Characterization of Mercury – Humic Acids Interaction by Potentiometric Titration with a Modified Carbon Paste Mercury Sensor

Stability constant for mercury binding by commercial and natural humic acids (HA) were determined using a new potentiometric mercury(II) sensor based on dithiosalicylic acid modified carbon paste electrode. The sensor present a high selective and sensitive response to mercury(II) ions, and a low detection limit of 1.8×10^?8 M. The potentiometric titrations curves of humic acids against mercury(II) ions were modeled. For 1.00×10^?7 to 3.00×10^?4 M mercury(II) ion concentration levels the results are consistent with the presence of two different binding sites in the humic acid macromolecule. The strongest binding sites (log K₁ ranging from 10.1 to 6.8) are probably due to interaction with carboxylic acid and amine groups in the molecule, whereas weakest binding sites (log K₂ ranging from 8.8 to 4.5) can be associated to phenolic groups.     

Theoretical studies of mechanisms of cycloaddition reaction between difluoromethylene carbene and acetone

Mechanisms of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet difluoromethylene carbene and acetone have been investigated with the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2)/6‐31G* method, including geometry optimization and vibrational analysis. Energies for the involved stationary points on the potential energy surface (PES) are corrected by zero‐point energy (ZPE) and CCSD(T)/6‐31G* single‐point calculations. From the PES obtained with the CCSD(T)//MP2/6‐31G* method for the cycloaddition reaction between singlet difluoromethylene carbene and acetone, it can be predicted that path B of reactions 2 and 3 should be two competitive leading channels of the cycloaddition reaction between difluoromethylene carbene and acetone. The former consists of two steps: (i) the two reactants first form a four‐membered ring intermediate, INT2, which is a barrier‐free exothermic reaction of 97.8 kJ/mol; (ii) the intermediate INT2 isomerizes to a four‐membered product P_2b via a transition state TS2b with an energy barrier of 24.9 kJ/mol, which results from the methyl group transfer. The latter proceeds in three steps: (i) the two reactants first form an intermediate, INT1c, through a barrier‐free exothermic reaction of 199.4 kJ/mol; (ii) the intermediate INT1c further reacts with acetone to form a polycyclic intermediate, INT3, which is also a barrier‐free exothermic reaction of 27.4 kJ/mol; and (iii) INT3 isomerizes to a polycyclic product P₃ via a transition state TS3 with an energy barrier of 25.8 kJ/mol. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Synthesis and Anti-inflammatory Action of （η-C5H5 ）2Ti（ Sal）2 and （η-C5H5 ）2Ti（Clo）2

IntroductionSince K pf[1]discovered that dicyclopenta die-nyltitanium dichloride possesses antitumour action in1979,a large number of cyclopentadienyltitanium com-plexes with different substituents have been synthe-sized[2,3].The experimental data reveal …     

Preparation of spherical spinel LiMn2O4 cathode material for lithium ion batteries

A novel process is proposed for synthesis of spinel LiMn₂O₄ with spherical particles from the inexpensive materials MnSO₄, NH₄HCO₃, and NH₃H₂O. The successful preparation started with carefully controlled crystallization of MnCO₃, leading to particles of spherical shape and high tap density. Thermal decomposition of MnCO₃ was investigated by both DTA and TG analysis and XRD analysis of products. A precursor of product, spherical Mn₂O₃, was then obtained by heating MnCO₃. A mixture of Mn₂O₃ and Li₂CO₃ was then sintered to produce LiMn₂O₄ with retention of spherical particle shape. It was found that if lithium was in stoichiometric excess of 5% in the calcination of spinel LiMn₂O₄, the product had the largest initial specific capacity. In this way spherical particles of spinel LiMn₂O₄ were of excellent fluidity and dispersivity, and had a tap density as high as 1.9 g cm^–3 and an initial discharge capacity reaching 125 mAh g^–1. When surface-doped with cobalt in a 0.01 Co/Mn mole ratio, although the initial discharge capacity decreased to 118 mAh g^–1, the 100th cycle capacity retention reached 92.4% at 25°C. Even at 55°C the initial discharge capacity reached 113 mAh g^–1 and the 50th cycle capacity retention was in excess of 83.8%.     

Differentiation of Boc- alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptides and a pair of diastereomeric beta,alpha-dipeptides by positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS)

Positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectral study of a new series of hybrid peptides, viz, BocN-alpha,beta-peptides and BocN-beta,alpha-peptides, synthesized from C-linked carbo-beta3-amino acids [Caa (S)] and L-Ala has been carried out. The alpha,beta-peptides have been differentiated from beta,alpha-peptides by the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [M + H]+ and [M - H]- ions in positive and negative ion ESI-MS respectively. The fragment ion [M + H - C(CH3)3 + H]+ formed from [M + H]+ ions by the loss of 2-methyl-prop-2-ene in alpha,beta-peptides with L-Ala at the N-terminus is insignificant or totally absent for beta,alpha-peptides which have the Caa (S) at N-terminus. The fragment ion [M - H-C(CH3)3OH - HNCO]- formed from [M - H]- of beta,alpha-peptide acids is totally absent for alpha,beta-peptide acids. This has been attributed to the absence of the beta-methylene group in alpha,beta-peptides, and the participation of the beta-methylene group in the loss of HNCO in beta,alpha-peptide acids is confirmed by the deuteration experiments. The CID of [M + H-Boc + H]+ ions of these peptides also produce characteristic fragmentation. In the CID spectra of alpha,beta-peptides, the b(n)+ ions and the resulting y(n)+ ions occur at a mass difference of 243 and 71 Da corresponding to the successive losses of Caa and L-Ala, whereas a mass difference of 71 and 243 Da is observed for beta,alpha-peptides. In contrast to the CID of protonated peptides, the CID of [M - H]- ions of the alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptide acids do not give b(n)- ions and show abundant z(n) (-) ions. Further, a pair of diastereomeric dipeptide esters and acids have been distinguished by the CID of [M + H]+ ions. The loss of 2-methyl-prop-2-ene is more pronounced for Boc-NH-Caa(R)-D-Ala-OCH3 (21) and Boc-NH-Caa(R)-D-Ala-OH (23) with Caa (R) at the N-terminus, whereas it is totally absent for Boc-NH-Caa (S)-D-Ala-OCH3 (22) and Boc-NH-Caa(S)-D-Ala-OH (24) peptides, which have Caa (S) at the N-terminus. Thus, on the basis of our previous and present studies, we propose that the CID of [M + H]+ ions provides a simple and useful method for distinguishing the configuration of Caa (S or R) at the N-terminus of BocN-carbo beta,alpha- and beta,beta-dipeptides.     

Determination of Uric Acid and Norepinephrine by Chitosan‐Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode

A novel chemically modified electrode based on the chitosan‐multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is described, which exhibited an attractive ability to determine uric acid (UA) and norepinephrine (NE) simultaneously. The responses of UA and NE merged into a large peak at a bare GCE, but yielded two well‐defined oxidation peaks at the chitosan‐MWNT modified GCE (MC/GCE). The experimental parameters were optimized, and a direct electrochemical method for the simultaneous determine for UA and NE is proposed. The MC/GCE showed good sensitivity, selectivity and stability.     

Synthesis of amino acid-containing polyacids and their application in self-cured glass-ionomer cement

Six methacrylate or acrylate derivatives of natural amino acids were synthesized and characterized. Based upon these monomers, six terpolymers [poly(acrylic) acid-co-itaconic acid-co-amino acid] were prepared and characterized. The synthesized polymers were used to formulate glass-ionomer cements (GICs) using Fuji II glass filler. The effects of the molecular weight (MW) and powder/liquid (P/L) ratio were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the fracture surfaces of the selected cement specimens. Results show that all the amino acid modified GICs exhibited higher compressive strengths (CS, 193-236 MPa) and much higher flexural strengths (FS, 55-71 MPa) as compared to commercial Fuji II GIC (191 in CS and 16 in FS). Both MW and P/L ratio affected the strength of the formed cement. It was important to find the optimal MW and P/L ratio to obtain the highest FS. In this study, optimized MW (number average) of the polyacids and P/L ratio were around 50,000 and 2.7/1, respectively. The microstructures of the fracture surfaces helped to explain the strength differences among the materials tested in the study. SEM analysis suggests that more integrated microstructures and fewer defects can lead to higher FS.     

Cycloaddition reactions of β-trifluoroacetylvinyl ethers

β-Trifluoroacetyl vinyl ethers ROCHCHCOCF₃ react smoothly as dienophiles with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give the unexpected 2-alkoxyl-5-trifluoroacetyl-3,4-dihydro-2H pyrans. These products are formed by elimination and addition of the alcohol to the products of the normal hetero Diels-Alder reaction (2-alkoxyl-3-trifluoroacetyl-2,3-dihydro-2H pyrans). In contrast, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ROCHCHCOCF₃ with ArCHN(O)Me proceeds via a Z-endo transition state to give regio- and stereospecific 4-trifluoroacetyl substituted isoxazolidines and their derivatives.     

A new strategy for the synthesis of α,β-diaroylpropionates promoted by samarium metal in DMF

When promoted by samarium in DMF, aroyl chlorides react readily with acrylates to afford α,β-diaroylpropionates in good to excellent yields without pretreating or activating the metallic samarium.     

Radical copolymerization of citraconic acid with styrene in dioxane solution

Styrene and citraconic acid (CA) were copolymerized in the dioxane solution ranging mole fraction of CA in feed from 0.1 to 0.9 at 70 °C. The terminal and penultimate models were used to fit the copolymer composition equation. Curve fitting, Mayo-Lewis, Joshi-Joshi, Fineman-Ross, Ezrielev-Brokhina-Roskin, Kellen-Tüd?s methods were used to solve the copolymer equation in terminal model. Besides these methods Solver in Excel 97 was used to solve copolymer equation in terminal and penultimate models of copolymerization. Experimental mole fractions of CA and those predicted from both models are agreed within the precision of the method used for the copolymer analysis, so the copolymer composition does not permit a definite choice of the adequate copolymerization model.