Laser light scattering of the molecular weight distribution of unfractionated phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether sulfone)

Two unfractionated samples of phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PES-C) were characterized in CHCl₃ at 25°C by applying a recently developed laser light-scattering (LLS) procedure. The Laplace inversion of precisely measured intensity–intensity time correlation function lead us first to an estimate of the characteristic line-width distribution G(Λ) and then to the translational diffusion coefficient distribution G(D). A combination of static and dynamic LLS results enabled us to determine D = (2.69 × 10⁻⁴)M^−0.553, which agrees with the calibration of D = (2.45 × 10⁻⁴)M^−0.55 previously established by a set of narrowly distributed PES-C samples. Using this newly obtained scaling between D and M, we were able to convert G(D) into a differential weight distribution f_w(M) for the two PES-C samples. The weight-average molecular weights calculated from f_w(M) are comparable to that obtained directly from static LLS. Our results showed that using two broadly distributed samples instead of a set of narrowly distributed samples have provided not only similar final results, but also a more practical method for the PES-C characterization. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Influence of Alkali Metal Ions on the Stability and Reactivity of Chromium(III) Superoxide Moieties Spanned by Siloxide Ligands

In recent years, it has become clear that the presence of redox-inactive Lewis acidic metal ions can decisively influence the reactivity of metal–dioxygen moieties that are formed in the course of O₂ activation, in molecular complexes, and metalloenzymes. Superoxide species are often formed as the primary intermediates but they are mostly too unstable for a thorough investigation. We report here a series of chromium(III) superoxide complexes [L₂Cr]M₂O₂(THF)_y (L=⁻OSiPh₂OSiPh₂O⁻, M⁺=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and y=4, 5), which could be accessed, studied spectroscopically and partly crystallized at low temperatures. They only differ in the two incorporated Lewis acidic alkali metal counterions (M⁺) and it could thus be shown that the nature of M⁺ determines considerably its interaction with the superoxide ligand. This interaction, in turn, has a significant influence on the stability and reactivity of these complexes towards substrates with OH groups. Furthermore, we show that stability and reactivity are also highly solvent dependent (THF versus nitriles), as donor solvents coordinate to the alkali metal ions and thus also influence their interaction with the superoxide moiety. Altogether, these results provide a comprehensive and detailed picture concerning the correlation between spectroscopic properties, structure, and behavior of such superoxides, that may be exemplary for other systems.     

Regulating the slow magnetic relaxation behavior of two different shapes Dy4 clusters with in situ formed penta- and heptadentate Schiff base ligands

The design and synthesis of clusters possessing the same number of cores but different connection methods and properties have always been difficult. Herein, we used 2-pyridinaldehyde, 1,3-diamino-2-propanol, and Dy (ClO₄)₃·6H₂O at room temperature (RT) to obtain the cluster [Dy₄(L¹)₄(μ₂-OH)₄]·4ClO₄⁻ ( 1 , HL¹ = 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde-1,3-diamino-2-propanol) with square Dy₄O₈ cluster cores. Cluster 1 consisted of four Schiff base ligands (L¹)⁻, four Dy(III) ions, four bridged (μ₂-OH)⁻, and four free ClO₄⁻. The ligand HL¹ was formed by in situ Schiff base reaction with 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol in the presence of Dy(III) ions. 2-Aldehyde-8-hydroxyquinoline, 1,3-diamino-2-propanol, and Dy (NO₃)₃·6H₂O reacted at RT to yield a tetranuclear Dy(III) cluster [Dy₄(L²)₂(μ₃-OH)₂(NO₃)₄(EtOH)₂]·2CH₃CN ( 2 , H₃L² = 2-aldehyde-8-hydroxyquinoline-1,3-diamino-2-propanol) with butterfly-shaped Dy₄O₆ cluster core. Cluster 2 consisted of two ligands (L²)³⁻, four Dy(III) ions, two bridged μ₃-OH, two end-group-coordinated ethanol molecules, and four bidentate-chelated NO₃⁻. The in situ reaction of 2-aldehyde-8-hydroxyquinoline and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol under Dy(III) ion-assisted catalytic conditions provided the ligand H₃L². It is worth noting that the magnetic test showed that 1 is a typical single-molecule magnet (SMM), whereas 2 only showed a significant frequency dependence behavior. We considered Orbach and Raman processes (τ⁻¹ = τ₀⁻¹ exp(−U_eff/k_BT) + CTⁿ) to fit 1 and 2 in the high-temperature range and obtained U_eff = 7.01 and 5.43 K and τ₀ = 1.18 × 10⁻⁴ and 4.14 × 10⁻⁵ s, respectively.     

