Improved method for isotopic and quantitative analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon in natural water samples

We present here an improved and reliable method for measuring the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its isotope composition (delta(13)C(DIC)) in natural water samples. Our apparatus, a gas chromatograph coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GCIRMS), runs in a quasi-automated mode and is able to analyze about 50 water samples per day. The whole procedure (sample preparation, CO(2(g))-CO(2(aq)) equilibration time and GCIRMS analysis) requires 2 days. It consists of injecting an aliquot of water into a H(3)PO(4)-loaded and He-flushed 12 mL glass tube. The H(3)PO(4) reacts with the water and converts the DIC into aqueous and gaseous CO(2). After a CO(2(g))-CO(2(aq)) equilibration time of between 15 and 24 h, a portion of the headspace gas (mainly CO(2)+He) is introduced into the GCIRMS, to measure the carbon isotope ratio of the released CO(2(g)), from which the delta(13)C(DIC) is determined via a calibration procedure. For standard solutions with DIC concentrations ranging from 1 to 25 mmol . L(-1) and solution volume of 1 mL (high DIC concentration samples) or 5 mL (low DIC concentration samples), delta(13)C(DIC) values are determined with a precision (1sigma) better than 0.1 per thousand. Compared with previously published headspace equilibration methods, the major improvement presented here is the development of a calibration procedure which takes the carbon isotope fractionation associated with the CO(2(g))-CO(2(aq)) partition into account: the set of standard solutions and samples has to be prepared and analyzed with the same 'gas/liquid' and 'H(3)PO(4)/water' volume ratios. A set of natural water samples (lake, river and hydrothermal springs) was analyzed to demonstrate the utility of this new method.     

Effects of chemical lipid extraction and arithmetic lipid correction on stable isotope ratios of fish tissues

For accurate interpretation of fish trophodynamics from carbon stable isotope data it is necessary to extract tissue lipids. This is because lipid content varies within and among tissues in both space and time, and because lipids are 13C-depleted relative to proteins. However, lipid extraction may affect delta15N, thus requiring costly and time-consuming separation of delta13C and delta15N analyses. These problems have prompted the development of arithmetic correction techniques for delta13C, but the techniques and their underlying assumptions have not been systematically tested. This study compared the effects of lipid extraction and arithmetic correction techniques on delta13C and delta15N of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) tissues. Following Folch lipid extraction from muscle and liver, there was a mean increase in delta15N of 0.77 per thousand, but enrichment varied with lipid content such that effects on delta15N were hard to predict. Changes in delta13C and C:N between untreated and lipid-extracted samples reflected the quantity of lipid removed. The arithmetic correction techniques of mass balance and lipid correction were sensitive to the C:N of the lipid-extracted tissue and to the assumed depletion of lipid delta13C relative to protein delta13C. However, the mass balance approach was appropriate for the mathematical correction of bulk tissue data in most circumstances, provided that the C:N of lipid-extracted tissue could be determined for a small proportion of samples. Application of mass balance arithmetic correction can lead to significant time and cost savings in trophodynamic studies, because the majority of delta13C and delta15N analyses would not need to be run separately.     

Decarbonation and preservation method for the analysis of organic C and N contents and stable isotope ratios of low-carbonated suspended particulate material

The aim of this study was to determine a simple routine procedure to preserve, decarbonate and analyse low-carbonated filters of suspended particulate organic matter (POM) for particulate organic carbon and nitrogen content, and . Our goal was to analyse these four parameters from a single and entire filter of POM without altering the organic material.First, freezing (−20 °C) versus oven-drying (60 °C) were compared as the initial preservation step. Afterwards, non-acidified samples were compared to acid-treated samples using 0.12N HCl (diluted HCl rinsing at the end of the filtration) or 12N HCl (filters exposed to HCl fumes for 4 h in a dessicator). Regarding the preservation methods, our results indicate that freezing increases the uncertainty of measurements and, in combination with concentrated HCl treatment, leads to a loss of particulate nitrogen and an alteration of the signature. Consequently, we recommend drying to preserve filter samples. Regarding acid treatments, we found that (i) diluted HCl would not be sufficient to fully remove the carbonate from our samples, (ii) in contrast, a 4 h exposure of the filters to the HCl fumes was enough to remove all the inorganic carbon, and (iii) the concentrated HCl treatment did not alter the nitrogen measurements (only when drying without freezing is used to preserve the filters). Consequently, we propose that low-carbonated POM filters are preserved by drying and carbonates are removed by exposing the filters to HCl fumes (4 h) for the analysis of particulate organic C and N content and isotope ratios.     

Experimental and quantum-chemical studies of 1H, 13C and 15N NMR coordination shifts in Pd(II) and Pt(II) chloride complexes with methyl and phenyl derivatives of 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline

1H, 13C and 15N NMR studies of platinide(II) (M=Pd, Pt) chloride complexes with methyl and phenyl derivatives of 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline [LL=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy); 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dpbpy); 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen); 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dpphen)] having a general [M(LL)Cl2] formula were performed and the respective chemical shifts (delta1H, delta13C, delta15N) reported. 1H high-frequency coordination shifts (Delta1Hcoord=delta1Hcomplex-delta1Hligand) were discussed in relation to the changes of diamagnetic contribution in the relevant 1H shielding constants. The comparison to literature data for similar [M(LL)(XX)], [M(LL)X2] and [M(LL)XY] coordination or organometallic compounds containing various auxiliary ligands revealed a large dependence of delta1H parameters on inductive and anisotropic effects. 15N low-frequency coordination shifts (Delta15Ncoord=delta 15Ncomplex-delta15Nligand) of ca 88-96 ppm for M=Pd and ca 103-111 ppm for M=Pt were attributed to both the decrease of the absolute value of paramagnetic contribution and the increase of the diamagnetic term in the expression for 15N shielding constants. The absolute magnitude of Delta15Ncoord parameter increased by ca 15 ppm upon Pd(II)-->Pt(II) transition and by ca 6-7 ppm following dmbpy-->dmphen or dpbpy-->dpphen ligand replacement; variations between analogous complexes containing methyl and phenyl ligands (dmbpy vs dpbpy; dmphen vs dpphen) did not exceed+/-1.5 ppm. Experimental 1H, 13C, 15N NMR chemical shifts were compared to those quantum-chemically calculated by B3LYP/LanL2DZ+6-31G**//B3LYP/LanL2DZ+6-31G*, both in vacuo and in DMSO or DMF solution.     

Alteration of the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition of beef by substitution of grass silage with maize silage

This study investigated the effect of substituting grass silage (C3 photosynthetic plant product) with maize silage (C4 photosynthetic plant product) on the natural abundance carbon (delta13C) and nitrogen (delta15N) stable isotope composition of bovine muscle tissue. Forty-five continental crossbred heifers were assigned to one of three diets consisting of 3 kg of a barley-based concentrate plus grass silage, maize silage or an equal mixture (dry matter basis) of grass silage and maize silage, fed ad libitum, for 167 days. Substitution resulted in less negative delta13C values (P<0.001) in lipid-free muscle and in lipid, and also a lower delta15N (P<0.001) in lipid-free muscle. Feeding of maize silage was clearly reflected in the delta13C of muscle, with each 10% difference in the dietary C4 carbon intake resulting in a 0.9 to 1.0 per thousand shift of delta13C in lipid-free muscle and a 1.0 to 1.2 per thousand in lipid. Minimum detectable mean differences (95% confidence, power 0.80, n=15) in this experiment were about 0.5 per thousand and 1.0 per thousand for delta13C of lipid-free muscle and lipid, respectively, and about 0.5 per thousand for delta15N of lipid-free muscle. The power analysis presented here is useful for estimating minimum isotopic differences that can be detected between any two groups of beef samples with a given number of replicates. It is concluded that carbon stable isotope ratio analysis of meat can be used to quantify C3/C4 dietary constituents in beef production.     

