New phosphite-oxazoline ligands for efficient Pd-catalyzed substitution reactions

We have designed and synthesized a new family of readily available highly modular phosphite-oxazoline ligands for the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The introduction of a pi-acceptor flexible bulky biphenyl phosphite moiety in the ligand design is highly adventitious in the product outcome. Thus, this ligand series affords excellent reaction rates (TOF's up to >2400 mol.(mol.h)-1) and enantioselectivities (ee's up to >99%) and, at the same time, shows a broad scope for different substrate types.     

Effect of oxidative stabilization on the electrochemical performance of carbon mesophases as electrode materials for lithium batteries

The effect of oxidative stabilization as a mean to modify the carbon texture was essayed in a group of mesophases previous to carbonization at 900 °C with the aim of evaluating the influence on electrochemical performance when used as electrode materials in lithium test cells. X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and chemical analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy have been used to describe the compositional and textural properties of the as-produced parent mesophases, the samples were further treated under air current to stabilize their microstructures and the corresponding carbonized samples at 900 °C. The electrochemical performance was determined by the galvanostatic method and further correlated to the physical–chemical properties and interface resistance of the materials. In all cases, the stabilization process has demonstrated a beneficial effect on the capacity retention in the measured range.     

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of (S)-alpha-trifluoromethylisoserine

[reaction: see text] This report describes two straightforward synthetic methodologies to obtain alpha-CF3-isoserine, a new alpha,alpha-disubstituted beta-amino acid, from alpha-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid. The routes involve the synthesis of five-membered cyclic sulfates (using sulfuryl chloride) or sulfamidates (using the Burgess reagent) from the corresponding chiral diols, which are obtained by a catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) reaction.     

Electrodeposition of cobalt on stainless steel foils. Preparation of57Co sources for Mössbauer experiments

Conditions for the electrodeposition of⁵⁹Co and⁵⁷Co on stainless steel foils have been studied. A set of electrolytic parameters has been determined to get a reasonably good electrodeposited sample. The⁵⁷Co electrodeposited foil was then introduced in a quartz tube to be annealed in an argon flow. The final product was a 11 Ci Mössbauer source for college experiments which was succesfully tested by obtaining spectra of stainless steel and sodium nitroprusside.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of salicylaldehyde as its Girard-P derivative

A method for the determination of salicylaldehyde (2 × 10^–6–10^–4 M) by differential-pulse polarography, based on the in situ formation of its Girard-P derivative in aqueous solution at pH 2.5, is proposed. The relative standard deviation was 1.5% (ten determinations of 4 × 10^–5 M level). The applicability of this method was checked in synthetic samples containing salicyl alcohol,o-aminophenol, 2-methylphenol, salicylic acid and 4-aminobenzoic acid.     

Innovations in high-pressure liquid injection technique for gas chromatography: pressurized liquid injection system

In gas chromatography (GC), highly volatile liquefied hydrocarbons are commonly injected using devices such as high-pressure syringes, piston valves, liquid rotary sampling valves, or vaporizing regulators. Although these techniques are adequate in some cases, there are known deficiencies. A new generation of sampling valve has been recently innovated and commercialized. Some of the highlights of the pressurized liquid injection system (PLIS) include compact size, the capability to directly couple to an injection port without the need for preinjection vaporization and transfer lines, and sample sizes ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 micro L. Although the valve has a specification of helium leak-free rating of 82.7 bar (1200 psig), the valve passes a hydrostatic pressure test of up to 414 bar (6000 psig). In the unheated version of PLIS, vaporization of solutes occur mainly because of the sheering effect of carrier gas in combination with thermal energy drawn from an injection port or a heated adaptor. This was found to be adequate for solutes with high to medium volatility of up to nC14 hydrocarbon. A higher molecular weight range of up to nC44 hydrocarbon can be achieved with the implementation of a heated version of PLIS, in which the channel of the shaft can be resistively heated at a rate of up to 400 degrees C/s. With its first introduction in May 2002, PLIS has gained acceptance amongst practitioners in GC because it addresses a key unarticulated need in sample introduction/enrichment and by specifically targeting many deficiencies encountered in contemporary high-pressure injection devices. In this paper, the design and performance of the various valve systems of PLIS, as well as industrial chromatographic applications, is presented.     

