Separation scheme for the determination of alkali metals (K, Rb, Cs), alkaline earths (Sr, Ba) and rare earths (Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu) in silicate materials by isotopic dilution analysis

A scheme is outlined for the separation of Li, K, Rb, Cs, Sr, Ba, Ce, Nd, Sm and Eu from silicate materials. The elements are separated by cation-exchange to provide groups suitable for mass spectrometric analysis, and are then further purified by anion-exchange. Results obtained by isotopic dilution analysis are reported for G-1, W-1, and the Harwell meteorite-in these measurements the alkali metals were determined separately from the other elements. Requirements are discussed for combining the procedures to form a more comprehensive method for use with a single sample.     

Vanadium complexes possessing N2O2S2-based ligands: highly active procatalysts for the homopolymerization of ethylene and copolymerization of ethylene/1-hexene

The family of ligands containing an N2O2S2 core, namely, 1,2-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthio)ethane (H2L1), 1,3-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthio)propane (H2L2), 1,4-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthio)butane (H2L3), and 1,2-di(3-Me-5-t-Bu-salicylaldamino-o-phenylthio)ethane (H2L4), have been prepared and complexed with a variety of vanadium chlorides and alkoxides to afford complexes of the form [V(X)L1] (X = O (1), Np-tol (2), Cl (3)), [V(O)(L2,3)] (L2 (4), L3 (5)), and [V(L4)] (6). Crystal structure determinations of H2L1 and H2L4 show the molecule to be centrosymmetric about the bridging ethane moiety, with structural determination of 1 and 3 revealing isostructural monomeric complexes in which the ligand chelates in such a way as to afford pseudo-octahedral coordination at the vanadium center. Prolonged reaction of H2L1 with [V(Np-tol)(OEt)3] led, via oxidative cleavage of the C-S bond, to the bimetallic complex [V2L1(3-Me,5-t-Bu-salicylaldimino-o-phenylthiolate)2] [VL'] (7), as characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. 7 was also isolated from the reaction of H2L4 and [VO(On-Pr)3]. The ability of 1-7 to catalyze the homopolymerization of ethylene and the copolymerization of ethylene/1-hexene in the presence of dimethylaluminum chloride (DMAC) has been assessed: screening reveals that for ethylene homopolymerization 1-7 are all highly active (>1000 g/mmol.h.bar), with the highest activity (ca. 11 000 g/mmol.h.bar) observed using catalyst 3; the use of trimethyl aluminum (TMA) or methylaluminoxane (MAO) as the cocatalyst led only to poorly active systems producing negligible polymer. Analysis of the polyethylene produced showed high molecular weight linear polymers with narrow polydispersities. For ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization, activities as high as 1,190 g/mmol.h.bar were achieved (4); analysis of the copolymer indicated an incorporation of 1-hexene in the range of 5-13%.     

TECRA Unique test for rapid detection of Salmonella in food: collaborative study

The TECRA Unique Salmonella test uses the principle of immunoenrichment to allow rapid detection of Salmonellae in food. A collaborative study was conducted to compare the TECRA Salmonella Unique test with the reference culture method given in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Three food types (milk powder, pepper, and soy flour) were analyzed in Australia and 2 food types (milk chocolate and dried egg) were analyzed in the United States. Forty-one collaborators participated in the study. For each of the 5 foods at each of the 3 levels, a comparison showed no significant differences (p > or = 0.05) in the proportion of positive test samples for Unique and that for the reference method using the Chi-square test for independence with continuity correction.     

Solid- and solution-phase synthesis of vancomycin and vancomycin analogues with activity against vancomycin-resistant bacteria

Vancomycin, the prototypical member of the glycopeptide family of antibiotics, is a clinically used antibiotic employed against a variety of drug-resistant bacterial strains including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The recent emergence of vancomycin resistance, viewed as a growing threat to public health, prompted us to initiate a program aimed at restoring the potency of this important antibiotic through chemical manipulation of the vancomycin structure. Herein, we describe the development of synthetic technology based on the design of a novel selenium safety catch linker, application of this technology to a solid-phase semisynthesis of vancomycin, and the solid- and solution-phase synthesis of vancomycin libraries. Biological evaluation of these compound libraries led to the identification of a number of in vitro highly potent antibacterial agents effective against vancomycin-resistant bacteria. In addition to aiding these investigations, the solid-phase chemistry described herein is expected to enhance the power of combinatorial chemistry and facilitate chemical biology and medicinal chemistry studies.     

