LC-electron capture APCI-MS for the determination of nitroaromatic compounds

The determination of selected nitroaromatic compounds in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron capture (EC) ionisation using a commercial atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) interface in the negative mode is described. The electron capture effect is observed for nitroaromatics which do not easily undergo deprotonation under these conditions. Depending on the structure of the analytes, either dissociative or, for the first time in LC-MS, non-dissociative electron capture is observed. Limits of detection and linear range for the determination of the analytes match those obtained for nitroaromatics which undergo deprotonation. The investigated substances comprise numerous substituted nitrobenzenes and nitrobenzooxadiazoles.     

N-Acylureido functionality as acceptor substituent in solvatochromic fluorescence probes: detection of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and fluoride ions

N,N'-Dicyclohexyl-N-(6'-methoxyanthryl-2-carbonyl)urea (1a) exhibits a strong solvatochromism with respect to its fluorescence properties. The emission maxima of 1a correlate well with the anion-stabilizing properties of the solvent. This feature allows the detection of analytes with high acceptor numbers, such as alcohols and carboxylic acids, and the detection of analytes such as fluoride ions which form strong hydrogen bonds with the amido hydrogen atom.     

Rapid identification of siderophores by combined thin-layer chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The investigation of a combined thin-layer chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (TLC/MALDI-MS) method for the analysis of siderophores from microbial samples is described. The investigated siderophores were enterobactin, ferrioxamine B, ferrichrome, ferrirhodin, rhodotorulic acid and coprogen. Solid-phase extraction was employed to recover the siderophores from the microbial samples. After visualization of the spots via spraying with ferric chloride or chrome azurol sulfonate assay solution, the MALDI matrix was applied to the gel surface. Several TLC/MALDI experimental parameters were optimized, such as type and concentration of MALDI matrix, as well as the type and composition of solvent to facilitate analyte transport from the inside of the TLC gel to the surface. The impact of these parameters on sensitivity, precision and ion formation of the various siderophores was studied. The detection limits for the investigated siderophores were in the range 1-4 pmol. These values were about 4-24 times higher than the detection limits obtained directly from stainless steel MALDI targets. The differences were most likely due to incomplete transport of the 'trapped' analyte molecules from the deeper layers of the TLC gel to the surface and into the matrix layer. In addition, chromatographic band broadening spread the analyte further in TLC as compared with the steel plates, resulting in less analyte per surface area. The identification of the siderophores was aided by concurrently applying a Ga(III) nitrate solution to the TLC plate during the visualization step. The resulting formation of Ga(III) complexes lead to distinctive (69)Ga/(71)Ga isotope patterns in the mass spectra. The versatility of the TLC/MALDI-MS assay was demonstrated by using it to analyze siderophores in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa sample. An iron-binding compound was identified in the sample, namely pyochelin (2-(2-o-hydroxyphenyl-2-thiazolin-4-yl)-3-methylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid).     

Investigation of micelle formation by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

We show that noncovalently bound dye molecules can be used as labels in single-molecule fluorescence experiments for the determination of aggregate formation in standard surfactant systems. Aqueous solutions of sulfosuccinic acid bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester sodium salt, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, and pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether have been studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy using commercially available dyes. The translational diffusion coefficient and the critical micelle concentrations have been determined and compare well to values reported in the literature. The respective charges of the surfactant and of the dye molecule are crucial for the effectiveness of the presented method.     

Liquid chromatography–electrochemistry–mass spectrometry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

An efficient method for fast elucidation of the electrochemical reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) has been set up by applying post-column electrochemistry in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). With this set-up strong improvement of sensitivity in the LC–MS analysis of PAH is observed. Due to their low redox potentials, the non-polar PAH are converted into the respective radical cations, which may further react with constituents of the mobile phase and in additional electrochemical oxidation steps. Among other products, mono-, di-, and trioxygenated species are observed in aqueous solutions, alkoxylated compounds in alcohols, and solvent adducts in the presence of acetonitrile. While more different products are observed by using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the positive-ion mode (APCI(+)), the deprotonation of hydroxylated species results in very clear spectra in the negative-ion mode (APCI(–)). Deuterated PAH and deuterated solvents were used to gain additional information on the formation of the reaction products.     

