Static light scattering,ultraviolet–visible,and fluorescence spectroscopy from fluorescent methyl methacrylate/benzazole dye copolymers displaying an intramolecular proton‐transfer mechanism in the electronically excited state

The solution behavior of new copolymers of methyl methacrylate and benzazole dyes emitting fluorescence because of an intramolecular proton‐transfer mechanism in the electronically excited state has been investigated by static light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible, and gel permeation chromatography. In the dilute regime, with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and chloroform as solvents, the copolymers behave as typical polydisperse linear chains in good solvents. The analysis of the osmotic modulus for concentrated solutions in THF (c ≥ 60 g L^?1) indicates the existence of an interchain association mechanism. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 341–350, 2003     

Analysis of nitrite and nitrate as 1-nitro-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene derivatives by reversed-phase HPLC with UV-detection

Summary A reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in aqueous solutions, biological buffers and human urine is described. The method is based on the conversion of nitrite and nitrate into their 1-nitro-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene (NTBM) derivatives by using 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene and concentrated sulphuric acid. NTMB is extracted by benzene, the solvent evaporated, the residue reconstructed in methanol/water (3/4, v/v) and subsequently analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC and UV detection (360 nm). The specificity of the nitration reaction, good reproducibility (C.V. 6.2%) and high sensitivity (8.4 ng nitrite) show the applicability of this method to the quantitative analysis of nitrite and nitrate in several matrices including human urine.     

Determination of nitrite as pentafluorobenzyl derivative by RP-HPLC and UV detection with and without ion-pair extraction

Summary A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method with UV detection (270 nm) for the determination of nitrite as its pentafluorobenzyl derivative with and without ion-pair extraction is described. Ion-pair extraction of nitrite from aqueous solutions was performed by using a 1 mol/l solution of the liquid ion exchanger methyltrioctylammonium chloride in toluene. The residue of the ion-pair extraction or an aliquot of an aqueous nitrite solution or of a biological fluid (100 l) were treated with 400 l of acetone and 10 l of pentafluorobenzyl bromide. Nitrite was converted into its pentafluorobenzyl derivative by heating at 50°C for 90 min. After evaporation of acetone the aqueous phases were diluted with 100 to 400 l of methanol, and up to 100 l were injected into the RP-HPLC system. The method allows accurate analysis of nitrite in the presence of nitrate directly in aqueous solutions and biological fluids in concentrations down to 2.0 mg/l. The method is also applicable to the determination of nitrate following its reduction to nitrite by cadmium.     

Quantitative determination of paraffin oil in blood by capillary gas chromatography

A capillary gas chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of liquid paraffin in blood. Paraffin is extracted from blood into n-heptane. After solvent evaporation and dissolution of the residue in 100–200 μl n-heptane one μl is injected into a gas chromatograph fitted with a fused silica capillary column (Permabond® OV-1-CB-0.1, 10 m × 0.32 mm i.d.) and flame ionization detector. Analysis is performed by using an oven program [50°C (3 min)?285°C (5 min), rise 10%min]. The sensitivity (1.5 ng hexadecane) and the reproducibility prove the applicability of the method for the determination of liquid paraffin in blood and for the study of the stability of the liquid paraffin hollow fiber membranes used in an extracorporeal liver support system.     

Preliminary characterization of anhydrous ethanol used in Brazil as automotive fuel

This work reports preliminary studies on the characterisation of anhydrous ethanol (AEA) used as an automotive fuel mixed with gasoline in Porto Alegre (South Brazil). Pre-concentration of the impurities contained in 1000 ml of AEA was carried on through solid-phase extraction using XAD4 resin. The main compounds in the extract were identified by means of spectral data from the library of the equipment. The concentrate was then fractionated using a preparative liquid chromatographic column filled with activated silica gel and the elution procedure was carried out with, n-hexane, n-hexane-benzene (1:1, v/v) and dichloromethane. Prior to analysis by GC-MS, each fraction was reduced to 1 ml with a gentle stream of nitrogen. Saturated linear hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons eluted in the first fraction and oxygenated compounds such as aldehydes. ketones and alcohols, eluted in the second one. were the main compounds detected in the sample.     

