Analysis of Pb in water samples with plastic scintillation resins

²¹⁰Pb is a radioactive lead isotope present in the environment as member of the ²³⁸U decay chain. Since it is a relatively long-lived radionuclide (T_1/2 = 22.2 years), its analysis is of interest in radiation protection and the geochronology of sediments and artwork. Here, we present a method for analysing ²¹⁰Pb using plastic scintillation resins (PSresins) packaged in solid-phase extraction columns (SPE cartridge). The advantages of this method are its selectivity, the low limit of detection, as well as reductions in the amount of time and reagents required for analysis and the quantity of waste generated. The PSresins used in this study were composed of a selective extractant (4′,4″(5″)-Di-tert-butyldicyclohexano-18-crown-6 in 1-octanol) covering the surface of plastic scintillation microspheres. Once the amount of extractant (1:1/4) and medium of separation (2 M HNO₃) were optimised, PSresins in SPE cartridges were calibrated with a standard solution of ²¹⁰Pb. ²¹⁰Pb could be fully separated from its daughters, ²¹⁰Bi and ²¹⁰Po, with a recovery value of 91(3)% and detection efficiency of 44(3)%. Three spiked water samples (one underground and two river water samples) were analysed in triplicates with deviations lower than 10%, demonstrating the validity of the PS resin method for ²¹⁰Pb analysis.     

Albartin—a new sesquiterpene-coumarin ether fromArtemisia alba

A new sesquiterpene isofraxidin ether (isofraxidin=7-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-coumarin) was isolated from the roots ofArtemisia alba and characterized by means of¹H-nmr,¹³C-nmr, ms, uv, and ir. Albartin is an exomethylene isomer of 3-acetyloxy-drimartol isofraxidin ether with -OAc axial and -CH₂OAr equatorial. The chemosystematic significance of this class of compounds within the genusArtemisia is briefly discussed.

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Albartin — ein neuer Sesquiterpen-Cumarin-Ether ausArtemisia alba (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung Aus den Wurzeln vonArtemisia alba wurde ein neuer Sesquiterpen-Isofraxidin Ether (Isofraxidin = 7-Hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-cumarin) isoliert und mittels¹H-NMR,¹³C-NMR, MS, UV und IR charakterisiert. Albartin ist ein exo-Methylen-Isomer von 3-Acetyloxy-drimartol-isofraxidin-ether mit-OAc axial und -CH₂OAr equatorial. Die chemosystematische Bedeutung dieser Verbindungsklasse innerhalb der GattungArtemisia wird kurz diskutiert.

     

Imidazo-benzo-15-crown-5 ethers bearing arylthienyl and bithienyl moieties as novel fluorescent chemosensors for Pd and Cu

Novel fluorescent ionophores bearing imidazo-arylthienyl or imidazo-bithienyl π-conjugated bridges functionalized with one or two fused benzo-15-crown-5 ethers as receptor units are reported. The sensing ability of the compounds in the presence of metallic cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pd²⁺, and Hg²⁺) and fluoride ion was studied in MeCN/DMSO solutions by absorption and emission spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate that all compounds could act as selective fluorimetric sensors for Cu²⁺ and Pd²⁺ and also for the fluoride ion, in the case of the bis-substituted crown ether derivatives.     

COMPETITIVE NMR STUDY OF THE COMPLEXATION OF SOME ALKALINE EARTH AND TRANSITION METAL IONS WITH 12-CROWN-4, 15-CROWN-5 AND BENZO-15-CROWN-5 IN ACETONITRILE SOLUTION USING THE LITHIUM-7 NUCLEUS AS A PROBE

Abstract

⁷Lithium NMR measurements were used to determine the stoichiometry and stability of Li⁺ complexes with 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5 and benzo-15-crown-5 in acetonitrile solution. A competitive ⁷Li NMR technique was also employed to probe the complexation of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions with the same crown ethers. In all cases, the stability of the resulting 1:1 complexes was found to decrease in the order 15-crown-5 > benzo-15-crown-5 > 12-crown-4. Ca²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions formed the most stable complexes in the series.     

Fencing of Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Nonconjugated Bichromophoric System by β-cyclodextrin Nanocavity

²³Na NMR measurements were employed to monitor the stability of Na⁺ ion complexes with 18-crown-6 (18C6), dicycloxyl-18-crown-6 (DC18C6), dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6), 15-crown-5 (15C5) and benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) in binary acetonitrile–dimethylformamide mixtures of varying composition. In all cases, the variation of ²³Na chemical shift with [crown]/[Na⁺] mole ratios indicated the formation of 1:1 complexes. The formation constants of the resulting complexes were evaluated from computer fitting of the mole ratio data to an equation which relates the observed chemical shifts to the formation constants. It was found that, in pure acetonitrile, the stabilities of the resulting 1:1 complexes vary in the order 15C5>DC18C6>B15C5>18C6>DB18C6, while in pure dimethylformamide the stability order is DC18C6>18C6>15C5>B15C5>DB18C6. The observed changes in the stability order could be related to the specific interactions between some crown ethers and acetonitrile. It was found that, in the case of all complexes, an increase in the percentage of dimethylformamide in the solvent mixtures would significantly decrease the stability of the complexes.     

1H NMR and spectrophotometric study of alkaline metal ion complexes with N-dansyl aza-18-crown-6

Formation of complexes of A18C6-Dns and metal cations (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Mg²⁺) in acetonitrile has been studied by NMR, absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and PM5 semi-empirical methods. A18C6-Dns forms stable complexes with Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ cations. The stability constants of various complexes are determined by different methods and their structures are visualised by the PM5 semi-empirical calculations.     

The association constants of Na(+) with dibenzo[3n]crown-n in THF/water using ISE

The Na⁺ association constants, K₁₁ and β₁₂, of 1/1 and 1/2 stoichiometry of macrocycles of (1,2)dibenzo[15]crown-5, (1,3)dibenzo[18]crown-6, (1,4)dibenzo[21]crown-7, (2,3)dibenzo[21]crown-7, (2,4)dibenzo[24]-crown-8 and dicyclohexano[24]crown-8 were determined in THF/water, (50/50), mixtures. We used a Methrom Na⁺ ISE for the potentiometric measurements and applied the 1/(β_nm[A_o⁺])^n+m−1=(1−nP_c)(1−mP_c)/P_c equation where the P_c=P/[1+(m−1)P] and P is the mole fraction of the complexed cation, [A_n⁺L_m] for association constants with linear best fit. Results were in well agreement with the macrocyclic size and cation radii relationships. Measurements showed the role of aromatic groups of macrocyclics in THF/water (50/50) which allowed the macrocyclic molecules more selectively bind Na⁺ compared to the associations those obtained in water.     

Synthesis, complex-formation, and extracting ability of new derivatives of dithia-13(16)-crown-4(5) ethers

Various methods of synthesizing functional derivatives of dithia-13(16)-crown-4(5) ethers are proposed. Complex-formation of the obtained compounds with Ag⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions has been studied using ¹H NMR. A radiometric method was used to investigate the extracting ability of substituted dithia-13(16)-crown-4(5) ethers in relation to Ag⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions from aqueous solution in the presence of anions of various degree of hardness, with determination of the metal content. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 233–243, February, 2006.     

Water-soluble para-Sulfonated 1,2;3,4-Calix[4]arene-biscrowns in the 1,2-Alternate Conformation

The preparation of a series of p-sulfonated 1,2;3,4-calix[4]arene-biscrowns in the 1,2-alternate conformation is reported. These compounds are of two types:symmetrical p-sulfonated 1,2;3,4-calix[4]arene-biscrowns in which the two crown loops are the same and unsymmetrical p-sulfonated1,2;3,4-calix[4]arene-biscrowns in which the two crown loops are different. The X-ray structures of two synthetic intermediates are given. Preliminary complexation studies showed the ligands to present pronounced Cs⁺/Na⁺ selectivities.     

An NMR study of the stoichiometry and stability of lithium ion complexes with 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5 an 18-crown-6 in binary Acetonitrile-Nitrobenzene mixtures

Proton NMR spectroscopy was used to study the complexation reaction between lithium ion and 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6 in a number of binary acetonitrile-nitrobenzene mixtures. In all cases the exchange between free and complexed crowns was fast on the NMR time scale and only a single population average¹H signal was observed. Formation constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes in different solvent mixtures were determined by computer fitting of the chemical shift-mole ratio data. There is an inverse relationship between the complex stability and the amount of acetonitrile in the mixed solvent. It was found that, in all solvent mixtures used, 15-crown-5 forms the most stable complex with Li⁺ ion in the series.     

