Dissociative electron attachment to triflates

Gas phase studies of dissociative electron attachment to simple alkyl (CF(3)SO(3)CH(3)) and aryl (C(6)H(5)SO(3)CF(3) and CF(3)SO(3)C(6)H(4)CH(3)) triflates, model molecules of nonionic photoacid generators for modern lithographic applications, were performed. The fragmentation pathways under electron impact below 10 eV were identified by means of crossed electron-molecular beam mass spectrometry. Major dissociation channels involved C-O, S-O, or C-S bond scissions in the triflate moiety leading to the formation of triflate (OTf(-)), triflyl (Tf(-)), or sulfonate (RSO(3)(-)) anions, respectively. A resonance leading to C-O bond breakage and OTf(-) formation in alkyl triflates occurred at electron energies about 0.5 eV lower than the corresponding resonance in aryl triflates. A resonance leading to S-O bond breakage and Tf(-) formation in aryl triflates occurred surprisingly at the same electron energies as C-O bond breakage. In case of alkyl triflates S-O bond breakage required 1.4 eV higher electron energies to occur and proceeded with substantially lower yields than in aryl triflates. C-S bond scission occurred for all presently studied triflates at energies close to 3 eV.     

Use of Propionibacterium freudenreichii T82 Strain for Effective Biosynthesis of Propionic Acid and Trehalose in a Medium with Apple Pomace Extract and Potato Wastewater

Propionic acid bacteria are the source of many metabolites, e.g., propionic acid and trehalose. Compared to microbiological synthesis, the production of these metabolites by petrochemical means or enzymatic conversion is more profitable. The components of microbiological media account for a large part of the costs associated with propionic fermentation, due to the high nutritional requirements of Propionibacterium. This problem can be overcome by formulating a medium based on the by-products of technological processes, which can act as nutritional sources and at the same time replace expensive laboratory preparations (e.g., peptone and yeast extract). The metabolic activity of P. freudenreichii was investigated in two different breeding environments: in a medium containing peptone, yeast extract, and biotin, and in a waste-based medium consisting of only apple pomace and potato wastewater. The highest production of propionic acid amounting to 14.54 g/L was obtained in the medium containing apple pomace and pure laboratory supplements with a yield of 0.44 g/g. Importantly, the acid production parameters in the waste medium reached almost the same level (12.71 g/L, 0.42 g/g) as the medium containing pure supplements. Acetic acid synthesis was more efficient in the waste medium; it was also characterized by a higher level of accumulated trehalose (59.8 mg/g d.s.). Thus, the obtained results show that P. freudenreichii bacteria exhibited relatively high metabolic activity in an environment with apple pomace used as a carbon source and potato wastewater used as a nitrogen source. This method of propioniate production could be cheaper and more sustainable than the chemical manner.     

Enhancement of activity of platinum towards oxidation of ethanol by supporting on titanium dioxide containing phosphomolybdate-modified gold nanoparticles

A new concept of utilization of titanium dioxide matrix in electrocatalysis by admixing it with polyoxometallate modified gold nanoparticles is described here. The approach utilizes Keggin-type phosphododecamolybdate (PMo₁₂O₄₀³⁻) adsorbates capable of modifying, activating and stabilizing Au nanoparticles of the sizes of 30-40 nm. Ultra-thin films of phosphomolybdates on nanostructured gold are characterized by well-defined fast (reversible) multi-electron electrochemical reactions. By dispersing platinum black over the Au-containing TiO₂, the electrocatalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles towards oxidation of ethanol has been enhanced. Remarkable increases of electrocatalytic currents measured under voltammetric and chronoamperometric conditions have been observed. The most likely explanation takes into account improvement of overall conductivity (due to the presence of nanostructured gold) at the electrocatalytic interface (including TiO₂-support), as well as and possibility of specific Pt-TiO₂ or Pt-Au electronic interactions and existence of active hydroxyl groups (on titanium dioxide or polyoxometallate surfaces) in the vicinity of catalytic Pt sites.     

Electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanocenters electrogenerated at ultra-trace levels within zeolitic phosphododecatungstate cesium salt matrices

A unique preparation method of obtaining stable composite film (with ultra-low platinum content) highly active towards oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation is presented here. The matrix for platinum centers consists of high-surface-area zeolite-type acidic salt of cesium phosphododecatungstate (Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀) admixed with carbon (Vulcan XC-72) carriers. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited on the working electrode modified with matrix via corrosion of platinum counter electrode during cyclic voltammetry experiment conducted in acid electrolyte containing chloride ions. The results obtained from rotating disk voltammetry revealed that the composite film containing Pt nanoparticles at very low loadings (on the level of 2–5 μg cm^?2) demonstrated remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards both oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation, particularly, when compared to the performance of the Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀-free system (i.e., containing only Vulcan support) prepared and examined under analogous conditions. The phenomenon should be primarily ascribed to the mesoporous nature of the matrix enabling immobilization and stabilization of small catalytic nanoparticles (1–2 nm diameters) inside the pores as well as to high surface acidity of the polyoxometalate-based salt providing proton-rich environment at the electrocatalytic interface.     

