Energetic and topological analysis of the reaction of Mo and Mo2 with NH3, C2H2, and C2H4 molecules

The Density functional theory has been applied to characterize the structural features of Mo(1,2)-NH(3),-C(2)H(4), and -C(2)H(2) compounds. Coordination modes, geometrical structures, and binding energies have been calculated for several spin multiplets. It has been shown that in contrast to the conserved spin cases (Mo(1,2)-NH(3)), the interaction between Mo (or Mo(2)) and C(2)H(4) (or C(2)H(2)) are the low-spin (Mo-C(2)H(4) and -C(2)H(2)) and high-spin (Mo(2)-C(2)H(4) and -C(2)H(2)) complexes. In the ground state of Mo(1,2)-C(2)H(4) and -C(2)H(2), the metal-center always reacts with the C-C center. The spontaneous formation of the global minima is found to be possible due to the crossing between the potential energy surfaces (ground and excited states with respect to the metallic center). The bonding characterization has been performed using the topological analysis of the Electron Localization Function. It has been shown that the most stable electronic structure for a pi-acceptor ligand correlates with a maximum charge transfer from the metal center to the C-C bond of the unsaturated hydrocarbons, resulting in the formation of two new basins located on the carbon atoms (away from hydrogen atoms) and the reduction of the number of attractors of the C-C basin. The interaction between Mo(1,2) and C(2)H(4) (or C(2)H(2)) should be considered as a chemical reaction, which causes the multiplicity change. Contrarily, there is no charge transfer between Mo(1,2) and NH(3), and the partners are bound by an electrostatic interaction.     

Multiresidue determination of fluoroquinolones in shrimp by liquid chromatography-fluorescence-mass spectrometry

An efficient multiresidue method for analysis of fluoroquinolones in shrimp has been developed in which quantitation by fluorescence and confirmation by Multiple Stage Mass Spectrometry (MS) is achieved simultaneously. In this method, shrimp tissue is extracted with ammoniacal acetonitrile and the extract is defatted and then evaporated. After dissolution in basic phosphate buffer, fluoroquinolones in the extract are separated by liquid chromatography and quantitated, taking advantage of their intense fluorescence. Eluate from the fluorescence detector enters the MS, which allows for confirmation by monitoring ratios of 2 prominent product ions in the MS3 or MS2 spectrum. Using this method, 8 fluoroquinolones have been analyzed in shrimp samples fortified at 10, 25, 50, or 100 ppb levels. Recoveries for desethyleneciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, orbifloxacin, sarafloxacin, and difloxacin ranged from 75 to 92%, with relative standard deviation values of <6%. The limits of quantitation ranged from 0.1 to 1 ng/g. Enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were also successfully determined in enrofloxacin-incurred shrimp using this method.     

Indirect spectrophotometric determination of cyanide

A spectrophotometric method for cyanide based on its inhibition of the colour formation reaction between nickel(II) and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolylazo)-2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid has been developed, and allows the determination of down to 0.1 g of cyanide. Most of the interferences can be avoided by displacement of the hydrogen cyanide using an arsine generator.     

Substitution and condensation reactions with poly(anilineboronic acid): reactivity and characterization of thin films

Poly(anilineboronic acid) thin films are treated under various conditions to achieve substitution or condensation reactions involving the boronic acid moiety. These reactions are studied with polarization modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results suggest the single-step formation of substituted polyanilines, such as poly(hydroxyaniline), halogenated polyanilines, and mercury chloride-substituted polyaniline. A condensation reaction of poly(anilineboronic acid) with cis-diol compounds in aqueous solution, as well as with phenylenebisboronic acid and salycilamide in THF, indicates the formation of boronic esters. The latter reactions appear to be a good entry point for the formation of complex or supramolecular polymer structures.     

