Surface‐Plasmon‐Coupled Emission of Rhodamine 110 in a Silica Nanolayer

The first observation of strong directional surface‐plasmon‐coupled emission (SPCE) of Rhodamine 110 in silica nanofilms deposited on silver nanolayers is reported. The preparation of the material is described in detail. The intensity of SPCE exceeds 10 times that of free space fluorescence and total linear light polarization in the SPCE ring is observed. A new experimental setup and an original data collection method is presented. Our material completely preserves its fluorescence properties for at least eight months.     

Fluorescence lifetimes and spectral properties of protochlorophyllide in organic solvents in relation to the respective parameters in vivo

In this work, absorption and fluorescence spectra of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide), as well as its fluorescence lifetime, were investigated in organic solvents having different physical properties. The obtained Pchlide spectral features are discussed in relation to the parameters describing solvent properties (refractive index and dielectric constant) and taking into account the specific solvent-Pchlide interaction. The correlation of Pchlide Qy and Soret absorption bands with solvent polarizability function ((n2 - 1)/(n2 + 2)) has been found; however, the dispersion of the observed points was rather high. A small Stokes shift of a magnitude between 50 and 300 cm(-1) was found, which indicates low sensitivity of Pchlide to nonspecific solvation. The fluorescence decay of Pchlide was single exponential in all the investigated solvents, with the lifetime value ranging from 5.2 ns for dioxane to 3.5 ns for methanol. Dependence of the obtained fluorescence lifetimes on the solvent orientation polarizability, a parameter being the function of both refractive index and dielectric constant, was discussed. In water-methanol mixtures, a further decrease of the fluorescence lifetime was observed, giving values of 2.9 ns for 25% methanol. Double-exponential decay of Pchlide fluorescence was found for Pchlide in a solution of 15% methanol with the lifetimes of 4.5 +/- 0.5 ns and 1.2 +/- 0.3 ns and in pure water with the lifetimes of 2.5 +/- 0.5 ns and 0.4 +/- 0.1 ns. The obtained results are discussed in relation to spectroscopic properties of Pchlide in vivo.     

Effect of substituents at silicon on the oxidative addition of trisubstituted silanes to [RhCl(cod)PPh3]

Summary Trisubstituted silanes, HSiR_3–n X _n (R = Me, Et, Pr or Bu; X = Cl, OEt or Ph; and n = 0–3) readily undergo oxidative addition to complex [RhCl(cod)PPh₃] (where cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene).The quantitative correlation between rate constants, k ₁, of the reaction, followed spectrophotometrically at 20 °C in benzene solutions, and the structure of tri-substituted silanes represented by stereoelectronic parameters , and E of the substituents, was established: logk ₁ = a + b + c + dE. The reaction rate is accelerated by electron-withdrawing substituents at silicon and retarded by the bulk and pd donation of nonalkyl substituents.Author to whom all correspondence should be directed.     

Chromatography,mass spectrometry,and molecular modeling studies on ammodytoxins

The ammodytoxins (Atxs) are neurotoxic phospholipases which occur in Vipera ammodytes ammodytes (Vaa) snake venom. There are three Atx isoforms, A, B, and C, which differ in only five amino acid positions at the C-terminus but differ substantially in their toxicity. The objective of this study was to establish an analytical method for unambiguous identification of all three isoforms and to use the method to assess a procedure for purification of the most toxic phospholipase, AtxA, from the venom. Isolation procedure for AtxA consisted of isolation of Atx-cross-reactive material (proteins recognized by anti-Atx antibodies), by use of an affinity column, then cation exchange on CIM (Convective Interaction Media) disks. The purification procedure was monitored by means of reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Although previous cation exchange of the pure isoforms enabled separate elution of AtxA from B and C, separation of AtxA from Atxs mixture was not accomplished. RPC was not able to separate the Atx isoforms, whereas an MS based approach proved to be more powerful. Peptides resulting from tryptic digestion of Atxs which enable differentiation between the three isoforms were successfully detected and their sequences were confirmed by post-source decay (PSD) fragmentation. Separation of Atx isoforms by ion-exchange chromatography is most presumably prevented by Atxs heterodimer formation. The tendency of Atxs to form homodimers and heterodimers of similar stability was confirmed by molecular modeling.     

