Minimum required signal-to-noise ratio for optimal precision in HPLC and CE

In a survey, results of more than 100 assay determinations of various analytes (active pharmaceutical ingredients, methylparabene, chlorthalidone, and proteins) at different concentration levels were collected with signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) levels between 2 and higher than 10?000. It must be concluded that without having a S/N of at least 50, repeatabilities (combination of injection, separation process, and integration) of 2% cannot be achieved, in contrast to the general assumption that a S/N of 10 is sufficient for analytical HPLC. These data now confirm an earlier assumption with a much broader fundamental of measurements. The empirical functions %RSD = 58/(S/N) + 0.30 (for HPLC data) and %RSD = 73/(S/N) + 1.07 (for CE data) could be derived. It was shown that a S/N of greater than 100 is necessary for optimal precision. Before optimizing HPLC or CE methods, for example, for sample pretreatment, S/N > 100 should be the prerequisite, else optimal precision will not be achieved. Only after the detection-related scatter is sufficiently reduced, other sources of variation can be successfully tackled.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and transistor performance of tetracene derivatives

The substitution of chloro or bromo groups in tetracene gives rise to the change of crystal structure, having a substantial effect on carrier transport. Halogenated tetracene derivatives were synthesized and grown into single crystals. Monosubstituted 5-bromo- and 5-chlorotetracenes have the herringbone-type structure, while 5,11-dichlorotetracene has the slipped pi stacking structure. Mobility of 5,11-dichlorotetracene was measured to be as high as 1.6 cm2/V.s in single-crystal transistors. The pi stacking structure, which enhances pi orbital overlap and facilitates carrier transport, may thus be responsible for this high mobility.     

A luminescent Pt(II) complex with a terpyridine-like ligand involving a six-membered chelate ring

The ligand 2-(8'-quinolinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (1) was prepared in 79% yield by the Friedlander condensation of 8-amino-7-quinolinecarbaldehyde and 8-acetylquinoline. The complex [Pt(1)Cl]+ was prepared and compared with the isomeric 2-(2'-quinolinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (2) complex. An X-ray analysis indicated that the six-membered chelate ring in the tridentate complex resulted in a relief of angle strain as well as some non-planarity in the bound ligand 1. The control system for photophysical studies is [Pt3Cl]+ where denotes 2-(2'-pyridyl)-1,10-phenanthroline. Relative to the complex of 3, in dichloromethane solution [Pt(1)Cl]+ exhibits noticeably higher energy charge-transfer absorption but slightly lower energy emission. The gap between the onset of absorption and emission is larger because the emission from [Pt(1)Cl]+ originates from a triplet excited state with substantial intra-ligand character. At room temperature in deoxygenated dichloromethane, [Pt(1)Cl]+ has an excited-state lifetime of 310 ns vs. 230 ns for [Pt(1)Cl]+. Within the series, [Pt(1)Cl]+ also exhibits the largest activation barrier for thermally induced quenching at 2730 cm(-1) in fluid dichloromethane solution. However, the barrier is only about 50% larger than that found for [Pt(1)Cl]+. There is reduced ring strain in [Pt(1)Cl]+, but inter-ligand steric interactions weaken the ligand field.     

Application of multidimensional scaling to preformulation sciences: a discriminatory tool to group microcrystalline celluloses

Pre-formulation studies constitute the first step of any pharmaceutical product development and manufacture. Establishment of a comprehensive library of critical physical, chemical, biological and mechanical properties of all materials used for a formulation can be costly, tedious and time consuming, despite its importance in quality manufacturing management. This study seeks to demonstrate the pharmaceutical application of multidimensional scaling (MDS) by incorporating it as a pre-formulation tool for grouping an expanded range of microcrystalline celluloses (MCC). MDS presents the various MCC grades in two-dimensional space based on their torque rheological properties; thus conferring an extra dimension to the pre-formulation tool to facilitate the visualization of the relative positions of each MCC grade. Through this work, the utility of MDS for expediting pre-formulation studies, in particular, grouping of excipients that are available in different brands and grades can be amply exemplified.     

