Sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of ruthenium at nanotrace levels using 2-(α-pyridyl) thioquinaldinamide [PTQA]

A new spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of ruthenium with nonfluorescent 2-(α-pyridyl) thioquinaldinamide (PTQA) is described. The oxidative reaction of Ru(III) upon PTQA gives oxidised fluorescent product (λ_ex(max)=347 nm; λ_em(max)=486 nm). The sensitivity of the fluorescence reaction between ruthenium and PTQA is greatly increased in the presence of Fe (III). The reaction is carried out in the acidity range 0.01–0.075 M H₂SO₄. The influence of reaction variables is discussed. The range of linearity is 1–400 μg l⁻¹ Ru(III). The standard deviation and relative standard deviation of the developed method are ±1.210 μg l⁻¹ Ru (III) and 2.4%, respectively (for 11 replicate determinations of 50 μg l⁻¹ Ru (III)). The effect of interferences from other metal ions, anions and complexing agents was studied; the masking action is discussed. The developed method has been successfully tested over synthetic mixtures of various base metals and platinum group metals, synthetic mixtures corresponding to osmiridium, certified reference materials in spiked conditions and rock samples.     

Determination of ruthenium and osmium in each other's presence in chloride solutions by direct and third-order derivative spectrophotometry

Ruthenium and osmium (up to 20 mug Ru(Os) ml(-1)) can be determined in chloride solutions directly after absorption of RuO(4) and OsO(4) in hydrochloric acid. In 9 M HCl, RuO(4) and OsO(4) are quantitatively converted into RuCl(6)(2-) (lambda(max) = 480.0 nm, epsilon = 4.8 x 10(3) l mol(-1) cm(-1)) and OsCl(6)(2-) (lambda(max) = 334.8 nm, epsilon = 8.4 x 10(3) l mol(-1) cm(-1)) respectively. Osmium does not interfere with the determination of ruthenium in the form of the RuCl(6)(2-) complex by direct spectrophotometry. The absorbance of the obtained solution at lambda(max) = 480.0 nm corresponds only to the concentration of ruthenium. A derivative spectrophotometric method using numerical calculation of absorption spectra of the RuCl(6)(2-) and OsCl(6)(2-) complexes has been developed for the determination of osmium in a mixture with ruthenium. The interfering effect of ruthenium on the determination of osmium can be eliminated by measuring the value of a third-order derivative spectrum of the OsCl(6)(2-) complex at 350.0 nm ("zero-crossing point" of ruthenium). Simple and rapid determination of ruthenium and osmium in a calibration standard solution of the noble metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt and Au) for plasma spectroscopy using the proposed methods has been achieved.     

Preconcentration of trace copper with yeast for river water analysis

A sensitive and selective method has been introduced for the determination of ultra trace amounts of Ru(III) based on its catalytic effects on the oxidation of Brilliant green (BG) by sodium bromate. A flow injection method has been used with spectrophotometric detection. The method is based on measuring the decrease in absorbance of BG at lambda(max)=615 nm. The decrease in absorbance of BG is linear with the concentration range of 0.005-0.500 mug ml(-1) Ru(III). The limit of detection is 0.002 mug ml(-1). The influence of reagent concentration, manifold parameter and potential interference species has been investigated. The method was used for the determination of ruthenium in synthetic samples with satisfactory results.     

Flow injection catalytic determination of ruthenium with spectrophotometric detection

A new flow injection catalytic method was described for the determination of ruthenium(III) based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) by periodate in acidic media. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of the dye at 635 nm. Under optimum conditions, ruthenium can be determined in the range of 1.0-100.0 ng ml(-1) with a relative standard deviation of 1.1% and with a limit of detection of 0.70 ng ml(-1). The influence of reagent and manifold variables were studied and optimized. The method was tested for the determination of ruthenium(III) in some synthetic mixtures.     

Application of ruthenium catalyzed oxidation of [tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] in trace determination of ruthenium in environmental water samples

The ruthenium catalyzed oxidation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) by hexacyanoferrate(III) has been utilized for the development of a new and sensitive catalytic kinetic method (CKM) for the determination of ruthenium(III). The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by the decrease in absorbance at 420nm (lambda(max) of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-)). The CKM developed utilizes fixed time procedure under optimum reaction conditions where the change in absorbance (DeltaA(t)) versus ruthenium(III) concentrations is plotted. The calibration curve recommended for the method is linear in the concentration range 10.11-252.67ngml(-1) with very good accuracy and reproducibility and a maximum error 2.20%. The detection limits of the method for ruthenium(III) corresponding to 10, 15 and 20min are 8.02, 5.03 and 3.15ngml(-1), respectively. The ruthenium(III) has also been determined in the presence of several other interfering and non-interfering cations and anions and no foreign ions interfered in the determination of ruthenium(III) up to five-fold higher concentration of the foreign ions tested. The method is highly sensitive, selective and stable. It has successfully been applied for the determination of trace ruthenium(III) in some synthetic and environmental water samples. A review of most of the published catalytic kinetic and some other important methods for the determination of ruthenium has also been presented.     

