Pyrylium-containing polymers as sensory materials for the colorimetric sensing of cyanide in water

A sensory polymeric material for the colorimetric sensing of cyanide in water has been developed based on the reactivity of this anion with the pyrylium cation.     

Vibronic intensities in centrosymmetric coordination compounds of the rare earths Part II. A vibronic crystal field-closure-ligand polarisation model and applications to the PrCl6 and UBr6 complex ions in octahedral symmetry

A symmetry adapted formalism to evaluate the vibronic intensities induced by the ungerade vibrational modes in centrosymmetric coordination compounds of the rare earths is put forward and applied to several selected electronic transitions of the PrCl³⁻₆ and UCl²⁻₆ complex ions in octahedral symmetry. This current model is based upon a modified symmetry adapted version of the combined vibronic crystal field-closure-ligand polarisation approach. This model differs from that developed in Part I of this series, in that for the vibronic crystal field contribution to the total transition dipole moment, the closure procedure is employed rather than the utilisation of a truncated basis set for the central metal intermediate electronic states. A criterion is introduced to choose an appropriate set of phases for both the electronic and the vibrational coordinates so that to ensure the right sign for the interference term (which couples together both the vibronic crystal field and the vibronic ligand polarisation contributions to the total transition dipole moment). We have focused our attention on the modulation of the intermolecular force field and a version of a modified general valence force field has been adopted. The reasons for using this formalism rather than the superposition model (SM) are fully discussed in the text. Finally, it is shown that the agreement with experiment is satisfactory for most of the components of the transitions studied, despite the apparent simplicity of our model calculation. General master equations applicable to any f^N electronic configurations are derived to show the utility and flexibility of this current formalism.     

Size evolution of the vibrational predissociation process in Br2...Nen clusters: simulation and kinetic study

A hybrid quantum-classical simulation of the vibrational predissociation of Br2...Nen, (n = 2-11) clusters in the B electronic state is carried out. The time-evolution of the reactants, products, and intermediates is analyzed by a kinetic mechanism consisting of three elementary steps: direct vibrational predissociation (VP), intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR), and evaporative cooling (EC). The importance of intramolecular vibrational redistribution followed by evaporative cooling relative to direct vibrational predissociation is shown to increase rapidly with increasing cluster size. Final product state distributions reveal that only one or less Br2 stretching quantum per neon atom is required in order to achieve complete dissociation (n quanta for n < or = 9 and n - 1 for n = 10 and 11). The proportion of available energy going into translation is proposed as a parameter to study the statistical behavior of the Van der Waals clusters. It is shown to depend only on the number of remaining degrees of freedom, a characteristic of a statistical behavior, for n > or = 3.     

Developing an on-line derivatization of FAs by microwave irradiation coupled to HPLC separation with UV detection

The development of analytical methods for routine simultaneous identification and quantification of carboxylic fatty acids (CFAs) are required in different fields, such as, pharmaceutical cosmetics, food products and formulations of water–microemulsion–oil systems. Determination of CFAs has been developed mainly by gas chromatography (GC). As an alternative to GC, liquid chromatography (LC) has better sensitivity and selectivity. However, most CFAs show no useful absorption in ultraviolet–violet (UV–Vis) region, one of the more used detection technique in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In order to allow the use of UV–Vis detection, the use of pre-column derivatization has been reported to increase sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, establishment of a simpler and faster on-line method with complete separation is needed for the screening of large numbers of samples. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH.), benzoil chloride (BC), and phenylhydrazine (PH) were used for derivatization of different FAs by microwaves radiation (MW). After the on-line derivatization, products were separated and quantified by HPLC. Reactor coil was placed inside of microwaves oven at 450 W. Parameters as flow, amount of reagents, irradiation time, and chromatographic conditions were optimized. The continuous analysis using the MW–HPLC–UV system provided high sensitivity and reduced both the amount of reagent used and the analysis times. This proposed method can be used for the routine analysis of FAs contained in water–microemulsion–oil systems, to quantify the total acid fraction in each phase.     

Interfacial properties of self-organized TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes studied by impedance spectroscopy

The semiconductor properties of the interface TiO₂/electrolyte in high organized porous oxide structures were analyzed by means of impedance spectroscopy near the flat band potential. The impedance and capacitance studies performed on the as-anodized and thermally treated samples (anatase) indicate the presence of a duplex structure formed by (1) the oxide at the bottom of the pores and (2) the walls of pores with different donor densities and surface state concentrations.     

Palladium-arene interactions in catalytic intermediates: an experimental and theoretical investigation of the soft rearrangement between eta1 and eta2 coordination modes

A series of dichloro-bridged arylbicycloheptylpalladium complexes have been synthesized and characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy. The compound [(C16H19)PdCl]2*CH2Cl2 with ortho and para methyl substituents at the arene has been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction techniques. The C(ipso) atom of the arene lies almost at the fourth planar coordination site of the metal [Pd-C(ipso) = 2.22(1) A (average)], and due to the arene's tilting, the substituted C(ortho) atom is relatively close to the metal atom [2.54(1) A (average)]. The coordinated C(ipso)-C(ortho) linkage, in a seemingly dihapto coordination, is anti with respect to the CH2 bridge of the bicycloheptyl unit. Variable-temperature NMR experiments for the para-substituted dimer 9 reveal restricted rotation of the two aryl groups about the corresponding C-C(ipso) bonds (DeltaE < or =17 kcal x mol(-1)). DFT-B3LYP calculations have been carried out on the known and similar monomer (phenylbicycloheptenyl)Pd(PPh3)I (4) and its related substituted derivatives. The essential results are as follows: (i) The potential energy surface for twisting the phenyl ring away from the symmetric eta(1) coordination in 4 is very flat (DeltaE < or = 1 kcal x mol(-1)) whereas an Atoms in Molecules analysis excludes the existence of an actual Pd-C(ortho) bond in the seemingly eta2-type conformer. (ii) Complete rotation of the unsubstituted phenyl ring is not facile but feasible. A significant strain affects the transition-state structure featuring a Pd-HC(aryl) agostic-type bond. The calculated destabilization of 10.3 kcal x mol(-1), with respect to the ground state, can be compared to the experimental barrier of the dimer 9. (iii) Various methyl-substituted derivatives of 4 have been optimized, and their structural and energetic trends are discussed. An almost ideal eta1 coordination is shown by the anti conformer of the C(ortho)-substituted complex due steric effects. For all of the other cases, a slipped eta2 coordination may be described. As a general conclusion, the unsaturated metal center receives pi electron density of the arene mainly through its C(ipso) atom. The effect may be slightly improved if the C(ortho) atom also gets closer to the metal, but in no case, does the slipped eta2 coordination seem to be crucial for the stability of the system.     

