Establishment of traceability of ammonium nitrogen determination in wastewater

A case study is presented for the establishment of traceability for ammonium nitrogen determination in wastewater in a routine laboratory in order to fulfil the requirements of ISO/IEC standard 17025. The necessary relevant information was obtained from the method validation data, the quality control data and equipment calibration certificates. The method of measurement is described together with the measurement equation, selected traceable reference standards and the associated measurement uncertainty. The major sources of uncertainty of the result of measurement were identified and the combined uncertainty was calculated. Identification of the main uncertainty sources represents the basis for target operations for reducing the measurement uncertainty of this determination.     

Synthesis, Chemical Characterization, and Molecular Structure of Au8{Fe(CO)4}4(dppe)2 and Au6Cu2{Fe(CO)4}4(dppe)2

The new Au₈{Fe(CO)₄}₄(P^P)₂ and Au₆Cu₂{Fe(CO)₄}₄(P^P)₂ (P^P=dppm, dppe) neutral cluster compounds were isolated in good yields by condensation of the [Au₃{Fe(CO)₄}₂(P^P)]^- anions with Au(SEt₂)Cl and CuCl, respectively, and have been characterized by IR, NMR and microanalyses. The molecular structures of Au₈{Fe(CO)₄}₄(dppe)₂ and Au₆Cu₂{Fe(CO)₄}₄(dppe)₂ have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Both molecules adopt a stereogeometry of the heavy atoms consisting of a triangulated and corrugated ribbon twisted around the elongation direction. Contrary to the expectations the latter displays the two copper atoms in the sites of highest connectivity. This implies that site exchange between copper and gold occurs during the synthesis.     

Laser microprobe mass spectrometry of quaternary phosphonium salts: Direct versus matrix-assisted laser desorption

The use of laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) for the structural characterization of thermolabile quaternary phosphonium salts has been evaluated. A comparison has been made between LM mass spectra obtained by direct analysis of “neat” organic salts and the corresponding “matrix-assisted” LM mass spectra. Main limitations of LMMS for the direct analysis of neat organic salts (i.e., no matrix) result from (1) formation of artifact ions that originate from thermal degradation and surface recombination reactions and (2) poor shot-to-shot reproducibility of the spectra. Dilution of the organic salts in a suitable, UV-absorbing matrix (e.g., nicotinic acid) significantly enhances the quality of the LM mass spectra. Improvements are: (1) an increase of the ion yield of preformed cations, (2) reduction or elimination of thermal decomposition and other deleterious surface reactions, and (3) a much better shot-to-shot spectral reproducibility. An interesting analytical feature is that these LM mass spectra, which contain only a few matrix peaks, can be obtained for subnanogram amounts of sample. The results also show that triphenylphosphonium salts with polycyclic aromatic substituents can be used as “molecular thermometers” to probe both the temperatures experienced by the sample molecules during the laser-induced desorption ionization process and the internal energies of the desorbed ion species. In this way, quaternary phosphonium salts can be used for evaluating whether improvements have been achieved by applying different sample treatments. Comparison of four different matrices (i.e., nicotinic acid, ammonium chloride, glycerol, and 3-nitrobenzylalcohol) indicates that the effectiveness of a matrix to reduce thermal degradation and to decrease the internal energies of the ions depends on the UV-absorption characteristics and the volatilization/sublimation temperature of the matrix material.     

Experimental and theoretical approaches to the study of the reactivity and mechanism of the substitution of phenyl 1-(2,4-dinitronaphthyl) ether with anilines derivatives

Reactions of aniline derivatives in dimethyl sulfoxide with phenyl 1-(2,4-dinitronaphthyl) ether yield aryl 1-(2,4-dinitronaphthyl) amine, which results in substitution of the phenoxy groups at the naphthyl ipso carbon atom. Rate constants were measured spectrophotometrically, and reaction proton transfer was rate limiting. The values of the rate coefficients indicate a rate-limiting proton transfer mechanism with significant substituent effects. The calculated activation parameters were of regular variation with substituents in 4- and 3-position in the aniline nucleophile, and the reaction proceeded through a common mechanism. Hammett's reaction constant showed that the reaction rate constants depend on the electron density of the nitrogen atom of aniline derivative, whereas the coefficient value obtained from the Brönsted relation indicated that the reaction was significantly associative and quite zwitterion like. Computational studies of the substitution were carried out based on density functional theory, and theoretical to the experimental agreement was achieved.     

