4‐(4‐Fluoro‐3‐phenoxy­phen­yl)‐6‐(4‐fluoro­phen­yl)‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydro­pyridine‐3‐carbonitrile and the 6‐(4‐methyl­phen­yl)‐ analogue

The crystal structures of the title compounds, viz. C₂₄H₁₄F₂N₂O₂, (I), and C₂₅H₁₇FN₂O₂, (II), respectively, have been determined in order to unravel the role of an ordered F atom in generating stable supra­molecular assemblies. On changing the substitution from fluorine to a methyl group, C—H⋯F inter­actions are replaced by C—H⋯π inter­actions, revealing the importance of such weak inter­actions when present alongside N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The dihedral angle between the planes of the 4‐fluoro­phenyl ring and the pyridine ring is 26.8 (1)° in (I), while that between the planes of the 4‐methyl­phenyl and pyridine rings is 29.5 (1)° in (II).     

Synthesis of 4-(2-chloroethyl)-2,3-dihydro[1,4]oxazino[2,3-b]quinoline and 4-(2-chloroethyl)2,3-dihydropyrido[2,3-b][1,4]oxazine

The title compounds were synthesized from 3-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]quinolin-2(1H)-one 11a and 3-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]pyridin-2(1H)-one 18 respectively. The preparation involved a tandem chlorination/cyclization reaction.     

White-light-induced fragmentation of methane

We experimentally probe molecular ionization and dissociation of methane molecules in the gas phase upon their irradiation by intense pulses of white light that spans the wavelength range 500-850 nm. White light pulses are generated upon irradiation of BK7 glass by 36-fs-long pulses of intense 820 nm laser light. Comparison is made of the molecular fragmentation patterns obtained using white light that is depolarized with those obtained using single-color (820 nm) light that is highly chirped. On the basis of such comparison, we make hitherto-unavailable estimates of the in situ intensity of white light pulses. Results obtained using white light also indicate that resonances apparently do not play any role in the ionization dynamics that ensue upon irradiation by intense, broadband light; neither are the dynamics affected by the polarization properties of the 820 nm light that is used to generate the white light.     

UHV STM I(V) and XPS studies of aryl diazonium molecules assembled on Si(111)

Molecular layers formed from 4-trifluoromethylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate and 4-Methylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate have been assembled on H-passivated Si(111) and studied by UHV STM and XPS. STM imaging shows well-developed Si(111) step edges and terraces both on Si(111):H and Si(111) substrates covered with a molecular layer. STM I(V) data acquired at different tip-substrate separations reveals a factor of approximately 10 enhancement in current for positive bias voltage when current flows through the 4-trifluoromethyl molecule when compared to the 4-methyl variant. The observed current enhancement in I(V) can be understood by comparing the projected density of states of the two molecule-Si systems calculated using a density functional theory local density approximation after geometry optimization was performed via the conjugate gradient method. XPS data independently confirm that H-passivated Si(111) remains oxygen free for short exposures to ambient conditions and provide evidence that the molecules chemically react with the silicon surface.     

In situ derivatization hollow fiber mediated liquid phase microextraction of alkylphosphonic acids from water

Alkylphosphonic acids (APAs), particularly the methyl-, ethyl-, isopropyl- and n-propyl-phosphonic acids are important markers of extremely toxic nerve agents. Hence, their detection and identification is of vital importance to verification of chemical weapons convention (CWC). Verification analysis of CWC requires development of fast, reliable, simple and reproducible sample preparation methods of water and soil samples. Present investigation is focused on the optimization of alkylation of APAs in water with subsequent extraction of alkylated acids by hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME). This simple and sensitive sample preparation of APAs from water offered better recoveries in comparison to conventionally used extraction technique. Under optimized conditions, the APAs were detected at the concentration of 0.5-0.75 microg/mL with S/N ratio > or = 5, whereas the LODs for alkyl APAs (monobasic APAs) were achieved up to 0.1 microg/mL. The developed method was finally tested with water samples supplied in 19th official proficiency test conducted by the OPCW.     

Vibrational spectroscopy differentiates between multipotent and pluripotent stem cells

Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in the study of stem cells in biomedicine for therapeutic use and as a source for healing diseased or injured organs/tissues. More recently, vibrational spectroscopy has been applied to study stem cell differentiation. In this study, we have used both synchrotron based FTIR and Raman microspectroscopies to assess possible differences between human pluripotent (embryonic) and multipotent (adult mesenchymal) stem cells, and how O(2) concentration in cell culture could affect the spectral signatures of these cells. Our work shows that infrared spectroscopy of embryonic (pluripotent) and adult mesenchymal (multipotent) stem cells have different spectral signatures based on the amount of lipids in their cytoplasm (confirmed with cytological staining). Furthermore, O(2) concentration in cell culture causes changes in both the FTIR and Raman spectra of embryonic stem cells. These results show that embryonic stem cells might be more sensitive to O(2) concentration when compared to mesenchymal stem cells. While vibrational spectroscopy could therefore be of potential use in identifying different populations of stem cells further work is required to better understand these differences.     

Application of Doehlert design in optimizing the determination of degraded products of nerve agents by ion-pair liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A qualitative method was developed for the determination of degraded products of nerve agents by using ion-pair liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (IP-LC-ESI-MS(n)). Generally, alkylphosphonic acids (APAs) and O-alkyl alkylphosphonic acids (AAPAs) give deprotonated molecular ion [M-H](-) in negative mode. Interestingly, first time we obtained the molecular radical anion [M](.-) of phosphonic acids in negative mode by using tri-n-butyl amine as an ion-pairing agent. We interpreted this observation as an indication of electrochemical reduction of phosphonic acids in electrospray needle. Three variables such as sheath gas flow, electrospray needle voltage and pH of the mobile phase were investigated to enhance the molecular radical anion [M](.-) signal of each analyte. The Doehlert design was used to obtain the region in which the optimum value of such variables is simultaneously achieved. Limit of detection achieved was 0.5 microg mL(-1) for AAPAs and 10 microg mL(-1) for APAs. Excellent precision was observed with less than 8.61% RSD. Finally, the method was applied for the detection of ethyl methylphosphonic in aqueous extract of soil sample.     

Stokes drag on axially symmetric bodies: a new approach

In this paper a new approach to evaluate the drag force in a simple way on a restricted axially symmetric body placed in a uniform stream (i) parallel to its axis, (ii) transverse to its axis, is advanced when the flow is governed by the Stokes equations. The method exploits the well-known integral for evaluating the drag on a sphere. The method not only provides the value of the drag on prolate and oblate spheroids and a deformed sphere in axial flow which already exists in literature but also new results for a cycloidal body, an egg shaped body and a deformed sphere in transverse flow. The salient results are exhibited graphically. The limitations imposed on the analysis because of the lack of fore and aft symmetry in the case of an eggshaped body is also indicated. It is also seen that the analysis can be extended to calculate the couple on a body rotating about its axis of symmetry.     

Characterization and modeling of nonlinear hydrophobic interaction chromatographic systems

A general rate model was employed in concert with a preferential interaction quadratic adsorption isotherm for the characterization of HIC resins and the prediction of solute behavior in these separation systems. The results indicate that both pore and surface diffusion play an important role in protein transport in HIC resins. The simulated and experimental solute profiles were compared for two model proteins, lysozyme and lectin, for both displacement and gradient modes of chromatography. Our results indicate that a modeling approach using the generate rate model and preferential interaction isotherm can accurately predict the shock layer response in both gradient and displacement chromatography in HIC systems. While pore and surface diffusion played a major role and were limiting steps for proteins, surface diffusion was seen to play less of a role for the displacer. The results demonstrate that this modeling approach can be employed to describe the behavior of these non-linear HIC systems, which may have implications for the development of more efficient preparative HIC separations.     

Evaluation of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry for onsite monitoring of batch slurry reactions

Batch slurry reactions are widely used in the industrial manufacturing of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and polymers. However, onsite monitoring of batch slurry reactions is still not feasible in production plants due to the challenge in analyzing heterogeneous samples without complicated sample preparation procedures. In this study, direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) has been evaluated for the onsite monitoring of a model batch slurry reaction. The results suggested that automation of the sampling process of DART-MS is important to achieve quantitative results. With a sampling technique of manual sample deposition on melting point capillaries followed by automatic sample introduction across the helium beam, relative standard deviation (RSD) of the protonated molecule signals from the reaction product of the model batch slurry reaction ranged from 6 to 30%. This RSD range is improved greatly over a sampling technique of manual sample deposition followed by manual sample introduction where the RSDs are up to 110%. Furthermore, with the semi-automated sampling approach, semi-quantitative analysis of slurry samples has been achieved. Better quantification is expected with a fully automated sampling approach.