Enhancement of metal-metal coupling at a considerable distance by using 4-pyridinealdazine as a bridging ligand in polynuclear complexes of rhenium and ruthenium

Novel polynuclear complexes of rhenium and ruthenium containing PCA (PCA = 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde azine or 4-pyridinealdazine or 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) as a bridging ligand have been synthesized as PF(6-) salts and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photophysical techniques. The precursor mononuclear complex, of formula [Re(Me(2)bpy)(CO)(3)(PCA)](+) (Me(2)bpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine), does not emit at room temperature in CH(3)CN, and the transient spectrum found by flash photolysis at lambda(exc) = 355 nm can be assigned to a MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) excited state [(Me(2)bpy)(CO)(3)Re(II)(PCA(-))](+), with lambda(max) = 460 nm and tau < 10 ns. The spectral properties of the related complexes [[Re(Me(2)bpy)(CO)(3)}(2)(PCA)](2+), [Re(CO)(3)(PCA)(2)Cl], and [Re(CO)(3)Cl](3)(PCA)(4) confirm the existence of this low-energy MLCT state. The dinuclear complex, of formula [(Me(2)bpy)(CO)(3)Re(I)(PCA)Ru(II)(NH(3))(5)](3+), presents an intense absorption in the visible spectrum that can be assigned to a MLCT d(pi)(Ru) --> pi(PCA); in CH(3)CN, the value of lambda (max) = 560 nm is intermediate between those determined for [Ru(NH(3))(5)(PCA)](2+) (lambda(max) = 536 nm) and [(NH(3))(5)Ru(PCA)Ru(NH(3))(5)](4+) (lambda(max) = 574 nm), indicating a significant decrease in the energy of the pi-orbital of PCA. The mixed-valent species, of formula [(Me(2)bpy)(CO)(3)Re(I)(PCA)Ru(III)(NH(3))(5)](4+), was obtained in CH(3)CN solution, by bromine oxidation or by controlled-potential electrolysis at 0.8 V in a OTTLE cell of the [Re(I),Ru(II)] precursor; the band at lambda(max) = 560 nm disappears completely, and a new band appears at lambda(max) = 483 nm, assignable to a MMCT band (metal-to-metal charge transfer) Re(I) --> Ru(III). By using the Marcus-Hush formalism, both the electronic coupling (H(AB)) and the reorganization energy (lambda) for the metal-to-metal intramolecular electron transfer have been calculated. Despite the considerable distance between both metal centers (approximately 15.0 Angstroms), there is a moderate coupling that, together with the comproportionation constant of the mixed-valent species [(NH(3))(5)Ru(PCA)Ru(NH(3))(5)](5+) (K(c) approximately 10(2), in CH(3)CN), puts into evidence an unusual enhancement of the metal-metal coupling in the bridged PCA complexes. This effect can be accounted for by the large extent of "metal-ligand interface", as shown by DFT calculations on free PCA. Moreover, lambda is lower than the driving force -DeltaG degrees for the recombination charge reaction [Re(II),Ru(II)] --> [Re(I),Ru(III)] that follows light excitation of the mixed-valent species. It is then predicted that this reverse reaction falls in the Marcus inverted region, making the heterodinuclear [Re(I),Ru(III)] complex a promising model for controlling the efficiency of charge-separation processes.     

Catalytic kinetic determination of ultratrace amounts of ruthenium(III) based on the oxidation of benzylamine by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III)

A kinetic method is proposed for the determination of ruthenium(III) by means of its catalytic effect on the oxidation of benzylamine by hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline medium. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of hexacyanoferrate(III) at 420 nm. Under the optimum experimental conditions ruthenium(III) can be determined in the range 10-121 ng/ml with an average error of 1.7% and maximum relative standard deviation of 1.3%. The influence of many potential interferents has been examined and the method has been tested for determination of ruthenium(III) in synthetic mixtures. The method is convenient, reliable and rapid.     

