High performance liquid chromatography post-column chemiluminescence determination of sulfonamide residues in milk at low concentration levels using bis[4-nitro-2-(3,6,9-trioxadecyloxycarbonyl)phenyl] oxalate as chemiluminescent reagent

The determination of seven sulfonamides by means of HPLC with chemiluminescence detection is proposed for the first time. The analytes are derivatized with fluorescamine, separated and subsequently they participate in the post-column chemiluminescence (CL) peroxyoxalate system using imidazole as a catalyst. Among the different peroxyoxalates tested, bis[4-nitro-2-(3,6,9-trioxadecyloxycarbonyl)phenyl] oxalate provides higher sensitivities and stabilities, avoiding precipitation problems. A rigorous optimization of the significant variables by means of experimental designs has been developed in order to reconcile the chromatographic conditions with the CL reaction. The method provides detection limits in the low microgl(-1) range and has been satisfactorily applied to the analysis of spiked raw milk samples.     

Synthesis and crystal chemistry of NH3(MoO3)3

NH₃(MoO₃)₃ crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{m}$, lattice constants a = 10.568 Å, c = 3.726 Å, and Z = 2. The crystal structure has been determined by Patterson synthesis and refined assuming isotropic temperature factors to a final conventional R value of 0.085. The structure shows a three-dimensional arrangement built up of double chains of distorted MoO₆ octahedra, parallel to the [001] direction. The octahedral double chains are linked among each other through common oxygen atoms. In addition to the shared oxygen atoms, each molybdenum is coordinated to one terminal oxygen. MoO distances range from 1.645 to 2.378 Å and OMoO angles from 74.3 to 114.3°. These results are consistent with the fact that molybdenum in high-valence states shows octahedral coordination with terminal oxygens.     

Solid-state photodimerization of steroid enones

Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) and 17alpha-methyltestosterone (2) are dimerized in the solid-state by UV radiation. These substances were selected by a search in the CSD among the steroid enones presenting in the crystalline state an intermolecular short contact between a hydrogen alpha to a carbonyl group and the oxygen of an enone system. Dimerization occurs by transfer of the hydrogen to the oxygen and connection between the two involved carbons. Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) affords dimer 3 and trimer 4, both formed by connection of the C-16 of a molecule with the C-3 of a near one. Irradiation of 17alpha-methyltestosterone (2) gives the isomeric trienones 5 and 6. These compounds are reasonably formed by dehydration of unisolated intermediate products 7 and/or 8 obtained by coupling of two molecules through a linkage between the C-2 and the C-3' carbons. The formation mechanisms of the photoproducts are satisfactory explained on the basis of the molecular arrangement of the monomers in the crystal state. Modeling of the dimeric molecules was done using molecular mechanics calculations. A single-crystal X-ray of the dimer of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione confirms the structural interpretation of spectral data. The conformer found in the solid-state agrees well with the results of molecular mechanics calculations.     

Raman spectroscopic and structural studies of indigo and its four 6,6'-dihalogeno analogues

The Raman and electron impact mass spectra of synthetic indigo and its four 6,6'-dihalogeno analogues are reported and discussed. The influence of varying the halogen on these Raman spectra is considered. Particular emphasis is laid on distinguishing indigo from 6,6'-dibromoindigo and differentiating between the dihalogenocompounds, so as to develop protocols for determining whether artefacts are coloured with dyes of marine or terrestrial origin and whether such artefacts are dyed with genuine "Tyrian Purple" or with dihalogenoindigo substitutes that do not contain bromine. The value of even low resolution electron impact mass spectrometry in a forensic context as a means of identifying authentic 6,6'-dibromoindigo and distinguishing it from its dihalogenoanalogues is emphasised     

Accurate Gaussian basis sets for the H2O molecule generated with the molecular improved generator coordinate Hartree–Fock method

The molecular improved generator coordinate Hartree–Fock (MIGCHF) method is used to generate accurate basis sets of primitive Gaussian-type functions for the H₂O molecule. Sequences of increasing size atom centered basis sets are employed to explore the accuracy that can be achieved with this method. Using the O(24s14p8d5f2g1h);H(22s9p5d2f1g) basis set, the HF and second-order electron correlation energies of the H₂O ground state at the experimental geometry are computed as −76.0674680 and −0.3491935 hartree, respectively. The HF energy is in error by 20 μhartree and the second-order correlation energy corresponds to 96.5% of an estimate of the limiting value. The relevance of the present calculations is to show the accuracy that can be achieved in studies of small polyatomic molecules with the MIGCHF method.     

The structure of the FeNO group in two metastable states (MS1 and MS2) of the nitroprusside anion in Na2[Fe(CN)5NO].2H2O. Infrared spectra and quantum chemistry calculations for the normal and the 15NO and N18O isotopic substituted substance

Low temperature infrared spectra of light induced metastable states MS1 and MS2 of the nitroprusside anion in Na(2)[Fe(CN)(5)NO].2H(2)O, isotopically normal and substituted with (15)NO and N(18)O, are presented and discussed. As a consequence of the relatively high population of the MS2 state achieved by further irradiation with 1064 nm light of samples previously irradiated with 488.0 nm light, new bands were seen for the first time, and others, previously reported, were confirmed. The comparison of the spectral data obtained for the FeNO moiety of the isotopically normal as well as of the (15)NO and N(18)O substituted anion with the results of quantum chemical (DFT) calculations support the assignment of the bands which appear after successive irradiations to MS1, the linear Fe(eta(1)-ON) linkage isomer, and to MS2, the side-bound Fe(eta(2)-NO) isomer.     

On the origin of optical activity in tris-diamine complexes of Co(III) and Rh(III): a simple model based on time-dependent density function theory

Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) is applied to the CD spectra of Lambda(deltadeltadelta)-(+)-[Co(S-pn)n(en)(3-n)]3+ (n = 1, 2, 3) and Lambda(deltadeltadelta)-(+)-[Co(en)3]3+ as well as the stereoisomers Delta-((delta)n(lambda)(3-n))-(-)-[Co(S-pn)n(en)(3-n)]3+ (n = 1, 2, 3) and Delta(deltadeltadelta)-(-)-[Co(en)3]3+. Theory is able to reproduce the major differences in the CD spectra of the species with a Lambda-configuration and their isomers with a Delta-configuration in both the d-d and ligand-to-metal CT region. It is further possible to rationalize the trend in terms of a larger azimuthal distortion away from the octahedral geometry in the Lambda-conformation compared to the Delta-configuration. Considerations were also given to the CD spectra of the lel3-isomer, Delta(lambdalambdalambda)-(-)-[Rh(R-pn)3]3+ and the ob-isomer, Lambda(lambdalambdalambda)-(+)-[Rh(S-pn)3]3+.     

High stability amperometric biosensor based on enzyme entrapment in microgels

The preparation and characterization of an amperometric glucose biosensor based on the entrapment of glucose oxidase (GOx) in a polyacrylamide microgel is described. This study proves that polyacrylamide microgels provide an excellent matrix for GOx immobilization that can be used as a biological material in amperometric biosensors. The interference produced by ascorbic and uric acid has been eliminated by including acrylic acid in the polymeric matrix. With this modification, we obtain an adequate device for glucose determination in complex samples such as blood and serum. The study of the temperature effect in the response of biosensors indicates that swelling of the microgels directly influences the enzymatic activity. Thus, the behaviour of the enzyme in the swollen microgels is similar to the enzyme in solution, but the enzyme's activation energy increases when the water content in the microgels decreases. One important property of these biosensors is their remarkable stability. After 4 months of its manufacture, there is no loss in the initial response. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity of freeze-dried microgels containing enzyme remains unaltered for at least 18 months.     

Regioselective palladium-catalyzed alkylation of allylic halides with benzylic grignard reagents. Two-step synthesis of abietane terpenes and tetracyclic polyprenoid compounds

A highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed alpha-alkylation of allylic bromides 1a,c-e and chloride 1b with substituted and unsubstituted benzylic Grignard reagents is reported. The resulting all-trans polyenehomobenzene derivatives were obtained in excellent yields and regioselectivity. These products were easily converted to abietane-type diterpenes (10-12) and tetracyclic polyprenoid compounds (13, 14) through a Lewis acid-promoted cascade polyene cyclization reaction.