Improved Method for Determination of Traces of Isocyanates in Working Atmospheres by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Isocyanates common in industrial environments were converted to urea derivatives by reaction with N-4-nitrobenzyl-N-n-propylamine. The urea derivatives were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography on a bonded octadecylsilyl phase using isocratic elution with acetonitrile-water 75:25 v/v. The water phase contained 1% triethylamine and was adjusted to pH 3.0 with phosphoric acid. The method was applied to toluene 2,4- and 2,6-diisocyanate (2,4- and 2,6-TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and Desmodur N 75 (DN 75). Comparison with previous liquid chromatographic methods shows that the elution time is about halved and the detection limits about five times lower in our case.     

Determination of Phthalic Anhydride In Workplace Air Using Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic procedure is described for the analysis of phthalic anhydride in workplace air. A glass fibre filter was used to collect the airborne phthalic anhydride and the analyte was then desorbed and hydrolyzed with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide. Subsequent acidification of this solution with the mobile phase enabled the phthalic anhydride to be determined as phthalic acid using UV detection.     

Determination of airborne isocyanates as di-n-butylamine derivatives using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of isocyanates as di-n-butyl amine (DBA) derivatives using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and electrospray ionisation (ESI) is presented. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) of the protonated molecular ions and corresponding deuterium-labelled d₉-DBA derivatives resulted in selective quantifications with correlation coefficients >0.998 for the DBA derivatives of isocyanic acid (ICA), methyl isocyanate (MIC), ethyl isocyanate (EIC), propyl isocyanate (PIC), phenyl isocyanate (PhI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 2,4-, 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 4,4′-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), 3-ring MDI, 4-ring MDI, HDI-isocyanurate, HDI-diisocyanurate, HDI-biuret and HDI-dibiuret. The instrumental precision for 10 repeated injections of a solution containing 0.1 μg ml⁻¹ of the studied derivatives was <2%. Performing MRM of the product ion [DBA + H]⁺ (m/z = 130) from the protonated molecular ion resulted in the lowest detection limits, down to 10 amol (for TDI). Quantification of concentrations below 10⁻⁶ of the occupational exposure limit (OEL) for TDI during 10 min of air sampling was made possible. In an effort to control the formation of alkali adducts, addition of lithium acetate to the mobile phase and monitoring of lithium adducts was evaluated. Having lithium present in the mobile phase resulted in complete domination of [M + Li]⁺ adducts, but detection limits for the studied compounds were not improved. Different deuterium-labelled derivatives as internal standards were evaluated. (1) DBA derivatives of deuterium-labelled isocyanates (d₄-HDI, d₃-2,4-TDI, d₃-2,6-TDI and d₂-MDI), (2) d₉-DBA derivatives of the corresponding isocyanates and (3) d₁₈-DBA derivatives of the corresponding isocyanates. An increase in number of deuterium in the molecule of the internal standard resulted in an increase in instrumental precision and a decrease in correlation within calibration series.     

Exposure to 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) during production of flexible foam: determination of airborne TDI and urinary 2,4- and 2,6-toluenediamine (TDA)

Occupational exposure to 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (2,4- and 2,6-TDI) was measured during the production of flexible foam. The usefulness of urinalysis of the TDI-derived amines, 2,4- and 2,6-toluenediamine (2,4- and 2,6-TDA), for exposure assessment was compared with air monitoring. Urine samples were collected from 17 employees at two plants. The workers' personal exposure was measured using 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-piperazine (2MP)-impregnated glass fibre filters for sampling and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) and electrochemical (EC) detection for quantification. The limit of detection (LOD) of 2,4- and 2,6-TDI was 0.01 microtg ml(-1) for a 20 microl injection. The precision of sample preparation, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD), was 0.6% with UV detection and 0.8% with EC detection at a 2,4-TDI concentration of 0.2 microg ml(-1) (n = 6). For 2,6-TDI, the corresponding RSDs were 0.5% and 0.8%. The urinary 2,4- and 2,6-TDA metabolites were determined after acid hydrolysis as heptafluorobutyric anhydride derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The LOD in urine was 0.35 nmol l(-1) for 2,4-TDA and 0.04 nmol l(-1) for 2,6-TDA. The precision (RSD) of six analyses of human urine spiked to a concentration of 100 nmol l(-1) was 3.7% for 2,4-TDA and 3.6% for 2,6-TDA. There was a trend for linear correlation between urinary TDA concentration and the product of airborne TDI concentration and sampling time. Urinalysis of TDA is proposed as a practical method for assessing personal exposures in workers exposed intermittently to TDI.     

Extractable organic compounds in polyurethane foam with special reference to aromatic amines and derivatives thereof

Methods for determination of aromatic amines and related compounds in flexible toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-based polyurethane (PUR) foam were investigated. The foam was extracted using 0.1% (w/v) aqueous acetic acid (HAc). Extraction solutions were analysed and aromatic amines were determined as ethyl chloroformate (Et) and pentafluoropropionic acid anhydride (PFPA) derivatives. The determinations were performed using liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) detection with electrospray ionisation (ESI) or gas chromatography (GC)-MS with chemical ionisation monitoring negative ions (NCI). The Et derivatives were determined using LC-ESI⁺-MS with detection limit of 2 pg of toluenediamine (TDA). The PFPA derivatives were determined using LC-ESI⁻-MS or GC-NCI-MS with detection limits of 0.1 and 0.02 pg of TDA, respectively. Using trideuterium labelled TDA as internal standard, linear calibration curves were obtained in the range of 0.01-0.50 μg ml⁻¹ (n=7), with correlation coefficients >0.999. When plotting calibration curves for TDA-PFPA derivatives determined using LC-MS against TDA-PFPA using GC-MS and TDA-Et using LC-MS, linear curves were obtained. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for determination of TDA in foam extraction solutions were 13%. LC-MS determination of PFPA derivatives was more selective, as compared to LC-MS of Et derivatives.In foam extraction solutions, 2,4- and 2,6-TDA, several isomers of methylenedianiline (MDA) and dimers of TDA/TDI were observed. 2,4-TDA and 4,4′-MDA are possible human carcinogens. Hydrolysis of the extraction solution revealed a large pool of TDA/TDI compounds and oligomers. The concentration of TDA in foam was affected by the extraction media, temperature and duration. The choice of derivatisation procedure also affected the determination of TDA. In extraction solutions from six different commercially available flexible foam qualities 2,4- and 2,6-TDA were found in the range of 0-7 and 0-6 μg g⁻¹ foam, respectively. When flexible foam was heated, considerable higher concentrations of TDA were observed.     

A New Reagent for Determination of Isocyanates in Working Atmospheres by HPLC Using UV or Fluorescence Detection

Abstract

A new liquid chromatographic method with increased sensitivity has been developed for the determination of isocyanates common in industrial environments. The isocyanates are converted to stable urea derivatives by reaction with 9-(N-methylaminomethyl)-anthracene. These derivatives were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography on a bonded octadecylsilyl phase using isocratic elution with acetonitrile/water and detected either by a UV or a fluorescence detector. The method was applied to toluene 2, 4- and 2, 6-diisocyanate (2, 4- and 2, 6-TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and 4, 4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI).

The influence of various salts on the retention of the reagent amine was studied, as well as the separation of the urea derivatives on different C₁₈-phases. The detection limit is about 1 · 10^?4 mg/m³ for the isocyanates investigated, using either UV or fluorescence detection. This means that the new method is ten to twenty times more sensitive than the previously described reversed phase LC method, which utilized N-4-nitrobenzyl-N-n-propylamine as reagent.     

STUDIES ON METAL-CONTAINING POLYURETHANES BASED ON DIVALENT METAL SALTS OF MONO(HYDROXYETHOXYETHYL)PHTHALATE

By reacting phthalic anhydride with excess of diethylene glycol and metal acetate, the metal salts of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate were prepared (metal = Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺). Polyurethanes containing metal ions in the main chain were synthesized by reacting hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) or tolulylene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) with Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ salts of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate using di-n-butyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) as catalyst. The prepared monomers and polyurethanes were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, UV spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), elemental analysis, solubility and viscosity studies. The antibacterial activity of these polyurethanes have also been investigated using agar diffusion method.     

