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+).     

Unprecedented π···π interaction between an aromatic ring and a pseudo-aromatic ring formed through intramolecular H-bonding in a bidentate Schiff base ligand: crystal structure and DFT calculations

A combination of a single crystal X-ray diffraction study and density functional theory calculations has been applied to a bidentate Schiff base compound to elucidate different cooperative non-covalent interactions involved in the stabilization of the keto form over the enol one in the solid state. The single crystal X-ray structure reveals a remarkable supramolecular assembly of the keto form through a cyclic hydrogen bonded dimeric motif. The most interesting feature in the supramolecular assembly is the formation of a 'dimer of dimer' motif by π···π, CH···π and N···O/O···O interactions in which the π···π interaction involving the aromatic phenyl ring and the intramolecularly hydrogen bonded pseudo-aromatic ring of the keto form lying just above or below the phenyl ring of the other dimer seems to be unprecedented. The optimized geometry of the hydrogen bonded dimeric motif of the keto form of the organic molecule has been obtained by DFT calculations and agrees very well with that found within the crystalline state. The X-ray crystallographic geometry of the 'dimer of dimer' has also been computed, which shows that in the HOMO, the π electrons are localized in the phenyl rings away from each other, while in the LUMO, there is a strong π-π interaction between the phenyl ring of one dimer with the pseudo-aromatic ring of another dimer with an energy estimated to be 7.95 kJ mol(-1). Therefore, on HOMO → LUMO excitation there is localization of π electrons in the central part of the complex moiety which plays a stabilizing role of the dimer of dimer motif in the solid state.     

Can an eight π-electron bare ring be planar?

Here we explore in silico an alternative to make planar eight π-electron bare ring systems with substitutions of some cyclooctatetraene ring carbon atoms by heavier group 14 elements. We found that the most stable eight membered rings with formulae C(4)Si(4)H(8), C(4)Ge(4)H(8), and C(4)Sn(4)H(8) have a perfect planar structure, enhancing delocalization energy as compared to cot.     

Palladacycles of novel bisoxazoline chelating ligands based on the dimeric cyclobutadiene linked cobalt sandwich compound [(η5-Cp)Co(η4-C4Ph3)]2

The reaction of 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne along with diphenylacetylene, when carried out with η(5)-[MeOC(O)Cp]Co(PPh(3))(2) resulted in the cyclobutadiene linked dimeric cobalt sandwich compound {[η(5)-MeOC(O)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))}(2) (1) along with the known monomeric compound η(5)-[MeOC(O)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(4)). Compound 1, on treatment with KOH gave the dicarboxylic acid {η(5)-[HOC(O)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))}(2) (2) which on reaction with oxalyl chloride followed by (S)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, triethylamine and mesylchloride was converted to the bis(cobalt oxazoline) based chiral ligand {[η(5)-(4-iPr-2-Ox)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))}(2) (3) (Ox = Oxazolinyl). Compound 3 on reaction with palladium acetate gave an NCN bound bis(cobalt-oxazolinyl) palladacycle {[η(5)-(4-iPr-2-Ox)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))}(2)PdOAc (4) having both the oxazolinyl groups bound to the palladium in a chelate mode and one of the Cp rings forming a five membered [C,N] palladacycle. Reaction of 4 with aq. NaCl resulted in the chloro analogue of 4, {[η(5)-(4-iPr-2-Ox)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))}(2)PdCl (5). A nonchiral bidentate bis cobalt oxazoline ligand {[η(5)-(Ox)Cp]Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))}(2) (6) was also prepared by replacing (S)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol with 2-amino-1-ethanol in the procedure used for the preparation of 3. A reaction of 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne, diphenylacetylene and (η(5)-Cp)Co(PPh(3))(2) resulted in the dimer [(η(5)-Cp)Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))](2) (7) and small amounts of a trimer [(η(5)-Cp)Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(3))](2)[(η(5)-Cp)Co(η(4)-C(4)Ph(2))] (8) having no substituents on the Cp rings. All the compounds except 2 were structurally characterized. Structural studies on palladacycles 4 and 5 showed interesting anagostic C-H···Pd interactions between the ortho hydrogen of one of the Cp rings and the palladium centre. Preliminary studies carried out on the palladacycles showed promising catalytic activity in the asymmetric rearrangement of trichloroacetimidates.     

Live encapsulation of a Keggin polyanion in NH2-MIL-101(Al) observed by in situ time resolved X-ray scattering

The templating effect of the Keggin polyanion derived from phosphotungstic acid (PTA) during the synthesis of NH(2)-MIL-101(Al) has been investigated by means of in situ SAXS/WAXS. Kinetic analysis and structural observations demonstrate that PTA acts as a nucleation site and that it stabilizes the precursor phase NH(2)-MOF-235(Al). Surprisingly kinetics of formation are little changed.     

Crystallization products of risedronate with carbohydrates and their substituted derivatives

The gastrointestinal absorption of bisphosphonates is in general only about 1%. To address this problem mixtures of risedronate monosodium salt with twelve varied sugar alcohols, furanoses, pyranoses and eight gluco-, manno- and galactopyranoside derivatives as counterions were designed in an effort to prepare co-crystals/new entities with improved intestinal absorption. Crystalline forms were generated by means of kinetically and/or thermodynamically controlled crystallization processes. One hundred and fifty-two prepared samples were screened by means of FT-NIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy. No co-crystal was prepared, but noteworthy results were obtained. A new solid phase of risedronate monosodium salt generated in the presence of phenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside under thermodynamically controlled crystallization conditions was found and also characterized using solid state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. This new polymorph was named as form P. Interactions between risedronate monosodium salt and both carbohydrates were confirmed by means of molecular dynamics simulation. In the present study the relationships between the chemical structures of the studied compounds required for crystalline form change are discussed.     

Thermal decomposition and antimicrobial activity of zinc(II) 2-bromobenzoates with organic ligands

New zinc(II) 2-bromobenzoate complex compounds with general formula Zn(2-BrC₆H₄COO)₂·nL·xH₂O (where L = urea, nicotinamide, N-methylnicotinamide, N,N-diethylnicotinamide, isonicotinamide, phenazone n = 0–2, x = 0–2) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The thermal decomposition of hydrated compounds started with dehydration process. During the thermal decomposition organic ligand, carbon dioxide and bis(2-bromophenyl)ketone were evolved. The solid intermediates and volatile products of thermal decomposition were proved by IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The final solid product of the thermal decomposition heated up to 1073 K was zinc oxide. Antimicrobial activity of the prepared compounds was tested against various strains of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi (E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans, R. oryzae, A. alternate and M. gypseum). It was found that the selected bacteria were more sensitive to the studied zinc(II) complex compounds than the yeast and the filamentous fungi.     

Validated stability-indicating spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of ebastine in pharmaceutical preparations

Two sensitive, selective, economic, and validated spectrofluorimetric methods were developed for the determination of ebastine (EBS) in pharmaceutical preparations depending on reaction with its tertiary amino group. Method I involves condensation of the drug with mixed anhydrides (citric and acetic anhydrides) producing a product with intense fluorescence, which was measured at 496 nm after excitation at 388 nm.