An iminophosphine dendrimeric ligand and its evaluation in the Heck reaction

DAB-dendr-(NH₂)₃₂ has been modified to produce two novel dendrimeric P,N-ligands, DAB-dendr-[1,2-(NCHC₆H₄PPh₂)]₃₂ and DAB-dendr-[1,2-(NHCH₂C₆H₄PPh₂)]₃₂. These were both found to activate electron rich aryl bromides in the Heck reaction. The reactions seem to proceed better in a novel solvent system consisting of an equimolar mixture of a tertiary amine with acetic acid. A marked dependence of the conversion on the [equivalents of dendrimeric ligand]/[Pd] ratio has been observed with conversion decreasing as the ratio of dendrimer equivalents to Pd increases. This phenomenon is attributed to interactions of the arms bearing the metal with neighboring ones within the dendrimer.     

Structural Characterization of Graphene Nanosheets for Miniaturization of Potentiometric Urea Lipid Film Based Biosensors

The present article describes a miniaturized potentiometric urea lipid film based biosensor on graphene nanosheets. Structural characterization of graphene nanosheets for miniaturization of potentiometric urea lipid film based biosensors have been studied through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. UV‐Vis and Fourrier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy have been utilized to study the pre‐ and postconjugated surfaces of graphene nanosheets. The presented potentiometric urea biosensor exhibits good reproducibility, reusability, selectivity, rapid response times (～4 s), long shelf life and high sensitivity of ca. 70 mV/decade over the urea logarithmic concentration range from 1×10^?6 M to 1×10^?3 M.     

Electronuclear multiconfiguration time‐dependent hartree calculations on the confined H atom with mobile electron and nucleus

A multiconfiguration time‐dependent Hartree method oriented toward calculations of a non‐Born‐Oppenheimer nature has been applied to the calculation of the dynamical properties of a confined H atom. The calculation is fully six‐dimensional and does not take into account constraints arising from linear or angular momentum conservation. The orbital evolution is monitored and the energy level spectrum of the system, as well as the dependence of the results on the decomposition of the Hamiltonian and on the correlation between radial degrees of freedom, is determined. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anticancer Aminoferrocene Derivatives Inducing Production of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and deficient mitochondria are two weak points of cancer cells. Their simultaneous targeting is a valid therapeutic strategy to design highly potent anticancer drugs. The remaining challenge is to limit the drug effects to cancer cells without affecting normal ones. We have previously developed three aminoferrocene (AF)-based derivatives, which are activated in the presence of elevated levels of ROS present in cancer cells with formation of electron-rich compounds able to generate ROS and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). All of them exhibit important drawbacks including either low efficacy or high unspecific toxicity that prevents their application in vivo up to date. Herein we describe unusual AF-derivatives lacking these drawbacks. These compounds act via an alternative mechanism: they are chemically stable in the presence of ROS, generate mitochondrial ROS in cancer cells, but not normal cells and exhibit anticancer effect in vivo.     

Two-Step Derivatization of Amino Acids for Stable-Isotope Dilution GC–MS Analysis: Long-Term Stability of Methyl Ester-Pentafluoropropionic Derivatives in Toluene Extracts

Analysis of amino acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) requires at least one derivatization step to enable solubility in GC–MS-compatible water-immiscible organic solvents such as toluene, to make them volatile to introduce into the gas chromatograph and thermally stable enough for separation in the GC column and introduction into the ion-source, and finally to increase their ionization by increasing their electronegativity using F-rich reagents. In this work we investigated the long-term stability of the methyl esters pentafluoropropionic (Me-PFP) derivatives of 21 urinary amino acids prepared by a two-step derivatization procedure and extraction by toluene. In situ prepared trideuteromethyl ester pentafluoropropionic derivatives were used as internal standards. GC–MS analysis (injection of 1 µL aliquots and quantification by selected-ion monitoring of specific mass fragments) was performed on days 1, 2, 8, and 15. Measured peak areas and calculated peak area ratios were used to evaluate the stability of the derivatives of endogenous amino acids and their internal standards, as well as the precision and the accuracy of the method. All analyses were performed under routine conditions. Me-PFP derivatives of endogenous amino acids and their stable-isotope labelled analogs were stable in toluene for 14 days. The peak area values of the derivatives of most amino acids and their internal standards were slightly higher on days 8 and 15 compared to days 1 and 2, yet the peak area ratio values of endogenous amino acids to their internal standards did not change. Our study indicates that Me-PFP derivatives of amino acids from human urine samples can easily be prepared, are stable at least for 14 days in the extraction solvent toluene, and allow for precise and accurate quantitative measurements by GC–MS using in situ prepared deuterium-labelled methyl ester as internal standard.