Do proficiency tests always verify laboratories’ performance? The case of FAPAS PT 0270

In this paper, the case of FAPAS PT 0270 “Doramectin and Oxfendazole in Sheep Liver” is discussed. During evaluation of the data received from participants (determination of total, oxidised oxfendazole residue and calculation of the sum of oxfendazole and oxfendazole sulfone residues), significant differences were observed between the results obtained by use of two analytical approaches. This phenomenon can be explained by the route of oxfendazole metabolism, which results in the presence of fenbendazole in the sample. This was not predicted by the provider; consequently, not all the necessary tests on the material were conducted. Due to the high uncertainty of the z-scores in this test, the results of the PT cannot be used for purposes of evaluation, and the benefits of participation in PT 0270 are questionable.     

Studies of organotin(IV)-orthoquinone systems

The primary process in the reaction of hexaphenylditin with various substituted orthoquinones (Q) is shown to involve attack by the quinone at a phenyl ligand. The intermediate thus formed decomposes to yield Ph₃Sn(SQ^·), where S(Q^·−) is the corresponding semiquinonate. Rearrangement of these species in solution gives rise to biradicals, while intramolecular electron transfer may lead to the formation and precipitation of Ph₂Sn(CAT), where CAT²⁻ is the corresponding substituted catecholate. The identification of these processes depends in part on electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The reaction of Ph₃SnCl or Ph₂SnCl₂ with Na(TBSQ^·) (TBSQ^·−=3,5-di-tert-butyl-orthobenzosemiquinonate) results in the formation of Ph₂Sn(TBSQ^·), which can undergo redistribution and intramolecular electron transfer, so that the solution chemistry of these latter systems is similar to that of the products of the Sn₂Ph₆+Q reaction.     

Changes in surface composition of Fe-Si-Cr-K oxide alkylation catalyst: the marked role of potassium ferrites

The influence of gas-phase methylation of phenol on the state of the Fe-Si-Cr-K oxide catalyst surface was investigated by thermodesorption of K atoms and ions. Changes in potassium desorption energies, as determined from Arrhenius-like plots, varied from 3.07 eV to 1.21 eV for the atoms and from 2.59 eV to 2.89 eV for ion desorption from the active and deactivated samples, respectively. The results were discussed in terms of transformation of the catalyst surface and formation of β-ferrite.     

Structures and energies of seleno derivatives of biuret.Ab Initio comparative studies of diselenobiuret, selenobiuret, and selenothiobiuret

Ab initio studies (LCAO-MO method) on conformers of three seleno derivatives of the biuret molecules diselenobiuret [I], selenobiuret [II], and selenothiobiuret [III] were carried out at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and MP2 levels. The molecular geometries of these species were fully optimized at the HF level and characterized by analysis of the harmonic vibrational frequencies using a split-valence triple-zeta basis set augmented by a set ofd polarization functions on heavy atoms andp polarization functions on hydrogen atoms [TZP(d, p)]. The total energies of the HF-optimized structures were calculated at the MP2 (frozen core) level using a larger TZP (2df, 2pd) basis set. The potential energy searches revealed a total of 11 minimum-energy conformers (assigned astrans-trans, trans-cis, cis-trans, andcis-cis) and seven transition-state species for the title molecules. The two predicted conformers for diselenobiuret (Ia=trans-trans andIc=cis-cis) are characterized byC ₂ and the third byC _s symmetry. For selenothiobiuret two forms (IIIa=trans-trans andIIId=cis-cis) possessC ₁ and two (IIIb=trans-cis andIIIc=cis-trans) possessC _s symmetries, respectively. For selenobiuret, four formsIIa=trans-trans (C₁),IIb=trans-cis (C _s),IIc=cis-trans (C ₁), andIId=cis-cis (C₁), were obtained as a result of gradient optimization. Comparison of the relative energies for the considered species indicated that thecis-trans forms are the most stable conformations for all three systems at both the HF and MP2 levels of theory.     

Reduced Overlap Population Analysis for Triosmium Clusters

The use of reduced overlap population (ROP) analysis from EHMO calculations as a means to gauge the presence of metal–metal bonds in triosmium clusters is examined. A number of triosmium clusters containing bridging ligands have been used as test cases, including the bis-ethoxy bridged cluster Os₃(μ-OEt)₂(CO)₁₀, 1b, and some of its group 15 derivatives Os₃(μ-OEt)₂(CO)₉(EPh₃), 2. These latter clusters are newly synthesized and have been characterized completely, including by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic studies. In honour of Professor Dieter Fenske on his 65th birthday.     

