Comprehensive inter‐laboratory calibration of reference materials for δ18O versus VSMOW using various on‐line high‐temperature conversion techniques

Internationally distributed organic and inorganic oxygen isotopic reference materials have been calibrated by six laboratories carrying out more than 5300 measurements using a variety of high‐temperature conversion techniques (HTC) a in an evaluation sponsored by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). To aid in the calibration of these reference materials, which span more than 125‰, an artificially enriched reference water (δ¹⁸O of +78.91‰) and two barium sulfates (one depleted and one enriched in ¹⁸O) were prepared and calibrated relative to VSMOW2 b and SLAP reference waters. These materials were used to calibrate the other isotopic reference materials in this study, which yielded:

Frovatriptan salts of aliphatic carboxylic acids

The interaction of the antimigraine pharmaceutical agent frovatriptan with acetic acid and succinic acid yields the salts (±)‐6‐carbamoyl‐N‐methyl‐2,3,4,9‐tetrahydro‐1H‐carbazol‐3‐aminium acetate, C₁₄H₁₈N₃O⁺·C₂H₃O₂⁻, (I), (R)‐(+)‐6‐carbamoyl‐N‐methyl‐2,3,4,9‐tetrahydro‐1H‐carbazol‐3‐aminium 3‐carboxypropanoate monohydrate, C₁₄H₁₈N₃O⁺·C₄H₅O₄⁻·H₂O, (II), and bis[(R)‐(+)‐6‐carbamoyl‐N‐methyl‐2,3,4,9‐tetrahydro‐1H‐carbazol‐3‐aminium] succinate trihydrate, 2C₁₄H₁₈N₃O⁺·C₄H₄O₄²⁻·3H₂O, (III). The methylazaniumyl substitutent is oriented differently in all three structures. Additionally, the amide group in (I) is in a different orientation. All the salts form three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded structures. In (I), the cations form head‐to‐head hydrogen‐bonded amide–amide catemers through N—H...O interactions, while in (II) and (III) the cations form head‐to‐head amide–amide dimers. The cation catemers in (I) are extended into a three‐dimensional network through further interactions with acetate anion acceptors. The presence of succinate anions and water molecules in (II) and (III) primarily governs the three‐dimensional network through water‐bridged cation–anion associations via O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The structures reported here shed some light on the possible mode of noncovalent interactions in the aggregation and interaction patterns of drug molecule adducts.     

rac‐3‐Benzoyl‐2‐methylpropionic acid and its organic salts: possibilities of Yang photocyclization in crystals

The analysis of the crystal structures of rac‐3‐benzoyl‐2‐methylpropionic acid, C₁₁H₁₂O₃, (I), morpholinium rac‐3‐benzoyl‐2‐methylpropionate monohydrate, C₄H₁₀NO⁺·C₁₁H₁₁O₃⁻·H₂O, (II), pyridinium [hydrogen bis(rac‐3‐benzoyl‐2‐methylpropionate)], C₅H₆N⁺·(H⁺·2C₁₁H₁₁O₃⁻), (III), and pyrrolidinium rac‐3‐benzoyl‐2‐methylpropionate rac‐3‐benzoyl‐2‐methylpropionic acid, C₄H₁₀N⁺·C₁₁H₁₁O₃⁻·C₁₁H₁₂O₃, (IV), has enabled us to predict and understand the behaviour of these compounds in Yang photocyclization. Molecules containing the Ar—CO—C—C—CH fragment can undergo Yang photocyclization in solvents but they can be photoinert in the crystalline state. In the case of the compounds studied here, the long distances between the O atom of the carbonyl group and the γ‐H atom, and between the C atom of the carbonyl group and the γ‐C atom preclude Yang photocyclization in the crystals. Molecules of (I) are deprotonated in a different manner depending on the kind of organic base used. In the crystal structure of (III), strong centrosymmetric O...H...O hydrogen bonds are observed.     

