Voltammetric determination of dihydroxybenzenes at a mechanically renewed electrode made from a graphite-epoxy composite

Differences of potentials of anodic and cathodic peaks (ΔE _p) are determined in cyclic voltammograms of dihydroxybenzene/p-benzoquinone redox systems at an electrode made of a graphite-epoxy composite in a wide pH range. The data obtained (ΔE _p = 29 ± 1 mV) are close to the thermodynamic values for two-electron reversible reactions. This indicates that the electrode mechanically renewed by cutting a 0.5-μm surface layer directly in a test solution exhibits a high activity in such electrochemical reactions. The potentials of anodic and cathodic peaks are proportional to the pH of the supporting electrolyte solution in the range from 1.0 to 9.0. A change of 58 ± 1 mV in E _p per unit pH for all isomers shows that the first stage of the oxidation of each dihydroxybenzene isomer involves one electron and is accompanied by the detachment of one hydrogen ion, that is, an intermediate oxidation product, semiquinone, is formed. Despite the closeness of the potentials of hydroquinone and pyrocatechol peaks (ΔE = 100 mV), a scheme is proposed for the selective voltammetric determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers in a 0.1 M HCl solution in hydroquinone-pyrocatechol, pyrocatechol-resorcinol, and hydroquinone-resorcinol binary mixtures. The concentrations of hydroquinone and pyrocatechol are found from cathodic peaks and that of resorcinol, from the anodic peak. The results are well reproducible and contain no systematic error.     

β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of 2-Hydroxyfluorene and 2-Hydroxy-9-fluorenone: Differences in Stoichiometry and Excited State Prototropic Equilibrium

We report that 1:1 and 1:2 complexes are formed for 2-hydroxy-9-fluorenone with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and that there is an unusual red shift in emission at higher concentrations of β-CD. Between different stoichiometries of the complexes the titrimetric curves for the neutral–anionic equilibria for the guests differ drastically and so do the excited state pK values. The formation of an 1:1 inclusion complex with 2-hydroxy-9-fluorenone (2HFN) as the guest in β-CD with the binding constant (K) of 606.65 L·mol^?1 was determined. The ground and excited state pK _a values for the neutral–mono-anion equilibrium are not affected by β-CD. Hence the hydroxyl group is considered exposed in the aqueous environment. Two different types of inclusion complexes of 2HFN were observed in β-CD. The 1:2 complex of 2HFN shows a red shift from the 1:1 complex and is less fluorescent that the 1:1 complex. The red shift reveals that the 1:2 complex is more stabilized than the 1:1 complex. The excited state pK _a values in both complexes with β-CD are higher that those in aqueous solution. This shows that the complexation makes the molecule less acidic in the S1 state. The β-CD molecule is perceived as not able to encapsulate the 2HFN molecule fully, but the larger rim of the β-CD comes closer to the C=O group. The other half of the 2HFN molecule is encapsulated by the second β-CD molecule and thus there is formation of the 1:2 inclusion complex at higher concentrations of β-CD.     

Palladium(II) complexes of N-[(2-pyridyl)methyliden]-α(or β)-aminonaphthalene: Single crystal X-ray structure of di-chloro-N-[{(2-pyridyl)methyliden}-β-aminonaphthalene]palladium(II), Pd(β-NaiPy)Cl2, spectra and DFT,TD-DFT study

Palladium(II) complexes of N-[(2-pyridyl)methyliden]-α(or β)-aminonaphthalene (α or β-NaiPy) are reported in this work. They are spectroscopically characterized along with some mixed ligand complexes, using diimine and azoimine functions. The single crystal X-ray structure of [Pd(N-(2-pyridyl)methyliden-β-aminonaphthalene)Cl₂] has been determined. Luminescence properties of the complexes exhibit a ligand centered π–π^∗ emission. Quantum yields (?) have been calculated and it has been observed that the complexes of α-NaiPy show higher ? values than the complexes of β-NaiPy. Lifetime measurements suggest bi-exponential decay and the average fluorescence lifetime varies from 1.4 to 6.8 ns. The spectroscopic properties are correlated with DFT and TD-DFT calculations in two complexes, Pd(β-NaiPy)X₂ (X = Cl, I) and they are compared with the free ligand results.     

