Flow injection chemiluminescence determination of hydrazine by oxidation with chlorinated isocyanurates

A rapid and sensitive flow injection chemiluminescence (CL) method is described for the determination of hydrazine based on the CL generated during its reaction with either sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDCC) or trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) in alkaline medium. The emission intensity is greatly enhanced if dichlorofluorescein (DCF) as sensitizer is present in the reaction medium. The presence of citrate prevents the precipitation of some cations in the reaction medium and also causes an enhancement in emission intensity. The effect of analytical and flow injection variables on these CL systems and determination of hydrazine are discussed. The optimum parameters for the determination of hydrazine were studied and were found to be the following: SDCC and TCCA both 1x10(-3) M; NaOH, 2x10(-1) M; DCF, 5x10(-6) M; citrate, 1x10(-3) M and flow rate, 3.8 ml min(-1). The optimized method yielded 3sigma detection limits of 2x10(-7) and 3x10(-7) M for hydrazine with SDCC and TCCA oxidants, respectively. The method is simple, fast, sensitive, and precise and was applied to the determination of hydrazine in water samples.     

The effect of block copolymer structure on the internalization of polymeric micelles by human breast cancer cells

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of hydrophilic/hydrophobic block chain lengths on the internalization of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(varepsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) micelles by cancer cells. PEO-b-PCL block copolymers with varied PEO and PCL chain lengths were synthesized, assembled to polymeric micelles and loaded with a hydrophobic fluorescent probe (DiI) through a co-solvent evaporation method of physical encapsulation. The slow release of the fluorescent probe from the micellar structure was evidenced following DiI transfer to lipid vesicles. The extent of micellar uptake by cancer cells was investigated through their incubation with MCF-7 cells followed by measurement of the fluorescent emission intensity of DiI (lambda=550 nm) in separated lysed cells. Cellular internalization of polymeric micelles was confirmed by laser scanning microscopy. The mechanism of micellar uptake was investigated by pretreatment of MCF-7 cells with chlorpromazine and cytochalasin B. Encapsulation of DiI in PEO-b-PCL micelles lowered the extent and rate of hydrophobic probe internalization by cancer cells. For polymeric micelles with 5000 gmol(-1) of PCL and varied PEO molecular weights of 2000, 5000 and 13,000 gmol(-1), maximum uptake was observed at a PEO molecular weight of 5000 gmol(-1). For polymeric micelles with 5000 gmol(-1) of PEO and varied PCL molecular weights of 5000, 13,000 and 24,000 gmol(-1), maximum uptake was observed at 13,000 gmol(-1) of PCL. Chlorpromazine reduced the cellular uptake of PEO-b-PCL micelles independent from the block copolymer structure, pointing to the involvement of clathrin mediated endocytosis mechanisms in the uptake of polymeric micelles by cancer cells. Inhibition of cellular uptake of PEO-b-PCL micelles by cytochalasin B, on the other hand, was found to be dependent on the chemical structure of the core/shell forming blocks.     

Ionic Liquids Modify the Performance of Carbon Based Potentiometric Sensors

A new type of potentiometric sensor based on a recently constructed carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) is described. Two kinds of ionic liquids, i.e., N‐octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (OPFP) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazoluim hexafluorophosphate (BMFP) were tested as binder for construction of the carbon composite electrode. The characteristics of these electrodes as potentiometric sensors were evaluated and compared with those of the traditional carbon paste electrode (CPE). The results indicate that potentiometric sensors constructed with ionic liquid show an increase in performance in terms of Nernstian slope, selectivity, response time, and response stability compared to CPE.     

An active and selective heterogeneous catalytic system for Michael addition

Potassium fluoride doped natural zeolite was found to be an efficient and selective solid base catalyst for 1,4-Michael addition. The catalyst is easily prepared and the workup procedure simplified by simple filtration.All products were obtained in high yields as well as short reaction times.     

One-pot three-component reaction: Synthesis of substituted β-cyanocarbonyls in aqueous media

An environmentally friendly and simple method for the synthesis of alkyl nitriles or β-cyanocarbonyls via a one-pot three-component reaction of Meldrum's acid, aldehydes and sodium cyanide in water, without using any catalyst or activation at room temperature is reported.     

Three-Component,One-Pot Synthesis of Benzo[b][1,4]oxazines in Ionic Liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Bromide

Benzo[b][1,4]oxazines have been synthesized in good to excellent yields in the presence of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [bmim]Br under relatively mild conditions without any added catalyst, The method offers the advantages of good yields and short reaction times, and the ionic liquid can be easily separated from the product and reused.     

Hydroxyapatite Wrapped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Ionic Liquid Composite Electrode: A High Performance Sensor for Trace Determination of Lead Ions

A nanocomposite consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes wrapped with hydroxyapatite (HA/MWCNTs) was used in the construction of a new composite paste electrode using an ionic liquid as the binder. The stable surface in aqueous solutions as well as the high sorptive behaviors towards heavy metal ions and the favorable charge transfer make the electrode highly efficient especially for stripping or adsorptive analysis. The analysis of Pb²⁺ as a model of heavy metal ions has been performed. Good sensitivity, detection limit, selectivity and reproducibility were obtained for the suggested sensor. The linear range of the electrode response covered four orders of magnitude (1 nM–10 µM), in two linear ranges. The obtained detection limit for Pb²⁺ was 2×10^?11 M.     

Computational studies on the conformational preference of N-(Thiazol-2-yl) benzamide

N-(Thiazol-2-yl) benzamide 1 substructures are found in some of bioactive compounds. In some of protein/ligand co-crystals, the 1 moiety adopts a conformer in which the amide O and the thiazole S atoms are close. In fact, in the crystalline structure of 1 , the O—S distance is even shorter than Van der Waals radius. Although the natural bond orbital analysis finds a weak stabilizing interaction between O and S atoms, the attractive dipole–dipole interaction between the amide N─H and thiazole N atom seems to play a more significant role. Moreover, an intramolecular O—H hydrogen bonding in dimeric forms found to have an important role in the conformation preference of 1 . Computational details for the stability of conformers have been discussed using quantum theory of atoms in molecules, natural bond orbital (NBO) and noncovalent interaction index analysis.     

The Synthesis of 5,11,17-Trihalotetracyclo [13.3.1.13,7.19,13]henicosa-1 (19),3,5,7 (20),9,11,13 (21), 15,17-nonaene-19,20,21-triols and 5,11,17-trihalo-19,20,21-trihydroxytetracyclo [13.3.1.13,7. 19,13]henicosa-1 (19),3,5,7 (20),9,11,13(21), 15,17-nonaene-8,14-dione [1]. Cyclo-derivatives of Phloroglucide Analogues

The synthesis of the title compounds ( 1 and 3 ) is described. Some of the compounds prepared were found to be active against a number of pathogenic microorganisms in vitro. Structure-activity relationship is briefly discussed.     

Catalytic determination of traces of silver(I) using the oxidation of Janus Green with peroxodisulfate.

A method for sensitive and selective determination of silver based on the catalytic effect of silver(I) ion on the oxidation of Janus Green by peroxodisulfate is described. o-Phenanthroline is used as an activator. The rate of the decrease in absorbance of Janus Green (at 615 nm) is proportional to the concentration of silver in the range of 0.3-4.0 ng mL(-1) and 4.0-500.0 ng mL(-1). The theoretical limit of detection was 0.25 ng mL(-1). The method is free from most interferences. The method was applied to the determination of silver in plants (the uptake of silver by plants), in photographic solutions, lake water and several synthetic samples.