Modulating charge-transfer interactions in topologically different porphyrin-C60 dyads

Control over the interchromophore separation, their angular relationship, and the spatial overlap of their electronic clouds in several ZnP-C(60) dyads (ZnP=zinc porphyrin) is used to modulate the rates of intramolecular electron transfer. For the first time, a detailed analysis of the charge transfer absorption and emission spectra, time-dependent spectroscopic measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations prove quantitatively that the same two moieties can produce widely different electron-transfer regimes. This investigation also shows that the combination of ZnP and C(60) consistently produces charge recombination in the inverted Marcus region, with reorganization energies that are remarkably low, regardless of the solvent polarity. The time constants of electron transfer range from the mus to the ps regime, the electronic couplings from a few tens to several hundreds of cm(-1), and the reorganization energies remain below 0.54 eV and can be as low as 0.16 eV.     

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nickel(II) azurin

We show that X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) can be employed to probe the oxidation states and other electronic structural features of nickel active sites in proteins. As a calibration standard, we have measured XMCD and X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra for the nickel(II) derivative of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (NiAz). Our analysis of these spectra confirms that the electronic ground state of NiAz is high-spin (S = 1); we also find that the L(3)-centroid energy is 853.1(1) eV, the branching ratio is 0.722(4), and the magnetic moment is 1.9(4) mu(B). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on model NiAz structures establish that orbitals 3d(x2-y2) and 3d(z2) are the two valence holes in the high-spin Ni(II) ground state, and in accord with the experimentally determined orbital magnetic moment, the DFT results also demonstrate that both holes are highly delocalized, with 3d(x2-y2) having much greater ligand character.     

Method validation for detection and quantification of cocoa butter equivalents in cocoa butter and plain chocolate

A European interlaboratory study was conducted to validate an analytical procedure for the detection and quantification of cocoa butter equivalents in cocoa butter and plain chocolate. In principle, the fat obtained from plain chocolate according to the Soxhlet principle is separated by high-resolution capillary gas chromatography into triacylglycerol fractions according to their acyl-C-numbers, and within a given number, also according to unsaturation. The presence of cocoa butter equivalents is detected by linear regression analysis applied to the relative proportions of the 3 main triacylglycerol fractions of the fat analyzed. The amount of the cocoa butter equivalent admixture is estimated by partial least-squares regression analysis applied to the relative proportions of the 5 main triacylglycerols. Cocoa butter equivalent admixtures were detected down to a level of 2% related to the fat phase, corresponding to 0.6% in chocolate (assumed fat content of chocolate, 30%), without false-positive or -negative results. By using a quantification model based on partial least-squares regression analysis, the predicted cocoa butter equivalent amounts were in close agreement with the actual values. The applied model performed well at the level of the statutory limit of 5% cocoa butter equivalent addition to chocolate with a prediction error of 0.6%, assuming a chocolate fat content of 30%.     

Detection and quantification of cocoa butter equivalents in cocoa butter and plain chocolate by gas liquid chromatography of triacylglycerols

The development and in-house testing of a method for the detection and quantification of cocoa butter equivalents in cocoa butter and plain chocolate is described. A database consisting of the triacylglycerol profile of 74 genuine cocoa butter and 75 cocoa butter equivalent samples obtained by high-resolution capillary gas liquid chromatography was created, using a certified cocoa butter reference material (IRMM-801) for calibration purposes. Based on these data, a large number of cocoa butter/cocoa butter equivalent mixtures were arithmetically simulated. By subjecting the data set to various statistical tools, reliable models for both detection (univariate regression model) and quantification (multivariate model) were elaborated. Validation data sets consisting of a large number of samples (n = 4050 for detection, n = 1050 for quantification) were used to test the models. Excluding pure illipé fat samples from the data set, the detection limit was determined between 1 and 3% foreign fat in cocoa butter. Recalculated for a chocolate with a fat content of 30%, these figures are equal to 0.3-0.9% cocoa butter equivalent. For quantification, the average error for prediction was estimated to be 1.1% cocoa butter equivalent in cocoa butter, without prior knowledge of the materials used in the blend corresponding to 0.3% in chocolate (fat content 30%). The advantage of the approach is that by using IRMM-801 for calibration, the established mathematical decision rules can be transferred to every testing laboratory.     

Ultrafast proton-coupled electron-transfer dynamics in pyrene-modified pyrimidine nucleosides: model studies towards an understanding of reductive electron transport in DNA.

5-(Pyren-1-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine (PydU) and 5-(Pyren-1-yl)-2'-deoxycytidine (PydC) were used as model nucleosides for DNA-mediated reductive electron transport (ET) in steady-state fluorescence and femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy studies. Excitation of the pyrene moiety in PydU and PydC leads to an intramolecular electron transfer that yields the pyrenyl radical cation and the corresponding pyrimidine radical anion (dU.- and dC.-. By comparing the excited state dynamics of PydC and PydU, we derived information about the energy difference between the two pyrimidine radical anion states. To determine the influence of protonation on the rates of photoinduced intramolecular ET, the spectroscopic investigations were performed in acetonitrile, MeCN, and in water at different pH values. The results show a significant difference in the basicity of the generated pyrimidine radical anions and imply an involvement of proton transfer during electron hopping in DNA. Our studies revealed that the radical anion dC.- is being protonated even in basic aqueous solution on a picosecond time scale (or faster). These results suggest that protonation of dC.- may also occur in DNA. In contrast, efficient ET in PydU could only be observed at low pH values (< 5). In conclusion, we propose--based on the free energy differences and the different basicities--that only dT.- but not dC.- can participate as an intermediate charge carrier for excess electron migration in DNA.     

Corrosion-stable nickel- and cobalt-based alloys for dental applications

In a comparative study the in vitro corrosion behavior of a selection of nickel- and cobalt-based alloys for application in dentistry containing no noble metals was studied with slow scan cyclic voltammetry. The obtained breakthrough potentials, the repassivation behavior and further typical features of the cyclic voltamograms are correlated with the chemical composition as measured with electron beam microanalysis. Surface inhomogenities detected with the latter method are discussed with respect to the electrochemical behavior. For all alloys stabilities in terms of breakthrough potential superior to previously reported data for nickel-base alloys are found.     

Pd/C-catalyzed room-temperature hydrodehalogenation of aryl halides with hydrazine hydrochloride

Treatment of aryl and heteroaryl halides with catalytic amounts of Pd/C in the presence of hydrazine hydrochloride in basic medium (sodium hydroxide or sodium t-butylate) at room temperature leads to the corresponding hydrodehalogenation products with high selectivity. Aryl iodides, bromides, chlorides and fluorides can be reduced using this reagent combination. The reduction is compatible with various electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups.     

Simultaneous determination of ondansetron and tropisetron in human plasma using HPLC with UV detection

A rapid and sensitive HPLC method for the simultaneous quantitation of ondansetron and tropisetron, two serotonin (5-HT) receptor antagonists frequently used in treatment and prevention of nausea and emesis, is described. The procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction of human plasma with dichloromethane coupled with reversed-phase HPLC and UV detection. The lower limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.62 ng/mL for ondansetron and 1.25 ng/mL or tropisetron. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged from 1.5 to 7.5% and 5.3 to 13.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and precision were sufficient for determination of plasma concentrations after therapeutic administration of both drugs and the method can be used for the estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters.