Comparative performance of extraction strategies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in peats

The assessment of historical trends in atmospheric deposition of organic contaminants by using peat samples has been reported on several occasions because these samples represent an almost ideal medium for recording temporal changes in organic contaminant deposition rates. The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in peat samples is complicated due to the high content of organic matter in peat, which affects both extraction efficiency and analytical quality. A rapid and simple method is proposed for the determination of 10 US Environmental Protection Agency indicator PAHs in complex matrices such as peat. This article reviews and addresses the most relevant analytical methods for determining PAHs in peat. We discuss and critically evaluate three different extraction procedures, such as ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UASE), shaking and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction using silica cartridges. Detection of the selected PAHs was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection for determination. Optimization of the variables affecting extraction by the selected extraction techniques was conducted, concluding that the UASE extraction method using hexane:dichloromethane (80:20) as extractant was robust enough to determine the selected PAHs in peat samples with estimated quantification limits between 0.050 and 3.5 μg/kg depending on the PAH. UASE did not demand sophisticated equipment and long extraction times. PLE involved sophisticated equipment and showed important variations in the results. The method proposed was applied to the determination of PAHs in peat samples from Xistral Mountains (Galicia, Spain).     

Novel coordination behavior of a pteridine-benzoylhydrazone ligand (BZLMH): Theoretical calculations, XRD structures and luminescence studies

The XRD structure and the influence of the conformation in the molecular orbitals of the pteridine-benzoylhydrazone ligand (BZLMH = benzoylhydrazone of 6-acetyl-1,3,7-trimethyllumazine, lumazine = (1H,3H)-pteridin-2,4-dione) have been studied. Complexes of BZLMH with nickel(II), zinc(II) and mercury(II) have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized by IR, NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy; also XRD studies have allowed to establish two different coordinative patterns in the complexes [Ni₃(BZLMH)₃(OH)(H₂O)(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄)₅ · 2H₂O · CH₃CN (2) and [Zn(NO₃)(BZLMH)(H₂O)](NO₃) (3). Compound (2) is a trinuclear hydroxo-centered complex with a central hydroxo group bridging the three nickel(II) ions. The [Ni₃(μ₃-OH)]⁵⁺ core is planar with the benzoylhydrazone ligands coordinated in the bis-bidentate [O(4),N(5)]-[N(61),O(63)] mode. The zinc(II) compound displays a BPT coordination geometry in which the BZLMH ligand acts in a tridentate fashion using N(5), N(61) and O(63) donor atoms. Fluorescence spectroscopic properties of benzoylhydrazone (BZLMH) are studied and the fluorescence band shift and changes in intensity is modulated by complexation with different metal ions (Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Hg²⁺), so the binding is signaled such a possible cause.     

A study of the aerobic reaction between dopamine and Fe(III) in the presence of S<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript>

The reaction between Fe(III) and dopamine in aqueous solution in the presence of Na₂S₂O₃ was followed through UV–Vis spectroscopy, pH and oxy-reduction potential (Eh) measurements. The formation and quick disappearing of the complex [Fe(III)HL¹⁻]²⁺, HL¹⁻ = monoprotonated dopamine was observed with or without S₂O₃ ²⁻ at pH 3. An unexpected reaction occurs in presence of thiosulfate forming the stable anion complex [Fe(III)(L²⁻)₂]¹⁻, L²⁻ = dopacatecholate (λ = 580 nm) and the auto-increasing of the pH, from 3 to 7. It was proposed that H⁺ and molecular oxygen are consumed by free radical thiosulfate formed during the reaction.     

The Incorporation of Indigo Molecules in Sepiolite Tunnels

Evidence for access of molecules the size of acetone or pyridine to the intracrystalline tunnels of nanofibre clay (sepiolite) has indicated formation of a new type of organic–inorganic nanocomposites. However, the introduction of larger molecules has been a recurring problem. It is now agreed that for indigo, the molecules are located on the external surface and at the ends of the fibres, thus blocking access to internal tunnels. We claim, however, that it is possible for indigo molecules to access the internal channels of sepiolite. FTIR and XRD analyses have provided evidence for folding of the sepiolite structure preheated at high temperature (above 350 °C). By comparison, we have shown that for indigo/sepiolite mixtures treated in the same conditions, no change in the crystalline structure of the sepiolite is observed, and that blue samples, related to Maya blue, with indigo molecules incorporated deeply enough into sepiolite to prevent folding of the tunnels, can be obtained. NMR, FTIR and thermal analysis confirm the interaction of indigo with the water coordinated to magnesium(II) and located inside the internal and external channels of sepiolite. Two other hypotheses are excluded; we show both that zeolitic water is not blocked in the tunnels by indigo, and that if thermal decomposition products of indigo can be formed, they are in a minority.     

Isobaric vapor–liquid equilibria for binary and ternary mixtures with cyclohexane,cyclohexene, and morpholine at 100 kPa

Vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) data at 100 kPa have been determinated for the ternary system cyclohexane + cyclohexene + morpholine and two constituent binary systems cyclohexane + morpholine and cyclohexene + morpholine. The thermodynamic consistency of experimental data has been verified. Both binary systems deviate moderately from ideality without the presence of an azeotrope. The VLE data have been well correlated using local composition models (Wilson, NRTL and UNIQUAC) and have been also predicted with the original UNIFAC.     

Parallel or classical kinetic resolution of a planar chiral ferrocenylketone through asymmetric reductions

Racemic 1-acetyl-2-methoxymethylferrocene, (±)-1 was subjected to asymmetric reduction with two different methodologies and complementary results were obtained. When the reduction of (±)-1 was carried out in the presence of CBS-oxazaborolidine catalyst and BH₃·Me₂S as the hydrogen source, both enantiomers of the substrate were converted with comparable reaction rates and selectivities. The corresponding diastereoisomeric ferrocenylalcohols 3a and 3b were obtained in a 1:1 ratio and >90% enantiomeric excess; this reaction profile being related with a parallel kinetic resolution with high ds₁ and ds₂ diastereofacial selectivities. On the contrary, the transfer hydrogenation of (±)-1 with HCOOH/triethylamine in the presence of (R,R)-Noyori’s catalyst proceeded via classical kinetic resolution, so that the formed (?)-3b or unreacted (+)-1 could be obtained in highly enantiopure form before or beyond 50% of the substrate conversion, respectively. Alcohol 3b with an (1R_p,S)- or (1S_p,R)-configuration is not easily accessible by the diastereoselective metallation/electrophilic quenching sequence routinely applied in the synthesis of planar chiral ferrocenes. As a result, the described procedures provide a valuable access to this useful starting material for the synthesis of homochiral related derivatives.     

2-Benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone as a novel reagent for the single pot synthesis of dinuclear Cu(I)-Cu(II) complexes: formation of stable copper(II)-iodide bonds

2-Benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone {R(1)R(2)C(2)=N(2)·N(3)H-C(1)(=S)-N(4)H(2), R(1) = py-N(1), R(2) = Ph; Hbpytsc} with copper(I) iodide in acetonitrile-dichloromethane mixture has formed stable Cu(II)-I bonds in a dark green Cu(II) iodo-bridged dimer, [Cu(2)(II)(μ-I)(2)(η(3)-N(1),N(2),S-bpytsc)(2)] 1. Copper(I) bromide also formed similar Cu(II)-Br bonds in a dark green Cu(II) bromo-bridged dimer, [Cu(2)(II)(μ-Br)(2)(η(3)-N(1),N(2),S-bpytsc)(2)] 3. The formation of dimers 1 and 3 appears to be due to a proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) process wherein copper(I) loses an electron to form copper(II), and this is accompanied by a loss of -N(3)H proton of Hbpytsc ligand resulting in the formation of anionic bpytsc(-). When copper(I) iodide was reacted with triphenylphosphine (PPh(3)) in acetonitrile followed by the addition of 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone in dichloromethane (Cu?:?PPh(3)?:?Hbpytsc in the molar ratio 1:1:1), both Cu(II) dimer 1 and an orange Cu(I) sulfur-bridged dimer, [Cu(2)(I)I(2)(μ-S-Hbpytsc)(2)(PPh(3))(2)] 2 were formed. Copper(I) bromide with PPh(3) and Hbpytsc also formed Cu(II) dimer 3 and an orange Cu(I) sulfur-bridged dimer, [Cu(2)(I)Br(2)(μ-S-Hbpytsc)(2)(PPh(3))(2)] 4. While complexes 2 and 4 exist as sulfur-bridged Cu(I) dimers, 1 and 3 are halogen-bridged. The central Cu(2)S(2) cores of 2 and 4 as well as Cu(2)X(2) of 1 (X = I) and 3 (X = Br) are parallelograms. One set of Cu(II)-I and Cu(II)-Br bonds are short, while the second set is very long {1, Cu-I, 2.565(1), 3.313(1) ?; 3, Cu-Br, 2.391(1), 3.111(1) ?}. The Cu···Cu separations are long in all four complexes {1, 4.126(1); 2, 3.857(1); 3, 3.227(1); 4, 3.285(1) ?}, more than twice the van der Waals radius of a Cu atom, 2.80 ?. The pyridyl group appears to be necessary for stabilizing the Cu(II)-I bond, as this group can accept π-electrons from the metal.     

HPLC-ESI-MS and MS/MS structural characterization of multifucosylated N-glycoforms of the basic proline-rich protein IB-8a CON1+ in human saliva

This study describes the characterization of the glycan moieties and the peptide backbone of six glycoforms of IB-8a CON1(+), a basic proline-rich protein present in human saliva. MS analyses on the intact glycoproteins before and after N-deglycosylation with PNGase F and high-resolution MS/MS sequencing by LTQ Orbitrap XL of peptides and glycopeptides from tryptic digests allowed the structural characterization of the glycan moieties and the polypeptide backbone, as well as to establish the glycosylation site at the asparagine residue at 98th position. Five of the glycoforms carry a biantennary N-linked glycan fucosylated in the innermost N-acetylglucosamine of the core and showing from zero to four additional fucoses in the antennal region. The sixth glycoform carries a monoantennary monofucosylated oligosaccharide. The glycoform cluster was detected on 28 of 71 adult saliva specimens. Level of fucosylation showed interindividual variability with the major relative abundance for the trifucosylated glycoform. Nonglycosylated IB-8a CON1(+) and the variant IB-8a CON1(-), lacking of the glycosylation site, have been also detected in human saliva.