Flow injection-spectrophotometric determination of cresol compounds in water by reaction withp-aminophenol

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination ofo-cresol andm-cresol in water by reaction withp-aminophenol (PAP). Three different methodologies have been assayed; (i) batch analysis, after reaction in an alkaline medium in the presence of dissolved molecular oxygen as oxidizing agent, (ii) a stopped-flow procedure, carried out in the presence of KIO₄ and (iii) a flow injection method based on the same approach. The batch procedure requires 22 min for the full development of colour witho-cresol and 12 min form-cresol. In the stopped-flow mode, using KIO₄ and a reaction time of 12 min, better sensitivity can be obtained for both compounds and limits of detection of 10 g 1^–1 foro-cresol and 30 g 1^–1 form-cresol were found. The flow injection method has a lower sensitivity but permits more than 80 injections per hour. Based on the different maximum absorbance wavelengths obtained for the reaction products of PAP witho-cresol (614 nm) andm-cresol (632 nm), both compounds can be simultaneously determined in water samples and recoveries of 90 to 115% were found in spiked water samples of different types.     

Polarographlc analysis for corticosteroids: Part 5. Reduction mechanism of halogen-containing corticosteroids and analysis of some preparations

In fluprednisolone and chloroprednisone acetate, the polarographic reduction of the carbon—halogen bond in position 6 occurs first. The carbanion—enolate formed is reduced at the dropping mercury electrode at more negative potentials than the conjugate acid. Controlled potential electrolysis at a mercury pool electrode where the carbanion—enolate can be protonated, yields the unsaturated ketone. Polarographic reduction of clobetasol-17-propionate and of clobetasone-17-butyrate results in cleavage of the C—Cl bond in the side-chain. This process is followed by reduction of the α,β-unsaturated ketone in the A-ring. Analytical methods for the determination of these compounds in ointments, creams and eye/ear drops gave results with standard deviations of 1–2%.     

Reagentless system for sulphite determination based on polyaniline

A new reagentless system for sulphite (or sulphur dioxide) determination is reported based on the use of an organic conducting polymer, polyaniline, and its absorbance variation at 550 nm, depending on the sulphite concentration. After chemical polymerisation of aniline a very thin film of polyaniline is obtained. Although the response is not fully reversible, each film can be used for at least 10 measurements for low analyte concentrations (up to 0.5 mg l⁻¹) and five measurements for higher sulphite concentrations. Moreover, the reproducibility, ease of preparation and low cost of the films, permit the use of a new disposable system for each measurement. When the change in absorbance at 550 nm was measured for 210 s (stabilisation time), the system showed a linear response, which ranged from 0.025 to 1.50 mg l⁻¹ of sulphite. A theory with regard to the reaction mechanism between the polyaniline films and sulphite is also proposed. The system was applied to sulphite determination in wine samples and the results were in agreement with those obtained by the Official Method of Analysis (iodometric titration).     

Chlorination of α-sulfonyl carbanions with hexachloroethane: A novel preparation of α-halosulfones

The cyclic sulfones1,2, and3 are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium. Lithiation is demonstrated to lead to α-mono, α,α′-di and/or α,α-di and α,α,α′ trimetallation. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE). Some mechanistic aspects of the reaction of the lithiosulfones with vicinal dihalides are discussed.     

On the thin cell method in time domain spectroscopy

A simple physical picture is given of Fellner-Feldegg's thin cell method in time domain spectroscopy. From this picture an accurate analytical relation is derived for the total reflection coefficient.     

Transitions between disordered phases in supercooled liquid silicon

We have investigated the transitions between disordered phases in supercooled liquid silicon using computer simulations. The thermodynamic properties were directly obtained from the free energy, which was computed using the recently proposed reversible scaling method. The calculated free energies of the crystalline and liquid phases of silicon at zero pressure, obtained using the environment dependent interatomic potential, are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data. The results show that, at zero pressure, a weak first-order liquid-liquid transition occurs at 1135 K and a continuous liquid-amorphous transition takes place at 843 K. These results are consistent with the existence of a second critical point for the liquid-liquid transition at a negative pressure.     

A low-cost non instrumental method for semiquantitative determination of mercury in fish

A non instrumental method for the semiquantitative determination of mercury in fish is described. The sample is acid digested and the mercury vapor released after chemical reduction with SnCl2. The mercury vapor is then collected on a detecting paper covered with an emulsion of Cu2I2, 3% carboxymethylcellulose and MgCl2 as moistener agent. The colored Cu2[HgI4] complex is formed and the color intensity is proportional to the mercury concentration in the original sample. Parameters such as sample mass/digestion solution volume ratio, emulsion composition, paper covering technique, carrier gas flow were investigated. Comparative studies using CVAAS and digital color analysis after scanning the papers confirmed the applicability of the method to real samples.     

The Interaction of Walsh-Orbitols in Diademane and Related Hydrocarbons

To obtain further information concerning the interaction between Walsh-orbitols of ‘conjugated’ cyclopropane rings, the photoelectron spectra of the following compounds have been recorded: bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane 1 , cis- and trans-tricyclo[5.1.0^{3, 5}]octane 2, 3 , diademane 4 , trans-pentacyclo[3.3.2.0^{2, 9}.0^{4, 10}, 0^{6, 8}]decan 5 and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptene-2 6 . The first bands in the PE.-spectra of these compounds have been assigned on the basis of a ZDO HMO-approximation. For 2 and 4 the value for resonance integral between linked 2p atomic orbitals of two adjacent eclipsed cyclopropane rings is found to be ?1.73 eV.     

Micro-determination of potassium with EDTA

Summary A micro-determination method for potassium with EDTA is described. The perchlorate precipitate is reduced to chloride by heating the perchlorate with ammonium chloride, and the chloride is precipitated as silver chloride. This precipitate is dissolved in an ammoniacal solution of potassium tetracyanonickelate. By dissolution, two atoms of silver (or chlorine) displace one of nickel. The freed nickel is titrated with, EDTA and potassium is thus determined indirectly. The method is much more rapid than the classical gravimetric procedure, and the results are satisfactory.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Mikromethode zur Bestimmung von Kalium mit ÄDTA wird beschrieben. Der Perchloratniederschlag wird durch Erhitzen mit Ammoniumchlorid reduziert und das Chlorid mit Silber gefällt. Dieser Niederschlag wird in einer ammoniakalischen Lösung von Kaliumtetracyanonickelat aufgelöst, wobei zwei Atome Silber ein Atom Nickel verdrängen. Das freigesetzte Nickel wird mit ÄDTA titriert und so das Kalium indirekt bestimmt. Das Verfahren ist rascher als die klassische gravimetrische Methode. Seine Resultate sind befriedigend.

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Résumé On décrit une méthode de microdosage du potassium par l'EDTA. En chauffant le perchlorate avec du chlorure d'ammonium, on réduit le précipité de perchlorate en chlorure que l'on précipite à l'état de chlorure d'argent. On dissout ce précipité dans une solution ammoniacale de nickel-II tétracyanure de potassium. La mise en solution s'accompagne du déplacement d'un atome de nickel par deux atomes d'argent. On titre le nickel libéré par l'EDTA et l'on dose ainsi le potassium indirectement. La méthode est beaucoup plus rapide que le procédé gravimétrique habituel et les résultats sont satisfaisants.

     

The crystal structure of eudesma-4(15),7(11)-dien-8α, 12-olide: a sesquiterpene lactone fromTrattinickia rhoifolia Willd

The title compound, formula C₁₅H₂₀O₂, is orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁ witha=8.747(2),b=12.025(3),c=12.554(3)Å,Z=4, andD _m =1.32(2)g/ml. The structural analysis shows that the compound corresponds to eudesma-4(15),7(11)-dien-8,12-olide, a sesquiterpene lactone previously isolated fromAster umbellatus but whose crystal structure was unknown.