Structural and conformational properties of 2-propenylgermane (allylgermane) studied by microwave and infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The structural and conformational properties of allylgermane have been investigated using Stark and Fourier transform microwave spectroscopies, infrared spectroscopy, and high-level quantum chemical calculations. The parent species H2C=CHCH2GeH3 was investigated by microwave spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, while three deuterated species, namely, H2C=CDCH2GeH3, H2C=CHCHDGeH3, and H2C=CHCH2GeD3, were studied only by infrared spectroscopy. The microwave spectra of the ground vibrational state as well as of the first excited state of the torsion vibration around the sp2-sp3 carbon-carbon bond were assigned for the 70Ge, 72Ge, and 74Ge isotopomers of one conformer. This rotamer has an anticlinal arrangement for the C=C-C-Ge chain of atoms. The infrared spectrum of the gas in the 500-4000 cm(-1) range has been assigned. No evidence of additional rotameric forms other than anticlinal was seen in the microwave and infrared spectra. Several different high-level ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been performed. These calculations indicate that a less stable form, having a synperiplanar conformation of the C=C-C-Ge link of atoms, may coexist with the anticlinal form. The energy differences between the synperiplanar and anticlinal forms were calculated to be 5.6-9.2 kJ/mol depending on the computational procedure. The best approximation of the equilibrium structure of the anticlinal rotamer was found in the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations. The barrier to internal rotation of the germyl group was found to be 6.561(17) kJ/mol, from measurements of the splitting of microwave transitions caused by tunneling of the germyl group through its threefold barrier.     

Synthesis and properties of NiSn colloids using different metal ratios by CLD

Bimetallic colloidal dispersions of Ni–Sn were prepared by simultaneous co-condensation with organic solvents at 77 K using the chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method. The atoms in a 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 1:2 and 1:3 ratios were produced by resistive heating and were reacted with 2-propanol, 2-methoxyethanol, ethanol and acetone to produce colloids. The bimetallic films and solids were obtained by evaporation under vacuum at room temperature. The colloids and solids were characterized by several studies, including the stability at room temperature, electrophoresis, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction, conductivity, nergy dispersive X-ray analysis, electrophoretic measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic properties. TEM studies show a size distribution between 6 and 14 nm, depending of the solvent and Ni:Sn ratio. We can observe a high stability for the colloidal dispersion with different solvents (>2 weeks); this is due mainly to the solvation capacity and polarity of the organic molecules. Electrophoretic measurements revealed that the particles are weakly positively charged with a greater Ni percentage. Electron diffraction analysis for the metallic colloids shows the presence of bimetallic compounds as NiSn, Ni₃Sn, Ni₃Sn₄ and tin oxides. XPS analysis was used for the study of the Ni–Sn solid composition, where it was determined that the Ni atoms could be as Ni⁰ and Ni²⁺. The bond energy difference in both species were 0.8 eV; on the other side, Sn atoms showed two peaks, the first associated with Sn⁰ atoms and the second attributed to oxidized species like SnO_x. The conductivity studies showed that when the metal is changed, the electric conductivity properties change too and are associated with the particle size increasing.     

HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE (PHOTOFRIN®) PHOTODYNAMIC ACTION ON Ca2+ TRANSPORT IN MONKEY KIDNEY CELLS (CV-1)

Abstract After 24 h incubation with Photofrinm^® (PF), photodynamic action has been studied on Ca²⁺ transport in CV-1 cells. A moderate increase of the cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration [Ca²⁺] is observed immediately after a dose of irradiation which yields a survival rate of less than 5% at 48 h. In parallel, studies on digitonin-permeabilized cells indicate that such a treatment inhibits endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ uptake with few alterations of this process in mitochondria. In contrast, ADP-stimulated respiration is impeded and intracellular ATP level decreases. It is suggested that direct damage to endoplasmic reticulum as well as mitochondrial disturbance are the primary mechanisms responsible for a nontransient elevation of [Ca^2+]i preceding cell death.     

A Reliable Gas Capillary Chromatographic Determination of Lactulose in Dairy Samples

The rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum is an important Chinese medicine used against infectious hepatitis, leucorrhagia, pruritus vulvae of the dampness-heat type, burns, snake bite, carbunculosis, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, trauma with blood stasis, and rheumatism, etc. Emodin, resveratrol, and polydatin are main active components of the rhizome. We report a simple densitometric HPTLC method for quantification of these compounds. The method was validated for precision, repeatability, and accuracy. The method was found to be precise, with RSD of 0.23, 0.25, and 0.32 (interday) and 0.45, 0.57, and 0.48 (intraday) for different concentrations of emodin, resveratrol, and polydatin, respectively. Instrument precision was 0.25, 0.23, and 0.34 (%CV) for emodin, resveratrol, and polydatin, respectively. The accuracy of the method was checked by measuring the recovery of the three compounds at three different levels; the average recoveries were 102.56%, 100.21%, and 100.27%, respectively. The amounts of emodin, resveratrol and polydatin in Polygonum cuspidatum, as estimated by the proposed method, were 4.96 mg g^–1, 1.81 mg g^–1, and 13.02 mg g^–1. The HPTLC method proposed for estimation of emodin, resveratrol and polydatin was found to be simple, precise, specific, sensitive, and accurate and can be used for quality control of Polygonum cuspidatum.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction analysis of aroma compounds in vinegar. Validation study

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was evaluated for analysing aromatic compounds in vinegar. The fibre used (a Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane fibre), and the analytical conditions had been optimised in a previous work. The HS-SPME procedure developed shows detection and quantitation limits, and linear ranges adequate for analysing this type of compounds. The recoveries obtained were close to 100%, with repeatability values lower than 20%. However, considerable differences have been detected between different fibres. The method was applied to a variety of Sherry wine vinegars.     

