Rotational bands in 181Ta

High-spin states in ¹⁸¹Ta have been studied via the ¹⁷⁶Yb(¹¹B,α2n) reaction at 52 MeV using the PEX array and at 57 MeV using the NORDBALL array, with α-particle detection. The previously known, K^π=(7/2)⁺ ground state band and K^π=(9/2)⁻ band have been extended to spins (29/2)⁺ and (31/2)⁻, respectively. Two new one-quasiparticle bands, the K^π=(5/2)⁺ band built on the known (5/2)⁺ isomer and a K^π=((1/2)⁻) band have been observed. Two other rotational bands with three-quasiparticle structure, K^π=(15/2)⁻ and ((19/2)⁺ with π(7/2)[404]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] and π(9/2)[514]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] configurations, respectively, have been newly observed. The half-life of the K^π=((19/2)⁺) bandhead which decays to the head of the (15/2)⁻ band has been measured to be 140(36) ns. However, transitions from the ((19/2)⁺) state to the (15/2)⁻ band have not been observed. Received: 26 August 1998     

Enthalpimetric and thermometric determination of some nitrogen containing bases and some physiologically active alkaloids

Summary The enthalpimetric determination of a series of bases by using the reaction of the bases and sodium tetraphenylboron is described. The accuracy of the method is analytically acceptable, over the range 3×10^–5 moles to 7.5×10^–4 moles. The upper limit is determined by the bulk of the precipitate.Dosage forms of some physiologically active alkaloids contain more than the upper limit of analyte. Yet, preliminary investigations using silicotungstic acid indicate that this is suitable for thermometric titrations.

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Enthalpimetrische und thermometrische Bestimmung stickstoffhaltiger Basen und physiologisch aktiver Alkaloide

Zusammenfassung Die enthalpimetrische Bestimmung einiger N-haltiger Basen erfolgte aufgrund der Reaktion mit Natriumtetraphenyloborat. Die Genauigkeit ist im Bereich von 3 · 10^–5-7,5 · 10^–4 Mol befriedigend. Eine obere Grenze der Anwendbarkeit ergibt sich aus der Menge des anfallenden Niederschlags. Diese wird bei der Bestimmung von Formulierungen einiger physiologisch aktiver Alkaloide überschritten. Jedoch ist in diesem Fall eine thermometrische Titration mit Hilfe von Silicowolframsäure möglich.

Lecture presented at Euroanalysis I Conference, 28. 8.–1. 9. 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany.     

Metallic macrocycle with a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phosphorus ligand

The preparation of an 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phosphorus ligand, 25,27-bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethoxy)-26,28-bis(1-propyloxy)calix[4]arene (3), is presented. Ligand 3 is obtained in three steps in 64% overall yield. Reaction of 3 with [Rh(cot)2]BF4 produced the encapsulated rhodium complex [Rh[(P,P)-diphen-calix[4]arene]]BF4 (4). As revealed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study, the rhodium center has a bent coordination environment with a P-Rh-P angle of 135.66(3) degrees. Palladation of 3 employing [Pd(MeCN)4](BF4)2 yielded the chelate palladium complex 7 in which the palladium center has a slightly bent configuration. Treatment of the ligand with Pd(cod)Cl2 and [Pd(eta3-C4H7)(THF)2]BF4 leads to the isolation of the monometallic complex. Full characterization includes X-ray structural studies of compounds 3, 4, and 6.     

A rapid enthalpimetric method for the assay of the reducing sugar content of some soft drinks

An enthalpimetric method for the rapid, low cost assay of reducing sugars in soft drinks is reported. The assay involves the determination of the sugars by oxidation with copper(III) ions in an alkaline medium. Separation of the various matrix materials, fruit peel, preservatives, etc. is not required. Amounts of glucose in the range 12.5–50 mg per litre of sample have been determined with an average error of 1.5%. The time of assay is less than 2 minutes. The method is capable of being automated for use with semi-skilled operatives. The proposed method has been compared with the Official Method and the results are equally acceptable. The advantages of the proposed method include speed of assay, the potential for automation and the low cost of individual assays.     

Thermometric titrations at elevated temperatures

The oxidizing power of hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline conditions is wellknown. Unfortunately many if its oxidation reactions are too slow at room temperatures for direct titrimetric procedures. A method has been developed for the determination of millimolar amounts of selenium(IV), arsenic(III), antimony(III), chromium(III), and thallium(I) using thermometric titrimetry at approximately 330 K. The reproducibility and accuracy of the method are approximately 1%.     

Simple Analytical Model Predicting Some Features of the Electrolytic Steel-Pickling Process

Electrolytic pickling of steel with neutral solutions, to remove the surface scale, reduces the need for the use of strong acids as needed in conventional pickling. This study is a step towards a more in-depth understanding of the factors affecting the former process. A theoretical model, sufficiently simplified to allow analytical solution, is developed and evaluated to provide a first approximation of the potential and current distributions in the electrolyte and steel band. To gain knowledge and validate the model, a small electrolytic pickling cell is constructed, and experiments, including bubble generation and motion observation, are conducted. The experimental work has shown the remarkable bubble production and adherence to the surfaces, and its effects on reducing pickling efficiency and uniformity. The pickling efficiency is about 30%, confirming other researchers" results. The analytical model shows trends very similar to those observed in the experiments, and provides very valuable guidance. It shows, for example, that the current efficiency decreases as the electrode–band distance increases, and it increases with the band thickness and the band-to-electrolyte conductivity ratio. The energy efficiency decreases by orders of magnitude faster than the current efficiency with all of the above-mentioned parameters, because of the correspondingly strong drop in the band–surface potential. A large amount of current is lost due to interelectrode short circuiting.     

