Flexible ureasil hybrids with tailored optical properties through doping with metal nanoparticles

Hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites containing uniform distributions of metal nanoparticles have been prepared by mixing a preformed nanoparticle colloid with the precursors of a ureasil, prior to the sol-gel transition. These nanocomposites possess not only high optical quality and optical features dictated by the size and shape of the nanoparticle dopants but also a high degree of flexibility, which can largely enhance the range of applications in practical devices. The deposition of a uniform silica shell on the nanoparticle surface prior to the sol-gel transition was found to be required to maintain the colloidal stability during the process and, thus, to retain the optical properties in the final nanocomposite material. This method can be readily extended to other materials, such as semiconductor and magnetic nanoparticles.     

The role of steric and electronic interactions in the stereocontrol of the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar reactions of 5-ethoxy-3-p-(S)-tolylsulfinylfuran-2(5H)-ones with diazoalkanes: theoretical calculations and experimental evidences

The addition of diazomethane and diazoethane to (5S,SS)- and (5R,SS)-5-ethoxy-3-p-tolylsulfinylfuran-2(5H)-ones (1a and 1b) and their 4-methylderivatives (2a and 2b) proceeded in almost quantitative yields and complete regioselectivity. The observed pi-facial selectivity is determined by the configurations at both C-5 and the sulfinyl group, the later being the most important. The syn adducts were almost exclusively obtained from 1a and 2a in apolar solvents but the pi-facial selectivity was strongly decreased in more polar solvents. On the other hand, the major adducts from 1b and 2b were the anti ones and such predominance was slightly increased with solvent polarity. The exo-selectivity was complete in all the cases except for the anti approach to compounds 2a (in polar solvents) and 2b. The role of the sulfinyl group in this behavior was inferred by comparison of these results with those obtained in reactions of diazoalkanes with 5-methoxyfuran-2(5H)-one (3). Steric interactions seem to be the main ones responsible for the observed exo selectivity of reactions with diazoethane, but electronic factors, which can be modulated by the solvent, are also significant in the pi-facial selectivity control. DFT computational methods are able to correctly predict the reactivity, regioselectivity, and pi-facial selectivity exhibited by 5-alkoxyfuranones as well as their changes with the solvent polarity. A C-H.O hydrogen bond, involving the oxygen atom of the 5-alkoxy group at dipolarophiles and the endo-hydrogen atom at dipoles, seems to play a key role in the electronic interactions influencing the stereochemical course of these reactions.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis of cationic and anionic drugs in methanol

The actual mobilities and dissociation constants of acidic and basic pharmaceuticals were determined in methanol. Actual mobilities were derived from the dependence of the effective mobilities of the analytes on the pH of the methanolic background electrolyte solution (pH(MeOH)). The pKa values of the pharmaceuticals in methanol (pK(a,MeOH)) were calculated by non-linear curve fitting to the measured mobility values. It was found that the shift in pKa value (when compounds were transferred from water to methanol) increased with the acidity of the analyte. The average pKa shift for compounds exhibiting acidic properties in water was ca. 5.5 units, and the shift for basic compounds about 2 units. As was shown for a mixture of beta-blockers, the calculated actual mobilities and pKa values can be utilised in the optimisation of pH conditions for separation. The practical value of the method was illustrated by the analysis of urine samples.     

Study of fragmentation pattern and adsorption of 9-O-(triphenylsilyl)-10,11-dihydrocinchonidine on platinum by hydrogen/deuterium exchange using electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry

We have studied the adsorption on a platinum (Pt) catalyst of two compounds utilizable as a chiral basic catalyst and a chiral modifier, dihydrocinchonidine (DHCD), and a new cinchona alkaloid derivative containing a bulky group, the Ph3SiO-DHCD molecule. The method of choice was the detection by electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange at room temperature, in tetrahydrofuran, at a D2 pressure of 1 bar. Based on the ESI-MS/MS spectrum of the new compound, we propose a mechanism for the formation of the silatropylium cation containing a Si-O bond. From the fragmentation pattern of Ph3SiO-DHCD it was confirmed that ESI-ion-trap MS/MS can be used to study the adsorption processes of complicated carbon compounds by investigating their H/D exchange reactions. In the case of Ph3SiO-DHCD, the results demonstrate that H/D exchange takes place mainly on the quinoline skeleton. However, the strong pi-bonded adsorption of the quinoline skeleton parallel with the imaginary plane of Pt is not preferred because the bulky Ph3Si group inhibits the multiple pi-bonded adsorption of the Ph3SiO-DHCD. Because of this hindrance the molecule was adsorbed tilted via the nonbonding electron pair of the N atom and C2' atom of the quinoline skeleton; consequently, mainly alkaloid-d1 and alkaloid-d2 are formed.     

