Organothiol Monolayer Formation Directly on Muscovite Mica

Organothiol monolayers on metal substrates (Au, Ag, Cu) and their use in a wide variety of applications have been extensively studied. Here, the growth of layers of organothiols directly onto muscovite mica is demonstrated using a simple procedure. Atomic force microscopy, surface X‐ray diffraction, and vibrational sum‐frequency generation IR spectroscopy studies revealed that organothiols with various functional endgroups could be self‐assembled into (water) stable and adaptable ultra‐flat organothiol monolayers over homogenous areas as large as 1 cm². The strength of the mica–organothiol interactions could be tuned by exchanging the potassium surface ions for copper ions. Several of these organothiol monolayers were subsequently used as a template for calcite growth.     

LC-ESI-MS/MS Method for Simultaneous Determination of Triterpenoid Glycosides and Aglycones in Centella asiatica L.

A new and rapid method for simultaneous identification and estimation of bioactive triterpenoid glycosides [asiaticoside (AS) and madecassoside (MS)] and their aglycones [asiatic acid (AA) and madecassic acid (MA)] in Centella asiatica was developed by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Estimation was based on multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using the precursor → product ion combination for determination of four analytes using Alltima C18 column (50 × 4.6 mm, 3 µm). An electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem interface in positive mode was employed prior to mass-spectrometric detection. The method was subjected to a thorough validation procedure in terms of linearity, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), accuracy, and precision. Six-point calibration curves were linear in the range of 50–500 ng mL⁻¹ for AS and MS, and 25–250 ng mL⁻¹ for AA and MA, with excellent linearity (R ² > 0.98). With the optimized conditions, the four analytes were detected accurately within 10 min. LOD and LOQ ranged from 2.5 to 5 and 10 to 15 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Method accuracy in terms of average recoveries of all four analytes ranged between 98.61 and 102.85 % at three spiking levels with intra- and interday precision relative standard deviation (RSD, %) of 1.01–4.62 and 1.13–4.16, respectively. The new method was successfully applied to estimate the concentration of these four bioactive compounds in extracts of C. asiatica prepared by nonpolar-to-polar solvents.

     

Photocrosslinked hydrogels based on copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and lysine

A group of new, water-soluble poly(ether-urethane)s, derived from poly(ethylene glycol) and the amino acid L -lysine, provide pendent carboxylic acid groups along the polymer backbone at regular intervals. The carboxylic acid groups were utilized for the attachment of acrylate and methacrylate pendent chains (hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, aminoethyl methacrylate, and aminoethyl methacrylamide), leading to functionalized polymers. The pendent chains were attached via ester and/or amide bonds having different degrees of hydrolytic stability. The attachment reactions proceeded with high yields (up to 95%). The functionalized polymers were subsequently photopolymerized (UV irradiation) to obtain crosslinked hydrogels. Crosslinked membranes with the highest degree of mechanical strength were obtained when the crosslinking reaction was performed in dioxane with benzoin methyl ether (0.1 wt %) as the initiator. the crystallinity, thermomechanical properties, and hydrolytic stability of the crosslinked membranes were studied. All membranes were transparent and highly swellable (equilibrium water content: 64–88%). The tensile strength in the swollen state ranged from 0.15 to 1.09 MPa. Under physiological conditions (phosphate buffered water, 0.1M, pH 7.4, 37°C) the hydrolytic stability of the hydrogels varied depending on the bonds used in the attachment of the acrylate pendent chains: Hydrogels with hydroxyethyl acrylate pendent chains dissolved within 30 days, while hydrogels containing aminoethyl methacrylamide pendent chains remained unchanged throughout a 30 day period. Using high molecular weight FITC-dextrans as model compounds, complete release from the swollen hydrogels required between 60 and 150 h. Overall, the evaluation of poly(ethylene glycol)-lysine derived, photocrosslinked hydrogels indicated that these materials provide a range of potentially useful properties. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Uncertainty propagation through correction methodology for the determination of rare earth elements by quadrupole based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Determination of rare earth elements by quadrupole based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) shows several spectroscopic overlaps from M⁺, MO⁺ and MOH⁺ ions. Especially, the spectroscopic interferences are observed from the atomic and molecular species of lighter rare earth elements including Ba during the determination of Eu, Gd and Tb. Mathematical correction methods, knowing the at.% abundances of different interfering isotopes, and the extent of formation of molecular species determined experimentally, have been used to account for various spectroscopic interferences. However, the uncertainty propagated through the mathematical correction limits its applicability. The uncertainty propagation increases with the increase in contribution from interfering species. However, for the same extent of total contribution, the overall error decreases when the interfering species are more than one. In this work, chondrite as well as a few geological reference materials containing different proportions of various rare earth elements have been used to study the contributions of different interfering species and the corresponding uncertainty in determining the concentrations of rare earth elements. A number of high abundant isotopes are proposed for determining the concentrations of various rare earth elements. The proposed isotopes are tested experimentally for determining the concentrations of different rare earth elements in two USGS reference materials AGV-1 and G-2. The interferences over those isotopes are corrected mathematically and the uncertainties propagated due to correction methodology are determined for those isotopes. The uncertainties in the determined concentrations of rare earth elements due to interference correction using the proposed isotopes are found to be comparable with those obtained by the commonly used isotopes for various rare earth elements.     

