Structure investigation of codeine drug using mass spectrometry, thermal analyses and semi-emperical molecular orbital (MO) calculations

Codeine is an analgesic with uses similar to morphine, but it has a mild sedative effect. It is preferable used as phosphate form and it is often administrated by mouth with aspirin or paracetamol. Therefore, it is important to investigate its structure to know the active groups and weak bonds responsible for its medical activity. Consequently in the present work, codeine was investigated by mass spectrometry and thermal analyses (TG, DTG and DTA) and confirming by semi-empirical MO-calculation (PM3 method) in the neutral and positively charged forms of the drug. Some results of studying the d-block element complexes of codeine were used to declare the relationship between drug structure and its chemical reactivity in vitro system. The mass spectra and thermal analyses fragmentation pathways were proposed and compared to each other to select the most suitable scheme representing the correct fragmentation of this drug. From EI mass spectra, the main primary cleavage site of the charged drug molecule is that due to beta-cleavage to nitrogen atom in its skeleton. It occurs in two parallel mechanisms with the same possibility, i.e. no difference in appearance activation energy between them. In the neutral drug form the primary site cleavage is that occurs in the ether ring. Thermal analyses of the neutral form of the drug revealed the high response of the drug to the temperature variation with very fast rate. It decomposed in several sequential steps in the temperature range 200-600 degrees C. The initial thermal fragments are very similar to that obtained by mass spectrometric fragmentation. Therefore, comparison between mass and thermal helps in selection of the proper pathway representing the fragmentation of this drug. This comparison successfully confirmed by MOC. These calculations give the bond order, charge distribution, heat of formation and possible hybridization of some atoms in different position of the drug skeleton. This helps the successful choice of the weakest bond at which both mass and thermal fragmentation occurs. Therefore, the best fragmentation pathway of this drug is correctly selected. The effect of such fragmentation on the drug behavior in the human body can be expected as a result of comparing these data with that obtained on studying codeine metal complexes using mass and thermal fragmentation techniques.     

Structure investigation of sertraline drug and its iodine product using mass spectrometry, thermal analyses and MO-calculations

Sertraline (C(17)H(17)Cl(2)N) as an antidepressant drug was investigated using thermal analysis (TA) measurements (TG/DTG and DTA) in comparison with electron impact (EI) mass spectral (MS) fragmentation at 70eV. Semi-empirical MO-calculations, using PM3 procedure, has been carried out on neutral molecule and positively charged species. These calculations included bond length, bond order, bond strain, partial charge distribution and heats of formation (DeltaH(f)). Also, in the present work sertraline-iodine product was prepared and its structure was investigated using elemental analyses, IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, MS and TA. It was also subjected to molecular orbital calculations (MOC) in order to confirm its fragmentation behavior by both MS and TA in comparison with the sertraline parent drug. In MS of sertraline the initial rupture occurred was CH(3)NH(2)(+) fragment ion via H-rearrangement while in sertraline-iodine product the initial rupture was due to the loss of I(+) and/or HI(+) fragment ions followed by CH(2)NH(+) fragment ion loss. In thermal analyses (TA) the initial rupture in sertraline is due to the loss of C(6)H(3)Cl(2) followed by the loss of CH(3)-NH forming tetraline molecule which thermally decomposed to give C(4)H(8), C(6)H(6) or the loss of H(2) forming naphthalene molecule which thermally sublimated. In sertraline-iodine product as a daughter the initial thermal rupture is due to successive loss of HI and CH(3)NH followed by the loss of C(6)H(5)HI and HCl. Sertraline biological activity increases with the introduction of iodine into its skeleton. The activities of the drug and its daughter are mainly depend upon their fragmentation to give their metabolites in vivo systems, which are very similar to the identified fragments in both MS and TA. The importance of the present work is also due to the decision of the possible mechanism of fragmentation of the drug and its daughter and its confirmation by MOC.     

