Correlation between the synthetic origin of methamphetamine samples and their 15N and 13C stable isotope ratios

The active ingredient of ecstasy, N-methyl-3,4-methyldioxyphenylisopropylamine (MDMA) can be manufactured by a number of easy routes from simple precursors. We have synthesised 45 samples of MDMA following the five most common routes using N-precursors from 12 different origins and three different precursors for the aromatic moiety. The ¹³C and ¹⁵N contents of both the precursors and the MDMA samples derived therefrom were measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry coupled to an elemental analyser (EA-IRMS). We show that within-pathway correlation between the ¹⁵N content of the precursor and that of the derived MDMA can be strong but that no general pattern of correlation can be defined. Rather, it is evident that the δ¹⁵N values of MDMA are strongly influenced by a combination of the δ¹⁵N values of the source of nitrogen used, the route by which the MDMA is synthesised, and the experimental conditions employed. Multivariate analysis (PCA) based on the δ¹⁵N values of the synthetic MDMA and of the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values of the N-precursors leads to good discrimination between the majority of the reaction conditions tested.     

Position-specific 15N isotope analysis in organic molecules: A high-precision 15N NMR method to determine the intramolecular 15N isotope composition and fractionation at natural abundance

The position-specific ¹⁵N isotope content in organic molecules, at natural abundance, is for the first time determined by using a quantitative methodology based on ¹⁵N Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometry. ¹⁵N NMR spectra are obtained by using an adiabatic “Full-Spectrum” INEPT sequence in order to make possible ¹⁵N NMR experiments with a high signal-to-noise ratio (>500), to reach a precision with a standard deviation below 1‰ (0.1%). This level of precision is required for observing small changes in ¹⁵N content associated to ¹⁵N isotope effects. As an illustration, the measurement of an isotopic enrichment factor ε for each ¹⁵N isotopomer is presented for 1-methylimidazole induced during a separation process on a silica column. The precision expressed as the long-term repeatability of the methodology is good enough to evaluate small changes in the ¹⁵N isotope contents for a given isotopomer. As observed for ¹³C, inverse and normal ¹⁵N isotope effects occur concomitantly, giving access to new information on the origin of the ¹⁵N isotope effects, not detectable by other techniques such as isotope ratio measured by Mass Spectrometry for which bulk (average) values are obtained.     

Capillary GC-MS — Stable isotope dilution analysis of methylmalonic acid in plasma: A candidate reference method for the diagnosis and the follow-up of methylmalonic acidaemias

Summary Because methylmalonic acid (MMA) accumulates in the body fluids of patients suffering from inherited metabolic disorders involving its pathway, the quantitation of this metabolite is not only fundamental to diagnosis but is also important in the follow-up of affected patients under treatment.We describe the method set up and used in our laboratory for the measurement of MMA in body fluids and propose its application to plasma as the reference method for the biochemical diagnosis and follow-up of methylmalonic acidaemias.     

Closed-vessel microwave digestion technique for lichens and leaves prior to determination of trace elements (Pb,Zn, Cu) and stable Pb isotope ratios

A reliable and robust procedure using closed-vessel microwave digestion of lichens and leaves for precise and accurate determination of trace elements (Pb, Zn and Cu) and stable Pb isotope ratios is presented. The method was developed using certified reference material CRM 482 Pseudovernia furfurea (Lichens), NIST 1515 (Apple Leaves) and NIST 1547 (Peach Leaves) and tested on lichens from a mining site in Russia. A mixture of 3?mL of HNO₃, 3?mL of H₂O₂, 2?mL of H₂O and 0.8?mL of HF ensured complete sample dissolution with 100?±?5% recovery for Pb, Zn and Cu at a maximum temperature of 210°C and pressure of 350?psi. The amount of HF and microwave pressure significantly influenced Pb, Zn and Cu recovery. Comparison between EMMA-XRF and ICP-AES showed a good correlation between Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations. Using the newly developed digestion method, Pb isotopes in lichens from the mining site were determined with an internal precision better than 0.02%.     

Optimization and validation of a low temperature microwave-assisted extraction method for analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter

A low temperature microwave-assisted extraction method (MAE) is reported for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particulate matter (PM). The main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency (choice of extractants, microwave power, and extraction time) were investigated and optimized. The optimized procedure requires a 20 ml mixture of acetone:n-hexane (1:1) for extraction of PAHs in PM at 150 W of microwave energy (20 min extraction time). Clean-up of MAE extracts was not found to be necessary. The optimized method was validated using two different SRM (1648-urban particulate matter and 1649a, urban dust). The results obtained are in good agreement with certified values. PAHs recoveries for both reference materials were between 79 and 122% with relative standard deviation ranging from 3 to 21%. Detection limits were determined based on blank determination using two kinds of quartz filter substrates (n = 10), which ranged from 0.001 (0.03) ng m⁻³ (pg/μg) for B(k)Ft to 1.119 (37.3) for Naph in ng m⁻³ (pg/μg), respectively. The repeatability and day-to-day reproducibility obtained in this study were in the range of 4-16 and 3-25% for spiked standards and SRM 1649, respectively. The optimized and validated MAE technique was applied to the extraction of PAHs from a set of real world PM samples collected in Singapore. The sum of particulate-bound PAHs in outdoor PM ranged from 1.05 to 3.45 ng m⁻³ while that in indoor PM (cooking emissions) ranged from 27.6 to 75.7 ng m⁻³, respectively.     

Stable carbon ((12/13)C) and nitrogen ((14/15)N) isotopes as a tool for identifying the sources of cyanide in wastes and contaminated soils--a method development

The occurrence of iron-cyanide complexes in the environment is of concern, since they are potentially hazardous. In order to determine the source of iron-cyanide complexes in contaminated soils and wastes, we developed a method based on the stable isotope ratios ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N of the complexed cyanide-ion (CN⁻). The method was tested on three pure chemicals and two industrials wastes: blast-furnace sludge (BFS) and gas-purifier waste (GPW). The iron-cyanide complexes were converted into the solid cupric ferrocyanide, Cu₂[Fe(CN)₆]·7H₂O, followed by combustion and determination of the isotope-ratios by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Cupric ferrocyanide was obtained from the materials by (i) an alkaline extraction with 1 M NaOH and (ii) a distillate digestion. The [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ of the alkaline extraction was precipitated after adding Cu²⁺. The CN⁻ of the distillate digestion was at first complexed with Fe²⁺ under inert conditions and then precipitated after adding Cu²⁺. The δ¹³C-values obtained by the two methods differed slightly up to 1-3‰ for standards and BFS. The difference was larger for alkaline-extracted GPW (4-7‰), since non-cyanide C was co-extracted and co-precipitated. Therefore the distillate digestion technique is recommended when determining the C isotope ratios in samples rich in organic carbon. Since the δ¹³C-values of BFS are in the range of −30 to −24‰ and of −17 to −5‰ for GPW, carbon seems to be a suitable tracer for identifying the source of cyanide in both wastes. However, the δ¹⁵N-values overlapped for BFS and GPW, making nitrogen unsuitable as a tracer.     

全二维气相色谱分析持久性有机污染物的应用进展

持久性有机污染物（POPs）组分复杂,在自然界中超痕量存在,其分离分析十分困难。全二维气相色谱（GC×GC）作为一种新型色谱技术,与传统的一维气相色谱相比,具有峰容量大、分辨率和灵敏度高等优势,越来越广泛地应用于环境有机污染物的分析。该文综述了近十年来全二维气相色谱在持久性有机污染物分析中的应用进展,主要包括全二维气相色谱在解决一些复杂POPs定性定量分析难题方面的应用,如二恶英、毒杀芬和短链氯化石蜡等;概述了全二维气相色谱对多种POPs同时定性定量分析的应用进展;讨论了全二维气相色谱在非目标有机污染物筛查分析中的应用,并对发展趋势及相关应用前景进行了总结展望。     

大气颗粒物滤膜中极性有机物在线衍生装置的设计与应用

设计制作了一套用于气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)分析极性有机物的在线衍生装置,并将其应用于大气颗粒物样品中极性有机物的检测.将大气颗粒物滤膜样品置于GC-MS进样口,通过使用套针组件,匀速引入气态衍生试剂N-甲基-Ⅳ-(三甲基硅烷)三氟乙酰胺(MSTFA),使其在衬管内于310℃下与待测物接触,10 min即可完成硅烷化...     

