Simultaneous determination of copper, cadmium and nickel by ratio derivative polarography

Ternary mixtures of metals can be resolved by using the ratio derivative polarography without the need for any pre-separation step. The method is based on the simultaneous use of the first derivative of ratios of polarograms and measurements of zero-crossing potentials. The polarogram of the mixture is obtained and the amplitudes of the current at appropriate potentials are divided by the corresponding amplitudes in the polarogram of a standard solution of one of the components, and the subsequent derivation against potential results to the first derivative of the ratio polarogram. The concentrations of the other two components are then determined from their respective calibration graphs established by measuring the ratio derivative analytical signal at the selected zero-crossing points. The method has been successfully applied for resolving ternary mixtures of copper, cadmium and nickel, which have overlapped polarograms in pH 2.87 Britton-Robinson buffer. The concentration ranges to be determined are 0.30-1.40 mg l(-1) for copper, 0.90-4.50 mg l(-1) for cadmium and 0.20-1.20 mg l(-1) for nickel, and the recoveries are 88.3-101.9% for copper, 92.2-105.4% for cadmium and 95.0-107.0% for nickel.     

Two new compounds from the fruit of Ailanthus altissima

A new phenolic derivative, 4-hydroxyphenol-1-O-[6-O-(E)-feruloyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), and a new terpenylated coumarin, named altissimacoumarin H (2) were identified from the fruit of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae), together with ten known compounds (3–12), including two coumarins and eight phenylpropanoids. Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical method and spectroscopic data. Antiviral effect against Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) of all the compounds obtained were evaluated using leaf-disc method.     

Reaction mechanism studies on isoquinoline with hydroxyl radical in aqueous solutions

The reaction mechanism between isoquinoline and ·OH radical in aqueous dilute solutions under different conditions was studied by pulse radiolysis. The main characteristic peaks in these transient absorption spectra were attributed and the growth-decay trends of several transient species were investigated. Under neutral or alkaline conditions, the reaction of ·OH radical and isoquinoline produces OH-adducts with respective rate constants of 3.4 × 10⁹ and 6.6 × 10⁹ mol⁻¹ · dm³ · s⁻¹ while under acidic conditions, the isoquinoline was firstly protonated and then ·OH added to the benzene ring and produced protonated isoquinoline OH-adducts with a rate constant of 3.9 × 10⁹ mol⁻¹ · dm³ · s⁻¹. With a better understanding on radiolysis of isoquinoline, this study is of help for its degradation and for environmental protection. __________ Translated from Journal of Fudan University (Natural Science), 2006, 45(6): 774–778 [8BD1;81EA: 590D;65E6;5B66;62A5;(自然科学版)]     

Temperature and metal composition dependence of lateral photovoltaic effect in Al-Alq3/SiO2/Si structures

A series of Al=-（Alq3）l-x granular films is prepared on Si wafer with native oxide layer using co-evaporation technique. Large lateral photovoltaic effect （LPE） is observed, with an optimal LPV sensitivity of 75 mV/mm in x=0.35 sample. The dependence of LPE on temperature and A1 composition is investigated, and the possible mechanism is discussed.     

Difluorocarbene-Induced Ring-Opening Difluoromethylation-Halogenation of Cyclic (Thio)Ethers with TMSCF2X (X=Br,Cl)**

The ring-opening difluoromethylation-halogenation of cyclic (thio)ethers is reported through a simple strategy relying on carbon-chalcogen bond activation with difluorocarbene. The reaction proceeds through in situ protonation of the previously little-known difluoromethylene oxonium or sulfonium ylide intermediate followed by ring-opening with halide ion to afford halogenated acyclic difluoromethyl (thio)ethers that can then be employed for further elaboration. TMSCF₂X (X=Br, Cl) are unique reagents to achieve this synthetic purpose, which serve as both the difluorocarbene source and the halide ion source.     

A new method for the synthesis of 3-hydroxymethylbenzofuran

A new one-step synthesis of 3-hydroxymethylbenzofuran, based on intramolecular cyclization of 2- （methoxymethyl）-2-（2＇-methoxymethyl-4＇-methylphenyl）-butanone I under diluted hydrochloric acid in THF, was developed. The mechanism for this process was investigated via chemical equilibrium shift of tautomer in acidic conditions. The applicability of this new method was studied further in this paper.     

Boron-iron nanochains for selective electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate

The electrocatalysis of nitrate reduction reaction(NRR) has been considered to be a promising nitrate removal technology.Developing a highly effective iron-based electrocatalyst is an essential challenge for NRR.Herein,boron-iron nanochains(B-Fe NCs) as efficient NRR catalysts were prepared via a facile lowcost and scalable method.The Fe/B ratio of the B-Fe NCs-x can be elaborately adjusted to optimize the NRR catalytic performance.Due to the electron transfer from boron to metal,the metal-metal bonds are weakened and the electron density near the metal atom centers are rearranged,which are favor of the conversion from NO_3~-into N_2.Moreover,the well-crosslinked chain-like architectures benefit the mass/electron transport to boost the exposure of abundant catalytic active sites.Laboratory experiments demonstrated that the optimized B-Fe NCs catalyst exhibits superior intrinsic electrocatalytic NRR activity of high nitrate conversion(～80%),ultrahigh nitrogen selectivity(～99%) and excellent long-term reactivity in the mixed electrolyte system(0.02 mol/L NaCl and 0.02 mol/L Na_2 SO_4 mixed electrolyte),and the electrocatalytic activity of the material shows poor performance at low chloride ion concentration(Nitrate conversion of ～61 % and nitrogen selectivity of ～57% in 0.005 mol/L NaCl and 0.035 mol/L Na_2 SO_4 mixed electrolyte).This study provides a broad application prospect for further exploring the highefficiency and low-cost iron-based functional nanostructures for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction.