Attachment of nickel hexacyanoferrates nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes: preparation, characterization and bioapplication

Anilinemethyltriethoxysilane (AMTEOS) was first used as precursor as well as selective stationary phase to prepare the sol-gel derived anilinemethyltriethoxysilane/polydimethylsiloxane (AMTEOS/PDMS) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers. The novel SPME fiber exhibits high extraction efficiency, good thermal stability and long lifetime compared with commercial SPME coatings. In addition, the phenyl groups in the porous layer can exhibit π-π interactions with aromatic compounds, such as monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Therefore, SPME using the AMTEOS/PDMS sol-gel fiber coupled with GC-FID was recommended as a sensitive and selective method towards the analysis of these compounds in environmental water samples. The optimal extraction conditions were investigated by adjusting extraction time, salt addition, extraction temperature, and desorption time. The method showed linearity between 2 and 4000 μg l⁻¹ for MAHs and 1 and 1000 μg l⁻¹ for PAHs. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.6-3.8 μg l⁻¹for MAHs and 0.2-1.5 μg l⁻¹ for PAHs. The novel AMTEOS/PDMS fiber was applied to extract small amount of aromatic compounds in wastewater and river water respectively. The recovery of the method was acceptable for quantitative analysis.     

Tuning the selectivity of polymeric ionic liquid sorbent coatings for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using solid-phase microextraction

A new generation polymeric ionic liquid (PIL), poly(1-4-vinylbenzyl)-3-hexadecylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (poly(VBHDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻)), was synthesized and is shown to exhibit impressive selectivity towards the extraction of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous samples when used as a sorbent coating in direct-immersion solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography (GC). The PIL was imparted with aromatic character to enhance π–π interactions between the analytes and the sorbent coating. For comparison purposes, a PIL with similar structure but lacking the π–π interaction capability, poly(1-vinyl-3-hexadecylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide) (poly(HDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻)), as well as a commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sorbent coating were evaluated and exhibited much lower extraction efficiencies. Extraction parameters, including stir rate and extraction time, were studied and optimized. The detection limits of poly(VBHDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻), poly(HDIm⁺ NTf₂⁻), and PDMS coatings varied between 0.003–0.07 μg L⁻¹, 0.02–0.6 μg L⁻¹, and 0.1–6 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The partition coefficients (log K_fs) of eight PAHs to the three studied fiber coatings were estimated using a static SPME approach. This study represents the first report of analyte partition coefficients to any PIL-based material.     

Dimeric water embedded within a hydrophobic cavity of tetra-(p-tert-butyl)thiacalix[4]arene

X-ray crystallographic analysis and density functional B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculation confirm that dimeric water is embedded within a hydrophobic cavity of tetra-(p-tert-butyl)thiacalix[4]arene and stabilized by hydrogen bondings of aromatic π?H₂O(1) and methyl?H₂O(2) in the dimeric water inclusion complex with binding energies of 1.4 and 0.9 kcal mol⁻¹ respectively, and by hydrogen bonding formed between H₂O(2) and four phenolic OH groups from an adjacent tetra-(p-tert-butyl)thiacalix[4]arene, with binding energy of 3.8-4.2 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Highly polyhapto-aromatic interactions in thallium(I) coordination

In the solid state, the Tl(I) complex of 4-hydroxybenzoate (HB⁻), [Tl(HB)]_n (1), can be regarded as containing polymeric chains linked through 2 × η⁶ interactions of the Tl atoms with phenyl groups from adjacent units. The thallium atoms contain close Tl^I ? π (aromatic) contacts, thus attaining a total hapticity of 16 with environments TlO₄C₁₂. The unusually high coordination number in the this compound may reflect the capacity of Tl(I) to act as both a Lewis acid and a Lewis base.     

Enhanced gelation property due to intra-molecular hydrogen bonding in a new series of bis(amino acid)-functionalized pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide organogelators

A series of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide derivatives containing two α-amino acid pendant groups was prepared and characterized. Three of the synthesized compounds obtained from this series, all having aromatic amino acid side chains, were found to be excellent organogelators toward aromatic solvents (mgc∼10-20 mg/mL), alcoholic solvents (mgc∼4-15 mg/mL), and CCl₄ (mgc∼4-10 mg/mL). It was found that the intra-molecular hydrogen bonds between the pyridine dicarboxamide N-Hs and the pyridine N atom were the key structural elements for gel formation. This series of compounds represented one of the rare examples where both inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds were needed for effective gel formation. FTIR, ¹H NMR, and CD spectroscopy revealed that both hydrogen bonding and π-π aromatic stacking were the driving forces for gelation.     

