Analysis of ecstasy with a monolithic reversed-phase column

Summary A new, rapid, and precise liquid chromatographic method has been developed for simultaneous identification and quantification of amphetamine,N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine,N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine, andN-methyl-1-(3,4-methyl-enedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine in the presence of other constituents. The compounds were separated on a monolithic column with a gradient prepared from acetonitrile and 20mm monobasic potassium buffer at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min⁻¹. Quantitation was performed with metoclopramide as internal standard. Use of different flow rates was investigated and enabled reduction of the separation time from 11 to 3.5 min for seven substances. The method was then applied to ten seized tablets to identify and quantify their active ingredients.     

Parametrization of multiply differential cross sections

Multiply differential cross sections for two- and three-electron escape are parametrised in terms of generalised tensorial asymmetry parameters. The analysis is based exclusivly on rotational invariance as an exact symmetry for the experimental set up. No approximate assumptions are made on the correlated dynamics of many- electron systems. Results are valid for any atomic and molecular target. The new parameters may be used to describe experimental and theoretical data in a compact way, but also to link e.g. coincidence and non-coincidence measurements with each other.     

Multiple sprayer system for high-throughput electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A multiple sprayer electrospray ion source for high-throughput analysis is described. The ion source is comprised of multiple electrospray capillaries, each with an ion lens located near the tip. The electric potentials applied to the ion lenses are used to control the sprayers. The use of ion lenses eliminates the need for mechanical blocking devices to selectively enable or disable the sprayers, and results in a less expensive and more reliable set-up. Sprayers can be enabled or disabled within approximately 50-250 ms when the lens potentials are controlled manually. For simultaneous operation of multiple electrospray capillaries, it is advantageous to orient the capillaries so that the spray from each passes directly in front of the entrance aperture of the mass spectrometer.     

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography of polymers obtained by Friedel-Crafts reactions of poly(vinyl chloride) with aromatic compounds

Pyrolysis, in combination with gas-chromatography technique, was used in the determination of the structure and study of the thermal degradation mechanism of the condensation polymers obtained by Friedel-Crafts reactions of poly(vinyl chloride) with benzene, toluene, and naphthalene. The separation of the pyrolysis products was made using a column packed with chromosorb W (80–100 mesh) coated with 15% silicone SE-52. The identification of the pyrolysis products resulted as a consequence of the thermal decomposition of condensation polymers and their semiquantitative estimation led to the final conclusion that the initial normal chlorine substitution in the macromolecular chain of poly(vinyl chloride) is followed by an important intramolecular cyclization reaction yielding 1,3-methyleneindan units.     

Quantitative validation of different protein precipitation methods in proteome analysis of blood platelets

For the preparation of proteins for proteome analysis, precipitation is frequently used to concentrate proteins and to remove interfering compounds. Various methods for protein precipitation are applied, which rely on different chemical principles. This study compares the changes in the protein composition of human blood platelet extracts after precipitation with ethanol (EtOH) or trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Both methods yielded the same amount of proteins from the platelet preparations. However, the EtOH-precipitated samples had to be dialyzed because of the considerable salt content. To characterize single platelet proteins, samples were analyzed by two-dimensional fluorescence differential gel electrophoresis. More than 90% of all the spots were equally present in the EtOH- and TCA-precipitated samples. However, both precipitation methods showed a smaller correlation with nonprecipitated samples (EtOH 74.9%, TCA 79.2%). Several proteins were either reduced or relatively enriched in the precipitated samples. The proteins varied randomly in molecular weight and isoelectric point. This study shows that protein precipitation leads to specific changes in the protein composition of proteomics samples. This depends more on the specific structure of the protein than on the precipitating agent used in the experiment.     

Photometrische Bestimmung von Nitrat und Nitrit in Schwefels?ure mit Brucin

Zusammenfassung Bei der Wahl einer geeigneten analytischen Methode für die Nitrat- und Nitritbestimmung in konzentrierter Schwefelsäure sind die bisher bekannten Verfahren [1,3–12] wegen ihrer ungenügenden Empfindlichkeit oder wegen Schwierigkeiten bei der Probeaufbereitung auszuschließen. Wir haben daher für diesen Zweck eine einfache und zuverlässige Modifikation unserer Brucinmethode [2] ausgearbeitet, wobei eine noch größere Empfindlichkeit der Nitratbestimmung erreicht wurde. Bei geeigneter Acidität kann die Brucin-methode auch für die selektive Nitritbestimmung verwendet werden. Das hier beschriebene Verfahren ersetzt eine analoge Modifikation [5], die wegen ihrer methodischen Unrichtigkeit unzureichend ist.

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Photometric determination of nitrate and nitrite in sulphuric acid using brucine

A modified brucine method is recommended as a result of a detailed study of the reaction conditions. By suitable selection of acidity and tempering period two ranges of sensitivity have been obtained for the nitrate determination (0–5 and 0.1 bis 0.5 g NO₃ ^–-N/g H₂SO₄, resp.). At low concentrations of sulphuric acid nitrite may be determined in presence of nitrate by the same brucine method. Maximum errors are ±0.02 resp. ±0.05 g NO₃ ^–-N and ±0.05 NO₂ ^–-N.

     

Conformational structure of N-methylpropionamide and N-methylisobutyroamede. NMR shift reagent and IR study

The structures of the stable conformers of N-methyjpropionamide and N-methyliso-butyroamide in CCl₄, solution were determined by a combination of IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy with lanthanide shift reagents. N-methyl-propionamide was found to exist in the form of two rotational isomers, 1 and 2, with the ethyl group twisted out of the plane of the amide bond by the angles Ψ = 140 and 20°, respectively. For these two conformers, the enthalpy difference is ΔH = 2.13 ± 0.08 kcal mole^?1 and the entropy difference ΔS = 7.81 ± 0.55 cal mole^?1 grad^?1. N-methylisobutyroamide exists in a single form, with the two C-methyl group positions very close to those found in the two isomers of N-methylpropionamide.     

The Mitsunobu Inversion Reaction of Sterically Hindered 17-Hydroxy Steroids

The Mitsunobu inversion reaction of 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ol is dramatically influenced by the acidic component. There appears to be a relationship between the dissociation constant of the electron-withdrawing substituent on the aryl acid and the overall effectiveness of the reaction, with more acidic species generally providing a higher yield of inverted product.     

Chemical reaction studies in CH4/Ar and CH4/N2 gas mixtures of a dielectric barrier discharge

Chemical reactions in a dielectric barrier discharge at medium pressure of 250-300 mbar have been studied in CH(4)/Ar and CH(4)/N(2) gas mixtures by means of mass spectrometry. The main reaction scheme is production of H(2) by fragmentation of CH(4), but also production of higher order hydrocarbon molecules such as C(n)H(m) with n up to 9 including formation of different functional CN groups is observed. Formation of C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), and C(2)H(6) molecules has been investigated in some detail. Significant differences are noted in comparison to a theoretical estimate.     

Force field and 13C-NMR investigations of substituted cyclopentanes. A concept for the adaption of 13C NMR shifts to varying torsional arrangements in flexible conformers

MM2 Exploration of the conformational space for methylcyclopentane, in contrast to cyclopentanone yields more and flatter minima than known previously. Calculations of cyclopentanes with substituents X = F, Cl, CHMe₂, and CMe₃ with two stable conformations indicate <2° torsional angle changes with the different substituents. Cyclopentanes bearing not more than 2 substituents can accommodate all groups in pseudoequatorial positions without changing the basic envelope and twist chair geometries significantly. A model for ¹³C-shift calculation is proposed in which shift increments for the different torsional arrangements are obtained by linear interpolation between corresponding cyclohexane values. After correction for the nonequivalent carbon shifts in the hydrocarbon itself, again using the linear interpolation, a significant improvement of the shift correlations is observed. For disubstituted cyclopentanes these predict the shifts within ± 1.7 ppm with Me, CHMe₂, CMe₃, Cl, Br and OH as substituents. Configurational assignments are difficult with 1,3-di-substituted cyclopentanes, but straightforward with 1,2-di- and trisubstituted compounds. Thus, due to the presence of smaller torsional angles between, e.g. diequatorial vicinal substituents in the 1,2- cis series as compared to the trans compounds, the latter show deshielding, particularly at C2, by 1–4 ppm. Several epimers are stereo-selectively prepared by suitable ketone reduction and displacement methods.