Spectrophotometric determination of zinc in copper-base alloys with TAN

TAN reacts with zinc(II) forming a red complex with composition 1:2 Zn(II)-TAN and absorption maximum at 582 nm. Zinc can be determined with this reagent in the presence of Triton X-100, in the pH range 6.20-8.00 with a molar absorptivity of 4.5×10⁴ l/mol/cm Beer's Law was obeyed up to least 1.55 g/ml. Copper interference was eliminated with a mixture of thiosulfate and ascorbic acid and nickel separated by precipitation with dimethylglyoxime. The proposed method was used for zinc determination in several copper-base alloys and the results of analysis in comparison with certified values indicated that the procedure was accurate and precise. A derivative procedure is also proposed, allowing zinc determination with high sensitivity (5-400 ng/ml).     

Interference of ruthenium red analogues at photosystem II of spinach thylakoids

The effect of ruthenium red analogues on several thylakoid photosynthetic activities has been investigated. RR, RV, RRPh1, RRPh2 and Ph inhibit ATP synthesis and electron flow from water to MV (basal, phosphorylating and uncoupled) as their concentration increases, thus, they act as a Hill reaction inhibitor. They inhibit uncoupled electron transport through PSII from water to DCPIP and partially from DPC to DCPIP. However, these compounds do not affect uncoupled PSI electron transport from DCPIP to MV. Therefore, the target of interaction is at the level of OEC and the span P(680) to Q(A) for RR, RRPh1 and RRPh2. Chlorophyll a fluorescence studies corroborate the already found interference sites and may affect the disconnection between chlorophyll molecules within the LHCII and/or between antennae and RCs, or decreases the exciton to reach the RC and inhibition of PSII occurs. RRPh2 is six times more active than RR. Finally, Ph inhibits electron flow interacting at the level of Q(B).     

Preparation of an eight-membered sesquiterpene lactone resulting from sequential Gif System GoAgg(III) and MCPBA oxidation of (+)-10beta,14-dihydroxy-allo-aromadendrane

Studies aimed at a comparison of chemical, biomimetic (Gif system GoAgg(III))and enzymatic (CHMO) transformations of natural (+)-10beta,14-dihydroxy-allo-aromadendrane have led to preparation of an eight-member sesquiterpene lactone.     

Flow injection analysis: Rayleigh light scattering technique for total protein determination

A novel flow injection analysis (FIA) method with Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) detection was developed for the determination of total protein concentrations. This method is based on the weak intensity of RLS of bromothymol blue (BB) (3',3"-dibromothymolsulfonephthalein) which can be enhanced by the addition of protein in weakly acidic solution. A common spectrofluorimeter was used as a detector. It was proved that the application of this method to quantify the total proteins in real samples by using bovine serum albumin was possible. The RLS signal was detected at lambda(ex)= lambda(em)=572 nm. The linear range was 7.0-70.0 microg mL(-1), the detection limit was 3.75 microg mL(-1), the reproducibility was 5.5% (n=7), and the sample throughput was 26 h(-1).     

Atmospheric degradation of 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol: OH kinetics and UV absorption cross sections

The absolute rate coefficients for the reactions of hydroxyl radical (OH) with 2-butanol (k(1)), 2-methyl-2-butanol (k(2)), and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol (k(3)) were measured as a function of temperature (263-354 K) and pressure (41-193 Torr of He, Ar, and N(2)) by the pulsed laser photolysis/laser-induced fluorescence technique. This work represents the first absolute determination of k(1)(-)k(3) and their temperature dependence. No pressure dependence of the rate coefficients was observed in the range studied. Thus, k(i)(298 K) values (x10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) with an uncertainty of +/-2sigma) were averaged over the pressure range studied yielding 8.77 +/- 1.46, 3.64 +/- 0.60, and 9.01 +/- 1.00 for 2-butanol (k(1)), 2-methyl-2-butanol (k(2)), and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol (k(3)), respectively. k(1) and k(3) exhibit a slightly negative temperature dependence over the temperature range studied. In contrast, the rate coefficient for the reaction of OH with 2-methyl-2-butanol (k(2)) did not show any temperature dependence. Some deviation of the conventional Arrhenius behavior was clearly observed for k(3). In this case, the best fit to our data was found to be described by the three-parameter expression k(T) = A + B exp(-C/T). The UV absorption cross sections of 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol have also been measured at room temperature between 208 and 230 nm. The values reported constitute the first determination of the UV cross sections of those alcohols. Our results are compared with previous studies, when possible, and are discussed in terms of the H-abstraction by OH radicals. The atmospheric implications of these reactions and the photochemistry of these alcohols are also discussed.     

