Determination of DNA using sodium 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate as an in situ photochemical fluorescence probe

An in situ photochemical fluorescence probe method for the determination of DNA with sodium 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS) as a photochemical fluorescence probe was developed. It was based on the conversion of AQS into an intensively fluorescent product by irradiating with UV radiation. The photochemical reaction is retarded by DNA. The determination can be carried out by measuring the fluorescence intensity at a fixed time. The calibration graph was linear in the range 0–80 ng ml⁻¹ calf thymus (CT) DNA (r = 0.9991), the limit of detection was 3.2 ng ml⁻¹ CT DNA (n = 9). The kinetic behaviour of the photochemical reaction and the effects of experimental conditions were investigated and discussed in detail. The results of absorption spectra and competitive binding experiments suggested the interaction between AQS and DNA to be intercalative.     

Mathematical Modeling of Kinetics of Adenosine 5"-Triphosphate Hydrolysis Catalyzed by the Zn2+ Ion in the pH Range 7.4–8.3

Kinetic data on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis catalyzed by the Zn²⁺ ion in the pH range 7.4–8.3 are analyzed by the method of numerical simulation. The rates of forward and reverse reactions of isomeric conversion of the open conformation of ZnATP^2– (Op), which is inactive in hydrolysis to ADP, to the active cyclic conformation ZnATP^2– (Cy) in the specified range of pH are proportional to the concentration of H₃O⁺ and characterized by the same rate constants as in the range of pH above 8.5. The mechanism of the isomeric conversion Op Cy involves the formation of a pentacovalent state at -P, pseudorotation, and the abstraction of OH^– from -P of the pentacovalent intermediate with the participation of H₃O⁺ in a slow step. The sequence of steps for the formation and transformation of intermediates, which was established earlier for the ZnATP^2– associates in the pH range 7.1–7.4, is applicable to this range of pH as well. In the analyzed range of pH, the contributions from the pH-independent channel of hydrolysis of the ZnATP^2– associates and the pH-dependent channel of CyOH^– and Op(OH^–)₂ species, which determine the formation of ADP and AMP at pH > 8.5, are comparable. Changes in the concentrations of intermediate products (monomeric and associates) in the course of hydrolysis are described. General base catalysis by a nitrogen base in the steps of formation of active centers for hydrolysis, the general acid catalysis of a coordinated water molecule, the exchange of medium OH^– with OH of -phosphate, the catalysis of conversion of the inactive conformation ZnATP^2– to the active one by a proton, and a change of the rate-limiting stage of hydrolysis with a change in pH indicate the enzyme-like mechanism of the reaction.     

Hypochromic and hyperchromic effects on the vibronic structure of molecular crystal spectra. The dimer model

It is shown on model calculations that crystal-field mixing of Frenkel excition states in molecular crystals lead not only to a redistribution of their relative intensities but also to changes in the vibrational structure of weak exciton bands.     

The microdetermination of stannous tin with N-bromosuccinimide

A new titrimetric method for the microdetermination of stannous tin, e.g., stannous chloride is proposed. The mechanism of the reaction in the presence of dilute hydrochloric acid is discussed. The determination of stannous tin is done on concentrations ranging from 10 mg to 100 μg. The experimental error does not exceed ±2%. Comparative analysis of tin sheets, rods, and foils by the proposed method and the iodine method is reported. The method has been shown to be suitable for the determination of tin in canned foods.     

Time-resolved chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization studies of structure and reactivity of methionine radical cations in aqueous solution as a function of pH