FTIR and fluorescence studies on the ground and excited state hydrogen-bonding interactions between 1-methylindole and water in water–triethylamine mixtures

The ground and excited state π-hydrogen-bonding interactions between 1-methylindole, MI, and water have been investigated in water–triethylamine, water–TEA, mixtures. FTIR measurements performed on the OH stretching bands of the water–TEA clusters show that, upon MI addition, the typical bands of the water–TEA system at 3348 cm⁻¹, 3440 cm⁻¹, 3545 cm⁻¹ and 3682 cm⁻¹ diminish, whereas two new absorption bands at 3316 cm⁻¹ and 3654 cm⁻¹ grow up. These spectral changes have been rationalised assuming the formation of only one 1:1 water–MI complex, in which the dangling protons in the water–TEA clusters are hydrogen bonded to the π-cloud of the MI aromatic ring. Steady state and time resolved fluorescence measurements provide additional proofs on the ground state formation of a fluorescent OH ? π hydrogen bonded complex. The relevance that the present and the previously reported results could have on the indole ring photophysics is discussed.     

Highly sensitive and selective sensing platform based on π–π interaction between tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with thionine–graphene composite

We are just beginning to exploit the fascinating potential of thionine, called electrochemical probe that can selectively recognize specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as tools for the detection of tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons phenanthrene (PHE) and anthracene (ANT). A novel electrochemical sensing platform by modification of electroactive thionine functionalized graphene onto glass carbon electrode (Th/GRs/GCE) surface was constructed. The immobilized thionine showed a remarkable stability, which may benefit from the π–π stacking force with graphene. Under optimum conditions, the proposed electrochemical sensor exhibited high sensitivity and low detection limit for detecting PHE and ANT. The total amount of PHE and ANT could be quantified in a wide range of 10 pM–0.1 μM with a good linearity (R² = 0.9979) and a low detection limit of 0.1 pM (S/N = 3). Compounds which possess one or two benzene rings or PAHs with more than three rings, such as benzene, naphthalene (NAP), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and pyrene (PYR) show little interference on the detection. Consequently, a simple and sensitive electrochemical method was proposed for the determination of PHE and ANT, which was used to determine PHE and ANT in waste water samples. The electrochemical method provides a general tool that complements the commonly used spectroscopic methods and immune method for the detection of PAHs.     

Synthesis, X-ray crystallographic, and dynamic H NMR studies of crown-tetrathia[3.3.3.3]metacyclophanes—conformational control by cooperative intramolecular C-H?π interaction both in solid state and in solution

Crown-tetrathia[3.3.3.3]metacyclophanes 3a-c were synthesized via intermolcular coupling reaction in 22-30% yields. X-ray crystal analysis of 3b revealed that it adopted a perpendicular conformation (3b-B or 3b-C) in which two aromatic rings were inclined to be perpendicular to the opposite aromatic rings, driving two internal methyl groups into the π-cloud of the corresponding benzene rings. Furthermore, this perpendicular structural feature led to benzylic protons of thia-bridges being in close proximity to the adjacent aromatic rings. As a result, the induced upfield shifts for the two internal methyl protons and four benzylic protons were clearly observed in dynamic ¹H NMR spectra at low temperature, indicating that the intramolecular C-H?π interaction became increasingly important at low temperature. The energy barrier for inter-conversion between 3b-B and 3b-C was estimated to be 12.1 kcal mol⁻¹ by using a coalescence method. The total stabilization enthalpy of the C-H?π interactions was quantitatively calculated to be 7.9±0.8 kcal mol⁻¹ by the dynamic NMR spectroscopy. In contrast, 3a showed two non-interconvertible conformers at room temperature, which tended to interconvert at elevated temperature, however, many conformers co-existed at low temperature.     

