7‐Methoxy‐2,3‐dioxo‐1,4‐dihydroquinoxalin‐6‐aminium chloride monohydrate

Single crystals of the title compound, C₉H₁₀N₃O₃⁺·Cl⁻·H₂O, were obtained by recrystallization from hydrochloric acid. The cations stack along the crystallographic a direction. The 2,3‐dioxo‐1,4‐dihydroquinoxaline group shows a significant deviation from planarity [r.m.s. deviation from the best plane = 0.063 (2) Å]. Hydrogen bonding links the cations, chloride anions and water molecules to form an extended three‐dimensional architecture.     

Cadmium(II) thio‐ and selenocyanate complexes of 3,3′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐1,1′‐biadamantane,a ligand designed with an `extended nanodiamond' aliphatic platform

In the structures of the Cd^II pseudohalide coordination polymer poly[[diaquabis[μ₂‐3,3′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐1,1′‐biadamantane‐κ²N¹:N^1′]cadmium(II)] dithiocyanate dihydrate], {[Cd(C₂₄H₃₂N₆)₂(H₂O)₂](NCS)₂·2H₂O}_n, (I), and the isomorphous selenocyanate analogue, {[Cd(C₂₄H₃₂N₆)₂(H₂O)₂](NCSe)₂·2H₂O}_n, (II), the Cd^II cations occupy inversion centres and have octahedral CdN₄O₂ environments, completed by four N atoms of the organic ligands [Cd—N = 2.316 (2) and 2.361 (2) Å for (I), and 2.313 (3) and 2.372 (3) Å for (II)] and two trans‐coordinated aqua ligands [Cd—O = 2.3189 (15) Å for (I) and 2.323 (2) Å for (II)]. In each compound, the ligand displays a bidentate N¹:N^1′‐bridging mode, connecting the metal centres at a distance of 14.66 Å into two‐dimensional nets of (4,4)‐topology, while the uncoordinated thio(seleno)cyanate anions reside inside the net cavities. Hydrogen bonding between the water molecules, anions and 1,2,4‐triazole N atoms supports the tight packing, with an interlayer distance of 6.09 Å.     

Fiber-optic Singlet Oxygen [1O2 (1Δg)] Generator Device Serving as a Point Selective Sterilizer

Traditionally, Type II heterogeneous photo-oxidations produce singlet oxygen via external irradiation of a sensitizer and external supply of ground-state oxygen. A potential improvement is reported here. A hollow-core fiber-optic device was developed with an “internal” supply of light and flowing oxygen, and a porous photosensitizer-end capped configuration. Singlet oxygen was delivered through the fiber tip. The singlet oxygen steady-state concentration in the immediate vicinity of the probe tip was ca 20 f m by N-benzoyl- dl -methionine trapping. The device is portable and the singlet oxygen-generating tip is maneuverable, which opened the door to simple disinfectant studies. Complete Escherichia coli inactivation was observed in 2 h when the singlet oxygen sensitizing probe tip was immersed in 0.1 mL aqueous samples of 0.1–4.4 × 10⁷ cells. Photobleaching of the probe tip occurred after ca 12 h of use, requiring baking and sensitizer reloading steps for reuse.     

Effect of matrix domination in PANI interpolymer complexes with polyamidosulfonic acids

Various polyaniline (PANI) interpolymer complexes with polyacids in the form of molecular solutions were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of water-soluble poly-(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (flexible backbone), poly-p,p′-(2,2′-disulfoacid)-diphenylene-terephthalamide (t-PASA, rigid backbone), and their mixtures in different ratios. The complexes were characterized by UV-Vis-near infrared spectroscopy in solutions; also, the films’ drop-casts from these solutions were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemical, direct current (DC) conductivity, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. It was shown that the nature of polyacid affects the shape of spectra and the dynamics of their changes. The character of spectral changes during the matrix synthesis of PANI in the presence of mixtures of the rigid-chain and flexible-chain matrixes and the study of spectral properties of the obtained PANI solutions demonstrates the existence of the rigid-matrix domination effect in the process of formation of PANI interpolymer complexes. Spectral properties of the obtained PANI complexes with the mixtures of flexible-chain and rigid-chain polyacids of different ratios (3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 1:6) are very similar to those ones for the complex with rigid-chain t-PASA. At the same time, there is a correlation between the electrical conductivity and morphology of the films of PANI complexes and their composition, the conductivity passing through a minimum for the complexes with the polyacid mixtures (6:1, 3:1, and 1:1).     

Simplified categorization of outdoor activities for male and female U.S. indoor workers-a feasibility study to improve assessment of ultraviolet radiation exposures in epidemiologic study questionnaires

Skin cancer studies depend on questionnaires to estimate exposure to ultraviolet light and subsequent risk but are limited by recall bias. We investigate the feasibility of developing a short checklist of categories comprising outdoor activities that can improve sun exposure questionnaires for use in epidemiologic studies. We recruited 124 working and retired U.S. radiologic technologists (52% women). Each subject was instructed to complete a daily activity diary, listing main indoor and outdoor activities between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. during a 7 day period. A total of 4697 entries were associated with 1408 h (21.1%) of the total 6944 h spent outdoors. We were able to classify the activities into seven main activity categories: driving, yard work, home-maintenance, walking or performing errands, water activities, other recreational or sports activities and leisure activities or relaxing outside. These activities accounted for more than 94% of time spent outdoors both for working and retired men and women. Our data document the feasibility and guidance for developing a short checklist of outdoor activities for use in epidemiologic questionnaires for estimating sunlight exposures of working and retired indoor workers.     

Nanocrystalline aerogel VOx/MgO as a catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Nanocrystalline aerogel VO_x/MgO catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with high surface area and uniform vanadium distribution were synthesized by co-gelation followed by supercritical drying. The catalysts were shown to have superior performance compared to nanocrystalline VO_x/MgO catalysts prepared by impregnation.