On-line micro-volume introduction system developed for lower density than water extraction solvent and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and fast preconcentration/separation dispersive liquid–liquid micro extraction (DLLME) method for metal determination based on the use of extraction solvent with lower density than water has been developed. For this purpose a novel micro-volume introduction system was developed enabling the on-line injection of the organic solvent into flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed system were demonstrated for lead and copper preconcentration in environmental water samples using di-isobutyl ketone (DBIK) as extraction solvent. Under the optimum conditions the enhancement factor for lead and copper was 187 and 310 respectively. For a sample volume of 10 mL, the detection limit (3 s) and the relative standard deviation were 1.2 μg L⁻¹ and 3.3% for lead and 0.12 μg L⁻¹ and 2.9% for copper respectively. The developed method was evaluated by analyzing certified reference material and it was applied successfully to the analysis of environmental water samples.     

The lead tetraacetate oxidation of bisacetylhydrazones of α-dicarbonyl compounds

The oxidative cyclization of the title compounds results in generally two different kinds of products. The first, 1-(N,N-bisacetylamino)-1,2,3-triazole 7 (R³ = CH₃) is the primary product, while the second, 1-N-acetylamino-1,2,3-triazole 8 (R³ = CH₃), when observed, is obtained via hydrolysis from the former during work-up and separation of the reaction mixture. The primary products are considered as resulting from intramolecular nucleophilic attack on the acetyl group, of the presumed zwitterionic intermediate 5 (R³ = CH₃), by the N of the ambident N-acetylimine site of 5 .     

Investigation of the stability of polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography using laser scanning confocal microscopy

A simple polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coating procedure was used for the development of stable modified capillaries. PEM coatings were constructed in fused-silica capillaries using alternating rinses of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. The multilayer coatings investigated in this study consisted of two and twenty layer pairs, or bilayers. A bilayer is one layer of a cationic polymer and one layer of an anionic polymer. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) was used as the cationic polymer, and the polymeric surfactant poly(sodium N-undecanoyl-L-leucylvalinate) was used as the anionic polymer. Previous studies for both chiral and achiral separations have shown that PEM-coated capillaries have excellent reproducibilities, remarkable endurance, and strong stabilities against extreme pH values when used in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC). In this study, the stability of the coatings was further investigated after exposure to 0.1 M and 1.0 M NaOH. Structural changes of these coatings were monitored using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) after flushing the capillaries with NaOH. This technique allowed observation of the degradation of the coatings. Observations are discussed in terms of separations using OT-CEC. Electropherograms obtained from the chiral separation of 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-dihydrogenphosphate in OT-CEC showed a decrease in selectivity and an increase in electroosmotic mobility after long exposure to NaOH. The ability to recover the capillaries by exposure to NaOH was also demonstrated. Measurements of electroosmotic mobility and selectivity showed that 2-bilayer and 20-bilayer PEM coatings could be completely removed from the capillary surface after approximately 3.5 and 9.5 h, respectively, of continuous exposure to 1 M NaOH.     

Mononuclear versus dinuclear complex formation in nickel(II) sulfate/phenyl(2-pyridyl)ketone oxime chemistry depending on the ligand to metal reaction ratio: synthetic, spectral and structural studies

The reactions of phenyl(2-pyridyl)ketone oxime (py)C(ph)NOH, with nickel(II) sulfate hexahydrate under reflux, in the absence of an external base, have been investigated. The reaction of NiSO(4).6H(2)O with two equivalents of (py)C(ph)NOH in H(2)O/MeOH leads to the dinuclear complex [Ni(2)(SO(4))(2){(py)C(ph)NOH}(4)] (1), while an excess of the organic ligand affords the 1:3 cationic complex [Ni{(py)C(ph)NOH}(3)](SO(4)) (2). Compound 1 is transformed into 2 by a reaction with an excess of ligand in refluxing H(2)O/MeOH. Reactions of 1 and 2 with a limited amount of LiOH give the known cluster [Ni(6)(SO(4))(4)(OH){(py)C(ph)NO}(3){(py)C(ph)NOH}(3)(H(2)O)(3)]. The structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In both complexes the organic ligand chelates through its 2-pyridyl and oxime nitrogen atoms. The metal centers of 1 are bridged by two eta(1):eta(1):mu sulfato ligands; each metal ion has the cis-cis-trans deposition of the coordinated sulfato oxygen, pyridyl nitrogen and oxime nitrogen atoms, respectively. The cation of 2 is the fac isomer considering the positions of the coordinated pyridyl and oxime nitrogen atoms. The crystal structures of both complexes are stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Compounds 1 and 2 join a small family of structurally characterized metal complexes containing the neutral or anionic forms of phenyl(2-pyridyl)ketone oxime as ligands. The IR spectra of the two complexes are discussed in terms of the nature of bonding and their structures. From the vibrational spectroscopy viewpoint, the SO(4)(2-) groups in 1 and 2 appear to have lower symmetries compared with those deduced from X-ray crystallography; this is attributed to the participation of sulfates in hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Double-networks based on interconnected amphiphilic “in–out” star first polymer conetworks prepared by RAFT polymerization

Double-network hydrogels were prepared using well-defined first networks comprising interconnected amphiphilic “in-out” star copolymers synthesized via sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and second networks based on a photopolymerized mixture of acrylamide and N,N′-methlyenebisacrylamide. All first and double-network hydrogels were characterized in terms of their aqueous degrees of swelling and mechanical properties in compression. The most hydrophobic first and double-network hydrogels exhibited the best mechanical properties, which may be attributed to their low aqueous swelling degrees and good mesoscale organization in water as revealed using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) which showed that the size of the formed hydrophobic domains could be controlled by the polymer conetwork structure. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2161–2174     

Synthetic studies on amphidinolides C and F: synthesis of the C18-C29 segment of amphidinolide F

The C18-C29 segment of amphidinolide F is synthesised in 12 steps from 1,4-butanediol. Key steps include a mono-Sharpless dihydroxylation of a dienoate, iodocyclisation to construct the trans-THF ring and an E-selective Wittig reaction to introduce the C25-C26 olefin.     