Synergistic effect of the simultaneous chemometric analysis of H NMR spectroscopic and stable isotope (SNIF-NMR,O, C) data: Application to wine analysis

It is known that ¹H NMR spectroscopy represents a good tool for predicting the grape variety, the geographical origin, and the year of vintage of wine. In the present study we have shown that classification models can be improved when ¹H NMR profiles are fused with stable isotope (SNIF-NMR, ¹⁸O, ¹³C) data. Variable selection based on clustering of latent variables was performed on ¹H NMR data. Afterwards, the combined data of 718 wine samples from Germany were analyzed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) and independent components analysis (ICA). Moreover, several specialized multiblock methods (common components and specific weights analysis (ComDim), consensus PCA and consensus PLS-DA) were applied to the data.     

Strategies for the extraction of free and bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in run-off waters rich in organic matter

The objective of this study was to optimize and characterise extraction methods to examine the effects of wood ash application on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in run-off waters for the evaluation of their distribution by storage in the different compartments (free and bound to dissolved organic matter, DOM), what influence their stability and persistence. The feasibility of solid phase extraction (SPE) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) for the determination of eight PAHs in run-off water samples has been evaluated. Both are appropriate to determine PAHs in run-off waters, but SPE is suitable for the determination of overall PAHs, while SBSE is used for the determination of free PAHs. The combination of both extraction techniques can then be used to estimate PAHs bound to DOM. Another approach based in the only use of SBSE is proposed for the estimation of all PAHs fractions (free, bound to DOM, and overall), once we are able to estimate the fraction percentage the free concentration represents. The percentage of free fraction was variable in the run-off waters with medium levels of DOM depending on the number of aromatic rings, molecular weight and water solubility of PAHs.     

Response surface optimisation applied to a headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in water matrices

A new method for the simultaneous determination of 12 volatile organic compounds (trans-1,2-dichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethene, toluene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, ethylbenzene, m-, p-, o-xylene) in water samples by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS–SPME)–gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was described, using a 100?µm PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) coated fibre. The response surface methodology was used to optimise the effect of the extraction time and temperature, as well as the influence of the salt addition in the extraction process. Optimal conditions were extraction time and temperature of 30?min and ?20°C, respectively, and NaCl concentration of 4?mol?L^?1. The detection limits were in the range of 1.1?×?10^?3–2.3?µg?L^?1 for the 12 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Global uncertainties were in the range of 4–68%, when concentrations decrease from 250?µg?L^?1 down to the limits of quantification. The method proved adequate to detect VOCs in six river samples.     

Study of the size-based environmental availability of metals associated to natural organic matter by stable isotope exchange and quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled to asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation

The determination of the isotopically exchangeable fraction of metals in environmental solid samples (soils, composts, sediments, sludges, etc.) is used to know the amount of metal potentially available (E-value). Stable isotopes can be used for determination of E-values through the analysis of the aqueous phases from spiked suspensions. However, the presence of isotopically non-exchangeable metal forms in the aqueous phase led to overestimation of the E-values. In this paper, a method for monitoring the degree of isotopic exchange in function of the molecular mass and/or size of the metal form has been developed based on the direct coupling of asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for on-line isotope ratio measurements. ICP-MS data acquisition parameters were stressed to avoid degradation of isotope ratio precision. Two sets of fractionation conditions were selected: a colloids separation, which allowed the separation of substances up to 1 μm, and a macromolecules separation, designed to resolve small size substances up to 50 kDa. The methodology was applied to study the environmental availability of copper and lead in compost samples, where metals are mainly associated to different forms of organic matter. No significant differences on isotopic exchange were observed over the size range studied, validating the E-values determined by direct analysis of the aqueous phases.     

