Determination of pyrethrin and pyrethroid pesticides in urine and water matrixes by liquid chromatography with diode array detection

The following pyrethrin and pyrethroid pesticides were determined in urine and water matrixes by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC-DAD): pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, tetramethrin, baythroid, bifenthrin, fenvalerate, phenothrin, allethrin, resmethrin, cis-permethrin, and trans-permethrin. In addition, 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, a metabolite of various pyrethroids, was also successfully determined by the analytical method. The matrix extraction was simple, inexpensive, and fast, using only sodium chloride and acetonitrile. The acetonitrile extract was filtered and analyzed by LC-DAD. The method detection limits for the pyrethrin pesticides in 5 mL urine were determined to range from 0.002 to 0.04 microg/mL, depending on the individual pyrethrin. Recoveries from spiked tap water ranged from 77 to 96%; recoveries from urine ranged from 80 to 117%. This method is especially well-suited to clinical investigations, in which rapid analysis of forensic samples is often required.     

Plasma Thermal Conversion of Methane to Acetylene

This paper describes a re-examination of a known process for the direct plasma thermal conversion of methane to acetylene. Conversion efficiencies (% methane converted) approached 100% and acetylene yields in the 90–95% range with 2–4% solid carbon production were demonstrated. Specificity for acetylene was higher than in prior work. Improvements in conversion efficiency, yield, and specificity were due primarily to improved injector design and reactant mixing, and minimization of temperature gradients and cold boundary layers. At the 60-kilowatt scale cooling by wall heat transfer appears to be sufficient to quench the product stream and prevent further reaction of acetylene resulting in the formation of heavier hydrocarbon products or solid carbon. Significantly increasing the quenching rate by aerodynamic expansion of the products through a converging–diverging nozzle led to a reduction in the yield of ethylene but had little effect on the yield of other hydrocarbon products. While greater product selectivity for acetylene has been demonstrated, the specific energy consumption per unit mass of acetylene produced was not improved upon. A kinetic model that includes the reaction mechanisms resulting in the formation of acetylene and heavier hydrocarbons, through benzene, is described.     

A biomimetic strategy for the synthesis of the tricyclic dibenzofuran-1,4-dione core of popolohuanone E

A concise synthesis of the complete tricyclic dibenzofuran-1,4-dione aromatic core of popolohuanone E has been demonstrated by mild base treatment of a biquinone intermediate, thus establishing a biomimetic route to this family of heterocyclic ring systems and the total synthesis of popolohuanone E.     

Development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals

The development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals is delineated. Both the 2-tetrahydropyranyl (THP) and tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl (GLU) auxiliaries resulted in diastereoselective radical additions to methyl acrylate at -78 degrees C (ds = 6/1 and 11/1, respectively). The developing stereochemistry at the radical center was completely under auxiliary control. Correlation experiments showed that the D-GLU auxiliary led to attack on the radical Si-face. The selectivity of these radical additions dropped-off considerably when the more reactive 2-nitropropene trap was employed. Computational studies suggested that the observed facial selectivity was due primarily to entropic factors in the transition state but that a smaller temperature-dependent enthalpic contribution was also involved. It was hypothesized that incorporation of a quaternary center at C-6 (THP numbering) would restore the facial selectivity with more reactive radical traps by restricting the orientations available to the incoming alkene. In the event, the trans-6-tert-butyltetrahydropyranyl (tBu-THP) auxiliary resulted in very good diastereoselection with 2-nitropropene (ds = 35/1 at -78 degrees C, 15/1 at 0 degrees C, and 8/1 at RT) as did the tri-O-benzyl-6,6-dimethyl-2-alpha-D-deoxyglucopyranosyl (diMe-GLU) auxiliary during additions to ethyl alpha-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (ds = 10/1 at 0 degrees C). A protocol for recovery of the sugar-derived chiral auxiliaries was also established. This work sets the stage for the development of a novel approach to 1, 3, 5.(2n + 1) polyols based on iterative radical homologation as well as the application of these pyranosidic auxiliaries to other synthetically important reactions.     

Conformational effects in 3-halotetrahydropyrans

The conformational equilibria of 3-chloro- and 3-bromotetrahydropyran were measured by NMR and IR spectroscopy using model 2-alkyl-5-halotetrahydropyrans. The 3-chloro compound was 76·2% equatorial in carbon tetrachloride and 58·5% in acetonitrile and the 3-bromo compound 85% equatorial in carbon tetrachloride. The conformational equilibrium is discussed in terms of dipole, electronic and van der Waals effects.     

Advances in two-dimensional GC with glass capillary columns

A versatile two-dimensional gas chromatograph is described, consisting of 2 separate ovens, one intermediate trap, an auxiliary inlet, and the necessary hardware to effect off-line switching according to the principle of Deans. The unit has been designed for use with high resolution glass capillary columns. The performance of individual instrumental components was critically evaluated. Results showed that low dead volume glass to metal connections were required in the manifold and detector lines to minimize extra-column effects. The mass of the intermediate trap must be low to allow rapid heating. Operational parameters are discussed and examples of some applications are shown.     

