Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Benzene,Toluene and Xylenes (BTX) in Water Using a Cathodically Pre‐treated Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

An electrochemical method for the simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) in water was developed using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). The determination of BTX was carried out using a cathodically pre‐treated boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDD) using 0.1 mol L^?1 H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte. In the SWV measurements using the BDD, the oxidation peak potentials of the total xylenes‐toluene and toluene‐benzene couples, present in ternary mixtures, display separations of about 100 and 200 mV, respectively. The attained detection limits for the simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene and total xylenes were 3.0×10^?7, 8.0×10^?7 and 9.1×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. The recovery values taken in ternary mixtures of benzene, toluene and total xylenes in aqueous solutions are 98.9 %, 99.2 % and 99.4 %, respectively.     

Synthesis of Novel 1,2,3‐Triazole/Isoxazole‐Functionalized Imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridin‐2(3H)‐one Derivatives,Their Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activity

A series of novel 1,2,3‐triazole/isoxazole‐functionalized imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine‐2(3H)‐one derivatives 7 and 8 were prepared starting from pyridin‐2(1H)‐one 1 in a series of steps. Initially, compound 1 was converted into imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine‐2(3H)‐one 5 via formation of 2‐alkylamino/amino‐6‐phenyl‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)nicotinonitrile 3 followed by hydrolysis 4 and Hoffman type rearrangement 5 . Compound 5 was further reacted with propargyl bromide to form exclusively N‐propargylated derivatives 6 . Compounds 6 were cyclized with arylazides/aryloximes in the presence of CuI and sodium hypochlorite, respectively, and obtained title products 7 and 8 . All the final products 7 and 8 were screened for antimicrobial and anticancer activity.     

LC–MS–MS Assay for Simultaneous Quantification of Fexofenadine and Pseudoephedrine in Human Plasma

A rapid, sensitive, and simple HPLC–MS–MS method, with electro-spray ionization and cetirizine as internal standard (IS), has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma. The analytes were isolated from plasma by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Oasis HLB cartridges. The compounds were chromatographed on an RP 18 column with a mixture of ammonium acetate (10 mm, pH 6.4) and methanol as mobile phase. Quantification of the analytes was based on multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of precursor-to-product ion pairs m/z 502 → 466 for fexofenadine, m/z 166 → 148 for pseudoephedrine, and m/z 389 → 201 for cetirizine. The linear calibration range for both analytes was 2–1,700 ng mL⁻¹ (r = 0.995), based on analysis of 0.1 mL plasma. Extraction recovery was 91.5 and 80.88% for fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine, respectively. The method was suitable for analysis of human plasma samples obtained 72 h after administration of a drug containing both fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine.     

A Facile Approach for the Synthesis of Novel 1,2,4‐Triazolo[4,3‐a]Pyridine Derivatives in Single Step

A series of novel substituted 4‐trifluoromethyl‐pyridin‐2‐yl hydrazide derivatives 5 and 7‐trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[4,3‐a]pyridine derivatives 6 were synthesized through a facile method in single step from 2‐hydrazino‐pyridine derivatives 4 and their reaction with aliphatic/aromatic acids in the presence of POCl₃ and PCl₅. In each reaction, an intermediate 5 and product 6 were formed in definite proportion except in 5a , 5d , and 6e and were independent of reaction time and temperature.     

An Efficient Protocol for the Synthesis of Novel 1,2,3‐Triazole Substituted 4H‐Chromene Derivatives

A facile and an efficient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of novel 1,2,3‐triazole substituted 4H‐chromene derivatives 4 in single pot by multicomponent reaction of 1,3‐cyclohexanedione, malononitrile and 1‐substituted 1,2,3‐triazole‐5‐aldehyde using potassium carbonate as catalyst.     

Quinoline and 2-nitroimino-1, 3-diazacycloalkane hybrids: Design,synthesis and insecticidal activity

A library of new hybrid molecules comprising quinoline, 2-nitroimino-1, 3-diazacycloalkane motifs were designed and synthesized as plausible neonicotinoid analogues. These compounds were synthesized from 2-chloro/aryloxy-3-formyl quinolines and guanidine nitrate with the coupling of 2-chloro/aryloxy-3-(chloromethyl)quinolines, 2-nitroimino-1, 3-diazacycloalkanes under phase transfer catalysis (PTC) as crucial step. All the compounds were obtained in excellent yields (80–90%) and were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry. The newly generated compounds were screened for insecticidal activity against aphids in safflower field and some of them displayed moderate activity.     