Pre-formulation studies on moisture absorption in microcrystalline cellulose using differential thermo-gravimetric analysis

A study on the differential thermo-gravimetric (DTG) measurements of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) containing moisture indicated that particle size affected the amount of bound water and the flow indices. Thermal analysis of 6 commercial grades of MCC powders and MCC/water blends were performed using a thermo-gravimetric analyzer. These MCCs were differentiated by their particle size, bulk and tapped densities, crystallinity and micromeritic properties. From the DTG curves, it was observed that water loss from the MCC/water blends occurred in 3 phases which corresponded to the different states of water associated with the solid particles. Area under the third phase, or the falling rate phase, can be associated with the release of water that was physically shielded or bound to the solid. This water may be referred to as "structured" water. The large particle size grades of MCC-Avicel PH 102, PH 302 and Pharmacel 102 were found to possess smaller quantities of structured water. Water vapor sorption results revealed the monolayer capacities for the respective MCC grades. The amount of structured water appeared to correspond to the existence of bilayers on the surface of the small particle size MCC grades. Using the avalanche flow assessment method, flow properties of small particle size grades of MCC were found to be poorer as indicated by the significant correlation between their flow indices and size, in addition to the longer mean times to avalanche.     

Synthesis, characterisation and speciation studies of heterobimetallic pyridinehydroxamate-bridged Pt(II)/M(II) complexes (M = Cu, Ni, Zn). Crystal structure of a novel heterobimetallic 3-pyridinehydroxamate-bridged Pt(II)/Cu(II) wave-like coordination polymer

The reaction of cis-[Pt(NH3)2(3-pyhaH)2]2+ (3-pyhaH = 3-pyridinehydroxamic acid) and cis-[Pt(NH3)2(4-pyhaH)2]2+ (4-pyhaH = 4-pyridinehydroxamic acid) with Cu(II), Ni(II) or Zn(II) in aqueous solution affords novel heterobimetallic pyridinehydroxamate-bridged complexes, {cis-[Pt(NH3)2(mu-3-pyha)M(mu-3-pyha)].SO4.xH2O}n and {cis-[Pt(NH3)2(mu-4-pyha)M(mu-4-pyha)].SO4.xH2O}n respectively. The crystal and molecular structure of one of these, {cis-[Pt(NH3)2(mu-3-pyha)Cu(mu-3-pyha)]SO4.8H2O}n 3a, has been determined and was found to be a novel heterobimetallic wave-like coordination polymer, the structure of which contains interlinked pyridinehydroxamate-bridged repeating units of Pt(II) and Cu(II) ions in slightly distorted square-planar N4 and O4 coordination environments respectively and extensive hydrogen-bonding through the Pt ammines and the deprotonated hydroxamate O and via the O of the SO4(2-) counterions and the H(N) of the hydroxamate moiety. Spectrophotometric and speciation studies on the other heterobimetallic systems confirm that very similar species are being formed in solution and based on elemental analysis and spectroscopic results analogous complexes are formed in the solid-state. In this paper, we report the first examples of coordination polymers incorporating both Pt(II)/Cu(II), Pt(II)/Ni(II) and Pt(II)/Zn(II) and containing pyridinehydroxamic acids as bridging scaffolds.     

The reaction of aluminium with silicic acid in acidic solution: an important mechanism in controlling the biological availability of aluminium?

