Photobiological characteristics and photosynthetic UV responses in two Ulva species (Chlorophyta) from southern Spain

The effect of different wavebands of artificial UV (UVB and UVA) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was assessed in two species of the genus Ulva, U. olivascens and U. rotundata, from southern Spain in order to test for possible differences in acclimation of photosynthesis. Both species share similar morphology but are subject to different light environments: U. rotundata is an estuarine alga, inhabiting subtidal locations, while U. olivascens is an intertidal, sun-adapted organism. Algae were exposed to three different UV conditions, PAR+UVA+UVB, PAR+UVA and PAR for 7 d. Short-term exposure (6 h) was also carried out, using two PAR levels, 150 and 700 micromolm(-2)s(-1). Pigment contents and photosynthesis vs. irradiance curves from oxygen evolution were used to contrast sun- and shade adaptation between these species. O2-based net photosynthesis (Pmax) and PAM-chlorophyll fluorescence (optimal quantum yield, Fv/Fm) were used as parameters to evaluate photoinhibition of photosynthesis in the experiments. The results underline different photobiological characteristics among species: the subtidal U. rotundata had higher contents of pigments (Chl a, Chl b and carotenoids) than the sun-adapted U. olivascens, which resulted in higher thallus absorptance and P-I parameters characterized by higher photosynthetic efficiency at limiting irradiances (alpha) and lower saturating points for photosynthesis (Ek). After 7 d exposure, photoinhibition of Fv/Fm was close to 40-45% in both species. Differences between UV treatments were seen in U. rotundata after 5 d and after 7 d in U. olivascens, in which PAR+UVA impaired strongly photosynthesis (80%). Such patterns were correlated with a progressive decrease in pigment contents, specially chlorophylls. In short-term (6 h) exposures, combinations of UVA+UVB and high PAR level resulted in high rates of photoinhibition of chlorophyll fluorescence (68-92%) in U. rotundata, whereas in U. olivascens photoinhibition ranged between 42% and 53%. Photoinhibition under low PAR combined to UV radiation was lower than observed under high PAR. Net O2-Pmax revealed similar response among the species, with maximal photoinhibition rates close to 60% in algae incubated under high PAR+UVA+UVB. In the case of UV exposure in combination with low PAR, the highest photoinhibition rates were measured in U. rotundata.     

Synthesis of some 2-(heteroarylamino)benzimidazoles and their cyclization with phosgene

2-(Benzimidazol-2-ylamino)pyridine (4a) , 2-(benzimidazol-2-ylamino)pyrazine (4b) , and 2-(benzimidazol-2-ylamino)thiazole (4c) underwent a ring-closure reaction on treatment with phosgene affording 6H-pyrimido-[1′,2′:5,4][1,3,5]triazino[1,2-a]benzimidazol-6-one (1a) , 6H-pyrazino[1′,2′:5,4][1,3,5]triazino[1,2-a]benzimidazol-6-one (1b) , and 5H-thiazolo[2′,3′:4,5][1,3,5]triazino[1,2-a]benzimidazol-5-one (1c) respectively. The structure of these hitherto unknown heterocyclic systems was confirmed by their ir and mass spectra.     

Photophysics of aromatic molecules with low-lying pi sigma* states: excitation-energy dependence of fluorescence in jet-cooled aromatic nitriles

Excitation-energy dependence of fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime has been measured for 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN), 4-aminobenzonitrile (ABN), 4-diisopropylaminobenzonitrile (DIABN), and 1-naphthonitrile (NN) in a supersonic free jet. In all cases, the fluorescence yield decreases rather dramatically, whereas the fluorescence lifetime decreases only moderately for S1 (pi pi*, L(b)) excess vibrational energy exceeding about 1000 cm(-1). This is confirmed by comparison of the normalized fluorescence excitation spectrum with the absorption spectrum of the compound in the vapor phase. The result indicates that the strong decrease in the relative fluorescence yield at higher energies is due mostly to a decrease in the radiative decay rate of the emitting state. Comparison of the experimental results with the TDDFT potential energy curves for excited states strongly suggests that the decrease in the radiative decay rate of the aminobenzonitriles at higher energies is due to the crossing of the pi pi* singlet state by the lower-lying pi sigma*(C[triple bond]N) singlet state of very small radiative decay rate. The threshold energy for the fluorescence "break-off" is in good agreement with the computed energy barrier for the pi pi*/pi sigma* crossing. For NN, on the other hand, the observed decrease is in fluorescence yield at higher excitation energies can best be attributed to the crossing of the pi pi* singlet state by the pi sigma* triplet state.     

Effect of P2O5 content in phosphogypsum on its thermal decomposition to CaCO and SO2

The effect of P₂O₅ on the thermal decomposition of phosphogypsum to phospholime and sulphur dioxide has been studied.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde der Einfluß von P₂O₅ auf die thermische Zersetzung von Phosphogips zu Phospholim und Schwefeldioxid untersucht.

