Ni(II) and V(IV) Schiff base complexes derived from 2,2′-dimethylpropandiamine: the crystal structure,electrochemical properties and catalytic activities in oxidation of sulfides

Tetradentate Schiff base (H₂L) derived from 2,2′-dimethylpropandiamine and its nickel(II) and oxo-vanadium(IV) complexes (NiL, VOL) have been prepared and characterized. The crystal structure of NiL has been determined. The reported structure contains two molecules of the complex revealing slightly different conformation and the coordination sphere around nickel is distorted square planar. The electrochemical properties of the Ni and oxo-vanadium Schiff base complexes were investigated in CH₃CN by cyclic voltammetry. The catalytic activities of the complexes were studied in the oxidation of sulfides in ethanol. Under the optimized reaction conditions, in the presence of NiL, 89% and VOL, 100% conversion of methyl phenyl sulfide with 100% selectivity for sulfoxide were obtained.     

Vesicle deformations by clusters of transmembrane proteins

We carry out a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation of phospholipid vesicles with transmembrane proteins. We measure the mean and Gaussian curvatures of our protein-embedded vesicles and quantitatively show how protein clusters change the shapes of their host vesicles. The effects of depletion force and vesiculation on protein clustering are also investigated. By increasing the protein concentration, clusters are fragmented to smaller bundles, which are then redistributed to form more symmetric structures corresponding to lower bending energies. Big clusters and highly aspherical vesicles cannot be formed when the fraction of protein to lipid molecules is large.     

Development of a needle trap device packed with titanium‐based metal‐organic framework sorbent for extraction of phenolic derivatives in air

We developed a novel method of needle trap device packed with titanium‐based metal‐organic framework for the extraction of phenolic derivatives in air followed by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detector analysis. The synthetized adsorbent was packed inside a 22‐gauge spinal needle. This method was first tested at laboratory scale, and then was used for field sampling of phenolic derivatives in air. A glass chamber placed on a heater at 60°C was used to provide different concentrations of phenolic derivatives. The desorption conditions and breakthrough volume were optimized using response surface methodology. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of the proposed method were estimated to be in the range of 0.001–0.12 and 0.003–0.62 ng/mL, respectively, indicating a high sensitivity for the suggested sampler. Storing the packed needle trap device in a refrigerator at 4?C for 60 days did not dramatically affect the storage stability. Our findings indicated that there was a high correlation coefficient (R² = 0.99) between the measurement results of this method and the NIOSH recommended method (XAD‐7 sorbent tube). Therefore, it can be concluded that the needle trap device packed with titanium‐based metal‐organic framework can be used as a efficient method for extraction of phenolic derivatives in air.     

Synthesis of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthol derivatives using a magnetic nano-Fe3O4@SiO2@Hexamethylenetetramine-supported ionic liquid as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions

Hexamethylenetetramine-functionalized silica-coated nano-Fe₃O₄ particles (MNPs@Hexamethylenetetramine) were prepared as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst using a facile process. The catalyst was synthesized and characterized using infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometer. This magnetic nanocatalyst was employed as an efficient, reusable, and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of amidoalkylnaphthol derivatives from a one-pot three-component condensation reaction of beta-naphthol, aldehydes, and amides in good to excellent yields, Moreover, this catalyst can be easily recovered by using a magnetic field and directly reused for at least seven runs without sign ificant loss of its activity.     

Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides and Sulfones Using n -Butyltriphenylphosphonium Dichromate (Bu n PPh3)2Cr2O7 in the Presence of Aluminium Chloride in Solution and Under Microwave Irradiation

A wide variety of sulfides are efficiently oxidized to their corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones in excellent yields using n-butyltriphenylphosphonium dichromate (BTPPDC) in the presence of aluminium chloride in acetonitrile solution and under microwave irradiation. In addition, selective oxidation of sulfides in the presence of functional groups such as a carbon–carbon double bond, ketone, oxime, aldehyde, ether, and acetal can be considered as a noteworthy advantage of this method.     

The topological structure of a certain Menger space

In this paper we will reconsider the topological structure of Menger probabilistic normed spaces (briefly PN-spaces) under the t-norm M. We will prove that this topology is compatible with the topology induced by a countable and separating family of semi-norms, and hence the well-known theorems of classical functional analysis (such as the principle of uniform boundedness, open mapping and closed graph theorems) are valid in this context also. We will meanwhile obtain a method by which one may construct easily a large class of PN-spaces. Finally, using this method, we see that a certain subspace of bounded linear operators between PN-spaces, i.e. the class of strongly bounded linear operators, has a natural PN structure.     

Sensitive determination of atorvastatin in human plasma by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and solidification of floating organic drop followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A novel and sensitive dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method based on the solidification of the floating organic drop combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection was used for the determination of atorvastatine in blood serum samples. The chromatographic separation of atorvastatin was carried out using methanol as the mobile phase organic modifier. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized, such as the kind and volume of extraction solvent (1‐undecanol) and disperser solvent (acetonitrile), pH, and the extraction time. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.2–6000 μg/L of atorvastatin (r² = 0.995) with a limit of detection of 0.07 μg/L. The relative standard deviation for 100 μg/L of atorvastatin in human plasma was 8.4% (n = 4). The recoveries of plasma samples spiked with atorvastatin were in the range of 98.8–113.8%. The obtained results showed that the proposed method is fast, simple, and reliable for the determination of very low concentrations of atorvastatin in human plasma samples.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the dehydration reaction of sarcosine to a bislactame through diacyclperoxide intermediate in strong acidic medium

The influence of substitution on the amine functional group of glycine in the permanganic oxidation of such an α‐amino acid in moderately concentrated sulfuric acid medium has been investigated. Reaction products analysis has revealed that contrary to the usual α‐amino acid oxidation product, which is an aldehyde species, a valuable compound, namely 1,4‐dimethylpiperazine‐2,5‐dione, has been obtained as the main product via a cheap, simple, efficient, and novel method. Sarcosine has been chosen as a substituted derivative of glycine, and the kinetics and mechanism of its permanganic oxidation have been investigated using a spectrophotometric technique. Conclusive evidence has proven delayed autocatalytic activity for Mn(II) in this reaction, analogous to some α‐amino acids. It has been revealed that such activity can show up when a certain concentration ratio of Mn(II) to sarcosine is built up in the medium, which we call the “critical ratio.” The magnitude of the latter ratio depends on the sulfuric acid concentration. Considering the “delayed autocatalytic behavior” of Mn(II) ions, rate equations satisfying observations for both catalytic and noncatalytic routes have been presented. The reaction shows first‐order dependence on permanganate ions and sarcosine concentrations in both catalytic and noncatalytic pathways, and apparent first‐order dependence on Mn²⁺ ions in catalytic pathways. The correspondence of pseudo‐order rate constants of the catalytic and noncatalytic pathways to Arrhenius and Eyring laws has verified “critical ratio” as well as “delayed autocatalytic behavior” concepts. The activation parameters associated with both pathways have been computed and discussed. Mechanisms for both catalytic and noncatalytic routes involving radical intermediates as well as a product having a diketopiperazine skeleton have been reported for the first time. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 689–703, 2009