The thermal dehydration and decomposition of Ba[Cu(C2O4)2(H2O)]·5H2O

The thermal behaviour of Ba[Cu(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)]·5H₂O in N₂ and in O₂ has been examined using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dehydration starts at relatively low temperatures (about 80°C), but continues until the onset of the decomposition (about 280°C). The decomposition takes place in two major stages (onsets 280 and 390°C). The mass of the intermediate after the first stage corresponded to the formation of barium oxalate and copper metal and, after the second stage, to the formation of barium carbonate and copper metal. The enthalpy for the dehydration was found to be 311±30 kJ mol^–1 (or 52±5 kJ (mol of H₂O)^–1). The overall enthalpy change for the decomposition of Ba[Cu(C₂O₄)₂] in N₂ was estimated from the combined area of the peaks of the DSC curve as –347 kJ mol^–1. The kinetics of the thermal dehydration and decomposition were studied using isothermal TG. The dehydration was strongly deceleratory and the -time curves could be described by the three dimensional diffusion (D3) model. The values of the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor for the dehydration were 125±4 kJ mol^–1 and (1.38±0.08)×10¹⁵ min^–1, respectively. The decomposition was complex, consisting of at least two concurrent processes. The decomposition was analysed in terms of two overlapping deceleratory processes. One process was fast and could be described by the contracting-geometry model withn=5. The other process was slow and could also be described by the contracting-geometry model, but withn=2.The values ofE _a andA were 206±23 kJ mol^–1 and (2.2±0.5)×10¹⁹ min^–1, respectively, for the fast process, and 259±37 kJ mol^–1 and (6.3±1.8)×10²³ min^–1, respectively, for the slow process.Dedicated to Prof. Menachem Steinberg on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Potentiometric Membrane Sensors for the Selective Determination of Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) in Some Pharmaceutical Formulations

The construction and general performance characteristics of two novel potentiometric PVC membrane sensors responsive to the pyridoxine hydrochloride known as vitamin B₆ (VB₆) are described. These sensors are based on the use of the ion-association complexes of the pyridoxine cation with molybdophosphate and tungstophosphate counter anions as ion pairs in a plasticized PVC matrix. The electrodes show a stable, near-Nernstian response for 6 × 10^–5–1 × 10^–2 M VB₆ at 25°C over the pH range 2–4 with a cationic slope of 54.0 ± 0.5 and 54.5 ± 0.4 mV per concentration decade for pyridoxine–molybdophosphate and pyridoxine–tungstophosphate, respectively. The two electrodes have the same lower detection limit (4 × 10^–5 M), and the response times are 45–60 and 30–45 s in the same order for both. Selectivity coefficients for VB₆ relative to a number of interfering substances were investigated. There is negligible interference from many cations, some vitamins, and pharmaceutical excipients. The determination of VB₆ in some pharmaceutical preparations using the proposed electrodes gave an average recovery of 98.0 and 99.0% of the nominal value and a mean standard deviation of 1.1 and 0.9% (n = 3) for pyridoxine–molybdophosphate and pyridoxine–tungstophosphate electrodes, respectively. The results compare favorably with data obtained by the British pharmacopoeia method.     

Electron transfer in the photochemical reactions of phenothiazine with halomethanes

Photochemical transformations of phenothiazine (PTA) in solutions of halomethanes CH_nX_4–n (X = Cl, Br; n = 0, 1, 2) and in n-hexane—CH_nX_4–n mixtures under the irradiation with = 337 and 365 nm were studied. The rate constants of quenching of PTA fluorescence with halomethanes (k _q) are 4·10⁵—1.3·10¹⁰ L mol^–1 s^–1. The process occurs due to electron transfer with the C—X bond cleavage in the radical anion fragment of the primary radical ion pair. This results in the formation of the stable radical cation salt (PTA^·+X^–). The plot of k _q vs. free energy of electron transfer corresponds to the Rehm—Weller empirical equation for a one-electron process and is satisfactorily described in terms of the theory of nonradiative electron transitions in the approximation of one quantum vibration.     

