Study and validity of 13C stable carbon isotopic ratio analysis by mass spectrometry and 2H site-specific natural isotopic fractionation by nuclear magnetic resonance isotopic measurements to characterize and control the authenticity of honey

Honey samples were analyzed by stable carbon isotopic ratio analysis by mass spectrometry (SCIRA-MS) and site-specific natural isotopic fractionation measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR) to first determine their potentials for characterizing the substance and then to combat adulteration. Honey samples from several geographic and botanical origins were analyzed. The δ¹³C parameter was not significant for characterizing an origin, while the (D/H)_I ratio could be used to differentiate certain single-flower varieties. Application of the official control method of adding a C₄ syrup (AOAC official method 998.12) to our authentic samples revealed anomalies resulting from SCIRA indices that were more negative than −1‰ (permil). A filtration step was added to the experimental procedure and provided results that were compliant with the natural origin of our honey samples. In addition, spiking with a C₄ syrup could be detected starting at 9-10%. The use of SNIF-NMR is limited by the detection of a syrup spike starting only at 20%, which is far from satisfying.     

Site-specific C content by quantitative isotopic C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry: A pilot inter-laboratory study

Isotopic ¹³C NMR spectrometry, which is able to measure intra-molecular ¹³C composition, is of emerging demand because of the new information provided by the ¹³C site-specific content of a given molecule. A systematic evaluation of instrumental behaviour is of importance to envisage isotopic ¹³C NMR as a routine tool. This paper describes the first collaborative study of intra-molecular ¹³C composition by NMR. The main goals of the ring test were to establish intra- and inter-variability of the spectrometer response. Eight instruments with different configuration were retained for the exercise on the basis of a qualification test. Reproducibility at the natural abundance of isotopic ¹³C NMR was then assessed on vanillin from three different origins associated with specific δ¹³C_i profiles. The standard deviation was, on average, between 0.9 and 1.2‰ for intra-variability. The highest standard deviation for inter-variability was 2.1‰. This is significantly higher than the internal precision but could be considered good in respect of a first ring test on a new analytical method. The standard deviation of δ¹³C_i in vanillin was not homogeneous over the eight carbons, with no trend either for the carbon position or for the configuration of the spectrometer. However, since the repeatability for each instrument was satisfactory, correction factors for each carbon in vanillin could be calculated to harmonize the results.     

13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine olive oil grades

¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used in a first attempt to differentiate olive oil samples by grades. High resolution ¹³C NMR Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT) spectra of 137 olive oil samples from the four grades, extra virgin olive oils, olive oils, olive pomace oils and lampante olive oils, were measured. The data relative to the resonance intensities (variables) of the unsaturated carbons of oleate (C-9 and C-10) and linoleate (L-9, L-10 and L-12) chains attached at the 1,3- and 2-positions of triacylglycerols were analyzed by linear discriminant analysis. The 1,3- and 2- carbons of the glycerol moiety of triacylglycerols along with the C-2, C-16 and C-18 resonance intensities of saturated, oleate and linoleate chains were also analyzed by linear discriminant analysis. The three discriminanting functions, which were calculated by using a stepwise variable selection algorithm, classified in the true group by cross-validation procedure, respectively, 76.9, 70.0, 94.4 and 100% of the extra virgin, olive oil, olive pomace oil and lampante olive oil grades.     

Evidence of C non-covalent isotope effects obtained by quantitative C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at natural abundance during normal phase liquid chromatography

Quantitative isotopic ¹³C NMR at natural abundance has been used to determine the site-by-site ¹³C/¹²C ratios in vanillin and a number of related compounds eluted from silica gel chromatography columns under similar conditions. Head-to-tail isotope fractionation is observed in all compounds at the majority of carbon positions. Furthermore, the site-specific isotope deviations show signatures characteristic of the position and functionality of the substituents present. The observed effects are more complex than would be obtained by simply summing the individual effects. Such detail is hidden when only the global ¹³C content is measured by mass spectrometry. In particular, carbon positions within the aromatic ring are found to show site-specific isotope fractionation between the solute and the stationary phase. These interactions, defined as non-covalent isotope effects, can be normal or inverse and vary with the substitution pattern present.     

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance of some derivatives of 3-methyl-4,1-benzoxazepine-2,5-dione

Summary ¹³C chemical shift assignment of seven N-derivatives of 3-methyl-4,1-benzoxazepine-2,5-dione is reported. The assignment has been done with the help of J-modulated spectra and by comparison with the values of resembling segments reported in the reference. It has been found that the substituent on nitrogen atom has no significant effect on the¹³C chemical shift of the skeleton.

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¹³C-NMR einiger Derivative des 3-Methyl-4,1-benzoxazepin-2,5-dions

Zusammenfassung Es werden die¹³C-NMR-Verschiebungszuordnungen von sieben N-Derivaten von 3-Methyl-4,1-benzoxazepin-2,5-dionen diskutiert. Die Zuordnungen erfolgten über J-modulierte Spektren und Vergleich von entsprechenden Literaturdaten ähnlicher Molekülsegmente. Es zeigte sich, daß die Substitution am Stickstoff keinen signifikanten Einfluß auf die¹³C-chemischen Verschiebungen der Skelettkohlenstoffatome hat.

     

Characterization of degradation products of poly[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)methylsiloxane] by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and gas chromatography

Poly[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)methylsiloxane] (PTFPMS) was treated with the solvents acetone, ethyl acetate and methanol and its degradation products were analyzed with multiple techniques. ¹H, ²⁹Si and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were useful for the characterization of the intact polymers and for the determination of cyclosiloxanes. Cyclosiloxanes with a ring size of up to 23 were quantified by gas chromatography. The only degradation products found were TFPmethyl-cyclosiloxanes. 1,3,5,7-Tetrakis(TFPmethyl)-cyclotetrasiloxane was predominant, and (TFPmethyl)cyclotri-, penta- and hexasiloxane could be detected at lower concentrations. The identity of cyclic degradation products with a ring size of up to 6 was unambiguously confirmed by direct infusion mass spectrometry. The TFPmethyl-cyclosiloxanes were successfully ionized by electrospray ionization in the negative mode. None of the techniques applied gave hints to other degradation products such as short linear oligomers. Almost complete degradation of PTFPMS occurred in acetone and methanol, while degradation is distinctly reduced in ethyl acetate.     

In situ complexation of rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates with some derivatives of cysteine and related ligands studied by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The complexation of N-phthaloyl, N-formyl, and N,N-dimethyl derivatives of S-methylcysteine methyl ester (both racemic and optically pure) with three dimeric rhodium(II) salts, acetate Rh₂AcO₄, trifluoroacetate Rh₂TFA₄, and (R)-(+)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetate Rh₂Mosh₄ was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) at room and lower temperatures. The complexation was carried out in situ, in CDCl₃ solution using titration procedure; the results were examined by the analysis of ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shift change (Δδ). The complexation of free S-methyl cysteine and hydrochloride salt of its methyl ester was performed in D₂O solution. For comparison, complexation of some derivatives of leucine, phenylalanine, and proline was examined.

N-phthaloyl and N-formyl derivatives of cysteine formed 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 axial complexes with all dirhodium salts. Rhodium substrates were bonded via sulfur. In one case, the complexation of Rh₂TFA₄ by both sulfur and N-formyl oxygen was noted. Similar complexation of Rh₂TFA₄, via CHO group, was found for N-formyl derivatives of leucine, phenylalanine, and proline. For N,N-dimethyl derivative of cysteine, both N and S atoms were involved in bonding. At room temperature, in all cases, ligand exchange was fast on the NMR timescale.     

Quantitative analysis of malic and citric acids in fruit juices using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

¹H NMR spectroscopy was applied to the quantitative determination of malic and citric acids in apple, apricot, pear, kiwi, orange, strawberry and pineapple juices. Aspartic acid was studied as a potential interference. The effect of the sample pH on the chemical shifts of signals from malic, citric and aspartic acids was examined and a value of 1.0 was selected to carry out the determination. Integration of NMR signals at 2.89-2.95 and 3.00-3.04 ppm were used for calculating the concentration of malic and citric acids, respectively. At this pH the integrated signals were not overlapped. Sodium 3-(trimethylsilyl)tetradeuteropropionate (TSP) was used as an internal reference. The obtained results applying NMR procedures to analyze the juices from different fruits were compared to those obtained using enzymatic methods and both were in close agreement. The intra- and inter-day repeatability was tested for apple juice (7.86 g l⁻¹ malic acid, 0.32 g l⁻¹ citric acid) and apricot juice (5.06 g l⁻¹ malic acid, 4.79 g l⁻¹ citric acid) obtaining coefficients of variation lower than 3.4% for intra-day measures (n = 10) and lower than 3.8% for inter-day measures (n = 20).     