Highly Sensitive AdSV Method for Fe(III) Determination in Presence of Solochrome Violet RS on Renewable Amalgam Film Electrode

The new DP AdSV method for high sensitive Fe(III) determination in the presence of Solochrome Violet RS was developed. The use of an innovative renewable amalgam film electrode Hg(Ag)FE allowed to obtain high sensitivity and significantly minimize the mercury consumption. The best results were obtained for surface area of Hg(Ag)FE equal to 11.8 mm². Instrumental parameters were optimized. The optimal results were obtained using differential pulse technique for the following values: sampling and waiting time ts=tw=10 ms, step potential Es=5 mV, pulse amplitude ΔE=50 mV. Measurements were conducted in 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 5.6), the concentration of SVRS was equal to 5 μM. Deposition step was carried out at the potential ?400 mV for 20 s. Calculated detection limit for 40 s preconcentration time was equal to 1.4 nM (78 ng L^?1). The influence of the common in environment, organic and inorganic interferences was studied. The developed method for Fe(III) determination was successfully applied and validated by investigation of certified reference material SPS‐SW2 Batch 118 and recovery of Fe(III) from various spiked samples as snow, tap water and bottom sediments. The repeatability (for 50 nM of Fe(III)) of the developed method expressed as CV was equal 3.1 % (n=5).     

Synthesis and structure determination of 2,3-diaryl-9,9-dioxo-1H-9-thia-1,4,4a,7,10-pentaazaphenanthrene-2-ols

3-Amino-1,1-dioxopyrido[4,3-e]-1,4,2-dithiazine has been synthesized and applied to the synthesis of 3-amino-2-(4-thioxo-1,4-dihydropyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)guanidine. The reaction of the aminoguanidine with the appropriate 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diones afforded 2,3-diaryl-9,9-dioxo-1H-9-thia-1,4,4a,7,10-pentaazaphenanthrene-2-ol derivatives. The structure of these compounds, which represent a novel heterocyclic ring system, was confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectroscopic data including COSY, NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, and HMBC.     

Enantioselective synthesis of N-heterocycles via intramolecular Pd(0)-catalysed allylic amination

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidine-, piperidine-, and azepane-type N-heterocycles is described by the intramolecular Pd(0)-catalysed cyclisation of amino allylic carbonates. The use of chiral ligands gave the corresponding heterocyclic derivatives having er values that were from moderate to good.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of the Racemic Mixtures of 1-Aryloxy-3-Nitrato-and 1-Aryloxy-3-Azido-2-Propanols

The racemic mixtures of 1-aryloxy-3-nitrato-2-propanols and 1-aryloxy-3-azido-2-propanols were resolved with moderate selectivity by the lipase-mediated acylation with vinyl acetate. The effects of the nature, position, and spatial requirements of the phenyl-ring substituents on the resolution degree were investigated.     

Biosilica from sea water diatoms algae—electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study

Here, we report on an electrochemical impedance study of silica of organic origin as an active electrode material. The electrode material obtained from carbonized marine biomass containing nanoporous diatoms has been characterised by means of XRD, IR, SEM and EIS. Different kinds of crystallographic phases of silica as a result of thermal treatment have been found. The electrode is electrochemically stable during subsequent cyclic voltammetry measurements taken in the potential range from 0.005 up to 3.0 V vs. Li/Li⁺. The material has been found to exhibit high charge capacitance of 521 mAh g⁻¹ being cycled at a rate C/20 with capacity retention of about 97%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy performed at an equilibrated potential E = 0.1 V in the temperature range 288–294 K discloses low charge transfer resistivity and low diffusional impedance.

     

Structure and properties of the ion pair charge-transfer complex of octacyanotungstate(IV) with the 2,2′-bipyridinium dication

The X-ray crystal structure of (bpyH2)2[W(CN)8]·4H2 O (bpyH2=2,2-bipyridinium) is described. The [W(CN)8]4– anion has an approximately square antiprismatic (D4d) conformation, seemingly imposed by strong anion–water–cation hydrogen-bonding interactions. Bond distances in the anion are: WC 2.150(5), 2.163(5); CN 1.128(6), 1.145(6)Å and the angles WCN are 177.6(5), 178.3(5)°. The dihydrate and the anhydrous salt are both intensely black solids, exhibiting ion-pair charge-transfer interaction between cation and anion. E.s.r. spectra indicate that 30% of the tungsten is present as WV in the solid state, but that in solution only the WIV complex is present. The electron withdrawing effect of the cation is discussed and compared with that in a series of salts with different bipyridinium cations.