Study of the winter and summer changes of the air composition in the church of Szalowa, Poland, related to conservation

The St. Michael Archangel’s Church in Szalowa, Poland, was selected for closer investigation with respect to the indoor/outdoor air exchange and its influence on the air quality and work arts preservation. Chemical composition, size and abundance of particulate matter and concentration of gases NO₂, SO₂, O₃ inside and outside the church were determined. To study seasonal variation of the weather condition (temperature, inversion level, wind direction) and the influence of seasonal sources of the air pollution (like heating of the nearby houses), samples were collected in winter and summer time. It was stated that suspended particulate matter inside the wooden church has in general an outdoor source. Several groups of particles were distinguished such as the organic ones, soil dust, nitrates and sulphates. In case of organic and soil dust particles, the concentration inside was higher than outside. From the results, in comparison to literature data, one can conclude that accumulation of particulate suspended matter in the church is more intense than in other types of buildings. Gaseous pollutants were detected but their concentration was negligible.     

The correlation of the stability constants of 1,3-dicarbonylic monochelates of Iron(III) with the acid dissociation constants of the ligand

The variation of the logrithms of stability constants of iron(III) monochelated compounds with structurally similar 1,3-dicarbonylic compounds has been found to be an essentially linear function of the negative logarithms of the acid ionization constant of the ligands. An analytical correlation which could be useful to predict equilibrium constants of iron(III) chelates has been developed. From spectrophotometric and potentiometric data a quantitative evaluation of the stability of the complex has been carried out. Results have provided information regarding substituent effects on the equilibrium constants.     

Complexation of Ni (II) and Zn(II) ions by 3-(1-naphthyI)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid

The complexation equilibria between Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal ions with 3-(1-naphthyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid (H₂NMP) were studied by glass electrode potentiometry, at 25 °C and 1.0 mol·dm^–3 in NaClO₄ as constant ionic medium in 50% (v/v) water-ethanol solutions. Formation constants for the complexes Ni(NMP), Ni(NMP) ₂ ^2– , Zn(NMP) and Zn(NMP) ₂ ^2– , refined by the MINIGLASS program, are reported.     

Synthesis, characterization, and tautomerism of four novel copper(I) complexes from 3-hydroxy-3-(p-R-phenyl)-2-propenedithioic acids

The paper describes the synthesis and structural characterization of four novel copper(I) complexes [CuL(PPh(3))(2)] (L = 3-hydroxy-3-(p-R-phenyl)-2-propenedithioate). In addition, a tautomeric equilibrium in solution was found and Hammett correlations with (13)C NMR parameters were studied. The structure of one complex was fully established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

DNase activity ofMicrococcal endonuclease insolubilized on corn cob

The endonuclease from S. aureus has been immobilized on ground maize cob, previously activated with tosyl chloride. Pretreatment of the support on acid before tosylation yielded the best insoluble enzyme derivatives. The catalytic activity has been evaluated as percent of total hydrolysis attained in a batch reactor using DNA as a model substrate. The derivatives prepared are very resistant to high temperatures under conditions of catalysis (24 h at 45 degrees C). For these long reaction times, the extent of hydrolysis in the presence of small amounts of organic solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide at 2 percent) is larger than in plain buffer (Tris). This type of derivative could be very useful for the removal of nucleic acids from single-cell protein concentrates.     

Intramolecular hydrogen abstraction. Iodosobenzene diacetate,an efficient and convenient reagent for alkoxy radical generation

Photolysis of several hydroxy compounds in presence of iodosobenzene diacetate and iodine leads to alkoxy radical derivatives which undergo intramolecular hydrogen abstraction to produce cyclic ethers in good yield.     

Preparation of [5,6]- and [6,6]-oxahomofullerene derivatives and their interconversion by Lewis acid assisted reactions of fullerene mixed peroxides

[60]Fullerene mixed peroxides C60(O)(OOtBu)4 exhibit chemo- and regioselective reactions under mild conditions. The epoxy moiety is opened by ferric chloride to form vicinal hydroxy chloride C60Cl(OH)(OOtBu)4. BF3 is also effective in opening the epoxy moiety. The O-O bond of the fullerene mixed peroxide is cleaved by aluminum chloride to form both [5,6]- and [6,6]-fullerene hemiketals (oxohomo[60]fullerenes). A Hock-type rearrangement is proposed for the formation of the hemiketals, in which a fullerene C-C bond is cleaved. Lewis acids and/or visible light can initiate isomerization of the hemiketal isomers. Single-crystal X-ray analysis and theoretical calculations confirmed the results.     

Bead injection for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy: automated on-line monitoring of substrate generation and application in quantitative analysis

The technique of bead injection has been adapted for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to substantially improve precision, long term stability and sensitivity of SERS detection in analytical chemistry. For this purpose a fully automated flow system comprising a dedicated flow-cell has been developed and tested. With the developed flow-cell, which contains two inlet and two outlet channels, it is possible to retain, perfuse and discharge minute amounts of polymer beads while monitoring all steps by Raman spectroscopy. First, beads carrying cation exchanger moieties were retained in the flow-cell and subsequently perfused with a silver nitrate and a hydroxylamine solution using one inlet of the flow cell. By this sequence homogeneous SERS active silver layers were formed on the beads. The uniformity of the achieved silver layer was studied by secondary electron microscopy. For measurement, the analyte was then introduced from the second inlet channel such that the interaction between the activated SERS beads and analyte occurred in close proximity and within the focus of the laser excitation beam. Due to the complete computer control of all experimental steps, including bead entrapment, SERS layer generation, sample introduction and final bead removal, highly reproducible conditions for SERS were achieved. The method was developed using 9-aminoacridine as a test molecule. Quantitative studies were carried out for 9-aminoacridine and acridine showing linear calibrations from 1-100 nmol l(-1) and 50-1,000 nmol l(-1), respectively, using a sample volume of 200 microl each. Typical relative standard deviations were 4.7% for 9-aminoacrine and 5.8% for acridine.     

Tetrathiafulvalene crowns: redox-switchable ligands

A series of redox-responsive ligands that associate the electroactive tetrathiafulvalene core with polyether subunits of various lengths has been synthesized. X-ray structures are provided for each of the free ligands. The requisite structural criteria for reaching switchable ligands are satisfied for the largest macrocycles, that is, planarity of the 1,1',3,3'-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) pi system and correctly oriented coordinating atoms. The ability of these ligands to recognize various metal cations as a function of the cavity size has been investigated by various techniques (LSIMS, 1H NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry). These systems exhibit an unprecedented high coordination ability among TTF crown ethers. Their switchable ligating properties have been confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, and metal-cation complexation has been illustrated by X-ray structures of three of the corresponding metal complexes (Pb2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+). Solid-state structures of these complexes display original packing modes with channel-like arrangements.     

Study of the ternary system FeCrTe around the composition FeCr2Te4

The system FeCrTe was investigated around the composition FeCr₂Te₄. FeCr₂Te₄ is a metastable compound. Single crystals with Fe_0·93Cr_1·76Te₄ composition were grown by vapor transport or the Bridgman method. These crystals are metallic and anisotropic ferromagnets.