Adsorption of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions on a 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-modified silica gel

The chemically modified silica, obtained by reacting 2-mercaptobenz-imidazole with 3-chloropropyl silica gel, was used to adsorb Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions at various pH. Between pH 3–5, the order of selectivity was Hg(II) > Cd(II) Cu(II) Zn(II) Pb(II). Under batch conditions retentions of 100% were achieved for all metals except for Pb(II) where 93% was attained. Under column conditions recoveries of 100% were obtained for all metals.     

Oxidative formation of thiolesters in a model system of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

In the presence of a catalytic amount of 3-butyl-4-methylthiazolium bromide, the reaction of benzaldehydes with azobenzene in dichloromethane containing octanethiol and Et(3)N gave the corresponding S-octyl thiobenzoates in good yields. The thiolesters were produced by trapping of the 2-benzoylthiazolium salts with the thiol, which were generated through the azobenzene oxidation of the active aldehydes. This is the first example for the thiolester formation mimicking the function of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. An electron-withdrawing substituent at the 4-position of benzaldehyde enhanced the reaction rate. The effect of benzaldehyde substituents on the reaction rate was examined quantitatively on the basis of kinetic measurements, leading to a nonlinear correlation of log(k(obs)) with Hammett's substituent constants (sigma). The origin of the nonlinear Hammett plot was interpreted in terms of a shift in the rate-determining step of the multistep reaction with change of the electronic nature of substituent. Further support for this assumption was given by the observation that the reaction constant (rho) of the Hammett plot for the azobenzene substituent effect on the oxidation rate of 4-bromobenzaldehyde was much smaller than that of 4-cyanobenzaldehyde.     

Synthesis and reactivity of triethylborane adduct of N-heterocyclic carbene: versatile synthons for synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

The reaction of an imidazolium salt with LiBEt(3)H afforded triethylborane adduct of imidazol-2-ylidene, which can act as a carbene precursor for the synthesis of a transition metal complex as well as a main group element complex.     

Enantioselective fluorination of tert-butoxycarbonyl lactones and lactams catalyzed by chiral Pd(II)-bisphosphine complexes

An efficient catalytic enantioselective fluorination of tert-butoxycarbonyl lactones and lactams is reported. Reactions of the lactone substrates proceeded smoothly in an alcoholic solvent with a catalytic amount of chiral Pd(II) complex. In the case of the less acidic lactam substrates, concurrent use of the Pd complex and 2,6-lutidine as a cocatalyst was effective. Under the reaction conditions, the fluorinated lactones and lactams were obtained in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity (94-99% ee).     

Electrochemical Behavior of Gold Nanoparticles Generated In Situ on 3‐(1‐Imidazolyl)propyl‐silsesquioxane

Gold nanoparticles of different morphologies have been synthesized on a silica‐based organic‐inorganic hybrid material for catalytic applications. The gold nanoparticles formations proceed through in situ chemical reduction of the AuCl₄^? anions previously adsorbed on 3‐(1‐imidazolyl)propyl‐silsesquioxane, which plays the role of substrate and stabilizer. Two distinct reducing agents, sodium citrate and sodium borohydride, were employed to generate gold nanoparticles of different sizes. UV‐vis diffuse reflectance as well as transmission electron microscopy were employed to evaluate the particle’s morphology. Modified carbon paste electrodes were prepared from these materials and their electrochemical behavior investigated using potassium ferrocyanide and 4‐nitrophenol as redox model compounds. Both AuNPs‐modified electrodes decreased the overpotential of 4‐nitrophenol reduction by around 90 mV compared to the unmodified electrode as evidenced by cyclic voltammetry experiment. However, the smaller diameter particles (borohydride‐reduced) produced more significant catalytic effect as a consequence of their large surface area. Regarding the sensing parameters, the sensitivity is higher for the borohydride‐reduced AuNPs while the values of limit of detection are of the same order of magnitude. Thus, the detection limit and sensitivity are 70.0±0.6 nM and 187 µA/mM for the citrate‐reduced AuNPs; and 75.0±2.2 nM and 238 µA/mM for the borohydride‐reduced AuNPs.     

