Determination of ultra trace levels of 1,2-dichloroethane in air by sample enrichment micromachined gas chromatography-differential mobility detection

A novel analytical procedure has been developed for the analysis of ultra trace levels of 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) in air using sample enrichment in combination with micromachined gas chromatography (GC) and differential mobility detection (DMD). When compared to other contemporary GC techniques, such as GC-flame ionization detection, GC-electron capture detection, or GC-electrolytic conductivity detection, the employment of a DMD in combination with a preconcentrator provided better sensitivity and markedly improved selectivity. The increase in sensitivity reduces false-negative results, while the improvement in selectivity decreases the potential for false-positive results. Using the technique described, a complete analysis can be conducted in less than 10 min, with a detection limit of 0.7 ppb (v/v) of EDC and a short term precision of less than 6%. A correlation coefficient of 0.9988 was obtained over an EDC concentration range from 0.7 ppb to 36.4 ppb (v/v). The analytical system also has an on-board microTCD in series with the DMD, allowing both detector outputs to be monitored simultaneously. With the pre-concentration technique, the microTCD can detect EDC as low as 15 ppb (v/v) with a substantially enhanced linear dynamic range in addition to providing a confirmation means for the presence of EDC at the level cited.     

A unified approach for the measurement of individual or total volatile organic sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon matrices by dual-plasma chemiluminescence detector and low thermal mass gas chromatography

A novel gas chromatographic technique has been developed, offering dual-analytical capability of either speciation or rapid measurement of total volatile sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon matrices using the same hardware. The technique employs a pressurized liquid injection system for the delivery of volatile liquid hydrocarbons, low thermal mass gas chromatography, and a dual-plasma sulfur chemiluminescence detector to enable this dual capability with a high degree of sensitivity and selectivity towards sulfur-containing compounds. Using the technique described, a detection limit in the range of 20 ppb sulfur and less than 30 s analysis is attained. Response is linear over five orders of magnitude, with a high degree of repeatability.     

Capillary flow technology with multi-dimensional gas chromatography for trace analysis of oxygenated compounds in complex hydrocarbon matrices

By employing multi-dimension gas chromatography with capillary flow technology in combination with highly selective capillary columns and a pressurized liquid injection system, light oxygenated compounds such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, 2-propanol, and n-butanol in the presence of either light hydrocarbon, heavy hydrocarbon, or aromatic matrices can be measured accurately with minimal possibility of a false positive. Using this technique, a detection limit of at least 0.20 ppm (w/w) with a linear correlation coefficient greater than 0.9993 over a range from 0.5 ppm to 600 ppm (w/w) and a relative standard deviation of greater than 2.7% are achieved for the solutes tested. The technique can also be effective for the measurement of other classes of oxygenated compounds such as ethers, aldehydes, and ketones. Another added benefit for the implementation of capillary flow technology is the capability to conduct column back-flushing, where heavier, undesired solutes in a sample can be back-flushed from the chromatographic system to improve system cleanliness and sample throughput.     

Stacked injection with low thermal mass gas chromatography for PPB level detection of oxygenated compounds in hydrocarbons

The presence of oxygenated compounds in light hydrocarbons can have a negative impact in manufacturing processes and on the quality of products produced. The development of an analytical technique termed "stacked injection" has been reported earlier. With this technique, sensitivity in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range for oxygenated compounds can be achieved, even with a flame ionization detector; however, there are drawbacks for this approach that limit its overall effectiveness. A new, improved analytical technique has been developed that not only addresses the shortcomings encountered, but offers markedly higher analytical performance. The new concept employs multidimensional gas chromatography (GC) with low thermal mass GC. With this new approach, throughput improvements of up to 5 times, range extension of solutes amenable for this analysis of up to nC16 alcohol, and ppb levels of detection for oxygenated compounds are achieved. Apart from alcohols, this technique is successfully employed for the ppb level analysis of other classes of oxygenated compounds, such as ethers, aldehydes, and aromatics.     

Structural basis for selectivity of a small molecule, S1-binding, submicromolar inhibitor of urokinase-type plasminogen activator

BACKGROUND: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a protease associated with tumor metastasis and invasion. Inhibitors of uPA may have potential as drugs for prostate, breast and other cancers. Therapeutically useful inhibitors must be selective for uPA and not appreciably inhibit the related, and structurally and functionally similar enzyme, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), involved in the vital blood-clotting cascade. RESULTS: We produced mutagenically deglycosylated low molecular weight uPA and determined the crystal structure of its complex with 4-iodobenzo[b]thiophene 2-carboxamidine (K(i) = 0.21 +/- 0.02 microM). To probe the structural determinants of the affinity and selectivity of this inhibitor for uPA we also determined the structures of its trypsin and thrombin complexes, of apo-trypsin, apo-thrombin and apo-factor Xa, and of uPA, trypsin and thrombin bound by compounds that are less effective uPA inhibitors, benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamidine, thieno[2,3-b]-pyridine-2-carboxamidine and benzamidine. The K(i) values of each inhibitor toward uPA, tPA, trypsin, tryptase, thrombin and factor Xa were determined and compared. One selectivity determinant of the benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamidines for uPA involves a hydrogen bond at the S1 site to Ogamma(Ser190) that is absent in the Ala190 proteases, tPA, thrombin and factor Xa. Other subtle differences in the architecture of the S1 site also influence inhibitor affinity and enzyme-bound structure. CONCLUSIONS: Subtle structural differences in the S1 site of uPA compared with that of related proteases, which result in part from the presence of a serine residue at position 190, account for the selectivity of small thiophene-2-carboxamidines for uPA, and afford a framework for structure-based design of small, potent, selective uPA inhibitors.     

Carbenylative amination with N-tosylhydrazones

A Pd-catalyzed reaction of vinyl iodides and N-tosylhydrazones that assembles η(3)-allyl ligands through carbene insertion is demonstrated. Intramolecular trapping with nitrogen nucleophiles generates good yields of cinnamyl and pentadienyl amines like those found in alkaloid natural products. Carbenylative amination was the key reaction to complete the synthesis of the alkaloid caulophyllumine B. Migratory insertion was biased to provide allylamines with optical purity up to 64% ee, but in a lower yield.     

Resistively heated temperature programmable silicon micromachined gas chromatography with differential mobility spectrometry

A microfabricated electromechanical system based on radio frequency modulated ion mobility spectrometry (MEMS-RFIMS), also known as differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS) has been successfully interfaced to a custom-fabricated resistively heated temperature programmable micromachined gas chromatograph. In contrast to a conventional time-of-flight ion mobility spectrometer, the DMS uses the non-linear mobility dependence in strong radio frequency electric fields for ion filtering. Selective and sensitive detection of targeted analytes of interest can be achieved by using different transport gases, radio frequencies, and associated compensation voltages. In addition, the detection of both positive and negative ions, depending on the ionization mechanism favorable to the analytes involved is achieved. When compared to a stand-alone GC with a non spectrometric detector or a stand-alone DMS, GC-DMS as a hyphenated technique offers two competitive advantages; two orthogonal separating methods in a single analytical system and the resolving power of gas chromatography to minimize charge exchange in the ionization chamber of the detector. In this article, a portable, resistively heated temperature programmable silicon machined gas chromatograph with differential mobility detection is introduced. The performance of the instrument is illustrated with examples of difficult industrial applications.     

Seeing luminescence appear as crystals crumble. Isolation and subsequent self-association of individual [(C6H11NC)2Au]+ ions in crystals

Non-luminescent, isostructural crystals of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](EF₆)·C₆H₆ (E = As, Sb) lose benzene upon standing in air to produce green luminescent (E = As) or blue luminescent (E = Sb) powders. Previous studies have shown that the two-coordinate cation, [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au]⁺, self-associates to form luminescent crystals that contain linear or nearly linear chains of cations and display unusual polymorphic, vapochromic, and/or thermochromic properties. Here, we report the formation of non-luminescent crystalline salts in which individual [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au]⁺ ions are isolated from one another. In [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](BArF₂₄) ((BArF₂₄)⁻ is tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) each cation is surrounded by two anions that prohibit any close approach of the gold ions. Crystallization of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](EF₆) (E = As or Sb, but not P) from benzene solution produces colorless, non-emissive crystals of the solvates [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](EF₆)·C₆H₆. These two solvates are isostructural and contain columns in which cations and benzene molecules alternate. With the benzene molecules separating the cations, the shortest distances between gold ions are 6.936(2) Å for E = As and 6.9717(19) Å for E = Sb. Upon removal from the mother liquor, these crystals crack due to the loss of benzene from the crystal and form luminescent powders. Crystals of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](SbF₆)·C₆H₆ that powder out form a pale yellow powder with a blue luminescence with emission spectra and powder X-ray diffraction data that show that the previously characterized [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](SbF₆) is formed. In the process, the distances between the gold(i) ions decrease to ∼3 Å and half of the cyclohexyl groups move from an axial orientation to an equatorial one. Remarkably, when crystals of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](AsF₆)·C₆H₆ stand in air, they lose benzene and are converted into the yellow, green-luminescent polymorph of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](AsF₆) rather than the colorless, blue-luminescent polymorph. Paradoxically, the yellow, green-luminescent powder that forms as well as authentic crystals of the yellow, green-luminescent polymorph of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](AsF₆) are sensitive to benzene vapor and are converted by exposure to benzene vapor into the colorless, blue-luminescent polymorph.

Non-luminescent crystals of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](AsF₆)·C₆H₆ readily lose benzene to form the green-luminescent polymorph of [(C₆H₁₁NC)₂Au](AsF₆) rather than the blue-luminescent polymorph.     

Measure of bullwhip effect in supply chains with autoregressive demand process

In supply chain management, one of the most critical problems which require a lot of effort to deal with is how to quantify and alleviate the impact of bullwhip effect – the phenomenon in which information on demand is distorted while moving upstream. Although it is well established that demand forecast, lead time, order batching, shortage gaming and price fluctuation are the main sources that lead to the bullwhip effect, the problem of quantifying bullwhip effect still remain unsolved in many situations due to the complex nature of the problem. In this research, a measure of bullwhip effect will be developed for a simple two-stage supply chain that includes only one retailer and one supplier in the environment where the retailer employs base stock policy for their inventory and demand forecast is performed through the first-order autoregressive model, AR(1). The effect of autoregressive coefficient and lead time on this measure will then be investigated.