Liquid crystalline mesophases of pluronics (L64, P65, and P123) and transition metal nitrate salts ([M(H2O)6](NO3)2)

The triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers, Pluronics (L64, P65, and P123), form liquid crystalline (LC) mesophases with transition metal nitrate salts (TMS), [M(H(2)O)(n)](NO(3))(2), in the presence and absence of free water in the media. In this assembly process, M-OH(2) plays an important role as observed in a TMS:C(n)EO(m) (C(n)EO(m) is oligo(ethylene oxide) nonionic surfactants) system. The structure of the LC mesophases and interactions of the metal ion-nitrate ion and metal ion-Pluronic were investigated using microscopy (POM), diffraction (XRD), and spectroscopy (FTIR and micro-Raman) techniques. The TMS:L64 system requires a shear force for mesophase ordering to be observed using X-ray diffraction. However, TMS:P65 and TMS:P123 form well structured LC mesophases. Depending on the salt/Pluronic mole ratio, hexagonal LC mesophases are observed in the TMS:P65 systems and cubic and tetragonal LC mesophases in the TMS:P123 systems. The LC mesophase in the water/salt/Pluronic system is sensitive to the concentration of free (H(2)O) and coordinated water (M-OH(2)) molecules and demonstrates structural changes. As the free water is evaporated from the H(2)O:TMS:Pluronic LC mesophase (ternary mixture), the nitrate ion remains free in the media. However, complete evaporation of the free water molecules enforces the coordination of the nitrate ion to the metal ion in all TMS:Pluronic systems.     

Radioanalytical studies of iodine behaviour in the environment

The behaviour of iodine in the environment is of interest both in relation to radioecology and human nutrition. Radiochemical techniques were used to evaluate various aspects of the behaviour of iodine in the environment. The natural iodine content of plant, water and soil samples collected from three sites was determined using preconcentration neutron activation analysis (PNAA). The effect of initial chemical speciation on the distribution of iodine between various soils, sediments and waters was evaluated using I-131 tracer. Iodide was found to adsorb more extensively than iodate, although for most of the solid/water systems examined, a substantial portion of the iodate was slowly reduced to iodide. Experiments involving gamma irradiation suggest that much of the sorption of iodide and reduction of iodate involved microbial processes. Distribution coefficients measured using I-131 were comparable with values based on the natural I-127 content.     

Synthesis of arylated anthraquinones by site-selective Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of the bis(triflates) of 1,3-di(hydroxy)anthraquinones

Arylated anthraquinones were prepared by Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of the bis(triflates) of various 1,3-(dihydroxy)anthraquinones. While the reactions of the bis(triflates) of parent 1,3-(dihydroxy)anthraquinone and of 2-chloro-1,3-di(hydroxy)anthraquinone proceeded with very good site-selectivity, the corresponding reactions of the bis(triflate) of 2-fluoro-1,3-diarylanthraquinones were not site-selective, which was explained based on the π-donating effect of the fluorine atom.