Synthesis,crystal structure and other properties of the complexes of Er(III), Yb(III) and Lu(III) with 4,4′-bipyridine and dichloroacetates

A novel mixed-ligand complexes of Er(III), Yb(III) and Lu(III) with title ligands were prepared and characterized by chemical and elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy, conductivity (in methanol, dimethyloformamide and dimethylsulphoxide). The thermal properties of complexes in the solid state were studied. The mode of metal–ligand coordination was discussed. The title compounds are isomorphic and isostructural in solid state. All atoms in studied compounds lie in general positions but occurrence of inversion on the midpoint of the bond linking two pyridine rings leads to existence in asymmetric unit one complex molecule and half of outer coordination sphere 4-bpy molecule. All chelating carboxylate groups are symmetrically bonded to the metal cations. The molecules of studied compounds are connected to the three dimensional network via O–H···O and O–H···N intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In the structures also exist C–H···O, C–H···Cl weak hydrogen bonds and π····π stacking interactions.     

Reaction of N-Acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino Acid Esters with Organic Bases: Mechanism of the Base-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Substitution of the Triphenylphosphonium Group

Summary.  Reactions of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acid methyl esters with organic bases (triethylamine or DBU) were investigated as the crucial step of the base-catalyzed displacement of the triphenylphosphonium group by nucleophiles. It was proved that N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycinates are transformed to an equilibrium mixture of the corresponding N-acyliminoacetates and N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphoranylidene glycinates by bases. In the case of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acid esters with quaternary α-carbon, the α-substituted homologues of the N-acyliminoacetates were detected to be the only primary reaction product which, however, can undergo further tautomerization to the corresponding α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives. In both these cases the reaction of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acid esters with nucleophiles proceeds via the addition of a nucleophile to the activated C=N double bond of the N-acylimino intermediate. Corresponding author. E-mail: romanm@zeus.polsl.gliwice.pl Received October 31, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 17, 2001     

Hypochlorous acid-induced oxidative damage of human red blood cells: effects of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and nitrite on the HOCl reaction with erythrocytes

Hypochlorous acid, one of the most powerful biological oxidants, is believed to be important in the pathogenesis of some diseases. The purpose of this study was to further characterise the membrane and intracellular events which resulted in HOCl-induced oxidative impairments and haemolysis of human erythrocytes and interaction of different oxidative agents, which accumulated during respiratory burst, in the process of RBS oxidation. The sequence of cellular events after red blood cell exposure to HOCl: cell morphological transformations, oxidation of cellular constituents, enzyme modifications, and haemolysis have been evaluated. It was shown that HOCl-treated cells underwent colloid-osmotic haemolysis, preceded by rapid morphological transformations and membrane structural transitions. The activation energy of the process of haemolysis (after removal of the excess of oxidative agent) was estimated to be 146+/-22 kJ/mol at temperatures above the break point of Arrhenius plot (31-32 degrees C). This value corresponds to the activation energy of the process of protein denaturation. Modification of erythrocytes by HOCl inhibited membrane acetylcholinesterase (uncompetitive type of inhibition), depleted intracellular glutathione, activated intracellular glutathione peroxidase, but did not induce membrane lipid peroxidation. The presence of other oxidants, nitrite or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), promoted the oxidative damage induced by HOCl and led to new oxidative reactions.     

Oxofunctionalized Trans-2-carboxycinnamic Acids by Catalytic Domino Oxidation of Naphthols and Hydronaphthoquinones

The catalytic oxidation of naphthalenes was investigated. Hydrogen peroxide (30% aqueous) was used as an oxygen source, and 2,2’-dinitro-4,4’-ditrifluoromethyldiphenyl diselenide was the oxygen-transfer catalyst. Unsubstituted naphthols produce trans-2-carboxycinnamic acid in nearly quantitative yields. Both naphthols bearing substituents on the conjugated ring deliver corresponding trans-2-carboxycinnamic acids in good to excellent yields. The 1,7- and 2,6-hydronaphthoquinones, substituted by carboxy and carboxymethyl groups, produce hydroxycinnamic acids in satisfactory to excellent yields. A catalytic domino reaction mechanism is proposed.     

