Key Role of a-Top CO on Terrace Sites of Metallic Pd Clusters for CO Oxidation

Pd-based catalysts are the most widely used for CO oxidation because of their outstanding catalytic activity and thermal stability. However, fundamental understanding of the detailed catalytic processes occurring on Pd-based catalysts under realistic conditions is still lacking. In this study, we investigated CO oxidation on metallic Pd clusters supported on Al₂O₃ and SiO₂. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of similar-sized Pd clusters on Al₂O₃ and SiO₂. In contrast, CO chemisorption analysis indicated a gradual change in the dispersion of Pd (from 0.79 to 0.2) on Pd/Al₂O₃ and a marginal change in the dispersion (from 0.4 to 0.24) on Pd/SiO₂ as the Pd loading increased from 0.27 to 5.5 wt %; these changes were attributed to differences in the metal-support interactions. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy revealed that fewer a-top CO species were present in Pd supported on Al₂O₃ than those in Pd supported on SiO₂, which is related to the morphological differences in the metallic Pd clusters on these two supports. Despite the different dispersion profiles and surface characteristics of Pd, O₂ titration demonstrated that linearly bound CO (with an infrared signal at 2090 cm⁻¹) reacted first with oxygen in the case of CO-saturated Pd on Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, which suggests that a-top CO on the terrace site plays an important role in CO oxidation. The experimental observations were corroborated by periodic density functional calculations, which confirmed that CO oxidation on the (111) terrace sites is most plausible, both kinetically and thermodynamically, compared to that on the edge or corner sites. This study will deepen the fundamental understanding of the effect of Pd clusters on CO oxidation under reaction conditions.     

Dispersive micro-solid phase extraction of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water by using thermally treated clinoptilolite,and their quantification by GC-MS

The authors report on a novel sorbent (thermally treated natural zeolite; clinoptilolite) for use in dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples. The method was applied to the D-μ-SPE of 16 priority PAHs which then were quantified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). The method was validated in terms of specificity and selectivity, linearity and linear range, accuracy, precision, uncertainty, limits of detection and quantification. Figures of merit include (a) linear analytical ranges between 2.08 and 208 ppb, and (b) detection limits in the range from 0.01 to 0.92 ppb. The method was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in river waters.

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Graphical abstract Schematic representation of dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) of trace levels of PAHs in water samples by using thermally treated clinoptilolite as sorbent prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS).

     

Solid-state linear polarized IR-spectroscopy of croconic and rhodizonic acids

The applications of linear-polarized IR-spectroscopy to oriented colloid suspensions in a nematic host are demonstrated with croconic and rhodizonic acids. The experimental IR vibrational assignments of the solid-state of both neutral compounds are presented. Assignments are supported by theoretical quantum chemical calculations and vibrational analysis at the DFT level of theoretical approximation with the 6-311++G^** basis set.      

The aggregation of the merocyanine dyes, depending of the type of the counterions

Counterions affect on the substructures formation in the case of the merocyanine dye, 1-methyl-4-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl)]piridinium] hydrogensquarate both in gas and condense phase. Spectroscopically and structural elucidation of these aggregates have been performed, using solid-state conventional and linear-polarized IR-spectroscopy of oriented colloids as a nematic liquid crystal suspension, UV-vis spectroscopy, HPLC tandem ESI mass spectrometry, (1)H and (13)C NMR, TGV and DSC. Quantum chemical DFT calculations have been carried out as well. Experimental and theoretical data are compared with analogous ones of corresponding iodide salt of dye studied.     

Antioxidant activity assays on-line with liquid chromatography

Screening for antioxidants requires simple in vitro model systems to investigate antioxidant activity. High resolution screening (HRS), combining a separation technique like HPLC with fast post-column (bio)chemical detection can rapidly pinpoint active compounds in complex mixtures. In this paper both electrochemical and chemistry-based assays are reviewed and discussed. The focus is on the mechanisms involved and differences between the assays, rather than on the matrix or analytes. With 45 applications high resolution antioxidant screening has now become an almost routine tool for the rapid identification of antioxidants in plant extracts, foods and beverages. The methods based on true reactive oxygen species (ROS) provide the most realistic measure of antioxidant activity. Unfortunately these methods are difficult to set up and control and have not been applied since they were reported. The methods based on electrochemical detection are more practical, but have still received only limited attention for practical screening purposes. The methods based on a single relatively stable reagent such as DPPH and ABTS(+) have become most popular, because of their simple set-up and ease of control. The methods have been combined with on-line DAD, MS and NMR detection for rapid identification of active constituents.     

Ethyl esters of coumarin-3-phosphonic acid and 1,2-benzoxaphosphorine-3-carboxylic acid: crystal structure,spectroscopic and theoretical elucidation

IR-spectroscopic characterization of the coumarin-3-phosphonic acid and 1,2-benzoxaphosphorine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl esters has been carried out by means of linear-polarized IR (IR-LD) spectroscopy of oriented colloid suspensions in a nematic host. Quantum chemical DFT calculations at the B3LYP level of theory and 6-311++G** basis set were performed. The electronic structure and vibrational properties of both compounds are discussed. The spectroscopic data for 2-benzoxaphosphorine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester are in accordance with the crystal structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound C₁₃H₁₅O₅P crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group P2₁2₁2₁, and its structure consists of a 3D network formed by short contacts of the type P=O···HC_(Ar) with distances of 3.420 and 2.467 Å. The geometry of the PO₃C fragment exhibits a pseudo T _d symmetry.     

Crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of ammonium hydrogensquarate squaric acid monohydrate

The structure of ammonium hydrogensquarate squaric acid monohydrate has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c and exhibits a 3D network with molecules linked by intermolecular interactions with participation of the H₂Sq, HSq^?, NH₄ ⁺, and H₂O species. The HSq^? anion and the neutral H₂Sq form a strong head-to-tail dimer through O–H···O hydrogen bonding with lengths of 2.587 and 2.494 Å (protected space between numeral and unit). The layers are connected by ammonium cations and water molecules in a plane through the O···N (2.950, 2.978, 3.036 Å) and O···O (2.953, 2.781 Å) bonds. Another such layer is connected to the NH₄ ⁺ cation in the adjacent plane through bifurcated N–H···O hydrogen-bonding to form a double layer (NH···O bond lengths are 3.036, 2.978, 2.857, 2.909, 2.958, and 2.742 Å, respectively). The IR-band assignment of the compound was achieved using the polarized IR-spectroscopy of oriented colloids in a nematic host. Theoretical ab initio calculations were performed and achieved with a view to explain the IR-bands of the H₂Sq.HSq^? motif.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic analysis and structure deduction of gold(III), palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with the tripeptide glycyl-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-phenylalanyl-glycine

The coordination behaviour of the tripeptide glycyl-l-phenylalanyl-glycine (H-Gly-Phe-Gly-OH) with Au(III), Pd(II), and Pt(II) in both solution and in the solid state has been investigated experimentally. In addition, quantum chemical calculations have been carried out with a view to obtain the structures and spectroscopic properties of the ligand and its complexes. Both in solution and in the solid state the tripeptide interacts in a tetradentate manner with the Au(III) and Pd(II) ions through the NH₂, two deprotonated amide N atoms and the COO⁻group, forming [Au(H-Gly-Phe-Gly-OH)H₋₂)] × H₂O and [Pd(H-Gly-l-Phe-Gly-OH)H₋₂)]Na × H₂O complexes. The MN₃O chromophores are calculated to be near planar. Interaction with cisplatin leads to the formation of a mononuclear complex with tridentate coordination of the ligand by NH₂ and two N- atoms from the deprotonated amide groups ([Pt(H-Gly-l-Phe-Gly-OH)H₋₂)NH₃] × 2H₂O). The fourth coordination position of the Pt(II) is occupied by an NH₃ ligand. The PtN₄ chromophore is flat with a deviation from planarity of 0.3°. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

New water soluble and luminescent platinum(II) compounds, vapochromic behavior of [K(H2O)][Pt(bzq)(CN)2], new examples of the influence of the counterion on the photophysical properties of d8 square-planar complexes

This work describes the synthesis of compounds [Pt(C=N)(NCMe) 2]ClO 4 (C=N = 7,8-benzoquinolinato (bzq), 2-phenylpyridinato (ppy)) and their use as precursors for the preparation of the cyanido complexes [Pt(C=N)(CN) 2] (-), which were isolated as the potassium, [K(H 2O)][Pt(C=N)(CN) 2] [C=N = bzq ( 3a), ppy ( 4a)], and the tetrabutylammonium, NBu 4[Pt(C=N)(CN) 2] [C=N = bzq ( 5), ppy ( 6)], salts. The difference in the cation has an influence on the solubility, color, and emission properties of these compounds. Compounds 5 and 6 are yellow and soluble in organic solvents, while the potassium salts are also soluble in water and exhibit two forms: the water-containing [K(H 2O)][Pt(C=N)(CN) 2] [C=N = bzq ( 3a), ppy ( 4a)] complexes and the anhydrous ones K[Pt(C=N)(CN) 2] [C=N = bzq ( 3b), ppy ( 4b)], the former being strongly colored [red ( 3a) or purple ( 4a)] and the latter being yellow. Compounds 3a and 4a transform reversibly into the yellow, 3b and 4b, compounds upon desorption/ reabsorption of water molecules from the environment. The red solid, 3a, also exhibits vapochromic behavior when it is exposed to volatile organic compounds, the shortest response times being those observed for methanol and ethanol. UV-vis and emission spectra of all compounds were recorded both in solution and in the solid state. In methanol solution, the difference in the cation causes no differences in the absorption nor in the emission spectra, which is as expected for the monomer species. However, in the solid state, the differences are notable. For both the red ( 3a) and purple ( 4a) compounds, a prominent absorption, which has maxima at about 550 nm and is responsible for their intense colors, as well as a structureless emission at lambda > 700 nm that suffers a significant red-shift upon cooling, are due to (1,3)MMLCT (= metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer) [dsigma*(Pt) --> pi*(C=N)] transitions characteristic of linear-chain platinum complexes with short Pt...Pt contacts. Time-dependent density-functional theory calculations on complex 5 and the X-ray diffraction study on compound [K(OCMe 2) 2][Pt(ppy)(CN) 2] ( 4c) are also included.     

A systematic study of carboxylic acids in negative ion mode electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry providing a structural model for ion suppression

We report a systematic investigation of the effects and structural requirements for ion suppression in negative ion mode electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry of a series of carboxylic acids and present a structural model rationalising ion suppression effects.