Estimating the contribution of surfactant replacement therapy to the alveolar pool: An in vivo study based on 13C natural abundance in rabbits

Variation of the isotopic abundance of selected nutrients and molecules has been used for pharmacological and kinetics studies under the premise that the administered molecule has a different isotopic enrichment from the isotopic background of the recipient subject. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of assessing the contribution of exogenous surfactant phospholipids to the endogenous alveolar pool in vivo after exogenous surfactant replacement therapy in rabbits. The study consisted in measuring the consistency of ¹³C/¹²C ratio of disaturated‐phosphatidylcholine palmitate (DSPC‐PA) in 7 lots of poractant alfa, produced over a year, and among bronchoalveolar lavages of 20 rabbits fed with a standard chow. A pilot study was performed in a rabbit model of lavage‐induced surfactant deficiency: 7 control rabbits and 4 treated with exogenous surfactant. The contribution of exogenous surfactant to the alveolar pool was assessed after intra‐tracheal administration of 200 mg/kg of poractant alfa. The ¹³C content of DSPC‐PA was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The mean DSPC‐PA ¹³C/¹²C ratio of the 7 lots of poractant alfa was −18.8‰ with a SD of 0.1‰ (range: −18.9‰; −18.6‰). The mean ¹³C/¹²C ratio of surfactant DSPC recovered from the lung lavage of 20 rabbits was −28.8 ± 1.2‰ (range: −31.7‰; −25.7‰). The contribution of exogenous surfactant to the total alveolar surfactant could be calculated in the treated rabbits, and it ranged from 83.9% to 89.6%. This pilot study describes a novel method to measure the contribution of the exogenous surfactant to the alveolar pool. This method is based on the natural variation of ¹³C, and therefore it does not require the use of chemically synthetized tracers. This method could be useful in human research and especially in surfactant replacement studies in preterm infants.     

Improved online hydrogen isotope analysis of halite aqueous inclusions

We demonstrate an improved method based on continuous‐flow elemental analyser pyrolysis isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (CF‐EA‐PY‐IRMS) to measure the ²H/¹H ratios of water trapped in halite crystals. Two challenges to overcome are the low hydrogen concentration of samples (10‐50 μmol H₂·g^?1) and the high chloride concentration released when reacting halite in an elemental analyser. We describe an optimization procedure for determining the ²H/¹H ratio of this trapped water with an acceptable accuracy. This technique involves the use of a high‐temperature Cr reactor to quantitatively convert H₂O into H₂. The initial step was performed on halite crystals precipitated from a water reservoir where ²H/¹H ratios were monitored from its initial stage until the end of evaporation. The ²H/¹H isotopic analyses were automated online in continuous‐flow mode. Precision of the method was determined for those “synthetic” samples with hydrogen concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 wt%. ²H/¹H isotopic ratios of evaporating waters bracket the compositions of water inclusions. The formation of fluid inclusions is not instantaneous and records the isotopic signature of the residual waters across a time range during which the isotopic values of the water still evolve. This property explains why the δ²H_VSMOW standard deviation of ±5‰ (2σ) observed for 10‐mg aliquots of halite exceeds the instrumental error (about ±1.5‰ 2σ) determined on the basis of IAEA‐CH7, NBS 30, and NBS 22 references along with calibrated waters with and without added halite crystals. We also applied this method to Mesoproterozoic (1.4 Ga) and Neoproterozoic (0.8 Ga) halite samples with relatively low hydrogen concentrations (300‐1500 ppm). The measured δ²H_VSMOW values for Precambrian waters range from ?89‰ to ?54‰. We propose that this technique offers a new perspective and great potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions based on the ²H/¹H analyses of water trapped in halite.     

