Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of asphaltene fractions

Two n-heptane-precipitated asphaltene samples, characterized by elemental analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, were fractionated according to relative molecular size by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Both the whole asphaltene samples and their fractions were analysed by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data obtained from the pyrograms (average side-chain length, aromaticity index, sulphur compounds vs. aliphatic compounds, presence of SO₂ and CO₂) demonstrated that, in the case of asphaltenes, GPC fractionation results in the separation of different chemical structures ranging from lower molecular mass, highly aromatic and polar compounds to higher molecular mass, less polar and aromatic compounds.     

Substituent effects in trans‐p,p′‐disubstituted azobenzenes: X‐ray structures at 100 K and DFT‐calculated structures

The crystal and molecular structures of two para‐substituted azobenzenes with π‐electron‐donating –NEt₂ and π‐electron‐withdrawing –COOEt groups are reported, along with the effects of the substituents on the aromaticity of the benzene ring. The deformation of the aromatic ring around the –NEt₂ group in N,N,N′,N′‐tetraethyl‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dianiline, C₂₀H₂₈N₄, (I), may be caused by steric hindrance and the π‐electron‐donating effects of the amine group. In this structure, one of the amine N atoms demonstrates clear sp²‐hybridization and the other is slightly shifted from the plane of the surrounding atoms. The molecule of the second azobenzene, diethyl 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dibenzoate, C₁₈H₁₈N₂O₄, (II), lies on a crystallographic inversion centre. Its geometry is normal and comparable with homologous compounds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyse the changes in the geometry of the studied compounds in the crystalline state and for the isolated molecules. The most significant changes are observed in the values of the N=N—C—C torsion angles, which for the isolated molecules are close to 0.0°. The HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) index, calculated for the benzene ring, demonstrates a slight decrease of the aromaticity in (I) and no substantial changes in (II).     

低温煤焦油常渣C5沥青质的分离与表征

从低温煤焦油中蒸馏提取出大于350℃的常渣,以正戊烷、正戊烷+5%乙醇、正戊烷+5%异丙醇三种溶剂沉淀沥青质。通过1H-NMR、13C-NMR、傅里叶变换离子回旋共振质谱仪(FT-ICR MS)、元素分析和相对分子量测定等手段对重组分沥青质的结构参数、杂原子化合物的分布等方面进行了分析,构建含杂原子的平均分子结构模型。结果表明,乙醇和异丙醇的加入可以显著降低C5-沥青质的收率,所得沥青质的芳香性增强,平均分子量增大,为更高缩合度的具有较短侧链的结构;极性溶剂的加入没有改变沥青质中杂原子化合物的类型,但是O1和O2中一部分低缩合度的化合物转移到可溶质中,O3-O6化合物的相对丰度增大,表明混合溶剂有利于萃取低缩合度的化合物。     

Effects of experimental conditions on the molecular composition of maltenes and asphaltenes derived from oilsands bitumen: Characterized by negative-ion ESI FT-ICR MS

A vacuum topped Canadian oilsands bitumen (VTB) was subjected to solvent precipitation and subsequently characterized by elemental analysis, gel permeation chromatograph (GPC), 1 H-NMR spectroscopy and negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). Effects of experimental conditions such as solvent types (n-C5 , n-C6 , and n-C7 ), solvent purity, and solvent washing time on asphaltenes yields, bulk composition, and molecular composition of detectable heteroatom compounds in ESI source were determined. Elemental nitrogen and sulfur were enriched in asphaltenes while elemental oxygen had comparable content in maltenes and asphaltenes. Molecular composition of asphaltenes varies with separation conditions. The N1 and O1 species identified by ESI FT-ICR MS were enriched in maltenes. The O2 species exhibited two different double bond equivalents (DBE) distributions and solubility in normal paraffin solvents, indicating two types of molecular structures. Multi oxygen atom containing compounds mainly detected in asphaltenes. Compound class distributions are similar for maltenes derived from n-C5 , n-C6 , and n-C7 , as well as for asphaltenes. The cyclic paraffin impurities in normal paraffin solvents had a significant influence on asphaltenes yields and heteroatom molecular composition. A portion of neutral N1 species and acidic O2 species adsorbed on asphaltenes could be dissolved by increasing washing time. Cautions should be exercised when interpreting the properties and composition of asphaltenes obtained with different experimental conditions.     

