Cerate oxidimetry : Oxidation of maleic,fumaric, benzoic,salicylic and phthalic acids

1. It has been shown that maleic, fumaric, benzoic, phthalic and salicylic acids can be oxidized completely to carbon dioxide and water by ceric sulphate in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid. 2. These acids can be estimated quantitatively by the use of ceric sulphate. 3. Acetic and succinic acids are not oxidized by ceric sulphate even in the presence of high concentrations of sulphuric acid.     

Interaction of VO2+ ion and some insulin-enhancing compounds with immunoglobulin G

Complexation of VO(2+) ion with the most abundant class of human immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin G (IgG), was studied using EPR spectroscopy. Differently from the data in the literature which report no interaction of IgG with vanadium, in the binary system VO(2+)/IgG at least three sites with comparable strength were revealed. These sites, named 1, 2, and 3, seem to be not specific, and the most probable candidates for metal ion coordination are histidine-N, aspartate-O or glutamate-O, and serinate-O or threoninate-O. The mean value for the association constant of (VO)(x)IgG, with x = 3-4, is log β = 10.3 ± 1.0. Examination of the ternary systems formed by VO(2+) with IgG and human serum transferrin (hTf) and human serum albumin (HSA) allows one to find that the order of complexing strength is hTf ? HSA ≈ IgG. The behavior of the ternary systems with IgG and one insulin-enhancing agent, like [VO(6-mepic)(2)], cis-[VO(pic)(2)(H(2)O)], [VO(acac)(2)], and [VO(dhp)(2)], where 6-mepic, pic, acac, and dhp indicate the deprotonated forms of 6-methylpicolinic and picolinic acids, acetylacetone, and 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinone, is very similar to the corresponding systems with albumin. In particular, at the physiological pH value, VO(6-mepic)(IgG)(OH), cis-VO(pic)(2)(IgG), and cis-VO(dhp)(2)(IgG) are formed. In such species, IgG coordinates nonspecifically VO(2+) through an imidazole-N belonging to a histidine residue exposed on the protein surface. For cis-VO(dhp)(2)(IgG), log β is 25.6 ± 0.6, comparable with that of the analogous species cis-VO(dhp)(2)(HSA) and cis-VO(dhp)(2)(hTf). Finally, with these new values of log β, the predicted percent distribution of an insulin-enhancing VO(2+) agent between the high molecular mass (hTf, HSA, and IgG) and low molecular mass (lactate) components of the blood serum at physiological conditions is calculated.     

Aluminium(III) adsorption: a soft and simple method to prevent TiO2 deactivation during salicylic acid photodegradation

Deposition of poisoning species on TiO2 during salicylic acid photodegradation can be halted when Al(III) has been previously adsorbed on the catalyst surface; this widens the application of photocatalysis to more concentrated solutions.     

First principles studies of vanadia-titania monolayer catalysts: mechanisms of NO selective reduction

The selective reduction of NO with NH(3) catalyzed by isolated VO(x) species grafted onto TiO(2) (anatase) is studied by means of periodic density functional calculations. NH(3) is adsorbed molecularly by the bare support both as a Lewis-bonded complex at (101) 5-fold coordinated Ti sites, and as a H-bonded complex at (001) Ti-OH sites. Analogous interactions are predicted for stable submonolayer VO(x) species, which provide V(5+) Lewis acid sites and V-OH sites. Neither Ti-OH nor submonolayer V-OH groups act as Br?nsted acids toward NH(3). Reaction pathways where both Lewis-bonded and H-bonded NH(3) complexes yield a NH(2)NO intermediate are found. In the former case, a (rate-determining) deprotonation step of NH(3) is required, whereas, in the latter, NH(2)NO is formed directly through a concerted mechanism. This suggests that many channels may contribute to the NO reduction process.     

Electronic absorption and fluorescence of cinchophen, cinchoninic acid and their methyl esters; biprotonic phototautomerism of the singly-protonated species

The pH and Hammett acidity dependences of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of cinchoninic acid (quinoline-4-carboxylic acid), cinchophen (2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid) and their methyl esters, were studied. The predominant uncharged ground-state species derived from the free acids are zwitterions. Prototropic equilibria are too slow to compete with fluorescence for deactivation of the excited state at hydrogen ion concentrations represented by the pH scale. However, fluorescence shifts accompanying protonation indicate that the carboxyl group is more basic than the ring nitrogen atom in the excited state. In the Hammett acidity range the singly-charged cations of all the compounds studied undergo phototautomerism in the lowest excited singlet state. The rate of this process is acidity dependent. In very concentrated sulphuric acid solutions doubly-charged cations are formed in the excited state but not in the ground state. The intense emissions of these compounds in moderately concentrated sulphuric acid may be suitable for quantitative analysis if great care is taken to control solution acidity.     

Vanadium(IV,V) complexes of D-saccharic and mucic acids in aqueous solution

The vanadium(IV,V) complexes formed with two aldaric acids (D-saccharic or D-glucaric acid, and mucic or galactaric acid) in aqueous solution were characterised by employing pH-potentiometry, EPR, multinuclear NMR and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The stoichiometry and stability constants of the complexes formed were determined at 25 degrees C and ionic strength I= 0.2 mol dm(-3)(KCl). The spectral measurements revealed that vanadium(IV,V) coordinates first at the terminal COO(-) functions, forming mononuclear complexes. At pH > 3, through the metal ion-induced deprotonation and coordination of the neighbouring alcoholic functions, (COO(-), O(-)) coordinated dinuclear complexes are formed, which predominate in the pH range 4-8. In the basic pH range, the ligand molecules are displaced and binary metal hydroxo and oxo complexes are present. EPR measurements at room temperature and at 140 K proved that formation of the VO(iv) dimers is more enhanced at room temperature, but at 140 K their dissociation is favoured. An interesting pH-dependent cis-trans isomeric equilibrium was assumed and analysed by EPR and molecular modelling in the case of the complexes [(VO)(2)L(2)H(x)](x=-2 and -4). Joint evaluation of the pH-potentiometric and (51)V NMR measurements revealed that both aldaric acids are able to bind an excess of vanadium(V), through the formation of oligomeric 2:1 and 3:2 species, besides the 2:2 species formed with VO(IV).     

Selective catalytic oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid on dispersed Mo-V-Nb mixed oxides

The direct oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid is catalyzed by multicomponent metal oxides (Mo-V-NbO(x)) prepared by precipitation in the presence of colloidal TiO(2) (Mo(0.61)V(0.31)Nb(0.08)O(x)/TiO(2)). Acetic acid synthesis rates and selectivities (~95 % even at 100 % ethanol conversion) were much higher than in previous reports. The presence of TiO(2) during synthesis led to more highly active surface areas without detectable changes in the reactivity or selectivity of exposed active oxide surfaces. Ethanol oxidation proceeds via acetaldehyde intermediates that are converted to acetic acid. Water increases acetic acid selectivity by inhibiting acetaldehyde synthesis more strongly than its oxidation to acetic acid, thus minimizing prevalent acetaldehyde concentrations and its intervening conversion to CO(x). Kinetic and isotopic effects indicate that C-H bond activation in chemisorbed ethoxide species limits acetaldehyde synthesis rates and overall rates of ethanol conversion to acetic acid. The VO(x) component in Mo-V-Nb is responsible for the high reactivity of these materials. Mo and Nb oxide components increase the accessibility and reducibility of VO(x) domains, while concurrently decreasing the number of unselective V-O-Ti linkages in VO(x) domains dispersed on TiO(2).     

Formation constants of ternary complexes of vanadium(IV) with picolinic acid and salicylic or 5-sulphosalicylic acid

The formation constants, beta(MAL), for the reaction VO(2+) + A(-) + L(2-) <==> VOAL(-) [where HA = picolinic acid and H(2)L = salicylic or 5-sulphosalicylic acid] have been determined at 30 +/- 1 degrees (mu = 0.1, KNO(3)). Potentiometric evidence is presented for the simultaneous addition of both ligands to the metal ion to form the 1:1:1 ternary complex.     

Temperature and solvent structure dependence of VO2+ complexes of pyridine-N-oxide derivatives and their interaction with human serum transferrin

The behaviour of the systems formed by VO(2+), 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide (Hhpo) and 2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide (Hmpo) was studied both in solution and in the solid state through the combined application of spectroscopic (EPR and UV-Vis spectroscopy) and DFT methods. The geometry of solid bis-chelated complexes [VOL(2)], with L = hpo and mpo, is square pyramidal, but it can change to cis-[VOL(2)S], where S is a solvent molecule, when these are dissolved in a coordinating solvent. The equilibrium between the square pyramidal and cis-octahedral forms is strongly affected by solvent and temperature. At room temperature, the predominant species is [VOL(2)], which gives a pink colour to the solutions; at lower temperatures, the equilibrium is shifted--partially or completely--toward the formation of cis-[VOL(2)S], which is green. In an acidic environment and in the presence of an excess of ligand, [VOL(2)] can transform into the tris-chelated complex [VL(3)](+), in which vanadium loses the oxido ligand and adopts a hexa-coordinated geometry intermediate between octahedral and trigonal prismatic. 1-Methylimidazole (1-MeIm), which represents a model for His-N coordination, forms mixed complexes with stoichiometry cis-[VOL(2)(1-MeIm)], occupying an equatorial position. In the ternary systems VO(2+)-Hhpo-hTf and VO(2+)-Hmpo-hTf at room temperature and pH 7.4, besides (VO)hTf and (VO)(2)hTf, the mixed species cis-VO(hpo)(2)(hTf) and VO(mpo)(hTf) are observed, with the equatorial binding of an accessible histidine residue. Finally, the contribution of the N-oxide group to (51)V A(z) and A(iso) hyperfine coupling constants, which can be important in the characterisation of similar species, is discussed.     

Selfcondensation of some γ-keto acids in sulphuric acid

A novel type of selfcondensation of some aliphatic and aromatic γ-keto acids (capable of forming γ-lactols) in concentrated sulphuric acid is described. A mechanism for the reaction is proposed, where the key intermediates are the carbonium ion formed by loss of the OH group in the γ-lactols and the α,β-unsaturated γ-lactone with an exocyclic double bond in γ-position formed by loss of one molecule of water from the γ-lactols. The proposal is supported by deuteration experiments. Structure determinations are based on IR, PMR and MS.     

The role of salicylic acid, L-ascorbic acid and oxalic acid in promoting the oxidation of alkenes with H2O2 catalysed by [MnIV2(O)3(tmtacn)2]2+

The role played by the additives salicylic acid, L-ascorbic acid and oxalic acid in promoting the catalytic activity of [MnIV2(O)3(tmtacn)2](PF6)2 (1(PF6)2, where tmtacn = N,N',N'-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) in the epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation of alkenes with H2O2 and in suppressing the catalysed decomposition of H2O2 is examined. Whereas aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids effect enhancement of the catalytic activity of 1 through the in situ formation dinuclear carboxylato bridged complexes of the type [MnIII2(mu-O)(mu-RCO2)2(tmtacn)2]2+, for L-ascorbic acid and oxalic acid notable differences in reactivity are observed. Although for L-ascorbic acid key differences in the spectroscopic properties of the reaction mixtures are observed compared with carboxylic acids, the involvement of carboxylic acids formed in situ is apparent. For oxalic acid the situation is more complex with two distinct catalyst systems in operation; the first, which engages in epoxidation only, is dominant until the oxalic acid additive is consumed completely at which point carboxylic acids formed in situ take on the role of additives to form a second distinct catalyst system, i.e. that which was observed for alkyl and aromatic carboxylic acids, which yield both cis-diol and epoxide products.     

