Separation and determination of dissolved and particulate humic substances in river water

Distribution of humic and fulvic acids in participate or dissolved form is studied by using simple leaching and sorption techniques. After filtration of water sample (100–200 ml), the filter along with suspended particles is treated with 5 ml of chloroform and 3 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution. The filter dissolves completely in the organic phase, while the suspended particles remain in the aqueous phase enabling a leaching of humic substances. The leaching is repeated once more with 2 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution. The humic and fulvic acids in the combined solution are fractionated at pH l by filtration, where the membrane filter is preliminarily coated with sodium dodecyl sulfate. On the other hand, dissolved humic substances are concentrated from a 50-ml filtered sample by sorption on a DEAE-cellulose column. They are desorbed with 5 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution and fractionated at pH 1. The spectrophotometric analysis of river water reveals that fulvic acid is predominant in suspended particles as well as in filtered samples. The concentration of dissolved humic and fulvic acids is approximately ten times that of suspended particles.     

Light-harvesting composites of directly connected porphyrin-phthalocyanine dyads and their coordination dimers

Directly linked porphyrin (Por)-phthalocyanine (Pc) heterodyads (H₂Por-H₂Pc and H₂Por-ZnPc) with an imidazolyl group at porphyrin’s meso-position were synthesized. Introduction of a zinc ion into the porphyrin afforded stable complementary dimers of the heterodyads. The heterodyads and their dimers gave extensive and strong absorption bands owing to the porphyrin and phthalocyanine components and induced an efficient energy transfer from porphyrin to phthalocyanine. Strong fluorescence from phthalocyanine was observed in the case of H₂Por-H₂Pc.     

Solution properties of styrene-p-chlorostyrene diblock copolymers—I. Conformational behaviour in dilute solutions

The conformational behaviour of styrene-p-chlorostyrene diblock copolymers in dilute solutions was studied and compared with that of the corresponding triblock copolymers. Eight styrene-p-chlorostyrene diblock copolymers, of almost equimolar composition but with different molecular weights, were prepared using an anionic polymerization technique. The intrinsic viscosities of the copolymers were measured in non-selective solvents, such as toluene and 2-butanone, and in a selective solvent, cumene. The osmotic second virial coefficients of the diblock copolymers were measured in toluene. The data were analysed on the basis of two parameter theories. The unperturbed dimensions for the diblock copolymers can be expressed as a composition average of those for the parent homopolymers and the long-range interaction parameters of the diblock copolymers in toluene, 2-butanone and cumene are smaller than those of the triblock copolymers of the same composition. It means that the diblock copolymer chains in these 3 solvents had a more compact conformation than the triblock copolymers of the same composition and molecular weight.     

Two-photon absorption properties of self-assemblies of butadiyne-linked bis(imidazolylporphyrin)

Supramolecular porphyrin self-assemblies have been prepared from butadiyne-linked bis(imidazolylporphyrin) by complementary coordination of imidazole to zinc, and their two-photon absorption (2PA) and higher-order nonlinear absorption properties were investigated over femtosecond time scales using an open-aperture Z-scan method. The self-assembled porphyrin dimer of the conjugated monozinc bisporphyrin 7D was shown to have a large 2PA cross section (7.6 x 10(3) GM, where 1 GM = 10(-50) cm(4) s molecule(-1) photon(-1)) at 887 nm. By comparison of this result with that for a meso-meso-linked porphyrin array without the butadiyne connection (3.7 x 10(2) GM at 964 nm), it was demonstrated that the predominant factor in this significant enhancement of the cross section was the expansion of porphyrin-porphyrin pi-conjugation. Self-coordination and monozinc metalation were also found to be contributing factors. Furthermore, a novel self-assembled porphyrin polymer 8P consisting of a biszinc complex with a mean molecular weight of M(n) = 1.5 x 10(5) Da was shown to exhibit an extraordinarily large two-photon absorption cross section (4.4 x 10(5) GM at 873 nm). Nanosecond Z-scan experiments for 7D and 8P were also undertaken and resulted in the measurement of large effective 2PA cross sections, including the excited-state absorption (2.1 x 10(5) GM for 7D and 2.2 x 10(7) GM for 8P, respectively). Finally, three-photon absorption was observed by femtosecond Z-scan experiments at 1188 nm (7.1 x 10(-89) m(6) s(2)) and 1282 nm (1.8 x 10(-89) m(6) s(2)), an observation which is the first of its kind in porphyrin chemistry.     