Accurate Determination of Lithium Isotopic Compositions in Geological Samples by Multi-collector Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Accurate determination of lithium (Li)isotopic composition in natural geological samples is the basis for Li isotope geochemical studies. In this study, a method contained preparation of geological materials (water and rock) and accurate determination of Li isotopic composition was set up. The separation of Li from water and rock samples was implemented by a single column containing 1.5 mL of Bio-Rad AG 50W-X12 (200–400 mesh) resin, with 0.40 M HCl and 1.0 M HCl as eluents. Only 8.5 and 14 mL of eluents were used to separate Li from water and rock samples with this method, respectively. Blank signal of the operation procedure was (2.4 ± 0.1) mV, which was almost same as the 2.3 mV of the 2% HNO₃ signal used in this study. Experimental results showed that Li isotopic fractionation during leaching process was significant and deviation of δ⁷Li values in these samples with incompletely recovered Li reached up to 50‰. Lithium isotopic ratios were determined by multi-collector ICP-MS (Nu Plasma II) using the sample standard bracketing (SSB) method. L-SVEC standard with similar Li concentration to samples (about 80 ng mL^?1) was used in this study. The external precision (2σ) of this technique, determined by repeated measurement of pure Li standard solutions and seawater was < ±0.8‰. The measured δ⁷Li values of seawater and rock standards AGV-2, BCR-2 and GSP-2 were +31.4‰ ± 0.7‰ (n = 18), +7.23‰ ± 0.16‰ (n = 4), +3.7‰ ± 0.7‰ (n = 8) and ?0.10‰ ± 0.18‰ (n = 4), respectively, similar to previously published values. This method could be used to accurately determine Li isotopic composition of various types of geological samples such as waters and rocks. The advantage of this method was that the amount of resin and reagent was reduced to 50% or less of the previous studies, thereby significantly improving the work efficiency and reducing the operation procedure blank.     

Oxygen isotope homogeneity assessment for apatite U-Th-Pb geochronology reference materials

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurement of oxygen isotopes in apatite has been employed more and more in petrogenetic, metallogenic, and climate change studies. Well-characterised reference materials are needed due to the matrix effect, but they are yet to be well established. In this study, we conducted in-situ oxygen isotopic and chemical analyses on six commonly used apatite reference materials (ie, Emerald, Kovdor, McClure, Mud Tank, Otter Lake, and Slyudyanka) and two in-house apatite references (Qinghu and GEMS 203) to assess their oxygen isotope homogeneity and applicability for microbeam analyses. Our results show that all these apatite references are in general chemically homogeneous. In terms of oxygen isotopes, GEMS 203 (δ¹⁸O = 9.85 ± 0.40‰ [2SD], corrected by Durango 3), Kovdor (δ¹⁸O = 6.55 ± 0.38‰, 2SD), and McClure (δ¹⁸O = 5.94 ± 0.42‰, 2SD) are fairly homogeneous, whereas Emerald (δ¹⁸O = 10.37 ± 0.45‰, 2SD), Mud Tank (δ¹⁸O = 6.35 ± 0.46‰, 2SD), Otter Lake (δ¹⁸O = 9.71 ± 0.47‰, 2SD), Qinghu (δ¹⁸O = 5.44 ± 0.49‰, 2SD), and Slyudyanka (δ¹⁸O = 17.49 ± 0.43‰, 2SD) are less homogenous. This indicates that the former group represents better reference materials for in-situ oxygen isotopic analyses, whilst the latter group can be used as secondary reference material for analytical quality control.     

Stable isotope ratios of carbon and hydrogen to distinguish olive oil from shark squalene‐squalane

Squalene and its hydrogenated derivate squalane are widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. The two compounds are mainly produced from the liver oil of deep sea sharks and from olive oil distillates. Squalene and squalane from shark cost less than the same compounds derived from olive oil, and the use of these shark‐derived compounds is unethical in cosmetic formulations. In this work we investigate whether ¹³C/¹²C and ²H/¹H ratios can distinguish olive oil from shark squalene/squalane and can detect the presence of shark derivates in olive oil based products. The ¹³C/¹²C ratios (expressed as δ¹³C values) of bulk samples and of pure compounds measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) were significantly lower in authentic olive oil squalene/squalane (N: 13; ?28.4 ± 0.5‰; ?28.3 ± 0.8‰) than in shark squalene/squalane samples (N: 15; ?20.5 ± 0.7‰; ?20.4 ± 0.6‰). By defining δ¹³C threshold values of ?27.4‰ and ?26.6‰ for olive oil bulk and pure squalene/squalane, respectively, illegal addition of shark products can be identified starting from a minimum of 10%. ²H/¹H analysis is not useful for distinguishing the two different origins. δ¹³C analysis is proposed as a suitable tool for detecting the authenticity of commercial olive oil squalene and squalane samples, using IRMS interfaced to an elemental analyser if the purity is higher than 80% and IRMS interfaced to a gas chromatography/combustion system for samples with lower purity, including solutions of squalane extracted from cosmetic products. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of Hg isotopic compositions in certified reference material NIES No. 13 Human Hair by cold vapor generation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Hg isotopic ratios of NIES CRM No. 13 Human Hair were analyzed using cold vapor generation coupled to multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to meet the growing demand for better understanding of Hg exposure routes by using Hg isotopic compositions in human hair samples. To validate and assure the accuracy of our analytical method, (1) the reproducibility of the Hg isotopic measurement was monitored and (2) the Hg isotopic compositions of four secondary reference materials—IAEA-085, IAEA-086, and CRPG-RL24H—were measured. Our results for NIES CRM No. 13 show the mass-dependent fractionation values of δ ¹⁹⁹Hg = (2.13 ± 0.07) ‰, δ ²⁰⁰Hg = (0.98 ± 0.08) ‰, δ ²⁰¹Hg = (2.77 ± 0.10) ‰, δ ²⁰²Hg = (1.89 ± 0.10) ‰, and δ ²⁰⁴Hg = (2.76 ± 0.16) ‰ (2SD, n = 11) and the mass-independent fractionation values of Δ ¹⁹⁹Hg = (1.65 ± 0.06) ‰, Δ ²⁰⁰Hg = (0.04 ± 0.04) ‰, Δ ²⁰¹Hg = (1.36 ± 0.07) ‰, and Δ ²⁰⁴Hg = (?0.04 ± 0.11) ‰ (2SD, n = 11). Interlaboratory comparison of the CRM performed at the University of Pau showed good agreement with the values obtained at NIES.     

Theoretical enthalpies of formation of ROX (R=H, CH3; X=F, Cl, Br) compounds

Standard enthalpies of formation of ROX (R=H, CH₃; X=F, Cl, Br) compounds were theoretically estimated using hydrogenation reactions as working chemical reactions. Energy differences were computed at four ab initio levels of calculation, using gaussian-2 (G2) theory (Level I), coupled-cluster theory with split-valence basis set (Level II), coupled-cluster theory with triple-zeta basis set (Level III), and Truhlar's basis-set limit method (Level IV). The recommended standard enthalpies of formation (at 298.15 K and 1.0 atm) are the unweighted averages of the results obtained at Levels I and IV from the different hydrogenation reactions, namely: FOH, −21.1±0.3; ClOH, −18.5±0.5; BrOH, −15.2±1.1; CH₃OF, −19.1±2.1; CH₃OCl, −13.2±2.3, and CH₃OBr, −8.7±2.7 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Mammalian DNA δ15N exhibits 40‰ intramolecular variation and is unresponsive to dietary protein level

We report the first high‐precision characterization of molecular and intramolecular δ¹⁵N of nucleosides derived from mammalian DNA. The influence of dietary protein level on brain amino acids and deoxyribonucleosides was determined to investigate whether high protein turnover would alter amino acid ¹⁵ N or ¹³ C values. Pregnant guinea pig dams were fed control diets, or high or low levels of dietary protein throughout gestation, and all pups were fed control diets. The cerebellar DNA of offspring was extracted at 2 and 120 days of life, nucleosides isolated and δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values characterized. Mean diet δ¹⁵N was 0.45 ± 0.33‰, compared with cerebellar whole tissue and DNA δ¹⁵N = +4.1 ± 0.7‰ and ?4.5 ± 0.4‰, respectively. Cerebellar deoxythymidine (dT), deoxycytidine (dC), deoxyadenosine (dA), and deoxyguanosine (dG) δ¹⁵N were +1.4 ± 0.4, –2.1 ± 0.9, –7.2 ± 0.3, and ?10.4 ± 0.5‰, respectively. There were no changes in amino acid or deoxyribonucleoside δ¹⁵N values due to dietary protein level. Using known metabolic relationships, we developed equations to calculate the intramolecular δ¹⁵N values originating from aspartate (asp) in purines (pur) or pyrimidines (pyr), glutamine (glu), and glycine (gly) to be δ¹⁵N_ASP‐PUR, δ¹⁵N_ASP‐PYR, δ¹⁵N_GLN, and δ¹⁵N_GLY +11.9 ± 2.3‰, +7.0 ± 2.0‰, –9.1 ± 2.4‰, and ?31.8 ± 8.9‰, respectively. A subset of twelve amino acids from food and brain had mean δ¹⁵N values of 4.3 ± 3.2‰ and 13.8 ± 3.1‰, respectively, and δ¹⁵N values for gly and asp were 12.6 ± 2.2‰ and 15.2 ± 0.8‰, respectively. A separate isotope tracer study detected no significant turnover of cerebellar DNA in the first six months of life. The large negative δ¹⁵N difference between gly and cerebellar purine N at the gly (7) position implies either that there is a major isotope effect during DNA synthesis, or that in utero gly has a different isotope ratio during rapid growth and metabolism from that in adult life. Our data show that cerebellar nucleoside intramolecular δ¹⁵N values vary over more than 40‰ and are not influenced by dietary protein level or age. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogen‐bonded frameworks of bis(2‐carboxypyridinium) hexafluorosilicate and bis(2‐carboxyquinolinium) hexafluorosilicate dihydrate

In bis(2‐carboxypyridinium) hexafluorosilicate, 2C₆H₆NO₂⁺·SiF₆²⁻, (I), and bis(2‐carboxyquinolinium) hexafluorosilicate dihydrate, 2C₁₀H₈NO₂⁺·SiF₆²⁻·2H₂O, (II), the Si atoms of the anions reside on crystallographic centres of inversion. Primary inter‐ion interactions in (I) occur via strong N—H...F and O—H...F hydrogen bonds, generating corrugated layers incorporating [SiF₆]²⁻ anions as four‐connected net nodes and organic cations as simple links in between. In (II), a set of strong N—H...F, O—H...O and O—H...F hydrogen bonds, involving water molecules, gives a three‐dimensional heterocoordinated rutile‐like framework that integrates [SiF₆]²⁻ anions as six‐connected and water molecules as three‐connected nodes. The carboxyl groups of the cation are hydrogen bonded to the water molecule [O...O = 2.5533 (13) Å], while the N—H group supports direct bonding to the anion [N...F = 2.7061 (12) Å].     

Fourier transform-IR and 1H NMR studies on the structure of water solubilized by reverse aggregates of calcium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate in organic solvents

The structure of water solubilized by reverse aggregates of calcium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate in deuterobenzene and toluene has been probed by Fourier transform-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The ν_OD band of solubilized HOD (4% D₂O in H₂O) has been recorded as a function of the [water]/[surfactant] molar ratio, W/S. Curve fitting of this band showed the presence of a main peak at 2550 ± 13 cm⁻¹ and a small one at 2405 ± 15 cm⁻¹. As a function of increasing W/S, the frequency of the main peak decreases, its full width at half-height increases, and its area increases linearly. The ¹H NMR chemical shift of solubilized H₂O–D₂O mixtures at W/S = 18.1 has been measured as a function of the deuterium content of the aqueous nanodroplet. These data were used to calculate the so-called “fractionation factor” of the aggregate-solubilized water, the value of which was found to be unity. The results of both techniques show that reverse aggregate-solubilized water, although different from bulk water, does not seem to coexist in “layers” of different degrees of structure, as suggested, for example by the two-state water-solubilization model. Received: 12 July 1999/Accepted: 30 August 1999     

Consistent predictable patterns in the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios of animal proteins consumed by modern humans in the USA

Published datasets of proteinaceous animal tissues suggest that co‐variation between amino acid hydrogen (δ²H) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotope ratios is a common feature in systems where isotopic variation is driven by geographic or temporal variation in the δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of environmental water. This has led to the development of models relating tissue δ²H and δ¹⁸O values to those of water, with potential application in a number of fields. However, the strength and ubiquity of the influence of environmental water on protein isotope ratios across taxonomic groups, and thus the relevance of predictive models, is an open question. Here we report strong co‐variation of δ²H and δ¹⁸O values across a suite of terrestrial and aquatic animal meats purchased in American food markets, including beef, poultry (chicken and turkey), chicken eggs, pork, lamb, freshwater fish, and marine fish. Significant isotope co‐variation was not found for small collections of marine bivalves and crustaceans. These results imply that isotopic signals from environmental water were propagated similarly through most of the diverse natural and human‐managed foodwebs represented by our samples. Freshwater fish had the largest variation in δ²H and δ¹⁸O values, with ranges of 121 ‰ and 19.2 ‰, respectively, reflecting the large isotopic variation in environmental freshwaters. In contrast marine animals had the smallest variation for both δ²H (7 ‰ range, crustaceans) and δ¹⁸O (3.0 ‰ range, bivalves) values. Known‐origin beef samples demonstrated direct relationships between the variance of environmental water isotope ratios and that of collected meats. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Equilibrium hydrogen pressures in vanadium alloys

