Mixed ligand complexes involving aminoacid dithiocarbamates,substituted phosphines and nickel(II)

Mixed ligand complexes involving four aminoacid dithiocarbamates (RRdtc=glydtc^– (R=H; R=H), methdtc^– (R=H; R=C₃H₇S), sardtc^– (R=Me; R=H), trydtc^– (R=H; R=C₉H₈N), substituted phosphines [PPh₃, Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂(dppe)] and nickel(II) are reported. All are diamagnetic. Thermal analyses of the complexes are in keeping with the proposed formulae. Thermal decomposition of the dithiocarbamate moiety proceeds through the formation of Ni(SCN)₂. PPh₃ and dppe are lost in the initial decomposition stages.     

Selective Kinetic Determination of Cu2+ with Tetraazamacrocyclic Bis(Methylphosphonate) Ligand (Dipon)

A new macrocyclic ligand, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (refered to as dipon) exhibits high thermodynamic and kinetic selectivity for Cu²⁺ compared to other transition metal ions. The initial-rate method (=310nm, pH=3.75, c_L4.6×10^–3molL^–1) was chosen as an optimal experimental approach in order to achieve maximum sensitivity of determination. The dynamic range of the method is (5–200)×10^–6molL^–1, and the detection limit is 2.5×10^–6molL^–1. A standard addition procedure was applied to the kinetic determination of Cu²⁺ to eliminate the effect of interfering ions (e.g. Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, HCO^–₃, Cl^–, SO₄^2–, etc.). The method was tested on artificial and real samples (alloys, pure and spiked mineral water) and gave satisfactory results which are in agreement with the values for some certified materials. The advantage of the proposed method is rapidity, simplicity and robustness in the presence of other metal ions.     

The Electrochemical Behavior of p-Aminophenol at a ω-Mercaptopropionic Acid Self-Assembled Gold Electrode

A -mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer modified electrode (MPA/SAM/Au) on a gold electrode has been fabricated. The characterization of the MPA/SAM/Au was investigated using attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and A.C. impedance. The electrochemical behaviors of p-aminophenol (p-AP) were studied at the MPA/SAM/Au by cyclic voltammetry and semi-derivative voltammetry (SDV) in BR buffer solution. The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity for the redox of p-AP and accelerates the electron transfer rate. The diffusion coefficient (D) is 4.55×10^–6cm²s^–1. The oxidative peak current increases linearly with the concentration of p-AP in the range of 4.0×10^–88×10^–6molL^–1 and 1.0×10^–52×10^–4molL^–1 by square wave voltammetry response, respectively. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) is up to 1.2×10^–8molL^–1. The modified electrode is able to eliminate the interference of p-benzenediol, o-benzenediol and o-AP at a 40-, 90- or 70-fold concentration of p-AP, and it has been satisfactorily used for the determination of the real sample.     

Exciton Chirality. (A) Origins of and (B) Applications from Strongly Fluorescent Dipyrrinone Chromophores

Summary. (A) The origin of exciton interaction and examples of its application to organic stereochemistry are presented. (B) N,N-Carbonyl-bridged dipyrrinones constitute a new class of highly fluorescent chromophores suitable for investigations of stereochemistry and absolute configuration. N,N-Carbonylxanthobilirubic acid esters are strongly fluorescent, with a fluorescence quantum yield (_F) 0.8, but produce only weak exciton CD from the trans-1,2-cyclohexanediol template. The ester of an analog with benzoic acid replacing propionic, N,N-carbonyl-8-(4-carboxyphenyl)-3-ethyl-2,7,9-trimethyl-(10H)-dipyrrin-1-one, exhibits strong fluorescence (_F=0.68, _em=493nm, _ex=422nm in CHCl₃) and UV-Vis absorption (21000 at 424nm) in organic solvents. Its diester with (1S,2S)-cyclohexanediol is fluorescent and exhibits exciton circular dichroism (=+15dm³·mol^–1·cm^–1, =432nm; =–4dm³·mol^–1cm^–1, =380nm) that correlates with the Exciton Chirality Rule.     

Kinetics of formation,dissociation and equilibrium constants of pentacyanoaquoruthenate(II) with heterocycles

The kinetics of formation and dissociation reactions of [Ru(CN)₅L]^3– with a series of heterocyclic ligands were studied in aqueous media. In this presence of an excess of heterocycle, the observed second order rate constants were calculated from the k_obs versus [ligand] plot at =0.100m NaClO₄. Activation parameters for the formation reactions (H=28±7kJmol^–1 and S=140±35JK^–1mol^–1) are comparable for all systems, indicating a common mechanism. The kinetics of exchange of coordinated heterocycles for 1,3,5-triazine yielded a rate saturation typical of a limiting dissociative mechanism. Activation parameters of the limiting first order specific rate of dissociation reactions were H=85±7kJmol^–1 and S=18±4JK^–1mol^–1. Equilibrium constants were calculated from the second order rates of formation and pseudo-first order rates of dissociation reaction.     