Quantitative analysis of deuterium using the isotopic effect on quaternary C NMR chemical shifts

Quantitative analysis of specifically deuterated compounds can be achieved by a number of conventional methods, such as mass spectroscopy, or by quantifying the residual ¹H NMR signals compared to signals from internal standards. However, site specific quantification using these methods becomes challenging when dealing with non-specifically or randomly deuterated compounds that are produced by metal catalyzed hydrothermal reactions in D₂O, one of the most convenient deuteration methods. In this study, deuterium-induced NMR isotope shifts of quaternary ¹³C resonances neighboring deuterated sites have been utilized to quantify the degree of isotope labeling of molecular sites in non-specifically deuterated molecules. By probing ¹³C NMR signals while decoupling both proton and deuterium nuclei, it is possible to resolve ¹³C resonances of the different isotopologues based on the isotopic shifts and the degree of deuteration of the carbon atoms. We demonstrate that in different isotopologues, the same quaternary carbon, neighboring partially deuterated carbon atoms, are affected to an equal extent by relaxation. Decoupling both nuclei (¹H, ²H) resolves closely separated quaternary ¹³C signals of the different isotopologues, and allows their accurate integration and quantification under short relaxation delays (D1 = 1 s) and hence fast accumulative spectral acquisition. We have performed a number of approaches to quantify the deuterium content at different specific sites to demonstrate a convenient and generic analysis method for use in randomly deuterated molecules, or in cases of specifically deuterated molecules where back-exchange processes may take place during work up.     

Molecular structure of di-aryl-aldimines by multinuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction

The complete ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR analyses for a series of 25 diaryl-aldimines containing phenyl, pyridyl, pyrazolone and furanyl moieties are described herein. Detailed evaluation of substituent chemical shift and coupling constant effects showed that interaction between the lone pair of the pyrazolone carbonyl group or the nitrogen of 2-substitued pyridines with the aldimine hydrogen increases the value and shifts the resonance signal for this hydrogen to high frequency, in the ¹H NMR spectra. The X-ray crystal structure analysis of pyrazolone substituted aldimines evidenced the planarity of the aryl groups which are conjugated with the CN double bond. In the case of the N-(2-pyridinemethylene)-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one, two rotamers were observed in the same unit cell.     

A molecular fluorophore in citric acid/ethylenediamine carbon dots identified and quantified by multinuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance

The composition of fluorescent polymer nanoparticles, commonly referred to as carbon dots, synthesized by microwave-assisted reaction of citric acid and ethylenediamine was investigated by ¹³C, ¹³C{¹H}, ¹H─¹³C, ¹³C{¹⁴N}, and ¹⁵N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. ¹³C NMR with spectral editing provided no evidence for significant condensed aromatic or diamondoid carbon phases. ¹⁵N NMR showed that the nanoparticle matrix has been polymerized by amide and some imide formation. Five small, resolved ¹³C NMR peaks, including an unusual ═CH signal at 84 ppm (¹H chemical shift of 5.8 ppm) and ═CN₂ at 155 ppm, and two distinctive ¹⁵N NMR resonances near 80 and 160 ppm proved the presence of 5-oxo-1,2,3,5-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid (IPCA) or its derivatives. This molecular fluorophore with conjugated double bonds, formed by a double cyclization reaction of citric acid and ethylenediamine as first shown by Y. Song, B. Yang, and coworkers in 2015, accounts for the fluorescence of the carbon dots. Cross-peaks in a ¹H─¹³C HETCOR spectrum with brief ¹H spin diffusion proved that IPCA is finely dispersed in the polyamide matrix. From quantitative ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra, a high concentration (18 ± 2 wt%) of IPCA in the carbon dots was determined. A pronounced gradient in ¹³C chemical-shift perturbations and peak widths, with the broadest lines near the COO group of IPCA, indicated at least partial transformation of the carboxylic acid of IPCA by amide or ester formation.     

