Homogeneous and supported catalysts based on bis(imino)pyridyl Iron(II) complexes for ethylene polymerization

Data on ethylene polymerization on homogeneous and supported catalysts based on 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl Fe(II) complexes activated by trialkylaluminums are considered (activity, the molecular-weight characteristics of polymers, the number of active sites, and the propagation rate constants). Unlike homogeneous systems, the supported catalysts prepared with the use of various carriers (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and MgCl₂) exhibited high stability and activity at 70–80°C and produced high-molecular-weight polyethylene with a broad molecular-weight distribution (MWD). The molecular weights and MWDs of polymers and the propagation rate constant depended on the nature of the carrier only slightly. The reasons for an unusual effect of an increase in the activity of the supported catalysts in ethylene polymerization in the presence of hydrogen are discussed.     

Vibrationally resolved rate coefficients and branching fractions in the dissociative recombination of O2+

We have studied the dissociative recombination of the first three vibrational levels of O(2) (+) in its electronic ground X (2)Pi(g) state. Absolute rate coefficients, cross sections, quantum yields and branching fractions have been determined in a merged-beam experiment in the heavy-ion storage ring, CRYRING, employing fragment imaging for the reaction dynamics. We present the absolute total rate coefficients as function of collision energies up to 0.4 eV for five different vibrational populations of the ion beam, as well as the partial (vibrationally resolved) rate coefficients and the branching fractions near 0 eV collision energy for the vibrational levels v=0, 1, and 2. The vibrational populations used were produced in a modified electron impact ion source, which has been calibrated using Cs-O(2)(+) dissociative charge transfer reactions. The measurements indicate that at low collision energies, the total rate coefficient is weakly dependent on the vibrational excitation. The calculated thermal rate coefficient at 300 K decreases upon vibrational excitation. The partial rate coefficients as well as the partial branching fractions are found to be strongly dependent on the vibrational level. The partial rate coefficient is the fastest for v=0 and goes down by a factor of two or more for v=1 and 2. The O((1)S) quantum yield, linked to the green airglow, increases strongly upon increasing vibrational level. The effects of the dissociative recombination reactions and super elastic collisions on the vibrational populations are discussed.     

On-column polymer-imbedded graphite inlet electrode for capillary electrophoresis coupled on-line with flow injection analysis in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) interface

A method for coupling an electrophoretic driven separation to a liquid flow, using conventional fused-silica capillaries and a soft polymeric interface is presented. A novel design of the electrode providing high voltage to the electrophoretic separation was also developed. The electrode consisted of a conductive polyimide/graphite imbedded coating immobilized onto the capillary electrophoresis (CE) column inlet. This integrated electrode gave the same separation performance as a commonly used platinum electrode. The on-column electrode also showed good electrochemical stability in chronoamperometric experiments. In addition, with this electrode design, the electrode position relative to the inlet end of the CE column will always be constant and well defined. The on-line flow injection analysis (FIA)-CE system was used with electrospray ionization (ESI)-time of flight (TOF)-mass spectrometry detection. The preparation of the PDMS (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) interface for FIA-CE is described in detail and used for initial tests of the on-column polymer-imbedded graphite inlet electrode. In this interface, a pressure-driven liquid flow, a make up CE electrolyte and a CE column inlet meet in a two-level cross (95 microm ID) in the PDMS structure, enabling independent flow characterization.     

On the internally contracted multireference CI method with full contraction

The configuration interaction (CI ) method where the efficiency of the generators of the unitary group is most fully exploited is the internally contracted multireference CI method. In the most recent version of this method the semi-internal configurations were kept uncontracted, which means that the number of configurations can still be quite large. In the present study the necessary formulas are derived for the case where the semi-internal states are also contracted. The highest density matrix that appears in these formulas is of order 5, and the computational treatment of this large matrix is discussed in detail.     

