Fractal calibration in size-exclusion chromatography I. An introduction

The elution behaviour of different polymer-solvent systems in three types of organic columns for SEC has been compared and interpreted. The experimental data show that the classical universal calibration is not accomplished. Deviations from a unique curve are observed due to the binary and ternary interactions between the components of the system (solvent, polymer and gel) which results on secondary mechanisms accompanying the main pure or "ideal" SEC separation mechanism. Both, enthalpic and entropic effects are interpreted in terms of the swelling and crosslinking degrees of the gel packings, and are also related with the fractal characteristics of their surfaces, such as the fractal dimension and the available pore size. Moreover, a relationship between the fractal dimension of the pore surface and the chromatographic distribution coefficient is proposed.     

The 1,2,4-triazolyl cation: thermolytic and photolytic studies

The generation of the 1,2,4-triazolyl cation (1) has been attempted by the thermolysis and photolysis of 1-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (2) and the thermolysis of 1- and 4-diazonium-1,2,4-triazoles, using mainly mesitylene as the trapping agent. Thermolysis of 2 gave mostly 1,2,4-triazole, together with 3-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, 4-(1,2,4-triazol-4-ylmethyl)-2,6-dimethylpyridine, and 4-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)-2,6-dimethylpyridine. Thermolysis of each of the diazonium salts in the presence of mesitylene again gave mainly triazole together with very low yields of 1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene and the corresponding -4-yl isomer in about the same ratio. On the other hand, photolysis of 2 in mesitylene gave mainly 1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene. A photoinduced electron transfer from mesitylene to 2 has been observed and preliminary laser flash photolyses of 2 and the corresponding 2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium salt have been carried out. The observed transients are explained as arising from the first excited states of the pyridinium salts rather than from 1. Ab initio MO calculations are reported and indicate that the predicted electronic ground-state of the triazolyl cation is a triplet state of B1 symmetry with five pi electrons, which corresponds to a diradical cation (1c). Possible mechanisms for the formation of the various products are proposed.     

Synthesis of donor-acceptor alkynylcyclopropanes by diastereoselective cyclopropanation of electron-deficient alkenes with alkoxyalkynyl Fischer carbene complexes

The reaction of electron-deficient alkenes with alkoxyalkynyl Fischer carbene complexes (FCCs) represents a straightforward route to a new type of captodative (donor-acceptor) alkynylcyclopropanes, which have been prepared in moderate to high yields and in a diastereoselective manner. Some studies regarding the employment of additives to facilitate the recovery of the metal moiety after the reaction are also described. Finally, the first example of a cyclopropanation reaction through employing Fischer carbene complexes under microwave irradiation is presented; this method proved to be an advantageous alternative to the thermal reaction.     

Synthesis and coordinating ability of an anionic cobaltabisdicarbollide ligand geometrically analogous to BINAP

The anionic chelating ligand [1,1'-(PPh2)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- has been synthesized from [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]- in very good yield in a one-pot process with an easy work-up procedure. The coordinating ability of this ligand has been studied with Group 11 metal ions (Ag, Au) and with transition-metal ions (Pd, Rh). The two dicarbollide halves of the [1,1'-(PPh2)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]- ligand can swing about one axis in a manner analogous to the constituent parts of BINAP and ferrocenyl phosphine derivatives. All these ligands function as hinges, with the most important property in relation to the coordination requirements of the metal being the PP distance. [1,1'-(PPh2)2-3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H10)2]-, BINAP, ferrocenyl phosphine derivatives, and other hinge ligands present a range of different PP separations, and consequently different coordination spheres and dispositions around metal cations. To account for these differences, the equation Dphi2 = D02 + 4 R2cos2(90-phi/2) has been developed. It relates the PP distance (Dphi) in a complex with the minimum PP distance (D0) that is characteristic of the hinge-type ligand.     

Formation of bridging alkene and conjugated dialkenes exclusively generated from alkynes on the [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]- platform. The unique hydroboration role of [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]-

The unprecedented metal-mediated transformation of an alkyne into a B,B' bridging alkene is reported. Also, the unprecedented synthesis of a conjugated dialkene derivative of [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]- generated only from an alkyne, contrary to the usual case where an alkyne and an alkene are needed, is described. This has been possible through the singular capacity of a B-H to produce hydroboration.     

Control of the Properties of Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized by CVD for Application in Electrochemical Biosensors

Interest in carbon nanotubes (CNT) has grown at a very rapid rate in the last decade. Their interesting physical and chemical properties open attractive possibilities in many application areas. These properties depend on the process conditions during synthesis and on subsequent purification steps. Recent studies have demonstrated that CNT can promote the electron transfer of biomolecules. These exceptional properties make them attractive for use in electrochemical biosensors. Multi walled nanotubes have been synthesized by the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method using methane as a carbon source and Ni–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ as the catalyst. The influence of the variation of certain reaction parameters such as feed gas composition, catalyst mass, temperature and reaction time in the yield of the CVD process has been established. In addition, the structural and chemical characteristics of the CNTs have been studied and a purification process to eliminate the catalyst and amorphous carbon has been developed that involves a gaseous oxidative process and acid treatment. The efficiency of the purification step has been determined by analytical techniques. Atomic force microscopy, Raman scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic spectroscopy are the characterization techniques employed in this work.     

Synthesis of new isoxazoles derivatives attached to sugar moieties

This work reports the synthesis of isoxazoles linked to sugar derivatives in different positions of furanosidic rings, by intramolecular oxidative cyclization of α,β‐unsaturated oximes with iodine, potassium iodide and sodium hydrogen carbonate. These oximes were obtained from aldehyde‐sugar derivatives.     

The breakdown of the minimum polarizability principle in vibrational motions as an indicator of the most aromatic center

The vibrational motions that disobey the minimum polarizability principle (MPP) in pi-conjugated molecules are distortions of the equilibrium geometry that produce a reduction in the polarizability due to the localization of pi electrons. For aromatic species, this electronic localization is responsible for the subsequent reduction in the aromaticity of the system. In the present work, we diagonalize the Hessian matrix of the polarizability with respect to the vibrational nontotally symmetric normal coordinates, to calculate the nontotally symmetric distortions that produce the maximum breakdown of the MPP in a series of twenty polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is shown that the nuclear displacements that break the MPP have larger components in those rings that possess the highest local aromaticity. Thus, these vibrational motions can be used as an indicator of local aromaticity.     

Cyclodextrin effects on physical–chemical properties of novocaine

The UV-vis absorption and the fluorescence emission spectra of novocaine were analysed in aqueous cyclodextrin (CD) solutions. Either the absorbance read at λ_max 290 nm or the fluorescence emission intensity at λ_ems 346 nm increase in the presence of both α- and β-CD due to the formation of 1:1 inclusion complexes. The lower polarity of the CD-cavity sensed by the included drug enhances the emitted fluorescence; in fact, the same effect was observed in aqueous mixtures of acetonitrile, dioxane, or dimethylsulfoxide. The inclusion complex formation between the monocation of novocaine and CDs diminishes the electrical conductance of aqueous solutions of novocaine hydrochloride (NoHCl). Both the nitrosation reaction in aqueous acid medium and the ester hydrolysis in alkaline medium are retarded in the presence of CDs. The strongest effect was observed with β-CD as a consequence of the higher stability inclusion complex.