Investigation of the asymmetric ionic Diels-Alder reaction for the synthesis of cis-decalins

The ionic Diels-Alder reaction, whereby an alpha,beta-unsaturated acetal in combination with a Lewis or Bronsted acid forms an equilibrium concentration of an activated dienophile, has been developed to provide an enantioselective synthesis of cis-decalins. Cyclohex-2-enone type chiral acetals of (2R,3R)-butane-2,3-diol have been screened against Lewis and Br?nsted acids with a variety of dienes and are efficient for the synthesis of a limited subset of cis-decalin structures. Diastereoselectivities of 73% and 82% have been found for the asymmetric ionic Diels-Alder reaction between the chiral acetal derivatives of cyclohex-2-enone (6) and 2-methylcyclohex-2-enone (18) with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene (7). Terminal substituents on the diene partner in general render the system unreactive. However a synthetically useful cis-decalin 31, derived from the reaction of 2-methylcyclohex-2-enone and Z-3-t-butyldimethyl-silyloxypenta-1,3-diene has been prepared in enantiomerically pure form in 74% isolated yield using this asymmetric ionic Diels-Alder protocol.     

Assay for oxygen in uranium in the 0.1–1.0 wt% range using 14-MeV neutron activation

The X-ray spectrometric method for uranium determination in sea water is discussed. Two techniques of uranium enrichment are presented: (1) precipitation with the chelating agent ammonium-1-pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) in the presence of iron(II) as a carrier and (2) complexation with APDC followed by adsorption on activated carbon. The best pH range and the other optimized conditions for uranium determination in sea water with both methods are reported.     

Crystal and molecular structure, and P N.M.R. characteristics of di-μ-chlorodi(propionyl)bis(dimethylphenylphosphine)diplatinum(III). Trans-influence of ligands in binuclear complexes

The known complex, $\text{trans}$-(η-C₅H₅)₂Rh₂(CO)₂(CF₃C₂CF₃) is formed in high yield from (η-C₅H₅)Rh(CO)₂ and CF₃FCCF₃ at 100°. The less stable $\text{cis}$-isomer of the complex is obtained in low yield from the same reaction. The infrared, ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR spectra of the two isomers are compared. The $\text{trans}$-isomer undergoes CO scrambling in solution at room temperature, and the variable temperature ¹³C NMR spectra are consistent with a pairwise bridge opening and closing mechanism. The mechanism is extended to account for the isomerization of $\text{cis}$ to $\text{trans}$ isomer, whihc has a half-life of 12 h at room temperature. The ¹³C spectrum indicates that the $\text{cis}$-isomer is static in solution at room temperature. The $\text{trans}$-isomer is reversibly protonated by protonic acids, and BF₄^? and PF₆^? salts of the protonated species can be isolated. The spectroscopic properties of these salts are consistent with protonation at one of the alkynyl-carbons, but it is not possible to distinguish between two alternative structures for the complex cation.Treatment of (η-C₅H₅)₂Rh₂(CO)₂(CF₃C₂CF₃) with (η-C₅H₅)Rh(CO)₂ gives the trinuclear complex (η-C₅H₅)₃Rh₃(CO)(CF₃C₂CF₃) in 80% yield. The analogoug but-2-yne complex is formed from (η-C₅H₅)₃Rh₃(CO)₃ and MeCCMe. The infrared, ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR spectra indicate that the hexafluorobut-2-yne complex exists in two different structural arrangements in solution. One has an edge bridging, and the other a face bridging carbonyl. The proportion of the isomers is affected by the solvent polarity. The spectra of the but-2-yne complex indicate it is fluxional at room temperature, and has a face bridging structure in solution regardless of the polarity of the solvent. Reversible protonation of the hexafluorobut-2-yne complex occurs in protonic acids, and the salt [(η-C₅H₅)₃Rh₃(CO)(CF₃C₂CF₃)H]⁺[BF₄]^?,H₂O can be isolated. The spectroscopic properties of this complex are consistent with a structure incorporating an edge-bridging carbonyl, and probably, an edge-bridging hydride ligand.     

The preparation and molecular structure oftrans-[MoCl2(PMe2Ph)4]

Summary The compoundtrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] has been prepared by the reduction of MoCl₅ (by Mg) or of [MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃] (by LiBuⁿ) in the presence of PMe₂Ph in tetrahydrofuran (THF). It has _eff=2.84 B.M. and crystallises in space group P1 witha=11.591(3),b=12.931(3),c=12.703(3) Å, = 95.28(2), =105.97(2), =103.54(2)°. Refinement of the structure gave R=0.036. The Mo-Cl and Mo-P distances average 2.443(6) and 2.534(8) Å, respectively.Low-valent phosphine complexes of the Group VI metals continue to attract much attention because of their involvement in studies of the catalytic activation of dinitrogen⁽¹⁾, dihydrogen(^{2, 3}), alkenes and alkynes(⁴). As a by-product during our studies of dinitrogen(¹) and hydride(²) complexes of molybdenum and tungsten, we obtainedtrans-[MoCl_2- (PMe₂Ph)₄] as yellow, paramagnetic crystals (_eff= 2.84 B.M.). We first obtained the compound during the attempted synthesis ofcis-[Mo(N₂)₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] by reduction of MoCl₅ with Mg in the presence of PMe₂Ph (see Experimental). Upon identification of the compound we found that it could be readily synthesised by treatment of [MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃]⁽⁵⁾ with LiBuⁿ in THF in the presence of PMe₂Ph (experimental).The complex was shown to have thetrans structure by x-ray analysis (Figure). Analogues oftrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] have been prepared, namely [CrCl₂(Me₂PCH₂CH₂PMe₂)₂]⁽⁶⁾,trans- [MoCl₂(PMe₃)₄]⁽⁷⁾, [WCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄]⁽⁸⁾ and [WCl₂(PMe₃)₄]⁽⁴⁾, of which onlytrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₃)₄] has been examined by X-rays⁽⁷⁾. Its principal structural parametersi.e. d(Mo-Cl)= 2.420(6), d(Mo-P)_av=2.496(3) Å⁽⁶⁾ are close to those found here fortrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄].