Photochemistry of the alkaloids eudistomin N (6-bromo-nor-harmane) and eudistomin O (8-bromo-nor-harmane) and other bromo-beta-carbolines

The UV-absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of the alkaloids eudistomin N (6-bromo-nor-harmane) and eudistomin O (8-bromo-nor-harmane) were described. In order to perform a comparative analysis, we also studied other bromo-beta-carbolines and the corresponding non-substituted-carboline. Thus, 6-bromo-, 8-bromo-, 6,8-dibromo-, 3,6-dibromo- and 3,6,8-tribromo-derivatives of nor-harmane, harmane and harmine were studied. These studies were performed in EtOH and in EtOH + 1% perchloric acid solutions (pa). Furthermore, fluorescence quantum yields (phi(f)) in acetonitrile and acetonitrile + 1% perchloric acid solutions at 298 K were measured. The HOMO and LUMO energy, the positions (lambda(max)) and oscillator strength (f) of the (1)S(1) <--(1)S(0) band for all the neutral and protonated beta-carbolines studied was calculated and compared with the experimental data. The pK(a) values in aqueous solution for eudistomin N and O (6-bromo- and 8-bromo-nor-harmane), for 6-bromo-, 8-bromo- and 6,8-dibromo-harmane, and for 6-bromo- and 8-bromo-harmine were spectrophotometrically measured (pK((a)(H(2)O))) . The change of the acid-base character of these compounds on going from the ground state (pK(a)) to the first electronic excited singlet state (pK(a)(*)) as DeltapK(a) = pK(a)(*)-pK(a) = 0.625 Deltanu /T, in ethanol solution at 298 K were calculated (DeltapK(a(EtOH))). Proton affinities (PA) for all the compounds studied defined as minus the enthalpy change of the reaction M+H(+)--> MH(+) (gas state) were calculated. Basicity relative to pyridine (DeltaH(rPy)) defined as the enthalpy change of the isodesmic reaction MH(+) + Py--> M + PyH(+) (gas state) was also calculated. The effect of bromine as substituent on the properties of the beta-carboline moiety in nor-harmane, harmane and harmine is discussed.     

Determination of sulphur by electrolytic hydrogenation

Certain sulphur compounds such as thiosulphuric acid, polythionic acids, thiocyanic acid, thioureas, thioamides and 2-mercapto-acids are readily electrolytically hydrogenated in 1N sulphuric acid to form hydrogen sulphide which is absorbed in potassium hydroxide solution and titrated with o-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid in the presence of dithizone as indicator. The electrolytic cell consists of a lead anode in 5N sulphuric acid, a porous ceramic tube as diaphragm, and a cathode made of soft iron. The first-order rate-constants of hydrogenation and the results of determination of sulphur in some sulphur compounds are presented. The limit of determination is 0.1 ppm.     

Optimization of the Conditions for the Cr (III) Adsorption on Activated Carbon

In order to understand the patterns of the adsorption equilibrium of Cr (III) on activated carbon, the adsorption process was studied by two different ways: classical batch experiments on commercial Norit and Merck activated carbons and their oxidized forms in a wide range of pHs; and extended time-based tests at the same pH values on the same adsorbents. This approach allowed us to understand the role of texture, chemical carbon surface functionality and experimental conditions (initial pH of the solution, contact time and adsorbate/adsorbent ratio) on the effectiveness of Cr (III) removal. The adsorption process of Cr (III) at (24 ± 1^∘C) on Merck and Norit activated carbons and their oxidized forms were studied at pH values between 1.5 and 5 (either adjusted or buffered). Chromium concentration was fixed at 200 ppm. The carbon loading ranged from 1.2 to 20 g/l. The carbon/Cr (III) solution contact time was varied from 0.5–1 month to 5 months, to ensure that the saturation of the carbon level was reached. According to the data obtained, the presence of carboxylic groups on carbon surface seems to enhance Cr (III) uptake at initial pH of the solution in the range between 2 and 4. Depending on the nature of the adsorbent surface chemistry, the contact time to reach equilibrium may range from 3 to 5 months. There is an optimum carbon loading which limits the Cr (III) uptake/removal at given pH value. In order to understand the adsorption process, an ion exchange, surface complex and surface precipitation were considered. This paper was presented in the 5th Brazilian Meeting on Adsorption, held at Natal, Brazil, 18-21 July, 2004.     

Primary and secondary relaxations in bis-5-hydroxypentylphthalate revisited

The molecular structure of bis-5-hydroxypentylphthalate (BHPP) is like dihexyl phthalate but having appended to it two hydroxyl end groups, which contribute additional dipole moments and capacity for hydrogen-bond formation. In a previously published dielectric study of the primary and secondary relaxations of BHPP, it was found that all the dynamic properties are normal except for the anomalously large width of the primary relaxation loss peak. There are two secondary relaxations, the relaxation time of the slower one increases with increasing pressure, whereas that of the faster one is practically insensitive to pressure. Hence, the slower secondary relaxation is the "universal" Johari-Goldstein (JG) [J. Chem. Phys. 53, 2372 (1970); 55, 4245 (1971)] relaxation in BHPP. All is well except if the observed large width of the primary relaxation were an indication of a corresponding large coupling parameter n=0.45 in the coupling model. Then the predicted relations between the primary relaxation time tau(alpha) and the JG relaxation time tau(JG) found previously to hold in many glass formers would be violated. It was recognized that this singular behavior of BHPP is likely due to broadening of the primary loss peak by the overlapping contributions of two independent dipole moments present in BHPP, and the actual coupling parameter is smaller. However, at the time of publication of the previous work there were not enough data to support this explanation. By making broadband dielectric measurements of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) that have chemical structures closely related to BHPP but with only one dipole moment, we show that all their dynamic properties are almost the same as BHPP but the widths of their primary relaxation loss peaks are significantly narrower corresponding to a smaller coupling parameter n=0.34. The new data presented here indicate that the coupling parameter of BHPP is about the same as DBP and DOP, and the predicted relations between tau(alpha) and tau(JG) of BHPP are brought back in agreement with the experimental data.     