Effects of Nb Additions and Heat Treatments on the Microstructure,Hardness and Wear Resistance of CuNiCrSiCoTiNbx High-Entropy Alloys

In this research, a set of CuNiCrSiCoTi (H-0Nb), CuNiCrSiCoTiNb_0.5 (H-0.5Nb) and CuNiCrSiCoTiNb₁ (H-1Nb) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were melted in a vacuum induction furnace. The effects of Nb additions on the microstructure, hardness, and wear behavior of these HEAs (compared with a CuBe commercial alloy) in the as-cast (AC) condition, and after solution (SHT) and aging (AT) heat treatments, were investigated using X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and electron microscopy. A ball-on-disc configuration tribometer was used to study wear behavior. XRD and SEM results showed that an increase in Nb additions and modification by heat treatment (HT) favored the formation of BCC and FCC crystal structures (CS), dendritic regions, and the precipitation of phases that promoted microstructure refinement during solidification. Increases in hardness of HEA systems were recorded after heat treatment and Nb additions. Maximum hardness values were recorded for the H-1Nb alloy with measured increases from 107.53 HRB (AC) to 112.98 HRB, and from 1104 HV to 1230 HV (aged for 60 min). However, the increase in hardness caused by Nb additions did not contribute to wear resistance response. This can be attributed to a high distribution of precipitated phases rich in high-hardness NiSiTi and CrSi. Finally, the H-0Nb alloy exhibited the best wear resistance behavior in the aged condition of 30 min, with a material loss of 0.92 mm³.     

Studies on Synthesis of Novel Pyrido[3,2‐e]tetrazolo[1,5‐c]pyrimidine Derivatives and Their Antimicrobial Activity

A series of novel pyrido[3,2‐e]tetrazolo[1,5‐c]pyrimidine derivative 4 were synthesized starting from 2‐amino‐4‐trifluoromethyl‐6‐phenyl nicotinonitrile 1 via construction of tetrazole followed by fusion of pyrimidine ring. All final products were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities.     

Errors induced in quartz crystal mass uptake measurements by nongravimetric effects: Considerations beyond the EerNisse caution

We report frequency changes in AT‐cut quartz crystals for glassy polymers subsequent to temperature and carbon dioxide pressure changes. Anomalous frequency shifts are observed for the crystal subsequent to such changes. Since, the Sauerbrey equation has been applied routinely for mass uptake measurements in glassy polymers, using the quartz crystal microbalance fitted with AT‐cut quartz crystals, it is important that nongravimetric effects that impact the frequency change be well understood. In the present work, we provide a quantitative analysis of the breakdown of the Sauerbrey equation for viscoelastic materials by using the Johannsmann (Macromol Chem Phys 1999, 200, 501) treatment of the response of AT‐cut crystals. Clearly, there exist significant errors in mass uptake measurements for materials deposited on AT‐cut quartz crystals when precautions pertaining to film thickness and viscoelastic compliance are ignored. We show that while the early caution of EerNisse on stress effects in AT‐cut quartz crystals can be important in mass uptake measurements, for polymers, the major source of error arises from viscoelastic effects in the coating. We conclude that mass uptake measurements for films of compliant materials and polymers above their glass transition cannot be performed with accuracy, using AT‐cut quartz crystals if the results are not corrected for frequency shifts due to viscoelastic effects of the overlayer unless the films are extremely thin, that is, less than 100 nm. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 801–814, 2006     

A highly sensitive method for the quantification of fludrocortisone in human plasma using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetic application

A simple and high sensitive ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of fludrocortisone in human plasma was developed and validated as per guidelines. The analyte and internal standard (IS), fludrocortisone‐d₅, were extracted from human plasma via liquid–liquid extraction using tert‐butyl methyl ether. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Chromolith RP_18e column using a mixture of acetonitrile and 2 mm ammonium formate (70:30, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Quantitation was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer employing electrospray ionization technique, operating in multiple reaction monitoring and positive ion mode. The precursors to product ion transitions monitored for fludrocortisone and IS were m/z 381.2 → 343.2 and 386.2 → 348.4, respectively. The assay was validated with linear range of 40–3000 pg/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (relative standard deviation) were within 0.49–7.13 and 0.83–5.87%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies in humans. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.