Utilisation des melanges H2O−H2SO4−SO3 en tant que solvants: II. Etude d'hydrocarbures aromatiques dans les oleums et l'acide sulfurique concentre ou pur

Solutions of toluene, naphthalene, perylene and coronene in concentrated sulphuric acid and in oleums were investigated by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. More particularly, the naphthalenedisulphonic acids which are formed from naphthalene in most of these media, can be oxidized in a one-electron step; the corresponding cations are not stable. Coronene dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid solutions into Cor^·+; this radical gives an anodic wave corresponding to a reversible one-electron step, Cor²⁺ being unstable; these properties remain identical in dilute oleums, only if operations are carried out at 5°C.     

Synthesis of mixed acid anhydrides from methane and carbon dioxide in acid solvents

[reaction: see text] The reaction of CH(4) with CO(2) has been performed in anhydrous acids using VO(acac)(2) and K(2)S(2)O(8) as promoters. NMR analysis establishes that the primary product is a mixed anhydride of acetic acid and the acid solvent. In sulfuric acid, the overall reaction is CH(4) + CO(2) + SO(3) --> CH(3)C(O)-O-SO(3)H. Hydrolysis of the mixed anhydride produces acetic acid and the solvent acid. When trifluoroacetic acid is the solvent, acetic acid is primarily formed via the reaction CH(4) + CF(3)COOH --> CH(3)COOH + CHF(3).     

EPR of VO2+ in double format, Ba2Zn(HCOO)6(H2O)4 single crystals

VO(2+) doped single crystal of Ba(2)Zn(HCOO)(6)(H2O)(4) (BZFA) were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique at ambient temperature. Detailed investigation of EPR spectra indicated that the VO(2+) substitutes the Zn(2+) in the structure. The sites with different orientations were observed for VO(2+) in Ba(2)Zn(HCOO)(6)(H2O)(4).single crystal, but the only intense site among these sites was evaluated to obtain spin-Hamiltonian parameters, which are the principal axis values of the g and the hyperfine tensors. The covalent bonding parameter for VO(2+) and Fermi contact term were calculated using the spin-Hamiltonian parameters.     

A note on the distillation of permanganic acid from sulphuric acid solutions

1. If solutions which contain XXX periodic acid and sulphuric acid are boiled, permanganic acid is found in the XXX concentration of permanganate in the steam is negligibly small until the sulphuric acid concentration of the solution exceeds about 6 M. It is at a maximum when the sulphuric acid is to M and then rapidly decreases as the sulphuric acid concentration further increases. 2.The'distillation of permanganic acid from nitric acid solutions is inappreciable even from the concentrated acid. 3. A brief account is given of the analytical application of the distillation from IoM sulphuric acid.     

Characterization of oxides obtained by heating a mixture of peroxoniobic acid and peroxotitanic acid

Nb-doped TiO(2) particles were prepared by heating a mixture of peroxotitanic acid and peroxoniobic acid in air. When the heating temperature was more than 1173 K, the dominant phase obtained was rutile TiO(2), along with a small amount of TiNb(2)O(7). The relationship between the lattice parameters of the obtained rutile TiO(2) depended on the molar fraction of Nb/(Ti + Nb). In the case where peroxo compounds were used as a precursor, a change in the lattice parameters of the rutile TiO(2) was observed within the lower X(Nb) range, as compared to the alkoxide method. The results indicate that a homogeneous dispersion of doped Nb(5+) ions in the obtained rutile TiO(2) lattice was achieved by using peroxo compounds. Furthermore, the oxide particles obtained by using peroxo compounds had a lower activation energy of the carrier electrons (E(a)) and oxygen vacancies, even though the heating procedure was carried out in air. The UV-vis absorption spectra and Raman spectra of the obtained oxide particles indicated that the dominant reaction of the decomposition of O(2)(2-) ions in the TiO(2) lattice was O(2)(2-)→ O(2) + 2e(-) as a reducing agent.     

