A study on the binding of two water-soluble tetrapyridinoporphyrazinato copper(II) complexes to DNA

Interaction of N,N′,N″,N-tetramethyltetra-2,3-pyridinoporphyrazinatocopper(II), ([Cu(2,3-tmtppa)]⁴⁺) and N,N′,N″,N-tetramethyltetra-3,4-pyridinoporphyrazinatocopper(II), ([Cu(3,4-tmtppa)]⁴⁺) with calf thymus DNA was studied in 1 mM phosphate buffer and low ionic strength (5 mM NaCl) at various temperatures by UV-visible and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies and viscometric method. The binding constants were determined from the changes in the visible part of porphyrazine complexes spectra using SQUAD software. The values of K have been obtained (7.9±0.4)×10⁴ and (2.2±0.1)×10⁵ M⁻¹ for [Cu(2,3-tmtppa)]⁴⁺ and [Cu(3,4-tmtppa)]⁴⁺, respectively at 27 °C. The higher affinity of 3,4-isomer of Cu complex towards DNA with respect to the 2,3-isomer was attributed to favorable external positioning of the cationic charges in former, which enables superior interaction with the DNA duplex. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, ΔS°) were calculated by van't Hoff equation. The enthalpy and entropy changes were determined, +34.2±3.6 kJ mol⁻¹ and +207.8±12.70 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ for [Cu(2,3-tmtppa)]⁴⁺ and +49.7±2.1 kJ mol⁻¹ and +267.8±7.9 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ for [Cu(3,4-tmtppa)]⁴⁺. The existence of extensive hypochromicity, large red shift and negative CD in the visible part of [Cu(3,4-tmtppa)]⁴⁺ spectra suggested an intercalation binding mode. Analysis of the moderate hypochromicity, red shift and bisignate CD in the Q-band absorption region of [Cu(2,3-tmtppa)]⁴⁺ spectra possibly led us to the coexistence of intercalation and outside binding modes. The influence of the ionic strength on the binding parameters and binding modes was investigated. The results show that increase in ionic strength causes the decrease in the binding constants. It was also concluded that increase in ionic strength affects the binding characteristics of positively charged complexes with DNA.

The increase in DNA viscosity in the presence of Cu–tmtppa complexes is attributed to the lengthening of DNA helix due to the intercalation. This result is consistent with conclusions obtained from the spectroscopic techniques.     

On the conformational stability and dimerization of phosphotransferase enzyme I from Escherichia coli

The activity of enzyme I (EI), the first protein in the bacterial PEP:sugar phosphotransferase system, is regulated by a monomer–dimer equilibrium where a Mg²⁺-dependent autophosphorylation by PEP requires the homodimer. Using inactive EI(H189A), in which alanine is substituted for the active-site His189, substrate binding effects can be separated from those of phosphorylation. Whereas 1 mM PEP (with 2 mM Mg²⁺) strongly promotes dimerization of EI(H189A) at pH 7.5 and 20 °C, 5 mM pyruvate (with 2 mM Mg²⁺) has the opposite effect. A correlation between the coupling of N- and C-terminal domain unfolding, measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and the dimerization constant for EI, determined by sedimentation equilibrium, is observed. That is, when the coupling between N- and C-terminal domain unfolding produced by 0.2 or 1.0 mM PEP and 2 mM Mg²⁺ is inhibited by 5 mM pyruvate, the dimerization constant for EI(H189A) decreases from >10⁸ to <5 × 10⁵ or 3 × 10⁷ M⁻¹, respectively. With 2 mM Mg²⁺ at 15–25 °C and pH 7.5, PEP has been found to bind to one site/monomer of EI(H189A) with K_A′10⁶ M⁻¹ (ΔG′=−33.7±0.2 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔH=+16.3 kJ mol⁻¹ at 20 °C with ΔC_p=−1.4 kJ K⁻¹ mol⁻¹). The binding of PEP to EI(H189A) is synergistic with that of Mg²⁺. Thus, physiological concentrations of PEP and Mg²⁺ increase, whereas pyruvate and Mg²⁺ decrease the amount of dimeric, active, dephospho-enzyme I.     

The pseudogap in LSCO-type high-temperature superconductors as seen by neutron crystal-field spectroscopy

We studied the isotope, pressure and doping effects on the pseudogap temperature T^* by neutron spectroscopic experiments of the relaxation rate of crystal-field excitations in La_1.96−xSr_xHo_0.04CuO₄ (x = 0.11, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) on the high-resolution time-of-flight spectrometer FOCUS at SINQ, PSI. We found clear evidence for the opening of a pseudogap in the underdoped regime at T^*(x = 0.11) = (82.2 ± 1.2) K as well as in the overdoped and the heavily overdoped compounds at T^*(x = 0.2) = (49.2 ± 0.7) K and at T^*(x = 0.25) = (46.5 ± 0.5) K, respectively. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of oxygen isotope substitution on the pseudogap, the experiments revealed ΔT^*(x = 0.11) = (21.3 ± 5.2) K and ΔT^*(x = 0.2) = (4.5 ± 1.3) K. The application of hydrostatic pressure (0.8 and 1.2 GPa) on the optimally doped compound (x = 0.15) results in a downward shift of dT^*/dp = (−5.9 ± 1.6) K/GPa.     

All electron ab initio investigations of the electronic states of the MoN molecule

The low lying electronic states of the molecule MoN were investigated by performing all electron ab initio multi-configuration self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations. The relativistic corrections for the one electron Darwin contact term and the relativistic mass-velocity correction were determined in perturbation calculations. The electronic ground state is confirmed as being ⁴∑⁻. The chemical bond of MoN has a triple bond character because of the approximately fully occupied delocalized bonding π and σ orbitals. The spectroscopic constants for the ground state and ten excited states were derived. The excited doublet states ²∑⁻, ²Γ, ²Δ, and ²∑⁺ are found to be lower lying than the ⁴Π state that was investigated experimentally. Elaborate multi-configuration configuration-interaction (MRCI) calculations were carried out for the states ⁴∑⁻ and ⁴∏ using various basis sets. The spectroscopic constants for the ⁴∑⁻ ground state were determined as r_e=1.636 Å and ω_e=1109 cm⁻¹, and for the ⁴∏ state as r_e=1.662 Å and ω_e=941 cm⁻¹. The values for the ground state are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. The MoN molecule is polar with a charge transfer from Mo to N. The dipole moment was determined as 2.11 D in the ⁴∑⁻ state and as 4.60 D in the ⁴∏ state. These values agree well with the revised experimental values determined from molecular Stark spectroscopic measurements. The dissociation energy, D_e, is determined as 5.17 eV, and D₀ as 5.10 eV.     

The efficacy of nitrosonaphthol functionalized XAD-16 resin for the preconcentration/sorption of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions

Amberlite XAD-16 resin has been functionalized using nitrosonaphthol as a ligand and characterized employing elemental, thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The sorption of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions onto this functionalized resin is investigated and optimized with respect to the sorptive medium (pH), shaking speed and equilibration time between liquid and solid phases. The monitoring of the influence of diverse ions on the sorption of metal ions has revealed that phosphate, bicarbonate and citrate reduce the sorption up to 10–14%. The sorption data followed Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherms. The Freundlich parameters computed are 1/n = 0.56 ± 0.03 and 0.49 ± 0.05, A = 9.54 ± 1.5 and 6.0 ± 0.5 mmol g⁻¹ for Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, respectively. D–R isotherm yields the values of X_m = 0.87 ± 0.07 and 0.35 ± 0.05 mmol g⁻¹ and of E = 9.5 ± 0.23 and 12.3 ± 0.6 kJ mol⁻¹ for Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, respectively. Langmuir characteristic constants estimated are Q = 0.082 ± 0.005 and 0.063 ± 0.003 mmol g⁻¹, b = (4.7 ± 0.2) × 10⁴ and (7.31 ± 0.11) × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ for Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, respectively. The variation of sorption with temperature gives thermodynamic quantities of ΔH = −58.9 ± 0.12 and −40.38 ± 0.11 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS = −183 ± 10 and −130 ± 8 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ and ΔG = −4.4 ± 0.09 and −2.06 ± 0.08 kJ mol⁻¹ at 298 K for Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, respectively. Using kinetic equations, values of intraparticle transport and of first order rate constant have been computed for both the metal ions. The sorption procedure is utilized to preconcentrate these ions prior to their determination in tea, vegetable oil, hydrogenated oil (ghee) and palm oil by atomic absorption spectrometry using direct and standard addition methods.     

Flow injection visible diffuse reflectance quantitative analysis of nickel

Flow injection (FI) methodology, using diffuse reflectance in the visible region of the spectrum, for the analysis of nickel, precipitated in the form of dimethylglyoximate, is presented. A reflectance cell, constructed in polytetrafluoroethylene, using a LED (light emitting diode) as light source and a LDR (light dependent resistor) as detector, is described. The analytical signal (S) correlates with nickel concentration (C) between 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ and 6.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. This correlation is described by the equation S = −1.108 + 3.314 × 10⁴C − 2.081 × 10⁷C² (r = 0.9996). The experimentally observed limit of detection is about 1.3 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹, as in lower concentrations the formation of precipitate is not observed. The experimental quantitation limit is about 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. The mean R.S.D. (relative standard deviation) is about 2.7%. Samples containing nickel were analyzed and the results obtained in this method were compared with those of other methods using the statistical Student's t-test.     

TEMPO-initiated oxidation of 2-aminophenol to 2-aminophenoxazin-3-one

The oxidation reaction of 2-aminophenol (OAP) to 2-aminophenoxazin-3-one (APX) initiated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) has been investigated in methanol at ambient temperature. The oxidation of OAP was followed by electronic spectroscopy and the rate constants were determined according to the rate law −d[OAP]/dt=k_obs[OAP][TEMPO]. The rate constant, activation enthalpy and entropy at 298 K are as follows: k_obs (dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹)=(1.49±0.02)×10⁻⁴, E_a=18±5 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔH^‡=15±4 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS^‡=−82±17 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The results of oxidation of OAP show that the formation of 2-aminophenoxyl radical is the key step in the activation process of the substrate.     

Dimesitylborane monomer-dimer equilibrium in solution, and the solid-state structure of the dimer by single crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction

Dimesitylborane dimer has been shown to exist in equilibrium with dimesitylborane monomer in solution. This equilibrium has been investigated by variable concentration and variable temperature multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and values for the dissociation constant, enthalpy and entropy of dissociation were found to be K_diss=(3.2±0.4)×10⁻³ M, ΔH=70 kJ mol⁻¹, and ΔS=212 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹, respectively. Ab initio methods have been used to investigate the gas-phase structures and energies of both monomer and dimer, and calculated ¹¹B-NMR shifts are also presented. The solid-state structure of dimesitylborane dimer has been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction at 100 K and the position of the bridging hydrogen atoms (B---H=1.340(2), 1.342(2) Å, H---B---H=92.46(14)°) has been determined accurately, for the first time, by single crystal neutron diffraction at 20 K.     

The first 1,2-dibora-[2]ferrocenophane and its dynamic behaviour in solution

1,2-Bis(dimethylamino)-1,2-dibora-[2]ferrocenophane (1) was prepared by the reaction of 1,1′-dilithioferrocene with 1,2-dichlorobis(dimethylamino)diborane(4). In addition to hindered rotation about the B-N bond (ΔG^‡ > 80 kJ mol⁻¹), another dynamic process was revealed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR in solution at low temperature, and interpreted as motion of the cyclopentadienyl rings between staggered and eclipsed conformations (ΔG_{(233 K)}^‡ = 44 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹).     