Enhancing the understanding of earthworm feeding behaviour via the use of fatty acid delta13C values determined by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Litter-dwelling (epigeic) Lumbricus rubellus and soil-dwelling (endogeic) Allolobophora chlorotica earthworms were observed aggregating under C(3) (delta(13)C = -31.3 per thousand; delta(15)N = 10.7 per thousand) and C(4) (delta(13)C = -12.6 per thousand; delta(15)N = 7.5 per thousand) synthetic dung pats applied to a temperate grassland (delta(13)C = -30.3 per thousand; delta(15)N = 5.7 per thousand) in an experiment carried out for 372 days. Bulk delta(13)C values of earthworms collected from beneath either C(3) or C(4) dung after 28, 56, 112 and 372 days demonstrated that (i) L. rubellus beneath C(4) dung were significantly (13)C-enriched after 56 days (delta(13)C = -23.8 per thousand) and 112 days (delta(13)C = -22.4 per thousand) compared with those from C(3) dung treatments (56 days, delta(13)C = -26.5 per thousand; 112 days, delta(13)C = -27.0 per thousand), and (ii) A. chlorotica were 2.1 per thousand (13)C-enriched (delta(13)C = -24.2 per thousand) relative to those from C(3) dung (delta(13)C = -26.3 per thousand) treatments after 372 days. Bulk delta(15)N values did not suggest significant uptake of dung N by either species beneath C(3) or C(4) dung, but showed that the endogeic species (total mean delta(15)N = 3.3 per thousand) had higher delta(15)N values than the epigeic species (total mean delta(15)N = 5.4 per thousand). Although the two species exhibited similar fatty acid profiles, individual fatty acid delta(13)C values revealed extensive routing of dietary C into body tissue of L. rubellus, but minor incorporation into A. chlorotica. In particular, the direct incorporation of microbial biomarker fatty acids (iC(17:0), aC(17:0)) from (13)C-labelled dung in situ, the routing of dung C into de novo synthesised compounds (iC(20:4)(omega)(6),C(20:5)(omega)(3), and the assimilation of essential fatty acids ((C(18:1)(omega)(9), C(18:1)(omega(7), C(18:2)(omega(6), C(18:3)(omega)(3)) derived from dung, were determined.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new bisphosphonic acid and several metal hybrids derivatives

Commercial bis-(4-bromophenyl)-ether, [BrC(6)H(4)](2)-O, has been used to prepare 4-[4'-(diethoxyphosphoryl)phenoxy]phenyl-phosphonic acid diethyl ester, [(CH(3)CH(2))(2)O(3)P-C(6)H(4)](2)-O, (I) following a slight modification of the Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction. The acid hydrolysis of I gave 4-(4'-phosphonophenoxy)phenyl phosphonic acid, [H(2)O(3)P-C(6)H(4)](2)-O (II), and both compounds have been characterized by (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR. The crystal structure of II has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. II crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell, space group Pbcn, with a = 7.822(3) A, b = 5.821(2) A, c = 28.982(9) A, and V = 1319.7(7) A(3). The final R factor was R1 = 0.0614. The structure is layered, being held together through a hydrogen bonding network. II has been used as precursor in the syntheses of new metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) bisphosphonates. The syntheses were carried out using a fixed metal/bisphosphonic acid molar ratio of 2.1:1 and the influence of the pH in the reactions has been studied. Nine new compounds have been isolated: Mn(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)).1.5H(2)O (III), Mn(5)(OH)(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3))(2).2H(2)O (IV), Fe(HO(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)).0.5H(2)O (V), Co(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)).2H(2)O (VI), Ni(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)).3H(2)O (VII), Ni(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)).2H(2)O (VIII), Cu(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)) (IX), Zn(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)) (X), and Zn(HO(3)PC(6)H(4)OC(6)H(4)PO(3)H) (XI). Compound IX crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell, space group Pbcn, and unit cell parameters a = 8.1012(5) A, b = 5.3109(3) A, c = 29.2595(5) A, and V = 1258.8(1) A(3). Its structure has been solved by ab initio powder diffraction and refined by the Rietveld method to R(F) = 0.042. IX has a pillared layer framework with highly distorted CuO(5) groups sharing edges to give isolated dimers. XI was indexed in a monoclinic unit cell, space group P112(1), with parameters a = 9.4991(9) A, b = 5.0445(5) A, c = 29.131(2) A, gamma = 91.945(7) degrees, and V = 1395.1(3) A(3). Its structure has been refined by the Rietveld method, R(F) = 0.054, since it is isostructural with the known compound, Zn[HO(3)P(C(6)H(4))(2)PO(3)H]. All solids were also characterized by thermal analysis and IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies.     

