Sensitivity of the methylbenzenes and chlorobenzenes retention index to column temperature, stationary phase polarity, and-number and chemical nature of substituents

Retention indices of methylbenzenes and chlorobenzenes on two fused silica capillary columns, HP-5 (diphenylsiloxane 5% diphenyldimethylsiloxane) and ZB-WAX (polyethylene glycol), have been calculated at various isothermal temperatures and compared with literature data. The retention index temperature effect was studied for each solute, finding greater retention index the higher the column temperature. A comparison between the straight line fit and the fit to the recently proposed equation I = A + B/T +C ln T was carried out. The effect of the stationary phase polarity on the retention index was checked. In general, a greater retention index was found for the more polar stationary phase. The retention indices of the chlorobenzenes are greater than the retention indices of the methylbenzenes, irrespective of the stationary phase and the column temperature. In addition, the influence of the methyl/chlorine substitution on the benzene molecule was investigated at each temperature. The retention indices increased as the number of substituents (methyl/chlorine) increased. The retention index increments of methyl and chloro derivatives are also discussed, which permits to compare the effect of both, methyl or chlorine, chemical functions, for a fixed substituent number in the benzene molecule.     

Unimolecular Reaction Mechanism of an Imidazolin‐2‐ylidene: An iPEPICO Study on the Complex Dissociation of an Arduengo‐Type Carbene

The photoionization and dissociative photoionization of Im(iPr)₂, 1,3‐diisopropylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene, was investigated by imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (iPEPICO) with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation. A lone‐pair electron of the carbene carbon atom is removed upon ionization and the molecular geometry changes significantly. Only 0.5 eV above the adiabatic ionization energy, IE_ad=7.52±0.1 eV, the carbene cation fragments, yielding propene or a methyl radical in parallel dissociation reactions with appearance energies of 8.22 and 8.17 eV, respectively. Both reaction channels appear at almost the same photon energy, suggesting a shared transition state. This is confirmed by calculations, which reveal the rate‐determining step as hydrogen‐atom migration from the isopropyl group to the carbene carbon center forming a resonance‐stabilized imidazolium ion. Above 10.5 eV, analogous sequential dissociation channels open up. The first propene‐loss fragment ion dissociates further and another methyl or propene is abstracted. Again, a resonance‐stabilized imidazolium ion acts as intermediate. The aromaticity of the system is enhanced even in vertical ionization. Indeed, the coincidence technique confirms that a real imidazolium ion is produced by hydrogen transfer over a small barrier. The simple analysis of the breakdown diagram yields all the clues to disentangle the complex dissociative photoionization mechanism of this intermediate‐sized molecule. Photoelectron photoion coincidence is a promising tool to unveil the fragmentation mechanism of larger molecules in mass spectrometry.     

Fragmentation behavior of disaccharides during desorption–ionization

The fragmentation behavior of native and singly derivatized protonated disaccharides were examined by fast ion bombardment Fourier transform mass spectrometry to determine the origin of various fragment ions produced during desorption–ionization. The lack of interfering matrix ions in this technique allowed the investigation of model disaccharides. Three major product ions were observed, corresponding in mass to a loss of H₂O, a loss of a monosaccharide unit and a combination of both losses. The oxygen of the lost H₂O molecule originates from an oxygen attached to the anomeric carbon. The other two product ions come from two different monosaccharide units and are due to competing processes. The relative ion intensities of these two fragment ions are governed by the basicities of the fragments. The basicity of the reducing end increases when the hemiacetal is converted into the methyl glycoside. This increase in basicity is due to the increased size of the alkyl group and the ability of the alkyl group to prevent the opening of the reducing glycosidic ring.     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of β-allenic and γ-acetylenic alcohols

The main fragmentation pathway of ionized hydroxyallenes (1) consists of a methyl loss. Extensive deuterium-labelling experiments indicate that the terminal allenic carbon is implied in this fragmentation. Collisional activation spectra indicate a propenyl-acylium structure (a) for these [M – CH₃]⁺ ions which can originate from a 1,4-hydroxyl migration followed by hydrogen rearrangements. Isomeric hydroxyacetylenes (2) behave similarly, also giving rise, by methyl loss, to acylium ions a. It is proposed that 2^{+ ˙} is irreversibly isomerized into 1^{+ ˙} by a 1,3-hydrogen transfer ‘catalysed’ by the hydroxy group. The proposed internal proton-bound complex justifies also the easier loss of water from 2⁺˙. Ethyl loss is also a prominent fragmentation for the hydroxyallene and hydroxy-acetylene homologues.     

