Separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with aqueous short-chain alcohol solvent

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with aqueous organic solvent has been developed to separate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Methanol, ethanol or propanol as an organic modifier was added to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar solution in order to increase the solubility of very hydrophobic solutes in mobile phase. Both methanol and ethanol can be used as co-solvents for the separation of PAHs. Use of ethanol resulted in a shorter analysis time than use of methanol. The separations of some PAHs were unsatisfactory using propanol although the analysis time was much shorter than with ethanol. The influence of ethanol content, SDS concentration and temperature on the separations was studied. Benzene and nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were successfully separated using 50 mM SDS-20 mM phosphate-5 mM borate, containing 40% (v/v) ethanol at 35 degrees C. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of t(R) ranged from 0.5 to 1.5% for six repeat injections.     

Control of mesoporous structure of aerogels derived from cresol-formaldehyde

Polycondensation of a cresol mixture (C(m)) with formaldehyde (F) in basic aqueous solutions leads to formation of highly cross-linked C(m)F aquagels that can be supercritically dried with carbon dioxide to form organic C(m)F aerogels. Aerogels synthesized with different catalyst contents and reactant concentrations are characterized by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. The present experimental results suggest that the C(m)F aerogels are typical mesoporous materials and have almost no micropores in bulk. The microstructure of the organic C(m)F aerogels can be controlled and tailored effectively by varying synthesis conditions during the initial sol-gel process. C(m)F organic aerogels with specific surface area as high as 627 m(2)/g and corresponding pore volume 2.06 ml/g have been obtained with a dominant pore size of 30 nm. C(m)F organic aerogels with peaky pore size distributions concentrated at 11 nm have also been prepared.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and properties of MnNCN, the first carbodiimide of a magnetic transition metal

Synthesis, single-crystal structure determination, and magnetic properties are reported for manganese carbodiimide, MnNCN. The presumably unstable but inert phase adopts the trigonal system (R3m) with a = 3.3583(4) A, c = 14.347(2) A, V = 140.13(3) A3, and Z = 3. Divalent manganese is octahedrally coordinated by nitrogen atoms at 2.26 A, and the NCN(2-) unit adopts the linear [N=C=N](2-) carbodiimide shape with two C=N double bonds of 1.23 A. MnNCN contains high-spin Mn(II) with five unpaired electrons and behaves like an antiferromagnet with an ordering temperature below 30 K.     

Direct observation of eta 2-imine formation through beta-H abstraction between amide ligands. Neutron and X-ray diffraction structure of a dihydride imine ditantalum complex

Reactions of Ta(NMe2)5 with D2SiR'Ph (R' = Me, Ph) were found to give a dideuteride eta 2-imine complex (Me2N)3Ta(mu-D)2(mu-N-eta 2-N,C-CH2NMe)Ta(NMe2)3(1-d2) through C-H activation of an amide ligand via beta-H abstraction, and the structure of 1 was confirmed by single crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction.     

Separation and determination of podophyllum lignans by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography method was established for the quantitative analysis of seven podophyllum lignans in Podophyllum emodi Wall. var. chinesis sprague. The optimum buffer system was 10 mM NaH2PO4-5 mM borate-100 mM sodium dodecylsulfate-30% isopropanol (pH 7.20). Voltage was 18 kV and detection at 214 nm. The second derivative chromatogram was used to determine a low-content component and those not fully separated from adjacent ones. The RSD values of migration times and peak areas were <2.2 and <5.5%, respectively. The effects of several CE parameters on the resolutions were studied systematically.     

One-Pot Formation of Carbonates from the Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds with Samarium Diiodide and Methyl Chloroformate

Treatment of carbonyl compounds with SmI₂ and methyl chloroformate in the presence of molecular sieves provides the cyclic carbonates or biscarbonates of pinacols. This one-pot reaction proceeds rapidly even with aliphatic ketones. The stereochemistry obtained by this procedure is different from that of conventional pinacolic couplings.