Detection of environmental chemicals by SPR assay using branched cyclodextrin as sensor ligand

We obtained the association constants Ka of estrogen (E2) and environmental chemicals by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay using the immobilized mono-6-O-α-maltosyl-β-CD (G₂βCD) compared with the immobilized β-CD and the immobilized estrogen receptor (ER). The association behavior of G₂βCD was shown as a ER model compound. The calibration curve was determined by the initial rate of association depending on the various concentrations, and the minimum detectable concentrations in the order of parts per billion were calculated. The SPR assay has advantages that the pre-treatment of the sample is not necessary and the immobilized ligand is stable and useful for the repeated measurement.     

Bis(PheOH) maleic acid amide-fumaric acid amide photoizomerization induces microsphere-to-gel fiber morphological transition: the photoinduced gelation system

The photoinduced gelation system based on 1 (non-gelling) to 2 (gelling) molecular photoisomerization in water results by microspheres (1) to gel fibers (2) transformation at the supramolecular level.     

Ground-state properties of benzenoid hydrocarbons by simple bond orbital resonance theory approach

π-electron energies and bond orders of benzenoid hydrocarbons with up to five fused hexagons have been considered by the simple Bond Orbital Resonance Theory (BORT) approach. The corresponding ground states were determined according to four BORT models. In the first three models a diagonalisation of the Hückel-type Hamiltonian was performed in the bases of Kekulé, of Kekulé and mono-Claus and of Kekulé and Claus resonance structures, respectively. In the fourth model a simple BORT ansatz was used. According to this ansatz, the ground state is a linear combination of the positive Kekulé structures, all with equal coefficients. It was shown that π-electron energies and bond orders obtained by these models correlate much better with the PPP energies and bond orders than with the Hückel energies and bond orders. This indicates that a simple BORT approach is quite reliable in predicting the more sophisticated PPP results. Concerning the relative performance of the four BORT models, the best results were obtained with the BORT ansatz. The performance deteriorates with the expansion of the basis set. This is attributed to the fact that in these models the improvement of the basis set is not accompanied with the corresponding improvement of the Hamiltonian. Comparing the BORT-ansatz bond orders with the Pauling bond orders, it was shown that BORT-ansatz bond orders correlate much better with the PPP bond orders. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Polymer-Titanium hybrids obtained by radical polymerization and Sol-Gel process

The possibility to prepare hybrids made by poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and/or poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEtA) with TiO₂ was studied. The processes of polymer formation-radical polymerization and sol-gel process for inorganic network —were achieved simultaneously. Due to a high reactivity of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) in the sol-gel process, a complexant comonomer, allyl acetoacetate (AlAcAc), was used. Covalent bonds between polymer and inorganic chains were obtained by addition of trialkoxysilane derivates with vinyl (VTES) or methacryloyl (MPTS) groups. The presence of TIP inhibits the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). The PVAc-TiO₂ hybrids were produced by the sol-gel process of TIP in the presence of pre-obtained PVAc. Except for VTES and MPTS, trialkoxysilane derivates with methyl (MeTES), octyl (OTES) and phenyl (PTES) groups were used. The thermal stability of hybrids is strongly affected by TiO₂ presence and by the type of trialkoxysilane derivates. The thermal stability of PVAc hybrids decreases in the presence of TiO₂ inorganic network. The glass transition temperature of polymers increases in the presence of the inorganic network.     

Modification of solids with volatile organics III: Natural zeolites

Summary The effect of pre-adsorbed benzene and ethanol on the adsorptive properties of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) has been studied by gas-solid chromatography. It has been shown that modification of the solid surface by volatile organics has a significant influence on the adsorptive properties. The modification is of the same order as the more difficult modification by inorganics, as illustrated here by clinoptilolite modification with Co²⁺. Energy distribution of surface adsorptive sites appears to be continuous and confirms previous finding that only a small proportion of active sites is responsible for most adsorbate retention. Part II reference [4]     

Hyaluronic acid-copper(II) complexes: Spectroscopic characterization

Hyaluronic acid-copper(II) complexes were studied by ultraviolet and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), as well as by rheological measurements. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters were obtained from experimental spectra measured at 200 K by non-linear optimization method. These showg _x g _y <g _z and indicate the ground electronic state of copper ion, which is characteristic for carboxylato-copper(II) complexes. The non-axial symmetry of theg-tensor suggest rhombic crystal field symmetry. Formation of HA-Cu(II) complex is realized through the interaction of copper ions with carboxyl groups of the HA macromolecule. This complex is characteristic of the network-like rheological properties of its aqueous solution.     

