Synthesis and Study of the Photophysical Properties of a New Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Complex with 3-Hydroxypicolinamide

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of a new complex of Eu³⁺ with the 3-hydroxypicolinamide ligand (Hhpa). Here we present an approach for obtaining bis[2-carbamoyl(κO)pyridin-3-olato(κO’)] lanthanide complexes, which were characterized through elemental analysis, thermal analysis, infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopies (emission, excitation, luminescence lifetimes, quantum efficiencies, Judd-Ofelt parameters and quantum yields). Although hpa can act as a bidentate ligand in different conformations, the results attest for the occurrence of a unique coordination site of low symmetry for the Eu³⁺ ions, in which two anionic hpa ligands coordinate the cations through an O/O chelating system. The phosphorescence of the synthesized gadolinium complex provides the energy of the triplet state, which is determined to be at 20,830 cm^-1 over the ground state. This makes the Hhpa ligand very adequate for sensitizing the Eu³⁺ luminescence, which leads to a very efficient antenna effect and opens a wide range of applications for the complex in light emitting organic-inorganic devices.     

Use of modified rice husks as a natural solid adsorbent of trace metals: characterisation and development of an on-line preconcentration system for cadmium and lead determination by FAAS

The use of rice husks as an alternative adsorbent in an on-line preconcentration system for Cd (II) and Pb (II) determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is described. The potential of rice husks as a natural adsorbent was evaluated as a material modified with 0.75 mol l⁻¹ NaOH solution and in the unmodified form. For this task, several techniques such as spectroscopy and thermogravimetry were used for elucidation of possible functional groups responsible for the uptake of Cd (II) and Pb (II). Furthermore, based on adsorption studies and adsorption isotherms applied to the Langmüir model, it was possible to verify that modified rice husks present a higher adsorption capacity for both metals. After establishing this material as a promising natural adsorbent, it was used for on-line preconcentration of Cd (II) and Pb (II) metals. The multivariate optimisation of chemical and flow variables was performed by using a full factorial design (2⁴) including the following factors: preconcentration time, preconcentration flow rate, concentration and volume of eluent. The optimum pH values used for on-line preconcentration were taken from prior univariate experiments. Under optimised conditions for Cd (II) determination (4 min of preconcentration at a 6 ml min⁻¹ preconcentration flow rate, in which comprises 24 ml of preconcentration volume, 200 μl elution volume and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ solution as eluent), the system achieved a detection limit of 1.14 μg l⁻¹ and an enrichment factor of 72.4. Similar conditions were used for Pb (II) determination (4 min of preconcentration, 6 ml min⁻¹ preconcentration flow rate, 300 μl elution volume and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ solution as eluent) from which a detection limit of 14.1 μg l⁻¹ and enrichment factor of 46.0 were achieved. Also, rice husks have been shown to be a homogeneous and stable adsorbent in which more than 100 preconcentration/elution cycles provide a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 6.0% on the analytical signal. The satisfactory accuracy of the method developed was obtained by using spiked water samples (mineral water and lake water) and spiked red wine samples. These values were confirmed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The certified reference material [pig kidney (CRM 186)] and the reference material [beech leaves (CRM 100)] were also used.     

Non-coherent visible and infrared radiation increase survival to UV (254 nm) in Escherichia coli K12

Interactions between visible or infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV, 254 nm) radiation have been studied in E. coli. Pre-illumination with non-coherent monochromatic 446, 466, 570 and 685 nm radiation, as well as with polychromatic red and IR radiation at room temperature, leads to increased cell survival after a subsequent irradiation with UV light. In the thermic range of the spectrum (red and IR), IR but not red light pre-treatment is able to increase cell survival to a subsequent lethal heat (51 degrees C) challenge, suggesting that increased UV survival may be due to IR-induced heat-shock response. On the other hand, visible-light-induced resistance may be due to a different mechanism, possibly involved with unknown bacterial light receptors.     

Transition-metal nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids: recyclable catalysts for biphasic hydrogenation reactions

1-n-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate room-temperature ionic liquid is not only suitable as a medium for the preparation and stabilization of iridium nanoparticles but also ideal for the generation of recyclable biphasic catalytic systems for hydrogenation reactions. Thus, Ir(0) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2 nm have been prepared by reduction of Ir(I) dissolved in the ionic liquid with H2. This catalytic solution can be reused several times for the biphasic hydrogenation of olefins under mild reaction conditions.     

