Spectrophotometric determination of beryllium in water samples after micelle-mediated extraction preconcentration

A new micelle-mediated phase preconcentration method for preconcentration of ultra-trace quantities of beryllium as a prior step to its determination by spectrophotometry has been developed. Chrome Azurol S (CAS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were used as chelating agent and cationic surfactant, respectively. The method evaluates and eliminates the blank bias error present in such procedures using mean centering of ratio spectra. This procedure gives more accurate results than the traditional approach using absorbance values against reagent blank. The optimal extraction and reaction conditions were studied and the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g., limit of detection, linear range, preconcentration and improvement factors) were obtained. Linearity was obeyed in the range of 0.9-18.0 ng mL⁻¹ (1.00 × 10⁻⁷-2.00 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹) of beryllium. The detection limit of the method is 0.51 ng mL⁻¹ (5.66 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹) of beryllium. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the determination of beryllium in spring water samples.     

A comparative MP2 study between water- and acid-assisted proton transfer: allophanic acid as a case of study

Electronic structures of allophanic acid were studied using MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Five most stable tautomers were selected and stability of them was studied in detail. Obtained data showed that tautomer 1 having hydrogen atom in the central nitrogen N3 and also in a trans conformation of carbonyl and amino functional groups becomes the most stable one. Then, interconversion of these tautomers to each other was investigated step by step through internal rotation and proton transfer routes. Results indicated that movement of protons determines rate-determining step of all paths A–E. Effects of different solvents were carefully surveyed for each tautomer, and among investigated solvents, water made slight stabilization. Activation barrier for proton exchange assisted by one water molecule and one formic acid molecule was also studied, separately. Both molecules had a great influence on lowering barrier especially for proton transfer routes. Comparative MP2 study showed that the barrier will be lowered much more when acid-assisted proton exchange takes place.     

Transition metal-free synthesis of quinolino[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[5,1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]quinazolin-8(6<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones via cascade dehydrogenation and intramolecular <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylation

2-(2-Chloroquinolin-3-yl)-3-(arylamino)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one was converted to quinolino[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-8(6H)-ones in the presence of KOtBu in DMSO at room temperature. The present method has the advantages of easy conditions, construction of highly novel five heterocycles, transition metal-free conditions, cascade dehydrogenation and intramolecular N-arylation and good to high yield of products.     

Charge separation by tetrahexahedron-SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> heterojunction as an efficient photocatalyst

Charge separation plays a key role in the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy for use in the redox reaction and as well as in the photocatalytic activity. In this study, SrTiO₃ particles with different morphologies including irregular, tetrahexahedron, and cube were synthesized by an in situ solvothermal method. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was investigated in the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue under UV light irradiation. Tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃ particles exhibited high decomposition activity (70 %), which is about two times higher than those of the irregular and cubic SrTiO₃ particles. The high decomposition activity of tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃ particles could be attributed to the improvement of charge separation achieved on different crystal facets. To reach a good charge separation, tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃/TiO₂ coupled nanoparticles were fabricated by impregnation method. Results showed that coupling tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃ with TiO₂ could produce efficient charge separation between tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃ and TiO₂ due to their matched band edges. In order to achieve better charge separation, the tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃/90 %TiO₂ sample was calcined at different temperatures in the 450–750 °C range. Tetrahexahedron SrTiO₃/90 %TiO₂ coupled nanoparticles calcined at 650 °C show high photocatalytic activity compared with other samples. The prepared samples were characterized by using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence emission spectra, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.     

A selective,sensitive and label-free visual assay of fructose using anti-aggregation of gold nanoparticles as a colorimetric probe

A new convenient colorimetric sensor for fructose based on anti-aggregation of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles(Au NPs) is presented. 4-Mercaptophenylboronic acid(MPBA) induces the aggregation of Au NPs, leading to a color change from red to blue. Fructose as a potent competitor has strong affinity for MPBA and a borate ester is formed between MPBA and fructose. There is an obvious color change from blue to red with increasing the concentration of fructose. The anti-aggregation effect of fructose on Au NPs was seen by the naked eye and monitored by UV–vis spectra. Our results showed that the absorbance ratio(A_(519)/A_(640)) was linear with fructose concentration in the range of 0.032–0.96 μmol/L(R~2= 0.996), with a low detection limit of 0.01 μmol/L(S/N = 3). Notably, a highly selective recognition of fructose was shown against other monosaccharide and disaccharide(glucose, mannose, galactose,lactose and saccharose). With anti-aggregation assays higher selectivity is achievable. The results of this work provide a rapid method for evaluating the quantitative analysis of fructose in human plasma at physiologically meaningful concentrations and at neutral pH. The proposed procedure can be used as an efficient method for the precise and accurate determination of fructose.     

