The solid-state E/Z-photoisomerization of 1,2-dibenzoylethene

The E/Z-photoisomerization of trans-1,2-dibenzoylethene (DBE) in the confinement of its crystal lattice proceeds readily, but not as a single crystal to single crystal process which was claimed previously by others. This model for the Z-->E isomerization at the 11-12 double bond of the retinal moiety in the crystal-like confinement of rhodopsin was investigated in view of the fact that the precise geometric features are crucial for a better understanding of the postulated twist mechanism. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) monitored long-range anisotropic molecular movements if trans-DBE was photoisomerized, but cis-DBE was unreactive even at the extreme sensitivity of AFM. The crystal lattices of both isomers cannot accommodate a rotational mechanism but at best the twist mechanism with the large groups not leaving their planes. The unidirectional solid-state photochemistry derives from the crystal packing of cis-DBE which exhibits severe 3D-interlocking. Thus, trans-DBE molecules are not formed in the cis-lattice, because their moving away would be prohibited. Conversely, photochemically formed cis-DBE molecules escape the foreign trans-DBE lattice easily along its glide planes, as is experimentally observed by AFM. These findings are reminiscent of the escape of 11-trans-retinal from the rhodopsin array in the vision cascade.     

Transient behavior of a nonequilibrium plasma formed by merged beams

A low density, low temperature plasma formed by two merged beams of electrons and ions at near zero relative velocity is studied by solving a set of time-dependent rate equations. In particular, we investigate the role played by the radiative recombination (RR) and three-body recombination (TBR) on the population of excited states during the initial stage of plasma rearrangement and relaxation. It is found in the case of hydrogenic plasmas that low-lying states are filled predominantly by RR, while high Rydberg states are populated mainly by TBR. As the plasma further relaxes, the collisional excitation and de-excitation, and radiative decays become important, filling the median excited states. The dependence of the TBR and RR rates on ionic chargeZ is discussed to extend the result to plasmas of highZ ions.     

Preparation-Proprietes physico-chimiques enthalpie de formation de l'hydrure d'aluminium AlH3α′

Résumé L'hydrure d'aluminium AlH₃- a été obtenu par action de LiAlH₄ sur AlCl₃ ou ZnCl₂ dans l'éther éthylique. La décomposition thermique a été étudiée par thermogravimé trie sous pression réduite (10^–2 torr). La capacité calorifique molaire à 298 K, l'enthalpie de décomposition, ainsi que l'enthalpie de formation ont été déterminées avec un microcalorimètre Calvet.

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Aluminium hydride,-AlH₃, was prepared by reaction of LiAlH₄ on A1C1₃ or ZnCl₂ in diethyl ether. Thermogravimetry was used to investigate its thermal decomposition under low pressure (10^–2 torr). The molar heat capacity at 298 K, the heat of decomposition, and the heat of formation, were measured with a Calvet microcalorimeter.

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Zusammenfassung Aluminiumhydrid AlH₃- wurde durch Einwirkung von LiAlH₄ auf AlCl₃ oder ZnCl₂ in DiÄthylether hergestellt. Die Thermo gravimetrie wurde zur Untersuchung der thermischen Zersetzung bei niedrigem Druck (10^–2 torr) herangezogen. Die molare WÄrmekapazitÄt bei 298 K, die Zersetzungsenthalpie sowie die Bildungsenthalpie wurden mit einem Calvet-Mikrokalorimeter bestimmt.

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— - l₃ LiAlH₄ ll₃ ZnCl₂ . (10^–2 ) . 298 , .

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Ce travail a été effectué dans le cadre d'un contrat de recherches passé par le laboratoire de Thermochimie Minérale avec la Direction des Recherches et Moyen d'Essai. Nous remercions bien vivement cet organisme de l'aide qu'il nous a apportée.     

Oxygen uptake photosensitized by disorganized chlorophyll in model systems and thylakoids of greening barley

Light-dependent oxygen uptake was observed and studied in thylakoids from early greening barley in comparison to oxygen uptake in chlorophyll solutions and in thylakoids from fully green leaves. Substantial oxygen uptake was observed in chlorophyll solutions supplemented with tryptophan, histidine, ascorbic acid or linoleic acid. This uptake was diminished by adding azide, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, which are specific singlet-oxygen quenchers. Illuminated thylakoids from greening barley also exhibited marked oxygen uptake that, likewise, was strongly quenched by azide. In comparison, azide was found not to affect oxygen uptake that is associated with the methyl viologen-catalyzed Mehler reaction. It is reasoned that in the first two cases the oxygen uptake arises from chlorophyll-photosensitized activation of oxygen to the singlet state and its consumption by exogenous or endogenous substrates. In greening, we propose that disorganized chlorophyll photo-sensitizes the oxygen uptake.     