N2: a potential pitfall for bulk 2H isotope analysis of explosives and other nitrogen‐rich compounds by continuous‐flow isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry

Observations made during the ¹³C isotope analysis of gaseous CO₂ in the simultaneous presence of argon in the ion source of the isotope ratio mass spectrometer prompted us to investigate what influence the simultaneous presence of nitrogen would have on both accuracy and precision of bulk ²H isotope analysis of nitrogen‐rich organic compounds. Initially an international reference material, IAEA‐CH7, was mixed with silver nitrate in various ratios to assess the impact that N₂ evolved from the pyrolysis of nitrogen‐rich organic compounds would have on measured δ²H‐values of IAEA‐CH7. In a subsequent experiment, benzoic acid was mixed with silver nitrate to mimic the N:H ratio of organic‐rich nitrogen compounds such as cellulose nitrate and RDX. The results of both experiments showed a significant deterioration of both accuracy and precision for the expected δ²H values for IAEA‐CH7 and benzoic acid when model mixtures were converted into hydrogen and nitrogen, and subsequently separated by gas chromatography using standard experimental conditions, namely a 60 cm packed column with molecular sieve 5 Å as stationary phase held at a temperature of 85°C. It was found that bulk ²H stable isotope analysis of nitrogen‐rich organic compounds employing published standard conditions can result in a loss of accuracy and precision yielding δ²H values that are 5 to 25‰ too negative, thus suggesting, for example, that tree‐ring ²H isotope data based on cellulose nitrate may have to be revised. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polynuclear coordination compounds of alkali metal ions with organic chromophores

The crystal structures of sodium 4‐({4‐[N,N‐bis(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­amino]­phenyl}diazenyl)­benzoate 3.5‐hydrate, Na⁺·C₁₇H₁₈N₃O₄^?·3.5H₂O, (I), and potassium 4‐({4‐[N,N‐bis(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­amino]­phenyl}diazenyl)­benzoate dihydrate, K⁺·C₁₇H₁₈N₃O₄^?·2H₂O, (II), are described. The results indicate an octahedral coordination around sodium in (I) and a trigonal prismatic coordination around potassium in (II). In both cases, coordination around the metal cation is achieved through O atoms of the water mol­ecules and hydroxy groups of the chromophore. The organic conjugated part of the chromophore is approximately planar in (I), while a dihedral angle of 30.7 (2)° between the planes of the phenyl rings is observed in (II).     

Pentazol‐Derivate und daraus entstehende Azide: [O3S—p‐C6H4—N5]— und [O3S—p‐C6H4—N3]— als Kalium‐Kronenether‐Salze

Pentazole Derivates and Azides Formed from them: Potassium‐Crown‐Ether Salts of [O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₅]^— and [O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₃]^{— —}O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₂⁺ was reacted with sodium azide at —50 °C in methanol, yielding a mixture of 4‐pentazolylbenzenesulfonate and 4‐azidobenzenesulfonate (amount‐of‐substance ratio 27:73 according to NMR). By addition of KOH in methanol at —50 °C a mixture of the potassium salts K[O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₅] and K[O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₃] was precipitated (ratio 60:40). A solution of this mixture along with 18‐crown‐6 in tetrahydrofurane yielded the crystalline pentazole derivate [THF‐K‐18‐crown‐6][O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₅]·THF by addition of petrol ether at —70 °C. From the same solution upon evaporation and redissolution in THF/petrol ether the crystalline azide [THF‐K‐18‐crown‐6][O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₃]·THF was obtained. A solution of the latter in chloroform/toluene under air yielded [K‐18‐crown‐6][O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₃]·1/3H₂O. According to their X‐ray crystal structure determinations [THF‐K‐18‐crown‐6][O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₅]·THF and [THF‐K‐18‐crown‐6][O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₃]·THF have the same kind of crystal packing. Differences worth mentioning exist only for the atomic positions of the pentazole ring as compared to the azido group and for one THF molecule which is coordinated to the potassium ion; different orientations of the THF molecule take account for the different space requirements of the N₅ and the N₃ group. In [K‐18‐crown‐6][O₃S—p‐C₆H₄—N₃]·1/3H₂O there exists one unit consisting of one [K‐18‐crown‐6]⁺ and one [O₃S‐C₆H₄—N₃]^— ion and another unit consisting of two [O₃S‐C₆H₄—N₃]^— ions joined via two [K‐18‐crown‐6]⁺ ions and one water molecule. The rate constants for the decomposition [O₃S‐C₆H₄—N₅]^— → [O₃S‐C₆H₄—N₃]^— + N₂ in methanol were determined at 0 °C and —20 °C.     

