Confocal micro-Raman investigation of multilayer systems

The modern technologies use many multilayer composites comprising, the connection of different classes substrates: ceramics, metals, polymers, etc. In this work we focused our attention on an application of confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy to study the multilayer composites. Different multilayer model systems were used to check the role of the confocal mode. The problem of the transparency of layer, and their thickness were discussed. The procedure of determination of interfaces from so-called depth profiles and their first derivatives was also presented.     

Die Reaktionen von tBu2P–P=P(Me)tBu2 und (Me3Si)tBuP–P=P(Me)tBu2 mit PR3

The Reactions of ^tBu₂P–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ and (Me₃Si)^tBuP–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ with PR₃ ^tBu₂P–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ ( 1 ) reacts at 20 °C with PMe₃, PEt₃, P(c‐Hex)₃, P(p‐Tol)₃, PPh₂Me, PPh₂Et, PPhEt₂, PPh₂ⁱPr, PPh₃ and P(NEt₂)₃ yielding ^tBu₂P–P=PR₃ and ^tBu₂PMe; however, P^tBu₃, P^tBu₂(SiMe₃) and ^tBu₂PCl don't. ^tBu₂PH and 1 form ^tBu₂P–PH–P^tBu₂ which yields ^tBu₂P–P=PEt₃ when treated with PEt₃. Ph₂PH, ^tBuPH₂, PH₃, Ph₂PCl and EtOH don't substitute the ^tBu₂PMe group in 1 , instead, the molecule is decomposed. With PEt₃, (Me₃Si)^tBuP–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ forms (Me₃Si)^tBuP–P=PEt₃. The compounds ^tBu₂P–P=PR₃ decompose at 20 °C to different degrees giving P‐rich consecutive products of the phosphinophosphinidene.     

Bildung und Struktur von [μ‐(1,2 : 2‐η‐tBu2P–P){Mo(CO)2cp′}2]

Coordination Chemistry of P‐rich Phosphanes and Silylphosphanes. XXIV. Formation and Structure of [μ‐(1,2 : 2‐η‐^tBu₂P–P){Mo(CO)₂cp′}₂] [cp′Mo(CO)₂]₂ (cp′ = C₅H₄^tBu) reacts with ^tBu₂P–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ to yield the compound [μ‐(1,2 : 2‐η‐^tBu₂P–P){Mo(CO)₂cp′}₂], which crystallizes in the space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a = 1202.42(7), b = 1552.48(8), and c = 1765.3(1) pm.     

Application of HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS and New RP-HPLC-DAD System Utilizing the Chaotropic Effect for Determination of Nicotine and Its Major Metabolites Cotinine,and trans-3′-Hydroxycotinine in Human Plasma Samples

The routine techniques currently applied for the determination of nicotine and its major metabolites, cotinine, and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine, in biological fluids, include spectrophotometric, immunoassays, and chromatographic techniques. The aim of this study was to develop, and compare two new chromatographic methods high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS), and RP-HPLC enriched with chaotropic additives, which would allow reliable confirmation of tobacco smoke exposure in toxicological and epidemiological studies. The concentrations of analytes were determined in human plasma as the sample matrix. The methods were compared in terms of the linearity, accuracy, repeatability, detection and quantification limits (LOD and LOQ), and recovery. The obtained validation parameters met the ICH requirements for both proposed procedures. However, the limits of detection (LOD) were much better for HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS (0.07 ng mL⁻¹ for trans-3′-hydroxcotinine; 0.02 ng mL⁻¹ for cotinine; 0.04 ng mL⁻¹ for nicotine) in comparison to the RP-HPLC-DAD enriched with chaotropic additives (1.47 ng mL⁻¹ for trans-3′-hydroxcotinine; 1.59 ng mL⁻¹ for cotinine; 1.50 ng mL⁻¹ for nicotine). The extraction efficiency (%) was concentration-dependent and ranged between 96.66% and 99.39% for RP-HPLC-DAD and 76.8% to 96.4% for HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. The usefulness of the elaborated analytical methods was checked on the example of the analysis of a blood sample taken from a tobacco smoker. The nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine contents in the smoker’s plasma quantified by the RP-HPLC-DAD method differed from the values measured by the HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. However, the relative errors of measurements were smaller than 10% (6.80%, 6.72%, 2.04% respectively).     

Die Reaktion von tBu2P‐P=P(Me)tBu2 mit [Fe2(CO)9] und [(η2‐C8H14)2Fe(CO)3]

^tBu₂P‐P=P(Me)^tBu₂ reacts with [Fe₂(CO)₉] to give [μ‐(1, 2, 3:4‐η‐^tBu₂P¹‐P²‐P³‐P^4tBu₂){Fe(CO)₃}{Fe(CO)₄}] ( 1 ) and [trans‐(^tBu₂MeP)₂Fe(CO)₃]( 2 ). With [(η²‐C₈H₁₄)₂Fe(CO)₃] in addition to [μ‐(1, 2, 3:4‐η‐^tBu₂P¹‐P²‐P³‐P^4tBu₂){Fe(CO)₂PMe^tBu₂}‐{Fe(CO)₄}] ( 10 ) and 2 also [(μ‐P^tBu₂){μ‐P‐Fe(CO)₃‐PMe^tBu₂}‐{Fe(CO)₃}₂(Fe‐Fe)]( 9 ) is formed. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 875.0(2), b = 1073.2(2), c = 3162.6(6) pm and β = 94.64(3)?. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 1643.4(7), b = 1240.29(6), c = 2667.0(5) pm and β = 97.42(2)?. 9 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 1407.5(5), b = 1649.7(5), c = 1557.9(16) pm and β = 112.87(2)?.     

Transgelin-2 in Multiple Myeloma: A New Marker of Renal Impairment?

Transgelin is a 22-kDa protein involved in cytoskeletal organization and expressed in smooth muscle tissue. According to animal studies, it is a potential mediator of kidney injury and fibrosis, and moreover, its role in tumorigenesis is emerging in a variety of cancers. The study included 126 ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Serum transgelin-2 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. We evaluated associations between baseline transgelin and kidney function (serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate—eGFR, urinary markers of tubular injury: cystatin-C, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin—NGAL monomer, cell cycle arrest biomarkers IGFBP-7 and TIMP-2) and markers of MM burden. Baseline serum transgelin was also evaluated as a predictor of kidney function after a follow-up of 27 months from the start of the study. Significant correlations were detected between serum transgelin-2 and serum creatinine (R = 0.29; p = 0.001) and eGFR (R = −0.25; p = 0.007). Transgelin significantly correlated with serum free light chains lambda (R = 0.18; p = 0.047) and serum periostin (R = −0.22; p = 0.013), after exclusion of smoldering MM patients. Patients with decreasing eGFR had higher transgelin levels (median 106.6 versus 83.9 ng/mL), although the difference was marginally significant (p = 0.05). However, baseline transgelin positively correlated with serum creatinine after the follow-up period (R = 0.37; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with eGFR after the follow-up period (R = −0.33; p < 0.001). Moreover, higher baseline serum transgelin (beta = −0.11 ± 0.05; p = 0.032) significantly predicted lower eGFR values after the follow-up period, irrespective of baseline eGFR and follow-up duration. Our study shows for the first time that elevated serum transgelin is negatively associated with glomerular filtration in MM and predicts a decline in renal function over long-term follow-up.     

Condensation and Polycondensation of Terephthaldehyde with Methyl D‐Hexopyranosides

The condensation and polycondensations of terephthaldehyde ( 1 ) and methyl D ‐hexopyranosides (gluco‐, galacto‐ and mannopyranoside) are described. Methyl α‐D ‐glucopyranoside and methyl α‐D ‐galactopyranoside react with 1 to give mono‐ 5 a and 6 a and diacetals 5 b and 6 b . Their structures were confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The polycondensation of methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside ( 4 ) with 1 was studied in various solvents within the temperature range of 80–140°C. Regardless of the conversion or the initial comonomer feed ratios the composition of polycondensates depended on the reaction conditions leading to the formation of materials with diverse solubilities, molecular weights and optical properties. The regioselective polycondensation of 1 and 4 was examined by the ¹H NMR spectroscopy of polymer 7 . In the case of five‐membered cyclic acetal units, mixtures of the endo‐H and exo‐H dioxolan‐2‐yl system diastereomers are formed. Experimental examples of functionalization via ester units in polymer molecules 8 are described and the efficiency of the reaction routes and procedures are evaluated. The molecular weight was estimated by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements before and after the functionalization.     

Mild Copper-Catalyzed,l-Proline-Promoted Cross-Coupling of Methyl 3-Amino-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate

Cu-catalyzed N-arylation is a useful tool for the chemical modification of aromatic heterocycles. Herein, an efficient carbon–nitrogen cross-coupling of methyl 3-amino-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate with a range of (hetero)aryl iodides using CuI, l-proline and Cs₂CO₃ in dioxane at moderate temperature is described. The procedure is an extremely general, relatively cheap, and experimentally simple way to afford the N-substituted products in moderate to high yields. The structures of the new heterocyclic compounds were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and HRMS investigation.     

Parallel and serial generated patterned DLC surfaces for creating three-dimensional polymeric stamp structures

This study demonstrates pattern generation on a highly durable and flat diamond-like-carbon (DLC) film with micro/nano-scale resolution using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Parallel processing (masked lithography) and serial local probe processing (maskless lithography) have both been utilized to produce a range of structure shapes at different length scales. The AFM is operated in the electrical conductivity mode which induces oxidation on the DLC surface. The technique offers features with structure depths as small as 20 nm (serial processing) and pattern replication of many centimeters (parallel processing). Moreover parallel processed structures may be further modified via serial patterning using the same instrumentation. As a result, complex shapes can be produced with a depth being controlled by the DLC film thickness and/or by the bias voltage parameters. The patterned DLC structures can be used as a template for fabrication of 3 dimensional polymeric structures.