Rapid and novel discrimination and quantification of oleanolic and ursolic acids in complex plant extracts using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy—Comparison with HPLC methods

A novel strategy for NMR analysis of mixtures of oleanolic and ursolic acids that occur in natural products is described. These important phytochemicals have similar structure and their discrimination and quantification is rather difficult. We report herein the combined use of proton-carbon heteronuclear single-quantum coherence (¹H-¹³C HSQC) and proton-carbon heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (¹H-¹³C HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in the identification and quantitation of oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA)in plant extracts of the Lamiaceae and Oleaceae family. The combination of ¹H-¹³C HSQC and ¹H-¹³C HMBC techniques allows the connection of the proton and carbon-13 spins across the molecular backbone resulting in the identification and, thus, discrimination of oleanolic and ursolic acid without resorting to physicochemical separation of the components. The quantitative results provided by 2D ¹H-¹³C HSQC NMR data were obtained within a short period of time (∼14 min) and are in excellent agreement with those obtained by HPLC, which support the efficiency of the suggested methodology.     

A technique for the quantitative measurements of signal intensities in cellulose-based transformer insulators by13C CPMAS NMR

A full investigation of the¹³C CPMAS relaxation times for samples of virgin and aged insulation paper material has revealed the quantitative aspects of the CPMAS technique. We observe, as have others, that the peak due to methyloxy carbon C₆ in the solid-state spectrum is reduced in intensity, compared with the other peaks, by ca. 7%. This is a direct result of the difference in relaxation times for the different carbon nuclei. It is shown that simplifying assumptions concerning the relative magnitude of the relaxation times used in the analysis of cross-polarization dynamics are not valid in these materials. In particular, the¹³C spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (¹³C T₁     

Isotopic finger-printing of active pharmaceutical ingredients by 13C NMR and polarization transfer techniques as a tool to fight against counterfeiting

The robustness of adiabatic polarization transfer methods has been evaluated for determining the carbon isotopic finger-printing of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The short time stabilities of the adiabatic DEPT and INEPT sequences are very close to that observed with the one pulse sequence, but the DEPT long time stability is not sufficient for isotopic measurements at natural abundance or low enrichment. Using the INEPT sequence for ¹³C isotopic measurements induces a dramatic reduction in the experimental time without deterioration in short time or long time stability. It appears, therefore, to be a method of choice for obtaining the isotopic finger-print of different ibuprofen samples in a minimum time. The results obtained on 13 commercial ibuprofen samples from different origins show that this strategy can be used effectively to determine ¹³C distribution within a given molecule and to compare accurately differences in the isotopic distribution between different samples of the given molecule. The present methodology is proposed as a suitable tool to fight against counterfeiting.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance VI. Some quantitative applications of carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy to phenylindoles

Summary The number of carbons represented by each signal of the phenylindoles1,4, and5 is measured quantitatively by integration of their¹³C NMR spectra, recorded after adding chromium(III) acetylacetonate to the sample solutions as a paramagnetic relaxation agent. Their carbon chemical shifts are assigned unambiguously; the literature assignments of4 are confirmed. By a comparative study of the carbon chemical shifts of1,4, and5, those of2 and3 are also assigned. Theortho carbons of the phenyl group of4 resonate upfield with respect to thepara carbon. Theortho carbons of the 2- and 3-phenyl moieties of1–3 and5, however, are found to absorb downfield from the correspondingpara carbons, probably because of steric and/or electronic effects exerted by their neighbouring phenyl group.

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Kernresonanzspektroskopie, 6. Mitt. Einige quantitative Anwendungen der¹³C-NMR-Spektroskopie auf Phenylindole

Zusammenfassung Die Anzahl der durch jedes Signal der Phenylindole1,4 und5 repräsentierten Kohlenstoffatome wird durch Integration der nach Zusatz von Chrom(III)acetonylacetat als Relaxationsreagens aufgenommenen¹³C-NMR-Spektren bestimmt. Ihre chemischen Verschiebungen werden eindeutig zugeordnet; die Literaturwerte für4 werden bestätigt. Durch eine vergleichende Untersuchung der¹³C-chemischen Verschiebungen von1,4 und5 können jene von2 und3 ebenfalls zugeordnet werden. Dieortho-Kohlenstoffe der Phenylgruppe von4 sind gegenüber denpara-Kohlenstoffatomen zu höherem Feld verschoben. Für die 2- und 3-Phenyl-Substituenten von1–3 und5 kehren sich die Verhältnisse um, wahrscheinlich wegen sterischer und/oder elektronischer Effekte der benachbarten Phenylgruppe.

