New fluorescent probes for the detection of mixed sodium and potassium metal ions

A new fluorescent probe 2 is developed that is capable of measuring the concentration of a mixture of sodium and potassium ions in the solution. This probe contains a fluorophore that is utilized in two ways depending on the pH of the solution.     

Analysis of acyclovir by high performance capillary electrophoresis with on-column amperometric detection

The separation of acyclovir (ACV) by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) with on-column amperometric detection using alpha-amino-5-mercapto-3,4-dithiazole (AMD) as internal standard is described. The calibration line was linear in the range of 0.5-20 mg/L of ACV. The detection limit was 0.15 mg/L of ACV. Its recovery ranged from 98 to 101% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) from 1.9 to 3.2% (n = 5). This method was successfully used for determining ACV in some pharmaceuticals and human urine. Comparable results with HPCE with ultraviolet (UV) detection and amperometric detection were obtained.     

Study of the binding characteristics and transportation properties of a 4-aminopyridine imprinted polymer membrane

Molecularly imprinted polymer membranes containing artificial recognition sites for 4-aminopyridine have been prepared by photopolymerization using 4-aminopyridine as template. Reference membranes were prepared with the same monomer mixture but in the absence of the template. The binding characteristics of the imprinted polymer membrane were investigated by a batch method and the transport properties of the membranes were investigated using diffusion chambers. The results showed that the binding amount of 4-aminopyridine is higher than that of 2-aminopyridine whereas the latter can transport the 4-aminopyridine imprinted polymer membrane faster than 4-aminopyridine.     

A semi-rigid bis(imidazolyl) ligand for the construction of nanoscopic supramolecules. From the molecular rectangle to the 1D coordination polymer

Reaction of the semi-rigid ligand 2,4-bis(1-imidazolylmethyl)-mesitylene (m-bimms) with CdCl₂ afforded a boat-like molecular rectangle [Cd(m-bimms)Cl₂]₂ · 1/2H₂O (1), with the orientation of the two imidazolyl arms of the ligand in syn-conformation and bridging chloride ions bisecting the macrocycle. Weak Cl· · ·H—C interations further extended the dimers into 1D infinite chains with nanoscopic channels. An analogous reaction with Cd(NO₃)₂ gave a 1D coordination polymer [Cd(m-bimms)₂(NO₃)₂]_n · 2nH₂O (2) composed of nanoscopic metallamacrocycles, where the two imidazolyl arms adopt an anti-conformation. Different anions result in different ligand conformations and thus determine the varied molecular architectures.     

Amperometric biosensor for ethanol based on immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on a nickel hexacyanoferrate modified microband gold electrode

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) has been immobilized on a nickel hexacyanoferrate modified microband gold electrode surface by a glutaraldehyde/bovine serum albumin (BSA) cross-linking procedure to provide a new amperometric sensor for the assay of ethanol. The resulting enzyme electrode exhibits excellent electrocatalysis for the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The amperometric determination is based on the electrochemical detection of NADH which is generated in the enzymatic reaction of ethanol with NAD(+) under catalysis of ADH. The influence of various experimental conditions was examined for the determination of the optimum analytical performance. The sensor responds rapidly to ethanol with a detection limit of (5.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(-7) mol 1(-1). The response current increases linearly with ethanol concentration up to 5 mmol 1(-1). The sensor remains relatively stable for about 1 week.     

Chiral separation of anticholinergic drug enantiomers in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoretic (NACE) method for the separation of nine structurally similar chiral anticholinergic drugs was developed. The eight drug enantiomers were separated on baseline within 18 min using 20mM phosphoric acid and 10 mM NaOH, containing 10 mM heptakis(2,3-dimethyl-6-sulfato)-4beta-cyclodextrin (HDMS-beta-CD) in methanol. The results were compared with those obtained in the high performance liquid chromatography system.     

Topology evolution and gelation mechanism of agarose gel

Kinetics as well as the evolution of the agarose gel topology is discussed, and the agarose gelation mechanism is identified. Aqueous high melting (HM) agarose solution (0.5% w/v) is used as the model system. It is found that the gelation process can be clearly divided into three stages: induction stage, gelation stage, and pseudoequilibrium stage. The induction stage of the gelation mechanism is identified using an advanced rheological expansion system (ARES, Rheometric Scientific). When a quench rate as large as 30 deg C/min is applied, gelation seems to occur through a nucleation and growth mechanism with a well-defined induction time (time required for the formation of the critical nuclei which enable further growth). The relationship between the induction time and the driving force which is determined by the final setting temperature follows the 3D nucleation model. A schematic representation of the three stages of the gelation mechanism is given based on turbidity and rheological measurements. Aggregation of agarose chains is promoted in the polymer-rich phase and this effect is evident from the increasing mass/length ratio of the fiber bundles upon gelation. Continuously increasing pore size during gelation may be attributed to the coagulation of the local polymer-rich phase in order to achieve the global minimum of the free energy of the gelling system. The gel pore size determined using turbidity measurements has been verified by electrophoretic mobility measurements.     

Bridged bis-pyridinylimino dinickel(II) complexes: Syntheses, characterization, ethylene oligomerization and polymerization

A series of bridged bis(pyridinylimino) ligands were efficiently synthesized through the condensation reaction of 4,4′-methylene-bis(2,6-disubstituted aniline) with 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde or 2-benzoylpyridine. They reacted with (DME)NiBr₂ to form dinuclear Ni(II) complexes. All resultant compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra as well as the single-crystal X-ray diffraction to confirm the structures of ligands and complexes. Activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these nickel complexes showed considerably good activities for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization. Their catalytic activities and the properties of PEs obtained were depended on the arched environment of ligand and reaction conditions.