Host-guest assembly of ligand systems for metal ion complexation. Synergistic solvent extraction of copper(II) and silver(I) by 1,4,8,11-tetrabenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclodecane in combination with carboxylic acids

Host-guest formation between 1,4,8,11-tetrabenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclodecane (1) and lipophilic organic carboxylic acids in chloroform has been investigated and the effect of such ligand assembly on the solvent extraction of copper(II) and silver(I) has been probed. NMR titration experiments in the absence of a metal ion confirm the formation of weak 1:1 and 1:2 (macrocycle:carboxylic acid) assemblies in CDCl(3) between 1 and palmitic (hexadecanoic) acid or 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid while difunctional salicylic acid showed a 1 [ratio] 2 interaction that is somewhat stronger. The interaction between the former two acids and the tetra-N-benzylated macrocycle is significantly less than that reported previously for its non-substituted parent, cyclam; a result that likely reflects the presence of the less-basic, more sterically hindered tertiary nitrogens in 1 relative to the secondary nitrogens present in cyclam. Carboxylic acid-containing assemblies of this type have been used as extractants in a series of solvent extraction (water/chloroform) experiments. From both previous observations as well as from entropy considerations, it was anticipated that the use of a host-guest assembly of the above type for metal-ion complexation might contribute to enhanced metal ion binding (and concomitant enhanced metal ion extraction). Such behaviour is postulated to arise from the components of the coordination sphere being, at least in part, assembled for complex formation. In accord with this, the use of the ligand assembly involving palmitic acid/macrocycle 1 was found to lead to enhanced (synergistic) extraction of copper(II) at a metal ion concentration of 10(-3) mol dm(-3) while, for silver(I), synergism was somewhat marginal at this concentration but was clearly apparent under related conditions when the silver concentration was reduced to 10(-4) mol dm(-3). Similar behaviour towards silver was also observed when 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid was substituted for palmitic acid, while the use of salicylic acid resulted in enhanced (synergistic) extraction at both metal ion concentrations.     

Myeloperoxidase-mediated oxidation of organophosphorus pesticides as a pre-step in their determination by AChE based bioanalytical methods

In order to improve the sensitivity of assays for inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholine esterase (AChE), an effective method was developed for the conversion of the organophosphate pesticides (OPs) diazinon, malathion, chlorpyrifos, azinphos-methyl and phorate into more toxic inhibitors. This was accomplished by converting them from the thio form into their oxo form using the enzyme myeloperoxidase. The oxo forms, which are the only products of conversion, were determined by AChE bioassays, using either the free enzyme, or a flow injection analysis manifold with immobilized AChE and spectrophotometric detection. All modified OPs exhibited inhibitory power at ppb levels and within 10 min. The method is considered to represent an excellent means for improving the sensitivity of assays for determination of OPs.     

Distance based indices in nanotubical graphs: part 2

Nanotubical graphs are obtained by wrapping a hexagonal grid, and then possibly closing the tube with caps. In this paper we show that the asymptotics for Balaban, Sum-Balaban, and Harary indices for all nanotubical graphs of type (k, l) on n vertices are \(\frac{9\pi (k+l)}{2n}\), \(\frac{9\sqrt{2}}{2}\sqrt{k+l}\cdot \log (1+\sqrt{2})\) and \((k+l)n\log (n)\), respectively. In all the cases, the leading term depends on the circumference of the nanotubical graph, but not on its specific type. Thus, we conclude that these distance based topological indices seem not to be the most suitable for distinguishing nanotubes with the same circumference as far as the leading term is concerned.     

Synthesis of 1‐nonanoyl/octadecanoyl‐4‐substituted thiosemicarbazides and substituted 1,2,4‐trizoles as biological active compounds

4‐Alkyl/aryl‐5‐nonanoyl/octadecanoyl‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3‐thiones were synthesized as potential antimicrobial agents. The course of synthesis included the reaction of nonanoyl/octadecanoyl hydrazines with selected alkyl/aryl isothiocyanates. The prepared thiosemicarbazides gave by cyclization the required 1,2,4‐triazoles. A number of synthesized compounds were subjected to in vitro testing against two gram‐positive, two gram‐negative bacteria and two fungi.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity of Amino Acid Derivatives of the Heteropolytungstophosphoric Acid

Compounds of phosphotungstic acid (WPA) containing the amino acids alanine (WPA–Ala) or glycine (WPA–Gly) as counter cations were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Cellular toxicity was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method, and the antiviral activity of WPA and the modified WPA compounds was tested against herpes simplex viruses (HSV) type 1 and type 2. Biological assays indicate that the newly synthesized compounds exhibit no evident cytotoxic effects on Vero cells and negligible antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2.     

Estimation of Parameters for the Multi-peaked AEF Current Functions

An examination of how the analytically extended function (AEF) can be used to approximate multi-peaked lightning current waveforms, is presented in the paper. A general framework for estimating the parameters of the AEF using the Marquardt least-squares method (MLSM) for a waveform with an arbitrary (finite) number of peaks is presented. This framework is used to find parameters for some common waveforms with a single peak, such as Standard IEC 62305 lightning currents. Illustration of fitting a p-peak AEF to recorded lightning current data is also presented.     

Effects of dielectric barrier discharge in air on morphological and electrical properties of graphene nanoplatelets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have been functionalized by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in air. The extent of functionalization of MWCNTs and GNPs reaches a maximum at the delivered discharge energy of 720 and 240 J mg⁻¹, respectively. Further exposure to plasma leads to reduction of functional groups from the surface of the treated nanomaterials. It has also been demonstrated that DBD plasma does not produce dramatic structural changes in MWCNTs, while flakes of the treated GNPs become thinner and smaller in the lateral size. Conductive thin films, obtained by drop casting a solution of the treated nanomaterials in N-methyl-1-pyrrolidone on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate, show significantly lower sheet resistance.     

Creep relaxation and stress relaxation of PS-HI/SEBS blends

For the selection of the polymer materials and polymer blends for various fields of applications the stability of material under constant deformation and constant load are very important. In this paper, the copolymers high-impact polystyrene, PS-HI, styrene-ethylene/buthylene-styrene block copolymer, SEBS, and their blends PS-HI/SEBS were investigated. The investigations were done by DMA analysis. The secondary viscoelastic functions, creep, creep modulus, stress and flexural relaxation modulus were investigated in creep and stress relaxation experiment at temperatures 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65°C during 1 h. The master curves were created by time-temperature correspondence principle, TTC. The correlation of the secondary viscoelastic functions with time, temperature and content of the hard, PS, phase was discussed.