Structures and energetics of C3H6S isomers: a Gaussian-3 ab initio study

Twenty-two isomers/conformers of C₃H₆S^+√ radical cations have been identified and their heats of formation (ΔH_f) at 0 and 298 K have been calculated using the Gaussian-3 (G3) method. Seven of these isomers are known and their ΔH_f data are available in the literature for comparison. The least energy isomer is found to be the thioacetone radical cation (4⁺) with C_2v symmetry. In contrast, the least energy C₃H₆O^+√ isomer is the 1-propen-2-ol radical cation. The G3 ΔH_f298 of 4⁺ is calculated to be 859.4 kJ mol⁻¹, ca. 38 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than the literature value, ≤821 kJ mol⁻¹. For allyl mercaptan radical cation (7⁺), the G3 ΔH_f298 is calculated to be 927.8 kJ mol⁻¹, also not in good agreement with the experimental estimate, 956 kJ mol⁻¹. Upon examining the experimental data and carrying out further calculations, it is shown that the G3 ΔH_f298 values for 4⁺ and 7⁺ should be more reliable than the compiled values. For the five remaining cations with available experimental thermal data, the agreement between the experimental and G3 results ranges from fair to excellent.

Cation CH₃CHSCH₂^+√ (10⁺) has the least energy among the eleven distonic radical cations identified. Their ΔH_f298 values range from 918 to 1151 kJ mol⁻¹. Nevertheless, only one of them, CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺), has been observed. Its G3 ΔH_f298 value is 980.9 kJ mol⁻¹, in fair agreement with the experimental result, 990 kJ mol⁻¹.

A couple of reactions involving C₃H₆S^+√ isomers CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺) and trimethylene sulfide radical cation (13⁺) have also been studied with the G3 method and the results are consistent with experimental findings.     

Heat capacity, enthalpy and entropy of strontium bismuth niobate and strontium bismuth tantalate

The heat capacities and enthalpy increments of strontium bismuth niobate SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ (SBN) and strontium bismuth tantalate SrBi₂Ta₂O₉ (SBT) were measured by the relaxation method (2–150 K), Calvet-type heat-conduction calorimetry (305–570 K) and drop calorimetry (773–1373 K). The temperature dependences of non-transition heat capacities in the form C_pm = 324.47 + 0.06371T − 5.0755 × 10⁶/T² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (298–1400 K) and C_pm = 320.22 + 0.06451T − 4.7001 × 10⁶/T² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (298–1400 K) were derived for SBN and SBT, respectively, by the least-squares method from the experimental data. Furthermore, the standard molar entropies at 298.15 K S_m°(SBN)=327.15±0.80 and S_m°(SBT)=339.23±0.72 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ were evaluated from the low-temperature heat capacity measurements.     

New aspects of the reaction of silver(I) cations with the ethylenediaminetetraacetate ion

The highly neutralized ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) titrant (95–99% as Y⁴⁻ anion) precipitates with Ag⁺ cations to form the Ag₄Y species, in aqueous medium, which is well characterized from conductometric titration, thermal analysis and potentiometric titration of the silver content of the solid. The precipitate dissolves in excess Y⁴⁻ to form a complex, AgY³⁻. Equilibrium studies at 25°C and ionic strength 0.50 M (NaNO₃) have shown from solubility and potentiometric measurements that the formation constant (95% confidence level) β₁ = (1.93 ± 0.07) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ and the solubility products are K_S0 = [Ag +]⁴[Y⁴⁻] = (9.0 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁸ M⁵ and K_S1 = [Ag +]³[AgY³⁻] = (1.74 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹² M⁴. The presence of Na⁺, rather than ionic strength, markedly affects the equilibrium; the data at ionic strength 0.10 M are: β₁ = (1.19 ± 0.03) × 10⁶ M⁻¹, K_S0 = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁹ M⁵ and K_S1 = (1.9 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹³ M⁴; at ionic strength tending to zero; β₁ = (1.82 ± 0.05) × 10⁷ M⁻¹, K_S0 = (2.6 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²² M⁵ and K_S1 = (5 ± 1) × 10⁻¹⁵ M⁴. The intrinsic solubility is 2.03 mM silver (I) in 0.50 M NaNO₃. Well-defined potentiometric titration curves can be taken in the range 1–2 mM with the Ag indicator electrode. Thermal analysis revealed from differential scanning calorimetry a sharp exothermic peak at 142°C; thermal gravimetry/differential thermal gravimetry has shown mass loss due to silver formation and a brown residue, a water-soluble polymeric acid (decomposition range 135–157°C), tending to pure silver at 600°C, consistent with the original Ag₄Y salt.     

Calorimetric comparison of the interactions between salivary proteins and Streptococcus mutans with and without antigen I/II

Antigen I/II can be found on streptococcal cell surfaces and is involved in their interaction with salivary proteins. In this paper, we determine the adsorption enthalpies of salivary proteins to Streptococcus mutans LT11 and S. mutans IB03987 with and without antigen I/II, respectively, using isothermal titration calorimetry. In addition, protein adsorption to the cell surfaces was determined spectrophotometrically. S. mutans LT11 with antigen I/II, yielded a much higher, exothermic adsorption enthalpy at pH 6.8 (ranging from −2073 × 10⁻⁹ to −31707 × 10⁻⁹ μJ per bacterium) when mixed with saliva than did S. mutans IB03987 (−165 × 10⁻⁹ to −1107 × 10⁻⁹ μJ per bacterium) at all bacterial concentrations studied (5 × 10⁹, 5 × 10⁸, and 5 × 10⁷ ml⁻¹), largest effects per bacterium being observed for the lowest concentration. However, the enthalpy of salivary protein adsorption to S. mutans LT11 became smaller at pH 5.8. Adsorption isotherms for the S. mutans LT11 showed considerable protein adsorption at pH 6.8 (1.2–2.1 mg/m²), that decreased only slightly at pH 5.8 (1.1–1.6 mg/m²), with the largest amount adsorbed at the lowest bacterial concentration. This suggests that the protein(s) in the saliva with the strongest affinity for antigen I/II is (are) readily depleted from saliva. In conclusion, antigen I/II surface proteins on S. mutans play a determinant role in adsorption of salivary proteins through the creation of enthalpically favorable adsorption sites.     

Calorimetric study on oxidation of alumina supported rhodium by dioxygen

Rhodium particles in nanometer size were prepared by impregnating alumina powders with aqueous solutions containing rhodium salts. The dispersion (D) of rhodium crystallites on the prepared samples was estimated by dioxygen adsorption measured at 300 K. Phenomena of oxidizing the supported crystallites with 2.5 × 10⁴ Pa O₂ in a temperature range between 280 and 870 K were calorimetrically studied. Extent of oxidation may be distinguished into three stages, i.e., adsorption on surface (T < 300 K), progressive penetration into bulk, and formation of a stable bulk oxide (T> 700 K), on raising the oxidation temperature. Heat of dioxygen adsorption varies only slightly with the dispersion (D) of rhodium and has a value of 294 ± 6 kJ (mol O₂)⁻¹. Chemical stoichiometry of the bulk oxide formed, however, varies with the dispersion of rhodium crystallites. A dioxide (RhO₂) (_f H = 225 ± 3 kJ (mol O₂)⁻¹) and a sesquioxide (Rh₂O₃) (_f H = 273 ± 3 kJ (mol O₂)⁻¹) was formed at D < 60% and D> 80%,     

Influence of non-covalent interactions on the thermodynamic stereoselectivity of the protonation of some dipeptides

ΔG⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ protonation values of some pairs of diastereoisomeric dipeptides have been determined by potentiometry and calorimetry in aqueous solution at 25°C and I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ (KNO₃). On the basis of the results obtained it has been possible to assess the role played by two different non-covalent interactions, namely the electrostatic interaction and the solvophobic interaction, on the thermodynamic stereoselectivity in the proton complex formation, shown by the systems investigated.     

Solution structure, mutagenesis, and NH exchange studies of the MutT enzyme–Mg-8-oxo-dGMP complex

The MutT pyrophosphohydrolase from E. coli (129 residues) catalyzes the hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (NTP), including 8-oxo-dGTP, by substitution at Pβ, to yield NMP and pyrophosphate. The product, 8-oxo-dGMP is an unusually tight binding, slowly exchanging inhibitor with a K_D=52 nM, (ΔG°=−9.8 kcal/mol) which is 6.1 kcal/mol tighter than the binding of dGMP (ΔG°=−3.7 kcal/mol). The higher affinity for 8-oxo-dGMP results from a more favorable ΔH_binding (−32 kcal/mol) despite an unfavorable −TΔS°_binding (+22 kcal/mol). The solution structure of the MutT–Mg²⁺-8-oxo-dGMP complex shows a narrowed, hydrophobic nucleotide-binding cleft with Asn-119 and Arg-78 among the few polar residues. The N119A, N119D, R78K and R78A single mutations, and the R78K+N119A double mutant all showed largely intact active sites, on the basis of small changes in the kinetic parameters of dGTP hydrolysis and in ¹H–¹⁵N HSQC spectra. However, the N119A mutation profoundly weakened the active site binding of 8-oxo-dGMP by 4.3 kcal/mol (1650-fold). The N119D mutation also weakened 8-oxo-dGMP binding but only by 2.1 kcal/mol (37-fold), suggesting that Asn-119 functioned both as a hydrogen bond donor to C8=O, and a hydrogen bond acceptor from N7H of 8-oxo-dGMP, while aspartate at position −119 functioned as an acceptor of a single hydrogen bond. Much smaller weakening effects (0.3–0.4 kcal/mol) on the binding of dGMP and dAMP were found, indicating specific hydrogen bonding of Asn-119 to 8-oxo-dGMP. While formation of the wild type MutT–Mg²⁺-8-oxo-dGMP complex slowed the backbone NH exchange rates of 45 residues distributed throughout the protein, the same complex of the N119A mutant slowed the exchange rates of only 11 residues at or near the active site, indicating an increase in conformational flexibility of the N119A mutant. The R78K and R78A mutations weakened the binding of 8-oxo-dGMP by 1.7 and 1.1 kcal/mol, respectively, indicating a lesser role of Arg-78 than of Asn-119 in the selective binding of 8-oxo-dGMP, likely donating a single hydrogen bond to its C6=O. The R78K+N119A double mutant weakened the binding of 8-oxo-dGMP (K_I^slope=3.1 mM) by 6.5±0.2 kcal/mol which overlaps, within error with the sum of the effects of the two single mutants (6.0±0.3 kcal/mol). Such additive effects of the two single mutants in the double mutant are most simply explained by the independent functioning of Asn-119 and Arg-78 in the binding of 8-oxo-dGMP. Independent functioning of these two residues in nucleotide binding is consistent with their locations in the MutT–Mg²⁺-8-oxo-dGMP complex, on opposite sides of the active site cleft, with a distance of 8.4±0.5 Å between their side chain nitrogens.     