THE FLUORESCENCE DECAY OF REDUCED NICOTINAMIDES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION AFTER EXCITATION WITH A UV-MODE LOCKED Ar ION LASER

Abstract— The fluorescence decay kinetics of the reduced nicotinamides NMNH, NADH and NADPH in aqueous solution were investigated using an Ar ion laser, mode locked in the UV, as source of excitation and single photon counting electronics in the detection system allowing for a time resolution in the picosecond range. Analysis of the experimental fluorescence decay showed that the dinucleotides did not follow a single exponential decay law. Good fitting was accomplished with a sum of two exponentials. The mononucleotide fluorescence decay was a single exponential for at least 95% of its amplitude.
The heterogeneity in lifetimes of the fluorescence of the dinucleotides was interpreted in terms of an exciplex mechanism.     

The preparation and characterisation of dichloro(1,2,4-trithia-3-azabut-2-ene)gold(III), AuCl2(S3N)

Deprotonation of heptasulphurmonoimide at −78°C using BuLi followed by reaction with HAuCl₄ yields AuCl₂(S₃N), in moderate yield (21%), characterised by IR/Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopies.     

Electronic structures and MCD spectra of trigonal Cr(III)S6 systems

MCD, electronic absorption, external heavy atom, and crystal field data are presented for the low energy region (² E _g, ² T _1g, ⁴ T _2g) and high energy region (² T _2g, ⁴ T _1g) of Cr(dtp)₃, Cr(dtc)₃, and Cr(exan)₃. At low energy, MCD intensities of ² E(² E _g) and ² E(² T _g) are as large or larger than ⁴ T _2g, and the MCD technique is advantageous over electronic absorption in this respect. The MCD positions of ² E _g and ² T _1g are nearly the same for these molecules ( 13 kK and 13.6 kK) · ⁴ T _2g of this region appears trigonally split ( 500 cm^–1) in the MCD of dtp but to a smaller extent than in the electronic crystal spectrum of Lebedda and Palmer ( 600 cm^–1). MCD did not resolve such components for exan and dtc. The higher energy region includes ² T _2g and ⁴ T _1g, and the combined MCD and electronic absorption data of the three compounds taken together lead us to conclude the ordering ² A ₁(² T _2g)<² E(² T _2g)<⁴ E(⁴ T _1g). The potentially useful external heavy atom affect on the solution-observed electronic ² E and ⁴ E bands of Cr(dtp)₃ did not shed additional light on this order of E states. Finally, it is concluded that the order of ⁴ T _1g and ² T _2g cannot be decided from O _h crystal field calculations because of experimental uncertainties about choosing centers of gravity. In addition, ⁴ T _1g and ² T _2g are close together so that ordering ² E<⁴ E does not guarantee ² T _2g<⁴ T _1g. However, it can be concluded that the ratio C/B4 is not correct, whereas the larger 7<(C/B)<8 is consistent with the data of all three molecules because of small B parameters ( 0.4). Locating OO transitions may somewhat decrease C/B and Dq.

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Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden folgende Meßergebnisse mitgeteilt; MCD, elektronische Absorption, Einfluß eines äußeren schweren Atoms sowie Kristallfelddaten für den Bereich niedriger Energie (² E _g, ² T _1g, ⁴ T _2g) und den Bereich hoher Energie (² T _2g, ⁴ T _1g) von Cr(dtp)₃, Cr(dtc)₃ und Cr(exan). Bei niedriger Energie sind die MCD-Intensitäten von ² E(² E _g) und ² E(² T _1g) genau so groß, oder größer als ⁴ T _2g, und die MCD-Technik bietet Vorteile gegenüber der elektronischen Absorptionsmethode. Die MCD-Werte von ² E _g und ² T _1g sind für die genannten Moleküle etwa gleich ( 13 kK und 13,6 kK). ⁴ T _2g dieses Gebietes erscheint trigonal aufgespalten ( 500 cm^–1) bei MCD von dtp, aber in einem geringeren Maß als im elektronischen Kristallspektrum von Lebedda und Palmer ( 600 cm^–1) MCD löste solche Komponenten bei exan und dtc nicht auf. Der Bereich höherer Energie enthält ² T _2g und ⁴ T _1g, und aus der Kombination von Daten der MCD-Methode sowie der elektronischen Absorption schlossen wir auf die Anordnung ² A _1g(² T _2g)<² E(² T _2g)<⁴ E(⁴ T _1g). Der möglicherweise nützliche Effekt eines äußeren schweren Atoms auf die in Lösung beobachteten elektronischen ² E- und ⁴E-Banden von Cr(dtp)₃ brachte bezüglich dieser Anordnung der E-Zustände nichts Neues. Weiterhin wird gefolgert, daß die Ordnung von ⁴ T _1g und ² T _2g nicht aus O _h-Kristallfeldberechnungen entschieden werden kann, da experimentelle Unsicherheiten bezüglich der Wahl von Schwerpunkten bestehen. Außerdem liegen ⁴ T _1g und ² T _2g nahe zusammen, sodaß aus der Anordnung ² E<⁴ E nicht notwendig ² T _2g<⁴ T _1g folgt. Es kann jedoch gefolgert werden, daß das Verhältnis C/B4 nicht korrekt ist, während 7<(C/B)<8 konsistent mit den Daten aller drei Moleküle ist, da die B-parameter klein sind (0,4). Die Vokalisierung der OO-Übergänge könnten C/B und Dq etwas erniedrigen.

