Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Spectroscopic Properties of Novel Gadolinium and Erbium Triphenylsiloxide Coordination Entities

In alkali metal and lanthanide coordination chemistry, triphenylsiloxides seem to be unduly underappreciated ligands. This is as surprising as that such substituents play a crucial role, among others, in stabilizing rare oxidation states of lanthanide ions, taking a part of intramolecular and molecular interactions stabilizing metal-oxygen cores and many others. This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of new lithium [Li₄(OSiPh₃)₄(THF)₂] (1), and sodium [Na₄(OSiPh₃)₄] (2) species, which were later used in obtaining novel gadolinium [Gd(OSiPh₃)₃(THF)₃]·THF (3), and erbium [Er(OSiPh₃)₃(THF)₃]·THF (4) configuration, it can result in res were determined for all 1–4 compounds, and in addition, IR, Raman, absorption spectroscopy studies were conducted for 3 and 4 lanthanide compounds. Furthermore, direct current (dc) variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 3 and 4 were carried out in the temperature range 1.8–300 K. The 3 shows behavior characteristics for the paramagnetism of the Gd³⁺ ion. In contrast, the magnetic properties of 4 are dominated by the crystal field effect on the Er³⁺ ion, masking the magnetic interaction between magnetic centers of neighboring molecules.     

Properties of Rice-Based Beverages Fermented with Lactic Acid Bacteria and Propionibacterium

In recent times, consumers have shown increasing interest in plant substitutes for fermented dairy products. This study aimed to investigate the properties of yogurt-type rice-based beverages fermented with lactic acid bacteria and Propionibacterium. The changes in pH, viable population of bacteria, physical properties, and carbohydrate content of these beverages were tested. Fermentation using only Propionibacterium was insufficient to obtain a product with an acidity level similar to that of milk-based yogurt (pH < 4.5). After fermentation, the tested beverages had a high number of Lactobacillus sp. (7.42–8.23 log10 CFU/mL), Streptococcus thermophilus (8.01–8.65 log10 CFU/mL), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (8.28–8.50 log10 CFU/mL). The hardness (2.90–10.40 N) and adhesiveness (13.79–42.16 mJ) of the samples after 14 days of storage at 6 °C varied depending on the starter culture used. The syneresis of all samples ranged between 29% and 31%, which was lower or close to that of milk-based yogurts. The content of individual sugars in the samples also varied depending on the starter culture used for fermentation. The results suggest that the combination of lactic and propionic fermentation helps in the production of rice-based yogurt-type milk substitutes.     

Bi-hybrid coatings: polyaniline-montmorillonite filler in organic-inorganic polymer matrix

A bi-hybrid composite is represented by an organic-inorganic (O-I) filler dispersed in an O-I matrix. Polyaniline-montmorillonite, as a nanocomposite filler, was synthesised by two independent processes: (1) montmorillonite was surface-modified with a conducting polymer, polyaniline, during the in-situ oxidation of aniline or (2) montmorillonite was pre-treated with aniline, then the aniline was polymerised and the polyaniline subsequently produced penetrated the montmorillonite structure. The organic-inorganic polymer matrix was formed in two independent steps: (1) inorganic building units were formed in situ by the sol-gel process, (2) followed by organic polymeric matrix formation by polyaddition reactions of epoxy groups with amines. Polyaniline-montmorillonite filler was added to the reaction system between these two steps, i.e. when the inorganic structures of the O-I matrix have already been formed but prior to formation of the organic polymeric matrix. Two different O-I matrices were prepared from functionalised organosilicon precursors and oligomeric amines. 3-[(Glycidyloxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane reacted with α,ω-oligo(propylene oxide) diamine and diethoxy[3-(glycidyloxy)propyl]-methylsilane reacted with α,ω-oligo(propylene oxide) triamine. The resulting bi-hybrid coatings, the O-I filler dispersed in the O-I matrix, were characterised by atomic-force and optical microscopies, and also by tensile tests. The filler composition affected both the mechanical and surface properties of the coatings.     

A simple and safe method for the preparation of bis[2‐(2H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)pyridinium] tetrachloridozincate(II)

In the title complex salt, (C₆H₆N₅)₂[ZnCl₄], the Zn^II cation is coordinated by four chloride ligands in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The organic cations and complex anions are connected by N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of a three‐dimensional network. The title complex salt was synthesized by the reaction of sodium azide, pyridine‐2‐carbonitrile and ZnCl₂ in aqueous solution. The salt was characterized by elemental analysis and IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy.     

