Aging of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene)/toluene solutions and subsequent effects on luminescence behavior of cast films

Morphological effects in luminescence properties of a representative semiconducting polymer, poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV), has recently attracted much attention. Previous studies indicated that short-term heat treatment of solution-cast MEH-PPV films may result in the formation of mesomorphic order that is responsible for the "red" emission around 640 nm, in contrast to the single-chromophore "yellow" emission near 590 nm from the disordered matrix. On the basis of microscopic and spectroscopic evidence for films cast from freshly prepared and aged solutions, here we show that prolonged storage of MEHyellowPPV solutions at room temperature or lower may result in retardation of the thermally induced mesophase formation in the subsequently cast films. According to small-angle neutron scattering and differential scanning calorimetric observations over aged MEH-PPV/toluene solutions, we propose that the suppressed transformation into mesomorphic order is due to further development of nanocrystalline aggregates that serve as physical cross-links among MEH-PPV chains in the solution state upon long-term storage. These solvent-induced nanocrystalline aggregates, however, do not exhibit new spectroscopic features beyond the suppression of "red" emission at 640 nm from the mesomorphic phase.     

Alcohol sensing membrane based on immobilized ruthenium(II) complex in carboxylated PVC and surface covalently bonded alcohol oxidase

Alcohol sensing membranes coated on overhead transparency films for the continuous monitoring of ethanol, propanol and butanol are presented. Alcohol oxidation catalyzed by alcohol oxidase in conjunction with the fluorescence quenching reaction of oxygen-sensitive dye ion-pair, tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) didodecylsulphate was chosen for the determination. Alcohol oxidase was immobilized covalently on a plasticized carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) membrane and the oxygen-sensitive dye ion-pair was entrapped in the same membrane. The sensing membrane relates oxygen consumption, as a result of enzymatic oxidation, to alcohol concentration. Measurements have been performed in air-saturated alcohol standard solutions of pH 7.0. Storage stability, reproducibility and the effect of pH on sensing membrane performance have been studied in detail. The alcohol sensing membrane proposed here is simple to prepare and has a fairly rapid response time of <1 min. It has been successfully applied to the determination of the ethanol contents in various spirits.     

Effect of particle size in preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on the isolation of epigallocatechin gallate from Korean green tea

To isolate epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) of catechin compounds from Korean green tea (Bosung, Chonnam), a C18 reversed-phase preparative column (250x22 mm) packed with packings of three different sizes (15, 40-63, and 150 microm) was used. The sample extracted with water was partitioned with chloroform and ethyl acetate to remove the impurities including caffeine. The mobile phases in this experiment were composed of 0.1% acetic acid in water, acetonitrile, methanol and ethyl acetate. The injection volume was fixed at 400 microl and the flow rate was increased as the particle size becomes larger. The isolation of EGCG with particle size was compared at a preparative scale and the feasibility of separation of EGCG at larger particle sizes was confirmed. The optimum mobile phase composition for separating EGCG was experimentally obtained at the particle sizes of 15 and 40-63 microm in the isocratic mode, but EGCG was not purely separated at the particle size of 150 microm.     

Determination of buprenorphine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: application to human and rabbit pharmacokinetic studies.

A rapid, sensitive, precise and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of buprenorphine in human, rabbit, pig and dog plasma. It is comprised of only a one-step extraction procedure with hexane-isoamyl alcohol at pH 9.25 and reversed-phase chromatography on a muPorasil column. The recoveries of buprenorphine and nalbuphine (internal standard) were greater than 90%. Calibration graphs were linear over the concentration range 3-300 ng/ml with a coefficient of variation, both within-day and between-day, of less than 9% at any level. The limit of detection was 1.0 ng/ml of plasma based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Eight other clinically used narcotics were investigated to check for potential interferences and their analytical conditions. The possible decomposed compounds of buprenorphine were also checked for the specificity of this assay. The method has been successfully applied to the stability and pharmacokinetic studies of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine in plasma did not decompose significantly at -20 degrees C for four weeks. Pharmacokinetic application in six rabbits and a surgical patient revealed that buprenorphine followed a linear three-compartment model with two distribution phases. The two distribution and elimination half-lives and the clearance of buprenorphine were 1.32, 24.8 and 230 min and 224 ml/min in human plasma, and 0.94, 12.5 and 232 min and 30 ml/min in rabbit plasma.     

Determination of copper(II) in various samples by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry after column preconcentration onto pulverized Amberlite XAD-4 loaded with N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine

A sensitive technique for the determination of trace Cu(II) in various samples after column preconcentration by adsorbing onto pulverized Amberlite XAD-4 loaded with N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) was developed. Several experimental conditions, such as the size of XAD-4, adsorption flow rate, pH of sample solution, and so forth, were optimized. The interfering effects of diverse concomitant ions were investigated. Al(III), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Co(II) interfered, but the interference by these ions was completely eliminated by adjusting the amount of XAD-4-BPHA resin to 0.30 g. The dynamic range, the correlation coefficient (R₂), and the detection limit obtained by the proposed technique were 1.0–60, 0.9953, and 0.83 ng/mL, respectively. For validating the technique, the aqueous samples (stream water, reservoir water, and wastewater), the diluted brass sample, and the plastic sample were used as real samples. Recovery yields of 94–102% were obtained. These measured data were not different from ICP-MS data at the 95% confidence level. This method was also validated by rice flour CRM (normal, fortified) samples. Based on the results of the experiment, it has been found that the proposed technique can be applied to the determination of Cu(II) in various real samples. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Tuning chirality of single-wall carbon nanotubes by selective etching with carbon dioxide

