A new correlation effect in the Helmholtz and surface potentials of the electrical double layer

The restricted primitive model of an electrical double layer around a spherical macroparticle is studied by using integral equation theories and Monte Carlo simulations. The resulting theoretical curves for the Helmholtz and surface potentials versus the macroparticle charge show an unexpected positive curvature when the ionic size of uni- and divalent electrolyte species is increased. This is a novel effect that is confirmed here by computer experiments. An explanation of this phenomenon is advanced in terms of the adsorption and layering of the electrolytic species and of the compactness of the diffuse double layer. It is claimed that the interplay between electrostatic and ionic size correlation effects, absent in the classical Poisson-Boltzmann view, is responsible for this singularity.     

Influence of the beta-alkoxy group on the diastereoselectivity of Aldol reactions of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one with 4-Alkoxytetrahydro-2H-thiopyran-3-carboxaldehydes

The diastereoselectivity of the aldol reaction of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one (3) with 1,4-dioxa-8-thiaspiro[4.5]decane-6-carboxaldehyde (9a) under a variety of conditions is examined. Under optimized conditions, three of the four possible diastereomers from this aldol reaction can be obtained selectively (3-16:1). Reactions of 9a with the Li, B, Mg(II), and Ti(IV) enolates of 3 and with the corresponding trimethylsilyl enol ether 4b in the presence of BF(3) x OEt(2), SnCl(4), or TiCl(4) as promoters gave the Felkin adducts exclusively (>95%) as mixtures of syn (11a) and anti (12a) diastereomers. Use of the "amine-free" Li enolate of 3 gave 12a with a much higher diastereoselectivity (9:1) and yield (70%) than that obtained using the lithium diisopropylamide-generated Li enolate of 3 (2-3:1; 15-40%). The TiCl(4)-promoted reaction of 4b with 9a gave 11a with excellent selectivity (16:1). In contrast, the MgBr(2) x OEt(2)-promoted reaction of 4b with 9a gave the anti-Felkin adducts exclusively as a 3:1 mixture of syn (13a)/anti (14a) diastereomers. Similar aldol reactions of 3 with the cis and trans isomers of 4-(methoxy)methoxytetrahydro-2H-thiopyran-3-carboxaldehyde (9b and 9c) were examined to probe the influence of the ketal protecting group in 9a on the observed aldol diastereoselectivity. The results are rationalized by applying Evans' stereochemical model for merged 1,2- and 1,3-asymmetric induction (non-chelation), with the exception of the MgBr(2) x OEt(2)-promoted reactions of 4b with 9a, 9b, and 9c, which are accommodated by assuming chelation control. Comparison of the reactions of 9a, 9b, and 9c suggests that the ketal group in 9a uniquely allows high levels of either Felkin or anti-Felkin selectivity to be achieved.     

Determination of water in lubricating oils by mid- and near-infrared spectroscopy

Mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy were used to determine water in lubricating oils with high additive contents that introduce large errors in determinations by the Karl-Fischer and hydride methods. MIR spectra were obtained in the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode and exhibited water specific band absorption in the region 3100–3700cm^–1, which facilitated calibration. Multivariate (partial least-squares regression, PLSR) and univariate calibration (based on peak height and band area as independent variables) were tested. Both led to errors of prediction less than 5%. NIRS determinations rely on absorbance and first-derivative spectra, in addition to two different types of multivariate calibration,viz. inverse multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Both approaches gave similar results, with errors of prediction less than 2%.For none of the proposed approaches any sample pretreatment for recording spectra is required.     

Synthesis and characterization of gold(III) complexes with dithiocarbimates derived from sulfonamides

This work describes the syntheses of four new gold(III) complexes with the general formula: K[Au(RSO₂N = CS₂)₂] (R = Ph, 2-MeC₆H₄, 4-MeC₆H₄, 4-ClC₆H₄) from the reaction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate tetrahydrate with the corresponding potassium dithiocarbimate salts dihydrate in water. The characterization of the complexes has been carried out by elemental analyses, conductance measurements, and IR, UV–VIS, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopies. Elemental analyses were consistent with the proposed formulae. The molar conductance data are consistent with the complexes being monoanions complexes. Electronic spectra, vibrational spectra, ¹H- NMR and ¹³C-NMR data are consistent with formulation as AuS₄ diamagnetic square planar complexes.     

Synthesis and application of a functionalized resin in on-line system for copper preconcentration and determination in foods by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An on-line system for preconcentration and determination of copper at μg l⁻¹ level by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid packed in a minicolumn was used as sorbent. Copper(II) ions were sorbed in the minicolumn, from which it could be eluted by hydrochloric acid solution directly to the nebulizer-burner system of the FAAS. Eluent solution was carried by water at a flow rate of 5.00 ml min⁻¹. Signals were measured as peak height by using an instrument software. Achieved sampling rate was 27 samples per hour. Analytical parameters were evaluated and the results demonstrated that copper can be determined, with acetate buffer to adjust the sample pH at 6.0, preconcentration time of 120 s and a sample flow rate of 6.50 ml min⁻¹. The desorption was carried out with 30 μl of a 1.0 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid solution. An enrichment factor of 33 in 13.00 ml of sample (120 s preconcentration time) was achieved by using the time-based technique. The detection limit (DL) (3 s) was 0.27 μg l⁻¹ and the precision (assessed as the relative standard deviation) reached values of 5.7-1.1% in copper solutions of 5.00 to 50.00 μg l⁻¹ concentration, respectively. The accuracy of procedure was confirmed by copper determination in certified reference materials. Recoveries of spike additions (1.0 or 2.0 μg g⁻¹) to food samples were quantitative (90.0-110.0%). These results proved also that the procedure is not affected by matrix interference and can be applied satisfactorily for copper determination in rice flour and starch samples.     

Rapid and sensitive method for the determination of acetaldehyde in fuel ethanol by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV–Vis detection

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of acetaldehyde in fuel ethanol was developed. Acetaldehyde was derivatized with 0.900 mL 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPHi) reagent and 50 L phosphoric acid 1 mol L^–1 at a controlled room temperature of 15°C for 20 min. The separation of acetaldehyde-DNPH (ADNPH) was carried out on a Shimadzu Shim-pack C₁₈ column, using methanol/LiCl_(aq) 1.0 mM (80/20, v/v) as a mobile phase under isocratic elution and UV–Vis detection at 365 nm. The standard curve of ADNPH was linear in the range 3–300 mg L^–1 per injection (20 L) and the limit of detection (LOD) for acetaldehyde was 2.03 g L^–1, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.999 and a precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) of 5.6% (n=5). Recovery studies were performed by fortifying fuel samples with acetaldehyde at various concentrations and the results were in the range 98.7–102%, with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 0.2% to 7.2%. Several fuel samples collected from various gas stations were analyzed and the method was successfully applied to the analysis of acetaldehyde in fuel ethanol samples.     

Astaxanthinogenesis in the yeastPhaffia rhodozyma

Astaxanthin is a diketo-dihydroxy-carotenoid produced byPhaffia rhodozyma, a basidiomicetous yeast. A low-cost fermentation medium consisting of raw sugarcane juice and urea was developed to exploit the active sucrolytic/urelolytic enzyme apparatus inherent to the yeast. As compared to the beneficial effect of 0.1 g% urea, a ready nitrogen source, mild phosphoric pre inversion of juice sucrose to glucose and fructose, promptly fermentable carbon sources, resulted in smaller benefits. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was found to be a valuable supplement for both yeast biomass yield (9.2 g dry cells/L) and astaxanthin production (1.3 mg/g cells). Distillery effluent (vinace), despite only a slightly positive effect on yeast growth, allowed for the highest pigment productivity (1.9 mg/g cells). Trace amounts of Ni² (1 mg/L, as a cofactor for urease) resulted in controversial effects, namely, biomass decrease and astaxanthin increase, with no effect on the release (and uptake) of ammonium ion from urea. Since the synthesized astaxanthin is associated with the yeast cell and the pigment requires facilitated release for aquaculture uses (farmed fish meat staining), an investigation of the yeast cell wall was undertaken using detergent-treated cells. The composition of the rigid yeast envelope was found to be heterogeneous. Its partial acid or enzymatic depolymerization revealed glucose and xylose as common monomeric units of the cell-wall glycopolymers. Yeast cell-wall partial depolymerization with appropriate hydrolases may improve the pigment bioavailability for captive aquatic species and poultry.

     

Synthesis of a new decahydrohexapyrrin of biosynthetic interest

A new decahydrohexapyrrin containing a tert-butoxycarbonylbilane of type III was prepared applying a convergent type synthesis. The order of the side chains of the tert-butoxycarbonylbilane belonging to this oligopyrrole corresponds to that of a type HI uroporphyrinogen. A symmetric hexapyrrol dilactam was formed as a by product of the synthesis.     

Nitric oxide interaction with cytochrome c' and its relevance to guanylate cyclase. Why does the iron histidine bond break?

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the mammalian receptor for nitric oxide (NO), is a heme protein with a histidine as the proximal ligand. Formation of a five-coordinate heme-NO complex with the associated Fe-His bond cleavage is believed to trigger a conformational change that activates the enzyme and transduces the NO signal. Cytochrome c' (cyt c') is a protobacteria heme protein that has several similarities with sGC, including the ability to form a five-coordinate NO adduct and the fact that it does not bind oxygen. Recent crystallographic characterization of cyt c' from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (AXCP) has yielded the discovery that exogenous ligands are able to bind to the Fe center from either side of the porphyrin plane. In this paper, we explore the molecular basis of the NO interaction with AXCP using hybrid quantum-classical simulation techniques. Our results suggest that Fe-His bond breaking depends not only on the iron-histidine bond strength but also on the existence of a local minimum conformation of the protein with the histidine away from the iron. We also show that AXCP is a useful paradigm for NO interaction with heme proteins, particularly regarding the activation/deactivation mechanism of sGC. The results presented here fully support a recently proposed model of sGC activation in which NO is not only the iron ligand but also catalyzes the activation step.     

Unraveling the primary mechanisms leading to synchronization response in dissimilar oscillators

We study how the phenomenon of response to synchronization arises in sets of pulse-coupled dissimilar oscillators. One of the sets is constituted by oscillators that can easily synchronize. Conversely, the oscillators of the other set do not synchronize. When the elements of the first set are not synchronized, they induce oscillation death in the constituents of the second set. By contrast, when synchronization is achieved in oscillators of the first set, those of the second set recover their oscillatory behavior and thus, responding to synchronization. Additionally, we found another interesting phenomenon in this type of systems, namely, a new control of simultaneous firings in a population of similar oscillators attained by means of the action of a dissimilar oscillator.