Separation and quantification of [RhCln(H2O)6−n] (n = 0-6) complexes, including stereoisomers, by means of ion-pair HPLC-ICP-MS

A hyphenated ion-pair (tetrabutylammonium chloride—TBACl) reversed phase (C₁₈) HPLC-ICP-MS method (High Performance Liquid Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy) for anionic Rh(III) aqua chlorido-complexes present in an HCl matrix has been developed. Under optimum chromatographic conditions it was possible to separate and quantify cationic Rh(III) complexes (eluted as a single band), [RhCl₃(H₂O)₃], cis-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻, trans-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻ and [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 5, 6) species. The [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 5, 6) complex anions eluted as a single band due to the relatively fast aquation of [RhCl₆]³⁻ in a 0.1 mol L⁻¹ TBACl ionic strength mobile phase matrix. Moreover, the calculated t_1/2 of 1.3 min for [RhCl₆]³⁻ aquation at 0.1 mol kg⁻¹ HCl ionic strength is significantly lower than the reported t_1/2 of 6.3 min at 4.0 mol kg⁻¹ HClO₄ ionic strength. Ionic strength or the activity of water in this context is a key parameter that determines whether [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 5, 6) species can be chromatographically separated. In addition, aquation/anation rate constants were determined for [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 3-6) complexes at low ionic strength (0.1 mol kg⁻¹ HCl) by means of spectrophotometry and independently with the developed ion-pair HPLC-ICP-MS technique for species assignment validation. The Rh(III) samples that was equilibrated in differing HCl concentrations for 2.8 years at 298 K was analyzed with the ion-pair HPLC method. This analysis yielded a partial Rh(III) aqua chlorido-complex species distribution diagram as a function of HCl concentration. For the first time the distribution of the cis- and trans-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻ stereoisomers have been obtained. Furthermore, it was found that relatively large amounts of ‘highly’ aquated [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 0-4) species persist in up to 2.8 mol L⁻¹ HCl and in 1.0 mol L⁻¹ HCl the abundance of the [RhCl₅(H₂O)]²⁻ species is only 8-10% of the total, far from the 70-80% as previously proposed. A 95% abundance of the [RhCl₆]³⁻ complex anion occurs only when the HCl concentration is above 6 mol L⁻¹. The detection limit for a Rh(III) species eluted from the column is below 0.147 mg L⁻¹.     

Au(I)/Ag(I)-catalyzed annulation of sugar aldehyde tethered with 3-phenylprop-2-yn-1-yl ether with aryl amines for the pyrano[4,3-b]quinoline derivatives

Aryl amines undergo smooth annulation with O-phenylpropynyl sugar aldehyde in the presence of the Ph₃PAuCl (10 mol %)/AgSbF₆ (10 mol %) catalytic system to afford the corresponding tetrahydro-3aH-spiro[[1,3]dioxolo[4″,5″:4′,5′]furo[3′,2′:5,6]pyrano[4,3-b]quinoline-2,1′-cyclohexane] derivatives in good yields and selectivity.     

Biomimetic sensor based on MnMn complex as manganese peroxidase mimetic for determination of rutin

A novel biomimetic sensor for rutin determination based on a dinuclear complex [Mn^IIIMn^II(Ldtb)(μ-OAc)₂]BPh₄ containing an unsymmetrical dinucleating ligand, 2-[N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-aminomethyl]-6-[N-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-oxidoben-zyl)-N-(2-pyridylamino)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol (H₂Ldtb), as a manganese peroxidase mimetic was developed. Several parameters were investigated to evaluate the performance of the biomimetic sensor obtained after the incorporation of the dinuclear complex in a carbon paste. The best performance was obtained in 75:15:10% (w/w/w) of the graphite powder:Nujol:Mn^IIIMn^II complex, 0.1 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.0) and 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ hydrogen peroxide. The response of the sensor towards rutin concentration was linear using square wave voltammetry in the range of 9.99 × 10⁻⁷ to 6.54 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.9998) with a detection limit of 1.75 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The recovery study performed with pharmaceuticals ranged from 96.6% to 103.2% and the relative standard deviation was 1.85% for a solution containing 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ rutin (n = 6). The lifetime of this biomimetic sensor was 200 days (at least 750 determinations). The results obtained for rutin in pharmaceuticals using the biomimetic sensor and those obtained with the official method are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.     

Syntheses and structures of zinc and tin(II) compounds with hemilabile N-silyl-tert-butylamido and N-silyl-p-tolylamido ligands that contain pendent tert-butoxy groups

Syntheses and solid-state structures of zinc and tin(II) compounds, containing the N-silyl-amide ligands (O^tBu)(NR)SiMe₂, R = ^tBu (L^tBu), or R = p-tolyl (L^pTol), are reported. The N-silyl amines were synthesized by modified published procedures from commercially available Me₂SiCl₂, ^tBuOH, and ^tBuNH₂, or p-Me-C₆H₄NH₂, respectively. Treatment of SnCl₂ with LiL^pTol furnished Sn(L^pTol)₂, which was X-ray structurally characterized and shown to contain two covalent Sn-N bonds and two asymmetrical O → Sn donor bonds. The single-crystal X-ray structure of Sn(L^tBu)₂ revealed a much more symmetrically-coordinated, pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal tin atom. Aminolysis of diethylzinc with HL^pTol produced [EtZn(L^pTol)]₂, which crystallized as a centrosymmetric dimer, containing four-coordinate zinc atoms connected by bridging amides. Zinc dichloride, by contrast, reacted with two equivalents of LiL^tBu to produce the homoleptic, pseudo-spirocyclic Zn(L^tBu)₂.     

Langmuir-Blodgett film of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene modified glassy carbon electrode as voltammetric sensor for the determination of Hg(II)

The π-A isotherms and UV-vis spectra of the transferred films suggested that the monolayer of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene can coordinate with Hg²⁺ at the air-water surface. From these observations, a glassy carbon electrode coated with Langmuir-Blodgett film of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4] arene as a new voltammetric sensor is designed for the determination of trace amounts of Hg²⁺. Compared with bare glassy carbon electrode and modified glassy carbon electrode using direct coating method, the Langmuir-Blodgett film-modified electrode can greatly improve the measuring sensitivity of Hg²⁺. Under the selected conditions, the Langmuir-Blodgett film-modified electrode in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄ + 0.01 mol L⁻¹ KCl solution shows a linear voltammetric response for Hg²⁺ in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. The proposed method was also applied to determine Hg²⁺ in water samples (tap, lake and river water). In addition, the fabricated electrode exhibited a distinct advantage of simple preparation, non-toxicity, good reproducibility and good stability.     

Dynamic H NMR study of 4-methylphenoxyimidoyl azides: conformational or configurational isomerisation?

Dynamic ¹H NMR (500 MHz) investigation of 4-methylphenoxyimidoyl azides (4-CH₃-C₆H₄-O-CN-Y)-N₃, Y=4-CH₃-C₆H₄-SO₂-, 4-Br-C₆H₄-SO₂-, C₆H₅SO₂-, CH₃-SO₂-, -CN in acetone-d₆ at temperature range of 195-280 K is reported. The observed free energy barrier (almost 12 kcal mol⁻¹) is attributed to conformational isomerisation about the N-S bond for Y=4-CH₃-C₆H₄-SO₂-, 4-Br-C₆H₄-SO₂-, C₆H₅SO₂-, CH₃-SO₂- and (almost 14 kcal mol⁻¹) to configurational isomerisation (E/Z) about CN bond for Y=-CN.     