Cerate oxidimetry : Oxidation of formic,glycolic, malic,malonic and tartaric acids

1. Contrary to the observations of earlier workers, it has been shown that formic acid can be quantitatively oxidixed by ceric sulphate in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid. 2. Tartaric, malonic, malic and glycolic acids can also be oxidized completely to carbon dioxide and water by the following general procedure : to a known amount of the organic acid is added ceric sulphate (excess) solution in dilute sulphuric acid and the mixed solution refluxed for ten to fifteen minutes. Concentrated sulphuric acid (double the volume of the reaction mixture) is then added taking care that formic acid is not lost during the addition, and the mixture again refluxed for 45 to 50 minutes. The excess ceric sulphate is determined by titrating against ferrous ammonium sulphate. 3. The complete oxidation of the above acids provides satisfactory methods for their quantitative estimation.     

New dicarboxylic acid bipyridine ligand for ruthenium polypyridyl sensitization of TiO2

An ambidentate dicarboxylic acid bipyridine ligand, (4,5-diazafluoren-9-ylidene) malonic acid (dfm), was synthesized for coordination to Ru(II) and mesoporous nanocrystalline (anatase) TiO(2) thin films. The dfm ligand provides a conjugated pathway from the pyridyl rings to the carbonyl carbons of the carboxylic acid groups. X-ray crystal structures of [Ru(bpy)(2)(dfm)]Cl(2) and the corresponding diethyl ester compound, [Ru(bpy)(2)(defm)](PF(6))(2), were obtained. The compounds displayed intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands in the visible region (ε > 11,000 M(-1) cm(-1) for [Ru(bpy)(2)(dfm)](PF(6))(2) in acetonitrile). Significant room temperature photoluminescence, PL, was absent in CH(3)CN but was observed at 77 K in a 4:1 EtOH:MeOH (v:v) glass. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed quasi-reversible Ru(III/II) electrochemistry. Ligand reductions were quasi-reversible for the diethyl ester compound [Ru(bpy)(2)(defm)](2+), but were irreversible for [Ru(bpy)(2)(dfm)](2+). Both compounds were anchored to TiO(2) thin films by overnight reactions in CH(3)CN to yield saturation surface coverages of 3 × 10(-8) mol/cm(2). Attenuated total reflection infrared measurements revealed that the [Ru(bpy)(2)(dfm)](2+) compound was present in the deprotonated carboxylate form when anchored to the TiO(2) surface. The MLCT excited states of both compounds injected electrons into TiO(2) with quantum yields of 0.70 in 0.1 M LiClO(4) CH(3)CN. Micro- to milli-second charge recombination yielded ground state products. In regenerative solar cells with 0.5 M LiI/0.05 M I(2) in CH(3)CN, the Ru(bpy)(2)(dfm)/TiO(2) displayed incident photon-to-current efficiencies of 0.7 at the absorption maximum. Under the same conditions, the diethylester compound was found to rapidly desorb from the TiO(2) surface.     

Complexes of oxovanadium(IV) with polyaminocarboxylic acids

The stability constants for a series of oxovanadium(IV) complexes of polyaminocarboxylic acids were determined by potentiometry. The values obtained are almost equal to those of the corresponding nickel(II) complexes. The complexes formed by terdentate and quadridentate ligands contain 2 and 1 co-ordinated water molecules, respectively. These dissociate at pH ~4 in the first case, to give dimers-(VO)(2)(OH)(2)L(2),-and at about pH ~7, in the second case, to give the mononuclear hydroxo species VO(OH)L. Hydrolysis of the 1:1 aquo-complexes is preferred to the formation of 2:1 ligand: metal complexes even in the presence of a 10-fold molar excess of ligand. These results are of interest for better understanding of the behaviour of oxovanadium(IV) in biological systems.