Novel Processes for the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Pomace and Their Protection by Encapsulation

Olive pomace, the solid by-product derived from olive oil production consists of a high concentration of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, such as phenolic compounds, and their recovery by applying innovative techniques is a great opportunity and challenge for the olive oil industry. This study aimed to point out a new approach for the integrated valorization of olive pomace by extracting the phenolic compounds and protecting them by encapsulation or incorporation in nanoemulsions. Innovative assisted extraction methods were evaluated such as microwave (MAE), homogenization (HAE), ultrasound (UAE), and high hydrostatic pressure (HHPAE) using various solvent systems including ethanol, methanol, and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). The best extraction efficiency of phenolic compounds was achieved by using NADES as extraction solvent and in particular the mixture choline chloride-caffeic acid (CCA) and choline chloride-lactic acid (CLA); by HAE at 60 °C/12,000 rpm and UAE at 60 °C, the total phenolic content (TPC) of extracts was 34.08 mg gallic acid (GA)/g dw and 20.14 mg GA/g dw for CCA, and by MAE at 60 °C and HHPAE at 600 MPa/10 min, the TPC was 29.57 mg GA/g dw and 25.96 mg GA/g dw for CLA. HAE proved to be the best method for the extraction of phenolic compounds from olive pomace. Microencapsulation and nanoemulsion formulations were also reviewed for the protection of the phenolic compounds extracted from olive pomace. Both encapsulation techniques exhibited satisfactory results in terms of encapsulation stability. Thus, they can be proposed as an excellent technique to incorporate phenolic compounds into food products in order to enhance both their antioxidative stability and nutritional value.     

Open-tubular capillary electrochromatography using a polymeric surfactant coating

A stable polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coating was investigated for use in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (o-CEC). In this approach, the PEM consisted of the cationic polymer of a quaternary ammonium salt, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and the anionic polymeric surfactant, poly(sodium undecylenic sulfate). Both the cationic and anionic polymers were physically adsorbed to the surface of a fused-silica capillary by use of a simple coating procedure. This procedure involved an alternate rinse of the positively and negatively charged polymers. The performance of the PEM coating as a dynamic stationary phase was evaluated by use of electrochromatographic experiments and showed good selectivity for both phenols and benzodiazepines. Reproducibility of the PEM coating was also evaluated by calculating the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the electroosomotic flow (EOF). The run-to-run and capillary-to-capillary RSD values of the EOF were less than 1.5%. The endurance of the coating was more than 100 runs. The importance of the PEM coating was illustrated by comparing separations on a bare uncoated capillary with the coated capillary. In addition, the chromatographic performance using o-CEC and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was compared for the separation of benzodiazepines.     

Characterization of the Phenolic Fingerprint of Kolovi Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Lesvos with Regard to Altitude and Farming System Analyzed by UHPLC-QTOF-MS

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is recognized for its nutritional virtues and the beneficial health effects deriving from its hydrophilic fraction (phenolic acids, phenolic alcohols, flavonoids, and secoiridoids). The phenolic compounds of EVOOs possess multiple biological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties, among others. Considering that EVOOs produced in Greece are recognized as high-quality products due to their rich phenolic content, it is imperative to characterize Greek monovarietal EVOOs and ensure that their uniqueness is closely linked to their botanical and territorial origin. In this work, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) analytical method combined with target and suspect screening was used to characterize monovarietal EVOOs of the Kolovi variety from Lesvos, and thereby establish their phenolic fingerprint. Overall, 25 phenols were determined, and the total quantification and semi-quantification results ranged between 251 and 1230 mg/kg, highlighting the high phenolic content of the Kolovi variety from the island of Lesvos in the North Aegean.     

Synergistic enantioseparation systems with either cyclodextrins or cyclofructans and L‐alanine Tert butyl ester lactate

The combined use of chiral ionic liquids (CILs) and conventional chiral selectors (CSs) in CE, to establish a synergistic system, has proven to be an effective approach for the separation of enantiomeric pairs. In this study, a new CE method was developed, employing a binary system of a CS, either a cyclodextrin (CD) or a cyclofructan (CF), and a chiral amino acid ester‐based ionic liquid (AAIL), for the chiral separation of four basic, acidic and zwitterionic drug compounds. In particular, the enantioseparation of two anticoagulants, warfarin (WAR) and coumachlor (COU), a non‐opioid analgesic, nefopam (NEF) and a third‐generation antihistamine, fexofenadine (FXD), was examined, by supporting the BGE with a CS and the chiral AAIL L‐alanine tert butyl ester lactate (L‐AlaC₄Lac). Parameters, such as the type of the CS, the concentration of both the CS and L‐AlaC₄Lac, and the BGE pH, were methodically examined in order to optimize the chiral separation of each analyte. It was observed that, in some cases, the addition of the AAIL into the BGE improved both resolution (R_s) and efficiency (N) significantly. In other cases, the synergistic effect enabled baseline separation of analyte enantiomers, at a much lower concentration of the CS. Finally, after optimization of separation conditions, baseline separations (R_s>1.5) of all four analytes were achieved in less than 5 min.