Amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide with a manganese dioxide film-modified screen printed carbon electrode

A carbon thick film electrode modified with an MnO₂-film is investigated as an amperometric detector for hydrogen peroxide in flow-injection analysis (FIA). At an operating potential of +0.48 V vs. Ag/AgCl catalytic oxidation of the analyte is exploited for amperometric monitoring. Experimental parameters, such as pH of the carrier, working potential, flow rate and injection volume, are optimized. The amperometric signals are linearly proportional to the concentration of H₂O₂ in the range from 0.005 to 10 mg/L, showing a detection limit (3σ) of 2.3 μg/L. The method is applied to the determination of H₂O₂ in rain water and to a simple assay to quantify glucose in human plasma.     

Cyclic Conjugation Energy Effects in Polycyclic π-Electron Systems

Summary. The fact that cyclic arrangements of double bonds have a dramatic effect on the behavior of conjugated organic molecules is known since the 19th century. The fact that in monocyclic conjugated systems the size of the cycle and the number of -electrons involved is decisive for their stability (aromaticity) or lack of stability (antiaromaticity) is known since the 1930s. In polycyclic -electron systems several cyclic effects are present simultaneously and their separation became possible only recently. A molecular orbital method has been elaborated, by means of which the energy effects of individual cycles in polycyclic -electron systems can be estimated. This method is briefly outlined and illustrated by pertinent examples. An exhaustive bibliography of the topic considered is given.     

Multicanonical schemes for mapping out free-energy landscapes of single-component and multicomponent systems

Multicanonical (MUCA) sampling is a powerful approach for simulating large domains of thermodynamic macrostate space that relies on mapping out either the density of states or a free energy of the system as a function of a suitable "order parameter." The purpose of this study is to extend and apply to more complex systems the method introduced in a previous paper [M. K. Fenwick and F. A. Escobedo, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 3066 (2004)] that uses Bennett's acceptance ratio method for estimating MUCA free energies. Four types of MUCA schemes are considered according to what order parameter is adopted and how the macrostate space is traversed: a la grand canonical ensemble, a la semigrand canonical ensemble, a la semigrand isothermal-isobaric ensemble, and a la isothermal-isobaric ensemble. Two types of systems are studied, the first is a two-component Lennard-Jones mixture that exhibits a vapor-liquid transition, and the second is a hard-cuboid containing system that exhibits an isotropic-liquid crystalline transition. These systems are simulated with different MUCA schemes and the resulting free-energy profiles are used to determine phase-coexistence conditions. For the Lennard-Jones systems, it is also demonstrated that different types of MUCA simulations can be conveniently performed over different macrostate regions and the results can be subsequently pieced together into a continuous weighting function.     

New class of potent catalysts of O2.-dismutation. Mn(III) ortho-methoxyethylpyridyl- and di-ortho-methoxyethylimidazolylporphyrins

Three new Mn(III) porphyrin catalysts of O2.-dismutation (superoxide dismutase mimics), bearing ether oxygen atoms within their side chains, were synthesized and characterized: Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-(2-methoxyethyl)pyridinium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTMOE-2-PyP(5+)), Mn(III)5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-methyl-N'-(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTM,MOE-2-ImP(5+)) and Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N'-di(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTDMOE-2-ImP(5+)). Their catalytic rate constants for O2.-dismutation (disproportionation) and the related metal-centered redox potentials vs. NHE are: log k(cat)= 8.04 (E(1/2)=+251 mV) for MnTMOE-2-PyP(5+), log k(cat)= 7.98 (E(1/2)=+356 mV) for MnTM,MOE-2-ImP(5+) and log k(cat)= 7.59 (E(1/2)=+365 mV) for MnTDMOE-2-ImP(5+). The new porphyrins were compared to the previously described SOD mimics Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTE-2-PyP(5+)), Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-n-butylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTnBu-2-PyP(5+)) and Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N,N'-diethylimidazolium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTDE-2-ImP(5+)). MnTMOE-2-PyP(5+) has side chains of the same length and the same E(1/2), as MnTnBu-2-PyP(5+)(k(cat)= 7.25, E(1/2)=+ 254 mV), yet it is 6-fold more potent a catalyst of O2.-dismutation , presumably due to the presence of the ether oxygen. The log k(cat)vs. E(1/2) relationship for all Mn porphyrin-based SOD mimics thus far studied is discussed. None of the new compounds were toxic to Escherichia coli in the concentration range studied (up to 30 microM), and protected SOD-deficient E. coli in a concentration-dependent manner. At 3 microM levels, the MnTDMOE-2-ImP(5+), bearing an oxygen atom within each of the eight side chains, was the most effective and offered much higher protection than MnTE-2-PyP(5+), while MnTDE-2-ImP(5+) was of very low efficacy.     