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry in the speciation of high molecular weight sulfur heterocycles in vacuum gas oils of different boiling ranges

The analysis of sulfur aromatics in vacuum gas oils (VGO) distilled from an Iranian light crude oil is discussed. The VGOs were fractionated into three boiling ranges, 390–460, 460–520, and 520–550 °C, and were analyzed using liquid chromatographic separation on a Pd(II)-bonded stationary phase followed by identification with electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). It was possible to detect a large number of thiophenes, including a substantial number of isomers, in the three VGO fractions. Separation on the palladium phase and inclusion of sulfur-selective derivatization makes electrospray ionization of these nonpolar compounds possible. An elemental composition can be assigned to a large number of S₁ compounds without ambiguity in the presence of abundant hydrocarbons. With an increase in boiling temperature, an increase in the size of the aromatic system and the number of side chain carbon atoms was observed. In addition, the masses of higher magnitude shifted toward larger aromatic systems with an increase in boiling range. A comparison of FT-ICR MS and comprehensive gas chromatography is also given. This work is dedicated to Prof. B. Krebs on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Molecular characterization of organically-bound sulfur in crude oils. A feasibility study for the application of Raney Ni desulfurization as a new method to characterize crude oils

Five crude oils with varying sulfur contents (0.1 – 4.7%) were characterized on a molecular level for organically-bound sulfur. Aromatic fractions were analyzed by GC-(MS) and asphaltene and polar fractions were analyzed by flash pyrolysis-GC-(MS). The polar fractions were also desulfurized with Raney Ni and the hydrocarbons formed were analyzed by GC-MS. Major sulfur compounds in the aromatic fractions were identified as alkylbenzo- and alkyldiben-zothiophenes. The flash pyrolyzates of the asphaltene contained alkylthiophenes and alkylbenzothiophenes as major compounds, depending on the thermal maturity of the oil. Generally, the sulfur-rich crude oils contained relatively more sulfur compounds. The flash pyrolyzates of polar fractions contained a variety of sulfur compounds (alkylthiolanes, alkylthianes, terpenoid sulfides, alkylbenzothiophenes) with substantial differences between different crude oils. Raney Ni desulfurization of the polar fraction yielded hydrocarbons dominated by n-alkanes, but isoprenoid alkanes, n-alkylcyclohexanes, mid-chain methylalkanes, tricyclic terpanes, hopanes and steranes were also present. These hydrocarbons show a potential to fingerprint crude oils since their distribution patterns are more characteristic than those of the hydrocarbons present in the saturated hydrocarbon fraction.     

Tandem Solid-Phase Extraction Columns for Simultaneous Aroma Extraction and Fractionation of Wuliangye and Other Baijiu

Wuliangye baijiu is one of the most famous baijiu in China, with a rich, harmonic aroma profile highly appreciated by consumers. Thousands of volatiles have been identified for the unique aroma profile. Among them, fatty acid esters have been identified as the main contributors to the aroma profile. In addition, many non-ester minor compounds, many of which are more polar than the esters, have been identified to contribute to the characteristic aroma unique to Wuliangye baijiu. The analysis of these minor compounds has been challenging due to the dominance of esters in the sample. Thus, it is desirable to fractionate the aroma extract into subgroups based on functional group or polarity to simplify the analysis. This study attempts a new approach to achieve simultaneous volatile extraction and fractionation using tandem LiChrolut EN and silica gel solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns. A baijiu sample (10 mL, diluted in 40 mL of water) was first passed through the LiChrolut EN (1.0 g) column. The loaded LiChrolut EN column was then dried with air and coupled with a silica gel (5.0 g) SPE column with anhydrous Na₂SO₄ (10.0 g) in between. The volatile compounds were eluted from the LiChrolut EN column and simultaneously fractionated on the silica gel column based on polarity. The simultaneous extraction and fractionation technique enabled the fractionations of all fatty acid esters into less polar fractions. Fatty acids, alcohols, pyrazines, furans, phenols, hydroxy esters, and other polar compounds were collected in more polar fractions. This technique was used to study the volatile compounds in Wuliangye, Moutai, and Fengjiu baijiu. In addition to fatty acid esters, many minor polar compounds, including 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-6-methylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, p-cresol, and 2-acetylpyrrole, were unequivocally identified in the samples. The procedure is fast and straightforward, with low solvent consumption.     

Ortho selectivity in SNAr substitutions of 2,4-dihaloaromatic compounds. Reactions with piperidine

A broad survey of aromatic compounds with halogens positioned both ortho and para to activating groups was studied in S_NAr reactions with piperidine. Regioselectivities varied with the substituent group and the polarity of the solvent. Many activating groups exhibited an overall bias toward ortho-substitution, and this led in nonpolar solvents to very high ortho selectivity. More polar solvents uniformly shifted the product ratio toward para substitution. Evidence is presented that argues for coordination via hydrogen bonding as a driver of much of the ortho selectivity observed. The data presented show ample evidence of the generality and synthetic utility of the ortho-directing ability of several common activating groups for this reaction type.     

SPE for the simultaneous determination of various isothiocyanates

Several SPE sorbents were investigated for the extraction of a group of chemically diverse isothiocyanates (ITCs). They included bonded silica, carbon‐based, and polymer‐based sorbents with various functional groups. Results showed large differences in the ability of these sorbents to simultaneously extract ITCs from standard solutions. Recovery rates were on average the highest with divinylbenzene (DVB) based polymeric sorbents, especially with a DVB/N‐vinylpyrrolidone copolymer that had recovery rates ranging between 86.7 and 95.6%. These sorbents achieved the most balanced extraction efficiency between aliphatic and aromatic, polar, and nonpolar ITCs. With graphitized carbon, C₁₈‐bonded silica, and amide‐containing sorbent, recovery levels were higher for the two least polar aromatic ITCs (benzyl ITC and phenylethyl ITC), whereas for the polar aliphatic ITCs levels were the lowest. The least retained one, was methyl ITC that is the most polar with recoveries between 0 and 31.5%. The presence of amide groups, especially in a polyamide sorbent, appeared to be particularly unsuitable for the extraction of aliphatic ITCs. A copolymer made up of DVB and N‐vinylpyrrolidone was therefore shown to be the most suited for the extraction of both aliphatic and aromatic ITCs.     

Nitrogen speciation of polar petroleum compounds by compound class separation and on-line liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS)

Chromatography on Attapulgus clay and on silicic acid has been used to isolate ‘neutral’ and ‘basic’ nitrogen fractions from the 650–1050 °F distillate of an off-shore Californian crude oil. These polar compounds were subjected to on-line liquid chromatography – mass spectrometric (LC-MS) analysis using low voltage electron-impact ionization high resolution mass spectrometry (LVEI HRMS) and deuterated ammonia chemical ionization (ND₃ Cl) to determine the molecules' elemental composition and number of exchangeable hydrogen atoms. On-line separation of heavy oils into saturated, 1–4 ring aromatic, and polar compounds was performed by normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a dinitroanilinopropyl (DNAP) silica column.     

Photooxygenations par transfert d'electron sensibilisees par le dicyano-9,10 anthracene. Role du solvant et formation d'oxygene singulet.

Photooxygenation of naphtalenic compounds sensitized by electron acceptors like 9,10 dicyanoanthracene (DCA) is shown to proceed by two distinct ways depending on the solvent polarity. In a polar solvent superoxide ion (O₂^-.) as well as singlet oxygen (¹O₂★) are involved while in a non polar solvent only singlet oxygen is produced.     

Liquid crystal polymers 23. Steric and polar effects of large substituents in thermotropic aromatic polyesters with decamethylene spacers

A series of thermotropic aromatic polyesters based on a triad ester mesogenic unit containing an arylsulfonyl substituted hydroquinone group and a decamethylene spacer group was prepared. The large arylsulfonyl substituent was substituted in the para-position with either electron donating or accepting groups to study the effect of steric and polar interactions on the thermal transitions of these polymers and on the thermodynamic parameters of their isotropization transitions. All polymers formed nematic melts, and a regular decrease in T₁, ΔH₁ and ΔS₁ was observed with increasing molecular radius of the substituted hydroquinone group. However, a polarity or polarizability effect was superimposed on these relationships. Model compounds containing the same aromatic ester triad were prepared and their thermotropic properties were compared to those of the polymers. Essentially identical effects were observed for both.     

A practical approach to non-natural or N-unsubstituted α-arylglycine derivatives: Hf(OTf)4-doped Me3SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich arenes with a new type of N,O-acetal

The authors have demonstrated the Hf(OTf)₄-doped Me₃SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich aromatic compounds, such as indoles and anilines, with new types of N,O-acetals having a variety of functional groups, such as cyano, ester, bis(trimethylsilyl)amino, diallylamino, and cyclic amino moieties, for the preparation of non-natural aromatic amino acid derivatives. Aminomethylation using an N,O-acetal with a bis(trimethylsilyl)amino group was particularly successful in the direct preparation of an N-unsubstituted α-indolylglycine derivative, which required only a standard aqueous workup.     

