Construction of functional porphyrin polystyrene nano-architectures by ATRP

A series of mono-functionalized metallo-porphyrin polystyrenes have been synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization and their self-assembling behavior was studied by electron microscopy showing that the polystyrene tail-length influences the aggregate architecture.     

Spectroelectrochemical characterisation of poly[Ni(saltMe)]-modified electrodes

Electrogenerated polymers based on the nickel(II) complex 2,3-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)butane-2,3-diaminatonickel(II), poly[Ni(saltMe)], were characterised by in situ FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and ex-situ EPR spectroscopy in order to gain insights into film structure, electronic states and charge conduction. The role of the nickel ions during film oxidation was probed by using EPR to study naturally abundant Ni and 61Ni-enriched polymers. The data from all the spectroscopic techniques are consistent, and clearly indicate that polymerisation and redox switching are associated with oxidative ligand based processes; coulometry suggests that one positive charge was delocalised through each monomer unit. EPR provided evidence for the non-direct involvement of the metal in polymer oxidation: the polymer is best described as a polyphenylene-type compound (conducting polymer), rather than an aggregation of nickel complexes (redox polymer), and the main charge carriers are identified as polarons. An explanation for the high electrochemical stability and conductivity of poly[Ni(saltMe)] with respect to that of poly[Ni(salen)] is proposed. based on stereochemical repulsion between monomeric units; this can impose a less compact supramolecular structure on polymers with bulkier substituents.     

g tensor of transition ions in a crystalline matrix: Interstitial V(IV) and Ti(III) in rutile TiO2

In order to check if the parametrized crystal field approach is efficient in the analysis of an EPR powder spectrum we study defects of known geometry as if we did not know it. The g tensor of an interstitial V⁴⁺ ion in a single crystal of rutile TiO₂ can be interpreted without ambiguity, and the optimized parameters compare well with their theoretical values. For an interstitial Ti³⁺ ion, two solutions are found: both of them correspond to interstitial positions, but they differ in the principal axis orientation.     

Development of a screening method for cocaine and cocaine metabolites in urine using solvent microextraction in conjunction with gas chromatography

A simple, quick and inexpensive screening method for cocaine and cocaine metabolites has been developed. Drug extraction was achieved using the relatively new technique of solvent microextraction (SME). Complete analysis is achieved in 13 min, using, a 6-min extraction with a 2-microl drop followed by separation on a gas chromatograph. The developed procedure was tested as a screening method for cocaine and cocaine metabolites in spiked urine samples. Using SME, concentrations as low as 0.125 microg ml(-1) of cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester, cocaethylene and anhydroecgonine methyl ester were measurable with relative standard deviation values averaging 9.0%.     

Comparative study of reflectance cells for PLS-FTIR determination of sugars in soft drinks

A comparative study has been carried out between a horizontal Attenuated Total Reflectance (h-ATR) cell and a Cylindrical Internal Reflection (CIR) cell (CIRCLE cell). Both cells were employed for the determination of glucose, fructose, sucrose and total sugar in soft drinks and fruit juices using absorbance measurements at two resolution values (4 and 8 cm^–1). Data were processed by Partial Least Squares regression (PLS). Using a resolution of 4 cm^–1, mean relative errors of prediction from 0.6% to 1.3% were obtained using the horizontal-ATR and from 0.6% to 2.8% using the CIRCLE cell resulting in a limit of detection from 0.03% in the case of sucrose to 0.21% for total sugar for the h-ATR and from 0.06% for sucrose to 0.13% for glucose using the CIRCLE cell. Both cells provided appropriate figures of merit, but the analytical sensitivity obtained using the h-ATR cell was three times higher than that obtained using the CIRCLE cell.     

Determination of mitomycin C in plasma, serum and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet and electrochemical detection

The performance of a number of normal phase and reversed-phase systems, with ultraviolet detection at 360 nm, has been investigated with respect to their applicability to pharmacokinetic studies of mitomycin C (MMC). The reversed-phase system developed was also combined with a polarographic detector in order to compare the sensitivity and selectivity of ultraviolet and electrochemical detection. A simple isolation procedure, based on the adsorption of MMC on a non-ionogenic resin, has been developed. The developed assay is applied to a pharmacokinetic study from which some examples are given.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Photosensitized Oxidation of Furosemide*

Detection of O2(1δg) phosphorescence emission, γmax = 1270 nm, following laser excitation and steady-state competitive methods was employed to measure total rate constants, kT, for the reactions of the diuretic furosemide, 2-methylfurane and furfurylamine with singlet oxygen in several solvents. Correlation of kT values with solvent parameters and product identification shows that the reaction mechanism is strongly solvent dependent. In aliphatic alcohols, the dependence of kT on solvent parameters is similar to the one observed for triethylamine, suggesting a reaction mechanism involving partial charge transfer from the amino group to the singlet oxygen. In nonprotic solvents, the dependence of kT on solvent parameters resembles the behavior found for 2-methylfur-ane and furfurylamine, implying that mostly a 2 + 4 cy-cloaddition mechanism of singlet oxygen to furane ring of furosemide occurs in these solvents. These mechanistic differences are explained in terms of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the carboxylic group in the aromatic ring and the amino group of furosemide. Furthermore, direct generation of C2(1δg) by furosemide was detected. Quantum yields of 0.047 ± 0.003 and 0.078 ± 0.004 were determined in acetonitrile and benzene, respectively. This last result may be related, at least partially, to the photodynamic effects of this diuretic drug.     

Fabrication and characterization of high-temperature microreactors with thin film heater and sensor patterns in silicon nitride tubes

In this paper the fabrication and electrical characterization of a silicon microreactor for high-temperature catalytic gas phase reactions, like Rh-catalyzed catalytic partial oxidation of methane into synthesis gas, is presented. The microreactor, realized with micromachining technologies, contains silicon nitride tubes that are suspended in a flow channel. These tubes contain metal thin films that heat the gas mixture in the channel and sense its temperature. The metal patterns are defined by using the channel geometry as a shadow mask. Furthermore, a new method to obtain Pt thin films with good adhesive properties, also at elevated temperatures, without adhesion metal is implemented in the fabrication process. Based on different experiments, it is concluded that the electrical behaviour at high temperatures of Pt thin films without adhesion layer is better than that of Pt/Ta films. Furthermore, it is found that the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and the resistivity of the thin films are stable for up to tens of hours when the temperature-range during operation of the microreactor is below the so-called "burn-in" temperature. Experiments showed that the presented suspended-tube microreactors with heaters and temperature sensors of Pt thin films can be operated safely and in a stable way at temperatures up to 700 degrees C for over 20 h. This type of microreactor solves the electrical breakdown problem that was previously reported by us in flat-membrane microreactors that were operated at temperatures above 600 degrees C.     

Total synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine: a new strategy for the enantiospecific synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids

A new strategy was developed for the enantiospecific synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids. The key steps involve a novel ketene-lactonization reaction of a chiral vinyl sulfoxide to efficiently set up the quaternary carbon center, and a tandem Michael addition-alkylation reaction sequence to form the polycyclic core structure. This new strategy was employed in the total synthesis of natural product (+)-aspidospermidine.