Phosphate ion-sensitive coated-wire/field-effect transistor electrode based on cobalt phthalocyanine with poly(vinyl chloride) as the membrane matrix

An ion-selective coated-wire/field-effect transistor electrode responding to dihydrogenphosphate is described. The device consists of a coated-platinum wire electrode connected to the gate of a conventional field-effect transistor. Cobalt phthalocyanine is used as ion-exchange electroactive substance and poly(vinyl chloride) as the membrane matrix. The characteristics of the device are investigated and its response is studied by two methods, the linear dependence of the square root of the drain current in the saturated region on the logarithm of ion activity for sodium dihydrogenphosphate, and the dependence of the gate-source potential on the logarithm of ion activity of the same ion. A linear response is obtained in the range of ion activity 10^?5-10^?1 mol dm^?3 and the response slope is 45 mV per decade change of H₂PO₄^? ion activity; the selectivity coefficients are discussed.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1-arylsulfonyl-3-piperazinone derivatives as factor Xa inhibitors IV. A series of new derivatives containing a spiro[5H-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrazine-2(3H),4'-piperidin]-5-one skeleton

In the course of development of factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor in an investigation involving the synthesis of 1-arylsulfonyl-3-piperazinone derivatives, we found new compounds containing a unique spiro skeleton. Among such compounds, (-)-7-[(6-chloro-2-naphthalenyl)sulfonyl]tetrahydro-8a-(methoxymethyl)-1'-(4-pyridinyl)-spiro[5H-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrazine-2(3H),4'-piperidin]-5-one (28, M55529) had activity more favorable than those of previously reported compounds. The inhibitory activity of M55529 for FXa is IC(50)=2 nM, with high selectivity for FXa over thrombin and trypsin.     

Radical chain reactions using THP as a solvent

THP (tetrahydropyran) has been found to show an excellent stability towards autooxidation, compared with THF. Tributyltin hydride mediated radical cyclization, when conducted in THF as a solvent, suffers from competition of hydrogen abstraction from the solvent, whereas the use of THP resulted in the course to negligible degree. Tributyltin hydride, TTMSS, and hexanethiol mediated radical reactions were carried out successfully using THP as a solvent.     

Characterization of iron dinitrosyl species formed in the reaction of nitric oxide with a biological Rieske center

Reactions of nitric oxide with cysteine-ligated iron-sulfur cluster proteins typically result in disassembly of the iron-sulfur core and formation of dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs). Here we report the first evidence that DNICs also form in the reaction of NO with Rieske-type [2Fe-2S] clusters. Upon treatment of a Rieske protein, component C of toluene/o-xylene monooxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. OX1, with an excess of NO(g) or NO-generators S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-pencillamine and diethylamine NONOate, the absorbance bands of the [2Fe-2S] cluster are extinguished and replaced by a new feature that slowly grows in at 367 nm. Analysis of the reaction products by electron paramagnetic resonance, M?ssbauer, and nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy reveals that the primary product of the reaction is a thiolate-bridged diiron tetranitrosyl species, [Fe(2)(μ-SCys)(2)(NO)(4)], having a Roussin's red ester (RRE) formula, and that mononuclear DNICs account for only a minor fraction of nitrosylated iron. Reduction of this RRE reaction product with sodium dithionite produces the one-electron-reduced RRE, having absorptions at 640 and 960 nm. These results demonstrate that NO reacts readily with a Rieske center in a protein and suggest that dinuclear RRE species, not mononuclear DNICs, may be the primary iron dinitrosyl species responsible for the pathological and physiological effects of nitric oxide in such systems in biology.     

Highly increased breakdown potential of anodic films on aluminum using a sealed porous layer

The growth of a uniform barrier-type anodic film on aluminum is usually terminated by electric breakdown, which is controlled by the resistance of electrolyte or anion concentration. In this study, highly resistive porous layers have been introduced by anodizing aluminum in sulfuric acid electrolyte followed by boiling water treatment to examine their influence on the electric breakdown potential. The pores of the porous alumina film are sealed by forming hydrated alumina (pseudo-boehmite) after the boiling water treatment. The breakdown potential increases to over 1500 V for the pore-sealed aluminum specimens on anodizing in sodium tungstate electrolyte. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed an increased resistance of the porous layer after the pore-sealing treatment. GDOES depth profile analysis disclosed that the sealed porous layer impedes the incorporation of tungsten species into the barrier layer. The introduction of a highly resistive layer that also suppresses the anion incorporation on aluminum is effective in increasing the breakdown potential of anodic films.