Determination of237Np in environmental samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Ammonium uranates (AU) obtained by the addition of aqueous NH₄ OH to a solution of UO₂ (NO₃)₂ or the equilibrium reaction of UO₃ · 2H₂ O with the vapour over concentrated NH₄ OH have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (DR-FTIR) and chemical analysis. Ammonia can be present as either NH₃ or NH ₄ ⁺ . For precipitates obtained at a pH of 3.7, ammonia in the form of NH₃ is predominant. For ammonium uranate obtained by reaction over concentrated NH₄OH, most of the ammonia is bonded as NH ₄ ⁺ . The reaction mechanism and structures of the products are also discussed.     

Cyano-bridged CuII-MV (M = Mo, W) bimetallic layered complexes exhibiting novel honeycomblike structures

Self-assembly of a new precursor [Cu(L)](ClO4)2 (1) (L = macrocyclic ligand) with octacyanometalates [M(CN)8]3- (M = Mo, W) produced two-dimensional cyano-bridged Cu(II)-M(V) bimetallic assemblies [Cu(L)]3n[M(CN)8]2n.6nH2O [M = Mo (2), W (3)] with novel honeycomblike structures, characterized by spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, and magnetic measurements. The crystallographic determination reveals that compounds 2 and 3 are isostructural and crystallize in the triclinic system (P). The Cu atom in a distorted octahedral environment experiences a tetragonal elongation of apical nitrogen atoms exhibiting average Cu-Nax lengths of 2.566 Angstroms for 2 and 2.593 Angstroms for 3, which accounts for the Jahn-Teller effect of a Cu(II) ion. The Cu-NC angles are magnetically important, ranging from 135.7 to 159.2 degrees. Three types of L in the crystal lattice are observed, which are dependent on the relative positions of the pendant hydroxyl groups with respect to the CuN4 basal plane. The positions are correlated with hydrogen bonding of OH groups to neighboring atoms. The magnetic data indicate that ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions between Cu(II) and M(V) through the CN linkage coexist.     

Preparation of ω-tetrahydropyran-2-ylsulfanylalkylmagnesium chlorides: Useful reagents for the synthesis of 1-(ω-mercaptoalkyl)-1,2-dihydrobuckminsterfullerenes (C60)

ω-Tetrahydropyran-2-ylsulfanylalkylmagnesium chlorides are prepared as Grignard reagents containing protected mercaptoalkyl chains, which are useful for the direct introduction of ω-mercaptoalkyl chains to electrophiles. In order to prove the usefulness of these reagents, they were reacted with buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) to give 1-(ω-mercaptoalkyl)-1,2-dihydrobuck minsterfullerenes after the deprotection of THP group with TFA.     

Determination of Dextromethorphan and its Metabolite Dextrorphan in Human Hair by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

An analytical method has been developed for determination of dextromethorphan (DMP) and dextrorphan (DRP) in human hair by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Hair samples (30 mg) were washed with distilled water and acetone and cut into small fragments (<1 mm) before extraction with methanol. The extracts were evaporated to dryness and then derivatized by use of BSTFA containing 1% TMCS, for preparation of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of DRP. The extract (1 μL) was then injected into the GC–MS. Recoveries of DMP and DRP at 7.0 and 22.5 ng mg^?1 were in the range 90.6–97.2% with intra-assay and inter-assay precision of less than 5.7% and 4.7%, respectively. LOD and LOQ were, respectively, 0.67 and 2.13 ng mg^?1 for DMP and 0.14 and 0.47 ng mg^?1 for DRP. The responses were linear with correlation coefficients (r > 0.9995) for the drugs studied. The applicability of the method was proven by analysis of authentic hair samples.     

Controlled growth of calcium carbonate by poly(ethylenimine) at the air/water interface

Two metastable calcium carbonate polymorphs, hemispherical vaterite and needle-like aragonite, are selectively formed at the air/water interface by the mediation of poly(ethyleneimine)(with molecular weights of 25000 and 2000, respectively) dissolved in supersaturated calcium bicarbonate solution.     

Suppressed beta-hydride elimination in palladium-catalyzed cascade cyclization-coupling reactions: an efficient synthesis of 3-arylmethylpyrrolidines

[formula: see text] A novel type of palladium-catalyzed cascade cyclization-coupling reaction that proceeds with suppressed beta-hydride elimination has been found. One of the N-sulfonyl oxygens is suggested to coordinatively stabilize an alkylpalladium intermediate, thus preventing the intermediate from the usual beta-elimination. This is the first sequential palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction where the Suzuki and Heck reactions can compete. The reaction provides an efficient synthetic route to 4-methylene-3-arylmethylpyrrolidines, which are not readily available by other routes.     

Universal occurrence of soot superaggregates with a fractal dimension of 2.6 in heavily sooting laminar diffusion flames

Using small-angle light scattering we show that a new phase of soot with size ca. 10 microm and a fractal dimension of D approximately equal to 2.6 exists in laminar diffusion flames for a wide range of heavily sooting fuels. This new phase appears to be a supramicrometer extension of the well-known submicrometer, D approximately equal to 1.8 phase of soot formed via diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA). The occurrence of this new soot phase correlates with an empirical sooting index for fuels. This supports a creation scenario in which these supramicrometer aggregates are created via a percolation of the submicrometer, D approximately equal to 1.8 aggregates.     

Activation analysis of mercury in biological samples

A method has been developed for the determination of trace quantities of mercury in biological samples, in which homogeneous irradiation was achieved by introducing a rotating irradiation disk facility in the reactor pool water, and possible loss of mercury during chemical processing was reduced by using a simple procedure. This procedure involved the destruction of the sample in a reflux system with conc. HNO₃ or fuming HNO₃+H₂O₂ and subsequent isolation of mercury by spontaneous deposition on Cu sieves from dilute HNO₃(0.5–1.5N). The possibility of using Au or Co as standards, instead of mercury which is easily volatile, was also evaluated.