O-Alkylation of Menthone Oxime: Synthesis and 13C NMR Studies of a Series of Novel Oxime Ethers

A series of novel menthone oxime ethers were synthesized in three steps starting from (–)-menthol. Analysis of the ¹³C NMR chemical shift differences between α carbons of oxime derivatives (O-alkyl oximes) provides a convenient and reliable means of assigning oxime stereochemistry. It has been found that carbons syn to the oxime are shifted more upfield than carbons anti to the oxime moiety. Significant E products were obtained.     

Thionation of the monoacetal of pentacyclo[5.4.0.0.0.0]undecane-8,11-dione

As part of a programme to synthesize thione derivatives with pentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecane moieties it was decided to sulfurize the monoacetal 6 of pentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecane-8,11-dione 2. Unexpectedly the diol 9 was isolated as the product.     

A N NMR study of tautomerism in dimethyl dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate

Dimethyl dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate can exist either in 1,2- or 1,4-dihydro tautomeric forms. The ¹⁵N NMR spectra of dimethyl dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate were measured at the ¹⁵N natural abundance level as well as in ¹⁵N doubly labelled selectively and in ¹⁵N completely labelled compounds (20% ¹⁵N). The J(¹⁵N,¹⁵N) value was determined in ¹⁵N completely labelled compounds (20% ¹⁵N) using 1D ¹⁵N INADEQUATE and was found to be 12.2 ± 0.2 Hz in deuteriochloroform, acetonitrile-d₃, DMSO-d₆ and CD₃OH. Very similar ¹⁵N chemical shifts and ¹J(¹⁵N,¹H) values were also observed in all the solvents. This indicates that compound 1 exists completely in the 1,4-dihydro tautomeric form (i.e., as dimethyl 1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate) in all the solvents tested.     

Radiological characterization of drinking waters in Central Italy

Due to the importance of water in human life, its quality must be strictly controlled; for this purpose, simple and reliable analytical methods must be available. In this study, a monitoring of radioactivity content was performed in tap waters collected in a region of Central Italy to check the compliance with recent European and Italian regulations. Gross alpha and beta activities, ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn, and ³H concentrations were measured. Gross alpha and beta activities were determined by standard ISO 9696 and ISO 9697; for ²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn and ³H determination, liquid scintillation was used. ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U concentrations were determined by alpha spectrometry after separation from the matrix by extraction chromatography and electroplating. The results revealed that the tritium concentration was always lower than 6.75 Bq l^− 1. The concentrations (mBq l^− 1) of ²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn, ²³⁸U, and ²³⁴U ranged from < 1.70 to 15.31, from 0.69 to 20.3, from 0.65 to 48.77, and from 0.78 to 51.50, respectively.²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratios were higher than 1 in most cases. The results obtained revealed that, in most samples, gross alpha and gross beta were lower than the parameter value indicated in the international regulations. An attempt was also made to find a correlation between these results and the chemical parameters of waters.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente,LVIII Phytochrommodellstudien: Konformationsanalytische Untersuchungen an 2,3-Dihydrobilatrien-abc-Derivaten

Two 3,4-dihydropyrromethenones and two 2,3-dihydrobilatrienes-abc O-methylated at rings A and D resp. have been prepared. Their configurations were established as (Z), (E), (Z, Z, Z) and (Z, Z, Z), respectively, using¹H-NMR-techniques (NOE); they are also shown to exist predominantly in the lactam form. Within the pyrromethene fragment of the bilatrienes the pyrrolic and pyrroleninic ring type depends on the position of O-methylation. A helical all-synperiplanar conformation in solution could be established for all cases by applying the lanthanide induced shift (LIS) technique.

     

13C, 15N and 113Cd NMR and Molecular Orbital Studies of Novel Bile Acid N-(2-aminoethyl)amides and Their Cd2+-complexes

Lithocholic acid N-(2-aminoethyl)amide (1) and deoxycholic acid N-(2-aminoethyl)amide(2) have been prepared and characterized by¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR. The accurate molecular masses of 1 and 2 have been determined by ESI MS. The formation of the Cd²⁺-complexes (1+Cd and 2+Cd) in CD₃OD solution have been detected by ¹H,¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹¹³Cd NMR. The ¹³C NMR chemical shift assignments of 1 and 2 and their Cd²⁺-complexes are based on DEPT-135 and z-GS ¹H,¹³C HMQC experiments as well as comparison with the assignments of the related structures. The ¹⁵N NMR chemical shiftassignments of the ligands and theirCd²⁺-complexes are based on z-GS¹H,¹⁵N HMBC experiments. ¹³C NMR chemical shift differences between 1and its 1:1 Cd²⁺-complex based on ab initiocalculations at Hartree-Fock SCI-PCM level using3-21G(d) basis set are in agreement with theexperimental shift changes observed onCd²⁺-complexation.     

