On the Correlation between Ionization Potentials and Excitation Energies,part III: Pyrazine

A recently suggested scheme for relating ionisation potentials (IP) to excitation energies (E) has been applied to pyrazine and 2,6-dimethylpyrazine. The results indicate that in these systems the energy gap (ΔE) between the two lowest lying ¹n,π*-states is significantly smaller than that (ΔIP) between the corresponding ²n-states of the parent radical cations. The values estimated for ΔE on the basis of ΔIP, measurable by photoelectron spectroscopy, disagree with those calculated theoretically but seem to be supported by the experimental evidence available. Since ΔE = ΔIP would normally be expected, the relationship ΔE < ΔIP actually present in these systems is discussed and related to the different shape of the n-MO's involved in the ionization and excitation processes.     

New approach to calibrating conductivity meters in the low conductivity range

There is currently a major issue with the calibration of conductivity meters used for high purity water: the lack of availability of a reference material or reference methods for low conductivity ranges (conductivity below 1 S cm^–1 at 25.0 °C, resistivity >1 M cm at 25.0 °C). This paper describes the current status of conductivity measurements in high purity water. A new and improved approach, currently being investigated, should allow us to make the calibration of conductivity meters used for low conductivity ranges traceable to the SI.Milipore, Milli-Q and Elix are registered trademarks of Millipore Corporation.     

Plasma deposition of thin films from a fluorine-containing cyclosiloxane

Thin films have been deposited from radio-frequency glow discharges fed with vapors of a silicon- and fluorine-containing organic compound, namely 2,4,6-tris[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) (methyl)] cyclotrisiloxane, in mixture with argon. 2,4,6-tris[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)(methyl)]cyclotrisiloxane A triode reactor has been utilized to deposit films by independently changing substrate temperature and bias-induced ion-bombardment. Laser interferometry, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy have been used to monitor film growth rate and composition. Results unambiguously show an activating effect of the ion-bombardment, which confirm the validity of the ion-assisted deposition model utilized for the plasma deposition of both teflon- and silicone-like films. In our experiments, low substrate temperature and bias conditions results in films with a “monomer-like” stoichiometry, while drastic conditions give origin to materials with a completely different composition and a markedly increased hardness. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of 3-arylisocoumarins, including thunberginols A and B, unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted isocoumarins, and 3-ylidenephthalides via iodolactonization of methyl 2-ynylbenzoates or the corresponding carboxylic acids

3-Aryl-4-iodoisocoumarins, which were readily and efficiently prepared by regioselective iodolactonization of methyl 2-ynylbenzoates or the corresponding carboxylic acids, were used as precursors either to 3-arylisocoumarins, including naturally-occurring thunberginols A and B, or to unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted isocoumarins. On the other hand, (Z)- and (E)-3-iodomethylidenephthalides, which were regioselectively prepared by iodolactonization of methyl 2-ethynylbenzoate, were employed as starting materials for the stereospecific synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-ylidenephthalides, respectively. Some 3-arylisocoumarins and unsymmetrical 3,4-disubstituted isocoumarins showed certain cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines in vitro.     

Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry: a new method for species identification of truffles

This study describes a rapid method to identify different truffle species by analysis of their volatile compound fraction using static headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were extracted using a new 2-cm 50/30 microm DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber placed for 10 min in the headspace of the truffle sample with the vial maintained at 20 degrees C (in a thermostatically controlled analysis room). The mass spectra of the VOC chromatograms were represented as 'fingerprints' of the analysed samples. Next, stepwise factorial discriminant analysis afforded a limited number of characteristic fragment ions that allowed a classification of the truffle species studied. This new method provides an effective approach to rapid quality control and identification of truffle species by analysis of their volatile fraction. Moreover, this method offers the advantage of minimizing thermal, mechanical, and chemical modifications of the truffles, thereby reducing the risk of analytical artifacts.     

N-Haloamidines-V: Reaction of N-chloro-N'-aroyl-acetamidines and -benzamidines with enamines

The reaction between N-chloro-N'-aroyl-amidines and β,β-disubstituted enamines affords 1 - aroyl - 4 -amino - 4,5 - dihydro - imidazoles in low yields, the main reaction product being N - (2 - morpholino - 2,2 -disubstituted) - ethylidene - N' - aroyl - amidines. A similar reaction course was not observed with enamines bearing a hydrogen atom in the β-position. In this case only products derived from electrophilic chlorination on enamines were isolated.     

