Separation of metal complexes by on-line coupled LC-GC

The on-line coupled LC-GC technique was applied to the analysis of several metal chelates of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamic acid. A 10-port valve interface was used to couple the LC and GC instruments. Conditions during sample transfer into the GC gave fully concurrent solvent evaporation. The chelates investigated were separated with a short apolar fused silica column. LC preseparation was made with cyano or amino phases using a hexane/dichloromethane mixture as eluent. On-line LC-GC combination seems to be very suitable for the separation of the metal chelates studied.     

Isolation and identification of a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Teucrium chamaedrys L.

Teucrium chamaedrys L. is an aromatic and medicinal plant used as traditional medicine. Aerial parts of the plant material were dried and extracted with hexane–dichloromethane (extract 1), ethyl acetate–dichloromethane (extract 2) and methanol–dichloromethane (extract 3) in a ratio of 1:1 at rt successively. The solvents were evaporated to give crude extracts. Extract 1 was suspended in water at 60°C then partitioned successively with hexane and ethyl acetate to give hexane and ethyl acetate portions. After the column chromatography (silica gel) of ethyl acetate extract, one new and four known compounds were isolated. The new compound was named as 1(12S,18R)-15,16-epoxy-2β,6β-dihydroxy-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,l2-olide-l8,l9-hemiacetal (teuchamaedryn D) (4). The known compounds were teucrin A (1), dihydroteugin (2), teucroxide (3), syspirensin A (5). The chromatographic methods were also applied for extract 3 to isolate verbascoside (6) and teucrioside (7). The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including LC-TOF/MS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR.     

A Mild Procedure for the Preparation of o‐Nitrophenols by Nitro Urea or Ammonium Nitrate in the Presence of Silica Sulfuric Acid (SiO2‐OSO3H)

A mixture of ammonium nitrate or nitro urea and silica sulfuric acid was found to be efficient and environmentally friendly nitrating media for the preparation of orto‐nitro phenols in dichloromethane at room temperature.     

Differentiation of isomeric dinitrotoluenes and aminodinitrotoluenes using electrospray high resolution mass spectrometry

Explosive detection and identification play an important role in the environmental and forensic sciences. However, accurate identification of isomeric compounds remains a challenging task for current analytical methods. The combination of electrospray multistage mass spectrometry (ESI‐MSⁿ) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a powerful tool for the structure characterization of isomeric compounds. We show herein that resonant ion activation performed in a linear quadrupole ion trap allows the differentiation of dinitrotoluene isomers as well as aminodinitrotoluene isomers. The explosive‐related compounds: 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT), 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (2,6‐DNT), 2‐amino‐4,6‐dinitrotoluene (2A‐4,6‐DNT) and 4‐amino‐2,6‐dinitrotoluene (4A‐2,6‐DNT) were analyzed by ESI‐MS in the negative ion mode; they produced mainly deprotonated molecules [M ? H]^?. Subsequent low resolution MSⁿ experiments provided support for fragment ion assignments and determination of consecutive dissociation pathways. Resonant activation of deprotonated dinitrotoluene isomers gave different fragment ions according to the position of the nitro and amino groups on the toluene backbone. Fragment ion identification was bolstered by accurate mass measurements performed using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR/MS). Notably, unexpected results were found from accurate mass measurements performed at high resolution for 2,6‐DNT where a 30‐Da loss was observed that corresponds to CH₂O departure instead of the expected isobaric NO^? loss. Moreover, 2,4‐DNT showed a diagnostic fragment ion at m/z 116, allowing the unambiguous distinction between 2,4‐ and 2,6‐DNT isomers. Here, CH₂O loss is hindered by the presence of an amino group in both 2A‐4,6‐DNT and 4A‐2,6‐DNT isomers, but nevertheless, these isomers showed significant differences in their fragmentation sequences, thus allowing their differentiation. DFT calculations were also performed to support experimental observations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substitution reactions of phenanthro[9,10-d]triazole with benzyl chlorides