Aliphatic chain–sugar interactions under electron impact. The loss of methanol from acylated methyl glycopyranosides

Under electron impact, long chain acylated methyl glucopyranoside derivatives lose a methanol molecule from the molecular ion. The hydrogen atom which is transferred arises from the aliphatic chain. This reaction is important when the aliphatic chain contains four or more carbon atoms. The results may be explained by a two-step hydrogen transfer: hydrogen transfer to the oxygen carbonyl of the ester group, and then to the methoxy glycosidic group prior to fragmentation.     

EPR Studies on Branched High‐Spin Arylnitrenes

The UV (λ>305 nm) photolysis of triazide 3 in 2‐methyl‐tetrahydrofuran glass at 7 K selectively produces triplet mononitrene 4 (g=2.003, D_T=0.92 cm^?1, E_T=0 cm^?1), quintet dinitrene 6 (g=2.003, D_Q=0.204 cm^?1, E_Q=0.035 cm^?1), and septet trinitrene 8 (g=2.003, D_S=?0.0904 cm^?1, E_S=?0.0102 cm^?1). After 45 min of irradiation, the major products are dinitrene 6 and trinitrene 8 in a ratio of ～1:2, respectively. These nitrenes are formed as mixtures of rotational isomers each of which has slightly different magnetic parameters D and E. The best agreement between the line‐shape spectral simulations and the experimental electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum is obtained with the line‐broadening parameters Γ(E_Q)=180 MHz for dinitrene 6 and Γ(E_S)=330 MHz for trinitrene 8 . According to these line‐broadening parameters, the variations of the angles Θ in rotational isomers of 6 and 8 are expected to be about ±1 and ±3°, respectively. Theoretical estimations of the magnetic parameters obtained from PBE/DZ(COSMO)//UB3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) calculations overestimate the E and D values by 1 and 8 %, respectively. Despite the large distances between the nitrene units and the extended π systems, the zero field splitting (zfs) parameters D are found to be close to those in quintet dinitrenes and septet trinitrenes, where the nitrene centers are attached to the same aryl ring. The large D values of branched septet nitrenes are due to strong negative one‐center spin–spin interactions in combination with weak positive two‐center spin–spin interactions, as predicted by theoretical considerations.     

High resolution mass spectrometry—I. Some substituted δ-lactones

The mass spectra of some δ-lactones substituted in various positions by methyl groups have been studied both by accurate mass measurements at high resulution and by deuterium labelling. The loss of carbon dioxide has been shown to be important only for a mono-substituted lactone. A fragmentation mode common to all the lactones studied is the elimination of the ring oxygen atom, plus the adjacent carbon atom with its substituents, as a neutral carbonyl molecule such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or acetone. Deuterium labelling has uncovered the existence of a rearrangement involving hydrogen transfer in an even-electron ion, and a mechanism involving a six-membered transition state is proposed for this. The bond fissions, common to all the lactones, by which the principal ions in the mass spectra arise, are summarised.     

Etude en RMN du 13C des Effets de Substituant sur les Déplacements Chimiques du Carbone dans les Méthyl Tétrahydrofurannes

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been recorded and interpreted for some methyltetrahydrofurans. The effects of a methyl substituent on the ring carbon atoms are discussed in terms of steric hindrance and conformational equilibrium.     

High-spin organic molecules with dominant spin-orbit contribution and unprecedentedly large magnetic anisotropy

High-spin organic molecules with dominant spin-orbit contribution to magnetic anisotropy are reported. Quintet 4-azido-3,5-dibromopyridyl-2,6-dinitrene (Q-1), quintet 2-azido-3,5-dibromopyridyl-4,6-dinitrene (Q-2), and septet 3,5-dibromopyridyl-2,4,6-trinitrene (S-1) were generated in solid argon matrices by ultraviolet irradiation of 2,4,6-triazido-3,5-dibromopyridine. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters, derived from electron spin resonance spectra, show unprecedentedly large magnitudes of the parameters D: ∣D(Q1)∣ = 0.289, ∣D(Q2)∣ = 0.373, and ∣D(S1)∣ = 0.297 cm(-1). The experimental ZFS parameters were successfully reproduced by density functional theory calculations, confirming that magnetic anisotropy of high-spin organic molecules can considerably be enhanced by the "heavy atom effect." In bromine-containing high-spin nitrenes, the spin-orbit term is dominant and governs both the magnitude and the sign of magnetic anisotropy. The largest negative value of D among septet trinitrenes is predicted for 1,3,5-trinitrenobenzene bearing three heavy atoms (Br) in positions 2, 4, and 6 of the benzene ring.     

