Vitamin B13 Complexes of Nickel(II) and Copper(II) with Ethanolamine: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,Spectroscopic and Thermal Studies

Fac‐bis(ethanolamine)orotatonickel(II), [Ni(HOr)(ea)₂] and mer‐bis(ethanolamine)orotatocopper(II) dihydrate, [Cu(HOr)(ea)₂]· 2H₂O were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, UV‐Vis Spectroscopy and thermal analysis. In addition, their solid‐state structures were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. Both the fac‐[Ni(HOr)(ea)₂] (1) and mer‐[Cu(HOr)(ea)₂]·2H₂O (2) complexes are isomorphous and crystallize in the triclinic space group . The Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions are coordinated by two neutral ea ligands and one orotate dianion in a distorted octahedral fashion. The ea ligand acts as a bidentate donor through the amine N and hydroxyl O atoms, while orotate dianion is coordinated through deprotonated N3 pyrimidine atom and carboxylate oxygen atom as a bidentate ligand. Thermal decompositions of the complexes are studied in over the range 20–600 °C on heating in a static air atmosphere.     

Synthesis,Spectral, Thermal and Structural Characterization of mer‐Triaquaorotatoquinoxaline Cadmium(II) Dihydrate

The new orotate complex of cadmium(II) with quinoxaline, mer‐[Cd(HOr)(H₂O)₃(QX)]·2H₂O, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT–IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X–ray diffraction techniques. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group . The Cd²⁺ ion exhibits a distorted octahedral coordination by one bidentate orotate, one monodentate quinoxaline and three aqua ligands. The uncoordinated water molecules link the orotate, quinoxaline and aqua ligands via O–H···O, O–H···N hydrogen bonds. Thus, an extensive network of hydrogen bonds stabilizes the crystal structure and form an infinitive three dimensional lattice. The decomposition reaction takes place in the temperature range 20–700 °C in the static air atmosphere.     

The electrochemical behavior of some podands at a benzo[c]cinnoline modified glassy carbon electrode

This paper describes the grafting of benzo[c]cinnoline (BCC) molecules on glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface. The attachment of BCC molecules to carbon substrate is induced by the electrochemical reduction of the corresponding diazonium salt. The modification of GC with BCC diazonium salt was done in aprotic solution and proved by blocking of dopamine electron transfer. The presence of BCC at the GC surface was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). On modified surface, the electrochemical behavior of two different types of podands and the catalytic effects of the GC-BCC surface were studied. The XPS was used to monitor element characteristics of the adsorbates on the GC surface and confirm the attachment of BCC molecules to the GC surface.     

Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of WO3 modified TiO2 nanorods

Pristine and WO₃ decorated TiO₂ nanorods (NRs) were synthesised to investigate n-n-type heterojunction gas sensing properties. TiO₂ NRs were fabricated via hydrothermal method on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO) substrates. Then, tungsten was sputtered on the TiO₂ NRs and thermally oxidised to obtain WO₃ nanoparticles. The heterostructure was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Fabricated sensor devices were exposed to VOCs such as toluene, xylene, acetone and ethanol, and humidity at different operation temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that the heterostructure has better sensor response toward ethanol at 200 °C. Enhanced sensing properties are attributed to the heterojunction formation by decorating TiO₂ NRs with WO₃.     

A case study: assessment of preservice secondary mathematics teachers’ metacognitive behaviour in the problem-solving process

The purpose of the present study was to investigate preservice secondary mathematics teachers’ metacognitive behaviour in the mathematical problem-solving process. The case study methodology was employed with six preservice mathematics teachers, enrolled at one university in Ankara, Turkey. We collected data by using the think aloud method, which lasted for two sessions. It was found that there was no relationship between academic achievement and frequencies of metacognitive behaviour. However, the types of problems could affect these frequencies. Furthermore, there was no pattern in metacognitive behaviour with respect to achievement and type of problem.     

Spectroscopic characterization of charge-transfer complexes of morpholine with chloranilic and picric acids in organic media: Crystal structure of bis(morpholinium 2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexanolate)

Electron donor–acceptor interaction of morpholine (morp) with chloranilic acid (cla) and picric acid (pa) as π-acceptors was investigated spectrophotometrically and found to form stable charge-transfer (CT) complexes (n–π*) of [(Hmorp)₂(cla)] and [(Hmorp)(pa)]₂. The donor site involved in CT interaction is morpholine nitrogen. These complexes are easily synthesized from the reaction of morp with cla and pa within MeOH and CHCl₃ solvents, respectively. ¹HNMR, IR, elemental analyses, and UV–vis techniques characterize the two morpholinium charge-transfer complexes. Benesi–Hildebrand and its modification methods were applied to the determination of association constant (K), molar extinction coefficient (?). The X-ray crystal structure was carried out for the interpretation the predict structure of the [(Hmorp)(pa)]₂ complex.     

Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols

Phytosterols and tocopherols are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries for their health benefits. Current analysis methods rely on conventional liquid chromatography, using an analytical column, which can be tedious and time consuming. However, simple, and fast analytical methods can facilitate their qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study, a fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (FC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols. Omitting chromatography by employing flow injection analysis—mass spectrometry (FIA-MS) failed in the quantification of target analytes due to analyte-to-analyte interferences from phytosterols. These interferences arise from their ambiguous MS fingerprints that would lead to false identification and inaccurate quantification. Therefore, a C18 guard column with a 1.9 µm particle size was employed for FC-MS/MS under isocratic elution using acetonitrile/methanol (99:1 v/v) at a flow rate of 600 µL/min. Analyte-to-analyte interferences were identified and eliminated. The false peaks could then be easily identified due to chromatographic separation. In addition, two internal standards were evaluated, namely cholestanol and deuterated cholesterol. Both internal standards contributed to the observed analyte-to-analyte interferences; however, adequate shift in the retention time for deuterated cholesterol eliminated its interferences and allowed for an accurate quantification. The method is fast (1.3 min) compared to published methods and can distinguish false peaks observed in FIA-MS. Seven analytes were quantified simultaneously, namely brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol. The method was successfully applied in the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols present in the unsaponifiable matter of canola oil deodorizer distillate (CODD). β-sitosterol and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant phytosterols and tocopherols, respectively.     

Studies on the Effect of Organic Solvents and Temperature on the Micellar Solution of Pentamethylene-1,5-bis(tetradecyldimethylammonium bromide) Gemini Surfactant

Effects of three organic solvents, viz. methyl cellosolve, acetonitrile, and formamide, on the micellization process of Gemini surfactant pentamethylene-1,5-bis(tetradecyldimethylammonium bromide) aqueous solutions, with the volume percentages of the organic solvents up to 50%, have been investigated conductometrically. The studies were made at different temperatures and the data were used to find out different micellization parameters. From the study, it was observed that, although an increment in the amount of the organic solvents delays the micellization, the increase in the critical micelle concentration (cmc) is comparatively less below 20%(v/v) showing the predominance of water character in the bulk phase at lower compositions of the organic solvents. Applying equilibrium model for micelle formation, various thermodynamic parameters were also calculated from the temperature dependence of the cmc values and the results show that the micellization process becomes less spontaneous as the volume % of the organic solvent increases in the system due to the action of water-organic solvent mixed media as better solvent than pure water (solvophobic effect) for the studied Gemini molecules.     

C−H?Pd interactions and cyano-bridged heteronuclear polymeric complexes

Three new heterometallic complexes, [Cu(N-Meim)₄Pd(μ-CN)₂(CN)₂]_n (1), [Zn(N-Meim)₃Pd(μ-CN)₂(CN)₂]_n (2) and [Cd(N-Meim)₂Pd(μ-CN)₄]_n (3), have been isolated from the reactions of M[Pd(CN)₄] (M = Cu(II), Zn(II) or Cd(II)) and N-Meim (N-methylimidazole) with in different molar ratios. All complexes have been characterized by X-ray analyses, vibrational (FT-IR and Raman) spectra, thermal and elemental analyses. The crystallographic analysis reveals that the crystal structures of 1 and 2 are 1D coordination polymer, while 3 presents a 2D network. In the Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes, two cyanide groups of [Pd(CN)₄]²⁻ coordinated to the adjacent M(II) ions and distorted octahedral and square pyramidal geometries of complexes are completed by four and three nitrogen atoms of N-Meim ligands, respectively. The Cd(II) ion is six-coordinate, completed with the two nitrogen atoms of N-Meim ligands in the axial positions and the four nitrogen atoms from bridging cyano groups in the equatorial plane. The most striking features of complexes 1-3 are the presence of obvious C-H?Pd hydrogen-bonding interactions between the Pd(II) and hydrogen atoms of N-Meim ligand. This weak hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role in the architecture of the network polymers. The adjacent chains are held together by C-H?Pd, C-H?π or π?π interactions, forming three-dimensional network.     

Determination of pK a of benzoic acid- and p-aminobenzoic acid-modified platinum surfaces by electrochemical and contact angle measurements

Acidity constant values of benzoic acid (BA)-modified platinum electrode (Pt-BA) and p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA)-modified platinum electrode (Pt-NHBA) surfaces were determined using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and contact angle measurements (CAM). Diazonium tetrafluoroborate salt reduction and pABA oxidation reactions were used to prepare (Pt-BA) and (Pt-NHBA) surfaces, respectively. Both surfaces exhibited pH dependence with [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? redox probe solutions at different pH; this allowed us to estimate the surface pK _a values. Acidity constants for Pt-BA surface were found to be pK _a (3.09 ± 0.25), (4.89 ± 0.11), and (3.91 ± 0.54) by CV, EIS, and CAM techniques, respectively, while the values for Pt-NHBA surface were pK _a (3.16 ± 0.45), (4.24 ± 0.40), and (5.64 ± 0.12). The Pt-BA surface pK _a values were lower in CV and CAM measurements relative to the bulk solution of BA, while a higher value was observed in EIS for Pt-BA surface. The pK _a values determined for Pt-NHBA surface via both CV and EIS were lower than the bulk value; however, the result obtained from CAM was one unit higher than pK _a of bulk pABA.