Development, validation and transfer of a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric method for the analysis of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine metabolite NNAL in human plasma at low picogram per milliliter concentrations

A highly sensitive bioanalytical method based on a simple liquid/liquid extraction and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC/MS/MS) analysis has been developed, validated and transferred for the determination of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a tobacco-specific nitrosamine metabolite. Deuterated NNAL (NNAL-d(4)) was synthesized and used as the internal standard. This method can be used for the analysis of free and total NNAL (free NNAL plus NNAL-gluc) in K(3)-EDTA human plasma. Free NNAL and NNAL-d(4) are extracted from human plasma by liquid/liquid extraction. To analyze for total NNAL and the internal standard, a separate aliquot of the K(3)-EDTA human plasma is treated with beta-glucuronidase to deconjugate the NNAL-gluc; the total NNAL and internal standard are then extracted using liquid/liquid extraction. After drying down under nitrogen, the residue is reconstituted with acetonitrile and analyzed using positive ion electrospray and HILIC/MS/MS at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The chromatographic run time is 1.0 min per injection, with retention time for both NNAL and NNAL-d(4) of 0.75 min with a capacity factor (k') of 2. The standard curve range for this assay is from 5.00-1000 pg/mL for both free and total NNAL, using a total plasma sample volume of 1.0 mL. The interday precision and accuracy of the quality control (QC) samples demonstrated <7.6% relative standard deviation (RSD) and <3.3% relative error (RE) for free NNAL. For total NNAL, the interday precision and accuracy of the QC samples demonstrated <11.7% RSD and <2.8% RE. Optimization of enzyme hydrolysis of NNAL-gluc is discussed in detail. The overall recoveries for free and total NNAL and IS were 68.2 and 71.5% (free) and 70.7 and 65.5% (total). No adverse matrix effects were noticed for this assay.     

Mass spectra of organometallic compounds—VII; Organonitrogen derivatives of metal carbonyls

The positive-ion mass spectra of the following organonitrogen derivatives of metal carbonyls are discussed: (i) The compounds NC₅H₄CH₂Fe(CO)₂C₅H₅, NC₅H₄CH₂COMo(CO)₂C₅H₅, NC₅H₄CH₂W(CO)₃C₅H₅, NC₅H₄CH₂COMn(CO)₄, C₅H₁₀NCH₂CH₂Fe(CO)₂C₅H₅, (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂COFeCOC₅H₅ and (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂COMn(CO)₄ obtained from metal carbonyl anions and haloalkylamines, (ii) The isocyanate derivative C₅H₅Mo(CO)₃CH₂NCO; (iii) The arylazomolybdenum derivatives RN₂Mo(CO)₂C₅H₅ (R ? phenyl, p-tolyl, or p-anisyl); (iv) The compound (C₆H₅N)₂COFe₂(CO)₆ obtained from Fe₃(CO)₁₂ and phenyl isocyanate; (v) The N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine complex (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₂W(CO)₄. Further examples of eliminations of hydrogen, CO, and C₂H₂ fragments were noted. In addition evidence for the following more unusual processes was obtained: (i) Elimination of HCN fragments from the ions [NC₅H₄CH₂MC₅H₅]⁺ to give the ions [(C₅H₅)₂M]⁺ (M ? Fe, Mo and W); (ii) Conversion of C₅H₅Mo(CO)₃CH₂NCO to C₅H₅Mo(CO)₂CH₂NCO within the mass spectrometer; (iii) Elimination of N₂ from [RN₂MoC₅H₅]⁺ to give [RMoC₅H₅]⁺; (iv) Novel eliminations of HNCO, FeNCO, and C₆H₅NC fragments in the mass spectrum of (C₆H₅N)₂COFe₂(CO)₆; (v) Facile dehydrogenation of the N,N,N′,-N′-tetramethylethylenediamine ligand in the complex (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₂W(CO)₄.     

Renormalized perturbation theory of the Van der Pol oscillator

The renormalized perturbation expansion for the linewidth of the Van der Pol oscillator is extended to fifth order. The results of the previously obtained fourth order are thereby improved for pump strengthsa5. No indication of a breakdown of the expansion, even for strong pumping, is found.     

Small-angle X-Ray scattering from polyurethane elastomers

Small-angle X-ray scattering is shown to be an effective technique, complementary to mechanical and thermal methods, for the study of structural ordering in polyurethane elastomers. Wide variations in intensity were found for different sample compositions and are interpreted in terms of the degree of hard segment aggregation. The results support previous conclusions regarding the organization in these samples based on analysis by scanning thermal methods. The polyether polyurethanes studied showed a higher degree of organization than the equivalent polyesters, and longer urethane segments enhance the extent of domain structure. Studies of the temperature dependence of scattering strengthen the previous assignment of a transition at about 150°C to the disordering of domain structure.     

Phase-separation of cellulose from ionic liquid upon cooling: preparation of microsized particles

Cellulose - Cellulose is an historical polymer, for which its processing possibilities have been limited by the absence of a melting point and insolubility in all non-derivatizing molecular...     

Synthesis,Structure and Catalytic Activity of NHC–AgI Carboxylate Complexes

A general synthetic route was used to prepare 15 new N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–Ag^I complexes bearing anionic carboxylate ligands [Ag(NHC)(O₂CR)], including a homologous series of complexes of sterically flexible ITent ligands, which permit a systematic spectroscopic and theoretical study of the structural and electronic features of these compounds. The complexes displayed a significant ligand‐accelerated effect in the intramolecular cyclisation of propargylic amides to oxazolidines. The substrate scope is highly complementary to that previously achieved by NHC–Au and pyridyl–Ag^I complexes.     

The not-so-peculiar case of calcium oxide: a weakness in atomic natural orbital basis sets for calcium

Atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets for calcium may produce surprisingly poor atomic and molecular properties and energetics. The weaknesses in these basis sets may be traced primarily to deficiencies within the sets of d functions which are incapable of effectively correlating the 3s and 3p electrons. Examples are given which show that addition of tight d functions to the ANO basis is required to achieve qualitatively correct energetics and structures for conventionally bonded calcium compounds.     

Acetone cation chemistry under varying electron density conditions: from unimolecular decomposition to dissociative recombination processes

The chemistry of ionized acetone:Ar mixtures under varied ionizing electron density conditions has been studied using matrix‐isolation techniques. Gaseous acetone diluted in excess argon gas was subjected to electron bombardment with 300 eV electrons at currents between 20 and 200 μA. Linear wire ‘pin’ and metal ‘plate’ electron collector geometries were employed, allowing a wide range of electron density conditions to be explored. The products of subsequent reaction processes were matrix isolated and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. Products included methane, ketene, 1‐propen‐2‐ol (the enol isomer of acetone), CO, HCO, ethane, ethane, acetylene and CCCO. Product absolute and relative yields varied with acetone number density, the choice of anode geometry and the rate of electron bombardment. The overall chemistry observed is rationalized in terms of mechanistic steps involving unimolecular cation decomposition, ion–molecule reactions, radical–radical reactions and dissociative recombination processes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.