Some remarks on the quantitative expression of the selectivity of an analytical procedure

The selectivity of an analytical method may be defined as expressing the degree to which a component can be determined in the presence of other but similarly behaving components without interference. The method itself will usually serve for determination of the other components, under slightly different conditions. The selectivity is closely related to the resolution of the method and also to the resolution of the instrument used for obtaining the signals. A simple formula is suggested for expressing the percentual degree of selectivity of an analytical procedure, on the basis of signal overlap caused by the interfering components, and can be used quite generally. A distinction is made between the terms analytical selectivity and selectivity of an analytical procedure, and between selectivity and specificity.     

Detection of primary and secondary amines in energy-related materials using an element-selective glow-discharge detector

Mutagenic primary polycyclic aromatic amines present in shale oil and synthetic crudes may be readily detected by a simple derivatization and Chromatographic procedure. Nitrogenous bases and amines are extracted from the sample with dilute mineral acid and derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride. The derivatized amines are separated by gas chromatography and specifically detected using a glow-discharge detector tuned to an emission wavelength of fluorine. Under these conditions, the aromatic nitrogenous bases, such as acridine, are not detected even though they are present in the sample. As little as 14 ng of fluorine, arising from the derivative of 33 ng of 2,4,6-trimethylaniline, can be detected. The selectivity of the glow-discharge detector for derivatized amines vs. nonderivatized aromatic nitrogenous bases was estimated to be a minimum of 200:1.     

1H-imidazo[4,5-b] pyrazines. II. 2-carboxylic acid derivatives

Methods for the preparations of 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid and derivatives are reported.     

Trimethylsilylverbindungen der Vb-Elemente. VI. Synthese,Molekül- und Kristallstruktur des Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)distibans im Vergleich mit Tetraphenyldistiban

Trimethylsilyl Derivatives of Vb-Elements. VI. Synthesis, Molecular and Crystal Structure of Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)distibine Compared with Tetraphenyldistibine Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)distibine already isolated by Breunig et al. [9] from cleavage reactions of tris(trimethylsilyl)stibine may also be obtained in high yields from lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)antimonide · 2THF and 1,2-dibromoethane in n-pentane. This compound intensely red in the solid state, but only slightly yellow in solution or in the melt crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 680.6(1); b = 1672.8(2); c = 1190.0(1) pm; β = 119.01(5)°; Z = 2 at +20°C. An X-ray structure determination (R = 0.017) shows the bis(trimethylsilyl)-stibino groups to be arranged in a transoid position. Characteristic bond lengths and angles are: Sb? Sb 286.7(1); Sb? Si 259.4 pm; Si? Sb? Si 94.46(3); Sb? Sb? Si 98.68(3) and 94.43(3)°. As in similiar 2,2′,5,5′-tetramethyldistibolyl published recently by Ashe III et al. [8] this crystal structure, too, is characterized by a nearly linear sequence of Sb? Sb groups. Compared with the sum of van-der-Waals radii the intermolecular Sb-Sb contact in such a chain is shortened from 440 to 399 pm. This probably allows electronic interactions of unknown type responsible for the colour of the crystals. In keeping with this assumption an analogous formation of chains is not found in solid, only yellow tetraphenyldistibine 5 the structure of which has already been studied by Rehder et al. [44].     

Neutron activation analysis of high purity Selenium: Determination of Bromine

Neutron activation analysis for 2–0.8 p.p.m. bromine in selenium was performed by irradiating i-g samples for 2 h at a neutron flux of 4.10¹¹ n/cm²/sec. The bromine was separated by a double precipitation technique as silver bromide to obtain adequate decontamination and the isotope ⁸²Br (T_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}=35.87 h) measured. Errors due to self-shielding in the standards and flux-depression in the selenium were calculated. Measurements on 2 different photopeaks were made to avoid errors from interfering isotopes.     

Liquid chromatographic and mass spectral analysis of 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamines, homologues of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines

The 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamines (HMDAs) are prepared via reductive amination of the corresponding ketone with a series of low molecular weight alkylamines. These amines are homologues of the N-substituted 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDAs). Compounds of the HMDA series have UV absorption properties similar to the MDAs because both series contain the same 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl chromophore. The HMDAs are separated via reversed-phase liquid chromatographic methods using a C18 stationary phase and an acidic aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase. The mass spectra of these potential designer drugs are very similar to the spectra of the MDA homologues having the same N-substituent.     

Radiochemical studies of some separation methods for phosphorus

Various methods of radiochemical separation were tested for the determination of phosphorus in metals and alloys by neutron activation analysis. Classical methods of separation revealed some defects when they were applied to this problem. Methods using liquid extraction gave low yields and were not reproducible. Methods based on precipitation gave better results, but were not selective enough in most of the cases. Retention on alumina was not possible without preliminary separations We studied a new radiochemical separation based on the extraction of elemental phosphorus in the gaseous phase after reduction at high temperature with carbon. Measurements with radioactive phosphorus showed that the extraction yield is better than 99%.