SIFT studies of the reactions of H3O+, NO+ and O+2 with a series of volatile carboxylic acids and esters

We report the results of a selected ion flow tube (SIFT) study of the reactions of H₃O⁺, NO⁺ and O⁺₂ with some nine carboxylic acids and eight esters. We assume that all the exothermic proton transfer reactions of H₃O⁺ with all the acid and esters molecules occur at the collisional rate, i.e. the rate coefficients, k, are equal to k_c; then it is seen that k values for most of the NO⁺ and O⁺₂ reactions also are equal to or close to k_c. The major ionic products of the H₃O⁺ reactions with both the acids and esters are the protonated parent molecules, MH⁺, but minor channels are also evident, these being the result of H₂O elimination from the excited (MH⁺)1 in some of the acid reactions and an alcohol molecule elimination (CH₃OH or C₂H₅OH) in some of the ester reactions. The NO⁺ reactions with the acids and esters result in both ion-molecule association producing NO⁺M in parallel with hydroxide ion (OH⁻) transfer with some of the acids, and parallel methoxide ion (CH₃O⁻) and ethoxide ion (C₂H₅O⁻) transfer as appropriate with some of the esters. The O⁺₂ reactions proceed by dissociative charge transfer with the production of two or more ionic fragments of the parent molecules, the different isomeric forms of both the acid and the ester molecules resulting in different product ions.     

Gas‐phase fragmentation of γ‐lactone derivatives by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Fragmentation reactions of β‐hydroxymethyl‐, β‐acetoxymethyl‐ and β‐benzyloxymethyl‐butenolides and the corresponding γ‐butyrolactones were investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS) using collision‐induced dissociation (CID). This study revealed that loss of H₂O [M + H ?18]⁺ is the main fragmentation process for β‐hydroxymethylbutenolide (1) and β‐hydroxymethyl‐γ‐butyrolactone (2). Loss of ketene ([M + H ?42]⁺) is the major fragmentation process for protonated β‐acetoxymethyl‐γ‐butyrolactone (4), but not for β‐acetoxymethylbutenolide (3). The benzyl cation (m/z 91) is the major ion in the ESI‐MS/MS spectra of β‐benzyloxymethylbutenolide (5) and β‐benzyloxymethyl‐γ‐butyrolactone (6). The different side chain at the β‐position and the double bond presence afforded some product ions that can be important for the structural identification of each compound. The energetic aspects involved in the protonation and gas‐phase fragmentation processes were interpreted on the basis of thermochemical data obtained by computational quantum chemistry. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystallographic report: {[Zn(O2CC6H4NO2‐m)(1,10‐phenanthroline)2] O2CC6H4NO2‐m}·2H2O·HO2CC6H4NO2‐m

The structure of {[Zn(O₂CC₆H₄NO₂‐m)(1,10‐phenanthroline)₂]O₂CC₆H₄NO₂‐m}·2H₂O·HO₂CC₆H₄NO₂‐m features chelating m‐nitrobenzoate and 1,10‐phenanthroline ligands so that a distorted octahedron N₄O₂ coordination geometry results. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas‐phase basicity of 2‐furaldehyde

2‐Furaldehyde (2‐FA), also known as furfural or 2‐furancarboxaldehyde, is an heterocyclic aldehyde that can be obtained from the thermal dehydration of pentose monosaccharides. This molecule can be considered as an important sustainable intermediate for the preparation of a great variety of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and furan‐based polymers. Despite the great importance of this molecule, its gas‐phase basicity (GB) has never been measured. In this work, the GB of 2‐FA was determined by the extended Cooks's kinetic method from electrospray ionization triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometric experiments along with theoretical calculations. As expected, computational results identify the aldehydic oxygen atom of 2‐FA as the preferred protonation site. The geometries of O‐O‐cis and O‐O‐trans 2‐FA and of their six different protomers were calculated at the B3LYP/aug‐TZV(d,p) level of theory; proton affinity (PA) values were also calculated at the G3(MP2, CCSD(T)) level of theory. The experimental PA was estimated to be 847.9 ± 3.8 kJ mol^?1, the protonation entropy 115.1 ± 5.03 J mol^?1 K^?1 and the GB 813.6 ± 4.08 kJ mol^?1 at 298 K. From the PA value, a ΔH°_f of 533.0 ± 12.4 kJ mol^?1 for protonated 2‐FA was derived. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An efficient FeCl3‐promoted O‐alkyl cleavage of esters to carboxylic acids