Conformationally Locked Cyclo[2]Dipyrrins Linked with Anthracene Subunits: Synthesis and Chiroptical Properties

Herein, we report the synthesis of anthracene-containing twisted cyclo[2]dipyrrin 1 by utilizing a non-planar building block, 1,5-dipyrrylanthracene (1,5-DPA). The non-planar nature of the macrocycle enhanced the solubility and helped in structural characterization. Macrocycle 1 adopts a twisted ‘figure of eight’ conformation stabilized by strong intramolecular H-bonding interactions and exists as a pair of helical enantiomers, as revealed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. More importantly, the sterically locked structure enabled facile optical resolution using chiral HPLC. The (P,P) and (M,M) enantiomers show moderate chiroptical properties, such as absorption dissymmetry factors |g_abs| in the order of 10⁻³, and luminescence dissymmetry factors |g_lum| of 3.8×10⁻³ and 2.9×10⁻³ at 702 nm, respectively.     

NaMn6(P2O7)2(P3O10) and KCd6(P2O7)2(P3O10)

The crystal structures of two new diphosphates, sodium hexamanganese bis­(diphosphate) triphosphate, NaMn₆(P₂O₇)₂(P₃O₁₀), and potassium hexacadmium bis­(diphosphate) triphosphate, KCd₆(P₂O₇)₂(P₃O₁₀), confirm the rigidity of the M₆(P₂O₇)₂(P₃O₁₀) matrix (M is Mn or Cd) and the relatively fixed dimensions of the tunnels extending in the a direction of the unit cell. The compounds are isomorphous; the P₂O₇^4? anion and the alkali metal cations lie on mirror planes. Bond‐valence analysis of the bonding details of the atoms found within the tunnels permits a prediction of the conductivity.     

Field-Induced SMM Behaviour of Tetranuclear Coordination Clusters with a Cubane [Ni4O4] Core

Two tetranuclear Ni(II) complexes: [Ni₄(HL¹)₄] ⋅ H₂O ( 1 ) and [Ni₄(HL²)₄] ⋅ 1.5 dmf ( 2 ) where dmf=dimethylformamide, H₃L¹=4-(tert-butyl)-2-(((2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)imino)methyl)-6-(hydroxymethyl)phenol and H₃L²=4-(tert-butyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(((2-hydroxyphenyl)-imino)methyl)phenol, have been prepared and characterized by single crystal X-Ray diffraction, elemental analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The solid-state structures reveal the formation of highly symmetric and asymmetric [Ni₄O₄] cubane cores in complexes 1 and 2 , respectively. Extensive magnetic studies show that both complexes present ferromagnetic exchange interactions between the Ni(II) ions within the cubane core with g=2.113(3), J₁=−7.89(8) cm⁻¹, J₂=13.3(1) cm⁻¹ and |D|=11.3(4) cm⁻¹ (for 1 ) and g=2.206(4), J₁=1.0(1) cm⁻¹, J₂=7.8(1) cm⁻¹ and |D|=8.7(2) cm⁻¹ (for 2 ). The large anisotropy, high ground spin state (arising from the ferromagnetic coupling) and the good isolation of the clusters provided by the Schiff base ligands, give rise to the first examples of field-induced single-molecule magnets (FI−SMM) in Ni₄O₄ clusters and to the highest energy barrier reported to date in a Ni₄O₄ cluster.     

