Theoretical study of transitions involving three rydberg series in two-valence electron systems: MgI and its electronic sequence

Oscillator strengths for transitions involving levels of three spectral series, 3s^{2 1}S → 3snp¹P⁰, 3s3p ¹P⁰ → 3snd ¹D, and 3s3p ¹P⁰ → 3sns ¹S, have been computed and analyzed for several ions of the MgI isoelectronic sequence (MgI-TiXI). The quantum defect orbital (QDO) formalism has been used throughout, and the results are comparable to those of more complex theoretical procedures.     

Tramadol Release from a Delivery System Based on Alginate‐Chitosan Microcapsules

Alginate‐chitosan microcapsules to control the release of Tramadol‐HCl were prepared using two different methods. In the two‐stage procedure (Variant I) alginate was first pumped into a CaCl₂/NaCl solution and then transferred into a chitosan solution. In the one‐stage procedure (Variant II) alginate was directly pumped into a chitosan/CaCl₂ solution, and different behavior could be noted in each case. The microcapsules were spherical in both variants and they swelled to a greater extent in a basic medium as compared to an acid one. The drug release profile of Tramadol from microcapsules in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid was also studied. The maximum release of Tramadol at 24 h was 64% and 86% for Variant I and II, respectively, in simulated intestinal fluid. Release was adjusted using the power law of the semi‐empirical Peppas equation in order to gain information about the release mechanism. In both cases the values of the exponent were found to be between 0.53 and 0.84 for swellable microcapsules in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, respectively, indicating anomalous drug transport for both variants. The good results obtained with alginate‐chitosan microcapsules are comparable to those of the best products so far described in the scientific bibliography and in addition, chitosan is useful in pharmacy.

Surface morphology of Tramadol‐loaded microcapsule.     

Effect of Chemical Crosslinking on the Swelling and Shrinking Properties of Thermal and pH‐Responsive Chitosan Hydrogels

The ability to form a gel through the physical or chemical crosslinking of chitosan has been well documented. In an attempt to mimic biological systems, thermal and pH‐sensitive chitosan cylindrical hydrogels were produced by a combination of physical and chemical crosslinking processes. To this end, chitosan hydrogels prepared from alkali chitin were molded in cylinders and, once washed, were further crosslinked with glutaraldehyde at stoichiometric ratios, R (= [? CH?O]/[? NH₂]), of 1.61 and 3.22 × 10^?2. Variation in swelling as a result of stepwise changes in temperature between 40 and 2 °C at pH values of 7.0, 7.6, and 8.0 revealed that the system responds in markedly different manners dependent upon the pH. At pH 7.0, cooling from 40 to 2 °C results in contraction of the gel network structure. While raising the temperature from 2 to 40 °C leads to a rapid swelling response (i.e., ca. a twofold increase in the amount of solvent uptake). Subsequent cooling to 2 °C is accompanied by a new contraction cycle. At pH ≥ 7.6 the temperature dependence of the swelling–contraction behavior is exactly the opposite of that observed at pH 7.0. Very similar trends were observed for the gels at both degrees of crosslinking. The swelling–shrinking behavior observed in gels of pH ≥ 7.6, is similar in kind to that of uncrosslinked gels and is interpreted in terms of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) volume phase transition, driven by hydrophobic association, presumably involving residual acetyl groups in the chitin. The results at pH 7.0 suggest that the slight ionization of the ? NH groups leads to destruction of the hydrophobic hydration thus effectively reversing the negative thermal shrinking.

Evolution of the swelling ratio, S, as a function of time and temperature for crosslinked chitosan hydrogels. Circles represent S values recorded at pH 7.0 and triangles those at pH 7.6.     

Controlling optical properties and function of BODIPY by using asymmetric substitution effects

Asymmetrically substituted BODIPY analogues of the dye PM567 have been synthesised from 2-acylpyrroles and pyrroles that bear indene, fluorene or difluorene units. The type of linkage between the fluorene and the BODIPY core plays an important role in the photophysics of the BODIPY chromophore. Indeed, an aliphatic bridge gives rise to an energy-transfer process between the chromophores, whereas a vinyl spacer allows an electronic interaction between them, leading to a large red shift of the spectral bands. The laser action of the new dyes has been analysed under transversal pumping at 10 Hz repetition rate, in both liquid phase and incorporated into solid polymeric matrices. Lasing efficiencies of up to 40% were reached with high photostabilities with the laser output remaining at the initial level after 1×10(5) pump pulses in the same position of the sample. The laser action of the new dyes outperforms the laser behaviour of commercial dyes that emit in the same spectral region. The replacement of fluorene by indene quenches the fluorescence and laser emission, but allows the development of an iron cation fluorescent sensor.     

The first acetimino complexes of Rh(III). 4-imino-2-methylpentan-2-amino-Rh(III) complexes through metal-assisted intramolecular aldol-type condensation of two acetimino ligands