Specific labeling of cell surface proteins with chemically diverse compounds

The specific and covalent labeling of fusion proteins with synthetic molecules opens up new ways to study protein function in the living cell. Here we present a novel method that allows for the specific and exclusive extracellular labeling of proteins on the surfaces of live cells with a large variety of synthetic molecules including fluorophores, protein ligands, or quantum dots. The approach is based on the specific labeling of fusion proteins of acyl carrier protein with synthetic molecules through post-translational modification catalyzed by phosphopantetheine transferase. The specificity and versatility of the labeling should allow it to become an important tool for studying and manipulating cell surface proteins and for complementing existing approaches in cell surface engineering.     

Regiochemical Control and Suppression of Double Bond Isomerization in the Heck Arylation of 1-(Methoxycarbonyl)-2,5-dihydropyrrole

Arylation of 1-(methoxycarbonyl)-2,5-dihydropyrrole under standard Heck reaction conditions produces a mixture of compounds. The olefin undergoes two types of palladium-catalyzed reactions: (a) arylation to provide C-3 arylated derivatives and (b) competing double bond isomerization. Addition of silver carbonate and thallium acetate fully suppressed the isomerization, and good yields of C-3 substituted compounds were achieved after arylation with aryl halides. With regard to aryl triflates as arylating agents, addition of lithium chloride was necessary to promote the Heck reaction. This additive excluded the use of silver and thallium salts, but high regioselectivity and good yields could be obtained by employing tri-2-furylphosphine as ligand. Arylation was rendered both regioselective and enantioselective (58% ee) with 1-naphthyl triflate as substrate utilizing a (R)-BINAP/thallium acetate combination. The C-3 arylated enamides were converted further into the corresponding 3-arylpyrrolidines.     

Appearance of pure fluorocarbon micelles surveyed by fluorescence quenching of amphiphilic quinoline derivatives in fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactant mixtures

A halide-sensitive fluorescence probe was utilized to evaluate the miscibility of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactants in aqueous micellar systems. The fluorescence of 6-methoxy-N-1,1,2,2-tetrahydroheptadecafluorodecylquinolinium chloride, FC10MQ, was quenched by halide ions dissociated from the surfactant. The fluorescence in micellar solutions showed an initially rapid decay. This suggests that halide ions effectively quench FC10MQ fluorescence at the micellar surface. The subsequent slow decay corresponds to the quenching of FC10MQ fluorescence in the aqueous bulk phase by the free counterions. The Stern-Volmer plots for fluorescence quenching gave a distinct break at the critical micelle concentration of the cationic surfactants. The abrupt increase in fluorescence quenching is attributed to the solubilization of the probe in the micelles. The fluorescence quenching behavior provides direct information about the immiscibility of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon species in micelles, and the results indicate that almost pure fluorocarbon micelles appear in surfactants mixtures.     

Chromium speciation in natural waters using serially connected supported liquid membranes

A supported liquid membrane (SLM) method for the speciation of chromium has been developed. The method is based on selective extraction and enrichment of anionic Cr(VI) and cationic Cr(III) species in two serially connected SLM units. Methyltricaprylammonium chloride (Aliquat) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA), respectively were used as the selective extractants in the membrane liquid. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was utilised for final determination. Optimised conditions for the DEHPA membrane were, sample solution at pH 3, acceptor solution 0.1 M HNO₃ and 10% w/w carrier in kerosene. The corresponding values for the Aliquat membrane were pH 7, 0.75 M HNO₃ and 6% w/w carrier in di-n-hexylether. This gave extraction efficiencies for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) of 90 and 40%, respectively. The method was used to measure the concentration of Cr III and Cr VI in surface water from an abandoned tannery site. Storage experiments at different pH showed that preservation at neutral pH gave almost constant values over a period of one month. At acidic pH (pH=3.0) the concentration of Cr(VI) decreased rapidly while the concentration of Cr(III) increased. The detection limit, expressed as three times the standard deviation of enriched blank samples was 0.01 μg l⁻¹.