Tetrabutylammonium Salts of Aluminum(III) and Gallium(III) Phthalocyanine Radical Anions Bonded with Fluoren‐9‐olato− Anions and Indium(III) Phthalocyanine Bromide Radical Anions

Reduction of aluminum(III), gallium(III), and indium(III) phthalocyanine chlorides by sodium fluorenone ketyl in the presence of tetrabutylammonium cations yielded crystalline salts of the type (Bu₄N⁺)₂[M^III(HFl−O⁻)(Pc^.3−)]^.−(Br⁻) ⋅ 1.5 C₆H₄Cl₂ [M=Al ( 1 ), Ga ( 2 ); HFl−O⁻=fluoren‐9‐olato⁻ anion; Pc=phthalocyanine] and (Bu₄N⁺) [In^IIIBr(Pc^.3−)]^.− ⋅ 0.875 C₆H₄Cl₂ ⋅ 0.125 C₆H₁₄ ( 3 ). The salts were found to contain Pc^.3− radical anions with negatively charged phthalocyanine macrocycles, as evidenced by the presence of intense bands of Pc^.3− in the near‐IR region and a noticeable blueshift in both the Q and Soret bands of phthalocyanine. The metal(III) atoms coordinate HFl−O⁻ anions in 1 and 2 with short Al−O and Ga−O bond lengths of 1.749(2) and 1.836(6) Å, respectively. The C−O bonds [1.402(3) and 1.391(11) Å in 1 and 2 , respectively] in the HFl−O⁻ anions are longer than the same bond in the fluorenone ketyl (1.27–1.31 Å). Salts 1 – 3 show effective magnetic moments of 1.72, 1.66, and 1.79 μ_B at 300 K, respectively, owing to the presence of unpaired S= 1/2 spins on Pc^.3−. These spins are coupled antiferromagnetically with Weiss temperatures of −22, −14, and −30 K for 1 – 3 , respectively. Coupling can occur in the corrugated two‐dimensional phthalocyanine layers of 1 and 2 with an exchange interaction of J /k _B=−0.9 and −1.1 K, respectively, and in the π‐stacking {[In^IIIBr(Pc^.3−)]^.−}₂ dimers of 3 with an exchange interaction of J /k _B=−10.8 K. The salts show intense electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals attributed to Pc^.3−. It was found that increasing the size of the central metal atom strongly broadened these EPR signals.     

Vibrational spectra of alkali metal peroxoborates

Raman and i.r. spectra of solid Na₂[B₂(O₂)₂(OH)₄]·6H₂O (normal, ¹⁰B, ¹¹B, and ²H-substituted), Na₂[B₂(O₂)₂(OH)₄]·nH₂O (n=4, 0), Li₂[B₂(O₂)₂(OH)₄] and M^I₂[B₂(O₂)₂(OOH)₂(OH)₂] (M^I= K, Rb, Cs) are reported and the vibrational modes assigned.     

Ab initio studies of three-membered ring formation through intramolecular nucleophilic substitution

Three-membered ring (3MR) forming processes of ⁻X(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)F and ⁻CH₂(SINGLE BOND)C((SINGLE BOND)Y)(SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND)F (X(DOUBLE BOND)CH₂, O, or S and Y(DOUBLE BOND)0 or S) through a gas phase neighboring group mechanism (S_Ni) are studied theoretically using the ab initio molecular orbital method with the 6–31+G* basis set. When electron correlation effects are considered, the activation (ΔG^≠) and reaction energies (ΔG⁰) are lowered by ca. 10 kcal mol⁻¹, indicating the importance of the electron correlation effect in these reactions. The contribution of entropy of activation (−TΔS^≠) at 298 K to ΔG^≠ is very small, and the reactions are enthalpy controlled. The ΔG^≠ and ΔG⁰ values for these ring closure processes largely depend on the stabilities of the reactants and the heteroatom acting as a nucleophilic center. The Bell–Evans–Polanyi principle applies well to all these reaction series. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1773–1784, 1997     

Penicillamine and captopril: mechanistic exploration of defensive actions of thiol drugs against a metal bound-superoxo complex