Structural Studies on Saturated Aqueous Solutions of Manganese(II), Cobalt(II), and Nickel(II) Chlorides by X-ray Diffraction

As a part of our studies on crystallization processes of electrolytes, the structure of aqueous solutions of MCl₂ (M = Mn, Co, Ni) equilibrated with hydrate crystals, MCl₂ · mH₂O (m = 6, 4, 2), was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction at 25, 40, 55, and 70°C. The complexes formed in MnCl₂ solutions, were found to be mixed–ligand chloroaqua octahedral complexes of M²⁺ ions with the Mn—O and Mn—Cl distances of about 220 and 251 pm, respectively. The average number of Mn—Cl and Mn—O interactions increased from 1.2 to 1.9 and decreased from 4.8 to 4.1, respectively, with changing MnCl₂ solutions from Mn25 (MnCl₂ solution at 25°C) to Mn70 (MnCl₂ solution at 70°C). In the octahedral species of Co²⁺, the Co—O and Co—Cl distances were found to be about 211 and 240 pm, respectively. With an increase in the saturated concentration by changing temperature from 25 to 70°C, the average coordination number of the Co—Cl contact per Co²⁺ increased from 0.5 to 1.2, and the average number of Co—O interactions decreased from 5.5 to 4.8. The structural analysis was carried out by taking into consideration the existence of the tetrahedral species in the solutions saturated at 40, 55, and 70°C, on the assumption of the existence of [CoCl₄]^2–. The Co—Cl distance was found to be 228 pm, while the number of Co—Cl interactions in the [CoCl₄] complex was calculated to be 3.7 by the least-squares calculations. The Ni—O and Ni—Cl distances were estimated to be about 206 and 237 pm, respectively. The frequency factor n of the Ni—O and Ni—Cl interactions decreased monotonously from 5.6 to 5.0 and increased from 0.4 to 1.0, respectively, with increasing NiCl₂ concentration. The n values of the Co—Cl and Ni—Cl interactions of the octahedral complexes increased sharply with concentration at higher concentrations. Comparing structures of the complexes in the saturated solutions and the hydrate crystals of these metal ions, we discussed a role of the complexing species on crystallization of the hydrates.     

Molecular Structure of 1,3,5-Tris (Trimethylstannyl) Benzene: An Electron Diffraction Study

The molecular structure of 1,3,5-tris (trimethylstannyl) benzene has been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction. The C — C bond length is in good agreement with that in benzene. In agreement with the somewhat electron-releasing character of the substituents, the endocyclic bond angles at the substituents are somewhat smaller than 120°. The mean value of Sn — C bond lengths is greater than that in tetraphenyltin and tetramethyltin. The SnMe₃ groups appear freely rotating around the C_aryl — Sn bonds. The following bond lengths (r _g) and bond angles were determined: (Sn — C)_mean 2.150 ± 0.007 Å, C — C 1.399 ± 0.005 Å, (C — H)_mean 1.105 ± 0.006 Å, < C — C(Sn) — C 117.7 ± 1.7º, < C_aryl — Sn — C_methyl 106.7 ± 0.7º < Sn — C — H 111.5 ± 0.9º.     

Thermochemical Study of the Cyanophenol Isomers

The standard (p° = 0.1MPa) molar enthalpies of formation for 2-, 3- and 4-cyanophenol in the gaseous phase were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion in oxygen at T = 298.15 K, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation at 298.15 K, measured by Calvet microcalorimetry: 2-cyanophenol, (32.8 ± 2.1) kJ-mol^–1; 3-cyanophenol, (37.8 ± 2.2) kJ-mol^–1; 4-cyanophenol, (35.1 ± 2.5)-kJ-mol^–1. Ab initio geometry optimizations of the three cyanophenols and respective phenoxyl radicals and phenoxide anions were performed using the 6-31G* basis sets. Single-point MP2 and DFT energy calculations allowed the estimation of the enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase, the O—H bond dissociation energies, and the gas-phase acidities of the three cyanophenols. The theoretical results are generally in good agreement with the experimental findings.     

Stereoselective synthesis of analogs of natural isoprenoids based on the reaction of alkyl 4-dialkoxyphosphoryl-3-methylbut-2-enoates with aldehydes in ionic liquids and in an imidazolium salt—benzene system

Condensation of alkyl 4-dialkoxyphosphoryl-3-methylbut-2-enoates with a number of aldehydes under the Horner—Emmons reaction conditions in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and tetrafluoroborate and in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide—benzene and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate—benzene systems was studied. The E/Z-stereoisomer ratio of the olefination products for the reaction carried out in ionic liquids was 3 : 1, which corresponds to the values attained previously in the KOH—benzene—Bu₄ ⁿNBr (cat.) system. Quantum-chemical calculations were used to determine the averaged radii (r ₀) of the [Bu₄ ⁿN] and substituted imidazolium cations by means of the Gaussian 98 program package. The stereoselectivity of olefination in the KOH—PhH—phase-transfer catalyst system decreases with a decrease in the r ₀ value for the catalyst cation. The possibility of recovery and reuse of ionic liquids is demonstrated.     

