Spectroelectrochemical characterisation of poly[Ni(saltMe)]-modified electrodes

Electrogenerated polymers based on the nickel(II) complex 2,3-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)butane-2,3-diaminatonickel(II), poly[Ni(saltMe)], were characterised by in situ FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and ex-situ EPR spectroscopy in order to gain insights into film structure, electronic states and charge conduction. The role of the nickel ions during film oxidation was probed by using EPR to study naturally abundant Ni and 61Ni-enriched polymers. The data from all the spectroscopic techniques are consistent, and clearly indicate that polymerisation and redox switching are associated with oxidative ligand based processes; coulometry suggests that one positive charge was delocalised through each monomer unit. EPR provided evidence for the non-direct involvement of the metal in polymer oxidation: the polymer is best described as a polyphenylene-type compound (conducting polymer), rather than an aggregation of nickel complexes (redox polymer), and the main charge carriers are identified as polarons. An explanation for the high electrochemical stability and conductivity of poly[Ni(saltMe)] with respect to that of poly[Ni(salen)] is proposed. based on stereochemical repulsion between monomeric units; this can impose a less compact supramolecular structure on polymers with bulkier substituents.     

Ab initio studies of structural features not easily amenable to experiment. 17. The molecular structures of some strained cyclic hydrocarbons and estimates of their strain energies

The molecular structures of tricyclohexane, norbornane, quadricyclane, and cubane were completely refined by standard ab initio force relaxation on the 4-21G level. The results can be used as a basis to interpret some contradictory experimental reports found in the literature and to establish some hitherto unobserved structural trends involving the C? C and C? H bond distances of the cases studied. Group Delta;E values for C? (H)₃(C), C? (H)₂(C)₂, and C? (H)(C)₃ (Benson's notation) derived from the total energies of the completely relaxed 4-21G geometries of a number of unstrained hydrocarbons are also listed. The values are used to estimate the strain energies of the systems studied and of the optimized 4-21G geometries of cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclohexane, and bicyclo (2.1.0)pentane. Cooperative effects in the strain energies are discussed.     

Dual fluorescence (S1, S2) in chrysene and 3,4-benzophenanthrene

S₂ and S₁ fluorescence of chrysene and 3,4 benzophenanthrene has been observed in the vapour phase under collision free conditions. It is shown that the intermediate strong couplinng model can be applied to these molecules. The efficiency of the transfer of the excess energy to collision partners is given for different gases.     

Gaussian overlap approximation in the projected Hartree–Fock method

A method for the approximate calculation of matrix elements with respect to projected Hartree–Fock wave functions is proposed. The method is tested on some calculations in the many-parameter AMO method. It is found that the approximation reduces the amount of work, involved in the evaluation of the energy, by a factor of five and that it reproduces the exact values to within a few per cent.     

g tensor of transition ions in a crystalline matrix: Interstitial V(IV) and Ti(III) in rutile TiO2

In order to check if the parametrized crystal field approach is efficient in the analysis of an EPR powder spectrum we study defects of known geometry as if we did not know it. The g tensor of an interstitial V⁴⁺ ion in a single crystal of rutile TiO₂ can be interpreted without ambiguity, and the optimized parameters compare well with their theoretical values. For an interstitial Ti³⁺ ion, two solutions are found: both of them correspond to interstitial positions, but they differ in the principal axis orientation.     

Development of a screening method for cocaine and cocaine metabolites in urine using solvent microextraction in conjunction with gas chromatography

A simple, quick and inexpensive screening method for cocaine and cocaine metabolites has been developed. Drug extraction was achieved using the relatively new technique of solvent microextraction (SME). Complete analysis is achieved in 13 min, using, a 6-min extraction with a 2-microl drop followed by separation on a gas chromatograph. The developed procedure was tested as a screening method for cocaine and cocaine metabolites in spiked urine samples. Using SME, concentrations as low as 0.125 microg ml(-1) of cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester, cocaethylene and anhydroecgonine methyl ester were measurable with relative standard deviation values averaging 9.0%.     

Comparative study of reflectance cells for PLS-FTIR determination of sugars in soft drinks

A comparative study has been carried out between a horizontal Attenuated Total Reflectance (h-ATR) cell and a Cylindrical Internal Reflection (CIR) cell (CIRCLE cell). Both cells were employed for the determination of glucose, fructose, sucrose and total sugar in soft drinks and fruit juices using absorbance measurements at two resolution values (4 and 8 cm^–1). Data were processed by Partial Least Squares regression (PLS). Using a resolution of 4 cm^–1, mean relative errors of prediction from 0.6% to 1.3% were obtained using the horizontal-ATR and from 0.6% to 2.8% using the CIRCLE cell resulting in a limit of detection from 0.03% in the case of sucrose to 0.21% for total sugar for the h-ATR and from 0.06% for sucrose to 0.13% for glucose using the CIRCLE cell. Both cells provided appropriate figures of merit, but the analytical sensitivity obtained using the h-ATR cell was three times higher than that obtained using the CIRCLE cell.     

Determination of mitomycin C in plasma, serum and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet and electrochemical detection

The performance of a number of normal phase and reversed-phase systems, with ultraviolet detection at 360 nm, has been investigated with respect to their applicability to pharmacokinetic studies of mitomycin C (MMC). The reversed-phase system developed was also combined with a polarographic detector in order to compare the sensitivity and selectivity of ultraviolet and electrochemical detection. A simple isolation procedure, based on the adsorption of MMC on a non-ionogenic resin, has been developed. The developed assay is applied to a pharmacokinetic study from which some examples are given.