Analysis of small molecules by ultra thin-layer chromatography-atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The feasibility of ultra thin-layer chromatography atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS) has been studied in the analysis of small molecules. Because of a thinner adsorbent layer, the monolithic UTLC plates provide 10-100 times better sensitivity in MALDI analysis than conventional high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates. The limits of detection down to a low picomole range are demonstrated by UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS. Other advantages of UTLC over HPTLC include faster separations and lower solvent consumption. The performances of AP-MALDI-MS and vacuum MALDI-MS have been compared in the analysis of small drug molecules directly from the UTLC plates. The desorption from the irregular surface of UTLC plates with an external AP-MALDI ion source combined with an ion trap instrument provides clearly less variation in measurements of m/z values when compared with a vacuum MALDI-time-of-flight (TOF) instrument. The performance of the UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS method has been applied successfully to the purity analysis of synthesis products produced by solid-phase parallel synthesis method.     

Bond stretching and redox behavior in coinage metal complexes of the dichalcogenide dianions [(SPh2P)2CEEC(PPh2S)2]2- (E=S, Se): diradical character of the dinuclear copper(I) complex (E=S)

The metathetical reactions of a) [Li(tmeda)]₂[(S)C(PPh₂S)₂] (Li₂? 3 c ) with CuCl₂ and b) [Li(tmeda)]₂[(SPh₂P)₂CSSC(PPh₂S)₂] (Li₂? 4 c ) with two equivalents of CuCl both afford the binuclear Cu^I complex {Cu₂[(SPh₂P)₂CSSC(PPh₂S)₂]} ( 5 c ). The elongated (C)S? S(C) bond (ca. 2.54 and 2.72 Å) of the dianionic ligand observed in the solid‐state structure of 5 c indicate the presence of diradical character as supported by theoretical analyses. The treatment of [Li(tmeda)]₂[(SPh₂P)₂CSeSeC(PPh₂S)₂] (Li₂? 4 b ) and Li₂? 4 c with AgOSO₂CF₃ produce the analogous Ag^I derivatives, {Ag₂[(SPh₂P)₂CEEC(PPh₂S)₂]} ( 6 b , E=Se; 6 c , E=S), respectively. The diselenide complex 6 b exhibits notably weaker Ag? Se(C) bonds than the corresponding contacts in the Cu^I congeners, and the ³¹P NMR data suggest a possible isomerization in solution. In contrast to the metathesis observed for Cu^I and Ag^I reagents, the reactions of Li₂? 4 b and Li₂? 4 c with Au(CO)Cl involve a redox process in which the dimeric dichalcogenide ligands are reduced to the corresponding monomeric dianions, [(E)C(PPh₂S)₂]^2? ( 3 b , E=Se; 3 c , E=S), and one of the gold centers is oxidized to generate the mixed‐valent Au^I/Au^III complexes, {Au[(E)C(PPh₂S)₂]}₂ ( 7 b , E=Se; 7 c , E=S), with relatively strong aurophilic Au^I???Au^III interactions. The new compounds 5 c , 6 b , c and 7 b , c are characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X‐ray crystallography ( 5 c , 6 b , 7 b and 7 c ) and by Raman spectroscopy ( 5 c and 6 c ). The UV‐visible spectra of coinage metal complexes of the type 5 , 6 and 7 are discussed in the light of results from theoretical analyses using time‐dependent density functional theory.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Applications of Schiff Base Chemosensor for Determination of Cr(III) Ions

The development of a highly sensitive, selective, and efficient sensor for the determination and detection of Cr(III) ions remains a great challenge. Recently, some fluorescent chemosensors have been developed for the recognition of Cr(III) ions. But, the main drawbacks of the reported fluorescent chemosensors are the lack of selectivity and interference of anions and other trivalent cations. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel thiazole-based fluorescent and colorimetric Schiff base chemosensor SB2 for the detection of Cr(III) ion by chemodosimetric approach. Using different analytical techniques including UV–vis, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and FT-IR analysis the chemosensor SB2 was structurally characterized. The fully characterized chemosensor SB2 was used for the spectrofluorimetric and colorimetric detection of Cr(III) ions. Interestingly, chemosensor SB2 upon interaction with various metal cations including Ni²⁺, Na⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, Mn²⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sn²⁺, Al³⁺ and Cr³⁺ displays highly selective and sensitive fluorescent (turn-on) and colorimetric (yellow to colorless) response toward Cr(III) ions. The fluorescence and UV–vis techniques confirmed the selective hydrolysis of azomethine group (-C?=?N-) of Schiff base chemosensor SB2 by Cr(III) ions. As a result, the fluorescence enhancement was observed that is corresponding to 2-hydroxy-1-nepthaldehyde (fluorophore). The chemosensor SB2 exhibits high interference performance towards Cr(III) ions over other metal cations in a wide pH range. Mover, the quite low detection limit was calculated to be 0.027 µg ml-1 (0.5 µM) (3σ/slop), lower than the maximum tolerable limits of Cr(III ions (10 µM) in drinking water permitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These results show that chemosensor SB2 has great potential to detect selectively Cr(III) ions in the agricultural, environmental and biological analysis system.

