Analytical aspects of some organic acids

Summary A direct titrimetric method for the estimation of iron(III) has been developed, which involves the adjustment of concentration of iron(III) andPh, dilution, addition of 1 ml of 2% indicator solution and titration with EDTA (30° to 35° C). It is based on the fact that the iron(III) forms a blue coloured complex which is destroyed at the 11 molar ratio making the end-point of the titration. Quantity of iron(III) as small as 23.2 mg can be titrated accurately when present in a volume of 100 ml. Study of interferences revealed that quite a number of elements like Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, UO₂ ²⁺ and Mn²⁺ does not interfere, whereas much interference is caused by Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, ZrO²⁺, V0²⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Ti⁴⁺, Ce⁴⁺ and Th⁴⁺. The method proposed for iron(III) is selective and should be of considerable use in many cases.Part III: See Z. analyt. Chem. 167, 332 (1959).     

Determination of thiol groups with o-diacetoxy-iodobenzoate

o-Diacetoxyiodobenzoate is used for determining thiol groups by two procedures. In the first, thiols are titrated directly with the reagent at pH 6-8, with leuco-2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and potassium iodide as indicator. In the second, thiols are treated at pH 7 with an excess of the reagent, the surplus being determined by reaction with excess of mercaptoacetic acid followed by back-titration of the latter with iodine. Both procedures yield results within 0.2% of the theoretical.     

Fenugreek mucilage as a flocculating agent for sewage treatment

The use of fenugreek mucilage, a natural polysaccharide and a direct food additive, as a flocculating agent for removal of suspended and dissolved solids from sewage effluent has been reported. A flocculation study has been done by the standard jar test method. The percent removal of suspended solid (SS) and dissolved solid (TDS) was determined by varying the polymer dose, pH and contact time. X-ray diffraction patterns of the solid waste material of mucilage and flocs (so obtained after treatment) were used to suggest the incorporation of the crystalline waste material in the mucilage. The optimal mucilage concentration was found to be 0.16 mg/l. The suitable pH range for maximum solid removal (SS and TDS) was alkaline and the time required for treatment was 1-3 h.     

Mössbauer effect of ferrous zirconium double sulphate

The Mössbauer spectrum of ferrous zirconium double sulphate FeZrO(SO₄)₂·8H₂O shows a quadrupole split doublet at room temperature. The results are discussed in terms of high-spin Fe(II) in distorted octahedral symmetry.     

Phospholipid mesophases at solid interfaces: in-situ X-ray diffraction and spin-label studies

In this work, we report on recent investigations, both on the global and on the local molecular architecture of supported phospholipid model membranes. A brief theoretical introduction explains how global structural information on supramolecular lipid ensembles can be retrieved from surface X-ray diffraction measurements as well as how spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) provides complementary information on the local environment of probe molecules. The combination of especially designed X-ray cells with the technique of small- and wide-angle X-ray surface scattering makes it possible to explore various fields of lipid research and its applications. Examples for different physico-chemical conditions are presented: (i) in situ chemistry under excess of water conditions demonstrating how solid-supported lipid films sense salinity, (ii) the 3D electron density reconstruction of a vesicle-fusion intermediate under controlled humidity, and (iii) complementary temperature and pressure effects on oriented phospholipid samples. Further, special attention has been given to the influence of different film preparation techniques with respect to quality and the defect structure manifestation. To resolve the proportions and local properties of defects in a hydrated lipid-deposited surface, spin-label EPR was applied. The results from 9.6 GHz EPR as well as from 1.2 GHz EPR suggest the alignment to be in the range between 30% and 80%. In addition, slow time-dependent EPR measurements point to nano-structural rearrangements due to water flow and reduction of alignment quality.     

