Luminescent core-shell photonic crystals from poly(phenylene ethynylene) coated silica spheres

We describe the preparation and characterization of a photonic crystal filled with a luminescent conjugated polyelectrolyte, sulfonated poly(phenylene ethynylene). The conjugated polymer was coated onto the nanospheres by the layer-by-layer method and assembled directly into a fluorescent opal structure avoiding the defects associated with post-filling schemes. These structures exhibit strong angle-dependent luminescent properties. By using multiple layers, we further demonstrate control over the emissive bands of the opal.     

Influence of vanadium doping on the behavior of YBa_2Cu_3O_7-y

YBa2Cu3-xVxO7-y(x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6) superconductors have been prepared. X-ray diffraction shows that the system remains orthorhombic for all compositions studied, but for x > 0.4 V2O5 was detected as an impurity phase. Substitution of V5+ for Cu2+ occurs in the Cu(2) sites on the Cu(2)-O planes. The introduction of the high valence element, vanadium, produces the extra free-electrons. These electrons recombine with the positive carrier of the system. It makes depression of the mobility and the Hall number of YBa2Cu3-xVxO7-v and also results in a depression of TC.     

Prediction of the behaviour of organic pollutants using cloud point extraction

A preconcentration study based on the cloud point phenomenon was carried out for a set of triazine herbicides, three of them chloro-substituted and three of them methylthio-substituted. Concentration factors and recoveries were calculated as function of the percentage of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 employed. From these values, obtained from a cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure, the distribution coefficient between the Triton X-114 micelles and water, Kc, prior to CPE was calculated for each triazine and related to the corresponding octanol-water partition coefficient, Kow. In order to confirm the results obtained with the triazine herbicides, two sets of data from chemically different organic pollutants--organophosporous and chlorophenols--obtained from the literature were assessed, concluding that they display a similar behaviour to that of the triazine herbicides. This can be used to predict the CPE behaviour of other organic pollutants from their octanol-water partition coefficients. The Kc values were compared with the analyte concentration ratio in the surfactant-rich phase and aqueous phase (Ksa) with a view to obtaining a link between the analyte behaviour prior to and after cloud point extraction procedures.     

A very sensitive flow system for the direct determination of copper in natural waters based on spectrophotometric detection

A very sensitive flow injection method with spectrophotometric detection has been developed for the on-line determination of copper in natural waters. The method exhibits a limit of detection three times lower than the most sensitive direct spectrophotometric method previously described and then allows the direct and simple in situ determination of copper in most natural waters.The method was based on the measurement of the absorbance of the coloured complex formed by copper with the chromogenic reagent di-2-pyridyl ketone benzoylhydrazone (dPKBH) in an alkaline medium. This complex presents stoichiometry 1:2 (Cu:dPKBH), and exhibits maximum absorbance at 370 nm. The manifold used was very simple, and consisted of two channels. The first one contained the sample while the second one contained the colorimetric reagent (3.3×10⁻⁴ M dPKBH in 10% ethanol), in a 1.6×10⁻² M phosphate buffer solution at pH 8. The performance of the system was optimised by using both univariate and modified simplex methodologies. When modified simplex was used, the best signal was obtained for a sample injection volume of 529 μl, a reaction coil length of 1.29 m, and a reagent flow rate of 4.8 ml min⁻¹. Under optimum conditions, the response was linear up to 3 mg l⁻¹ copper, the equation of the straight line being y=0.314x+5.2×10⁻⁴ (r²=0.998). The method allowed a sampling frequency of 40 samples per hour and exhibited a precision of 2.11% (as R.S.D., n=11). The limit of detection was 4.6 μg l⁻¹ (calculated as 3s_b/m, where s_b is the standard deviation of the y-intercept and m represents the slope of the straight line), and was therefore more sensitive than all the direct continuous methods reported previously.The method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, with an average relative error of 5.32%.     