Graphical Abstract

     

From seconds to months: an overview of multi-scale dynamics of mobile telephone calls

Big Data on electronic records of social interactions allow approaching human behaviour and sociality from a quantitative point of view with unforeseen statistical power. Mobile telephone Call Detail Records (CDRs), automatically collected by telecom operators for billing purposes, have proven especially fruitful for understanding one-to-one communication patterns as well as the dynamics of social networks that are reflected in such patterns. We present an overview of empirical results on the multi-scale dynamics of social dynamics and networks inferred from mobile telephone calls. We begin with the shortest timescales and fastest dynamics, such as burstiness of call sequences between individuals, and “zoom out” towards longer temporal and larger structural scales, from temporal motifs formed by correlated calls between multiple individuals to long-term dynamics of social groups. We conclude this overview with a future outlook.     

The Sonogashira Coupling of Polymer‐Supported Propargylamine with Aryl Iodides

The Sonogashira coupling reaction of polymer‐supported propargylamine (=prop‐2‐yn‐1‐amine) with aryl iodides in the presence of the [Pd(PPh₃)₂]Cl₂/CuI catalyst system produces 3‐arylprop‐1‐yn‐1‐amines smoothly at room temperature (Scheme). When propargylamine is attached on Wang resin through a carbamate linker, the common problems with amino functionality in palladium‐catalyzed couplings are overcome. The arylpropynamines are cleaved from the polymer with CF₃COOH and converted into chromatographically easily separable acetamides. Our solid‐phase method opens a new pathway toward precursors of pharmacologically interesting arylpropynamines and arylpropanamines.     

Impossibility of Stokes decomposition for a class of light beams

Decomposition throughout all space of a typical light beam into the sum of a completely polarized and a completely unpolarized beam (Stokes decomposition) seems to be rather the exception than the rule. However, it is known that such decomposition can often be made across a certain plane, although it may lose validity upon propagation. Then, one may guess that, for any light beam, there exists at least one plane where the Stokes decomposition can be performed. Without adopting any particular model for polarized and unpolarized beams, we present a class of beams for which no such plane can exist.     

Birch inner bark procyanidins can be resolved with enhanced sensitivity by hydrophilic interaction HPLC-MS

A complex mixture of procyanidin aglycones was isolated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography from the silver birch inner bark, which is a polyphenol-rich source of natural antioxidants. Procyanidins were studied by using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution ESI-TOF-MS. A good chromatographic separation was achieved and procyanidins eluted according to their increasing degree of polymerization. Individual procyanidins were detected from dimers up to the degree of polymerization of 22 by their negative-ion mass spectra. The results showed that hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography can be successfully applied for the analysis of high-molecular-weight procyanidins with enhanced sensitivity in electrospray mass spectrometry.     

Spirocyclic Boraamidinate Complexes of Lanthanide(III) Metals

The reaction of Li₂[Phbam^Dipp] (Phbam^Dipp = PhB(NDipp)₂; Dipp = 2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) with lanthanum(III) triiodides LnI₃(THF)_3.5 (Ln = La, Sm) in THF produces complexes of the type [Li(THF)₄]₂[(Phbam^Dipp)₂LnI], which were characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray structural determinations. The ion‐separated complexes are comprised of a spirocyclic anion in which two Phbam^Dipp ligands and an iodide ion are linked to the five‐coordinate metal atom; charge balance is provided by two tetrasolvated lithium ions [Li(THF)₄]⁺.     

Detection of volatile organic compounds by temperature-programmed desorption combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

A temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) device connected to a mass spectrometer was used to detect volatile organic compounds from air samples. The main aim was to develop an analytical method, by which both non-polar and polar organic components can be detected in the same run. In TPD, the adsorbed compounds are desorbed from the resin more slowly than in the conventional trapping techniques, such as purge-and-trap technique, in which the resin is flash-heated and the compounds are desorbed at the same time to a cryogenic trap or an analytical column. In TPD, the adsorbent resin acts also as an analytical column. In this way it is possible to obtain more rapid analysis, and also a more simple instrumentation, which can be used on-line and on-site. In this work, a new version of TPD device, which uses a resistor for heating and a Peltier element for rapid cooling, was designed and constructed. Various adsorbent resins were tested for their adsorption and desorption properties of both polar and non-polar compounds. When using a mixture of adsorbent resins, Tenax TA and HayeSep D, it was possible to analyze both polar, low-molecular weight compounds, such as methanol and ethanol, and non-polar volatile organic compounds, such as benzene and toluene, in the same run within 15 min including sampling. The same TPD principle was also tested using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer as an analytical instrument, and the results showed that it was possible to obtain a separation of similar compounds, such as hexane and heptane, and still retaining the same sensitivity as the original on-line FTIR instrument.