Solvothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of One‐Dimensional Chains of Anhydrous Zinc and Magnesium Formate

Reaction of the zinc or magnesium formate dihydrates in formic acid under solvothermal conditions results in the formation of single crystals of the anhydrous metal(II) formates β‐Zn(OOCH)₂ and β‐Mg(OOCH)₂. Both structures form one‐dimensional chains of μ‐oxygen‐bridged metal atoms. Single crystal diffraction studies reveal that β‐zinc formate represents the first structure in which chains of oxygen‐bridged metal atoms are connected by alternating single, double and triple oxygen atom bridges resulting in the first observation of corner, edge and face sharing coordination octahedra within a single chain. Polycrystalline material can be obtained by dehydration reaction of zinc formate dihydrate. β‐magnesium formate is the crystalline product that is obtained by annealing the amorphous intermediate phase after dehydration of magnesium formate dihydrate.     

Tritopic (cascade) and ditopic complexes of halides with an azacryptand

Structural aspects of the binding of halides in the octaaza cryptand (1,4,11,14,17,24,29,36-octa-azapentacyclo[12.12.12.2(6,9).2(19,22).2(31,34)]-tetratetraconta-6(43),7,9(44),19(41),20,22(42),31(39),32,34(40)-nonaene, N(CH2CH2NHCH2-p-xylyl-CH2NHCH2CH2)3N), L1, were examined for fluoride, chloride, and bromide. Crystallographic results for two different fluoride complexes indicated cascade-like coordination, with two fluoride ions inside the tren-based cavity, bridged by a water molecule. In the two different chloride structures, a single chloride and a water molecule occupied the cavity. The bromide structure contained two crystallographically independent cationic cryptands. Unit A consisted of a bromide on one side of the cavity and three disordered water molecules situated between the cryptand arms on the other side. Unit B also had a bromide inside the cavity at one side, but a single molecule of water was centered at the other side of the cavity. Association constants for the three ions, determined by NMR titrations in aqueous solution at pH 5, revealed log Ka=3.15(5), 3.37(3), and 3.34(4) for fluoride, chloride, and bromide, respectively.     

Determination of adhesion in bitumenmineral systems by heat-of-immersion calorimetry

The strength of chemical bonds formed between eight rock-forming minerals and six bitumen samples were examined by heat-of-immersion calorimetry. The materials were characterised by their physical and chemical properties. The amount of energy released by the bitumen-mineral interaction was much larger than expected for an immersion reaction, exceeding usual values by a factor of up to 10². An oxidation mechanism, catalysed at the mineral surface, is proposed to account for this observation, and trends in the heat-of-immersion data are correlated with chemical properties of the bitumen and mineral samples.     

Synthesis and characterization of new 19-vertex macropolyhedral boron hydrides

The new boron hydride anions 10-R-B19H19- (R = H, Thx) were synthesized by the reaction of M2[B18H20] (M = Na, K) with HBRCl.SMe2 (R = H, Thx) or HBCl2.SMe2 in diethyl ether. The anions are comprised of edge-sharing, nido 10- and 11-vertex cluster fragments, and are characterized by their 11B, 11B[1H], and 11B-11B COSY NMR spectra. The salt [(Ph3P)2N][B19H20].0.5THF crystallized in the triclinic space group P1 (a = 12.6344-(2) A, b = 13.5978(2) A, c = 14.1401(2) A; alpha = 77.402(2) degrees, beta = 81.351(2) degrees, gamma = 73.253(2) degrees). Possible synthetic pathways are discussed. The dianion B19H19(2-) is formed by deprotonation of B19H20- with Proton Sponge (1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene) in THF, and is identified on the basis of its 11B, 11B[1H], and 11B-11B COSY NMR spectra.     

Analyte preconcentration and separation from small volumes by electrodeposition for electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy

Electrodeposition of Pb from 50 μl volumes of 0.1M KCl solution was studied by electrolysis at uncontrolled potentials of 4.0–6.0 V on a pyrolytic graphite platform cathode. Deposition efficiency was evaluated as a function of time by ASV measurements on aliquots of the electrolysed solution. Quantitative separation of the analyte from the matrix was achieved in a relatively short time, aided by convective stirring of the sample achieved through gas evolution. Thus, the feasibility of rapid electrodeposition directly in a pyrolytic graphite-coated furnace has been demonstrated, allowing construction of an automated electrodeposition-electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopic system.     

Recent advances in the application of capillary electrophoresis to neuroscience

With fast separation times (seconds to minutes), minimal sample requirements (nanoliters to femtoliters), and excellent mass detection limits (femtomole to zeptomole), capillary electrophoresis (CE) is ideally suited for in vitro and in vivo sampling of neurological samples with a high degree of spatial resolution. Advances in extracellular fluid analysis employing improved microdialysis and push–pull perfusion sampling methodologies has enabled the resolution of neurotransmitters present in limited amounts using CE. Great progress has been made to resolve complex neuropeptides, amino acids, and biogenic amines in tissue and cell cultures. Finally, owing largely to the small volume sampling abilities of CE, investigations of single nerve cells, both invertebrate and mammalian, have been accomplished. These applications of CE to the advancement of neuroscience are presented.