The reaction of the potassium salt of phenanthro[9,10-d]triazole and benzyl chloride gave 2-(benzyl)-2H-phenanthro[9,10-d]triazole ( 2a ) in 15% yield. The other regio-isomer, 1-(benzyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]-triazole ( 1a ), was obtained as a by-product in 3.9% yield. Similar reactions with benzyl chlorides having a methyl, a chloro or a nitro group on the aromatic ring gave the corresponding two products, 1b-j and 2b-j . In all cases, 2b-j were major products in yields of 14–62%, 1b-j were minor ones in yields of 1.4–7.6%. The structures of the isomers were confirmed by X-ray crystal analyses.     

Preparation of a high performance liquid chromatography column based on N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-aminoundecyl silica for the resolution of liquid crystal mixtures

A bonded silica stationary phase (SP 1) was prepared by connecting N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) aminoundecylsilane to silica gel. The stationary phase was applied in resolving a liquid crystal mixture with a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mode and the chromatographic resolution results were compared with those on an octadecylsilane (ODS) column. From the comparison of the resolution results on SP 1 and the ODS column, we found the new stationary phase was better than the ODS column in resolving a liquid crystal mixture and the elution orders of some liquid crystal were changed. The better resolution and the change in the elution orders on the new column might be originated from additional π–π interaction between the π-acidic 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl group of the stationary phase and the π-basic aromatic group of liquid crystals.     

Lipophilic arsenic compound(s) in the liver of a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

Homogenized aliquots (100 g) of the liver (8.4 kg, 5 m?g As g^?1) of a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) were extracted with chloroform/methanol, and the extracts purified by countercurrent extraction (hexane/87% ethanol), silica gel column chromatography (chloroform/methanol mixtures as mobile phases), and silica gel thin-layer chromatography (chloroform/methanol/acetic acid). The purified samples (24 mg arsenic g^?1) gave no ³¹P NMR signal, but gave ¹H and ¹³C NMR signals with similarities to those of dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid and salad on and also signals indicative of the presence of methylated arsenic compounds. The sample could contain a diacyl glyceride with a methylated arsenic group.     

Sediment Matrix Induced Response Enhancement in the Gas Chromatographic–Mass Spectrometric Quantification of Insecticides in Four Different Solvent Extracts from Ultrasonic and Soxhlet Extraction

The performance of ultrasonic and Soxhlet extraction using hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate/methyl-tert-butylether (1/3, v/v) and hexane/acetone (1/1, v/v) for the analysis of seventeen insecticides in sediments was evaluated. The contents of the extracts differed severely. The extracts obtained with ethylacetate/methyl-tert-butylether (1/3, v/v) and hexane/acetone (1/1, v/v) were dark yellow to green, whereas the extracts obtained with dichloromethane and hexane were light yellow and clear respectively. This is due to higher solubility of matrix compounds in ethylacetate/methyl-tert-butylether (1/3, v/v) and hexane/acetone (1/1, v/v). High loads of coextracted matrix compounds lead to matrix effects in the evaporation step of GC–MS measurements. This is known as matrix induced response enhancement effect. Matrix effects and recoveries were checked by analysis of spiked sediments. The suitable choice of extraction method in connection with an appropriate solvent separates the analytes from matrix compounds. Matrix effects are reduced and recoveries of spiked samples are improved.Revised: 6 January and 2 May 2005     

Syntheses and configurations of some heterocyclic amidoximes. X-Ray crystal structure of 3-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2(1H)-pyrazinone-O-methyloxime

O-Methyl-α-ketophenylacetohydroximoyl chloride ( 1 ) was prepared by the reaction of O-methyl-α-methoxyphenylacetohydroximoyl chloride ( 5 ) with N-bromosuccinimide and concentrated hydrobromic acid. Reaction of 1 with ethylenediamine gave 3-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2(1H)-pyrazinone-O-methyloxime ( 6 ). 3-Phenyl-5,6-cyclohexano-5,6-dihydro-2(1H)-pyrazininone-O-methyloxime ( 7 ) was prepared by reaction of 1 with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The X-ray structure of 6 has been determined. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pbca with a = 10.264(3), b = 18.262(4), c = 23.530(4)Å, V = 4411(2)ų, and Z = 16. The structure, which was refined to R = 0.038 using 1652 observed reflections, shows the amidoxime moiety to be the Z configuration. Reaction of benzohydroximoyl chloride with aziridine gave (Z)-aziridinylbenzaldoxime ( 16a ). Ultraviolet irradiation of a benzene solution of 16a gave a mixture of the Z and E isomers 16a and 16b . The E isomer 16b underwent thermal isomerization to 16a at 100°. Reaction of 16a with dimethyl sulfate in sodium hydroxide solution gave (Z)-O-methylaziridinylbenzaldoxime ( 17a ). Photoisomerization of a hexane solution of 17a gave a mixture of the Z and E isomers 17a and 17b which were separated by preparative glc. The isomers 17a and 17b are resistant to thermal Z = E isomerization. The mechanisms of thermal isomerization of benzamidoximes are discussed.     

Prediction of solvents extraction-the organochlorine pesticides in soil using solubility parameter

Prediction of the optimal extraction solvent based on the solubility parameter to extract the typical organochlorine pesticides from Jiangxi red soil was reported in this paper. Hildebrand solubility parameters, including dispersion coefficient (δ_d), polarity (δ_p) and hydrogen bonding (δ_h), of extraction solvents (including hexane, dichloromethane, hexane/methanol (4:1, v/v), hexane/acetone (1:1, v/v), hexane/dichloromethane (1:1, v/v) and organochlorine pesticides were calculated using group contribution method. The solvents, such as hexane/methanol (4:1, v/v) and hexane/acetone (1:1, v/v) were selected as ideal extraction solvents to extract o,p′-DDT o,p′-DDE and o,p′-DDD with high recoveries (>82%), furthermore, these solvents can be used to extract α-endosulfan, Endrin and HCB with the reliable recoveries (>75%). The estimated finding by solubility parameters was supported by the results of soxhlet extraction.     

Molecular structures of mononitroanilines and their thermal decomposition products

The molecular structures of 2-nitro, 3-nitro, and 4-nitroaniline and their internal rotational isomers were calculated by anab-initio method using HF/6-31G* basis set. The geometries were influenced by the nitro group's position. The perturbation of the amino group on the nitro group was observed in a 2-nitroaniline isomer having a molecular structure distinct from that of the other two isomers. Among them, 4-nitroaniline is the most stable one. Internal rotation tests of either the nitro or amino group of 3-nitro and 4-nitroaniline indicate that no significant deformations of the phenyl ring occurred after internal rotation; however, the internal rotational isomers of 2-nitroaniline differed from its original structure. Relatively easier internal rotation of the nitro group than the amino group and different C-NO₂ and C-NH₂ bonds indicate the bond-breaking message of nitroanilines. As products of explosives induced by thermal or shock are of interest, five products of 2-nitroaniline were selected to assess their geometries and energies. The above calculations revealed that these products are thermodynamically unfavorable.     

Ultrasound‐assisted extraction and solid‐phase extraction as a cleanup procedure for organochlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls determination in aquatic samples by gas chromatography with electron capture detection

The feasibility of developing a quick, easy, efficient procedure for the simultaneous determination of organochlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in aquatic samples using gas chromatography with electron capture detection based on solid‐phase extraction was investigated. The extraction solvent (n‐hexane/acetone, cyclohexane/ethyl acetate, n‐hexane/dichloromethane, n‐hexane) for ultrasound‐assisted solid–liquid extraction and solid‐phase extraction columns (florisil, neutral alumina, acidic alumina, aminopropyl trimethoxy silane, propyl ethylenediamine, aminopropyl trimethoxy silane/propyl ethylenediamine, graphitized carbon black and silica) for cleanup procedure were optimized. The gas chromatography with electron capture detection method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and recovery. Mean recoveries ranged from 75 to 115% with relative standard deviations <13%. Quantification limits were 0.20–0.40 ng/g for organochlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls. The satisfactory data demonstrated the good reproducibility of the method with relative standard deviations lower than 13%. In comparison to other related methods, this method requires less time and solvent and allows for rapid isolation of the target analytes with high selectivity. This method therefore allows for the screening of numerous samples and can also be used for routine analyses.     

Development and validation of a method for analyzing polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in sewage sludge samples

Summary A method has been developed for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) in sewage sludge samples. It was found that PCDD/F are best Soxhlet extracted from the matrix with toluene for 24h, after having tested other solvents (dichloromethane and hexane/acetone 41/59) and other extraction times. Several clean up steps (sulfuric acid, multilayer silica and Florisl columns) and concentration are required prior to analysis of the extract by high resolution gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). The complete procedure has been validated and the accuracy and precision data (repeatability and reproducibility) are given. The method is linear in the range studied and the limit of detection ranges between 0.2 and 2.2 pg g⁻¹ of dry matter for the 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. Moreover, the suitability of the method has been checked in an international interlaboratory comparison. The successful application of this method to several samples from Catalan and Dutch urban wastewater treatment plants was demonstrated.     

新型键合型纤维素类手性固定相的制备及安息香分离

采用六亚甲基二异氰酸酯作为键合试剂,制备了键合型纤维素3,5-二甲基苯基氨基甲酸酯手性固定相。分别往正己烷/乙醇或正己烷/异丙醇中添加四氢呋喃和二氯甲烷,系统地考察了四氢呋喃和二氯甲烷的含量对安息香外消旋体拆分的影响。实验结果表明,安息香两对映体的容量因子随二者含量的增加而降低,但分离效果变化不大,分离因子均在1.2以上。所制备的CSP在采用含有高浓度四氢呋喃(23%)、二氯甲烷的流动相进行手性分离时仍具有良好的稳定性。与涂敷型固定相相比,流动相选择范围更广。     

Electron and chemical ionization mass spectrometry in stereochemical differentiation of some 1,3-amino alcohols

Mass spectral fragmentations of two cyclopentane, eight cyclohexane and four norbornane/one 1,3-amino alcohols were studied under electron ionization (EI) by low-resolution, high-resolution, metastable ion analysis and collision-induced dissociation (CID) techniques. All stereoisomeric compounds gave rise to identical 70 eV EI mass spectra. However, the spectra of positional isomers clearly differed. The main fragmentation pathway for the saturated compounds began as an α-cleavage reaction with respect to the nitrogen atom. For the norbornene compounds a retro-Diels—Alder reaction was favoured. Relative to the aminomethyl-substituted compounds the fragmentation patterns for the compounds having the amino group connected directly to the ring were more complicated. The chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra were recorded using ammonia, isobutane, methane, dichloromethane and acetone as reagent gas. From the norbornane/One compounds the di-exo isomers decomposed more easily than the di-endo isomers with most of the reagent gases used. Differences between stereoisomers were observed directly only under methane CI. The decomposition products of the [M + H]⁺ ions generated under ammonia and isobutane CI were studies by recording their CID mass spectra. These spectra allowed the differentiation of the stereoisomers, at least to some extent.     

Chiral separation of helical chromenes with chloromethyl phenylcarbamate polysaccharide‐based stationary phases

Two chloromethyl phenylcarbamate‐based chiral stationary phases, one containing an amylose‐type chiral selector (Lux Amylose 2, from Phenomenex) and the other a cellulose‐type one (Lux Cellulose‐4, from Phenomenex), were successfully used for the chiral resolution of three helical chromenes featuring a helicene‐like structure. The compound bearing a phenyl substituent on the helicene‐like structure was enantioresolved at 25°C with Lux Cellulose‐4 and a n‐hexane/1‐propanol 99:1 v/v eluent. With a n‐hexane/2‐propanol 99.8:0.2 v/v mobile phase, the same column (operated at 35°C) provided the separation of the four isomers of the compound having a hexyl residue on the helicene‐like motif and an additional asymmetric carbon. Lux Amylose‐2 was necessary for the enantioseparation of the compound having the sole hexyl residue on the helical scaffold. For the last compound a n‐hexane/2‐propanol 99.8:0.2 v/v eluent was used, and the column temperature was fixed at 5°C. The enantiomer elution order was appraised by using electronic circular dichroism and theoretical calculations. Notably, different thermodynamics of retention and enantioseparation were observed for molecules with pronounced structural similarity, that is, the enantiomer pairs of the compound containing the additional asymmetric carbon atom. Indeed, both entropically and enthalpically controlled adsorption and separation processes were observed.     

Living cationic polymerization of n‐butyl propenyl ether

Cationic polymerization of n‐butyl propenyl ether (BuPE; CH₃CH CHOBu, cis/trans = 64/36) was examined with the HCl–IBVE (isobutyl vinyl ether) adduct/ZnCl₂ initiating system at −15 ∼ −78 °C in nonpolar (hexane, toluene) and polar (dichloromethane) solvents, specifically focusing on the feasibility of its living polymerization. In contrast to alkyl vinyl ethers, the living nature of the growing species in the BuPE polymerization was sensitive to polymerization temperature and solvent. For example, living cationic polymerization of IBVE can be achieved even at 0 °C with HCl–IBVE/ZnCl₂, whereas for BuPE whose β‐methyl group may cause steric hindrance ideal living polymerization occurred only at −78 °C. Another interesting feature of this polymerization is that the polymerization rate in hexane is as large as in dichloromethane, much larger than in toluene. A new method in determining the ratio of the living growing ends to the deactivated ones was developed with a devised monomer‐addition experiments, in which IBVE that can be polymerized in a living fashion below 0 °C was added to the almost completely polymerized solution of BuPE. The amount of the deactivated chain ends became small in hexane even at −40 °C in contrast to other solvents. Thus hexane turned out an excellent solvent for living cationic polymerization of BuPE. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 229–236, 2000     

Liquid chromatographic determination of tocopherols and tocotrienols in vegetable oils, formulated preparations, and biscuits

A precise and selective liquid chromatographic procedure for determining tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers in vegetable oils, formulated preparations, and biscuits was developed and validated. The proposed method quantitates vitamin E in better conditions of recoverability and reproducibility than the standard saponification procedure. Tocopherols and tocotrienols were extracted in hexane from vegetable oils, passed through a silica Sep-pak, chromatographed on a mu-Bondapak C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (95 + 5, v/v), identified at 292 nm, and detected with fluorescence procedure (excitation 296 nm, and emission 330 nm). The correlation coefficient on the calibration curve was 0.9995 over the range of 0.1 to 100 microg/mL. Overall recovery of vitamin E isomers was 93%; coefficients of variation for intra- and interday precision, < 2.25%. The results obtained from extraction methods 1 (with saponification) and 2 (without saponification) were compared by ANOVA test. Significant differences appeared between vitamin E isomers (p < or = 0.05).     

Evaluation of Extraction Procedures of Organochlorine Pesticides from Natural Waters and Sediments

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate different procedures for the extraction of organochlorine pesticides (OCP's) from natural waters and sediments. In the case of extraction from water, a C18 disk solid-phase extraction method was employed. Recovery experiments in the range of 40 to 200 ng/l with selected organochlorine compounds resulted in average recoveries between 80 and 100%. Four different solvents, hexane, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile and methanol, were tested as eluting agents. Best recoveries were obtained with ethyl acetate and hexane. A comparative study of OCP sediment extraction procedures was performed employing sonication, Soxhlet extraction and shake-flask methods. The capacity of these methods to recover OCP's from a sediment sample fortified at 50 ng/g was evaluated using hexane : acetone (1:1 v/v), hexane: acetone (8:2 v/v), acetonitrile and dichlorometane. The three extraction techniques gave similar results and dichloromethane was the most effective solvent. The optimised methods were applied in the analysis of waters and sediments from the “Aiguamolls de l'Empordà” Nature Park, Girona (Spain).