Modeling of iron adsorption on HTTA-loaded polyurethane foam using Freundlich,Langmuir and D-R isotherm expressions

The sorption of Fe(III) at low pH range from 1 to 4.5 on open cell polyether type HTTA-loaded polyurethane foam has been carried out using batch technique. The optimum shaking time for 2.5· 10^–4M solution of Fe(III) was found to be 30 minutes. The concept of macropore and micropore nature of polyurethane foam sorbent offers unique advantages of adsorption. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms are followed at low concentration range from 1·10^–4 to 3·10^–4M solution of Fe(III). The Freundlich constant (1/n=0.46±0.013 andK=9.16±1.39 mg·g^–1) and Langmuir isotherm constants(M=21.78 mg·g^–1 andb=88.41±9.731·g^–1) were established. The sorption mean free energyE=12.22±0.09 kJ·mol^–1 and loading capacityC _m =145.21±6.1 mg·g^–1 were evaluated using Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm, which suggested that the adsorption mechanism was chemisorption.     

Decomposition of Triethylamine Over Acid Catalysts

The effect of hydrochloric acid, boric acid, and silica content in alumina on its catalytic activity towards the decomposition of triethylamine was investigated at 310°, 320°, and 330°. The study was carried out in a flow system and the reaction product was analyzed chromotographically. Ethylene formation is a zero order reaction independent of the partial pressure of triethylamine. Treating γ-alumina with hydrochloric acid increases its catalytic activity towards ethylene formation whereas silica-alumina is less active than γ-alumina. Boric acid-treated alumina has the same activity of γ-alumina. Formation of ethylene from preadsorbed triethylamine was studied. The similarity between reactions of aliphatic alcohols and amines over acid catalysts is concluded.     

Synthesis of (R)-alpha-benzylmethionine: a novel rearrangement during alkylation of the Seebach (R)-methionine oxazolidinone

Alkylation of the enolate of the Seebach (R)-methionine oxazolidinone with benzyl bromide gave the expected benzylated product in low yield. The major product was a novel amine arising from oxazolidinone cleavage, decarboxylation, alkylation and finally hydrolysis. The rearrangement could be suppressed by using a more reactive electrophile or by using the N-Cbz instead of the N-benzoyl protecting group, and the required (R)-alpha-benzyl-methionine was obtained in 78% yield and in an enantiomeric ratio of 90:10.     

Quantitative determination of organochlorine pesticides in sewage sludges using soxtec,soxhlet and pressurized liquid extractions and ion trap mass–mass spectrometric detection

A new analytical method is described for the determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sewage sludges using GC-ion trap-MS–MS. In this work, 16 organo-chlorine pesticides (OCPs) listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) as priority pollutants were separated and quantified. Sludge samples from three of Kuwaits wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Spiked sludge samples were extracted with a mixture of (1:1 v/v) dichloromethane (DCM)/hexane. The extracts were cleaned on a silica/aluminum oxide column, then transferred to a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) column, before undergoing further silica/aluminum oxide clean-up; the presence of OCPs was then confirmed by GC-ion trap-MS–MS. Three extraction techniques, soxtec, soxhlet, and pressurized liquid extractions were utilized, compared and validated using the spiked sludge samples. The methods were validated in term of accuracy (recovery) and precision (RSD). The method recovery values varyied from 76.1 to 92.9% for the three extraction techniques.     

Heck reactions of 2-substituted enol ethers with aryl bromides catalysed by a tetraphosphine/palladium complex

cis,cis,cis-1,2,3,4-Tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane/[PdCl(C₃H₅)]₂ efficiently catalyses the Heck reaction of β-substituted enol ethers with aryl bromides. Employing β-methoxystyrene, 3-ethoxyacrylonitrile or methyl 3-methoxyacrylate, the regioselective α-arylation of these enol ethers was observed in all cases, and mixtures of Z and E isomers were generally obtained, which in many cases yielded a single ketone product after acid treatment. The stereoselectivity of this reaction depends on steric and electronic factors, and better stereoselectivities in favour of Z isomers were observed with electron-rich or sterically congested aryl bromides. Better yields were obtained for this reaction with electron-rich or sterically congested aryl bromides than with electron-poor aryl bromides. This observation suggests that with these β-substituted enol ethers the rate-limiting step of the catalytic cycle is not the oxidative addition of the aryl bromide to the palladium complex.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of chromium(III)-tetraoxalylurea complex by periodate

A novel chromium(III) complex of tetraoxalylurea was prepared. In aqueous solutions, [Cr^III(H₂L)(H₂O)]⁺ (H₂L = diprotonated tetraoxalylurea) is oxidized by IO ₄ ^– according to the rate law

Spectroscopic and structural analysis of Ca substituted La orthoferrite

Samples of orthoferrites La_1−xCa_xFeO₃ (0.15≤x≤0.45) were synthesized by double sintering ceramic technique. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy experiments were carried out and discussed for the investigated samples. The data showed the formation of single-phase orthorhombic structure of space group Pbnm. The FTIR spectra were performed in the region (1200–200 cm⁻¹). Four main absorption bands were present with some side bands and shoulders in the range (1200–400 cm⁻¹). Another four bands were appeared in the range (400–200 cm⁻¹). The positions, intensities and values of the absorptions bands vary depending on the Ca content in the samples. The first absorption band appeared at about 920 cm⁻¹ was assigned to the La–O stretching vibration.     

