Quantification of ziram and zineb residues in fog-water samples

The present paper describes the extractive quantification of zinc-dithiocarbamate fungicides, i.e. ziram (zinc bis-dimethyldithiocarbamate) and zineb (zinc ethylene-1,2-bis-dithiocarbamate) in fog-water samples. The method is based on the releasing of equivalent amount of zinc from the fungicides and its subsequent determination by visible spectrophotometry or by flame-atomic absorption spectrometry (flame-AAS). For spectrophotometry, the sample contained up to 48 μg of ziram and 42 μg of zineb was first equilibrated with chloroform. The recovery results show that only ziram content was extracted into chloroform. Then, the sample was treated with NH₄SCN and surfactants (i.e. CPC and TX-100) solutions, and extracted with toluene to remove interference of inorganic zinc and other metal ions, if present in the sample. The residue was further used for zineb determination. The chloroform extract and residue were then digested separately with nitric acid to release Zn(II), which were then analyzed spectrophotometerically with 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol in the micellar medium (TX-100) for the determination of ziram and zineb, respectively. The complex shows λ_max at 495 nm. The molar absorptivity in terms of ziram/zineb was determined to be (8.05) × 10⁴ L mole⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The detection limits for ziram and zineb were calculated to be 20 and 21 μg L⁻¹ (with R.S.D. < 1.5%), respectively. Whereas, the optimum concentration ranges were 0.08-1.6 and 0.07-1.4 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Alternatively, the Zn contents present in chloroform extract and in residue were directly analyzed using flame-AAS without undergoing the digestion procedure, and ziram and zineb were determined, respectively. The optimum concentration ranges were 0.9-4.8 and 0.8-4.3 mg L⁻¹, while the detection limits were calculated to be 145 and 144 μg L⁻¹, respectively with R.S.D. < 2.5%. The methods are free from interference of almost all ions [including Zn(II)] and other dithiocarbamate pesticides, which can commonly associate with ziram/zineb in fog-water.     

Mononuclear hydridocarbonyl ruthenium complexes incorporating N2O2 bis-chelating ligands

The reactions of [RuH(CO)Cl(PPh₃)₃] with N,N^′-bis(salicylidine)-hydrazine (H₂bsh) and N,N^′-bis(salicylidine)-p-phenylene diammine (H₂bsp) in presence of KOH in methanol led in the formation of neutral mononuclear complexes with the formulations [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(L)] (LHbsh or Hbsp). These present the first examples where the ligands H₂bsh or H₂bsp provide only two of its available donor sites for interaction with the metal centre. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FAB-MS, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR and electronic spectral studies. Molecular structure of the representative complex [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(Hbsh)] have been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Specific determination of ferbam residues in fog-water

A specific method for the determination of a fungicide, i.e. iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam) in fog-water samples is described. The method is based on the releasing of equivalent amount of iron from the fungicide and subsequently determination by spectrophotometrically or by flame-atomic absorption spectrometrically (flame-AAS). The fungicide was extracted with chloroform/toluene from the samples and digested with nitric acid. For spectrophotometric determination, the solution was then treated with ammonium thiocyanate solution in presence of the surfactants and absorbance was measured at 475 nm. Whereas, the digested solution was directly applied for flame-AAS determination of ferbam. The molar absorptivity in terms of ferbam was determined to be (3.49)×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The detection limits for spectrophotometric and flame-AAS methods were calculated to be 62 and 111 ppb ferbam (R.S.D. <1 and <3%), respectively. Whereas, the optimum concentration ranges for the analysis of ferbam are 4–120 and 1.5–55 μg in final volume, respectively. The methods are freed from interference of almost all ions [including Fe(II) and Fe(III)], which can commonly associate with ferbam in fog-water. The methods have been successfully applied to fog samples collected from agriculture sites of Raipur (central India).     

Synthesis, characterization, and hydrolytic behavior of mixed-ligand diorganotin esters, [R2Sn(O2CR')OSO2Me]2 (R=n-Pr, n-Bu; R'=C9H6N-2, 4-OMe-C9H5N-2, C9H6N-1)