A book of: “Hollow Fibers. Manufacture and Applications,” Jeanette Scott,editor, Noyes Data Corporation,flew Jersey, 1981, $54.00

ABSTRACT

Silicone-in-fluorocarbon-in-water double emulsions were prepared by controlling carefully the characteristics of the emulsions composed of silicone, perfluoropoly-ethoxymethoxy difluorohydroxyethyl ether (PFPE–OH) and fluorosurfactant. In the emulsion formulation, PFPE–OH incorporated had a great influence on the droplet morphology and the stability of double emulsions. Moreover, it was observed that among the fluorocarbons, the silicone-in-fluorocarbon-in-water double emulsions could be formed effectively in the presence of a fluorosurfactant. The double emulsions prepared in this study maintained their initial emulsion stability for a long time at high temperature, meaning great usefulness in the cosmetic industry.     

Taming Gold(I)–Counterion Interplay in the De‐aromatization of Indoles with Allenamides

A careful interplay between the π electrophilicity of a cationic Au^I center and the basicity of the corresponding counterion allowed for the chemo‐ and regioselective inter‐ as well as intramolecular de‐aromatization of 2,3‐disubstituted indoles with allenamides. The silver‐free bifunctional Lewis acid/Brønsted base complex [{2,4‐(tBu)₂C₆H₃O}₃PAuTFA] assisted the formation of a range of densely functionalized indolenines under mild conditions.     

Regiospecific Formation and Unusual Optical Properties of 2,5‐Bis(arylethynyl)rhodacyclopentadienes: A New Class of Luminescent Organometallics

A series of 2,5‐bis(arylethynyl)rhodacyclopentadienes has been prepared by a rare example of regiospecific reductive coupling of 1,4‐(p‐R‐phenyl)‐1,3‐butadiynes (R?H, Me, OMe, SMe, NMe₂, CF₃, CO₂Me, CN, NO₂, ?C?C‐(p‐C₆H₄?NHex₂), ?C?C?(p‐C₆H₄?CO₂Oct)) at [RhX(PMe₃)₄] ( 1 ) (X=?C?C?SiMe₃ ( a ), ?C?C‐(p‐C₆H₄?NMe₂) ( b ), ?C?C?C?C?(p‐C₆H₄?NPh₂) ( c ) or ?C?C?{p‐C₆H₄‐C?C?(p‐C₆H₄‐N(C₆H₁₃)₂)} ( d ) or Me ( e )), giving the 2,5‐bis(arylethynyl) isomer exclusively. The rhodacyclopentadienes bearing a methyl ligand in the equatorial plane (compound 1 e ) have been converted into their chloro analogues by reaction with HCl etherate. The rhodacycles thus obtained are stable to air and moisture in the solid state and the acceptor‐substituted compounds are even stable to air and moisture in solution. The photophysical properties of the rhodacyclopentadienes are highly unusual in that they exhibit, exclusively, fluorescence between 500–800 nm from the S₁ state, with quantum yields of Φ=0.01–0.18 and short lifetimes (τ=0.45–8.20 ns). The triplet state formation (Φ_ISC=0.57 for 2 a ) is exceptionally slow, occurring on the nanosecond timescale. This is unexpected, because the Rh atom should normally facilitate intersystem crossing within femto‐ to picoseconds, leading to phosphorescence from the T₁ state. This work therefore highlights that in some transition‐metal complexes, the heavy atom can play a more subtle role in controlling the photophysical behavior than is commonly appreciated.     

Motexafin gadolinium reacts with ascorbate to produce reactive oxygen species

Motexafin gadolinium (MGd) oxidizes ascorbate, in neutral buffer and in cell culture, forming reactive oxygen species and a coordination polymer with oxalate.