The synthesis of functional derivatives of the [1-CB9H10] anion by Brellochs reaction

Reactions of decaborane with various aldehydes in alkaline media were studied. The reactions with HCOH and 2-MeOC₆H₄CHO give the corresponding arachno-carboranes [6-R-arachno-CB₉H₁₃]⁻ (R = H, C₆H₄-2-OMe), whereas the reactions with C₆H₅CHO, 4-BrC₆H₄CHO, 4-MeCONHC₆H₄CHO, and 2-SC₄H₃CHO result in the nido-carboranes [6-R-nido-CB₉H₁₁]⁻ (R = C₆H₅, C₆H₄-4-Br, C₆H₄-4-NHCOMe, 2-SC₄H₃). Both the arachno- and nido-carboranes can be easily oxidized with elemental iodine in an alkaline aqueous solution giving the corresponding closo-derivatives [2-R-closo-2-CB₉H₉]⁻. These closo-2-isomers, under heating in solution, undergo rearrangement to more thermodynamically favorable closo-1-isomers [1-R-closo-1-CB₉H₉]⁻. The structure of (Bu₄N)[1-(4-BrC₆H₄)-1-CB₉H₉] was determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

B(C6F5)3-catalyzed Prins/Ritter reaction: a novel synthesis of hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyranyl amide derivatives

The coupling of aldehydes or ketones with (2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylenetetrahydrofuran-3-yl)methanol in the presence of nitriles under the influence of 5 mol % tris(pentaflourophenyl)borane at room temperature afforded a novel series of cis-fused hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyran derivatives in good yields with high selectivity. This is the first report on the synthesis of hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyranyl amide through a sequential Prins/Ritter reactions using B(C₆F₅)₃ as a mild Lewis acid.     

p-Aminobenzoate ion determination in pharmaceutical formulations by using a potentiometric sensor immobilized in a graphite matrix

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely, Pt|Hg|Hg₂(PABzt)₂| graphite, where PABzt stands for p-aminobenzoate ion, are described. This electrode responds to PABzt with sensivity of (58.1±1.0) mV per decade over the range 1.0×10⁻⁴ to 1.0×10⁻¹ mol l⁻¹ at pH 6.5-8.0 and a detection limit of 3.2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The electrode shows easy construction, fast response time (within 10-30 s), low-cost, and excellent response stability (lifetime greater than 6 months, in continuous use). The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for p-aminobenzoate in the presence of several substances, especially, concerning carboxylate and inorganic anions. It was used to determine p-aminobenzoate in pharmaceutical formulations by means of the standard additions method. The results obtained by using this electrode compared very favorably with those given by an HPLC procedure.     

Simultaneous determination of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol and p-aminophenol with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) modified glassy carbon electrode

A sensitive and selective method was developed for the determination of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) and p-aminophenol (PAP) using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were used to investigate the electrochemical reaction of APAP and PAP at the modified electrode. Both APAP and PAP showed quasireversible redox reactions with formal potentials of 367 mV and 101 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively, in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.0. The significant peak potential difference (266 mV) between APAP and PAP enabled the simultaneous determination both species based on differential pulse voltammetry. The voltammetric responses gave linear ranges of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶-1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ and 4.0 × 10⁻⁶-3.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹, with detection limits of 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ and 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for APAP and PAP, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of APAP and PAP in pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples.     

The structures of (phenylato)(N-2-thiophenecarboxamido-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)mercury(II) and bisphenylmercury(II) complex of 21-(4-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonamido)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin

The reaction of PhHgOAc with N-NHCO-2-C₄H₃S-Htpp (5) and N-p-HNSO2C6H4^tBu-Htpp (4) gave a mercury (II) complex of (phenylato) (N-2-thiophenecarboxamido-meso-tetra phenylporphyrinato)mercury(II) 1.5 methylene chloride solvate [HgPh(N-NHCO-2-C₄H₃S-tpp) · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄;  6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄] and a bismercury complex of bisphenylmercury(II) complex of 21-(4-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonamido)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, [(HgPh)2(N-p-NSO₂C₆H₄^tBu-tpp); 7], respectively. The crystal structures of 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and 7 were determined. The coordination sphere around Hg(1) in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and Hg(2) in 7 is a sitting-atop derivative with a seesaw geometry, whereas for the Hg(1) in 7, it is a linear coordination geometry. Both Hg(1) in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and Hg(2) in 7 acquire 4-coordination with four strong bonds [Hg(1)–N(1) = 2.586(3) Å, Hg(1)–N(2) = 2.118(3) Å, Hg(1)–N(3) = 2.625(3) Å, and Hg(1)–C(50) = 2.049(4) Å for 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄; Hg(2)–N(1) = 2.566(6) Å, Hg(2)–N(2) = 2.155(6) Å, Hg(2)–N() = 2.583(6) Å, and Hg(2)–C(61) = 2.064(7) Å for 7]. The plane of the three pyrrole nitrogen atoms [i.e., N(1)–N(3)] strongly bonded to Hg(1) in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄ and to Hg(2) in 7 is adopted as a reference plane 3N. For the Hg²⁺ complex in 6 · CH₂Cl₂ · 0.5C₆H₁₄, the pyrrole nitrogen bonded to the 2-thiophenecarboxamido ligand lies in a plane with a dihedral angle of 33.4° with respect to the 3N plane, but for the bismercury(II) complex in 7, the corresponding dihedral angle for the pyrrole nitrogen bonded to the NSO₂C₆H₄^tBu group is found to be 42.9°. In the former complex, Hg(1)²⁺ and N(5) are located on different sides at 1.47 and −1.29 Å from its 3N plane, and in the latter one, Hg(2)²⁺ and N(5) are also located on different sides at −1.49 and 1.36 Å form its 3N plane. The Hg(1)?Hg(2) distance in 7 is 3.622(6) Å. Hence, no metallophilic Hg(II)?Hg(II) interaction may be anticipated. NOE difference spectroscopy, HMQC and HMBC were employed to unambiguous assignment for the ¹H and ¹³C NMR resonances of 6 · CH₂Cl₂ ·  0.5C₆H₁₄ in CD₂Cl₂ and 7 in CDCl₃ at 20 °C. The ¹⁹⁹Hg chemical shift δ for a 0.05 M solution of 7 in CDCl₃ solution is observed at −1074 ppm for Hg(2) nucleus with a coordination number of four and at −1191 ppm for Hg(1) nucleus with a coordination number of two. The former resonance is consistent with that chemical shift for a 0.01 M solution of 6 in CD₂Cl₂ having observed at −1108 ppm for Hg(1) nucleus with a coordination number of four.     

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behaviour of ansa-zirconocene complexes containing tetraphenylcyclopentadienyl rings: X-ray crystal structures of [Zr{Me2Si(η-C5Ph4)(η-C5H3R)}Cl2] (R = H, Bu)

The ansa-bis(cyclopentadiene) compounds, Me₂Si(C₅HPh₄)(C₅H₄R) (R = H (2); Bu^t (3)), have been prepared by the reaction of C₅HPh₄(SiMe₂Cl) (1) with Na(C₅H₅) or Li(C₅H₄Bu^t), respectively, and transformed to the di-lithium derivatives, Li₂{Me₂Si(C₅Ph₄)(C₅H₃R)} (R = H (4); Bu^t (5)), by the action of n-butyllithium. The ansa-zirconocene complexes, [Zr{Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₃R)}Cl₂] (R = H (6); Bu^t (7)), were synthesized from the reaction of ZrCl₄ with 4 or 5, respectively. Compounds 6 and 7 have been tested in the polymerization of ethylene and compared with their methyl-substituted analogues, [Zr{Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)(η⁵-C₅H₃R)}Cl₂] (R = H (8); Bu^t (9)). Whilst 8 and 9 are catalytically active, the tetraphenyl-substituted complexes 6 and 7 proved to be inactive in the polymerization of ethylene. This phenomenon has been explained by DFT calculations based on the reaction intermediates in the polymerization processes involving 6 and 7, which showed that the extraction of a methyl group from the zirconocene complex to form the cationic active specie is endothermic and therefore unfavourable.     

