The excess of capping agents used during the synthesis of nanoparticles is usually removed by solvent washing. The influence of the amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) capping agent in the catalytic activity of palladium nanocubes was evaluated, after different numbers of washing cycles in the purification step performed after the syntheses of the nanoparticles. The effect of PVP amount on the hydrogenation of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds was evaluated in terms of kinetic analysis and diffusion experiments. Five different catalysts were prepared utilizing the washing off procedure. All catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The reaction presented strong influence by the amount of PVP, which was determined to be due to a balance between the amount of capping agent and the structure of the substrate.

This paper describes the use of digital imaging acquired from a conventional desktop scanner for characterization of newly synthesized amino-nitroquinoxaline dyes. The synthetic protocol was based on reactions of building block 2,3-dichloro-6,7-dinitroquinoxaline with aliphatic amines and experiments based on image analysis were carried out with compounds in solution (96-microwell plates) and/or adsorbed on silica (thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates). Three main goals were achieved: firstly, compounds 2-chloro-6,7-dinitro-3-pyrrolidinoquinoxaline and 6,7-dinitro-2,3-dipyrrolidinoquinoxaline had their concentration predicted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution, as a mixture. Secondly, TLC studies were performed to build a kinetic profile in attempt to monitor reaction involving conversion of 2-chloro-6,7-dinitro-3-pyrrolidinoquinoxaline into 6,7-dinitro-2,3-dipyrrolidinoquinoxaline. Lastly, image analysis and UV-Vis spectroscopy were applied to study the interaction of 2,3-di-n-butylamino-6,7-dinitroquinoxaline with hydroxide anion in DMSO. These approaches based on digital image characterization were successfully implemented in qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic dyes.

<p>Three polymer-surfactant systems comprised of branched polyethylene imine (PEI) with an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecylsulfate; SDS), a cationic surfactant (tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide; TTAB), and a zwitterionic surfactant (<italic>N</italic>-tetradecyl-<italic>N</italic>,<italic>N</italic>-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate; SB3-14) were studied based on the properties of surface tension, pyrene fluorescence emission, dynamic light scattering, pH, and zeta potential measurements. The critical aggregation concentration (<italic>cac</italic>) and polymer saturation point (<italic>psp</italic>) were determined for all three systems. The effect of these surfactants on the physico-chemical characteristics (diameter and surface charge) of the complexes formed was determined. Polymer-surfactant interactions occurred in all of the systems studied, with the strongest interactions, electrostatic in nature, occurring in the SDS-PEI system. After the neutralization of the polymer charges with the addition of the surfactant, the hydrophobic effect started to control the interlacing of the polymer chains. For the PEI-TTAB system, a very dense film was formed at surfactant concentrations above 2.0 mmol L^-1. In this case, the bromide counter-ion interacted with both the positively-charged PEI and the head of the surfactant, which is responsible for the formation of double layer coordination complexes. For the system composed of PEI and the zwitterionic surfactant, less cooperative associations occurred in comparison with the other systems.</p>

This work summarizes important aspects of the chemistry of phosphate esters, with special emphasis on: i) advances in the design of enzymatic models for phosphatases; and ii) nerve agents and currently used strategies for detoxification. The physical organic chemical aspects that are responsible by the reactivity of phosphate esters are also discussed.