Catalytic kinetic determination of ultratrace amounts of ruthenium(III) based on the oxidation of hematoxylin by hydrogen peroxide

A new catalytic method was described for the determination of ruthenium(III) based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of hematoxylin by hydrogen peroxide in weakly acidic medium. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of hematoxylin at 440 nm. Under the optimum conditions, ruthenium(III) can be determined in the range 5–120 ng/ml with a relative standard deviation of 1.1%. The mean value of reaction rate constant was 0.012±0.04 min^–1 and the activation energy was 10.45 kJ/mol. The method was tested for the determination of ruthenium(III) in some synthetic mixtures.     

Extractive photometric determination of gold(III) with 1-(2',4',6'-trichlorophenyl)-4,4,6-trimethyl-(1H,4H)-2-pyrimidinethiol in presence of tri-iso-octylamine

Tervalent gold was determined spectrophotometrically as its anionic 1:4 gold-thiol complex extracted into chloroform from aqueous acidic medium (1.5M sulphuric acid) in the presence of tri-iso-octylamine. The complex exhibits maximum absorption at 480 nm (molar absorptivity 4.60 x 10(3) l.mole(-1).cm(-1)) and Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 5-50 microg of gold(III) per ml. The relative standard deviation and relative error, calculated from ten determinations of solutions containing 15 microg of gold(III) per ml were 1.0% and 0.8%. The method is simple, selective and reproducible. It permits separation of gold(III) from associated elements and its determination in synthetic mixtures.     

2-(α-Pyridyl)-thioquinaldinamide (PTQA)-A novel fluorimetric reagent in inorganic trace analysis. I: The nonextractive,nonquenching fluorescent method for the determination of chromium(VI)

A direct fluorimetric method for determining Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions is described. The nonfluorescent reagent 2-(-pyridyl)-thioquinaldinamide (PTQA) and Cr(VI) interact to produce an intensely fluorescent species [_ex(max) 360 nm; _em(max) 500 nm] showing constant and maximum fluorescence intensity in slightly acidic media (0.18N–1.08N H₂SO₄). The fluorescence attains its maximum value within 5 min and remains unchanged for 24 h. The system obeys Beer's law from 2 ng/ml to 0.8 g/ml of Cr(VI). Over sixty cations, anions and complexing agents are without any effect on the fluorimetric determination of 0.1 g/ml of Cr(VI). The method has been tested with synthetic mixtures, steels, solutions containing both Cr(III) and Cr(VI), and environmental samples.     

Determination of iron(II) with bipyridylglyoxal dithiosemicarbazone

Bipyridylglyoxal dithiosemicarbazone reacts with iron(II) or (III). The Fe(III) complex is yellow (lambda(max) 400 nm). Fe(II) forms a red-violet 1:2 complex at pH 2.5 (lambda(max) 550 nm) and a green-blue 1:1 complex at pH 5-10 (lambda(max) 590-610 nm). Both ferrous complexes can be oxidized to the ferric complex; this reaction is reversible. The quantitative application of the ferrous complex has been studied.     

Photolabile ruthenium nitrosyls with planar dicarboxamide tetradentate N(4) ligands: effects of in-plane and axial ligand strength on NO release

Four ruthenium nitrosyls, namely [(bpb)Ru(NO)(Cl)] (1), [(Me(2)bpb)Ru(NO)(Cl)] (2), [(Me(2)bpb)Ru(NO)(py)](BF(4)) (3), and [(Me(2)bqb)Ru(NO)(Cl)] (4) (H(2)bpb = 1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)benzene, H(2)Me(2)bpb = 1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)-4,5-dimethylbenzene, H(2)Me(2)bqb = 1,2-bis(quinaldine-2-carboxamido)-4,5-dimethylbenzene; H is the dissociable amide proton), have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. All four complexes exhibit nu(NO) in the range 1830-1870 cm(-)(1) indicating the [Ru-NO](6) configuration. Clean (1)H NMR spectra in CD(3)CN (or (CD(3))(2)SO) confirm the S = 0 ground state for all four complexes. Although the complexes are thermally stable, they release NO upon illumination. Rapid NO dissociation occurs when solutions of 1-3 in acetonitrile (MeCN) or DMF are exposed to low-intensity (7 mW) UV light (lambda(max) = 302 nm). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of the photolyzed solutions display anisotropic signals at g approximately 2.00 that confirm the formation of solvated low-spin Ru(III) species upon NO release. The ligand trans to bound NO namely, anionic Cl(-) and neutral pyridine, has significant effect on the electronic and NO releasing properties of these complexes. Change in the in-plane ligand strength also has effects on the rate of NO release. The absorption maximum (lambda(max)) of 4 is significantly red shifted (455 nm in DMF) compared to the lambda(max) values of 1-3 (380-395 nm in DMF) due to the extension of conjugation on the in-plane ligand frame. As a consequence, 4 is also sensitive to visible light and release NO (albeit at a slower rate) upon illumination to low-intensity visible light (lambda > 465 nm). Collectively, the photosensitivity of the present series of ruthenium nitrosyls demonstrates that the extent of NO release and their wavelength dependence can be modulated by changes of either the in-plane or the axial ligand (trans to bound NO) field strength.     

