Applications of Raman spectroscopy to the analysis of natural rubber

The technique of Raman spectroscopy has been available for over 60 years but the analysis of elastomers has been dogged by problems of fluorescence. The introduction of Fourier transform collection techniques and spectral accumulation, coupled with the advantages of using a near-IR laser as an excitation source, have removed many of the barriers to the application of this technique within a routine laboratory environment. This paper describes some of the areas related to the analysis of natural rubber which have been investigated using this technique. Of particular interest is the observation of main chain modifications during vulcanization and the ability to observe the conversion of insoluble to soluble sulphur under conditions appropriate to compounding and vulcanization. The influence of crystallization, both temperature and strain induced, on the FT-Raman spectrum of natural rubber is also demonstrated.     

Applications of Raman spectroscopy in pharmaceutical analysis

As Raman spectroscopy enables rapid, non-destructive measurements, the technique appears a most promising tool for on-line process monitoring and analysis in the pharmaceutical industry. This article gives a short introduction to Raman spectroscopy and presents several applications in the pharmaceutical field.     

Applications of Raman spectroscopy to gemology

Being nondestructive and requiring short measurement times, a low amount of material, and no sample preparation, Raman spectroscopy is used for routine investigation in the study of gemstone inclusions and treatments and for the characterization of mounted gems. In this work, a review of the use of laboratory Raman and micro-Raman spectrometers and of portable Raman systems in the gemology field is given, focusing on gem identification and on the evaluation of the composition, provenance, and genesis of gems. Many examples are shown of the use of Raman spectroscopy as a tool for the identification of imitations, synthetic gems, and enhancement treatments in natural gemstones. Some recent developments are described, with particular attention being given to the semiprecious stone jade and to two important organic materials used in jewelry, i.e., pearls and corals.     

Conformational analysis of double-helical polynucleotides

The intramolecular interaction energy of the regular double-helical polynucleotide as a function of variables that determine the mutual position of base pairs and sugar pucker was calculated using atom–atom potentials. The calculations showed the existence of two valley-like regions with minimal values on the energetic surface. One of them corresponds to the A family of nucleic acids, the other to the B family. The points that correspond to the models constructed by means of x-ray data are placed in a conformational space near the lines that describe the position of the bottom of the valleys.     

Thermal analysis of fluidised bed combustion residues containing limestone scavenger

A method has been developed using thermoanalytical techniques for the analysis of residues from coal-burning fluidised bed plant where limestone is used as a sulphur scavenger. This completely eliminates the need for lengthy wet chemical analyses and allows the derivation of parameters necessary for efficient plant operation, such as limestone addition rate, calcium utilisation efficiency and calcium to sulphur mole ratio. The method also gives values for the unburned carbon content and the ratio of coal ash to limestone derivatives in the sample.     

Transition-state analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi uridine phosphorylase-catalyzed arsenolysis of uridine

Uridine phosphorylase catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of uridine and 2'-deoxyuridine to generate uracil and (2-deoxy)ribose 1-phosphate, an important step in the pyrimidine salvage pathway. The coding sequence annotated as a putative nucleoside phosphorylase in the Trypanosoma cruzi genome was overexpressed in Escherichia coli , purified to homogeneity, and shown to be a homodimeric uridine phosphorylase, with similar specificity for uridine and 2'-deoxyuridine and undetectable activity toward thymidine and purine nucleosides. Competitive kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were measured and corrected for a forward commitment factor using arsenate as the nucleophile. The intrinsic KIEs are: 1'-(14)C = 1.103, 1,3-(15)N(2) = 1.034, 3-(15)N = 1.004, 1-(15)N = 1.030, 1'-(3)H = 1.132, 2'-(2)H = 1.086, and 5'-(3)H(2) = 1.041 for this reaction. Density functional theory was employed to quantitatively interpret the KIEs in terms of transition-state structure and geometry. Matching of experimental KIEs to proposed transition-state structures suggests an almost synchronous, S(N)2-like transition-state model, in which the ribosyl moiety possesses significant bond order to both nucleophile and leaving groups. Natural bond orbital analysis allowed a comparison of the charge distribution pattern between the ground-state and the transition-state models.     

Applications of Raman spectroscopy to library heritage

This work reports some different applications of Raman spectroscopy, a high sensitive non-destructive technique, to the conservation of Library Heritage. By Raman spectroscopy we were able to detect the chemical mechanisms leading to cellulose degradation, identifying the different functional groups formed during the paper ageing. This kind of information is fundamental to choose a suited restoration treatment. A second reported application is the identification of pigments used to decorate paper and parchments. We report some results obtained from analysis of a XV and a XIII century illuminations.     

