Synthesis,photophysical and electrochemical studies of di-2-pyridyl ketone complexes of rhodium(III)

Complexes of rhodium(III) with di-2-pyridyl ketone (dpk), Rh(dpk)(MeCN)Cl₃ (1) and cis-[Rh(dpk)₂Cl₂]⁺ (2), have been successfully prepared and characterized. At low temperature (77 K), complex (2) in EtOH/MeOH (4:1, v/v) shows a broad, symmetric and structureless red emission with a microsecond lifetime and, hence, is assigned as the dd* phosphorescence. Electrochemical data, including cyclic voltammetry, normal pulse voltammetry, triple pulse voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis, have been obtained for the two dpk complexes of rhodium(III) in MeCN. On the basis of analysis of the electrochemical (1,2) and luminescence data (2), electron transfer mechanisms are proposed. For complex (1), two reduction processes occur at the metal-localized orbitals with elimination of chlorides during the first reduction step. This is followed by a one-electron reduction at the metal. For complex (2), three electrons are transferred to the metal in two successive reduction steps accompanied by elimination of two chlorides. After these two reduction steps another one-electron reduction occurs at the dpk ligand.     

Synthesis of the ABC ring system of manzamine A

A synthesis of the core ABC ring system of the manzamine alkaloids is described, starting from arecoline. The key steps involve a Claisen rearrangement to set up a 4-substituted-3-methylenepiperidine and a stereoselective azomethine ylide dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Condensation of the aldehyde 6 and sarcosine ethyl ester hydrochloride salt gives an intermediate azomethine ylide, which undergoes an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction to set up two new rings and three new chiral centers stereoselectively. The aldehyde 6 was not a suitable substrate for related azomethine ylide cycloaddition reactions with other amines. However, the related dimethyl acetal 26 could be condensed with a variety of amines to give the desired tricyclic products. The cycloaddition reaction with N-methyl or N-allyl glycine ethyl ester gave almost exclusively the exo adduct, whereas cycloaddition with glycine ethyl ester gave the endo adduct.     

Carbon-carbon bond cleavage in the photoionization of ethanol and 1-propanol clusters

Tunable VUV laser was used to initiate the ion-molecule reactions in the clusters of ethanol and 1-propanol by photoionization in the region between 10.49 to 10.08 eV. Ionic products were detected by the time-of-flight mass spectrometer. In addition to the protonated clusters from proton transfer reactions, the products corresponding to beta carbon-carbon bond cleavage were found to be one of the major products for small sizes of clusters. A comparison with photoionization of methanol clusters and the results of ab initio calculation has been made.     

Determination of catecholamines in pheochromocytoma cell (PC-12) culture medium by microdialysis-microbore liquid chromatography

An in vitro microdialysis system was constructed for the measurement of catecholamines in pheochromocytoma cell culture medium. The novel microdialysis device is composed of a petri dish, a dialysis membrane and two transmission tubes. The dialysis membrane is located in the space of a petri dish such that it is immersed in the culture medium. Catecholamines contained in the culture medium diffused into a designed dialysis membrane with sufficient recovery (about 60%). Dialysates were collected by a sampling loop and introduced by an on-line injector to a microbore liquid chromatographic system for analysis of catecholamines. This assay yielded a detection limit of 0.2–0.5 pg/injection with acceptable intra- and inter-assay reproducibilities in 5 μl of dialysates. To evaluate the on-line microdialysis system, PC-12 cells were cultured in a petri dish within an incubator. The baseline concentration of dopamine in PC-12 cell culture medium was about 0.29 ng/ml which was elevated to 2.43 ng/ml after treatment with 0.5 mM potassium cyanide. In conclusion, the present microassay provides for the sensitive, direct measurement of catecholamines in culture medium while minimizing pretreatment procedures for sample preparation.     

A Study of Concentration Polarization on Ion Exchange Membrane Electrodialysis

The concentration polarization phenomena in ion exchange membrane electrodialysis have been studied with single exchange membrane cell. The limiting current densities of Asahi ion-permselective membranes CK-1 and CK-2, Selemion ion-exchange membranes CMV, AMV, DMV and ASV have been measured with Ag-AgCl reversible electrode in various electrolyte solutions under 25°C and constant flow rate. In sodium chloride solution, the cation exchange membrane is easier to occur concentration polarization than the anion exchange membrane. The limiting current density increases as the concentration of solution increases for the same kind of ion exchange membrane. The experimental limiting current densities of Selemion CMV and AMV in NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, BaCl₂, Na₂SO₄, NaOH and HCl aqueous solutions are measured. The results show that the limiting current density increases as the ion mobility and diffusivity increase, and is affected by the transference number of ion. For the mixture of electrolyte solution, there are linear relationship between limiting current density and equivalent fraction of electrolytes.     