Investigation of diazepam drug using thermal analyses, mass spectrometry and semi-empirical MO calculation

In the present work diazepam (Dz) drug was investigated using thermal analyses (TA) measurements (TG/DTG) in comparison with EI mass spectral (MS) fragmentation at 70 and 20 eV. Semi-empirical MO calculations, MNDO procedure, have been carried out on diazepam both as neutral molecule and the corresponding positively charged molecular ion. These include molecular geometry, bond order, charge distribution, heats of formation and ionization energy. Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis, reveal a high response of the drug to the temperature variation with very fast rate. It is completely decomposed in the temperature range between 204 and 340 degrees C with average kinetic energy (KE) at 164.69 kJ mol(-1). On the other hand, diazepam can easily fragmented at low energy after ionization by electron energy at 9.56 eV. The losses of CO gas molecules followed by chlorine gas from the entity of diazepam (both neutral and charged molecular ion) as the best selected pathway were observed in both mass spectra (MS) and thermal analyses (TA). MNDO calculation was applied to declare both TA and MS observations.     

Investigation of ibuprofen drug using mass spectrometry,thermal analyses,and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculation

Ibuprofen (C₁₅H₁₈O₂) is an anti-inflammatory drug. It is important to investigate its structure to know the active groups and weak bond responsible for its medical activity. Consequently in the present study, ibuprofen was investigated by mass spectrometry (MS) and thermal analyses (TAs) (TG/DTG and DTA), and confirmed by semi-empirical molecular orbital (MO) calculation using PM3 procedure, on the neutral and positively charged forms of the drug. These calculations included bond order, bond length, and bond strain, and charge distribution, heat of formation, and ionization energy. The mass spectra and thermal analysis fragmentation pathways were proposed and compared to each other to select the most suitable scheme representing the correct fragmentation pathway of the drug in both techniques. From the electron ionization (EI) mass spectra, the primary cleavage site of the charged molecule is because of the rupture of COOH group (the lowest bond order) followed by propyl group loss. The TAs of the drug revealed high response of the drug to the temperature variation with very fast rate. It decomposed in several sequential steps in the temperature range 25–360 °C. The initial thermal decomposition is similar to that obtained by MS fragmentation of the first rupture (COOH), then subsequent one of propyl loss, and finally of ethylene loss. These mass losses appear as endothermic peaks required energy values of −214.83, −895.95, and −211.10 J g⁻¹, respectively. The order of these losses is also related to the values of the MO calculation parameters. Therefore, the comparison between MS and TA helps in the selection of the proper pathway representing the decomposition of this drug to give its metabolites in in vivo system. This comparison is also successfully confirmed by MO calculations.     

Molecular structure, vibrational, UV and NBO analysis of 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan by DFT calculations

In the present work, we reported a combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular structure, vibrational spectra and NBO analysis of 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Chloride). The FT-IR (400-4000 cm(-1)) and FT-Raman spectra (50-4000 cm(-1)) of NBD-Chloride were recorded. The molecular geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies and bonding features of NBD-Chloride in the ground-state have been calculated by using the density functional B3LYP method with 6-311++G (d, p) as higher basis set. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) result in DMSO and CDCl3 solvents complements with each other. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. Finally the calculation results were applied to simulate infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound which show good agreement with observed spectra.     

Study of noncovalent interactions of end-caped sulfur-doped carbon nanotubes using DFT,QTAIM, NBO and NCI calculations

In the current study, the interactions of carbon nanotube and sulfur-doped carbon nanotubes (SCNTs) with methanol, methanethiol, water and dihydrogen sulfide at on-body and dead-end positions of nanotubes have been studied. Interaction energies in the gas and solvent (via PCM model) were calculated using density functional theory calculations. Atomic charges, interaction energies, electron densities and their Laplacians at bond critical points have been calculated. Moreover, noncovalent interaction isosurfaces have been visualized using NCI index calculations. Interactions in gaseous phase were more favorable than those in solvent phase, and among considered solvents (benzene, chloroform and cyclohexane), cyclohexane showed the most preferred interactions. In addition, oxygen-bearing molecules (methanol and water) showed more favorable interactions compared with sulfur-bearing ones. NBO analyses revealed the stronger donor–acceptor interactions with methanol and methanethiol. QTAIM calculation results indicated the reasonable electron densities at BCPs, and the Laplacians of electron densities showed ionic-like (closed shell) interactions. Moreover, isosurfaces of these interactions were also studied to depict the interaction surfaces, and DOS plots for SCNTs were obtained to define their HOMO–LUMO levels and electric conduction properties. The increasing of the global softness and decreasing of total hardness was resulted by sulfur doping of nanotubes, which causes the heterodoped nanotubes to become less electrophilic species.     