Studies on diastereoselective reduction of cyclic β-ketoesters with boron hydrides. Part 4: The reductive profile of functionalized cyclohexanone derivatives

Reduction of 2-allyl-2-carboalkoxycyclohexanones (3d-f), 2-propyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3g) and 2-benzyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3h) with boron hydrides in the presence and absence of several chelating agents were studied. Molecular modeling studies using semiempirical PM3 method were performed in order to find a suitable explanation of the diastereoselection of ketone carbonyl faces during the reductive process, which yielded trans-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (6e) and cis-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (7e) in good diastereomeric excess by using inexpensive sodium and tetrabutylammonium borohydrides.     

Fatty acids as chemotaxonomic markers of marine macrophytes from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

The distribution of fatty acids in 13 species of macroalgae (Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta and Rhodophyta) and 1 seagrass (Spartina sp), collected on the Rio de Janeiro state coast was determined. The results were evaluated in search of correlations between the taxonomic and phylogenetic position of these macrophytes. Statistical analyses showed the effectiveness as taxonomic and phylogenetic markers of the distribution of the methyl fatty acid esters in these macrophytes.     

A catalytically active molecularly imprinted polymer that mimics peroxidase based on hemin: application to the determination of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> p</Emphasis>-aminophenol

Despite the increasing number of applications of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) in analytical chemistry, the synthesis of polymers with hemin introduced as the catalytic center to mimic the active site of peroxidase remains as a challenge. In the current work, a new type of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized with 4-aminophenol (4-APh) as the template and two monomers: hemin, which acts as the catalytic center, and methacrylic acid (MAA), which is used to build the active sites. This work shows that MIP successfully mimics peroxidase. For this purpose, a flow injection analysis system coupled to an amperometric detector was investigated through multivariate analysis. The determination of 4-APh was not affected by the equimolar presence of structurally similar phenol compounds, including catechol, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 2-aminophenol, guaiachol, chloroguaiachol and 2-cresol, thus highlighting the good performance of the imprinted polymer. Under the optimized experimental conditions, an analytical curve covering a wide linear response range from 0.8 up to 500 μmol L⁻¹ (r > 0.999) was obtained, and the method gave satisfactory precisions (n = 8), as evaluated via the relative standard deviation (RSD), of 4.1 and 3.2% for solutions of 4-APh of 50 and 500 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. Recoveries of 96–111% from water samples (tap water and river water) spiked with 4-APh were achieved, thus illustrating the accuracy of the proposed system. Figure Schematic presentation of the synthesis of the MIP     

Synthesis of New Chlorin e6 Trimethyl and Protoporphyrin IX Dimethyl Ester Derivatives and Their Photophysical and Electrochemical Characterizations

In view of increasing demands for efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), we herein report the synthesis and photophysical characterizations of new chlorin e₆ trimethyl ester and protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester dyads as free bases and Zn^II complexes. The synthesis of these molecules linked at the β‐pyrrolic positions to pyrano[3,2‐c]coumarin, pyrano[3,2‐c]quinolinone, and pyrano[3,2‐c]naphthoquinone moieties was performed by using the domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels–Alder reaction. The α‐methylenechromanes, α‐methylenequinoline, and ortho‐quinone methides were generated in situ from a Knoevenagel reaction of 4‐hydroxycoumarin, 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methylcoumarin, 4‐hydroxy‐N‐methylquinolinone, and 2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone, respectively, with paraformaldehyde in dioxane. All the dyads as free bases and as Zn^II complexes were obtained in high yields. All new compounds were fully characterized by 1D and 2D NMR techniques, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and HRMS. Their photophysical properties were evaluated by measuring the fluorescence quantum yield, the singlet oxygen quantum yield by luminescence detection, and also the triplet lifetimes were correlated by flash photolysis and intersystem crossing (ISC) rates. The fluorescence lifetimes were measured by a time‐correlated single photon count (TCSPC) method, fluorescence decay associated spectra (FDAS), and anisotropy measurements. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and circular dichroism (CD) spectra were recorded for one Zn^II complex in order to obtain information, respectively, on the electronic and conformational states, and interpretation of these spectra was enhanced by molecular orbital (MO) calculations. Electrochemical studies of the Zn^II complexes were also carried out to gain insights into their behavior for such applications.