Polarographic Determination of Lovastatin in the Presence of H2O2 in Pharmaceuticals, Human Urine and Serum

The polarographic reduction and catalytic behavior of lovastatin are studied by polarography and cyclic voltammetry. The reduction wave of lovastatin appears at ca. –1.49V (vs. SCE) in 0.16molL^–1 Na₂B₄O₇–KH₂PO₄ (pH=7.4) supporting electrolyte containing 20% ethanol. It is ascribed to a 2e^–, 2H⁺ addition to the carbonyl group on lactone ring. If H₂O₂ is present, the reduction wave is catalyzed to produce a polarographic catalytic wave. Based on the catalytic wave, a novel method for the determination of lovastatin is proposed. A rectilinear calibration curve of the catalytic wave was obtained for lovastatin concentration in the range 1.5×10^–8 to 1.0×10^–6molL^–1. The peak current of the catalytic wave is ca. 12 times higher than that of the corresponding reduction wave. The detection limit is 8.0×10^–9molL^–1. The proposed method is simpler, faster and more sensitive than the known methods for lovastatin analysis, and can be applied to the direct determination of lovastatin in pharmaceuticals, urine and serum without preliminary separation.     

Electrochemical Determination of Cinnamtannin B1 with a Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode

Cinnamtannin B1 (trimeric proanthocyanidin), which is identified and isolated from the effective fraction of the root of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm, is one kind of condensed tannin used as an effective antipyrotic and antitumor agent. Its electrochemical response can be obtained at a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Consequently, an easily performed and sensitive method for the determination of cinnamtannin B1 is developed. The detection limit is estimated to be 1.0×10^–7M with the linear determination range of 2.0×10^–7M to 1.8×10^–6M. Five replicate analyses of 1.0×10^–6M cinnamtannin B1 yields an RSD value of 2.1%. Since the working electrode does not need to be modified with any other species, it is very stable, repeatable and easily treated, and this method therefore potentially useful in real sample analysis.     

Fluorescence Quenching Studies of Curcumin by Hydrogen Peroxide in Acetonitrile Solution

Summary. Steady state quenching studies of curcumin, 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, fluorescence by hydrogen peroxide were conducted in acetonitrile solution. A quenching rate constant, k_q, of 1.05×10¹⁰M^–1·s^–1 was obtained with a short fluorescence lifetime of 347ps. The reaction rate constant, which is within the diffusion-limited regime, is activation-controlled. The rate constant of deactivation of the thermally excited curcumin was 1.2 orders of magnitude more nonradiative (2.67×10⁹s^–1) than radiative (2.16×10⁸s^–1). The reaction was exothermic with a G° of –1.97eV and solvent reorganization energy of 1.37eV. These values indicate that the electron transfer reaction is solvent-mediated with electron transfer rate constant, k_ET, of 2.16×10¹⁰s^–1.     

Voltammetric Determination of Trace Amounts of Fenitrothion on a Novel Nano-TiO2 Polymer Film Electrode

A novel nano-TiO₂ polymer modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed for the determination of an organophosphorous pesticide, fenitrothion (-NO₂), in citrate buffer solution. The electrochemical behavior of fenitrothion was characterized by using cyclic voltammetry. An irreversible form, -NO₂, was transformed into a reversible redox couple (-NHOH/-NO), and it can be used to determine trace fenitrothion by square wave voltammetry. The experimental parameters, such as film thickness, pH value, accumulation potential and time were optimized. Interestingly, a cyclic voltammetric scan was observed to be more effective than a constant potential for the accumulation of fenitrothion. A linear response over a fenitrothion concentration of 2.5×10^–8 to 1.0×10^–5M was exhibited, with a detection limit of 1.0×10^–8M (S/N=3). The high sensitivity and selectivity of this film electrode was demonstrated by its practical application to the determination of trace amounts of fenitrothion in lake water and apple samples.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Magnetic Properties of the Silicides <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">RE</Emphasis>IrSi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">RE</Emphasis> = Ce,Pr, Er,Tm, Lu) and SmIr<Subscript>0.266(8)</Subscript>Si<Subscript>1.734(8)</Subscript>

