Analytical performance of a multi-element ICP-AES method for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb determination in blood fraction samples

An analytical method using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for rapid simultaneous determination of seven heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb) in human blood fractions, like plasma, cells fraction and whole blood, is performed. The optimum wavelength was selected using as criterions the sensitivity, the linearity and recovery of aqueous standard solutions. The pretreatment of the sample, the centrifugal conditions, the necessity of digestion and the dilution of the digests were also studied. For plasma it was possible to avoid digestion of the sample, but for cells fractions and whole blood the digestion is necessary. The samples were acid-digested by HNO₃ in closed Teflon tubes under high temperature and pressure conditions and were diluted before injection into ICP-AES. Also, optimization of the inductively coupled plasma conditions like nebulizer argon flow rate, sample flow rate and power of radio frequency was performed for each analyte. Finally, the effect of the type of the employed calibration technique on the total variation of the method was examined. Calibration using the standard addition technique was proved more accurate for the determination in terms of analyte recovery. The sensitivity and recovery (Cd 99%, Co 101%, Cr 100%, Cu 99%, Mn 101%, Ni 100% and Pb 97%) of the developed method are presented for all examined blood fractions. Correspondence: George A. Zachariadis, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece     

Tunneling currents that increase with molecular elongation

We present a model molecular system with an unintuitive transport-extension behavior in which the tunneling current increases with forced molecular elongation. The molecule consists of two complementary aromatic units (1,4-anthracenedione and 1,4-anthracenediol) hinged via two ether chains and attached to gold electrodes through thiol-terminated alkenes. The transport properties of the molecule as it is mechanically elongated in a single-molecule pulling setting are computationally investigated using a combination of equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of the pulling with gDFTB computations of the transport properties in the Landauer limit. Contrary to the usual exponential decay of tunneling currents with increasing molecular length, the simulations indicate that upon elongation electronic transport along the molecule increases 10-fold. The structural origin of this inverted trend in the transport is elucidated via a local current analysis that reveals the dual role played by H-bonds in both stabilizing π-stacking for selected extensions and introducing additional electronic couplings between the complementary aromatic rings that also enhance tunneling currents across the molecule. The simulations illustrate an inverted electromechanical single-molecule switch that is based on a novel class of transport-extension behavior that can be achieved via mechanical manipulation and highlight the remarkable sensitivity of conductance measurements to the molecular conformation.     

Molybdenum site structure of Escherichia coli YedY, a novel bacterial oxidoreductase

We report a structural characterization using X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the molybdenum site of Escherichia coli YedY, a novel oxidoreductase related to be the sulfite oxidase family of molybdenum enzymes. We find that the enzyme can exist in Mo(V) and Mo(IV) oxidation states but cannot be readily oxidized to the Mo(VI) form. Mo(V) YedY has molybdenum coordination similar to that of sulfite oxidase, with one Mo═O at 1.71 ?, three Mo-S at 2.39 ?, and one Mo-OH at 2.09 ?, which elongates to 2.20 ? upon reduction to Mo(IV), indicating Mo-OH(2) coordination. The Mo(V) enzyme also possesses a long Mo-O coordination at 2.64 ?, which may be due to oxygen coordination by Asn-45 O(δ), with Mo-O(δ) approximately trans to the Mo═O group. A comparison with sulfite oxidase indicates that YedY possesses a much more uniform Mo-S coordination, with a maximum permitted deviation of less than 0.05 ?. Our results indicate that the YedY active site shows considerable similarity to but also important differences from that of reduced forms of sulfite oxidase.     

New diorganotin(IV) derivatives of dipeptides: synthesis and characteristic spectral studies

Some new diorganotin(IV) derivatives of the formulae, R2SnL, where R=Me, n-Bu, Ph, and n-Oct, and L is the dianion of histidinylalanine (H2L-1) and histidinylleucine (H2L-2) have been synthesized by the reaction of R2SnCl2 and the preformed sodium salt of the respective dipeptides. The bonding and coordination behaviour in these derivatives are discussed on the basis of FT-IR, multinuclear 1H, 13C and 119Sn NMR and 119Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies. These investigations suggest that dipeptides in R2SnL act as dianionic tridentate coordinating through the COO(-), NH2 and N(-)peptide groups. The 119Sn M?ssbauer studies, together with the NMR data, suggest a trigonal bipyramidal geometry around tin in R2SnL with the alkyl/aryl groups and Npeptide in the equatorial positions, while a carboxylic oxygen and the amino nitrogen atom occupy the axial positions.     