Regioselective multistep reconstructions of half‐saturated zigzag carbon nanotubes

The open edge reconstruction of half‐saturated (6,0) zigzag carbon nanotube (CNT) was introduced by density functional calculations. The multistep rearrangement was demonstrated as a regioselective process to generate a defective edge with alternating pentagons and heptagons. Not only the thermal stability was found to be enhanced significantly after reconstruction but also the total spin of CNT was proved to be reduced gradually from high‐spin septet to close‐shell singlet, revealing the critical role of deformed edge on the geometrical and magnetic properties of open‐ended CNTs. Kinetically, the initial transformation was confirmed as the rate‐determining step with relatively the largest reaction barrier and the following steps can take place spontaneously. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Stereochemistry of alternating methacryloyl-L-valine methyl ester–maleic anhydride copolymer

The stereochemical composition of an alternating methacryloyl-L -valine methyl estermaleic anhydride (L-MAVM/MAn) copolymer which was prepared by the photocopolymerization of L-MAVM and MAn in dioxane at 25°C without initiator was investigated by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The resonance of the ester methyl protons of the L-MAVM unit appeared as three split peaks at 3.65, 3.76, and 3.82 ppm, which could be assigned to those of the coisotactic (di-threo-tri-isotactic), coheterotactic and cosyndiotactic triads, respectively. The triad cotacticity determined according to these assignments indicated that the copolymer was composed predominantly of di-threo-tri-isotactic triad. Similarly PMR spectroscopic investigation of the acryloyl-L -valine methyl ester–maleic anhydride (L-AVM/MAn) copolymer with a 1:1 molar ratio of the monomers showed that the main tactic fraction of the copolymer was also di-threo-tri-isotactic one. Nevertheless, the circular dichroic investigation of the L-AVM/MAn copolymer before and after hydrolysis denied asymmetric induction into the polymer main chain. These results suggest that the propagation step in the photocopolymerization of L-MAVM or L-AVM with MAn proceeds by the trans-trans opening of the complexmer composed of a 1:1 molar ratio of L-MAVM or L-AVM and MAn.     

Kinetic studies in mass spectrometry—IV. The [M — Cl] reaction in substituted chlorobenzenes and the question of molecular ion isomerization.

The [M]⁺˙ → [M ? Cl]⁺ reaction in a series of m- and p-X substituted chlorobenzenes has been studied, utilizing a simple kinetic approach, comparison of metastable ion relative abundances, and by measurement of ionization and appearance potentials. All evidence obtained is consistent with rearrangement prior to cleavage in the molecular ions, in which substituent position becomes effectively randomized. These findings are related to known hydrogen randomization reactions occurring in either the molecular ion or [M ? Cl] ion of chlorobenzenes. Mechanisms involving carbon scrambling via such species as ionized benzvalenes or prismanes, or ring-opening to isomeric acyclic molecular ions in which hydrogen randomization might occur can be entertained, but mechanisms involving simple hydrogen shifts in the intact benzene ring appear less likely.     

Thienoquinolines: X—The fragmentation of thieno(2,3-b)quinoline and its derivatives under electron impact

A study has been made of the fragmentation upon electron impact of thieno(2,3-b)quinoline and sixteen of its derivatives containing methoxy, methylenedioxy, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro and methyl substituents. Besides these, the fragmentation patterns of some S-oxides, and S,S-dioxides were also investigated. The majority of the spectra contain molecular ions and the principal fragmentation routes involve loss of carbon monosulphide and hydrogen cyanide from the molecular ion. Rearrangement of the molecular ion appears to precede the fragmentation process in the case of S,S-dioxides. The fragmentation of 4-methylthieno(2,3-b)quinoline is closely analogous to that of alkylquinolines. The main features of these spectra can be predicted from the fragmentation pathways proposed for the parent thieno(2,3-b)quinoline.     

脂肪酸的色谱保留时间规律与质谱特征研究及其在食品分析中的应用

用石油醚提取食品中的脂肪,经甲酯化反应后,采用HP-88(100m×0.25mm,0.33μm)弹性石英毛细管柱分离脂肪酸甲酯的同系物及异构体,GC/MS法测定。研究了不同链长脂肪酸的同系物及异构体的气相色谱出峰顺序,得到其保留时间规律;研究了不同脂肪酸的质谱断裂规律,选择3个特征离子来鉴定脂肪酸成分。建立了3个特征离子确定脂肪酸碳数及双键数目,色谱保留时间规律确定脂肪酸顺反异构体及双键位置异构体的方法。本法无需标准品即可快速测定脂肪酸同系物及异构体的含量,适用于脂肪酸组成的研究;及油脂、食品中脂肪酸,特别是反式脂肪酸的测定。     

High resolution mass spectrometric studies of some bicyclic γ-lactones

The mass spectra of three bicyclic γ-lactones have been studied, and the fragmentation pathways have been proposed with the aid of accurate mass measurements and metastable transitions. An unusually low [M ? CH₃] ion and the presence of an abundant [M ? C₅H₉] ion in the mass spectrum of dihydroactinidiolide were interpreted as a possible rearrangement involving a methyl migration. The eliminations of methyl radical, carbon monoxide and ketene are important processes in many cases.     