The dissolution of hydrogen gas in vanadium-based alloys containing niobium, chromium and titanium was studied by measuring the equilibrium pressure, at various compositions, from 763 to 1125 K. Hydrogen followed Sieverts' law in all the alloys studied up to a hydrogen-to-metal atom ratio of 0.25. The values of the enthalpies of solution of hydrogen for these vanadium-based alloys ranged from −18.5 to −46.8 ± 1.5 kJ (mol H)⁻¹ and the standard entropies of solution of hydrogen ranged from −57.4 to −62.6 ± 5.5 J K⁻¹ (mol H)⁻¹. The present results agree extremely well with a previous low temperature study of these alloys which employed an isopiestic technique to measure indirectly the equilibrium hydrogen pressures.     

Online high‐precision δ2H and δ18O analysis in water by pyrolysis

A method for online simultaneous δ²H and δ¹⁸O analysis in water by high‐temperature conversion is presented. Water is injected by using a syringe into a high‐temperature carbon reactor and converted into H₂ and CO, which are separated by gas chromatography (GC) and carried by helium to the isotope ratio mass spectrometer for hydrogen and oxygen isotope analysis. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate several issues such as sample size, temperature and memory effects. The δ²H and δ¹⁸O values in multiple water standards changed consistently as the reactor temperature increased from 1150 to 1480°C. The δ¹⁸O in water can be measured at a lower temperature (e.g. 1150°C) although the precision was relatively poor at temperatures <1300°C. Memory effects exist for δ²H and δ¹⁸O between two waters, and can be reduced (to <1%) with proper measures. The injection of different amounts of water may affect the isotope ratio results. For example, in contrast to small injections (100 nL or less) from small syringes (e.g. 1.2 µL), large injections (1 µL or more) from larger syringes (e.g. 10 µL) with dilution produced asymmetric peaks and shifts of isotope ratios, e.g. 4‰ for δ²H and 0.4‰ for δ¹⁸O, probably resulting from isotope fractionation during dilution via the ConFlo interface. This method can be used to analyze nanoliter samples of water (e.g. 30 nL) with good precision of 0.5‰ for δ²H and 0.1‰ for δ¹⁸O. This is important for geosciences; for instance, fluid inclusions in ancient minerals may be analyzed for δ²H and δ¹⁸O to help understand the formation environments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic Stability and Physicochemical Characterization of Ligand (4S)‐4‐Benzyl‐3,6,10‐tris(carboxymethyl)‐3,6,10‐triazadodecanedioic Acid (H5[(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda]) and Its Complexes Formed with Lanthanides,Calcium(II), Zinc(II), and Copper(II) Ions

A derivative of H₅ttda (=3,6,10‐tris(carboxymethyl)‐3,6,10‐triazadodecanedioic acid=N‐{2‐[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl}‐N‐{3‐[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]propyl}glycine), H₅[(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda] (=(4S)‐4‐benzyl‐3,6,10‐tris(carboxymethyl)‐3,6,10‐triazadodecanedioic acid=N‐{(2S)‐2‐[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]‐3‐phenylpropyl}‐N‐{3‐[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]propyl}glycine; 1 ) carrying a benzyl group was synthesized and characterized. The stability constants of the complexes formed with Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Gd³⁺ were determined by potentiometric methods at 25.0±0.1° and 0.1M ionic strength in Me₄NNO₃. The observed water proton relaxivity value of [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ was constant with respect to pH changes over the range pH 4.5–12.0. From the ¹⁷O‐NMR chemical shift of H₂O induced by [Dy{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ at pH 6.80, the presence of 0.9 inner‐sphere water molecules was deduced. The water proton spin‐lattice relaxation rate for [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ at 37.0±0.1° and 20 MHz was 4.90±0.05 mM ⁻¹ s⁻¹. The EPR transverse electronic relaxation rate and ¹⁷O‐NMR transverse‐relaxation time for the exchange lifetime of the coordinated H₂O molecule (τ_M), and ²H‐NMR longitudinal‐relaxation rate of the deuterated diamagnetic lanthanum complex for the rotational correlation time (τ_R) were thoroughly investigated, and the results were compared with those previously reported for the other lanthanide(III) complexes. The exchange lifetime (τ_M) for [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ (2.3±1.3 ns) was significantly shorter than that of the [Gd(dtpa)(H₂O)]²⁻ complex (dtpa=diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid). The rotational correlation time τ_R for [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ (70±6 ps) was slightly longer than that of the [Gd(dtpa)(H₂O)]²⁻ complex. The marked increase of relaxivity of [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ mainly resulted from its longer rotational time rather than from its fast water‐exchange rate. The noncovalent interaction between human serum albumin (HSA) and the [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ complex containing the hydrophobic substituent was investigated by measuring the solvent proton relaxation rate of the aqueous solutions. The association constant (K_A) was less than 100 M ⁻¹, indicating a weaker interaction of [Gd{(S)‐4‐Bz‐ttda}]²⁻ with HSA.     