A combined redox-competition and negative-feedback SECM study of self-healing anticorrosive coatings

In this paper, the long-term anticorrosive efficiency of a damaged self-healing coating is studied for the first time using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). In the study an epoxy-coating with embedded-capsules containing a silyl-ester is employed. The properties of the silyl-ester as a healing-agent for the protection of AA2024-T3 were evaluated by complementary SECM experiments operating in negative-feedback and redox-competition modes. The experimental approach here presented allowed for monitoring the early-stages of corrosion activity and subsequent healing mechanisms offered by the release of silyl-ester into a relatively large coating defect. This result was observed by detecting the transition of the oxygen reduction response from a redox-competition mode to a negative-feedback behavior. These measurements demonstrated that the silyl-ester is released efficiently after capsules break upon coating damage, covering relatively large areas and gradually healing the damaged-site hindering the corrosion processes and providing an effective protection for at least one month of immersion in chloride solution.     

Aryl trihydroxyborates: easily isolated discrete species convenient for direct application in coupling reactions

A conceptually and practically simple alternative approach to the use of arylboron species as the organometallic component in cross-coupling processes is described whereby trihydroxyborate salts are isolated and directly employed. The protocol derives practical benefit from the ease and convenience of the isolation and subsequent use of the discrete borate salts, eliminates the need for additional base, and aids the use of correct reaction stoichiometry.     

The photoreactions of recombinant phytochrome from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis: a low-temperature UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopic study

The interconvertible photoreactions of recombinant phytochrome from Synechocystis reconstituted with phycocyanobilin were investigated by light-induced optical and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) difference spectroscopy at low temperatures for the first time. The photochemistry was found to be deferred below -100 degrees C for the transformation of red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pr)-->far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr), and no formation of an intermediate similar to the photoproduct of phytochrome A obtained at -140 degrees C (lumi-R) was observed. Two intermediates could be stabilized below -40 degrees C and between -40 and -20 degrees C, and were denoted as meta-Ra and meta-Rc, respectively. Above -20 degrees C Pfr was obtained. In the reverse reaction two intermediates could be stabilized below -60 degrees C (lumi-F) and between -60 and -40 degrees C (meta-F). The FT-IR difference spectra of the late Pr-->Pfr photoreaction show great similarities to the spectra obtained from oat phytochrome A suggesting similar conformation of the chromophore and interactions with its protein environment, whereas deviations in the spectra of meta-Ra were observed. A large band around 1700 cm-1 in the difference spectra between the intermediates and Pr which is tentatively assigned to the C19=O group of the prosthetic group indicates the Z,E isomerization around the C15=C16-methine bridge of the chromophore during the formation of meta-Ra. In the difference spectra of the parent states only small differences are observed in this region suggesting that the frequency of the carbonyl group is similar in Pr and Pfr. Since the FT-IR difference spectra between lumi-F and Pfr show great similarities to the spectra of the parent states, it is assumed that during the formation of lumi-F the chromophore largely returns into the primary Pr conformation. The FT-IR spectra recorded in a medium of 2H2O generally show a downshift of the significant bands due to the isotope effect. The appearance of a characteristic band around 935 cm-1 in all 2H2O spectra suggests an assignment to an N-2H bending vibration of the chromophore.     

Reactions of C(6)F(5)Li with tetracyclone and 3-ferrocenyl-2,4, 5-triphenylcyclopentadienone: An (19)F NMR and X-ray crystallographic study of hindered pentafluorophenyl rotations

Tetracyclone, 2a, reacts with C(6)F(5)Li to yield 2-pentafluorophenyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylcyclopent-3-en-1-one, 7, and 5-hydroxy-5-pentafluorophenyl-1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclopentadiene, 8, as the result of 1,6 and 1,2 additions, respectively. In contrast, treatment of 3-ferrocenyl-2,4,5-triphenylcyclopentadienone, 2b, with lithiopentafluorobenzene leads to 4-ferrocenyl-4-pentafluorophenyl-2, 3,5-triphenylcyclopent-2-en-1-one, 9, and 5-hydroxy-5-pentafluorophenyl-2-ferrocenyl-1,3, 4-triphenylcyclopentadiene, 10, the products of 1,4 and 1,2 addition, respectively. The structures of 7-9 have been established by X-ray crystallography, and the barriers to rotation (19-21 kcal mol(-)(1)) of the pentafluorophenyl groups in 8-10 have been studied by variable-temperature (19)F NMR. Nucleophilic attack at the ferrocenyl-bearing carbon in 2b is rationalized in terms of a zwitterionic structure in which the positive charge of the "cyclopentadienyl cation" is delocalized onto the iron atom in the organometallic substituent.