Structural, theoretical and multinuclear NMR study of mercury(II) complexes with a new ambidentate phosphorus ylide

The reaction of the new ambidentate ylide, Ph₃PCHCOCH₂COOC₂H₅ (EAPPY), with HgX₂ (X = Cl, Br and I) in equimolar ratios using methanol as the solvent leads to binuclear complexes of the type [EAPPY·HgX₂]₂ (X = Cl (1), Br (2) and I (3)). Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals the presence of a centrosymmetric dimeric structure containing the ylide and HgX₂ (X = Br or I)_. The IR and NMR data of the product [(EAPPY)·HgCl₂]₂ (1), formed by the reaction of mercury(II) chloride with the same ylide, are similar to those of 2 and 3. Analytical data indicate a 1:1 stoichiometry between the ylide and Hg(II) halide in each of the three products. Theoretical studies indicate that the nature of the R group in ylides of the type Ph₃PCHCOR has a weak effect on the Hg-C(ylide) bond length in binuclear Hg₂L₂I₄ complexes.     

A simple and efficient large-scale synthesis of 3-hydroxyphthalans via oxa-Pictet-Spengler reaction catalyzed by nanosilica sulfuric acid

Nanosilica sulfuric acid is found to be a new, powerful and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the rapid synthesis of 3-hydroxyphthalans via condensation of aromatic aldehydes and 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohols under conventional heating and microwave irradiation. Scale-up preparation of these heterocycles is also carried out.     

Palladium-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of 3-(aminomethylene)-oxindoles

An efficient palladium-catalyzed protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of 3-(aminoarylmethylene)-oxindoles has been developed. In this approach, Ugi-4-component reaction adducts were used as starting materials for carbopalladative cyclization-Buchwald reaction sequences.     

A new solid phase micro extraction for simultaneous head space extraction of ultra traces of polar and non-polar compounds

The results of the innovative study on a new stationary phase with high efficiency based on ZnO nano and micro rod coating on fused silica are reported in this paper. ZnO nanorods with a diameter in the range of 70–300 nm and the length of about 500 nm, have been grown on fused silica fibers using a hydrothermal process. The extraction properties of the fiber were investigated using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) mode coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry detection (GC–MS) for 1,4-dichloro-nitrobenzene, biphenyl and acenaphthene. The calibration curves were linear up to 10²–10⁷ ng L⁻¹ (R² > 0.995) with detection limits of 10⁻³ ng L⁻¹ for biphenyl and acenaphthene and 10 ng L⁻¹ for 1,4-dichloro-nitrobenzene. The RSD for single fiber and fiber-to-fiber were less than 7.0 and 11.5%, respectively. The high stability of the ZnO coating is proved at relatively high temperatures (up to 300 °C) with a high extraction capacity and long lifespan (more than 100 times). Promising recoveries (91–102%) were obtained in environmental water samples analysis by applying the proposed technique.     

From micelle supramolecular assemblies in selective solvents to isoporous membranes

The supramolecular assembly of PS-b-P4VP copolymer micelles induced by selective solvent mixtures was used to manufacture isoporous membranes. Micelle order in solution was confirmed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy in casting solutions, leading to ordered pore morphology. When dioxane, a solvent that interacts poorly with the micelle corona, was added to the solution, polymer-polymer segment contact was preferential, increasing the intermicelle contact. Immersion in water gave rise to asymmetric porous membranes with exceptional pore uniformity and high porosity. The introduction of a small number of carbon nanotubes to the casting solution improved the membrane stability and the reversibility of the gate response in the presence of different pH values.     

Novel method for in-situ surfactant-based solid-phase extraction: application to the determination of Co(II) and Ni(II) in aqueous samples

We report on a completely new kind of solid phase extraction which we term in-situ surfactant-based solid-phase extraction (ISS-SPE). It represents a simple and rapid method for extraction from aqueous samples and preconcentration of compounds containing hydrophobic (alkyl) groups. A cationic surfactant containing alkyl chain is dissolved in the aqueous sample. Following the addition of hexafluorophosphate (HFP; an ion-pairing anion), solutions turn cloudy due to the interaction between the surfactant and the HFP ion. This is due to the formation of fine solid particles composed of the HFP salt of the cationic surfactant. The alkyl groups of the surfactant in the solid particles strongly interact with hydrophobic groups of analytes and become bound. The solid particles are centrifuged, and the sedimented particles can be either dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent, or leached with a solvent to recover the absorbed analyte(s). The method presented here has distinct advantages in that the extraction times are short and recoveries are high, probably a result of the formation of very fine particles of large specific surface, and of their good dispersion in the sample solution. The performance of ISS-SPE was demonstrated by extracting chelates of Co(II) and Ni(II) from water samples. Under the optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors are 51 and 45, respectively, and the detection limits are 0.9 and 0.6???g?L^?1. The method was validated by the analysis of a certified reference material and by comparing results with those obtained by electrothermal AAS.

Chemical Characterization of Cultivated Tagetes minuta L. by Use of Ultrasound-Assisted Head Space SPME and GC–MS

Ultrasound-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (UA-HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been used for analysis of volatile compounds in dry Tagetes minuta L. The highest extraction efficiency was achieved with a 100-μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber. Different experimental conditions, for example, type of fiber coating, sonication time, extraction time and temperature, and desorption time, were investigated. Thirty compounds were identified by use of this UA-HS-SPME–GC–MS method. Comparison of the method with the commonly used hydrodistillation (HD) method showed that the proposed method is simpler, needs much less sample, requires shorter extraction time and lower temperature, has high trapping ability, and extracts more volatile and thermally sensitive compounds. The major components identified by use of the method were e-ocimenone (10.3%), cis-β-ocimene (4.8%), α-terpinolene (8.4%), trans-caryophyllene (19.7%), germacrene-d (10.0%), and camphor (3.6%).     

Synthesis and characterization of 2,8-diazaperylene-1,3,7,9-tetraone, a new anthracene diimide containing six-membered imide rings

A successful synthesis of novel diimides, namely anthracene diimide containing six-membered imide rings, with potential application in organic electronics is reported. The single crystal of 5a exhibits a close interplanar spacing of 3.45 ? between molecules in a stack.