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First seco-C oleananes from nature

[structure: see text] The triterpenes 8,14-seco-oleana-8(26),13-dien-3beta-ol (1) and its acetyl derivative 2 were isolated from Stevia viscida and Stevia eupatoria, respectively. Their structures were elucidated by 2D NMR, including carbon-carbon connectivity experiments, and confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of ketone 3. The absolute configuration was determined by NMR analysis of the Mosher esters of 1. The biogenetic implications of the new substances are discussed.     

Carboxylate-bridged copper(II)-lanthanide(III) complexes [(Cu(3)Ln(2)(oda)(6)(H(2)O)(6)).12H(2)O](n)(Ln = Dy,Ho, Er,Y; oda = oxydiacetate)

The hydrothermal reaction of Ln(2)O(3) (Ln = Dy and Ho), Cu(OAc)(2).2H(2)O, and oxydiacetic acid in the approximate mole ratio of 1:3:8 resulted in the formation of two new members of the isostructural series of polymers formulated as [(Cu(3)Ln(2)(oda)(6)(H(2)O)(6)).12H(2)O](n), crystallizing in the hexagonal crystal system, space group P6/mcc (No. 192). Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities and EPR spectra are reported for the heterometallic compounds Cu-Dy 1, Cu-Ho 2, Cu-Er 3, and Cu-Y 4. The results are discussed in terms of the structure of the compounds, the electronic properties of the lanthanide ions, and the exchange interactions between the magnetic ions.     

Bis(1,10‐phenanthroline)(thio­sulfato)­manganese(II) methanol solvate and catena‐poly­[[di­aqua(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline)­manganese(II)]‐μ‐thio­sulfato]

The structure of bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)(thio­sulfato‐κ²O:S)­manganese(II) methanol solvate, [Mn(S₂O₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·CH₃OH, is made up of Mn²⁺ centers coordinated to two bidentate phenanthroline (phen) groups and an S,O‐chelating thio­sulfate anion, forming monomeric entities. The structure of catena‐poly­[[di­aqua(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phen­anthro­line‐κ²N,N′)­manganese(II)]‐μ‐thio­sulfato‐κ²O:S], [Mn(S₂O₃)(C₁₄H₁₂N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, is polymeric, consisting of Mn(dmph)(H₂O)₂ units (dmph is 2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) linked by thio­sulfate anions acting in an S,O‐chelating manner.     

Two nickel complexes stabilized by nitrate counter‐ions

Two new nickel nitrates, di­aqua­bis(3,4,7,8‐tetra­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)­nickel(II) dinitrate methanol solvate, [Ni(C₁₆H₁₆N₂)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂·CH₄O, (I), and tri­aqua­[2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine‐κ³N¹,N²,N⁶]nickel(II) di­ni­trate trihydrate, [Ni(C₁₈H₁₂N₆)(H₂O)₃](NO₃)₂·3H₂O, (II), are reported. In both structures, the cation is octahedrally coordinated, to two bidentate 3,4,7,8‐tetra­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline (tmp) and two water mol­ecules in (I), and to one tridentate 2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (tpt) and three water mol­ecules in (II). Both structures are stabilized by extensive hydrogen‐bonding interactions.     

Elucidating interactions of ionic liquids with polymer films using confocal Raman spectroscopy

We report on the molecular interactions between room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) and Nafion and PDMS membranes, proving that in contact with these polymers RTILs behave like electrolytes rather than solvents.     

Performance of a sound card as data acquisition system and a lock-in emulated by software in capillary electrophoresis

The performance of fluorescence detectors in capillary electrophoresis is maximized when the excitation light intensity is modulated in time with optimal frequencies. This is especially true when photomultiplier tubes are used to detect the fluorescent light. The photomultiplier tube amplified raw output signal can in principle be captured directly by a personal computer sound card (PCSC) and processed by a lock-in emulated by software. This possibility is demonstrated in the present work and the performance of this new setup is compared with a traditional data acquisition system. The results obtained with this “PCSC and lock-in emulated by software” were of the same quality or even better compared to that obtained by conventional time integrators (Boxcars) and data acquisition boards. With PCSC the limits of detection (LOD) found for both naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde-derivatized tyrosine and alanine were 3.3 and 3.5 fmol (injection of 5 nL of samples at 0.66 and 0.70 μmol/L), respectively. This is at least three times better compared to conventional systems when light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as the excitation source in fluorescence detectors. The PCSC linear response range was also larger compared to conventional data acquisition boards. This scheme showed to be a practical and convenient alternative of data acquisition and signal processing for detection systems used in capillary electrophoresis.