Electroanalytical Determination of N‐Nitrosamines in Aqueous Solution Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

The electrochemical methods cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry were applied to develop an electroanalytical procedure for the determination of N‐nitrosamines (N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, N‐nitrosopiperidine and N‐nitrosodiethylamine) in aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrochemical behaviors of N‐nitrosamines on boron‐doped diamond electrodes. It was observed an irreversible electrooxidation peak located in approximately 1.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) for both N‐nitrosamines. The optimal electrochemical response was obtained using the following square‐wave voltammetry parameters: f=250 Hz, E_sw=50 mV and E_s=2 mV using a Britton–Robinson buffer solution as electrolyte (pH 2). The detection and quantification limits determined for total N‐nitrosamines were 6.0×10^?8 and 2.0×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively.     

The Electrochemical Oxidation of N,N‐Diethyl‐p‐Phenylenediamine in DMF and Analytical Applications. Part I: Mechanistic Study

The electrochemical oxidation of N,N‐diethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine in dimethylformamide has been studied at platinum and gold microdisk electrodes of various radii between 6.7 and 66 μm. The voltammetric responses revealed two electrochemically reversible waves the second of which becomes larger at higher concentrations and bigger electrode radii. The voltammetric signals have been modelled and the electrochemical oxidation reaction is not inconsistent with an EC_revECE reaction. Kinetic parameters are reported.     

Thermal Studies of New Lead(II) Coated‐Wire Membrane Electrodes

Five plastic membrane Pb²⁺‐selective electrodes were prepared based on 1,4‐bis(N‐tosyl‐o‐aminophenoxy)butane I , 1,4‐bis(N‐allyl‐N‐tosyl‐o‐aminophenoxy)butane II , 1,4‐bis(N‐benzyl‐N‐tosyl‐o‐aminophenoxy)butane III , 1,4‐bis[N‐(o‐allyloxybenzyl)‐N‐tosyl‐o‐aminophenoxy]butane IV , and 1,4‐bis(N‐octyl‐N‐tosyl‐o‐aminophenoxy)butane V as neutral carriers. The electrodes exhibited nearly Nernstian responses over the concentration ranges, 2.5×10^?4–4.0×10^?2, 2.5×10^?5–4.0×10^?2, 7.9×10^?5–4.0×10^?2, 2.2×10^?5–4.0×10^?2, and 1.9×10^?4–4.0×10^?2 M for electrodes composed with the ionophores I–V , respectively. All electrodes showed pH range of about 4.0 to 11.5 and working temperature range of 22 to 70 °C with isothermal temperature coefficients of 1.19×10^?3, 1.16×10^?3, 1.16×10^?3, 1.00×10^?3 , and 1.32×10^?3 V/°C for electrodes I–V respectively.     

Picomolar Detection of Melamine Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer‐Based Electrochemical Sensors Prepared by UV‐Graft Photopolymerization

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films of melamine were prepared by photopolymerization of vinylic monomers on diazonium‐modified gold electrodes. The gold‐grafted MIPs are specific and selective for melamine in either organic or aqueous media. The interferent molecules cyromazine and cyanuric acid were not recognized by the MIPs. The limit of detection was as low as 1.75×10^?12 mol L^?1 at S/N=3. Efficiency of melamine rebinding is related to the solubility parameter of the organic solvent or pH and ionic strength of the aqueous medium. It is concluded that diazonium salts permit to design robust electrochemical MIP sensors.     

Selective determination of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke by GC coupled to positive chemical ionization triple quadrupole MS

A rapid method for the selective determination of four kinds of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines, N‐nitrosonornicotine, N‐nitrosoanatabine, N‐nitrosoanabasine and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone, in mainstream cigarette smoke was developed by GC coupled to positive chemical ionization triple‐quadrupole MS. After mainstream cigarette smoke was collected on a cambridge filter pad, the particulate matter was extracted with 0.1 M HCL aqueous solution, cleaned by positive cation‐exchange solid extraction, and finally injected into GC–MS/MS using isotopically labeled analogues as internal standards. Excellent linearity was obtained over the concentration range of 0.5–200.0 ng mL^?1 for all tobacco‐specific nitrosamines with values for correlation coefficient between 0.9996–0.9999. Limits of detection of each tobacco specific nitrosamine varied from 0.023–0.028 ng cig^?1, and lower limits of quantification varied from 0.077–0.093 ng cig^?1. The recovery of each tobacco specific nitrosamine was from 90.0–109.0%. The relative standard deviations of the intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were 3.1–5.8 and 3.9–6.6, respectively. This method was applied to reference and domestic cigarettes. The result showed that the method was consistent with traditional methods and can be used as an effective approach for the routine analysis of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines.     