Experimental and quantum-chemical studies of 1H, 13C and 15N NMR coordination shifts in Pd(II) and Pt(II) chloride complexes with quinoline, isoquinoline, and 2,2'-biquinoline

1H, 13C, and 15N NMR studies of platinide(II) (M=Pd, Pt) chloride complexes with quinolines (L=quinoline-quin, or isoquinoline-isoquin; LL=2,2'-biquinoline-bquin), having the general formulae trans-/cis-[ML2Cl2] and [M(LL)Cl2], were performed and the respective chemical shifts (delta1H, delta13C, delta15N) reported. 1H coordination shifts of various signs and magnitudes (Delta1Hcoord=delta1Hcomplex-delta1Hligand) are discussed in relation to the changes of diamagnetic contribution to the relevant 1H shielding constants. The comparison to the literature data for similar complexes containing auxiliary ligands other than chlorides exhibited a large dependence of delta1H parameters on electron density variations and ring-current effects (inductive and anisotropic phenomena). The influence of deviations from planarity, concerning either MN2Cl2 chromophores or azine ring systems, revealed by the known X-ray structures of [Pd(bquin)Cl2] and [Pt(bquin)Cl2], is discussed in respect to 1H NMR spectra. 15N coordination shifts (Delta15Ncoord=delta15Ncomplex-delta15Nligand) of ca. 78-100 ppm (to lower frequency) are attributed mainly to the decrease of the absolute value of paramagnetic contribution in the relevant 15N shielding constants, this phenomenon being noticeably dependent on the type of a platinide metal and coordination sphere geometry. The absolute magnitude of Delta15Ncoord parameter increased by ca 15 ppm upon Pd(II)-->Pt(II) replacement but decreased by ca. 15 ppm following trans-->cis transition. Experimental 1H, 13C, 15N NMR chemical shifts are compared to those quantum-chemically calculated by B3LYP/LanL2DZ+6-31G**//B3LYP/LanL2DZ+6-31G*, both in vacuo and in CHCl3 or DMF solution.     

Improved compound-specific delta13C analysis of n-alkanes for application in palaeoenvironmental studies

We present an optimized method for compound-specific stable carbon isotope (delta(13)C) analysis of n-alkanes. For sample preparation, the traditionally used Soxhlet extraction was replaced by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). delta(13)C values of individual n-alkanes--measured using gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS)--were first drift-corrected with regularly discharged pure CO(2) pulses as reference gas and, secondly, corrected for the amount dependence of the delta(13)C values by co-analyzing standards with varying analyte concentrations. Finally, the delta(13)C values were calibrated against two internal standards. The improved method was applied to selected sediment samples from a palaeoenvironmental study in subtropical NE Argentina. The measured delta(13)C values of all long-chain n-alkanes (nC(27), nC(29), nC(31) and nC(33)), representing biomarkers for terrestrial plants, correlate significantly with the delta(13)C of bulk organic matter (delta(13)C(TOC)). The latter is hence corroborated as a proxy for C3-C4 vegetation changes. Furthermore, the delta(13)C variations reveal higher amplitudes for nC(31) and nC(33) than for nC(27) and nC(29), indicating that the former n-alkanes mainly derive from C3 and/or C4 grasses, whereas the latter homologues mainly derive from C3 plants (trees and shrubs). Except for the lowermost part of the sediment core, the delta(13)C values of the mid-chain alkanes nC(23) and nC(25) do not reflect the terrestrial delta(13)C pattern, thus indicating that they are probably mainly of lacustrine origin.     

Iodination of triazenide-bridged rhodium and iridium complexes: oxidative addition vs. one-electron oxidation

