Benzo[f]isoindole analogs II. Thieno[3,4-b]quinoxaline

The transient existence of thieno[3,4-b]quinoxaline ( 2d ) as a product of dehydration of 1,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b]quinoxaline 2-oxide ( 5 ) was demonstrated by trapping experiments with N-phenylmaleimide and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Attempts to isolate 2d from reaction mixtures arising from dehydration of 5 and from dehydrogenation of 1,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b]quinoxaline ( 8 ) were unsuccessful.     

Ionic conduction and electrode polarization in a doped nonpolar liquid

Electrical current versus potential relationships were measured for solutions of dodecane containing the charge control agent poly(isobutylene succinimide) (PIBS) at various concentrations. Both one-dimensional (parallel planar electrodes) and two-dimensional (strip electrodes) fields were studied. The initial current was proportional to the applied voltage for both electrode configurations. Using the initial decay rate of the current (t < 0.5 s) in the planar electrode cell and the Gouy-Chapman model for electrode polarization, we determined the diffusion coefficient of the charge carriers (micelles) in the solution, from which we calculated their effective radius to be 10 nm. The constancy of the carrier radius over a 7-fold change in PIBS concentration, along with the proportionality between conductivity and concentration, supports the hypothesis that the charged species result from the interactions between two micelles. The experimentally determined geometric factor (cell constant) relating current to applied potential at time zero for the strip electrode cell agrees with the value predicted from the solution of Laplace's equation for the electrical potential in this system. The intermediate-time (0.5-3.0 s) decay rate of current was faster than predicted from the classical Gouy-Chapman theory of the double layer, possibly because of volume fraction effects in the double layer. The very long-time (minutes to hours) residual current that we observed is not explained, but we suspect that some charge transfer across the electrode must have occurred because there was insufficient ion capacity (i.e., amount of PIBS) in the solution to account for the total charge transferred through the cell.     

Protonation studies of reduced ruthenium(II) complexes with polypyridyl ligands

The pKa values associated with protonation of the one-electron reduced forms of series of [L'2Ru(II)L]2+ complexes [L' = bidentate polypyridyl ligand; L = bidentate polypyridyl ligand with additional uncoordinated N atoms in the aromatic ring system: e.g., dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, bpz = 2,2'-bipyrazine] were assessed using pulse radiolysis techniques by the measurement of spectral variations as a function of pH. A linear correlation was observed between pKa and E (RuL'2L2+/+) for complexes in which the protonatable ligand was at the same time the site of reduction. In complexes where one or more of the nonprotonatable ligands (L') had very low pi* energy levels [e.g. (CF3)4bpy], reduction occurs on a nonprotonatable ligand and a dramatic decrease in the pKa values was observed for the reduced species. In complexes where the energies of the protonatable and nonprotonatable ligands were comparable, the protonation behavior was consistent with some orbital mixing/ delocalization of the electronic charge.     

Modeling reactive metal oxides. Kinetics,thermodynamics, and mechanism of M(3) cap isomerization in polyoxometalates

An investigation of M(3)O(13) unit ("M(3) cap") isomerization in the classical polytungstodiphosphates alpha- and beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-) has been undertaken because cap isomerism is an important and structurally well-studied phenomenon in many polyoxometalate families. The relative thermodynamic stabilities of the alpha (more stable) versus beta isomers were established both in the solid state by differential scanning calorimetry (4.36 +/- 0.64 kcal/mol) and in solution by (31)P NMR (3.80 +/- 0.57 kcal/mol). The isomerization of beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-) to alpha-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-), followed by (31)P NMR, has a bimolecular rate constant k(2) of 9.3 x 10(-)(1) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at 343 K in pH 4.24 acetate buffer. Several lines of evidence establish the validity of suggestions in the literature that isomerization goes through a lacunary (defect) intermediate. First, the rate is proportional to [OH(-)]. Second, isomerization increases at higher ionic strengths, and a Debye-Hückel plot is consistent with a rate-limiting reaction between beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-) and OH(-) (two species with a charge product of 6). Third, alkali-metal cations stabilize the bimolecular transition state (K(+) > Na(+) > Li(+)), consistent with recent ion-pairing studies in polyoxometalate systems. Fourth, the monovanadium-substituted products alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-P(2)VW(17)O(62)(7)(-) ((51)V NMR delta -554 ppm) form during isomerization in the presence of VO(2+). The known lacunary compounds (alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)(10)(-)) also react rapidly with the same vanadium precursor. Fifth, solvent studies establish that isomerization does not occur when OH(-) is absent. A mechanism is proposed involving attack of OH(-) on beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-), loss of monomeric W(VI) from the M(3) (M(3)O(13)) terminal cap, isomerization of the resulting lacunary compound to alpha-P(2)W(17)O(61)(10)(-), and finally reaction of this species with monomeric W(VI) to form the thermodynamic and observed product, alpha-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-).     

Tailored noise waveform/collision-induced dissociation of ions stored in a linear ion trap combined with liquid chromatography/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

A new collision-induced dissociation (CID) technique based on broadband tailored noise waveform (TNW) excitation of ions stored in a linear ion trap has been developed. In comparison with the conventional sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) CID method commonly used in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), this MS/MS technique increases throughput by eliminating the long pump-down delay associated with gas introduction into the high vacuum ICR cell region. In addition, the TNW-CID method speeds spectrum acquisition since it does not require Fourier transformation, calculation of resonant frequencies and generation of the excitation waveforms. We demonstrate TNW-CID coupled with on-line capillary reverse-phase liquid chromatography separations for the identification of peptides. The experimental results are compared with data obtained using conventional quadrupole ion trap MS/MS and SORI-CID MS/MS in an ICR cell.     