Molecular Imaging of Biological Samples on Nanophotonic Laser Desorption Ionization Platforms

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a comprehensive tool for the analysis of a wide range of biomolecules. The mainstream method for molecular MSI is matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization, however, the presence of a matrix results in spectral interferences and the suppression of some analyte ions. Herein we demonstrate a new matrix‐free MSI technique using nanophotonic ionization based on laser desorption ionization (LDI) from a highly uniform silicon nanopost array (NAPA). In mouse brain and kidney tissue sections, the distributions of over 80 putatively annotated molecular species are determined with 40 μm spatial resolution. Furthermore, NAPA‐LDI‐MS is used to selectively analyze metabolites and lipids from sparsely distributed algal cells and the lamellipodia of human hepatocytes. Our results open the door for matrix‐free MSI of tissue sections and small cell populations by nanophotonic ionization.     

Calorimetric detection of the toxic effect of androgens on fission yeast

Calorimetry is evaluated for study of the toxic effect of environmental androgens on Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells. The results indicate that androstendione, androstandiendione and dehydrotestosterone inhibited S. pombe heat production rate. Although, the turbidimetric method showed that testosterone (TS) had no influence on growth of S. pombe, calorimetry revealed that there was a shift in growth period in samples with TS.     

Novel Aspects of a Convenient Synthesis and of Electroproperties of Derivatives Based on Diphenylamine

The substituted monomers 4a , c , d, 5a , b, 6a, 7a , b , and 8a of novel poly(diphenylamines), possessing the respective photochromic groups, were synthesized by the Stille cross‐coupling methodology (Scheme). The hyperbranched structures were characterized by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The obtained monomers show good stability in common organic solvents such as CHCl₃, toluene, and CH₂Cl₂, and exhibit excellent thermal stability. Electrochemical results and theoretical calculations suggest that oxidation and reduction of the monomers start from the side of the amine function and the five‐membered heterocyclic ring moieties, respectively.     

Planarity of benzoyldithiocarbazate tuberculostatics. II. Diesters of benzoyldithiocarbazic acid

The emergence of drug‐resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has intensified efforts to identify new lead tuberculostatics. Our earlier studies concluded that the planarity of a molecule correlates well with its tuberculostatic activity. According to our hypothesis, only derivatives whose molecules are capable of adopting a planar conformation may show tuberculostatic activity. The structures of three new potentially tuberculostatic compounds, namely N′‐[bis(methylsulfanyl)methylidene]‐N‐methyl‐4‐nitrobenzohydrazide (denoted G1), C₁₁H₁₃N₃O₃S₂, N′‐[bis(benzylsulfanyl)methylidene]‐N‐methyl‐4‐nitrobenzohydrazide (denoted G2), C₂₃H₂₁N₃O₃S₂, and N′‐[(benzylsulfanyl)(methylsulfanyl)methylidene]‐4‐nitrobenzohydrazide (denoted G3), C₁₆H₁₅N₃O₃S₂, were determined by X‐ray diffraction. The significant distortion from planarity caused by the methyl substituent at the N atom of the hydrazide group or the NO₂ substituent in the aromatic ring leads to the loss of tuberculostatic activity for G1, G2 and G4 {systematic name: N′‐[bis(methylsulfanyl)methylidene]‐2‐nitrobenzohydrazide}. A similar effect is observed when there are large substituents at the S atoms (G2 and G3).     

Voltammetric Determination of an Anti-rheumatoid Drug Acemetacin on Graphite Flake Paste Electrode and Glassy Carbon Electrode

In this study, a simple and sensitive square wave voltammetric procedure has been developed for the determination of acemetacin (ACM) at graphite flake paste electrode (GFPE) and glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Under optimized conditions, the dependence of ACM peak current on its concentration showed wide linear range: 0.03–1.0 μmol L⁻¹ and 0.7–15.0 μmol L⁻¹ at GFPE and GCE, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of ACM in pharmaceuticals and spiked urine with satisfying recoveries. The electrochemical oxidation of ACM is an irreversible process controlled by mixed nature of the mass transfer process.