Generation of Molecular Fields, Quantum Similarity Measures and Related Questions

A straightforward discussion on how to generate molecular fields is developed within the postulates of quantum mechanics. The theoretical formalism points towards the generalization and extension of the well-known molecular field forms, associated to density function and electrostatic molecular potential (EMP), including another category of fields associated to quantum molecular similarity measures. The results show that the new formalism can be easily applied to obtain an unlimited number of new information about molecular behavior.     

Kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides

We have demonstrated the feasibility of the kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides using the commercially avaliable AD-mix. To our knowledge, this methodology represents the first catalytic kinetic resolution of such compounds. Relative rates of up to 32 have been found for the kinetic resolution processes. We have also determined the barriers to rotation and half-lives of some of these amides. The half-lives range from 7 to 135 h at room temperature.     

Atomic force microscopy study of the adsorption and electrostatic self-organization of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers on mica

The adsorption behavior of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers to mica surfaces was investigated as a function of ionic strength and pH. The conformation and lateral distribution of the adsorbed dendrimers of generations G8 and G10 were obtained ex situ by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The deposition kinetics of the dendrimers was found to follow a diffusion-limited process. Fractional surface coverage and pair correlation functions of the adsorbed dendrimers were obtained from the AFM images. The data are interpreted in terms of the random sequential adsorption (RSA) model, where electrostatic repulsion due to overlapping double layers is considered. Although the general trends typical for an RSA-determined process are well-reproduced, quantitative agreement is lacking at low ionic strengths.     

Improved determination of flavour compounds in butter by solid-phase (micro)extraction and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

The practicability and potential of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) coupled to both conventional flame ionisation (FID) and time-of-flight mass spectrometric (TOF-MS) detection, were compared with those of conventional one-dimensional (1D) GC, with the determination of flavour compounds in butter as an application. For polar flavour compounds, which were collected from the aqueous fraction of butter by means of solid-phase extraction (SPE), it was found that GC x GC dramatically improves the overall separation. Consequently, quantification and preliminary identification based on the use of ordered structures, can be performed more reliably. The improvement effected by replacing 1D-GC by GC x GC is considerable also in the case of TOF-MS detection, as illustrated by the high match factors generally obtained during identification. GC x GC was also used successfully for the characterisation of volatile flavour compounds in the headspace of butter collected by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and to study the effect of heat treatment on the composition of butter samples in more detail.     

Capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry: Status report

This report focuses on the status, requirements, and potentials of CE-ICP-MS. The ultimate goal of a viable CE-ICP-MS system is to obtain quantitative elemental speciation information and isotopic ratio data for practical biological and environmental metal containing compounds. To make use of the CE separation features, the CE analyte must be introduced efficiently into the ICP. For practical samples, pre- and post-separation enrichment techniques probably are required. The features of electrospray ion sources that can be incorporated in CE-ICP-MS and the potential for microfabricated CE are discussed.     

Plasma desorption mass spectrometry of transition metal complexes of thio- and selenosemicarbazones of 2-acetylpyridines

Summary Californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectra were recorded for complexes of the anions of various thio-and seleno-semicarbazones of 3-acetylpyridines(1–4) with the transition metal ions iron(III) and cobalt(II). Positive ion spectra gave clear evidence of the cation present and fragmentation with loss of ligands or parts of ligands was straightforward. Negative ion spectra likewise provided evidence of the intact anion except with tetracoordinate metal halide systems [MX₄]^– which lost one or more halide atoms. Evidence of fragmentation of the ligand and recombination of the fragments with the metal ion was also observed in the negative ion mode. Spectra were used to revise the structure of a complex previously reported as [FeLCl₂]⁽¹⁾ to [FeL₂]⁺[FeCl₄]^–.     

Study of metal complexes of a tripodal hydroxypyridinone ligand by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The tripodal ligand N,N,N-tris[(1,hydroxy-2-pyridinon-6-yl)amide]propylamine was synthesized. It is composed of an anchor (nitrogen atom), a functional group (hydroxamate), and also a spacer of variable length defined by the number of methylene groups linking the anchor and the functional group. The characterization of this ligand in the presence of several divalent metal cations (Fe(II), Mn(II), Co(II) and Cu(II)), performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS), allowed elucidation of oxidation states and also of different fragmentation patterns. The importance of the spacer length was studied in the case of the iron binary complex by comparing this ligand with another with a shorter spacer. In this way the stabilizing conditions, in which hydrogen bonds are implicated, were clarified.     

Hybridization and Melting Behavior of Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) Oligonucleotide Chimeras Conjugated to Gold Nanoparticles

Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) and PNA–DNA chimeras carrying thiol groups were used for surface functionalization of Au nanoparticles. Conjugation of PNA to citrate‐stabilized Au nanoparticles destabilized the nanoparticles causing them to precipitate. Addition of a tail of glutamic acid to the PNA prevented destabilization of the nanoparticles but resulted in loss of interaction with complementary sequences. Importantly, PNA–DNA chimeras gave stable conjugates with Au nanoparticles. The hybridization and melting properties of complexes formed from chimera–nanoparticle conjugates and oligonucleotide–nanoparticle conjugates are described for the first time. Similar to oligonucleotide–nanoparticle conjugates, conjugates with PNA–DNA chimeras gave sharper and more‐defined melting profiles than those obtained with unmodified oligonucleotides. In addition, mismatch discrimination was found to be more efficient than with unmodified oligonucleotides.     

Quantum similarity matrices column set as holograms of DF molecular point clouds

A simple argument proves that quantum similarity measures, performed on any density function (DF) tag set of a given quantum object set, create a hologram of such DF tag set.