Hydrogen–hydrogen bonding in biphenyl revisited

The evidence for the stabilizing nature of the H–H bonding in planar biphenyl is succinctly reviewed. The stabilizing nature of the H–H bonding is revealed through a comparison of the atomic energy of every atom in planar biphenyl with the same atom in the twisted equilibrium structure. It is shown that the barrier to rotation via the planar transition state is the net resultant of a stabilisation of the four ortho-hydrogen atoms (by 8 kcal/mol each), a stabilisation of the two para-carbon atoms (by 3 kcal/mol each) and by the dominant destabilisation of the two carbon atoms joining the two rings—the two junction carbon atoms—(by 22 kcal/mol each). The energetic stabilisation of the four ortho-hydrogen atoms is further shown to be in large proportion due to the formation of the hydrogen–hydrogen interatomic surface. Furthermore, neither the “bond order” between the two junction carbon atoms nor the total electron delocalisation between the two rings exhibit a significant change in going from the planar to the twisted equilibrium geometry. These findings are in contrast with the classical view of a balance between “steric non-bonded repulsion” and better electron delocalisation as a function of the twist dihedral angle. Similar conclusions have been recently reached by Pacios and Gómez through a study of the electrostatic potential at the position of the hydrogen nuclei. We dedicate this article to Professor TM Krygowski on the occasion of his 70th birthday wishing him a long and productive life.     

Discrete mechanics and its application to the solution of the n-body problem

A theory of discrete mechanics is developed based on the results of D. Greenspan. Discrete dynamical equations in an inertial frame, in a coordinate system related to some material point, and in a rotating frame are given and the consistency, stability, and convergence of the methods are studied and some numerical examples presented.     

Complexing equilibria and redox potentials in the system Ag(II)/Ag(I)-1,10-phenanthroline in propylene carbonate

Predominance areas of various equilibria were identified and complex formation constants of Ag(I) with 1,10-phenanthroline were determined as well as the solubility product of the complex salt for Ag(phen)₂ClO₄ in propylene carbonate. The solubility product of AgNO₃ in propylene carbonate was estimated. The value of the formal potential of the system Ag(phen) ₂ ²⁺ /Ag(phen) ₂ ⁺ inPC was determined by chronovoltammetry. Differences in the stability of analogous complexes in water andPC are discussed.

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Die Gleichgewichtskonstante der Komplexierung und die Redoxpotentiale im System Ag(II)/Ag(I)-1,10-Phenantrolin in Propylencarbonat

Zusammenfassung Die Gebiete der Dominanz der einzelnen Gleichgewichte, die Bildungskonstanten ₁ und ₂ der Komplexe Ag(I) mit 1,10-Phenantrolin und der Wert des Löslichkeitsproduktes Ag(phen)₂ClO₄ in Propylencarbonat wurden bestimmt. Das Löslichkeitsprodukt von AgNO₃ in Propylencarbonat wurde abgeschätzt. Die Werte des formalen Potentials des Systems Ag(phen) ₂ ²⁺ /Ag(phen) ₂ ⁺ inPC wurden mit Hilfe cyclischer Voltametrie ermittelt. Es wurden weiterhin die Unterschiede in der Stabilität analoger Komplexe in Wasser und in Propylencarbonat diskutiert.

     

Electrochemical investigation of hymecromone at a multi-wall carbon nano-tube/cetyl pyridine bromine composite film electrode

A multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT)/cetyl pyridine bromine (CPB) composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed for the electrochemical determination of hymecromone in phosphonate buffer. Electrochemical behaviour of hymecromone at the composite film electrode was investigated with voltammetry. Compared with an irreversible oxidation of hymecromone at the bare GCE, the oxidation peak current was enhanced greatly at the film electrode. Some parameters such as pH, scan rate, accumulation potential and accumulation time were optimized. Under optimal conditions, an oxidation peak at 0.82 V was employed to determine hymecromone electrochemically. A linearity between the oxidation peak current and the hymecromone concentration was obtained in the range of 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ − 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol 1⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol 1⁻¹. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to assay hymecromone in pharmaceutical formulation with satisfactory results. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Synthesis and mechanism research of an ethylene glycol-based sol-gel method for preparing PZT nanopowders

Lead zirconate titanate nanopowders Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ (PZT) were prepared by modified sol-gel process in ethylene glycol system with zirconium nitrate as the zirconium source. The research showed that it was critical to add lead acetate after the reaction of zirconium nitrate and tetrabutyl titanate in ethylene glycol system for preparing PZT of exact titanium content. The reaction mechanisms of the sol synthesis, preparation of xerogel and agglutinating process were characterized through using FT-IR, NMR, TG-FTIR, and GC-MS. The experiment proved that ethylene glycol system did not rely on hydrolysis and condensation reactions in the process of the sol formation, but on the formation of chain or network large molecules from complexation of ethylene glycol and all Ti and minor Pd, Zr. In the preparation of xerogel, the complexation reaction was so completed that it formed large molecules network composed of metal and dioxyethyl. Bulk weight loss happened before 350°C in the process of sintering xerogel to prepare PZT nanopowders. Volatile matters and vapor phase decomposition resultants were primarily oxy-compounds including ethylene glycol, aldehyde-ketone compounds, carbon dioxide and nitrate radical conversion matters. After 350°C, primary vapor phase decomposition resultants were carbon dioxide and minor carbonyl compound.