Tetrakis(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzene)porphyrinato]manganese(III) acetate as a novel carrier for a selective iodide PVC membrane electrode.

[5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzene)porphyrinato]Mn(III) acetate (MnTDPAc) was applied as an ionophore for an iodide-selective PVC membrane electrode. The influences of the membrane composition, pH of the test solution and foreign ions on the electrode performance were investigated. The sensor exhibited not only excellent selectivity to iodide ion compared to Cl- and lipophilic anions such as ClO4- and salicylate, but also a Nernstian response with a slope of -59.4 +/- 1.2 mV per decade for iodide ions over a wide concentration range from 1.0 x 10(-2) to 7.5 x 10(-6) M at 25 degrees C. The potentiometric response was independent of the pH of the solution in the pH range of 2 - 8. The electrode could be used for at least 2 months without any considerable divergence in the potential. Good selectivity for iodide ion, a very short response time, simple preparation and relatively long-term stability were the silent characteristics of this electrode. It was successfully used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of iodide ions, and also in the determination of iodide from seawater samples and drug formulations.     

Kinetic study of the oxidation of ethanol by 3,4-lutidine chromium(VI) peroxide in dichloromethane solution

The oxidation kinetics of ethanol with 3,4-lutindine chromium(VI) peroxide (LCP) were investigated by monitoring the absorbance change at 565 nm in dichloromethane solution. The reaction had a first-order dependence on oxidant and a fractional (one half) dependence on reactant. The stoichiometric ratio between LCP and ethanol was 1 : 2. The activation parameters were determined from temperature dependence of the reaction rate. It was found that the cleavage of the peroxide groups of LCP is primarily responsible for the oxidant of ethanol to acetaldehyde. Based on the kinetic results obtained (including deuterium isotope effect) a plausible mechanism is proposed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

“Living” radical graft polymerization of styrene to styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)

Well‐defined graft copolymers with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) backbones and polystyrene branches were synthesized by living free radical polymerization (LFRP) techniques. Thus 1‐ benzoyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐(2′,2′,6′,6′‐tetramethyl‐piperidinyl‐1′‐oxy)ethane (BZ‐TEMPO) was synthesized and hydrolyzed to the corresponding 1‐hydroxyl derivative. This functional nitroxyl compound was coupled with brominated SBR (SBR‐Br). The resulting macroinitiator (SBR‐TEMPO) for “living” free radical polymerization was then heated in the presence of styrene for the formation of the controlled graft copolymer. ¹H‐NMR and IR spectroscopy were used to investigate the structure of the polymers. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitroxide mediated living radical polymerization of styrene onto poly (vinyl chloride)

Nitroxide‐mediated ‘living’ free radical polymerisation (LREP) was employed for the first time to prepare graft copolymer by having arylated poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC‐Ph) as a backbone and polystyrene (PS) as branches. The graft copolymerization of styrene was initiated by arylated PVC carrying 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) groups as a macroinitiator. Thus, the arylated PVC was prepared in the mild conditions and these reaction conditions could overcome the problem of gelation and crosslinking in polymers. Then, 1‐hydroxy TEMPO was synthesized by the reduction of TEMPO with sodium ascorbate. This functional nitroxyl compound was coupled with brominated arylated PVC (PVC‐Ph‐Br). The resulting macro‐initiator (PVC‐Ph‐TEMPO) for ‘living’ free radical polymerization was then heated in the presence of styrene to form graft copolymer. DSC, GPC, ¹HNMR, and FT‐IR spectroscopy were employed to investigate the structure of the polymers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bioavailability of essential trace elements in the presence of phytate, fiber and calcium

Summary Bioavailability and/or homeostasis of some essential trace elements such as zinc, iron, etc., in the presence of phytate, fiber and calcium are subject to alteration. These factors were measured in this study for Iranian diets in a frame of a Coordinated Research Project (CRP). However, the most prominent dietary factor in this regard is phytate. The phytate effect on zinc homeostasis is a chemical phenomenon dependent physiologically on pH in the gastrointestinal tract at or near the sites of absorption. Calcium is a synergistic coprecipitating factor in the complexation of zinc by phytate. Fiber has also a tendency to absorb insoluble compounds in gastrointestinal tract including zinc, iron and many other trace elements. One of the most known clinical observations regarding zinc deficiency was found in the rural area of the Fars province of Iran in the late 1950s at Shiraz University. However, the molar ratio of [phytate] : [zinc] and [calcium] [phytate] : [zinc] in Iranian Diets in a recent study are 7-17 and 150-800, respectively. The critical ratios of [phytate] : [zinc] of 10 or less will provide adequate zinc to sustain homeostasis.     

The Importance of Polarity/Polarizability Interaction on the Acidity Behavior of 9,10-Anthraquinone and 9-Anthrone Derivatives in Methanol-Water Mixed Solvents Using Target Factor Analysis and QSPR Approaches

The influence of solvent properties on acidity constants of some newly synthesized 9,10-anthraquinone and 9-anthrone derivatives was studied in methanol-water mixtures in a composition range of 0.57 to 1.0 methanol mole fraction. The model was established by using both multiple linear regression and target factor analysis. Both methods revealed that the solvent polarity/polarizability parameter ^* is a major factor in controlling the acidity behavior of the anthraquinones and anthrones studied in binary methanol-water mixed solvents. A QSPR study was conducted to drive the relationships between the ^* coefficient s and the polarity/polarizability of molecules. Both dipole moment and polarizability were found to have a linear relationship with s. The results confirm that, in the dipolar protic solvents used, the dipole-dipole interaction (for neutral molecules) and the ion-dipole interaction (for ionized molecules) are the major factors controlling the acidity behavior of these compounds.     

Specific Uphill Transport of Zinc as Zn(SCN)42− Ion using Na+-Dicyclohexyl-18-Crown-6 as Carrier

Sodium-dicyclohexyl- 18-crown-6 complex cation was used as carrier for the uphill transport of zinc as Zn(SCN)₄^2? complex anion. By using L-cysteine as a metal ion acceptor in the receiving phase at the optimized pH of 7.6, the amount of zinc transport through the liquid membrane after 90 min was 97.2 ± 1.0%. The selectivity and efficiency of zinc transport from aqueous solutions containing equimolar mixtures of Ag⁺, Cd²⁺ Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Pd²⁺, Sr²⁺, Bi³⁺, Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions was investigated. In the presence of NH₂OH.HCl as a suitable masking agent in the source phase, the interfering effect of Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions was diminished drastically.     

Tribromoisocyanuric Acid (TBCA) and Oxone®‐MX Systems as Oxidizing Agents: Oxidative Coupling of Thiols to Their Corresponding Disulfides under Mild and Heterogeneous Conditions

Tribromoisocyanuric acid (TBCA) and Oxone^®‐MX systems were used as effective oxidizing agents for the oxidation of thiols to their corresponding disulfides under mild conditions at room temperature with good to excellent yields.