Using time-resolved chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) techniques, we have studied the mechanism of the photoreactions of triplet excited 4-carboxybenzophenone (CBP) with l-methionine (Met) and 3-(methylthio)propylamine (MTPA) in aqueous solution and the details of the formation of CIDNP at pH from 6.7 to 13.6. At a pH below the pKa of the nitrogen atom of Met, the CIDNP is strongly affected by degenerate electron exchange between the S-S cationic radical dimer and the zwitterionic form of Met with the rate constant kex = 3.4 x 10(8) s(-1) providing an exhaustive explanation of the pH dependence of steady-state CIDNP that was previously interpreted as a manifestation of fast interconversion among three different methionine radical species (Goez, M.; Rozwadowski, J. J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 7945-7953). By analyzing the polarization of different protons formed in geminate recombination as a function of the pH, we obtained the branching ratio between two reaction pathways for oxidative quenching of (T)CBP via electron transfer from the sulfur and nitrogen atoms of Met and MTPA. Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation times were determined in the dimeric cation radical of Met (T1,S = 8.5 micros). In the cyclic radical cation of MTPA with a three-electron two-center S-N bond, the estimated paramagnetic relaxation is comparatively slow for all protons. Fast deprotonation of the primary aminium radical cation of MTPA and Met in strongly basic solution takes place on the submicrosecond time scale leading to efficient formation of CIDNP in the neutral aminyl radical.     

Acetylenic/cyanoacetylenic complexes: simulation of the Titan’s atmosphere chemistry

The structures and energies of the 1:1 acetylene/cyanoacetylene, acetylene/dicyanoacetylene and cyanoacetylene/dicyanoacetylene complexes in solid argon matrices have been investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory. For the three complexes, predicted frequency shifts for the L shaped structures, characterized by a hydrogen bond between the nitrogen of the cyano group and the acetylenic proton, were found to be in good agreement with those experimental. Only in the case of acetylene/cyanoacetylene complex, we obtained a second minimum with a T shaped structure characterized by an interaction between the proton of cyanoacetylene and the Π system of acetylene. It appears clearly that HC₃N acts as an electrophile or as a nucleophile in these complexes.     

Open-tubular capillary electrochromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry using polymeric surfactant as a stationary phase coating

We describe the use of the polymeric surfactant poly(sodium undecylenic sulfate) (poly-SUS) as a stationary phase coating in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) coupled with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the analysis of beta-blocker and benzodiazepine analytes. The production of a polymeric surfactant coating on the capillary inner wall involves (i) adsorption of the cationic polymer poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) to the inner surface of capillary, and (ii) adsorption of the negatively charged poly-SUS onto the cationic polymer layer via strong physical interaction of the two polymer layers. As compared with micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) coupled with ESI-MS, the main advantage of this proposed method is minimization of introduction of the monomeric or polymeric surfactant into the mass spectrometer, thus avoiding the interference of the nonvolatile micelle in ESI-MS. The effects of buffer pH and applied voltage on the separation of the analytes are also discussed. Under optimum conditions, four of the five beta-blockers and four benzodiazepines are separated.     

Investigation of hydrogen embrittlement of Sn–Al alloy during contact with water vapour

The humid air induced processes of embrittlement of the Sn–Al alloy and hydrogen emission have been investigated. Using the secondary-ion mass spectrometry, X-ray, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry techniques it was found that the brittleness is caused by a failure of phase adhesion due to accumulation of hydrogen and formation of oxidized layers on phase boundaries during contact of the alloy with water vapour. Specific physical and electrochemical properties of the Sn/Al phase boundary satisfy conditions for the formation of atomic hydrogen and its reaction with Sn. Electrochemical corrosion plays an important role at the stage of formation of atomic hydrogen. The penetration of hydrogen and its accumulation in the bulk of the alloy is due to the high energy of the phase boundary and the low energy of formation of unstable tin hydride. Electronic Publication     

(C(wedge)N(wedge)N)Pt(C identical to C)nR] (HC(wedge)N(wedge)N = 6-aryl-2,2'-bipyridine,n = 1-4, R = aryl,SiMe3) as a new class of light-emitting materials and their applications in electrophosphorescent devices

Tridentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes bearing sigma-alkynyl ligands exhibit tunable photoluminescence and enhanced stability during vacuum deposition; OLEDs based on these materials display orange to red electrophosphorescence with low turn-on voltages (approximately 4 V), maximum luminance approaching 10,000 cd m-2 and efficiency up to 4.2 cd A-1.