Automated synthesis of 3'-metalated oligonucleotides

We report the first synthesis of a metallonucleoside bound to a solid support and subsequent oligonucleotide synthesis with this precursor. Large-scale syntheses of metal-containing oligonucleotides are achieved using a solid support modified with [Ru(bpy)(2)(impy')](2+) (bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine; impy' is 2'-iminomethylpyridyl-2'-deoxyuridine). A duplex formed with the metal-containing oligonucleotide exhibits superior thermal stability when compared to the corresponding unmetalated duplex (T(m) = 50 degrees C vs T(m) = 48 degrees C). Electrochemical (E(1/2) = 1.3 V vs NHE), absorption (lambda(max) = 480 nm), and emission (lambda(max) = 720 nm, tau = 44 ns, Phi = 0.11 x 10(-)(3)) data for the ruthenium-modified oligonucleotides indicate that the presence of the oligonucleotide does not perturb the electronic properties of the ruthenium complex. The absence of any change in the emission properties upon duplex formation suggests that the [Ru(bpy)(2)(impy)](2+) chromophore will be a valuable probe for DNA-mediated electron-transfer studies. Despite the relatively high Ru(III/II) reduction potential, oxidative quenching of photoexcited [Ru(bpy)(2)(impy)](2+) does not lead to oxidative damage of guanine or other DNA bases.     

Simultaneous determination of gallium and indium with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol in cationic micellar medium using derivative spectrophotometry.

A new derivative spectrophotometric method for rapid and selective trace analysis of Ga3+ and In3+ and for their simultaneous determination using 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol in a cationic micellar medium is reported. Molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of 1:1 Ga+ and In3+ complexes at their lambda(max) 553 nm and 558 nm are: 7.22 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 5.85 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1), and 0.96 ng cm(-2) and 1.96 ng cm(-2), respectively. Linearity is observed in the concentration range 0.023-0.700 microg ml(-1) for gallium and 0.076-1.52 microg ml(-1) for indium; IUPAC detection limit is 0.012 and 0.035 ng ml(-1), respectively. These metal ions interfere with the determination of each other. However, 0.07-0.70 microg ml(-1) Ga3+ and 0.115-1.150 microg ml(-1) In3+ could be determined simultaneously when present together by the derivative method without any prior separation. The proposed procedures have been successfully applied for the individual and simultaneous determination of gallium and indium in synthetic binary mixtures, standard reference materials and environmental samples.     

Chemical amplification methods for the sequential determination of trace amounts of ruthenium by titrimetric and spectrophotometric procedures

Two simple, inexpensive and rapid iodometric and spectrophotometric procedures were developed for trace amount determination of ruthenium. The proposed methods were based on the oxidation of ruthenium(II or III) with sodium periodate at pH 2.4-3.6, masking the excess periodate with sodium molybdate. The released iodate was then allowed to react with KI at pH 3, with subsequent determination of the released iodine spectrophotometry as triiodide at 350 nm or iodometry with 0.005 M sodium thiosulphate. This procedure offers an 18- and 15-fold amplification per Ru(II) or Ru(III) ion, respectively. Alternatively, the produced iodine was extracted with CHCl(3), shaken with an aqueous solution of sodium sulphite and the produced iodide ion was then allowed to react with bromine (or sodium periodate). The released iodate was subsequently determined by iodometry or spectrophotometry after addition of KI. The bromine and sodium periodate oxidation procedures offered 90- and 360-fold amplification per ruthenium(III) ion, and 108- and 432-fold amplification per ruthenium(II) ion. Ruthenium(IV) content was determined by these procedures after prior reduction to Ru(III) with sulphurous acid. The binary mixtures Ru(II)-Ru(III); Ru(III)-Ru(IV) and Ru(II)-Ru(IV) in aqueous solution at concentration 0.05 mug ml(-1) were successfully analyzed by the developed procedures. The utility of the proposed methods for the analysis of ruthenium in its complexes was demonstrated. Natural seawater and seawater spiked with ruthenium were analyzed satisfactorily.     

5' modification of duplex DNA with a ruthenium electron donor-acceptor pair using solid-phase DNA synthesis

Incorporation of metalated nucleosides into DNA through covalent modification is crucial to measurement of thermal electron-transfer rates and the dependence of these rates with structure, distance, and position. Here, we report the first synthesis of an electron donor-acceptor pair of 5' metallonucleosides and their subsequent incorporation into oligonucleotides using solid-phase DNA synthesis techniques. Large-scale syntheses of metal-containing oligonucleotides are achieved using 5' modified phosporamidites containing [Ru(acac)(2)(IMPy)](2+) (acac is acetylacetonato; IMPy is 2'-iminomethylpyridyl-2'-deoxyuridine) (3) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(IMPy)](2+) (bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine; IMPy is 2'-iminomethylpyridyl-2'-deoxyuridine) (4). Duplexes formed with the metal-containing oligonucleotides exhibit thermal stability comparable to the corresponding unmetalated duplexes (T(m) of modified duplex = 49 degrees C vs T(m) of unmodified duplex = 47 degrees C). Electrochemical (3, E(1/2) = -0.04 V vs NHE; 4, E(1/2) = 1.12 V vs NHE), absorption (3, lambda(max) = 568, 369 nm; 4, lambda(max) = 480 nm), and emission (4, lambda(max) = 720 nm, tau = 55 ns, Phi = 1.2 x 10(-)(4)) data for the ruthenium-modified nucleosides and oligonucleotides indicate that incorporation into an oligonucleotide does not perturb the electronic properties of the ruthenium complex or the DNA significantly. In addition, the absence of any change in the emission properties upon metalated duplex formation suggests that the [Ru(bpy)(2)(IMPy)](2+)[Ru(acac)(2)(IMPy)](2+) pair will provide a valuable probe for DNA-mediated electron-transfer studies.     

First example of mu(3)-sulfido bridged mixed-valent triruthenium complex triangle Ru(III)(2)Ru(II)(O,O-acetylacetonate)(3)(mu-O,O,gamma-C-acetylacetonate)(3)(mu(3)-S) (1) incorporating simultaneous O,O- and gamma-C-bonded bridging acetylacetonate units. Synthesis,crystal structure,and spectral and redox properties

The reaction of mononuclear ruthenium precursor [Ru(II)(acac)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)] (acac = acetylacetonate) with the thiouracil ligand (2-thiouracil, H(2)L(1) or 6-methyl -2-thiouracil, H(2)L(2)) in the presence of NEt(3) as base in ethanol solvent afforded a trinuclear triangular complex Ru(3)(O,O-acetylacetonate)(3)(mu-O,O,gamma-C-acetylacetonate)(3)(mu(3)-sulfido) (1). In 1, each ruthenium center is linked to one usual O,O-bonded terminal acetylacetonate molecule whereas the other three acetylacetonate units act as bridging functions: each bridges two adjacent ruthenium ions through the terminal O,O-donor centers at one end and via the gamma-carbon center at the other end. Moreover, there is a mu(3)-sulfido bridging in the center of the complex unit, which essentially resulted via the selective cleavage of the carbon-sulfur bond of the thiouracil ligand. In diamagnetic complex 1, the ruthenium ions are in mixed valent Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(II) state, where the paramagnetic ruthenium(III) ions are antiferromagnetically coupled. The single crystal X-ray structure of 1 showed two crystallographically independent C(3)-symmetric molecules, Ru(3)(O,O-acetylacetonate)(3)(mu-O,O,gamma-C-acetylacetonate)(3)(mu(3)-S) (1), in the asymmetric unit. Bond distances of both crystallographically independent molecules are almost identical, but there are some significant differences in bond angles (up to 6 degrees ) and interplanar angles (up to 8 degrees ). Each ruthenium atom exhibits a distorted octahedral environment formed by four oxygen atoms, two from each of the terminal and bridging acetylacetonate units, one gamma-carbon of an adjacent acetylacetonate ligand, and the sulfur atom in the center of the complex. In agreement with the expected 3-fold symmetry of the complex molecule, the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of 1 in CDCl(3) displayed signals corresponding to two types of ligand units. In dichloromethane solvent, 1 exhibited three metal center based successive quasireversible redox processes, Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(III)-Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(II) (couple I, 0.43 V vs SCE); Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(IV)-Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(III) (couple II, 1.12 V); and Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(II)-Ru(III)Ru(II)Ru(II) (couple III, -1.21 V). However, in acetonitrile solvent, in addition to the three described couples [(couple I), 0.34 V; (couple II), 1.0 V; (couple III), -1.0], one irreversible oxidative response (Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(IV) --> Ru(III)Ru(IV)Ru(IV) or oxidation of the coordinated sulfide center) appeared at E(pa), 1.50 V. The large differences in potentials between the successive couples are indicative of strong coupling between the ruthenium ions in the mixed-valent states. Compound 1 exhibited a moderately strong charge-transfer (CT) transition at 654 nm and multiple ligand based intense transitions in the UV region. In the Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(III) (1(+)) state, the CT band was slightly blue shifted to 644 nm; however, the CT band was further blue shifted to 520 nm on two-electron oxidation to the Ru(III)Ru(III)Ru(IV) (1(2+)) state with a reduction in intensity.     