Density functional study on electronic and optical properties of C (or N)-doped cubic cerium dioxide

Density functional calculations were performed on electronic and optical properties of C (or N)-doped cubic cerium dioxide (CeO₂). When O is replaced by C (or N) in CeO₂, obvious band-gap (E_g) reduction is observed. Meanwhile, it is interesting to find that the substitutional doping of C (or N) in CeO₂ obviously increases the O 2p–Ce 4f transition intensity and also the refractive index. The increase in the O 2p–Ce 4f transition intensity on going from undoped, N-doped and C-doped CeO₂ was related to the covalent character of the Ce–O bond. Compared with the undoped CeO₂, the C (or N)-doped CeO₂, with steep absorption peaks at lower energy, can be used for visible-light absorption applications.     

Novel crystal engineering in the crown ether nickel maleonitriledithiolate complexes,synthesis and crystal structures of [Na(N15C5)2]2[Ni(mnt)2] and [Na(N15C5)]2[Ni(mnt)2]

Reactions of N15C5 (2,3-naphtho-15-crown-5) with nickel maleonitriledithiolate sodium complex, Na₂[Ni(mnt)₂] (mnt?=?maleonitriledithiolate) using different molar ratios (2?:?1 and 4?:?1) afforded two structurally different complexes [Na(N15C5)₂]₂[Ni(mnt)₂] (1) and [Na(N15C5)]₂[Ni(mnt)₂] (2). The sandwich [Na(N15C5)₂]⁺ and mono-capped [Na(N15C5)]⁺ organic cations are observed in the crystals of 1 and 2, respectively, with the same [Ni(mnt)₂]^2? inorganic conteranions. It is these structurally different organic cations that lead to the dissimilar structures. Complex 1 exhibits a one-dimensional (1D) chain-like structure assembled by intercantionic {[Na(N15C5)₂]⁺}_∞ π–π stacking interactions and electrostatic interactions, while 2 displays a novel two-dimensional (2D) corrugated sheet-like structure constructed by Na–N interactions which occur between the [Na(N15C5)]⁺ inorganic cations and [Ni(mnt)₂]^2? inorganic anions.     

高效液相色谱法测定化妆品中的维生素C及其衍生物

建立了化妆品中维生素C及其3种衍生物(抗坏血酸葡糖苷(AA-2G)、抗坏血酸磷酸酯镁(AA-2P)、抗坏血酸乙基醚(Only VCE))的高效液相色谱分析方法。化妆水、水乳液等含油脂较少的样品先采用30 mL 0.02 mol/L磷酸二氢钾溶液(pH 3.0)直接提取,然后定容至50 mL;面膏等含油脂较高及凝胶类、啫喱类的样品先加入1.0 mL二氯甲烷分散均匀后再加25 mL 0.02 mol/L磷酸二氢钾溶液(pH 3.0)提取。提取液在12000 r/min下离心后用0.22 μm滤膜过滤。样品分析采用YMC-Triart C18色谱柱,以0.02 mol/L磷酸二氢钾溶液(pH 3.0)和甲醇溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,流速为1.0 mL/min,柱温为25 ℃,使用二极管阵列检测器(DAD)检测,检测波长为250 nm,外标法定量。结果显示:4种化合物在其线性范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r²)均大于0.9999;方法的定量限(以信噪比为10计)为0.04~0.08 g/kg;添加水平为0.25~5.0 g/kg时的回收率为95.6%~101.0%,相对标准偏差为0.62%~3.0%。该方法前处理简单、回收率高、精密度好,适用于化妆品中维生素C及其衍生物的测定。     

1H and 13C NMR spectral assignment of N,N′‐disubstituted thiourea and urea derivatives active against nitric oxide synthase

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR resonances of seventeen N‐alkyl and aryl‐N′‐[3‐hydroxy‐3‐(2‐nitro‐5‐substitutedphenyl)propyl]‐thioureas and ureas ( 1–17 ), and seventeen N‐alkyl or aryl‐N′‐[3‐(2‐amino‐5‐substitutedphenyl)‐3‐hydroxypropyl]‐thioureas and ureas ( 18–34 ), designed as NOS inhibitors, were assigned completely using the concerted application of one‐ and two‐dimensional experiments (DEPT, HSQC and HMBC). NOESY studies confirm the preferred conformation of these compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterisation of uniformly 13C, 15N labelled bacteriochlorophyll a and bacteriopheophytin a in solution and in solid state: complete assignment of the 13C, 1H and 15N chemical shifts

