Synthesis of substituted 1,4-diazepines and 1,5-benzodiazepines using an efficient heteropolyacid-catalyzed procedure

An efficient and improved procedure for the synthesis of 1,4-diazepine and 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives via the reaction of ketimine intermediates with aldehydes in the presence of Keggin-type heteropolyacids (HPAs) was developed. High yields and short reaction times were obtained for both electron-releasing and electron-withdrawing substituted 1,4-diazepine and 1,5-benzodiazepines derivatives.     

Microwave-mediated synthesis and manipulation of a 2-substituted-5-aminooxazole-4-carbonitrile library

A 2-substituted-5-aminooxazole-4-carbonitrile library has been synthesised and modified via microwave-mediated and flow chemistries. One synthesised compound, 5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2-(thien-2-yl)oxazole, contains three distinct heterocycles attached to the central oxazole core, highlighting the structural diversity of this approach. Three oxazoles had micromolar k_i values against cannabinoid (CB1/CB2) receptors.     

Determination of moisture content of single-wall carbon nanotubes

Several techniques were evaluated for the establishment of reliable water/moisture content of single-wall carbon nanotubes. Karl Fischer titration (KF) provides a direct measure of the water content and was used for benchmarking against results obtained by conventional oven drying, desiccation over anhydrous magnesium perchlorate as well as by thermogravimetry and prompt gamma-ray activation analysis. Agreement amongst results was satisfactory with the exception of thermogravimetry, although care must be taken with oven drying as it is possible to register mass gain after an initial moisture loss if prolonged drying time or elevated temperatures (120 °C) are used. Thermogravimetric data were precise but a bias was evident that could be accounted for by considering the non-selective loss of mass as volatile carbonaceous components. Simple drying over anhydrous magnesium perchlorate for a minimum period of 8-10 days is recommended if KF is not available for this measurement.     

The composite Milstein methods for the numerical solution of Stratonovich stochastic differential equations

In this paper, we present two composite Milstein methods for the strong solution of Stratonovich stochastic differential equations driven by d-dimensional Wiener processes. The composite Milstein methods are a combination of semi-implicit and implicit Milstein methods. The criterion for choosing either the implicit or the semi-implicit method at each step of the numerical solution is given. The stability and convergence properties of the proposed methods are analyzed for the linear test equation. It is shown that the proposed methods converge to the exact solution in Stratonovich sense. In addition, the stability properties of our methods are found to be superior to those of the Milstein and the composite Euler methods. The convergence properties for the nonlinear case are shown numerically to be the same as the linear case. Hence, the proposed methods are a good candidate for the solution of stiff SDEs.     

Studies on molecular complexes of n-donors with iodine by the constant activity method

Iodine complexes of imidazoles in chloroform were studied by using the constant activity method. The equilibrium constants and the extinction coefficients of the complexes were determined and the results are compared with those obtained by using conventional spectral method. It was found that the equilibrium constants increase as the donor strength increases, while the extinction coefficients decrease. This behavior was interpreted in terms of molecular structure of the donor molecule.     

Electrochemical Investigation of Metal-Free and Nickel-Containing Porphyrazines Carrying Eight Tosylaminoethylthia Groups

Summary.  In this study, the electrochemical properties of metal-free and nickel-containing porphyrazines with eight tosylaminoethylthia groups were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, double potential step chronoamperometry, double potential step chronocoulometry, and controlled potential coulometry. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that both compounds exhibit two quasi-reversible and an irreversible reduction waves. The first electron transfer reaction was followed by an irreversible chemical reaction, the second one by a reversible chemical reaction for both species. The electrode processes of metal-free and nickel-containing porphyrazines are diffusion controlled, but the double potential step chronocoulometry measurements indicated that the nickel porphyrazine is adsorbed at the electrode. However, a small adsorption current has no significant effect on the mass transport mechanism of the system. Diffusion coefficients of both compounds were determined by both cyclic voltammetric and chronocoulometric measurements. The diffusion coefficients of the reduced forms of the porphyrazines were found to be smaller than those of the neutral forms. Received October 29, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 17, 2001     

Certification of standard reference material (SRM) 1941a, organics in marine sediment

SRM 1941a, Organics in Marine Sediment, has been recently issued with certified concentrations for 23 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 21 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, 6 chlorinated pesticides, and sulfur. Noncertified concentrations have been also reported for additional PAHs, PCB congeners, and chlorinated pesticides and for percent total organic carbon (TOC), aliphatic hydrocarbons, and trace elements. SRM 1941a is the most extensively characterized natural matrix SRM issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).     

Substituent effects to the electrochromic behaviors of electropolymerized metallophthalocyanine thin films

Metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) (M = 2H⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Cu²⁺) bearing diethylaminophenoxy and chloro substituents at the peripheral positions (MPc-tdea-tCl) were coated on the working electrodes with the electropolymerization and tested as electrochromic materials. Altering the metal center of MPcs affected the redox activities of MPc-tdea-tCl films. All electropolymerized MPc-tdea-tCl films behaved as conductive and redox active films in different electrolyte systems. Electrochromic properties of MPc-tdea-tCl films were investigated via the voltammetric, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ spectroelectrocolorimetric measurements. H ₂ Pc-tdea-tCl film did not give any electrochromic response, while ZnPc-tdea-tCl and CuPc-tdea-tCl films behave as a reasonable electrochromic material. Distinctive color changes with short response times, high optical contrast, and better optical and coulombic stabilities were only observed with CoPc-tdea-tCl film.