Electrochemical Measurement of Gold Oxide Reduction and Methods for Acid Neutralization and Minimization of Water in Wet Ionic Liquid

The formation and reduction of gold oxide in wet ionic liquid (IL), N‐trimethyl‐N‐butylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, ([Me₃NⁿBu][TFSI]) is examined. The water concentration is determined using both the charge and peak current from the reduction of gold oxide and compared directly with Karl Fischer data. The quantitative determination of water in the IL is demonstrated for concentrations between 0.09 and 0.74 by weight (w%). The treatment of wet IL with dry nitrogen or molecular sieves reduces the water below background levels. Finally, methods for acid neutralization and the reduction of water with molecular sieves are conducted to minimize their impact on subsequent electrochemical measurements.     

Determination of nine volatile N‐nitrosamines in tobacco and smokeless tobacco products by dispersive solid‐phase extraction with gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of nine volatile N‐nitrosamines in tobacco and smokeless tobacco products. The targets are N‐nitrosodimethylamine, N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, N‐nitrosopiperidine, N‐nitrosomorpholine, N‐nitrosoethylmethylamine, N‐nitrosodiethylamine, N‐nitrosodipropylamine, N‐nitrosobuylmethylmine, and N‐nitrosodibutylamine. The samples were treated by dispersive solid‐phase extraction using 1 g of primary secondary amine and 0.5 g of carbon and then analyzed by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry with an electron impact ion source. The recoveries for the targets ranged from 84 to 118%, with <16% relative standard deviations at three spiking levels of 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 ng/g. The limits of detection ranged from 0.03 to 0.15 ng/g. With the use of the proposed method, we detected the presence of six nitrosamines in the range of 0.4–30.7 ng/g. The study demonstrated that the method could be used as a rapid, convenient, and high‐throughput method for N‐nitrosamines analysis in tobacco matrix.     

Reagent‐free and pH‐independent degradation of N‐nitrosamines using electrons generated via corona discharge at ambient pressure

Traditional degradation methods for N‐nitrosamines are either confined with acid solution or required for additional chemical reagents to guarantee high reaction efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate a facile and effective way for reagent‐free and pH‐independent degradation of N‐nitrosamines, which was induced by free electrons generated via corona discharge at ambient pressure. The highly reactive free electron is produced in situ and responsible for degradation of three N‐nitrosamines, which was also theoretically confirmed. N‐nitrosamines were believed to be reduced by electrons and to form the radical anion, which underwent a selectively heterolytic cleavage of the N–NO bonds to form the corresponding secondary amines as the degradation products.     

Electrochemical Characteristics of a Triphenylamine Derivative by Microelectrode Voltammetry

With the objective of understanding the kinetic redox properties of triphenylamine derivatives in association with chemical reactions, for their future application in functional organic semiconductor devices, the electrochemical characteristics of 4‐(2,2‐diphenylethenyl)‐N,N‐bis(4‐methylphenyl)‐benzenamine (TPA) were evaluated. Based on cyclic voltammograms of TPA on Pt disk electrodes with diameters of 300 μm and 10 μm at slow and fast scan rates in an acetonitrile solution, the TPA^.+ is stable, while the TPA²⁺ is unstable. Importantly, the unstable TPA²⁺ appears to break down by a subsequent chemical reaction. A Cottrell plot analysis from chronoamperometry of a solution containing TPA reveals that both the first and second oxidations are one‐electron reactions. Concerning the stabilization mechanism of the first oxidation state of TPA, the results of molecular orbital calculations indicate that the electrons of the HOMO level are distributed in the triphenylamine group, which induces a resonance‐stabilized TPA^.+. Based on these results, TPA/TPA^.+ is suggested to have a sufficient stability for further application in organic semiconductor devices.     

