On the mechanism of extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) in the dual-spray configuration

Dual-spray extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) mass spectrometry as a versatile analytical technique has attracted much interest due to its advantages over conventional electrospray ionization (ESI). The crucial difference between EESI and ESI is that in the EESI process, the analytes are introduced in nebulized form via a neutral spray and ionized by collisions with the charged droplets from an ESI source formed by spraying pure solvent. However, the mechanism of the droplet–droplet interactions in the EESI process is still not well understood. For example, it is unclear which type of droplet–droplet interaction is dominant: bounce, coalescence, disruption, or fragmentation? In this work, droplet–droplet interaction was investigated in detail based on a theoretical model. Phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) was employed to investigate the droplet behavior in the EESI plume and provide the experimental data (droplet size and velocity) necessary for theoretical analysis. Furthermore, numerical simulations were performed to clarify the influence of the sheath gas flow on the EESI process. No coalescence between the droplets in the ESI spray and the droplets in the sample spray was observed using various geometries and sample flow rates. Theoretical analysis, together with the PDA results, suggests that droplet fragmentation may be the dominant type of droplet–droplet interaction in the EESI. The interaction time between the ESI droplet and the sample droplet was estimated to be <5 μs. This work gives a clear picture of droplet–droplet interactions in the dual-spray EESI process and detailed information for the optimization of this method for future applications that require higher sensitivity.     

Cooperative assistance in bifunctional organocatalysis: enantioselective mannich reactions with aliphatic and aromatic imines

Hold them tight: Guided by X-ray structures, bifunctional thiourea catalysts containing an activating intramolecular hydrogen bond were redesigned. The new catalysts were used to effect a highly enantioselective Mannich reaction between malonates and both aliphatic and aromatic imines (see scheme; Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl).     

CH-anion versus anion-π interactions in the crystal and in solution of pentafluorobenzyl phosphonium salts

A series of phosphonium salts with pentafluorobenzyl substituents have been synthesized and were investigated in the crystal as well as in solution. The solid state structures of 1a, 1b and 2d reveal the presence of anion-π as well as CH-anion interactions. The two attractive, yet competitive forces seem to act in concert and a directing effect of the CH interaction on the relative position between anion and π-system is observed. The search for anion-π interactions in solution failed. Only CH-anion interactions proved to be important in solution.     

Selenium imides: 77Se NMR investigations of the SeCl2-tBuNH2 reaction and X-ray structures of Se3(NtBu)3, tBuNSe(mu-NtBu)2SO2, and tBuNSe(mu-NtBu)2SeO

The reaction of SeCl2 with tert-butylamine in various molar ratios in THF at -78 degrees C has been investigated by 77Se NMR spectroscopy. In addition to the known Se-N heterocycles Se6(NtBu)2 (1) and Se9(NtBu)6 (2), the acyclic imidoselenium(II) dichlorides ClSe[N(tBu)Se]nCl (4, n = 1; 5, n = 2) and two new cyclic selenium imides [Se3(NtBu)2]n (3, n = 1 or 2) and Se3(NtBu)3 (6) have been isolated and identified. An X-ray analysis shows that 6 is a six-membered ring in a chair conformation with magnitude of d(Se-N) = 1.833 A. Crystal data: 6, trigonal, P3c1, a = 9.8660(3) A, c = 20.8427(7) A, V = 1757.0(1) A3, Z = 6. The 1H, 13C, and 77Se NMR data for 1-6 are reported, and some reassignments of earlier literature data for 1-3 (n = 1) are made. The decomposition of tBuN=Se=NtBu at 20 degrees C in toluene was monitored by 77Se NMR. The major products are 6 and 3. The Se(IV)-N systems tBuNSe(mu-NtBu)2E (7, E = SO2; 8, E = SeO) were prepared by the reaction of a mixture of SeCl4 and excess tBuNH2 with SO2Cl2 or SeOCl2, respectively. Compound 8 is also generated by the cycloaddition reaction of tBuNSeNtBu with tBuNSeO. Both 7 and 8 consist of slightly puckered four-membered rings. The mean terminal and bridging Se-N distances in 7 are 1.665(2) and 1.948(2) A, respectively. The corresponding values for 8 are 1.687(4) and 1.900(4) A, and d(Se=O) = 1.628(4) A. Crystal data: 7, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 18.669(4) A, b = 12.329(2) A, c = 16.463(3) A, beta = 115.56(3) degrees, V = 3418.4(11) A3, Z = 4; 8, triclinic, P1, a = 6.372(1) A, b = 9.926(2) A, c = 14.034(3) A, alpha = 99.320(3) A, beta = 95.764(3) A, gamma = 103.876(3) A, V = 841.3(3) A3, Z = 2.     

On the origin of residual dipolar couplings from denatured proteins

Effects of steric obstruction on random flight chains are examined. Spatial probability distributions are elaborated to calculate residual dipolar couplings and residual chemical shift anisotropy, parameters that are acquired by NMR spectroscopy from solutes dissolved in dilute liquid crystals. Calculations yield chain length and residue position-dependent values in good agreement with simulations to provide understanding of recently acquired data from denatured proteins.     

Novel lithocholaphanes: Syntheses, NMR, MS, and molecular modeling studies

Novel head-to-head lithocholaphanes 6 and 11 have been synthesized via precursors 1–5 and 7–10 with overall good yields, and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy, ESI-TOF mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, and molecular modeling. In addition, the binding abilities of 6 and 11 towards alkali metal cations have been investigated via competitive complexation studies using equimolar mixtures of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺-cations, and cholaphanes 6 and 11. The formation of cation–cholaphane adducts was detected by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry. The trends in these comparative binding studies are nicely reproduced theoretically with PM3 energetically optimized structures of 6 and 11 and their interaction energies with alkali metal cations calculated by molecular mechanics. Cholaphane 11 possessing a peptoid type structural fragment, –(CH₂CONHCH₂CH₂)₂O–, as a coordination sphere, shows binding tendency towards lithium and sodium cations, whereas 6 possessing an ester type, –(CH₂OCOCH₂)₂O–, moiety and a bigger cavity size than 11, shows merely a tendency towards bigger alkali metal cations, potassium and rubidium.     

On the interpretation of residual dipolar couplings as reporters of molecular dynamics

The analysis of residual dipolar couplings from an ensemble of conformations to extract molecular dynamics is intricate. The very mechanism that is necessary to perturb overall molecular tumbling to generate nonvanishing residual dipolar couplings gives rise to convoluted data. The measured values are essentially weighted averages over conformations. However, the weights are not simply the populations of conformations. Consequently, the observed order parameter is not exactly the true measure of motion. In the case of paramagnetic alignment, the apparent order parameter is expected to depend on the number of torsions that separate the locus of interest from the paramagnetic site. In the case of alignment due to steric obstruction, the uneven selection of conformations by their differing Saupe order matrices leads to a bias in the residual dipolar couplings-probed molecular dynamics.     

Association between visual degeneration of intervertebral discs and the apparent diffusion coefficient

The value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements in intervertebral disc has been studied because ADC provides an estimate of free diffusion of unbound water and could be used as a quantitative tool to estimate degenerative changes. However, the challenging nature of diffusion imaging of spine and limited numbers of subjects in earlier studies has produced contradictory findings. We aimed to determine the relation between ADC and visual degenerative changes in lumbar intervertebral discs in a sufficiently large homogeneous study group. Lumbar spines of 228 volunteer middle-aged men were MR imaged at 1.5 T including anatomic and diffusion-weighted imaging. ADC values, T2 signal intensity and height, and width of the three lowest lumbar intervertebral discs were measured and disc degeneration visually graded. The calculated average ADC of 530 measured discs was 2.01×10⁻³ mm²/s±0.29 (±S.D.). The reduction in ADC between visually normal and moderately degenerated discs was 4%. Severely degenerated discs showed 5% larger ADC values than normal discs, presumably due to free water in cracks and fissures of those discs. T2 signal intensity of the disc was significantly correlated with the ADC values, whereas other measured parameters did not show correlation. There was no evident difference in ADC between the studied anatomic lumbar levels. Because there is considerable overlap between ADC values of normal and degenerated discs, we conclude that ADC measurements of intervertebral discs, at least with current technology, have limited clinical value.     

Performance enhancement of thin‐film composite membranes in water desalination process by wood sawdust

In this study, polysulfone/wood sawdust (PSf/WSD) mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was prepared as a novel substrate layer of thin‐film composite (TFC) membrane in water desalination. The main aim was to evaluate how different amounts of WSD (0‐5 wt%) and PSf concentrations (12‐16 wt%) in the porous substrate affect the properties of the final TFC membranes in the separation of organic and inorganic compounds. Morphological and wettability studies demonstrated that the addition of small amount of WSD (less than or equal to 1 wt%) in the casting solution resulted in more porous but similar hydrophobic substrates, while high loading (greater than or equal to 2 wt%) of WSD not only changed the substrate wettability and morphology but also increased and decreased the swelling and mechanical properties of substrate layer. Therefore, PA layer formed thereon displayed extensively varying film morphology, interfacial properties, and separation performance. Based on approximately stable permeate flux (ASPF) and apparent salt rejection efficiency (ASRE), the best TFC membrane was prepared over the substrate with 12 to 14 wt% of PSf and around 0.5 to 1 wt% of WSD. Although notable improvements in permeate flux were obtained by adding a small amount of sawdust, the results clearly indicate that the salt rejection mechanism of TFC membrane was different from the glycerin rejection mechanism. Furthermore, durability results of TFC membranes showed that in continuous operation for 30 days, TFC‐14/0.5 and TFC‐14/01 have the maximum plateau levels of stable permeate flux and salt rejection among the all TFC membranes.     

Structural characterization,spectroscopic, thermal,AC conductivity and dielectric properties and antimicrobial studies of (C8H12N)2[SnCl6]

A new inorganic-organic hybrid material produced from 2,6-dimethylanilinium cations and tin halide (SnCl₆)^2? has been synthesized and structurally determined by X-ray diffraction method. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/m with a = 19.8772(4), b = 6.9879(1), c = 8.3001(2) Å, β = 98.487(2)° and V = 1140.26(4) ų. The crystal structure is built up of sheets of (SnCl₆)^2? octahedral anions and 2,6-xylidinium cations. The optical band gap was calculated and found to be 4.11 eV. At high temperature this compound exhibits a structural phase transition at 338 K. This has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetric and dielectric studies. Measurements of AC conductivity as a function of frequency at different temperatures indicated the hopping conduction mechanism. The bioassay results showed that the structure exhibits significant antibacterial activity.