An inexpensive, fast, and reliable method for vacuum extraction of soil and plant water for stable isotope analyses by mass spectrometry

The stable isotopes of water (hydrogen and oxygen isotopes) are of utmost interest in ecology and the geosciences. In many cases water has to be extracted directly from a matrix such as soil or plant tissue before isotopes can be analyzed by mass spectrometry. Currently, the most widely used technique for water is cryogenic vacuum extraction. We present a simple and inexpensive modification of this method and document tests conducted with soils of various grain size and tree core replicates taken on four occasions during 2010. The accuracies for sandy soils are between 0.4‰ and 3‰ over a range of 21‰ and 165‰ for δ¹⁸O and δ²H, respectively. Spiking tests with water of known isotope composition were conducted with soil and tree core samples; they indicate reliable precision after an extraction time of 15 min for sandy soils. For clayey soils and tree cores, the deviations were up to 0.63‰ and 4.7‰ for δ¹⁸O and δ²H, respectively. This indicates either that the extraction time should be extended or that mechanisms different from Rayleigh fractionation play a role. The modified protocol allows a fast and reliable extraction of large numbers of water samples from soil and plant material in preparation for stable isotope analyses. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intermediates of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Dimerization Probed in the Gas Phase by Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry: C−H⋅⋅⋅:C Hydrogen Bonding Versus Covalent Dimer Formation

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs, :C ) can interact with azolium salts ( C−H⁺ ) by either forming a hydrogen-bonded aggregate ( CHC⁺ ) or a covalent C−C bond ( CCH⁺ ). In this study, the intramolecular NHC–azolium salt interactions of aromatic imidazolin-2-ylidenes and saturated imidazolidin-2-ylidenes have been investigated in the gas phase by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TW IMS) and DFT calculations. The TW IMS experiments provided evidence for the formation of these important intermediates in the gas phase, and they identified the predominant aggregation mode (hydrogen bond vs. covalent C−C) as a function of the nature of the interacting carbene–azolium pairs.     

Molecular motion and relaxation studies of aliphatic polyureas by thermal windowing thermally stimulated depolarization current technique

Molecular motion and relaxation studies using a thermal windowing thermally stimulated depolarization current (TW‐TSDC) were performed for aliphatic polyureas 7 and 9. Global thermally stimulated depolarization current gave three characteristic major peaks corresponding to the α, β, and γ relaxation modes at 78.5, −44, and −136°C for polyurea 7 and at 80, −50, and −134°C for polyurea 9, respectively. The α relaxation is related to the large‐scale molecular motion due to micro‐Brownian motion of long‐range segments. This relaxation is significantly related to the glass‐transition temperature. The β relaxation is caused by the local thermal motion of long‐chain segments. The γ relaxation is caused by the limited local motion of hydrocarbon sections. Temperature dependence of relaxation times was expressed well using Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) expression. 3‐D simulation of dielectric constants of dielectric strength and loss factor were performed in the frequency range from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁴ Hz and temperature range from −150 to 250°C, using the relaxation parameters obtained from the TW‐TSDC method. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 88–94, 2000     

An unusual two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network in bis(2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthrolin‐1‐ium) peroxodisulfate dihydrate

The title compound, 2C₁₄H₁₃N₂⁺·S₂O₈²⁻·2H₂O, is a protonated amine salt which is formed from two rather uncommon ionic species, namely a peroxodisulfate (pds²⁻) anion, which lies across a crystallographic inversion centre, and a 2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthrolin‐1‐ium (Hdmph⁺) cation lying in a general position. Each pds²⁻ anion binds to two water molecules through strong water–peroxo O—H...O interactions, giving rise to an unprecedented planar network of hydrogen‐bonded macrocycles which run parallel to (100). The atoms of the large R₈⁸(30) rings are provided by four water molecules bridging in fully extended form (...H—O—H...) and four pds²⁻ anions alternately acting as long (...O—S—O—O—S—O...) and short (...O—S—O...) bridges. The Hdmph⁺ cations, in turn, bind to these units through hydrogen bonds involving their protonated N atoms. In addition, the crystal structure also contains π–π and aromatic–peroxo C—H...O interactions.     

The hydrological response of heavy clay grassland soils to rainfall in south‐west England using δ2H

Stable isotopes of water have been previously used in catchment studies to separate rain‐event water from pre‐event groundwater. However, there are a lack of studies at the smaller scale looking at the separation of event water from pre‐event water. This is particularly relevant for heavy clay soil systems through which the movement of water is uncertain but is thought to be rainwater‐dominated. The data presented here were collected at a rural site in the south‐west of England. The historic rainfall at the site was isotopically varied but similar to the global meteoric water line, with annual weighted means of ?37‰ for δ²H and ?5.7‰ for δ¹⁸O and with no seasonal variation. Drainage was sampled from the inter‐flow (surface runoff + lateral through‐flow) and drain‐flow (55 cm deep mole drains) pathways of two 1 ha lysimeters during two rainfall events, which had δ²H values of ?68‰ and ?92‰, respectively. The δ²H values of the lysimeter drainage water suggest that there was no contribution of event water during the first, small discharge (Q) event; however, the second larger event did show isotopic variation in δ²H values negatively related to Q indicating that rainwater was contributing to Q. A hydrograph separation indicated that only 49–58% of the inter‐flow and 18–25% of the drain‐flow consisted of event water. This was surprising given that these soil types are considered retentive of soil water. More work is needed on heavy clay soils to understand better the nature of water movement from these systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nucleophilic and electrophilic promotion of ligand substitution reactions in oxo‐bridged,dinuclear chromium(III) complexes

Base hydrolysis reactions of [Cr(tmpa)(NCSe)]₂O²⁺, [Cr(tmpa)(N₃)]₂O²⁺, [Cr₂(tmpa)₂(μ−O)(μ−PhPO₄)]⁴⁺ and [Cr₂(tmpa)₂(μ−O)(μ−CO₃)]²⁺ follow the pseudo‐first‐order relationship (excess OH⁻): k_obsd=k_o+k_bQ_p[OH⁻]/(1+Q_p[OH⁻]). For the CO₃²⁻ complex, k_b(60°C)=(1.50±0.03)×10⁻² s⁻¹; ΔH‡=61±2 kJ/mol, ΔS‡=−99±7 J/mol K; Q_p(60°C)=(3.8±0.3)×10¹ M⁻¹; ΔH°=67±2 kJ/mol, ΔS°=230±7 J/mol K (I=1.0 M). An isokinetic relationship among k_OH(=k_bQ_p) activation parameters for five (tmpa)CrOCr(tmpa) complexes shows that all follow essentially the same pathway. Activated complex formation is thought to require nucleophilic attack of coordinated OH⁻ at the chromium‐leaving group bond in the k_b step, accompanied by reattachment of a tmpa pyridyl arm displaced by OH⁻ in the Q_p preequilibrium. Abstraction of both thiocyanate ligands was observed upon mixing [Cr(tmpa)(NCS)]₂O²⁺ with [Pd(CH₃CN)₄]²⁺ in CH₃CN solution. The proposed mechanism requires rapid complexation of both reactant thiocyanate ligands by Pd(II) (K_p(25°C)=(4.5±0.2)×10⁸ M⁻²; ΔH°=−32±6 kJ/mol, ΔS°=59±19 J/mol K) prior to rate‐limiting Cr NCS bond‐breaking (k₂(25°C)=(1.17±0.02)×10⁻³ s⁻¹; ΔH‡=98±2 kJ/mol, ΔS‡=27±5 J/mol K). Pd(II)‐assisted NCS⁻ abstraction is not driven by weakening of the Cr( )NCS⁻ bond through ligation of the sulfur atom to palladium, but rather by a favorable ΔS‡ resulting from the release of Pd(NCS)⁺ fragments and weak solvation of the activated complex in CH₃CN solution. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 351–356, 1999