Nitration of alkanes with nitric acid by vanadium-substituted polyoxometalates

The nitration of alkanes by using nitric acid as a nitrating agent in acetic acid was efficiently promoted by vanadium-substituted Keggin-type phosphomolybdates such as [H4PVMo11O40], [H5PV2Mo10O40], and [H6PV3Mo9O40] as catalyst precursors. A variety of alkanes including alkylbenzenes were nitrated to the corresponding nitroalkanes as major products in moderate yields with formation of oxygenated products under mild reaction conditions. The carbon--carbon bond cleavage reactions hardly proceeded. ESR, NMR, and IR spectroscopic data show that the vanadium-substituted polyoxometalate, for example, [H4PVMo11O40], decomposes to form free vanadium species and [PMo12O40](3-) Keggin anion. The reaction mechanism involving a radical-chain path is proposed. The polyoxometalates initially abstract the hydrogen of the alkane to form the alkyl radical and the reduced polyoxometalates. The reduced polyoxometalates subsequently react with nitric acid to produce the oxidized form and nitrogen dioxide. This step would be promoted mainly by the phosphomolybdates, [PMo12O40](n-), and the vanadium cations efficiently enhance the activity. The nitrogen dioxide promotes the further formation of nitrogen dioxide and an alkyl radical. The alkyl radical is trapped by nitrogen dioxide to form the corresponding nitroalkane.     

Stereoselective [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement promoted by the metal [1,3]-shift of binuclear Fischer carbene complexes

Reaction of chiral homobinuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with allyl alcohol in the presence of NaH and the following oxidative demetalation gave alpha-allyl esters in up to 97% ee via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction promoted by the metal 1,3-shift. On the other hand, chiral heterobinuclear tungsten carbene complexes with arene chromium complexes afforded alpha-allyl-beta-hydroxy esters as a major product in up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence.     

Olefin polymerization by (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium(IV) complexes of the type, Cp′TiCl2(N=CBu2)-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems

Effects of substituents on cyclopentadienyl group for homopolymerization of ethylene, 1-hexene, and for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization using a series of nonbridged (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium complexes of the type, Cp′TiCl₂(N=C^tBu₂) [Cp′ = Cp (1), ^tBuC₅H₄ (2), C₅Me₅ (Cp^*, 3), and indenyl (4)] have been explored in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst. Complexes 1–3 showed the similar catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization although the activity by 4 was somewhat low, whereas the activity for 1-hexene polymerization increased in the order 1 > 4 2 > 3. These complexes showed significant activities for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization affording high molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene)s with unimodal molecular weight distributions, and the activity increased in the order: 4 > 1 2, 3. The r_Er_H values in the polymerization by 1–3 at 40 °C were 0.35–0.52 which clearly indicate that the 1-hexene incorporation in the copolymerization did not proceed in a random manner. The r_E values by 1–3 were 6.0–6.4 and the values were independent upon the cyclopentadienyl fragment employed; the r_E values by 4 at 40 °C were 10.2–10.9 which were close to those by ansa-metallocene complex catalysts. These values were influenced by the polymerization temperature, and the 1-hexene incorporation by 1–4 became inefficient at higher temperature, although the observed activities especially by 1, 4 were highly remarkable.     

Mononuclear and dinuclear monoperoxovanadium(v) complexes with a hetero ligand. 1.(1) Self-decomposition reaction, detection of reactive oxygen species, and oxidizing ability