In acid-media ([H⁺] = 0.01–0.06 M), each of the thiol compounds, D-penicillamine (PEN, L_PH₂) and captopril (CAP, L_CH₂) exist in several proton-dependent forms which can reduce the superoxo complex [(en)(dien)Co^III(O₂)Co^III(en)(dien)]⁵⁺ (1) to the corresponding peroxo [(en)(dien)Co^III(O₂)Co^III(en)(dien)]⁴⁺ (2) or the hydroperoxo complex [(en)(dien)Co^III(OOH)Co^III(en)(dien)]⁵⁺ (3). The observed first-order rate constants, k_o,P and k_o,C for PEN and CAP increase with the increase in [T_PEN] and [T_CAP] (which are the analytical concentrations of the respective thiols) but decrease with the increase in the media-acidity ([H⁺]) and the media ionic strength (I). The protolytic equilibria in aqueous solution allow several potentially reducing forms to coexist for both PEN (L_PH₃⁺, L_PH₂, L_PH^?, and L_P^2?) and CAP (L_CH₂, L_CH^?, L_C^2?) but the kinetic analyses reveal that the order of reactivity for the species are L_PH₃⁺ ~ L_PH₂ <<< L_PH^? and L_CH₂ < L_CH^? <<< L_C^2?, respectively. The predominance and higher reactivities of the anionic species, L_PH^? and L_C^2? are supported by the negative slopes of the plots of k_o,P or k_o,C versus I. Moreover, a large value of k_H/k_D for PEN suggests an inner-sphere electroprotic reaction pathway while the absence of such effect for CAP strongly supports an outer-sphere electron transfer reaction. These propositions are supported by the structural features of L_PH^? and L_C^2?.     

Studies on the oxidation mechanism of H2S based on direct examination of the key reactions

By conducting an excimer laser photolysis (193 and 248 nm) behind shock waves, three elementary reactions important in the oxidation of H₂S have been examined, where, H, O, and S atoms have been monitored by the atomic resonance absorption spectrometry. For HS + O₂ → products (1), the rate constants evaluated by numerical simulations are summarized as: k₁ = 3.1 × 10⁻¹¹exp|-75 kJ mol⁻¹/RT| cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ (T = 1400-1850 K) with an uncertainty factor of about 2. Direct measurements of the rate constants for S + O2 → SO + O (2), and SO + O₂ → SO₂ + O (3) yield k₂ = (2.5 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ exp|-(15.3 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹/RT| cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ (T = 980-1610 K) and, k₃ = (1.7 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹² exp|-(34 ± 11) kJ mol⁻¹/RT| cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ (T = 1130-1640 K), respectively. By summarizing these data together with the recent experimental results on the H(SINGLE BOND)S(SINGLE BOND)O reaction systems, a new kinetic model for the H₂S oxidation process is constructed. It is found that this simple reaction scheme is consistent with the experimental result on the induction time of SO₂ formation obtained by Bradley and Dobson. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 57–66, 1997.     

Energetic Ordering of Hydrogen Bond Strengths in Methanol-Water Clusters: Insights via Molecular Tailoring Approach

In this work, we examine the strength of various types of individual hydrogen bond (HB) in mixed methanol-water M_nW_m, (n+m=2 to 7) clusters, with an aim to understand the relative order of their strength, using our recently proposed molecular tailoring-based approach (MTA). Among all the types of HB, it is observed that the O_M−H…O_W HBs are the strongest (6.9 to 12.4 kcal mol⁻¹). The next ones are O_M−H…O_M HBs (6.5 to 11.6 kcal mol⁻¹). The O_W−H…O_W (0.2 to 10.9 kcal mol⁻¹) and O_W−H…O_M HBs (0.3 to 10.3 kcal mol⁻¹) are the weakest ones. This energetic ordering of HBs is seen to be different from the respective HB energies in the dimer i. e., O_M−H…O_M (5.0 to 6.0 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_M (1.5 to 6.0 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_M−H…O_W (3.8 to 5.6 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_W (1.2 to 5.0 kcal mol⁻¹). The plausible reason for the difference in the HB energy ordering may be attributed to the increase or decrease in HB strengths due to the formation of cooperative or anti-cooperative HB networks. For instance, the cooperativity contribution towards the different types of HB follows: O_M−H…O_W (2.4 to 8.6 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_M−H…O_M (1.3 to 6.3 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_W (−1.0 to 6.5 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_M (−1.2 to 5.3 kcal mol⁻¹). This ordering of cooperativity contribution is similar to the HB energy ordering obtained by the MTA-based method. It is emphasized here that, the interplay between the cooperative and anti-cooperative contributions are indispensable for the correct energetic ordering of these HBs.     

