Fluorescence chemical sensor based on water‐soluble poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene)–graphene oxide composite for Cu2+

A chemical sensor for metal ions was fabricated based on a water‐soluble conjugated polymer–graphene oxide (GO) composite. Water‐soluble poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) with sulfonic acid side chain groups was used to prepare a very stable water‐soluble PPE–GO composite with strong π–π interactions in water. The relationship between the optical properties and metal ion sensing capability of the PPE–GO composite in aqueous solution was investigated. Addition of metal ions enhanced the fluorescence intensity of the composite, and, in particular, the composite enabled the fluorescence detection of Cu²⁺ in aqueous solutions with high selectivity and sensitivity. Therefore, this conjugated polymer–GO composite sensor system was found to be an effective turn‐on type chemical sensor for metal ions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ring transformation of 1,5-benzoxazepines into spirobenzoxazoles. Synthesis of pyrazolo[1′,5′:3,4][1,2,4]triazino-[5,6-b][1,5]benzoxazepines and spiro[benzoxazole-2′(3′H),4(1H)-pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazines]

The reactions of the 3-substituted 4-amino-8-ethoxycarbonyl[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazines 1 and 2 with o-amino-phenol hydrochloride gave the pyrazolo[1′,5′:3,4][1,2,4]triazino[5,6-b][1,5]benzoxazepines 5 and 8 . The alkylation of 5 with methyl iodide and isopropyl iodide afforded the 6-alkoxylpyrazolo[1′,5′:3,4][1,2,4]triazino-[5,6-b][1,5]benzoxazepines 6a and 6b , respectively. Refluxing of 5, 6a, 6b and 8 in hydrochloric acid/acetic acid resulted in ring transformation to produce the spiro[benzoxazole-2′(3′H),4(1H)pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]-triazines] 7a, 7b and 9 . The screening data of the above compounds was described.     

Polycavernoside C and C2, the new analogs of the human lethal toxin polycavernoside A, from the red alga, Gracilaria edulis

Two new analogs of the human lethal toxin polycavernoside A, polycavernoside C and C2 (0.1-0.2 mg for each), were isolated from the red alga, Gracilaria edulis. The relative stereostructure of polycavernoside C and the absolute structure of polycavernoside C2 were determined by spectroscopic analysis and synthesis of the model of their aglycon.     

Ultra lightweight PMMA-based composite plates with robust super-hydrophobic surfaces

Extremely lightweight plates made of an engineered PMMA-based composite material loaded with hollow glass micro-sized spheres, nano-sized silica particles and aluminum hydroxide prismatic micro-flakes were realized by cast molding. Their interesting bulk mechanical properties were combined to properly tailored surface topography compatible with the achievement of a superhydrophobic behavior after the deposition of a specifically designed hydrophobic coating. With this aim, we synthesized two different species of fluoromethacrylic polymers functionalized with methoxysilane anchoring groups to be covalently grafted onto the surface protruding inorganic fillers. By modulating the feed composition of the reacting monomers, it was possible to combine the hydrophobic character of the polymer with an high adhesion strength to the substrate and hence to maximize both the water contact angle (up to 157°) and the durability of the easy-to-clean effect (up to 2000 h long outdoor exposure).     

Determination of ammonium in wastewaters by capillary electrophoresis on a column-coupling chip with conductivity detection

Analytical potentialities of a chip-based CE in determination of ammonium in wastewaters were investigated. CZE with the electric field and/or ITP sample stacking was performed on a column-coupling (CC) chip with integrated conductivity detectors. Acetate background electrolytes (pH ～3) including 18-crown-6-ether (18-crown-6) and tartaric acid were developed to reach rapid (in 7-8 min) CZE and ITP-CZE resolutions of ammonium from other cations (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) present in wastewater samples. Under preferred working conditions (suppressed hydrodynamic flow (HDF) and EOF on the column-coupling chip), both the employed methods did provide very good repeatabilities of the migration (RSD of 0.2-0.8% for the migration time) and quantitative (RSD of 0.3-4.9% for the peak area) parameters in the model and wastewater samples. Using a 900-nL sample injection volume, LOD for ammonium were obtained at 20 and 40 μg/L concentrations in CZE and ITP-CZE separations, respectively. Very good agreements of the CZE and ITP-CZE determinations of ammonium in six untreated wastewater samples (only filtration and dilution) with the results obtained by a reference spectrometric method indicate a very good accuracy of both the CE methods presented.     

Structural and mechanistic investigation of a phosphate-modified HZSM-5 catalyst for methanol conversion

Phosphorus modification of a HZSM-5 (MFI) zeolite by wet impregnation has long been known to decrease aromatic formation in methanol conversion chemistry. We prepared and studied a catalyst modified by introducing trimethylphosphine under reaction conditions followed by oxidation. Magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR shows that extensive dealumination occurs, resulting in a catalyst with a much higher framework SiO2/Al2O3 ratio, as well as extraframework aluminum and approximately 1.4 equiv of entrained phosphoric acid (under working conditions) per aluminum. Upon dehydration or regeneration, the phosphoric acid is converted, reversibly, to entrained P4O10. The aromatic selectivity of the modified catalyst is significantly lower than that of an unmodified zeolite with a similar, increased framework SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. By comparing the rates of H/D exchange in propene under conditions similar to those in methanol conversion chemistry, we determined that the acid site strength is indistinguishable on modified and unmodified zeolites, and this is consistent with theoretical modeling. On the phosphorus-modified zeolite, the rate of propene oligomerization is greatly suppressed, suggesting that entrained phosphate is an impediment to sterically demanding reactions.