Comparative IR spectroscopic study of phosphorus-containing dendrimers built of thiophosphoryl, cyclophosphazene and phthalocyanine cores

The FTIR spectra of four generations of phosphorus-containing dendrimers built of thiophosphoryl, cyclophosphazene and phthalocyanine cores with terminal benzaldehyde and P–Cl groups have been recorded and analyzed. FT-Raman spectra of four generations of phosphorus dendrimers built of cyclotriphosphazene core with terminal benzaldehyde groups have been detected. Their spectral pattern is determined by the ratio T_n/R_n (T_n—number of terminal groups, R_n—number of repeating units). This ratio trends to r − 1 (r—branching functionality of repeating unit), and becomes constant, when the generation number is higher than 3. Experimental IR spectra of dendrimers built of thiophosphoryl, cyclophosphazene and phthalocyanine cores are very closely similar. The dependence of band full width at half height in IR spectra on the number of dendrons is established. The possibility appears to separate the bands assigned to the core, repeating units and terminal groups of dendrimers by difference spectroscopy method.     

Toward a More Accurate Silicon Stereochemistry: An Electron Diffraction Study of the Molecular Structure of Tetramethylsilane

The present electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of tetramethylsilane, augmented with theoretical calculations, answers the need for accurate and detailed information on the most fundamental molecules containing silicon. The Si—C bond length is r _g = 1.877 ± 0.004 Å, in perfect agreement with a previous study (Beagley, B.; Monaghan, J. J.; Hewitt, T. G. J. Mol. Struct. 1971 8 401). The C—H bond length is r _g= 1.110 ± 0.003 Å and the Si—C—H angle is 111.0 ± 0.2°. The experimental data are consistent with a model of T _d symmetry and staggered methyl conformation. The barrier to methyl rotation is estimated to be 5.7 ± 2.0 kJ mol^–1 on the basis of the experimentally observed average torsion of the methyl groups.     

A study of peralkylated derivatives of bis(η6-benzene)chromium by gas-phase electronic absorption spectroscopy

The gas-phase electronic absorption spectra of (⁶-C₆R₆)₂Cr (R = Me (1) and Et (2)) reveal Rydberg structures, which disappear on going to the condensed phase. Each spectrum shows a Rydberg series converging to the ionization threshold. The first ionization potential determined as the series convergence limit is 4.662±0.008 eV for 1 and 4.667±0.019 eV for 2. The Rydberg bands are due to the transitions from the non-bonding MO 3d_z2 to the R4s and Rnp (n = 4—10) levels. The influence of methyl and ethyl substituents on the term values of the Rydberg transitions depends on the principal quantum number of the Rydberg MO.     

Bonding properties and electronic structures of glycylglycinato copper(II) complexes. Molecular structure of acetylhistaminegly-cylglycinatocopper(II) dihydrate

Summary Mixed ligand diglycinatocopper(II) complexes of the Cu(glygly)L·nH₂O type, where glygly stands for [NH₂-CH₂ CONCH₂CO₂]^2– and L for imidazole (n = 1.5), N-methylimidazole (n = 1), 2-methylimidazole (n = 2), 4-methylimidazole (n = 2), 4-phenylimidazole (n = 2), N-acetylhistamine (n = 2) and NH₃ (n = 2), were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., vis. and e.p.r. spectroscopic measurements. The molecular structure of [Cu(glygly)(achmH)]·2H₂O (achmH = acetylhistamine) was determined using three dimensional XRD data. The structure consists of distorted square planar [Cu(glygly)-(achmH)] units interconnected via the peptide oxygen at the apex to complete a square pyramidal structure, Cu—O-(peptide) 2.477(2) Å. The H₂O molecules, not binding directly to the copper ion, involve in intermolecular hydrogen bonding with the copper units. The dianionic glygly ligand and the imidazole ring bind strongly to the central copper ion with Cu—N(amino) 2.045(6) Å, Cu—N-(peptide) 1.891(5) Å, Cu—O(carboxylate) 2.001(4) Å and Cu—N(imidazole) 1.956(5) Å. The dihedral angle between the imidazole nucleus and the CuN₃O xy plane is 6.0°. Similar structures with a CuN₃O coordination plane are proposed for the imidazole complexes, based on spectroscopic data. The bonding properties of the glygly ligand and the unidentate imidazole ligands are elucidated and discussed with reference to the electronic structures of the complexes deduced from Gaussian analyses.     

Femtosecond dynamics of relaxation of photoexcited meso-tetraferrocenylporphyrin in the nonprotonated and diprotonated forms (Fc4PH2 and Fc4PH42+)

The relaxation of the Q¹(—*) excited state of the nonprotonated Fc₄PH₂ and diprotonated Fc₄PH₄ ²⁺ forms of meso-tetraferrocenylporphyrin was studied by femtosecond laser absorption spectroscopy. Transition from the Q¹(—*) state to the charge-transfer state was shown to occur within 208±10 fs for Fc₄PH₂ and 9±3 ps for Fc₄PH₄ ²⁺. A fast vibrational relaxation with a characteristic time of 120—140 fs was found for both forms. The relaxation time of Fc⁺—P^– charge-transfer state for Fc₄PH₂ was 17±4 ps.     

Thermal Decomposition of Trimethylarsine

The thermal decomposition of trimethylarsine was studied under static conditions at 352–409°C and a concentration of 8.7 × 10^–3mol/l. The temperature dependence of the rate constant of thermal decomposition is described by the equation log k= 13.6 ± 0.7 – (224 ± 4) × 10³/2.3RT.     

Liquid chromatographic–electrospray mass spectrometric determination of cyclosporin A in human plasma

A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) assay has been developed for determination of cyclosporin A (CyA) in human plasma; cyclosporin B (CyB) was used as internal standard (IS). The method utilized a combination of a column-switching valve and a reversed-phase symmetry column. The mobile phase was a 25:75 (v/v) mixture of 10% aqueous glacial acetic acid and acetonitrile. Running time per single run was less than 10 min. Sample preparation included C₈ SPE of human plasma spiked with the analyte and internal standard, evaporation of the eluate to dryness at 50°C under N₂ gas, and finally reconstitution in the mobile phase. Detection of cyclosporin A and the IS was performed in selected ion-monitoring mode at m/z 601.3 and 594.4 Da for CyA and IS, respectively. Quantitation was achieved by use of the regression equation of relative peak area of cyclosporin to IS against concentration of cyclosporin. The method was validated according to FDA guideline requirements. The linearity of the assay in the range 5.0–400.0 ng mL^–1 was verified as characterized by the least-squares regression line Y=(0.00268±1.9×10^–4)X+(0.00078±1.8×10^–3), correlation coefficient, r=0.9986±1.1×10^–3 (n=48). Intra and inter-day quality-control measurements in the range 5.0–350.0 ng mL^–1 revealed almost 100% accuracy and 9% CV for precision. The mean absolute recovery of CyA was found to be 84.01±9.9% and the respective relative recovery was 100.3±9.19. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) achieved was 5 ng mL^–1. Eventually, stability testing of the analyte and IS in plasma or stock solution revealed that both chemicals were very stable when stored for long or short periods of time at room temperature or –20°C.     

Elaboration and Characterisation of Hybrid Materials of Polymethylhydrosiloxane Modified by Diamines of Various Lengths

The polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) modified by bifunctional organic compounds (diamines), offer the possibility of producing organic-inorganic hybrid materials. These materials present excellent opto-electronic properties and find numerous applications such as the manufacture of electroluminescent diodes and ion or radiation sensors.This work shows that monolithic and transparent hybrid gels were obtained by reaction at room temperature of PMHS with diamines in tetrahydrofuran, using hexachloroplatinic acid (H₂PtCl₆·6H₂O) as catalyst. The products have been characterized by infrared and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR spectroscopy. The results show that the diamines have reacted with the PMHS leading to the monolithic and transparent gels in which both organic-inorganic —Si—(H)N—(CH₂) _n —N(H)—Si— bridges are formed (n = 3, 4 and 6). The thermal analysis of the xerogels was determined by TGA and DTA. The structure and texture of the obtained materials, were studied by Chemical Analysis and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method.     

Equilibrium Geometry of Symmetrical Polymethine Dyes in the Solitonic Excited State

The optimized geometry in the excited state of the ions of polymethine dyes R^±—(CH=CH) _n —CH=R with the pyridinium residue and its carbo- and heteroanalogs in the excited state was calculated by quantum-chemical methods in the AM1 approximation. It was found that in addition to the symmetrical solution of the Hamiltonian there is an unsymmetrical soliton state. Significant alternation of the CC bond lengths at one end of the chain in the solitonic state explains the marked decrease in the quantum yields of fluorescence in the long molecules as a result of the decreased barriers of the conformational transformations.     

Influence of the linking chain length on the recombination kinetics of covalently bonded triplet radical pairs and magnetic field effects

Nanosecond laser flash photolysis technique is used to study the formation and decay kinetics of covalently linked triplet radical pairs (RP) formed after photoinduced electron transfer in the series of 21 zinc porphyrin—chain—viologen (Pph—Sp_n—Vi²⁺) dyads, where the number of atoms (n) in the chain increases from 2 to 138. In poorly viscous polar solvents (acetone, CHCl₃—CH₃OH (1 : 1) mixture), the dependence of the rate constant of RP formation on n can be described by the equation k _e = k _e ⁰ n ^–a at k _e ⁰ = 2.95·10⁸ s^–1 anda = 0.8. In the zero magnetic field, the RP recombination rate constant (k _r(B = 0)) is significantly lower than k _e and ranges from 0.7·10⁶ to 8·10⁶ s^–1. The dependence of k _r(B = 0) on n is extreme. The dependence k _r(B = 0) reaches a maximum at n = 20. In the strong magnetic field (B = 0.21 T), the significant retardation of triplet RP recombination is observed. The chain length has an insignificant effect on k _r(B = 0.21 T), which ranges from 0.3·10⁶ to 0.9·10⁶ s^–1. The regularities found are discussed in terms of the interplay of molecular and spin dynamics.     

Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Adamantylcalix[4,8]arenes for the Determination of Alkali Cations

Calix[4,8]arenes bearing adamantyl substituents in the upper rim and ethoxycarbonylmethoxy groups in the lower rim of the macrocycle were proposed as ionophores in membranes of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for determining alkali cations. Depending on the number of phenolic fragments (n) in the calixarene molecule, ISEs respond to either sodium (n = 4) or cesium (n = 8) ions. Sensors based on membranes that, along with ionophores, contain tetraphenyl borate ions as a lipophilic additive are selective for Na and Cs ions in the presence of other alkali metals. They exhibit almost theoretical responses over the concentration range from 1 × 10^–4 to 1 × 10^–1 M at pH 5.5–12 for Na-SE and pH 3–11 for Cs-SE, respectively.     

Determination of Stability Constants of Copper(I) Chelates with 1,10-Phenanthroline by Thermal Lensing

Using investigations of the copper(I)–1,10-phenanthroline system as an example, it is shown that thermal lensing can be used for determining stability constants at a level of concentrations one–two orders of magnitude lower compared to conventional spectrophotometry, with better precision of measurements. The values of stability constants are log₂= 11.7 ± 0.7 without regard for stepwise chelation, and logK ₁= 5.9 ± 0.3, logK ₂= 5.4 ± 0.3, and log₂= 11.3 ± 0.6 taking into account stepwise chelation. It is shown that, when shifting from microgram to nanogram amounts of reactants in the determination of stability constants by thermal lensing, changes in the kinetic parameters of the reaction studied should be taken into account. The thermal-lens limit of detection of copper(I) is 2 × 10^–8M; the linear calibration range is 4 × 10^–8–2 × 10^–5M (488.0 nm, pump power 120 mW). The data obtained were used for determining copper(I) in the hydrogen sulfide layer of the Baltic Sea.     

AM1 calculations of O-H bond dissociation energies in polyoxides

Energies of homolytic cleavage of O-H bonds in 33 compounds of the general formula Ro _n H (n = 2, 3, and 4) were calculated by the AMI method. For hydrotrioxides and hydrotetroxides, the bond dissociation energies are virtually independent of the nature of the substituent R:D(RO _n -H) = 92.3±0.8 kcal mol^–1 (n = 3 and 4).