Validation studies for multicomponent quantitative NMR analysis: the example of apple fruit juice

Laboratories intending to work as official laboratories for food control have to be accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025. This necessitates the use of validated analytical methods. In this study, we present validation results of the recently commercialized “JuiceScreener” based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with apple juice as application example. The quantitative analysis included 29 compounds such as major sugars, amino acids, organic acids, as well as acetoin, arbutin, benzaldehyde, hydroxymethylfurfural, acetaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol. Limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), coefficients of variation (CV) for replicated measurements, repeatability, linear range, and recoveries were determined. The LOD and LOQ values varied in the 0.48–16 mg/L and in the 1.9–122 mg/L ranges with the lowest values for shikimic acid and highest for the principal sugars. The ¹H NMR assays were linear in broad concentration ranges (R > 0.99), encompassed typical concentration in apple juices, and are sufficient to control the requirements of the code of practice of the European fruit juice association. Recoveries between 92 and 109 % on average for five separate standard additions were obtained. The average CVs were found to be 3.0 % (intraday) and 3.6 % (interday) excluding sample preparation (by measuring five time one solution) and 5.5 % (intraday) and 6.2 % (interday) including sample preparation (by preparing and analyzing five separate samples). The NMR method was judged as suitable for the simultaneous quantification of compounds in apple juice for official food control purposes. Our results show that multiparameter NMR methods can be successfully validated with standard instrumentarium and that they are fit for the purpose of official food control.     

Single-molecule magnetism properties of the first strontium-manganese cluster [SrMn14O11(OMe)3(O2CPh)18(MeCN)2

The preparation and properties of the first strontium-manganese molecular complex are described. The reaction of (NBu(n)4)[Mn4O2(O2CPh)9(H 2O)] (4Mn(III)) with Sr(ClO4)2 in MeCN/MeOH led to the isolation of [SrMn14O11(OMe)3(O2CPh)18(MeCN)2] ( 1; 13Mn(III), Mn(II)). The structure of 1 consists of two [Mn4O3(OMe)] cubane units attached to a central, near-planar, trinuclear [Mn3O4] unit, to which are also attached a Mn and a Sr above the plane and a [Mn2O(OMe)] rhomb below the plane. Peripheral ligation is provided by 18 bridging benzoate and two terminal MeCN groups. Variable-temperature and -field dc magnetization (M) data were collected in the 1.8-10 K and 0.1-4.0 T ranges and fit by matrix diagonalization methods to give S = 9/2, D = -0.50(5) cm(-1), and g = 1.88(10), where S is the ground-state spin and D is the axial zero-field splitting parameter. Magnetization versus dc field sweeps at various temperatures and scan rates exhibited hysteresis loops, confirming 1 to be a new single-molecule magnet. Because complex 1 is the initial molecular example of intimately associated Mn and Sr atoms, Sr EXAFS studies have been performed for the first time on a synthetic Sr-containing molecule. This has also allowed comparisons with the EXAFS data on the Sr-substituted water oxidizing complex (WOC) of Photosystem II (PS II), which contains a SrMn4 complex.     

Unprecedented negishi coupling at C-br in the presence of a stannyl group as a convenient approach to pyridinylstannanes and their application in liquid crystal synthesis

The 2-bromo-5(or 6)-tri-n-butylstannylpyridines, prepared from dibromopyridines and i-PrMgCl at room temperature, undergo Negishi coupling with either alkyl or arylzinc chlorides. The new alkyl- and aryl-substituted pyridylstannanes produced are shown to be suitable for further functionalization by Stille coupling. A group of new liquid crystalline materials with aromatic cores comprised of pyridine and thiophene rings were prepared utilizing these new pyridinylstannanes as key intermediates.     

On the nature of the processes occurring in silver doped SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> films under heat treatment

The processes taking place on air-heating of SiO₂−Ag⁺ films and xerogels produced from the SiO₂ sols of different pH (3.7 or 9.5) were investigated. Silver nanoparticles 10–40 nm in size tolerant to oxidation at temperatures above 600 °C were found to be formed in the systems whatever the pH value of the starting sol. SiO₂ crystallization giving the cristobalite phase in the temperature range from 500 to 800 °C was shown to proceed only in the films produced from the acidic sol, while in those formed from the alkali one SiO₂ remained amorphous. A mechanism by which the formation of Ag nanoparticles and the cristobalite phase occurs in the films at the oxidative conditions is suggested.     