The triazenide-bridged tetracarbonyls [(OC)(2)Rh(mu-p-MeC(6)H(4)NNNC(6)H(4)Me-p)(2)M(CO)(2)] (M = Rh or Ir) undergo oxidative addition of iodine across the dimetal centre, giving the [RhM](4+) complexes [I(OC)(2)Rh(mu-p-MeC(6)H(4)NNNC(6)H(4)Me-p)(2)M(CO)(2)I], structurally characterised for M = Ir. The anionic tricarbonyl iodide [I(OC)Rh(mu-p-MeC(6)H(4)NNNC(6)H(4)Me-p)(2)Rh(CO)(2)](-) forms [I(2)(OC)Rh(mu-p-MeC(6)H(4)NNNC(6)H(4)Me-p)(2)Rh(CO)I](-) by initial one-electron transfer whereas the analogous tricarbonyl phosphine complexes [(OC)(Ph(3)P)Rh(mu-p-MeC(6)H(4)NNNC(6)H(4)Me-p)(2)M(CO)(2)] (M = Rh or Ir) undergo bridge cleavage, giving mononuclear [Rh(p-MeC(6)H(4)NNNC(6)H(4)Me-p)I(2)(CO)(PPh(3))] and dimeric [I(OC){RNNN(R)C(O)}M(mu-I)(2)M{C(O)N(R)NNR}(CO)I] (M = Rh or Ir, R = C(6)H(4)Me-p) in which CO has been inserted into a metal-nitrogen bond.     

Heterogeneous interaction of N2O5 with HCl doped H2SO4 under stratospheric conditions: ClNO2 and Cl2 yields

The reaction of dinitrogen pentoxide, N2O5, with hydrogen chloride, HCl, in sulfuric acid solutions was studied at temperatures and compositions relevant to the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere. Experiments were performed using a rotating wetted wall flow tube reactor coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer for the gas-phase detection of reactants (N2O5 and HCl) and products (nitryl chloride, ClNO2, and Cl2) using I– as the reagent ion. Uptake coefficients, γ, were measured under stratospheric conditions: 205 < T < 225 K; 50 and 60 wt % H2SO4 solutions; 5.8 × 10(–5) < [HCl]liq < 0.1 M. Uptake coefficients of N2O5 on pure H2SO4/H2O (50 and 60 wt % H2SO4) and HCl-doped H2SO4 were found to be independent of temperature and sulfuric acid composition (weight percent of H2SO4 and HCl concentration) consistent with previous studies. ClNO2 was observed to be a major gas-phase product with its yield strongly dependent on the liquid-phase HCl concentration (5.8 × 10(–5) to 0.1 M HCl) and with a maximum yield of nearly unity at 0.005 M HCl in both 50 and 60 wt % sulfuric acid solutions. The Cl2 yield was <1% under all conditions studied. ClNO2 production was attributed to the heterogeneous reaction of NO2(+)(aq), or H2NO3(+)(aq) (formed in the dissociative ionization of N2O5), with Cl–. The variation of the ClNO2 yield with HCl concentration was attributed to the competition between the reaction of NO2(+)(aq), or H2NO3(+)(aq) with Cl– and H2O. Using our measured yields as a function of HCl concentrations in 50 and 60 wt % H2SO4 solutions at different temperatures, we calculated the variation of the ClNO2 yield under stratospheric conditions. The atmospheric implications of these findings were examined using a 2D atmospheric model. The contribution of this chemistry to ozone depletion was found to be a minor process under nonvolcanic background aerosol levels.     

Determination of iodide in samples with complex matrices by hyphenation of capillary isotachophoresis and zone electrophoresis

A method has been developed for the determination of iodide in mineral water, seawater, cooking salt, serum, and urine based on hyphenation of capillary ITP and zone electrophoresis. A commercially available instrumentation for capillary ITP with column-switching system was used. ITP served for removal of chloride present in the analyzed samples in a ratio of 10(6)-10(7):1 to iodide, zone electrophoresis was used for evaluation. Isotachophoretic separation proceeded in a capillary made of fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer of 0.8 mm id and 90 mm total length to the bifurcation point filled with a leading electrolyte (LE) composed of 8 mM HCl + 16 mM beta-alanine (beta-Ala) + 10% PVP + 2.86 mM N(2)H(4)x2HCl, pH 3.2; and a terminating electrolyte composed of 8 mM H(3)PO(4) + 16 mM beta-Ala + 10% PVP + 5 mM N(2)H(4), pH 3.85 for all the matrices except seawater. For ITP of seawater the LE consisted of 50 mM HCl + 100 mM beta-Ala + 10% PVP + 2.86 mM N(2)H(4)x2HCl, pH 3.52. Distance of conductivity detector from the injection point and bifurcation point was 52 and 38 mm, respectively. Zone electrophoresis was performed in a capillary made of fused silica of 0.3 mm id and 160 mm total length filled with LE from isotachophoretic step. LODs reached for all matrices were 2-3x10(-8) M concentration (2.5-4 microg/L) enabled monitoring of iodide in all analyzed samples with RSD 0.4-9.3%. Estimated concentrations of iodide in individual matrices were 10(-6)-10(-8) M.     