Gas chromatographic detection of organometallic compounds by reactive-flow photometry

The response of the reactive flow detector (RFD) toward organometallic compounds of several transition metals has been explored, and several of its strong elemental responses have been characterized in detail. The RFDs minimum detectable flow (measured in picograms of metal per second at S/N_p-t-p=2) is 0.1 for ruthenium, 3 for chromium, 10 for manganese, 5 for nickel, 15 for iron, and 2 for osmium. Typically, the linearity of response spans four orders of magnitude, with atomic selectivity of metal versus carbon ranging from 2 to 3 orders. Response quenching by co-eluting hydrocarbons is not observed. As a demonstration experiment, the common analysis of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in gasoline is carried out on an RFD system modified for dual-channel operation. The results show that dual-channel operation of the RFD can increase the native elemental selectivity of manganese over carbon by a factor of 100, in accordance with earlier results obtained on a special version of the flame photometric detector (FPD). Significant differences exist between the optical spectra of carbon flame species resulting from various combustion modes carried out in the RFD capillary, and also between conventional FPD and typical RFD spectra. Consideration of these spectral differences suggests that the virtual absence of in the reactive flow may be the primary reason why analyte response quenching by hydrocarbons, while prominent in the FPD, is not observed in the RFD.     

Fingerprinting bacterial strains using ion mobility spectrometry

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is currently in widespread use for the detection and identification of narcotic and explosive compounds without prior sample clean-up or concentration steps. IMS analysis is rapid, less than a minute, and sensitive, with detection limits in the nanogram to picogram range, depending on the target analyte. Our studies indicate that this technique has potential for detection of specific components of bacterial cells and for identification and differentiation of bacterial strains and species within a minute, and with no specialized test kits or reagents required. When microgram quantities of whole bacterial cells are thermally desorbed, complex positive or negative ion patterns (plasmagrams) are obtained. These plasmagrams differ reproducibly for different strains and species and for different conditions of growth, and can be used for the classification and differentiation of specific strains and species of bacteria, including pathogens. Methods for improved ion peak detection, most notably sequential sample desorption at stepped increases in temperature (programmed temperature ramping), are described.     

Effect of buffer concentration on gradient chromatofocusing performance separating protiens on a high-performance DEAE column

Gradient chromatofocusing is a recently developed chromatographic technique that overcomes the limitations of conventional chromatofocusing. This technique employs a HPLC gradient system and simple low-molecular-mass buffer components to generate linear or other function pH gradients on ion-exchange columns. Results of the present work show a superior separation of beta-lactoglobulin A and B in gradient chromatofocusing compared to salt gradient chromatography using the same DEAE column, with an optimized resolution of 2.3 obtained with gradient chromatofocusing compared to 1.1 obtained with NaCl gradients at constant pH. A significant advantage of the gradient chromatofocusing technique over the conventional chromatofocusing technique is its ability to employ a relatively wide range of buffer concentrations in the mobile phase, the effect of which is studied in the present work. Five proteins (conalbumin, ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin, beta-lactoglobulin A and B) are chromatographed on a DEAE-polymethacrylate HPLC anion-exchange column using the same approximately linear pH gradient profile but different mobile phase buffer concentrations. Results show a significant effect of buffer concentration on peak width, separation factor and resolution. For example, resolution increases from 1.5 to 2.3 in the separation of beta-lactoglobulin A and B when the concentration of each of the components in the 100% elution buffer is increased from 6.25 to 25.0 mM (with the same outlet pH gradient). This separation trend is also seen in the chromatography of ovalbumin from a commercial source, noting a progressive increase in resolution of two peaks in the sample (resolution increased from 0.7 to 2.4) when the concentration of each of the components in the 100% elution buffer is increased from 6.25 to 37.5 mM (same outlet pH gradient). The gains in the resolution are attributed to an increase in the separation factor, since the peak widths are generally noted to also increase with increased buffer concentration. These results point to a significant interplay between buffer concentration and pH, which is not effectively exploited in either conventional chromatofocusing or in conventional ion-exchange chromatographic procedures employing salt gradient elution at constant pH. Gradient chromatofocusing has the ability of optimizing both parameters, thus providing it with unique capabilities in protein separations.     

Gel-state NMR investigation of crosslinked poly(methy1 methacrylate) incorporating 13C labeled ethylene glycol dimethacrylate

¹³C labeled ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) was used to form labeled crosslinked PMMA and model ¹³C labeled pendant double bond copolymers. Solution NMR was possible on solvent-swollen samples containing less than 0.5% by weight EGDMA. Spectra confirm significant amounts of singly reacted EGDMA in fully polymerized networks. Peaks arising from the two most likely stereochemical triads (syndi- and heterotactic) were identified but no evidence of cyclic species was observed. Labeled EGDMA allowed observation of the crosslink site at concentrations as low as 0.02 wt-% EGDMA.     

A high performance low magnetic field internal electrospray ionization-fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer

A new in-magnetic field electrospray ionization (ESI) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer has been constructed and evaluated. This system is characterized by the use of multiple concentric cryopanels to achieve ultrahigh vacuum in the ion cyclotron resonance cell region, a probe-mounted internal ESI source, and a novel in-field shutter. Initial experiments demonstrate high resolution mass measurement capability at a field strength of 1 T. Mass resolution of 700,000 has been obtained for the 3+ charge state of Met-Lys-bradykinin (at m/z 440) generated by electrospray ionization. When electron impact ionization was employed, resolution in excess of 9,200,000 was achieved for nitrogen molecular ions (N ₂ ⁺ ). Isotopic resolution for molecular ions of bovine ubiquitin (MW=8565 µ) also was achieved by using small ion populations.