Synthesis of Functionalized o‐, m‐, and p‐Terphenyl Derivatives by Consecutive Cross‐Coupling Reactions of Triazene‐Substituted Arylboronic Esters

Triazene‐substituted arylboronic esters were prepared readily from the corresponding aryl magnesium derivatives and shown to function as a new class of donor–acceptor‐substituted coupling reagents. The selective functionalization of these aromatic derivatives led to a wide variety of terphenyl derivatives in which the original bifunctional unit (often further substituted with another functional group) formed the central aromatic ring. The functionalized terphenyl derivatives were formed in two efficient cross‐coupling steps from the triazene‐substituted boronic esters: Suzuki cross‐coupling with an aryl halide was followed by BF₃?OEt₂‐induced palladium‐catalyzed coupling of the diazonium salt generated in situ from the triazene with an arylboronic acid.     

Synthesis of 3‐(Pyridin‐4‐Ylmethyl)‐4‐Substituted‐1,2,4‐Triazoline‐5‐Thione

The reaction of the hydrazide of pyridine‐4‐acetic acid with isothiocyanate gave thiosemicarbazide derivatives respectively. Further cyclization with 2% NaOH led to the formation of 4‐substituted 3‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐5‐thione and 3‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐5‐thione. The structures of all new products were confirmed by analytical and spectroscopic methods.     

Concerning the Reaction of the Betain‐Like Compound O2CC(PPh3)2 with Tungsten‐Carbonyl Derivatives; Preparation and Crystal Structures of [(CO)5W{η1‐O2C2(PPh3)2}] and [(CO)4W{η2‐O2C2(PPh3)2}]

The carbodiphosphorane CO₂ adduct O₂CC(PPh₃)₂ ( 1a ) reacts with [(CO)₅W(THF)] and [(CO)₃W(NCEt)₃] to produce the complexes [(CO)₅W{η¹‐O₂CC(PPh₃)₂}] ( 2 ) and [(CO)₄W{η²‐O₂CC(PPh₃)₂}] ( 3 ), respectively. Whereas in 2 the betain‐like ligand is coordinated at the tungsten atom in a monodentate manner, in 3 it acts as a chelating ligand with formation of a WO₂C four‐membered ring. As a by‐product during the reaction with the acetonitrile adduct also some crystals of the hydrolysis product [HC(PPh₃)₂]₂[W₆O₁₉] · 3C₂H₄Cl₂ (4 · 3C₂H₄Cl₂) were isolated. All compounds could be characterized by X‐ray analyses and the usual spectroscopic methods.     

Sensitive Voltammetric Sensing of the 2,3‐Dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane (Dmnb) Explosive Taggant

The highly sensitive voltammetric detection of the 2,3‐dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane (DMNB), a required additive to commercial plastic explosives, is described. The protocol relies on a fast square‐wave voltammetric measurement of the DMNB explosive taggant at an unmodified carbon fiber electrode using a phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) solution. Different solutions and working electrodes were evaluated. Under the optimal conditions, a linear response is observed over the 300–3000 μg/L DMNB concentration range examined, with a detection limit of 60 μg/L. A highly stable response, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.6%, is observed for 30 repetitive measurements. Such electrochemical approach offers great promise for a simple, rapid, sensitive and inexpensive field screening of plastic explosives. Preliminary data illustrate the utility of electrochemical detection for electrophoretic microchips for the simultaneous measurements of DMNB, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN).     

High extraction efficiency fiber coated with calix[4] open-chain crown ether for solid-phase microextraction of polar aromatic and aliphatic compounds

The calix[4] open-chain crown ether, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-di(2-allyloxyethoxyl)-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene was synthesized and used for preparation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers of enhanced extraction efficiency. The new SPME coating made from calix[4] open-chain crown ether and hydroxyl-terminated silicone oil was developed with the aid of vinyltriethoxylsilane as bridge using sol-gel method and cross-linking technology. The efficiency of the novel fiber in the extraction of polar aromatic and aliphatic compounds, such as phenols, alcohols, and volatile fatty acids, was also investigated. Due to the introduction of the polar open-chain crown ether in calix[4]arene molecules, the calix[4] open-chain crown ether fiber showed much better selectivity and sensitivity to these polar compounds in comparison with calix[4]arene fiber. It also had superior extraction efficiency when compared to commercial poly(dimethylsiloxane)-divinylbenzene and polyacrylate fibers. Parts per billion to parts per trillion level detection limits were achieved for most of the analytes through SPME in conjunction with GC and flame ionization detector. The linear ranges were two to four orders of magnitude, and the RSD values were below 7% for all analytes. The novel fiber was applied to determine volatile alcohols and fatty acids in wine samples. The volatile-free wine prepared in this work was used to assure similar chemical environment for analytes in both calibration solutions and in real wine samples, thus compensating for possible matrix interferences. The established internal standard method using 4-methyl-2-pentanol as internal standard showed satisfactory accuracy and precision.     

Stripping Chronopotentiometry with Dry‐Preservable Supporting Electrolyte

The determination of some toxic metals by stripping chronopotentiometry with a supporting solution having an unconventional composition has been investigated with the aim of using such components in disposable measuring cells preservable in dry state and quite ready for use, only needing addition of a small volume of sample. The new supporting solution is prepared with a solid strong acid, p‐toluenesulfonic acid, in the place of the inorganic acids commonly used to improve the cation availability. The other components are, as usual, sodium chloride, which fixes the potential of the screen‐printed silver – silver chloride reference electrode, and mercury(II) chloride as the plating agent. This supporting solution has been tested in batch measurements with the mercury film glassy carbon electrode as well as with screen‐printed carbon‐ink electrodes, either with mercury film or bare. The physical shape of the mercury layer electrolytically deposited on screen‐printed carbon‐ink electrodes from a supporting solution containing 0.1 M p‐toluenesulfonic acid and 0.1 M sodium chloride has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) microanalysis. In chronopotentiometric stripping p‐toluenesulfonic acid performs as well as the usual inorganic strong acids, particularly in terms of sensitivity. At 0.1 mol dm^?3 it proved very suitable for the determination of toxic metals, in particular lead(II), at levels down to a few μg dm^?3. The overall results appear promising and can open new avenues for preparing disposable cells for on‐field stripping chronopotentiometric determination of toxic metals.     

Multiple polypeptide forms observed in two-dimensional gels of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) polypeptides are generated during the separation procedure

We have examined two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) gel maps of polypeptides from the Gram-negative bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and found the same widespread trains of spots as often reported in 2-DE gels of polypeptides of other Gram-negative bacteria. Some of the trains of polypeptides, both from the outer membrane and soluble protein fraction, were shown to be generated during the separation procedure of 2-DE, and not by covalent post-translational modifications. The trains were found to be regenerated when rerunning individual polypeptide spots. The polypeptides analysed giving this type of trains were all found to be classified as stable polypeptides according to the instability index of Guruprasad et al. (Protein Eng. 1990, 4, 155-161). The phenomenon most likely reflects conformational equilibria of polypeptides arising from the experimental conditions used, and is a clear drawback of the standard 2-DE procedure, making the gel picture unnecessarily complex to analyse.     

Synthesis of N—（4—Salicylideneiminoaryl）monoaza Crown Ethers and Dioxygen Affinities of Their Cobalt（Ⅱ）Complexes

The Schiff base‐containing pendant monoaza crown ether HL¹, HL², HL³ and HL⁴ have been synthesized by condensation of salicylaldehyde with N‐(4‐aminoaryl) monoaza crown ethers, which were prepared conveniently from 4‐nitro‐N, N‐di(hydroxyethyl) aniline or 4‐nitrobenzyl chloride via cyclization or condensation and reduction. The structures of HL¹—HL⁴ were verified by ¹H NMR, IR spectra, MS and elemental analysis. Moreover, the oxygenation constants (KO2) and thermodynamic parameters (δH⁰ and δS⁰) of their cobalt(II) complexes were determined in the range of ?5 °C to 25 °C, and the effect of crown ring bonded to a Schiff base on the dioxygen affinities of cobalt(II) complexes was also observed as compared to the uncrowned analogue (CoL).     

Synthesis and Visible Spectral Behaviour of Some New N‐Bridgehead Heterocyclic Cyanine Dyes Incorporating Pyrazolo (4,5‐b) Indolizine (Benzoindolizine)

The new unsymmetrical N‐bridgehead, apo (zeromethine), mono‐methine, dimethine, meso substituted tetramethine and styryl cyanine dyes incorporating pyrazolo (4,5‐b) indolizine (benzoindolizine) nuclei were prepared. Structural confirmation was carried out by elemental analyses, IR, H‐NMR, mass spectra and ¹³C‐NMR with the aid of carbon DEPT spectral data. The visible absorption spectra for the newly synthesized cyanines were examined in 95% ethanol.