Voltammetric Behavior of Osmium‐Labeled DNA at Mercury Meniscus‐Modified Solid Amalgam Electrodes. Detecting DNA Hybridization

The complex of osmium tetroxide with 2,2′‐bipyridine has been utilized as a probe of DNA structure and an electroactive marker of DNA in DNA hybridization sensors. It produces several voltammetric signals, the most negative of them has been observed only at mercury electrodes. This signal is of catalytic nature affording a high sensitivity of DNA determination. The catalytic current due to evolution of hydrogen in voltammetry of DNA modified by complex of osmium tetroxide with 2,2′‐bipyridine (DNA‐Os,bipy) was studied. Solid amalgam electrodes (modified with mercury menisci) of silver (m‐AgSAE), copper (m‐CuSAE), gold, and of combined bismuth and silver, were used as possible substitutes for mercury electrodes. Besides the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), the catalytic current was observed only on m‐AgSAE and m‐CuSAE. Electrodes of gold and bismuth amalgams did not give the catalytic current. The detection limit of DNA‐Os,bipy on HMDE was 0.1 ng mL^?1 (RSD=2.3 %, N=11), and on m‐AgSAE 0.2 ng mL^?1 (RSD=3.1%, N=11). The m‐AgSAE was successfully applied as a detection electrode in double‐surface DNA hybridization experiments offering highly specific discrimination between complementary (target) and nonspecific DNAs, as well as determination of the length of a repetitive DNA sequence. The m‐AgSAE has proved a convenient alternative to the HMDE or carbon electrodes used for similar purposes in previous work.     

Magnetic solid‐phase extraction of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines using magnetic graphene composite as sorbent

Tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines are carcinogenic components in mainstream cigarette smoke. To explore tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine release levels in cigarettes, a magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure using magnetic graphene composite as sorbent for fast enrichment of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine was developed. Under optimal conditions, a tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine determination method was successfully proposed by combining magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure and high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The method's limit of detection for tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke ranged from 0.018 to 0.057 ng/cigarette. Good linearities were obtained with correlation coefficients above 0.9992. The accuracies of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines in a spiked mainstream cigarette smoke sample were from 89.3 to 109.4%, with a relative standard deviation of less than 11.2%. The proposed method has the merits of rapidity and high sensitivity. Finally, the method was successfully applied to tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamine analysis in real samples.     

Membrane Composition Effects on the Analytical Behavior of Solid Contact Potentiometric Pb2+ Selective Electrodes Based on Diazadibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 Ionophores

The effect of component contents and membrane thickness on the detection limit (DL), slope (m), linear range (LR) and response time (RT) of Pb²⁺ solid contact potentiometric ion selective electrodes (SCISE) based on 4,10‐diaza‐2,3,11,12‐dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 (1), 4,10‐diaza‐2,3,11,12‐di(4‐tert‐butylbenzo)‐18‐crown‐6 (2) and 4,10‐diaza‐2,3,11,12‐dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐N,N′‐di(carboxymethyl) (3) as ionophores was studied by open circuit potential (OCP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The use of an intermediate layer of poly(3‐octyl)thiophene between the gold substrate and the selective membrane was explored. SCISE prepared showing the best responses had typical DL, m, LR and RT values of 10^?6 M, 29 mV/dec, 10^?5 to 10^?3 M and 2 minutes.     

Combination of Tetrabutylammonium Iodide (TBAI) with tert‐Butyl Hydroperoxide (TBHP): An Efficient Transition‐Metal‐Free System to Construct Various Chemical Bonds

In this account, we describe our recent progress on transition‐metal‐free‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions using tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) as the catalyst and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. A rich variety of important organic compounds including α‐acyloxy ethers, tert‐butyl peresters, allylic esters, amides, α‐amino nitriles, fully substituted pyrazoles, N‐sulfonyl formamidines, α‐amino acid esters, cyanomethyl esters, N‐nitrosamines, and 3‐acyloxy‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofurans have been successfully achieved in high chemoselectivity. Mechanistic studies suggested that TBAI could decompose TBHP to ^tBuO^. and ^tBuOO^. or be oxdized to (hypo)iodite by TBHP.     