Supramolecular architectures of succinates of 1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐aminium derivatives

Aminoalkanol and aroxyalkyl derivatives are known as potential anticonvulsants. Two new salts, namely bis{(R,S)‐N‐[2‐(2,6‐dimethylphenoxy)ethyl]‐1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐aminium} succinate ( 1s ), C₁₃H₂₂NO₂⁺·0.5C₄H₄O₄²⁻, and bis{(S)‐(+)‐N‐[2‐(2,6‐dimethylphenoxy)ethyl]‐1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐aminium} succinate ( 2s ), C₁₃H₂₂NO₂⁺·0.5C₄H₄O₄²⁻, have been prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The N atoms are protonated by proton transfer from succinic acid. Salt 1s crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n with one cation and half an anion in the asymmetric unit across an inversion centre, while ( 2s ) crystallizes in the space group P2₁ with four cations and two anions in the asymmetric unit. The hydroxy group of the cation of 1s is observed in two R/S disorder positions. The crystals of these two salts display similar supramolecular architectures (i.e. two‐dimensional networks), built mainly by intermolecular N⁺—H…O^δ− and O—H…O^δ− hydrogen bonds, where `δ−' represents a partial charge. The succinate anions are engaged in hydrogen bonds, not only with protonated N atoms, but also with hydroxy groups.     

Chiral anionic layers in tartramide spiroborate salts and variable solvation for [NR4][B(TarNH2)2] (R = Et,Pr or Bu)

The spiroborate anion, namely, 2,3,7,8‐tetracarboxamido‐1,4,6,9‐tetraoxa‐5λ⁴‐boraspiro[4.4]nonane, [B(TarNH₂)₂]^?, derived from the diol l ‐tartramide TarNH₂, [CH(O)(CONH₂)]₂, shows a novel self‐assembly into two‐dimensional (2D) layer structures in its salts with alkylammonium cations, [NR₄]⁺ (R = Et, Pr and Bu), and sparteinium, [HSpa]⁺, in which the cations and anions are segregated. The structures of four such salts are reported, namely, the tetrapropylazanium salt, C₁₂H₂₈N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?, the tetraethylazanium salt hydrate, C₈H₂₀N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·6.375H₂O, the tetrabutylazanium salt as the ethanol monosolvate hemihydrate, C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·C₂H₅OH·0.5H₂O, and the sparteinium (7‐aza‐15‐azoniatetracyclo[7.7.1.0^2,7.0^10,15]heptadecane) salt as the ethanol monosolvate, C₁₅H₂₇N₂⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·C₂H₅OH. The 2D anion layers have preserved intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the amide groups and a typical metric repeat of around 10 × 15 Å. The constraint of matching the interfacial area organizes the cations into quite different solvated arrangements, i.e. the [NEt₄] salt is highly hydrated with around 6.5H₂O per cation, the [NPr₄] salt apparently has a good metric match to the anion layer and is unsolvated, whilst the [NBu₄] salt is intermediate and has EtOH and H₂O in its cation layer, which is similar to the arrangement for the chiral [HSpa]⁺ cation. This family of salts shows highly organized chiral space and offers potential for the resolution of both chiral cations and neutral chiral solvent molecules.     

Measurement of sulfur isotope composition (δ34S) by multiple‐collector thermal ionization mass spectrometry using a 33S‐36S double spike

A new analytical technique is described for the determination of δ³⁴S that is comparable to or better than modern gas source mass spectrometry in precision and accuracy, but requires about a factor of 10 less sample. The technique is based on the production of singularly charged arsenic sulfide molecular ions (AsS⁺) by thermal ionization using silica gel as an emitter and combines multiple‐collector thermal ionization mass spectrometry (MC‐TIMS) with a ³³S‐³⁶S double spike to correct instrumental fractionation. Three international sulfur standards (IAEA‐S‐1, IAEA‐S‐2, and IAEA‐S‐3) were measured to evaluate the precision and accuracy of the new technique and to evaluate the consensus values for these standards. Two different double spike preparations were used. The δ³⁴S values (reported relative to Vienna Canyon Diablo Troilite (VCDT), (δ³⁴S (‰) = ([((³⁴S/³²S)_sample/(³⁴S/³²S)_VCDT ? 1) × 1000]), ³⁴S/³²S_VCDT = 0.0441626) determined were ?0.32 ± 0.04‰ (1σ, n = 4) and ?0.31 ± 0.13‰ (1σ, n = 8) for IAEA‐S‐1, 22.65 ± 0.04‰ (1σ, n = 7) and 22.60 ± 0.06‰ (1σ, n = 5) for IAEA‐S‐2, and ?32.47 ± 0.07‰ (1σ, n = 8) for IAEA‐S‐3. The amount of natural sample used for these analyses ranged from 0.40 to 2.35 µmol. Replicate determinations of each standard showed less than 0.5‰ variability (IAEA‐S‐1 <0.4‰, IAEA‐S‐2 <0.2‰, and IAEA‐S‐3 <0.2‰). Because the technique is based on thermal ionization of AsS⁺, and As is mononuclidic, corrections for interferences or for scale contraction/expansion are not required. The availability of MC‐TIMS instruments in laboratories around the world makes this technique immediately available to a much larger scientific community who require highly accurate and precise measurements of sulfur. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differences and similarities among hypoxanthinium nitrate hydrate structures

