Accurate prediction of proton chemical shifts. II. Peptide analogues

Proton chemical shifts of eight cyclic amide molecules were measured in DMSO and D2O solutions. The magnetic shieldings of the corresponding aliphatic, aromatic, and amide protons were calculated by Hartree-Fock and DFT, using the 6-311G**, 6-311++G**, and TZVP basis sets. For aliphatic protons, all of these methods reproduce the experimental values in DMSO solutions excellently after linear regression. The Hartree-Fock method tends to give slightly better agreement than DFT. The best performance is given by the HF/6-311G** method, with an rms deviation of 0.068 ppm. The deviations from experimental chemical shifts in D2O solutions are only slightly larger than those in DMSO solutions. This suggests that we can use the calculated gas phase proton chemical shifts directly to predict experimental data in various solvents, including water. For amide protons, which exchange with water and form hydrogen bonds with DMSO, only modest agreement is obtained, as expected. The present studies confirm that the GIAO approach can reach high accuracy for the relative chemical shifts of aliphatic and aromatic protons at a low cost. Such calculations may provide constraints for the conformational analysis of proteins and other macromolecules.     

Quantum vs. classical models of the nitro group for proton chemical shift calculations and conformational analysis

A model based on classical concepts is derived to describe the effect of the nitro group on proton chemical shifts. The calculated chemical shifts are then compared to ab initio (GIAO) calculated chemical shifts. The accuracy of the two models is assessed using proton chemical shifts of a set of rigid organic nitro compounds that are fully assigned in CDCl3 at 700 MHz. The two methods are then used to evaluate the accuracy of different popular post-SCF methods (B3LYP and MP2) and molecular mechanics methods (MMX and MMFF94) in calculating the molecular structure of a set of sterically crowded nitro aromatic compounds. Both models perform well on the rigid molecules used as a test set, although when using the GIAO method a general overestimation of the deshielding of protons near the nitro group is observed. The analysis of the sterically crowded molecules shows that the very popular B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method produces very poor twist angles for these, and that using a larger basis set [6-311++G(2d,p)] gives much more reasonable results. The MP2 calculations, on the other hand, overestimate the twist angles, which for these compounds compensates for the deshielding effect generally observed for protons near electronegative atoms when using the GIAO method at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level. The most accurate results are found when the structures are calculated using B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level of theory, and the chemical shifts are calculated using the CHARGE program based on classical models.     

Solubility prediction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in non-aqueous solvent mixtures

This study is aimed at evaluating the applicability of the Jouyban–Acree model for predicting the solubility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in binary and ternary solvent mixtures at different temperatures by employing a large solubility data set. The solubility is predicted in solvent mixtures at different temperatures within an acceptable error range based on the experimental solubility data of PAHs in mono-solvents. The results reveal that the Jouyban–Acree model could be recommended for practical applications in chemical industries.     

Determination of trace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil

A method for monitoring the contamination of soil with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is introduced. Drying at elevated temperature is omitted to avoid losses of the more volatile constituents (primarily naphthalene). The soil sample, including its natural water content, is extracted with 2-methoxyethanol and cleaned up using a disposable C₈ cartridge and the PAHs are eluted with pentane, concentrated and measured by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Determination limits between 15 and 35μg kg^?1 are obtained and the recovery is 80–90% measured at the 125 μg kg^?1 spike level, except for naphthalene (66%). Special attention is given to the design of the spiking technique, which simulates natural incorporation as far as possible, takes account of evaporation losses and therefore allows “real” recovery rates to be determined.     

Theoretical study concerning the reactivity of imine derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The opening reaction of N-protonated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon imines has been computed by means of ab initio, density functional, and semiempirical methods of calculation. Imines are predicted to be more stable than the corresponding O-protonated derivatives, epoxides and diol epoxides. On the other hand, the activated N-methanesulfonylbenzene imine presented more favorable DeltaE( not equal ) and DeltaE(r) for ring opening due to the effect of hydrogen-bond interactions. Anti and syn trans-diol benzene imines did not show a different behavior from the unsubstituted imine. According to these calculations, bay-region, fjord-region, and bay-region methyl-substituted compounds opened more easily among the imine derivatives, following the same reactivity pattern as the oxygen analogs. The exothermicity of the opening process correlated with the charge delocalization in the resulting carbocation.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fractions in asphalt mixtures using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

An analytical method using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in asphalt fractions has been developed. The 14 compounds determined, characterized by having two or more condensed aromatic rings, are expected to be present in asphalt and are considered carcinogenic and mutagenic. The parameters of the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface were optimized to obtain the highest possible sensitivity for all of the compounds. The limits of detection ranged from 0.5 to 346.5 μg/L and the limits of quantification ranged from 1.7 to 1550 μg/L. The method was validated against a diesel particulate extract standard reference material (NIST SRM 1975), and the obtained concentrations agreed with the certified values. The method was applied to asphalt samples after its fractionation according to ASTM D4124 and the method of Green. The concentrations of the seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons quantified in the sample ranged from 0.86 mg/kg for benzo[ghi]perylene to 98.32 mg/kg for fluorene.     

Environmentally benign chlorination and bromination of aromatic amines, hydrocarbons and naphthols

A simple and efficient procedure for chlorination and bromination of aromatic amines, hydrocarbons and naphthols by the action of aqueous hydrohalic acid and hydrogen peroxide is described. This environmentally clean and safe procedure involves in situ generation of the active halogen and its uncatalyzed reaction with the substrates in this study.     

Multidimensionality of delocalization indices and nucleus independent chemical shifts in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The aromaticity and local-aromaticity of a large set of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is studied using multicenter delocalization indices from generalized population analysis and the popular nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) index. A method for the fast computation of the NICS values is introduced, using the so-called pseudo-pi-method. A detailed examination is made of the multidimensional nature of aromaticity. The lack of a good correlation between the NICS and the multicenter delocalization indices is reported and the grounds discussed. It is shown through a thorough statistical analysis that the NICS values arise not only from local aromaticity of the benzenoid rings, but also from other circuits. It is shown that the NICS indices do not reveal the individual aromatic nature of a specific ring, contrary to the delocalization indices.     

Photolysis of 1,2-anthraquinone diazide in aromatic hydrocarbons

It has been determined that the main products of photolysis of 1,2-anthraquinone diazide in benzene, toluene, anisole, nitrobenzene, and pyridine are the corresponding 1-hydroxy-2-arylanthraquinones that form as a mixture ofortho, meta, andpara isomers with significant content of themeta isomer (40–55%).Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 1000–1003, April, 1992.     

Retention characteristics of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in normal phase HPLC. I. Chloro-added PAHs

Summary Retention characteristics in normal phase HPLC of highly biologically active chloro-added polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied. Silica, cyanopropyldimethylsilyl- and aminopropylsilyl- modified stationary phases were investigated. Retention properties of chloroadded PAHs on these phases were shown to be strongly influenced by the number of chloro-additions. This is due to the strong polarity of the methylene carbon at the chloro-addition site. Active silica had a strongly degrading effect on the unstable chloro-added PAHs during separation. Aminopropylsilica did not exhibit sufficient selectivity towards chloro-added PAHs when compared to chlorosubstituted PAHs. Cyanopropyldimethylsilica was shown to be applicable to a group separation of chloro-added and chloro-substituted PAHs. A fast clean-up procedure for chloro-added PAHs in complex samplesis outlined. It involves an initial elimination of more polar substances on a short open column with strongly deactivated silica and a subsequent separation on a cyanopropyldimethylsilyl HPLC column in normal phase mode.     

Compatibility and universality of the retention prediction system for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary System-compatibility and universality of the retention prediction concept has been investigated for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The results clearly indicate that the retention prediction approach has a very high potential for optimization of separation conditions in almost all reversed-phase systems, and allows more precise and rapid analysis. This approach may be one of the best optimization techniques, because the system does not require any standard materials.     

Determination of oxygen and nitrogen derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fractions of asphalt mixtures using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization was used for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives, the oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formed in asphalt fractions. Two different methods have been developed for the determination of five oxygenated and seven nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are characterized by having two or more condensed aromatic rings and present mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. The parameters of the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface were optimized to obtain the highest possible sensitivity for all compounds. The detection limits of the methods ranged from 0.1 to 57.3 μg/L for nitrated and from 0.1 to 6.6 μg/L for oxygenated derivatives. The limits of quantification were in the range of 4.6–191 μg/L for nitrated and 0.3–8.9 μg/L for oxygenated derivatives. The methods were validated against a diesel particulate extract standard reference material (National Institute of Standards and Technology SRM 1975), and the obtained concentrations (two nitrated derivatives) agreed with the certified values. The methods were applied in the analysis of asphalt samples after their fractionation into asphaltenes and maltenes, according to American Society for Testing and Material D4124, where the maltenic fraction was further separated into its basic, acidic, and neutral parts following the method of Green. Only two nitrated derivatives were found in the asphalt sample, quinoline and 2‐nitrofluorene, with concentrations of 9.26 and 2146 mg/kg, respectively, whereas no oxygenated derivatives were detected.     