Reactions of the tin precursors, R2Sn(OMe)OSO2Me (R=n-Pr, n-Bu), with an equimolar quantity of 2-quinoline/4-methoxy-2-quinoline/1-isoquinoline carboxylic acid in acetonitrile proceed under mild conditions (rt,12-15 h) via selective Sn-OMe bond cleavage to afford the corresponding mixed-ligand diorganotin derivatives [R2Sn(O2CR')OSO2Me]2 [R'=C9H6N-2, R=n-Pr (1), n-Bu (2); R'=4-OMe-C9H5N-2, R=n-Pr (3), n-Bu (4); R'=C9H6N-1, R=n-Pr (5), n-Bu (6)]. These have been characterized by FAB mass, IR, and multinuclear (1H, 13C, 119Sn) NMR spectral data and X-ray crystallography (for 4 and 6). The molecular structure of 4 (C20H29NO6SSn, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a=14.1(13) A, b=16.7(18) A, c=20.3(19) A, beta=107(4) degrees, Z=8) comprises distorted octahedral geometry around each tin atom by virtue of weakly bridging methanesulfonate [Sn(1A)-O(3B)=3.010, Sn(1B)-O(3A)=2.984 A] and (N,O) chelation of the carboxylate ligands. The spectral data of 1-4 suggest a similar structural motif in solution. The molecular structure of 6 (C38H53N2O10S2Sn2, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a=11.339(2) A, b=14.806(3) A, c=24.929(5) A, beta=100.537(3) degrees, Z=4) reveals varying bonding preferences with monomeric units being held together by a bridging methanesulfonate [Sn(2)-O(5)=2.312(2) A] and a carboxylate group bonded to Sn(1) and Sn(2) atoms, respectively. Slow hydrolysis of compound 2 derived from 2-quinoline carboxylic acid in moist CH3CN affords the asymmetric distannoxane, [Bu2Sn(O2CC9H6N-2)-O-Sn(OSO2Me)Bu2]2 (7) (C27H45NO6SSn2, monoclinic, C2/c, a=21.152(3) A, b=13.307(2) A, c=26.060(4) A, beta=110.02(10) degrees, Z=8) featuring ladder type structural motif by virtue of unique mu2-coordination of covalently bonded oxygen atoms [O(6), O(6)#1] of the methanesulfonate groups.     

Self-assembly of chiral mesoionic heterocycles into smectic phases: a new class of polar liquid crystal

The molecular design, synthesis and characterization of the first examples of both classical and non-conventional chiral mesoionic (mesomeric + ionic) liquid crystals derived from sydnones are described. The occurrence of chiral smectic phases in these novel compounds was evidenced by optical microscopy, calorimetry and X-ray studies.     

Loop-length-dependent folding of G-quadruplexes

Guanine-rich DNA sequences can form a large number of structurally diverse quadruplexes. These vary in terms of strand polarity, loop composition, and conformation. We have derived guidelines for understanding the influence of loop length on the structure adopted by intramolecular quadruplex-forming sequences, using a combination of experimental (using CD and UV melting data) and molecular modeling and simulation techniques. We find that a parallel-stranded intramolecular quadruplex structure is the only possible fold when three single residue loops are present. When single thymine loops are present in combination with longer length loops, or when all loops are longer than two residues, both parallel- and antiparallel-folded structures are able to form. Multiple conformations of each structure are likely to coexist in solution, as they were calculated to have very similar free energies.     

Preparation and properties of RNase T2 immobilized on concanavalin A-sepharose

Partially purified RNase T2 (EC 2.7.7.17) from Aspergillus oryzae was bound through its carbohydrate moiety to Concanavalin A-Sepharose. The retention of activity was high, ranging from 70% at low enzyme load to approximately 9% at high enzyme load. Though there was no change in the pH and temperature optima, the pH stability and the Km decreased after immobilization. Compared to the soluble enzyme, the immobilized RNase T2 showed enhanced temperature stability and more resistance to metal ions. Both soluble and immobilized enzymes were stable to 8 M urea. On repeated use, the bound enzyme retained more than 60% of its initial activity after six cycles.     

Liquid crystal dimers possessing chiral rod-like anisometric segments: synthesis, characterization and electro-optic behaviour

Several new optically active liquid crystal dimers comprising pro-mesogenic cholesterol and a chiral diphenylacetylene (tolane) segment, covalently linked in an end-to-end fashion through a flexible spacer, have been synthesized and investigated for their mesomorphic behaviour with the aid of optical, calorimetric and X-ray diffraction studies. Five unsymmetrical dimers, designed on the basis of recent work, involve molecular structural variations of the tolane mesogenic entity with a view to stabilizing a wide thermal range smectic A (SmA) phase featuring the electroclinic effect. Three different chiral chains, namely, (S)-1-methylheptyloxy, (S)-2-methylbutyloxy, (3S)-3,7-dimethyloctyloxy, with or without polar (nitro or fluoro) lateral substituents, were incorporated, while keeping the length (C₆) of the spacer constant. As expected, all the dimers exhibited a SmA phase. A few also showed chiral nematic (N*) and/or twist grain boundary and/or chiral smectic C (SmC*) phases. Remarkably, some of these oligomesogens, upon melting, had a stable SmA phase over a wide thermal interval (100-150°C); this state seems to be stable for a long period of time. Electro-optic studies, including optical tilt angle as well as temporal response as a function of temperature, were carried out in the SmA phase. The SmC* phase was also investigated for its electrical switching and optical tilt angle, as well as spontaneous polarization as a function of temperature. These studies showed that the mesophase response to an applied field is weak and is independent of variations in the dimer investigated.