Polysulfonylamine. XLII. Ein Aquasilber(I)-Komplex mit einem Ag(m̈-H2O)2Ag-Strukturmotiv: Röntgenstrukturanalytische und thermoanalytische Charakterisierung von Aqua(1,1,3,3-tetraoxo-1,3,2-benzodithiazolido)silber(I)

Polysulfonyl Amines. XLII. An Aquasilver(I) Complex with an Ag(m?-H₂O)₂Ag Structural Unit: Characterization of Aqua(1,1,3,3-tetraoxo-1,3,2-benzodithiazolido)silver(I) by X-Ray Diffractometry and Thermal Analysis The title compound C₆H₄(SO₂)₂NAg · H₂O, where C₆H₄(SO₂)₂N^º is the anion of 1,2-benzenedisulfonimide, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with (at ?95°C) a = 1 129,7(3), b = 1 196.1(3), c = 810.7(2) pm, β = 124.25(2)°, V = 0.9055 nm³, Z = 4, D_x = 2.524 Mg m^?3. The crystal packing consists of [Ag(m?-H₂O)₂Ag{m?-C₆H₄(SO₂)₂N}₂]_n bands with crystallographic mirror symmetry, associated into layers by H-bonds with O(W)—O(S) 289.7 pm. The Ag(m?-H₂O)₂Ag moiety forms a planar four-membered ring with Ag? O(W)? Ag 97.3°, O(W)? Ag? O(W) 82.7° and Ag°Ag 372.1 pm. In the Ag{C₆H₄(SO₂)₂N}₂Ag′ unit, the anions act as tridentate (N, 1-O, 3-O)-ligands: One is N-bonded to Ag and O,O-chelated to Ag′, the other N-bonded to Ag′ and O,O-chelated to Ag. The silver atoms are (O₄N)-pentacoordinate, with nitrogen in the apical position of a distorted square pyramid [Ag? N 223.6, Ag? O(W) 247.8, Ag? O(S) 259.4 pm]. The thermochemical behaviour of the hydrate was investigated by thermal analysis and calorimetry. Water is only released at temperatures above 220°C. The dehydration enthalpy at 298 K is + 13.9 kJ mol^?1.     

Modeling of the mutual molecular polarization with an electronegativity equalization approach

A model for the mutual polarization of two approaching molecules is proposed, exploiting the principle of electronegativity equalization. The deformation of the electronic density of one molecule is the response to the perturbation of its chemical potential due to the electrostatic potential of the other molecule. The electronic densities, the density deformations, and the electrostatic potentials of both molecules are described with a previously developed asymptotic density model (ADM ). The ADM model allows a partitioning of all relevant properties in terms of atomic quantities. The perturbation of the chemical potential is given in atomic resolution, and the change of the electronic density is represented in terms of atomic charges. A hardness tensor, which determines the changes of the atomic chemical potentials due to the changes of the atomic charges, is modeled consistently with the ADM and earlier approaches. The results of the model, the changes of atomic charges within the molecules due to their mutual interaction, are compared with the changes of atomic charges obtained from population analysis of ab initio calculations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Planar chip device for PCR and hybridization with surface acoustic wave pump

We have developed a microfluidic device operating at a planar surface instead of a closed channel network. The fluid is transported in single droplets using surface acoustic waves (SAW) on a piezoelectric LiNbO(3) substrate. The surface of the piezo is chemically structured to induce high contact angles of the droplets or enclose areas where the liquid can wet the substrate. Combining the SAW technique with thin film resistance heaters, a biological analysis chip with integrated DNA amplification by PCR and hybridization was designed. To prevent evaporation of the PCR reagents at high temperatures the sample is enclosed in droplets of mineral oil. On this chip the SAW resolves dried primers, shifts the oil capped liquid between the two heaters and mixes during hybridization. The chip is able to perform a highly sensitive, fast and specific PCR with a volume as low as 200 nl. During the temperature cycles an online monitoring of the DNA concentration is feasible with an optical unit, providing a sensitivity of 0.1 ng. After PCR the product is moved to the second heater for the hybridization on a spotted DNA array. With our chip we were able to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) responsible for the Leiden Factor V syndrome from human blood.