Designed self-assembly of molecular necklaces

This paper reports an efficient strategy to synthesize molecular necklaces, in which a number of small rings are threaded onto a large ring, utilizing the principles of self-assembly and coordination chemistry. Our strategy involves (1) threading a molecular "bead" with a short "string" to make a pseudorotaxane and then (2) linking the pseudorotaxanes with a metal complex with two cis labile ligands acting as an "angle connector" to form a cyclic product (molecular necklace). A 4- or 3-pyridylmethyl group is attached to each end of 1,4-diaminobutane or 1,5-diaminopentane to produce the short "strings" (C4N4(2+), C4N3(2+), C5N4(2+), and C5N3(2+)), which then react with a cucurbituril (CB) "bead" to form stable pseudorotaxanes (PR44(2+), PR43(2+), PR54(2+), and PR53(2+), respectively). The reaction of the pseudorotaxanes with Pt(en)(NO(3))(2) (en = ethylenediamine) produces a molecular necklace [4]MN, in which three molecular "beads" are threaded on a triangular framework, and/or a molecular necklace [5]MN, in which four molecular "beads" are threaded on a square framework. Under refluxing conditions, the reaction with PR44(2+) or PR54(2+) yields exclusively [4]MN (MN44T or MN54T, respectively), whereas that with PR43(2+) or PR53(2+) produces exclusively [5]MN (MN43S or MN53S, respectively). The products have been characterized by various methods including X-ray crystallography. At lower temperatures, on the other hand, the reaction with PR44(2+) or PR54(2+) affords both [4]MN and [5]MN. The supermolecules reported here are the first series of molecular necklaces obtained as thermodynamic products. The overall structures of the molecular necklaces are strongly influenced by the structures of pseudorotaxane building blocks, which is discussed in detail on the basis of the X-ray crystal structures. The temperature dependence of the product distribution observed in this self-assembly process is also discussed.     

Rapid analysis of dosage forms of some pharmaceuticals by nonaqueous thermometric titrimetry

The use of the technique of solution thermochemistry is proposed for the rapid assay for quality control and quality assurance of dosage amounts of some ethical formulations of some antimalarial drugs. The active ingredients are chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, dapsone, proguanil hydrochloride, and pyrimethamine.Assay is done without the separation of the excipients and without isolation or derivatisation of the analytes. The titrations are done in glacial acetic acid and utilise the catalysed hydrolysis of acetic anhydride by perchloric acid to indicate the endpoint of the reactions.The time taken for a typical assay, of a typical dosage amount is about 3–5 minutes. The reproducibility is of the order of 1% for the milligramme amounts of analyte present in the dosage amounts of the drugs.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird die Anwendung eines lösungsthermochemischen Verfahrens zu Schnellbestimmungen bei der Qualitätskontrolle und — sicherung von Wirkstoffeinsatzmengen einiger rezeptpflichtiger Präparate von einigen antimalarischen Arzneimitteln empfohlen. Die aktiven Bestandteile sind Chloroquin, Hydroxychloroquin, Dapson, Proguanilhydrochlorid und Pyrimethamin.Die Bestimmungen werden ohne jegliche Abtrennung der Bindestoffe und ohne Isolierung oder Derivatisierung der zu bestimmenden Substanzen durchgeführt. Die Titrierungen werden in Eisessig durchgeführt und bedienen sich der katalytischen Hydrolyse von Essigsäureanhydrid durch Perchlorsäure als Endpunktindikation der Reaktion.Die Dauer für eine typische Probe bei einer typischen Wirkstoffmenge beträgt etwa 3–5 Minuten. Die Reproduzierbarkeit liegt in der Größenordnung von 1% für Milligrammengen der zu analysierenden Stoffe im Arzneimittel.

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We acknowledge the Nigerian Government for the provision of a grant to one of us (S.I.A.). We acknowledge the following for the gifts of samples of the authentic drugs and the tablets assayed in this work: Imperial Chemical Industries plc; May and Baker plc; Winthrop Laboratories plc; Wellcome Foundation (Medical Division).     

Thermodynamic characterization of different actin isoforms

Summary The thermodynamic properties of the cardiac and skeletal a-actin isoforms were studied to characterize the molecular bases of the functional differences between them with the method of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermal properties of the actin filaments were described in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions as well. Based on the calculated free energy changes the α-cardiac actin filaments appeared to be more stable in its physiologically more relevant, magnesium saturated form. The magnesium saturated form of the α-cardiac actin filaments seemed to be more stable compared to the calcium saturated form of it. The enthalpy and entropy changes could differentiate between the α-cardiac and α-skeletal actin isoforms and between the calcium and magnesium saturated cardiac actin isoforms as well. Our results can demonstrate that the few differences between the amino acid sequences of the α-actin isoforms have an influence on the thermal properties and maybe on the function of these proteins as well.