Flow-injection determination of copper(II) based on its catalysis on the redox reaction of cysteine with iron(III) in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline

A redox reaction of cysteine with iron(III) proceeds slowly in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). However, this reaction is accelerated in the presence of copper(II) as a catalyst, producing an iron(II)-phen complex (lambda(max)=510 nm). A sensitive spectrophotometric flow-injection method is proposed for the determination of copper(II) based on its catalytic action on this redox reaction. The dynamic range was 0.1-10 ng ml(-1) of copper(II) with a relative standard deviation of 1.0% (n=10) for 1.0 ng ml(-1) of copper(II) at a sampling rate of 30 h(-1). The detection limit (S/N=3) is 0.04 ng ml(-1). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of copper in river water as a certified reference material.     

Simple and selective spectrophotometric determination of ruthenium after solid phase extraction with some quinoxaline dyes into microcrystalline p-dichlorobenzene

A simple selective and highly sensitive extraction method has been developed for the determination of ruthenium spectrophotometrically after extraction of its 2,3-dichloro-6-(3-carboxy-2-hydroxy-1-naphthylazo)quinoxaline (I), 2,3-dichloro-6-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrophenylazo)quinoxaline (II) and 2,3-dichloro-6-(2,7-dihydroxy-naphthylazo)quinoxaline (III) complexes into microcrystalline p-dichlorobenzene. The optimization of experimental conditions for the procedure is studied. The solid p-dichlorobenzene containing the ruthenium-reagent (I-III) complexes is separated by filtration and dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide. The absorbance is measured at lambda(max) 622, 518 and 542 nm against reagents I, II and III, respectively, as blank. Beer's law is obeyed upto 2.5 microg ml(-1) of ruthenium. The molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits are calculated, when compared with those parameters without using solid phase extraction method. The interference of various ions has been studied in detail and the statistical evaluation of the experimental results is reported. The proposed methods have been successfully applied for the determination of trace amount of ruthenium in seawater, ore and metallurgy products.     

Fluorimetric determinations of nucleic acids using iron, osmium and samarium complexes of 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline

New sensitive, reliable and reproducible fluorimetric methods for determining microgram amounts of nucleic acids based on their reactions with Fe(II), Os(III) or Sm(III) complexes of 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline are proposed. Two complementary single stranded synthetic DNA sequences based on calf thymus as well as their hybridized double stranded were used. Nucleic acids were found to react instantaneously at room temperature in Tris-Cl buffer pH 7, with the investigated complexes resulting in decreasing their fluorescence emission. Two fluorescence peaks around 388 and 567 nm were obtained for the three complexes using excitation lambda(max) of 280 nm and were used for this investigation. Linear calibration graphs in the range 1-6 microg/ml were obtained. Detection limits of 0.35-0.98 microg/ml were obtained. Using the calibration graphs for the synthetic dsDNA, relative standard deviations of 2.0-5.0% were obtained for analyzing DNA in the extraction products from calf thymus and human blood. Corresponding Recovery% of 80-114 were obtained. Student's t-values at 95% confidence level showed insignificant difference between the real and measured values. Results obtained by these methods were compared with the ethidium bromide method using the F-test and satisfactory results were obtained. The association constants and number of binding sites of synthetic ssDNA and dsDNA with the three complexes were estimated using Rosenthanl graphic method. The interaction mechanism was discussed and an intercalation mechanism was suggested for the binding reaction between nucleic acids and the three complexes.