Sensitive determination of diquat by a kinetic method using the stopped-flow mixing technique

A simple, sensitive, selective, fast and inexpensive assay for the determination of diquat is proposed. The method is based on the reduction of the herbicide to a strongly fluorescent monocation radical with sodium dithionite. The initial rate of this reaction is directly proportional to the diquat concentration. The stopped-flow mixing technique was used because the kinetic data can be obtained in only 7 s, meaning that the method can be automated. The calibration graph is linear over the range 5-500 ng ml-1 and the precision (RSD) is close to 1.2%. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by determining the herbicide in different kinds of samples.     

Activity measurements in the ternary system NaBr+NaClO4+H2O at 25°C

The activity coefficients of sodium bromide in the ternary system NaBr+NaClO₄+H₂O were determined at 25°C and constant ionic strength of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mol-kg^?1 from emf of the cell without, liquid junction $$ISE - Na|NaBr(m_A ), NaClO_4 (m_B ), AgCl_{(s)} 1 Ag$$ The experimental activity coefficients were comparatively analyzed by using the Harned, Scatchard, Pitzer and Lim-HOLL treatments. All these methods are adequate for the analysis of the experimental data. The results have been compared with those of Lanier for the system: NaCl+NaClO₄+H₂O. The Gibbs excess energy of mixing was obtained and qualitatively interpreted in terms of ionic interactions.     

Elasticity and electro-magneto-elasticity of general-relativistic systems

This essay aims at demonstrating the interest for a genuine continuum mechanics and, more restrictively, elasticity of general-relativistic systems in cases where the Einsteinian gravitational picture cannot be deleted, e.g., in elastic gravitational-wave detectors and in the study of elastic oscillations of solid stars. The same foundations, constitutive theory, and methodology (superimposition of perturbations on finite initial states) apply to both cases, which also demand a generalization to comprehend electrodynamical-mechanical couplings, electroelasticity in the first case (use of piezoelectricity), and magnetoelasticity in the second case (presence of extremely intense magnetic fields).     

Novel pyrimidine-bridged platinum(II) complexes: multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and crystal structures of (NR4)2[(PtCl3)2(mu-pyrimidine)] and cis- and trans-[Pt(R2SO)Cl2]2(mu-pyrimidine)

Two new types of pyrimidine-bridged Pt(II) complexes, (NR4)2[(PtCl3)2(mu-pm)] and cis- and trans-[Pt(R2SO)Cl2]2(mu-pm) where pm = pyrimidine, were synthesized and characterized by IR and multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies and by crystallographic methods. Compounds with dimethylsulfoxide, tetramethylenesulfoxide, di-n-propylsulfoxide (DPrSO), di-n-butylsulfoxide (DBuSO), dibenzylsulfoxide (DBzSO), and diphenylsulfoxide were studied. The aqueous reaction of K2PtCl4 with pyrimidine produced the [(PtCl3)2(mu-pm)](2-) ions, which can be precipitated with a NR4(+) salt. The aqueous reaction of K[Pt(R2SO)Cl3] with pyrimidine in a 2:1 ratio produced the dinuclear species trans-[Pt(R2SO)Cl2]2(mu-pm). With DBuSO and DBzSO, the analogous cis isomers were also obtained. The 195Pt NMR resonances of the trans dimeric complexes were observed at higher field (av -3088 ppm) than the cis compounds (av -2948 ppm). The 195Pt coupling constants with the atoms of pyrimidine 3J(195Pt-1H) and 3J(195Pt-13C) are larger in the cis configuration than in the trans analogues. The crystal structures of two ionic complexes, (NR4)2[(PtCl3)2(mu-pm)] (R = Me and n-Bu), and of three mixed-ligands dimers, trans-[Pt(R2SO)Cl2]2(mu-pm) (R2SO = DMSO, DPrSO) and cis-Pt(DBuSO)Cl2]2(mu-pm), were determined.     

Polymeres porteurs de greffons peptidiques: Polymérisation et copolymérisation de monomères styréniques parasubstitués par des oligopeptides

Polymers and copolymers with peptide pendant chains have been prepared by polymerization and copolymerization of styrene with para styryl peptide monomers terminated by a carboxylic acid or primary amine group.

Polymerizations of I and II have been initiated by AIBN, in tetrahydrofuran or N,N-dimethylformamide. For polymers with functional ends on side-chains protected by urethane functions (amino group) or ester function (acid group), polymer regeneration has been carried out by acidolysis (urethane) and basic hydrolysis (ester). The influences of monomer structure on polymerization yield and the water solubility after neutralisation, have been considered. Copolymerizations of styrene with I and II have been studied. Random copolymers, with solubility in various solvents depending on their composition, have been obtained. Reactivity ratios have been determined.     

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in anion electron-stimulated desorption: D- from deuterated hydrocarbons condensed on Kr and water ice films

The results of D(-) ion desorption induced by 3-20 eV electrons incident on condensed CD(4), C(2)D(6), C(3)D(8), C(2)D(4), and C(2)D(2) are presented. These compounds were deposited in submonolayer amounts on the surfaces of multilayer solid films of Kr and nonporous and porous amorphous ice. While desorption of the D(-) anions proceeds via well-known processes, i.e., dissociative electron attachment (DEA) and dipolar dissociation, significant perturbations of these processes due to presence of the different film substrates are observed. We have shown that it is possible to distinguish between the character and nature of these perturbations. The presence of the nonporous ice perturbs the D(-) desorption intensity by affecting the intrinsic properties of the intermediate anion states through which dissociation proceeds. On the other hand, the presence of the porous ice introduces extrinsic effects, which can affect electron energy losses prior to their interaction with the hydrocarbon molecule and/or the energies and intensities of the fragment species after dissociation. Simple mechanisms responsible for the observed variations in the intensities of desorbed anionic signals are proposed and discussed. Electron transfer from transient anion states to electron states of the substrate film or nearby hydrocarbon molecules appear as the most efficient mechanism to reduce the magnitude of the DEA process.     

2]pseudorotaxane formation with N-benzylanilinium axles and 24-crown-8 ether wheels

[reaction: see text] As a hybrid of the N,N-dibenzylammonium and 1,2-bis(pyridinium)ethane axles, various N-benzylanilinium cations were investigated as suitable axles for the formation of [2]pseudorotaxanes with the 24-membered crown ethers 24C8 and DB24C8. The effect of electron-donating OCH(3) and electron-withdrawing CF(3) groups on both the anilinium and benzyl aromatic rings was studied. Formation constants and structural details were compared to the [2]pseudorotaxanes formed by the two aforementioned dibenzylammonium and 1,2-bis(pyridinium)ethane axles.     

Non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis of the positional isomers of a sulfated monosaccharide

A non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) method coupled to indirect absorbance detection has been developed for the separation of the three positional isomers of monosulfated fucose. The optimized electrolyte was composed of 12 mM ethanolamine, 2 mM trimesic acid buffer in a methanol-ethanol (1:1, v/v) mixture. As the retained electrolyte entails no separating agent other than the pH buffer, the NACE separation of the positional isomers has been ascribed mainly to selective ion-pairing with the electrolyte counter-ion and the possibility of a selective solvation effect in the alcohol mixture. In the absence of pure isomeric standards, peak identification was completed by MS and NMR spectroscopy and selective enzymatic desulfation. This method should be of interest for the structure elucidation of monosulfated fucose-based polysaccharides and for the screening of sulfoesterase of unknown activity.