Determination of V(V), Nb(V) and Ta(V) as their 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol chelates by reversed-phase HPLC

This paper reports the separation and determination of V(V), Nb(V) and Ta(V) by RP-HPLC using 5-Br-PADAP as a precolumn derivatizing reagent. On C(18) column, the three metal chelates can be separated on a baseline in 9 min with the mobile phase of methanol-water (59:41, v/v) containing tartaric acid (0.2%) and acetate buffer (pH 3.5, 10 mM). The detection limits of V(V), Nb(V) and Ta(V) are 0.13 ppb, 0.22 ppb and 1.79 ppb, respectively when S/N is 3. This method is simple and rapid, and has been used in mineral analysis with satisfactory results.     

Determination of hopane biomarkers in Arabian crude oils by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the mass spectrometer operated in the tandem mode at a constant accelerating voltage was used to analyse for triterpanes in Arabian crude oils. Specific molecular parent-daughter ion pairs were selected for quantitative measurements owing to their metastable transitions in the first field-free region. More accurate relative distribution ratios of hydrocarbon biomarkers were determined by this sequential gating technique than by the conventional diagnostic daughter ion mass fragmentogram in common GC-MS. The data and spectra obtained from MS-MS operation may serve as unique “fingerprints” for these regional crudes     

N-alkoxy-pyridinium and N-alkoxy-quinolinium salts as initiators for cationic photopolymerizations

The polymerization of n-butyl vinyl ether (BVE), cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl(methyl)-3′,4′-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate (EEC) was initiated upon UV irradiation (λ_inc > 300 nm) of dichloromethane solutions containing N-ethoxy-2-methylpyridinium ( V ), N-ethoxy-4-phenyl-pyridinium ( VI ) or N-ethoxy-isoquinolinium hexafluorophosphate ( VII ). Whereas the bifunctional EEC was converted into an insoluble gel, BVE and CHO formed polymers of molar mass: M_w = 2 X 10⁴?2 X 10⁵ (PCHO) and M_w ≈ 2 X 10⁴ (PBVE). Protons are formed with a rather high quantum yield [ø(H+) = 0.48 on irradiating VII in dichloromethane; titration with sodium p-nitrophenolate] and it is, therefore, assumed that the polymerization is initiated by photochemically generated protons. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhancement of phosphoprotein analysis using a fluorescent affinity tag and mass spectrometry

A fluorescent affinity tag (FAT) was synthesized and was utilized to selectively modify phosphorylated serine and threonine residues via beta-elimination and Michael addition chemistries in a 'one-step' reaction. This labeling technique was used for covalent modification of both phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides, allowing identification of these molecular species by fluorescence imaging after solution- or gel-based separation methods. In addition to the strong fluorescence of the rhodamine tag, a commercially available antibody can be used to enrich low-abundance post-labeled phosphopeptides present in complex mixtures. Application of this methodology to phosphorylation-site mapping has been evaluated for a phosphoprotein standard, bovine beta-casein. Initial results demonstrated low femtomole detection limits after fluorescence image analysis of FAT-labeled proteins or peptides.     

Coupling of a Rydberg electron capture ion source with a quadrupole mass filter

The coupling of a Rydberg electron capture ion source with a Nermag R10-10H quadrupole mass filter is described. Details are given of the addition to this instrument of a creation cell for atoms excited in Rydberg states. Within the Nermag ion source, such atoms allow attachment of electrons of well-defined thermal energy. SF(6) was used for optimization of the main experimental parameters (gas pressures and voltages applied to the electrodes). The procedure by which Rydberg electron attachment was confirmed is described. A polychlorobiphenyl compound was used to illustrate the performance of this ionization technique. Ion formation was observed in the absence of fragmentation.     

Dynamics of charge transfer states on metal surfaces: the competition between reactivity and quenching

The dynamics of excited states of adsorbates on surfaces caused by charge transfer is studied. Both negative and positive charge transfer processes are possible. In particular we are interested in positive charge transfer from a metal surface to molecular or atomic oxygen adsorbed on the surface. Once the negatively charged oxygen on the surface loses an electron it becomes chemically activated. The ability of this species to react depends on the quenching time or back transfer. The analysis of these processes is based on a set of diabatic potential energy surfaces each representing a different charged oxygen species. The dynamics is followed by solving the multichannel time-dependent Schr?dinger equation or Liouville von Neumann equation. Due to the nonadiabatic character of these reactions large isotope effects are predicted.     

Voltammetric studies of the effect of Cisplatin-liposome on Hela cells

In this paper, the voltammetric method was used for the first time to study the effect of Cisplatin-liposome on Hela cells. The results showed the voltammetric behavior of Hela cells was irreversible and the peak current had linear relationship with the cell number. With both Cisplatin-liposome concentration and treating time increasing, the peak current decreased. The peak current decreasing was in accordance with the nuclear damage and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential revealed by two-photon laser scanning microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This voltammetric method may provide a simple way to study the electron-transfer mechanism in drug-treating cells.     

Electrochemical control of CO/NO ligand exchange in a triruthenium cluster monolayer assembled on a gold electrode surface

A highly selective ligand exchange reaction is realized in the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a triruthenium cluster on a gold electrode surface under precise electrochemical potential control. CO as well as NO molecules, which are known to play key roles in many chemical, biological, and environmental systems, can be efficiently introduced into the SAM by electrochemically tuning the electronic state of the Ru site. These unique surface reactions are more convenient and efficient than conventional ligand exchange reactions in solution and could be used for the elucidation of the electron-transfer mechanism in a biological system as well as in the development of molecular sensors and devices.