Enhanced analysis of purine and pyrimidine bases by the use of double-strand polyaniline coatings in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A double-strand polymeric complex, which suppresses electroosmotic flow relative to fused-silica, is described. The polymeric complex contains a strand polyaniline (PAN) with the second strand containing polyacrylic acid (PAA) and methacrylate (MA) groups. The complex is referred to as PAN:P(AAMA). This polymeric complex has pH-controlled electroactive and hydrophobic characteristics and can be easily coated onto fused-silica. Enhanced separations of theophylline, theobromine, caffeine and adenine, thymine, uracil and cytosine were obtained by the use of the coated capillary in the micellar electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis (MEKC) system. The purine and pyrimdine bases were separated on the coated capillary with a 20 mM, pH 7 phosphate buffer which contains 0.05 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an additive.     

The Effects of Microenvironment Polarity and Dendritic Branching of Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Dendrons on the Self‐Assembly of 2‐Ureido‐4‐pyrimidinones

Two series of aliphatic hydrocarbon‐based G1–G3 dendritic 2‐ureido‐4‐pyrimidinones (UPy) ( S‐Gn )₂ and ( L‐Gn )₂, differing from one another by the distance between the branching juncture to the urea end, were prepared and characterized. These hydrocarbon dendrons were also appended to a p‐aminonitrobenzene solvatochromic chromophore in order to probe their microenvironment polarity. While positive solvatochromism was observed which indicated the chromophore was solvent accessible, there was no significant difference between the microenvironment polarities on going from the G1 to the G3 dendrons. The self‐assembling behavior and tautomeric preference of the dendritic UPy derviatives were examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The dimerization constants (K_dim*) of the DDAA tautomers were unchanged at 10⁷ M ^?1 in CDCl₃ at both 25 and 50 °C, which were comparable to those of UPy compounds bearing other nonpolar substitutents. Furthermore, the lower limits on the K′_dim* of the DADA tautomeric forms of the ( S‐Gn )₂ and ( L‐Gn )₂ series were determined to be 10⁶ and 10⁵ M ^?1 in CDCl₃, respectively. It was found that a closer proximity of the dendron branching juncture to the UPy unit could lead to a destabilization effect on the dimeric states. Hence, the ( L‐Gn )₂ dimers are more stable than those of ( S‐Gn )₂ in the DDAA form, but the latter are more stable than the former in the tautomeric DADA state. This study showed that both the highly nonpolar microenvironment and the proximity of the dendritic branching juncture to the UPy motif could alter the strength and profile of the hydrogen bond‐mediated self‐assembling process.     

Providing a traceable assigned value in a proficiency testing programme on the determination of benzoic acid in orange juice

A proficiency testing (PT) programme on the determination of benzoic acid in orange juice was organised by the Chemical Metrology Laboratory, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore, for the local food testing laboratories. The PT programme used a metrologically traceable assigned value determined by isotope dilution mass spectrometry to assess the performance of the participating laboratories. This paper discusses the reasons and approach to applying metrological principles to determine the assigned value of a PT programme. The procedure undertaken by the Laboratory to prepare a batch of PT sample, conduct homogeneity and stability testings, as well as value assignment, is presented. The discussions also include the estimation of the measurement uncertainties arising from the characterisation, testing for homogeneity and testing for stability of the PT sample. The Coordinator of the PT programme used the assigned value and its associated measurement uncertainty, together with those of the participating laboratories to assess their performances. Statistical tools applied in the performance evaluations are also presented.     

A rational approach in the design of selective mesoporous adsorbents

Two MCM-41 derived adsorbents have been tailor-made for the separation of silver and copper ions using the hard-soft, acid-base (HSAB) principle as the design guideline. NH2-MCM-41 containing "hard" Lewis base adsorption sites (i.e., RNH2) was prepared for the adsorption of the "hard" Lewis acid, Cu2+, and SH-MCM-41 with a grafted "soft" thiolpropyl base was prepared for the selective removal of Ag+, a "soft" Lewis acid. Single- and binary-component adsorption studies were conducted at different metal concentrations, solution compositions, and pH values. The experimental results showed that SH-MCM-41 has excellent affinity and capacity for silver adsorption and adsorbed only the silver ions with copper remaining in the solution. The selectivity was not affected by the metal concentration and composition, anion, and pH. Under similar experimental conditions, NH2-MCM-41 selectively adsorbed copper from the binary solution. The selectivity of NH2-MCM-41 remained for the copper at different pH values, although the adsorption capacity diminished at lower pH values. The type of anions used affected copper adsorption on NH2-MCM-41 with an increased copper uptake in the presence of the sulfate ions. A simple Freundlich adsorption model was sufficient to describe metal adsorption on SH-MCM-41 and NH2-MCM-41, and the LeVan and Vermeulen model was successfully used to predict the adsorption capacity and selectivity for binary-component adsorptions.     

