Use of the normal coordinates in variational and perturbative ab initio handling of the vibronic and spin–orbit couplings in Π electronic states of linear tetra‐atomic molecules

Avariational and a perturbative approach are developed to handle the combined effect of the vibronic and spin–orbit couplings in Π electronic states of tetra‐atomic molecules with linear equilibrium geometry. Both of them are based on the use of the normal vibrational bending coordinates. The perturbative treatment is carried out via two schemes for partition of the model Hamiltonian: In the first, the spin–orbit coupling term is treated as a perturbation; in the second, it is included in the zeroth‐order Hamiltonian. It is demonstrated that both perturbative approaches lead to the same second‐order formulae when the spin–orbit coupling constant is small compared to the bending frequency, but much larger than the splitting of potential surfaces upon bending. These approaches are used to calculate the vibronic and spin–orbit structure in the X²Π electronic state of HCCS by employing the ab initio‐computed potential energy surfaces. Complete numerical equivalence of the results obtained with the present variational approach and those generated by the algorithms employing internal vibrational coordinates is demonstrated. The restrictions concerning the applicability of the perturbative approaches are discussed in terms of the agreement between the results obtained by means of them with those generated in the corresponding variational computations. The general reliability of the model employed is checked by comparing the theoretical results with the available experimental data. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

Synthesis and characterisation of Pd(II) complexes with a derivative of aminoazobenzene: Dynamic H-NMR study of cyclopalladation reactions in DMF

Three new Pd(II) complexes, i.e. [PdCl₂L]₂ (A), PdCl₂L₂ (B) and [Pd(μ-Cl)(L-H)]₂ (C), each with two diethyl [α-(4-benzenazoanilino)-2-hydroxybenzyl]phosphonates (L) bound to either one or two palladium atoms, are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, by IR, UV-vis and solid-state ¹³C-NMR spectra. Complexes B and C are additionally characterized by ¹H-, ¹³C- and ³¹P-NMR and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) studies using dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent. In DMF solution adducts A and B undergo spontaneous rearrangement into the cyclopalladated complex C. Dynamic ¹H-NMR study of this rearrangement as well as of the reactions of L with PdCl₂ and Na₂PdCl₄ revealed a complex equilibrium in DMF solutions and enabled the formation mechanism of all involved species to be resolved. The complex A is immediately solvolyzed producing two molecules of intermediate M [PdCl₂(L)(DMF)]. Complex M was also the first intermediate in the reaction of L with PdCl₂. Once present in concentration above 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³M dimerizes very fast into chloro-bridged dimer [PdCl(μ-Cl)(L)]₂ (D) which undergoes cyclopalladation and converts into the complex C. The formation of C from the intermediate D is clearly demonstrated by the concentration dependence of the cyclopalladation reaction which has order greater than one. Chloride ions, released by cyclopalladation, react with D by splitting chloro-bridge and binding to metal atoms to produce byproduct [PdCl₃(L)]⁻ (T). The same species T are formed in the reaction of L with Na₂PdCl₄ whereby a chloride ion is replaced by the ligand L. The complex B undergoes similar, but slower, solvolytic reaction producing M and L while further reaction steps are identical as in the solvolysis of A.     

A stability indicating assay method for cefuroxime axetil and its application to analysis of tablets exposed to accelerated stability test conditions

Cefuroxime axetil is the esterified form of cefuroxime, injectable second generation cephalosporine antibiotic that can be given orally. Stereo and structural isomers of cefuroxime axetil (CA), anti-cefuroxime axetil (ACA) and Delta(3)-cefuroxime axetil (DCA), can be present in cefuroxime dosage forms as the process related impurities as well as possible degradation product. Sensitive and precise reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of cefuroxime axetil in the presence of its degradation products in solid dosage forms. The RSD values for cefuroxime axetil, anti-cefuroxime axetil and Delta(3)-cefuroxime axetil of 1.80, 1.99 and 2.48%, respectively, indicated a good precision of the RP-HPLC method. Developed RP-HPLC method was sensitive with LOD = 0.08 microg mL(-1) and LOQ = 0.60 microg mL(-1) for anti-cefuroxime axetil and LOD = 0.06 microg mL(-1) and LOQ = 0.45 microg mL(-1) for Delta(3)-cefuroxime axetil. Holding studies were carried out on Ceroxim tablets, according to ICH regulation at 30 degrees C/60% relative humidity (RH) and 40 degrees C/75% RH for 1, 2, 3 and 6 months. The review data from the stability studies conducted, show the significant content change of Delta(3)-cefuroxime axetil.     

Crystal structure,thermal behavior,and microbiological activity of a thiosemicarbazide-type ligand and its cobalt complexes

The synthesis of a potentially bioactive mixed-valence Co^III/Co^II complex with 2-acetylpyridine S-methylisothiosemicarbazone (HL) ligand is described. The crystal and molecular structure of the formed [Co^IIIL₂][Co^IICl₃ py]·Me₂CO (I) compound (py stands for pyridine) is determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. It’s thermal decomposition along with the decomposition of the ligand and six structurally related complexes with formulas [CoL₂]NO₃·MeOH (1), [CoL₂]Br·MeOH (2), [CoL₂]HSO₄·MeOH (3), [CoL₂]₂[Co^II(NCS)₄] (4), [Co(HL)(L)]I₂·2MeOH (5), and [Co(HL)(L)][Co^IICl₄]·MeOH (6) was determined by simultaneous TG/DSC measurements. The decomposition pattern is evaluated using TG/DTA-MS data. The results were related to the solvent/moisture content and the decomposition mechanism of the compounds. The antimicrobial activity of the ligand and of all the complexes was tested in vitro for selected gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The activity of the ligand against all tested bacteria is comparable with those obtained for standard antibiotics, while it is less active against fungi. Surprisingly, the activity of the complexes is very low. The low antimicrobial activity of the complexes may be in connection with their high thermodynamic and kinetic inertness in solution. The results are also supported by the relatively high thermal stability of the complexes.     

Reaction of Some Alkenols with Tetrachloromethane

Summary.  The reaction of some alkenols with tetrachloromethane in the presence of a radical initiator was investigated. Regarding the effects of structural features of the starting alkenol (number and position of methyl substituents at the double bond and at the carbinol carbon atom, constitutional relationship between the double bond and the hydroxyl group) there are two possible competing reactions: addition and cyclization. In the case of the simplest alkenols (without substituents and with a more remote double bond) addition occurs; mono- and disubstituted secondary and tertiary Δ⁴- and Δ⁵-alkenols cyclize in high yields to give the corresponding cyclic ethers. Received March 17, 2000. Accepted (revised) May 31, 2000     

Tailored noise waveform/collision-induced dissociation of ions stored in a linear ion trap combined with liquid chromatography/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

A new collision-induced dissociation (CID) technique based on broadband tailored noise waveform (TNW) excitation of ions stored in a linear ion trap has been developed. In comparison with the conventional sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) CID method commonly used in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), this MS/MS technique increases throughput by eliminating the long pump-down delay associated with gas introduction into the high vacuum ICR cell region. In addition, the TNW-CID method speeds spectrum acquisition since it does not require Fourier transformation, calculation of resonant frequencies and generation of the excitation waveforms. We demonstrate TNW-CID coupled with on-line capillary reverse-phase liquid chromatography separations for the identification of peptides. The experimental results are compared with data obtained using conventional quadrupole ion trap MS/MS and SORI-CID MS/MS in an ICR cell.     

Optimisation of a solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of nicotine in hair

A headspace solid-phase microextraction method (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS) has been developed for the determination of low concentrations of nicotine in hair. Parameters affecting the SPME procedure including type of fiber coating, extraction mode, extraction temperature and time, desorption time, stirring, and salt addition have been evaluated and optimised. The method provided good linearity (r(2)≥0.9980) over the concentration range tested (0.2-20 ng/mg) and low detection limit (0.02 ng/mg). Precision expressed as relative standard deviation was <10%. The average accuracy was 95%. The proposed method was used to determine hair nicotine levels in 100 children in order to assess exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The described HS-SPME procedure is fast, simple, sensitive, and solvent-free and is therefore suitable for studies involving ETS exposure assessment.     

Coulometric titration of salts of strong mineral acids in acetic anhydride by application of a hydrogen/palladium electrode

The application of H₂/Pd electrodes as generator and indicator electrodes is described for coulometric titrations of alkali metal halides and trivalent metal sulphates in acetic anhydride with potentiometric end-point detection. In acetic anhydride, sodium fluoride is a strong enough base to be titrated directly with H⁺ ions obtained by anodic oxidation of hydrogen dissolved in palladium. Other halides (NaCl, KCl, LiCl, KBr and NaBr) can be determined, after reaction of halides with mercury (II) acetate, by coulometric titration of the liberated base. Potentiometric end-point detection with a H₂/Pd-mercury(I) acetate electrode pair is satisfactory. Sulphates of Fe(III), Cr(III) and Al(III) are determined by back-titrating the excess of barium acetate after precipitation of barium sulphate. The errors in these determinations are < 1% for concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 0.003 M.     

An efficient higher order family of root finders

A one parameter family of iterative methods for the simultaneous approximation of simple complex zeros of a polynomial, based on a cubically convergent Hansen–Patrick's family, is studied. We show that the convergence of the basic family of the fourth order can be increased to five and six using Newton's and Halley's corrections, respectively. Since these corrections use the already calculated values, the computational efficiency of the accelerated methods is significantly increased. Further acceleration is achieved by applying the Gauss–Seidel approach (single-step mode). One of the most important problems in solving nonlinear equations, the construction of initial conditions which provide both the guaranteed and fast convergence, is considered for the proposed accelerated family. These conditions are computationally verifiable; they depend only on the polynomial coefficients, its degree and initial approximations, which is of practical importance. Some modifications of the considered family, providing the computation of multiple zeros of polynomials and simple zeros of a wide class of analytic functions, are also studied. Numerical examples demonstrate the convergence properties of the presented family of root-finding methods.     

Relationship Between Geršgorin‐type Theorems for Certain Subclasses of H‐Matrices

It is well known that the eigenvalue inclusion domain can be obtained by Geršgorin theorem. It is also known that the Geršgorin theorem is equivalent to the statement that each strictly diagonally dominant (SDD) matrix is nonsingular. Similarly, statements about nonsingularity of some classes of matrices, which are generalizations of SDD class, produce new Geršgorin‐type theorems for eigenvalue inclusion domain. In this paper we will consider some subclasses of H‐matrices and corresponding (Geršgorin‐type) eigenvalue inclusion theorems. Finally, we will establish relationship between given inclusion domains.