The uptake of methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein, and 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol onto sulfuric acid solutions

To investigate the link between molecular structure, reactivity, and partitioning of oxygenated organic compounds in acidic aerosols, the uptake of three compounds found in the atmosphere, methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methacrolein (MACR), and 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol (MBO), by sulfuric acid solutions has been measured using a rotated wetted-wall reactor (RWW) coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS). MVK was found to partition reversibly into 20-75 wt % H(2)SO(4) solutions, and we report Henry's law coefficients between 20 and 7000 M atm(-1) over this range. A chemical reaction for MVK was likely responsible for the uptake observed for 80-96 wt % H(2)SO(4) solutions. We derive an upper limit to the aldol self-reaction rate coefficient for MVK in 80 wt % solution of approximately 3 M(-1) s(-1). MACR partitioned reversibly over most of the acidity range, and in contrast to that for MVK, the Henry's law coefficient was relatively independent of H(2)SO(4) content. These differences indicate that the increase of the coefficient with acidity is likely due to the ability of the carbonyl molecule to form an enol. These results indicate that aldol condensation can be facile in concentrated sulfuric acid solutions, but it should be negligibly slow in dilute acid solutions such as tropospheric aerosols. MBO uptake could be explained by a Henry's law coefficient that decreases slightly as acid content varies from 20 to 55 wt % H(2)SO(4); we also measured the value in water, 70 M atm(-1) at 298 K. A steady-state uptake of MBO was observed onto 40-80 wt % H(2)SO(4) solutions, a reaction product was observed, and the reaction was tentatively identified as Pinacol rearrangement. Similar rearrangements could be at the origin of some substituted oxygenated species found in atmospheric aerosols.     

IR spectroscopic features of gaseous C7H7O+ ions: benzylium versus tropylium ion structures

Gaseous [C7H7O]+ ions have been formed by protonation of benzaldehyde or tropone (2,4,6-cycloheptatrienone) in the cell of an FT-ICR mass spectrometer using C2H5(+) as a Br?nsted acid. The so-formed species have been assayed by infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) using the free electron laser (FEL) at the CLIO (Centre Laser Infrarouge Orsay) facility. The IRMPD features are quite distinct for ions from the two different precursors, pointing to two different isomers. A number of potential structures for [C7H7O]+ ions have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, and their relative energies and IR spectra are reported. On this basis, the IRMPD spectra of [C7H7O]+ ions are found to display features characteristic of O-protonated species, with no evidence of any further skeletal rearrangements. The so-formed ions are thus hydroxy-substituted benzylium and tropylium ions, respectively, representative members of the benzylium/tropylium ion family. The IRMPD assay using the FEL laser light has allowed their unambiguous discrimination where other mass spectrometric techniques have yielded a less conclusive answer.     

Method development for the determination of residual fluorotelomer raw materials and perflurooctanoate in fluorotelomer-based products by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

The methodology for the determination of perfluorooctanoate (C(7)F(15)COO-, PFO), fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs: 6-2, 8-2, and 10-2), perfluorooctyl iodide (PFOI), and 8-2-8 fluorotelomer alcohol ester in complex fluorotelomer-based commercial products has been demonstrated and validated. Sample preparation procedures allowing determination of residual levels of these compounds were developed. The analytes were detected either by LC/MS/MS (PFO), LC/MS (FTOHs), or GC/MS (PFOI, 8-2-8 ester). The methods were validated by investigating the recoveries of analytes spiked at multiple levels to authentic sample matrices. The recoveries generally were between 70 and 130%. The limits of detection were in sub-microg/g range and the limits of quantitation were in the mug/g range. The methods were applied to fluorotelomer-based raw materials and fluorotelomer-based surfactants and polymeric products and represent methods useful for the determination of higher carbon chain length homologs as well.     

Separation and detection of peroxynitrite and its metabolites by capillary electrophoresis with UV detection

A method for the separation and direct detection of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) and two of its degradation products, nitrite (NO(2)(-)) and nitrate (NO(3)(-)), using capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet detection is described. The separation parameters were optimized and included electrokinetic injection, a run buffer consisting of 25 mM K(2)HPO(4) 7.5 mM DTAB, pH 12, and a field strength of -323 V/cm. A diode array UV detector was employed in these studies as it allowed the determination of all three species simultaneously. Nitrate and nitrite provided the maximum response at 214 nm while peroxynitrite generated the best response at 302 nm. All three species could be detected at 214 nm, while simultaneous detection at 214 and 302 nm positively identified each peak.     