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil prior to gas chromatography-mass detection

Continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil prior to their individual separation and determination by gas chromatography (GC) with MS-MS detection is presented here. A multivariate optimisation of the variables affecting the continuous extraction step (namely, probe position, ultrasound radiation amplitude, percentage of duty cycle of ultrasonic exposure, sonication time, total extractant volume, extractant flow rate and temperature of the water-bath in which the extraction cell was placed) was performed. The method was compared with the reference EPA method 3540 using natural contaminated soils. Similar efficiencies were obtained but with a drastic reduction of both the extraction time (10 min versus 24 h) and the extractant volume (less than 10 ml versus 100 ml) by the proposed method. Detection limits of low picogram were obtained, with repeatability and reproducibility between 4.21-5.70 and 5.20-7.23%, respectively.     

Retention prediction system coupled with a multichannel ultraviolet detector for the identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Summary The retention prediction system assisted by a micro-computer coupled with an UV multichannel detector has been investigated in the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The method offered very precise identification of components in NBS-SRM-1647 sample without any standard reference substances. It has been proven that the system makes very precise, non-pollutive and convenient environmental analysis possible.     

Critical point measurement of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The critical temperatures and the critical pressures of five polycyclic aromatic compounds, namely, acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene have been measured. All the compounds studied decompose at near-critical temperatures. A pulse-heating technique applicable to measuring the critical properties of thermally unstable compounds has been used. The times from the beginning of a heating pulse to the moment of reaching the critical temperature were from (0.06 to 0.85) ms. The short residence times provide little degradation of the substances in the course of the experiments. The experimental critical parameters of the polycyclic aromatic compounds have been compared with those estimated by five predictive methods. The acentric factors of polycyclic aromatic compounds studied have been calculated.     

Determination of column selectivity toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

An empirical test is described for the evaluation of column selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Using a test mixture of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), overall column selectivity toward PAH was assessed for over 20 different commercial C₁₈ columns. Retention behavior was correlated to phase type (i.e., monomeric and polymeric surface modification chemistry) for custom synthesized phases. A classification scheme is proposed in which commercial C₁₈ columns are grouped into three classes based on retention behavior: monomeric-like, polymeric-like, and intermediate phase selectivity toward PAH. Correlation of retention behavior of the test mixture with the separation of PAH mixtures and with more general column properties (e.g., phase thickness) is discussed.     

Regularities in the retention of isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons in liquid chromatography. Part I. Analysis of polymethyl-and monoalkyl benzenes and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons on hydroxylated silica gel

Summary The retention on hydroxylated silica gel surface upon elution with n-hexane increases in the series of polymethylbenzenes and decreases in the series of mono-alkylbenzenes (after toluene) All iosmers of xylenes, trimethyl- and tetramethylbenzenes are separated as well as isomers of tert.-phenyls, isomers of several dimethylnaphthalenes, anthracene, phenanthrene and poly aromatic hydrocarbons with five condensed rings. These separations are based on the influence of the corresponding molecule structures on the intermolecular interaction with both the adsorbent (strengthening or weakening the energy of hydrogen bonds) and the eluent (intermolecular interaction with n-hexane increases upon lengthening the alkyl group). The effect of orientation at the surface of the investigated hydrocarbon molecules on their retention is also discussed.     

Separation of isomers of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Since positional isomers of several nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) contain widely different mutagenic properties, methods for separating the isomers were investigated. High performance liquid chromatography with dichloromethane in hexane on silica gave the best resolution for the majority of the compounds. A few groups of isomers were better resolved with other modifiers or with reversed phases. Of the reversed phase systems, methanol-water gave better resolution than acetonitrile-water. With dichloromethane/hexane on silica, the retention was found to depend on the presence of a bay nitro group (first), the number of H atoms peri to the nitro group (second), and the length/breadth ratio of the molecule (third). Front electron density calculations were combined with the structure-retention relations in making tentative structure assignments of minor isomers of nitro-PAH.