A more convenient and general procedure for O-monobenzylation of diols via stannylenes: a critical reevaluation of the Bu2SnO method

A more consistent, straightforward, and economical protocol for generation of stannylene species and their reaction with BnBr leading to products of O-monobenzylation of diols has been set. It has shown to be specially indicated for substrates bearing vicinal trans 1,2-diol moieties on cyclohexane backbones, which are more resistant to these transformations. Such protocol has been successfully applied to myo-inositol derivatives and acyclic diols.     

DABCO-directed self-assembly of bisporphyrins (DABCO=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane)

Three isomeric zinc bisporphyrins have been prepared by covalently linking together two aminoporphyrins with an isophthalic acid derivative. The porphyrins differ in the substitution pattern on the meso phenyl groups, that is, ortho, meta, or para. Titrations carried out by UV-visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy have been used to map out the stabilities and the stoichiometries of the complexes formed with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in chloroform. The ortho- and meta-substituted bisporphyrins form 1:1 intramolecular sandwich complexes. The para-substituted bisporphyrin cannot adopt the cofacial conformation required for this type of complex and forms a higher order 2:2 intermolecular assembly, which is stable over a wide range of DABCO concentrations.     

Density of states due to donor-pair molecules in three- and two-dimensional semiconductor systems

The density of states is calculated for a random distribution of donor-pairs of hydrogenlike impurities in three- and two-dimensional systems. Recent investigations of the hydrogen molecule in the alternant–molecular–orbital approximation are here extended. We found that the lowest excited state ¹Σu (i.e., H⁺H^?), which is optically connected to the ground state, plays a relevant role in the absorption spectra of semiconductor systems.     

Determination of copper in medicinal plants used as dietary supplements by atomic absorption spectrometry with direct flame solid analysis

An alternative device for the direct solid analysis (DSA) for copper determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. Copper was directly determined in commercial medicinal plants used as dietary supplements. The determination of copper in solid samples by DSA–FAAS was made by using a conventional air–acetylene flame. Between 0.05 and 1.5 mg of each test, sample was weighed directly into a small polyethylene vial connected to the device used for solid introduction into the flame. Test samples were introduced into the flame as a dry aerosol using a T-quartz cell set between the burner and the optical path. The T-quartz cell has a slit in the superior part by which the solid aerosol passes to the flame. A transient signal, evaluated as integrated absorbance, is produced and it is totally integrated in 2 s. Background signals always presented absorbance values less than 0.1. It was found a characteristic mass of 0.8 ng Cu and absolute limit of detection of 1.2 ng (3 s), or 1.2 μg g⁻¹ if a sample mass of 1 mg was used. Optimized conditions for air flow rate, flame stoichiometry, and so on were established as well. No excessive grinding of the samples was needed and samples with particle of size less than 80 μm were used throughout. No statistical difference between the results from the proposed system and those obtained by sample digestion and determination by conventional FAAS was observed. With the proposed procedure, more than 50 test samples can be analyzed in 1 h and it can be easily adapted to conventional spectrometers for FAAS.     

Thermal degradation of a highly chlorinated paraffin used as a fire retardant additive for polymers

The thermal degradation of a highly chlorinated paraffin, (Cl 70% w/w)(CP), used as a fire retardant additive for polymers, has been studied by TG, DTA and TVA. The main volatile degradation product is HCl which is eliminated in two steps. To 60–70% dehydrochlorination an apparent zero order reaction occurs with a detectable rate from 250°C, probably initiated at labile chlorine atoms. The apparent activation energy of the process is 40 kcal/mole. A charred residue containing 35% chlorine is obtained. This residue undergoes nearly complete dehydrochlorination in the range 300–600°C.     

Zum Nachweis der Oxyde von Molybdän,Wolfram und Vanadin

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine sehr empfindliche Reaktion zum Nachweis der Oxyde des Molybdäns, Wolframs und Vanadins angegeben. Sie beruht auf der Abscheidung von braunem Thallium(III)-oxydhydrat, aus ammoniakalischer Lösung von Thallium(I)-salzen auf Zusatz von Wasserstoffsuperoxyd und den oben genannten Oxyden, die hiebei als Katalysatoren wirken.Herrn Prof. Dr.Emil Abel, dem österreichischen Altmeister der Katalysenforschung, zum 80. Geburtstag.     

Chemical synthesis and firefly luciferase produced dehydroluciferyl-coenzyme A

Dehydroluciferyl-coenzyme A (L-CoA) was chemically synthesized and characterized by MS, UV-vis spectrometry and RP-HPLC. The identity of the chemically synthesized compound with the one that was produced by firefly luciferase was confirmed. Moreover, the reversibility of the enzymatic conversion of dehydroluciferin ? dehydroluciferyl-adenylate ? L-CoA was also confirmed. The chemical synthesis of L-CoA, described here, may help the clarification of the activator effect of CoA on luciferase bioluminescent assays, in which the enzyme catalyzed formation of L-CoA and the consequent destruction of L-AMP is one of the possible explanations for that effect.     

Copper corrosion in buffered and non-buffered synthetic seawater: a comparative study

The electrochemical behaviour of copper in neutral buffered and non-buffered synthetic seawater and in pure chloride solutions has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, weight loss measurements, open circuit potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Values of the repassivation potentials of Cu in non-buffered and buffered synthetic seawater, at 50 mV s^–1, were 0.12 and 0.46 V vs. SCE, respectively. The sharpness, heights and location of the different peaks as well as their charges were shown to be influenced by the composition of the solution, buffering conditions, deoxygenation, polarization potential and time. High chloride concentrations lead to higher oxidation charges. The anodic and the cathodic charges were shown to increase as the chloride concentration increases. The open circuit potential transients of copper in non-deoxygenated, non-buffered synthetic seawater indicate pitting from the beginning of the exposure, while in buffered solutions the pitting appeared only after a quite long exposure period, i.e. after 40 days. Corrosion rates of Cu samples after 3 months of immersion were higher in solutions of pure chloride (0.5 M) than in synthetic seawater. After six months the differences were even more noticeable. SEM images have showed a somewhat higher density of pits on copper samples immersed in the chloride solution (0.5 M), in comparison with those in synthetic seawater.     

Electroreductive polymerization of trans-[RuCl 2(vpy) 4] on Nd-Fe-B magnets: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy interpretation, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis

The electropolymerization of trans-[RuCl₂(vpy)₄] (vpy=4-vinylpyridine) monomer on Nd-Fe-B magnets was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Impedance diagrams obtained during the polymerization process were used to monitor film formation. The EIS results gave insight into the electrochemical phenomena occurring at the magnet surface as the polymerization process progressed. The film structure and morphology were also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectroscopy results showed that the polymerization takes place at the vinyl groups of the monomer and also that the redox polymer structure is very similar to that of the monomer. The ratio of the intensity of the XPS peaks for fluorine (from the electrolyte PF₆ ^–) and ruthenium present in the film showed that the polymer on Nd-Fe-B contained an equal proportion of Ru²⁺ and Ru³⁺, indicating that part of the film is positively charged, i.e. {[RuCl₂(vpy)₄]⁺} _n .