Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-secosyrin 1

A Chiron approach for the synthesis of (+)-secosyrin 1 from d-mannitol has been described. The key steps are a stereoselective Wittig reaction and an intramolecular Michael addition on the disubstituted butenolide, leading to a highly stereoselective formation of the tertiary chiral centre of (+)-secosyrin 1.     

Flow injection atomic absorption spectrometery for the standardization of arsenic, lead and mercury in environmental and biological standard reference materials

Results of a thorough study and application of flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of As, Pb and Hg in parts per million to sub-parts per billion levels in environmental and biological samples have been described. Various standard reference materials from the National Bureau of Standards, USA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA, the Community Bureau of Reference, Brussels, Belgium and the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan and Standard Chinese river sediment were used. By flow injection hydride generation AAS the standard reference materials were analyzed for As and Pb. Mercury was determined by cold vapour flow injection AAS from environmental and biological standard reference materials. The technique is fast, simple and highly sensitive. It takes only 30 s for each analysis from the digested solution. The detection limits of As, Pb and Hg are 1.8 μg L^–1 and 2.0 μg L^–1 and 1.5 μg L^–1, respectively. The results show good agreement with the certified values. Received: 9 May 1996 / Revised: 13 August 1996 / Accepted: 14 August 1996     

Studies on some radical transfer reactions. Part I. Hydrogen atom abstraction from some organic substrates by ȮH radicals

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in aqueous and nonaqueous media in the presence of some sulfonated and carboxylic organic compounds, hydroxyl radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide being used as initiators of polymerization. The occurrence of radical transfer reactions by way of hydrogen atom abstraction from the organic substrates by the ?H radicals was demonstrated by the detection of sulfonate and carboxyl endgroups in the respective polymers. It was found that the radical transfer reactions were more favored in aqueous media than in nonaqueous systems.     

Unusually long cooperative chain of seven hydrogen bonds. An alternative packing type for symmetrical phenols

Conformational flexibility in a symmetrical tris-phenol leads to close packed structures that are also characterised by an extended though finite cooperative chain of hydrogen bonds.     

Effect of Ammonium Salts on the Volumetric and Viscometric Behavior of D(+)-Glucose,D(−)-Fructose and Sucrose in Aqueous Solutions at 25°C

Apparent molar volumes, V _φ, and viscosity, η, of D(+)-glucose, D(−)-fructose and sucrose in water and in 0.02, 0.05, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mol·kg⁻¹ aqueous solutions of ammonium bromide, tetraethylammonium bromide and tetra-n-butylammonium bromide have been determined at 25 °C from density and efflux time measurements by using a vibrating-tube digital densimeter and a capillary viscometer, respectively. Partial molar volumes, , at infinite dilution that were extrapolated from the V _φ data were used to obtain the corresponding transfer volumes, , for saccharides from water to different aqueous solutions of co-solutes. The Jones-Dole equation viscosity B-coefficients were obtained from the viscosity data. Positive values of were obtained for the saccharides in the presence of ammonium bromide, whereas both positive and negative values were obtained in the presence of tetraethylammonium and tetra-n-butylammonium bromides. The negative values at very low concentrations have small magnitudes. Volumetric interaction coefficients have been calculated by using the McMillan-Mayer theory and Gibbs energies of activation of viscous flow have been calculated by using Feakin’s transition-state theory equation. The parameters obtained from the volumetric and viscometric studies were used to understand various mixing effects due to the interactions between saccharides and ammonium salts in aqueous solutions.     

Microemulsion mediated in situ derivatization-extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of alkylphosphonic acids

Detection and identification of environmental signatures of chemical warfare agents is an important aspect of verification program of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Alkylphosphonic acids (APAs) are ultimate and persistent degradation products of nerve agents. Their identification in a sample submitted for off-site analysis infers possible indication of contamination with nerve agents. This paper describes the development of a new sample preparation method which involves 'in situ derivatization and extraction' (INDEX) of acids from water. Derivatization is performed by alkylation of APAs with alkylbromides in surfactant less microemulsion (SLME). The derivatized analytes were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The developed method involves simultaneous derivatization (alkylation) and extraction of acidic analytes mediated by surfactant less microemulsion. Various derivatization-extraction parameters such as solvent, reaction time and temperature, base and alkyl bromides were optimized. Pentyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate and diisopropylamine at 100 degrees C derivatized the selected acids efficiently. Kinetic data for alkylation of methylphosphonic acids and some carboxylic acids were obtained to assess their relative susceptibility for alkylation in microemulsion. Methylphosphonic acid and isopropyl methylphosphonic acid took 140-150 min to reach completion while carboxylic acids took 100 min to complete the reaction. INDEX could be successfully performed even in the presence of interfering Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions.     

Theoretical studies of electron transfer through dendrimeric architecture

We have analyzed the steady-state electron transfer rate through a bridge of dendrimeric architecture. The difference between the linear chain and the dendrimeric architecture has also been demonstrated with steady-state rate as a main observable in the coherent and incoherent regimes of interactions. It is shown that generally the rate of electron transfer in dendrimeric architecture is faster than the rate associated with their linear chain counterpart with similar kind of bonding connectivities. The rate depends upon the size of the molecule, core branching, and the nature of the coupling among the different nodes on the dendrimer molecule. Depending upon the nature of the donor and acceptor, phenomenological dephasing coefficient due to environment and the geometry of the dendrimeric architecture, the modification of electron transfer rate has been studied. In the regime of fully coherent interactions where all quantum effects are considered the rate shows a multiple inversion due to the dendrimer architecture which is neither available in the regime of incoherent interaction nor in the linear chain case in similar condition. We have discussed about the applicability of our model in metal-molecule-metal junction, photoinduced electron transfer process, and molecular conductor.