Topological insights in polynuclear Ni/Na coordination clusters derived from a schiff base ligand

This article presents the syntheses, crystal structures, topological features and magnetic properties of two Ni^II/Na^I coordination clusters formulated [Ni ₃ ^II Na(L1)₃(HL1)(MeOH)₂] (1) and [Ni ₆ ^II Na(L1)₅(CO₃)(MeO)(MeOH)₃(H₂O)₃]·4(MeOH) 2(H₂O) [2 4(MeOH) 2(H₂O)] where H₂L1 is the semi-rigid Schiff base ligand (E)-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)-phenol). Compound 1 possesses a rare Ni ₃ ^II Na^I cubane (3M4-1) topology, and compound 2 is the first example in polynuclear Ni/Na chemistry that exhibits a 2,3,4M7-1 topology.     

A notable conversion of a thiolacetate to its corresponding sulfonyl chloride

A direct conversion of a thiolacetate to its corresponding sulfonyl chloride in the presence of acid and base sensitive functional groups is described.     

PMMA/organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites prepared by in situ bulk polymerization

Kinetics of the in situ bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of organomodified montmorillonite (MMT) was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gravimetrically. Different amount and types of MMT under the trade names Cloisite were employed. Using DSC, the amount of heat released versus time, under isothermal conditions, was recorded, and eventually, the time evolution of polymerization rate and monomer conversion was calculated. Results on the variation of monomer conversion with reaction time were in good agreement to corresponding from the gravimetric measurements. The nanocomposites prepared were characterized with WAXD, TEM and FTIR, and their glass transition temperature, T _g, was measured with DSC. Depending on the added amount of nano-MMT, either exfoliated or intercalated structures were obtained. An enhancement of the polymerization rate with the presence of the nanoparticles was observed especially in the gel effect region. This was accompanied by a higher T _g and average molecular weight, as measured by GPC, of all nanocomposites compared to neat PMMA.     

Stability assessment of gas mixtures containing terpenes at nominal 5 nmol/mol contained in treated aluminum gas cylinders

Studies of climate change increasingly recognize the diverse influences exerted by terpenes in the atmosphere, including roles in particulates, ozone formation, and their oxidizing potential. Measurements of key terpenes suggest atmospheric concentrations ranging from low pmol/mol (parts per trillion) to nmol/mol (parts per billion), depending on location and compound. To accurately establish concentration trends, assess the role of terpenes in atmospheric chemistry, and relate measurement records from many laboratories and researchers, it is essential to have good calibration standards. The feasibility of preparing well-characterized, stable gas cylinder standards for terpenes at the nmol/mol level is not yet well established. Several of the world’s National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) are researching the feasibility of developing primary and secondary reference gas standards at the nmol/mol level for terpenes. The US NMI, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has prepared several nmol/mol mixtures, in treated aluminum gas cylinders, containing terpenes in dry nitrogen at nominal 5 nmol/mol for stability studies. Overall, 11 terpenes were studied for stability. An initial gas mixture containing nine terpenes, one oxygenate, and six aromatic compounds, including benzene as an internal standard, was prepared. Results for four of the nine terpenes in this initial mixture indicate stability in these treated aluminum gas cylinders for over 6 months and project long term (years) stability. Interesting results were seen for β-pinene, which when using a linear equation rate decline predicts that it will reach a zero concentration level at day 416. At the same time, increases in α-pinene, d-limonene (R-(+)-limonene), and p-cymene were observed, including camphene, a terpene not prepared in the gas mixture, indicating a chemical transformation of β-pinene to these species. Additional mixtures containing combination of either α-pinene, camphor, α-terpinene, and benzene indicate a second-order quadratic rate decline for the α-pinene and α-terpinene, a linear rate decline for camphor, and a second-order quadratic rate increase of camphene.