Variable coordination geometries at the diiron(II) active site of ribonucleotide reductase R2

The R2 subunit of Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase contains a dinuclear iron center that generates a catalytically essential stable tyrosyl radical by one electron oxidation of a nearby tyrosine residue. After acquisition of Fe(II) ions by the apo protein, the resulting diiron(II) center reacts with O(2) to initiate formation of the radical. Knowledge of the structure of the reactant diiron(II) form of R2 is a prerequisite for a detailed understanding of the O(2) activation mechanism. Whereas kinetic and spectroscopic studies of the reaction have generally been conducted at pH 7.6 with reactant produced by the addition of Fe(II) ions to the apo protein, the available crystal structures of diferrous R2 have been obtained by chemical or photoreduction of the oxidized diiron(III) protein at pH 5-6. To address this discrepancy, we have generated the diiron(II) states of wildtype R2 (R2-wt), R2-D84E, and R2-D84E/W48F by infusion of Fe(II) ions into crystals of the apo proteins at neutral pH. The structures of diferrous R2-wt and R2-D48E determined from these crystals reveal diiron(II) centers with active site geometries that differ significantly from those observed in either chemically or photoreduced crystals. Structures of R2-wt and R2-D48E/W48F determined at both neutral and low pH are very similar, suggesting that the differences are not due solely to pH effects. The structures of these "ferrous soaked" forms are more consistent with circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopic data and provide alternate starting points for consideration of possible O(2) activation mechanisms.     

Synthesis,structural and biochemical aspects of titanocene and zirconocene chelates of acetylferrocenyl thiosemicarbazones

The reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)/zirconium(IV) dichloride with a new class of organometallic thiosemicarbazones (LH), derived by condensing acetylferrocene with substituted thiosemicarbazides, have been studied and two types of bimetallic products, viz. [Cp₂M(L)Cl] (M = Ti or Zr) and [CpZr(L)₃], have been isolated. On the basis of various physicochemical and spectral studies, five- and seven-coordinate structures have been assigned to these derivatives, respectively. Attempts have been made to establish a correlation between biological activity and the structures of the products.     

Mechanism of iridium(III) catalysis in the oxidation of diols by N-bromoacetamide

Summary The kinetics of iridium(III)-catalysed oxidation of 1,2-ethanediol and 1,4-butanediol by N-bromoacetamide (NBA) in HClO₄ in the presence of [Hg(OAc)₂] as a scavenger for Br^– have been investigated. The reactions are zero-order with respect to both diols, and first-order in NBA at low NBA concentrations, tending to zero order at high concentrations. The order in Ir^III decreases from unity to zero at high iridium(III) concentrations. A positive effect on the oxidation rate is observed for [H⁺] and [Hg^II] whereas a negative effect is observed for acetamide and [Cl^–]. Ionic strength does not influence the oxidation rate. (H₂OBr)⁺ is postulated as the oxidizing species. A mechanism consistent with the observed kinetic data is proposed.     

Thermal analytical and infrared spectroscopic investigations on polymorphic organic compounds-II

At room temperature, three of the six polymorphic compounds described are not present in their highest melting-point form, owing to enantiotropy. These three are triphenyltin chloride (3 modifications), 1-(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-3-tetrahydrofuryl)thiourea (4 modifications), and 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (3 modifications). In the case of 4-amino-1-(2-phenylethyl)-1,2,4-triazoline-5-thione, in addition to the absolutely stable modificationI, a further six unstable crystal forms have been observed. The three modifications of,-dimethyl-[1,1-biphenyl]-4-methanol are also monotropic in character. 2,9-Dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, the three polymorphic forms of which are unstable, is a special case, since it absorbs water from the air and changes into a semi-hydrate.     

Studies on the colloidal properties of papain with titanium dioxide sol

Summary The coagulation concentration for a titania sol decreases if the concentration of a mixture of electrolytes and papain decreases. If the concentration of papain is increased then lesser amount of electrolytes is needed to coagulate the sol. If glycine is added as an additional substance then the value decreases more rapidly. There is no significant change in the p_H and the electrical conductance of the sol by the addition of papain or electrolytes. There is a little change, when glycine is added as an additional substance. These observations are explained due to the formation of negative papain ions in a low p_H region. The possibility of the adsorption or the release of the counter ions is ruled out.The authors wish to thank Dr.R. C. Mehrotra, Professor and the Head of the Chemistry Department for providing all the facilities for this work. We are also thankful to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for the award of a research scholarship to one of us (V.K.S.).