Methods for determination of all binding parameters in systems with simultaneous borate and cyclodextrin complexation

Two novel methods for determination of binding constants in the systems with borate and cyclodextrin complexation were developed. The methods enable to determine all binding parameters in these systems and even the binding constants of interaction of a neutral analyte with a neutral cyclodextrin. The first method is based on nonlinear fitting of experimental data and further evaluation of fitting parameters. The second method requires a multiple regression. The methods provide identical results with low experimental error. Only one set of measurements is required for both methods. Thus the binding parameters can be mutually compared. The binding parameters for neutral analytes ((R,R)-(+)-hydrobenzoin and (S,S)-(-)-hydrobenzoin) and neutral cyclodextrin (heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin) were evaluated and the effect of individual types of interaction was revealed. The interaction of the analytes with cyclodextrin governs the chiral recognition, while the complexation of analyte with borate is responsible for electromigration. Very low values of the binding constants of mixed analyte-cyclodextrin-borate complexes indicate that this type of complexation has negligible effect on enantioseparation.     

Alterations of the surface and morphology of tetraalkyl-ammonium modified montmorillonites upon acid treatment

The effect of short alkyl chain cations on the modification of the structure, surface and textural properties of organo-montmorillonites upon their acid treatment was investigated. Samples prepared from Ca-SAz montmorillonite and tetramethylammonium (Me(4)N(+)-), tetraethylammonium (Et(4)N(+)-), tetrapropylammonium (Pr(4)N(+)-) and tetrabutylammonium (Bu(4)N(+)-) salts were treated in 6 M HCl at 80 °C for 2-8 h and analyzed by different methods. Acid treatment of organo-montmorillonites caused gradual release of Al and Mg from the octahedral sheets and destruction of their layered structure. The extent of the changes depended significantly on the size of organo-cation. While large plate-like particles of Ca-SAz and Me(4)N-SAz were disintegrated during acid treatment and smaller fine grains were created, the morphology of Bu(4)N-SAz was modified only slightly. Pore size analysis showed generation of pore network upon organo-montmorillonites dissolution. After longer acid attack, pore volume increased and pore size distribution curves were shifted to pores with diameter above 25 ?. The surface area of acid-treated samples increased due to destruction of the montmorillonite layers and formation of the SiO(2)-rich reaction product. The highest value 475 m(2)/g was observed for Me(4)N-SAz treated 4 h. Surface area of Et(4)N-SAz, Pr(4)-SAz and Bu(4)N-SAz was 441, 419 and 293 m(2)/g, respectively, after 8 h treatment. Similar decomposition level was observed for Ca-SAz and Me(4)N-SAz, and less destruction was found for Et(4)N-SAz, Pr(4)-SAz and very low for Bu(4)N-SAz. Though Bu(4)N(+) is short alkyl chain cation, its size is large enough to cover the inner and outer surfaces of montmorillonite and thus to protect the clay layers from acid attack.     

A homogeneous, recyclable polymer support for Rh(I)-catalyzed C-C bond formation

A robust and practical polymer-supported, homogeneous, recyclable biphephos rhodium(I) catalyst has been developed for C-C bond formation reactions. Control of polymer molecular weight allowed tuning of the polymer solubility such that the polymer-supported catalyst is soluble in nonpolar solvents and insoluble in polar solvents. Using the supported rhodium catalysts, addition of aryl and vinylboronic acids to the electrophiles such as enones, aldehydes, N-sulfonyl aldimines, and alkynes occurs smoothly to provide products in high yields. Additions of terminal alkynes to enones and industrially relevant hydroformylation reactions have also been successfully carried out. Studies show that the leaching of Rh from the polymer support is low and catalyst recycle can be achieved by simple precipitation and filtration.     

Gas-phase fragmentation of deprotonated p-hydroxyphenacyl derivatives

Electrospray ionization of methanolic solutions of p-hydroxyphenacyl derivatives HO-C(6)H(4)-C(O)-CH(2)-X (X = leaving group) provides abundant signals for the deprotonated species which are assigned to the corresponding phenolate anions (-)O-C(6)H(4)-C(O)-CH(2)-X. Upon collisional activation in the gas phase, these anions inter alia undergo loss of a neutral "C(8)H(6)O(2)" species concomitant with formation of the corresponding anions X(-). The energies required for the loss of the neutral roughly correlate with the gas phase acidities of the conjugate acids (HX). Extensive theoretical studies performed for X = CF(3)COO in order to reveal the energetically most favorable pathway for the formation of neutral "C(8)H(6)O(2)" suggest three different routes of similar energy demands, involving a spirocyclopropanone, epoxide formation, and a diradical, respectively.     

A biopolymer-based carbon nanotube interface integrated with a redox shuttle and a D-sorbitol dehydrogenase for robust monitoring of D-sorbitol

We describe the preparation and characterization of a glassy carbon electrode modified with a bionanocomposite consisting of a hyaluronic acid, dispersed carbon nanotubes, and electrostatically bound toluidine blue. The electrode was used to detect NADH in the batch and flow-injection mode of operation. The electrode was further modified by immobilizing sorbitol dehydrogenase to result in biosensor for D-sorbitol that displays good operational stability, a sensitivity of 10.6???A?mM^?1?cm^?2, a response time of 16?s, and detection limit in the low micromolar range. The biosensor was successfully applied to off-line monitoring of D-sorbitol during its bioconversion into L-sorbose (a precursor in the synthesis of vitamin C) by Gluconobacter oxydans. The sample assay precision is 2.5% (an average RSD) and the throughput is 65?h^?1 if operated in the flow-injection mode. The validation of this biosensor against a reference HPLC method resulted in a slope of correlation of 1.021?±?0.001 (R ²?=?0.99997).

A novel fused-silica capillary dropping mercury electrode with long drop-time and its application on determination of critical micelle concentration

A novel long drop time mercury electrode has been constructed from common fused-silica capillary (50 μm I.D., 360 μm E.D.). Proposed device provides reproducible mercury drops with typical lifetime 40-120 s. The electrode was used for a set of electrocapillary measurements aimed at determination of critical micelle concentration of anionic surfactants by a convection controlled drop-time technique. A critical micelle concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate 5.6 ± 0.4 mmol L⁻¹ and 4.3 ± 0.4 mmol L⁻¹ were obtained in 1 mmol L⁻¹ and 5 mmol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), respectively. The values were comparable to those obtained from conductometric measurements under the same conditions (7.0 ± 0.1 mmol L⁻¹ and 5.2 ± 0.1 mmol L⁻¹, respectively) and the difference was explained in accordance with theory of hemi-micelle formation.     

Photoacid generators (PAGs) based on N-acyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines for carboxylic and sulfonic acids

Simple and efficient photoacid generators (PAGs) for carboxylic and sulfonic acids based on N-acyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines have been demonstrated. Irradiation of o-carboxylates and thermally rearranged o-arenesulfonates of N-acyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines using UV light (≥254 nm) in aqueous methanolic solution resulted in efficient generation of carboxylic and sulfonic acids, respectively. The carboxylic acid generation ability of N-acyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines was found to be dependent on their N-acyl substituents. Further, polymer bearing o-arenesulfonates of N-acyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine was synthesized and demonstrated as PAG for sulfonic acids.     

Challenging applications offered by direct analysis in real time (DART) in food-quality and safety analysis

Direct analysis in real time (DART) is an ambient ionization technique undergoing rapid development. With minimal sample pre-treatment, ionization of analyte molecules outside the mass spectrometry (MS) instrument in the ordinary atmosphere is feasible. This ionization approach relies upon the fundamental principles of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization.The current review highlights and critically assesses application of DART (and some related desorption/ionization techniques) coupled to various types of MS analyzers for both target and non-target analysis of complex food matrices. Based on existing studies, DART-MS is presented as a simple, high-throughput tool for:

(i)

qualitative confirmation of chemical identity;

(ii)

metabolomic fingerprinting/profiling; and,

(iii)

quantification of low-molecular-weight food components, including some trace organic contaminants.

With regard to regulatory requirements, we mention practical aspects of DART-MS use, as well as performance characteristics that can be attained.     

Double ionization of cycloheptatriene and the reactions of the resulting C7H(n)2+ dications (n = 6, 8) with xenon

The formation and fragmentation of the molecular dication C(7)H(8)(2+) from cycloheptatriene (CHT) and the bimolecular reactivities of C(7)H(8)(2+) and C(7)H(6)(2+) are studied using multipole-based tandem mass spectrometers with either electron ionization or photoionization using synchrotron radiation. From the photoionization studies, an apparent double-ionization energy of CHT of (22.67 ± 0.05) eV is derived, and the appearance energy of the most abundant fragment ion C(7)H(6)(2+), formed via H(2) elimination, is determined as (23.62 ± 0.07) eV. Analysis of both the experimental data as well as results of theoretical calculations strongly indicate, however, that an adiabatic transition to the dication state is not possible upon photoionization of neutral CHT and the experimental value is just considered as an upper bound. Instead, an analysis via two different Born-Haber cycles suggests (2)IE(CHT) = (21.6 ± 0.2) eV. Further, the bimolecular reactivities of the C(7)H(n)(2+) dications (n = 6, 8), generated via double ionization of CHT as a precursor, with xenon as well as nitrogen lead, inter alia, to the formation of the organo-xenon dication C(7)H(6)Xe(2+) and the corresponding nitrogen adduct C(7)H(6)N(2)(2+).