CO2 molecule chemisorbs selectively on the zigzag tube edge without an activation barrier, whereas it physisorbs on the armchair edge of nanotubes. In addition, carbon nanotubes can be etched by an adsorbed oxygen atom of CO2 molecule. From our results, we suggest a selective etching mechanism for tuning the chirality of the mass-produced carbon nanotubes.     

Oxidation of guanosine derivatives by a platinum(IV) complex: internal electron transfer through cyclization

Many transition-metal complexes mediate DNA oxidation in the presence of oxidizing radiation, photosensitizers, or oxidants. The DNA oxidation products depend on the nature of the metal complex and the structure of the DNA. Earlier we reported trans-d,l-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetrachloroplatinum (trans-Pt(d,l)(1,2-(NH(2))(2)C(6)H(10))Cl(4), [Pt(IV)Cl(4)(dach)]; dach = diaminocyclohexane) oxidizes 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-dGMP) to 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (8-oxo-5'-dGMP) stoichiometrically. In this paper we report that [Pt(IV)Cl(4)(dach)] also oxidizes 2'-deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate (3'-dGMP) stoichiometrically. The final oxidation product is not 8-oxo-3'-dGMP, but cyclic (5'-O-C8)-3'-dGMP. The reaction was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography, (1)H and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The proposed mechanism involves Pt(IV) binding to N7 of 3'-dGMP followed by nucleophilic attack of a 5'-hydroxyl oxygen to C8 of G and an inner-sphere, 2e(-) transfer to produce cyclic (5'-O-C8)-3'-dGMP and [Pt(II)Cl(2)(dach)]. The same mechanism applies to 5'-d[GTTTT]-3', where the 5'-dG is oxidized to cyclic (5'-O-C8)-dG. The Pt(IV) complex binds to N7 of guanine in cGMP, 9-Mxan, 5'-d[TTGTT]-3', and 5'-d[TTTTG]-3', but no subsequent transfer of electrons occurs in these. The results indicate that a good nucleophilic group at the 5' position is required for the redox reaction between guanosine and the Pt(IV) complex.     

Isolation of a potent anti-MRSA sesquiterpenoid quinone from Ulmus davidiana var. japonica

A highly potent anti-MRSA sesquiterpenoid has been isolated from Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, which has been traditionally used to treat infectious diseases in Korea. This naturally occurring antibiotic was identified as mansonone F (1). This compound has been found to be highly active specifically against MRSA and showed an MIC range of 0.39-3.13 microg/ml which is comparable to that of vancomycin.     

Theoretical investigation of the mechanisms of reaction of NCN with NO and NS

Quantum-chemical calculations were performed on the mechanisms of reaction of NCN with NO and NS. Possible mechanisms were classified according to four pathways yielding products in the following four possible groups: N2O/N2S + CN, N2 + NCO/NCS, N2 + CNO/CNS, and CNN + NO/NS, labeled in order from p1/p1s to p4/p4s. The local structures, transition structures, and potential-energy surfaces with respect to the reaction coordinates are calculated, and the barriers are compared. In the NCN + NO reaction, out of several adduct structures, only the nitroso adduct NCNNO lies lower in energy than the reactants, by 21.89 kcal/mol; that adduct undergoes rapid transformation into the products, in agreement with experimental observation. For the NS counterpart, both thionitroso NCNNS and thiazyl NCNSN adducts have energies much lower than those of the reactants, by 43 and 29 kcal/mol, respectively, and a five-membered-ring NCNNS (having an energy lower than those of the reactants by 36 kcal/mol) acts as a bridge in connecting these two adducts. The net energy barriers leading to product channels other than p4s are negative for the NS reaction, whereas those for the NO analogue are all positive. The channel leading to p1 (N2O + CN) has the lowest energy (3.81 kcal/mol), whereas the channels leading to p2 (N2 + NCO) and p2s (N2 + NCS) are the most exothermic (100.94 and 107.38 kcal/mol, respectively).     

Ring-opening polymerization of 1-(p-substituted phenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes by Ziegler–Natta catalysts

1-(p-Substituted phenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes such as 1-phenyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_a), 1-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_b), 1-(p-anisyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_c), and 1-(p-tolyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_d) were prepared and polymerized radically, cationically and with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. I_a and I_b polymerized exclusively in 1,5-fashion with radical initiators. However, I_c and I_d polymerized in 1,5-fashion only with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. All polymers were soluble in ordinary organic solvent and solution-cast films were clear and flexible, showing T_g values in the range of 39–71°C. Spectral data indicated that the double bonds of the polymer chains were in trans form in all cases. The difference between the polymerizabilities of different monomers are interpreted in terms of electronic properties of substituents.