Determination of lead by selective chelatometric titration with HEDTA after separation as its sulphate by an improved method of precipitation

A selective titrimetric determination of Pb after separation by a modified method of precipitation as its sulphate is proposed. Pb(II), present as the perchlorate, is precipitated by gentle boiling in 3.6M H(2)SO(4) presaturated with PbSO(4) and free from any extraneous anions. The customary time-consuming evaporation to fumes of sulphuric acid is dispensed with. The precipitate is collected, and dissolved in excess of HEDTA, the surplus of which is back-titrated with Zn(II) at pH 5.0-5.5. Use of Catechol Violet and Xylenol Orange as a mixed indicator gives a sharper end-point. The standard deviation of the proposed method for 60 mg of lead is 0.35 mg. The method has been successfully used to determine Pb in non-ferrous alloys.     

Analysis of partially resolved liquid chromatographic peaks using dynamic modeling with the kalman filter

Establishing a calibration model is an important part of any mathematical method for multi-component determination. Use of a calibration model based on single spectra is subject to error, because the model spectrum chosen may not be representative of the response over the full range of the calibration. Alternative calibration models require more time to establish calibration, an these may not be convenient for real-time determinations. A novel calibration method is reported for use with Kalman filters. The method, dynamic modeling, is based on the use of libraries of calibration spectra. The set of used to describe the model at any time is based on component concentrations, estimated for the multi-component mixture, as determined from the Kalman filter, so that several spectra can be used to best describe a varying response. Through application of the dynamic modelingt to simulated and real chromatograms, it is demonstrated that use of the method decreases estimation errors cause by model data mismatches, and that full benefit can be obtained from relatively small libraries.     

Voltammetric studies of the effect of Cisplatin-liposome on Hela cells

In this paper, the voltammetric method was used for the first time to study the effect of Cisplatin-liposome on Hela cells. The results showed the voltammetric behavior of Hela cells was irreversible and the peak current had linear relationship with the cell number. With both Cisplatin-liposome concentration and treating time increasing, the peak current decreased. The peak current decreasing was in accordance with the nuclear damage and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential revealed by two-photon laser scanning microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This voltammetric method may provide a simple way to study the electron-transfer mechanism in drug-treating cells.     

On-line identification of tropane alkaloids from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium by liquid chromatography-UV detection-multiple mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry

The bark of catuaba (Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius, Erythroxylaceae), a tree native to the northern part of Brazil, was investigated for its alkaloid content. With the aim of obtaining preliminary structure information on-line, the alkaloid extract was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array UV detection, to mass spectrometry and to nuclear magnetic resonance. Interpretation of on-line spectroscopic data obtained from this extract led to structural elucidation of six new alkaloids and partial identification of 18 potentially original alkaloids bearing the same tropane skeleton esterified in positions 3 and 6 by 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-carboxylic acid and/or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid.     

Studies on fluorescent species of spiro-indolinonaphthooxazines and their fluorescence spectra

Photophysical behavior of spiro[1,3,3-trimethylindolino-2,3′-naphtho[2,1-b]-1,4-oxazine] (SP1) and spiro[1,3,3,2′-tetramethylindolino-2,3′-naphtho[2,1-b]-1,4-oxazine] (SP2) were studied. The fluorescent species and their spectra of SP1 and SP2 in polar solvents (acetonitrile and methanol) and non-polar solvent (cyclohexane) were investigated. The fluorescence decay in polar solvents was studied by picosecond time-correlated single photon counting. In most cases, fluorescence decay obeyed triexponential decay kinetics. The major fluorescent species is an excited intermediate which has similar conformation as its precursor (¹ SP ^*) formed after the bond cleavage between spirocarbon and oxygen in oxazine ring. The effects of molecular structure and solvent polarity on fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay lifetime were studied.     

Acid-catalysed decomposition of (20 R) and (20 S)-20-azido-5α-pregnane : bis steroids Schiff base formation via imine coupling.

BF₃-OEt₂ decompostion of azides $\text{1}$ or $\text{2}$ leads to the coupling product Schiff base $\text{6}$$\text{via}$ imine intermediates.     

Tetrapyrrole derivatives substituted with ferrocenylethynyl moieties. synthesis and electrochemical studies

Up to eight redox-active ferrocenyl units have been incorporated, through the unsaturated ethynyl linkers, on the periphery of a series of cyclic tetrapyrrole derivatives including zinc(II) phthalocyanine and 2,3-naphthalocyanine, and nickel(II) meso-diphenylporphyrin. The synthesis of the former two macrocycles 4 and 7 involves the Sonogashira coupling reaction of ferrocenylethyne with 4,5-dichlorophthalonitrile (1) or 6,7-dibromonaphthalonitrile (5), respectively, followed by a base-promoted cyclization. The meso-bis(ferrocenylethynyl)porphyrin 11 has been prepared from the dibromo analogue 10 also by a palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction. These novel macrocyclic compounds have been spectroscopically and electrochemically characterized. As revealed by cyclic voltammetry, the ferrocenyl moieties appear to be electrochemically independent in these complexes and there is no significant electronic coupling among the iron(II) centers.     

Cellulose synthesis in maize: isolation and expression analysis of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family

Stalk lodging in maize results in significant yield losses. We have determined that cellulose per unit length of the stalk is the primary determinant of internodal strength. An increase in cellulose concentration in the wall might allow simultaneous improvements in stalk strength and harvest index. Cellulose formation in plants can be perturbed by mutations in the genes involved in cellulose synthesis, post-synthetic cellulose alteration or deposition, N-glycosylation, and some other genes with as yet unknown functions. We have isolated 12 members of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family from maize. The genes involved in primary wall formation appear to have duplicated relatively independently in dicots and monocots. The deduced amino acid sequences of three of the maize genes, ZmCesA10–12, cluster with the Arabidopsis CesA sequences that have been shown to be involved in secondary wall formation. Based on their expression patterns across multiple tissues, these three genes appear to be coordinately expressed. The remaining genes show overlapping expression to varying degrees with ZmCesA1, 7, and 8 forming one group, ZmCesA3 and 5 a second group, and ZmCesA2 and 6 exhibiting independent expression of any other gene. This suggests that the varying levels of coexpression may just be incidental except in the case of ZmCesA10–12, which may interact with each other to form a functional enzyme complex. Isolation of the expressed CesA genes from maize and their association with primary or secondary wall formation has made it possible to test their respective roles in cellulose synthesis through mutational genetics or transgenic approaches. This information would be useful in improving stalk strength.     

LC Determination of Curcumin in Dog Plasma for a Pharmacokinetic Study

A rapid, simple, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantification of curcumin in dog plasma has been developed and validated. After addition of the internal standard (berberine), plasma was acidified and extracted with ethyl acetate. Analysis was performed on a C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile–5% acetic acid, 52:48 (v/v) and the flow rate 1.0 mL min^?1. The eluent was monitored at 425 nm. Chromatographic separation was achieved in less than 7 min and the calibration plot was linear over the concentration range 2–128 ng mL^?1. Intra- and inter-assay variability were less than 7.3%. The accuracy ranged from 98.7 to 105.0%. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of curcumin in dogs.