Unsaturated poly(ester-imide)s from hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene, dianhydride and diisocyanate

Hydroxy terminated polybutadiene has been used for the first time in the synthesis of poly(ester-imide)s [P(E-I)s]. Anhydride terminated polyester prepolymers were prepared by the reaction of two different polyols--polytetramethyleneoxide glycol (PTMG) of molecular weight 1000 and hydroxy terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) of molecular weight 2500--and different dianhydrides--pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4^′-(hexafluoroiso-propylidene)diphthalic anhydride (HFDA). The prepolymers were then reacted with different diisocyanates--80:20 mixture of 2,4- and 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 4,4^′-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) resulting in P(E-I)s. The P(E-I)s were characterised by FT-IR, FT-NMR, GPC, TGA, DSC and for static and dynamic mechanical properties. The polymers based on PTMG showed two distinct melting points and behave as thermoplastic elastomers. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of P(E-I)s based on HTPB were substantially higher than those based on PTMG.     

Calcium‐containing poly(urethane‐urea)s: Synthesis,spectral, and thermal studies

A calcium salt of mono(hydroxypentyl)phthalate [Ca(HPP)₂] was synthesized by the reaction of 1,5‐pentanediol, phthalic anhydride, and calcium acetate. Four different bisureas such as hexamethylene bis(ω,N‐hydroxyethylurea), tolylene 2,4‐bis(ω,N‐hydroxyethylurea), hexamethylene bis(ω,N‐hydroxypropylurea), and tolylene 2,4‐bis(ω,N‐hydroxypropylurea) were prepared by reacting ethanolamine or propanolamine with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) or tolylene 2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI). Calcium‐containing poly(urethane‐urea)s (PUUs) were synthesized by reacting HMDI or TDI with 1:1 mixtures of Ca(HPP)₂ and each of the bisureas with di‐n‐butyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The PUUs were well characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, solid‐state ¹³C–cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning NMR, viscosity, solubility, elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction studies. Thermal properties of the polymers were also examined with thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1809–1819, 2004     

Novel one-pot multicomponent synthesis of (E)-2-(benzylideneamino)-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione derivatives

Abstract

An expeditious, one-pot multicomponent reaction has been developed for the synthesis of (E)-2-(benzylideneamino)-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione derivatives. Condensation of 4-amino-5-hydrazino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol with phthalic anhydride and aromatic aldehyde afforded the (E)-2-(benzylideneamino)-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-diones in acetic acid medium with excellent yields. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by their analytical and spectral data.     

A highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of isocyanates in air

Summary A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure is described to analyse hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in air. The isocyanates are trapped on a sorbent coated with 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (MPP). The resulting derivatives are separated using a column switching technique using either a diode array UV detector or an electrochemical detector. Working ranges are 1–5000 and 0.05–400 pmol for UV and EC detection, respectively. Virtually no breakthrough occurs if an air volume of up to 1500 l is sampled, and relative detection limits between 0.1 and 1 ng/m³ can be achieved. The procedure can be used to determine HDI and MDI in work place atmospheres and indoor air.Dedicated to Prof Dr. E. Lahmann on the occasion of this 65th birthday     

Novel oxazepinedione-derived symmetric dimers: synthesis and mesophase characterisation of seven-membered heterocyclic compounds

The synthesis and characterisation of three sets of symmetric dimeric compounds composed of seven-membered oxazepinedione heterocyclic rings were carried out. All the dimers possess the tetradecyl- (n = 14) alkyl side chain attached to the nitrogen atom of the oxazepinedione core. The oxazepinedione core in turn was connected with varied connecting spacers (n = 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12). The dimers were spectroscopically characterised by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and elemental analysis techniques. The compounds were investigated for liquid crystalline properties using differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy with heating assembly. The precursor imines 2a–e itself started exhibiting liquid crystalline SmA/tilted hexatic mesophase. Further fusion of 2a–e with maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride and phthalic anhydride gave the novel oxazepinedione-derived symmetric dimers 3a–e, 4a–e and 5a–e respectively. The dimers 3a–e and 4a–e did not exhibit any liquid crystal (LC) properties. However, the phthalic anhydride-fused oxazepinediones 5a–e show monotropic nematic liquid crystalline phase. The results indicate that the formation of mesophase is dependent on the type of fused oxazepinedione ring.     

