On the Structure of Intermediates in Enyne Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclizations: Formation of trans-Fused Bicyclo[5.1.0]octanes as a Case Study

The nature of cyclopropyl gold(I) carbene-type intermediates has been reexamined as part of a mechanistic study on the formation of cis- or trans-fused bicyclo[5.1.0]octanes in a gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction. Benchmark of DFT methods together with QTAIM theory and NBO analysis confirms the formation of distinct intermediates with carbenic or carbocationic structures in the cycloisomerizations of enynes.     

Sequencing games

Sequencing situations with linear cost functions are considered. A division rule for the cost savings is introduced and characterized axiomatically. Cooperative game theory is applied to analyse these situations and expressions for division rules induced by solution concepts from cooperative game theory are derived.     

Towards the detection of single polychlorotriphenylmethyl radical derivatives by means of Electron Spin Noise STM

The Electron Spin Noise Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (ESN-STM) technique is one of the most promising techniques detecting one single spin, combining the spatial resolution of the STM with the ability of spectral resolution and spin manipulation of Electron Spin Resonance. After its first observation, the effectiveness of this technique has been tested by different groups to study the properties of small aggregates or single organic radical molecules.We report on the ongoing ESN-STM study on nano-aggregates of tris(2,4,6-thrichlorophenyl)methyl radical (TTM) derivatives, whose possibility to be used as wires, switches and memory devices has already been investigated in bulk. After deposition on Au(111), TTM radicals preserved their magnetism. To treat the collected noise data we followed a statistical approach; some peculiar characteristics of this analysis will be addressed.     

Traveling salesman games

In this paper we discuss the problem of how to divide the total cost of a round trip along several institutes among the institutes visited. We introduce two types of cooperative games—fixed-route traveling salesman games and traveling salesman games—as a tool to attack this problem. Under very mild conditions we prove that fixed-route traveling salesman games have non-empty cores if the fixed route is a solution of the classical traveling salesman problem. Core elements provide us with fair cost allocations. A traveling salesman game may have an empty core, even if the cost matrix satisfies the triangle inequality. In this paper we introduce a class of matrices defining TS-games with non-empty cores.     

Benzodipyrrole derivates as new ionophores for anion-selective electrodes: improving potentiometric selectivity towards divalent anions

Two open substituted benzodipyrroles were tested as hydrogen-bond-forming anion ionophores for the development of anion-selective electrodes. These compounds were incorporated in plasticized polymeric membranes with different plasticizers, using different membrane compositions to explore their response towards several anions. The electrodes constructed with membranes containing 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether and a 0.5 molar ratio ionic additive/ionophore showed pronounced anti-Hofmeister behaviour, providing a significantly enhanced response towards the divalent anions sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and oxalate. The selected electrodes were also evaluated in terms of detection limits and selectivity. ¹H NMR experiments were carried out in an attempt to explain some aspects of the behaviour observed.     

Matching unknown empirical formulas to chemical structure using LC/MS TOF accurate mass and database searching: example of unknown pesticides on tomato skins

Traditionally, the screening of unknown pesticides in food has been accomplished by GC/MS methods using conventional library searching routines. However, many of the new polar and thermally labile pesticides and their degradates are more readily and easily analyzed by LC/MS methods and no searchable libraries currently exist (with the exception of some user libraries, which are limited). Therefore, there is a need for LC/MS approaches to detect unknown non-target pesticides in food. This report develops an identification scheme using a combination of LC/MS time-of-flight (accurate mass) and LC/MS ion trap MS (MS/MS) with searching of empirical formulas generated through accurate mass and a ChemIndex database or Merck Index database. The approach is different than conventional library searching of fragment ions. The concept here consists of four parts. First is the initial detection of a possible unknown pesticide in actual market-place vegetable extracts (tomato skins) using accurate mass and generating empirical formulas. Second is searching either the Merck Index database on CD (10,000 compounds) or the ChemIndex (77,000 compounds) for possible structures. Third is MS/MS of the unknown pesticide in the tomato-skin extract followed by fragment ion identification using chemical drawing software and comparison with accurate-mass ion fragments. Fourth is the verification with authentic standards, if available. Three examples of unknown, non-target pesticides are shown using a tomato-skin extract from an actual market place sample. Limitations of the approach are discussed including the use of A + 2 isotope signatures, extended databases, lack of authentic standards, and natural product unknowns in food extracts.     

Electroactive thiazole derivatives capped with ferrocenyl units showing charge-transfer transition and selective ion-sensing properties: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The synthesis, optical and electrochemical properties, and X-ray characterization of two thiazole derivatives capped by ferrocenyl groups (5 and 7) and their model compounds with one ferrocenyl, either at 2 or 5 position of the mono- or bis-thiazolyl rings (3, 9, 11, and 14), are presented. Bisferrocenyl thiazole 5 forms the mixed-valence species 5*+ by partial oxidation which, interestingly, shows an intramolecular electron-transfer phenomenon. Moreover, the reported heteroaromatic compounds show selective ion-sensing properties. Thus, ferrocenylthiazoles linked across the 5 position of the heteroaromatic ring are selective chemosensors for Hg2+ and Pb2+ metal ions; 5-ferrocenylthiazole 3 operates through two channels, optical and redox, for Hg2+ and only optical for Pb2+, whereas 1,1'-bis(thiazolyl)ferrocene 14 is only an optical sensor for both metal ions. Moreover, complex 3 behaves as an electrochemically induced switchable chemosensor because of the low metal-ion affinity of the oxidized 3*+ species. On the other hand, ferrocenylthiazole 9, in which the heterocyclic ring and the ferrocene group are linked across the 2 position, is a selective redox sensor for Hg2+ metal ions, and it responds optically, as does bis(thiazolyl)ferrocene 11, to a narrow range of cations (Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+). Finally, bis(ferrocenyl)thiazole 5 is a dual optical and redox sensor for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+, whereas bis(ferrocenyl) compound 7, bearing a bis(thiazole) unit as a bridge, is only a chromogenic sensor for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+. The experimental data and conclusions about both the electronic and ion-sensing properties are supported by DFT calculations which show, in addition, an unprecedented intramolecular electron-transfer reorganization after the first one-electron oxidation of compound 5.     

Accurate mass analysis of ethanesulfonic acid degradates of acetochlor and alachlor using high-performance liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Degradates of acetochlor and alachlor (ethanesulfonic acids, ESAs) were analyzed in both standards and in a groundwater sample using high-performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. The negative pseudomolecular ion of the secondary amide of acetochlor ESA and alachlor ESA gave average masses of 256.0750+/-0.0049 amu and 270.0786+/-0.0064 amu respectively. Acetochlor and alachlor ESA gave similar masses of 314.1098+/-0.0061 amu and 314.1153+/-0.0048 amu; however, they could not be distinguished by accurate mass because they have the same empirical formula. On the other hand, they may be distinguished using positive-ion electrospray because of different fragmentation spectra, which did not occur using negative-ion electrospray.     

Multi-residue pesticide analysis in fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this work, a new multi-residue methodology using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) for the quantitative (routine) analysis of 15 pesticide residues has been developed. The analytical performance of the method was evaluated for different types of fruit and vegetables: pepper, broccoli, tomato, orange, lemon, apple and melon. The accurate mass measurements were compared in different matrices at significantly different concentration levels (from 0.01 to 0.5 mg/kg) obtaining accuracy errors lower than 2 ppm, which is well within the accepted limits for elemental confirmation. Linearity of response over two orders of magnitude was demonstrated (r > 0.99). Matrix effects resulting in suppression or enhancement of the response were frequently observed, most notably in broccoli and citrus. Instrumental limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.0005 and 0.03 mg/kg depending on the commodity and pesticide studied, all being within European Union regulations for food monitoring program. Finally, the methodology was applied to the analysis of two samples from an inter-laboratory exercise. The high degree of confirmation for target pesticides by accurate mass measurements demonstrated the applicability of the method in routine analysis. This study is a valuable indicator of the potential of LC-TOF-MS for quantitative multi-residue analysis of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.