On the use of symmetry in first-order perturbed HF theory. II

A method is described whereby molecular symmetry is employed to reduce the number of two-electron integrals in perturbed Hartree–Fock calculations of second-order properties. The method is a generalization of the Dacre–Elder procedure. First- and second-rank perturbing tensor operators are examined in the coupled HF approach to electric dipole polarizabilities, magnetic susceptibilities, quadrupole polarizabilities, and spin-dopolar contributions to spin–spin coupling constants. The procedure sketched here permits a large saving of computer efforts, which is shown by some illustrative examples.     

Stöber synthesis of monodispersed luminescent silica nanoparticles for bioanalytical assays

We have developed a simple method to prepare bright and photostable luminescent silica nanoparticles of different sizes and narrow size distribution in high yield. The method is based on the use of St?ber synthesis in the presence of a fluorophore to form bright silica nanoparticles. Unlike micro-emulsion-based methods often used to prepare luminescent silica particles, the St?ber method is a one-pot synthesis that is carried out at room temperature under alkaline conditions in ethanol:water mixtures and avoids the use of potentially toxic organic solvents and surfactants. Our luminescent particles contained the transition metal complex tris(1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) chloride, [Ru(phen)3]Cl2. They showed higher photostability and a longer fluorescence lifetime compared to free Ru(phen)3 solutions. Leakage of dye molecules from the silica particles was negligible, which was attributed to strong electrostatic attractions between the positively charged ruthenium complex and the negatively charged silica. To demonstrate the utility of the highly luminescent silica nanoparticles in bioassays, we further modified their surface with streptavidin and demonstrated their binding to biotinylated glass slides. The study showed that digital counting of the luminescent nanoparticles could be used as an attractive alternative to detection techniques involving analogue luminescence detection in bioanalytical assays.     

Di- and trinuclear Zn2+ complexes of calix[4]arene based ligands as catalysts of acyl and phosphoryl transfer reactions

The calix[4]arene scaffold, blocked in the cone conformation by proper alkylation of the lower rim hydroxyls, was used as a convenient molecular platform for the design of bi- and trimetallic Zn2+ catalysts. The catalytic activity of the Zn2+ complexes of calix[4]arenes decorated at the 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,2,3-positions of the upper rim with 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]pyridine units were investigated in the cleavage of ester 6 and of the RNA model compound HPNP. High rate enhancements, up to 4 orders of magnitude, were observed in a number of catalyst-substrate combinations. Interestingly the order of catalytic efficiency among regioisomeric dinuclear complexes in the cleavage of ester 6 is 1,2-vicinal > 1,3-distal, but it is reversed in the reaction of HPNP. The higher efficiency of trinuclear compared to dinuclear complexes provides an indication of the cooperation of three Zn2+ ions in the catalytic mechanism.     

Testing for nandrolone metabolites in urine samples of professional athletes and sedentary subjects by GC/MS/MS analysis

The concentrations of nandrolone metabolites, 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) and 19-noretiocholanolone (19-NE) were analysed in urine samples of professional athletes doing intense physical activity and sedentary subjects to verify if there was endogenous production of nandrolone and if there was any link between physical effort and the urinary metabolites of the steroid. We collected 18 urine samples from professional footballers age range 20-30 years, all from the same team, and 18 urine samples from males not doing any physical activity, age range 20-30 years. Neither group used nandrolone. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of urinary nandrolone metabolites were carried out by GC/MS followed by GC/MS/MS to confirm positive samples. This technique has been demonstrated to be an excellent analytical approach for the determination of anabolic steroids at very low detection limits in complex matrices such as urine. In five urine samples from professional footballers traces of 19-NA were detected. No trace of 19-NA was found in the group of sedentary subjects and no trace of 19-NE was found in any urine sample. The absence of nandrolone metabolites in sedentary subjects supports the hypothesis that the presence of 19-NA and 19-NE could be linked to physical effort even though the origin is not yet clear.