Photostable, amino reactive and water-soluble fluorescent labels based on sulfonated rhodamine with a rigidized xanthene fragment

Highly water soluble fluorescent dyes were synthesized and transformed into new amino reactive fluorescent labels for biological microscopy. To this end, rhodamine 8 (prepared from 7-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (7) and phthalic anhydride in 85 % aq. H(3)PO(4)) was sulfonated with 30 % SO(3) in H(2)SO(4) and afforded the water soluble disulfonic acid 3 a (64 %). Amidation of the carboxy group in 3 a with 2-(methylamino)ethanol in the presence of O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluroniumPF(6) (-) (HATU) led to alcohol 3 b (66 %), which was transformed into the amino reactive mixed carbonate 3 d with di(N-succinimidyl)carbonate and Et(3)N. Reaction of the carboxy group in 3 a with MeNH(CH(2))(2)CO(2)Me and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-O-(N-succinimidyl)-uroniumBF(4) (-) (TSTU) yielded methyl ester 13. After saponification of the aliphatic carboxy group in 13, the compound was converted into NHS-ester 3 e (using HATU and Et(3)N). Heating of 7 with trimellitic anhydride in H(3)PO(4) gave a mixture of dicarboxylic acids 14 and 15 (1:1). Regioisomer 15 was isolated, sulfonated with 30 % SO(3) in H(2)SO(4), and disulfonic acid 3 f was used for the synthesis of the mono NHS-ester 3 g, in which the sterically unhindered carboxy group was selectively activated (with N-hydroxysuccinimide, HATU, and Et(3)N). The sulfonated rhodamines 3 b, c and f are soluble in water (up to 0.1 M), have excellent photostabilities and large fluorescence quantum yields. Subdiffraction resolution images of tubulin filaments of mammalian cells stained with these dyes illustrate their applicability as labels for stimulated emission depletion microscopy and other fluorescence techniques.     

Evidence for bias in measured δ15N values of terrestrial and aquatic organic materials due to pre-analysis acid treatment methods

We investigate the effect of acid treatment methods on δ(15)N values from a range of environmental organic materials in the context of the increased application of 'dual-mode' isotope analysis (the simultaneous measurement of δ(13)C and δ(15)N from the same acid-treated sample). Three common methods are compared; (i) untreated samples; (ii) acidification followed by sequential water rinse (rinse method); and (iii) acidification in silver capsules (capsule method). The influence of capsule type (silver and tin) on δ(15)N is also independently assessed (as the capsule and rinse methods combust samples in different capsules; silver and tin, respectively). We find significant differences in δ(15)N values between methods and the precision of any one method varies significantly between sample materials and above the instrument precision (>0.3‰). The δ(15)N values of untreated samples did not produce the most consistent data on all sample materials. In addition, the capsule type appears to influence the measured δ(15)N value of some materials, particularly those combusted only in silver capsules. We also compare the new δ(15)N data with previously published δ(13)C data on the same materials. The response of δ(13)C and δ(15)N within and between methods and sample materials to acidification appears to be relatively disproportionate, which can influence the environmental interpretation of the measured data. In addition, statistical methods used to estimate inorganic nitrogen are shown to be seriously flawed.     

Thermal analysis of mineral soils before and after oxidationwith sodium hypochlorite

The nature of recalcitrant organic carbon (OC) in soil is a matter of great debate and various chemical treatments exist for its isolation. We compared calorimetric properties from silt+clay fractions of eight mineral soils by means of DSC before and after chemical oxidation with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to find out, whether recalcitrance of soil organic matter against chemical oxidation coincides with its thermal stability. NaOCl oxidized around 75% of the OC, which corresponded well to a mean loss in heat of reaction of 80%. Peak temperatures and 50% burnoff temperatures did not change systematically after oxidation showing that the thermal stability of NaOCl residues was similar to that of untreated samples. Three samples revealed peaks at >520°C after oxidation indicative for the presence of pyrogenic carbon.     

