Quantification of several atmospheric gases from high resolution infrared solar spectra obtained at the south pole in 1980 and 1986

Simultaneous total column amounts of a number of minor and trace atmospheric gases above the South Pole in December 1980 and December 1986 have been deduced from analysis of high resolution solar absorption spectra recorded (by F. J. M. and F. H. M.) from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. These spectra also contain some limited information on the vertical profiles of the observed atmospheric gases.The data sets were recorded with a Bomem Michelson-type interferometer and analyzed with a spectral least-squares fitting procedure, utilizing the best available spectroscopic line parameters and absorption cross sections. Because the same instrument, line parameters, and analysis method have been used in analyzing the December 1980 and December 1986 data sets, the precision in comparing the column amounts from these two dates is rather high, about 10–20% for the stronger absorbing gases. For this reason, it has been possible to quantify or determine upper limits for differences between the December 1980 and December 1986 total column amounts, of a number of atmospheric gases including O₃, N₂O, HNO₃, CO₂, CH₄, and CF₂C_{1 2} (CFC 12). In addition, vertical column amounts for a number of atmospheric gases covered only in the December 1986 observations have been derived, including HC1, NO, NO₂, and C₂H₆. Some of these results will be discussed here. The HC1 measurements are especially interesting since the observed amounts are higher than expected from observations made at lower latitudes in the northern and southern hemispheres.     

Photochemically-induced fluorescence determination of sulfonylurea herbicides using micellar media

An analytical method based on the use of UV irradiation to produce fluorescent derivatives from four non-fluorescent sulfonylurea herbicides, including chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron methyl, 3-rimsulfuron and sulfometuron methyl is described. Their photochemically-induced fluorescence (PIF) properties in several solvents (water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl formamide (DMF), acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, propan-2-ol and their binary mixtures with water) and micellar solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) are reported. Physicochemical variable influencing the sensitivity of the method have been optimized. A PIF method is developed for the determination of the four herbicides under study. Micellar media are found to provide the best analytical figures of merits. Linear dynamic ranges are established over about two orders of magnitude. The limit of detection (LOD) range from 0.2 to 6 ng ml(-1) according to the compound, with relative standard deviation (RSD) between 1.2 and 3.9%. Examples of applications to the analysis of these herbicides in spiked river water samples are given. The mean recoveries range from 80 to 104%.     

Thermodynamic study of the three isomers of bromo and iodobenzoic acids. Part II

Using our technique of combustion of small amount of a substance, we determined by calorimetry the standard molar enthalpy of formation in the condensed state and atT=298.15 K of the three isomers of bromo and iodobenzoic acids. Associating to these values their standard molar enthalpies of sublimation previously measured, it was possible to determine their standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gaseous state and atT=298.15 K. The experimental values of the thermodynamic properties _f H _m ^o (cr, 298.15 K), _f H _m ^o (cr, 298.15 K), _sub H _m ^o (298.15 K), and _f H _m ^o (g, 298.15 K) are given for the two series. From the experimental value of the standard molar enthalpy of atomization, it was possible to determine an enthalpy value for the C_b-Br and C_b-I bonds. The experimental and theoretical values of the resonance energy of bromo and iodobenzoic acids are compatible. The relative stability of some monosubstituted derivatives of benzoic acid studied in our laboratory is also discussed.Part I is concerned with Ref. 22 (for bromobenzoic acids) and with Ref. 23 (for iodobenzoic acids).     

Mapping the influence of molecular structure on rates of electron transfer using direct measurements of the electron spin-spin exchange interaction

The spin-spin exchange interaction, 2J, in a radical ion pair produced by a photoinduced electron transfer reaction can provide a direct measure of the electronic coupling matrix element, V, for the subsequent charge recombination reaction. We have developed a series of dyad and triad donor-acceptor molecules in which 2J is measured directly as a function of incremental changes in their structures. In the dyads the chromophoric electron donors 4-(N-pyrrolidinyl)- and 4-(N-piperidinyl)naphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide, 5ANI and 6ANI, respectively, and a naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI) acceptor are linked to the meta positions of a phenyl spacer to yield 5ANI-Ph-NI and 6ANI-Ph-NI. In the triads the same structure is used, except that the piperidine in 6ANI is replaced by a piperazine in which a para-X-phenyl, where X = H, F, Cl, MeO, and Me(2)N, is attached to the N' nitrogen to form a para-X-aniline (XAn) donor to give XAn-6ANI-Ph-NI. Photoexcitation yields the respective 5ANI(+)-Ph-NI(-), 6ANI(+)-Ph-NI(-), and XAn(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(-) singlet radical ion pair states, which undergo subsequent radical pair intersystem crossing followed by charge recombination to yield (3)NI. The radical ion pair distances within the dyads are about 11-12 A, whereas those in the triads are about approximately 16-19 A. The degree of delocalization of charge (and spin) density onto the aniline, and therefore the average distance between the radical ion pairs, is modulated by the para substituent. The (3)NI yields monitored spectroscopically exhibit resonances as a function of magnetic field, which directly yield 2J for the radical ion pairs. A plot of ln 2J versus r(DA), the distance between the centroids of the spin distributions of the two radicals that comprise the pair, yields a slope of -0.5 +/- 0.1. Since both 2J and k(CR), the rate of radical ion pair recombination, are directly proportional to V(2), the observed distance dependence of 2J shows directly that the recombination rates in these molecules obey an exponential distance dependence with beta = 0.5 +/- 0.1 A(-)(1). This technique is very sensitive to small changes in the electronic interaction between the two radicals and can be used to probe subtle structural differences between radical ion pairs produced from photoinduced electron transfer reactions.     