Copper(II) complexes with 4-amino-N-[4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl]benzenesulfonamide. Synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties, EPR, and theoretical studies of a novel mixed mu-carboxylato, NCN-bridged dinuclear copper compound

New Cu(II) complexes of sulfamethazine (4-amino-N-[4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl]benzenesulfonamide, HL) [Cu(2)(CH(3)COO)(2)(L)(2)].2dmf (1) and ([Cu(L)(2)].2H(2)O)(infinity) (2) were prepared and structurally characterized. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 8.9486(9) A, b = 15.0956(12) A, c = 16.542(3) A, beta = 105.584(15) degrees, and Z = 2. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 13.8097(8) A, b = 14.5765(4) A, c = 13.7853(15) A, beta = 96.033(9) degrees, and Z = 1. In compound 1 two copper ions are linked by two syn-syn acetates and two nonlinear NCN bridging groups pertaining to the deprotonated sulfamethazine ligands. Each copper center presents a nearly square planar geometry. Magnetic susceptibility data for 1 show a strong antiferromagnetic coupling with 2J = -216.7 cm(-)(1). The EPR spectra at the X- and Q-band frequencies present the signals corresponding to the dinuclear entity, being the zero-field splitting parameter, D = 0.265 cm(-)(1). The antiferromagnetic exchange coupling is discussed using DFT calculations on some model compounds with NCN bridging ligands and also on model structures with mixed mu-acetato and NCN bridges. The copper in the polymeric compound 2 is five coordinate. The CuN(5) chromophore has a highly distorted square pyramidal geometry with small axial N-Cu-N angles of 65.53(14) and 59.90(13) degrees. In the structure a sulfamethazinate anion binds to one copper through the sulfonamido and pyrimidine N atoms and to an adjacent copper via the amino N atom.     

Carbon fiber cylindrical microelectrode-based detector for the determination of antithyroid drugs

An amperometric flow-injection method for the determination of antithyroid drugs such as 6-methyl-2-thiouracil (MTU) using a carbon fiber cylindrical microelectrode-based detector is reported. A home-made flow-cell specially adapted for working with cylindrical microelectrodes ranging between 4 and 10 mm in length was used for this purpose. Methanol containing 0.05 mol l(-1) tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as the supporting electrolyte was employed, and a potential of +1.6 V was selected for the amperometric detection of MTU. No cleaning or electrode surface regeneration of the fiber was necessary during the whole working day. A limit of detection of 2.6x10(-7) mol l(-1) (37 mug MTU l(-1)) was achieved. The method was applied to the determination of MTU in spiked feed samples (peas and corn flour), at the 142 mug g(-1) level. The procedure involved the extraction of the drug in methanol, a clean-up step using Florisil cartridges and the use of the standard additions method. Recoveries of 81+/-6 and 85+/-8% were obtained for peas and corn flour, respectively.     

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometric study of non-commercial C-4-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines and their oxidized derivatives

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the calcium-channel antagonists C-4-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines, and their corresponding N-ethyl derivatives, is presented. Also, the electrochemical oxidation and the reactivity of the compounds with alkyl radicals derived from 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) were monitored by GC/MS. Mass spectral fragmentation patterns for the C-4-substituted 1,4-dihydropy-ridine parent drugs were significantly different from those of their oxidation products, generated either by electrochemical oxidation or by reaction with alkyl radicals. However, for N-ethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine compounds it was not possible to detect the final products (pyridinium salts) using these experimental conditions.     

Second-generation mimics of ganglioside GM1 oligosaccharide: a three-dimensional view of their interactions with bacterial enterotoxins by NMR and computational methods

As a step to delineate a strategy of ligand design for cholera toxin (CT), NMR studies were performed on several mimics of the GM1 ganglioside oligosaccharide. The conformation of these analogues was investigated first in solution and then upon binding to cholera toxin by transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (TR-NOE) measurements. It was demonstrated that CT selects a conformation similar to the global minima of the free saccharides from the ensemble of presented conformations. No evidence of major conformational distortions was obtained, but one or two of the available conformers of the hydroxyacid side chain appear to be selected in the bound state. The NMR data were interpreted with the aid of computer models, generated and analyzed by using a combination of different approaches (MacroModels' MC/EM and MC/SD, Autodock, and GRID). Analysis of the NMR data supported by computational studies allowed us to interpret the experimental observations and to derive workable models of the ligand:toxin complexes. These models suggest that the higher affinity of the (R)-lactic acid derivative 3 may stem from lipophilic interactions with a hydrophobic area in the toxin binding site located in the vicinity of the sialic acid side chain binding region of the CT:GM1 complex, and formed by the side chain of Ile-58 and Lys-34. Thus, the models obtained have allowed us to make useful design suggestions for the improvement of ligand affinity.