Extraction separation of Cs+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ from a mixture of cations forming stable non-extractable complexes with ethylenediamine-N,N, N′,N′-tetraacetic acid in the water-nitrobenzene system

In the two-hase water-nitrobenzene extraction system, a method for gradual separation of Cs⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ from the mixture of cations forming stable non-extractable complexes with ethylenediamine-N, N, N,N-tetraacetic acid in the presence of the sodium salt of dicarbollylcobaltate anion {[-(3)-1, 2-B₉C₂H₁₁]₂ Co(III)}^– and polyethylene glycol ligand with a mean relative molecular mass of 400 (PEG 400), respectively, was developed. In the first extraction step, Cs⁺ was extracted into the organic phase while the other cations studied (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ce³⁺) remained in the aqueous phase. In the second extraction step, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ were extracted into the nitrobenzene phase. Finally, in the following reextraction step, Sr²⁺ was transferred into the aqueous phase while Ba²⁺ remained in the organic phase.     

A new selective cleavage of n,n-dicarbamoyl-protected amines using lithium bromide

A mild and new procedure for the selective cleavage of an alkoxycarbonyl group (Boc, CBz) in N,N-dicarbamoyl-protected amino compounds is described. The method is based on the use of lithium bromide in acetonitrile and is compatible with a large range of other functionalities present in the substrates. Compared with other reported methodologies, the procedure is particularly useful for the Cbz-selective cleavage in N,N-Ts,Cbz-diprotected amines. A rationalization of the selectivity supported by ab initio calculations is also presented.     

Protein changes in HL60 leukemia cells associated with 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy. Early effects on endoplasmic reticulum chaperones

Using two-dimensional electrophoresis we investigated the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT; induction with 1 mM ALA for 4 h followed by blue light dose of 18 J/cm2) on the protein expression in HL60 leukemia cells. ALA-PDT resulted in extensive qualitative and quantitative changes in the protein pattern of HL60 cell lysates. Of more than 1350 protein spots recognized on the protein maps of ALA-induced cells, seven proteins were enhanced and 17 suppressed following irradiation. Three of these, calreticulin precursor, p58 microsomal protein (ERp57) and protein disulfide isomerase (p55) have been identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization-mass spectrometry and the pI/molecular weight parameters of the affected proteins were estimated by computer analysis. The findings suggest participation of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-binding chaperones and/or Ca2+ signaling in ALA-PDT mediated cytotoxicity.     

A second-quantization representation of the Epstein-Nesbet partitioning of the full hamiltonian

A second-quantization representation of the Epstein-Nesbet partitioning of the total electronic hamiltonian is suggested. In this approach, the unperturbed hamiltonian contains not only the one-particle orbital energies but also the Coulomb and corresponding exchange two-particle terms. Such a hamiltonian can advantageously be used in all branches of the many-body diagrammatic perturbation theory for simple and correct inclusion of the diagonal ladder and ring diagrams in all orders of perturbation theory.     

Mercury removal from aqueous and organo-aqueous solutions by natural Mexican erionite

The sorption of Hg(II) from aqueous and organo aqueous solutions was investigated by Mexican natural erionite. The mercury chemical species (anionic, cationic or neutral) were determined by high voltage electrophoresis, and the mercury chemical species present in the aqueous media were simulated by a program MEDUSA. The mercury sorption process was monitored during 48 hours. The mercury content was determined by neutron activation analysis. Mixtures of benzene/water[Hg(II)], toluene/water[Hg(II)] and ethanol/water[Hg(II)] were chosen as organo-aqueous media. It was found that both the mercury chemical species and the dielectric constant of solvents play an important role in the mercury sorption by erionite.     

Derivatization of tertiary amphetamines with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate for liquid chromatography: determination of N-methylephedrine

The fluorogenic reagent 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC) was evaluated for the derivatization of tertiary amphetamines prior to liquid chromatographic analysis. Conditions for the derivatization were investigated, including the reaction time, the derivatization reagent concentration and the pH, using N-methylephedrine as a model compound. On the basis of these studies, a method for the quantification of N-methylephedrine is presented. The method involves derivatization with FMOC at ambient temperature and separation of the derivatives formed on a LiChrospher C18, 5 microns, 125 x 4 mm id column using acetonitrile-water gradient elution. The proposed procedure shows good linearity, accuracy and reproducibility in the 1.0-25.0 micrograms mL-1 concentration range. The limit of detection was 0.1 microgram mL-1 and the limit of quantification was 0.5 microgram mL-1. The utility of the assay was demonstrated by determining N-methylephedrine in water and urine samples.     

Extraction of cesium into nitrobenzene using hydrogen dicarbollylcobaitate in the presence of dibenzo-24-crown-8

Extraction of microamounts of cesium by a nitrobenzene solution of hydrogen dicarbollylcobaltate (H⁺B⁻) in the presence of dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8,L) has been investigated. The equilibrium data have been explained assuming that the complexes HL⁺ and CsL⁺ are extracted into the organic phase. The values of extraction and stability constants of the species in nitrobenzene saturated with water have been determined.     

Extraction--spectrophotometric determination of oxalate in urine and blood serum

An extraction--spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of oxalate, based on the formation of a mixed ligand vanadium (V)--mandelohydroxamic acid--oxalate complex. The complex was extracted into a solution of trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Adogen 446) in toluene and the absorbance measured at 535 nm. The experimental variables and interferences in this determination were studied. The detection limit is 0.5 microgram ml-1 and the range of application is between 2 and 8 micrograms ml-1. The method was applied to the determination of oxalate in urine and blood serum.     

Photochemical degradation of hyaluronic acid by singlet oxygen

Changes of the rheological properties of hyaluronic acid (sodium-magnesium salt) solutions after exposure to UV radiation indicate a vigorous decrease in their viscosity, but its still strong shear rate dependence. Whereas the presence of the singlet oxygen sensitizer (anthracene-1-sulphonic acid) brings about a loss of shear dependence; the studied solutions show newtonian behavior.