Chemiluminescence from the oxidation of urea and ammonia with hypobromite and N-bromosuccinimide

The spectral distribution for the chemiluminescent oxidation of ammonia with hypobromite is significantly different to that for the oxidation of ammonia with N-bromosuccinimide. Therefore, in contrast to the assumptions of several authors, the action of N-bromosuccinimide is not solely derived from the in situ formation of hypobromite. Neither the oxidation of urea with hypobromite nor the oxidation of urea with N-bromosuccinimide involves an initial hydrolysis of urea to ammonia in the alkaline solution. However, these two reactions lead to a common emitter. The addition of xanthene dyes, such as dichlorofluorescein, enhance the chemiluminescence intensity by energy transfer to the efficient fluorophore, but reaction between the sensitiser and hypobromite can result in a significant increase in the background signal. A list of potential interferences has been compiled; particular attention was paid to guanidino compounds, as the chemiluminescence accompanying the oxidation of this functional group has not been previously discussed.     

Comparative preparations of homoleptic hydridic anions of iron and ruthenium using solution-based organometal hydrogenation techniques

A study of the preparations of the complex hydridic anions [MH(6)](4)(-) (M = Fe and Ru) reveals a number of distinctive features. Here a soluble homoleptic ruthenium hydride has been prepared for the first time. For example, both FeX(2) and [Ru(eta(4)-1,5-COD)X(2)], X = Cl and Br, react with PhMgBr solutions under hydrogen to produce the title compounds. The benzene liberated in these reactions is more readily hydrogenated in the case of a homogeneous room temperature ruthenium hydride preparation to both cyclohexane and cyclohexene. The (1)H NMR spectroscopic data show that the two complex anions have hydride absorptions in the low-frequency region, delta -20.3 and -14.7, respectively. Further, (1)H spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) for M-H are longer in the case of Ru vs Fe.     

Luminescent Sensing with Quantum Dots

Summary This review highlights recent advances in the use of quantum dots (QD’s) as luminescent sensors. The bulk of the study concentrates on systems that possess organic ligands bound to the surface of QD’s. These ligands vary from low molecular weight thiols to larger molecules such as maltose binding protein. All have one thing in common: when a target analyte binds to the ligand/receptor, a perturbation of the system occurs, that registers itself as a change in the luminescence intensity of the QD. Two main mechanisms are prevalent in controlling the luminescent intensity in such systems. The first is Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) and the second energy transfer. This review looks at current sensors that operate by using these mechanisms. Two component systems are also investigated where a quencher is first added to a solution of the QD, followed by addition of the target analyte that interacts with the quencher to influence the luminescence intensity.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a new heterobimetallic coordination complex of barium and cobalt for use as a precursor for chemical vapor deposition

Ba(dmae)2 (dmaeH=N,N-dimethylaminoethanol, C4H11NO) reacts with Co(acac)2 (acac=2,4-pentanedionate) to produce the trinuclear coordination complex [Ba2Co(acac)4(dmae)3(dmaeH)] in an 85% yield. Spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments indicate that the complex possesses a structure in which two barium atoms and a cobalt atom are bridged by acac and dmae groups. The barium centers are eight and nine coordinate with BaO7N and BaO7N2 coordination spheres while the cobalt is a more regular CoO5N octahedron. This 2:1 heterobimetallic molecular complex was investigated as precursor for the deposition of thin film by AACVD. The film was characterized by SEM and XRD. TGA shows that the complex starts thermal decomposition upon heating in nitrogen atmosphere at 105 degrees C to produce barium cobalt oxide material of a Ba2CoO3 composition with an orthorhombic structure. The synthetic approach detailed here represents a unique route to the formation of a heterobimetallic barium cobalt coordination complex.     

Synthesis of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-Octaalkynylphthalocyanines and the Effects of Concentration and Temperature on Their (1)H NMR Spectra

The syntheses of 3,4- and 4,5-diiodophthalonitriles are described. Coupling of the latter compound with Pd(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2) and 1-octyne, 1-heptyne, 1-hexyne, 1-pentyne, and 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyne gave a series of 4,5-dialkynylphthalonitriles. Hydrogenation of 4,5-bis(1-pentynyl)phthalonitrile and 4,5-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butynyl)phthalonitrile gave 4,5-dipentylphthalonitrile and 4,5-bis(3,3-dimethylbutyl)phthalonitriles. Condensation of the dialkynylphthalonitriles with lithium 1-pentoxide in 1-pentanol gave 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octaalkynylphthalocyanines, while intervention of the intermediate dilithium phthalocyanines with zinc acetate gave the related zinc(II) phthalocyanines. (1)H NMR spectroscopy of these octaalkynylphthalocyanines exhibited large chemical shifts (1-2 ppm) of the internal and aromatic protons at concentrations ranging from 10(-)(2) to 10(-)(5) M and at temperatures from 27 to 147 degrees C. The effects of aggregation phenomena are discussed. The importance of reporting concentration and temperature values for NMR spectra of phthalocyanines is stressed.     

Electron-photon polarisation correlations in 140 eV electron impact excitation of helium

Electron-polarised photon coincidence techniques are used to determine linear and circular polarisation correlations from the differential electron impact excitation of the 2¹ P state of helium at an incident electron energy of 140 eV. At 30° and 45° electron scattering angles, all the Stokes parameters are determined, whereas at 52.5° onlyP ₂ is measured. Comparisons are made with the distorted wave (DW) calculations of Madison [11] and the first order many-body theory (FOMBT) of Cartwright and Csanak [4].     

Solution-processed anodes from layer-structure materials for high-efficiency polymer light-emitting diodes

The development of low-cost, large-area electronic applications requires the deposition of active materials in simple and inexpensive techniques at room temperature, properties usually associated with polymer films. In this study, we demonstrate the integration of solution-processed inorganic films in light-emitting diodes. The layered transition metal dichalcogenide (LTMDC) films are deposited through Li intercalation and exfoliation in aqueous solution and partially oxidized in an oxygen plasma generator. The chemical composition and thickness of the LTMDC and corresponding transition metal oxide (TMO) films are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology and topography of the films are studied by atomic force microscopy. X-ray powder diffraction is used to determine the orientation of the LTMDC film. Finally, the LTMDC and their corresponding oxides are utilized as hole-injecting and electron-blocking materials in polymer light-emitting diodes with the general structure ITO/LTMDC/TMO/polyfluorene/Ca/Al. Efficient hole injection and electron blocking by the inorganic layers result in outstanding device performance and high efficiency.     

A chemical inhibitor reveals the role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein in cell migration

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is a modulator of cell signaling that functions as an endogenous inhibitor of multiple kinases. We demonstrate here a positive role for RKIP in the regulation of cell locomotion. We discovered that RKIP is the relevant cellular target of locostatin, a cell migration inhibitor. Locostatin abrogates RKIP's ability to bind and inhibit Raf-1 kinase, and it acts by disrupting a protein-protein interaction, an uncommon mode of action for a small molecule. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of RKIP expression also reduces cell migration rate. Overexpression of RKIP converts epithelial cells to a highly migratory fibroblast-like phenotype, with dramatic reduction in the sensitivity of cells to locostatin. RKIP is therefore the compound's valid target and a key regulator of cell motility.