Determination of formation constants of hydroxo and carbonate complexes of Pr(3+) in 2 M NaCl at 303 K

The hydrolysis of praseodymium III in 2 M sodium chloride at 303 K was studied. Two methods were used: pH titration followed by a computational refinement and solvent extraction in the presence of a competitive ligand. The hydrolysis constants obtained by pH titration were: logbeta(1,H)=-7.68+/-0.07, logbeta(1,2H)=-15.10+/-0.03, and beta(1,3H)=-23.80+/-0.04. The stability constants of praseodymium carbonate complexes were determined by pH titration as well and were: logbeta(1,CO(2-)(3))=5.94+/-0.08 and logbeta(1,2CO(2-)(3))=11.15+/-0.15. Praseodymium carbonate species were taken into consideration for calculating the first hydrolysis constants by the solvent extraction method and the value obtained was: logbeta(1,H)=-7.69+/-0.27. The values for logbeta(1,H) attained by both methods are the same. The species-distribution diagram was obtained from the stability constants of praseodymium carbonate complexes and hydrolysis products in the conditions of the present work.     

Brownian Dynamics, Molecular Dynamics, and Monte Carlo modeling of colloidal systems

This paper serves as an introductory review of Brownian Dynamics (BD), Molecular Dynamics (MD), and Monte Carlo (MC) modeling techniques. These three simulation methods have proven to be exceptional investigative solutions for probing discrete molecular, ionic, and colloidal motions at their basic microscopic levels. The review offers a general study of the classical theories and algorithms that are foundational to Brownian Dynamics, Molecular Dynamics, and Monte Carlo simulations. Important topics of interest include fundamental theories that govern Brownian motion, the Langevin equation, the Verlet algorithm, and the Metropolis method. Brownian Dynamics demonstrates advantages over Molecular Dynamics as pertaining to the issue of time-scale separation. Monte Carlo methods exhibit strengths in terms of ease of implementation. Hybrid techniques that combine these methods and draw from these efficacies are also presented. With their rigorous microscopic approach, Brownian Dynamics, Molecular Dynamics, and Monte Carlo methods prove to be especially viable modeling methods for problems with challenging complexities such as high-level particle concentration and multiple particle interactions. These methods hold promising potential for effective modeling of transport in colloidal systems.     

Application of fluorescence reactions in the ring oven segment technique

Summary The ring oven segment technique already described earlier has been applied to the determination of ng- tog-amounts of organic and inorganic substances using fluorescence reactions. The methods proposed here are based either on self-fluorescence or on appearance or disappearance of fluorescence following a chemical reaction.

---

Anwendung von Fluoreszenzreaktionen in der Ringofen-Segmenttechnik

Zusammenfassung Die bereits früher beschriebene Ringofen-Segmenttechnik wurde auf die Bestimmung organischer und anorganischer Substanzen im ng- bisg-Bereich mit Hilfe von Fluoreszenzreaktionen angewendet. Die hier vorgeschlagenen Methoden beruhen entweder auf Eigenfluoreszenz oder aber auf der Bildung bzw. dem Verschwinden von Fluoreszenz nach einer chemischen Reaktion.

     

Critical study of and improvements in chromatographic methods for the analysis of type B trichothecenes

Various analytical methods used in the analysis of type B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol) in cereals were compared and optimised in this work. These methods use either GC-electron-capture detection (ECD) of trimethylsilyl, trifluoroacetyl and heptafluorobutyryl derivatives or HPLC with UV or photodiode array detection of analytes. A new HPLC procedure using fluorescence detection prior derivatisation with coumarin-3-carbonyl chloride has been also tested. Five extraction solvents and two solid-phase extraction cartridges (silica, Florisil) plus a especial clean-up column (MycoSep 225) were compared in order to obtain the best recovery of the mycotoxins with minimal presence of coextractives in the chromatograms. The chosen extraction solvent was a mixture of acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v). The MycoSep 225 column was chosen as the best alternative for clean-up of grain samples. For GC-ECD analysis, derivatisation of analytes with heptafluorobutyric anhydride prior the final determination was chosen as the most suitable procedure. HPLC-photodiode array (at 221 nm) analysis was more suitable for determination of type B trichothecenes than HPLC of the fluorescent coumarin-3-carbonyl derivatives. Recoveries obtained in spiked corn, rice and wheat are reported. The utility of the proposed methodology was assayed in cereal cultures of various Fusarium strains.