Highly sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric determination of tolnaftate through the formation of ternary inclusion complex of beta-naphthol/beta-cyclodextrin/anionic surfactant system

An indirect spectrofluorimetric method with high sensitivity and selectivity was developed for the determination of antifungal drug: tolnaftate (TNF), depending on the supramolecualr multirecognition interaction among the anionic surfactant sodium laurylsulfate (SLS), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and β-naphthol (ROH). The mechanism of the inclusion was studied and discussed by means of fluorescence spectrum, infra-red spectrograms and ¹HNMR spectroscopy. Results showed that the naphthalene ring of ROH and the hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain of SLS were included into the β-CD's cavity to form a ROH:SLS:β-CD ternary inclusion complex with stoichiometry of 1:1:1 at room temperature, which provided effective protection for the excited state of ROH. At λ_ex/λ_em = 273/360 nm, the fluorescence intensity was linear over a tolnaftate concentration range of 2.46 × 10⁻⁹ to 2.10 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit and relative standard deviation was 7.50 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ and 1.4%, respectively. The interference of 31 foreign substances was slight. The proposed method had been successfully applied to the determination of tolnaftate in artificial mixed samples with almost quantitative recovery.     

Spectrofluorimetric study of the interaction of copper(II) and bis-heterocyclictriazene reagent in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin

A new reagent, 1,3-bis(2-benzothiazolyl-diazoamino)benzene (BBTAB), was first synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR and IR spectra. The inclusion complex of BBTAB with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was formed. BBTAB in the inclusion complex or alone reacts with copper(II) to form chelate complex in a slight basic medium, which results in drastic or slight fluorescence enhancement, respectively. The spectrofluorimetric method of trace amount of copper(II) based on the enhancement of inclusion complex by binding with copper(II) was established. The excitation and emission wavelengths of the BBTAB/β-CD/Cu system are 389 and 480 nm, respectively. Under optimal conditions, a linear response of BBTAB/β-CD to copper(II) is obtained in the range of 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit is determined to be 1.2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The method is selective, sensitive and simple, and has been used for the determination of trace copper(II) in water samples with satisfactory results. The possible response mechanism of BBTAB/β-CD or BBTAB to copper(II) and the role of β-CD in the drastic enhancement of fluorescence of BBTAB/β-CD/Cu system have been discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of sulphonated PEES copolymers by NMR spectroscopy

Two sulphonated PEES copolymers were synthesized by reacting 75 or 60 mol% silylated hydroquinone sulphonic acid and 25 or 40 mol% of hydroquinone with 4,4′-difluorodiphenyl sulphone. The number average molecular weights determined by GPC were 13.250 and 12.050 g/mol. In the FTIR spectra, in addition to the characteristic absorption bands due to aromatic skeleton, absorption bands associated with sulphonic acid groups were observed at ∼3500, 1172, 1080, 1026, and 706 cm⁻¹. In ¹H NMR, the aromatic proton resonance signals were observed between δ = 6.99 and 7.96 ppm. ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra of these copolymers were complex and in order to resolve this, two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques were utilized. Heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY), and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) were used for assigning the structure of the copolymers.     

Characterization of low molecular-weight gelator methyl-4,6-O-(p-nitrobenzylidene)-α-d-glucopyranoside hydrogels and water diffusion in their networks

This paper focuses on the thermal properties, the microstructure, and the molecular dynamics of water in the hydrogels (1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5% [g mL⁻¹]) formed by sugar-based low molecular-weight gelator methyl-4,6-O-(p-nitrobenzylidene)-α-d-glucopyranoside. The energy needed to break the non-covalent interactions such as the hydrophobic, dipole-dipole, and π-π stacking interactions responsible for the gel formation was calculated to be 43 kJ mol⁻¹. The microstructure of the 4% [g mL⁻¹] hydrogel shows a characteristic fibril structure of the gel network with individual gel fibers, the junction points of thicker fibers, and pores occupied by water. The single mode diffusion of water molecules inside the gel network was detected irrespective of the diffusion time Δ (8-75 ms) and hydrogel concentration. For Δ of 10 ms the water diffusion is almost free and characterized by the diffusion coefficient in the range from 2.17×10⁻⁹ to 1.84×10⁻⁹ m² s⁻¹ for studied hydrogels. For larger Δ values, so-called restricted diffusions are observed and manifested in the linear decreases of the diffusion coefficient with diffusing time Δ, as shown for 5% gel. Only the one average proton spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ of water was determined for the studied hydrogels, irrespective of gelator concentration.     

