Syntheses, crystal structures and electronic properties of a series of copper(II) complexes with 3,5-halogen-substituted Schiff base ligands and their solutions

We have systematically investigated the structural features, electronic properties, thermally-induced structural phase transitions and absorption spectra depending on the solvent for ten Cu(II) complexes with 3,5-halogen-substituted Schiff base ligands. Structural characterization of two new complexes, bis(N-R-1-phenylethyl- and N-R,S-2-butyl-5-bromosalicydenaminato-κ²N,O)copper(II), reveals that they afford a compressed tetrahedral trans-[CuN₂O₂] coordination geometry with trans-N–Cu–N = 159.4(2)° and trans-O–Cu–O = 151.7(3)° for the 1-phenylethyl complex and trans-N–Cu–N = 157.9(3)° and trans-O–Cu–O = 151.0(3)° for the 2-butyl one. All the complexes exhibit a structural phase transition by heating in the solid state regardless of their structures at room temperature. The absorption spectra of a series of ten complexes exhibit a slight shift of the d–d band at 16 000–20 000 cm⁻¹ and remarkable shift of the π–π* band at 24 000–28 000 cm⁻¹, which suggests that the dipole moment of the solvents presumably affects the conformation of the π-conjugated moieties of the ligands rather than the coordination environment. We have also attempted ‘photochromic solute-induced solvatochromism’ by a system of bis(N-R-1-phenylethyl-3,5-dichlorosalicydenaminato-κ²N,O)copper(II) and photochromic 4-hydroxyazobenzene in chloroform solution. We successfully observed a change of the d–d and π–π* bands of the complex in the absorption spectra caused by cis–trans photoisomerization of 4-hydroxyazobenzene.     

Simultaneous determination of NG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine,NG,NG‐dimethyl‐l‐arginine,NG,NG′‐dimethyl‐l‐arginine,and l‐arginine using monolithic silica disk‐packed spin columns and a monolithic silica column

We have developed and validated a high‐performance liquid chromatography method that uses monolithic silica disk‐packed spin columns and a monolithic silica column for the simultaneous determination of N^G‐monomethyl‐l ‐arginine, N^G,N^G‐dimethyl‐l ‐arginine, and N^G,N^G′‐dimethyl‐l ‐arginine in human plasma. For solid‐phase extraction, our method employs a centrifugal spin column packed with monolithic silica bonded to propyl benzenesulfonic acid as a cation exchanger. After pretreatment, the methylated arginines are converted to fluorescent derivatives with 4‐fluoro‐7‐nitro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole, and then the derivatives are separated on a monolithic silica column. l ‐Arginine concentration was also determined in diluted samples. Standard calibration curves revealed that the assay was linear in the concentration range 0.2–1.0 μM for methylated arginines and 40–200 μM for l ‐arginine. Linear regression of the calibration curve yielded equations with correlation coefficients of 0.999 (r²). The sensitivity was satisfactory, with a limit of detection ranging from 3.75 to 9.0 fmol for all four compounds. The RSDs were 4.3–4.8% (intraday) and 3.0–6.8% (interday). When this method was applied to samples from six healthy donors, the detected concentrations of N^G‐monomethyl‐l ‐arginine, N^G,N^G‐dimethyl‐l ‐arginine, N^G,N^G′‐dimethyl‐l ‐arginine and l ‐arginine were 0.05 ± 0.01, 0.41 ± 0.07, 0.59 ± 0.11, and 83.8 ± 30.43 μM (n = 6), respectively.     

The first total synthesis of a tetracyclic antibiotic, (−)-tetrodecamycin

(−)-Tetrodecamycin (1) has been synthesized from optically active butenolide through stereoselective SmI₂-mediated pinacol cyclization and newly developed deoxygenation.     

Extremely long axial Cu-N bonds in chiral one-dimensional zigzag cyanide-bridged Cu(II)(-)Ni(II) and Cu(II)(-)Pt(II) bimetallic assemblies

Preparations, crystal structures, and spectral and magnetic properties of two new chiral one-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymers, [Cu(II)L2]M(II)(CN)].2H2O (M(II) = Ni(II) (1) and Pt(II) (2), L = trans-cyclohexane-(1R,2R)-diamine) have been presented. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1) space group with a = 9.864(4) A, b = 15.393(8) A, c = 7.995(4) A, beta = 110.32(3) degrees , V = 1138.4(10) A3, and Z = 2, while 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1) space group with a = 9.899(3) A, b = 15.541(4) A, c = 8.102(2) A, beta = 111.02(2) degrees , V = 1163.6(5) A3, and Z = 2. The unique zigzag cyano-bridged chains along the crystallographic b axis consist of alternate chiral [CuL(2)]2+ cations and square-planar [M(CN)4]2- anions. One side of the axial Cu-N(triple bond C) bond distances are 2.324(6) and 2.34(1) A with Cu-N[triple bond]C angles of 137.8(6) degrees and 138.2(9) degrees for 1 and 2, respectively. On the other hand, the opposite side of the axial Cu-N(triple bond C) bond distances are 3.120(8) and 3.09(1) A with significantly large bent Cu-N[triple bond]C angles of 97.9(5) degrees and 96.8(7) degrees for 1 and 2, respectively. The novel axial bonding features of extremely long semi-coordination Cu-N bonds are attributed to coexistence of pseudo-Jahn-Teller elongation and electrostatic interaction in the unique zigzag cyano-bridged chains. The characteristic bonding features with overlap between small 3d (Ni(II)) or large 5d (Pt(II)) and 3d (Cu(II)) orbitals results in larger shifts in XPS peaks of not only Cu2p(1/2) and Cu2p(3/2) but also Ni2p(1/2) and Ni2p(3/2) for 1 than those of 2, which is also consistent with weak antiferromagnetic interactions with Weiss constants of -5.31 and -5.94 K for 1 and 2, respectively. The d-d, pi-pi*, and CT bands in the electronic, CD, and MCD spectra for 1 and 2 in the solid state at room temperature are discussed from the viewpoint of magneto-optical properties.     

