On-line preconcentration method for the determination of trace metals in water samples using a fully automated pretreatment system coupled with ICP-AES.

An automated on-line sample-preparation method using a computer-controlled pretreatment system (Auto-Pret AES system) coupled with ICP-AES was developed. In this work, an iminodiacetate chelating resin, packed in a mini-column and installed in the system was employed for the collection/concentration of 13 trace metals, including such toxic metals as Be, Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb. The limits of detection of the proposed method for trace metals were in the range of 0.001 (Be) -0.18 (Pb) ng mL-1. The enrichment factors for metal ions were about 19 times, when 5 mL of samples were used. The sample throughput was 11 h-1. The accuracy and the precision of the method were evaluated using river-water reference materials, SLRS-4 from NRCC, JSAC 0301-1 and JSAC 0302 from the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry. The proposed method can be favorably applied to the collection/concentration of trace metals in natural water samples.     

Photochemische synthese von H2Fe3-komplexen und ihre aktivität bei der photokatalytischen hydrierung von olefinen und dienen

The photochemical reaction of the trinuclear complex Fe₃(CO)₁₀NSi(CH₃)₃ under hydrogen leads to substitution of the bridging carbonyl group by two hydrogens. The resulting complex H₂Fe₃(CO)₉NSi(CH₃)₃ acts as a catalyst in the photochemical hydrogenation of olefins and dienes.     

H2/CO2 separations in multicomponent metal-adeninate MOFs with multiple chemically distinct pore environments

Metal–organic frameworks constructed from multiple (≥3) components often exhibit dramatically increased structural complexity compared to their 2 component (1 metal, 1 linker) counterparts, such as multiple chemically unique pore environments and a plurality of diverse molecular diffusion pathways. This inherent complexity can be advantageous for gas separation applications. Here, we report two isoreticular multicomponent MOFs, bMOF-200 (4 components; Cu, Zn, adeninate, pyrazolate) and bMOF-201 (3 components; Zn, adeninate, pyrazolate). We describe their structures, which contain 3 unique interconnected pore environments, and we use Kohn–Sham density functional theory (DFT) along with the climbing image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method to predict potential H₂/CO₂ separation ability of bMOF-200. We examine the H₂/CO₂ separation performance using both column breakthrough and membrane permeation studies. bMOF-200 membranes exhibit a H₂/CO₂ separation factor of 7.9. The pore space of bMOF-201 is significantly different than bMOF-200, and one molecular diffusion pathway is occluded by coordinating charge-balancing formate and acetate anions. A consequence of this structural difference is reduced permeability to both H₂ and CO₂ and a significantly improved H₂/CO₂ separation factor of 22.2 compared to bMOF-200, which makes bMOF-201 membranes competitive with some of the best performing MOF membranes in terms of H₂/CO₂ separations.

Tailorable multicomponent MOFs and MOF membranes for efficient H₂/CO₂ separation.     

New environmentally friendly solvent free synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones catalysed by N-butyl-N,N-dimethyl-α-phenylethylammonium bromide

N-Butyl-N,N-dimethyl-α-phenylethylammonium bromide catalyzes efficiently the three component condensation reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, a β-keto ester and urea/thiourea under solvent free conditions at 100°C to afford the corresponding dihydropyrimidinone in high yield.     

Analysis of egg-based model wall paintings by use of an innovative combined dot-ELISA and UPLC-based approach

