Spectrofluorimetric kinetic determination of selenium (IV) by flow injection analysis in cationic micellar medium

A sensitive catalytic kinetic spectrofluorimetric method for determining ng ml(-1) of selenium by flow injection analysis has been developed. The method, based on the catalytic effect of Se (IV) on the reduction of resorufin by sulphide, in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride, is monitored spectrofluorimetrically (lambda(ex)=480 nm; lambda(em)=583 nm). The linearity range of the calibration graph is dependent on the concentration of sulphide. The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated. The method is simple, rapid, precise, sensitive, and widely applicable. The limit of detection is 1 ng ml(-1) Se (IV), and the calibration range is 5-1000 ng ml(-1). Sampling rate is 60 samples h(-1), and the relative standard deviation of 12 determinations of 100 ng ml(-1) Se was 0.76%. The determination of Se (IV) in the presence of Se (VI) and total selenium is described. The method was applied to the determination of Se in selenium tablets, and several synthetic samples.     

Reaction of Hypercoordinate Dichlorosilanes Bearing 8-(Dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl Group(s) with Magnesium: Formation of the 1,2-Disilaacenaphthene Skeleton

Migration of NMe(2) from C(naphthyl) to Si and Si-Si and Si-C bond formation to give a 1,2-disilaacenaphthene skeleton occurred in the reaction of hypercoordinate dichlorosilanes bearing the 8-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl group with two equivalents of magnesium [e.g., Eq. (a)]. The intermediate was isolated as the 1-isopropoxy derivative after quenching the reaction mixture with isopropyl alcohol.     

Chromogenic benzo- and monoaza-12-crown-4, 13-crown-4 and 14-crown-4 lithium-selective crown ethers

Chromogenic benzo-12-crown-4, benzo-13-crown-4 and benzo-14-crown-4 ethers have been compared with monoaza-12-crown-4 and monoazal-13-crown-4 ethers. Of these compounds, monoaza-13-crown-4 exhibited the best analytical characteristics toward the selective determination of lithium. K(ex)Li/K(ex)Na was 525 for the monoaza-crown-4 compound.     

Effect of deacetylation rate on gelation kinetics of konjac glucomannan

Effect of deacetylation rate on the gelation behaviors on addition of sodium carbonate for native and acetylated konjac glucomannan (KGM) samples with a degree of acetylation (DA) range of 1.38-10.1 wt.% synthesized using acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine as catalyst was studied by dynamic viscoelastic measurements. At a fixed alkaline concentration (C(Na)), both the critical gelation times (t(cr)) and the plateau values of storage moduli (G'(sat)) of the KGM gels increased with increasing DA. While at a fixed ratio of alkaline concentrations to values of DA (C(Na)/DA), the similar t(cr) and (G'(sat)) values independent of DA were observed. On the whole, increasing KGM concentration or temperature shortened the gelation time and enhanced the elastic modulus for KGM gel. The effect of deacetylation rate related to the C(Na)/DA on the gelation kinetics of the KGM samples were discussed.     

Determination of trace metallic impurities in high-purity quartz by ion chromatography

A method has been developed for the determination of relevant trace impurities (alkali, alkaline and transition metals) in high purity quartz by ion-chromatography. In situ reagent (HF) purification and simultaneous sample dissolution was achieved in a multichannel vapour phase digestion assembly. Twenty-one samples can be digested at a time in this vapour phase system. Significant decrease in the process blank levels for all the analytes was observed. Drastic reduction (250 times) of NH4+ blank was achieved in the described vapour phase digestion, which enables the determination of trace concentration of sodium in high purity quartz. After volatilisation of the matrix and unreacted HF, the clear water leached solutions were injected into an ion-chromatograph equipped with conductivity detector for the determination of alkali and alkaline earth metals. In the case of transition metals, the trace residues were leached with 10 mM HCl and after separation on a mixed bed analytical column (IonPac CS5) were detected by spectrophotometry after post column derivatisation using 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR). The accuracy of the result was checked by their comparison with those obtained by independent methods like inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS and ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The achievable detection limits are between 0.4 ng/g (Li) and 22 ng/g (Mn). The application of the method to the determination of the above trace metals in two high-purity-grade quartz samples is demonstrated.     

