-like internal structure. The spherical matrices were successfully recovered with a relatively high concentration of the drug in ethanol (0.4-0.6 g/ml) and over a wide range of temperatures (5-35 degrees C). The size of the spherical matrix could be easily controlled by varying the agitation speed of the system and the concentration of emulsifier added to the aqueous medium. The drug release rate from the spherical matrix decreased with increasing concentration of polymer formulated due to the reduced diffusion path and increased tortuosity in the matrix. Spherical matrices with ibuprofen:Eudragit RS = 3:1 improved the bioavailability of the drug and prolonged the drug action in beagle dogs.