Comparison of standard capillary and chip separations of sodium dodecylsulfate-protein complexes

Conditions for converting a set of five standard proteins to electrochemically active sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) complexes were worked out with the aim of using such complexes for conductivity detection with a a chip electrophoresis system. The results obtained were compared with standard capillary electrophoresis (37 cm (effective length 30 cm)×75 μm I.D. capillary, 10 kV, negative polarity at the inlet). The chip separations were run at 500 V per chip (100 V/cm) as compared to the standard capillary arrangement, which was run at 266.6 V/cm. For the capillary set-up the protein complexes were prepared in aqueous solution (Milli-Q water) made 10 mM with respect to SDS. If the SDS concentration was increased to 50 mM, the separation in the capillary was incomplete. On the other hand with the chip system both approaches yielded acceptable results. The chip separations were slightly (but not distinctly) shorter and offered better separations than the standard set-up. The concentration of the surfactant used for the preparation the complexes results in alternations of the elution sequence, which is preserved if the chip separation is used instead of the capillary set-up. Apparently the full capacity of protein–SDS binding is not exploited for the preparation of the adducts.     

Low-dimensional Compounds Containing Cyano Groups. XIII. Structural–spectral Correlation of Copper Dicyanoargentates

The new mixed-valence mixed-metal complex Cu(py)₆Cu₂Ag₂(CN)₆ (py = pyridine) possesses a three dimensional polymeric crystal structure. The Cu(I) atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by two nitrogen atoms of pyridine molecules, by one nitrogen atom of the dicyanoargentate anion and by one carbon atom of the cyano group. Both the dicyanoargentate anion and the cyano group bridge the Cu(I) atom with neighboring Cu(II) atoms. These are hexacoordinated in the form of an elongated tetragonal bipyramid. The equatorial plane is formed by two nitrogen atoms from two pyridine molecules and two nitrogen atoms from bridging cyano groups. Axial positions are occupied by nitrogen atoms of the bridging [Ag(CN₂]⁻ anions. Correlation between structures of the title compound and seven other dicyanoargentates with their i.r. spectra has been studied. The coordination mode of [Ag(CN₂]⁻ anions in compounds Cu_8-xAg_x(tn)₃(CN)₁₀ x = 0.25, Cu(3-Mepy)₂Ag₂(CN)₄, Cu(py)₂Ag₂(CN)₄ and Cu(py)₄Ag₂(CN)₄ (tn is 1,3-diaminopropane, 3-Mepy is 3-methylpyridine) is predicted based on this correlation.     

Fast spatially localised electrooptical mode in vertically aligned nematic LCs with negative dielectric anisotropy

ABSTRACT

Electro-optical switching and the liquid crystal (LC) director distribution are studied in spatially periodic electric field for vertically aligned LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. Two electro-optical switching modes characterised by different switching times are observed. These modes are well distinguished optically by choosing proper geometry for the polarisers axes orientation. One of these modes is significantly faster as compared to the other. The fast switching is explained in terms of localised near-to-surface director reorientation. The 3D-numerical simulation shows very good agreement with the experiment: it points out the existence of the disclination lines and field-stabilised walls responsible for the localised director field switching and its relaxation. Possibilities of enhancing the fast mode for high-speed light modulators are discussed.     

Synthesis, characterization, and tautomerism of four novel copper(I) complexes from 3-hydroxy-3-(p-R-phenyl)-2-propenedithioic acids

The paper describes the synthesis and structural characterization of four novel copper(I) complexes [CuL(PPh(3))(2)] (L = 3-hydroxy-3-(p-R-phenyl)-2-propenedithioate). In addition, a tautomeric equilibrium in solution was found and Hammett correlations with (13)C NMR parameters were studied. The structure of one complex was fully established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Amphiphilic graft copolymers with poly(oxyethylene) side chains: Synthesis via activated ester intermediates—properties

Amphiphilic graft copolymers were synthesized via activated ester substitution of derivatives of fumaric acid with amino-functionalized methoxypoly (oxyethylene)s (MPEO-NH₂) of different molecular weights. The monomeric activated esters, isopropyl pentachlorophenyl fumarate (PCPFA) and isopropyl succinimido fumarate (SIFA), were copolymerized with styrene (St) or N-vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) at equimolar ratio. The polymeric-activated esters proved to be good precursors for grafting of definite amounts of MPEO-NH₂. The aminolysis of the succinimide esters and VP-containing copolymers proceeded with gel formation due to extensive hydrogen bonding. The hydrodynamic behavior, the emulsifying ability, the thermal properties, and crystallinity of the graft copolymers were studied as a function of their molecular characteristics. The length of the PEO grafts and the degree of grafting are the factors which affect the melting parameters and the crystallinity of the side chains. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.