Defect evolution in block copolymer thin films via temporal phase transitions

We study the details of the defect dynamics in thin films of a cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-polybutadiene (SB) diblock copolymer melt. The high temporal resolution of in-situ scanning force microscopy (SFM) uncovers elementary dynamic processes of structural rearrangements on time scales not accessible so far. Short-term interfacial undulations and the formation of transient phases (spheres, perforated lamellae, and lamellae) are observed. We demonstrate that the well-known structural defects are annihilated by short-term phase transitions into what may be considered excited states. These temporary phase transitions are reproduced in simulations based on dynamic self-consistent field theory. We discuss the role of the observed structural evolution in the context of the equilibrium phase behavior in SB thin films.     

A new generation of cyanide ion-selective membranes for flow injection application: part II. Comparative study of cyanide flow-injection detectors based on thin electroplated silver chalcogenide membranes

Using induced cathodic electrodeposition a number of silver chalcogenide thin layer membranes of non-trivial composition have been synthesized and their performance as ion-selective flow-injection potentiometric detectors (FIPDs) for free cyanide has been critically estimated in the context of the stringent requirements for toxic cyanide environmental monitoring. AgSCN/Ag₂S, Ag₂S, Ag_2+δSe, Ag_2+δSe_1−xTe_x (0 < δ < 0.25 and x ≈ 0.13), Ag₂Se and Ag₂Se_1−xTe_x electroplated membranes were selected for the present performance-based comparative study in order to obtain a feedback information about the effect of membrane composition. Both silver selenide and Te-doped silver selenide membranes, irrespective of their stoichiometry with respect to silver, exhibit the lowest detection limit for CN⁻ (52 ppb) with linear double-Nernstian response down to 130 ppb. The type of chalcogene anion in the membrane composition proves to exert dominant effect on the general performance characteristics of the newly developed FIPDs. The silver stoichiometry (intrinsic defects factor) and the inclusion of Te-dopant (extrinsic defects factor) have more pronounced effect on the profile of the output signal and exert moderate control on the detectors selectivity and baseline stability. This new generation of CN⁻—ion-selective membranes for FIPDs exhibits high selectivity against the common interferents present in cyanide effluents such as SCN⁻, S₂O₃²⁻, Cl⁻ and do not get poisoned in the presence of S²⁻. Moreover, their long-term stability and signal reproducibility, which make redundant the regular day-to-day calibration, coupled with the cost-effective technology for membranes preparation and easy re-generation make them attractive candidates for incorporation into automated in-field devices for in situ cyanide toxic species monitoring.     

Spectrophotometric study of competitive complexation equilibria involving overlapped spectral responding species: Determination of the stability constant of bismuth-pyrophosphate complex

Spectrophotometric study of competitive complex formation equilibria involving overlapped spectral responding species applying a simple and versatile algorithm was carried out. The algorithm involves multivariable regression for calculation of equilibrium concentrations from multiwavelength data and mass action law for the stability constant calculation. The used regression functions are part of common statistical software. Stability constants and complex stoichiometry of competing equilibria were simultaneously determined. The species concentration profiles at several spectral overlapping and ??-coefficient of competing reaction were obtained. Non-absorbing bismuth ?? pyrophosphate (PPh) system was studied as a competitive reaction of bismuth ?? 4-(2-Pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) complex. The formation of Bi-PPh complex with 1:1 stoichiometry was proved in the studied concentration region (C_Bi = 1×10^?5 mol L^?1; C_PPh = 5×10^?6 ? 1×10^?4 mol L^?1). The stability constant of the complex at pH 1 and ?? = 1.0 have been determined: log?? = 4.2±0.2.      

Synthesis,characterization and biological activity of copper(II) complexes with ligands derived from β-amino acids

Transition Metal Chemistry - Two copper(II) complexes with ligands derived from β-amino acids, 2-(1-aminocyclohexyl)acetic acid L1 and 2-(1-amino-4-(tert-butyl)cyclohexyl)acetic acid L2, were...     

Resin-bound aminothiols: synthesis and application

Aminothiols were attached through their thiol group onto the 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl (Dmt)-, 4-methoxytrityl (Mmt)-, 4-methyltrityl (Mtt)-, trityl (Trt)- and 2-chlorotrityl (Clt)-resins. The new resins were used in the solid-phase synthesis of aminothiol containing peptides utilizing N-Fmoc amino acids. The synthesized peptides were cleaved from the resins by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solutions using triethylsilane (TES) or ethanedithiol (EDT) as scavengers.     

Separation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors using polymeric surfactants in polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings

The main objective of this study is the use of polymeric surfactants in polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings for the separation of the pharmaceutical substances acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs). AChEIs are used for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Myasthenia Gravis. In the open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) mode, the PEM coating is evaluated using nine AChEIs. Optimal conditions are established by altering several experimental parameters such as the pH of the background electrolyte (BGE), the anionic polymer for the PEM coating, the concentration of NaCl, which is used as an additive in the polymer deposition solutions, the number of bilayers, the deposition time, and the concentration of the polymeric surfactant. 25 mM NaH(2)PO(4).H(2)Ο and 25 mM Na(2)HPO(4) at pH 7 is used as BGE. Two bilayers of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and poly(sodium N-undecanoyl L-leucinate) provide a baseline separation of all nine analytes in less than 4.5 min. Run-to-run reproducibility studies are also performed, and the relative standard deviation values of the migration times of the nine-analyte peaks are less than 2%. In addition, day-to-day, week-to-week and capillary-to-capillary reproducibilities are evaluated, and the relative standard deviation values of the electroosmotic flow are less than 2%. Finally, using the PEM coating approach, we were able to perform more than 150 runs in the same column. Neither the addition of the polymeric surfactant to the mobile phase, nor the reconstruction of the coating was necessary.     

DNA binding,antibacterial and antifungal activities of copper(II) complexes with some S-alkenyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid

The biological activities of two binuclear copper(II) complexes containing S-alkenyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid are reported [alkenyl = propenyl (L1), isobutenyl (L2)]. The structure of the complex with the S-isobutenyl derivative (C2) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, which revealed that the structure consists of centrosymmetric, dinuclear complex molecules [Cu₂(S-i-butenyl-thiosal)₄(DMSO)₂] containing two Cu(II) centers bridged by four S-isobutyl-thiosalicylate ligands in a paddle-wheel type structure. The Cu(II) atom is situated in a distorted square-pyramidal environment formed by carboxylate oxygen atoms in the basal plane and a DMSO ligand in the axial position. The reactivities of the complexes toward guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP) were investigated. Complex C2 ([Cu₂(S-i-butenyl-thiosal)₄(H₂O)₂]) reacted more rapidly with 5′-GMP than complex C1. The interactions of complexes C1 and C2 with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were examined by absorption (UV–Vis) and emission spectral studies (ethidium bromide displacement studies), revealing good DNA interaction abilities. The antimicrobial activities of the free ligands and their complexes were tested by microdilution method, and both minimal inhibitory and microbicidal concentrations were determined. All the tested substances demonstrated selective and moderate antibacterial activity on gram-positive bacteria, but low antibacterial activity on gram-negative bacteria. Also, the tested substances demonstrated low antifungal activity.     

A new generation of cyanide ion-selective membranes for flow injection application: Part III. A simple approach to the determination of toxic metal-cyanide complexes without preliminary separation

A new flow injection approach to total weak acid-dissociable (WAD) metal–cyanide complexes is proposed, which eliminates the need of a separation step (such as gas diffusion or pervaporation) prior to the detection. The cornerstone of the new methodology is based on the highly selective flow-injection potentiometric detection (FIPD) system that makes use of thin-layer electroplated silver chalcogenide ion-selective membranes of non-trivial composition and surface morphology: Ag_2 + δSe_1 − xTe_x and Ag_2 + δSe. An inherent feature of the FIP-detectors is their specific response to the sum of simple CN⁻ + Zn(CN)₄²⁻ + Cd(CN)₄²⁻. For total WAD cyanide determination, ligand exchange (LE) and a newly developed electrochemical pre-treatment procedure for release of the bound cyanide were used. The LE pre-treatment ensures complete recovery only when the sample does not contain Hg(CN)₄²⁻. This limitation is overcome by implementing electrochemical pre-treatment which liberates completely the bound WAD cyanide through cathodic reduction of the complexed metal ions. A complete recovery of toxic WAD cyanide is achieved in the concentration range from 156 μg L⁻¹ up to 13 mg L⁻¹. A three-step protocol for individual and group WAD cyanide speciation is proposed for the first time. The speciation protocol comprises three successive measurements: (i) of non-treated, (ii) LE-exchange pre-treated; (iii) electrochemically pre-treated sample. In the presence of all WAD complexes this procedure provides complete recovery of the total bound cyanide along with its quantitative differentiation into the following groups: (1) Hg(CN)₄²⁻; (2) CN⁻ + Cd(CN)₄²⁻ + Zn(CN)₄²⁻; (3) Cu(CN)₄³⁻ + Ni(CN)₄²⁻ + Ag(CN)₂⁻. The presence of a 100-fold excess in total of the following ions: CO₃²⁻, SCN⁻, NH₄⁺, SO₄²⁻ and Cl⁻ does not interferes. Thus the proposed approach offers a step ahead to meeting the ever increasing demand for cyanide-species-specific methods. The equipment simplicity makes the procedure a good candidate for implementing in portable devices for in-field cyanide monitoring.