Guest-Editorial

Editorial Introduction

Guest-Editorial     

Separation and characterisation of caprolactam-formaldehyde reaction products

Methylolation and condensation products formed in caprolactam-formaldehyde reaction mixtures have been identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Previously unreported side-products were also detected. All of the reaction products were separated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the separation parameters, such as efficiency and distribution constants, obtained in the two techniques were compared. For quantification, the response factors for the monomers were determined using standard calibration and hydrolysis, whilst those for the condensation products were deduced from the values of the monomers. The accurate determination of the response factors was confirmed by checking the mass balance of a known mixture.     

The purity of laboratory chemicals with regard to measurement uncertainty

The purity P of laboratory chemicals is often declared in the form P > or = xy% (e.g., P > or = 97%). With a randomly chosen set of 40 compounds we found that their purity is generally closer to 100% than to the lower limit. The distribution of the purity data as found in the laboratory depends on the analytical technique used. Whereas purities determined by chromatography do not exceed 100% (because the sum of all observed peak areas is set to 100%), the purities obtained by titration can exceed 100% (because the functionality of the compound is measured). Therefore, the data for these two groups need to be dealt with in different ways. For purities based on titration we propose to use a rectangular distribution with a range from Pmin to 101%, an expected purity value which is the mean and a standard uncertainty of the purity u(P) of 29% of the range. Purities determined by chromatography can be described with a triangular distribution (ramp function). One leg of the triangle represents the range from Pmin to 100% and the right-angle is located at 100%. The expected value is the median and the uncertainty u(P) is 24% of the range. These proposals match the experimental data well.     

Characterisation of core-shell latexes by flow field-flow fractionation with multi-angle light scattering detection

Flat channel asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detection was used to study the swelling behaviour of core-shell particles with either carboxylated or hydroxylated shells as a function of pH and ionic strength. The equilibration time of the most heavily carboxylated core-shells appeared to be of the order of several hours. At low ionic strength (5 mM), the carboxylated core-shells showed a definite swelling response to a change in pH in the range from 5 to 10, ranging from a hydrodynamic radius increase of 24 to 118%, depending on the degree of carboxylation. A much milder response was found for the change of the root mean square (r.m.s.) radius as measured with MALS, indicating that the scattering plane is moving inwards during the swelling process due to a decreasing density of the shell. The hydroxylated core-shells appeared to be inert to a change in pH. Also the response of two expanded (pH 10) carboxylated core-shells on increasing ionic strength was studied. Comparison of the results of these ionic strength experiments with theoretical predictions based on Donnan equilibrium led us to the conclusion that a significant amount of counter-ion condensation may take place in the shells.     

Network forming properties of various proteins adsorbed at the air/water interface in relation to foam stability

A series of proteins was studied with respect to their ability to form a network at the air/water interface and their suitability as foaming agents and foam stabilizers. Proteins were chosen with a range of structures from flexible to rigid/globular: beta-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, ovalbumin, and (soy) glycinin. Experiments were performed at neutral pH except for glycinin, which was studied at both pH 3 and pH 6.7. The adsorption process was followed with an automated drop tensiometer (ADT). Network forming properties were assessed in terms of surface dilational modulus (determined with the ADT), the critical falling film length (L(still)) and flow rate (Q(still)) below which a stagnant film exists (as measured with the overflowing cylinder technique), and the fracture stress and fracture strain measured in surface shear. It was found that glycinin (pH 3) can form an interfacial gel in a very short time, whereas beta-casein has very poor network-forming properties. Hardly any foam could be produced at the chosen conditions with glycinin (pH 6.7) and with ovalbumin, whereas beta-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and glycinin (pH 3) were good foaming agents. It seems that adsorption and unfolding rate are most important for foam formation. Once the foam is formed, a rigid network might favor stabilizing the foam.     

Ultraviolet-B-induced cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimer formation and repair in Arctic marine macrophytes

The significance of ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR: 280-315 nm)-induced DNA damage as a stress factor for Arctic marine macrophytes was examined in the Kongsfjord (Spitsbergen, 78 degrees 55.5'N, 11 degrees 56.0'E) in summer. UVBR penetration in the water column was monitored as accumulation of cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in bare DNA. This showed that UVBR transparency of the fjord was variable, with 1% depths ranging between 4 and 8 m. In addition, induction and repair kinetics of CPD were studied in several subtidal macrophytes obtained from the Kongsfjord (5-15 m). Surface exposure experiments demonstrated CPD accumulation in Palmaria palmata, Devaleraea ramentacea, Phycodrys rubens, Coccotylus truncatus and Odonthalia dentata. In artificial light, field collected material of P. palmata, D. ramentacea, P. rubens and Laminaria saccharina showed efficient CPD repair, with only 10% of the artificially induced CPD remaining after 5 h. No significant differences in repair rate were observed among these species. CPD repair was slower or absent in O. dentata, C. truncatus and Monostroma arcticum, indicating that fast repair mechanisms such as photolyase were not continuously expressed in these species. CPD repair rates were not directly related to the vertical distribution of algae in the water column and to the reported UV sensitivity of the examined species. Dosimeter incubations showed that maximal exposure to DNA damaging wavelengths was low for all examined species. Furthermore, most species collected below the 1% depth for DNA damage displayed efficient CPD repair, suggesting that UVBR-induced CPD currently impose a minor threat for mature stages of these species growing in the Kongsfjord, Spitsbergen.     

A dithienylethene-tethered beta-cyclodextrin dimer as a photoswitchable host

The binding of TSPP by a dithienylethene-tethered beta-cyclodextrin dimer can be altered reversibly by irradiation with light.     

Palladium catalysed copolymerisation of ethene with alkylacrylates: polar comonomer built into the linear polymer chain

Copolymerisation of ethene and alkylacrylates is catalysed by palladium modified with di(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphinobenzene-2-sulfonic acid (DOPPBS); a linear polymer is produced in which acrylate units are incorporated into the polyethylene backbone.     

Synthesis and reactivity of a ferrocene-derived PCP-pincer ligand

The 1,3-bis(diphosphinomethyl)ferrocene 3 readily reacts with [(C2H4)2RhCl]2 to form an equilibrating pair of diastereomers 8a and 8b by C-H insertion into the ferrocene.