Oligofuranosides containing conformationally restricted residues: synthesis and conformational analysis

The synthesis of a panel of arabinofuranosyl oligosaccharide analogues (5-13) in which one ring is locked into either the E(3) or OE conformation is described. The E(3)-locked scaffolds 15 and 16 required for the synthesis of 5-10 were prepared in one step from known 1,5-anhydroalditols. A number of routes were explored for the preparation of the OE-locked monosaccharide derivative 17 needed for the preparation of 11-13. The successful synthesis of 17 was achieved in 17 steps from D-arabinose. Subsequent analysis of 5-13 by 1H NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that the locked residue does not exert any detectable influence upon the conformers populated by adjacent conformationally unrestricted furanose rings.     

Electronic excited States of polynucleotides: a study by electroabsorption spectroscopy

Electroabsorption spectra were obtained for single-stranded polynucleotides poly(U), poly(C), poly(A), and poly(G) in glycerol/water glass at low temperature, and the differences in permanent dipole moment (Deltamu) and polarizability (Deltaalpha) were estimated for several spectral ranges covering the lowest energy absorption band around 260 nm. In each spectral range, the electrooptical parameters associated with apparent features in the absorption spectrum exhibit distinct values representing either a dominant single transition or the resultant value for a group of a relatively narrow cluster of overlapping transitions. The estimated spacing in energy between electronic origins of these transitions is larger than the electronic coupling within the Coulombic interaction model which is usually adopted in computational studies. The electroabsorption data allow us to distinguish a weak electronic transition associated with a wing in polynucleotide absorption spectra, at an energy below the electronic origin in absorption spectra of monomeric nucleobases. In poly(C) and poly(G), these low-energy transitions are related to increased values of Deltamu and Deltaalpha, possibly indicating a weak involvement of charge resonance in the respective excited states. A model capable of explaining the origin of low-energy excited states, based on the interaction of pipi* and npi* transitions in neighboring bases, is introduced and briefly discussed on the grounds of point dipole interaction.     

Structure analysis of aromatic medicines containing nitrogen using near-infrared spectroscopy and generalized two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy

Four aromatic medicines (acetaminophen; niacinamide; p-aminophenol; nicotinic acid) containing nitrogen were investigated by FT-NIR (Fourier transform near-infrared) spectroscopy and generalized two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy. The FT-NIR spectra were measured over a temperature range of 30-130 degrees C. By combining near-infrared spectroscopy, generalized 2D correlation spectroscopy and references, the molecular structures (especially the hydrogen bond related with nitrogen) were analyzed and the NIR band assignments were performed. The results will be helpful to the understanding of aromatic medicines containing nitrogen and the utility of these substances.     

Preparation of polymers containing sugar residues

The synthesis of five different polymers containing sugar residues on side chain is described. 1-O-Methacryloyltetra-O-acetyl-D -glucose, 1-O-methacryloyltetra-O-acetyl-D -galactose, and 6-O-methacryloyltetra-O-acetyl-D -glucose were prepared and polymerized. The polymethacrylates obtained were converted into water-soluble polymers by removing the acetyl protective group with sodium methoxide. 6-O-Methacryloyldiisopropylidene-D -galactose was also prepared and polymerized. The isopropylidene protective group was removed by acid hydrolysis. Poly (N-methacryloylglucosamine) was prepared directly by the polymerization of N-methacryloyl-D -glucosamine without the use of any protective group.     

Applications of photoacoustic step-scan FT-IR spectroscopy to polymeric materials

Thin coatings technology demands that characterization tools are readily available to distinguish between the composition and physical state of the coated layers versus the substrate. In principle, infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) possesses all the appropriate features to become a mainstream technique for these types of characterizations. These features include the ability to characterize coatings of a variety of thickness (monolayers to tens of microns) and the fact that the technique requires virtually no sample preparation. One category of such samples involves systems having few micron thin layered structures coated on relatively thick polyester substrates. The phase delay of the photoacoustic signal can be used in conjunction with the knowledge of the thermal properties of the coated fluids in the calculation of the relative as well as the absolute depths of these multi-layered coatings. The phase delay is calculated at wavelengths that are characteristic of the various components of the different layers in the system. The technique is applied to the characterization of a coated system having a submicron layer as the top layer. Step-scan FT-IR photoacoustic data are presented that prove the ability of the technique to successfully isolate the infrared signature of the top layer from the infrared spectrum of the bulk material, proving the sub-micron resolution capability of the method. In addition, results will be shown that underline the fact that the most serious problem in PAS is saturation at high absorptivities.     

