Improved online δ18O measurements of nitrogen- and sulfur-bearing organic materials and a proposed analytical protocol

It is well known that N(2) in the ion source of a mass spectrometer interferes with the CO background during the δ(18)O measurement of carbon monoxide. A similar problem arises with the high-temperature conversion (HTC) analysis of nitrogenous O-bearing samples (e.g. nitrates and keratins) to CO for δ(18)O measurement, where the sample introduces a significant N(2) peak before the CO peak, making determination of accurate oxygen isotope ratios difficult. Although using a gas chromatography (GC) column longer than that commonly provided by manufacturers (0.6 m) can improve the efficiency of separation of CO and N(2) and using a valve to divert nitrogen and prevent it from entering the ion source of a mass spectrometer improved measurement results, biased δ(18)O values could still be obtained. A careful evaluation of the performance of the GC separation column was carried out. With optimal GC columns, the δ(18)O reproducibility of human hair keratins and other keratin materials was better than ± 0.15 ‰ (n=5; for the internal analytical reproducibility), and better than ± 0.10 ‰ (n=4; for the external analytical reproducibility).     

Determining the relationship between tree-stem respiration and CO2 efflux by δO2/Ar measurements

Respiration in forest tree stems is an important component of the global carbon cycle. This respiration is traditionally estimated by measurements of the CO(2) efflux from the stem. However, recent studies have suggested that movement of CO(2) in the transpiration stream causes large errors in the respiration estimated by the CO(2) efflux. Here we demonstrate a new approach for determining the ratio of respiration to CO(2) efflux, which is based on specially designed chambers, and combined CO(2) and O(2) measurements. The high accuracy O(2) measurement is performed by mass spectrometric measurement of the O(2)/Ar ratio. Testing the method gave repeatable results which point that in some conditions up to 40% of the respired CO(2) can be carried away from the site of respiration.     

Molecular and electronic structure of δ-valerothiolactone

The crystal structure of the six-member heterocyclic δ-valerothiolactone (1-thiocycloalkan-2-one) compound has been determined by X-ray diffraction at low temperature, revealing that its skeleton adopts a half-chair conformation. The conformation around the thioester group is almost planar with an anti orientation of the C=O double bond with respect the S-C single bond [C(2)-S(1)-C(6)-O(1) = 176.26(8)°]. The skeletal parameters, especially valence angles [∠C5-C6-S = 121.19(6)°, ∠O=C6-C5 = 122.25(8)°, ∠C6-S-C2 = 106.80(4)°], differ from those typically found in acyclic thioester compounds, symptomatic of the presence of strain effects. The conventional ring strain energy was determined to be 7.5 kcal/mol at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of calculation within the hyperhomodesmotic model approximation. Moreover, the valence electronic structure was investigated by HeI photoelectron spectroscopy assisted by quantum chemical calculations at the OVGF/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The first three bands at 9.35, 9.50, and 11.53 eV denote ionizations related with the n(S), n(O), and π(C=O) orbitals, respectively, demonstrating the importance of the -SC(O)- group in the outermost electronic properties.     

State-Selected Unimolecular Decomposition of δ-Valerolactam(+) and δ-Valerolactam(2)(+) Cations: Theory and Experiment

The near threshold photofragmentation pattern of δ-valerolactam(+) and δ-valerolactam(2)(+) has been recorded combining electron/ion coincidence techniques and vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation. The experimental method yields the fragment intensity as a function of the internal energy deposited into the parent cation, up to 3.1 eV above the first ionization threshold. In parallel, ab initio studies on the δ-valerolactam(+) and δ-valerolactam(2)(+) cations and their ionic and neutral fragmentation products have been performed with the aim of determining the isomers of the ionic products observed experimentally as well as of their neutral counterparts. These computations were performed using the PBE0 exchange-correlation functional and the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. We found good agreement between the calculated reaction enthalpies and experimental appearance energies of the ions. More generally, our experimental and theoretical results reveal that the fragmentation of the ionic species of interest leads to a multitude of neutral and ionic fragments, which may be formed after intramolecular isomerization and complex decomposition processes. Multistep reaction pathways are expected.     

