Performance of the diffusive gradients in thin films technique for measuring Ca and Mg in freshwater

Measurements of the major cations Ca and Mg by the technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGTs) were systematically evaluated. The concentration in solution was calculated using Fick’s first law of diffusion from the directly measured flux to the DGT device. A selective cation exchange resin (Bio-Rad Chelex^®100), which has been used extensively with DGT for trace metals, such as Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺, was used for this work.

Elution of Ca and Mg from the resin with 1 M HNO₃ was very reproducible. Measurements of Ca and Mg concentrations in synthetic solutions agreed well with the theoretical predictions. The negative response on uptake caused by lowered pH was investigated. Uptake was found to decline below pH 5. The capacity of the DGT device for Ca and Mg was also investigated to establish maximum deployment times for given concentrations.

Experiments with filtered and modified lake water show that DGT can be used to measure Ca and Mg when trace metals are present in the solution. An in situ deployment of DGT combined with an ultrafiltration study suggest that the Mg concentration measured by DGT is similar to the concentration found in the fraction <1 kDa.     

Synthesis and Photochemical Behaviour of 2-Amino-1,3-Cyclohexadienes

The reaction of the 4,4-dialkylated 2-cyclohexenones 1 or 2 with a twofold excess of a secondary amine 3 affords the 2-amino-1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 and 5 , respectively. Irradiation (λ ≧ 300 nm) of the morpholino derivative 4a yields a mixture of the isomeric 3-morpholino-6-methyl-1,3,5-heptatrienes 6 and 7 , while 5 gives only one corresponding product 8 . The reaction of enone 1 with an equimolar amount of pyrrolidine ( 3c ) affords the bis-enamine 9 which is converted to the unsaturated diketone 10 by oxidative hydrolysis.     

A matrix isolation study of the C(s) symmetric OCNO(X 2A') radical

Here we report the first experimental detection of the C(s) symmetric nitroformyl radical, OCNO(X 2A') in a nitrogen-carbon dioxide matrix at 10 K using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The nu1 vibrational frequency was observed at 2113 cm(-1). This assignment was confirmed by follow-up experiments using isotopically labeled reactant molecules (15N, 18O, 13C). To synthesize this radical, we irradiated solid nitrogen-carbon dioxide ice mixtures with energetic electrons at 10 K. Suprathermal nitrogen atoms in their electronic ground and/or first electronically excited state were generated via the radiation induced degradation of molecular nitrogen; these atoms could then react with carbon dioxide to eventually yield the nitroformyl radical. We also investigated the kinetics of the formation of the nitroformyl radical and support the arguments with computations on the doublet and quartet OCNO potential energy surfaces (PESs).     

Asymmetric lithiation of 2-alkynyl aryl sulfides—Enantio- and diastereoselective formation of allenyl aryl sulfides and their application in nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

The enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of allenyl aryl sulfides by asymmetric lithiation of 2-alkynyl (2-hetero)aryl sulfides is described. A dynamic thermodynamic resolution by selective crystallization of the intermediate lithium complexes derived from deprotonation, applying a bis(oxazoline) ligand, was achieved to give enantioselectivities up to 85% ee. Subsequent stereospecific nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with arylzinc reagents established a versatile access to threefold carbon-substituted allenes.     

Voltammetric trace determination of ubiquinones at mercury electrodes

Summary Voltammetric methods were developed for the determination of ubiquinones on the basis of their adsorption and redox behaviour at mercury electrodes. Linear calibration plots were obtained in the concentration range between 10^–4 mol/l and 2.3·10^–5 mol/l from differential pulse voltammetric measurements under experimental conditions avoiding significant adsorption of the analyte. A remarkable decrease of the detection limit down to 10^–7 mol/l was achieved with the help of adsorptive accumulation of ubiquinone molecules at the mercury electrode followed by differential pulse detection. The resulting non-linear calibration plot was explained with a model, which takes into account both adsorption and diffusion of the analyte.     

Development and validation of a method for the determination of trace alkylphenols and phthalates in the atmosphere

An analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous extraction and determination of trace tertiary octylphenol (t-OP), technical nonylphenol isomers (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate isomers (NP1EO) and seven phthalates in the atmosphere using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). High volume samples were collected using a high-volume pump equipped with a PUF/XAD-2 column for air and glass fiber filter for particles. The detection limits of the method for alkylphenols (APs) and the phthalates ranged from 0.0006 to 0.034 ng m⁻³ in air. The recoveries of t-OP, NP, NP1EO and the phthalates for the entire procedure were satisfactory (>69%). The method was successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in the atmosphere samples collected over land and the ocean. The concentrations of t-OP, NP, NP1EO showed decline trends from land to the open sea, and the phthalates present over land and the North Sea were comparable. It is suggested that the atmosphere is a significant pathway for the transport of alkylphenols and the phthalates in the environment.     

Multiplexed hybridizations of positively charge-tagged peptide nucleic acids detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a novel class of DNA analogues in which the entire sugar-phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide counterpart. Owing to its neutral character and the consequent lack of electrostatic repulsion, PNA exhibits very stable heteroduplex formation with complementary nucleic acid that is essentially ionic strength independent and enables hybridization under minimum salt conditions. This feature as well as its superior ion stability and easy ionization compared to DNA renders PNA very attractive for hybridization-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) applications. We have developed an approach to DNA characterization that takes advantage of multiplexed PNA hybridizations analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS. Our motivation was the further development of oligonucleotide fingerprinting, an efficient technique for cDNA and genomic DNA library characterization. Through positive 'charge-tagging' of PNA the efficiency of detection in MALDI-TOFMS was considerably enhanced permitting an unparalleled degree of multiplexing. Results from the simultaneous hybridization of 21 charge-tagged PNA hexamer oligonucleotides showed that genomic DNA and cDNA clones are successfully characterized on the basis of their hybridization profiles. The degree of multiplexing achieved may render a significant increase in throughput and hence efficiency of oligonucleotide fingerprinting possible.     

Phosphaniminato-Komplexe des Antimons. Die Kristallstrukturen von [Sb2Cl5(NPMe3)2][SbCl6] · CH3CN und [SbCl(NPPh3)]2[SbCl6]2 · 6 CH3CN

Phosphorane Iminato Complexes of Antimony. The Crystal Structures of [Sb₂Cl₅(NPMe₃)₂][SbCl₆] · CH₃CN and [SbCl(NPPh₃)]₂[SbCl₆]₂ · 6 CH₃CN The title compounds are formed by reaction of antimony pentachloride in acetonitrile solution with the phosphorane iminato complexes SbCl₂(NPMe₃) and SbCl₂(NPPh₃), respectively, which themselves are synthesized by reaction of antimony trichloride with Me₃SiNPR₃ (R = Me, Ph). The complexionic compounds are characterized by ¹²¹Sb Mössbauer spectroscopy and by crystal structure determinations. [Sb₂Cl₅(NPMe₃)₂][SbCl₆] · CH₃CN: Space group P4₁, Z = 4, 3 698 observed unique reflections, R = 0.022. Lattice dimensions at ?60°C: a = b = 1 056.0(1), c = 2 709.6(2) pm. The structure consists of SbCl₆^? ions and cations [Sb₂Cl₅(NPMe₃)₂(CH₃CN)]⁺, in which one Sb^III atom and one Sb^V atom are bridged by the N atoms of the phosphorane iminato ligands. [SbCl(NPPh₃)]₂[SbCl₆]₂ · 6 CH₃CN: Space group P1 , Z = 2, 5 958 observed unique reflections, R = 0.033. Lattice dimensions at ?60°C: a = 989.4(11), b = 1 273(1), c = 1 396(1) pm, α = 78.33(7), β = 77.27(8)°, γ = 86.62(8)°. The structure consists of SbCl₆^? ions and centrosymmetric cations [SbCl(NPPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]₂²⁺, in which the antimony atoms are bridged by the N atoms of the phosphorane iminato ligands.