Apparent molar volumes,heat capacities,and molecular excluded volumes of methylated,hydroxy and methoxy derivatives of 1-methylcytosine in aqueous solutions at 25°C

Densities and specific heat capacities of aqueous solutions: 1-methylcytosine; 1-methyl-N⁴-hydroxycytosine; 1,5-dimethylcytosine; I,N⁴-dimethylcytosine; 1,5-dimethyl-N⁴-hydroxycytosine; 1-methyl-N⁴-methoxycytosine; 1,N⁴,N⁴-trimethylcytosine, 1,5-dimethyl-N⁴-methoxycytosine were determined using flow calorimetry and flow densimetry at 25°C. Apparent molar volumes and heat capacities were then determined. Molecular excluded volumes were evaluated. A relationship was found between the values of the increments in partial molar values and the kind of groups substituted. Four types of contributions were distinguished: substitution of hydrogen on C, N, and O (in OH group on N4) atoms by CH₃ group and replacement of hydrogen on N4 atom by OH group. The correlation between the experimental partial molar volumes and calculated molecular excluded volumes was also elaborated.     

Methanol electrooxidation on platinum mesh electrodes bonded to solid polymer electrolytes

Methanol electrooxidation on smooth platinum electrodes bonded to solid polymer electrolytes was studied in water and acid solution by voltammetric measurements with different scanning rates. An enhancement of the oxidation rates was observed in these systems as compared to identical platinum electrodes in contact with liquid electrolytes. This electrocatalytic effect strongly depends on the measuring conditions and on the electrode potential. The reasons for the catalytic effects at different potentials are discussed. Received: 8 January 1997 / Accepted: 1 December 1997     

A comparison of ring-chain tautomerism in heterocycles derived from 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide and anthranilamide

A number of anthranilamide and 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide derivatives with aromatic aldehydes and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds were synthesized. Substituted benzaldehyde derivatives of neither aminoamides showed tautomerism in solutions. Reaction products of 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide with p-substituted benzoylacetic aldehydes and p-substituted benzoylacetones undergo ring-chain tautomerism with a good linear correlation between the ring-chain equilibrium constants (log K, where K=[ring]/[chain]) and the Hammett-Brown σ⁺ parameters of the aromatic substituents. The equilibrium constant was measured for the reaction products of 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide with unsubstituted benzoylacetaldehyde at several temperatures which enabled the enthalpy and entropy of this reaction to be evaluated.     

Optimized conditions for hydrocarbon group type analysis of base oils by thin-layer chromatography-flame ionisation detection

The results of research on the optimization of the thin-layer chromatography-flame ionisation detection for the determination of group composition of natural base oils, including separation of the aromatics into subgroups, are presented. Neutral base oils obtained in several steps of refining from vacuum distillation petroleum fractions are the most difficult to analyze by hydrocarbon group type analysis (HGTA) because of the high content of aliphatic fragments in their molecules. Factors affecting the accuracy and precision of the results were identified. The paper presents the analytical procedure, including two different calibration methods, as well as the results of studies on the reproducibility of HGTA of typical base oils of different viscosity classes under the optimized conditions. The same conditions were found suitable for HGTA of other high-boiling petroleum fractions by TLC with flame ionisation detection. The paper also introduces a new procedure for reproducible determination of polar fractions in base oils utilizing solid-phase extraction columns, and presents a corrected procedure for the determination of saturated compounds and aromatics (mono-, bi- and polycyclic) in base oils by column liquid chromatography.     

Facts and artifacts about aromatic stability estimation

The stability of a set of 105 five-membered π-electron systems (involving aromatic, non-aromatic and anti-aromatic species) was evaluated using six isodesmic reactions of which two belong to the subclass of homodesmotic reactions, which are based on cyclic and acyclic reference systems. We demonstrate that the ‘Resonance Energies’ derived from isodesmotic schemes have obvious flaws and do not correct or cancel other contributions to the energy, such as the changes of hybridization, homoconjugation of heterosubstituted cyclopentadienes, conjugative interactions of CC or CX (X=N or P) with a π or pseudo π orbital at Y (Y=O, S, NH, PH), strain, etc. as effectively as possible. Likewise, ‘aromatic stabilization energies (ASE)’ derived from homodesmotic schemes based on the acyclic reference compounds do not give satisfactory results. We strongly recommend that only cyclic reference compounds should be used for ASE and other aromaticity evaluations. The analysis is based on ab initio optimized geometries at B3LYP/6-311+G^∗∗.     

Carrier influence on the paramagnetic and catalytic properties of supported titanium complexes

Alumina-silica possessing various Al₂O₃/SiO₂ ratios was used as a carrier of surface titanium complexes. The systems obtained were examined as models for the investigation of the macroligand (inorganic gel) influence on the physicochemical properties of supported transition metal complexes. The titanium complexes were prepared first by the reaction of CpTiCl₃, with the hydroxyl groups of the gel and then reduced by an excess of BuLi. The influence was established of the basic gel properties on: (a) the amount of titanium(IV) and titanium(III) complexes on the alumina-silica gel surfaces; (b) the symmetry of the surface Ti^III surface complexes; (c) the electron density around the surface-Ti^III ions, ionic or covalent bonds character in a complex; and (d) the catalytic activity in olefin hydrogenation.