Options for veterinary drug analysis using mass spectrometry

Several classes of chemical compounds, exhibiting many different chemical properties, are classified under the generic term of “veterinary drugs”, among which are the antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics or dyes, and drugs exhibiting growth promoting properties like steroids, β-agonist compounds, thyrostats or growth hormones. For food safety purposes, the resort to these substances in animal breeding has been submitted to strict regulation within the European Union for more than 15 years. Systems of control have therefore been set up within the same period of time to ensure compliance with the regulation. The current strategy relies on targeted analytical approaches focusing on the detection of residues of the administered compounds or their metabolites in different kinds of feed, food or biological matrices. If screening methods, which provide rapid discrimination between compliant and suspect samples, may be based on several techniques such as immunoassays or mass spectrometry, confirmatory methods mainly rely on the latter, which provides adequate specificity and sensitivity for unambiguous identification of the target analytes in biological matrices at trace level. The present article reviews the main mass spectrometric strategies, from the very first, nonetheless still efficient, single MS and multidimensional and high-resolution MS through to advanced isotope ratio MS. Several applications in the field of residue analysis illustrate each of these approaches and focus on the balance between issues related to the compounds of interest (chemistry, matrix, concentration, …) and the large offer of mass spectrometric-related technical possibilities, from the choice of the ionization conditions (EI, NCI, PCI, reagent gases, ESI+, ESI?), to the mass analyzers (single quadrupole, triple quadrupole, ion traps, time-of-flight, magnetic sectors, isotope ratio mass spectrometer) and corresponding acquisition modes (full scan, LR–SIM, HR–SIM, SRM, precursor scan, …). All the displayed strategies, from the importance of sample preparation to MS analysis to potential derivatization steps and chromatographic separation parameters are discussed in that context. Besides the advantages of each strategy, main issues associated to such MS approaches are commented with an emphasis not only on such critical points as ion suppression and resolution, but also on the adequacy of the current regulation regarding the evolution of the technology. Finally, future trends which may lead to strong and positive impacts in the field of residue analysis are presented, including latest developments and improvements in chromatography or software dedicated to signal acquisition and data analysis.     

Simultaneous analysis of uranium and plutonium using thermal ionization mass spectrometry

Simultaneous isotopic analysis of uranium and plutonium using thermal ionization mass spectrometer coupled to a multi-collector detection assembly with 9 Faraday cups has been reported earlier. Subsequently investigations have been carried out (1) to understand the applicability of correction methodologies available to account for the contribution of²³⁸Pu at²³⁸U and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of these methodologies on the accuracy of²³⁵U/²³⁸U atom ratio being determined, particularly when samples containing different U/Pu atom ratios. Isotopic fractionation for both U and Pu in the simultaneous isotopic analysis has been compared with the results of the individual analysis of these elements. The different isotopic fractionation factors observed for U were attributed to different conditions of analysis. There was no significant difference in the isotopic fractionation patterns for Pu. The consideration to extend this method to actual samples from our observations on synthetic samples with diferent U/Pu atom ratios containing U and Pu isotopic reference standards is described.     

Analysis of sodium adduct paeoniflorin, albiflorin and their derivatives by (+)ESI-MSn, DFT calculations and computer-aided mass spectrometry analysis program

In order to analyze paeoniflorin, albiflorin and their derivatives (PADs) in Paeonia Lactiflora rapidly and effectively, (+)ESI-MS(n) experiments were conducted, from which two diagnostic fragment patterns were acquired. Meanwhile, the dehydration ability of aglycones of PADs was obtained by calculating their activation energy using density functional theory, through which the unique dehydration phenomenon of benzoylalbiflorin, compared with benzoylpaeoniflorin, was interpreted. In addition, a computer-aided mass spectrometry analysis program was developed to facilitate the analysis of the unknown compound by suggesting the possible structure of the analyte.     

