Simultaneous determination of arsenic,mercury, antimony and selenium in biological materials with prior collection of gaseous products followed by neutron activation analysis

A method combining prior collection of gaseous products with subsequent neutron activation analysis has been developed for simultaneous determination of traces of arsenic, mercury, antimony and selenium in biological materials. The generation of hydrides of arsenic, antimony and selenium and cold vapor of mercury in the vapor generaion and collection system was investigated by the use of radiotracers of the respective elements. The result indicates that selenium and mercury can be completely evaporated from the digested sample solution in 5M HCl with the addition of 5% sodium tetrahydroborate solution, while additional reduction proces by potassium iodide and ascorbic acid is needed for complete evaporation of arsenic and antimony. The gaseous products were collected in a quartz tube for neutron irradiation. The detection limits of these elements were fount to be in the range of 10^–7 to 10^–8 g under the present experimental conditions. The reliability was checked with NBS standard reference materials.     

Novel amphiphilic fluorescent graft copolymers: synthesis,characterization, and potential as gene carriers

Amphiphilic fluorescent graft copolymer (PVP‐PyATAm) was successfully synthesized by the free radical copolymerizations of hydrophobic monomer N‐acryloyl‐thioureylene‐4‐(1‐pyrene)‐butyryl amide (PyATAm) with hydrophilic precursor polymers of vinyl‐functionalized poly (N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (Acryloyl‐PVP) in DMF. FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, TEM, gel permeation chromatography‐multi‐angle laser light scattering, UV‐vis spectroscopy, viscometric measurement, and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize this copolymer. The TEM observation showed that the copolymer PVP‐ PyATAm formed spherical micelles in an aqueous solution and the size of micelles was between 50 and 70 nm in diameter. The interaction of PVP‐PyATAm copolymer and plasmid DNA was examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and TEM. Results indicated that the copolymer–DNA complexes were self‐assembled and the size of complexes was between 90 and 120 nm in diameter. Cytotoxity studies using MTT colorimetric assays suggested good biocompatibility of PVP‐PyATAm in vitro. These results suggested the potential of this graft copolymer as gene delivery carrier. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An extended two‐dimensional copper–molybdate compound with mixed dicarboxyl and organodiamine ligands

The title complex, poly[di‐μ₃‐oxo‐hepta‐μ₂‐oxo‐tetra­oxo­bis(1,10‐phenanthroline)‐μ₄‐terephthalato‐dicopper(II)­tetra­molybdate(VI)], [Cu₂Mo₄(C₈H₄O₄)O₁₃(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂], represents a novel two‐dimensional copper–molybdate compound with mixed ligands. Tetra­nuclear molybdenum oxide clusters are joined through corner‐sharing into a ribbon‐like chain, with [Cu(phen)]²⁺ (phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline) complexes grafted onto either side. The terephthalate ligand lies about an inversion centre and links these chains to form a layer via Cu—O and Mo—O bonds. Face‐to‐face π–π stacking inter­actions between adjacent phen ligands stabilize the structure.     

Diastereoselective formation of glycoluril dimers: isomerization mechanism and implications for cucurbit[n]uril synthesis

Cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) is a macrocyclic compound, prepared in one pot from glycoluril and formaldehyde, whose molecular recognition properties have made it the object of intense study. Studies of the mechanism of CB[n] formation, which might provide insights that allow the tailor-made synthesis of CB[n] homologues and derivatives, have been hampered by the complex structure of CB[n]. By reducing the complexity of the reaction to the formation of S-shaped (12S-18S) and C-shaped (12C-18C) methylene bridged glycoluril dimers, we have been able to probe the fundamental steps of the mechanism of CB[n] synthesis to a level that has not been possible previously. For example, we present strong evidence that the mechanism of CB[n] synthesis proceeds via the intermediacy of both S-shaped and C-shaped dimers. The first experimental determination of the relative free energies of the S-shaped and C-shaped dimers indicates a thermodynamic preference (1.55-3.25 kcal mol(-)(1)) for the C-shaped diastereomer. This thermodynamic preference is not because of self-association, solvation, or template effects. Furthermore, labeling experiments have allowed us to elucidate the mechanism of this acid-catalyzed equilibrium between the S-shaped and C-shaped diastereomers. The equilibration is an intramolecular process that proceeds with high diastereoselectivity and retention of configuration. On the basis of the broad implications of these results for CB[n] synthesis, we suggest new synthetic strategies that may allow for the improved preparation of CB[n] (n > 8) and CB[n] derivatives from functionalized glycolurils.     

An indium(III)–water chain based on an unusual acyclic water pentamer

An in situ reaction under hydro­thermal conditions leads to the formation of the title compound, diaqua­(pyridine‐2‐carboxyl­ato)­(pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxyl­ato)indium(II) trihydrate, [In(C₆H₄NO₂)(C₇H₃NO₄)(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O, in which the central In^III atom is seven‐coordinated by one pyridine‐2,6‐di­carboxyl­ate ligand, one pyridine‐2‐carboxyl­ate ligand and two water mol­ecules in a penta­gonal–bipyramidal coordination environment. An indium(III)–water chain based on an unusual water pentamer is observed.     

μ‐{N,N′‐Bis[2‐(dimethyl­amino)ethyl]oxamidato(2–)}‐1κ2O,O′:2κ4N,N′,N′′,N′′′‐bis­(4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐1κ2N,N′)dinickel(II) bis­(perchlorate)

In the crystal structure of the title complex, [Ni₂(C₁₀H₂₀N₄O₂)(C₁₂H₁₂N₂)₂](ClO₄)₂ or [Ni(dmaeoxd)Ni(dmbp)₂](ClO₄)₂ {H₂dmaeoxd is N,N′‐bis­[2‐(dimethyl­amino)ethyl]oxamide and dmbp is 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine}, the deprotonated dmaeoxd²⁻ ligand is in a cis conformation and bridges two Ni^II atoms, one of which is located in a slightly distorted square‐planar environment, while the other is in an irregular octa­hedral environment. The cation is located on a twofold symmetry axis running through both Ni atoms. The dmaeoxd²⁻ ligands inter­act with each other via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π inter­actions, which results in an extended chain along the c axis.     

Glycosides of benzyl and salicyl alcohols from Alangium chinense

From the water-soluble fraction of the dried leaves of Alangium chinense, three new glycosides, benzyl alcohol beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylsalicin, and 2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-6'-O-beta-D-xylopyranosylsalicin were isolated along with seven known glycosides. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical means.     

Nanocrystals for large Stokes shift-based optosensing

The influence of Stokes shift in optosensing was discussed. Then, the current status of large Stokes shift-based optosensing was reviewed here.     

Electrocatalysis of cytochrome c at a C(60)-gamma-cyclodextrin and Nafion chemically modified electrode

The C(60)-gamma-cyclodextrin and Nafion chemically modified electrode exhibits two redox waves by cyclic voltammetry. Such an electrode will effect reduction and oxidation of cytochrome c and be capable of mediating the electron transfer to cytochrome c.     

α-Al2O3纳米粒子对Co-Ni合金异常共沉积电化学行为的影响

为了研究在电化学复合共沉积过程中,惰性纳米粒子和金属离子、电极表面的相互作用,以及由此产生的对合金电化学共沉积行为的影响.本文从两个吸附过程出发: 电解液中的金属离子和H＋在纳米粒子表面的吸附；纳米粒子迁移到阴极表面,在电极表面的吸附.采用Zeta电势和稳态极化以及电化学交流阻抗（EIS）研究了纳米Al2O3粒子和电解液中的金属离子，和电极表面的相互作用,进而分析了纳米粒子对Co2＋和Ni2＋还原沉积的影响规律.通过对阻抗数据的拟合,讨论了Al2O3纳米粒子对等效电路中各物理参数的影响.在H＋和不同金属离子在纳米粒子上发生竞争吸附的基础上,提出了纳米粒子和合金共沉积的可能反应历程.