Spectrophotometric Studies of the Influence of Organic Solvents and Substituents on Some Schiff Bases

The effect of the substituents, solvent polarities and hydrogen ion concentration on the electronic structure and UV/VIS absorption spectra of some Schiff bases, derivatives of N-(R-benzylidene)benzidine (R = o-NO₂ and o-OH, p-OH) and N-(R-furfurylidene)benzidine (R = H and 5 - NO₂), have been studied. The spectral shifts obtained in various organic solvents were discussed on the basis of the specific solute - solvent interactions through the formation of hydrogen bonds between hydrogen-bond donor (HBD) solvents and the benzidine nitrogen atom of the Schiff bases. Some interpretations of the electronic aspects of this type of hydrogen bonding were discussed as well as the stabilization effects due to the solvation. Finally, the pK values of the compounds were determined.     

Development and validation of automated SPE‐LC‐MS/MS method for determination of indapamide in human whole blood and its application to real study samples

A fast and simple liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of indapamide in human whole blood was developed and validated. The sample extraction of indapamide from human whole blood was achieved using automated solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on Kinetex C₁₈ column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm particle size) using acetonitrile and 2 mm ammonium formate in ratio 90:10 (v/v) as a mobile phase. The mass spectrometer was operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using positive electrospray ionization for indapamide and the internal standard (zolpidem tartarate). The total run time was 2.5 min. The present method was found to be linear in the concentration range of 1–50 ng/mL with the coefficient of determination 0.9987. The absolute recoveries of indapamide were 90.51–93.90%. The method was validated according the recommendations for validation of bioanalytical methods of European Medicines Agency guideline and was successfully used to analyze human whole blood samples for application in a pharmacokinetic study. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of Nonlinear Frequency Response for Discriminating Adsorption Kinetics Mechanisms Resulting with Bimodal Characteristic Functions

One of the characteristic examples of the inability of the classical linear frequency response (FR) method to identify the correct kinetic mechanism is adsorption of some substances (p-xylene, 2-butane, propane or n-hexane) on silicalite-1. The linear FR resulted with bimodal FR characteristic functions, which fitted equally well to three different kinetic models: nonisothermal micropore diffusion, two independent isothermal diffusion processes, and an isothermal diffusion-rearrangement process. We show that the second order frequency response functions (FRFs), obtained from the nonlinear FR, can be used for discrimination among these three mechanisms. Starting from the nonlinear models, we derive the theoretical expressions for the first and second order FRFs corresponding to these three mechanisms and show that different shapes of the second order FRFs are obtained for each mechanism. This would enable identification of the real mechanism from nonlinear FR data.     

CH3F absorption of the CO2-laser emission measured by the photoacoustic technique

Spectra of coincidence of CH₃F IR absorption with CO₂-laser emission at pressures of 2, 10 and 60 Torr were recorded by the use of a photoacoustic detection method in the whole range of CO₂-laser emission. The spectra show that CH₃F absorbs many CO₂-laser lines in the range 1084–1071 cm⁻¹ with the strongest absorption at 1046.80cm⁻¹, laser line P(20). Absorption is predominantly due to the fundamental of v₃, which is well spread over the whole laser emission range. The intensities of all absorptions rise with increasing pressure, but some absorptions change their relative intensity with respect to one another. In addition, the fine structure of the line spectrum, characteristic of lower pressure samples, disappears as pressure is increased.     

SO2 absorption of the CO2- laser emission measured by the photoacoustic technique

Spectra of coincidence of SO₂ IR absorption with CO₂-laser emission at pressure of 50,100 and 450 Torr were recorded by the use of a photoacoustic detection method in the whole range of CO₂-laser emission. The spectra show that SO₂ absorbs many CO₂-laser lines in the range 1084–1071 cm⁻¹ with the strongest absorption at 1082.29cm⁻¹, laser line R(26). The intensities of all absorptions rise with increasing pressure, but some absorptions change their relative intensity with respect to one another. In addition, the fine structure of line spectra, characteristic of lower pressure samples, disappear as pressure is increased.     

Theoretical Analysis of a Surface Catalytic Mechanism Associated with Reversible Chemical Reaction Under Conditions of Cyclic Staircase Voltammetry

In this work, we present theoretical results in cyclic staircase voltammetry of a surface catalytic mechanism that features reversible chemical step, the so‐called “surface catalytic EC_rev’ mechanism”. We consider specific surface regenerative mechanism, in which both of the electro‐inactive substrates are present in large excess in electrochemical cell from the beginning of the experiment. The chemical reversibility brings at this mechanism more complexity in respect to the features of well‐elaborated surface catalytic EC’ mechanism coupled with chemically irreversible regenerative reaction. As we present plenty of simulated cyclic voltammograms, we also propose methods to get insight to kinetics and thermodynamics parameters relevant to chemical regenerative step. The elaboreted results can be important in analysing the kinetics and thermodynamics of many drug‐drug and drug‐DNA interactions, for example. In addition, with the results elaborated in this work we can access relevant information about the chemistry of important lipophilic enzymes studied in protein‐film voltammetry set up.     

Investigation of gas transport through porous membranes based on nonlinear frequency response analysis

Theoretical development of a new experimental method for investigation of mass transport in porous membranes, based on the principle of the modified Wicke-Kallenbach diffusion cell and the nonlinear frequency response analysis is presented. The method is developed to analyze the transport of a binary gas mixture in a porous membrane. The mixture is assumed to consist of one adsorbable and one inert component. Complex mass transfer mechanism in the membrane, where bulk or transition diffusion in the pore volume and surface diffusion take place in parallel, is assumed. Starting from the basic mathematical model equations and following a rather standardized procedure, the frequency response functions (FRFs) up to the second order are derived. Based on the derived FRFs, correlations between some characteristic features of these functions on one side, and the whole set of equilibrium and transport parameters of the system, on the other, are established. As the FRFs can be estimated directly from different harmonics of the measured outputs, these correlations give a complete theoretical basis for the proposed experimental method. The method is illustrated by quantifying the transport of helium (inert gas) and C₃H₈ and CO₂ (adsorbable gases) through a porous Vycor glass membrane.     

Strong and ductile colossal carbon tubes with walls of rectangular macropores

We report a new type of carbon material-porous colossal carbon tubes. Compared with carbon nanotubes, colossal carbon tubes have a much bigger size, with a diameter of between 40 and 100 mum and a length in the range of centimeters. Significantly, the walls of the colossal tubes are composed of macroscopic rectangular columnar pores and exhibit an ultralow density comparable to that of carbon nanofoams. The porous walls of colossal tubes also show a highly ordered lamellar structure similar to that of graphite. Furthermore, colossal tubes possess excellent mechanical and electrical properties.     

Ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of paracetamol by chloramine-T in aqueous alkaline medium – A kinetic and mechanistic pathway

The kinetic study of ruthenium(III) chloride catalyzed oxidation of paracetamol by N-chloro-p-toluene sulfonamide (chloramine-T) in the alkaline medium has been performed. The reaction exhibits second order nature and the effect of the catalyst indicates the occurrence of uncatalyzed reaction simultaneously. Rate is decelerated by hydroxide ions. A plausible reaction mechanism has been suggested and the rate law is derived to account for such experiential observations. The activation parameters have been calculated. No evidence of the participation of free radicals is observed.