Determination of peptides and amino acids from wool and beer with sensitive fluorescent reagent 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromotography and liquid chromotography mass spectrometry

A new method for the sensitive determination of amino acids and peptides using the tagging reagent 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) with fluorescence (FL) detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives was carried out by liquid chromotography mass spectrometry. The chromophore in the 2-(9-fluorenyl)-ethyl chloroformate (FMOC) reagent was replaced by carbazole, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence lerivatizing agent CEOC. CEOC can easily and quickly label peptides and amino acids. Derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Studies on derivatization demonstrate excellent derivative yields over the pH range 8.8-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% are observed with three- to fourfold molar reagent excess. Derivatives exhibit strong fluorescence and allow direct injection of the reaction mixture with no significant disturbance from the major fluorescent reagent degradation by-products, such as 2(9-carbazole)-ethanol and bis-(2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl) carbonate. In addition, the detection responses for CEOC derivatives are compared to those obtained with FMOC. The ratios AC(CEOC)/AC(FMOC) = 1.00-1.82 for fluorescence (FL) response and AC'(CEOC)/AC'(FMOC) = 1.00-1.21 for ultraviolet (UV) response are observed (here, AC and AC' are, respectively, FL and UV F response). Separation of the derivatized peptides and amino acids has been optimized on a Hypersil BDS C18 column. Excellent linear responses are observed. This method was used successfully to analyze protein hydrolysates from wool and from direct-derivatized beer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Quantitative electrochemiluminescence detection of proteins: Avidin-based sensor and tris(2,2 '-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) label

Quantitative electrochemilumineseence (ECL) detection of a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was achieved via biotin-avidin interaction using an avidin-based sensor and a well-developed ECL system of tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) derivative as label and tri-n-propylamine (TPA) as coreactant. To detect the protein, avidin was linked to the glassy carbon electrode through passive adsorptions and covalent interaction with carboxylate-terminated carbon nanotubes that was used as binder to immobilize avidin onto the electrode. Then, biotinylated BSA tagged with tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) label was attached to the prepared avidin surface.

Nanoscale-enhanced Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) electrochemiluminescence labels and related aptamer-based biosensing system

A unique multilabeling at a single-site protocol of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) system is proposed. Nanoparticles (NPs) were used as assembly substrates to enrich ECL co-reactants of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to construct nanoscale-enhanced ECL labels. Two different kinds of NP substrates [including semiconductor NPs (CdTe) and noble metal NPs (gold)] capped with 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol (DMAET) [a tertiary amine derivative which is believed to be one of the most efficient of co-reactants of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) system] were synthesized through a simple one-pot synthesis method in aqueous media.

Highly efficient red electroluminescent polymers with dopant/host system and molecular dispersion feature: polyfluorene as the host and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives as the red dopant

By selecting polyfluorene as the polymer host, choosing 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivative moieties as the red dopant units and covalently attaching 0.3 mol% of the dopant units to the side chain of the polymer host, we developed a novel series of red electroluminescent polymers of dopant/host system with molecular dispersion feature. Their EL spectra exhibited predominant red emission from the dopant units because of the energy transfer and charge trapping from the polymer backbone to the dopant units. The emission wavelength of the polymers could be tuned by modifying the chemical structures of the dopant units.

Synergistic extraction of rare earths using acid-base coupling extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative and primary amine N1923

Synergistic effect in the extraction of rare earth (RE) metals by the acid-base coupling (ABC) extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative Bu-t[4]CH2COOH (H(4)A) and primary amine N1923 (RNH2) has been investigated. The extraction of RE was enhanced by the addition of sodium cations into the aqueous phase not only in the extraction system of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH alone but also in the mixture of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH and N1923. The separation factors (SFs) indicating the extraction selectivity of adjacent RE elements became higher in the mixture system.

A three-dimensional metal-organic framework based on a triazine derivative: syntheses, structure analysis, and sorption studies

A novel metal-organic framework [Cu-3(m-TATB)(2)Py(CH3OH)(2)] (1) constructed of a triazine-based trigonal-planar ligand, 3,3',3 ''-s-triazine-2,4,6- triyltribenzoate (m-H(3)TATB), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 features three-dimensional (3D) channels and cavities together, and exhibits high carbon dioxide sorption at normal pressure.

Preparation and photovoltaic property of a new polyfluorene derivative/ZnO nanoparticles hybrid composites

A new kind of polyfluorene copolymers, poly(2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)-alt-5,5 -(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3',-benzothiadiazole) (PFDTBT), was prepared. The introduction of ZnO nanoparticles with perfect wurtzite crystal character into PFDTBT makes the resulted single-layer photovoltaic device to perform a significant photovoltaic response. Among the tested devices, the best performance is observed for that containing 60 wt% of ZnO nanoparticles, which has a photocurrent density of 1.17 mu A/cm(2), an open circuit voltage of 0.81 V. a fill factor of 0.09 and a power conversion efficiency of 0.009%. The results show that the polyfluorene derivatives/ZnO nanoparticles hybrid composites are excellent fluorescence and photovoltaic materials. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of isocyanates by capillary electrophoresis with tris(2,2 '-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence

CE with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection for the quantitative determination of isocyanates was first reported. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and hexyl isocyanate (HI) were used as the model analytes. Commercially available N,N-diethyl-N'-methylethylenediamine was used as the derivatization reagent. It has both a secondary amine group and a tertiary amine group. The secondary amine group can quantitatively react with isocyanate group, and the tertiary amine group can react with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to produce strong ECL signal for sensitive detection. The derivatization reaction was almost instantaneous and is much faster than other reported derivative reactions using other derivative reagents.