Reductive elimination reaction of rhenium complexes trans-(η-C5Me5)Re(CO)2(chloroaryl)Cl

Thermal reaction of the chloroaryl-chloride complexes trans-(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Re(CO)₂(Ar^Cl)Cl (Ar^Cl = 3-ClC₆H₄, 3-ClC₆H₃(4-Me) and 3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃) in acetonitrile did not interconvert to the cis isomer, instead the complex ReCl(CO)₂(NCMe)₃ and the corresponding 5-Ar^Cl-1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene were formed. Similar reductive elimination products were obtained when the starting rhenium complexes were reacted with trimethylphosphite in toluene.     

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for lead determination by flow injection analysis with on-line preconcentration

A new flow injection (FI) system for the determination of Pb(II) at trace level with a preconcentration step and spectrophotometric detection is proposed. It is based on preconcentration of lead ions on chitosan and dithizone-lead complex formation in aqueous medium (pH 9). The chemicals and FIA variables influencing the performance of the system were optimized and applied to the determination of lead in natural, well, and drinking water samples. It is a simple, highly sensitive, and low cost alternative methodology. The method provided a linear rage between 25 and 250 μg l⁻¹, a detection limit of 5.0 ng ml⁻¹ and a sample throughput of 15 h⁻¹. The obtained results of spiked samples are in good agreement between the proposed method and ICP-AES.     

1,3-Dichloro-2-butene: a useful precursor for the 2-butene-1,3-dianion and its corresponding 1,3-dipolar synthon

The reaction of 1,3-dicloro-2-butene (1; 5:1 Z:E-mixture) with lithium powder and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 1% molar) in the presence of different electrophiles [EtCHO, PrⁱCHO, Bu^tCHO, c-C₆H₁₁CHO, Me₂CO, Et₂CO, (CH₂)₄CO, (CH₂)₅CO, (c-C₃H₅)₂CO, Me₃SiCl] in THF at temperatures ranging between −78 and −50°C gives, after hydrolysis with water, the corresponding products 2 in different Z:E-ratios depending on the electrophile used. Treatment of some diols 2 with hydrochloric acid gives dienic alcohols 3 or substituted dihydropyrans 4, depending on the structure of the starting diol. Finally, the same dichlorinated starting material is transformed into the corresponding allylic amines derived from morpholine and benzyl methyl amine and submitted to the same DTBB-catalysed lithiation as above, so after reaction with different electrophiles [Bu^tCHO, c-C₆H₁₁CHO, Me₂CO, Et₂CO, (CH₂)₄CO, (CH₂)₅CO, Me₃SiCl] and final hydrolysis with water, compounds 7 are isolated having a Z-configuration. A mechanistic explanation for this behaviour is given.     

Evaluation of different mediator-modified screen-printed electrodes used in a flow system as amperometric sensors for NADH

This work presents a comparative study between two different methods for the preparation of mediator-modified screen-printed electrodes, to be used as detectors in a reliable flow injection system for the determination of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) coenzyme. The best strategy was selected for the final development of compact biosensors based on dehydrogenase enzymes. For the first immobilisation strategy, different redox mediators were electropolymerised onto the SPE surface. The second immobilisation strategy was carried out using polysulfone–graphite composites, which were deposited by screen-printing technology onto the screen-printed electrode (SPE) surface. Both methods achieved an effective and reliable incorporation of redox mediators to the SPE configuration. Finally, a flow system for ammonium determination was developed using a glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH)-Meldola's Blue (MB)-polysulfone-composite film-based biosensor.

The stability of the redox mediators inside the composite films as well as the negligible fouling effect observed on the electrode surface improve the repeatability and reproducibility of the sensors, important features for continuous analysis in flow systems. Furthermore, the optimised bio/sensors, incorporated in a flow injection system, showed good sensitivities and short response times. Such a good analytical performance together with the simple and fast sensor construction are interesting characteristics to consider the polysulfone-composite films as attractive electrochemical transducer materials for the development of new dehydrogenase-based SPEs.     

Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid by Using a PVC/TTF‐TCNQ Composite Electrode as Detector in a FIA System

A PVC/TTF‐TCNQ composite electrode has been employed as detector in a flow injection system. The proposed method allows the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) in mixtures by using a FIA system in a simple manner, without pre‐treatment or modified electrode. This method is based on the amperometric determination of (a) ascorbic acid at 0.15 V and (b) both analytes at 0.35 V, being the response linear in the range 1×10^?2–4×10^?4 M for both analytes with detection limits (S/N=3) of 1.2×10^?4 M and 8.1×10^?5 M for AA and UA, respectively.