7Li PGSE diffusion measurements on LiPPh2: a solvent dependence of the structure

The first application of 7Li pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion methods to structural lithium chemistry is reported. The data, which provide quantitative diffusion constants at 155 K, lead to a new method of estimating solvent viscosity at this temperature and clearly show a solvent dependence for the structure of LiPPh2. In THF, LiPPh2 exists as a mononuclear solvated species, whereas in Et2O, a dinuclear structure is found. D values for the model compound PHPh2 in THF have been measured.     

Metrology for chemical engineers

 The first full-semester course on Quality Assurance in Chemical Measurement was held at the Technical University of Denmark from September to December 1999. The course required sufficient knowledge of basic statistics to understand and apply the methods recommended in ISO 5725–1/6 Accuracy of Measurement Methods and Results. The main purpose of the course was, however, to familiarize PhD students with the BIPM philosophy, using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide to Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, which was accepted by IUPAC and other international scientific organizations in 1993. Chemists are notoriously reluctant to accept the BIPM philosophy, but the appearance of a new Draft Guide Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement at the EURACHEM Workshop in Helsinki in June 1999 stimulated us to make an attempt to overcome such chemical prejudice. After thorough reading of the examples presented in the Draft Guide, each of the participating students had to prepare an uncertainty budget for their own particular project and present it to the other participants for discussion. Eventually the students learned how to verify their uncertainty budgets by means of experimental results; this invariably entailed a re-evaluation of the uncertainty components in the original budget. The revised budget was again verified, and this iteration was continued until the budget correctly predicted the uncertainty of individual results covering the whole range of applicability of the analytical method. The paper presents the detailed structure of this first course, as well as improvements in the next course scheduled for the year 2000.     

Correction to “On the linear combination of normal and Laplace random variables”, by Nadarajah,S., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Computational Statistics</Emphasis>, 2006, <Emphasis Type="Bold">21</Emphasis>, 63–71

In the above mentioned paper, some errors were found in the expressions given for the distribution of a linear combination of Normal and Laplace random variables, Z, given in formulae (3, Theorem 1), (6), and (7) that can lead to obtaining negative values for the mentioned distribution. The corrected versions for these expressions are presented here. In addition, the density function of Z is also provided.     

On-line sample processing involving microextraction techniques as a front-end to atomic spectrometric detection for trace metal assays: A review

Within the last decade, liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) and micro-solid phase extraction (μSPE) approaches have emerged as substitutes for conventional sample processing procedures for trace metal assays within the framework of green chemistry. This review surveys the progress of the state of the art in simplification and automation of microextraction approaches by harnessing to the various generations of flow injection (FI) as a front end to atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry (ICP-AES/MS). It highlights the evolution of flow injection analysis and related techniques as vehicles for appropriate sample presentation to the detector and expedient on-line matrix separation and pre-concentration of trace levels of metals in troublesome matrices. Rather than being comprehensive this review is aimed at outlining the pros and cons via representative examples of recent attempts in automating green sample preparation procedures in an FI or sequential injection (SI) mode capitalizing on single-drop microextraction, dispersive liquid-phase microextraction and advanced sorptive materials including carbon and metal oxide nanoparticles, ion imprinted polymers, superparamagnetic nanomaterials and biological/biomass sorbents. Current challenges in the field are identified and the synergetic combination of flow analysis, nanotechnology and metal-tagged biomolecule detection is envisaged.     

Practical Method for 2‐Hydroxyphenylketimine Synthesis

A series of hydroxyphenylketimines, of which 15 are new, was synthesized in methanol at high temperature (200°C) using a sealed steel reactor. This reaction setup especially enhances the synthesis of 2‐hydroxyphenylketimines, with yields up to six times higher than those obtained with the conventional acid‐catalyzed method under refluxing conditions. In fact, some imines were achievable only by the autoclave method.     

2D-NMR Studies on Bis(Amidinohydrazones). I. A Proton-Carbon Heteronuclear Shift Correlation Study on the Enzyme Inhibitors Methylpropylglyoxal Bis(Amidinohydrazone) and Butylmethylglyoxal Bis(Amidinohydrazone)

The first 2D-NMR study on bis(amidinohydrazones) [‘(guanylhydrazones)’] is reported. Heteronuclear shift correlation (HETCOR) experiments were performed on the enzyme inhibitors methylpropylglyoxal bis(amidinohydrazone) (MPGBG) and butylmethylglyoxal bis(amidinohydrazone) (BMGBG). The results obtained made possible the unambiguous assignment of the previously unassigned resonances of the side-chain carbon atoms of MPGBG. The results indicate that the chemical shifts of the protons of the propyl side chain of MPGBG are positively correlated to the ¹³C chemical shifts of the corresponding carbon atoms. The chemical shifts of the carbon atoms of the propyl side chain decrease as a function of the position of the atom in the side chain, the terminal methyl group having the lowest shift value. These results are in full agreement with previous results on the analogous compound dipropylglyoxal bis(amidinohydra- zone), whose side-chain carbon resonances were assigned using totally different techniques. In the case of BMGBG, however, HETCOR contour plots clearly indicate that there is no correlation between the chemical shifts of the protons of the butyl side chain and the 13C chemical shifts of the corresponding carbons. Because the 200 MHz proton spectrum of BMGBG is not fist-order, only the 1 3 resonance～ of the methyl substituent and the resonances of carbons 1 and 4 (but not those of carbons 2 and 3) of the butyl side chain could be assigned on the basis of the HETCOR study. Yet, the results gave a rough estimate of the previously unknown chemical shifts of the protons bound to butyl carbon atoms 2 and 3.     

Pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) diffusion measurements as a tool for the elucidation of a new type of hydrogen-bonded bicapsular aggregate

Compounds formed by linking two tris(ureidobenzyl)amine modules with a hexamethylene tether are described. These compounds self-assemble to form bicapsular aggregates featuring two rings of six hydrogen-bonded ureas. (1)H and (1)H/(1)H ROESY NMR spectroscopy, together with pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR diffusion measurements, have been used to characterize the dimers in solution. The results have been compared with energy-minimized structures. The new compounds are kinetically stable on the NMR timescale, and their thermodynamic stabilities are comparable to other capsular aggregates derived from tris(ureidobenzyl)amines.     

Molecular diversity through gold catalysis with alkynes

In this feature article we cover most recent efforts in gold-catalysed transformations, highlighting the wide molecular diversity that can be achieved, in particular with regard to the formation of C-C bonds. Mechanistic interpretations of some cyclisations are based on our own work on the skeletal rearrangement of 1,6-enynes.