Elucidating the mass spectrum of the retronecine alkaloid using DFT calculations

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are natural molecules playing important roles in different biochemical processes in nature and in humans. In this work, the electron ionization mass spectrum of retronecine, an alkaloid molecule found in plants, was investigated computationally. Its mass spectrum can be characterized by three main fragment ions having the following m/z ratios: 111, 94, and 80. In order to rationalize the mass spectrum, minima and transition state geometries were computed using density functional theory. It was showed that the dissociation process includes an aromatization of the originally five‐membered ring of retronecine converted into a six‐membered ring compound. A fragmentation pathway mechanism involving dissociation activation barriers that are easily overcome by the initial ionization energy was found. From the computed quantum chemical geometric, atomic charges, and energetic parameters, the abundance of each ion in the mass spectrum of retronecine was discussed.     

FT-IR and FT-Raman investigation, computed vibrational intensity analysis and computed vibrational frequency analysis on m-Xylol using ab-initio HF and DFT calculations

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of m-Xylol molecule have been recorded using Bruker IFS 66V spectrometer in the range 4000-100cm(-1). The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies in the ground state are evaluated using the Hartree-fock (HF) and B3LYP with 6-31+G (d, p), 6-31++G (d, p) and 6-311++G (d, p) basis sets. The computed frequencies are scaled using a suitable scale factors to yield good agreement with the observed values. The HF and DFT analysis agree well with experimental observations. Comparison of the fundamental vibrational frequencies with calculated results by HF and B3LYP methods indicate that B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) is superior to HF/6-31+G (d, p) for molecular vibrational problems. The complete data of this title compound provide some useful information for the study of substituted benzenes. The influences of Methyl groups on the geometry of benzene and its normal modes of vibrations have also been discussed.     

Investigation of pyrolysis of chinese coals using thermal analysis/mass spectrometry

TA/MS (thermal analysis coupled with mass spectrometry) was applied to the pyrolysis of Chinese coals with different ranks. A total of 13 Chinese coals were investigated. The samples were deliberately chosen to represent the 13 types of Chinese coals according to the Chinese coal classification system. The experiments were carried out in an argon atmosphere with a flow rate of 150 ml min^-1. The samples were heated from 40 up to 1200°C with a constant heating rate of 10 k min^-1. The main evolved pyrolysis products were identified through the on-line recorded mass spectra. The thermal and evolution behavior was compared between the coals. The results showed a strong thermal and evaluation behavior dependence on the coal rank. Different aliphatic fragments and also some aromatic substances, which are of environmental concern (BTX, PAHs), were found to be released depending on the different types of coal. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

DFT,AIM, and NBO analyses of 1-methyl-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one tautomers and their complexes with iodine

Thioimidazoline derivatives can be used to treat hyperthyroidism due to their ability to make complexes with iodine. In this research designed to find new structures with the same ability, 1-methyl-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one (MTIO) and the structures of MTIO tautomers (5 tautomers), their isomers (total 9 isomers) and their complexes with iodine are optimized using the B3LYP method with two different basis sets to obtain their molecular parameters, relative energies, and vibrational frequencies. The relative energies show that in all tautomers and complexes, ketone and thione forms are more stable than enol and thienol forms, and also Z isomers are more stable than E isomers. Moreover, the NBO calculation is carried out for tautomers and complexes to obtain atomic charges and acceptor-donor interactions. These results confirm the ability of MTIO tautomers to form complexes and show that the planar complexes have more effective interaction than the perpendicular complexes. The essence and important complexation properties are also calculated and confirmed using the AIM analysis.     

DFT computations,vibrational spectra,monomer, dimer,NBO and NMR analyses of antifungal agent: 3,5-Dibromosalicylic acid

The experimental and theoretical study on the structures and vibrations of 3,5-dibromosalicylic acid (DBSA) are presented. The FT-IR and FT-Raman of the title compound have been recorded. The molecular structures, vibrational wavenumbers, infrared intensities, Raman activities were calculated. The energies of DBSA are obtained for all the eight conformers from density functional theory with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set calculations. From the computational results, C1 or C5 forms are identified as the most stable conformers of DBSA. The spectroscopic and theoretical results are compared with the corresponding properties for DBSA monomer and dimer of C1 (or C5) conformer. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds are discussed in dimer structure of the molecule. NBO analysis is useful to understand the intramolecular hyperconjugative interaction between lone pair O9 and C7O8. The calculated HOMO–LUMO energies reveal charge transfer occurs within the molecule. The polarizability, first hyperpolarizability, anisotropy polarizability invariant has been computed using quantum chemical calculations. The isotopic chemical shift computed by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the DBSA molecule, calculated using the gauge invariant atomic orbital (GIAO) method, also shows good agreement with experimental observations.     