Preparation and photovoltaic property of a new polyfluorene derivative/ZnO nanoparticles hybrid composites

A new kind of polyfluorene copolymers, poly(2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)-alt-5,5 -(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3',-benzothiadiazole) (PFDTBT), was prepared. The introduction of ZnO nanoparticles with perfect wurtzite crystal character into PFDTBT makes the resulted single-layer photovoltaic device to perform a significant photovoltaic response. Among the tested devices, the best performance is observed for that containing 60 wt% of ZnO nanoparticles, which has a photocurrent density of 1.17 mu A/cm(2), an open circuit voltage of 0.81 V. a fill factor of 0.09 and a power conversion efficiency of 0.009%. The results show that the polyfluorene derivatives/ZnO nanoparticles hybrid composites are excellent fluorescence and photovoltaic materials.

The first liquid crystalline phthalocyanine derivative capable of edge-on alignment for solution processed organic thin-film transistors

Tetraoctyl-substituted vanadyl phthalocyanine (OVPc4C8) as a new NIR-absorbing discotic liquid crystalline material can form highly ordered thin films with edge-on alignment of the molecules and molecular packing mode identical to that in the phase II of OVPc for solution processed OTFTs with mobility up to 0.017 cm(2) V-1 s(-1).

Efficient Electrophosphorescence from a Platinum Metallopolyyne Featuring a 2,7-Carbazole Chromophore

The synthesis, thermal and emission properties of an electrophosphorescent platinum(II) metallopolyyne polymer consisting of 9-butylcarbazole-2,7-diyl spacer P1 are described. The optical and electronic properties of P1 are compared to their molecular diplatinum(II) and digold(I) model complexes. The photophysical properties of P1 are somehow analogous to its 2,7-fluorene-linked congener but differs significantly from that for the 3,6-carbazole derivative. Its optical band gap is notably reduced as compared to that for the 3,6-carbazole analog. Multi-layer polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) were fabricated with P1 as the emitting layer which gave a strong green-yellow electrophosphorescence. The best PLED can reach the maximum current efficiency of 4.7 cd . A(-1) at 5 wt.-% doping level, corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 1.5%. This represents the first literature example of efficient PLEDs exhibiting pure triplet emission under electrical excitation for metallopolyynes without the concomitant singlet emission.

Stimulated emission from distyrylbenzene derivative crystals grown by vapor

Narrowed spectra at 452 nm from a thin platelike crystal of distyrylbenzene derivative, 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-distyrylbenzene with two trans double bonds (trans-DPDSB) grown by vapor deposition, are observed. The trans-DPDSB crystal is irradiated by the third harmonic (355 nm) of a Nd:YAG laser. The FWHM of the narrowed spectra can reach 6 nm for the crystal when the pumping energy is 400 mu J/pulse. The threshold value for an optically pumped laser is approximately 350 mu J/pulse.

Synthesis of PAMAM dendrimers bearing BINOL derivative

New functional dendrimers bearing 4, 8 and 16 axial chiral units on their surface were synthesized from achiral PAMAM dendrimers and axial chiral (R)-BINOL derivative.

Crosslinkable poly (p-phenylenevinylene) derivative

To simplify the fabrication of multilayer light-emitting diodes, we prepared a p-phenylenevinylene-based polymer capped with crosslinkable styrene through a Wittig reaction. Insoluble poly(p-phenylenevinylene) derivative (PPVD) films were prepared by a thermal treatment. The photoluminescence and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorbance of crosslinked films and noncrosslinked films were studied. We also studied the solvent resistance of crosslinked PPV films with UV-vis absorption spectra and atomic force microscopy. Double-layer devices using crosslinked PPVD as an emitting layer, 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) in poly(methyl methacrylate) as an electron-transporting layer, and calcium as a cathode were fabricated. A maximum luminance efficiency of 0.70 cd/A and a maximum brightness of 740 cd/m(2) at 16 V were demonstrated. A 12-fold improvement in the luminance efficiency with respect to that of single-layer devices was realized.

Negative differential resistance effect in organic devices based on an anthracene derivative

The authors observed a negative differential resistance (NDR) in organic devices consisting of 9,10-bis-(9,9-diphenyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-anthracene (DPFA) sandwiched between Ag and indium tin oxide electrodes. The large NDR shown in current-voltage characteristics is reproducible, resulting in that the organic devices can be electrically switched between a high conductance state (on state) and a low conductance state (off state). It can be found that the currents at both on to off states are space-charge limited and attributed to the electron traps at the Ag/DPFA interface. The large and reproducible NDR makes the devices of tremendous potential in low power memory and logic circuits.