Towards molecular-scale electronics and biomolecular self-assembly

This paper provides an overview of recent research developments in the field of nanoelectronics with organic materials such as carbon nanotubes and DNA-templated nanowires. Carbon nanotubes and gold electrodes are chemically functionalized in order to contact carbon nanotubes by self-assembly. The transport properties of these nanotubes are dominated by charging effects and display clear Coulomb blockade behaviour. A different approach towards nanoscale electronics is based on the molecular recognition properties of biomolecules such as DNA. As an example, DNA is stretched between electrodes using a molecular combing technique. A two-step metallization procedure leads to the formation of highly conductive gold nanowires.     

A New Flow Instrument for Conductance Measurements at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures: Measurements on NaCl(aq) to 458 K and 1.4 MPa

A new flow electrical conductance instrument was constructed and tested on dilute NaCl solutions up to 458 K, and on more concentrated solutions (maximum 0.436 mol⋅kg⁻¹) at 373 K. The results of the new instrument agreed with those of previous authors within the estimated experimental errors. The model of Bernard et al. (J. Phys. Chem. 96, 3833–3840 (1992), MSA) was found to represent the high-temperature results without introducing an ion-pairing equilibrium constant. The Fuoss–Hsia conductance equation as given by Fernandez-Prini was found to represent the dilute concentrations with Λ° (NaCl) as the only adjustable parameter. It was found that Λ° (NaCl) could be expressed as a function of solvent viscosity and density by using three parameters found by regression of literature results between 278.15 and 523 K. This equation along with the FHFP theory permits the equivalent conductivity of dilute sodium chloride solutions to be calculated within the accuracy of the existing experimental measurements.     

Determination and confirmation of malachite green and leucomalachite green residues in salmon using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with no-discharge atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method was developed to quantitate and confirm residues of leucomalachite green (LMG) in salmon tissue after their conversion to chromic malachite green (MG) in the extraction process. The method uses no-discharge atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) in conjunction with an ion-trap instrument to generate product-ion spectra. In the sample preparation procedure, salmon tissue is extracted with acetonitrile/buffer, the LMG residue is partitioned into methylene chloride, the LMG is converted to MG using an organic oxidizing agent, and the MG is isolated on alumina/propylsulfonic acid solid-phase extraction cartridges. The method was validated by fortifying salmon with different levels of LMG, and then detecting the residue as MG The LC/MS conditions, including a comparison of electrospray and no-discharge APCI, were evaluated and optimized. MG was not confirmed in any of the control tissue extracts, and all fortified samples analyzed during validation met the confirmation criteria as described. In addition to providing confirmatory data, this method can provide an alternative method for quantitation of MG in salmon. The recoveries of LMG measured as MG by this LC/MS method, at fortification levels of 1-10 ng/g were very high (86-109%), with low relative standard deviation(RSD) values (6.4-13%). The results agreed very closely with those obtained for the same extracts using an LCNIS procedure, indicating that matrix suppression was not an issue. The presence of LMG in salmon tissue samples fortified at 0.25 ng/g was confirmed by this method, with an average recovery of 70.1% and an RSD of 12.0%. Sample extracts from fish exposed to MG were also analyzed.     

Development of a liquid chromatographic time-of-flight mass spectrometric method for the determination of unlabelled and deuterium-labelled alpha-tocopherol in blood components

A method is described for the analysis of deuterated and undeuterated alpha-tocopherol in blood components using liquid chromatography coupled to an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. Optimal ionisation conditions for undeuterated (d0) and tri- and hexadeuterated (d3 or d6) alpha-tocopherol standards were found with negative ion mode electrospray ionisation. Each species produced an isotopically resolved single ion of exact mass. Calibration curves of pure standards were linear in the range tested (0-1.5 microM, 0-15 pmol injected). For quantification of d0 and d6 in blood components following a standard solvent extraction, a stable-isotope-labelled internal standard (d3-alpha-tocopherol) was employed. To counter matrix ion suppression effects, standard response curves were generated following identical solvent extraction procedures to those of the samples. Within-day and between-day precision were determined for quantification of d0- and d6-labelled alpha-tocopherol in each blood component and both averaged 3-10%. Accuracy was assessed by comparison with a standard high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, achieving good correlation (r(2) = 0.94), and by spiking with known concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (98% accuracy). Limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 5 and 50 fmol injected, respectively. The assay was used to measure the appearance and disappearance of deuterium-labelled alpha-tocopherol in human blood components following deuterium-labelled (d6) RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate ingestion. The new LC/TOFMS method was found to be sensitive, required small sample volumes, was reproducible and robust, and was capable of high throughput when large numbers of samples were generated.     

3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected types of meat, seafood, and poultry: collaborative study

The 3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method was compared with AOAC Official Method 975.55 for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected foods. Four foods--cooked, diced chicken; cured ham; smoked salmon; and pepperoni--were analyzed for S. aureus by 12 collaborating laboratories. For each food tested, the collaborators received 8 blind test samples consisting of a control sample, a low inoculation level, a medium inoculation level, and a medium inoculation level with background flora, each in duplicate. The mean log10 counts for the methods were comparable for all 4 foods. The repeatability and reproducibility variances of the 24 h Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method were similar to those of the 72 h standard method.     

Evaluation of VIDAs Immuno-concentration Salmonella assay Plus selective plate method (Hektoen enteric,bismuth sulfite,Salmonella identification) for detection of Salmonella in selected foods: collaborative study

The VIDAS Immuno-concentration Salmonella (ICS) plus selective plate method (Hektoen enteric, bismuth sulfite, Salmonella identification) method for the detection of Salmonella was compared to the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM)/AOAC culture method in a collaborative study. Thirty-two laboratories participated in the evaluation. Each laboratory tested one or more of the 6 test products: milk chocolate, nonfat dry milk, dried whole egg, soy flour, ground black pepper, and ground raw turkey. The 2 methods were in agreement for 1,283 of the 1,440 test samples. Of the 157 test samples not in agreement, 82 were VIDAS ICS plus selective plate-positive and BAM/AOAC-negative, and 75 were VIDAS ICS plus selective plate-negative and BAM/AOAC-positive.     

Regioselective synthesis of 3,3‐diethyl‐4‐(methylene)‐1‐quinol‐2‐ones by an intramolecular microwave assisted heck reaction

A protocol for the intramolecular Heck cyclization to afford 3,3‐diethyl‐4‐(methylene)‐1‐quinol‐2‐ones is described. We observed that the use of microwave irradiation increased the efficiency of the reaction. Several examples are presented which show the versatility of the reaction.     

Probing the formation of bicyclo[4.2.0]octan-1-ols

Reaction of lithium enolates of simple ketones with (+/-)-phenyl vinyl sulfoxide has potential for the convergent construction of complex fused ring systems containing a bicyclo[n.2.0]alkan-1-ol. The formation of sulfinylbicyclo[4.2.0]octan-1-ols 1-3 from the lithium enolate of cyclohexanone with (+/-)-phenyl vinyl sulfoxide or (R)-(+)-p-tolyl vinyl sulfoxide 18 was used to probe the mode of this novel cyclization reaction. Using phenyl vinyl sulfoxide, variations in the reaction lighting and solvent were investigated, in conjunction with radical trapping (TEMPO) and isotope labeling (deuterium) experiments. Cyclization to form sulfinylbicyclooctanols 1-3 is likely to proceed via an intermediate that ring closes to the bicycloalkanol anion 11 and was presently favored by the use of solvents such as THF or DME.     

Structure and magnetic properties of tetraarylporphinatomagnesium(II) electron transfer salts of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane,TCNQF4

The crystal structures of the 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane, TCNQF(4), electron transfer salts of meso-tetraphenylporphinatomagnesium(II), [MgTPP][TCNQF(4)].PhMe and [MgTPP][TCNQF(4)].3(1,2-C(6)H(4)Cl(2)), and meso-tetrakis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)porphinatomagnesium(II), [MgT(3,4,5-OMe)PP][TCNQF(4)].3(1,2-C(6)H(4)Cl(2)), provide the first structurally characterized examples of 1-D metal-radical chains involving [Mg(II)(porphyrin(*))](+). These salts possess [TCNQF(4)](*-) stabilized by trans-mu-coordination to Mg(II) and exhibit nu(CN) at 2199 and 2177, 2212 and 2187, and 2194 and 2172 cm(-1), respectively. The [TCNQF(4)](*-) species is planar and bridges two cations with MgN distances of 2.266(16), 2.221(2), and 2.276(3) A, respectively, which are shorter than the MnN 2.321(3) A distance observed for [MnT(3,4,5-OMe)PP][TCNQF(4)].3(1,2-C(6)H(4)Cl(2)). The room-temperature effective moments for [MgTPP][TCNQF(4)].xS (S = PhMe and 1,2-C(6)H(4)Cl(2)) and [MgTPP][C(4)(CN)(6)].PhMe are consistent with the calculated spin only value of 2.45 micro(B) with weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J(intra)/k(B) approximately -2.9 K; H = -2JSa.Sb) for these [TCNQF(4)](*-) salts and for this [C(4)(CN)(6)](*-) salt (J(intra)/k(B) approximately -0.8 K) on the basis of fits to several models. The coupling is significantly reduced with respect to that of the Mn analogues due to lack of spin on the metal site for [Mg(II)(por(*))](+). The antiferromagnetic coupling is enhanced for [MgT(3,4,5-OMe)PP][TCNQF(4)] with respect to [MgTPP][TCNQF(4)] as [TCNQF(4)](*-) gets closer to the [Mg(II)(por(*))](+) plane, which leads to greater interactions and coupling.