Synthesis and properties of some new polyazomethine-urethanes

Two new bisazomethine diols were prepared from terephthalaldehyde and aromatic or aliphatic aminoalcohols. The structure of the diols with bisazomethine moieties was confirmed by ¹H-NMR, IR, UV spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Bisazomethine aliphatic diol exhibited a smectic phase that has been identified by means of polarizing microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. By using these diols as partners in polyaddition reaction between poly(tetramethylene oxide)diol of 2000 average molecular weight, tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (as 2,4- and 2,6-TDI, 80:20 v/v isomers mixture) and bisazomethine diol (1:3:2 molar ratio), two polyazomethine-urethanes were synthesized. Polyazomethine-urethanes with a higher concentration of poly-Schiff's base units were also obtained by reacting the above bisazomethine diols with the same diisocyanate (1:1 molar ratio). All polymers were characterized by viscometry, elemental analysis, IR, UV, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and TGA techniques.     

An efficient one-pot synthesis of anthraquinone derivatives catalyzed by alum in aqueous media

Abstract

Alum (KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O) performs as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of anthraquinone derivatives from phthalic anhydride and substituted benzenes in good to excellent yields (70–96%) using water as a solvent at ambient temperature. Several solvents were examined for this reaction; however, in terms of reaction yield and time, water was found to be the optimum solvent. The remarkable advantages offered by this method are an inexpensive and easily available catalyst, a simple procedure, mild conditions, and much faster (60–120 min) reactions.     

Synthesis and properties of novel diisocyanate based optically active polyimides

A new optically active diisocyanate was prepared from the reaction of l-leucine and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and subsequent transformation of intermediate imide-containing diacid to diisocyanate via Weinstock modification of Curtius rearrangement. Solution polycondensation reaction of the prepared diisocyanate with PMDA, 3,3,4,4-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene 2,2-bis(phthalic anhydride) resulted in the preparation of novel optically active polyimides. The optimal conditions for polyimidations (reaction duration and temperature programming) were obtained via study of the model compound. The monomer, model compound and polymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹HNMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis and their optical and physical properties were studied as well.     

SYNTHESIS AND REACTIONS OF 2,3-DIHYDRO- 5-ARYL-5H,6H-THIAZOLO[3,2-b]-2,4-DIAZAFLUORENE-3,6-DIONES OF POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-l-aryl-3,9-dioxo-2,4-diazafluorenes (2) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-aryl-9-oxo-3-thi-oxo-2,4-diazafluorenes (3) were newly synthesized. Compounds 3 reacted with chloroacetic acid, α-bromopropanoic acid, or B-bromopropanoic acid in the presence of fused sodium acetate and acetic anhydride to give 2,3-dihydro-5-aryl-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (4), 2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-5-aryl-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (5) and 2,3-dihydro-6-aryl-6H,7H-thiazino[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-4,7-diones (6), respectively.

2,3-Dihydro-2-arylmethylene-5-aryl-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (7) were prepared by the reaction of compounds (3) with chloroacetic acid and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of fused sodium acetate and acetic anhydride or by the reactions of (4) with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of acetic anhydride.

2-(Arylhydroazono)-5-aryl-2,3-dihydro-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (8) were synthesized by coupling (4) with aryldiazonium salts in the presence of pyridine.     

