Electrochemical reduction of camphorquinone in DMF in the presence of a proton donor

The electroreduction of camphorquinone in DMF, at mercury electrodes, was investigated by a variety of techniques. In DMF, in the absence of proton donor, camphorquinone exhibits two one-electron waves: the first, a one-electron reversible wave to be due to a reversible charge transfer without a coupled chemical reaction. After the first charge transfer, the semidione anion radical is reduced to the dianion. The irreversibility of the second wave derives from a fast irreversible protonation of the dianion. A wide variety of changes in behaviour is observed in the reduction of camphorquinone as increasing amounts of benzoic acid are added: a new two-electron irreversible wave appears at a potential less negative than the original wave. A proton donor to substrate ratio of 2 is required to completely suppress the two original waves. A mechanism for the electroreduction of camphorquinone is proposed and discussed on the basis that the prewave current is controlled by the diffusion of the undissociated acid species and that the undissociated acid, rather than the solvated proton, takes part in the protonation, prior to the charge transfer.     

Dependence of the catalytic activity of organoaluminum compounds and some of their complexes on their composition

The influence of the acidity of organoaluminum compounds and their complexes on the catalytic activity in polymerization of trioxane has been studied. It is found that the catalytic activity of organoaluminum compounds of the type R_nALX_3?n depends on n as well as the nature of R or X. Catalytic activity of the complexes also depends on the type of cocatalyst used. The change of electroconductivity in the course of formation of some initiator complexes has been studied and an attempt has been made to determine the relation between conductivity and polymerization activity.     

Anwendung der Streustrahl-Methode zur Bestimmung der Elemente in Mineral?lprodukten mit Hilfe der R?ntgenfluorescenz-Spektral-Analyse am Beispiel der Bleibestimmung in Ottokraftstoffen

Zusammenfassung In einem relativ einfach durchzuführenden Verbundverfahren wird Selen im Sauerstoff-strom innerhalb 15 min bei 1100–1150°C quantitativ aus den Metall- bzw. Metalloxidschmelzen verdampft und in einer mit flüssigem Stickstoff gekühlten Vorlage aufgefangen. Das aus der Vorlage mit einer definierten Menge verdünnter HNO₃ in Gegenwart von Ni-Nitrat gelöste Selen läßt sich direkt durch AAS mit dem Graphitofen (FAAS) äußerst nachweisstark und zuverlässig bestimmen. Die Nachweisgrenze (elektrodenlose Entladungslampe) liegt bei 3×10^–11 g Se. Der Verfahrensverbund erlaubt mit Probenmengen 10 g in Ag und Au Se-Gehalte 0,05 ppb,inCu 0,1 ppb,in Bi 0,2 ppb und in Pb 10 ppb zu erfassen. Für draht-, stab- und spanförmige Proben erhält man für Se-Gehalte von 2–0,002 ppm Variationskoeffizienten zwischen 3 und 6%. Die Vollständigkeit der Se-Verdampfung aus den Matrices Cu, Ag, Au und Bi wurde ebenso wie die Richtigkeit des Gesamtverfahrens durch systematische Untersuchungen belegt.

---

Determination of se by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in the ppb-range in Cu, Cu alloys, Ag, Au, Pb and Bi after volatilization in an oxygen stream

Summary Selenium is evaporated in a multi-stage procedure within 15 min from metals or metal oxides fused at temperatures of 1100–1150°C under a stream of oxygen and is trapped in a receiver cooled with liquid nitrogen. The condensed SeO₂ is dissolved with a definite volume of diluted HNO₃ in the presence of Ni-nitrate and determined with high sensitivity and reliability by FAAS (electrodeless discharge lamp). The detection limit of the FAAS was found to be 3 · 10^–11 g of Se. The multi-stage procedure allows to detect Se levels 0.05 ppb in Ag and Au, 0.1 ppb in Cu, 0.2 ppb in Bi, and 10 ppb in Pb, respectively, with sample weights 10 g. For wire, rod, and chip samples the coefficients of variation are found to be between 3 and 6% for Se contents of 2 to 0.002 ppm. The quantitative evaporation of Se from Cu, Ag, Au, and Bi as well as the accuracy of the whole procedure have been checked systematically.

Die Arbeit wurde durch Mittel der DFG in dankenswerter Weise unterstützt.     

Thiol- and disulfide-modified oligonucleotide monolayer structures on polycrystalline and single-crystal Au(111) surfaces

We provide a comprehensive study of single- (ss) and double-strand (ds) oligonucleotides with either 25 or 10 bases or base pairs (bp) immobilized on polycrystalline and single-crystal Au(111) surfaces. The study is based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, interfacial capacitance data, and electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy (in situ STM). The sequences used were the 25-bp sequence from the BRCA1 gene (25-mer), while the 10-bp oligonucleotides contained solely linear adenine and thymine sequences. The oligonucleotides were modified by the dimethoxytrityl group (DMT) via a disulfide group [DMT-S-S-ss25-mer and DMT-S-S-ds(AT)₁₀], a pure disulfide group (A₁₀-S-S-T₁₀), or a thiol group [HS-ss25-mer and HS-ds-(AT)₁₀], all via a hexamethylene linker. The overall pattern suggests strategies for controlled adsorption of DNA-based molecules and recognition of complementary strands or other molecules.     

The alkylation of benzimidazole derivatives with γ-valerolactone

Reaction of 1, 3-dimethylbenzimidazolone and its 5-methyl and 5-chloro derivatives with -valerolactone in presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride gives the corresponding 6-(1-methyl-3-carboxypropyl)-benzimidazolones.     