Summary. The equiatomic rare earth metal–iridium–silicides REIrSi (RE=Ce, Pr, Er, Tm, Lu) were prepared by arc-melting of the elements and subsequent annealing. All silicides were characterized through their X-ray powder patterns. The structures of CeIrSi, ErIrSi, and LuIrSi were refined from X-ray single crystal diffractometer data: LaIrSi type, P2₁3, a=629.15(2)pm, wR2=0.1232, 280F² values, and 11 variable parameters for CeIrSi; TiNiSi type, Pnma, a=673.4(1), b=416.07(5), c=744.88(9)pm, wR2=0.0705, 339F² values, and 20 variable parameters for ErIrSi, and a=664.0(3), b=412.9(1), c=742.6(1)pm, wR2=0.0398, 496F² values, and 20 variable parameters for LuIrSi. The iridium and silicon atoms in CeIrSi, ErIrSi, and LuIrSi build three-dimensional [IrSi] networks where the iridium atoms have three (CeIrSi, Ir–Si 229pm) and four (ErIrSi, Ir–Si 247–258pm; LuIrSi, Ir–Si 245–256pm) silicon neighbors. The [IrSi] networks leave larger channels in which the cerium, erbium, and lutetium atoms are located. Temperature dependent susceptibility data for LuIrSi indicate Pauli paramagnetism. CeIrSi shows Curie-Weiss paramagnetism above 100K with an experimental magnetic moment of 2.56(2)_B/Ce atom. With samarium as rare earth metal component the silicide SmIr_0.266(8)Si_1.734(8) with -ThSi₂ type structure was obtained: I4₁/amd, a=409.3(1), c=1397.2(5)pm, wR2=0.0575, 161F² values, and 9 variable parameters. Within the three-dimensional [Ir_0.266Si_1.734] network the Ir/Si–Ir/Si distances range from 230 to 237pm.     

The Dissociation Constants of 1,1′-Bis (pyridinium-4-aldoxime)trimethylene dibromide

Summary. The dissociation constants of the two oxime groups of 1,1-bis(pyridinium-4-aldoxime)trimethylene dibromide (TMB-4) were determined using spectrophotometric data. Two numerical methods were applied to treat the overlapping equilibria. The results obtained by both agreed with each other and their mean values at 25°C corrected for the ionic strength of 0.05moldm^–3 are pK_a1=7.49±0.11 and pK_a2=8.96±0.09. These values were discussed in terms of the pK_as of 1,1-bis(pyridinium-4-aldoxime)oxydimethylene dichloride (Toxogonin), a similar dioxime, which were derived by extrapolation of literature data.     

Determination of Lead Using a New Chromogenic Reagent 2-(2-Sulfo-4-acetylphenylazo)-7-(2,4,6-trichlorophenylazo)-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic Acid

A novel chromogenic reagent, 2-(2-sulfo-4-acetylphenylazo)-7-(2,4,6-trichlorophenylazo)-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid 1, was prepared by diazo coupling of 4-acetylaniline-2-sulfonic acid and 2,4,6-trichloroaniline to chromotropic acid through –N=N– groups. Based on this reagent, a simple, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of lead. In 0.20M phosphoric acid medium, lead reacts with 1 to form a 1:2 blue complex with an absorption maximum of 654nm. Beers law is obeyed in the range of 0–0.6mgL^–1 of lead. The apparent molar absorptivity is 1.25×10⁵Lmol^–1cm^–1. The detection limit and quantification limit were found to be 0.63µgL^–1 and 2.1µgL^–1, respectively. The relative standard deviation for eleven replicate measurements was of 2.6%. The interference of foreign ions was also investigated. All the other foreign ions studied did not interfere with lead determination except for Ca(II) and Ba(II). The interference caused by Ca(II) and Ba(II) can be eliminated by prior extraction of lead with potassium iodide-methylisobutylketone (KI-MIBK). The proposed method was applied to the determination of lead in certified samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of Heavy Metal Ions in Chinese Herbal Medicine by Microwave Digestion and RP-HPLC with UV-Vis Detection

A new method for the simultaneous determination of heavy metal ions in Chinese herbal medicine by microwave digestion and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been developed. The Chinese herbal medicine samples were digested by microwave digestion. Lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc, and tin ions in the digested samples were pre-column derivatized with tetra-(4-chlorophenyl)-porphyrin (T₄-CPP) to form the colored chelates which were then enriched by solid phase extraction with C₁₈ cartridge and eluted from the cartridge with tetrahydrofuran (THF). The chelates were separated on a Waters Xterra RP₁₈ column by gradient elution with methanol (containing 0.05molL^–1 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer salt, pH=10.0) and THF (containing 0.05molL^–1 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer salt, pH=10.0) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5mLmin^–1 and detected with a photodiode array detector in the range of 350–600nm. In the original samples the detection limits of lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc and tin are 4ngL^–1, 3ngL^–1, 6ngL^–1, 5ngL^–1, 2ngL^–1, 6ngL^–1, and 4ngL^–1, respectively. This method was applied to the determination of lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, copper, zinc and tin in Chinese herbal medicine samples with good results.     

Adsorptive Catalytic Voltammetry of Physcion in the Presence of Dissolved Oxygen at a Carbon Paste Electrode

A novel electroanalytical method for the determination of physcion is described for the first time. Physcion yields an adsorption catalytic voltammetric peak at –0.74V (vs. SCE) in 0.4molL^–1 NH₄Cl–NH₃·H₂O buffer solution (pH 10.5) at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The experimental results indicated that physcion is efficiently accumulated at a CPE by adsorption. In the subsequent potential scan, physcion was reduced to a homologous anthrahydroquinone compound. The compound was then immediately oxidized to physcion by the dissolved oxygen in the solution, and then physcion was again reduced at the CPE. As a result, a cyclic catalytic reaction was established. The second-order derivative peak current is proportional to the physcion concentration in the ranges of 2.0×10^–104.0×10^–9molL^–1 (accumulation 90s) and 4.0×10^–92.0×10^–8molL^–1 (accumulation 60s). The limit of detection is 8×10^–11molL^–1 (S/N=3) for a 120s accumulation time. The method was applied to the direct determination of physcion in the medicinal plant polygonum multiflorum Thumb with satisfactory results.     

Energy Transfer Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence for the Determination of Sulfite

A simple and novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) method for the determination of sulfite has been developed based on the energy transfer ECL process. It was found that a weak ECL signal of sulfite was electrochemically generated on a platinum electrode in neutral aqueous solution. The signal was strongly enhanced by rhodamine B as an energy receptor and further enhanced by the neutral surfactant Tween 80. In 0.10M phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.5) containing 2.0×10^–6gmL^–1 rhodamine B and 0.4% (v/v) Tween 80, the ECL response to the concentration of sulfite at a potential of 0.82V was linear over a range of 1.0×10^–7gmL^–1 to 8.0×10^–6gmL^–1, and the detection limit was 5×10^–8gmL^–1. The relative standard deviation (n=11, 1.0×10^–6gmL^–1) was 3.8%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of sulfite in pharmaceutical injections and white sugar samples.     

A Salt-Tolerant Yeast-Based Microbial Sensor for 24 Hour Community Wastewater Monitoring in Coastal Regions

A microbial sensor for rapid determination of the concentration of biodegradable pollutants in wastewater has been developed using the salt-tolerant yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3 immobilized by gel entrapment with poly (carbamoyl) sulfonate hydrogel (PCS gel) on a Clark-type oxygen electrode. This sensor needs 5min for every measurement instead of 5 days for BOD₅. The sensor has a linear response of up to 550mgL^–1 BOD with a correlation of coefficient R²=0.9785. The detection limit was calculated to be 2.1mgL^–1 BOD equivalents, and the determination limit was 6.0mgL^–1 BOD equivalents. The high tolerance to salt of the Arxula adeninivorans LS3 strain prevents the inactivation of cells caused by the seawater from affecting the measurements. In a 24-hour comparative study using real wastewater samples from an international college situated in Hong Kong, the microbial sensor showed a very good correlation (R²=0.9134) with the standard BOD₅ method and truly reflected the life cycle of the college people. The microbial sensor allows almost ideal real-time monitoring in water pollution and degradation.     

The Dissociation Constants of 1,1'-Bis (pyridinium-4-aldoxime)trimethylene dibromide

The dissociation constants of the two oxime groups of 1,1-bis(pyridinium-4-aldoxime)trimethylene dibromide (TMB-4) were determined using spectrophotometric data. Two numerical methods were applied to treat the overlapping equilibria. The results obtained by both agreed with each other and their mean values at 25°C corrected for the ionic strength of 0.05moldm^–3 are pK_a1=7.49±0.11 and pK_a2=8.96±0.09. These values were discussed in terms of the pK_as of 1,1-bis(pyridinium-4-aldoxime)oxydimethylene dichloride (Toxogonin), a similar dioxime, which were derived by extrapolation of literature data.     