Fire- and heat-resistant adhesive resins based on maleimido and citraconimido substituted 1-[(dialkoxyphosphinyl)methyl]-2,4- and -2,6-diaminobenzenes

A novel class of fire- and heat-resistant bisimide resins was prepared by thermal polymerization of maleimido or citraconimido derivatives of 1-[(dialkoxyphosphinyl)methyl]-2,4- and -2,6-diaminobenzenes (1). The neat bisimide resin prepared by curing 1-[di(2-chloroethoxyphosphinyl)methyl]-2,4- and -2,6-bismaleimidobenzene exhibited a limiting oxygen index 75% higher and smoke evolution about 30 times lower compared with the parent polymer obtained by curing m-phenylenebismaleimide. The char yield of cured bisimide resins at 700°C was 58–70% in a nitrogen atmosphere and 35–60% in air. An increase in formula weight between the imide groups slightly reduced the char yield. The polymer precursors were synthesized by reacting the phosphorus-containing diamines (1) (1 mol) with maleic anhydride/citraconic anhydride (2 mol) or by reacting the monomaleimido derivative of (1) with benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride/methylenebis(4-phenylisocyanate) in a 2:1 mole ratio. The monomers were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier-transform–infrared (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Direct cleavage of the P? C bond and inversion of the synthesis reaction may occur during their pyrolysis. The thermal polymerization of the monomers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Biscitraconimides are thermally polymerized at a relatively lower temperature than the corresponding bismaleimides.     

Synthesis,characterization and antitumor activities of some novel thiazinones and thiosemicarbazones derivatives

Abstract

Two series of thiazinone and thiosemicarbazone derivatives (1-12) were synthesized using 2,4-diaryl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones (ABNs) and 3–alkyl–2,6–diarylpiperidin–4–ones as the starting materials. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were established on the basis of FT–IR, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. From the spectroscopic data, we identified that the cyclization reaction of thioamide with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate selectively gives six membered methyl 2-(2-(2,4-disubstituted-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)hydrazinyl)-4-oxo-4H-1,3-thiazine-6-carboxylates (1-6). In order to investigate the antitumor activities of the synthesized compounds, in vitro cytotoxicity studies were carried out using human prostate cancer cell lines. Tested compounds showed good/moderate activities against cancer cell lines and further investigation carried out by live/dead assay.     

Determination Of Formaldehyde And Acetaldehyde Associated To Atmospheric Aerosols By HPLC

Abstract

A rapid new analytical protocol was developed for the determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde associated to atmospheric particulate matter, at ng/m³ levels. The aerosols were collected on glass fiber filters (8″×10″) at face velocities ranging from 15 m/min to 23 m/min. Aliquots of 15.4 cm² were sonicated, for 20 min, with 5.0 mL of 0,01% 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), 1 % phosphoric acid. The liquid phase was then filtered and the separation and quantification of the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhidrazone (DNPHo) derivatives carried out by reverse phase HPLC. Acetonitrile:water (57:43, v/v) as mobile phase at 1.0 mL/min and absorbance detection at 350 nm and 365 nm for, respectively, formaldehyde-DNPHo (0.04 AUFS) and acetaldehyde-DNPHo (0.01 AUFS) were used. The precision for four different aliquots, from a 8″×10″ glass fiber filter, were under 0.04% for formaldehyde and 14.16 % for acetaldehyde. In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were determined, respectively, in the range of 6.8 ng/m³ to 27.3 ng/m³ and 9.1 ng/m³ to 54.6 ng/m³.     

A solvent-free sampling method for airborne toluene diisocyanate

Summary A useful method of sampling and measurement of toluene diisocyanate concentration in atmosphere is described. The sampler consists of glass-fibre filters impregnated with the reagent 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine¹ so that the 2,4 and 2,6 isomers of TDI react to form urea derivatives which are analysed by high performance liquid chromatography in isocratic mode on cyan-amino and C₁₈ bonded phases. A dynamic system was used to generate standard atmospheres of TDI and to validate the sampling method within the humidity range of 0% to 75%. A coated filter, a bubbling solution and an impregnated silica gel were compared as samplers requiring the piperazine reagent in performance experiments.