Synthesis of Small‐Sized,Porous, and Low‐Toxic Magnetite Nanoparticles by Thin POSS Silica Coating

In this communication, we report the synthesis of small‐sized (<10 nm), water‐soluble, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), which contain either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or octa(tetramethylammonium) (OctaTMA) as functional groups. The POSS‐coated MNPs exhibit superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetic moments (51–53 emu g^?1) comparable to silica‐coated MNPs. They also provide good colloidal stability at different pH and salt concentrations, and low cytotoxicity to MCF‐7 human breast epithelial cells. The relaxivity data and magnetic resonance (MR) phantom images demonstrate the potential application of these MNPs in bioimaging.     

Palladium-catalysed three component synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amidines and imidates

Palladium-catalysed three component coupling of an alkenylbromide, isonitrile and an amine or alkoxide/phenoxide affords α,β-unsaturated-amidines and -imidates.     

A simple and sensitive analytical method for the determination of antimony in environmental and biological samples.

The results of a study and application of leucocrystal violet for the determination of antimony in parts per million levels is described here. The proposed method is based on the reaction of antimony(III) with acidified potassium iodate to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine selectively oxidizes leucocrystal violet to crystal violet dye. The formed dye shows maximum absorbance at 590 nm. The color system obeys Beer's law in the concentration range from 0.4 - 3.6 microg antimony per 25 ml of final solution. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 7.32 x 10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.0016 microg cm(-2), respectively. All variables were studied in order to optimize the reaction. The proposed method is satisfactorily applicable for the analysis of antimony in various environmental and biological samples. The method is simple, highly sensitive, accurate and reliable.     

A shape-optimization technique for the capillary surface problem

Summary The problem of the construction of an equilibrium surface taking the surface tension into account leads to Laplace-Young equation which is a nonlinear elliptic free-boundary problem. In contrast to Orr et al. where an iterative technique is used for direct solution of the equation for problems with simple geometry, we propose here an alternative approach based on shape optimization techniques. The shape of the domain of the liquid is varied to attain the optimality condition. Using optimal control theory to derive expressions for the gradient, a numerical scheme is proposed and simple model problems are solved to validate the scheme.     

Development and Validation of a Liquid Chromatographic Method for Determination of Efavirenz in Human Plasma

A simple, rapid, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for estimation of efavirenz in human plasma has been developed and validated. Chromatography was performed with C₁₈ analytical column and 50:50 acetonitrile–phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) as mobile phase. Compounds were monitored by UV detection at 247 nm. The retention time for efavirenz was 6.45 min and that for the internal standard, nelfinavir, was 2.042 min. Response was a linear over the concentration range of 0.1 μg–10 μg mL⁻¹ in human plasma. The method was simple, specific, precise and accurate and was useful for bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic studies of efavirenz.     

Volumetric Properties of Aqueous 2-Chloroethanol Solutions and Volumes of Transfer of Some Amino Acids and Peptides from Water to Aqueous 2-Chloroethanol Solutions

Densities and apparent molar volumes of aqueous 2-chloroethanol were determined at temperatures from 15.0 to 34.4°C using digital densimetry. The results of the volumetric measurements have been used to calculate the following thermodynamic quantites at 25°C: V ₂ ^o = 55.05 ± 0.02 cm³-mol^–1, (V ₂ ^o/T)_p = 0.01486 ± 0.00318 cm³-K^–1-mol^–1, and (² V ₂ ^o/T ²)_p = 0.02972 ± 0.00318 cm³-K^–2-mol^–1. Partial molar volumes of transfer from water to 1 mol-dm^–3 2-chloroethanol have also been determined for L-glycine, L-alanine, L-serine, L-glutamic acid, and L-aspartic acid at 35.0°C. The transfer results have been explained in terms of the nature of the interactions of the groups in the solute and solvent. Hydration numbers of L-glycine and L-alanine have also been calculated in aqueous 2-chloroethanol.     

Redox reactions of transient species formed during pulse radiolysis of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde and 2-pyridine methanol in aqueous solutions

Rate constants for the reactions of e _aq ^? , H and OH radicals with 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde and 2-pyridine methanol have been determined by pulse radiolysis technique. Reactions of reducing radicals such as acetone ketyl radicals and CO₂ ^? with these compounds were also evaluated at various pHs. The species produced by the reaction of reducing radicals with these solutes was a strong reductant itself. While pyridinyl were produced in the case of 2-pyridine methanol, one-electron reduction of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde led to the formation of PyCHOH radical. The one-electron reduction potential of PyCHOH radicals was estimated by establishing an equilibrium with MV⁺ radical cations to be ?0.6V vs NHE. OH radical reaction with 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde gave an OH adduct, while in the case of 2-pyridine methanol, OH radicals reacted partly by H-abstraction from the ?CH₂OH group. SO₄ ^? radical reaction with 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde produced a species which was reducing in nature. The rate constants for the reaction of e _aq ^? and OH radicals are compared with similar values obtained in the case of other 2-pyridine derivatives to see if there is any electron-inductive effect.     

Pulse radiolysis of 3-pyridine methanol and 3-pyridine carboxaldehyde in aqueous solutions

Reactions of e_aq ^-, H-atom and OH radicals with 3-pyridine methanol (3-PM) and 3-pyridine carboxaldehyde (3-PCA) have been studied at various pHs using pulse radiolysis technique. e_aq ^- was found to be highly reactive with both 3-PM and 3-PCA (k approx. 10¹⁰ dm³ mol 1 s^-1). Semi-reduced species formed in both cases were strongly reducing in nature. In the case of 3-PM, electron addition leads to the formation of pyridinyl radicals whereas in the case of 3-PCA, PyCHOH type radicals are formed. At pH 6.8, H-atom reaction with 3-PCA also gives semi-reduced species (PyCHOH), whereas at pH 1, H-atoms add to the ring. (CH₃)₂ ^·COH radicals were found to transfer electron to 3-PCA at all the pH values tested and by making use of changes in the absorption spectra, pK _a values of the semi-reduced species were determined to be 4.5 and 10.6. OH radicals were found to undergo addition reaction with 3-PCA, whereas in the case of 3-PM they reacted by H-abstraction as well as addition reaction. By following the yield of methylviologen radical cation formed by electron transfer reaction, it was estimated that approx. 50% of OH radicals react with 3-PM by H-atom abstraction at pH 6.8, giving reducing radicals, whereas at pH 3.2, where 3-PM is in the protonated form, the same is only about 10%. At pH 13, O^-· radical anions were found to react exclusively by H-atom abstraction. Reaction of SO₄ ^-· radicals with 3-PCA was found to give a species identical to the one formed by one electron reduction of nicotinic acid at acidic pH values.