Crystals of hypoxanthinium (6‐oxo‐1H,7H‐purin‐9‐ium) nitrate hydrates were investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction at different temperatures. The data for hypoxanthinium nitrate monohydrate (C₅H₅N₄O⁺·NO₃^?·H₂O, Hx1 ) were collected at 20, 105 and 285 K. The room‐temperature phase was reported previously [Schmalle et al. (1990). Acta Cryst. C 46 , 340–342] and the low‐temperature phase has not been investigated yet. The structure underwent a phase transition, which resulted in a change of space group from Pmnb to P2₁/n at lower temperature and subsequently in nonmerohedral twinning. The structure of hypoxanthinium dinitrate trihydrate (H₃O⁺·C₅H₅N₄O⁺·2NO₃^?·2H₂O, Hx2 ) was determined at 20 and 100 K, and also has not been reported previously. The Hx2 structure consists of two types of layers: the `hypoxanthinium nitrate monohydrate' layers (HX) observed in Hx1 and layers of Zundel complex H₃O⁺·H₂O interacting with nitrate anions (OX). The crystal can be considered as a solid solution of two salts, i.e. hypoxanthinium nitrate monohydrate, C₅H₅N₄O⁺·NO₃^?·H₂O, and oxonium nitrate monohydrate, H₃O⁺(H₂O)·NO₃^?.     

Brucinium 3,5‐dinitro­benzoate methanol solvate,methanol disolvate and trihydrate

Crystals of brucinium 3,5‐dinitro­benzoate methanol solvate, C₂₃H₂₇N₂O₄⁺·C₇H₃N₂O₆⁻·CH₃OH, (I), brucinium 3,5‐dinitro­benzoate methanol disolvate, C₂₃H₂₇N₂O₄⁺·C₇H₃N₂O₆⁻·2CH₃OH, (II), and brucinium 3,5‐dinitro­benzoate trihydrate, C₂₃H₂₇N₂O₄⁺·C₇H₃N₂O₆⁻·3H₂O, (III), were obtained from methanol [for (I) and (II)] or ethanol solutions [for (III)]. The brucinium cations and 3,5‐dinitro­benzoate anions are linked by ionic N—H⁺⋯O⁻ hydrogen bonds. In the crystals of (I), (II) and (III), the brucinium cations exhibit different modes of packing, viz. corrugated ribbons, pillars and corrugated monolayer sheets, respectively. While in (III), the amide O atom of the brucinium cation participates in O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, in which water mol­ecules are the donors, in (I) and (II), the amide O atom of the brucinium cation is involved in weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and other brucinium cations are the donors.     

Calcite‐CO2 mixed into CO2‐free air: a new CO2‐in‐air stable isotope reference material for the VPDB scale