The reactions of tellurium tetrahalides with triphenylphosphine under ambient conditions

The reactions of tellurium tetrahalides and triphenylphosphine in tetrahydrofuran have been carried out under ambient conditions and afford [(Ph(3)PO)(2)H](2)[Te(2)X(10)] [X = Cl (1), Br (2)] and [(Ph(3)PO)(3)(OH(3)])(2)[TeI(6)] (4). The X-ray structures of 1 and 2 show that they are isostructural and contain discrete [Te(2)X(10)](2-) anions exhibiting octahedral coordination around both tellurium atoms with one shared edge and [Ph(3)POH...OPPh(3)](+) cations that show strong hydrogen bonds (the O...O distances are 2.399 and 2.404 A for 1 and 2, respectively). The compound 4 is built up with discrete octahedral hexaiodotellurate anions and [(Ph(3)PO)(3)(OH(3))](+) cations. The reaction of TeBr(4) and PPh(3) also results in the formation of formally zwitterionic Ph(3)PO(CH(2))(4)TeBr(4) (3). This reaction involves an unprecedented THF ring opening in which the oxygen atom becomes bonded to the phosphorus atom of triphenylphosphine and the carbon atom at the other end of the five-atomic chain becomes bonded to the tellurium atom of TeBr(4). The ring opening of the solvent THF is also taking place in the reaction involving tellurium tetraiodide, as indicated by the formation of C(4)H(8)TeI(2) (5). The reaction may initially lead to Ph(3)PI(2) that reacts with THF yielding Ph(3)PO and ICH(2)(CH(2))(2)CH(2)I. The latter species reacts with elemental tellurium producing 5. Depending on the conditions upon crystallization, two polymorphs of C(4)H(8)TeI(2) (5a and 5b) are observed. While the molecular structures of the two forms are virtually identical, their packing and intermolecular contacts are different. Two further minor products (6a and 6b) were isolated in the reaction of TeI(4) and PPh(3): Both are formally 1:1 adducts of 5 and TeI(4), but they differ considerably in their structures. 6a can be formulated as [C(4)H(8)TeI(+)](2)[Te(2)I(10)(2-)] and 6b as [C(4)H(8)TeI(+)](2)(TeI(3)(+))(2)(I(-))(4). The latter compound exhibits framework similar to that of the tetramers in gamma- and delta-TeI(4).     

Synthesis and characterization of the non-Kekulé, singlet biradicaloid Ar'Ge(micro-NSiMe(3))(2)GeAr' (Ar' = 2,6-Dipp(2)C(6)H(3), Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3))

Reaction of Ar'GeGeAr' (1) with an excess of Me3SiN3 gives the non-Kekulé, biradicaloid Ar'Ge(mu-NSiMe3)2GeAr' (3, Ar' = 2,6-Dipp2C6H3, Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) which has a planar Ge2N2Si2 array and pyramidal geometry at the germaniums. DFT calculations for the model MeGe(mu-NSiH3)2GeMe indicate no Ge-Ge bonding and a singlet ground state. The calculated energy difference between the optimized singlet and triplet states is 17.51 kcal/mol.     

Detection-dependent kinetics as a probe of folding landscape microstructure

The folding landscapes of polypeptides and proteins exhibit a hierarchy of local minima. The causes range from proline isomerization all the way down to microstructure in the free energy caused by residual frustration inherent in even the best 20 amino acid design. The corresponding time scales range from hours to submicroseconds. The smallest microstructures are difficult to detect. We have measured the folding/unfolding kinetics of the engineered trpzip2 peptide at different tryptophan fluorescence wavelengths, each yielding a different rate. Wavelength-dependent folding kinetics on 0.1-2 mus time scales show that different microstructures with a range of solvent exposure and local dynamics are populated. We estimate a lower limit for the roughness of the free energy surface based on the range of rates observed.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of ceramide perturbations in brain and fibroblasts of mice and human patients with peroxisomal disorders

In this study, the levels and composition of ceramides in brains of newborn mice lacking peroxisomes (Pex5-/-, Zellweger mice) were analyzed using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS). Total ceramide compositions were found to be comparable to that of control animals. However, a minor ceramide species, containing hexacosanoic/hexacosenoic acid as the amide fatty acid, was 9-fold increased. Also, in the sphingomyelin-derived ceramides this species was elevated. Subsequent analysis of extracts from fibroblasts of Pex5-/- mice and mice with a defective peroxisomal beta-oxidation (lacking D-specific multifunctional protein 2 (MFP2)), revealed, again, a similar rise in this particular ceramide. Further, this ceramide was elevated in human X-ALD fibroblasts as well. Whether C26:1/0-ceramide is linked to some of the pathology seen in Zellweger syndrome remains to be investigated. However, an increase in this sphingolipid can be considered as a diagnostic criterion for diseases caused by defects in peroxisome biogenesis or peroxisomal beta-oxidation.