Flow injection analysis methods for determination of diffusion coefficients

Two flow injection analyses (FIA) methods for the determination of diffusion coefficients in a straight single tube FIA system were developed. Based on the analytical solution of the convection-diffusion equation, linear relationships of the logarithmic values of the dispersion coefficient (D) and the half-peak width (W_1/2) with the diffusion coefficient (D_m) were obtained. Experiments were designed to verify these methods. For example, for potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) a D_m value of 0.72 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ was found versus a literature value of 0.76 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ (error, 5%). For potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) a D_m value of 0.67 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ was obtained versus a literature value of 0.63 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ (error, 6%). The diffusion coefficients of some important biomedical compounds, such as dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and ascorbic acid, were then determined. The values of 10⁵ D_m/cm² s⁻¹ are 0.60 ± 0.03, 0.44 ± 0.02, 0.60 ± 0.01 and 0.68 ± 0.06, respectively.     

Flash photolysis/temperature jump study of the vibrational relaxation of N2O(010) by O(P) and NO

This survey begins with the photochemistry at 254 nm and 298 K in the system H₂O₂COO₂RH, the primary objective of which is to determine the rate constants for the reaction OH + RH → H₂O + R relative to the well-known rate constant for the reaction OH + CO → CO₂ + H. Inherent in the scheme is that the reaction HO₂+CO→OH+CO₂ is negligible compared with the OH reaction, and a literature consensus gives k_HO2 < 10⁻¹⁹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, or some 10⁶ less than k_OH at 298 K. Theoretical calculations establish that the first stage in the HO₂ reaction is the formation of a free radical intermediate HO₂ + CO → HOOCO (perhydroxooxomethyl) which decomposes to yield the products, and that the rate of formation of the intermediate is equal to the rate of formation of the products. The structure of the intermediate and a reaction profile are shown.

High temperature rate data reported subsequent to the data in the consensus and theoretical calculations lead here to a recommendation that, in the range 250–800 K, k_HO2 = 3.45 × 10⁻¹²T^1/2 exp(1.15 × 10⁴/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, the hard-sphere-collision Arrhenius modification. This yields k_HO2(298) = 1.0 × 10⁻²⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ or some 10¹⁴ slower than k_OH(298).     

Studies on beta-type reaction and kinetics of lanthanides with p-bromochloroarsenazo

The reaction behaviour of the β-type chelates of lanthanide ions (Ln³⁺) with p-bromochloroarsenazo (4-CAsA-pB) in 0.01 mol l⁻¹ HClO₄ solution has been studied systematically by a spectrophotometric method. All the lanthanide ions can form β-type chelates with p-bromochloroarsenazo. The maximum absorption wavelength is in the range 727–731 nm, the molar absorptivities are about 6.0 × 10⁴ – 9.0 × 10⁴ cm² mol⁻¹, the composition ratio of Ln³⁺ ions with 4-CAsA-pB is 1:2 and the actual combining ratio is 2:4. The optimum acidity range (ΔpH value) of the formation of β-type chelates has been obtained. Kinetic parameters, such as the reaction order and rate constants, have also been studied and a formation mechanism for the β-type chelates has been proposed.     

Simultaneous derivative spectrophotometric determination of thorium and uranium in a micellar medium

Derivative photometric methods for trace analysis of Th(IV) and UO₂(II), and their simultaneous determination in mixtures using 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in a micellar medium are reported. Molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of 1:2 Th(IV) and 1:1 UO₂(II) complexes at their λ_max, 614.5 nm and 637.0 nm are, 1.19 × 10⁴ 1/mol/cm and 1.12 × 10⁴ 1/mol/cm and 1.95 × 10⁻² μg/cm² and 2.13 × 10⁻² μg/cm² μg/cm², respectively. Calibration graph is linear over the range 9.28 × 10⁻²−18.56 μg/ml of Th(IV) and 9.52 × 10⁻²−19.04 μg/ml of UO₂(II). Though presence of Th(IV) and UO₂(II) causes interference in each others determination, 9.28 × 10⁻¹−9.28 μg/ml Th(IV) and 9.52 × 10⁻¹−9.52 μg/ml UO₂(II) when present together, can be simultaneously determined using derivative spectra.