CO LMR spectrum of14N16O and its analysis with spectra of14N17O and14N18O

LMR spectra for v=1←0 transitions of¹⁴N¹⁶O in X²II_{1/2, 3/2} states were observed at 5.6 μm and 5.4 μm of CO laser. Introducing the advanced isotopic molecular constant scaling function to Hund’s case (a) diatomic structure model, these spectra were analyzed and fitted together with all reliable previous spectral data of¹⁴N¹⁶O as well as¹⁴N¹⁷O and¹⁴N¹⁸O. A full set of precise molecular parameters and their vibrational dependencies have been determined with much higher precision (1–2 orders for most parameters). Many of them have been obtained for the first time. Using isotopic scaling function, the molecular constants of¹⁴N¹⁷O and¹⁴N¹⁸O were deduced.     

Recombination of KrD and XeD ions with electrons

Recombination rate coefficients of protonated and deuterated ions KrH⁺, KrD⁺, XeH⁺ and XeD⁺ were measured using Flowing Afterglow with Langmuir Probe (FALP). Helium at 1600 Pa and at temperature 250 K was used as a buffer gas in the experiments. Kr, Xe, H₂ and D₂ were introduced to a flow tube to form the desired ions. Because of small differences in proton affinities of Kr, D₂ and H₂ mixtures of ions, KrD⁺/D₃⁺ and KrH⁺/H₃⁺ are formed in the afterglow plasma, influencing the plasma decay. To obtain a recombination rate coefficient for a particular ion, the dependencies on partial pressures of gases used in the ion formation were measured. The obtained rate coefficients, α_KrD+(250 K) = (0.9 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ and α_XeD+(250 K) = (8 ± 2) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ are compared with α_KrH+(250 K) = (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹ and α_XeH+(250 K) = (8 ± 2) × 10⁻⁸ cm³ s⁻¹.     

The fractionation and determination procedures for the speciation of Pb and Po in soil samples

A method for speciation and determination of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po in soil samples was developed. The speciation was carried out by fractionating the soil samples into five fractions which are water soluble or exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and bound to residue. After mineralisation, 10% solution of each fraction was used to spontaneously deposit polonium on a silver disk at 85-90 °C and pH 1.5, and ²¹⁰Po was measured by α-spectrometry; the remain solution was used to separate lead by anion-exchange resin and purified by precipitation as PbS and PbSO₄, and ²¹⁰Pb was determined by a low background β-counter. The IAEA-327 reference material (soil) was studied for ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po speciation. The results show that: (1) the average yields are 88.7 ± 6.4% for ²¹⁰Pb and 93.8 ± 8.2% for ²¹⁰Po; (2) if compared to the total ²¹⁰Pb activity in the sample, ²¹⁰Pb fractions are 0.95% in exchangeable form, 10.6% bound to carbonates, 14.3% bound to Fe-Mn oxides, 7.0% bound to organic matter and 67.2% bound to residue or acid soluble, and the corresponding values for ²¹⁰Po are 0.17%, 0.97%, 21.0%, 0.47% and 77.4%, respectively; and (3) the obtained ²¹⁰Pb concentration is in good agreement with the recommended value given by the IAEA.     

Reduction of silver cation in the cavity of diaza-18-crown-6: A theoretical study

The structure and stability of diaza-18-crown-6 (1) complex with silver cation was studied by the density functional method with the PBE functional. The reduction of the cation in the macrocycle cavity was simulated and possible stability of the resulting van der Waals complex of the crown ether 1 with silver atom was analyzed. It is shown that, after electron capture, two equilibrium conformers of Ag⁺·1 give two structures locally stable with respect to the dissociation into the silver atom and the crown ether in its nearest equilibrium conformation. One of the neutral structures, that of the C _s symmetry, corresponds to a global minimum on the potential energy surface of the Ag⁰—1 system. It ensures the thermodynamic stability of the reduced complex with respect to dissociation. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 395–399, March, 2007.