Label-Free Impedance Biosensors: Opportunities and Challenges

Impedance biosensors are a class of electrical biosensors that show promise for point-of-care and other applications due to low cost, ease of miniaturization, and label-free operation. Unlabeled DNA and protein targets can be detected by monitoring changes in surface impedance when a target molecule binds to an immobilized probe. The affinity capture step leads to challenges shared by all label-free affinity biosensors; these challenges are discussed along with others unique to impedance readout. Various possible mechanisms for impedance change upon target binding are discussed. We critically summarize accomplishments of past label-free impedance biosensors and identify areas for future research.     

Electric polarizabilities,magnetic susceptibilities and dispersion coefficients for hydrocarbons

Using wavefunctions given in the companion paper bond properties and interactions are computed. Results are in agreement with other theoretical estimates and provide good molecular results. Differences between similar bonds can be accounted for by change in bond length. Simple formulae can be used to normalize bond contributions according to bond length. Parameters should be applicable to macromolecules.     

Adsorption Kinetic Characteristics of H2S on Activated Carbon

This study compared H₂S adsorption kinetic parameters in both grain adsorption and column adsorption systems. Results indicated that when the nondimensional mass transfer parameter for adsorption column design was included, the axial dispersion (Pe > 1, < 1) and external film resistance (B 1) could be neglected, the fluid viscosity effect was small (Sc = 0.76), and the adsorbate affinity was fine (). Surface and pore diffusion controlled the adsorbent and fluid mass transfer. In addition, spent activated carbon could be treated by a thermal process and then impregnated with NaOH. After the pretreatment, the spent activated carbon could be used for H₂S adsorption. Furthermore, we also propose that the H₂S adsorption reaction on the carbon is due to the formation of sulfur crystals.     

Susceptibility to Effects of UVB Irradiation on Induction of Contact Sensitivity, Relevance of Number and Function of Langerhans Cells and Epidermal Macrophages

Sensitization on skin exposed to acute low-dose UVB irradiation separates normal humans into two phenotypically distinct groups: One group, following sensitization on UVB-irradiated skin, develops contact sensitivity, designated UVB resistant (UVB-R) and the second group, following sensitization on UVB-irradiated skin, fails to develop contact sensitivity, designated UVB susceptible (UVB-S). To investigate whether UVB susceptibility in humans is related to antigen-presenting activity in the skin we studied the effect of UVB irradiation on the number and function of the epidermal antigen-presenting cells in volunteers identified as UVB-R and UVB-S. Single cell suspensions of epidermal cells from control skin and skin exposed to 3 minimal erythema doses (MED) of UVB 3 days previously were stained for Langerhans cells (CD1a+HLA-DR+) and epidermal macrophages (CD1a-HLA-DR+). The UVB exposure of the skin significantly decreased the percentage of Langerhans cells (UVB-R: n = 7, P < 0.02, UVB-S: n = 6, P < 0.03) and increased the percentage of epidermal macrophages (UVB-R: n = 7, P < 0.03, UVB-S: n = 6, P < 0.03) however to the same degree in both the UVBR and the UVB-S group. To study the effect on Langerhans cell alloreactivity, epidermal cells were harvested immediately after UVB irradiation. However, in both UVB-R and UVB-S subjects the Langerhans cell alloreactivity was blocked to the same degree immediately after UVB irradiation compared to nonirradiated epidermal cells. To determine the effect of UVB irradiation on epidermal macrophages, epidermal cells were harvested 3 days after UVB irradiation. Irradiated epidermal cells from both UVB-R and UVB-S subjects demonstrated a strong antigen-presenting capacity compared to epidermal cells from control skin leading to activation of T cells that mainly secrete interferon (1FN)-γ and not interleukin (IL)-4. In conclusion we found that UVB susceptibility was not correlated with the number of Langerhans cells or epidermal macrophages in the skin at the same time of sensitization. Neither was it correlated with the capacity of Langerhans cells nor UVB-induced epidermal macrophages to activate T cells in vitro.