In order to generate a reliable and long‐lasting stable isotope ratio standard for CO₂ in samples of clean air, CO₂ is liberated from well‐characterized carbonate material and mixed with CO₂‐free air. For this purpose a dedicated acid reaction and air mixing system (ARAMIS) was designed. In the system, CO₂ is generated by a conventional acid digestion of powdered carbonate. Evolved CO₂ gas is mixed and equilibrated with a prefabricated gas comprised of N₂, O₂, Ar, and N₂O at close to ambient air concentrations. Distribution into glass flasks is made stepwise in a highly controlled fashion. The isotopic composition, established on automated extraction/measurement systems, varied within very small margins of error appropriate for high‐precision air‐CO₂ work (about ±0.015‰ for δ¹³C and ±0.025‰ for δ¹⁸O). To establish a valid δ¹⁸O relation to the VPDB scale, the temperature dependence of the reaction between 25 and 47°C has been determined with a high level of precision. Using identical procedures, CO₂‐in‐air mixtures were generated from a selection of reference materials; (1) the material defining the VPDB isotope scale (NBS 19, δ¹³C = +1.95‰ and δ¹⁸O = ?2.2‰ exactly); (2) a local calcite similar in isotopic composition to NBS 19 (‘MAR‐J1’, δ¹³C = +1.97‰ and δ¹⁸O = ?2.02‰), and (3) a natural calcite with isotopic compositions closer to atmospheric values (‘OMC‐J1’, δ¹³C = ?4.24‰ and δ¹⁸O = ?8.71‰). To quantitatively control the extent of isotope‐scale contraction in the system during mass spectrometric measurement other available international and local carbonate reference materials (L‐SVEC, IAEA‐CO‐1, IAEA‐CO‐8, CAL‐1 and CAL‐2) were also processed. As a further control pure CO₂ reference gases (Narcis I and II, NIST‐RM 8563, GS19 and GS20) were mixed with CO₂‐free synthetic air. Independently, the pure CO₂ gases were measured on the dual inlet systems of the same mass spectrometers. The isotopic record of a large number of independent batches prepared over the course of several months is presented. In addition, the relationship with other implementations of the VPDB‐scale for CO₂‐in‐air (e.g. CG‐99, based on calibration of pure CO₂ gas) has been carefully established. The systematic high‐precision comparison of secondary carbonate and CO₂ reference materials covering a wide range in isotopic composition revealed that assigned δ‐values may be (slightly) in error. Measurements in this work deviate systematically from assigned values, roughly scaling with isotopic distance from NBS 19. This finding indicates that a scale contraction effect could have biased the consensus results. The observation also underlines the importance of cross‐contamination errors for high‐precision isotope ratio measurements. As a result of the experiments, a new standard reference material (SRM), which consists of two 5‐L glass flasks containing air at 1.6 bar and the CO₂ evolved from two different carbonate materials, is available for distribution. These ‘J‐RAS’ SRM flasks (‘Jena‐Reference Air Set’) are designed to serve as a high‐precision link to VPDB for improving inter‐laboratory comparability. a Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional networks in 5‐methylimidazolium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate and bis(5‐methylimidazolium) 3‐carboxylato‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate

The two title proton‐transfer compounds, 5‐methylimidazolium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate, C₄H₇N₂⁺·C₇H₅O₆S⁻, (I), and bis(5‐methylimidazolium) 3‐carboxylato‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate, 2C₄H₇N₂⁺·C₇H₅O₆S²⁻, (II), are each organized into a three‐dimensional network by a combination of X—H...O (X = O, N or C) hydrogen bonds, and π–π and C—H...π interactions.     

Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonded networks in cytosinium succinate and cytosinium 4‐nitrobenzoate cytosine monohydrate

In cytosinium succinate (systematic name: 4‐amino‐2‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐1‐ium 3‐carboxypropanoate), C₄H₆N₃O⁺·C₄H₅O₄⁻, (I), the cytosinium cation forms one‐dimensional self‐assembling patterns by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonding, while in cytosinium 4‐nitrobenzoate cytosine monohydrate [systematic name: 4‐amino‐2‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐1‐ium 4‐nitrobenzoate 4‐aminopyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one solvate monohydrate], C₄H₆N₃O⁺·C₇H₄NO₄⁻·C₄H₅N₃O·H₂O, (II), the cytosinium–cytosine base pair, held together by triple hydrogen bonds, leads to one‐dimensional polymeric ribbons via double N—H...O hydrogen bonds. This study illustrates clearly the different alignment of cytosine molecules in the crystal packing and their ability to form supramolecular hydrogen‐bonded networks with the anions.     

Low‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded structures in the 1:1 and 1:2 proton‐transfer compounds of 4,5‐dichlorophthalic acid with the aliphatic Lewis bases triethylamine,diethylamine, n‐butylamine and piperidine

The structures of the proton‐transfer compounds of 4,5‐dichlorophthalic acid (DCPA) with the aliphatic Lewis bases triethylamine, diethylamine, n‐butylamine and piperidine, namely triethylaminium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate, C₆H₁₆N⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻, (I), diethylaminium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate, C₄H₁₂N⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻, (II), bis(butanaminium) 4,5‐dichlorobenzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate monohydrate, 2C₄H₁₂N⁺·C₈H₂Cl₂O₄²⁻·H₂O, (III), and bis(piperidinium) 4,5‐dichlorobenzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate monohydrate, 2C₅H₁₂N⁺·C₈H₂Cl₂O₄²⁻·H₂O, (IV), have been determined at 200 K. All compounds have hydrogen‐bonding associations, giving discrete cation–anion units in (I) and linear chains in (II), while (III) and (IV) both have two‐dimensional structures. In (I), a discrete cation–anion unit is formed through an asymmetric R₁²(4) N⁺—H...O₂ hydrogen‐bonding association, whereas in (II), chains are formed through linear N—H...O associations involving both aminium H‐atom donors. In compounds (III) and (IV), the primary N—H...O‐linked cation–anion units are extended into a two‐dimensional sheet structure via amide–carboxyl N—H...O and amide–carbonyl N—H...O interactions. In the 1:1 salts (I) and (II), the hydrogen 4,5‐dichlorophthalate anions are essentially planar with short intramolecular carboxyl–carboxyl O—H...O hydrogen bonds [O...O = 2.4223 (14) and 2.388 (2) Å, respectively]. This work provides a further example of the uncommon zero‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded DCPA–Lewis base salt and the one‐dimensional chain structure type, while even with the hydrate structures of the 1:2 salts with the primary and secondary amines, the low dimensionality generally associated with 1:1 DCPA salts is also found.     

Simultaneous determination of δ15N and δ18O of N2O and δ13C of CH4 in nanomolar quantities from a single water sample

We have developed a rapid, sensitive, and automated analytical system to simultaneously determine the concentrations and stable isotopic compositions (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and δ¹³C) of nanomolar quantities of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) in water, by combining continuous‐flow isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry and a helium‐sparging system to extract and purify the dissolved gases. Our system, which is composed of cold traps and a capillary gas chromatograph that use ultra‐pure helium as the carrier gas, achieves complete extraction of N₂O and CH₄ in a water sample and separation among N₂O, CH₄, and the other component gases. The flow path following exit from the gas chromatograph was periodically changed to pass the gases through the combustion furnace to convert CH₄ and the other hydrocarbons into CO₂, or to bypass the combustion furnace for the direct introduction of eluted N₂O into the mass spectrometer, for determining the stable isotopic compositions through monitoring the ions of m/z 44, 45, and 46 of CO and N₂O⁺. The analytical system can be operated automatically with sequential software programmed on a personal computer. Analytical precisions better than 0.2‰ and 0.3‰ and better than 1.4‰ and 2.6‰ were obtained for the δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O of N₂O, respectively, when more than 6.7 nmol and 0.2 nmol of N₂O, respectively, were injected. Simultaneously, analytical precisions better than 0.07‰ and 2.1‰ were obtained for the δ¹³C of CH₄ when more than 5.5 nmol and 0.02 nmol of CH₄, respectively, were injected. In this manner, we can simultaneously determine stable isotopic compositions of a 120 mL water sample with concentrations as low as 1.7 nmol/kg for N₂O and 0.2 nmol/kg for CH₄. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nicotine,acetanilide and urea multi‐level 2H‐, 13C‐ and 15N‐abundance reference materials for continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Accurate determinations of stable isotope ratios require a calibration using at least two reference materials with different isotopic compositions to anchor the isotopic scale and compensate for differences in machine slope. Ideally, the δ values of these reference materials should bracket the isotopic range of samples with unknown δ values. While the practice of analyzing two isotopically distinct reference materials is common for water (VSMOW‐SLAP) and carbonates (NBS 19 and L‐SVEC), the lack of widely available organic reference materials with distinct isotopic composition has hindered the practice when analyzing organic materials by elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA‐IRMS). At present only L‐glutamic acids USGS40 and USGS41 satisfy these requirements for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, with the limitation that L‐glutamic acid is not suitable for analysis by gas chromatography (GC). We describe the development and quality testing of (i) four nicotine laboratory reference materials for on‐line (i.e. continuous flow) hydrogen reductive gas chromatography‐isotope ratio mass‐spectrometry (GC‐IRMS), (ii) five nicotines for oxidative C, N gas chromatography‐combustion‐isotope ratio mass‐spectrometry (GC‐C‐IRMS, or GC‐IRMS), and (iii) also three acetanilide and three urea reference materials for on‐line oxidative EA‐IRMS for C and N. Isotopic off‐line calibration against international stable isotope measurement standards at Indiana University adhered to the ‘principle of identical treatment’. The new reference materials cover the following isotopic ranges: δ²H_nicotine ?162 to ?45‰, δ¹³C_nicotine ?30.05 to +7.72‰, δ¹⁵N_nicotine ?6.03 to +33.62‰; δ¹⁵N_acetanilide +1.18 to +40.57‰; δ¹³C_urea ?34.13 to +11.71‰, δ¹⁵N_urea +0.26 to +40.61‰ (recommended δ values refer to calibration with NBS 19, L‐SVEC, IAEA‐N‐1, and IAEA‐N‐2). Nicotines fill a gap as the first organic nitrogen stable isotope reference materials for GC‐IRMS that are available with different δ¹⁵N values. Comparative δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N on‐line EA‐IRMS data from 14 volunteering laboratories document the usefulness and reliability of acetanilides and ureas as EA‐IRMS reference materials. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydro­gen bonding in proton‐transfer compounds of 5‐sulfosalicylic acid with bicyclic heteroaromatic Lewis bases

The crystal structures of quinolinium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxy­benzene­sulfonate trihydrate, C₉H₈N⁺·C₇H₅O₆S⁻·3H₂O, (I), 8‐hydroxy­quinolinium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxy­benzene­sulfonate monohydrate, C₉H₈NO⁺·C₇H₅O₆S⁻·H₂O, (II), 8‐amino­quinolinium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxy­benzene­sulfonate dihydrate, C₉H₉N₂⁺·C₇H₅O₆S⁻·2H₂O, (III), and 2‐carboxy­quinolinium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxy­benzene­sulfonate quinolinium‐2‐carboxylate, C₁₀H₈NO₂⁺·C₇H₅O₆S⁻·C₁₀H₇NO₂, (IV), four proton‐transfer compounds of 5‐sulfosalicylic acid with bicyclic heteroaromatic Lewis bases, reveal in each the presence of variously hydrogen‐bonded polymers. In only one of these compounds, viz. (II), is the protonated quinolinium group involved in a direct primary N⁺—H⋯O(sulfonate) hydrogen‐bonding interaction, while in the other hydrates, viz. (I) and (III), the water mol­ecules participate in the primary intermediate interaction. The quinaldic acid (quinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid) adduct, (IV), exhibits cation–cation and anion–adduct hydrogen bonding but no direct formal heteromolecular interaction other than a number of weak cation–anion and cation–adduct π–π stacking associations. In all other compounds, secondary interactions give rise to network polymer structures.     

Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in salts of the antifolate drugs trimethoprim and pyrimethamine