Synthesis, Characterization, Luminescence, and Electrochemistry of New Tetranuclear Gold(I) Amidinate Clusters: Au4[PhNC(Ph)NPh]4, Au4[PhNC(CH3)NPh]4, and Au4[ArNC(H)NAr]4

The syntheses and the X-ray structures of the tetranuclear gold(I) benzamidinate, Au₄[PhNC(Ph)NPh]₄, and the tetranuclear gold(I) acetamidinate, Au₄[PhNC(CH₃)NPh]₄, clusters are reported. The clusters are produced by the reaction of the sodium salt of an amidine ligand with the gold precursor Au(THT)Cl in a (1:1) stoichiometry. The average Au...Au distance between adjacent Au(I) atoms is ∼2.9 ?, typical of compounds having an aurophilic interaction. The four gold atoms are arranged in a square (Au...Au...Au... = 88–91°) in the acetamidinate and in a distorted square (Au...Au...Au... = 82–97°) in the benzamidinate derivative. Electrochemical oxidation of the tetranuclear complex Au₄[PhNC(Ph)NPh]₄ show three reversible waves at 0.87, 1.19, 1.42 V vs. Ag/AgCl at a scan rate of 100 mV/s in CH₂Cl₂ similar to the three reversible waves seen before from the tetranuclear complexes Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄-4-OMe, Ar = C₆H₄-4-Me, and Ar = C₆H₃-3,5-Cl. A summary of the chemistry of the tetranuclear Au(I) amidinate complexes Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄-4-OMe, C₆H₃-3,5-Cl, C₆H₄-4-Me, C₆H₄-3-CF₃, C₆F₅, C₁₀H₇ also is presented. The tetranuclear clusters Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄, Ar = C₆H₄-4-OMe, Ar = C₆H₄-3-CF₃, Ar = C₆H₄-4-Me and Ar = C₆H₄-3,5-Cl are the first tetranuclear gold(I) cluster species from group 11 elements to show fluorescence at room temperature. The lifetimes of the naphthyl and trifluoromethylphenyl complexes are in the millisecond range indicating phosphorescent processes. Recently it has been shown that Au₄[ArNC(H)NAr]₄ are very effective catalysts upon calcination for room temperature CO oxidation. Congratulations to Dieter Fenske, a superb synthetic chemist with exceptional talents in cluster chemistry, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Manufacturing of pH sensitive PVA/PVP/MWCNT and PVA/PEG/MWCNT nanocomposites: an approach for significant drug release

The purpose of this paper is studying the effect of incorporation of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) into two different nanocomposites in poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and PVA/Polyethylene glycol (PEG). MWCNT were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using acetylene and Fe/Co/Al₂O₃ as carbon precursor and catalyst, respectively. Nitric acid and sulfuric acid were used for purification and functionalization of MWCNT. Afterward, highly pure and functionalized MWCNT (0, 0.02, and 0.05% w/w) were incorporated in PVA/PVP and PVA/PEG to synthesize PVA/PVP/MWCNT and PVA/PEG/MWCNT nanocomposites hydrogel membranes that cross-linked by freezing–thawing. PEG and PVP were selected in these nanocomposites as dispersion matrix for MWCNT as well as for increasing the elasticity of the nanocomposites membranes. The morphology of the hydrogels was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and the mechanical properties of the hydrogel membranes were investigated. The swelling behavior in different pH-buffer solutions was studied as well as studying weight loss percentage and swelling kinetic. The drug releasing process of the hydrogel membranes was investigated using salicylic acid as a model drug. It was found that MWCNT are dispersed well into the polymers and crystallinity, mechanical properties and thermal stability of the hydrogels contain MWCNT are better than that without MWCNT. Maximum degree of swelling was observed at pH 7 and swelling degree increases with increasing the ratio of MWCNT in the hydrogels from 0.02 to 0.05%. All hydrogel membranes followed non-Fickian mechanism and drug releasing were controlled by varying the pH and amount of MWCNT.     

Preparation and application of functional polymers—II. Preparation of vinyl ethers and thioethers using polymer-supported phosphonium salts

Insoluble polystyryldiphenyl-methoxymethyl- and methylthiomethyl-phosphonium chlorides have been prepared by treating polystyryldiphenylphosphine with chloromethylmethyl-ether and thioether respectively. These reagents were used for the conversion under mild conditions of carbonyl compounds into vinyl-ethers and thioethers, otherwise difficult to obtain; yields are high and work-up is easy. Moreover, methyl and ethyl β-styryl ethers were also prepared from the polymeric phosphorane by treatment with formate esters.