Copper(II) ion sensor based on electropolymerized undoped conducting polymers

A solid state copper(II) ion sensor is reported based on the application of electropolymerized undoped (neutral) polycarbazole (PCz) and polyindole (PIn) modified electrodes. The new sensor shows high selectivity to Cu²⁺ ions with a detection limit of 10^–5 M. PCz and PIn are formed respectively by the anodic oxidation of 50 mM carbazole and 5 mM indole monomers in dichloromethane containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate on a platinum electrode using a single compartment cell. Potentiostatic polymerization of both the monomers are carried out at 1.3 V and 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. Perchlorate ions were electrochemically removed from the polymer films by applying – 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Polymer-coated electrodes are incubated in 1 M KCl solution for 8 h followed by incubation in distilled water for 2 h before using as a metal ion sensor. The undoped PCz and PIn electrodes were found to be highly selective and sensitive for Cu²⁺ ions with little selectivity for Pb²⁺ and negligible response towards Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ or Zn²⁺. Potentiometric responses for Cu²⁺ ions are recorded for both the sensor electrodes together with a double-junction Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Calibration curves for Cu²⁺ are reported for both ion sensors. The polymer-modified electrodes were found to be stable for several weeks. Electronic Publication     

Spectrophotometric determination of flucythrinate (synthetic pyrethroid) using phenylhydrazines

Three spectrophotometric methods are described for determining flucythrinate, based on formation of coloured compounds when one of the hydrolysed products of flucythrinate is condensed with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH), 4-nitrophenylhydrazine (4-NPH) or 2,4,6-trinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4,6-TNPH) in the presence of methanolic potassium hydroxide. These coloured compounds absorb strongly at 465 nm (2,4-DNPH), 540 nm (4-NPH) and 485 nm (2,4,6-TNPH). The methods are applicable over the range 0.1-8.0 mug/ml for 2,4-DNPH, 0.5-6.5 mug/ml for 4-NPH and 0.1-6 mug/ml for 2,4,6-TNPH. The methods are rapid, sensitive and selective and can be used for microdetermination of flucythrinate in a commercial formulation, water, grains and crop samples.     

Sunlight assisted solvent free synthesis of tert-butylperesters

Abstract

A green and efficient methodology has been developed for the direct conversion of aryl aldehydes to the corresponding tert-butyl peresters. The reaction has been carried out in absence of any solvent and the sunlight is used as the green source of energy. In this reaction tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) acts as the mild organo catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) serve as the source of tert-butyl group.     

Protonated (protosolvated) onium ions (onlum dications)

In this short review we have shown the importance of protosolvation of onium ions (containing non-bonded pairs of electrons) in superacid catalyzed reactions. Such activation can result in unusual reactions such as aromatic alkylation with Meerwein’s salts, aliphatic nitration with nitronium ion, alkylation of saturated hydrocarbons, greatly enhanced activity of acyl cations, etc. Possibly such phenomena may be operative in hydroxylation reactions using protonated hydrogen peroxide in strong acid solutions. Even the reactivity of halonium ions could be enhanced by protosolvation. Consequently, electrophilic protosolvation may play a significant role in strogg acid catalyzed reactions.     

DAPPA grafted polymer: an efficient solid phase extractant for U(VI), Th(IV) and La(III) from acidic waste streams and environmental samples

A new class of polymeric resin has been synthesized by grafting Merrifield chloromethylated resin with (dimethyl amino-phosphono-methyl)-phosphonic acid (MCM-DAPPA), for the preconcentration of U(VI), Th(IV) and La(III) from both acidic wastes and environmental samples. The various chemical modification steps involved during grafting process are characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, ³¹P and ¹³C-CPMAS (cross-polarized magic angle spin) NMR spectroscopy and CHNS/O elemental analysis. The water regain capacity data for the grafted polymer are obtained from thermo-gravimetric (TG) analysis. The influence of various physico-chemical parameters during the quantitative extraction of metal ions by the resin phase are studied and optimized by both static and dynamic methods. The significant feature of this grafted polymer is its ability to extract both actinides and lanthanides from high-level acidities as well as from near neutral conditions. The resin shows very high sorption capacity values of 2.02, 0.89 and 0.54 mmol g⁻¹ for U(VI), 1.98, 0.63 and 0.42 mmol g⁻¹ for Th(IV) and 1.22, 0.39 and 0.39 mmol g⁻¹ for La(III) under optimum pH, HNO₃ and HCl concentration, respectively. The grafted polymer shows faster phase exchange kinetics (<5 min is sufficient for 50% extraction) and greater preconcentration ability, with reusability exceeding 20 cycles. During desorption process, all the analyte ions are quantitatively eluted from the resin phase with >99.5% recovery using 1 M (NH₄)₂CO₃, as eluent. The developed grafted resin has been successfully applied in extracting Th(IV) from high matrix monazite sand, U(VI) from sea water and also U(VI) and Th(IV) from simulated nuclear spent fuel mixtures. The analytical data obtained from triplicate measurements are within 3.9% R.S.D. reflecting the reproducibility and reliability of the developed method.     