The chemical analysis of egg-based wall paintings—the mezzo fresco technique—is an interesting topic in the characterisation of organic binders. A revised procedure for a dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) able to detect protein components of egg-based wall paintings is reported. In the new dot-ELISA procedure we succeeded in maximizing the staining colour by adjusting the temperature during the staining reaction. Quantification of the colour intensity by visible reflectance spectroscopy resulted in a straight line plot of protein concentration against reflectance in the wavelength range 380–780 nm. The modified dot-ELISA procedure is proposed as a semi-quantitative analytical method for characterisation of protein binders in egg-based paintings. To evaluate its performance, the method was first applied to standard samples (ovalbumin, whole egg, egg white), then to model specimens, and finally to real samples (Giotto’s wall paintings). Moreover, amino acid analysis performed by innovative ultra-performance liquid chromatography was applied both to standards and to model samples and the results were compared with those from the dot-ELISA tests. In particular, after protein hydrolysis (24 h, 114 °C, 6 mol L^?1 HCl) of the samples, amino acid derivatization by use of 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate enabled reproducible analysis of amino acids. This UPLC amino acid analysis was rapid and reproducible and was applied for the first time to egg-based paintings. Because the painting technique involved the use of egg-based tempera on fresh lime-based mortar, the study enabled investigation of the effect of the alkaline environment on egg-protein detection by both methods.

Semiempirical Potential in Kinetics Calculations on the HC3N + CN Reaction

The reaction between the cyano radical CN and cyanoacetylene molecule HC3N is of great interest in different astronomical fields, from star-forming regions to planetary atmospheres. In this work, we present a new synergistic theoretical approach for the derivation of the rate coefficient for gas phase neutral-neutral reactions. Statistic RRKM calculations on the Potential Energy Surface are coupled with a semiempirical analysis of the initial bimolecular interaction. The value of the rate coefficient for the HC3N + CN → H + NCCCCN reaction obtained with this method is compared with previous theoretical and experimental investigations, showing strengths and weaknesses of the new presented approach.     

Ionization of O3 in Excess N2: A New Route to N2O via Intermediate N2O3+ Complexes

No Abstract     

Metal(II) Ion Complexes with 5‐(Pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione; Synthesis,Structural Characterization,Acid‐base,and Complexing Properties in Solution

The study reports the synthesis of complexes Co(HL)Cl₂ ( 1 ), Ni(HL)Cl₂ ( 2 ), Cu(HL)Cl₂ ( 3 ), and Zn(HL)₃Cl₂ ( 4 ) with the title ligand, 5‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5‐thione (HL), and their characterization by elemental analyses, ESI‐MS (m/z), FT‐IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, as well as EPR in the case of the Cu^II complex. The comparative analysis of IR spectra of the metal ion complexes with HL and HL alone indicated that the metal ions in 1 , 2 , and 3 are chelated by two nitrogen atoms, N(4) of pyrazine and N(5) of triazole in the thiol tautomeric form, whereas the Zn^II ion in 4 is coordinated by the non‐protonated N(2) nitrogen atom of triazole in the thione form. pH potentiometry and UV/Vis spectroscopy were used to examine Co^II, Ni^II, and Zn^II complexes in 10/90 (v/v) DMSO/water solution, whereas the Cu^II complex was examined in 40/60 (v/v) DMSO/water solution. Monodeprotonation of the thione triazole in solution enables the formation of the L:M = 1:1 species with Co^II, Ni^II and Zn^II, the 2:1 species with Co^II and Zn^II, and the 3:1 species with Zn^II. A distorted tetrahedral arrangement of the Cu^II complex was suggested on the basis of EPR and Vis/NIR spectra.     

Isotopomeric diols by “one-pot” Ru-catalyzed homogeneous hydrogenation of dicarboxylic acids

The “one-pot” homogeneous hydrogenation of γ-butyrolactone and succinic or fumaric acid to 1,4-butandiol, have been successfully realized in the presence of the catalytic system [Ru(acac)₃]/triphos] [triphos:MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃]. The influence of some reaction parameters on the regioselectivity and the rate of the reaction were investigated. The study was then extended to the “one-pot” synthesis of isotopomeric 1,4-butandiols by deuteration of the appropriate substrates in a deuterated solvent. 1,4-butandiol-d₈, which was fully characterized, was obtained with 96% yield and 100% isotopomeric selectivity. A mechanism was proposed to rationalize the role of catalyst, solvent and deuterium distribution.