Study on the Langmuir aggregation of fluorinated surfactants on protein

The microphase adsorption-spectral correction (MPASC) technique was described and applied to the study of the interactions of fluorinated surfactants such as potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and potassium perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) with human serum albumin (HSA). Sodium octanesulfonate (SOS) was also studied as non-fluorinated surfactant. The aggregation of PFOS, PFBS and SOS obeys the Langmuir monolayer adsorption. The results show that the adsorption ratios of surfactants to HSA are PFOS:HSA = 120:1, PFBS:HSA = 205:1 and SOS:HSA = 18:1. The adsorption constants are K_PFOS-HSA = 5.01 × 10³, K_PFBS-HSA = 9.79 × 10² and K_SOS-HSA = 4.03 × 10³. The detection limits are 2.7 mg/L for BSA using PFOS, 3.1 mg/L using PFBS and 3.1 mg/L using SOS. It was found that fluorinated surfactant exhibited stronger interaction with protein than hydrogenated one, and fluorinated surfactant with long hydrophobic chain exhibited stronger interaction with protein than that with short hydrophobic chain.     

Thermodynamics of interactions between organic ammonium ions and sulfonatocalixarenes

Calorimetric titration and NMR experiments in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) at 298.15 K have been done to determine the binding mode, complex stability constants and thermodynamics (ΔG°, ΔH°, and TΔS°) for 1:1 inclusion complexation of water-soluble calix[n]arenesulfonates (CnAS, n = 4 and 6) and thiacalix[4]arene tetrasulfonate (TCAS) with acethylcholine, carnitine, betaine and benzyltrimethylammonium ion. The results show the inclusion complexations are driven by enthalpy (ΔH° < 0), accompanied by negative entropic changes (ΔS° < 0). The binding affinities (C4AS > C6AS > TCAS) are discussed from the viewpoint of CH-π/π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions and size/shape-fit relationship between host and guest.     

Liquid-phase microextraction and GC for the determination of primary, secondary and tertiary aromatic amines as their iodo-derivatives

Presence of iodine in aromatic amines, introduced by their reaction with iodine, and other electron withdrawing substituents such as chlorine and nitro, has been found to afford excellent liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) in toluene and separation by gas chromatography in the determination of primary, secondary and tertiary aromatic amines. The effect is due to decreased basic nature of amines when electronegative substituents are present. Single drop microextraction (SDME) of the amines in 2 μl of toluene and injection of the whole extract into GC, or LPME into 50 μl of toluene and injection of 2 μl of extract, were used. LPME has been found more robust and to give better extraction in shorter period than SDME. In SDME-GC-FID, the average correlation coefficient was 0.9939 and average limit of detection 25 μg l⁻¹ (range 12-61 μg l⁻¹) whereas the corresponding values in LPME-GC-MS were, respectively, 0.9953 and 33 ng l⁻¹ (range 18-60 ng l⁻¹). The method has been applied to determine aromatic amines in river water, dye factory effluents and food dye stuffs. The LPME was found as robust, rugged and simple extraction method.     

A new imidazolium-embedded C18 stationary phase with enhanced performance in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

In this paper, a new imidazolium-embedded C₁₈ stationary phase (SiImC₁₈) for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described. 1-Allyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid compound having a long alkyl chain and reactive groups was newly prepared and grafted onto 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane-modified silica via a surface-initiated radical-chain transfer addition reaction. The SiImC₁₈ obtained was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform, and solid-state ¹³C and ²⁹Si cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The selectivity toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons relative to that toward alkylbenzenes exhibited by SiImC₁₈ was higher than the corresponding selectivity exhibited by a conventional octadecyl silica (ODS) column, which could be explained by electrostatic π–π interaction cationic imidazolium and electron-rich aromatic rings. On the other hand, SiImC₁₈ also showed high selectivity for polar compounds, which was based on the multiple interaction and retention mechanisms of this phase with different analytes. 1,6-Dinitropyrene and 1,8-dinitropyrene, which form a positional isomer pair of dipolar compounds, were separated successfully with the SiImC₁₈ phase. Seven nucleosides and bases (i.e. cytidine, uracil, uridine, thymine, guanosine, xanthosine, and adenosine) were separated using only water as the mobile phase within 8 min, which is difficult to achieve when using conventional hydrophobic columns such as ODS. The combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions is important for the effective separation of such basic compounds without the use of any organic additive as the eluent in the octadecylimidazolium column.     