Formation of Peptide Radical Cations (M<Superscript>+·</Superscript>) in Electron Capture Dissociation of Peptides Adducted with Group IIB Metal Ions

Peptides adducted with different divalent Group IIB metal ions (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺) were found to give very different ECD mass spectra. ECD of Zn²⁺ adducted peptides gave series of c-/z-type fragment ions with and without metal ions. ECD of Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ adducted model peptides gave mostly a-type fragment ions with M^+• and fragment ions corresponding to losses of neutral side chain from M^+•. No detectable a-ions could be observed in ECD spectra of Zn²⁺ adducted peptides. We rationalized the present findings by invoking both proton-electron recombination and metal-ion reduction processes. As previously postulated, divalent metal-ions adducted peptides could adopt several forms, including (a) [M + Cat]²⁺, (b) [(M + Cat – H) + H]²⁺, and (c) [(M + Cat – 2H) + 2H]²⁺. The relative population of these precursor ions depends largely on the acidity of the metal–ion peptide complexes. Peptides adducted with divalent metal-ions of small ionic radii (i.e., Zn²⁺) would form predominantly species (b) and (c); whereas peptides adducted with metal ions of larger ionic radii (i.e., Hg²⁺) would adopt predominantly species (a). Species (b) and (c) are believed to be essential for proton-electron recombination process to give c-/z-type fragments via the labile ketylamino radical intermediates. Species (c) is particularly important for the formation of non-metalated c-/z-type fragments. Without any mobile protons, species (a) are believed to undergo metal ion reduction and subsequently induce spontaneous electron transfer from the peptide moiety to the charge-reduced metal ions. Depending on the exothermicity of the electron transfer reaction, the peptide radical cations might be formed with substantial internal energy and might undergo further dissociation to give structural related fragment ions.     

Supramolecule-regulated photophysics of oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)-based rod-coil block copolymers: effect of molecular architecture

Three new topology-varied rod-coil block copolymers, comprising the same oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) rod components and the same coil components, were synthesized by atom-transfer radical polymerization. Their photophysical properties were systematically studied and compared in consideration of their solid-state structures and self-assembly abilities. These copolymers have similar intrinsic photophysical properties to the OPE rods, as reflected in dilute solution. However, their photophysical properties in the solid state are manipulated to be dissimilar by supramolecular organization. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) data demonstrate that these copolymers possess different self-assembly abilities due to the molecular-architecture-dependent pi-pi interactions of the rods. Hence, the aggregates in the solid state are formed with a different mechanism for these copolymers, bringing about the discrepancy in the solid-state luminescent properties.     

Kinetic stages of single-component colloidal crystallization

To harness the full potential of colloidal self-assembly, the dynamics of the transition between colloids in suspension to a colloidal crystalline film should be better understood. In this report, the structural changes during the self-assembly process in a vertical configuration for colloids in the size range 200-400 nm are monitored in situ, using the transmission spectrum of the colloidal assembly treated as an emergent photonic crystal. It is found that there are several sequential stages of colloidal ordering: in suspension, with a larger lattice parameter than the solid state, in a close-packed wet state with solvent in the interstices, and, finally, in a close-packed dry state with air in the interstices. Assuming that these stages lead continuously from one to another, we can interpret colloidal crystallization as being initiated by interparticle forces in suspension first, followed by capillary forces. This result has implications for identifying the optimum conditions to obtain high-quality nanostructures of submicrometer-sized colloidal particles.     

A Convenient Dediazoniation of Arenediazonium Tetrafluoroborates: Triethylamine Effects on Competitive Ionic and Radical Dediazoniation

Triethylamine was very efficient in the dediazoniation of arenediazonium salt. The major product depended on the comparative molar ratio (r) of triethylamine to benzenediazonium salt. When r<0.5, anisole (ionic product) was a major, while benzene (radical product) was a major when r>1.