Micromethod for the analysis of the four commonly used antiepileptic drugs using a jet tube column

We describe a simple method for the determination of phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, carbamazepine, and primidone in serum, by use of gas-liquid chromatography with temperature programming. The methylated derivatives of these anticonvulsants were well resolved, as was 5-(p-methylphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, the internal standard. In this procedure we used the jet tube for separation of the drug from the serum. The proposed procedure requires only 100 μl of serum and can be done in less than 30 min. The lower limit of detection for each of the drugs is 0.5 mg/liter. Analytical recoveries of drug from serum were excellent and peak height and concentration were linearly related up to twice the toxic concentration for serum.     

A new algorithm for generation of permutations

A new algorithm for generating permutations is presented, that generates the next permutation by reversing a certain suffix of its predecessor. The average size of this suffix is less thane 2.8. It is shown how to find the position of a given permutation and how to construct the permutation of a given position, where the position refers to the order in which the permutations are generated, and is also new.On leave from the Department of Computer Science, Technion, Haifa, Israel. This work was supported by NSF grant MCS-8302391.     

An anionic nucleophilic catalyst system for the diastereoselective synthesis of trans-beta-lactams

Trans-disubstituted beta-lactams show increasing utility and prominence in numerous pharmaceutical applications, making their asymmetric synthesis an attractive goal for chemists. We introduce an anionic, nucleophilic catalyst system that provides an efficient, diastereoselective route to trans-disubstituted beta-lactams, a complement to our previously described catalytic methodology for generating the corresponding cis diastereomers. This catalytic, "switch mechanism" process allows for flexibility in the stereoselective synthesis of beta-lactams, producing either cis or trans products as desired from the same substrates. [reaction: see text]     

Characterization of the new Bi∼6.2Cu∼6.2O8(PO4)5 oxyphosphate; a disordered compound containing 2- and 3-O(Bi, Cu)4 tetrahedra—wide polycationic ribbons

The present work is dedicated to the XRD, ED and HREM characterization of a new bismuth copper oxyphosphate Bi_∼6.2Cu_∼6.2O₈(PO₄)₅ (a=11.599(2)Å, , c=37.541(5)Å, R₁=0.0755, Rw₂₌0.174, G.S Pn2₁a). The relatively long size of its c parameter is due to the arrangement along this direction of two kinds of ribbon-like polycations formed by edge sharing O(Bi, Cu)₄ tetrahedra. The existence of such cations is characterized by the b∼5.2 Å value intrinsic to the ribbons structure and commonly found in bismuth oxyphosphate materials. In the title compound, 2-tetrahedra wide [Bi_∼2.4Cu_∼3.6O₄]^6.4+ and 3-tetrahedra wide [Bi_∼5Cu_∼3O₆]⁹⁺ ribbons are isolated by phosphate groups and alternate along c. The interstitial site created between two different sizes ribbons is occupied by Cu²⁺ cations disordered over several close crystallographic sites. The mixed Bi³⁺/Cu²⁺ nature of certain edge-of-ribbons positions induces a disorder over several configurations of the phosphate groups. The concerned oxygen atoms form the environment of the disordered interstitial Cu²⁺ cations which occupy tunnels formed by the phosphate anions. The high-resolution electron microscope study enables a precise correlation between the observed images and the refined crystal structure, evidencing the polycations visualization. Furthermore, this material being the second example of partially disordered compound similar chemical system, some topological rules can be deduced. The b-axis doubling was observed by ED and HREM and is assigned to the ordering of interstitial Cu²⁺ within tunnels cations. A partial intra-tunnel ordering was also observed.     

Preparation and characterization of n-alkanoic acid self-assembled monolayers adsorbed on 316L stainless steel

The electrochemical formation and characterization of decanoic, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid self-assembled monolayers on a native oxide surface of 316L stainless steel have been studied. This work describes a new approach to surface modification of stainless steel in which the self-assembly of n-alkanoic acids is facilitated by applying a potential to the stainless steel in an organic electrolyte solution. While decanoic acid forms a disorganized monolayer as a result of sweeping the potential in an acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 mM of the respective acid, longer acids, that is, myristic and palmitic acids, form highly ordered closed-packed monolayers. This electrochemical approach results in highly reproducible monolayers that are deposited within a shorter time than the traditional assembly process. The monolayers were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, double-layer capacity (ac voltammetry), contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and external reflection-absorption Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The utilization and implications of this modification technique are discussed.     