Introduction of 2-methoxycarbonylallyl end group by copolymerization of methyl α-(phenoxymethyl)acrylate accompanying with addition-fragmentation reaction

Copolymerizations of methyl α-(phenoxymethyl)acrylate (MPMA) with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, styrene, and methyl α-ethylacrylate were carried out. Addition of a polymer radical to MPMA followed by the subsequent fragmentation of poly(MPMA) radical resulted in the 2-methoxycarbonylallyl end group and phenoxy radical in the course of the copolymerization. The extent of the fragmentation determined by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy depends on reactivity of the MPMA radical toward the reference monomers. An increase in the addition rate of the MPMA radical to the reference monomer brought about suppression of the fragmentation. The addition of the MPMA radical to styrene seems to be sufficiently fast to prevent the fragmentation. Since the rate of the fragmentation relative to the propagation was considerably accelerated by raising the temperature to 110°C, MPMA can be used as a novel chain transfer agent to control molecular weight and end group at a temperature above 100°C. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

p-Nitrobenzenesulfenate esters as precursors for laser flash photolysis studies of alkyl radicals

A series of p-nitrobenzenesulfenate esters was used in laser flash photolysis (LFP) studies to generate alkoxyl radicals that fragmented to give the (2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)methyl radical. Rate constants for the beta-scission reactions increased as a function of the carbonyl compound produced in the fragmentation reaction in the order CH2O < MeCHO < Me2CO < PhCHO < Ph2CO and increased with increasing solvent polarity. For alkoxyl radicals that fragment to produce benzaldehyde and benzophenone, the beta-scission reactions are faster than 1,5-hydrogen atom abstractions when the incipient carbon radical is as stable as a secondary alkyl radical, and this entry to carbon radicals can be used in LFP kinetic studies.     

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of 2‐naphthyl acrylate with 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl 1‐dithionaphthalate as a chain‐transfer agent

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations of 2‐naphthyl acrylate (2NA) initiated by 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile were investigated with 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl 1‐dithionaphthalate (CPDN) as a RAFT agent at various temperatures in a benzene solution. The results of the polymerizations showed that 2NA could be polymerized in a controlled way by RAFT polymerization with CPDN as a RAFT agent; the polymerization rate was first‐order with respect to the monomer concentration, and the molecular weight increased linearly with the monomer conversion. The polydispersities of the polymer were relatively low up to high conversions in all cases. The chain‐extension reactions of poly(2‐naphthyl acrylate) (P2NA) with methyl methacrylate and styrene successfully yielded poly(2‐naphthyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(2‐naphthyl acrylate)‐b‐polystyrene block polymers, respectively, with narrow polydispersities. The P2NA obtained by RAFT polymerization had a strong ultraviolet absorption at 270 nm, and the molecular weights had no apparent effect on the ultraviolet absorption intensities; however, the fluorescence intensity of P2NA increased as the molecular weight increased and was higher than that of 2NA. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2632–2642, 2005     

Application of the indo molecular orbital method to ortho effects in mass spectra. Cleavage of cis-β-methoxystyrene

The principal fragmentation of the cis-β-methoxystyrene molecular ion is loss of the methyl group. Although this compound has a π system similar to that of phenyl acetate, the substituent effect of a strongly electronegative ortho substituent is insignificant for this fragmentation; but for the same substitution in phenyl acetate, it had been shown to be important. The INDO method was used to show that bond orders confirm the lack of the substituent effect in the cis-β-methoxystyrene system.     

Sorption study of 25 volatile organic compounds in several Mediterranean soils using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A sorption study of 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different agricultural soils was carried out by using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extraction of the VOCs from soil samples was carried out following the EPA method with some differences such as addition of potassium chloride and different instrumental conditions which provide higher sample throughput. In addition, a complementary study on several procedures for soil fortification with VOCs was also assayed, fortification with minimal sample handling was selected in order to minimise evaporation losses of the VOCs. The effect of clay minerals (7.0-69.7%) and organic carbon (0.2-3.5%) contents on acid and alkaline (pH 5.3-8.8) soils were evaluated. Based on the results, all compounds assayed were more sorbed in alkaline soils than acid ones; chlorobenzenes interact more strongly with agricultural soils than do alkylbenzenes. The organic carbon content affects the sorption of 25 VOCs in alkaline soils (the highest sorption was found for the most organic soil), while in acid soils VOC sorption increases as the organic carbon content decreases. The clay mineral fraction plays an important role in the sorption of VOCs in acid soil owing to pi-/n-electron interactions, this effect being more marked for chlorobenzenes.