Automated capillary electrophoresis with on-line preconcentration by solid phase extraction using a sequential injection manifold and contactless conductivity detection

An extension of a capillary electrophoresis instrument coupled to a sequential injection analysis manifold was developed for automated measurements with on-line solid-phase extraction preconcentration. An in-house built capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector was employed for sensitive detection with narrow capillaries of 25 μm internal diameter. The system was assembled into standardized 19 in. frames and racks for easy transport and mobile deployment. The system can be left running unattendedly without manual intervention with good operation stability. To demonstrate the application of the system, a method for the determination of four drugs, namely ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and bezafibrate, was developed with enrichment factors of up to several hundreds. Detection of the drug residues down to the nM-scale was found possible and the method was found suitable for the detection of ibuprofen in the waste water of a hospital in Hanoi.     

Separation of peptides and proteins by capillary electrophoresis using acidic buffers containing tetraalkylammonium cations and cyclodextrins

A method for improving separations of peptides and other positively charged species in capillary zone electrophoresis with untreated capillaries using acidic buffers containing tetraalkylammonium cations is described. Tetramethylammonium and tetrabutylammonium cations dynamically modify the capillary surface, leading to a reversal in the direction of the electroosmotic flow. As a result, the adsorption of positively charged peptides and proteins is minimized, and resolution and peak capacity are improved as the migration of cationic analytes is counterbalanced by the electroosmotic flow. The combining effect of reversing electroosmotic flow and cyclodextrin inclusion complexation on separations of closely related peptides and a protein mixture, as well as tryptic digest of hemoglobin is demonstrated.     

Oliveridepsidones A–D,antioxidant depsidones from Garcinia oliveri

Four new prenylated depsidones, oliveridepsidones A–D, were isolated from the bark of Garcinia oliveri collected in Vietnam. Their structures were elucidated using mainly NMR techniques (¹H and ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC and NOE experiments). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,characterization, and stability of carbodiimide groups in carbodiimide‐functionalized latex dispersions and films

Cyclohexylcarbodiimidoethyl methacrylate (CCEMA) and t‐butylcarbodiimidoethyl methacrylate (t‐BCEMA) were prepared in a two‐step synthesis. These monomers were then used to prepare carbodiimide‐functionalized PBMA and PEHMA latex particles, employing two‐stage emulsion polymerization, with the carbodiimide–methacrylate monomers being introduced only in the second stage under monomer‐starved conditions. During emulsion polymerization, the carbodiimide moiety ( NCN ) was found to be unstable at pH 4, but stable when the pH of the dispersion was increased to 8, using NaHCO₃ as the buffer. Survival of  NCN group against hydrolysis during the polymerization, and during storage in the dispersion, was enhanced by using EHMA as the comonomer (more hydrophobic) and the t‐butyl carbodiimide derivative. The t‐butyl group provides more steric hindrance to the hydrolysis reaction. A decrease in the reaction temperature from 80°C to 60°C was also found to increase the extent of  NCN group incorporation during emulsion polymerization. Under ideal conditions, more than 98% of the  NCN groups in the monomer feed are successfully incorporated into the latex. When these latex particles are mixed with a  COOH containing latex and allowed to dry, polymer diffusion leading to crosslinking occurs. Films annealed at 60°C reach a gel content of 60% in 10 h. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 855–869, 2000     

Cohaerins C-F, four azaphilones from the xylariaceous fungus Annulohypoxylon cohaerens

Four azaphilones named cohaerins C-F, along with 4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl were isolated from the methanolic extract of the stromata of Annulohypoxylon cohaerens (Ascomycetes, Xylariaceae). Cohaerins C-E constitute typical azaphilones, bearing a γ-lactone ring, while cohaerin F has an unprecedented carbon skeleton, lacking the lactone ring of the azaphilones and with an aliphatic side chain being attached directly to the azaphilone backbone by a C-C bond. Their structures were determined by 2D NMR, IR, UV, and CD spectroscopy. They showed moderate inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production in RAW cells, and strong and nonselective antimicrobial effects.     

1-Boryl-3,4-dimethylphosphole trimer: Synthesis, crystal structure and quantum chemical calculations

A novel cycloadduct of 1-boryl-3,4-dimethylphosphole was prepared by reaction of 3,4-dimethylphospholyl anion with monobromoborane-methylsulfide complex (CH₃)₂S · BH₂Br at −60 °C. It was characterized as a six-membered trimer by spectroscopic means, and its structure confirmed by an X-ray crystal analysis and quantum chemical calculations. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP) showed that the cyclic trimer is by far more stable than the monomer, dimers or open-chain forms. Various molecular and spectroscopic properties of the borylphosphole monomer and trimer were evaluated. In particular, the changes of the ³¹P NMR chemical shifts upon oligomerization were examined. The six-membered ring was demonstrated to exist preferentially in a chair-like conformation. Computed NMR chemical shifts (¹H, ¹³C and a lesser extent ³¹P) appear to be a highly sensitive analytical tool for distinguishing ring conformations having only small energy differences.     

Fine characterization of the ethylene and ethane sorption in poly(amide 12-block-tetramethylenoxide) copolymer/AgBF4 membranes

Ethylene/ethane sorption characteristics were determined for dry Pebax™ (poly(amide 12-block-tetramethylenoxide) copolymer)/AgBF₄ membranes by using an electronic microbalance. The membranes containing 0.7 and 22 wt.% AgBF₄ showed a dual-mode sorption isotherm. The ethane isotherms for all the membranes were of the Henry-type, which is the normal sorption for gases in rubbery polymers. The abnormal presence of Langmuir sorption sites only for ethylene in the rubbery copolymer, never reported sofar, is attributed to the silver-based specific complexation sites. The silver salt which dissolved in limited amounts in the rubbery copolymer had a much smaller Langmuir sorption capacity than the salt that crystallized in the copolymer. The sorption kinetics indicate that the crystallized salt did adsorb slowly ethylene according to a zeroth-order kinetics, but not ethane. The gas uptake kinetics resulting from a step of the pressure surrounding the copolymer exhibited one stage for ethane but two stages for ethylene. For the latter, there was first a fast Fickian sorption stage, then a drift of the zeroth-order sorption of ethylene on salt crystals, which contributes for a large part to the total uptake. The zeroth-order sorption suggests that the sorbed ethylene amount in the second-stage is independent of the crystal-surface coverage. The value of the Fickian diffusion coefficient calculated by fitting the kinetics with a solution of the second Fick’s law was 5 × 10⁻¹² m²/s for both ethylene (the first stage) and ethane, and is typical for small organic compounds in a rubbery material.     

Analysis of trace elements in the fingernails of breast cancer patients using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The aim of this study was to find trace elements that increase risk of breast cancer based on the deviation of the concentration of trace elements...     

Synthese und Struktur von Mo2NCl7

Synthesis and Structure of Mo₂NCl₇ The reaction of VN with MoCl₅ at 175 °C in a sealed glass ampoule yields the molybdenum(V) nitride chloride Mo₂NCl₇ in form of air sensitive black crystals with the triclinic space group P1¯ and a = 905.7(8); b = 975.4((6); c = 1283.4(8) pm, α = 103.13(4)°; β = 109.83(5)° und γ = 98.58(5)°. The crystal structure is built up from dinuclear units [Mo₂N₂Cl₇]^3— and [Mo₂Cl₇]³⁺, which are connected by asymmetric nitrido bridges to form endless chains. Within both dinuclear units the Mo atoms are bridged by three Cl atoms resulting in a Mo‐Mo distance of 349.2(3) pm in the unit [Mo₂N₂Cl₇]^3—. In case of [Mo₂Cl₇]³⁺, however, a shorter Mo‐Mo distance of 289.4(3) pm is observed, which can be interpreted by a single bond. Correspondingly a reduced magnetic moment of 0.95 B.M. per Mo atom is observed.