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Presented in part at the 161st American Chemical Society National Meeting, Los Angeles, California, March–April, 1971.

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NDEA Pre-Doctoral Fellow.     

Sulfanilamide-containing coordination compounds of Cu(II) with isatin and N-methylisatin thiosemicarbazones

Isatin (L¹) and N-methylisatin (L²) β-thiosemicarbazones react in ethanol with Cu(II) chloride and bromide in the presence of sulfanilamide (Streptocid, Sf¹), N-acetylsulfanilamide (Sulfacyl, Sf²), Norsulfazole (Sf³), Aethazolum (Sf⁴), and Sulfadimesine (Sf⁵) to form coordination compounds Cu(Sf^1–5)L^1–2X₂ · nH₂O (X = Cl, Br; n = 2–5). All the complexes have a monomeric structure. Thiosemicarbazones L¹ and L² in these complexes are tridentate O,N,S ligands, and sulfanilamides Sf^1–5 are monodentate ligands. Thermolysis of the substances involves the steps of dehydration (70–95°C) and complete decomposition (410–530°C).     

NdFeO3 as a new electrocatalytic material for the electrochemical monitoring of dopamine

A new electrochemical sensor, based on NdFeO₃ nanoparticles as electrocatalytic material, was proposed here for the detection of dopamine (DA). NdFeO₃ nanoparticles were first synthesized by a simple thermal treatment method and subsequent annealing at high temperature (700 °C). The prepared electrocatalytic material has been characterized in detail by SEM-EDX, XRD, and Raman techniques. Characterization results display its sheet-like morphology, constituted by a porous network of very small orthorhombic NdFeO₃ nanoparticles. NdFeO₃ electrocatalytic material was then used to modify the working electrode of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). Electrochemical tests demonstrated that NdFeO₃– modified screen-printed carbon electrode (NdFeO₃/SPCE) exhibited a remarkable enhancement of the dopamine electrooxidation, compared to the bare SPCE one. The analytical performance of the developed sensor has been evaluated for the detection of this analyte by means of the square-wave voltammetry (SWV) technique. The modified electrode showed two linear concentration ranges, from 0.5 to 100 μM and 150 to 400 μM, respectively, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.27 μM (at S/N = 3), and good reproducibility, stability, and selectivity. Additionally, we also report an attempt made to propose the modified sensor for the simultaneous detection of dopamine and uric acid (UA). The procedure was also applied for the determination of dopamine in spiked real samples. So, this paper reports for the first time the use of a modified NdFeO₃ screen-printed electrode for developing an electrochemical sensor for the quantification of important biomolecules.

Graphical abstract

     

Chemiluminescent determination of reactive hydrocarbons

Summary Chemiluminescent reactions of ozone with several classes of compounds at different temperatures are described. In a reaction chamber in front of a photomultiplier ozone is mixed with the compounds studied such as alkanes, olefins, alcohols, aromatics, C₂H₂, NO, vinyl chloride or H₂S. The chemiluminescent emission is proportional to the concentration of the compound involved. At room temperature only olefinic hydrocarbons respond but at temperatures above 150°C also a response for alkanes, alcohols, CO etc. is obtained. It is suggested that next to the ozonide-excited formaldehyde mechanism the CO-CO ₂ ^* mechanism is responsible for the chemiluminescent emission at high temperature. A detection limit of a few ppb is achieved. Possible applications are a selective gas-chromatographic detector, an air pollution monitor for instance for CO, and a photochemical reactivity monitor.

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Bestimmung reaktiver Kohlenwasserstoffe durch Chemiluminescenz

Zusammenfassung Chemiluminescenzreaktionen von Ozon mit verschiedenen Verbindungsgruppen (hauptsächlich Kohlenwasserstoffe) bei unterschiedlichen Temperaturen werden beschrieben. In einer Reaktionskammer werden die Verbindungen vor einem Photomultiplier mit Ozon vermischt. Es handelt sich u. a. um folgende Verbindungstypen: Alkane, Olefine, Alkohole, Aromaten, C₂H₂, NO, Vinylchlorid, H₂S. Die Emissionsintensität ist proportional der Konzentration. Bei Raumtemperatur sprechen nur Olefine an, die übrigen Verbindungen erst über 150°C. Die Emission bei höherer Temperatur wird neben der Bildung von Formaldehyd auf die Reaktion CO-CO ₂ ^* zurückgeführt. Die Nachweisgrenze beträgt wenige ppb. Als mögliche Anwendungsgebiete werden ein selektiver GC-Detektor, ein Monitor für Luftverunreinigungen (z.B. für CO) sowie ein Monitor zur Messung photochemischer Reaktivität der Luft genannt.

Presented at the 6th Annual Symposium on Recent Advances in the Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants, April 21–23, 1976; Vienna, Austria.