The use of thin-layer chromatography in the assessment of the quality of lutein-containing dietary supplements

Bivariant multiple development thin-layer chromatography technique (BMD–TLC) along with high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS) analysis was used in determination of lutein or lutein mixed with zeaxanthin in eight dietary supplements. The developed two-step TLC separation procedure combined purification, compaction of samples and separation of the analyzed compounds what significantly shortened and simplified samples preparation. Qualitative analysis was based on co-chromatography with reference substances and HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS analysis. It was revealed that three of eight dietary supplements did not contain lutein. In turn, quantitative analysis with the use of developed TLC conditions along with densitometry showed that the amount of lutein or its mixture with zeaxanthin in the others differed from that claimed by producers.

     

Changes in Electron Structure of the Triple Bond in Substituted Acetylene and Diacetylene Derivatives

The substituent effect is usually considered by means of various Hammett-like substituent constants and is most often related to aromatic systems. Unlike this, we present results of our research on the influence of 27 substituents spanning a wide range of electronic properties, from strongly electron-withdrawing to strongly electron-donating, on the electron structure of X-substituted acetylenes and diacetylenes – thus the systems which until now have practically not been subject of any deeper studies. It is shown that the interaction through triple bond(s) is associated with a significant advantage of resonance effects and that the substituent effect transmitted by the C≡C−C≡C unit is about half of that transmitted by the C≡C unit alone. Substituent X mainly affects the closest carbon atom by means of proximity effect, hence changes of charge on this atom do not follow any substituent constants. The effect on further carbon atoms is much smaller. The presence of the C≡C−C≡C unit withdraws more charge from X than a triple bond alone, and hinders communication between X and the terminal H atom. Comparison of substituent effects to those present in X-substituted benzene derivatives shows that the electronic properties of the terminal hydrogen atom in acetylenes and diacetylenes are most similar to the electronic properties of ortho and para hydrogen atoms in X-substituted benzene derivatives.     

Combustion process in a spark ignition engine: analysis of cyclic peak pressure and peak pressure angle oscillations

In this paper we analyze the cycle-to-cycle variations of peak pressure p _max and peak pressure angle α _pmax in a four-cylinder spark ignition engine. We examine the experimental time series of p _max and α _pmax for three different spark advance angles. Using standard statistical techniques such as return maps and histograms we show that depending on the spark advance angle, there are significant differences in the fluctuations of p _max and α _pmax . We also calculate the multiscale entropy of the various time series to estimate the effect of randomness in these fluctuations. Finally, we explain how the information on both p _max and α _pmax can be used to develop optimal strategies for controlling the combustion process and improving engine performance.     

Effect of temperature and concentration on the structure of sec-butyl alcohol and isobutyl alcohol/water mixtures: near-infrared spectroscopic study

The effect of temperature and concentration on the structure of sec-butyl alcohol and isobutyl alcohol/water binary mixtures in the alcohol-rich region (mole fraction of water X(H2O) < 0.3) has been studied using Fourier transform (FT) near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The experimental data were analyzed by a two-dimensional (2D) correlation approach and chemometric methods. It was found that molecules of both alcohols in the mixture with water are in the same environment as those in the pure alcohols. Even at very low water content (X(H2O) = 0.001) we did not observe water free from any specific interactions. The molecules of water are attached to the end free OH groups in the open chain associates of alcohol. In this way the structure of neat alcohol remains intact by addition of water. The water-alcohol interactions in sec-butyl alcohol and isobutyl alcohol/water mixtures are stronger than those in bulk water. The results obtained at higher water content or elevated temperatures indicate the possibility of water-water interaction. In the alcohol-rich region the hydrophobic effects are of minor importance and the structure and properties of these systems are determined by hydrogen bonding through the hydroxyl groups. Both alcohols behave similarly on the temperature or water content variation; the minor difference results from a different degree of self-association for sec-butyl alcohol and isobutyl alcohol.     

On Countable-Dimensional Spaces with the Menger Property, Rational Dimension and a Question of S. D. Iliadis

 This paper deals with the class of spaces which are countable unions of zero-dimensional sets and with the larger class of Haver’s C-spaces. All spaces are assumed to be separable and metrizable. We are concerned with various aspects of universality of these classes when they are combined with the covering analogue for σ-compactness defined by Menger and the rational dimension introduced by Menger and N?beling. A solution of a problem of S. D. Iliadis [16] concerning universal spaces for rational dimension will result. Received 11 September 1998; in revised form 12 January 1999