The synthesis, structure and ethene polymerization activity of octahedral heteroligated (salicylaldiminato)(β-enaminoketonato)titanium complexes: The X-ray crystal structure of {3-Bu-2-(O)C6H3CHN(Ph)}{(Ph)NC(Me)C(H)C(Me)O}TiCl2

Treatment of the mono(salicylaldiminato)titanium complexes {3-Bu^t-2-(O)C₆H₃CHN(Ar)}TiCl₃(THF) (Ar = C₆H₅, 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂ or C₆F₅) with the potassium β-enaminoketonates (C₆H₅)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(R)OK (R = CH₃, CF₃) yielded the first examples of heteroligated (salicylaldiminato) (β-enaminoketonato)titanium dichloride complexes. The complex {3-Bu^t-2-(O)C₆H₃CHN(C₆H₅)}{(C₆H₅)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(CH₃)O}TiCl₂ was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and has an orientation with trans-O,O,cis-Cl,Cl, cis-N,N distorted octahedral geometry. These complexes polymerize ethene when activated with MAO; the highest productivity, 5650 kg PE (mol metal)⁻¹ h⁻¹ atm⁻¹, was afforded by {3-Bu^t-2-(O)C₆H₃CHN(C₆F₅)}{(C₆H₅)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(CF₃)O}TiCl₂ at 60 °C.     

Rapid determination of acetaminophen and p-aminophenol in pharmaceutical formulations using miniaturized capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection

Capability of fast analysis of a novel miniaturized capillary electrophoresis with carbon disk electrode amperometric detection (mini-CE-AD) system was demonstrated by determining acetaminophen and p-aminophenol in dosage forms. Factors influencing the separation and detection processes were examined and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the end-capillary 300 μm carbon disc electrode amperometric detector offered favorable signal-to-noise characteristics at a relatively low potential (+600 mV versus Ag/AgCl) for detecting acetaminophen and p-aminophenol. Two analytes can been separated within 150 s in a 8.5 cm length capillary at a separation voltage of 2000 V using a Na₂B₄O₇-KH₂PO₄ running buffer (pH 7.2). Acetaminophen and p-aminophenol could be detected down to the 1.4 × 10⁻⁶-5.9 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ level with linearity up to the 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ level examined. The inter-day repeatability for analytes in peak current (R.S.D. ≤ 2.3%) and migration times (R.S.D. ≤ 1.3%) were excellent. The proposed mini-CE-AD system should find a wide range of analytical applications in pharmaceutical formulations as an alternative to conventional CE and μ-CE.     

Synthesis, structure, and bridge-terminal alkyl exchange kinetics of pyrazolate-bridged dialuminum complexes containing bridging n-alkyl groups

Treatment of triethylaluminum with 3,5-diphenylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the ethyl-bridged complex Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ (79%) as a colorless crystalline solid. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the n-propyl-bridged complex (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ (63%) and the dimeric complex [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (3%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum (1 equiv.) or triisobutylaluminum (1 or 2 equiv.) with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole afforded exclusively the dimeric complexes [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (68%) or [(iBu)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (96%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. The solid state structures of Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ consist of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazolato ligands with a di-n-alkylalumino group bonded to each nitrogen atom. An ethyl or n-propyl group acts as a bridge between the two aluminum atoms. The kinetics of the bridge-terminal exchange was determined for the bridging n-alkyl complexes by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and afforded ΔH^‡ = 1.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.8 ± 39.0 cal/K mol, and for Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and ΔH^‡ = 1.7 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.6 ± 43.4 cal/K mol, and for (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂. The negative values of ΔS^‡ imply ordered transition states relative to the ground states, and rotation along the N-AlR₃ vector without aluminum-nitrogen bond cleavage is proposed.     

