Acetylation and molecular mass effects on barrier and mechanical properties of shortfin squid chitosan membranes

Chitosan samples with different N-deacetylation levels were obtained from β-chitin under heterogeneous alkali conditions. Oxidative depolymerisation was performed to attain low-acetylated chitosan samples with different molecular mass. Water vapour permeability, membrane swelling and tensile mechanical properties were analysed in plasticized self-supporting chitosan membranes. The main purpose was to describe unambigously the effect of the biopolymer molecular mass and acetylation degree on these properties. Commercially available chitosan samples derived from α-chitin were also studied for comparison. The equilibrium degree of swelling in water and the water vapour permeability increase by increasing the molecular mass or the degree of acetylation. Regarding the effect on the mechanical properties, generally harder and tougher membranes were obtained for chitosans with higher molecular mass or lower acetylation degree. These observations are tentatively explained based on the different structural characteristics of the polymer and can lead to a better understanding of the tools necessary to tailor a specific type of chitosan membrane.     

Thermal investigation of iron(III) and manganese(II,III) complexes of dianils derived from 6-formylkhellin

Manganese and iron complexes of Schiff bases derived from 6-formylkhellin were prepared and characterized. Complexes of o-phenylenediamine derivative (ligand (I)) are monomeric or dimeric whereas those of p-phenylenediamine derivative (ligand (II)) are polymeric. The complexes obtained are characterized by a lower magnetic moment values. The complexes also have different solvent of crystallization with different nature of interaction. The thermal behaviour of the ligands and their metal complexes was investigated by means of DTA, TG, IR and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. Ligand (I) shows different thermal behaviour from that of ligands (II) and (III). The complexes of ligand (II) give abnormal oxides as a final product during their thermal decomposition. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of dipole moment in the ground and excited state by experimental and theoretical methods of N-nonyl acridine orange

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of N-nonyl acridine orange are determined at room temperature (298 K) in cyclohexane, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chlorobenzene and dichloromethane. The ground state of dipole moment was obtained by impedance measurements using Guggenheim-Debeye's method. The experimental excited state dipole moment of N-nonyl acridine orange was determined using Bakhshiev's and Kawski-Chamma-Viallet's formulae and solvent polarity parameter proposed by Reichardt. These experimental results were completed with theoretical results using quantum chemical methods. The experimental (muexp=10.76 D) and theoretical (mucal=9.9 D) dipole moments in the ground and excited state (muexp*=14.56 D) were compared.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted isoxazolidines via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of α-2-methoxyaryl nitrones with nitrostyrenes and chalcones have been investigated. The regiochemistry and stereochemistry of the resultant cycloadducts have been determined with the help of NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. β-Nitrostyrenes add to nitrones to give two geometrical isomers, while the β-methyl-β-nitrostyrene gives a single isomer in relatively low yield. The chalcones give a single cycloadduct upon 1,3-dipolar addition.     

Hygrometric Determination of Water Activities and Osmotic and Activity Coefficients of NH4Cl–LiCl–H2O at 25°C

The mixed aqueous electrolyte system of ammonium and lithium chlorides has been studied by the hygrometric method at 25°C. The relative humidities of this system are measured at total molalities from 0.3 to 6 mol-kg^{– 1} for different ionic-strength fractions y of NH₄Cl with y = 0.33, 0.50, and 0.67. The data obtained allow the deduction of new water activities and osmotic coefficients. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of the ECA (extended composed additivity) law proposed in our previous work. The Zdanovskii–Stokes–Robinson (ZSR), the Robinson–Stokes (RS), Reilly–Wood–Robinson (RWR), the Pitzer, and the Lietzke–Stoughton (LS II) models are also compared with our results. Predictions made using these models are, in general, consistent with our results. From these measurements, new Pitzer mixing ionic parameters are determined and used to predict the solute activity coefficients in the mixture for different ionic-strength fractions.     

二价金属离子萃取速率常数与软硬酸碱规则

用上升液滴法测定了２－乙基己基膦酸单（２－乙基己基）酯－正辛烷从硝酸介质中萃取镁、钙、锌、镍、铜和铅等二价金属离子的正向初始速率，建立了速率方程，计算出正向萃取反应的速率常数、活化能及活化熵，首次将软硬酸碱规则与金属溶萃取速率常数关联。结果表明，在萃取机理相同时，萃取速率常数的大小与金属离子的软硬酸碱标度一致，即萃取过程中，作为酸的被萃取金属离子，其硬度越大，萃取速率常数亦越大，萃取反应的活化能…     

Circular dichroism of sesquiterpene-umbelliferone ethers and structure elucidation of a new derivative isolated from the gum resin “Asa Foetida”

The CD spectra of 16 naturally occurring sesquiterpene-umbelliferone ethers, including the complete set of farnesiferol A isomers with all acetates and 6-oxoderivatives, are reported over the significant wavelength range of 350–200 nm. 11 compounds were isolated from an Asa Foetida sample and 5 further derivatives, already known as natural products, were obtained by acetylation orJones oxidation. In addition, a new compound — kamolonol (14) — was isolated. Its structure is characterized by twofold methyl migration in the drimenol derived sesquiterpene moiety.¹H-NMR, MS, IR, UV, and CD data of the new compound are discussed.Herrn Prof. Dr.K. Schlögl mit den besten Wünschen zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Flammability studies of 3-methyl pyridine/water system

In industrial processes, information on the safety property of chemicals is essentially crucial for safe handling during unit operations. Ensuring the safe use of combustible or flammable substances in processes is unlikely without detailed investigations of their flammability characteristics and related hazards. We studied 3-methyl pyridine (3-picoline), e.g., flammability limits (LFL/UFL), maximum explosion pressure (P _max), maximum explosion pressure rise (dP/dt)_max, minimum oxygen concentration (MOC), vapor deflagration index (K _g), and characterized the influence of inert steam (H₂O) on critical parameters for 3-picoline/water mixtures at 270°C, 1 atm, various oxygen concentrations, and vapor mixing ratios (100/0, 30/70, 10/90 and 5/95 vol.%) with a 20-L-Apparatus in simulated conditions, respectively. The results showed that the flammability characteristics of 3-picoline_(aq) all increased with the oxygen concentration. However, as the composition of inert steam increased, the flammability parameters and the degree of fire and explosion hazards were significantly reduced, instead. This study elucidated the flammability properties of 3-picoline mixed with inert steam. The conclusions could be applied to proactively prevent the relevant processes from incurring fire and explosion accidents.     

Interactions of D-Maltose and Sucrose with Some Amino Acids in Aqueous Solutions

Calorimetric titrations have been performed at 298.15 K in aqueous solutions to derive the stability constants and thermodynamic parameters of the interactions of D-maltose and sucrose with some amino acids (glycine, DL-alanine, DL-leucine, and L-serine). The apparent molal volumes of the disaccharides in dilute aqueous solutions of the amino acids have been determined from density measurements at 298.15 K. In contrast to D-maltose, sucrose was found to associate with the amino acids and these associated species are preferentially entropy stabilized. These results are interpreted in terms of the influence of the nature of the solutes, their specific conformations, and hydration, on the ability of the disaccharides to form associated complexes with the amino acids.