A mononuclear peroxovanadium(V) complex with histamine-N,N-diacetate (histada), K[VO(O(2))(histada)], and a dinuclear peroxovanadium(V) complex with 2-oxo-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (dpot), Cs(3)[(VO)(2)(O(2))(2)(dpot)], were prepared and characterized. The self-decomposition reaction was examined for these peroxovanadium(V) complexes as well as for K[VO(O(2))(cmhist)] (cmhist = N-carboxymethylhistidinate). The reaction profiles depicted by the absorbance change in the UV-vis spectrum show a sigmoid shape with an induction period. The induction period is reduced by the addition of acid, fluoride, thiocyanate, VO(2+), VO(2)(+), and trolox compared to the solution containing perchlorate. On the other hand, the induction period was elongated by the addition of chloride, bromide, and 2-tert-butyl-p-cresol. These behaviors are discussed on the basis of a radical chain mechanism. The self-decomposition reactions have also been followed by the (1)H and (51)V NMR and EPR spectra. These spectral studies as well as the UV-vis spectral study indicate that vanadium(V) is partly reduced to vanadium(IV) in the self-decomposition process. The histada complex yields a mixed-valence dinuclear complex in a concentrated solution, and the dpot complex yields a mixed-valence tetranuclear complex. The reduction of vanadium ion suggests that the peroxo ligand may act as a reducing agent. In order to know the fate of the peroxo ligand, we tried to detect superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical, which were anticipated to be produced in the self-decomposition process. The formation of superoxide anion was spectrophotometrically confirmed using two independent methods, including the reduction of cytochrome c and the reduction of sodium 4-[3-(iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1). The formation of hydroxyl radical was confirmed by an EPR spin trapping technique. The oxidizing abilities of the peroxovanadium(V) complexes toward bovine serum albumin (BSA) were also evaluated. In the protein carbonyl assay, it was found that the total amount of protein carbonyl in BSA was increased by the reaction with the peroxovanadium complexes in the concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the oxidation of sulfhydryl group in BSA induced by the peroxovanadium complexes was confirmed.     

A contrivance for a dynamic porous framework: cooperative guest adsorption based on square grids connected by amide-amide hydrogen bonds

Flexible porous coordination polymers containing amide groups as a function origin have been synthesized and categorized as "Coordination Polymer with Amide Groups". Bispyridyl ligands with a spacer of amide group afford two-dimensional (2-D) motifs with a deformed square grid, resulting in three-dimensional (3-D) frameworks of [Co(NO(3))(2)(3-pna)(2)](n)(1), [Co(Br)(2)(3-pna)(2)](n)(2), and [[Co(NCS)(2)(4-peia)(2)].4Me(2)CO](n)(3 subset 4Me(2)CO) (3-pna = N-3-pyridylnicotinamide, 4-peia = N-(2-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl)-isonicotinamide), where the 2-D motifs are bound by complementary hydrogen bond between the amide groups. In the case of the 3 subset 4Me(2)CO, the amide groups form a contrivance for a dynamic porous framework because of their relevant position and orientation in the mutual nearest neighboring motifs. Consequently, 3 subset 4Me(2)CO shows amorphous (nonporous)-to-crystal (porous) structural rearrangement in the Me(2)CO adsorption and desorption process, where the framework of the 2-D motif is maintained. The adsorption isotherm has threshold pressure (P(th)), a sort of gate pressure. The heat of Me(2)CO adsorption (DeltaH(ad) = -25 kJ/mol) is obtained from the temperature dependence of threshold pressure (P(th)), which is close to acetone vaporization enthalpy (DeltaH(vap) = 30.99 kJ/mol).     

A new chiral probe for sulfate anion: UV,CD, fluorescence,and NMR spectral studies of 1:1 and 2:1 complex formation and structure of chiral guanidinium-p-dimethylaminobenzoate conjugate with sulfate anion

A new chiral chromophoric host 1, possessing a 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzoate (DMAB) group tethered to a chiral bicyclic guanidinium subunit, was synthesized and applied to the probe for sulfate anion. Host 1 showed typical successive 1:1 and 2:1 host:guest complexation behavior toward the divalent sulfate anion, as revealed by UV-vis, CD, fluorescence, and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies. The DMAB chromophore was shown to be a sensitive CD spectral probe for assessing not only the complexation behavior but also complex stoichiometry and structure. The stepwise 1:1 and 2:1 complexation constants (K1 and K2) were determined as 1.53 x 10(6) and 4.84 x 10(4) M(-1), respectively, by NMR titration in CD3CN. The CD exciton chirality method allowed us to determine the chiral sense (spatial arrangement) of the two DMAB moieties in the 2:1 complex as negative (counterclockwise). The dual fluorescence behavior of DMAB was employed for elucidating the role of the countercation upon complexation of host 1 with sulfates possessing lipophilic countercation(s) such as tetrabutylammonium.