A reliable and practical procedure for FeCl₃‐promoted ester cleavage has been developed. Lewis acids including TiCl₄, ZnO and FeCl₃ etc. were investigated as promoters for O‐alkyl cleavage of carboxylic acid ester. Under optimal reaction conditions, FeCl₃ (1.5 equiv.) was found to possess the highest activity and efficiently enhanced dealkylation of aryl esters, alkyl esters and aromatic heterocyclic esters to give their corresponding carboxylic acids in 54–98% yield, the method provides a complementary access to dealkylation of ester under neutral condition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of di‐n‐butyltin(IV) complexes with 4′/2′‐nitrobiphenyl‐2‐carboxylic acids: X‐ray crystal structures of [{(n‐C4H9)2Sn(OCOC12H8NO2−4′)}2O]2 and (n‐C4H9)2Sn{OCOC12H8NO2−4′}2

Reactions of di‐n‐butyltin(IV) oxide with 4′/2′‐nitrobiphenyl‐2‐carboxylic acids in 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 stoichiometry yield complexes [{(n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′/2′)}₂O]₂ ( 1 and 2 ) and (n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′/2′)₂ ( 3 and 4 ) respectively. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy. The IR spectra of these compounds indicate the presence of anisobidentate carboxylate groups and non‐linear C? Sn? C bonds. From the chemical shifts δ (¹¹⁹Sn) and the coupling constants ¹J(¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn), the coordination number of the tin atom and the geometry of its coordination sphere have been suggested. [{(n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′)}₂O]₂ ( 1 ) exhibits a dimeric structure containing distannoxane units with two types of tin atom with essentially identical geometry. To a first approximation, the tin atoms appear to be pentacoordinated with distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. However, each type of tin atom is further subjected to a sixth weaker interaction and may be described as having a capped trigonal bipyramidal structure. The diffraction study of the complex (n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′)₂ ( 3 ) shows a six–coordinate tin in a distorted octahedral frame containing bidentate asymmetric chelating carboxylate groups, with the n‐Bu groups trans to each other. The n‐Bu? Sn? n‐Bu angle is 152.8° and the Sn? O distances are 2.108(4) and 2.493(5) Å. The oxygen atom of the nitro group of the ligand does not participate in bonding to the tin atom in 1 and 3 . Crystals of 1 are triclinic with space group P1 and of that of 3 have orthorhombic space group Pnna. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas-phase reactions and rearrangements of alkyl esters with H3O+, NO+, and O2*+: a selected ion flow tube study

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been employed to study the ion-molecule reactions of 17 alkyl esters reacting with the common SIFT-MS reagent ions, H3O+, H3O+.nH2O (n = 1, 2, 3), NO+, and O2+. The majority of reactions were observed to proceed at or near collision rate, with the exception of H3O+.3H2O, which was found to be slow for 8 of 17 alkyl esters. Unexpected product ions in the form of the parent carboxylic acid cation were observed to arise from the H3O+ and NO+ reactions of some alkyl esters. The observed reactions have been probed by the ab initio CBS-4M and G2(MP2,SVP) methods. The postulated reaction pathway involves a 1,5 H atom migration from a beta-carbon onto the carbonyl oxygen.     

