Novel binding of beryllium to dicarboxyimidazole-based model compounds and polymers

The ligand 4,5-dicarboxyimidazole (H(2)DCI) and its methyl derivative 1-methyl-4,5-dicarboxyimidazole (H(2)MDCI) have been shown to bind to Be(II) forming a zwitterionic species that has been structurally characterized. A new dicarboxyimidazole-based polymer has been prepared and its Be-binding properties have been studied using NMR ((1)H and (9)Be) and fluorescence spectroscopy; it represents a rare example of beryllium binding to a polymer. Models of the mononuclear and polymeric Be(II)-binding sites have been studied using density functional theory (DFT), and the (9)Be NMR chemical shifts of these model materials have been calculated for the purpose of direct comparison to experimentally observed values. Differences in the binding modes of the mononuclear and polymeric species are discussed.     

Metal chelate exchange in the organic phase-II Extraction and exchange constants of dithizonates and diethyldithiocarbamates

Dithizonates and diethyldithiocarbamates of Ag, Tl(I), Cu(II), Zn, Cd, Hg(II), Pb, Fe(II), Co(II), Ni, Pd(II), In(III), As(III), Sb(III), Bi, Se(IV) and Te(IV) have been prepared and their reactions in carbon tetrachloride have been studied spectrophotometrically. From the exchange constants determined, the extraction constants of metal diethyldithiocarbamates have been calculated. Where formation of mixed chelates has been observed, corresponding exchange constants have been determined. Finally, the influence of organic solvents (CCl(4), CHCl(3), C(6)H(6) and C(6)H(5)Cl) on the exchange reaction of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate with dithizone has been investigated.     

Optimisation and comparison of microwave-assisted extraction and Soxhlet extraction for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil samples using an experimental design approach

Optimisation of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for the extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from soil samples has been accomplished using an experimental design approach. Variables studied have been: percentage of acetone (v/v) in an acetone:n-hexane mixture, solvent volume, extraction time, microwave power and pressure inside the extraction vessel. Five samples of a certified soil (CRM 481) have been extracted under the optimum conditions of the developed method and the results have been compared to those obtained by Soxhlet extraction. Good recoveries (>95%) have been obtained for all the PCBs studied. All extracts have been analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and an optimum determination method for the electron impact mass spectrometric (EIMS) has also been developed.     

The application of solid sorbents for the purification of aluminum contaminated chemicals used as modifiers in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Various microcolumns with solid sorbents (ion exchange resins, functionalised cellulose sorbents, chelating resins) have been tested with respect to their ability for the purification of aluminum contaminated chemicals used as modifiers in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The purification of NaNO(3), Mg(NO(3))(2), K(2)SO(4) and (NH(4))(2)HPO(4) has been the most effective with an almost 100% efficiency, when Spheron-Oxine was used as chelating resin. The sorption of aluminum from KOH solution has been found to be very high (around 90%) for all investigated sorbents. However, the best results have been obtained with anion-exchange resins. It has been difficult to purify concentrated mineral acids (HCl, H(2)SO(4)). A retention of aluminum above 80% has been achieved only when Cellex P, Chelex 100 or Amberlite XAD-2 have been used.     

Photomagnetic properties in a series of spin crossover compounds

The spin crossover (SC) compounds [Fe(PM-AzA)2(NCX)2] and [Fe(PM-FIA)2(NCX)2] (with PM-AzA = N-2'-pyridylmethylene-4-(phe-nylazo)aniline, PM-FIA = N-2'-pyridylmethylene-4-(2-amino)fluorene, and X = S, Se) have been prepared. The SC regimes have been deduced from variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data. The enthalpy and entropy changes associated with the SC have been evaluated from DSC measurements. A cooperativity factor, C, has been defined, and its values for the different compounds have been deduced from the spin crossover curves. At 10 K, the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect has been observed within the cavity of the SQUID magnetometer. The critical temperatures Tc(LIESST) have been determined for [Fe(PM-AzA)2(NCS)2] and [Fe(PM-F1A)2(NCX)2], and the role of cooperativity has been analyzed. A linear correlation has been found between the Tc(LIESST) and C values. The kinetics of HS-->LS relaxation have been investigated; a thermally activated mechanism at elevated temperatures and a nearly temperature independent relaxation behavior at low temperatures have been found. Finally, the magnetic behavior recorded under light irradiation in the warming and cooling modes has revealed the occurrence of the light-induced thermal hysteresis (LITH) effect.     