Binary and ternary complexes of Cu(II) ions with saccharin and cysteine

The square-wave voltammetric behaviour of cysteine and saccharin was studied at a static mercury drop electrode at pH 7.4 in the presence of Cu(II) ions. In the presence of excess Cu(II), cysteine exhibited three reduction peaks for Hg(SR)₂ (−0.086 V), free Cu(II) (−0.190 V) and Cu(I)SR (−0.698 V), respectively. Saccharin produced a catalytic hydrogen peak at −1.762 V. In the presence of Cu(II), saccharin gave a new peak (−0.508 V), corresponding to the reduction of Cu(II)–saccharinate, which in the presence of cysteine formed a mixed ligand complex (−0.612 V), CuL₂A₂ (L=saccharin and A=cysteine). The peak potentials and currents of the obtained complexes were dependent on the ligand concentration and accumulation time. The stoichiometries and overall stability constants of these complexes were determined by Lingane's method (voltammetrically) and Job’s method (spectrophotometrically). The mixed ligand complex in the molar ratio 1:2:2 (log β=33.35) turned out to be very much stronger than the 1:1 Cu(I)SR (log β=21.64) and 1:2 Cu(II)–saccharinate (log β=16.68) complexes. Formation of a mixed ligand complex can be considered as a type of synergism.     

Dissociation constants for the zinc(II)-8-hydroxyquinoline complexes in aqueous and sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar solutions

The constants of dissociation of 8-hydroxyquinoline (pK ₁ and pK ₂) and of its complexation with zinc ions (logβ₁, logβ₂) in sodium nitrate aqueous solutions at 293 K were calculated by modeling potentiometric titration data. The values of logβ were obtained under conditions such that the complexes occurred simultaneously in the solution and at optimum values of the ionic strength and the ratio between the metal and ligand concentrations. The apparent constants of dissociation of 8-hydroxyquinoline and of its complexation with zinc ions in a 0.01 M sodium dodecyl sulfate solution were calculated. An increase in pK and logβ was explained by the stabilization of the different forms of the ligand and its complexes in the surfactant micellar phase.     

Polarographic determination of the stability constants of metal complexes based on the shifts in half-wave or peak potentials of the anodic oxidation of mercury: methylthioacetato- and 2,2′-thiobisacetato complexes

The stability constants of metal-ion complexes, other than those of mercury ions, can be determined from the shifts, caused by an excess of that metal ion, in the anodic waves of mercury oxidation in the presence of the ligand.Let a solution contain L, a ligand that can react with mercury ion from the anodic oxidation of mercury to form the complexes HgL_p. The half-wave potential of the anodic wave will be shifted by the presence of an excess of a metal ion M, which can also react with L forming the complexes M_jL (where j = 1, $\text{1}\text{2}$,…1/N). A general expression is derived relating the half-wave potential shift ΔE_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} to the overall stability constants. If the excess of metal ion M is great enough for the 1:1 complex to predominate in solution (and if HgL₂ is the predominating mercury complex), for reversible, diffusion-controlled processes the general equation can be simplified to:

where c_M is the total concentration of metal ion M.This equation provides an easy and fast method for β₁ determination. The simplified equation is best suited for experimental data obtained from techniques such as DP, AC₁ and AC₂ polarography, whose increased precision in ΔE measurement enables poorly-developed dc-polarographic anodic waves to be used for β₁ determination. Since the metal-to-ligand concentration ratio must be large in order to apply the simplified equation, the determination can be carried out at very small ligand concentrations. This fact renders the new method especially useful when the ligand solubility does not allow the high ligand concentrations needed in the DeFord—Hume method to be reached. The adequacy of the deduced equations when applied to polarographic processes which are irreversible or not controlled by diffusion is discussed.The simplified equation is tested using several metal complexes of methylthioacetate and 2,2′-thiobisacetate ligands and comparing some of the values obtained from experimentally measured ΔE's with known β₁ values taken from the literature. Good agreement is found. For the U(VI)—methylthioacetate complex, which has not been previously reported in the literature, log β₁ = 1.75 ± 0.1.     