Nine salts of the antifolate drugs trimethoprim and pyrimethamine, namely, trimethoprimium [or 2,4‐diamino‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidin‐1‐ium] 2,5‐dichlorothiophene‐3‐carboxylate monohydrate (TMPDCTPC, 1:1), C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃⁺·C₅HCl₂O₂S⁻, ( I ), trimethoprimium 3‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylate monohydrate, (TMPBTPC, 1:1:1), C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃⁺·C₅H₂BrO₂S⁻·H₂O, ( II ), trimethoprimium 3‐chlorothiophene‐2‐carboxylate monohydrate (TMPCTPC, 1:1:1), C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃⁺·C₅H₂ClO₂S⁻·H₂O, ( III ), trimethoprimium 5‐methylthiophene‐2‐carboxylate monohydrate (TMPMTPC, 1:1:1), C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃⁺·C₆H₅O₂S⁻·H₂O, ( IV ), trimethoprimium anthracene‐9‐carboxylate sesquihydrate (TMPAC, 2:2:3), C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃⁺·C₁₅H₉O₂⁻·1.5H₂O, ( V ), pyrimethaminium [or 2,4‐diamino‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐6‐ethylpyrimidin‐1‐ium] 2,5‐dichlorothiophene‐3‐carboxylate (PMNDCTPC, 1:1), C₁₂H₁₄ClN₄⁺·C₅HCl₂O₂S⁻, ( VI ), pyrimethaminium 5‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylate (PMNBTPC, 1:1), C₁₂H₁₄ClN₄⁺·C₅H₂BrO₂S⁻, ( VII ), pyrimethaminium anthracene‐9‐carboxylate ethanol monosolvate monohydrate (PMNAC, 1:1:1:1), C₁₂H₁₄ClN₄⁺·C₁₅H₉O₂⁻·C₂H₅OH·H₂O, ( VIII ), and bis(pyrimethaminium) naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate (PMNNSA, 2:1), 2C₁₂H₁₄ClN₄⁺·C₁₀H₆O₆S₂²⁻, ( IX ), have been prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In all the crystal structures, the pyrimidine N1 atom is protonated. In salts ( I )–( III ) and ( VI )–( IX ), the 2‐aminopyrimidinium cation interacts with the corresponding anion via a pair of N—H…O hydrogen bonds, generating the robust R₂²(8) supramolecular heterosynthon. In salt ( IV ), instead of forming the R₂²(8) heterosynthon, the carboxylate group bridges two pyrimidinium cations via N—H…O hydrogen bonds. In salt ( V ), one of the carboxylate O atoms bridges the N1—H group and a 2‐amino H atom of the pyrimidinium cation to form a smaller R₂¹(6) ring instead of the R₂²(8) ring. In salt ( IX ), the sulfonate O atoms mimic the role of carboxylate O atoms in forming an R₂²(8) ring motif. In salts ( II )–( IX ), the pyrimidinium cation forms base pairs via a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds, generating a ring motif [R₂²(8) homosynthon]. Compounds ( II ) and ( III ) are isomorphous. The quadruple DDAA (D = hydrogen‐bond donor and A = hydrogen‐bond acceptor) array is observed in ( I ). In salts ( II )–( IV ) and ( VI )–( IX ), quadruple DADA arrays are present. In salts ( VI ) and ( VII ), both DADA and DDAA arrays co‐exist. The crystal structures are further stabilized by π–π stacking interactions [in ( I ), ( V ) and ( VII )–( IX )], C—H…π interactions [in ( IV )–( V ) and ( VII )–( IX )], C—Br…π interactions [in ( II )] and C—Cl…π interactions [in ( I ), ( III ) and ( VI )]. Cl…O and Cl…Cl halogen‐bond interactions are present in ( I ) and ( VI ), with distances and angles of 3.0020 (18) and 3.5159 (16) Å, and 165.56 (10) and 154.81 (11)°, respectively.     

Supramolecular association in proton‐transfer adducts containing benzamidinium cations. I. Four molecular salts with uracil derivatives

Four organic salts, namely benzamidinidium orotate (2,6‐dioxo‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐4‐carboxylate) hemihydrate, C₇H₉N₂⁺·C₅H₃N₂O₄⁻·0.5H₂O (BenzamH⁺·Or⁻), (I), benzamidinium isoorotate (2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate) trihydrate, C₇H₉N₂⁺·C₅H₃N₂O₄⁻·3H₂O (BenzamH⁺·Isor⁻), (II), benzamidinium diliturate (5‐nitro‐2,6‐dioxo‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐4‐olate) dihydrate, C₇H₉N₂⁺·C₄H₂N₃O₅⁻·2H₂O (BenzamH⁺·Dil⁻), (III), and benzamidinium 5‐nitrouracilate (5‐nitro‐2,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ide), C₇H₉N₂⁺·C₄H₂N₃O₄⁻ (BenzamH⁺·Nit⁻), (IV), have been synthesized by a reaction between benzamidine (benzenecarboximidamide or Benzam) and the appropriate carboxylic acid. Proton transfer occurs to the benzamidine imino N atom. In all four acid–base adducts, the asymmetric unit consists of one tautomeric aminooxo anion (Or⁻, Isor⁻, Dil⁻ and Nit⁻) and one monoprotonated benzamidinium cation (BenzamH⁺), plus one‐half (which lies across a twofold axis), three and two solvent water molecules in (I), (II) and (III), respectively. Due to the presence of protonated benzamidine, these acid–base complexes form supramolecular synthons characterized by N⁺—H...O⁻ and N⁺—H...N⁻ (±)‐charge‐assisted hydrogen bonds (CAHB).