D(5h) C50X10: saturn-like fullerene derivatives (X=F, Cl, Br)

Based on the recently reported D(5h) C(50), the geometries and stabilities of its Saturn-like derivatives C(50)X(10) (X=F, Cl, Br) have been investigated by DFT method. Compared with C(50), the equatorial carbon atoms in C(50)X(10) have been saturated by halogens and change to sp(3) hybridization to release the large angle strain. Because the equatorial carbon atoms have been taken out of the pi system by the halogens "ring," the C(50)X(10) system has been split into two well-delocalized conjugated annulene subunits, and then the electronic stabilization has been enhanced.     

Enzyme electrode probes obtained by electropolymerization of monomers with PMS and selected dehydrogenase enzymes

5-methylphenazonium methylsulphate, (commonly named phenazine methosulphate, PMS) mediated electroxidation of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate), reduced form, (NAD(P)h), on platinum, gold and carbon electrodes has been studied by electropolymerization of 1,2-, 1,3-, 1,4-diaminobenzene (DAB), pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (PY-2-COOH) and 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB) in presence of PMS using cyclic voltammetry. The electroxidation of ascorbic acid has been evaluated on the electrodes electropolymerized in absence and in presence of PMS. The same experiments have been carried out with NAD(P)H in solution. Results showed that the NAD(P)H is oxidised by PMS coimmobilized with the polymer film on the electrode surface. NAD(P)H has been measured in the range 10(-6)-10(-2)mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 5 x 10(-7) mol 1(-1). Amperometric measurements of NAD(P)H have been carried out at -0.10 V and the efficiency of different elecrodes based on different materials has been studied. The electropolymerization has been also carried out in presence of PMS and selected dehydrogenase enzymes. The activity of these enzymes has been tested amperometrically at -0.1 V. Enzyme substrates such as glucose, lactate and glutamate have been measured in the range 5 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-2) mol 1(-1) with a detection limit 1 x 10(-6) mol 1(-1). Also the stability of these probes during time has been evaluated.     

Optical, morphological and structural characterization of Langmuir-Schaefer films of a functionalized copper phthalocyanine

Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) films of copper(II) tetrakis-(isoprpoxy-carbonyl)-phthalocyanine (TiPCuPc) have been deposited onto various solid supports. Its floating film have been characterized at the air-water interface by means of Brewster Angle Microscopy and Langmuir curves. Vibrational modes of multilayer transferred LS film have been studied by Raman spectroscopy and the optical parameters (refractive index n and extinction coefficient k) have been determined in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Linearly polarized light absorbance measurements have been performed at room temperature in the 400-800 nm spectral range and the average orientation of the phthalocyanine rings have been estimated. Transmission electron microscopy has been also used to characterize the morphological properties of the LS film and a close packed arrangement of the deposited molecules has been observed.     

Extraction of gold(III) with (RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl-methyl)-pentan-3-ol from hydrochloric acid solutions

Extraction of gold(III) with (RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-pentan-3-ol from 3 M hydrochloric acid solutions (with chloroform as a diluent) has been studied. Optimal extraction conditions have been found. The reagent has been shown to extract efficiently metal ion from solutions containing 3 M hydrochloric acid due to formation of coordination bond between gold(III) and the N4 atom of the triazole ring. The coordination mechanism of gold(III) extraction has been proposed on the basis of the data obtained. Concentration constants of extraction have been calculated, and the thermodynamic parameters of extraction have been determined.     

