Detection of soil pollution by hydrocarbons using headspace-mass spectrometry and identification of compounds by headspace-fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The direct coupling of a headspace sampler with a mass spectrometer is proposed as a screening tool for the rapid detection of soil pollution by hydrocarbons from petroleum and derivatives. The samples are subjected to the headspace generation process, with no prior treatment, and the volatiles generated are introduced directly into the mass spectrometer, thereby obtaining a fingerprint of the sample analysed. Suitable treatment of the signal by chemometric techniques allows unequivocal characterisation of the different types of sample. The use of fast gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector coupled to the headspace sampler allows identification of the major hydrocarbons present in the mineral and organic polluted samples, interpretation of the results obtained, and demonstrates the analytical potential of headspace-mass spectrometry coupling.     

Stereochemical analysis of N-cyclohexylidene-N-(1-phenylethyl)amine derivatives

The configurational properties of a series of cyclohexylidene imines are discussed on the basis of their 1H, 13C and 15N NMR spectral data.     

Benzocoumarins from the rhizomes of Juncus acutus

Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Juncus acutus rhizomes revealed seven benzocoumarins, probably derived from oxidation of phenanthrenes already isolated from the plant. The structures were determined by means of spectroscopic methods. The anti-algal activity of the isolated compounds tested on the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata are reported here.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the dinuclear complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)-propionato-O,O′]bis(aqua)dicopper(II)}

Structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic data of a new dinuclear copper(II) complex with (±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionic acid are reported. The complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionato-O,O′]-bis(aqua)dicopper(II)} crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a = 14.149(1) ?, b = 7.495(1) ?, c = 19.827(1) ?, β = 90.62(1) and Z = 4. X-ray diffraction data show that the two copper(II) ions are held together through four carboxylate bridges, coordinated as equatorial ligands in square pyramidal geometry. The coordination sphere around each copper ion is completed by two water molecules as axial ligands. Thermogravimetric data are consistent with such results. The ligand has an “L” type shape due to the angle formed by the β-carbon of the propionic chain and the linked p-methoxyphenoxy group. This conformation contributes to the occurrence of a peculiar structure of the complex. The complex retains its dinuclear nature when dissolved in acetonitrile, but it decomposes into the corresponding mononuclear species if dissolved in ethanol, according to the EPR measurements. Further, cyclic voltammograms of the complex in acetonitrile show that the dinuclear species maintains the same structure, in agreement with the EPR data in this solvent. The voltammogram shows two irreversible reduction waves at E _pc = −0.73 and −1.04 V vs. Ag/AgCl assigned to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu° redox couples, respectively, and two successive oxidation waves at E _pa =− 0.01 and +1.41 V vs. Ag/AgCl, assigned to the Cu°/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox couples, respectively, in addition to the oxidation waves of the carboxylate ligand.     

Nitrile-amidine coupling at Pt(IV) and Pt(II) centers. An easy entry to imidoylamidine complexes

Treatment of trans-[PtCl4(RCN)2] (R = Me, Et, Ph, NEt2) with 2 equiv of the amidine PhC(=NH)NHPh in a suspension of MeCN (R = Me), CHCl3 (R = Et, Ph), or in CHCl3 solution (R = NEt2) results in the formation of the imidoylamidine complexes trans-[PtCl4{NH=C(R)N=C(Ph)NHPh}2] (1-4) isolated in good yields (66-84%). The reaction of soluble complexes 3 and 4 with 2 equiv of Ph3P=CHCO2Me in CH2Cl2 (40 degrees C, 5 h) leads to dehydrochlorination resulting in a chelate ring closure to furnish the platinum(IV) chelates [PtCl2{NH=C(R)NC(Ph)=NPh}2] (R = Ph, 5; R = NEt2, 6), accordingly, and the phosphonium salt [Ph3PCH2CO2Me]Cl. Treatment of 5 with 3 equiv of Ph3P=CHCO2Me at 50 degrees C for 5 d resulted in only a 30% conversion to the corresponding Pt(II) complex [Pt{NH=C(NEt2)NC(Ph)=NPh}2] (15). The reduction can be achieved within several minutes, when Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 in CDCl3 is used. When the platinum(II) complex trans-[PtCl2(RCN)2] is reacted with 2 equiv of the amidine, the imidoylamidinato complexes [PtCl(RCN){NH=C(R)NC(Ph)=NHPh}] (8-11) and [PhC(=NH)NHPh] x HCl (7) are formed. The reaction of trans-[PtCl2(RCN)2] with 4 equiv of the amidine under a prolonged reaction time or treatment of [PtCl(RCN){NH=C(R)NC(Ph)=NHPh}] (8-11) with 2 more equiv of the amidine yields the complex bearing two chelate rings [Pt{NH=C(R)NC(Ph)=NHPh}2] (12-15). The treatment of cis-[PtCl2(RCN)2] (R = Me, Et) with the amidine gives ca. 50-60% yield of [PtCl2{NH=C(R)NHC(Ph)=NHPh}] (16 and 17). All of the platinum compounds were characterized by elemental analyses; FAB mass spectrometry; IR spectroscopy; 1H, 13C{1H}, and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, and four of them (4, 6, 8, and 15) were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The coupling of the Pt-bound nitriles and the amidine is metal-mediated insofar as RCN and PhC(=NH)NHPh do not react in the absence of the metal centers in conditions more drastic than those of the observed reactions. The nitrile-amidine coupling reported in this work constitutes a route to the synthesis of imidoylamidine complexes, some of them exhibiting luminescent properties.     