Determination of Attogram Quantities of Silver via Quenching of the Solid Substrate Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Rhodamine B Based on the Catalysis of its Oxidation by Potassium Persulfate

A new method of SS-RTP for the determination of trace silver has been established. This method is based on the fact that Ag⁺, when activated by ,-bipyridyl (bipy) in a media of HAc–NaAc (pH=4.9), can catalyze the reaction of Rhodamine B (RhoB) oxidized by K₂S₂O₈, thus causing the Solid Substrate Room-Temperature Phosphorescence (SS-RTP) of RhoB to be quenched. The activating efficiency of bipy is 6.7 times higher than that of o-phenanthroline (phen). The reduction of the phosphorescence intensity (I_p) of RhoB is directly proportional to the concentration of Ag⁺ ions in the range of 1.6016.0agspot^–1 (0.40µLspot^–1). The regression equation of the working curve can be expressed as I_p=18.78+5.100m_Ag+ (agspot^–1) (r=0.9994, n=6), the detection limit is 0.28agspot^–1. This rapid, accurate and sensitive method has been successfully applied to the determination of trace silver in tea and human hair samples, and the results agree well with the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The mechanism of the catalyzing reaction is also discussed.     

Preconcentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) Using Humic Substances and Flow Systems Coupled to Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This paper demonstrates the potential of two natural adsorbents, vermicompost and humic acid, for preconcentration of cadmium(II) and lead(II) using flow systems coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The procedure involves the adsorption of Cd(II) or Pb(II) on these materials (using columns containing 25mg) and subsequent elution for determination by FAAS. Cadmium(II) was preconcentrated for 4min (flow rate of 4.0mLmin^–1) and eluted with 220µL of 3.0molL^–1 HNO₃. Under these conditions, preconcentration factors of 46 and 27 were obtained for vermicompost and humic acid, respectively. Except when using 1.0molL^–1 nitric acid (for humic acid), all conditions for lead(II) preconcentration were identical to those for cadmium(II), and preconcentration factors of 62 and 83 were obtained when vermicompost and humic acid, respectively, were used. The systems were stable with only slight variations in the slopes of the analytical curves (ca. 5% after 8h working period). The long-term stability shows that a minimum of 120 and 100 cycles, respectively, can be run using the same masses of vermicompost or humic acid. The detection limits for Cd(II) were 0.4 and 0.8µgL^–1 for vermicompost and humic acid respectively, while the detection limits for Pb(II) were 8.8 and 12.1µgL^–1, also for vermicompost and humic acid. The accuracy of the methods was checked by using spiked and real (certified and reference) samples. Due to the concomitant sorption of other metals leading to variable slopes for lead and cadmium determination, it was necessary to adopt the standard addition method for calibration purposes.     

Tishchenko Reaction Over Solid Base Catalysts

Catalytic behavior of solid bases for mixed Tishchenko reaction in which an equimolar mixture of two different aldehydes is allowed to react was investigated employing the combinations of benzaldehyde and pivalaldehyde, pivalaldehyde and cyclopropanecarbaldehyde, and cyclopropanecarbaldehyde and benzaldehyde. The reactions were performed at 353K for 4h in vacuo without solvent using 5mmol of each aldehyde and 100mg of solid base catalyst. For all the combinations, the catalytic activity of alkaline earth oxides increased in the order of BaOMgO2O₃, ZrO₂, ZnO, -alumina, hydrotalcite, KF/alumina, and KOH/alumina produced either no amount or very small amounts of cross-esterification and self-esterification products. Quantum chemical calculations carried out at the PM3-MO level for the positive charges on the carbonyl carbon atoms of aldehydes and the structure parameters of the active species for the ester formations indicated that the selectivities to four Tishchenko dimers over MgO and CaO are determined primarily in the step of the nucleophilic addition of the active species (PhCH₂O^-, ^tBuCH₂O^-, and C₃H₅CH₂O^-) to the carbonyl carbon atoms of aldehydes. The reaction of the aldehyde having more positively charged and sterically less hindered carbonyl carbon atom with the active species having less hindered oxygen atom proceeds faster.We also attempted the application of solid base catalysts to the challenging Tishchenko reaction of furfural, and excellent results were obtained with CaO and SrO. For instance, when furfural (10mmol) was treated with SrO (100mg) without solvent at 353K for 6h in vacuo, almost quantitative conversion to the corresponding ester was accomplished. Furthermore, application of SrO to the Tishchenko reaction of 3-furaldehyde was carried out successfully. The catalytic systems were also successfully applicable to the intramolecular Tishchenko reaction (lactonization) of o-phthalaldehyde to phthalide. For example, treatment of o-phthalaldehyde (1mmol) with CaO (50mg) in benzene (1mL) solvent at 313K under N₂ produced phthalide quantitatively in a short time of 15min. We finally refer to the perspective of application of solid base catalysts to Tishchenko reaction.