New amides fromSpilanthes oleracea

In addition to the well known affinin [=spilanthol, (2E,6Z,8E)-deca-2,6,8-trienoic acid isobutylamide (1)], the corresponding 2-methyl-butylamide (2), and two new acetylenic alkamides were isolated fromSpilanthes oleracea L. by reversed phase medium pressure chromatography: (Z)-non-2-en-6,8-diynoic acid isobutylamide (3) and (Z)-dec-2-en-6,8-diynoic acid isobutylamide (4). The structures and their stereochemistries were elucidated by¹H-NMR,¹³C-NMR (2 and3), MS, UV, IR, and CD (2). The chemotaxonomic significance of the distribution of alkamides within theCompositae tribeHeliantheae is briefly discussed.

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Neue Amide ausSpilanthes oleracea (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung AusSpilanthes oleracea wurden neben dem seit langem bekannten Affinin [=Spilanthol, (2E,6Z,8E)-Deca-2,6,8-triensäureisobutylamid (1)] durch Umkehrphasen-Mitteldruckchromatographie das entsprechende 2-Methylbutylamid (2) und zwei neue acetylenische Alkamide isoliert: (Z)-Non-2-en-6,8-diinsäure-isobutylamid (3) und (Z)-Dec-2-en-6,8-diinsäure-isobutylamid (4). Die Strukturen und deren Stereochemie wurden mittels¹H-NMR,¹³C-NMR (2 und3), MS, UV, IR und CD (2) aufgeklärt. Die chemotaxonomische Bedeutung der Verbreitung von Alkamiden innerhalb der Compositen-TribusHeliantheae wird kurz diskutiert.

     

An extended ab initio QM/MM MD approach to structure and dynamics of Zn(II) in aqueous solution

Structural and dynamical properties of Zn(II) in aqueous solution were investigated, based on an ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics simulation at double-zeta Hartree-Fock quantum mechanical level including the first and second hydration shells into the QM region. The inclusion of the second shell in the QM region resulted in significant changes in the properties of the hydrate. The first shell coordination number was found to be 6, the second shell consists of approximately 14 water molecules. The structural properties were determined in terms of RDF, ADF, tilt and theta angle distributions, while dynamics were characterized by mean ligand residence times, ion-ligand stretching frequencies and the vibrational and librational motions of water ligands.     

On the additivity of basis set effects in some simple fluorine containing systems

The reactions F + H₂ → HF + H, HF → H + F, F → F⁺ + e^? and F + e^? → F^? were used as simple test cases to assess the additivity of basis set effects on reaction energetics computed at the MP4 level. The 6-31G and 6-311G basis sets were augmented with 1, 2, and 3 sets of polarization functions, higher angular momentum polarization functions, and diffuse functions (27 basis sets from 6-31Gd, p) to 6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd) and likewise for the 6-311G series). For both series substantial nonadditivity was found between diffuse functions on the heavy atom and multiple polarization functions (e.g., 6-31 + G(3d, 3p) vs. 6-31 + G(d, p) and 6-31G(3d, 3p)). For the 6-311G series there is an extra nonadditivity between d functions on hydrogen and multiple polarization functions. Provided that these interactions are taken into account, the remaining basis set effects are additive to within ±0.5 kcal/mol for the reactions considered. Large basis set MP4 calculations can also be estimated to within ±0.5 kcal/mol using MP2 calculations, est. E_MP4(6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd)) ≈ E_MP4(6-31G(d, p)) + E_MP2(6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd)) – E_MP2(6-31G(d, p)) or E_MP4(6-31 + G(d, p) + E_MP2(6-31 ++ G(3df, 3pd)) – E_MP2(6-31 + G(d, p)) and likewise for the 6-311G series.     

Synthesis gas as substrate for the biological production of fuels and chemicals

Synthesis gas provides a simple substrate for the production of fuels and chemicals. Synthesis gas can be produced via established technologies from a variety of feedstocks including coal, wood, and agricultural and municipal wastes. The gasification is thermally efficient and results in complete conversion of the feedstock to fermentable substrate.Clostridium ljungdahlii grows on the synthesis gas components, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Production of acetic acid and ethanol accompanies growth with synthesis gas as sole source of energy and carbon. Rate and yield parameters are compared forC. ljungdahlii grown on carbon monoxide, or hydrogen with carbon dioxide.