Applications of polyion films containing biomolecules to sensing toxicity

This paper describes several applications of polyion-biomolecule films on electrodes related to future development of in vitro chemical toxicity sensors. In the first example, composite films of DNA and ionomers cast onto pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes are shown to be useful for detecting DNA damage during incubation with the carcinogen styrene oxide at pH 5.5. Single electrodes can be used to estimate relative damage rates by derivative square wave voltammetry. Films containing the ionomer Nafion gave better reproducibility than another ionomer, Eastman AQ38. In the second example, films containing redox proteins myoglobin (Mb) and cytochrome (cyt) P450cam were constructed in alternate layers with polyions including DNA on rough PG electrodes. Films with reversible protein FeIII/FeII electrochemistry with up to 7 electroactive layers were made. Amounts of electroactive protein on rough PG that were 7 to 17-fold larger than in similar films on smooth gold were achieved because many more layers were electroactive. Films of Mb/DNA also showed oxidation peaks after short incubations with styrene oxide that may be attributable to DNA damage. Results are relevant to the future design of enzyme-DNA films which convert pollutants and drugs to reactive metabolites, followed by electrochemical detection of the resulting DNA damage.     

Applications of diamond crystal ATR FTIR spectroscopy to the characterization of ambers

Diamond crystal ATR FTIR spectroscopy is a rapid technique with virtually no sample preparation which requires small sample amounts and showed potential in the study of ambers. FTIR spectra of ambers present discriminating patterns and can be used to distinguish amber from immature resins as copal, to determine local or Baltic origin of archaeological ambers and to detect most of the falsifications encountered in the amber commercialisation.     

Applications of the INDO method to some radicals containing second row elements

The INDO molecular orbital method has been extended to allow for the inclusion of second row atoms. Equilibrium geometries have been calculated for several radicals containing Si and Cl and their hyperfine coupling constants compared with results from ESR experiments. The calculations give chlorine hyperfine splittings in organic radicals in good agreement with recently reported experimental values.

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Zusammenfassung Die INDO Molekularorbital-Methode wurde so erweitert, daß sie auch auf Atome der 2. Periode anwendbar ist. Es wurden die Gleichgewichtsgeometrien für einige Si und Cl enthaltende Radikale berechnet. Die ebenfalls errechneten Hyperfeinkopplungs-Konstanten werden mit Resultaten aus ESR Experimenten verglichen. Für organische Radikale erhält man Chlor-Hyperfein-Aufspaltungen in guter Übereinstimmung mit neueren experimentellen Werten.

     

Applications of evolved gas analysis Part 1: EGA by infrared spectroscopy

The analytical applications of the evolved gas analysis (EGA) performed by infrared spectroscopy, for the period extending from 2001 to 2004, are collected in this review. By this technique, the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled temperature program are on-line determined, with the possibility to prove a supposed reaction, either under isothermal or under heating conditions.     

Applications of magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy to porphyrins and phthalocyanines

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy has widely been applied to porphyrins and phthalocyanines since around 1970, in order to elucidate their electronic structures. In this mini-review, some representative MCD results from the author's laboratory over the past 30 years are introduced, together with recent results from other laboratories. MCD studies on the following monomeric species are included: D(4h) type, adjacent vs. opposite type diaromatic ring-fused, non-planar, and reduced and oxidized species, as well as species showing temperature-dependent MCD signals. In addition, one example illustrates the use of MCD as a probe for the distal histidine residue in myoglobin. Recent results on dimers and oligomers are also reported. In particular, it is confirmed that the spectra of cofacial eclipsed dimers do not reflect the molecular symmetry of the constituent monomers. The spectra of rare-earth sandwich dimers and trimers are definitively assigned. Using spectra of planar oligomers of porphyrins, it is reiterated that it is often dangerous to assign the absorption bands of chromophores based only on the results of molecular orbital calculations. Some examples show that MCD can give information on the relative size of the DeltaHOMO (energy difference between the HOMO and HOMO-1) and DeltaLUMO (energy difference between the LUMO and LUMO+1); for example, if DeltaHOMO > DeltaLUMO, the MCD signal changes from minus to plus in ascending energy.