Toward a new generation of therapeutics

Scientific evidence in the prevention and treatment of various disorders is accumulating regarding probiotics. The health benefits supported by adequate clinical data include increased resistance to infectious disease, decreased duration of diarrhea, management of inflammatory bowel disease, reduction of serum cholesterol, prevention of allergy, modulation of cytokine gene expression, and suppression of carcinogen production. Recent ventures in metabolic engineering and heterologous protein expression have enhanced the enzymatic and immunomodulatory effects of probiotics and, with time, may allow more active intervention among critical care patients. In addition, a number of approaches are currently being explored, including the physical and chemical protection of cells, to increase probiotic viability and its health benefits. Traditional immobilization of probiotics in gel matrices, most notably calcium alginate and κ-carrageenan, has frequently been employed, with noted improvements in viability during freezing and storage. Conflicting reports exist, however, on the protection offered by immobilization from harsh physiologic environments. An alternative approach, microencapsulation in “artificial cells,” builds on immobilization technologies by combining enhanced mechanical stability of the capsule membrane with improved mass transport, increased cell loading, and greater control of parameters. This review summarizes the current clinical status of probiotics, examines the promises and challenges of current immobilization technologies, and presents the concept of artificial cells for effective delivery of therapeutic bacterial cells.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of N-(substituted)-N'-(2,3-dihydro-2-oxido-5-benzoyl-1H-1,3,2-benzodiazaphosphol-2-yl) ureas

N-(substituted)-N'-(2,3-dihydro-5-benzoyl-2-oxido-1H-1,3,2-benzodiazaphosphol-2-yl) ureas were synthesized by reacting 3,4-diaminobenzophenone (4) with different chlorides of carbamidophosphoric acids (3) in the presence of triethylamine at 40-45 degrees C. Their 1H-, 13C- and 31P-NMR spectral data are discussed. The title compounds were screened for antifungal and antibacterial activity against the fungi Aspergillus niger and Fusarium solani and bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These compounds showed higher antibacterial activity when compared with antifungal activity.     

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Structural Studies of Bis(&mgr;-sulfido)bis[{O,O-dialkyl (alkylene) dithiophosphato}oxomolybdenum(V)] Complexes. Crystal Structures of Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2), Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2).2NC(5)H(5), and Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OPh)(2)](4)

A series of new complexes, Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](2) (where R = Et, n-Pr, i-Pr) and Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)POGO](2) (where G = -CH(2)CMe(2)CH(2)-, -CMe(2)CMe(2)-) have been prepared by the dropwise addition of an ethanolic solution of the ammonium or sodium salt of the appropriate O,O-dialkyl or -alkylene dithiophosphoric acid, or the acid itself, to a hot aqueous solution of molybdenum(V) pentachloride. The complexes were also formed by heating solutions of Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](4) or Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)POGO](4) species in glacial acetic acid. The Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](2) and Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)POGO](2) compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as were the 1:2 adducts formed on reaction with pyridine. The crystal structures of Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt(2))](2), Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2).2NC(5)H(5), and Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OPh)(2)](4) were determined. Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2) (1) crystallizes in space group C2/c, No. 15, with cell parameters a = 15.644(3) ?, b = 8.339(2) ?, c = 18.269(4) ?, beta = 103.70(2) degrees, V = 2315.4(8) ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0439, and R(w) = 0.0353. Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2).2NC(5)H(5) (6) crystallizes in space group P&onemacr;, No. 2, with the cell parameters a = 12.663(4) ?,b = 14.291(5) ?, c = 9.349(3) ?, alpha = 100.04(3) degrees, beta = 100.67(3) degrees, gamma = 73.03(3) degrees V = 1557(1) ?(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0593, and R(w) = 0.0535. Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OPh)(2)](4) (8) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, No. 14, with cell parameters a = 15.206(2)?, b = 10.655(3)?, c = 19.406(3)?, beta = 111.67(1) degrees, V = 2921(1)?(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0518, R(w) = 0.0425. The immediate environment about the molybdenum atoms in 1 is essentially square pyramidal if the Mo-Mo interaction is ignored. The vacant positions in the square pyramids are occupied by two pyridine molecules in 6, resulting in an octahedral environment with very long Mo-N bonds. The terminal oxygen atoms in both 1 and 6 are in the syn conformation. In 8, which also has a distorted octahedral environment about molybdenum, two of the dithiophosphate groups are bidentate as in 1 and 6, but the two others have one normal Mo-S bond and one unusually long Mo-S bond.     

A facile synthesis and highly atom economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of hexahydropyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines with nitrile oxide: stereoselective formation of hexahydro[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-d]pyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines

A series of new 2-methyl-11-aryl-4-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-1,2,3,4,11,11a-hexahydropyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines were obtained by the reaction of o-aminothiophenol and (E)-1-methyl-3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetic acid under solvent-free microwave irradiation. These dipolarophiles undergo a highly atom economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxide to afford a series of novel 6-methyl-1-phenyl-8-aryl-4-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-4,5,6,7,7a,8-hexahydro[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-d]pyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines stereoselectively.