F and C spectra of fluorinated and partially fluorinated vinyl alkyl ethers

Fluorine, hydrogen, and ¹³C NMR spectral data have been obtained for vinyl alkyl ethers containing fluorines. Some of the molecules are perfluorinated and others include hydrogen, bromine, and chlorine substituents. New generalizations regarding FF spin-spin coupling are developed and used, along with previously recognized correlations, in the confirmation of structures and the assignments of resonances. ¹³C spectroscopy, especially the analysis of ¹³C¹⁹F coupling, is critical in several of the structure determinations. Chlorine isotope effects on fluorine chemical shifts are observed when the chlorine and fluorine are attached to the same carbon, and are also used in the structure analyses. Long-range couplings between fluorines in the vinyl group and fluorines in the alkyl group are interpreted in terms of molecular geometry which allows certain of the alkyl fluorines to “touch” the fluorines cis and gem to the ether oxygen but not the fluorine trans to the oxygen. Two bond ¹³C¹⁹F coupling across the vinyl double bond is found to vary dramatically with the electronegativity of the vinyl substituents in the ethers, in accordance with previous observations for olefins.     

Association of model peptides and dehydropeptides: N-acetyl-l-alanine- and dehydroalanine N′,N′-dimethylamides

The comparative studies on the association of Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ and Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂ in carbon tetrachloride were performed by the analysis of their average molecular weight, dipole moments and FTIR spectra. To aid spectroscopic interpretation and gain some deeper insight into the nature of associates, the geometries of the minimum energy of the dimers of Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ and Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂ were calculated by the B3LYP/6-31+G** method. The average molecular weight in the studied concentration range, for the ΔAla and l-Ala peptide, as determined by the osmometric method, did not exceed 1.5 and 1.2 of the monomeric mass, respectively. Accordingly, the percentage of the monomeric form (α) decreased as concentration was increased more significantly for the ΔAla analogue than for its saturated counterpart. In the studied concentrations, the dipole moment of the unsaturated compound decreases and that of its counterpart is almost constant. We identified a wider range of dimeric forms of Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ than those of Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂. While Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ mainly forms cyclic dimers, built of open conformers H/F, specific for α,β-dehydroamino acids, Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂ forms cyclic and linear dimers, characteristic for the usual amino acids. Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ has a greater tendency to associate than its saturated variant, which is the result of stronger hydrogen bonds.     

Coupling continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction, preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection for the determination of cadmium and lead in mussel samples

Continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction has been coupled with preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of cadmium and lead in mussel samples. Experimental designs were used for the optimisation of the leaching and preconcentration steps. The use of diluted nitric acid as extractant in the continuous mode at a flow rate of 3.5 ml min⁻¹ and room temperature was sufficient for quantitative extraction of these trace metals. A minicolumn containing a chelating resin (Chelite P, with aminomethylphosphoric acid groups) was proved as an excellent material for the quantitative preconcentration of cadmium and lead prior to their flame atomic absorption detection. A flow injection manifold was used as interface for coupling the three analytical steps, which allowed the automation of the whole analytical process. A good precision of the whole procedure (2.0 and 2.3%), high enrichment factors (20.5 and 11.8) and a detection limit of 0.011 and 0.25 μg g⁻¹ for cadmium and lead, respectively, were obtained for 80 mg of sample. The sample throughputs were ca. 16 and 14 samples h⁻¹ for cadmium and lead, respectively. The accuracy of the analytical procedures was verified by using a standard reference material (BCR 278-R, mussel tissue) and the results were in good agreement with the certified values. The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of cadmium and lead in mussel samples from the coast of Galicia (NW, Spain).     

Photophysics of Fluorescent Contact Sensors Based on the Dicyanodihydrofuran Motif

Fluorescent molecular rotors have been used for measurements of local mobility on molecular length scales, for example to determine viscosity, and for the visualization of contact between two surfaces. In the present work, we deepen our insight into the excited-state deactivation kinetics and mechanics of dicyanodihydrofuran-based molecular rotors. We extend the scope of the use of this class of rotors for contact sensing with a red-shifted member of the family. This allows for contact detection with a range of excitation wavelengths up to ∼600 nm. Steady-state fluorescence shows that the fluorescence quantum yield of these rotors depends not only on the rigidity of their environment, but – under certain conditions – also on its polarity. While excited state decay via rotation about the exocyclic double bond is rapid in nonpolar solvents and twisting of a single bond allows for fast decay in polar solvents, the barriers for both processes are significant in solvents of intermediate polarity. This effect may also occur in other molecular rotors, and it should be considered when applying such molecules as local mobility probes.     

Exploiting Complex Fluorophore Interactions to Monitor Virus Capsid Disassembly

Supramolecular protein complexes are the corner stone of biological processes; they are essential for many biological functions. Unraveling the interactions responsible for the (dis)assembly of these complexes is required to understand nature and to exploit such systems in future applications. Virus capsids are well-defined assemblies of hundreds of proteins and form the outer shell of non-enveloped viruses. Due to their potential as a drug carriers or nano-reactors and the need for virus inactivation strategies, assessing the intactness of virus capsids is of great interest. Current methods to evaluate the (dis)assembly of these protein assemblies are experimentally demanding in terms of instrumentation, expertise and time. Here we investigate a new strategy to monitor the disassembly of fluorescently labeled virus capsids. To monitor surfactant-induced capsid disassembly, we exploit the complex photophysical interplay between multiple fluorophores conjugated to capsid proteins. The disassembly of the capsid changes the photophysical interactions between the fluorophores, and this can be spectrally monitored. The presented data show that this low complexity method can be used to study and monitor the disassembly of supramolecular protein complexes like virus capsids. However, the range of labeling densities that is suitable for this assay is surprisingly narrow.     

Theoretical computation of interaction parameters for the complexation of GSH with Pr(III) and Mg(II) in solution: Analysis of their reaction dynamics and thermodynamic characters

The current research focuses on the computation of absorption spectral parameters like energy interaction parameters viz. Slater-Condon factor (F_k), Racah (E^k), Lande spin-orbit interaction (ζ_4f), nephelauxetic ratio (β), bonding parameter (b^1/2), per cent covalency (δ), and the intensity parameters like oscillator strength (P) and Judd-Ofelt T_λ, (λ ​= ​2,4,6) parameters, of Pr³⁺ ion complexes with reduced Glutathione (GSH) in the presence and absence of Mg²⁺ in different aqueous solutions of CH₃OH, C₄H₈O₂, CH₃CN and DMF. The variations in the values of the energy interaction and intensity parameters clearly demonstrates the relative sensitivity of the 4f-4f transitions and its correlation with ligand structure and the nature of metal-ligand interaction. Further, the reaction dynamics and thermodynamic properties for the complexation of Pr³⁺ with glutathione and Mg²⁺ ligand have been investigated using different computed parameters like rate constant (k), activation energy (E_a), A (pre-exponential factor) and thermodynamic parameters, ΔH⁰, ΔG⁰ and ΔS⁰.     

AM1 studies of photoelectron spectra

Five ionization potentials for thesp,ac andsp, sp conformers of (acetylthiomethyl)trifluorosilane MeC(O)SCH₂SiE₃ and six ionization potentials for the same conformers of (benzoylthiomethyl)trifluorosilane PhC(O)CH₂SiF₃ were calculated by the semiempirical AM1 method. The resulting values are in good agreement with the data of photoelectron spectroscopy only for thesp.ac conformers. The structure of the preferred conformer of (acetylthiomethyl)trifluorosilane was confirmed by measurement of its dipole moment in the gas phase. The influence of the long-range inductive effect (field effect) on the energy of nonbonding electrons of the carbonyl oxygen atom in the series of acetic acid derivatives was observed. For Part 9, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 236–241, February, 1998.     

Coupling of flow injection wetting-film extraction without segmentation and phase separation to flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of trace copper in water samples

A flow injection wetting-film extraction system without segmentor and phase separator has been coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of trace copper. Isobutyl methyl ketone (MIBK) was selected as coating solvent and 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) as the chelating reagent. By switching of a 8-channel valve and alternative initiation of two peristaltic pumps, MIBK, sample solution containing copper chelate of oxine, and air-segment sandwiched eluting solution (1.0 mol l⁻¹ nitric acid) were sequentially aspirated into an extraction coil made of PTFE tubing of 360 cm length and 0.5 mm i.d. The formation of organic film in the wall of the extraction coil, extraction of the copper chelate into the organic film and back-extraction of the analyte into the eluting solution occurred consecutively when these zones aspirated into the extraction coil were propelled down the extraction coil by a carrier solution at a flow rate of 2 ml min⁻¹. After leaving the extraction coil, the concentrated zone was transported to the nebulizer at its free uptake rate for atomization. Under the optimized conditions, an enrichment factor of 43 and a detection limit of 0.2 μg l⁻¹ copper were achieved at a sample throughput rate of 30 h⁻¹. Eleven determinations of a standard copper solution of 60 μg l⁻¹ gave a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. Foreign ions possibly present in tap water and natural water did not interfere with the copper determination. The developed method has been successfully used to the determination of copper content of tap water and river water.     

Influence of two grinding methods on the uncertainty of determinations of heavy metals in atomic absorption spectrometry/electrothermal atomisation of plant samples

 Chemical analyses of trace elements are affected by relatively high analytical errors due to the different steps of the laboratory procedures: samples grinding, mineralisation and instrumental measurements. In the present communication, the influence of the grinding phase on the global uncertainty of Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr determinations in plant samples by the classical method of atomic absorption spectrometry/electrothermal atomisation (AAS-ETA) after dry ashing is quantified. Two grinding machines, a planetary mill with balls and jars of agate versus a stainless steel grinder were compared by analysing leaf samples of cucumber, strawberry, kiwivines, apple trees and grapevines from agricultural experimental plots under controlled conditions. Variance components due to the difference between grinding methods and experimental plots were estimated. Further, the simultaneous effects of the grinding methods on all considered metals have been evaluated by analysis of variance. With the stainless steel grinder, on average, higher levels of the considered heavy metals were obtained (up to 67% of the mean values). On average, the increments were similar for metals contained in steel (Ni and Cr) and those not contained (Pb and Cd). The true causes of these differences need further investigation to determine whether the higher metal detection is due to possible contamination, to a different grinding quality or to other reasons. Finally, the grinding methods did not seem to affect the combined uncertainty of the analyses. Received: 3 November 1997 · Accepted: 29 November 1997     

The photochemical interaction of polyphenylferrisiloxane with oligoorganosilanes

The photochemical interaction of polyphenylferrisiloxane with some oligoorganosilanes in benzene solutions has been studied by UV, IR, ESR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Silylene species formed during photolysis of oligoorganosilanes react with the high-spin iron(III) to reduce the latter to low-spin iron(II). The formation of the low-spin state of iron(II) was supported by measurements of the magnetic moments. The insertion of the silylene species into the polymer chain to form the Fe?Si bond occurs due to the photoreaction.