Conversions between ordered and disordered cellulose. Effects of mechanical treatment followed by cyclic wetting and drying

An investigation into the effects of mechanical treatment and hydration on the order of cellulose substrates (microcrystalline cellulose and Cladophora cellulose) was performed by the use of ball milling followed by cyclic wetting and drying. The results, monitored by¹³C-CP/MAS NMR-spectroscopy, were evaluated by calculation of the crystallinity indices and principal component analysis of the NMR data acquired. The results showed that a large part of the disorder induced by the mechanical treatment of cellulose by ball milling is reversible and reordering upon hydration leads to the cellulose I form initially present. The C4 signals corresponding to the reversibly disordered cellulose chains are observed in the amorphous region between 79 and 86 ppm in the¹³C-CP/MAS NMR-spectra together with signals from cellulose chains on the surface of ordered regions. The peak cluster which contains the C2, C3 and C5 ring carbons can be divided into two specific spectral regions; one between 74 and 77 ppm largely originates from ring carbons within disordered cellulose structures, and one between 70 and 74 ppm contains larger contributions from ordered cellulose. The behaviour of the celluloses upon milling is in accordance with a concept of ordered cellulose fibrils containing amorphous cellulose mainly as surface layers and induced reversible lattice distortions.     

Solid-phase synthesis of amidines by the reduction of amidoximes

Amidines can be prepared on a solid support by reducing polymer-bound amidoximes with SnCl₂·2H₂O. The method has proved to be straightforward and highly efficient. Amidoximes attached to the solid support are readily available by treating resin-bound nitriles with hydroxylamine.     

Synthesis of enantiopure axially chiral C3-symmetric tripodal ligands and their application as catalysts in the asymmetric addition of dialkylzinc to aldehydes

The enantioselective synthesis of a novel-type C(3)-symmetric tripodal ligand that is composed of a central mesitylene-derived core and three functionalized, axially chiral biaryl subunits is described. The triol (M,M,M)-3 is a suitable catalyst for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to various aromatic aldehydes with asymmetric inductions of up to 98% ee.     

The polysaccharide extracts from the fungi Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum do exhibit AChE inhibitory activity

The polysaccharide (PSH) extracts from the edible mushroom species Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum were screened in liquid for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChE) activity. Both extracts were found to display inhibition of the aforementioned enzyme reaching similar IC₅₀ values of 0.62 ± 0.07 and 0.61 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively. According to the means of FTIR spectroscopy, these PSH extracts mostly contained β-glucans. However, the presence of some proteins and polyphenolics as minor ingredients were also detected. Compared with existing literature data for anti-AChE activity of the sugar samples, the findings within this study may be treated as a profound bioactivity. Consequently, this study puts some light on the possible use of the screened macrofungi in the palliative treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.     

Background and line interference corrections in quantitative GD-OES – New approaches to an old problem

The origin of radiative background in GD-OES is discussed, in connection with the problem of multi-matrix measurements in depth profile analysis. Backed by some experimental evidence in the form of line scans, it is argued that line emission from sample material and the plasma gas (Ar) make up the dominating contributions to the radiative background. The contribution from Ar, in this work termed Matrix-independent Background (MIB), is investigated in more detail. It is shown that, at constant voltage and current, the Ar emission intensity is nearly constant and independent of the pressure, but somewhat matrix-dependent. It is suggested that the MIB can be expressed as a linear function of the intensity of an Ar reference line. This idea is tested experimentally by making intensity measurements on a large set of calibration standards of varying composition. The results are fitted to a calibration function which allows optional definitions of the MIB. It is shown that with a MIB defined as a linear function of the Ar intensity, the different contributions to the spectral background can be more accurately determined than with the MIB defined as a constant.     

Bis(PheOH) maleic acid amide-fumaric acid amide photoizomerization induces microsphere-to-gel fiber morphological transition: the photoinduced gelation system

The photoinduced gelation system based on 1 (non-gelling) to 2 (gelling) molecular photoisomerization in water results by microspheres (1) to gel fibers (2) transformation at the supramolecular level.     

Ligand exchange reactions of some Cr(III) complexes investigated by cyclic voltammetry

From cyclic linear sweep voltammograms of some Cr(III) complexes it is evident that after electron transfer ligand groups are expelled relatively slowly inDMSO and the tetra coordinated complex is formed. The rate constants could be determined in some cases by the methods of cyclic voltammetry. The following compounds were examined: [Cr(en)₃]³⁺, [Cr(acac)(en)₂]²⁺, [Cr(acac)₃]. [Cr(dien)₂]³⁺, [Cr(DMSO)₆]³⁺, [Cr(ur)₆]³⁺. For [Cr(en)₃]³⁺ the energy of activation could be determined as well.The dependence of the velocity of ligand elimination on complex structure is discussed.

---

Untersuchung von Ligandenaustauschreaktionen einiger Cr(III)-Komplexe mittels cyclischer Voltammetrie

Zusammenfassung Bei der Reduktion einiger der folgenden Cr(III)-Komplexe inDMSO läßt sich auf Grund der Voltammogramme auf eine Ligandenabspaltung und Bildung der vierfach koordinierten Cr(II)-Komplexe schließen: [Cr(en)₃]³⁺, [Cr(acac)(en)₂]²⁺, [Cr(acac)₃], [Cr(dien)₂]³⁺, [Cr(DMSO)₆]³⁺, [Cr(ur)₆]³⁺. Für das [Cr(en)₃]³⁺ konnten Geschwindigkeitskonstante und Aktivierungsenergie dieser nachgelagerten Reaktion bestimmt werden.Der Einfluß der Struktur des Komplexes auf die Zerfallsgeschwindigkeit wird diskutiert.

     

New hardware for radio frequency powered glow discharge spectroscopies and its capabilities for analytical applications

A new radio frequency (rf) hardware is developed for glow discharge spectroscopic methods. The resulting features and its capabilities for analytical applications are discussed. The electrical equipment developed allows to work as quickly, stably, reliably and easily as known from the direct current (dc) mode. Moreover, the rf power measurement has been improved. The hardware has been developed, optimised and tested for glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), but nevertheless it is possible to use it for all procedures applying glow discharge sources.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Mixed Indole 2,3-Bis(sulfides). A Study of the Mechanism of the Second Sulfenylation of Indole

Sulfenylation of indole using sulfenyl chlorides leads to the initial formation of a 3-indolyl sulfide, while excess reagent introduces a second sulfide at the 2-position of the ring. The mechanism of this second sulfenylation has not, to date, been rigorously elucidated. The development of the first, regioselective synthesis of mixed indole 2,3-bis(sulfides) has allowed the study of the sulfenylation of 3-indolyl sulfides using a different sulfenyl chloride. Our results afford evidence that the reaction proceeds via an intermediate 3,3-disulfenylated indolenine species, with subsequent migration of one of the sulfide groups to the 2-position.