Variable Charge-Densities in Hydrophilic Weak-Base Ion-Exchange Membranes. V. Equilibrium Properties with Pure 1-1 Electrolytes. Swelling and Ion-Exclusion

Abstract

The equilibrium distribution of chloride or nitrate counter-ions of K or NH₄ co-ions and of water is determined experimentally at different degrees of ionization X[xbar] of hydrophylic weak-base aminated polyvinyl-alcohol membranes. These data are analyzed and explained in terms of thermodynamics interrelating the molality of fixed-charge densities and of counter-ions to that of the amount of water and of diffused salt in the membrane.

Three domains have to be considered: the polyelectrolyte domain with small external concentration compared to the internal net fixed charge concentration (notion of “net-charge” densities), the domain of homogeneous interstitial liquid of the concentrated electrolyte type with sufficiently concentrated salt solution, and the intermediate domain.     

Stability constants of metal complexes of macrocyclic ligands with pendant donor groups

Abstract

In our studies of the stability constants of metal complexes, we have investigated a number of macrocyclic ligands with pendant donor groups. The ligands are characterized by the fact that they have nitrogen donors in the macrocyclic ring and oxygen or sulfur donors in the pendant arms. These ligands represent seven different macrocycles, and by varying the pendant donor groups, ten different ligands are indicated. The affinities of these ligands for fifteen metal ions will be described. The Fe(III) complex of triazanonane with o-hydroxypyridyl or o-hydroxybenzyl pendant donor groups are the most stable ferric complexes ever reported. The In(III) complex of triazacyclononane with pendant mercaptoethyl donor groups, is exceptionally stable. Also, the Ca(II) complex of DOTA probably has the highest stability of any calcium(II) complex. These, and other comparisons will be made on the basis of the thermodynamic stability constant data for the ligands described.     

Fiber-optic beam shaper based on multimode interference

A new method of fiber-optic based beam shaping is investigated both numerically and experimentally. A cylindrically symmetric method of lines (MoLs) is developed to simulate the device. The device is fabricated by fusion splicing a predetermined length of multimode fiber (MMF) to a single-mode fiber. The multimode interference (MMI) effects create ring-shaped field profiles at certain positions inside the MMF. The shaped beam can be used in medical applications requiring particular irradiation patterns.     

Ultrafast Photoswitching in a Copper‐Nitroxide‐Based Molecular Magnet

Molecular compounds with photoswitchable magnetic properties have been intensively investigated over the last decades due to their prospective applications in nanoelectronics, sensing and magnetic data storage. The family of copper‐nitroxide‐based molecular magnets represents a new promising type of photoswitchable compounds. We report the first study of these appealing systems using femtosecond optical spectroscopy. We unveil the mechanism of ultrafast (<50 fs) spin state photoswitching and establish its principal differences compared to other photoswitchable magnets. On this basis, we propose potential advantages of copper‐nitroxide‐based molecular magnets for the future design of ultrafast magnetic materials.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reaction of ozone with 1, 1-disubstituted alkenes

The gas-phase reaction of ozone with eight alkenes including six 1,1-disubstituted alkenes has been investigated at ambient T (285–298 K) and p = 1 atm. of air. The reaction rate constants are, in units of 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, 9.50 ± 1.23 for 3-methyl-1-butane, 13.1. ± 1.8 for 2-methyl-1-pentene, 11.3 ± 3.2 for 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 7.75 ± 1.08 for 2,3,3-trimethyl-1-butene, 3.02 ± 0.52 for 3-methyl-2-isopropyl-1-butene, 3.98 ± 0.43 for 3,4-diethyl-2-hexene, 1.39 ± 17 for 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentene, and >370 for (cis + trans)-3,4-dimethyl-3-hexene. For isoprene, results from this study and earlier literature data are consistent with: k (cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 5.59 (+ 3.51, &minus 2.16) × 10⁻¹⁵ e^{(−3606±279/RT)}, n = 28, and R = 0.930. The reactivity of the other alkenes, six of which have not been studied before, is discussed in terms of alkyl substituent inductive and steric effects. For alkenes (except 1,1-disubstituted alkenes) that bear H, CH₃, and C₂H₅ substituents, reactivity towards ozone is related to the alkene ionization potential: In k<(10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) = (32.89 ± 1.84) − (3.09 ± 0.20) IP (eV), n = 12, and R = 0.979. This relationship overpredicts the reactivity of C_≥3 1-alkenes, of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, and of alkenes with bulky substituents, for which reactivity towards ozone is lower due to substituent steric effects. The atmospheric persistence of the alkenes studied is briefly discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Antibacterial Activity of Pharmaceutical-Grade Rose Bengal: An Application of a Synthetic Dye in Antibacterial Therapies

Rose bengal has been used in the diagnosis of ophthalmic disorders and liver function, and has been studied for the treatment of solid tumor cancers. To date, the antibacterial activity of rose bengal has been sporadically reported; however, these data have been generated with a commercial grade of rose bengal, which contains major uncontrolled impurities generated by the manufacturing process (80–95% dye content). A high-purity form of rose bengal formulation (HP-RBf, >99.5% dye content) kills a battery of Gram-positive bacteria, including drug-resistant strains at low concentrations (0.01–3.13 μg/mL) under fluorescent, LED, and natural light in a few minutes. Significantly, HP-RBf effectively eradicates Gram-positive bacterial biofilms. The frequency that Gram-positive bacteria spontaneously developed resistance to HP-RB is extremely low (less than 1 × 10⁻¹³). Toxicity data obtained through our research programs indicate that HP-RB is feasible as an anti-infective drug for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) involving multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbial invasion of the skin, and for eradicating biofilms. This article summarizes the antibacterial activity of pharmaceutical-grade rose bengal, HP-RB, against Gram-positive bacteria, its cytotoxicity against skin cells under illumination conditions, and mechanistic insights into rose bengal’s bactericidal activity under dark conditions.     

Simple synthesis of endo-2-bromo-5-thiabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane

A brief synthesis of endo-2-bromo-5-thiabicyclo [2.1.1]hexane ( 9 ) has been developed involving conversion of 3-cyclopentenol ( 6 ) to 3-thioacetoxycyclopentene ( 7 ), bromination of this giving trans-1,2-dibromo-4-thioacetoxycyclopentane ( 8 ), and treatment of the latter with base. Compound 9 is oxidized to its S-oxide 10 and S, S-dioxide 11 . Comparative ¹³C and ¹H NMR data are given for 9–11 .     

Synthesis of macrocyclic polystyrene-polydimethylsiloxane block copolymers

A series of macrocyclic polystyrene (PS)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block copolymers and similar block copolymers was synthesized by sequential polymerization of styrene and hexamethyl cyclotrisiloxane (D₃) initiated by a difunctional anionic initiator in THF at −78° followed by coupling with Cl₂SiMe₂ in very dilute (10⁻⁵ – 10⁻⁶ M) solutions. Total molecular weights ranged from about 2–85 × 10³. The formation of monodisperse macrocyclic block copolymers was indicated by the lower (15–30%) hydrodynamic volume of the rings compared to that of the linear block copolymers. Carbon-13 and ²⁹Si NMR likewise supported the absence of linear polymer in the macrocyclic block copolymer. The behavior of second virial coefficient A₂ of the rings and the linears versus temperature was examined by static light scattering in cyclohexane. Below 20° the A₂ for the linear polymer goes negative while that for the cycle remains positive. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) as a function of temperature also reflects that the cyclic polymers remain well solvated even down to 12°C. The DLS autocorrelation functions for the linear triblock however demonstrate the onset of aggregation and phase separation as the temperature is reduced below 20°C.