     

A set of triple-resonance nuclear magnetic resonance experiments for structural characterization of organophosphorus compounds in mixture samples

The ¹H, ¹³C correlation NMR spectroscopy utilizes J_CH couplings in molecules, and provides important structural information from small organic molecules in the form of carbon chemical shifts and carbon-proton connectivities. The full potential of the ¹H, ¹³C correlation NMR spectroscopy has not been realized in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) related verification analyses due to the sample matrix, which usually contains a high amount of non-related compounds obscuring the correlations of the relevant compounds. Here, the results of the application of ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P triple-resonance NMR spectroscopy in characterization of OP compounds related to the CWC are presented. With a set of two-dimensional triple-resonance experiments the J_HP, J_CH and J_PC couplings are utilized to map the connectivities of the atoms in OP compounds and to extract the carbon chemical shift information. With the use of the proposed pulse sequences the correlations from the OP compounds can be recorded without significant artifacts from the non-OP compound impurities in the sample. Further selectivity of the observed correlations is achieved with the application of phosphorus band-selective pulse in the pulse sequences to assist the analysis of multiple OP compounds in mixture samples. The use of the triple-resonance experiments in the analysis of a complex sample is shown with a test mixture containing typical scheduled OP compounds, including the characteristic degradation products of nerve agents sarin, soman, and VX. The viability of the approach in verification analysis is demonstrated in the analysis of the 30th OPCW Proficiency Test sample.     

New deuterium isotope effects on C and F chemical shifts across intramolecular hydrogen bonds of non-resonance assisted systems

A series of thioanilides and corresponding anilides, some of which contain fluorinated phenyl rings, have been synthesized as model compounds. They all contain rather strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds, the strength of which varies. Deuterium isotope effects on ¹⁹F and ¹³C chemical shifts due to deuteriation at the NH proton show interesting new long-range isotope effects on chemical shifts that may be related to the existence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond and to transmission of the isotope effect due to an electric field effect. Deuterium isotope effects on chemical shifts report on variations in hydrogen bonding, for example, as a function of changes in substituents or temperature. Deuteriation leads to a strengthening of the hydrogen bond.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance of donor atoms as a tool for determination of the structure of platinum metal complexes in solutions

Data on the NMR spectroscopy of C, N, O, Si, P, and Sn donor atoms of platinum metal complexes in solutions are surveyed. The chemical shift of a donor atom mainly depends on the ligand in the trans-position (due to the trans-effect). The chemical shift of a donor atom on a particular coordinate of the complex (coordinate shift, CSh) is an attribute of this coordinate and can be used to identify such a coordinate in platinum metal complexes and to determine the structures of complexes. Based on the known data, CSh diagrams were composed for ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, ¹⁷O, ¹⁹F, ³¹P, and ¹¹⁹Sn. Examples of using the CShs for determining the structures of platinum metal complexes in solutions are presented.     

Oxidation of C-labeled ethyl linoleate monitored and quantitatively analyzed by C NMR

The oxidation of ¹³C-labeled ethyl linoleate (¹³C-EL), a model compound for alkyd resins, was investigated by ¹³C NMR in the presence of Co(II)-2-ethylhexanoate (Co-EH), Mn(acac)₃ (acac = acetylacetonate), and Mn(acac)₃ in combination with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), respectively. The use of ¹³C-EL allows us, in an unprecedented way, to reveal the individual evolution of hydroperoxides (ROOH) and peroxy (ROOR) links by ¹³C NMR and to quantify the oxidation intermediates during the oxidation. Mn(acac)₃ appeared to be less effective in decomposing ROOH than Co-EH and the Mn(acac)₃/bpy combination. Quantitative analyses were attempted for a few major ¹³C peaks.