Ultrafast carbene-carbene isomerization

The photochemistry of two isomeric aryl diazo ketones was investigated by fs time-resolved UV-vis and IR spectroscopies. Both diazo ketone excited states decompose in less than 300 fs by multiple pathways. One pathway involves concerted Wolff rearrangement and nitrogen extrusion, most likely in the syn rotomer. In the anti rotomer of one isomer, oxygen migration proceeds in concert with nitrogen extrusion to form rearranged keto carbene. This rotomer excited state also decomposes to form unrearranged carbene, which isomerizes in 5 ps.     

Rime samples characterization and comparison using classical and fuzzy principal components analysis

The main objective of this paper is to introduce principal component analysis and two robust fuzzy principal component algorithms as useful tools in characterizing and comparing rime samples collected in different locations in Poland (2004–2007). The efficiency of the applied procedures was illustrated on a data set containing 108 rime samples and concentration of anions, cations, HCHO, as well as pH and conductivity. The fuzzy principal component algorithms achieved better results mainly because they are more compressible than classical PCA and very robust to outliers. For example, a three component model, fuzzy principal component analysis-first component (FPCA-1) accounts for 62.37% of the total variance and fuzzy principal component analysis-orthogonal (FPCA-o) 90.11%; PCA accounts only for 58.30%. The first two principal components explain 51.41% of the total variance in the case of FPCA-1 and 79.59% in the case of FPCA-o as compared to only 47.55% for PCA. As a direct consequence, PCA showed only a partial differentiation of rime samples onto the plane or in the space described by different combination of two or three principal components, whereas a much sharper differentiation of the samples, regarding their origin and location, is observed when FPCAs are applied.      

Ultrafast spectroscopic study of the photochemistry and photophysics of arylhalodiazirines: direct observation of carbene and zwitterion formation

Ultrafast photolysis (lambdaex = 270, 350, or 360 nm) of bromophenyl, chlorophenyl, fluorophenyl, and fluoro-para-trifluoromethylphenyl diazirines produces transient species which absorb broadly in the UV and visible regions. Transient decay can be fit to either mono- or biexponential functions (tau1 approximately 0.3-10 ps, tau2 approximately 10-350 ps; dependent on solvent and halogen). Fluoro- and chlorophenylcarbene are formed within the time resolution of the spectrometer (300 fs, 270 nm excitation). Bromophenyl diazirine decay (270 nm excitation) correlates with the growth of bromophenylcarbene. Solvent and substituent effects on the slower decays of the transient absorptions are consistent with assigning the carriers of transient absorption in the visible region to ring-opened zwitterionic species.     

Quantitative measurement of different ceramide species from crude cellular extracts by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry

Normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) coupled to atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) allows quantitative analysis of endogenous ceramide and dihydroceramide species from crude lipid extracts. Qualitative information for the species comes from observation of differences in chromatographic and mass spectrometric behavior between species (Pettus et al. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2003; 17: 1017-1026). Quantitative analysis is achieved by (1) use of a synthetic internal standard as an extraction and injection control, (2) lack of salt adduction, ion suppression, or other matrix effects in APCI mode, and (3) consistent fragmentation and ionization of external standards across the physiologically relevant concentration range found in endogenous lipid samples. Application to the analysis and quantitation of ceramide and dihydroceramide from various cell lines is demonstrated. The results from APCI-MS analysis corroborate and enhance information acquired from use of the diacylglycerol kinase assay for total ceramide measurement. This technique readily allows simultaneous quantitation of ceramide and dihydroceramide species.     

Assessment of 4-nitrogenated benzyloxymethyl groups for 2'-hydroxyl protection in solid-phase RNA synthesis

The search for a 2'-OH protecting group that would impart ribonucleoside phosphoramidites with coupling kinetics and coupling efficiencies comparable to those of deoxyribonucleoside phosphoramidites led to an assessment of 2'-O-(4-nitrogenated benzyloxy)methyl groups through solid-phase RNA synthesis using phosphoramidites 2a-d, 12a, and 14a. These phosphoramidites exhibited rapid and efficient coupling properties. Particularly noteworthy is the cleavage of the 2'-O-[4-(N-methylamino)benzyloxy]methyl groups in 0.1 M AcOH, which led to U19dT within 15 min at 90 degrees C. [reaction: see text]     

Monitoring and analytics of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in indoor air

This paper reviews literature information on the behaviour of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the indoor environment, as well as the most likely emission sources. The consecutive stages of analytical procedures used for monitoring SVOCs in indoor environments are described. The most common approaches used for collecting samples from the gas and particulate phases are mentioned. The paper discusses and compares various types of sorbents and filters applied in dynamic, passive and denudational techniques, as well as the techniques used to liberate the SVOCs, including Soxhlet, sonication and microwave extraction. The main advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, together with possible future trends. The approaches commonly used during the final determination step, such as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, are presented together with their possible drawbacks, and ways of eliminating them are suggested. The review makes brief reference to the effects of human exposure to SVOCs in house dust and discusses the main aspects of the analytical procedures used to monitor the presence of SVOCs in this medium.     

Determination of total carbon and total organic carbon from volatile air pollutants. Part I

Summary A new method of collection of representative air samples for the determination of TC and TOC from volatile air pollutants has been developed. The organic substances undergo combustion and only the carbon dioxide produced is concentrated on molecular sieve 5 A at ambient temperature. The CO₂ is subsequently liberated by thermal desorption at ca. 380°C in a stream of purified gas. Atmospheric CO₂ must be removed first and this can be done (at the sample flow rate of 700 ml/min) by a layer of Ascarite heated at 90° C. Organic compounds passing through the layer are then combusted by a dynamic method utilizing Körbl catalyst and the CO₂ formed is concentrated on a molecular sieve 5 A, followed by thermal desorption and final determination. Organic acids are also retained by the first CO₂ absorber. A diffusion cell for preparation of the mixtures of purified air with vapours of organic compounds is described.

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Zusammenfassung Eine neue Anreicherungsmethode zur Gewinnung representativer Luftproben zur Bestimmung des Gesamtkohlenstoffgehaltes und des Gehaltes an organischem Kohlenstoff (TOC) aus flüchtigen Luftverunreinigungen wurde entwickelt. Während der Probenahme werden die flüchtigen Verunreinigungen verbrannt und nur das entstandene Kohlendioxid bei Zimmertemperatur am Molekularsieb 5A angereichert. Anschließend wird CO₂ bei ca. 380° C im gereinigten Gasstrom thermisch desorbiert. Bei der TOC-Bestimmung muß atmosphärisches CO₂ vorangehend aus dem Luftstrom entfernt werden und wird an einer auf 90° C erwärmten Ascariteschicht gebunden. Die durchfließenden organischen Verbindungen werden dann im dynamischen System am Körblkatalysator oxydiert, das entstandene CO₂ am Molekularsieb 5A angereichert, thermisch desorbiert und einer Endbestimmung zugeführt. Organische Säuren werden gleichfalls durch den ersten CO₂-Absorber gebunden. Eine Diffusionszelle zur Herstellung von Gemischen gereinigter Luft mit Dämpfen organischer Verbindungen wurde beschrieben.

     

Thermolytic carbonates for potential 5'-hydroxyl protection of deoxyribonucleosides

Thermolytic groups structurally related to well-studied heat-sensitive phosphate/thiophosphate protecting groups have been evaluated for 5'-hydroxyl protection of deoxyribonucleosides as carbonates and for potential use in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. The spatial arrangement of selected functional groups forming an asymmetric nucleosidic 5'-O-carbonic acid ester has been designed to enable heat-induced cyclodecarbonation reactions, which would result in the release of carbon dioxide and the generation of a nucleosidic 5'-hydroxyl group. The nucleosidic 5'-O-carbonates 3-8, 10-15, and 19-21 were prepared and were isolated in yields ranging from 45 to 83%. Thermolytic deprotection of these carbonates is preferably performed in aqueous organic solvent at 90 degrees C under near neutral conditions. The rates of carbonate deprotection are dependent on the nucleophilicity of the functional group involved in the postulated cyclodecarbonation reaction and on solvent polarity. Deprotection kinetics increase according to the following order: 4 < 5 < 10 < 6 < 12 < 7 < 13 < 8 < 14 congruent with 19-21 and CCl4 < dioxane < MeCN < t-BuOH < MeCN:phosphate buffer (3:1 v/v, pH 7.0) < EtOH:phosphate buffer (1:1 v/v, pH 7.0). Complete thermolytic deprotection of carbonates 7, 8, 13, and 14 is achieved within 20 min to 2 h under optimal conditions in phosphate buffer-MeCN. The 2-(2-pyridyl)amino-1-phenylethyl and 2-[N-methyl-N-(2-pyridyl)]aminoethyl groups are particularly promising for 5'-hydroxyl protection of deoxyribonucleosides as thermolytic carbonates.     

ResonanceRaman spectra of Iron(II) complexes with 4,4′-didodecyloxy-2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-dioctadecyloxy-2,2′-bipyridine

The resonanceRaman spectra of Fe(LC ₁₂)₃Cl₂ and Fe(LC ₁₈)₃Cl₂ (whereLC ₁₂ andLC ₁₈ denote 4,4′-didodecyloxy-2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-dioctadecyloxy-2,2′-bipyridine, respectively) have been measured along with their excitation profiles. The exciting lines of an Ar⁺ laser have been used. The bands appearing in theRR spectra within 1 200–1 600cm^?1 (expected to arise from thebipy moiety C-N and C-C vibrations) suffer the greatest resonance enhancements. Both depolarization ratios of theRaman bands and excitation profiles reveal the interaction of the resonant electronic states.