Novel (E)- and (Z)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-styrylpyrazoles from (E)- and (Z)-3-styrylchromones: the unexpected case of (E)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(4-nitrostyryl)pyrazoles

An efficient synthetic method for the preparation of (E)- and (Z)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-styrylpyrazoles has been developed. The reaction of (E)- and (Z)-3-styrylchromones with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding (E)- and (Z)-4-styrylpyrazoles, respectively, saved 4′-nitro-derivatives where both (E)- and (Z)-4′-nitro-3-styrylchromones afforded (E)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(4-nitrostyryl)pyrazoles. The reaction mechanism for these transformations was discussed and the stereochemistry of all products was assigned by NMR experiments.     

Preparation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical monomers towards bridge trifluoromethylated poly(p-phenylenevinylene)

The preparation and identification of a series of trifluoromethylated and bis(trifluoromethylated) precursors and monomers for bridge substituted trifluoromethylated poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) is reported. These monomers were prepared in several steps from terephthaldicarboxaldehyde and they contain symmetrical and unsymmetrical combinations of leaving groups and/or polarizers, including chlorides, sulfoxides, sulphones, tosylates and S-methyl (and also O-ethyl) xanthates. The electron withdrawing effect of the trifluoromethyl group dominated the regioselectivity of substitution, thus allowing the convenient and selective formation of unsymmetrically substituted products in high yield.     

Novel selenium-containing non-natural diamino acids

The general synthesis of a new class of non-natural diamino acids, 2-amino-3-[(2′-aminoalkyl)seleno]propanoic acids, or Se-(aminoalkyl)selenocysteines, is reported. Under the conditions devised, enantiopure N-Boc-protected β-l-iodoamines, which are readily generated from proteinogenic α-amino acids, were treated with the selenolate anion obtained from NaBH₄ splitting of the Se-Se bond in commercial l-selenocystine. The Se-alkylation products were enantiomerically pure and the reaction is high yielding (92-98%), without any detectable traces of accompanying by-products.     

Direct determination of selenium in urine samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using a Zr plus Rh-treated graphite tube and co-injection of Rh as chemical modifier

Different chemical modifiers for use with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) were investigated in relation to determining the selenium in human urine samples. The samples were diluted in a solution containing 1% v/v HNO₃ and 0.02% m/v cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). Studying the modifiers showed that the use of either Ru or Ir as the permanent modifier gave low sensitivity to Se and the peak shape was very noisy, while Zr or Rh gave no peak at all. The same occurred when Zr was used in solution. For mixtures of permanent modifiers, Ir plus Rh or Zr plus Rh gave very low sensitivity, Zr plus Rh with co-injection of Ir in solution was also not efficient, Zr plus Rh in solution gave good sensitivity, but the best results were obtained with a mixture of Zr and Rh as the permanent modifier and co-injection of Rh in solution. Using this last modifier, the following dilutions with the HNO₃ and CTAC were studied: 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. The best dilution was 1:1, which promoted good sensitivity and a more defined peak shape and made it possible to correct for the background using a deuterium arc lamp. Under these conditions, a characteristic mass of 26±0.2 pg was obtained for Se in aqueous solution. Six certified urine samples were analyzed using matrix matching calibration and the measured concentrations were in agreement with the certified values, according to a t-test at the 95% confidence level. Recovery tests were carried out and the recoveries were in the range 100–103%, with relative standard deviation better than 9%. The limit of detection (LOD, 3 sd, n=10) was 3.0 μg L⁻¹ in the sample. The treated graphite tube could be used for at least 600 atomization cycles without significant alteration of the analytical signal.     

NMR characterization of new 10-membered-ring macrolactones and dihydrobenzophenazine-5-one, oxidized derivatives of benzo[a]phenazines

Peroxidation of the phenazine of beta-lapachone using m-ClC6H4CO3H-CH2Cl2 furnished a macrolactone with a rigid 10-membered ring, and the corresponding N-oxide, along with a dihydrobenzophenazine-5-one. All of the new compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods, with the unambiguous assignment of the hydrogens and carbon NMR signals for the N-oxide, with the aid of 2-D NMR, mainly COSY, HMQC, HSQC and HMBC. For the other two compounds some signals could not be assigned owing to their own intrinsic features.