Functionalized bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes of zinc and copper: synthetic platforms toward site-specific radiopharmaceuticals

Two new types of unsymmetrical bis(thiosemicarbazone) proligands and their neutral zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes have been synthesized. These bifunctional ligands both chelate the metal ions and provide pendent amino groups that can be readily functionalized with biologically active molecules. Functionalization has been demonstrated by the synthesis of three water-soluble glucose conjugates of the new zinc(II) bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes, and their copper(II) analogues have been prepared in aqueous solution via transmetalation. A range of techniques including NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance, cyclic voltammetry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV/vis, and fluorescence emission spectroscopy have been used to characterize the complexes. Four compounds, including two zinc(II) complexes, have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The connectivity and conformation of the glucose conjugates have been assigned by NMR spectroscopy. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations have been used to assign the electronic transitions of the copper(II) bis(thiosemicarbazonato) chromophore. Two copper-64-radiolabeled complexes, including one glucose conjugate, have been prepared and characterized using radio-HPLC, and transmetalation is shown to be a viable method for radiolabeling compounds with copper radionuclides. Preliminary cell washout studies have been performed under normoxic conditions, and the uptake and intracellular distribution have been studied using confocal fluorescence microscopy.     

Separation of transition metal ions and preconcentration of platinum (IV) and chromium (III) on alumina-immobilized diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid by ligand exchange

Summary Basic alumina-bonded diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) has been utilized for the separation and preconcentration of some transition metal ions on the basis of ligand exchange. Breakthrough capacity and rate of sorption have been studied. The distribution coefficients of 16 transition metal ions have been determined in demineralized water, 0.01 M sodium citrate and in four different pH systems. On the basis of differences in Kd values some quantitative separations of metal ions have been achieved. The greater selectivity behaviour (higher Kd values) of the adsorbent for Pt(IV)and Cr(III) has been utilized for their preconcentration in the presence of other metal ions. The method has been employed for the recovery of Pt(IV) and Cr(III) from tapwater and sea-water samples.     

Ring-closing metathesis of chiral allylamines. Enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline

The ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of two types of unsaturated chiral allylamines III, easily available from enantiomerically enriched epoxy alcohols, has been studied. Fully protected allylamines IIIa [(1)R = CH(2)-(CH(2))(n)()-CH=CH(2); (2)R = Boc; (3)R = PMB] have been prepared from unsaturated epoxy alcohols, whereas bis-allylamines IIIb ((1)R = Ph, (2)R = allyl,(3)R = Boc or PMB) have been prepared from 2,3-epoxy-3-phenylpropanol. Both types have been subjected to RCM to provide either cyclic allylamine I or II. The synthetic potential of these intermediates has been demonstrated by the enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyproline.     

Spectroscopic properties of Pr(3+) doped in tellurite glass

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of Pr(3+) doped in tellurite glass has been recorded and analyzed in terms of Judd-Ofelt theory. The lifetime of (3)P(0) and (3)P(1) levels has been measured. Fluorescence quenching has been observed for higher concentrations of Pr(3+) ion. The temperature dependence of the fluorescence intensity and the lifetime of the (3)P(0) level has been investigated and found that they decrease with the increase of the temperature.     

Intermediate-spin state of a 3d ion in the octahedral environment and generalization of the Tanabe-Sugano diagrams

Electronic spectra of 3d(n) transition ions in an octahedral ligand surrounding have been studied using the modified crystal field approach (MCFA), which includes a relativistic spin-orbital interaction. A new variable parameter, the effective nuclear charge Z(eff) of a metal ion that allows accounting implicitly the covalence degree of a metal-ligand bond, has been introduced. Energy diagrams similar to the Tanabe-Sugano ones have been calculated. To study the spin state evolution of the metal ion in an arbitrary distorted octahedral complex, a spin state diagram approach has been proposed. The intermediate-spin (IS) state problem for 3d(4), 3d(5), and 3d(6) metal ions has been considered and conditions for the IS state realization have been formulated. The regions of the mixed high-, intermediate-, and low-spin states have been found. The possibility of coexistence of the different spin states of 3d ions in the octahedral complexes has been considered using crystallography data for the YBaCo(2)O(5.5) layered cobaltite.     

Bifunctional chelators for copper radiopharmaceuticals: the synthesis of [Cu(ATSM)-amino acid] and [Cu(ATSM)-octreotide] conjugates

Two new bifunctional chelators that are derivatives of the bis(thiosemicarbazone) ATSMH(2) proligand have been prepared, one with two phenyl carboxylate substituents on the exocyclic nitrogens (L(1)H(2)) and one with a single phenyl carboxylate (L(2)H(2)). The new ligands have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and in the case of L(1)H(2) by X-ray crystallography. The copper, nickel and zinc complexes of the new ligands have been synthesised and characterised. Electrochemical measurements show that the copper(II) complexes undergo a reversible reduction attributable to a Cu(II)/Cu(I) process. The new proligands have been tethered to the N-alpha-Boc-protected amino acids lysine and ornithine using solution and solid phase methods. The new amino acid conjugates form copper complexes and the complexes have been characterised by mass spectrometry and electronic spectroscopy. The bifunctional chelator L(2)H(2) has been conjugated to the tumour targeting peptide octreotide and the new ATSMH(2)-octreotide conjugate and its copper complex have been characterized by mass spectrometry. These new systems have the potential to be used for new targeted copper radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and therapy.     

Solvation of cobalt(II) and trifluoromethanesulfonate ions in N,N-dimethylformamide-methanol mixed solvent studied by means of FT-IR spectroscopy

FT-IR spectra of Co(CF(3)SO(3))(2)-N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-methanol (MeOH) solutions have been measured over the whole range of solvent composition. The data together with the obtained previously spectra of DMF-MeOH mixtures have been analyzed using the difference spectra method in the region of CO and OH stretching bands. The number of DMF and MeOH molecules in the first solvation sphere of Co(II) ion versus solvent composition has been determined. The second solvation sphere has been revealed and characterized quantitatively. Solvation of trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) ion as well as ion association in DMF solution have been also studied.     

Surface – Functionalized Inorganic Nanoparticles in Miniemulsion Polymerization

Two inorganic cores, consisting of silica and titania, have been prepared via basic Stoeber synthesis. Those cores have been functionalized, using trimethoxysilyl propylmethacrylate (MPTMS) and introduced into a miniemulsion copolymerization system. The miniemulsion consisted of styrene (S) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), styrene sulfonic acid (SSA) or aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AEMA) as comonomer in varying compositions. The morphology of the products has been investigated by SEM and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The composition of the products has been investigated by photoacoustic FTIR (PA-FTIR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Thermal properties have been determined by TGA and DSC analysis.     

Synthesis of iron(II), manganese(II) cobalt(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes containing tridentate nitrogen ligands and their application in the catalytic oxidation of alkanes

A series of Fe(II), Mn(II), Co(II) and Ru(II) complexes containing bis(imino)pyridine or bis(amino)pyridine ligands and weakly coordinating triflate (OTf-) or non-coordinating SbF6- anions have been prepared. The complexes have been fully characterized including several solid-state structure analyses. Two unusual mono-chelate six-coordinate bis(imino)pyridine Fe(II) and Mn(II) complexes have been observed. The catalytic properties of the complexes for the oxidation of cyclohexane with H2O2 have been evaluated. Only the Fe(II) complexes have shown catalytic activity, which is mainly due to Fenton-type free radical auto-oxidation.     

Extraction of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) from nitric acid solution by N-alkylcaprolactam

Extraction of uranium(VI), thorium(IV) from nitric acid has been studied with N-octylcaprolactam and N-(2-ethyl)hexylcaprolactam. Distribution coefficients of U(VI), Th(IV) and HNO₃ as a function of aqueous NHO₃ concentration, extractant concentration and temperature have been studied. The compositions of extracted species, thermodynamic parameters of extraction have been evaluated. Third phase formation in extraction of U(VI) has been studied. Back extraction behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) from the organic phase has also been tested. The results obtained are compared with those obtained by using TBP under the same experimental conditions.     

Metal exchange reaction of magnesium octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin with copper,cobalt, and zinc chlorides in DMSO and DMF

Metal exchange reaction of (octaphenyltetraazaporphyrinato)magnesium(II) with copper, cobalt, and zinc chlorides in dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide has been studied by spectrophotometry. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the process have been determined, and a probable reaction mechanism has been proposed. Zinc(II), copper(II), cobalt(II), and cobalt(III) complexes of octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin have been isolated and characterized.