Darstellung,Eigenschaften und Kristallstruktur von Bis(phthalocyaninato)cer(IV)

Preparation, Properties and Crystal Structure of Bis(phthalocyaninato)cerium(IV) The anodic or chemical oxidation with dibenzoylperoxide of solutions of bis(phthalocyaninato)cerate(III) in dichloromethane yields selectively sparely soluble bis(phthalocyaninato)cerium(IV), [Ce(Pc(2-)) 2 ]. Green, monoclinic needles cristallize with a = 18.783(12) Å b = 18.739(16) Å c= 15.618(10) Å ß114.30(7)°; Z = 4; space group C2/c. [Ce(Pc(2–)) 2 ] is a sandwich complex in which the cerium Atom is eightfold coordinated by the isoindole nitrogens of the two staggered convex Pc-rings. The u.v.-vis., m.i.r., f.i.r. and resonance Raman spectra are consistent with the structure.     

Chemiluminescent ion-molecule reactions in the system C+ + H2

The optical emission resulting from collisions between C⁺ ions and H₂ gas was measured in the energy range 2 to 20 eV_c.m.. The observed spectrum consists mainly of the CH⁺ A ¹Π → X ¹Σ⁺ band system; CH⁺ (A ^fΠ) is shown to be formed in the chemiluminescent reactio: C⁺(²P⁰) + H₂ → CH⁺(A ¹Π) + H(²S). The energy dependence of the emission cross section was measured. The occurrence of this reaction is discussed in terms of a electronic state correlation diagram for the system.     

RED EDGE EXCITATION EFFECT IN INTACT EYE LENS

Shift in the wavelength of emission upon shift in the excitation wavelength towards the red edge of the absorption band is termed Red Edge Excitation Shift (REES). This effect is observed only in situation where the fluorophore mobility with respect to the surrounding matrix is considerably reduced. We have observed such red edge excitation effect in the intact eye lens. The REES observed for a normal lens is different from that seen in a photodamaged lens and hence appears to be a potential tool to monitor the changes in the state of the lens. Photodamage experiments with tryptophan in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and intact eye lens indicate that the red edge photon can also cause photodamage.     

Developing an on-line derivatization of FAs by microwave irradiation coupled to HPLC separation with UV detection

The development of analytical methods for routine simultaneous identification and quantification of carboxylic fatty acids (CFAs) are required in different fields, such as, pharmaceutical cosmetics, food products and formulations of water–microemulsion–oil systems. Determination of CFAs has been developed mainly by gas chromatography (GC). As an alternative to GC, liquid chromatography (LC) has better sensitivity and selectivity. However, most CFAs show no useful absorption in ultraviolet–violet (UV–Vis) region, one of the more used detection technique in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In order to allow the use of UV–Vis detection, the use of pre-column derivatization has been reported to increase sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, establishment of a simpler and faster on-line method with complete separation is needed for the screening of large numbers of samples. 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH.), benzoil chloride (BC), and phenylhydrazine (PH) were used for derivatization of different FAs by microwaves radiation (MW). After the on-line derivatization, products were separated and quantified by HPLC. Reactor coil was placed inside of microwaves oven at 450 W. Parameters as flow, amount of reagents, irradiation time, and chromatographic conditions were optimized. The continuous analysis using the MW–HPLC–UV system provided high sensitivity and reduced both the amount of reagent used and the analysis times. This proposed method can be used for the routine analysis of FAs contained in water–microemulsion–oil systems, to quantify the total acid fraction in each phase.     

Susceptibility to Effects of UVB Irradiation on Induction of Contact Sensitivity, Relevance of Number and Function of Langerhans Cells and Epidermal Macrophages

Sensitization on skin exposed to acute low-dose UVB irradiation separates normal humans into two phenotypically distinct groups: One group, following sensitization on UVB-irradiated skin, develops contact sensitivity, designated UVB resistant (UVB-R) and the second group, following sensitization on UVB-irradiated skin, fails to develop contact sensitivity, designated UVB susceptible (UVB-S). To investigate whether UVB susceptibility in humans is related to antigen-presenting activity in the skin we studied the effect of UVB irradiation on the number and function of the epidermal antigen-presenting cells in volunteers identified as UVB-R and UVB-S. Single cell suspensions of epidermal cells from control skin and skin exposed to 3 minimal erythema doses (MED) of UVB 3 days previously were stained for Langerhans cells (CD1a+HLA-DR+) and epidermal macrophages (CD1a-HLA-DR+). The UVB exposure of the skin significantly decreased the percentage of Langerhans cells (UVB-R: n = 7, P < 0.02, UVB-S: n = 6, P < 0.03) and increased the percentage of epidermal macrophages (UVB-R: n = 7, P < 0.03, UVB-S: n = 6, P < 0.03) however to the same degree in both the UVBR and the UVB-S group. To study the effect on Langerhans cell alloreactivity, epidermal cells were harvested immediately after UVB irradiation. However, in both UVB-R and UVB-S subjects the Langerhans cell alloreactivity was blocked to the same degree immediately after UVB irradiation compared to nonirradiated epidermal cells. To determine the effect of UVB irradiation on epidermal macrophages, epidermal cells were harvested 3 days after UVB irradiation. Irradiated epidermal cells from both UVB-R and UVB-S subjects demonstrated a strong antigen-presenting capacity compared to epidermal cells from control skin leading to activation of T cells that mainly secrete interferon (1FN)-γ and not interleukin (IL)-4. In conclusion we found that UVB susceptibility was not correlated with the number of Langerhans cells or epidermal macrophages in the skin at the same time of sensitization. Neither was it correlated with the capacity of Langerhans cells nor UVB-induced epidermal macrophages to activate T cells in vitro.