Study of some phenolic-iodine redox polymeric products by thermal analyses and mass spectrometry

Summary This paper describes the use of the mass spectrometry (MS), thermal analyses (TA) and other physico-chemical methods to investigate the structure of two newly synthesized phenolic-iodine derivative polymeric products. These two products are formed as a result of redox-interaction of adrenaline hydrogen tartrate (AHT, I) with iodate (IO^-₃) and periodate (IO^-₄). The characterization of the two products were achieved satisfactorily by using the above tools and their proposed general formulae, were found to be C₅₂H₆₇O₃₆N₄I (AHT- IO^-₃, II) and C₂₆H₃₄O₁₈N₂I₂(AHT- IO^-₄, III). The fragmentation behavior of the main compound (AHT) in MS and TA (TG and DTA) techniques was investigated and compared. The results obtained were used to explain the fragmentation of the products AHT- IO^-₃and AHT- IO^-₄in mass spectrometry and thermal analyses techniques. The stabilities of different fragments were discussed. The results indicate that the two techniques are supporting each other in which the mass spectrometry provides the structural information in gas phase while the thermal analyses provides the quantitative fragmentation in the solid-state.     

Structure and stability of thioureate anions with water, DFT calculations

Structure and stability of thioureate anion with the water clusters CSNH₂NH⁻-(H₂O)_n = 1–7, are studied, using density functional theory. Molecular structures and the stability of the clusters are discussed based on the calculation results of the stable conformers and their relative energies. All the clusters are stable thermodynamically in gas phase with respect to separate monomers. The clusters are stabilized progressively with an increasing number of water molecules, as indicated by the increasing of the binding energies. The binding energies of CSNH₂NH⁻ and a water molecule are 14.34 and 16.36 kcal/mol for cis CSNH₂NH⁻ and trans CSNH₂NH⁻, respectively. As the reaction in aqueous solution progresses, the CS bond distance increases monotonically, indicating that the CS bond of the thioureate anion unit in the clusters is de-stabilized with an increasing number of water molecules.     

Control of a photoswitching chelator by metal ions: DFT,NBO, and QTAIM analysis

Ability of aroylhydrazones to change conformation upon interaction with light makes them promising candidates for molecular switches. Isomerization can be controlled through complexation with selected metal ions which bind with different affinity. N′‐[1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyliden]iso‐nicotinoylhydrazide (HAPI) is an example of a dual‐wavelenght photoswitching molecule, whose complexation with metal ions was recently experimentally investigated (Franks et al. J. Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 1397). In this contribution, complexes between HAPI and K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions were investigated using Density Functional Theory, Natural Bond Order analysis, and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. The most important parameters that determine complex stability are found to be ion radius and charge transferred from ligands to the ion: smaller ion radii and larger CT values characterize formation of more stable complexes. Our results explain experimentally observed effect of different metal ions on photoisomerization through determination of metal ion affinity (MIA): photoisomerization is inhibited if MIA exceeds 100 kcal/mol; for MIA between 50 and 100 kcal/mol excess of metal ions prevents isomerization, whereas in case of MIA below 50 kcal/mol metal ions have no influence on light–HAPI interaction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

DFT, ab initio, NMR, and NBO analyses of N-substituted hydrazino acetamides: Experimental vs theoretical values

We studied the DFT (B3LYP) and HF at 6-31+G/6-31+G^∗∗ levels of theory in order to throw light on the conformation, structure, intramolecular hydrogen bond network, as well as proton and nitrogen NMR (GIAO method) of a series of model primary amides in the gas phase and/or in solution (chloroform, methanol, water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and heptane). In this manner, it was possible to show that the amidic group of these model compounds acts as the H-bond donor and interacts with two different H-bond acceptors, thus stabilizing the C₈ pseudocycle. The study was conducted to gain a better understanding of the conformation (both experimentally and theoretically) adopted by hydrazino acetamides (model compounds for aza-β³-peptides). In the light of this, we were able to explain why aza-β³-peptides develop a different H-bond network in comparison to their isosteric β³-peptide analogues (an extension of the β-peptide concept).