Electrochemically induced one pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile derivatives via a four component-tandem strategy

An efficient one pot, multicomponent-tandem synthesis of highly functionalized 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]-pyrazole-5-carbonitrile is reported by electrochemically induced condensation of ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, malononitrile and various aromatic aldehydes. The reaction is carried out in an undivided cell, at a constant current in the presence of NaBr as a supporting electrolyte and ethanol as solvent.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Thermal Degradation of Substituted Acetophenone Based Terpolymers Having Biological Activities

The terpolymer resins have been synthesized by the condensation of p- hydroxyacetophenone and p-chloroacetophenone with formaldehyde/furfuraldehyde in the presence of catalyst in 1:1:5 molar proportions of reactants. The molecular structures were confirmed by FT-IR and Pyrolysis GC-MS. The number average molecular weights of these resins were determined by conductometric titration in non-aqueous medium. Viscometric measurements in tetrahydrofuran (THF) have been carried out with a view to ascertaining the characterstic functions and constant. Detailed thermal degradation studies of the terpolymer have been carried out to ascertain its thermal stability. A multiple linear regression (MLR) method has been used to calculate activation energies and frequency factor. Formaldehyde based terpolymer (E _a= 22.3 KJ/mol, Z = 0.77) has a greater activation energy and frequency factor as compared to furfuraldehyde based terpolymer (E _a=18.8 KJ/mol, Z = 0.25). Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy (ΔG), entropy change (ΔS*) and rate constant (k _r) have also been evaluated on the basis of data of the Ozawa, Flynn and Wall method. All the synthesized polymers have shown excellent antimicrobial activities as compared to the standard Ciprofloxacin and Amphotericin-B drugs.     

Synthesis of Sulfonated Cholesterol Derivatives—Electrical,Thermal, and Optical Properties

Poly(cholesterylacrylatesulfone) (PCHAS) and poly(cholesterylacrylatesulfone-co-1-hexene)s (PCHASHs) at different ratios are synthesized from the monomer cholesteryl acrylate. The liquid crystalline phases are observed under a hot stage fitted with a polarizing optical microscope. The polysulfone and copolysulfones are characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, DSC, and TGA techniques. From SEM (EDX) the qualitative amounts of elemental sulfur found in PCHAS and PCHASH11 are 2.90 weights (%) and 4.39 weights (%), respectively. The GPC data using THF as the solvent shows that the number average molecular weight of the PCHAS is 5268 g/mol and the molecular weights of the PCHASHs are higher than the PCHAS.     

Photodegradation of Methanol Under UV–Visible Irradiation by Titania Dispersed on Polyester Cloth

Titania supported on polyester fabric (TiO₂–PY) with varying titania loadings (2–7 wt%) were prepared via the dip-coating method at room temperature using an aqueous slurry of anatase titania. Structural and morphological characterizations by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the titanium dioxide crystallites deposited on the surface of the polyester fabric were in the micrometer range while their phase remained to be anatase. Photocatalytic activity of TiO₂–PY fabric catalysts was evaluated for vapor-phase oxidation of methanol in air as a test reaction in the presence of UV as well as solar radiation under ambient conditions. These catalysts were found to be quite active in both UV and solar irradiation with activity being higher in the former case. CO₂ yield from photo-oxidation of methanol depended on titania content and also on its dispersion over polyester fabric support.     

Synthesis and characterization of glycol-modified vanadium(V) oxoisopropoxide and their oximato derivatives: sol–gel transformations of [VO(OPr i )3], [VO{OCH2CH2OCH2CH2O}{OPr i }] and [VO{OCH2CH2OCH2CH2O}{ON=C(CH3)(C4H3S-2)}] to vanadia

Reaction of [VO(OPr ⁱ )₃] (1) with [O(CH₂CH₂OH)₂] in 1:1 molar ratio in anhydrous benzene yield glycol-modified precursor, [VO{OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂O}{OPr ⁱ }] (2). Further reactions of (2) with internally functionalized oximes in anhydrous benzene yield heteroleptic complexes of the type [VO{OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂O}{ON=C(R)(Ar)}] (3–8) {where R=CH₃, Ar=C₄H₃O-2 (3), C₄H₃S-2 (4), C₅H₄N-2 (5); and when R=H, Ar=C₄H₃O-2 (6), C₄H₃S-2 (7), C₅H₄N-2 (8)}. All these derivatives have been characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements and spectroscopic techniques. The crysoscopic molecular weight measurement as well as FAB mass study suggests dimeric nature of (2). However, FAB mass spectrum of (4), and the crysoscopic molecular weight measurements of (3), (4), (5) and (6) indicate the monomeric behavior of the oximato derivatives (3–8). Hexa-coordination around vanadium(V) has been proposed for both monomeric and dimeric derivatives. Sol–gel transformations of (1), (2) or (4) to vanadia [(a), (b) or (c), respectively] have been carried out at low sintering temperature (600 °C). The XRD patterns of (a), (b) or (c) indicate formation of a single orthorhombic phase in all the three cases. The SEM images suggest grain like [for (a) and (b)] and rod like [for (c)] morphology of the crystallites. IR, Raman spectra as well as EDX analyses indicate formation of pure vanadia. Absorption spectra of the vanadia (b) and (c) suggest energy band gaps of 2.53 and 2.65 eV, respectively.