Synthesis, structures and spectroelectrochemistry of methyl-substituted bis(η-indenyl)iron(II) complexes

Several new methyl-substituted indenyl ferrocenes were prepared by metathesis reactions of the indenide (generated from the appropriate indene with BuLi) with ferrous chloride. The indenides used to prepare new ferrocenes were: 2-methyl-, 1,2-dimethyl-, 4,7-dimethyl-, 1,4,7-trimethyl-, and 1,3,4,7-tetramethyl-indenide. These indenyl ferrocenes, along with those prepared from indenide, 1-methylindenide, and 1,3-dimethylindenide, were then characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV/visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and mass spectrometry. The cyclic voltammetry showed an additive relationship between oxidation potential and the number of methyl groups which is also position-dependent, whereas the UV/visible spectra showed two absorptions essentially unaffected by methyl substitution. Additionally, bis(2-methylindenyl)iron(II) and bis(4,7-dimethylindenyl)iron(II) were characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

The Fermi doublet V2−V3 + V4 of CH3CN as a probe of molecular interactions

The Fermi doublet V₂?V₃ + V₄ of CH₃CN in basic, inert and acidic solvents has been studied by IR and Raman spectroscopy. The values of W, the Fermi coupling coefficient, obtained from IR spectra varies with the nature of the solvent while W evaluated from Raman data remains constant at 12.5 ± 0.5 cm^?1. The similar effects of Bronsted and Lewis acids on the band frequencies and intensities is evidence that the CN group complexes with acids via the N atom “n” electron pair and not the π bond.     

Determination of the amino acid tryptophan and the biogenic amine tryptamine in foods by the heavy atom induced-room temperature phosphorescence methodology

Very simple and selective methods are presented to determine the amino acid tryptophan (Trp) and the biogenic amine tryptamine (Tryp), both compounds with an indole-type molecular structure by the methodology named Heavy Atom Induced-Room Temperature Phosphorescence (HAI-RTP) which constitutes the first time that HAI-RTP has been used to detect compounds with non-naphthalenic structures in their molecules. Different variables affecting the phosphorescence signal (heavy atom perturber and sodium sulfite concentration) were carefully studied. The analytical curves give a linear dynamic range of 15-100 ng ml(-1) and a detection limit of 4 ng ml(-1) for Trp and 94-400 ng ml(-1) and 28 ng ml(-1) for Tryp. The methods have been successfully applied to the analysis of complex food matrices such as the presence of tryptophan in yoghurt and tryptamine in bottled beer. A single alkaline hydrolysis to release Trp from yoghurt proteins and two methods for extracting Tryp from beer samples are proposed and optimised. A total Trp content of 374 mg of Trp per kg of yoghurt was quantified by the standard addition method of calibration and a recovery of 90% was obtained for 250 ng ml(-1) of Tryp in spiked non-alcoholic beer samples.     

Synthesis of the ABC ring system of manzamine A

A synthesis of the core ABC ring system of the manzamine alkaloids is described, starting from arecoline. The key steps involve a Claisen rearrangement to set up a 4-substituted-3-methylenepiperidine and a stereoselective azomethine ylide dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Condensation of the aldehyde 6 and sarcosine ethyl ester hydrochloride salt gives an intermediate azomethine ylide, which undergoes an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction to set up two new rings and three new chiral centers stereoselectively. The aldehyde 6 was not a suitable substrate for related azomethine ylide cycloaddition reactions with other amines. However, the related dimethyl acetal 26 could be condensed with a variety of amines to give the desired tricyclic products. The cycloaddition reaction with N-methyl or N-allyl glycine ethyl ester gave almost exclusively the exo adduct, whereas cycloaddition with glycine ethyl ester gave the endo adduct.     

Fluorescence study of the solubilization of benzo[a]pyrene: application to its detection in coal washing waters

The solubilization of benzo[a]pyrene by organic solvents (dioxane, toluene and dichloromethane) and a surfactant (Triton X-100) was investigated. These media were successfully used for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene using fluorescence detection, with excellent limits of detection and large linear analytical ranges. Benzo[a]pyrene was detected in coal washing waters using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The stability of this compound in dioxane was also examined.     

Potential energy curves of diatomic molecules from the Hill determinant method

The Hill determinant method is shown to be suitable for constructing potential energy curves of diatomic molecules. Both the Dunham and the perturbed Morse oscillator potentials are used to fit spectroscopic data. Results are shown for ionic and covalent molecules.     

Revealing structural effects: electrochemical reactions of butanols on platinum

Spectroelectrochemical studies on the reactivity of butanol isomers on Pt electrodes in perchloric acid medium led to the observation of structural effects that result from the different arrangements of atoms in the organic molecules. The use of differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) to detect volatile products showed that all four isomers react on the electrode, though different product yields were observed for each compound. In spite of the differences in the electrochemical behaviour of the butanol isomers, a series of general processes accounts for the results obtained. The formation of strongly adsorbed residues by a dehydration process leading to the formation of a C=C bond was proposed for all isomers. Electroreduction of the adsorbates produces C(4) and C(3) alkanes, and the latter reveal the existence of a fragmentation process. The C(4) hydrocarbons can be formed by hydrogenation of these residues and by hydrogenolysis of alcohol molecules in the bulk solution which react at the electrode with adsorbed hydrogen. On the other hand, CO(2) is formed during electrooxidation of the adsorbed species. Partial-oxidation products containing a carbonyl group were detected from 0.2 M solutions of 1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol and sec-butyl alcohol. The tertiary alcohol tert-butyl alcohol only reacts in its adsorbed state.     

Automatic determination of total aliphatic amines by on-line photometric liquid-liquid microextraction

An automatic flow method for the determination of total aliphatic amines has been developed. Using an integrated micro extraction unit at the detection point that allows continuous on-line monitoring of small organic plug from which amines are extracted. It is based on the formation of ion-pairs between aliphatic amines and sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-5-sulphonate that are subsequently extracted into chloroform. The gradual enrichment of the organic phase with the ion-pair is continuously monitored at 460 nm. Absorbance readings at a fixed time and the slopes of absorbance-time recordings are the measured parameters used for determination purposes. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of total aliphatic amines in both synthetic and real (food) samples.     

Toxicity assays applied to wastewater treatment

The utility and validity of toxicity tests for monitoring of wastewater treatment have been assessed. The evaluated acute toxicity tests have been Vibrio fischeri, Selenastrum capricornotum and Daphnia magna tests. The validation studies indicated that the acute toxicity tests can be considered as high sensitivity analytical tools to detect common environmental concentrations of the pollutants at concentration levels as low as ng l⁻¹. The toxicity tests showed to have discriminatory ability to distinguish between different degrees of toxicity, and the toxic specificity of the compounds on target organisms. Synergistic, additive or antagonistic effects were evaluated indicating the capacity of the toxicity test to assess the combined effects of chemicals in wastewaters. The reproducibility of these tests, calculated as relative standard deviation, is acceptable in the range of 5-22.3%. The application of multivariate date analysis proved that toxicity and chemical measures are complementary analytical tools for monitoring of wastewaters quality. The toxicity tests are useful analytical tools for screening of chemical analysis and as an early warning system to monitor the treatment of WWTPs. The use of single toxicity test or battery of tests is the best approach to evaluate the risk because they are reliable indices of the toxic impact of effluents in the aquatic environment. The toxicity tests were applied in the quality control of different European WWTPs.