Thermoreversible gels of polyacrylonitrile

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is soluble at room temperature in some ionic aqueous media and in many polar organic liquids such as dimethyl sulfoxide, but the polymer will not crystallize from these solvents. It is known, however, that PAN will from single crystals from dilute propylene carbonate (PC) solutions. It was found that on cooling concentrated PAN-PC solutions, thermoreversible gels were formed. The gels showed x-ray diffraction peaks and calorimetry indicated first-order dissolution endotherms and crystallization exotherms. Thus, on cooling, crystallization of the polymer from this solvent was identified as the cause for gelation of concentrated solutions. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

All Modules Have Flat Covers

In this paper we give two different proofs that the flat coverconjecture is true: that is, every module has a flat cover.The two proofs are of completely different nature, and, we hope,will have different applications. The first of the two proofs(due to the third author) is essentially an application of thework of P. Eklof and J. Trlifaj (work which is more set-theoretic).The second proof (due to the first two authors) is more direct,and has a model-theoretic flavour.     

P-N compounds. 25. Phosphaminimides. 1. Synthesis and bioevaluation of a derivative of tetrahydro-2H-1,3,4,2-oxadiazaphosphorinium inner salt

2-Phenoxy-4,4-dimethyltetrahydro-2H-1,3,4,2-oxadiazaphosphorinium 2-oxide inner salt, the first known cyclic phosphaminimide, was synthesized by dehydroiodination of its hydrazinium salt. The corresponding 2-phenyl derivative was unstable and not isolated. The 2-phenoxy and 2-phenylphosphorinium iodides and their precursors produced weak inhibition of sympathetic ganglionic transmission. The phosphaminimide caused a slight potentiation and was also found to be less toxic than its corresponding hydrazinium iodide precusor.     

Synthesis,characterization and DFT aspects of some oxovanadium(IV) and manganese(II) complexes involving dehydroacetic acid and β-diketones

Six new mixed-ligand oxovanadium(IV) and manganese(II) complexes of the general composition [VO(dhaH)(L¹H)(L²)] and [Mn(dhaH)(L¹H)(L²)], where dhaH=dehydroacetic acid, L¹H=β-ketoenolates viz., acetoacetanilide (aaaH), o-acetoacetotoluidide (o-aatdH), o-acetoacetanisidide (o-aansH) and L²=benzimidazole (bzl), 3-methyl-1phenyl-2pyrazoline-5one (mphp), 2-aminobenzimidazole (abzl) or 2-aminobenzathiozole (abtz) have been synthesized. The resultant complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic measurements, mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared and electron spin resonance studies. The thermal decomposition processes of one representative of the complexes are discussed and the order of reaction (n), the activation energies (E_a), the pre-exponential factor (A), have been calculated from thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves. Gaussian 09 software package was used to carry out theoretical computation using density functional theory (DFT) methods with Becke3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) hybrid exchange-correlation functional and the standard LANL2 MB basis set. Based on combined experimental-theoretical characterization, a suitable octahedral structure has been proposed for this class of complexes.     

Sensitive and selective ion chromatographic method for the determination of trace beryllium in water samples

A selective and sensitive ion chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of beryllium in a number of water samples at low-μg/l concentrations. The separation was performed on a 250×4.0 mm I.D. iminodiacetic acid functionalised silica gel column. Chromatographed Be(II) was detected using visible detection at 590 nm following post-column reaction with chrome azurol S (CAS). The optimum separation and derivatisation conditions were studied in detail. The optimum eluent conditions were found to be 0.4 M KNO₃, adjusted to pH 2.5 using HNO₃, with optimum post-column detection being achieved using a solution containing 0.26 mM CAS, 2% Triton X-100, 50 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, pH 6.0. Under the above conditions, the concentration detection limit for Be(II) was found to be 3 μg/l in a standard solution and 4 μg/l in a typical tap water sample, using a 250 μl injection. The method was linear over the investigated range of 10 μg/l to 10 mg/l and highly reproducible. The method was successfully applied to a number of water samples of varying matrix complexity, including simulated seawater, and also to a natural freshwater certified reference material NIST 1640.     

Indole as a reagent for nitrite in aqueous solution

A fairly selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the trace determination of nitrite in aqueous solution is described. The titled ion reacts with indole in acidic medium to form a soluble pink-red product, which is measured at 530 nm. Maximum absorbance is achieved in 10 min and remains constant for about 45 min. This method is applicable to water samples containing 0–2 μg/ml with a relative error of 0.0 to–0.8%, and relative standard deviation of 0.3–0.8%, depending on the concentration level. The optimum reaction conditions affecting and related to the color reaction and interferences due to foreign ions have been studied.     

Photometric determination of iron (III)

A sensitive colored reaction of tiron with iron (III) is described. It is based on a complex formation between tiron and iron (III) in basic medium. The method is suitable to determine 0.4–10 ppm of iron (III) with a relative standard deviation of 0.45–1.4% depending on the concentration level, molar absorptivity of 5.7 × 10³ liter mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, and Sandell sensitivity index of 0.0098 μg/cm².Because of being simple and rapid, this method can certainly be used in routine analysis.     

Parameterising matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI): strategy for matrix—analyte selection and effect of radical co-additives on analyte peak intensities

Dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) analogues substituted at the 5-position can act as UV matrices at a wavelength of 337 nm, even when their absorption maxima are shifted past this particular wavelength.Modification of a matrix with a chiral ligand γ-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxy-anilide) (GCA) allowed it to differentiate between chiral isomers of tryptophan and also gave different intensities for glucose isomers, including structural dimers of glucose (cellobiose and maltose).An analogue that had one free hydroxyl group at the 2-OH position and a modification at the 5-position (MY10) gave protonated substance P (SP, analyte) peaks, similar in intensity to the not derivatised parent 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid indicating that the 5-OH position is not an important structural component.Another analogue that resembled a ‘dendrimeric’ structure of DHB (M552), also acted as a matrix, although its absorption maxima was at 552 nm suggesting the possibility of it being used at other wavelengths in addition to 337 nm.The DHB radical was complexed to a nitrone ‘spin-trap’. On complexion, the peptide (SP) peak intensity decreased. Addition of either radical initiators, such as 2,2-azobis(iso-butyronitrile) AIBN and tert-butylperoxide, or other radicals such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO) gave rise to higher analyte peak intensities for [SP+Na]⁺.It is thought that the DHB neutral radical is an intermediary in the protonation of the analyte. The photo-fragments of DHB, specifically the m/z 137 species, may also take part in proton transfer since possible mass analogues (hydroquinone, (deoxy)benzoin) can lead to analyte enhancement. Stabilization of or an increase in the matrix radical can also lead to analyte signal enhancement.     

Determination of trace cadmium in environmental water samples using ion-interaction reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

An ion-interaction reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of cadmium at low microg/l concentrations in environmental water samples. Cadmium and other matrix metals were separated through on-column complexation with 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphonate, using an octadecylsilica column and a mobile phase containing 15% acetonitrile, 10-13 mM tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, 5 mM 8-hydroxyquinoline 5-sulphonic acid and 10 mM acetic acid-acetate buffer (pH 4.8-5.4). Under the above conditions Cd(II) could be easily resolved from excess concentrations of matrix metals and could be detected at concentrations as low as 2 microg/l using fluorescence detection at 500 nm (based upon a 100-microl injection). The method showed a slightly curved detector response over the range of interest [up to 1 mg/l Cd(II)] and was successfully applied to the determination of trace Cd(II) in water samples containing large excesses of Mg(II) and Zn(II) and other matrix metals.