Combined procedure for the determination of90Sr,241Am and Pu radionuclides in soil samples

A combined procedure for sequential determination of low level activity concentrations of⁹⁰Sr,²⁴¹Am and Pu radionuclides is described. The analysis of -emitters is performed by isotope dilution -spectrometry using²⁴²Pu or²³⁶Pu and²⁴³Am tracers. Strontium-90 is analyzed by liquid scintillation counting using the double energetic windows method. The method combines the well established, procedure for Pu analysis based on anion exchange, the powerful and selective method for Sr isolation based on extraction chromatography using Sr-Spec resin and finally it includes the application of the TRU-Spec column for separation and purification of the Am fraction. The radiochemical procedure was tested using IAEA reference and intercomparison materials. Major parameters of the procedure as well as advantages and drawbacks are discussed in detail.     

Cloud point preconcentration of rather polar compounds: application to the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of priority pollutant chlorophenols

The potential of the cloud point methodology for the preconcentration of relatively polar compounds was studied using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 and five EPA chlorophenols as test analytes. Analyte determination was performed using reversed-phase gradient LC with electrochemical and spectrophotometric detection. The amount of surfactant used is a critical variable in the preconcentration factor because it determines the extraction yield and the volume of surfactant-rich phase obtained. These values were determined as a function of the Triton X-114 concentration, together with the phase ratio, which allows prediction of the maximum preconcentration factor under given conditions.     

Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Ammonia over Ag and Zn‐Exchanged Cuban Natural Zeolites

The catalytic selective reduction of NO over metal‐exchanged (Zn^II, Ag^I) natural zeolites (mordenite and clinoptilolite) from Cuba using NH₃ as a reducing agent in the presence of excess oxygen was studied. Both transition metals slightly improve the catalytic performance for the NO reduction. Zn^II‐exchanged zeolites exhibit a moderate catalytic activity, with conversions of NO of ≈58 % and high selectivity to N₂ at high temperatures.     

UPTAKE and PHOTODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY OF HEM ATOPORPH YRIN, HYDROXYETHYLVINYLDEUTEROPORPHYRIN and HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE (PHOTOFRIN II®): A STUDY WITH ISOLATED MITOCHONDRIA

The uptake of Photofrin II (PFII), hematoporphyrin (Hp) and hydroxyethylvinyldeuteroporphyrin (HVD) by isolated mitochondria was studied using the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The various PFII components show a high affinity for mitochondria. At 5.75 micrograms/ml PFII, their ratio of incorporation was found to be very similar, except for Hp which is about two times less incorporated. These results were reproduced with pure Hp and pure HVD. The uptake of Hp and HVD increases with concentration but, while that of Hp reaches a plateau, the uptake of HVD continues to increase. At a high porphyrin concentration (approximately 10(-5) M), the loss of respiratory control is obtained with the same light dose for Hp and PFII. Taking into account the uptake and the known photophysical parameters of the various porphyrins, the photodynamic efficiency of HVD seems equivalent to that of Hp. The present results and known data on cell photoinactivation suggest that the activity of these porphyrins is mainly dependent on their incorporation.     

Helical-chain copper(II) complexes and a cyclic tetranuclear copper(II) complex with single syn-anti carboxylate bridges and ferromagnetic exchange interactions

Tridentate Schiff-base carboxylate-containing ligands, derived from the condensation of 2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde with the amino acids beta-alanine (H2L1) and 2-aminobenzoic acid (H2L5) and the condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with beta-alanine (HL2), D,L-3-aminobutyric acid (HL3), and 4-aminobutyric acid (HL4), react with copper(II) perchlorate to give rise to the helical-chain complexes [[Cu(mu-HL1)(H2O)](ClO4)]n (1), [[Cu(mu-L2)(H2O)](ClO4).2H2O]n (2), and [[Cu(mu-L3)(H2O)](ClO4).2H2O]n (3), the tetranuclear complex [[Cu(mu-L4)(H2O)](ClO4)]4 (4), and the mononuclear complex [Cu(HL5)(H2O)](ClO4).1/2H2O (5). The reaction of copper(II) chloride with H2L1 leads not to a syn-anti carboxylate-bridged compound but to the chloride-bridged dinuclear complex [Cu(HL1)(mu-Cl)]2 (6). The structures of these complexes have been solved by X-ray crystallography. In complexes 1-4, roughly square-pyramidal copper(II) ions are sequentially bridged by syn-anti carboxylate groups. Copper(II) ions exhibit CuN2O3 coordination environments with the three donor atoms of the ligand and one oxygen atom belonging to the carboxylate group of an adjacent molecule occupying the basal positions and an oxygen atom (from a water molecule in the case of compounds 1-3 and from a perchlorate anion in 4) coordinated in the apical position. Therefore, carboxylate groups are mutually cis oriented and each syn-anti carboxylate group bridges two copper(II) ions in basal-basal positions with Cu...Cu distances ranging from 4.541 A for 4 to 5.186 A for 2. In complex 5, the water molecule occupies an equatorial position in the distorted octahedral environment of the copper(II) ion and the Cu-O carboxylate distances in axial positions are very large (>2.78 A). Therefore, this complex can be considered as mononuclear. Complex 6 exhibits a dinuclear parallel planar structure with Ci symmetry. Copper(II) ions display a square-pyramidal coordination geometry (tau = 0.06) for the N2OCl2 donor set, where the basal coordination sites are occupied by one of the bridging chlorine atoms and the three donor atoms of the tridentate ligand and the apical site is occupied by the remaining bridging chlorine atom. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that complexes 1-4 exhibit weak ferromagnetic interactions whereas a weak antiferromagnetic coupling has been established for 6. The magnetic behavior can be satisfactorily explained on the basis of the structural data for these and related complexes.