Estimation of trace elements in some anti-epileptic medicinal plants by PIXE

Trace elemental analysis was carried out in various parts of 10 anti-epileptic medicinal plants using PIXE technique. A 3?MeV proton beam was used to excite the samples and spectra were recorded using a Si(Li) detector. Data analysis was done using Gupix Software. The elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Sr were identified and their concentrations estimated. The presence of some of these trace elements is correlated with the anti-epileptic curative property of these plants.     

Tetrapyridyl tetraphenylethylenes: supramolecular building blocks with aggregation-induced emission properties

Two tetrapyridyl-substituted tetraphenylethylenes have been prepared via Suzuki coupling between tetrabromo tetraphenylethylene and 3- or 4-pyridine boronic acid. Both compounds exhibit aggregation-induced emission as determined by solid state fluorescence spectroscopy and solution phase fluorescence measurements performed in aqueous/organic solvent mixtures. Solution phase fluorescence was also found to be switchable as a function of pH. 3-Pyridyl-substituted tetraphenylethylene has been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Methods for the preparation of mercury and osmium samples suitable for ion microprobe measurements

Using radiotracer solutions of Hg (²⁰³Hg) and Os (¹⁸⁵Os), techniques have been developed for sampling these elements presumably suitable for ion probe measurements. Mercury has been electrodeposited on the cross-sectional area (5 mm²) of an electrochemically pure Cu wire giving a recovery 25 to 30% at the tip. Similar efficiency is found for Hg distillate solutions. Osmium has been collected in a Ni–NiS bead after loading its thiourea complex solution on filter paper. The recovery in the bead is 80–90%. These methods should be of help for isotopic study of these elements by ion microprobe. The suitability of these samples for measurements remains unconfirmed.     

Diacetylenic Derivatives of Fe2(CO)6(μ-EE′): Spectroscopic Investigations of Fe2(CO)6{μ-EC(H) = C(C≡ CMe)E′} (E = E′, E ≠ E′; E, E′ = S, Se, Te)

The diacetylenic adducts, Fe₂(CO)₆{-EC(H) = C(C CMe)E} (E = E, E E; E, E = S, Se, Te) (1–8) have been obtained from the room temperature stirring of Fe₂(CO)₆(-EE) with HC CC CMe in methanol solvent containing sodium acetate. Compounds 1–8 have been characterized by IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ⁷⁷Se, and ^l25Te) spectroscopy. Trends in the chemical shifts of ⁷⁷Se and ¹²⁵Te NMR spectra of Fe₂(CO)₆{-EC(H) = C(C CMe)E} with a variation of EE are discussed.     

From micelle supramolecular assemblies in selective solvents to isoporous membranes

The supramolecular assembly of PS-b-P4VP copolymer micelles induced by selective solvent mixtures was used to manufacture isoporous membranes. Micelle order in solution was confirmed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy in casting solutions, leading to ordered pore morphology. When dioxane, a solvent that interacts poorly with the micelle corona, was added to the solution, polymer-polymer segment contact was preferential, increasing the intermicelle contact. Immersion in water gave rise to asymmetric porous membranes with exceptional pore uniformity and high porosity. The introduction of a small number of carbon nanotubes to the casting solution improved the membrane stability and the reversibility of the gate response in the presence of different pH values.     

A rapid and convergent synthesis of the integrastatin core

The tetracyclic core of the integrastatin natural products has been prepared in a convergent and rapid manner. Our strategy relies upon a palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization to form the central [3.3.1]-dioxabicycle of the natural product core. Overall, the core has been completed in only 4 linear steps from known compounds.     

Determination of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane in river and estuarine sediments in the UK

Robust analytical procedures for the measurement of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D₅) in river and estuarine sediments and their application in determining environmental concentrations in the UK are presented for the first time in this work. Novel approaches to minimise commonly reported artefacts are utilised, improving the confidence in the concentrations of D₅ reported. Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and liquid–solid extraction methods are compared. Both methods use on-column injection gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Measurements of D₅ concentrations in sediments sampled from the river Great Ouse and from the Humber estuary (UK) are also reported. ASE was suitable to measure concentrations of D₅ in sediments obtained from the river Great Ouse, UK (186–1450 ng g⁻¹, dry weight) and octamethyltetracyclosiloxane (D₄, 12–24 ng g⁻¹, dry weight). C₁₂ linear alkybenzene (C₁₂ LAB), which can be used as a chemical marker for sewage effluent related emissions, was also measured in this analysis. Liquid–solid extraction was optimised to provide more confidence in the lower D₅ concentrations measured in the Humber estuary, UK (49–256 ng g⁻¹, dry weight). A Limit of quantitation (LOQ) for D₅ of 57–110 and 4 ng g⁻¹ dry weight was determined for ASE and liquid–solid extraction, respectively.