Synthesis and characterization of M(II) (M = Cd,Hg and Pb) complexes with naphthodiaza-crown macrocyclic ligand and study of metal ion recognition by fluorescence, 1H NMR spectroscopy,and DFT calculation

To find metal ion recognition by L (L = O₂N₂-donor naphthodiaza-crown macrocyclic ligand), the complexes [ML]²⁺ (M = Cd, Hg and Pb) were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental microanalysis. Hg(II) showed perceptible enhancement of the fluorescence of L in which ultra-low limit of detection for Hg(II) by L was determined as 1 nM in ethanol and DMSO. L reserved selectivity of Hg(II) in its binary mixtures with metal cations in solution. A 1 : 1 stoichiometry was found for the interaction of Hg(II) with L while Benesi–Hildebrand method was applied to calculate its complexation binding constant (K_BH) employing fluorescence spectrophotometry. The monitoring of the chemical shifts in ¹H NMR spectra of these complexes demonstrated that the central macrocycle of L was tailored for the size of Hg(II). Density functional theory calculations using B₃LYP/6–31G* basis set demonstrated that the macrocycle cavity of L was properly fitted for complex formation with Hg(II) cation, while both Cd(II) and Pb(II) cations did not form strong bonds with L from inadequate cation size. The present study shows detection method of Hg(II) and also possible application of naphthodiaza as an appropriate fluorophore macrocyclic ligand for detecting other metal ions.     

Preparation of HMWCNT/PLLA nanocomposite scaffolds for application in nerve tissue engineering and evaluation of their physical,mechanical and cellular activity properties

This study was aimed to prepare biodegradable and porous nanocomposite scaffolds with microtubular orientation structure as a model for nerve tissue engineering by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method using dioxane as the solvent, crystalline poly (L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In order to overcome dispersion of MWCNTs in the PLLA matrix, heparinization of MWCNTs was performed. Solvent crystallization, oriented structure, the mean pore diameter and porosity percentage of the scaffolds were controlled by fundamental system parameters including temperature‐gradient of the system, polymer solution concentration and carbon nanotube content. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), ImageJ, software and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) were used to investigate the structural and mechanical properties. TEM observation was carried out for characterization of nanotube dispersion in PLLA. It was found that the scaffolds containing heparinized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (HMWCNTs) exhibited higher storage modulus, better carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion and tubular orientation structure than those with non heparinized MWCNTs. In‐vitro studies were also conducted by using murine P₁₉ cell line as a suitable model system to analyze neuronal differentiation over a 2‐week period. Immunofluorescence and DAPI staining were used to confirm the cells' attachment and differentiation on the PLLA/HMWCNT nanocomposite scaffolds. Based on the results, we can conclude that the PLLA/HMWCNT scaffolds enhanced the nerve cell differentiation and proliferation, and therefore, acted as a positive cue to support neurite outgrowth. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the dinuclear copper(II) Schiff base complex μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{[bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine]chloridocopper(II)} dichloromethane sesquisolvate

Transition metal complexes of Schiff base ligands have been shown to have particular application in catalysis and magnetism. The chemistry of copper complexes is of interest owing to their importance in biological and industrial processes. The reaction of copper(I) chloride with the bidentate Schiff base N,N′‐bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine {Nca₂en, systematic name: (1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]} in a 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane without exclusion of air or moisture resulted in the formation of the title complex μ‐chlorido‐μ‐hydroxido‐bis(chlorido{(1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]‐κ²N,N′}copper(II)) dichloromethane sesquisolvate, [Cu₂Cl₃(OH)(C₂₀H₁₈N₄O₄)₂]·1.5CH₂Cl₂. The dinuclear complex has a folded four‐membered ring in an unsymmetrical Cu₂OCl₃ core in which the approximate trigonal bipyramidal coordination displays different angular distortions in the equatorial planes of the two Cu^II atoms; the chloride bridge is asymmetric, but the hydroxide bridge is symmetric. The chelate rings of the two Nca₂en ligands have different conformations, leading to a more marked bowing of one of the ligands compared with the other. This is the first reported dinuclear complex, and the first five‐coordinate complex, of the Nca₂en Schiff base ligand. Molecules of the dimer are associated in pairs by ring‐stacking interactions supported by C—H…Cl interactions with solvent molecules; a further ring‐stacking interaction exists between the two Schiff base ligands of each molecule.