Evaluation of Ptitsyn-Eizner λ parameter in dilute solutions of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) and its variation in conformational transitions of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The Ptitsyn-Eizner λ flexibility parameter for poly(N-vinylcarbozole) solutions under theta conditions has been found to be 6.31, demonstrating the rigidity imparted to the polymer chain by the carbazole group. A study has been made of the variation of this parameter with solvent and temperature. A study has been made of the variation of λ in a conformational transition of poly(methyl methacrylate).     

Reactions oftrans-[Mo(CNMe)2(PMe2Ph)4] andmer-[W(CNMe)3(PMe2Ph)3] complexes with methanol and with mineral acids to give amines,ammonia and hydrocarbons

Summary Treatment oftrans-[Mo(CNMe)₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] andme-[W(CNMe)₃(PMe₂Ph)₃] with sulphuric or hydrochloric acids in methanol or ethanol, or in methanol alone, under irradiation, gives methylamine, ammonia and hydrocarbons (mainly methane). The complex [W₂(CNMe)₄(-CNHMe)₂(PMe₂Ph)₄]²⁺ cation has been obtained by the treatment ofmer-[W(CNMe)₃(PMe₂Ph₃] with H₂SO₄ or [Et₂OH][BF₄] and gives methylamine, ammonia and methane on further acid treatment.     

Tailoring the cavities of hydrogen-bonded amphidynamic crystals using weak contacts: towards faster molecular machines

This work describes the use of C–H⋯F–C contacts in the solid-state from the stator towards the rotator to fine-tune their internal motion, by constructing a set of interactions that generate close-fitting cavities in three supramolecular rotors 1–3I. The crystal structures of these rotors, determined by synchrotron radiation experiments at different temperatures, show the presence of such C–H⋯F–C contacts between extended carbazole stators featuring fluorinated phenyl rings and the 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) rotator. According to the ²H NMR results, using deuterated samples, and periodic density functional theory computations, the rotators experience fast angular displacements (preferentially 120° jumps) due to their low rotational activation energies (E_a = 0.8–2.0 kcal mol⁻¹). The higher rotational barrier for 1 (2.0 kcal mol⁻¹) is associated with a larger number of weak C–H⋯F–C contacts generated by the stators. This strategy offers the possibility to explore the correlation among weak intermolecular forces, cavity shape, and internal dynamics, which has strong implications in the design of future fine-tuned amphidynamic crystals.

This work describes the use of C–H⋯F–C contacts in the solid-state from the stator towards the rotator to fine-tune their internal motion, by constructing a set of interactions that generate close-fitting cavities in three supramolecular rotors 1–3I.     

Reconstruction of the free energy in the metastable region using the path ensemble

By quenching into the metastable region of the three-dimensional Ising model, we investigate the paths that the magnetization (energy) takes as a function of time. We accumulate the magnetization (energy) paths into time-dependent distributions from which we reconstruct the free energy as a function of the magnetic field, temperature, and system size. From the reconstructed free energy, we obtain the free-energy barrier that is associated with the transition from a metastable state to the stable equilibrium state. Although mean-field theory predicts a sharp transition between the metastable and the unstable region where the free-energy barrier is zero, the results for the nearest-neighbor Ising model show that the free-energy barrier does not go to zero.     

Unprecedented single-pot synthesis of nitrile-derived ketoimino platinum(II) complexes by ring opening of Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazolines

[PtCl2(RCN)2] (1a R=CH2CO2Me, 1b R=CH2Cl) prepared upon EtCN replacement at [PtCl2(EtCN)2] by the appropriate organonitrile, react with a cyclic nitrone -O-+N=CHCH2CH2C(Me)2, under mild conditions, to give, in an unprecedented single-pot synthesis involving spontaneous N-O bond cleavage, the ketoimino complexes trans-[PtCl2[RC(=O)N=CN(H)C(Me)2-CH2CH2]2 (2a, 2b) with two (pyrrolidin-2-ylidene)amino ligands. The analogous 2c (R=Et) and 2d (R=Ph) are formed by treatment with H2, in the absence of any added catalyst, of the Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes trans-[PtCl2[N=C(R)ONC(Me)2CH2CH2CH]2] (3a R=Et, 3b R=Ph) derived from the [2 + 3]-cycloaddition of the cyclic nitrone with the appropriate organonitrile complex of type 1. The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, 1H, (13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, FAB mass spectrometry and X-ray structure analyses for 2a and 2d.