Direct measurement of the C2H5C(O)O2 + NO reaction rate coefficient using chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The rate coefficient for the reaction of the peroxypropionyl radical (C₂H₅C(O)O₂) with NO was measured with a laminar flow reactor over the temperature range 226–406 K. The C₂H₅C(O)O₂ reactant was monitored with chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The measured rate coefficients are k(T) = (6.7 ± 1.7) × 10⁻¹² exp{(340 ± 80)/T} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k(298 K) = (2.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our results are comparable to recommended rate coefficients for the analogous CH₃C(O)O₂ + NO reaction. Heterogeneous effects, pressure dependence, and concentration gradients inside the flow reactor are examined. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 31: 221–228, 1999     

Reflected shock tube studies of high-temperature rate constants for OH + CH4 --> CH3 + H2O and CH3 + NO2 --> CH3O + NO

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection of OH radicals at 308 nm has been used to study the reactions OH + CH(4) --> CH(3) + H(2)O and CH(3) + NO(2) --> CH(3)O + NO. Over the temperature range 840-2025 K, the rate constants for the first reaction can be represented by the Arrhenius expression k = (9.52 +/- 1.62) x 10(-11) exp[(-4134 +/- 222 K)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Since this reaction is important in both combustion and atmospheric chemistry, there have been many prior investigations with a variety of techniques. The present results extend the temperature range by 500 K and have been combined with the most accurate earlier studies to derive an evaluation over the extended temperature range 195-2025 K. A three-parameter expression describes the rate behavior over this temperature range, k = (1.66 x 10(-18))T(2.182) exp[(-1231 K)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Previous theoretical studies are discussed, and the present evaluation is compared to earlier theoretical estimates. Since CH(3) radicals are a product of the reaction and could cause secondary perturbations in rate constant determinations, the second reaction was studied by OH radical production from the fast reactions CH(3)O --> CH(2)O + H and H + NO(2) --> OH + NO. The measured rate constant is 2.26 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and is not dependent on temperature from 233 to 1700 K within experimental error.     

The birch reduction of heterocyclic compounds V Birch reduction of 2‐ and 5‐acylfuran‐3‐carboxylic acids and reductive elimination of 2‐(arylmethoxymethyl)furan‐3‐carboxylic acids

The Birch reduction of 2‐ and 5‐acylfuran‐3‐carboxylic acid 1 and 4 gave 2‐acyl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐3‐carboxylic acid 2 and 5‐acyltetrahydrofuran‐3‐carboxylic acid 5 , respectively. Further examination of the reductive elimination was also studied on 2‐(arylmethoxymethyl)furan‐3‐carboxylic acids 7.     

Convenient preparations of 2‐alkyl‐5‐oxopyrrolidine‐3‐carboxylic acids

Reduction of the Michael addition products of anions of nitro compounds to dimethyl maleate led to the spontaneous formation of the respective 2‐alkyl‐5‐oxopyrrolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid methyl esters. Conventional hydrolysis of the later gave the desired compounds.     

Gas‐phase decomposition mechanisms of C‐NO2, N‐NO2 energetic materials: Reevaluations

The thermal decomposition mechanisms of gaseous nitromethane, methyl nitrite, dimethylnitramine and 1,3,3,‐trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) have been reanalyzed using sensitivity and principal component analyses. For each system an adequate, much simplified mechanism was developed, and the fragmentation/reaction sequence leading to the final products was made transparent. The critical roles of free radicals (CH₃, H, OH, HCO, HNO, CH₃O, etc.) at different stages of these pyrolyses were then identified. The predicted product distributions for these compounds were calculated to facilitate the assessment of their explosive performance parameters. Comparison of the products generated by nitromethane with those produced by methyl nitrite showed that the contribution of a nitro‐nitrite isomerization reaction is negligible in the nitromethane pyrolysis. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 655–673, 1999     

Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry. 2–i-C4H10 and NO spectra of alkynes

The position of the triple bond of n-alkynes can be determined by the analysis of the relative abundance of the C_nH_2n?1 ions in the chemical ionization (i-butane) spectra. However, chemical ionization (NO) spectra where both hydrocarbon and NO-containing ions are formed in a characteristic manner are more reliable for this purpose. The limitations of the fragmentation rules established earlier for electron impact spectra of alkynes were investigated by examination of additional examples.     

