Reversible colorimetric probes for mercury sensing

The selectivity and sensitivity of two colorimetric sensors based on the ruthenium complexes N719 [bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) bis(tetrabutylammonium) bis(thiocyanate)] and N749 [(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine-4,4',4' '-tricarboxylate)ruthenium(II) tris(tetrabutylammonium) tris(isothiocyanate)] are described. It was found that mercury ions coordinate reversibly to the sulfur atom of the dyes' NCS groups. This interaction induces a color change in the dyes at submicromolar concentrations of mercury. Furthermore, the color change of these dyes is selective for mercury(II) when compared with other ions such as lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II), or iron(II). The detection limit for mercury(II) ions--using UV-vis spectroscopy--in homogeneous aqueous solutions is estimated to be approximately 20 ppb for N719 and approximately 150 ppb for N749. Moreover, the sensor molecules can be adsorbed onto high-surface-area mesoporous metal oxide films, allowing reversible heterogeneous sensing of mercury ions in aqueous solution. The results shown herein have important implications in the development of new reversible colorimetric sensors for the fast, easy, and selective detection and monitoring of mercuric ions in aqueous solutions.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of a novel tris-methylene bridged compound (NO) 4Fe2 Se(μ-CH2)3

The tris-methylene bridged compound (NO)₄Fe₂Se(μ-CH₂)₃ has been isolated. It has been characterised by IR and ¹H, ¹³C, and ⁷⁷Se NMR spectroscopy. Its structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The structure consists of a heavy atom triangle consisting of one Se and two Fe atoms. The Fe-Fe and the two Fe-Se edges are bridged by methylene groups.     

Polarographic behaviour of salicylaldehyde-2-pyridylhydrazone and its copper(II) complex

The polarographic behaviour of salicylaldehyde-2-pyridylhydrazone (SAPH) has been studied in aqueous buffer solution containing 40% ethanol using DC and DP polarographic methods. In the pH range 1.8–7.5 the observed single irreversible reduction wave is assigned to the splitting of the N-N bond and reduction of C=N centre. In alkaline medium, a second wave appears at a more negative potential due to the reduction of the salicylaldehyde which is formed by hydrolytic decomposition of the SAPH molecule. The effect of pH on the limiting current andE _1/2 as well as the reduction mechanism are discussed and compared with similar compounds. The kinetic parameters of the electrode reaction have been calculated.The analytical properties of the copper(II)-SAPH system is described. The complex gave rise to a single irreversible well-defined wave (E _1/2=–0.58 V at pH=5.2). The reaction process is diffusion controlled. A method is suggested for the determination of Cu(II) in presence of different metal ions as the difference in theirE _1/2 values is sufficient for the purpose.This work is taken partly from the M. Sc. Thesis of Jamal S. Shalabi     

带甲基侧基的环氧树脂增容剂对炭黑在丁苯橡胶中分散度的影响

用自制的带甲基侧基的环氧树脂(TMBP)作为界面增容剂, 从拉伸性能、键合胶含量、动态性能、扫描电镜和流变性能等方面, 研究了TMBP对炭黑在丁苯橡胶中分散度的影响, 并与市售通用双酚A型环氧树脂(E-51)和橡胶工业常用软化剂邻苯二甲酸二辛酯(DOP)进行了比较. 结果表明, 带甲基侧基的环氧树脂TMBP在提高炭黑分散性方面的效果远比E-51好， 其作用模式具有典型的增容特性.     

Syntheses, characterization and study of the use of cobalt (II) Schiff-base complexes as catalysts for the oxidation of styrene by molecular oxygen

Schiff-Base complexes of bis-5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde ethylenediimine and bis-5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde-O-phenylenediimine ligands with Co(II) (I and II) have been synthesized and characterized by their IR spectra and elemental analyses. These complexes catalyze the oxidation of styrene in the presence of dioxygen and excess pyridine. The effect of the reaction conditions on the oxidation of styrene was studied by varying solvent, nature and amount of the catalyst and substrate. The catalytic behavior of the studied complexes was shown to be dependent on the conditions applied. In all reactions, acetophenone and 1- phenylethanol were the only observed products.     

Small Peptides Catalyzed Direct Aldol Reactions of Aldehydes with Hydroxyacetone with Regiocontrol in Aqueous Media

Very recently, we[1] found that L-proline amides and dipeptides acted as efficient catalysts for the asymmetric direct aldol reaction. We report here that L-proline-based peptides 1～5 can catalyze the aldol reactions of hydroxyacetone with aldehydes 6 in aqueous media, to give 1,4-diols (7), the disfavored products with either aldolase or L-proline. Both peptides 3 and 4 give good results.     

