A novel tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)/tripropylamine cathodic electrochemiluminescence in acetonitrile for the indirect determination of hydrogen peroxide

A novel tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was generated at −0.78 V at the Pt electrode in acetonitrile (ACN), which suggested that the cathodic ECL differed from conventional cathodic ECL. It was found that tripropylamine (TPrA) could enhance this cathodic ECL and the linear range (log-log plot) was 0.2 μM-0.2 mM. In addition, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) could inhibit the cathodic ECL and was indirectly detected with the linear range of 27-540 μM. The RSD (n = 12) of the ECL intensity in the presence of 135 μM H₂O₂ was 0.87%. This method was also demonstrated for the fast determination of H₂O₂ in disinfectant sample and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Transfer hydrogenation with Hantzsch esters and related organic hydride donors

In recent years, Hantzsch esters and their related organic hydride donors have been widely utilized in biomimetic approaches of asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reactions. Various compounds containing C=C, C=N and C=O unsaturated functionalities could be reduced in the presence of organocatalysts or transition metal complexes, affording versatile chiral building blocks in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities under mild conditions. In this critical review, recent advances in this area are summarized and classified according to unsaturated functional groups being reduced and catalytic systems employed (91 references).     

Hepatoprotective action of Radix Paeoniae Rubra aqueous extract against CCl4-induced hepatic damage

In the present study the capacity of Radix Paeoniae Rubra aqueous extract (RPRAE) as an antioxidant to protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats was investigated. Six groups of rats were used. Radix Paeoniae Rubra aqueous extract (100 or 200 or 300 mg/kg of bw) or bifendate (100 mg/kg of bw) were given daily by gavage to the animals on 28 consecutive days to elucidate the protective effects against CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity. The 20% CCl(4)/olive oil was gavage of gastric tube twice a week (on the third and seventh days of each week). The animals of normal control group were given only vehicle. The animals of CCl(4)-treated group were administered with CCl(4) twice a week (on the third and seventh days of each week) and with vehicle on rest of the days. The test materials were found effective as hepatoprotective agents, as evidenced by plasma and liver biochemical parameters. Therefore, the results of this study show that Radix Paeoniae Rubra aqueous extract can protect the liver against CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage in rats, and the hepatoprotective effects might be correlated with its antioxidant and free radical scavenger effects.     

Thermal decomposition of pentacene oxyradicals

The energetics and kinetics of the thermal decomposition of pentacene oxyradicals were studied using a combination of ab initio electronic structure theory and energy-transfer master equation modeling. The rate coefficients of pentacene oxyradical decomposition were computed for the range of 1500-2500 K and 0.01-10 atm and found to be both temperature and pressure dependent. The computational results reveal that oxyradicals with oxygen attached to the inner rings are kinetically more stable than those with oxygen attached to the outer rings. The latter decompose to produce CO at rates comparable to those of phenoxy radical, while CO is unlikely to be produced from oxyradicals with oxygen bonded to the inner rings.     

Preparation and properties of water‐absorbent composites of chloroprene rubber,starch, and sodium acrylate

The effects of the amounts of starch, sodium acrylate (NaAA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on the properties of chloroprene rubber (CR)/starch/NaAA composites prepared by melting method were investigated. The results showed that the addition of starch improved the mechanical properties, but decreased the water‐absorbing capacity of the composite, most likely due to the decrease in the local concentration of the main water‐absorbing material sodium polyacrylate and the increase in crosslinking density of the composite resulting from the reaction between starch and CR. This reaction was verified by the vulcanized curves, DSC curves, and the cut surface morphology. The as‐prepared composite demonstrated higher water‐absorbing capacity, resulting from the incorporation of NaAA. The mechanical properties decreased with increasing the DCP loading, and the water‐absorbing ratio is the maximum at 1.0 phr DCP. The tensile strength of the composite decreased significantly after water immersion, due to the absorbed water acting as a plasticizer. The extracted component from composites after water immersion is mainly sodium polyacrylate according to Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy analysis. The morphology of the composites before and after water immersion was observed by optical transmission microscopy (OTM). The results indicated that the starch exhibits a good dispersion state, and the water‐absorbing capacity results primarily from sodium polyacrylate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inclusion Complexes of Coenzyme Q10 with Polyamine‐Modified β‐Cyclodextrins: Characterization,Solubilization, and Inclusion Mode

The inclusion‐complexation behavior of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) with the three polyamine‐modified β‐cyclodextrins (CDs) 1 – 3 was investigated in both solution and the solid state by means of NMR, XRD, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The results showed that the apparent solubility of CoQ10 increased linearly upon addition of hosts 1 – 3 , giving A_L‐type phase‐solubility curves. These hosts 1 – 3 were able to solubilize CoQ10 to high levels, up to 1.35, 1.52, and 1.44 mg/ml (calculated as CoQ10), respectively. The host 2 with a moderate‐length chain is the most suitable for inclusion complexation of CoQ10. Accroding to the ROESY experiments, the MeO groups of CoQ10 and the tether of 2 can be co‐included into the cavity of β‐CD through the induced‐fit interaction between host and guest. The binding ability of modified β‐CDs 1 – 3 upon complexation with CoQ10 are discussed from the viewpoints of the size/shape‐matching relationship and the induced‐fit concept between host CDs and guest CoQ10 molecule.     

Modified two-derivative Runge–Kutta methods for the Schrödinger equation

A family of modified two-derivative Runge–Kutta (MTDRK) methods for the integration of the Schrödinger equation are obtained. Two new three-stage and fifth order TDRK methods are derived. The numerical results in the integration of the radial Schrödinger equation with the Woods–Saxon potential are reported to show the high efficiency of our new methods. The results of the error analysis are illustrated by the resonance problem.     

Mechanism of the Enhanced Electrochemical Properties of LiNi<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Co<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> Cathode Materials by a Pre-Sintering Process

α-NaFeO₂ layered LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ cathode materials were synthesized by mechanical milling accompanied by the solid phase sintering. The sample exhibited a good crystallinity and layered structure while sintered at 900°C, which can be further improved by adding a pre-sintering process at 500°C before high temperature sintering. The sample with a pre-sintering process presents an average particle size about 0.6 μm, and a hexagonal crystalline structure. The optimally fabricated sample showed a first charge capacity of 210.2 mA h/g, discharge capacity of 171.2 mA h/g with a current rate of 0.2 C within the voltage range of 2.7~4.5 V. With increasing the current rate to 1 C, the charge–discharge capacity faded quickly during the cycling process, which can be partially recovered while operated at a low current rate. However, the capacity fading at a current rate of 2 C was largely irreversible. The evolution of the surface chemical states was evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on the charged and discharged samples to understand the high rate capacity fading.     

Dual-Polarity Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry: Dynamic Monitoring and Controlling Gas-phase Ion–Ion Reactions

A dual-polarity linear ion trap (LIT) mass spectrometer was developed in this study, and the method for simultaneously controlling and detecting cations and anions was proposed and realized in the LIT. With the application of an additional dipolar DC field on the ejection electrodes of an LIT, dual-polarity mass spectra could be obtained, which include both the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio and charge polarity information of an ion. Compared with conventional method, the ion ejection and detection efficiency could also be improved by about one-fold. Furthermore, ion–ion reactions within the LIT could be dynamically controlled and monitored by manipulating the distributions of ions with opposite charge polarities. This method was then used to control and study the reaction kinetics of ion–ion reactions, including electron transfer dissociation (ETD) and charge inversion reactions. A dual-polarity collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiment was proposed and performed to enhance the sequence coverage of a peptide ion. Ion trajectory simulations were also carried out for concept validation and system optimization.

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