Metal β-diketiminates revisited: ansa-CH2-bridged bis(β-diketiminate)s of lithium and aluminium having diverse structures

The metal β-diketiminato ligand-to-metal binding modes are briefly reviewed, with reference particularly to our previous work on metal complexes using the ligands [{N(R¹)C(R²)}₂CH] (R¹ = SiMe₃ = R and R² = Ph; or R¹ = C₆H₃Prⁱ₂-2,6 and R² = Me). The syntheses of the β-diketimines H[{N(R)C(Ar)}₂CH] 1 (Ar = Ph) and 2 (Ar = C₆H₄Me-4) and the ansa-CH₂-bridged bis(β-diketimine)s 3 (Ar = Ph) and 4 (Ar = C₆H₄Me-4) are reported. Thus, from the appropriate compound Li[{N(R)C(Ar)}₂CH] and H₂O, (CH₂Br)₂ or CH₂Br₂ the product was 2, 3 or 4. Compound 1 was prepared from K[{N(R)C(Ph)}₂CH] and (CH₂Br)₂. Each of 3 or 4 with LiBuⁿ surprisingly yielded the bicyclic dilithium compound 5 (Ar = Ph) or 6 (Ar = C₆H₄Me-4) in which each of the β-diketiminato fragments is an N,N′-bridge between the two lithium atoms and the CH₂ moiety joins the two ligands through their central carbon atoms. However, 4 with AlMe₃ yielded the expected ansa-CH₂-bridged-bis[(β-diketiminato)(dimethyl)alane] 7, which was also obtained from 6 and Al(Cl)Me₂. X-ray structures of the known compounds 2 and 3, and of 5, 6 and 7 are presented; the ¹H NMR spectra of 6 in toluene-d₈ show that there is restricted rotation about the NC-C₆H₄Me-4 bond.     

A novel potentiometric biosensor for selective L-cysteine determination using L-cysteine-desulfhydrase producing Trichosporon jirovecii yeast cells coupled with sulfide electrode

Trichosporon jirovecii yeast cells are used for the first time as a source of l-cysteine desulfhydrase enzyme (EC 4.4.1.1) and incorporated in a biosensor for determining l-cysteine. The cells are grown under cadmium stress conditions to increase the expression level of the enzyme. The intact cells are immobilized on the membrane of a solid-state Ag₂S electrode to provide a simple l-cysteine responsive biosensor. Upon immersion of the sensor in l-cysteine containing solutions, l-cysteine undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis into pyruvate, ammonia and sulfide ion. The rate of sulfide ion formation is potentiometrically measured as a function of l-cysteine concentration. Under optimized conditions (phosphate buffer pH 7, temperature 37 ± 1 °C and actual weight of immobilized yeast cells 100 mg), a linear relationship between l-cysteine concentration and the initial rate of sulfide liberation (dE/dt) is obtained. The sensor response covers the concentration range of 0.2-150 mg L⁻¹ (1.7-1250 μmol L⁻¹) l-cysteine. Validation of the assay method according to the quality control/quality assurance standards (precision, accuracy, between-day variability, within-day reproducibility, range of measurements and lower limit of detection) reveals remarkable performance characteristics of the proposed biosensor. The sensor is satisfactorily utilized for determination of l-cysteine in some pharmaceutical formulations. The lower limit of detection is ∼1 μmol L⁻¹ and the accuracy and precision of the method are 97.5% and ±1.1%, respectively. Structurally similar sulfur containing compounds such as glutathione, cystine, methionine, and d-cysteine do no interfere.     

Application of sequential injection-square wave voltammetry (SI-SWV) to study the adsorption of atrazine onto a tropical soil sample

Square wave voltammetry automated by sequential injection analysis was applied to determine the Freundlich adsorption coefficients for the adsorption of atrazine onto a clay rich soil. The detection limit in soil extracts was between 0.18 and 0.48 μmol L⁻¹, depending on the medium used to prepare the extracts (0.010 mol L⁻¹ KCl, CaCl₂ or HNO₃ and 0.0050 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄), all of them conditioned in 40 mmol L⁻¹ Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 2.0 in presence of 0.25 mol L⁻¹ NaNO₃. Also in soil extracts the linear dynamic range was between 1.16 and 18.5 μmol L⁻¹ (0.25-4.0 μg mL⁻¹), with a sampling frequency of 190 h⁻¹. The K_f Freundlich adsorption coefficient was 3.8 ± 0.2 μmol^1−1/n Lⁿ kg⁻¹ in medium of 0.010 mol L⁻¹ KCl or CaCl₂, but increased to 7.7 ± 0.1 and 9.0 ± 0.3 μmol^1−1/n Lⁿ kg⁻¹ in 0.010 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ and 0.0050 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄, respectively. The increase of K_f was related to the decrease of pH from 6.4-6.7 in KCl and CaCl₂ to 3.7-4.0 in presence of HNO₃ or H₂SO₄, which favors protonation of atrazine, facilitating electrostatic attractions with negative charges of the clay components of the soil. The 1/n parameters were between 0.76 and 0.86, indicating that the isotherms are not linear, suggesting the occurrence of chemisorption at specific adsorption sites. No statistically significant differences were observed in comparison to the adsorption coefficients obtained by HPLC. The advantage of the proposed SI-SWV method is the great saving of reagent because it does not use organic solvent as in the case of HPLC (50% (v/v) acetonitrile in the mobile phase). Additionally the start up of SI-SWV is immediate (no column conditioning necessary) and the analysis time is only 19 s.     

Gallium(III) triflate-catalyzed one-pot selective synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and quinazolin-4(3H)-ones

A series of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and quinazolin-4(3H)-ones have been synthesized in good to excellent yields and high selectivity by one-pot reaction using isatoic anhydride, ammonium acetate (or amines), and aldehydes in ethanol or in DMSO under mild conditions, respectively. The reaction was efficiently promoted by 1 mol % Ga(OTf)₃ and the catalyst could be recovered easily after the reactions and reused without evident loss of reactivity.     

Rosmarinic acid determination using biomimetic sensor based on purple acid phosphatase mimetic

A new heterodinuclear Fe(III)Zn(II) complex which mimics the active site of the hydrolytic enzyme red kidney bean purple acid phosphatase was synthesized and characterized by IR, CHN and X-ray crystallographic analyses. This complex, [Fe^IIIZn^II(μ-OH)bpbpmp-CH₃](ClO₄)₂, containing the ligand (H₂bpbpmp-CH₃ = {2-[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-6-[(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl) (2-pyridyl-methyl) aminomethyl]-4-methyl-phenol}) was employed in the construction of a biomimetic sensor and used in the determination of rosmarinic acid in plant extract samples. The response parameters and optimization of the biomimetic sensor design were evaluated. The best performance of this sensor was obtained for 75:15:10% (w/w/w) of the graphite powder:nujol:Fe(III)Zn(II) complex, 0.1 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5), 1.19 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ hydrogen peroxide with frequency, pulse amplitude, and scan increment at 30 Hz, 100 mV, and 0.6 mV, respectively. The rosmarinic acid concentration was linear in the range of 2.98 × 10⁻⁵ to 3.83 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.9991) with a detection limit of 2.30 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. This biomimetic sensor demonstrated long-term stability (300 days; 900 determinations) and reproducibility, with a relative standard deviation of 12.0%. The recovery study of rosmarinic acid in plant extract samples gave values from 90.3 to 98.3% and the concentrations determined showed agreement when compared with those obtained using capillary electrophoresis at the 95% confidence level.