Sensitive determination of bromine and iodine in aqueous and biological samples by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using tetramethylammonium hydroxide as a chemical modifier

A procedure for the simultaneous determination of bromine and iodine by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry was investigated. In order to prevent the decrease in the ionization efficiencies of bromine and iodine atoms caused by the introduction of water mist, electrothermal vaporization was used for sample introduction into the ICP mass spectrometer. To prevent loss of analytes during the drying process, a small amount of tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution was placed as a chemical modifier into the tungsten boat furnace. After evaporation of the solvent, the analytes instantly vaporized and were then introduced into the ICP ion source to detect the (79)Br(+), (81)Br(+), and (127)I(+) ions. By using this system, detection limits of 0.77 pg and 0.086 pg were achieved for bromine and iodine, respectively. These values correspond to 8.1 pg mL(-1) and 0.91 pg mL(-1) of the aqueous bromide and iodide ion concentrations, respectively, for a sampling volume of 95 microL. The relative standard deviations for eight replicate measurements were 2.2% and 2.8% for 20 pg of bromine and 2 pg of iodine, respectively. Approximately 25 batches were vaporizable per hour. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of various certified reference materials and practical situations as biological and aqueous samples. There is further potential for the simultaneous determination of fluorine and chlorine.     

Low temperature degradation and characterization of natural rubber

Low temperature degradation of natural rubber was performed with potassium persulfate (K₂S₂O₈, KPS) in the latex stage at 30 °C to accomplish a good processability of the rubber. Various grades of natural rubbers were used as a source rubber. Gel content, molecular weight and chemical structure of the rubbers were characterized by swelling method, size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, respectively. The well characterized natural rubber was subjected to oxidative degradation with KPS at 30 °C. Mooney viscosity decreased when the latex was degraded with 1.0 phr of KPS and it was dependent upon the amount of KPS. Molecular weight and gel content of the degraded natural rubber were about one-half as low as those of the source rubber. Chemical structure of the rubber was analyzed through Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopic methods. The degraded natural rubber was found to contain carbonyl and formyl groups as an evidence of the oxidative degradation. Tensile strength of a vulcanizate prepared from the degraded natural rubber was the same as that prepared from the source rubber, even though the gel content and the molecular weight of the degraded rubber were distinguished from those of the source rubber.     

Sensitivity enhancement for inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry of cadmium by suction-flow on-line ion-exchange preconcentration

A column of iminodiacetate chelating resin is used to preconcentrate cadmium by a factor of 25-fold for a 5-ml sample. The sampling rate was 25 h^?1, and the detection limit 0.05 ng Cd²⁺ ml^?1. The r.s.d. for 0.1 μg Cd²⁺ ml^?1 was 2.2% (n = 10). This technique was applied to the determination of cadmium in certified biological reference materials and waste-water samples.     

Polyelectrolytes containing dihyronicotiamide I. Electrostatic effect on the reduction in aqueous solution

Reduction of charged or uncharged substrates by a copolymer of N-(p-vinylbenzyl)-1,4-dihydronicotinamide and sodium styrene-p-sulfonate (PNAH) in aqueous solutions was investigated. Electrostatic interaction of PNAH with charged substrates led to a far more effective reduction of crystalviolet (CV) and a far less effective reduction of potassium ferricyanide (FeC) than the monomer model [N-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH)] system. In the PNAH-CV system, in particular, a rapid reduction occurs by a first-order process because of the remarkable concentration effect of the polymer. Furthermore, this reduction was not appreciably affected by an added salt, suggesting the presence of hydrophobic interaction between PNAH and CV.     

Trace ion analysis of sea water by capillary electrophoresis: determination of strontium and lithium pre-concentrated by transient isotachophoresis

The applicability of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to ions having relatively low natural occurrences in sea water is limited by method's relatively poor concentration detection sensitivity. A combination of CZE with indirect UV detection and transient isotachophoresis (tITP) pre-concentration was developed to evolve the CZE practical utility towards the quantitative determination of the minor sea water cationic components, strontium and lithium. The ITP stacking criterion at the initial stage of a CZE separation was met by taking a highly mobile sodium, the principle matrix cation, to perform the role of a leading ion, whereas the moderately mobile sample macrocomponents, Ca2+ and Mg2+, acted as the terminating ion. The carrier electrolyte, consisting of 10 mM 4-methylbenzylamine and 1.5 mM citric acid at pH 4.8, was found to be optimal to accommodate both analyte cations in the ITP range and then separate them in the CZE mode, with relative standard deviations for migration times from 0.06-0.15% and for peak areas from 4-8%. The limits of detection were 1.3 mg l(-1) Sr2+ and 0.12 mg l(-1) Li+. The developed method was applied to the analysis of a surface sea water sample and a sea water reference material. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS).