Comparison of fluorescence and QCM technologies: Example of explosives detection with a π-conjugated thin film

A π-conjugated compound was synthesized as a sensitive material for explosives detection. The detection of vapors of 2,4-dinitrotoluene was demonstrated with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and fluorescence transduction methods. The fluorescence intensity monitoring shows a higher sensitivity and selectivity than the monitoring of the QCM frequency. Both methods appear to be synergic when used simultaneously as the sensor helps to discriminate interferent vapors from nitroaromatics.     

Microwave-assisted separation of ionic liquids from aqueous solution of ionic liquids

Microwave-assisted separation has been applied to recover ionic liquid (IL) from its aqueous solution as an efficient method with respect to time and energy compared to the conventional vacuum distillation. Hydrophilic ILs such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF(4)]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([Bmim][TfO]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([Emim][MS]) could be recovered in 6 min from the mixture of ILs and water (1:1, w/w) under microwave irradiation at constant power of 10 W while it took at least 240 min to obtain ILs containing same water content (less than 0.5 wt%) by conventional vacuum oven at 363.15 K with 90 kPa of vacuum pressure. Energy consumptions per gram of evaporated water from the homogeneous mixture of hydrophilic ILs and water (1:1, w/w) by microwave-assisted separation were at least 52 times more efficient than those in conventional vacuum oven. It demonstrated that microwave-assisted separation could be used for complete recovery of ILs in sense of time and energy as well as relevant purity.     

Partial molar volumes of selected gases in some ionic liquids

The partial molar volume of a gas that is dissolved at high dilution in a solvent is required to express the influence of pressure on Henry's constant as well as to describe the volume change (expansion) of the liquid caused by the dissolved gas. The correlations of recently published experimental results for the solubility of some selected gases (CO₂, Xe, CH₄, CF₄, H₂, CO, O₂) in three imidazolium-based ionic liquids (1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]), 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate ([bmim][CH₃SO₄]), and 1-n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf₂N])) determined by the synthetic method were re-evaluated by also considering the experimentally determined volumetric properties. The new evaluation does not change the published results for Henry's constants, but additionally yields reliable information on the partial molar volume of those gases in the mentioned ionic liquids at temperatures from about 293 to 413 K.     

N-[Chloro(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium chloride (TMUCl Cl), the reagent of choice for the solid-phase synthesis of anilides

An effective solid-phase preparation of anilides from supported carboxylic acids is described by their activation as the corresponding acid chlorides with TMUCl Cl.     

Phenylglycine racemization in Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis: Stereochemical stability is achieved by choice of reaction conditions

Phenylglycine-containing peptides have broad applications in medicinal chemistry, but their synthetic accessibility is complicated by the risk of epimerization during solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Phenylglycine is therefore often considered a troublesome residue. This work studies the extent of Phg racemization under different Fmoc-SPPS reaction conditions. It is shown that the base-catalyzed coupling of Fmoc-Phg is the critical step for racemization. However, racemization can be reduced to a negligible level if DEPBT or COMU combined with TMP or DMP are employed during this step. Resin-bound peptides are remarkably resistant against epimerization during extended incubation under basic conditions and the free peptides were stable in buffer solutions used for biological assays.     

Paramagnetic surface active ionic liquids: synthesis,properties, and applications

Paramagnetic surface active ionic liquids (PMSAILs) classify task-specific ionic liquids with magnetic properties by incorporating metal into the cationic or anionic part of the ionic liquid. Paramagnetic ionic liquids had long-chain either in cations or anions and showed excellent surface activity and magnetic properties without any need for the magnetic nanoparticles. These PMSAILs have inherent unique ionic liquid properties and self-assembled into various nano-aggregates such as micelles, vesicles, rod-like micelles, and etc., by modification in the structure of cations or anions. PMSAILs provide stimuli-responsive properties, which is one of the essential aspects of targeted applications. The appropriate functional tunability of anions and cations in PMSAILs leads to various multifaceted chemical and biological applications. A new emerging trend in PMSAIL research is hybridization with flexible materials. This review will mainly deal with the synthesis, characterization, and brief history of PMSAILs and their potential advantages in the various applications in micellar catalysis, purification and separation of biomolecules, compaction and decompaction of DNA, drug delivery, and other biomedical applications.