High-resolution calorimetric study of pb(mg_{1/3}nb_{2/3})o_{3} single crystal

Motivated by the long-standing unresolved enigma of the relaxor ferroelectric ground state, we performed a high-resolution heat capacity and polarization study of the field-induced phase transition in the relaxor ferroelectric single crystal Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_{3} (PMN) oriented along the [110] direction. We show that the discontinuous evolution of polarization as a function of the electric field or temperature is a consequence of a true first order transition from a glassy to ferroelectric state, which is accompanied by an excess heat capacity anomaly and released latent heat. We also find that in a zero field there is no ferroelectric phase transition in bulk PMN at any temperature, indicating that the nonergodic dipolar glass phase persists down to the lowest temperatures.     

Spectres infrarouges et raman du complexe solide MgBr22Et2O: Changement de phase et isomérie de rotation des molécules d'éther coordonnées

Infrared and Raman spectra of solid magnesium bromide dietherate MgBr₂2Et₂O have been studied at different temperatures between 300 and 90 °K in the 4000 to 30 cm^? range. Infrared spectra of this compound at various pressures up to 10 kbar have also been investigated. The MgBr₂2Et₂O crystal has two phases and there is a reversible transition between them. This phase transition concerns primarily the conformational change of (C₂Hg₅)₂O molecules and much less the arrangement of the ligands around the central magnesium atom. At room temperature or low pressure the GG conformation appears to be predominant while at low temperature or high pressure there is only TG (or TT) conformation of ether molecules. The enthalpy difference and transition temperature between the phases have been determined calorimetrically. An assignment of the spectra of both phases is given. The analysis of intramolecular vibrations gives information about the relative contribution of conformational change and coordination effect to the frequency shifts of (C₂H₅)₂O vibrations. The assignment of magnesium-ligand vibrations on the other hand allows us to estimate the Mg-Br and Mg-O force constants.     

Sampling and sample-preparation strategies based on solid-phase microextraction for analysis of indoor air

Applications of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to the sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds in indoor air are reviewed, including a summary of quantification methods, coatings, compounds, concentrations, sampling locations and times, and detection limits. Strategies for on-site and off-site sampling and analysis, advantages and challenges associated with SPME for air sampling are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of the aqueous solution chemistry of the food-derived carcinogen model N-acetoxy-N-(1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,5-b]indol-3-yl)acetamide and its N-pivaloyloxy analogue

We report the synthesis of N-acetoxy-N-(1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,5-b]indol-3-yl)acetamide, 7, its N-pivaloyloxy analogue, 9, and improved synthesis of indole-2-acetonitrile, 3 (70% in five steps from indole-2-carboxylic acid), the carcinogenic amine Trp-P-2, 4 (40% from 3), and the nitro compound, 5 (40% from 4 by oxidation with H₂O₂ using Mo(CO)₆ catalyst). In aqueous solution at neutral pH, 7 primarily undergoes C-O bond cleavage to yield the hydroxamic acid, 8, but under the same conditions the sterically hindered 9 decomposes predominately by N-O bond cleavage with a pH independent rate constant that is 7.5-fold smaller than that for 7. In the pH range 0.5-7.0 three different processes for the decomposition of 9 were detected by kinetics. Only the process that dominates at neutral pH generates a nitrenium species that can be trapped by N₃⁻.     

A top-down approach to protein structure studies using chemical cross-linking and Fourier transform mass spectrometry

In a preliminary communication we described a top-down approach to the determination of chemical cross-link location in proteins using Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FT-MS). We have since extended the approach to use a series of homobifunctional cross-linkers with the same reactive functional groups, but different cross-linker arm lengths. Correlating cross-linking data across a series of related linkers allows the distance constraint derived from a cross-link between two reactive side chains to be determined more accurately and increases the confidence in the assignment of the cross-links. In ubiquitin, there are seven lysines with primary amino groups and the amino terminus. Disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS, cross-linker arm length = 11.4 A), disuccinimidyl glutarate (DSG, cross-linker arm length = 7.5 A) and disuccinimidyl tartrate (DST, cross- linker arm length = 5.8 A) are homobifunctional cross-linking reagents that react specifically with primary amines. Using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on the singly, internally cross-linked precursor ion of ubiquitin, we found cross-links with DSS and DSG between the amino terminus and Lys 6, between Lys 6 and Lys 11, and between Lys 63 and Lys 48. Using disuccinimidyl tartrate (DST), the shortest cross-linker in the series, only the cross-links between the amino terminus and Lys 6, and between Lys 6 and Lys 11 were observed. The observed cross-links are consistent with the crystal structure of ubiquitin, if the lysine side chains and the amino terminus are assumed to have considerable flexibility. In a separate study, we probed the reactivity of the primary amino groups in ubiquitin using the amino acetylating reagent, N-hydroxy succinimidyl acetate (NHSAc), and a top-down approach to localize the acetylated lysine residues. The reactivity order obtained in that study (M1 approximate, equals K6 approximate, equals K48 approximate, equals K63) > K33 > K11 > (K27, K29), shows that the cross-link first formed in ubiquitin by reaction with DSS and DSG occurs between the most reactive residues.     

Combined use of liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the characterization of an acarbose degradation product

Directly coupled LC-MS and LC-NMR were applied to identify and structurally characterize an acarbose degradation product A in acidic media. A comparative analysis of the stop-flow LC-NMR (1H and TOCSY) and LC-MS data provided evidence that A is structurally related to acarbose, differing from the parent compound in a number of subunits present in the molecule. Spectral analysis revealed that A was the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor amylostatin XG. Complementary information obtained from the two methods led to the structural elucidation of A which was later corroborated by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy of the isolated molecule.     

Interface induced crystal structures of dioctyl-terthiophene thin films

Temperature dependent structural and morphological investigations on semiconducting dioctyl-terthiophene (DOTT) thin films prepared on silica surfaces reveals the coexistence of surface induce order and distinct crystalline/liquid crystalline bulk polymorphs. X-ray diffraction and scanning force microscopy measurements indicate that at room temperature two polymorphs are present: the surface induced phase grows directly on the silica interface and the bulk phase on top. At elevated temperatures the long-range order gradually decreases, and the crystal G (340 K), smectic F (348 K), and smectic C (360 K) phases are observed. Indexation of diffraction peaks reveals that an up-right standing conformation of DOTT molecules is present within all phases. A temperature stable interfacial layer close to the silica-DOTT interface acts as template for the formation of the different phases. Rapid cooling of the DOTT sample from the smectic C phase to room temperature results in freezing into a metastable crystalline state with an intermediated unit cell between the room temperature crystalline phase and the smectic C phase. The understanding of such interfacial induced phases in thin semiconducting liquid crystal films allows tuning of crystallographic and therefore physical properties within organic thin films.     

Chemistry of 4-alkylaryloxenium ion "precursors": sound and fury signifying something?

Quinol esters 2b, 2c, and 3b and sulfonamide 4c were investigated as possible precursors to 4-alkylaryloxenium ions, reactive intermediates that have not been previously detected. These compounds exhibit a variety of interesting reactions, but with one possible exception, they do not generate oxenium ions. The 4-isopropyl ester 2b predominantly undergoes ordinary acid- and base-catalyzed ester hydrolysis. The 4-tert-butyl ester 2c decomposes under both acidic and neutral conditions to generate tert-butanol and 1-acetyl-1,4-hydroquinone, 8, apparently by an SN1 mechanism. This is also a minor decomposition pathway for 2b, but the mechanism in that case is not likely to be SN1. Decomposition of 2c in the presence of N3- leads to formation of the explosive 2,3,5,6-tetraazido-1,4-benzoquinone, 14, produced by N3--induced hydrolysis of 8, followed by a series of oxidations and nucleophilic additions by N3-. No products suggestive of N3--trapping of an oxenium ion were detected. The 4-isopropyl dichloroacetic acid ester 3b reacts with N3- to generate the two adducts 2-azido-4-isopropylphenol, 5b, and 3-azido-4-isopropylphenol, 11b. Although 5b is the expected product of N3- trapping of the oxenium ion, kinetic analysis shows that it is produced by a kinetically bimolecular reaction of N3- with 3b. No oxenium ion is involved. The sulfonamide 4c predominantly undergoes a rearrangement reaction under acidic and neutral conditions, but a minor component of the reaction yields 4-tert-butylcresol, 17, and 2-azido-4-tert-butylphenol, 5c, in the presence of N3-. These products may indicate that 4c generates the oxenium ion 1c, but they are generated in very low yields (ca. 10%) so it is not possible to definitively conclude that 1c has been produced. If 1c has been generated, the N3--trapping data indicate that it is a very short-lived and reactive species in H2O. Comparisons with similarly reactive nitrenium ions indicate that the lifetime of 1c is ca. 20-200 ps if it is generated, so it must react by a preassociation process. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level coupled with kinetic correlations also indicate that the aqueous solution lifetimes of 1a-c are in the picosecond range.