Extraction of methyl xanthines and their UHPLC–DAD determination in consumable beverages used in Eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Coffee and tea are the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. However, the consumer may be unaware of the exact amount of methyl xanthine (MX, i.e. caffeine [C], theobromine [TB] and theophylline [TH]) consumed, as most of the products do not list the proper amounts. This may lead to serious risks including cardiovascular, kidney and stimulant effects. The aim of the study was to determine the MX amount in ready-to-use beverages (coffee and tea) collected from various outlets in the city of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Forty different samples of espresso, black coffee and red tea were collected. A fast, reliable and efficient UHPLC–DAD method was developed and validated for MX determination. Total lipids were extracted and fractionated in order to determine glycolipids, phospholipids and neutral lipids. The r² value for the method was 0.980–0.988 in a linearity range of 0.5–200 ppm. The range for MX (C [0.02–2.39 mg/ml], TB [0.00–0.10 mg/ml] and TH [0.00–0.004 mg/ml]) and total lipids was 1–5 g. The amount of glycolipids (3.1 g) was higher among the lipid fractions followed by phospholipids (1.8 g) and neutral lipids (0.25 g). In general, espresso beverages (20–30 ml) contained high amounts of MX whereas black coffee beverages contained high amount of lipids. Most of the beverages expressed C, TB, TH, lipids or their fractions; however, the product with high amounts of MX and lipids at the same time was espresso (brands Chemistry and Wogard). Although the MX and lipid levels in these beverages well below the allowed limits, care must still be taken, especially when using the beverages with high serving volumes (200–250 ml) or coffee prepared via the filter method i.e. black coffee, using a high temperature for a longer time.     

Directing-Group-Free C7-Alkylations of N-Alkylindoles Mediated by Cationic Zirconium Complexes: Role of Brønsted Acid for Catalytic Manifold

Highly position selective alkylations of N-alkylindoles at C7-positions have been enabled by cationic zirconium complexes. The strategy provides a straightforward access to install alkyl groups at C7-positions of indoles without a complex directing group. Mechanistic studies provided support for the importance of Brønsted acids in the catalytic manifold.     

Scaling properties of fracture surfaces on glass strengthened by ionic exchange

In this work the results of the statistical topometric analysis of fracture surfaces of soda-lime-silica glass with and without ionic exchange treatment are reported. In this case, the mechanism of substitution is K⁺-Na⁺. atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to record the topometric data from the fracture surface. The roughness exponent (ζ) and the correlation length (ξ) were calculated by the variable bandwidth method. The analysis for both glasses (subjected and non-subjected to ionic exchange) for ζ shows a value ∼0.8, this value agrees well with that reported in the literature for rapid crack propagation in a variety of materials. The correlation length shows different values for each condition. These results, along with those of microhardness indentations suggest that the self-affine correlation length is influenced by the complex interactions of the stress field of microcracks with that resulting from the collective behavior of the point defects introduced by the strengthening mechanism of ionic exchange.     

原子吸收光谱法测定铝锂合金中锂

本文研究了用原子吸收光谱法在笑气－乙炔火焰中测定铝锂合金中锂的最佳条件。其电离干扰可通过加进钾进盐来控制。应用本法测定合金中 锂的含量，获得了满意结果。     

Al-pillared clays supported rare earths and palladium catalysts for deep oxidation of low concentration of benzene

Al-pillared clays supported rare earths (RE/Al-PILC) are prepared and used as supports of palladium catalysts for deep oxidation of low concentrations of benzene (130-160 ppm). The supports and catalysts are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, BET, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR). The results show that Al-pillaring results in a strong increase in the basal spacing (d_0 0 1) from about 1.2 to 1.8 nm, and an increase in the BET surface area from 63.6 (±3.2) to 238.8 (±11.9) m²/g. Activity tests of deep oxidation of low concentration benzene show catalysts supported on Al-PILC and RE/Al-PILC are obviously more active than that on raw clay. Pd/6% Ce/Al-PILC, in particular, can catalyze the complete oxidation of low concentration benzene at a temperature as low as about 290 °C.     

New ligands for the Fe(III)‐mediated reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

A series of (di)picolinic acids and their derivates are investigated as novel complexing tridentate or bidentate ligands in the iron‐mediated reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 100 °C with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrontrile as an initiator. The polymerization rates and polydispersity indices (1.32–1.8) of the resulting polymers are dependent on the structures of the ligands employed. Different iron complexes may be involved in iron‐mediated reverse atom transfer radical polymerization, depending on the type of acid used. ¹H NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the structure of the resulting polymers. Chain‐extension reactions have been performed to further confirm the living nature of this catalytic system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2912–2921, 2006     

HgCl2/I2复合催化剂协同催化合成异丙醇钇的研究

以金属钇和异丙醇为原料，以HgCl2/I2为复合催化剂，通过对金属钇的机械加工以增加其比表面，并将异丙醇脱水使其含水量降低至0．05％，体系在82℃回流5h，经过滤、减压蒸馏，得到了白色海绵状异丙醇钇，其产率高达83％，合成时间比文献报道的缩短了19h，产率提高了8％。文章确定了催化剂的最佳用量为20gY加入60mg HgCl2/I2，研究了合成产率与HgCl2/I2催化剂和HgCl2催化剂的依赖关系及异丙醇中含水量对合成产率的影响，并对HgCl2/I2的催化作用机理进行了初步探讨。     

Systematic investigations of the multi-element preconcentration from copper by precipitation of the matrix as copper(I) oxide and copper(I) thiocyanate

Two methods for multi-element preconcentration from copper by reductive matrix precipitation are presented. In systematic investigations on the coprecipitation behaviour of Ag, Al, Au, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, In, Mn, Mo, NJ, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Te and Zn during precipitation of the copper matrix as Cu₂O or CuSCN, the separation parameters were optimized. By combination with a hexamethyleneammonium hexamethylenedithiocarbamate collector precipitation, a concentration of 8 elements (Cu₂O precipitation) or 13 elements (CuSCN precipitation) in a small volume was achieved. The limits of detection of the procedures are, depending on the element, 0.1–5 μg g^?1 for flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and 0.01–0.1 μg g^?1 for graphite furnace AAS. The relative standard deviations are about 3%. The analytical performance of the procedures is compared with that of an electrolytic copper separation.     

空心阴极灯激发的微波等离子体炬原子/离子荧光光谱研究--钙的原子/离子荧光光谱

用强短脉冲供电技术的空心阴极灯作激发源、微波等离子体炬作原子／离子化器，建立了原子／离子荧光光谱实验装置。详细研究了微波等离子体功率、观察高度、空心阴极灯电流等因素对原子／离子荧光信号强度的影响，测量了系统对Ca的原子／离子荧光光谱的检出限。     

SiN团簇光电子能谱的指认

应用含时密度泛函理论研究了SiN团簇低能激发态的性质.将计算结果与前人已有的计算结果进行了比较，此外还根据计算得到的低能激发能对SiN^-阴离子的光电子能谱进行了理论指认.研究表明，SiN^-阴离子的基态为¹Σ态，而光电子能谱上的X峰和A峰分别对应于¹Σ→²Σ和¹Σ→²Π的跃迁.研究结果还表明，用含时密度泛函的方法来处理激发态的问题是成功的. 关键词： 团簇 光电子能谱 基态 激发态