Effect of visible light on normal and P23H-3 transgenic rat retinas: characterization of a novel retinoic acid derivative present in the P23H-3 retina

Transgenic rats with the P23H mutation in rhodopsin exhibit increased susceptibility to light damage, compared with normal animals. It is known that light-induced retinal damage requires repetitive bleaching of rhodopsin and that photoreceptor cell loss is by apoptosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) leading to photoreceptor cell death are still unknown. Photoproducts, such as all-trans retinal or other retinoid metabolites, released by the extensive bleaching of rhodopsin could lead to activation of degenerative processes, especially in animals genetically predisposed to retinal degenerations. Using wild-type and transgenic rats carrying the P23H opsin mutation, we evaluated the effects of acute intense visible light on retinoid content, type and distribution in ocular tissues. Rats were exposed to green light (480-590 nm) for 0, 5, 10, 30 and 120 min. Following light treatment, rats were sacrificed and neural retinas were dissected free of the retinal pigment epithelium. Retinoids were extracted from retinal tissues and then subjected to HPLC and mass spectral analysis. We found that the light exposure affected relative levels of retinoids in the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium of wild-type and P23H rat eyes similarly. In the P23H rat retina but not the wild-type rat retina, we found a retinoic acid-like compound with an absorbance maximum of 357 nm and a mass of 304 daltons. Production of this retinoic acid-like compound in transgenic rats is influenced by the age of the animals and the duration of light exposure. It is possible that this unique retinoid may be involved in the process of light-induced retinal degeneration.     

Use of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to identify diarylheptanoids in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) rhizome

LC-ESI-MS/MS coupled to DAD analysis was used as an on-line tool for identification of diarylheptanoids in fresh turmeric rhizome extracts. Based on their mass spectra, from both negative and positive mode LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, and supported by their DAD spectra, 19 diarylheptanoids were identified. Among these 19 compounds, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin were identified by comparing their chromatographic and spectral data with those of authentic standard compounds. The other diarylheptanoid compounds were identified or tentatively identified based on comparison to the three curcuminoids and each other. Twelve of the identified diarylheptanoids have not been previously reported from turmeric and six of these are new compounds.     

Enantio-complementary deracemization of (±)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid and (±)-3-phenyllactic acid using lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution combined with biocatalytic racemization

Deracemization of (±)-3-phenyllactic acid (1) and (±)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (2) was accomplished by lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution coupled to biocatalytic racemization of the non-reacting substrate enantiomers using Lactobacillus paracasei DSM 20008. Cyclic repetition of this sequence led to a single enantiomeric product from the racemate. Access to both enantiomers was achieved by switching between lipase-catalysed acyl-transfer and ester hydrolysis reactions. Both products constitute important building blocks for virus protease- and ACE-inhibitors, respectively.     

Quantum-sized carbon dots for bright and colorful photoluminescence

We report that nanoscale carbon particles (carbon dots) upon simple surface passivation are strongly photoluminescent in both solution and the solid state. The luminescence emission of the carbon dots is stable against photobleaching, and there is no blinking effect. These strongly emissive carbon dots may find applications similar to or beyond those of their widely pursued silicon counterparts.     

Efficient "total" extraction of perfluorooctanoate from polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer

To determine the optimum conditions for the complete extraction of perfluorooctanoate (PFO) from polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymers, sample preparation and pressurized solvent extraction (PSE) conditions were investigated. Solvent extraction temperature, solvent residence time, relaxation time between extractions, and the effects of heating before PSE showed that methanol at 150 degrees C extraction temperature and a 12 min solvent residence time were the most efficient conditions. Preheating the polymer before extraction at 150 degrees C for 24 h significantly enhanced the quantity of PFO removed. Heating above 150 degrees C resulted in loss of PFO. PFO was determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.     

A new family of ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes bearing 5-aryltetrazolate ligands as systems for electrochemiluminescent devices

A new family of mono- and dinuclear ruthenium polypyridyl complexes containing 5-aryltetrazolate ligands such as the deprotonated form of 4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzonitrile (4-TBNH) and bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (BTBH(2)) have been synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The reactivity of the mononuclear species toward different electrophiles such as H(+) and CH(3)(+) has been investigated, and the effects of the resulting regioselective electrophilic attacks on the electronic and structural properties of the tetrazolate ligand have been studied by NMR ((1)H, (13)C) spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structures. Absorption and emission spectroscopy, together with an electrochemical and UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical investigation of the uncoordinated ligand and complexes, has been performed, highlighting a rather good luminescence efficiency and a poor bridge-mediated electronic communication between the metal centers of the dinuclear complexes. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of the dinuclear species has been explored, and for one of these, an exceptionally high ECL efficiency has been observed, comparable to that of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), which is considered a standard in ECL studies.