Determination of percolation threshold electroactivity and phase behavior study on conducting blends of thermotropic polyesters and polyaniline

The new thermotropic polyester/polyaniline (PIn/PAni) blends have been prepared by solution blend of synthesized liquid crystalline poly[4,4′‐bis (ω‐alkoxy) biphenylisophthalate]s having four and six methylene units in spacer (PI4 and PI6) with PAni doped with camphorsolfonic acid (CSA). The percolation threshold electroactivity of prepared blend films has been determined by cyclic voltammetry. The effect of the PAni concentration, solvent nature and polyester structure on the electroactivity of the blends has been investigated. The extremely low percolation threshold of prepared PIn/PAni‐CSA blends from dimethylformamide (DMF) and m‐cresol solution was 3% weight of PAni‐CSA. The amount of conducting polymer necessary to retard the formation of the liquid crystalline (LC) phase is up to 45% by weight. Phase behavior studies by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy show that blends with 45% of conducting polymer are both liquid crystal and conductive. The morphology of the blends has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parametric study of catalytic reforming process?

Summary A parametric study of catalytic reforming process in a pilot plant was carried out by varying the pressure, H₂/HC ratio, and space velocity. The results show that lower aromatics and higher hydrogen yields can be accomplished by increasing the space velocity in existing reformers, which will also result in better C₅⁺yield.     

Dithiolate complexes of manganese and rhenium: X-ray structure and properties of an unusual mixed valence cluster Mn3(CO)6(mu-eta2-SCH2CH2CH2S)3

Treatment of Mn(2)(CO)(10) with 3,4-toluenedithiol and 1,2-ethanedithiol in the presence of Me(3)NO.2H(2)O in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature afforded the dinuclear complexes Mn(2)(CO)(6)(mu-eta(4)-SC(6)H(3)(CH(3))S-SC(6)H(3)(CH(3))S) (1), and Mn(2)(CO)(6)(mu-eta(4)-SCH(2)CH(2)S-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (2), respectively. Similar reactions of Re(2)(CO)(10) with 3,4-toluenedithiol, 1,2-benzenedithiol, and 1,2-ethanedithiol yielded the dirhenium complexes Re(2)(CO)(6)(mu-eta(4)-SC(6)H(3)(CH(3))S-SC(6)H(3)(CH(3))S) (3), Re(2)(CO)(6)(mu-eta(4)-SC(6)H(4)S-SC(6)H(4)S) (4), and Re(2)(CO)(6)(SCH(2)CH(2)S-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (5), respectively. In contrast, treatment of Mn(2)(CO)(10) with 1,3-propanedithiol afforded the trimanganese compound Mn(3)(CO)(6)(mu-eta(2)-SCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)S)(3) (6), whereas Re(2)(CO)(10) gave only intractable materials. The molecular structures of 1, 3, and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The dimanganese and dirhenium carbonyl compounds 1-5contain a binucleating disulfide ligand, formed by interligand disulfide bond formation between two dithiolate ligands identical in structure to that of the previously reported dimanganese complex Mn(2)(CO)(6)(mu-eta(4)-SC(6)H(4)S-SC(6)H(4)S). Complex 6, on the other hand, forms a unique example of a mixed-valence trimangenese carbonyl compound containing three bridging 1,3-propanedithiolate ligands. The solution properties of 6 have been investigated by UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies as well as electrochemical techniques.     

Electronic phase separation in transition metal oxide systems

Electronic phase separation is increasingly getting recognized as a phenomenon of importance in understanding the magnetic and electron transport properties of transition metal oxides. The phenomenon dominates the rare-earth manganates of the formula Ln(1-x)A(x)MnO(3)(Ln = rare earth and A = alkaline earth) which exhibit ferromagnetism and metallicity as well as charge-ordering, depending on the composition, size of A-site cations and external factors such as magnetic and electric fields. We discuss typical phase separation scenarios in the manganates, with particular reference to Pr(1-x)Ca(x)MnO(3)(x= 0.3-0.4), (La(1-x)Ln(x))(0.7)Ca(0.3)MnO(3)(Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd and Y) and Nd(0.5)Sr(0.5)MnO(3). Besides discussing the magnetic and electron transport properties, we discuss electric field effects. Rare-earth cobaltates of the type Pr(0.7)Ca(0.3)CoO(3) and Gd(0.5)Ba(0.5)CoO(3) also exhibit interesting magnetic and electron transport properties which can be understood in terms of phase separation.