Microwave-assisted derivatization of acidic herbicides for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Microwave radiation is used to speed up chemical derivatization. In the present study, three microwave-assisted techniques for the methylation of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides prior to analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are compared. Derivatization was performed with the catalysts sulphuric acid and boron trifluoride as well as with trimethylsilyldiazomethane. In order to establish optimized and stable conditions, a screening for statistically significant factors by means of experimental designs was carried out and supplemented by a careful optimization. Special emphasis has been given to an accurate validation to prove the performance of the techniques. Furthermore, all microwave-assisted methods were compared with their conventional analogues. The optimized methods are valid for routine analysis of different matrices such as water, soil, sediment or tissues, especially for high sample throughput since a simultaneous derivatization of up to 64 samples in one run is possible.     

Influence of the atmosphere on the growth of LiYF4 single crystal fibers by the micro‐pulling‐down method

Micro‐pulling‐down growth of LiYF₄ single crystal fibers have been performed under different gas atmospheres using stoichiometric LiYF₄ single crystal pieces from prior Czochralski experiments as starting material. Completely transparent and phase pure LiYF₄ single crystal fibers could be obtained after evacuation of the recipient to 2×10^‐6 mbar and subsequent filling with pure (99.995%) CF₄ gas. Using a gas mixture of 5% CF₄ in Argon or pure 5N Argon leads to the formation of micro crystallites of oxofluorides on the surface. Evacuating only to 3 × 10^‐3 mbar leads, independently of atmosphere, to completely white fibers that are heavily contaminated with oxofluorides. DSC measurements of the completely transparent fiber grown under pure CF₄ atmosphere reveal congruent melting behavior. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Level structure of217Rn and221Ra investigated in the alpha-decay225Th →221Ra →217Rn

The nuclei²²¹Ra and²¹⁷Rn have been investigated in the α-decay chain²²⁵Th→²²¹Ra →²¹⁷Rn through γ-ray and conversion-electron studies. The short-lived²²⁵Th nuclei (T _1/2=8min) were produced in the²²⁶Ra(α, 5n) reaction, and γ-rays and conversion electrons were measured — between the irradiation periods — in coincidence with αparticles. In²²¹Ra the five lowest levels are interpreted as members of aK=5/2 paritydoublet with ΔE_π=104 keV. These levels, as well as a higher-lying K^π=3/2⁺ band, are consistent with an octupole deformation of²²¹Ra, as expected from theoretical considerations. In²¹⁷Rn only three excited levels are observed, with a favoured α-decay to a 5/2⁺ excited level thus establishing positive parity for the ground state of²²¹Ra.     

The inversion of tetrahedral p-block element compounds: general trends and the relation to the second-order Jahn–Teller effect

The tetrahedron is the primary structural motif among the p-block elements and determines the architecture of our bio- and geosphere. However, a broad understanding of the configurational inversion of tetrahedral compounds is missing. Here, we report over 250 energies (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) for square planar inversion of third- and fourth-period element species of groups 13, 14, and 15. Surprisingly low inversion barriers are identified for compounds of industrial relevance (e.g., ≈100 kJ mol⁻¹ for Al(OH)₄⁻). More fundamentally, the second-order Jahn–Teller theorem is disclosed as suitable to rationalize substituent and central element effects. Bond analysis tools give further insights into the preference of eight valence electron systems with four substituents to be tetrahedral. Hence, this study develops a model to understand, memorize, and predict the angular flexibility of tetrahedral species. Perceiving the tetrahedron not as forcingly rigid but as a dynamic structural entity might leverage new approaches and visions for adaptive matter.

The tetrahedron is the primary structural motif among the p-block elements and determines the architecture of our bio- and geosphere. This study sheds light on its stereochemical inversion process.     

Intracellular concentration map of magnesium in whole cells by combined use of X-ray fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy

We report a novel experimental approach to derive quantitative concentration map of light elements in whole cells by combining two complementary nano-probe methods: X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XRFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The concentration is derived by normalizing point-by-point the elemental (here Mg) spatial distribution obtained by XRFM, by the thickness measured using AFM. The considerable difference between the elemental distribution and the concentration maps indicates that this procedure is essential to obtain reliable information on the role and function of elements in whole cells.     

On universal nilpotent groups

AbstractWe show that some classes of nilpotent groups have countable universal members and others do not.Presented by Bjarni Jónsson.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of cruentaren A analogues

The complex macrolide cruentaren A is a highly selective and potent inhibitor of F-ATPase (F-type adenosine triphosphatase). As it shows some resemblance to benzolactone enamides like apicularen A, it was of interest to perform some structure-activity studies to delineate the key functional groups that are responsible for the activity. Building upon our previously developed route to cruentaren A, which is based on a ring-closing alkyne metathesis reaction (RCAM), several cruentaren analogues were prepared. Replacement of the 3-hydroxy hexanoic part with acids that lack the hydroxy group function resulted in a significant drop in cytotoxicity and F-ATPase inhibition. Furthermore, two enamide analogues 23 and 50 were synthesized. However, these compounds were only cytotoxic in the micromolar range. Under the conditions for cleavage of the C3 aromatic methyl ether, the enamide function was transformed to the corresponding oxazinanone, resulting in analogues 25 and 52.     

Synthesis of cyclic peptidomimetics from aldol building blocks

Aldol products (3-hydroxy acids) with an allyl-protected hydroxy group were converted to amino alcohols by Curtius rearrangement. Combination of the carboxylic acid with the amino alcohols gave the amides 10. Ring-closing metathesis led to the 12-membered lactams 12 as mixtures of E/Z-isomers. The scheme was also transferred to the solid-phase. In this case the macrolactams are formed via cyclorelease. For a pair of E/Z-isomers the solution conformation was determined by ROESY spectroscopy.