     

Analysis of multiple pesticide residues in tobacco using pressurized liquid extraction, automated solid-phase extraction clean-up and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method was developed for the analysis of pesticide residues in tobacco. The objective was to significantly increase the number of samples that can be processed by the laboratory and to enable the extension of the current coverage to additional pesticides. A new analytical approach was therefore defined based on two main axes, the automation of the sample preparation and the selectivity of the analyte detection using tandem mass spectrometry. This latter aspect reduces the stringency of the requirements placed on the clean-up of the extracts and on the chromatographic resolution when less selective detectors are used. The extraction of the analytes from the matrix is performed using the pressurized liquid extraction technique. Tobacco samples are extracted at elevated temperature and pressure (100 C and 100 atm; 1 atm = 101,325 Pa) using acetone as an extraction solvent. The resulting extract is then concentrated using a Vortex evaporator. Three different solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures, adjusted to the chemical properties of the different active ingredients to be measured, are applied to the concentrated extract, thus leading to three extract fractions. The first fraction contains such main classes of active ingredients as organohalogenated and 2,6-dinitroaniline compounds while the second one collects the organophosphorus and acylalanines residues; these two fractions are analyzed by capillary gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization and electron impact ionization in the positive mode, respectively. The third extract fraction gathers the N-methylcarbamates residues which are analyzed by HPLC with post-column derivatization and fluorescence detection. The different sample preparation stages from extraction to SPE clean-up have been automated through the use of recent analytical technologies. In combination with the analysis by tandem mass spectrometry, this provided a potential for a high sample throughput.     

A search for a thermal spike effect in sputtering

The temperature dependence of the sputtering yield was measured for lOOkeV per atom bombardment of silver with molecular and atomic antimony ions. No exponential increase of the yield was found in the temperature range from 25° to 775 °C, although a pronounced nonlinear effect is observed when the yield of these projectiles is compared,Y(Sb ₂ ⁺ )≈ 1.5×[2Y(Sb⁺)]. We conclude that there is no influence of the lattice temperature on collision spikes.     

Beiträge zur chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 10. Mitt.: Elektronenspektrometrische Untersuchungen über die Struktur von Quadratsäurederivaten

The structure of squaric acid derivatives was investigated on the basis of the PPP—SCF—LCAO—MO—CI method utilizing the π-electron densities and bond orders. The parameters used in the calculations were modified to fit the experimental data for representative compounds. The data were obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry and electron absorption spectroscopy (including the polarization of the bands as determined by liquid crystal induced circular dichroism measurements).     

Sequential superparamagnetic clustering for unbiased classification of high-dimensional chemical data

For the clustering of chemical structures that are described by the Similog, ISIS count, and ISIS binary fingerprints, we propose a sequential superparamagnetic clustering approach. To appropriately handle nonbinary feature keys, we introduce an extension of the binary Tanimoto similarity measure. In our applications, data sets composed of structures from seven chemically distinct compound classes are evaluated and correctly clustered. The comparison, with results from leading methods, indicates the superiority of our sequential superparamagnetic clustering approach.     

Charge Dispersal in the Quinuclidine Radical Cation and in the Quinuclidinium Ion,as Revealed by PE and ICR Spectroscopy

The n ionization energies I and the gas-phase basicities GB of CH₃-, Cl-, or CN-substituted quinuclidines have been measured by PE and ICR spectroscopy. The dependence of the shifts ΔI and ΔGB (relative to the values of the parent molecule) allow conclusions about the charge dispersal accompanying the n ionization or the protonation of quinuclidine in the gas phase. The agreement with the results of a minimal basis set ab initio calculation is excellent. Comparison of the solution pK_a values with either I or GB reveals that 2-substituted quinuclidines exhibit sizeable solvent-induced proximity effects, i.e. that the corresponding quinuclidinium ions are more acidic in solution than expected on the basis of the gas-phase basicities. This agrees with earlier results concerning 2-substituted pyridines.