Thermal Analysis of Acrylonitrile Polymerization and Cyclization in the Presence of N,N-Dimethylformamide

This paper examines the polymerization of acrylonitrile to poly(acrylonitrile)(PAN), and its cyclization, in bulk form and using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent in which both monomer and polymer are soluble. Thermal analysis of the resultant products after polymerization has been performed by DSC and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Scanning electron microscopy has been used to study the morphology of the resultant products and after thermal treatments. The DSC thermal curve of PAN-DMF sample is quite different from the PAN bulk sample, showing a single sharp exothermic peak associated with nitrile group polymerization (cyclization) of PAN at lower temperature (240°C) than that of bulk PAN sample (314°C). Cyclization of PAN was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. It was found that the amide molecules are difficult to eliminate completely in the product obtained after the polymerization reaction, even after prolonged heating at 110°C, and remain occluded. The formation of a complex by dipolar bonding is also possible and it is discussed. It is concluded that the amount of heat evolved as well as the temperature interval over which it is released are influenced by the chemical processing of PAN when using DMF as solvent of both monomer and polymer. Pyrolysis of these PAN samples revealed the release of occluded molecules of DMF, and several compounds containing nitrogen produced from the thermal degradation processes. All these results are interesting to know the chemical processing of carbon fibres and activated carbon fibres from PAN modified precursors.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of functionalized 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans by cyclization of 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadienes with epoxides

The Lewis acid mediated cyclization of epoxides with 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadienes, electroneutral equivalents of 1,3-dicarbonyl dianions, results in the formation of 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans with a great variety of substitution patterns and functional groups. This includes the synthesis of 2,3'-bifuranylidenes and 7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes. The cyclization of dienes with functionalized epoxides containing base-labile groups proceeds with good chemoselectivity. In all reactions, good regio- and E diastereoselectivities are observed. Based on the stereoselectivities observed for reactions of 1,2-disubstituted epoxides, a working hypothesis for the mechanism of the reaction is suggested.     

Influence of the activation temperature on structural and textural properties of NiMo/Al2O3 hydrodesulfurization catalysts

Investigations of a commercial NiMo/Al₂O₃ hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalyst are directed towards optimization of the activation procedure of HDS catalyst concerning active phase formation and thermal stability. Structural and textural data obtained with XRD, IR-FTIR, XPS and LTNA reveal that the optimal temperature for the formation of active species on the catalyst surface and an appropriate pore structure is 300°C.     

The role of TLC in the screening of inherited metabolic diseases

Summary Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a rapid, reliable and inexpensive screening technique for diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases (IMD). Our screening program encompasses five main situations where the use of TLC is considered to be vindicated: (i) analysis of amino acids; (ii) screening for sugar defects; (iii) detection of pathological oligosaccharidurias; (iv) screening for organic acid disorders; and (v) detection of abnormalities in tryptophan metabolism. Examples are presented of chromatograms obtained from pathological samples. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996     

Transition metal complexes with thiosemicarbazide-based ligands

Solvate complexes of UO ₂ ²⁺ andN(1), N(4)-bis(salicylidene)-S-methylisothiosemicarbazone, (H₂Me-L¹), of general formula [UO₂(Me-L¹)S] (S= H₂O, MeOH, EtOH, Py, DMF and DMSO) were synthesized. The methanolic UO ₂ ²⁺ ” adducts of N(1)-benzoylisopropylidene-N(4)-salicylidene-S-alkylisothiosemicarbazone, (H₂R-L²,R=Me, Prⁿ) of general formula [UO₂(R-L²)· MeOH], were also prepared. Thermal decomposition of the complexes was investigated in air and argon. The complexes decompose to α-U₃O₈ in air, while in argon the decomposition is not completed up to 1000 K. The temperature and the mechanism of decomposition of the complexes are a function of the solvent belonging to the inner coordination sphere.     

Thermoluminescence analysis for testing the irradiation of spices

Thermoluminescence signals of irradiated and unirradiated spices and herbs are due to inorganic matter grains adhering to the surfaces. This study reports the mineral composition of this dust being, mainly quartz, calcite and philosilicates; it shows the differences between samples exposed and non-exposed to -radiation on the basis of TL signals after long storage periods (1–16 months). A saturation process in the TL signal is found when the samples absorb doses higher than 5 kGy. Finally, the TL glow curve intensities do not suffer significant changes with the dose rate of the -source used in the radiation process.