The reaction of aluminium (Al) with monomeric silicic acid (Si(OH)₄) to form an hydroxyaluminosilicate (HAS) has been well documented over the past 40 or so years. The formation of an aluminium hydroxide template, upon which Si(OH)₄ will condense in competition with Al, was demonstrated to be a prerequisite to HAS formation. This initial reaction results in the formation of a slowly aggregating HAS, with a Si:Al ratio of 0.5, in which silicon tetrahedra are bonded to Al octahedra through three SiOAl linkages. We have called this HAS_A. In solutions in which the concentration of Si(OH)₄≥Al HAS_A acts as a template for the incorporation of further silicon tetrahedra to give a rapidly precipitating HAS (that we have called HAS_B), with a Si:Al ratio of 1.0, in which up to 50% of the constituent Al has adopted tetrahedral geometry. There are, at present, no reliable constants to describe either the formation or the solubility of these HAS. They are extremely insoluble and are likely to play an important role in the control of the release of Al from the edaphic to the aquatic environment. They may also have an important role in Al homeostasis in biota though the evidence to support this is more tentative.     

Phosphorus copies of PPV: pi-conjugated polymers and molecules composed of alternating phenylene and phosphaalkene moieties

A new class of pi-conjugated macromolecule, poly(p-phenylenephosphaalkene) (PPP), is reported. PPPs are phosphorus analogues of the important electronic material poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) where P=C rather than C=C bonds space phenylene moieties. Specifically, PPPs [-C(6)R(4)-P=C(OSiMe(3))-C(6)R'(4)-C(OSiMe(3))=P-](n)() (1: R = H, R' = Me; 11: R = Me, R' = H) were synthesized by utilizing the Becker reaction of a bifunctional silylphosphine, 1,4-C(6)R(4)[P(SiMe(3))(2)](2), and diacid chloride 1,4-C(6)R'(4)[COCl](2). Several model compounds for PPP are reported. Namely, mono(phosphaalkene)s R-P=C(OSiMe(3))-R' (4: R = Ph, R' = Mes; 7: R = Mes, R' = Ph), C-centered bis(phosphaalkene)s R-P=C(OSiMe(3))-C(6)R'(4)-C(OSiMe(3))=P-R (5: R = Ph, R' = Me; 8: R = Mes, R' = H), and P-centered bis(phosphaalkene)s R-C(OSiMe(3))=P-C(6)R'(4)-P=C(OSiMe(3))-R (6: R = Mes, R' = H; 10: R = Ph, R' = Me). Remarkably, selective Z-isomer formation (i.e., trans arylene moieties) is observed for PPPs when bulky P-substituents are employed while E/Z-mixtures are otherwise obtained. X-ray crystal structures of Z-7, Z,Z-8, and Z,Z-10 suggest moderate pi-conjugation. The twist angles between the P=C plane and unsubstituted arenes are 16 degrees -26 degrees , while those between the P=C plane and methyl-substituted arenes are 59 degrees -67 degrees . The colored PPPs and their model compounds were studied by UV/vis spectroscopy, and the results are consistent with extended pi-conjugation. Specifically, weakly emissive polymer E/Z-1 (lambda(max) = 338 nm) shows a red shift in its absorbance from model E/Z-4 (lambda(max) = 310 nm), while a much larger red shift is observed for Z-11 (lambda(max) = 394 nm) over Z-7 (lambda(max) = 324 nm).     

New perspectives in hydroformylation: a para-hydrogen study

NMR studies on the reaction of Ir(CO)(PPh(3))(2)(eta(3)-C(3)H(5)) with para-H(2) and CO enable the complete mapping of the hydroformylation mechanism for an iridium monohydride catalyst via the detection of species which include iridium acyl and alkyl dihydride intermediates.     

Fields with Exceptional Tangent Fields

The asymptotic self-similarity property describes the local structure of a random field. In this paper, we introduce a locally asymptotically self-similar second order field X_H, whose local structures at x=0 and at x0 are very far from each other. More precisely, whereas its tangent field at x0 is a Fractional Brownian Motion, its tangent field at x=0 is a Fractional Stable Motion. In addition, X_H, is asymptotically self-similar at infinity with a Gaussian field, which is not a Fractional Brownian Motion, as tangent field. Then, its trajectories regularity is studied. Finally, the Hausdorff dimension of its graphs is given.