Characterization and electrical properties of polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization

This study describes the preparation of polypyrrole (PPy)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. Various ratios of MWNTs, which served as hard templates, were first dispersed in aqueous solutions with the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to form micelle/MWNT templates and overcome the difficulty of MWNTs dispersing into insoluble solutions of pyrrole monomer, and PPy was then synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization on the surface of the templates. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the fabricated composites. Structural analysis using FESEM and HRTEM showed that the PPy/MWNT composites were core (MWNT)–shell (PPy) tubular structures. Raman and FTIR spectra of the composites were almost identical to those of PPy, supporting the idea that MWNTs served as the core in the formation of a coaxial nanostructure for the composites. The conductivities of these PPy/MWNT composites were about 150% higher than those of PPy without MWNTs. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1413–1418, 2006     

Novel photoswitching dithienylethenes with ferrocene units

Two novel dithienylethenes with ferrocene units were synthesized by Wittig reaction. The structure of 2a has been established by X‐ray diffraction studies. They could reversibly interconvert between two thermally stable forms, an open and a closed one, using light of different wavelengths as triggers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Retracted: Determination of scutellarin isomer,a predominant metabolite of scutellarin,in human plasma by HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in Chinese healthy volunteers

Retraction: The following article from Biomedical Chromatography, “Determination of scutellarin isomer, a predominant metabolite of scutellarin, in human plasma by HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry and its application to the pharmacokinetic study in Chinese healthy volunteers” by Chun‐hua Xia, Yu‐qing Xiong, and Guang‐ji Wang, published online on 21 June 2007 in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/bmc), has been retracted at the authors' request.     

First synthesis of pyrrolothiadiazinones. An alternative core ring for xanthine based structures

The first synthesis of pyrrolothiadiazine core ring bearing substituents at positions 1, 3 and 6 is described, using a straightforward synthesis from diversely substituted 5-methylthiadiazines. These structures are of interest not only because they can be considered as useful building blocks but also because they can potentially be used as alternative core rings for biologically important molecules bearing xanthine as a central core.     

A fluorimetric study of pindolol and its complexes with cyclodextrins

Spectrofluorimetric characteristics of pindolol have been investigated with the aim of using this technique for analytical determinations. Other monosubstituted indole derivatives, 4-methoxy and 5-methoxyindole, have been also studied for comparative purposes. Corrected excitation and emission wavelengths in different solvents are reported and the effect of solvent on the Stokes shifts of these compounds has been analysed using the Lippert equation. In addition, the Stokes shift of pindolol has been determined in dioxan-water solvent mixtures and the presence of specific solvent effects is discussed. The fluorescence of pindolol is pH dependent, the quantum yields determined in water are lower than those in other solvents. With respect to the sensitivity, it has been found that the detection limits in aqueous solutions are improved in the presence of beta and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. Finally, a fluorimetric analysis of the interaction between pindolol and different cyclodextrins has been carried out in order to determine the apparent stability constants of the complexes and the thermodynamic parameters associated to complexation.     

The dilution of silica in a NiZnCo spinel ferrite matrix

Silica may dissolve up to about 0.05 wt% in an iron excess NiZnCo spinel matrix, affecting noticeably the magnetic properties at low and high values of the applied field. The initial permeability is reduced by about 50% with the addition of only 0.1 % SiO₂, while the coercivity almost triples, without noticeable changes in porosity or grain distribution. The vacancy and Fe²⁺ content of the sintered material also show a considerable change. The energy associated to the transformation Fe³⁺ Fe²⁺ for the samples without SiO₂ was found to be 0.41–0.42 eV, while for the samples with SiO₂ additions it decreased to 0.26 eV. The changes in magnetic properties are thought to be caused, more than because of the mentioned changes in ion distribution, by the stresses and defects created in the lattice due to the very small size of the Si⁴⁺ ion, which substitutes Fe³⁺ ions in tetrahedral sites. The transition Fe³⁺ Fe²⁺ seems to take place exclusively in the octahedral sites.     

Synthesis of monobutyrylglycerol by transesterification with soluble and immobilized lipases

Transesterification between ethyl butyrate and glycerol using very different lipase preparations (native, modified, and immobilized) in a two-phase system—no extra solvent added—has been investigated. Optimal conversion was obtained with the presence of 5% water in the reaction mixture. Only monobutyrin was produced in all conditions tested. The best enzyme preparations were nativeCandida cylindracea lipase,Mucor miehei lipase immobilized on a phenol-formaldehyde exchange resin (Lipozyme?), andC. cylindracea lipase immobilized on Celite.     

Spectrophotometric study of bismuth with N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA): Determination of bismuth in pharmaceutical formulations

A new method for the Spectrophotometric determination of bismuth using N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid as complexometric agent is proposed. The complex is formed in a wide pH range, 5.5–7.5, and has a maximum absorption at 265 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the interval 3.8–17.9 μg of bismuth(III)/ml, with a minimum photometric error of 2.3. The molar absorptivity is 9.1 × 10³ liters/cm mol. The stoichiometry of the reaction takes place in the metal-to-ligand ratio 1:2. The interferences produced by the more common ions are studied. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of bismuth in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Boron trifluoride-methanol complex—mild and powerful reagent for deprotection of labile acetylated amines

A set of amino-group possessing cyanine dyes is obtained from their N-acetyl derivatives via deprotection with boron trifluoride-methanol complex in good yields.