Photolysis of polyphosphate ions in alkaline aqueous solution

Photolysis of pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate ions in aqueous solution is proposed to produce electron detachment with formation of pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate radicals (with quantum yields <0.1 at 266 nm), respectively. Formation of P₂O₇^·3− is observed after photolysis of both polyphosphate ions, because the decomposition of P₃O₁₀^·4− yields P₂O₇^·3−. The latter radicals further react with hydroxyl ions (k = 1.4 × 10⁶ M⁻¹s⁻¹) generating HO^· radicals. The reaction of the solvated electrons with molecular oxygen produces O₂^·−. The rate constants for the reaction of SO₄^·− radicals with P₂O₇⁴⁻ and P₃O₁₀⁵⁻ were also measured. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 111–117, 2000     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of three inorganic–organic composite sandwich-type phosphotungstates

Three inorganic–organic composite sandwich-type phosphotungstates [Ni(tepa)(H₂O)]₄H₂[Ni₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]·8H₂O (1), (enH₂)₃[Ni₂(H₂O)₁₀][Ni₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]·en·8H₂O (2) and (enH₂)₁₀[Mn₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]₂·20H₂O (3) (tepa=tetraethylenepentamine and en=ethylenediamine) have been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of the trivacant Keggin polyoxoanion [α-A-PW₉O₃₄]⁹⁻ with Ni²⁺ or Mn²⁺ ions in the presence of tepa or en and structurally characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility. X-ray crystallographic analyses indicate that they all contain the classical tetra-M sandwiched polyoxoanions [M₄(H₂O)₂(α-B-PW₉O₃₄)₂]¹⁰⁻ (M=Ni²⁺ or Mn²⁺) and nickel-organoamine cations or organoamine cations work as the charge balance ions. The tetra-M clusters in 1, 2 and 3 exhibit the familiar structural type of a β-junction at the sites of metal incorporation. The study of magnetic property of 1 is indicative of a typical ferromagnetic coupling between Ni²⁺ cations.     

Degradation thermique et etude vibrationnelle de MII(NH4)4(P3O9)2x4H2O(M II=Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+)

We have studied the thermal behaviour under atmospheric pressure of isotypic tetrahydrate cyclotriphosphates M^II(NH₄)₄(P₃O₉)₂x4H₂O (M ^II=Cu, Ni and Co), between 25 and 1400°C, by X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses (TG and DTA) and infrared spectrometry. This study shows that the series of the compounds M^II(NH₄)₄(P₃O₉)₂x4H₂O (M ^II=Cu, Ni and Co) after elimination of water, in two different stages, and ammonia leads, at 400°C to cyclotetraphosphate M₂ ^IIP₄O₁₂ crystallized and to a thermal residue with a formula H₄P₄O₁₂ which undergoes under a thermal degradation by evolving water and pentoxide phosphorus. The kinetic characteristics of the dehydration and elimination of ammonia have been determinated. The vibrational spectra of Cu(NH₄)₄(P₃O₉)₂x4H₂O were examined and interpreted, in the domain of the valency frequencies, on the basis of the crystalline structure of its isotypic compound Co(NH₄)₄(P₃O₉)₂x4H₂O whose cycle has the site symmetry C₁, of our results of the calculation of the IR frequencies and the successive isotopic substitutions of the equivalent atoms (3P, 3Oi and 6Oe belonging to the P₃Oi₃Oe₆ ring) of the P₃O₉ ³⁻ cycle with high symmetry D_3h. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hyperpolarizabilities of Chelidamic Acid Complexes M_m(C_7H_3O_5N)_n (M=Cu, Ag): Theoretical Analysis

The frequency‐dependent hyperpolarizabilities of chelidamic acid complexes M_m(C₇H₃O₅N)_n (M?Cu, Ag) were investigated under the time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) combined with the sum‐over‐states method (SOS). The relationship between molecular orbitals and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties has been explored. The results show that the charge transitions of π‐π* and 3d_M‐π* are very important to the second‐order polarizabilities, and the largest component of dynamic β is 3.84×10^?25 cm⁵·esu^?1 at 0.74 eV for Ag₂Cu₂(C₇H₃O₅N)₄. The charge transition between π‐π* is also highly crucial to the third‐order polarizabilities, and the largest component of dynamic γ is ?4.46×10^?29 esu at 0.50 eV for Ag₂Cu₂(C₇H₃O₅N)₄. The central Cu ion, as electron bridge, extends the range of delocalization and leads to an interesting phenomenon of spiroconjugation.     

Finite-field many-body perturbation theory. X. Electric field gradients and other properties of N2

Finite-field MBPT calculations have been carried out for the electric field gradient and other electric properties of the nitrogen molecule. On the basis of correlation corrections computed through the fourth order in the electron correlation perturbation the infinite order MBPT result for the electric field gradient at the nitrogen nucleus has been estimated. The corresponding result combined with the NQR coupling constant for N₂ leads to the ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole moment of 0.0205 ± 0.0010 barn in agreement with the experimental atomic measurement and other molecular calculations. The MBPT estimate of the quadrupole moment of N₂ gives −1.107 ± 0.038 au in agreement with the most recent experimental value.     

Cavity ring‐down study of BrO radicals: Kinetics of the Br + O3 reaction and rate of relaxation of vibrationally excited BrO by collisions with N2 and O2

Cavity ring‐down (CRD) techniques were used to study the kinetics of the reaction of Br atoms with ozone in 1–205 Torr of either N₂ or O₂, diluent at 298 K. By monitoring the rate of formation of BrO radicals, a value of k(Br + O₃) = (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was established that was independent of the nature and pressure of diluent gas. The rate of relaxation of vibrationally excited BrO radicals by collisions with N₂ and O₂ was measured; k(BrO(v) + O₂ → BrO(v − 1) + O₂) = (5.7 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹³ and k(BrO(v) + N₂ → BrO(v − 1) + N₂) = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The increased efficiency of O₂ compared with N₂ as a relaxing agent for vibrationally excited BrO radicals is ascribed to the formation of a transient BrO–O₂ complex. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 125–130, 2000     

An electrochemical method for determination of the standard Gibbs energy of anion transfer between water and n-octanol

The transfer of the ions Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, ClO₄⁻, SCN⁻, NO₃⁻, BF₄⁻, and (C₆H₅)₄B⁻ across the water|n-octanol (W|OC) liquid interface was studied and the standard Gibbs energies of ion transfer were determined. The ion transfer was achieved by oxidation of decamethylferrocene dissolved in a droplet of n-octanol that was attached to a graphite electrode immersed in the aqueous solutions of the respective alkali salts of the anions. The electrode reaction can be described by the equation: dmfc_(OC)+X_(W)⁻⇄dmfc⁺_(OC)+X⁻_(OC)+e⁻, where X⁻ is the transferred anion. Square-wave voltammetry at this three-phase arrangement was utilised to determine the formal potential of the decamethylferrocene/decamethylferrocenium (dmfc/dmfc⁺) couple under the condition of ion transfer across the water|n-octanol interface. For calibration the standard Gibbs energies of ion transfer have been extrapolated to octanol from the series of known data for methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol. All these data are consistent and the experimental dependence of the formal potentials on the standard Gibbs energies is as predicted by theory. The validity of data is further supported by calculations of Gibbs energies of ion transfer using the Born theory. Until now it was not possible to perform electrochemical measurements at the water|n-octanol interface because in the conventional four-electrode cells this interface cannot be polarised. With the new method it is now for the first time possible to determine the Gibbs energies of transfer of ions across the water|n-octanol interface. These values are of very wide use for assessing the lipophilicity of compounds in chemistry, medicine, and pharmacology.     

Stability of Flavonoids in the Presence of Riboflavin-photogenerated Reactive Oxygen Species: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study on Quercetin,Morin and Rutin

Kinetic and mechanistic aspects on the stability of the flavones (FL) quercetin (Que), morin (Mor) and rutin (Rut), in methanolic solution and in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by visible light-promoted riboflavin (Rf, vitamin B₂) photoirradiation were studied. The system was chosen as a model for the evaluation of the in vivo protective effect of biological targets by the flavones. The overall picture includes the vitamin as an endogenous natural photosensitizer. A systematic study on the effect of ROS on FL photostability shows that under work conditions Que is oxidized by singlet molecular oxygen (O₂(¹Δ_g)), superoxide radical anion (O₂˙⁻) and hydrogen peroxide; Mor is degraded by O₂(¹Δ_g) and O₂˙⁻ whereas Rut only reacts with O₂(¹Δ_g). Que and Rut, with an extremely poor overall rate constant, are mainly physical quenchers of O₂(¹Δ_g). Mor, with O₂(¹Δ_g)-interception ability slightly lower than the recognized synthetic antioxidant trolox (Tx), behaves as a typical sacrificial scavenger provided that ca 80% of the collisions with O₂(¹Δ_g) cause its own degradation, whereas this parameter reaches around 50% in the case of Tx.