[Rh(Cp)Cl(mu-Cl)](2) (Cp = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) reacts (i) with [Au(NH=CMe(2))(PPh(3))]ClO(4) (1:2) to give [Rh(Cp)(mu-Cl)(NH=CMe(2))](2)(ClO(4))(2) (1), which in turn reacts with PPh(3) (1:2) to give [Rh(Cp)Cl(NH=CMe(2))(PPh(3))]ClO(4) (2), and (ii) with [Ag(NH=CMe(2))(2)]ClO(4) (1:2 or 1:4) to give [Rh(Cp)Cl(NH=CMe(2))(2)]ClO(4) (3) or [Rh(Cp)(NH=CMe(2))(3)](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O (4.H(2)O), respectively. Complex 3 reacts (i) with XyNC (1:1, Xy = 2,6-dimethylphenyl) to give [Rh(Cp)Cl(NH=CMe(2))(CNXy)]ClO(4) (5), (ii) with Tl(acac) (1:1, acacH = acetylacetone) or with [Au(acac)(PPh(3))] (1:1) to give [Rh(Cp)(acac)(NH=CMe(2))]ClO(4) (6), (iii) with [Ag(NH=CMe(2))(2)]ClO(4) (1:1) to give 4, and (iv) with (PPN)Cl (1:1, PPN = Ph(3)P=N=PPh(3)) to give [Rh(Cp)Cl(imam)]Cl (7.Cl), which contains the imam ligand (N,N-NH=C(Me)CH(2)C(Me)(2)NH(2) = 4-imino-2-methylpentan-2-amino) that results from the intramolecular aldol-type condensation of the two acetimino ligands. The homologous perchlorate salt (7.ClO(4)) can be prepared from 7.Cl and AgClO(4) (1:1), by treating 3 with a catalytic amount of Ph(2)C=NH, in an atmosphere of CO, or by reacting 4with (PPN)Cl (1:1). The reactions of 7.ClO(4) with AgClO(4) and PTo(3) (1:1:1, To = C(6)H(4)Me-4) or XyNC (1:1:1) give [Rh(Cp)(imam)(PTo(3))](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O (8) or [Rh(Cp)(imam)(CNXy)](ClO(4))(2) (9), respectively. The crystal structures of 3 and 7.Cl have been determined.     

Comparative study of the separation of methanol–methyl acetate mixtures by pervaporation and vapor permeation using a commercial membrane

In the present study, the permeation behavior of methanol and methyl acetate in the pervaporation (PV) experiments are compared with those in vapor permeation (VP) experiments using a PVA-based composite membrane. Experiments have been carried out to study the selectivity and mass transport flux of the systems under varying operations conditions of feed temperature (40–60 °C) and feed methanol concentrations (2–34 wt%). The selected membrane was found to be methanol selective. Results show higher permeation flux but a similar separation factor for methanol in PV than in VP. For PV operation, the resulting separation factor at 60 °C shows a monotonous decrease (6.4–4.1) as the alcohol concentration in the feed mixture increases (2.3–34 wt%), whereas the total flux increases from 0.97 to 7.9 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. Based on the solution-diffusion theory, a mathematical model that describes satisfactorily the permeation fluxes of methanol and methyl acetate in both the PV and VP processes has been applied. The fluxes of both permeants can be explained by the solution-diffusion model with variable diffusion coefficients dependent on MeOH concentration in the membrane. Both PV and VP processes can be described with the same model but using different fitting parameters.     

First Highly Efficient and Photostable E and C Derivatives of 4,4‐Difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) as Dye Lasers in the Liquid Phase,Thin Films,and Solid‐State Rods

A new library of E‐ and C‐4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) derivatives has been synthesized through a straightforward protocol from commercially available BODIPY complexes, and a systematic study of the photophysical properties and laser behavior related to the electronic properties of the B‐substituent group (alkynyl, cyano, vinyl, aryl, and alkyl) has been carried out. The replacement of fluorine atoms by electron‐withdrawing groups enhances the fluorescence response of the dye, whereas electron‐donor groups diminish the fluorescence efficiency. As a consequence, these compounds exhibit enhanced laser action with respect to their parent dyes, both in liquid solution and in the solid phase, with lasing efficiencies under transversal pumping up to 73 % in liquid solution and 53 % in a solid matrix. The new dyes also showed enhanced photostability. In a solid matrix, the derivative of commercial dye PM597 that incorporated cyano groups at the boron center exhibited a very high lasing stability, with the laser emission remaining at the initial level after 100 000 pump pulses in the same position of the sample at a 10 Hz repetition rate. Distributed feedback laser emission was demonstrated with organic films that incorporated parent dye PM597 and its cyano derivative. The films were deposited onto quartz substrates engraved with appropriate periodical structures. The C derivative exhibited a laser threshold lower than that of the parent dye as well as lasing intensities up to three orders of magnitude higher.     

Efficient and selective photogeneration of cholesterol-derived radicals by intramolecular hydrogen abstraction in model dyads

Three model dyads have been synthesized by esterification of beta- and alpha-cholesterol (Ch) with (S)- and/or (R)-ketoprofen (Kp). The alpha-dyads are efficient photogenerators of the 7-allyl Ch radicals by intramolecular H abstraction. Subsequent cyclization via C-C coupling occurs in a stereoselective way.     

Different kinetics of photoinactivation of photosystem I-mediated electron transport and P700 in isolated thylakoid membranes

Photoinactivation kinetics of photosystem I (PSI)-mediated electron transport rate was compared to that of P700 content at room (22 degrees C) and low (4 degrees C) temperatures in isolated spinach thylakoid membranes. The high light treatment was carried out under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. At 22 degrees C the decrease of electron transport rate showed first order exponential kinetics. The amount of P700 decreased linearly, being less affected in the first hours of illumination. During photoinhibition at 4 degrees C in the presence of oxygen, the kinetics of inactivation of PSI photochemical activity and the content of P700 were different. It was found that 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) had different protective effect on the electron transport rate and on P700 content at both temperatures. Treatment with high light intensity under N(2) atmosphere had no effect on the electron transport rate or P700 content. The possible degradation of PSI reaction centre proteins was determined using immunoblot methods. In the presence of linear electron transport at 22 degrees C correlation between formation of toxic hydroxyl radicals and inhibition of oxygen uptake was observed.