Voltammetric studies of the activity of an electrode made of a graphite-epoxy composite in redox reactions of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone

The potentials of the anodic peak of ascorbic acid oxidation and the potential differences of anodic and cathodic peaks (ΔE _p) of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox system at an electrode made of a graphite-epoxy composite are determined in weakly acidic and neutral supporting electrolytes by direct and cyclic voltammetry. The results obtained are compared with thermodynamic values and with the available values of these parameters at different solid electrodes for the above-mentioned redox systems. The effect of aging of the surface of electrodes made of graphite-epoxy composites on the potentials and peak currents of the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid are studied. It is demonstrated that the regeneration of the electrode surface by mechanically cutting thin layers is important for reducing the δE _p value of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox system down to 28–30 mV in supporting electrolytes with pH 2.0 and 7.0. This value is typical of thermodynamically reversible electrode reactions involving two-electron transfer at 20–25°C.     

Synthesis and electrochemistry of cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with tridentate Schiff base ligands containing O,N and S donor atoms

The synthesis and characterization of a number of cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) coordination complexes involving tridentate (ONS) ligands is described. The Schiff base ligands were obtained by condensation of 5-substituted salicylaldehydes with o-aminobenzenethiol or 2-aminoethanethiol. The chemical properties of these molybdenum complexes are compared with those having tridentate ligands with the ONO donor atom set. Cyclic voltammetry was used to obtain cathodic reduction potentials (E_pc) for the irreversible reduction of the Mo(VI) complexes. Although the reductions are irreversible, trends are observed in E_pc both within each series and when different series are compared. Cathodic reduction potentials for the four series examined span the range from ?1.53 to ?1.05 V versus NHE. There are three ligand features whose effect systematically alters the Mo(VI) cathodic reduction potentials. These include (1) the X-substituent on the salicylaldehyde portion of each ligand; (2) the degree of ligand delocalization; and (3) the substitution of a sulphur donor atom for an oxygen donor atom. Each of these effects is considered separately with regard to the Mo(VI) cathodic reduction potentials and then their cumulative effect is described.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering from binary liquid-crystalline mixtures of polar and non-polar compounds

The phase diagrams of several binary mixtures consisting of cyanobiphenyls and different terminally non-polar mesogenic compounds exhibit induced smectic A phases. The smectic A layer spacing, d, of these induced phases have been investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering as a function of the molar fraction x_i . Large deviations of the layer spacings from the additivity rule d _mix = σ x_id_i , have been observed in all mixed systems. Assuming a dimerization of the terminally polar compounds, the degree of association β(x) was calculated as a function of composition for different dimerization constants. The theoretical relations d _mix(x) obtained from the calculated β(x) values do not fit the experimental curves for d(x). This fact can be interpreted by the formation of weak complexes between the polar and the terminally non-polar molecules of the binary mixtures. This kind of complexing seems to be responsible for the formation of induced smectic phases of the S_Ad-type and might disturb the monomer-dimer equilibrium 2M _p D _p of the polar compounds.     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of metal cyclam complexes with thiocyanate. Evidence for mixed ligand complex formation

Complexes of Ni^II, Co^II and Cu^II containing the macrocyclic ligand, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam), and their ability to form mixed ligand complexes with thiocyanate have been studied. These complexes in a 1:2 mole ratio, exhibit new absorption peaks at 450, 538 and 512 nm respectively. Addition of thiocyanate to the nickel–cyclam complex (1:2:5 mole ratio) led to the formation of a purple complex, exhibiting three distinct new absorption peaks at 330, 455 and 662 nm. A purple complex (1:2:10 mole ratio) separated, having absorption peaks at 352, 503 and 693 nm in CHCl₃. The Co^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate in the same mole ratio exhibits two absorption peaks at 437 and 519 nm without appearance of any precipitate. The Cu^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate did not form a mixed ligand complex. Electrochemical studies also confirmed the complex formation of Ni^II–cyclam with the thiocyanate with the appearance of two new oxidation peaks close to 1.25 and 1.60 V versus Ag/AgCl in H₂O and CHCl₃. The Co^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate exhibited an oxidation peak at 1.2 V versus Ag/AgCl, while no peak was observed for the Cu^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate. Based on spectroscopic and electrochemical studies the geometry of the complex has been evaluated.     