Atom diffusion in furnaces — models and measurements

Experimental as well as the theoretical approach to estimate diffusion coefficients for several analyte elements with different behavior in graphite furnaces, lead, gold, indium and chromium, were investigated. ‘Close’ graphite furnaces of two designs differing in the size of end apertures and the diameter of the injection port were used. The furnaces were fast heated at rates of approximately 10 000 K s⁻¹. The peak absorbance of all studied analytes was independent of geometry, suggesting that the separation of atomization and removal was attained. Residence times of the analytes in the two different furnaces were determined from absorbance tail shapes. In the case of gold, the influence of temperature in the range between 1800 and 2200 K on the residence time in both furnaces was also found. The residence times measured in the two different furnaces under otherwise identical conditions, made possible to select the accurate model of diffusional removal from several possible models. The knowledge of the accurate model allowed the estimate of experimental diffusion coefficients. They were thus compared with those semiempirically calculated from kinetic theory of gases, extended to allow for the intermolecular forces. The accuracy of these calculations is limited since the input data (critical temperatures, boiling temperature or melting temperature, molal volumes at the critical, boiling and melting points, metallic crystallographic radii and dissociation constants of metal dimers) are not known with adequate accuracy. The comparison of ‘theoretical’ and ‘experimental’ values of diffusion coefficients makes possible to assess value of using individual sources of input data for the semiempirical calculations.     

Microbial bioreductions of γ- and δ-ketoacids and their esters

A series of yeasts were used in the bioreductions of aliphatic and aromatic γ- and δ-ketoacids and esters to investigate the preparation of enantiomerically pure γ- and δ-lactones through the intermediacy of their corresponding γ- and δ-hydroxyacids and esters. Bioreduction of ethyl 4-oxononanoate 2a with Pichia etchellsii afforded the γ-nonanolide (+)-5a with 99% e.e., while Pichia minuta proved to be the best choice for the bioreduction of ethyl 2-oxocyclohexylacetate 2e, which afforded cis-(−)-5e and trans-(−)-5e with 98 and 99% e.e., respectively. Reduction of 3-(2-oxocyclohexyl)propionic acid 3e with Pichia glucozyma gave predominantly the corresponding δ-lactone trans-(−)-6e with 94% e.e., whose absolute configuration was determined by means of CD spectroscopy.     

Syntheses and applications of enantiopure δ-amino acids and their precursors

Enantiopure unnatural homologated amino acids, whereby there is?>?1 carbon atom between the C- and N- termini have found great utility in a number of applications. The enantiopure syntheses of β-amino acids are well documented, as increasingly are those of γ-amino acids. δ-Amino acids on the other hand are much less well-studied despite reports of their potential utility. This review attempts to summarise strategies that have been adopted towards the enantioselective synthesis of δ-amino acids and their precursors (e.g. nitrile/nitro/azido/ester/alcohol etc) and where appropriate demonstrate their utility. Only systems which are all carbon between the two termini are considered and only those where the shortest route between any given C-termini and any given N-termini is four carbons long (i.e. lysine derivatives are not considered).     

Reaction of 2-alkoxycarbonylmethyl derivatives of δ2-oxazoline and δ2-imidazoline and their tautomers with 4-nitrobenzonitrile N-oxide

It was established that 2-alkoxycarbonylntethylene derivatives of oxazolidine and imidazolidine react readily with 4-nitrobenzonitrile N-oxide; the reaction takes place at the methylidyne carbon atom to give intermediate oximes, which can then undergo cyclization to isoxazoles. Their tautomers —benzimidazole and ² -oxazoline derivatives —react with considerably greater difficulty; in the first case the reaction takes place at a different center, viz., the ring nitrogen atom.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 681–684, May, 1991.     

Improved water δ2H and δ18O calibration and calculation of measurement uncertainty using a simple software tool

The calibration of all δ(2)H and δ(18)O measurements on the VSMOW/SLAP scale should be performed consistently, based on similar principles, independent of the instrumentation used. The basic principles of a comprehensive calibration strategy are discussed taking water as example. The most common raw data corrections for memory and drift effects are described. Those corrections result in a considerable improvement in data consistency, especially in laboratories analyzing samples of quite variable isotopic composition (e.g. doubly labelled water). The need for a reliable uncertainty assessment for all measurements is discussed and an easy implementation method proposed. A versatile evaluation method based on Excel macros and spreadsheets is presented. It corrects measured raw data for memory and drift effects, performs the calibration and calculates the combined standard uncertainty for each measurement. It allows the easy implementation of the discussed principles in any user laboratory. Following these principles will improve the comparability of data among laboratories.     

Chiral δ-Hydroxyalkyl Wittig Reagents: Synthesis and Reactivity

Abstract

enantioselective reduction of ketophosphonium salts give chiral synthons used in WITTIG reactions to prepare opticaly active ethylenic alcohols.     

Baker's yeast reduction of cyclic δ-ketoesters: synthesis and chiroptical properties of condensed δ-lactones

Enantiomerically pure condensed δ-lactones have been prepared from the corresponding δ-ketoesters by the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The reactions were not only highly enantioselective but also highly diastereoselective, provided the baker's yeast was preincubated at 50°C for 30 min. Interestingly, and contrary to what is usually found, the use of nutrients inhibited the bioreductions. The relative configurational assignments have been made by means of NMR, while the absolute configurations and conformations of the lactone rings were attributed by means of CD studies.     

Acid-base and complexing properties of some δ-hydroxyalkenylphosphine oxides

Four new compounds, asymmetrical phosphine oxides containing 2-hydroxyphenylethenyl fragment in cis-orientation with respect to the phosphine oxide: dibutyl-, diphenyl-, dibenzyl-, and dinaphthyl-2-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl)-2-phenyl-ethenylphospnine oxides, have been studied in aqueous ethanol (80 vol % of EtOH) by means of potentiometry and spectrophotometry at 25±0.1°C, and their acid-base and complexing properties estimated.     

Vibrational spectrum of α- and δ-TiCl3

The vibrational spectrum of α-TiCl₃ is assigned on the basis of a normal coordinate analysis. The i.r. bands shift to higher frequency from α- to δ-TiCl₃. This is discussed in terms of a dispersion relation for k_c in α-TiCl₃ and force constants, where the former is carried out for examining effect on disorder to the c axis in δ-TiCl₃. The shift is explained in terms of a change in force constants rather than disorder.     

Simultaneous measurement of δH, δO,and δO in H2O using a commercial cavity ringdown spectrometer

We demonstrate that a commercial instrument that provides measurements of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O and D/H ratios in water samples can be modified to also provide measurements of ¹⁷O/¹⁶O. This additional capability and associated precision allows for the discernment between conventional mass-dependent processes, such as isotope exchange and evaporation and mass-independent processes that arise from non-equilibrium chemical and photochemical processes. We demonstrate this resolution by performing a series of experiments including evaporation and reservoir-mixing with ¹⁷O enriched water samples followed by evaporation. The ability to simultaneously measure ¹⁶O, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁸O abundances in water samples using the procedures described here should help to facilitate multi-isotopic studies of water (and other compounds) in astrochemical, geochemical, and biological studies.     

Depth-specific and spatiotemporal variation of δ13C and δ15N in Charophytes of Lake Constance: implications for food web studies

Macrophytes are at the base of many lake food webs providing essential food resources for animals at higher trophic level, such as invertebrates, fish and waterbirds. However, data regarding the spatiotemporal variation in isotopic composition of macrophytes are generally missing. We measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of Charophytes at Lake Constance, where they constitute a major food source for waterbirds. Our data reveal seasonal and site-specific differences as well as depth-specific variations in isotopic carbon values within the littoral zone. Charophytes were enriched in (13)C at sites of higher productivity: the δ(13)C values were high in summer, at shallow and at relatively nutrient-rich sites, and comparatively low in winter, and in deeper and nutrient-poorer sites. In contrast, no temporal or spatial trend was found to explain the variability in the isotopic nitrogen values. These results imply that the seasonal timing of food intake (relative to turnover rates of consumers tissue) and the potential depth of foraging need to be taken into account when calculating the relative contribution of energy sources to diets of consumers such as waterbirds.     

Synthesis of γ-sulfonyl δ-lactones and β-sulfonyl styrenes

A facile route to the synthesis of γ-sulfonyl lactones 5 and β-sulfonyl styrenes 6 has been developed, achieving moderate to good yields via the (1) NaH mediated Michael addition of β-ketosulfones 3 and methyl acrylate in refluxing THF and (2) NaBH₄ mediated stereoselective reduction/lactonization of δ-ketoesters 4 in boiling MeOH, or (3) boron trifluoride etherate mediated ring-opening of lactones 5 in MeOH at reflux.     

Mg-promoted facile and selective intramolecular cyclization of aromatic δ-ketoesters

Treatment of various types of aromatic δ-ketoesters 2, 7, and 9 with Mg-turnings for Grignard reaction at −5 to 0 °C in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) containing trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) brought about selective and reductive intramolecular cyclization to give the corresponding α-aryl-α-hydroxycyclopentanones 5, 8, and 10, respectively, in moderate to good yields. Similar reductive intramolecular cyclization of aromatic δ-ketodiesters 14, followed by acidic hydrolysis and decarboxylation easily gave the corresponding 2-aryl-2-cyclopenten-1-ones 15. The present facile coupling may be initiated through electron transfer from Mg metal to the aromatic carbonyl groups of 2, 7, 9, and 14 to generate the corresponding radical anions, followed by their intramolecular nucleophilic attack to the ester groups to give the corresponding five-membered ring compounds 5, 8, 10, and 15, respectively.     

Hydrochlorination of δ2-1,3-oxazolines and 1,3-oxazolidines

The compounds 2-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-²-l,3-oxazoline and 1-methyl-2-(methoxycarbonylmethylene)-1,3-oxazolidine are hydrochlorinated at the C=N or C= C bond, respectively, with subsequent opening of the oxazolidine ring. Depending on the reaction conditions, this occurs regioselectively to form various products.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 684–686, May, 1992     

Sr isotope measurements in beef—analytical challenge and first results

The strontium isotope ratio ((87)Sr/(86)Sr) in beef, derived from 206 European cattle, has been measured. These cattle were located in 12 different European regions within France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK. As animal protein is known to be a difficult material on which to conduct Sr isotope analysis, several investigations were undertaken to develop and improve the sample preparation procedure. For example, Sr isotope analysis was performed directly on freeze-dried meat and defatted dry mass from the same samples. It was found that enormous differences-sometimes exceeding the measurement uncertainty-could occur between the fractions and also within one sample even if treated in the same manner. These variations cannot be definitely allocated to one cause but are most likely due to inhomogeneities caused by physiological and biochemical processes in the animals as post mortem contamination during analytical processing could be excluded. For further Sr isotope measurements in meat, careful data handling is recommended, and for the authentic beef samples within this project, it was decided to use only freeze-dried material. It can be demonstrated, however, that Sr isotope measurements in beef proteins are a valuable tool for authentication of geographic origin. Although partly overlapping, some of the European sampling sites could be discriminated even by only using (87)Sr/(86)Sr.     

PρT measurements and derived properties of liquid 1-alkanols

The density of compressed liquid (C2 to C11) 1-alkanols was measured with a vibration tube densimeter over the temperature range from (278.15 to 358.15) K and pressures up to 60 MPa, with an uncertainty of ±0.0012 g · cm⁻³. Density values were correlated with pressure and temperature by the TRIDEN 10-parameter equation. Isothermal compressibility, isobaric thermal expansivity and internal pressure were calculated from the experimental results. The influence of the carbon-chain lengths over the thermophysical properties obtained was studied.