Synthesis, structure, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of chromium(III) complex with quinoline-2-carboxylate ion

The new complex of chromium (III) with quinoline-2-carboxylate ion, [Cr(quin-2-c)₂ClMeOH]·MeOH (1), has been synthesized and its structure has been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The spectroscopic (IR, UV-Vis) and magnetic study have been undertaken. The chromium ion is coordinated by ClN₂O₃ donor set of pseudoctahedral geometry. The structure of 1 consists of hydrogen-bonded dimers which are further connected by weaker C-H?O bonds and C-H?Cl interactions into the layers. The layers are held together by the aromatic π?π contacts. The electronic experimental energies of d-d transitions are comparable with values calculated for crystal field parameters Dq = 1669, Ds = 705, and B = 684 cm⁻¹. The splitting of the d-d bands was observed by applying the filtration process. Magnetization measurements revealed the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions together with zero field splitting effects. The appearance of magnetic exchange between distant Cr(III) ions (Cr?Cr separation >6 Å) was ascribed to hydrogen bond extension of carboxylate ligands.     

Characterization of recognition sites for diethyl 4-nitrobenzylphosphonate, an organophosphate pesticide analogue

In a first step towards chemical sensors using molecular imprinted materials, the complexing characteristics of diethyl 4-nitrobenzylphosphonate, an organophosphate pesticide analogue, have been studied. Two molecules have been assessed as potential interacting moieties, specifically a fluoroalcohol and an aromatic acid. The interactions have been first characterized by regular methods, such as ¹H, ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopy. These showed a stoichiometry 1/1 for both complexes and association constants, respectively, close to 40 ± 10 and 12 ± 2 M⁻¹. In a second step, isothermal titration calorimetry was used and a method was developed to obtain low-association constants. The association constant could be obtained for the fluoroalcohol ligand and was found equal to 63 ± 0.7 M⁻¹. For the acidic molecule, an appropriate model could not be found, preventing the evaluation of this constant.     

Experimental and quantum chemical study of pyrrole self-association through N-H?π hydrogen bonding

An FT-IR study of pyrrole self-association in CCl₄ solutions was carried out. According to the IR measurements, pyrrole forms self-associated dimeric species via N-H?π hydrogen bonding. This was also confirmed by quantum chemical calculations for pyrrole monomer and dimer at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory. A T-shaped minimum was located on B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) PES of pyrrole dimer characterized with a hydrogen bond of an N-H?π type, with centers-of-mass separation of monomeric units of 4.520 Å, H?π distance of 2.475 Å, the interplanar angle between the two monomeric units being 72.9°. The anharmonic vibrational frequency shift upon dimer formation calculated on the basis of 1D DFT vibrational potentials is in excellent agreement with the experimental data (84 vs. 87 cm⁻¹). Harmonic vibrational analysis predicts somewhat smaller shift (68 cm⁻¹). On the basis of NIR spectroscopic data, anharmonicity constants for the 2ν(N-H) and 2ν(N-H?π) vibrational transitions were calculated. The orientational dynamics of monomeric and self-associated pyrrole species was studied within the framework of the transition dipole moment time correlation function formalism. The period of essentially free rotation in the condensed phase reduces from 0.05 ps for the monomeric pyrrole to 0.02 ps for the proton-donor molecule within the dimer.     

Effect of small organic molecules on room temperature phosphorescence properties of naphthol ternary inclusion complexes in β-cyclodextrin

The influence of nine small organic molecules on the phosphorescence properties of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/1-naphthol/1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) and β-CD/2-naphthol/DBE ternary inclusion complexes are examined by means of room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) measurements. It was demonstrated that the rigidity of β-CD/naphthol inclusion complex, RTP intensity and lifetime could be enhanced when different small organic molecules (less than 1% v/v) were added respectively; the analytical characters of two kinds of naphthols in host-guest stabilized-RTP were improved. The linear range of 1-naphthol become broad in the presence of n-propanol, methanol, ethanol or 2-propanol and its detection limit was reduced from 4×10⁻⁶ to 7.5×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹ in the presence of 0.6% (v/v) methanol. Likewise, for 2-naphthol, the detection limit was reduced from 2.0×10⁻⁶ to 2.8×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ and to 8.1×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ after 0.5% (v/v) glycol and 0.2% (v/v) 2-propanol being added, respectively.