Mathematical Correction for Polyatomic Isobaric Spectral Interferences in Determination of Lanthanides by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The determination of lanthanides by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS) is complicated by several spectral overlaps from M⁺, MO⁺ or MOH⁺ ions formed in the ICP. Especially, it is essential to avoid the spectral interferences from lighter lanthanide and Ba polyatomic ions on middle or heavier lanthanides. To tackle this problem, we have developed a mathematical correction method, which reduces all the spectral overlaps from oxide species of Pr, Nd, Ce and Sm over Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho, and Gd, Tb over Yb and Lu. It can also successfully correct the oxide and hydroxide interference of Ba over Eu. The effectiveness of the proposed the mathematical correction scheme is demonstrated for the USGS Standard Rock samples AGV‐1 and G‐2. The results show that the experimental data obtained by applying the mathematical correction scheme for lanthanides is in good agreement with the reported values, using pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulisation methods, for their ICP‐MS analysis.     

New azabenzoquinones by ring‐expansion reactions

Ozonolysis of the pyrrolidinediones 4 afforded the pyrrolidinetriones 5 , which in the presence of Lewis acids were converted into maleimide 6 . Analogously, ozonolysis of the pyrrolidinones 7 gave the pyrrolidinediones 8 , which were converted into the pyridinetriones 11a, b via Lewis acid catalyzed isomerization to yield the trihydroxypyridones 10 and ensuing air oxidation. In solution two tautomeric forms of the pyridinetriones 11 may exist both of which represent hydroxy‐azabenzoquinones. In two steps compounds 11 were transformed into the azaquinone derivatives 19 . Representatives of another type of azaquinones are compounds 28a, b. These were generated in two steps from the pyridones 25 . The azaquinone 28a reacted easily with acidic compounds yielding the adducts 26, 27 and 29 or with 2‐butenal forming the cycloadduct 30 .     

Determination of metoprolol enantiomers in human urine by GC-MS using (−)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride as a chiral derivatizing agent

Summary A method for the assay of R-(+)- and S-(−)- metoprolol in human urine has been developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method involved purification by liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide to form an O-silyl ether, followed by subsequent chiral derivatization with (−)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride to form diastereomeric amide. The reaction was rapid and the diastereomeric derivatives were well resolved. Quantitation was performed by selected-ion monitoring of fragment ions of the diastereomers in electron impact ionization mode. No racemization was found during the reaction. The detection limit was 0.5 ng·mL⁻¹. The intra-day variation ranged between 0.38 and 7.86% in relation to the measured concentration and inter-day variation was 2.26–8.06%. The method has been applied to the determination of R-(+)-and S-(−)- metoprolol in human urine from healthy volunteers dosed with racemic metoprolol tartrate.     

Correction to: Idealness of k-wise intersecting families

Mathematical Programming - A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s10107-020-01587-x     

Idealness of k-wise intersecting families

Mathematical Programming - A clutter is k-wise intersecting if every k members have a common element, yet no element belongs to all members. We conjecture that, for some integer $$k\ge 4$$ , every...     

Bond Prices Under Information Asymmetry and a Short Rate with Instantaneous Feedback

Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability - We study an information asymmetry problem in a bond market. Especially we derive bond price dynamics of traders with different levels of...