Effect of methyl viologen on the electrochemical behavior of denatured cytochrome c at mercury and solid electrodes

Denatured cytochrome c has been studied in 9.5 M urea medium in the presence of methyl viologen, using differential pulse polarography (DPP) and voltammetry (DPV), alternating current polarography (ACP) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The DPP and CV curves exhibit an additional peak, which is assigned to the catalytic reduction of denatured cytochrome c.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic, DNA cleavage and antibacterial activity of binuclear schiff base complexes

The binuclear Schiff base complexes are formed newly using different transition metals at their stable oxidation state as Cu(II), Ni(II), and VO(II). 3,3′,4,4′-tetraminobiphenyl and 2-aminobenzaldehyde were condensed to form a new Schiff base ligand having an two N₄ group responsible for better chelating to the metal centers. The ligand and their complexes have been established by analytical, spectral and electrochemical data. The interaction studies of the complexes with CT-DNA were carried out using cyclic voltammetry, viscosity measurements and fluorescence spectroscopy. The free ligand and their metal complexes were screened for their antimicrobial activities against the following species: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A comparative study of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the Schiff base and its complexes indicate that the metal complexes exhibit higher antibacterial activity than the free ligand.     

Application of semidifferential electroanalysis to anodic stripping voltammetry

A new voltammetric technique, Semidifferential electroanalysis, in which the semiderivative, e, of the current, i, is measured as a function of electrode potential, has been applied for detection in anodic stripping voltammetry. The semiderivative of the current is defined by [fx131-1.tif] Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Tl⁺ in 0.1 M KNO₃ at different pH values were tested as samples on a hanging mercury drop working electrode. Symmetrical sharp peaks were observed for the re-dissolution processes of metal amalgams formed during pre-electrolysis at -1.0 V vs. SCE. The peak potentials of e vs. E curves for the above three amalgams agreed well with the literature values for d.c. polarographic half-wave potentials. The peak heights were proportional to the pre-electrolysis time up to about 5 min, to the potential scan rate in the range 60–160 mV s^-1, and to the concentrations of Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Tl⁺ in the original solution in the range 10^-6–10^-9 M. The relative standard deviation for the determination of Cd²⁺ was about ±4% at the 2 × 10^-5 M level.     

Group 6 tetracarbonyl complexes of N-[(2-pyridyl)methyliden]-α (or β)-aminonaphthalene: Spectral characterization,electrochemistry, solvatochromism and photophysical studies

A new series of group 6 carbonyl complexes of N-[(2-pyridyl)methyliden]-α (or β)-aminonaphthalene (α/β-NaiPy) are described in this work. The complexes are formulated as cis-[M(CO)₄(α/β-NaiPy)] by elemental, mass and other spectroscopic data. The complexes show emission spectra at room temperature and their quantum yield lies between 0.4 and 0.5. All the complexes exhibit negative solvatochromism. Cyclic voltammetry shows metal centred oxidation and ligand reductions.     

Resolution and Trace Determination of Selected Oxyanions in Binary and Ternary Mixtures by Differential Pulse Polarography

Abstract

Resolution and trace determination of selected oxyanions in binary and ternary mixtures were studied by differential pulse polarography (DPP) at the dropping mercury electrode. The applicability of DPP for the simultaneous determination of the investigated oxyanions (TeO^{2- 4}, VO^? ₃, IO^? ₃, IO^? ₄, and BrO^? ₃) in the binary and ternary mixtures was also examined with regard to the dependence of the DP current on various parameters such as pH, pulse amplitude, scan rate and drop time. Statistical analysis is included on t h e observed concentrations for each of the oxyanions in the mixture and compared with that obtained by the calibration curves. Limits of detection and quantitat - ion have been calculated for the DPP determination of binary and ternary mixtures of these lected oxyanions.     

Investigations on electric properties of polymers—II. Dielectric relaxation in atactic polystyrene determined by thermally stimulated depolarization currents

The thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) from atactic polystyrene and d.c. conductivity of the same material have been studied over the temperature ranges 200–395 K and 363–393 K respectively. TSDC spectra are complex and consist of four peaks, β₁, β₂, β₃ (β₃ of reduced intensity) and α in order of increasing temperature. The first three peaks appeared below the glass transition temperature T_g of the polymer. The β₁ peak seems to arise from a single dipolar relaxation process. The β₂ peak and probably β₃ arise from a distribution in activation energy of dipolar relaxation processes. On the basis of the molecular origin of the β relaxation process, it was suggested that β₁, β₂ and β₃ peaks involve motions of backbone chain fragments of various lengths. The last peak α appeared at T_g and could be considered as a result of dipole relaxation and electric conductivity. TSDC peaks and d.c. conductivity have been related to the second order transition in the polymer.     

Differential Pulse Polarography of Nickel(II) with Imidazole and Related Compounds

Abstract

Electrochemical reductions of nickel(II) complexes with imidazole, histamine, histidine, and pilocarpine have been studied using differential pulse polarography in the presence of 1.0 mol dm^?3 sodium acetate as supporting electrolyte. The peak potential for the complexes appeared at more positive potentials than for the nickel aquo ion. The positive shift ceases and then reverses to the negative direction for high ligand concentrations. Both histidine and pilocarpine have shown another wave which may be ascribed to the catalytic reduction of hydrogen ions in the solution. The peak height of the differential pulse pre-wave increases with the concentration of the ligands only when shift in potential is in the positive direction with the nickel ion concentration in excess of the organic ligand. The linearity of variation of the peak height with the concentration for the above mentioned compounds has been investigated. A mixture of histamine and histidine showed two separate peaks, permitting possible simultaneous determination when the compounds are in admixture.     

Metal complexes of 2-(2′-carboxymethylthio-phenylazo)-5-nitrotoluene—II. Complex formation equilibria with copper(II) ion in several dioxane—water solvent mixtures

Stability constants of copper(II) complexes formed by 2-(2′-carboxymethyl-thiophenylazo)-5-nitrotoluene in dioxane—water solvent mixtures of several different compositions [50, 60 and 75% dioxane (v/v)] were determined from EMF measurements, at 25°C and 0.1 mol dm^?3 NAClO₄ ionic medium. Graphical treatment of experimental data gives for the equilibria nA^?+Cu²⁺ = CuA_n^(2-n)+ (n = 1 or 2), in a solvent with X% (v/v) dioxane, the following values of log β₁, and log β₂ (given here successively). X = 50:2.41, 6.77; X = 60:3.36, 7.45; X = 75:4.33, 7.64. The relation between solvent composition and the values found for the stability constants is discussed. From EMF measurements made with the copper(II) ion-selective electrode, at constant pH, the nature of the effective donor groups in this potentially terdentate ligand is inferred.     

Soft modelling for the resolution of highly overlapped voltammetric peaks: application to some Pb-phytochelatin systems

A differential pulse polarographic (DPP) study of the Pb²⁺/Cys-Gly, Pb²⁺/γ-Glu-Cys, Pb²⁺/PC₂ and Pb²⁺/PC₃ systems is performed, being PC₂ and PC₃ the phytochelatins of general structure (γ-Glu-Cys)_n-Gly, with n = 2 and 3, respectively. Analysis of DPP data is assisted by multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) method in order to establish the complexes formation sequence and their final stoichiometries. DPP signals of these systems present, besides overlapping of peaks due to free metal ion and metal complexes, interference of mercury anodic signals. Despite these complications, MCR-ALS allows us to propose a model of complexation for each system, and some tentative structures for the complexes.     

The learning machine in quantitative chemical analysis: Part 2. Potentiometric titrations of mixtures of three bases

Computer-calculated curves for the titration of mixtures of one strong base and two weak bases are used in the training and testing of a linear learning machine. The results indicate that multicategory classifiers can be calculated from a computer-generated training set of titration curves in which a random error of ±0.01 unit in the pH values is introduced. The relative error in the predictions for concentrations of bases not included in the training set was of the orderof ± 1% for concentration ratios up to 10:1 when δpK_b for the weak bases exceeded 1 pK unit and for K_b1 ? 5 × 10^-4 and K_b2 ? 10^-9. Calculation of the first derivative of the volume of titrant versus pH curves as a preprocessing step was necessary to obtain this accuracy for the weak bases, whereas the volume of titrant versus pH curves had to be used directly in the determination of the strong base. Predictions of concentrations of actual samples were in agreement with the computer-calculated results.