The determination of surface polarity of bismuth-molybdenum oxidation catalysts by gas chromatography

Summary The adsorption of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons was investigated using gas chromatography on Bi₂O₃, MoO₃ and mixed Bi–Mo oxidation catalysts. As a measure of polarity of a catalyst, the difference between the chemical potential of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons at the same surface concentration was used. The chemical potentials were estimated from elution chromatographic data. The data for C₆–C₉ methylbenzenes and C₆–C₁₂ n-alkanes were obtained in the temperature range 60–300°C in nitrogen as a carrier gas. Using air as carrier gas, introduction of water pulses on a catalyst does not change the elution characteristics. The elution of alkenes, alkynes, dienes and carbonyl compounds was disturbed by reaction of these compounds on the surface. The polarity of catalysts decreased in the order mixed Bi–Mo catalysts, MoO₃, Bi₂O₃. The polarities observed are compared with polarities of some other solids and liquids and the role of polarity of the surface in catalytic oxidation reactions is briefly discussed.     

Two 1-substituted 4-nitro­imidazoles

Crystalline 4-nitro-1-phenyl­imidazole, C₉H₇N₃O₂, (I), and 4′-­nitro-1-phenyl-4,1′-bii­imidazole, C₁₂H₉N₅O₂, (II), contain C—H⃛O and C—H⃛N hydrogen bonds, connecting the mol­ecules into infinite chains. The aromatic fragments in both compounds are nearly planar. The dihedral angles between the benzene and imidazole rings are 26.78 (5)° in (I) and 29.36 (8)° in (II).     

Solvent impact on the planarity and aromaticity of free and monohydrated zinc phthalocyanine: a theoretical study

A theoretical investigation on the planarity of molecular structure of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and its aromaticity has been performed using B3LYP and M06-2X density functionals combined with selected Pople-type basis sets. The effect of the applied calculation method on the optimized structure of ZnPc and ZnPc???H₂O, both in the gas phase and in the polar solvent, was analyzed. To quantify the aromaticity of the ZnPc and ZnPc???H₂O complexes, both the geometric and magnetic criteria, i.e., Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity (HOMA) index and the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) values at the centers or 1 Å above the centers of structural subunits, were calculated. The energies of highest energy occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest energy unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and energy gaps were also estimated. The results show that the free ZnPC molecule is flat in the gas phase and nonplanar in the polar environments (DMSO and water). ZnPC???H₂O is nonpolar in the gas phase and polar solvent which is in agreement with recent X-ray reports. Both HOMA and NICS indexes indicate the presence of highly aromatic macrocycle and benzene rings while these parameters for pyrrolic ring are significantly smaller than in free pyrrole. The presence of polar solvents practically does not change aromaticity of the ring subunits of the studied compounds.     

Hydrogen peroxide-or sodium hypochlorite-induced bromination of 1-arylbut-2-enes

Bromination of 1-arylbut-2-enes in the system [HBr or NaBr (KBr)-HX]-H₂O₂ (or NaOCl) under relatively mild conditions leads to electrophilic addition of bromine or hypobromous acid at the side-chain double bond. Under more severe conditions, the process is accompanied by bromination of the aromatic ring. Treatment of the title compounds with peroxy acids (RCOOH-H₂O₂) gives the corresponding epoxy derivatives which react with HBr and oxygen-containing nucleophiles to produce α-bromo alcohols, diols, and diol acetates.     

Nitric acid in the presence of P2O5 supported on silica gel—a useful reagent for nitration of aromatic compounds under solvent-free conditions

A variety of aromatic compounds are nitrated to parent nitro aromatic compounds under solvent-free conditions using 65% nitric acid in the presence of P₂O₅ supported on silica gel is described. This methodology is useful for nitration of activated and deactivated aromatic rings.     

Contrast of Bonding and Characters for C6, B3N3, C6H6 and B3N3H6 Molecules

Through integrative consideration of NICS, MO, MOC and NBO, we precisely investigated delocalization and bonding characters of C₆, C₆H₆, B₃N₃ and B₃N₃H₆ molecules. Firstly, we originally discovered and testified that C₆ cluster was sp² hybridization. Negative NICS values in 0 and 1 Å indicated that C₆ had δ and Π aromaticity. Secondly, B₃N₃ with sp² hybridization had obvious δ aromaticity. Finally, WBI values approved that there were delocalization in C₆, C₆H₆ and B₃N₃ molecules, but B₃N₃H₆ structure did not have delocalization with the WBI 1.0. Moreover, total WBI values of carbon, boron and nitrogen atoms were four, three and three, respectively. Namely, the electrons of B₃N₃H₆ and B₃N₃ were localized in nitrogen atoms and they did not form delocalized bonding. In a word, bonding characters of carbon, boron and nitrogen atoms were dissimilar although the molecules composed of carbon, boron and nitrogen were regarded as isoelectronic structures.