Flow injection analysis for calcium in serum,water and waste waters by spectrophotometry and by ion-selective electrode

The Flow Injection technique is shown to provide fast, reliable and sensitive methods for the determination of calcium in various aqueous as well as serum samples; spectrophotometric or potentiometric detection can be used. At sampling rates of 100–110 samples per hour, with 30-μl sample injections, high reproducibility of measurement and low reagent consumption are achieved in both methods. In the spectrophotometric method, the analytical readout is available within 12 s after sample injection at a total reagent consumption of 0.75 ml per analysis. The potentiometric measurement of the calcium activity in serum is placed on a reliable basis by alternating measurements of serum samples and aqueous standards without incurring any non-reproducible changes in potential between aqueous and serum solutions. This permits the simultaneous determination of pH and pCa, the analytical readout being available within XXX s of sample injection. The good agreement between the results obtained with the Flow Injection method and those attained by atomic absorption and EDTA titrations as well as pCa stat-measurements show that the new methods are potentially suitable for routine analysis.     

Hybridization in some macrocyclic polyacetylenes

The hybridization in several cyclic polyacetylene compounds has been calculated by the maximum overlap method, assuming planar and non-planar geometries of the molecules. In the planar configuration the hybrids describing the molecular skeleton deviate from the corresponding bond directions. We have a few “bent” bonds, but in contrast to the situation in small rings, here the deviation angles are negative, i.e., the hybrids point toward the inside of the ring. Non-planar structures in which acetylene groups are kept in a plane and CCH₂ or CH₂ groups are displaced out of the plane show less deviation from the bond directions of bent bonds. Furthermore, the deviation angles decrease with an increase in the out-of-plane displacement of methylene groups. Finally, when the angle of bending of the molecules approaches 50°, the deviation vanishes, predicting a puckered conformation for the molecules. Correlation between CC stretching vibration frequencies and the corresponding CC bond overlap is discussed.     

Papierchromatographische Trennung und Identifizierung der Polyäthylenglykole und ihrer Monoäther

Zusammenfassung Es wurde eine chromatographische Methode zur Auftrennung und Identifizierung der Polyäthylenglykole und ihrer Monoäther nach Über-führung in die Ester der 3,5-Dinitrobenzoesäure ausgearbeitet. Es wurden entweder Lösungsmittelsysteme mit Dimethylformamid oder Formamid als stationäre und Hexan, Cyklohexan, Benzol, Chloroform und ihre Gemische als mobile Phase oder mit Paraffinöl imprägnierte Papiere und das Gemisch Dimethylformamid—Methylalkohol—Wasser als mobile Phase angewendet.

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Summary A Chromatographic method has been developed for the separation and identification of the polyethylene glycols and their mono-ethers after conversion into the esters of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid. The solvent systems employed consisted of dimethylformamide or formamide as stationary phase and hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, chloroform and their mixtures as mobile phase, or papers impregnated with paraffin oil and the mixture of dimethyl-formamide-methyl alcohol were used as the mobile phase.

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Résumé On a élaboré une méthode chromatographique de séparation et d'identification des polyéthylèneglycols et de leurs monoéthers après leur transformation en ester de l'acide dinitro-3,5 benzoïque. On a employé soit les systèmes de solvants avec le diméthylformamide ou le formamide comme phase stationnaire, et l'hexane, le cyclohexane, le benzène, le chloroforme et leurs mélanges comme phase mobile, ou des papiers imprégnés d'huile de paraffine et le mélange diméthylformamide-alcool méthylique-eau comme phase mobile.

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Herrn Dipl.-Ing.J. Kami aus unserem Institut danken wir für die Darstellung und Reinigung einiger angewandter Verbindungen.     

Graft polymerization of acrylic monomers onto starch fractions. I. Effect of reaction time on grafting methyl methacrylate onto amylose

A study was made of the ceric-ammonium-nitrate-initiated graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto a lineal fraction of starch (amylose). Grafting yields were determined by extraction with appropriate solvents: 1,2-dichloroethane for homo-PMM, and 0.5N NaOH for ungrafted amylose. Percent grafting was calculated by acid hydrolysis with 1N HCl. Molecular weights of PMMA side chains were determined by gel permeation-chromatography. Grafting efficiencies ranged from 72 to 83%, grafting, from 190 to 271%, and frequency of attachment of side chains, from 900–1250 glucose units per chain. The results observed are discussed.