Determination of N‐nitrosamines by automated dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction integrated with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

An automated dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction integrated with gas chromatography and mass spectrometric procedure was developed for the determination of three N‐nitrosamines (N‐nitroso‐di‐n‐propylamine, N‐nitrosopiperidine, and N‐nitroso di‐n‐butylamine) in water samples. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize relevant extraction parameters including extraction time, dispersive solvent volume, water sample pH, sodium chloride concentration, and agitation (stirring) speed. The optimal dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction conditions were 28 min of extraction time, 33 μL of methanol as dispersive solvent, 722 rotations per minute of agitation speed, 23% w/v sodium chloride concentration, and pH of 10.5. Under these conditions, good linearity for the analytes in the range from 0.1 to 100 μg/L with coefficients of determination (r²) from 0.988 to 0.998 were obtained. The limits of detection based on a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 were between 5.7 and 124 ng/L with corresponding relative standard deviations from 3.4 to 5.9% (n = 4). The relative recoveries of N‐nitroso‐di‐n‐propylamine, N‐nitrosopiperidine, and N‐nitroso di‐n‐butylamine from spiked groundwater and tap water samples at concentrations of 2 μg/L of each analyte (mean ± standard deviation, n = 3) were (93.9 ± 8.7), (90.6 ± 10.7), and (103.7 ± 8.0)%, respectively. The method was applied to determine the N‐nitrosamines in water samples of different complexities, such as tap water, and groundwater, before and after treatment, in a local water treatment plant.     

A Novel Molecularly Imprinted Photoelectrochemical Sensor Based on g‐C3N4‐AuNPs for the Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Triclosan

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) photoelectrochemical sensor was fabricated for the highly sensitive and selective detection of triclosan. The MIP photoelectrochemical sensor was fabricated using graphite‐like carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as photoelectric materials. The MIP/g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs sensor used photocurrent as the detection signal and was triggered by ultraviolet light (UV‐Light 365 nm). g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs was immobilized on indium tin oxide electrodes to produce the photoelectrochemically responsive electrode of the MIP/g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs sensor. A MIP layer of poly‐o‐phenylenediamine was electropolymerized on the g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs‐modified electrode to act as the recognition element of the MIP/g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs sensor and to enable the selective adsorption of triclosan to the sensor through specific binding. Under optimal experimental conditions, the designed MIP/g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs sensor presented high sensitivity for triclosan with a linear range of 2×10⁻¹² to 8×10⁻¹⁰ M and a limit of detection of 6.01×10⁻¹³ M. Moreover, the MIP/g‐C₃N₄‐AuNPs sensor showed excellent selectivity. The sensor had been successfully applied in the analysis of toothpaste samples.     

Asymmetrical Schiff Bases as Carriers in PVC Membrane Electrodes for Cadmium (II) Ions

5‐[((4‐Methyl phenyl) azo)‐N‐(6‐amino‐2‐pyridin) salicylaldimine] (S₁), and 5‐[((4‐methyl phenyl) azo)‐N‐(2‐diamino‐2‐cyano‐1‐ethyl cyanide) salicylaldehyde] (S₂) with N and O donor atoms are effective ionophores to make Cd²⁺‐selective membrane electrodes. The electrodes based on S₁ and S₂ exhibits a Nernstian or near‐Nernstian response for cadmium ion over a wide concentration range 1.5×10^?1–7.5×10^?7 with a slope of 28 and 2.0×10^?1–4.0×10^?7 with a slope of 22, respectively. They have quick response and can be used for three or four months without any divergence in potential. The proposed sensors show fairly good selectivity over some alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The electrodes based on S₁ and S₂ can be used in the pH range 3.5–9. These electrodes were used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of cadmium ion with EDTA and in the direct determination of cadmium ion in aqueous solutions.     

Alkylations of N4‐(4‐Pyridyl)‐3,5‐di(2‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole: First Observation of Room‐Temperature Rearrangement of an N4‐Substituted Triazole to the N1 Analogue

Attempts to use alkylation to introduce a positive charge at the nitrogen atom of the 4‐pyridyl ring in the bis(bidentate) triazole ligand N⁴‐(4‐pyridyl)‐3,5‐di(2‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole ( pydpt ) were made to ascertain what effect a strongly electron‐withdrawing group would have on the magnetic properties of any subsequent iron(II) complexes. Alkylation of pydpt under relatively mild conditions led in some cases to unexpected rearrangement products. Specifically, when benzyl bromide is used as the alkylating agent, and the reaction is carried out in refluxing acetonitrile, the N⁴ substituent moves to the N¹ position. However, when the same reaction is performed in dichloromethane at room temperature, the rearrangement does not occur and the desired product containing an alkylated N⁴ substituent is obtained. Heating a pure sample of N⁴‐Bzpydpt?Br to reflux in MeCN resulted in clean conversion to N1Bzpydpt.Br . This is consistent with N4‐Bzpydpt.Br being the kinetic product whereas N1Bzpydpt.Br is the thermodynamic product. When methyl iodide is used as the alkylating agent, the N⁴ to N¹ rearrangement occurs even at room temperature, and at reflux pydpt is doubly alkylated. The observation of the lowest reported temperatures for an N⁴ to N¹ rearrangement is due to this particular rearrangement involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution: a possible mechanism for this transformation is suggested.     

Application of 13C and 15N spectroscopy to the study of electronic delocalization in N?N bonds: Nitrosamines,hydrazones, triazenes and related protonated species

¹³C and ¹⁵N spectroscopies at natural abundance have been applied to the study of nitrogen lone-pair delocalization in N? N containing compounds: nitrosamines, nitramines, hydrazines, hydrazones and triazenes. Structure-chemical shift correlations have been derived for nitrosamines; the ¹³C upfield effect of a γ substituent has been used for assigning the configuration of both diastereoisomers in N,N-unsymmetrically substituted nitrosamines. Equations have been computed which permit the prediction of the electronic delocalization, expressed in terms of free enthalpy of activation ΔG, as a function of δ¹⁵N and of the length of the N? N bond. ¹⁵N spectroscopy has also been applied to the study of the protonated species of nitrosamines and of acceptor-donor complexes of nitrosamines with Lewis acids. The behaviour of such N? N containing compounds is compared to that of amides.     

Growth and Application of Paired Gold Electrode Junctions: Evidence for Nitrosonium Phosphate During Nitric Oxide Oxidation

A bipotentiostatic gold electrodeposition process is developed to grow gold junctions between two adjacent 100 μm diameter platinum disc electrodes. Gold is electrodeposited simultaneously on both electrodes with an automated termination mechanism close to short‐circuit conditions. Gap junctions (average gap width ca. 4 μm) are obtained reproducibly and the behavior of the resulting generator–collector electrode system is investigated for two relevant redox systems. First, the chemically reversible oxidation of 1,1′‐ferrocenedimethanol in aqueous 0.1 M KCl is studied. Well‐defined feedback currents across the electrode junction in generator–collector mode are recorded down to sub‐micromolar analyte concentration. Electrochemically reversible voltammetric responses suggest fast heterogeneous electron transfer and this allows further gap geometry analysis. Second, the (apparently) chemically irreversible oxidation of nitric oxide in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7) at gold electrodes is re‐investigated and, perhaps surprisingly, generator–collector feedback currents are observed for a solution phase intermediate, here tentatively assigned to nitrosonium phosphate, NO⁺H₂PO . The life time of this intermediate, ca. 10 ms, is surprisingly long, given a typical decay time for free NO⁺ in water of only nanoseconds. The results are consistent with an estimated nitrosonium phosphate association equilibrium constant, K≈10⁷ mol^?1 dm³. Without further optimization of the electrode junction gap geometry, the determination of nitric oxide down to ca. 10 μM concentration is achieved. The benefits of smaller junctions and potential analytical applications of paired nanojunction electrodes are discussed.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers on a silica surface for the adsorption of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke

Tobacco‐specific nitrosamines are one of the most important groups of carcinogens in tobacco products. Using adsorbents as filter additives is an effective way to reduce tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in cigarette smoke. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using nicotinamide as template were grafted on the silica gel surface to obtain MIP@SiO₂ and employed as filter additives to absorb tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke. Four milligrams of MIP@SiO₂ per cigarette was added to the interface between filter and tobacco rod to prepare a binary filter system. The mainstream smoke was collected on an industry‐standard Cambridge filter pad and extracted with ammonium acetate aqueous solution before analysis. Compared to the cigarette smoke of the control group, the levels of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines with silica gel and with MIP@SiO₂ were both reduced, and the adsorption rates of N‐nitrosonornicotine, N‐nitrosoanabasine, N‐nitrosoanatabine, and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridine)‐1‐butanone with silica gel and with MIP@SiO₂ were 20.76, 15.32, 18.79, and 18.01%, and 41.33, 34.04, 37.86, and 35.53%, respectively. Furthermore the content of total particle materials in cigarette smoke with silica gel was decreased evidently but showed no observable change with MIP@SiO₂. It indicated MIP@SiO₂ could selectively reduce tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in the mainstream cigarette smoke with no change to the cigarette flavor.