Pyrazoles as molecular probes to study the properties of co-crystals by solid state NMR spectroscopy

Equimolar mixtures of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (1) with four NH-imidazoles (2–5) have been studied by¹³C and ¹⁵N CPMAS NMR and by DSC. In three cases, the solid mixture behaves as the sum of the individual components [imidazole (2), 2-methylimidazole (3) and 2,4(5)-dimethylimidazole (5)]. In one case [4,5-dimethylimidazole (4)], the mixture corresponds to a new species in which the dynamic behavior of1 no longer exists.     

Electrochemical Synthesis of MII Complexes with a Schiff Base containing an Amido Group. Crystal Structure of a Cobalt(II) Complex with a Reorganised Ligand

M(HL)(H₂O)_n complexes have been obtained by the electrochemical reaction of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd anodes with the potentially pentadentate and trianionic asymmetrical Schiff base 3‐aza‐N‐{2‐[1‐aza‐2‐(5‐nitro‐2‐hydroxylphenyl)‐vinyl]phenyl}‐4‐(5‐nitro‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)but‐3‐enamide (H₃L), containing a hard amido donor atom. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, magnetic measurements and molar conductivities. Co(HL)(H₂O) ( 2 ) has been found to rearrange in DMF solution into a crystallographically solved octahedral complex, CoL¹(H₂O)₂ ( 7 ) [where H₂L¹ is the symmetrical Schiff base ligand N,N′‐(1,2‐phenylene)‐bis(5‐nitro‐3‐hydroxysalicylidenimine)]. A hydrolysis mechanism is discussed to explain this rearrangement.     

Tautomeric conjugate acids of 2-aminopyrroles: effect of substituents, solvation and cosolute

The tautomeric preferences of the conjugated acids of 2-aminopyrrole derivatives have been examined both in the gas phase and in aqueous solution by using a combination of quantum mechanical, self-consistent reaction field and Monte Carlo–free-energy perturbation methods. The results show that the nature of substituents, the solvent and the presence of cosolute are relevant factors in modulating the relative stability between the tautomeric conjugate acids protonated at the heterocyclic ring and at the exocyclic amino nitrogen. Thus, attachment of electron-withdrawing groups to the ring, solvation in polar solvents, and the presence of negatively charged cosolutes tend to favor protonation at the exocyclic amino nitrogen. Nevertheless, none of these factors alone suffice to change the tautomeric preference for the ring-protonated forms. The results point out that the concerted occurrence of the three factors is necessary to shift the tautomeric preference towards the conjugated species protonated at the exocyclic nitrogen.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Extraction and determination of phenolic derivatives in water samples by using polyoxyethylene surfactants and liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection

Methodology based on the cloud-point phenomenon was applied to the comparative study of 3 different polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants in order to extract and preconcentrate a group of phenolic derivatives in water samples; these phenolic compounds, which were determined by liquid chromatography with UV detection, included 11 pollutants given priority by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The optimum conditions for the extraction and preconcentration of phenolic compounds were established for each surfactant. The surfactant that gave the best extraction and preconcentration of the analytes under study was polyoxyethylene 6 lauryl ether (C12E6) with detection limits of <3.5 microg/L for all the phenolic compounds tested. The method was applied to seawater and depurated wastewater samples.     

533—Structure and transport properties of artificial bipolar lipid membranes

The membranes of thermophilic archaebacteria are characterized by the presence of unusual bipolar saturated isoprenoid lipids. In order to investigate their molecular arrangement in the membrane and a possible influence on transport properties, we studied black films made from lipids of Caldariella acidophila, one of the most thermophilic archaebacteria. Details on the kinetics of formation at various temperatures are presented.Capacitance, compressibility and valinomycin-induced conductance values are compared with the corresponding data for a glycerol-monooleate (GMO) bilayer. A very peculiar behavior is presented by the bipolar lipid films studied. In fact, the values of conductance are more than two orders of magnitude lower than those of a GMO bilayer, while the values of capacitance and compressibility do not depend appreciably on the solvent in which the lipid is dispersed (in contrast with a GMO bilayer, where there is a 100% change).The results are discussed in terms of a proposed model of a monolayer organization of bipolar lipids and of the unusual composition of the hydrophobic core of the membrane.