Hydrodynamic and conformational properties of silicon-substituted addition-type polynorbornene macromolecules

Seven polynorbornene samples containing trimethylsilyl side groups that were prepared by the addition polymerization of 5-trimethylsilyl-2-norbornene in the presence of catalytic systems (π-C₅H₉NiCl)₂-methylaluminoxane and nickel naphthenate-methylaluminoxane have been studied by translational isothermal diffusion and viscometry. The molecular masses of the polymer samples are measured. Kuhn-Mark-Houwink equations for diffusion coefficient D and intrinsic viscosity [η] are determined in toluene at 25°C: D = 6.94 × 10^?4 M ^?0.61 and [η] = 1.53 × 10^?3 M ^0.82. The equilibrium rigidity of polymers chains is estimated as A = 47 ± 9 Å. The conformational features of the silicon-containing polynorbornene are analyzed by the PM3 quantumchemical semiempirical method on the basis of simulation of its decamer chain fragments. In terms of microstructure and equilibrium rigidity, the above-described addition poly(trimethylsilylnorbornene) is close to poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) synthesized using niobium pentachloride as a catalyst. This finding explains similar membrane gas-separation properties of these polymers.     

Electrochemical nickel-induced fluoroalkylation: synthetic, structural and mechanistic study

Electrocatalytic generation of nickel catalysts in low oxidation states by reduction of nickel complexes with various ligands (2,2'-bipyridine, 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, (S,S)-2,6-bis(4-phenyl-2-oxazolin-2-yl)-pyridine) in the presence of olefinic substrates and fluoroalkyl halides leads to new organic products derived from addition-dimerization processes. Due to the presence of two stereocenters in the dimerization products two diastereomers were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques including multi-dimensional NMR methods and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The formation of dimers was prevented by the inclusion of the hydrogen atom donor tributyltin hydride. The cyclic voltammetry study of selected nickel complexes along with fluoroalkyl halides demonstrated that Ni(I)L is the active form of the catalyst.     

Efficient scrambling-free synthesis of heteroleptic terbium triple-decker (porphyrinato)(crown-phthalocyaninates)

New heteroleptic triple-decker terbium complexes of general structure [Br(4)TPP]Tb[(15C5)(4)Pc]Tb[Br(4)TPP] (Tb-TD) and [Br(4)TPP]Tb[(15C5)(4)Pc]Tb[(15C5)(4)Pc] (Tb-TD*) (Br(4)TPP = tetrakis-meso-(4-bromophenyl)-porphyrin, (15C5)(4)Pc = tetra-(15-crown-5)-phthalocyanine) are synthesized with 48% and 57% yields, respectively. The triple-decker complexes were prepared by interaction of generated in situ terbium monoporphyrinate [Br(4)TPP]Tb(acac) and corresponding double-decker precursors. The heteroleptic double-decker precursor [Br(4)TPP]Tb[(15C5)(4)Pc] was prepared for the first time in a two step one-pot synthesis. No ligand scrambling was observed in the synthesis of Tb-TD, while 4% scrambling was determined in the case of Tb-TD*. High yields of target triple-decker complexes were achieved despite the presence of electron-donating crown-ether fragments with low thermal stability at the phthalocyanine deck. Analysis of lanthanide-induced paramagnetic shifts of protons of Tb-TD together with data of previously reported La, Pr, Nd and Eu analogues allowed precise separation of contributions of contact and dipolar lanthanide terms as well as verification of isostructurality of complexes within the series.     

Methods for Characterizing the 3-D Morphology of Polymer Composites

3-dimensional visualization of polymer morphology is of increasing interest in the polymer community because it provides a deeper insight into the arrangement of the phases in heterophasic polymeric materials, for example in composites. Depending on the size of the fillers, an adequate method offering a good compromise between suitable resolution and observable volume must be selected. Different polypropylene composites filled with long glass fibres, mica and talcum particles were investigated. Four methods were applied to account for the different filler sizes. For composites containing fillers larger than several micrometers, i.e. glass fibres and mica particles, X-ray tomography offers a very good combination of visibility and volume. Serial sectioning by polishing in combination with light optical microscopy can be an alternative if no X-ray equipment is available. This combined method has the disadvantage, however, that the imaged volume is smaller and involves more effort, which makes it unsuitable for routine observations. The much smaller talcum particles with thicknesses down to 200 nm were investigated by coupling focused ion beam (FIB) milling and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by insitu ultramicrotomy in the SEM. Both methods led to good and comparable results.     

Formation of phosphorus‐containing cage structures in the reaction of 2‐ethoxyvinylphosphonic acid dichloroanhydride with resorcinol and its derivatives

The scheme of formation of bicyclic phosphonates 3 synthesized on the basis of resorcinol and its derivatives was suggested based on the model reactions of dichloroanhydride 1 with 3‐methoxyphenol 7 in the presence of triethylamine with a variable ratio of reagents. Composition and structure of the products obtained were confirmed according to ¹H and ³¹P NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X‐ray analysis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:340–344, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21022