Spectrophotometric Study of Luminol in Dimethyl Sulfoxide–Potassium Hydroxide

The spectrophotometric study of luminol (LH₂) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), DMSO-water solutions, and alkaline DMSO and DMSO-water solutions has been done, focusing on the effect of the KOH additon on LH₂ absorption and fluorescence properties. The absorption spectra indicate an acid-base equilibrium, and the luminol dianion (L^2–) formation at 3 × 10^–4 – 2.4 × 10^–3 M KOH. The decrease of the fluorescence intensity and the variation of the excitation spectra of LH₂-DMSO-KOH solutions with KOH concentration have been similarly explained. The acid-base process is reversible. The addition of HCl to the solution with 3.0 × 10^–3 M KOH leads to an increase of the fluorescence intensity to its highest value, observed in pure DMSO. The addition of HCl to the LH₂-DMSO solution leads to the decrease of the fluorescence intensity as a result of the LH⁺ ₃ cation formation. In LH₂-DMSO-water, the fluorescence band is shifted from 405 nm to 424 nm and increased in the intensity. In the presence of KOH (in LH₂-DMSO-water-KOH solution) a new band appears, with the maximum at 485 nm and the band at 405 nm decreased. The changes in fluorescence lifetimes also evidence the different chemical species formed.     

Synthesis and transformation of N-oxides of some imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine derivatives

The Böckelheide reaction was accomplished with a number of imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine N-oxides, and the N-oxidation of the resulting acetoxy(hydroxy)methyl derivatives of imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine and 6-bromo-1-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine was studied. The hydrolytic cleavage of 6-bromo-1-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine and its 4-N-oxide was studied.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 690–693, May, 1975.     

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.     

Pyrazines and their N-oxides

Two isomeric mono-N-oxides of 2-aminopyrazine and the 1,4-di-N-oxide have been synthesized. A marked fall in the capacity of these compounds for nucleophilic exchange reactions and for rearrangements in acid and alkaline media has been found, which distinguishes them from the corresponding N-oxides of 2-aminoquinoxaline.For part I, see [5].     

Selective extraction of benzoic acid from landfill leachate by solid-phase extraction and ion-exchange chromatography

In this work a simple method was described for selective extraction of benzoic acid from landfill leachate samples. The samples were submitted to solid-phase extraction (SPE) with XAD-4 resin as the stationary phase and ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) using the ion-exchange resin Amberlyst A-27. The instrumental analysis was performed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MSD). Benzoic acid was isolated, identified and quantified. The extraction process is rapid, simple and of low cost. It was also environmental friendly, that is, it was used a minimum amounts of hazardous organic solvents and produced also minimum quantities of residues.     

PMR spectra of 2-substituted pyrazines and the corresponding pyrazine N-oxides and N,N′-dioxides

The PMR spectra of pyrazine, its 2-substituted derivatives, and the corresponding N-oxides and N,N-dioxides were investigated. The character of the change in the chemical shifts in the N-oxides and N,N-dioxides of unsubstituted pyrazine indicates the electron-donor effect of the NO group. An additive effect of the NO groups on the chemical shifts of the ring protons is observed in pyrazine N,N-dioxide. An appreciable interaction of the substituent with the N₍₁₎O group and a weak interaction with the N₍₄₎O group occur in N-oxides and N,N-dioxides of 2-substituted pyrazines. A significant increase in the ortho and meta spin-spin coupling constants of the ring protons is noted when the nitrogen atoms are oxidized. The sign of the spin-spin coupling constant (J₃₅) through the NO group was determined.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 266–273, February, 1972.     

The Effect of the Side Chain on Gelation Properties of Bile Acid Alkyl Amides

Six bile acid alkyl amide derivatives were studied with respect to their gelation properties. The derivatives were composed of three different bile acids with hexyl or cyclohexyl side chains. The gelation behaviour of all six compounds were studied for 36 solvents with varying polarities. Gelation was observed mainly in aromatic solvents, which is characteristic for bile-acid-based low molecular weight gelators. Out of 108 bile acid-solvent combinations, a total of 44 gel systems were formed, 28 of which from lithocholic acid derivatives, only two from deoxycholic acid derivatives, and 14 from cholic acid derivatives. The majority of the gel systems were formed from bile acids with hexyl side chains, contrary to the cyclohexyl group, which seems to be a poor gelation moiety. These results indicate that the spatial demand of the side chain is the key feature for the gelation properties of the bile acid amides.     

Third-Generation Solar Cells: Toxicity and Risk of Exposure

Solar energy is considered clean energy, and its use is predicted to increase in the near future. Most installed units today are crystalline solar cells, but the field is in constant development, and when the first dye sensitized solar cell was published by Grätzel and O'Reagan a new, third-generation, solar power was born. Highly toxic metals are used to produce the photovoltaic units today, and with the predicted increase in solar cell installation, the human health hazards of these panels could become an issue. Additionally, many of these materials are used in their nanoform, which is associated with an additional risk. In this article, we discuss the technology behind the third-generation solar cells with its valuable use of nanotechnology as well as the possible health hazard when such nanomaterials are used in solar power units. We will show that the main exposure will occur either during the development and production phases or at the end-of-life stage of the solar cells, where toxic material can leach into landfills, and subsequently into the environment and impact the ecosystem directly, or humans indirectly through edible plants or drinking water.