Intermolecular alkyne hydroaminations involving 1,1-disubstituted hydrazines

[reaction: see text] Two readily prepared catalysts have been developed for the hydroamination of alkynes by 1,1-disubstituted hydrazines. The catalyses are facile with terminal alkynes and some internal alkynes. If the hydrazine bears an aryl group, Fischer cyclization can occur in a one-pot procedure. In addition, reactions with acetylene to produce a plethora of hydrazones are described. Catalytic reactions involving acetylene and substituted hydrazines are complete in less than 2 h at room temperature and 1 atm of pressure.     

Using spin dynamics of covalently linked radical ion pairs to probe the impact of structural and energetic changes on charge recombination

We have synthesized a series of structurally related, covalently linked electron donor-acceptor triads having highly restricted conformations to study the effects of radical ion pair (RP) structure, energetics, and solvation on charge recombination. The chromophoric electron acceptor in these triads is a 4-aminonaphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide (6ANI), in which the 4-amine nitrogen atom is part of a piperazine ring. The second nitrogen atom of the piperazine ring is part of a para-substituted aniline donor, where the para substituents are X = H, OMe, and NMe(2). The imide group of 6ANI is linked to a naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI) electron acceptor across a phenyl spacer in a meta relationship. The triads undergo two-step photoinduced electron transfer to yield their respective XAn(*)(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(*)(-) RP states, which undergo radical pair intersystem crossing followed by charge recombination to yield (3)NI. Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance experiments on the spin-polarized RPs and triplet states carried out in toluene and in E-7, a mixture of nematic liquid crystals (LCs), show that for all three triads, the XAn(*)(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(*)(-) RPs are correlated radical pairs and directly yield values of the spin-spin exchange interaction, J, and the dipolar interaction, D. The values of J are all about -1 mT and show that the LC environment most likely enforces the chair conformation at the piperazine ring, for which the RP distance is larger than that for the corresponding boat conformation. The values of D yield effective RP distances that agree well with those calculated earlier from the spin distributions of the radical ions. Within the LC, changing the temperature shows that the CR mechanism can be changed significantly as the energy levels of the RPs change relative to that of the recombination triplet.     

Photochemically induced fluorescence investigation of aβ-cyclodextrin: Azure A inclusion complex and determination of analytical parameters

The photooxidation of Azure A and fluorescence properties of Azure A and its photoproduct have been investigated in aqueous media and in the presence of-cyclodextrin (-CD). The fluorescence intensity of the complex formed between the photoproduct and -CD was found to be three times higher than that of the uncomplexed Azure A photoproduct. A complex formation constant of 110±40 M^–1 was calculated using the Benesi-Hildebrand treatment of the fluorescence emission data. Although the stoichiometry of the Azure A photoproduct: -CD complex was found to be 1: 1, it seems that the Azure A structure is only partially included. Calibration graphs were plotted for the free Azure A photoproduct and the photogenerated product included in -CD. The analytical parameters and quantification limits were determined.     

Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Investigations Using Quantum‐Dot Fluorophores

F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET), which involves the nonradiative transfer of excitation energy from an excited donor fluorophore to a proximal ground-state acceptor fluorophore, is a well-characterized photophysical tool. It is very sensitive to nanometer-scale changes in donor-acceptor separation distance and their relative dipole orientations. It has found a wide range of applications in analytical chemistry, protein conformation studies, and biological assays. Luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QDs) are inorganic fluorophores with unique optical and spectroscopic properties that could enhance FRET as an analytical tool, due to broad excitation spectra and tunable narrow and symmetric photoemission. Recently, there have been several FRET investigations using luminescent QDs that focused on addressing basic fundamental questions, as well as developing targeted applications with potential use in biology, including sensor design and protein conformation studies. Herein, we provide a critical review of those developments. We discuss some of the basic aspects of FRET applied to QDs as both donors and acceptors, and highlight some of the advantages offered (and limitations encountered) by QDs as energy donors and acceptors compared to conventional dyes. We also review the recent developments made in using QD bioreceptor conjugates to design FRET-based assays.