Synthesis,characterization, molecular modelling and biological activity of 2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐1‐yl) acetate and its Cu2+, Pt4+, Pd2+, Au3+ and Nd3+ complexes

A new series of Cu²⁺, Pt⁴⁺, Pd²⁺, Au³⁺ and Nd³⁺ complexes derived from 2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐1‐yl) acetate have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analyses, spectral (infrared (IR), UV–visible, mass, ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR), magnetic and thermal measurements. IR results suggest that the ligand acts in a neutral monodentate fashion in all complexes. Octahedral geometry is proposed for Cu²⁺ and Pt⁴⁺ complexes and square‐planar for Pd²⁺ and Au³⁺ complexes. The bond lengths, bond angles, and HOMO and LUMO were calculated. Superoxide dismutase‐like radical scavenger activity and cytotoxic activity of the isolated complexes on HepG2 liver cancer cells have been screened. Ligand and complexes (Pt⁴⁺ and Nd³⁺) exhibit potent antioxidant activity upon coordination while Cu²⁺ and Au³⁺ complexes do not show superoxide dismutase‐like radical scavenger activity. The cytotoxic activity assay against HepG2 cell line proves that the ligand and its Pt⁴⁺ complex have a high cytotoxic activity, while the other complexes showed no cytotoxic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A selected ion flow tube study of the reactions of H3O+, NO+, and O2+ with saturated and unsaturated aldehydes and subsequent hydration of the product ions

We have carried out a selected ion flow tube (SIFT) study of the reactions of H₃O⁺, NO⁺, and O₂⁺ ions with several saturated and unsaturated aldehydes. This study is mainly directed toward providing the essential data for a projected SIFT mass spectrometry (SIFTMS) study of the volatile emissions from cooked meats, which always include aldehydes. Thus, it is necessary to know the rate coefficients and the product ions of the reactions of the above-mentioned ions, used as the precursor ions for SIFTMS analyses, with the aldehydes, if proper identification and quantification of the emitted species are to be achieved. The results of this study show that the reactions of H₃O⁺ with the aldehydes, M, result in the protonated molecules MH⁺ and for the saturated aldehydes also in (M - OH)⁺ ions resulting from the loss of a H₂O molecule from the nascent MH⁺ ion. The NO⁺ reactions invariably proceed via the process of hydride ion, H⁻, transfer producing (M - H)⁺ ions, but parallel minor association product ions NO⁺ · M are observed for some of the unsaturated aldehyde reactions. The O₂⁺ reactions proceed by way of charge transfer producing nascent M⁺ ions that partially dissociate producing fragment ions. Because water vapour is invariably present in real samples analysed by SIFTMS, the current experiments were also carried out following the introduction of humid laboratory air into the helium carrier gas of the SIFT. Thus, the reactions of the product ions that form hydrates were also studied as a prelude to future SIFTMS studies of the (humid) emissions from cooked meats.     

Phase Chemistry Investigation on Cr(NO3)3‐Met‐H2O System

The solubility property of the ternary of Cr(NO₃)₃‐Met‐H₂O has been investigated in the whole concentration by the phase equilibrium method, and the phase diagram has been constructed. From the phase diagram, the congruently soluble complexes Cr(Met)(NO₃)₃·2H₂O (D) and Cr(Met)₂(NO₃)₃·2H₂O (E) have been prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, elemental analysis, IR and TG‐DTG. Their combustion energies have been determined by a RBC‐type I precision rotating‐bomb calorimeter, and their standard enthalpies of formation, Δf, Hθ_m, have been calculated as (‐1842.01 ± 2.13) kJ·mol^?1 and (‐1136.16 ± 4.45) kJ·mol^?1, respectively.