Application of simultaneous separation and derivatization for the determination of α‐lipoic acid in urine samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorimetric detection

To help to clarify therapeutic functions of lipoic acid (LA) in biochemical and clinical practice we have elaborated a fast, simple and accurate HPLC method enabling determination of LA in human urine. The proposed analytical approach includes reduction of LA with tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine and simultaneous separation and derivatization of the analyte with butylamine and o‐phthaldialdehyde followed by spectrofluorimetric detection at λ_ex = 340 nm and λ_em = 440 nm. The assay was performed using gradient elution and the mobile phase containing 0.0025 mol L^?1 o‐phthaldialdehyde in 0.0025 mol L^?1 NaOH and acetonitrile. Linearity of the detector response for LA was observed in the range of 0.3–8 μmol L^?1. Limits of detection and quantification for LA in urine samples were 0.02 and 0.03 μmol L^?1, respectively. The total analysis time, including sample work‐up, was <20 min. The analytical procedure was successfully applied to analysis of real urine samples delivered from six healthy volunteers who received a single 100 mg dose of LA.     

Synthesis,spectroscopy and crystal structure determination of heteroleptic cobalt(II) silanethiolates with pyridine derivatives

The synthesis and characterization of four new Co(II) tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates with 3- and 4-methylpyridine are reported. Mononuclear complexes have been obtained in reactions with bimetallic [Co{μ-SSi(O ^t Bu)₃}{SSi(O ^t Bu)₃}(NH₃)]₂ as a Co(II) substrate. The new compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determination, UV–vis and FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The complexes are tetra- and penta-coordinated with CoN₂S₂ and CoNO₂S₂ cores, respectively.     

Semifluorinated chains at the air/water interface: studies of the interaction of a semifluorinated alkane with fluorinated alcohols in mixed langmuir monolayers

Mixtures of a semifluorinated alkane 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10-henicosafluorotriacontane (abbr. F10H20) and different alcohols were investigated at the air/water interface using surface pressure-area isotherms complemented with BAM images. In our studies, octadecanol and its fluorinated derivatives differing in the degree of fluorination were researched. To verify the influence of an iso branching of the fluorinated segment in an alcohol molecule, the properties of perfluorooctyldecanol and perfluoro-iso-nonyldecanol in mixtures with F10H20 were compared. From the isotherms datapoints, the excess of free energy of mixing (DeltaG(exc)) together with the interaction parameter (alpha) were calculated. On the basis of the additivity rule and BAM images, phase diagrams for all of the investigated systems were constructed. It occurs that F10H20 mixes with the fully hydrogenated alcohol, octadecanol, within the whole range of alcohol mole fractions, whereas it is completely immiscible with its perfluorinated analogue. Regarding the mixtures of F10H20 with semifluorinated alcohols, it turned out that these systems exhibit limited miscibility, i.e., are miscible at a low semifluorinated alcohol proportion, whereas upon increasing alcohol content, the systems start to demix. It may be concluded that the molecular packing in mixed monolayers is the key factor determining the miscibility of F10H20 of the investigated alcohols.     

Monosaccharides as internal probes for the determination of the absolute configuration of 2-butanol

D-Glucose, D-mannose and L-rhamnose were reacted with a racemic mixture of 2-butanol, and the resulting alpha-glycosides were analyzed by 1H NMR with COSY and NOESY experiments. Conformational analysis of alpha-glycosidic bonds performed with molecular modeling and appropriate heteronuclear long-range coupling measurements and combined with analysis of dipolar couplings observed in NOESY spectra allowed the assignment of absolute configuration in the aglycones of elucidated alpha-glycosides.     

Semifluorinated alcohols in Langmuir monolayers--a comparative study

A series of semifluorinated alcohols differing in the proportion of the perfluorinated to hydrogenated chains length was synthesized and investigated in Langmuir monolayers using surface pressure and surface potential measurements. All the investigated semifluorinated alcohols were found to be capable of stable floating monolayer formation. The stability of monolayers was found to be higher upon increasing the length of the perfluorinated segment. A lower stability of the monolayers from alcohols having shorter perfluorinated fragment was attributed to the aggregation process, which was visualized with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Most condensed monolayers were formed by compounds with longer perfluorinated moiety, whereas monolayers composed by molecules with an iso-branched perfluorinated segment were found to be more expanded. The change of electric surface potential was negative along the whole compression. The maximum absolute values of DeltaV varies, depending on the number of CF(2) groups, from ca. -400 mV for F6H10OH to ca. -700 mV for F10H10OH. The dipole moments of free molecules were calculated with Hyperchem, and the obtained values were approximately the same (within the experimental error), i.e., 2.8D for all the investigated molecules, independently on the perfluorinated fragment length. The dipole moment vector was found to be virtually aligned to the main molecular axis for the studied compounds. Therefore, the observed differences in the measured values of DeltaV can result from a different dielectric permittivity of a particular monolayer.