Electron transfer from dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene dianion: Attempted synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene

When dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene dianion (3) was allowed to react with either iron (III) chloride or ethylene bromide, a one-electron transfer from3 took place readily to give the radical anion11. Further electron transfer from11 did not occur presumably due to the antiaromatic character of dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene (1) that would have resulted. The radical anion11 underwent further transformation by hydrogen abstraction from the solvent to give 5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (2) and by dimerization to themeso and (R,S) isomers of 5,5,10,10-tetrahydro-10,10-biindeno[1,2-b]indole (4 a and4 b) respectively.

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Elektronentransfer von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen-Dianion: Ein Versuch zur Synthese von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktion von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen-Dianion (3) mit Eisen (III) oder Ethylenbromid ergab einen Ein-Elektronentransfer zum Radikalanion11. Ein weiterer Elektronentransfer fand nicht statt, vermutlich wegen des antiaromatischen Charakters von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen (1), das dabei entstehen müßte. Das Radikalanion11 ergab unter Wasserstoffentzug aus dem Lösungsmittel 5,10-Dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indol (2), das weiter zummeso- bzw. (R,S)-5,5,10,10-tetrahydro-10,10-biindeno[1,2-b]indol (4 a bzw.4 b) dimerisierte.

     

Structural, Infrared, and Magnetic Characterization of the Solid Solution Series Sr2−xPbx(VO)(VO4)2; Evidence of the Pb6sLone Pair Stereochemical Effect

The solid solution Sr_2−xPb_xV₃O₉, 0≤x≤2, was prepared by solid state reactions and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Single crystals of the pure strontium phase and mixed Sr/Pb compounds were prepared by high temperature treatment of the respective powder compositions. Pb₂V₃O₉crystals could only be obtained by the electrochemical reduction of molten PbV₂O₆. These crystals were always twinned. The previously reported crystal structure of Sr₂V₃O₉was confirmed. It was refined toR=0.050,R_w=0.057, in space group C2/c,a=7.555(1) Å,b=16.275(2) Å,c=6.948(1) Å,β=119.78(1)°. The single crystal structural studies of the Sr_1.02Pb_0.98V₃O₉and Sr_0.67Pb_1.33V₃O₉members of the series show that the introduction of lead gives rise to a progressively complicated splitting of Sr²⁺/Pb²⁺and the tetrahedral vanadium ion crystallographic sites. As a consequence the vanadium framework distorts and beyond the Sr_0.5Pb_1.5V₃O₉composition the crystal symmetry becomes triclinic. This distortion is ascribed to the stereochemical effect of the 6s²lone pair of Pb²⁺. The crystallographic parameters of Pb₂V₃O₉area=7.598(1) Å,b=16.393(3) Å,c=6.972(2) Å,α=91.38(1)°,β=119.35(1)°,γ=90.47(1)°. Pb₂V₃O₉exhibits a more complex IR spectrum than the monoclinic phases. Despite the similarity between the triclinic and monoclinic phases the magnetic susceptibilities indicate differences in the coupling between V⁴⁺ions at low temperatures.     

Synthesis, Electrical Properties, and Powder Neutron Crystal Structure Refinement of Pb1−xBixPt2O4 Compounds (0≤x≤0.3)

Substitution of Pb for Bi in the recently characterized mixed-valence lead-platinum oxide PbPt₂O₄ was attempted and a Pb_1−xBi_xPt₂O₄ solid solution was obtained for 0≤x≤0.3. Powder X-ray diffraction study showed that all substituted compounds crystallize with similar triclinic unit cell and PbPt₂O₄ lattice parameters. The structural model of Pb_0.7Bi_0.3Pt₂O₄ was refined from powder X-ray diffraction data using the Rietveld method and the results indicate the same crystal structure than PbPt₂O₄ with one mixed Pb/Bi atomic site. Neutron diffraction realized on the two limit compositions of the solid solution (x=0 and 0.3) allowed to confirm the PbPt₂O₄ and Pb_0.7Bi_0.3Pt₂O₄ stoichiometries. Mean oxidation degree of Pt atoms in the [PtO₄] infinite chains decreases from +3 for PbPt₂O₄ to +2.7 for Pb_0.7Bi_0.3Pt₂O₄. Conductivity measurements show a metallic behavior for all the compositions except the limit composition x=0.3 for which a semiconducting behavior appears.     

Pretreatment studies of cellulose wastes for optimization of cellulase enzyme activity

The composition of cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, lignin, pectin, protein, and total lipid content in the selected cellulosic wastes-tapioca (Manihot esculenta) stem, leaf, petiole, and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) were determined. The effectiveness of various physical and chemical pretreatments on the enzymatic digestibility of these wastes were identified. In general, chemical pretreatments were more effective than physical pretreatments. The efficiency of the pretreatment was checked by subjecting these wastes to enzymatic saccharification after the pretreatments.