In this investigation we report a complete assignment of (13)C, (1)H and (15)N solution and solid state chemical shifts of two bacterial photosynthetic pigments, bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a and bacteriopheophytin (BPheo) a. Uniform stable-isotope labelling strategies were developed and applied to biosynthetic preparation of photosynthetic pigments, namely uniformly (13)C, (15)N labelled BChl a and BPheo a. Uniform stable-isotope labelling with (13)C, (15)N allowed performing the assignment of the (13)C, (15)N and (1)H resonances. The photosynthetic pigments were isolated from the biomass of photosynthetic bacteria Rhodopseudomonas palustris 17001 grown in uniformly (13)C (99%) and (15)N (98%) enriched medium. Both pigments were characterised by NMR in solution (acetone-d(6)) and by MAS NMR in solid state and their NMR resonances were recorded and assigned through standard liquid 2D (13)C-(13)C COSY, (1)H-(13)C HMQC, (1)H-(15)N HMBC and solid 2D (13)C-(13)C RFDR, (1)H-(13)C FSLG HETCOR and (1)H-(15)N HETCOR correlation techniques at 600 MHz and 750 MHz. The characterisation of pigments is of interest from biochemical to pharmaceutical industries, photosynthesis and food research.     

The use of MM/QM calculations of 13C and 15N chemical shifts in the conformational analysis of alkyl substituted anilines

The calculation of the ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts by a combined molecular mechanics (Pcmodel 9.1/MMFF94) and ab initio (GIAO (B3LYP/DFT, 6-31 + G(d)) procedure is used to investigate the conformations of a variety of alkyl substituted anilines. The ¹³C shifts are obtained from the GIAO isotropic shielding (Ciso) with separate references for sp³ and sp² carbons (δc = δref − Ciso). The ¹⁵N shifts are obtained similarly from the GIAO isotropic shielding (Niso) with reference to the ¹⁵N chemical shift of aniline. Comparison of the observed and calculated shifts provides information on the molecular conformations. Aniline and the 2,6-dialkylanilines exist with a rapidly inverting symmetric pyramidal nitrogen atom. The 2-alkylanilines have similar conformations with the NH₂ group tilted away from the 2-alkyl substituent. The N,N-dialkylanilines show more varied conformations. N,N-dimethylaniline has a similar structure to aniline, but N-ethyl, N-methylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, and N,N-diisopropylaniline are conformationally mobile with two rapidly interconverting conformers. In contrast, the anilines substituted at C₂ and the nitrogen atom exist as one conformer where the steric interaction between the C₂ substituent and the N substituent determines the conformation. In 2-methyl-N-methylaniline, the nitrogen atom is pyramidal as usual with the N-methyl opposite to the 2-methyl, but in 2-methyl-N,N-dimethyl aniline, the NMe₂ group is now almost orthogonal to the phenyl plane. This is also the case with 2-methyl-N,N-diethylaniline and 2,6-diisopropyl-N,N-dimethylaniline. The comparison of the observed and calculated ¹⁵N chemical shifts confirms the above findings, in particular the pyramidal conformation of aniline and the above observations with respect to the conformations of the N,N-dialkylanilines.     

C59(C6H4CH3)N的结构、UV-VIS光谱、NMR谱以及非线性光学性质的理论研究

用ＩＮＤＯ 系列方法对由（Ｃ５９Ｎ）２和甲苯合成的衍生物Ｃ５９ （Ｃ６Ｈ４ＣＨ３）Ｎ进行了理论研究,得到了分子的稳定构型,表明Ｃ５９（Ｃ６Ｈ４ＣＨ３）Ｎ具有Ｃｓ对称性。以优化构型为基础讨论了分子的ＵＶ－ＶＩＳ光谱、ＮＭＲ谱,结果与实验符合得很好。还计算了Ｃ５９－（Ｃ６Ｈ４ＣＨ３）Ｎ的二阶非线性光学系数βμ,结果表明这种分子具有较大的二阶非线性光学系数。     

ChemInform Abstract: Molecular Complexes of Nitric Acid with N2, CO and NO Studied by Matrix Isolation IR Spectroscopy.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.