Determination of inorganic acids by ion chromatography with n-tetradecylphosphocholine (zwitterionic surfactant) as the stationary phase and pure water as the mobile phase

A new ion chromatographic (IC) system, in which n-tetradecylphosphocholine (TDPC, a phosphobetaine type of zwitterionic surfactant) was used as the stationary phase, pure water as the mobile phase, and conductivity as the method of detection, has been developed for the determination of inorganic acids. Five model acids, HCl, HNO3, HClO4, H2SO4, and H3PO4, were separated to baseline and eluted in the order H3PO4 > HCl > HNO3 > H2SO4 > HClO4. When peak areas were plotted against the concentrations of the acids in samples, linear calibration curves were obtained. Ultimate determination limits were approximately 1 mmol L(-1), but the discrimination of the method between solutions of different concentration was better than 10 micromol L(-1) for those model analytes. Salts of divalent cations could also be separated, but they were eluted faster than the acids. No separation was observed for the salts of monovalent cations. This newly proposed approach is applicable to the simultaneous determination of the inorganic acids (produced by reactions of NOx, SOx, and HCl with water) in aerosols.     

The Reaction of the Bis-spirocyclic Phosphazene [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 Cl 2 ] (O 2 C 12 H 8 = 2,2′-Dioxybiphenyl) with Thiophenols,in the Presence of Alkali Carbonates

The reactions of the spirocyclic phosphazene [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 Cl 2 ] (O 2 C 12 H 8 = 2,2'-dioxybiphenyl) with the thiophenols HS--C 6 H 4 --R and M 2 CO 3 (M = K or Cs) in refluxing acetone gave respectively the spirocyclic substituted derivatives [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 (SC 6 H 4 --R) 2 ] R = H ( 2a ), Br ( 2b ), OMe ( 2c ), NO 2 ( 2d ). The reaction is a two-step process the second of which is much faster than the first and the monosubstituted intermediate [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 (SC 6 H 4 --R)Cl] cannot be detected. By contrast, in the analogous reactions with the phenols HO--C 6 H 4 --R and M 2 CO 3 (M = K or Cs) in acetone or THF, to give the known derivatives [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 (OC 6 H 4 --R) 2 ], the first step is faster although both are very dependent on R, M and the solvent. Thus, in the case of the phenol HO--C 6 H 4 --OMe the reaction conditions could be adjusted to give the useful synthetic intermediate monosubstituted derivative [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 (OC 6 H 4 --OMe)Cl] ( 3 ). The reaction of [N 3 P 3 (O 2 C 12 H 8 ) 2 Cl 2 ] with the bifunctional reagent mercaptophenol HS--C 6 H 4 --OH was not specific and led to mixtures of cyclic and oligomeric products.     

Deviation between the chemistry of Ce(IV) and Pu(IV) and routes to ordered and disordered heterobimetallic 4f/5f and 5f/5f phosphonates

The heterobimetallic actinide compound UO(2)Ce(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](2)·H(2)O was prepared via the hydrothermal reaction of U(VI) and Ce(IV) in the presence of 1,2-phenylenediphosphonic acid. We demonstrate that this is a kinetic product that is not stable with respect to decomposition to the monometallic compounds. Similar reactions have been explored with U(VI) and Ce(III), resulting in the oxidation of Ce(III) to Ce(IV) and the formation of the Ce(IV) phosphonate, Ce[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3)H(2))][C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3))]·2H(2)O, UO(2)Ce(H(2)O)[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](2)·H(2)O, and UO(2)[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](H(2)O)·H(2)O. In comparison, the reaction of U(VI) with Np(VI) only yields Np[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](2)·2H(2)O and aqueous U(VI), whereas the reaction of U(VI) with Pu(VI) yields the disordered U(VI)/Pu(VI) compound, (U(0.9)Pu(0.1))O(2)[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](H(2)O)·H(2)O, and the Pu(IV) phosphonate, Pu[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3)H(2))][C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3))]·2H(2)O. The reactions of Ce(IV) with Np(VI) yield disordered heterobimetallic phosphonates with both M[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3)H(2))][C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3))]·2H(2)O (M = Ce, Np) and M[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](2)·2H(2)O (M = Ce, Np) structures, as well as the Ce(IV) phosphonate Ce[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3)H(2))][C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3))]·2H(2)O. Ce(IV) reacts with Pu(IV) to yield the Pu(VI) compound, PuO(2)[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](H(2)O)·3H(2)O, and a disordered heterobimetallic Pu(IV)/Ce(IV) compound with the M[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3)H(2))][C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3))]·2H(2)O (M = Ce, Pu) structure. Mixtures of Np(VI) and Pu(VI) yield disordered heterobimetallic Np(IV)/Pu(IV) phosphonates with both the An[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3)H(2))][C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(PO(3))]·2H(2)O (M = Np, Pu) and An[C(6)H(4)(PO(3)H)(2)](2)·2H(2)O (M = Np, Pu) formulas.     

Rational design and synthesis of porous organic-inorganic hybrid frameworks constructed by 1,3,5-benzenetriphosphonic acid and pyridine synthons

1,3,5-Benzenetriphosphonic acid, H6BTP, 1,3,5-[(HO)2OP]3C6H3, was reacted hydrothermally with copper salts in the absence and presence of 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy) and 4,4'-trimethlyenedipyridine (tbpy) in a 1:1 molar ratio leading to three new organic-inorganic hybrid frameworks. Compound 1, {Cu6[C6H3(PO3)3]2(H2O)8} x 5.5 H2O, has three different copper ions that are interconnected by the highly charged [1,3,5-(PO3)3C6H3]6- anionic moieties. These moieties self-assemble through tetra-copper units to give a cagelike motif with two benzene rings parallel to each other at a distance of 3.531 A which extend along the a axis and link with a grouping of four-coordinated copper units in the b axis direction to give the cross-linked layered structure. In compound 2, Cu{C6H3[PO(OH)O]2[PO(OH)2]}(C10H8N2), the copper ions are in square pyramidal geometries and are interconnected via chelating and bridging BTP ligands into layers which are further cross-linked by bpy ligands into a pillared layered architecture. Compound 3, {Cu2C6H3[PO(OH)O]2[PO3](C13H14N2)} x 3 H2O x 0.5 HCON(CH3)2, contains tetra-copper units that are linked by BTP ligands and further linked by tbpy linkers in the c axis direction to produce a large channel-sized 3D framework.     

Push-pull nitrile ligands exhibit specific hydration patterns

The reaction between K[PtCl(3)(Me(2)SO)] or prepared in this work cis- and trans-[PtCl(2)(NCNR(2))(Me(2)SO)] (R(2) = Me(2), 1; C(4)H(8)O, 2; C(5)H(10) 3) with an excess of NCNR(2) in water gives the cationic bischelate [Pt{κ(2)-N,N'-NH=C(NMe(2))OC(NMe(2))=NH}(2)](2+) (4(2+)) and the monochelates [PtCl{κ(2)-N,O-NH=C(NR(2))NC(NR(2))=O}(Me(2)SO)] (R(2) = C(4)H(8)O, 5; C(5)H(10), 6). Complex 4(2+) was released from the reaction mixture as 4·[PtCl(3)(Me(2)SO)](2)·(H(2)O)(2) or it was precipitated as 4·[A](2) (A = pic, 4·[pic](2); PF(6), 4·[PF(6)](2); BPh(4), 4·[BPh(4)](2)·(NH(2)CONMe(2))) by addition of picric acid, NaPF(6), or NaBPh(4), respectively, to the filtrate obtained after separation of 4·[PtCl(3)(Me(2)SO)](2)·(H(2)O)(2). In 2, the dialkylcyanamide ligand undergoes bond cleavage giving the known trans-[PtCl(2){N(H)C(4)H(8)O}(Me(2)SO)] (trans-7). All complexes were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), high resolution ESI-MS, IR, (1)H and (13)C{(1)H} NMR spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR correlation experiments ((1)H,(1)H-COSY, (1)H,(13)C-HMQC/(1)H,(13)C HSQC, (1)H,(13)C-HMBC, and (1)H,(1)H-NOESY). The structures of cis-1, cis-3, 4·[PtCl(3)(Me(2)SO)](2)·(H(2)O)(2), 4·[BPh(4)](2)·(NH(2)CONMe(2)) and 5 were determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction.