Effects of neutral and charged substituents on the infrared carbonyl stretching frequencies in phenyl and alkyl benzoates in DMSO

The carbonyl infrared stretching frequencies for 57 meta‐, para‐ and ortho‐substituted phenyl benzoates, C₆H₅CO₂C₆H₄‐X and alkylbenzoates, C₆H₅CO₂R, containing besides neutral substituents the charged substituents in phenoxy and alkoxy part in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been recorded. The carbonyl stretching frequencies, ν_CO, for meta‐ and para‐substituted phenyl esters of benzoic acids in the case of neutral substituents were found to correlate well with the substituent constants, σ°. The ν_CO values for ortho derivatives correlated with the inductive substituent constants, σ_I, only. The values of constants for charged substituents, σ°_±, calculated on the basis of the ν_CO and the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, δ_CO, in DMSO agree well with the σ°_± values for the corresponding ion pairs reported by Hoefnagel and Wepster and those determined from the log k values of the alkaline hydrolysis in 4.4 M NaCl solution at 50 °C. Thus, the values of substituent constants for ion pairs of charged substituents estimated on the basis of aqueous data could be successfully used in non‐aqueous solution (DMSO) simultaneously with neutral substituents in case the charged substituents were not completely ionized and are in ion pair form. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2-Chloroquinazoline. Synthesis and reactivity of a versatile heterocyclic building block

Starting from 2,4-dichloroquinazoline, various methods for the selective removal of the 4-chloro substituent were tested, including catalytic hydrogenation, metal-halogen exchange, metal hydride reduction and reduction with tributyltin hydride—the latter both in a radical and in a Stille-type reaction. Amongst these, the most efficient method was found to be the Stille-type coupling. Furthermore, we have studied the reactivity of 2-chloroquinazoline and found it to act as a versatile building block for the direct introduction of the 2-quinazolinyl moiety.     

Introduction of measurement uncertainty estimation into analytical instrument software: mission impossible?

In this paper we argue that introduction of ISO GUM based uncertainty estimation into analytical equipment software is a “mission possible” and is wholly realistic at this stage of development of the art. A possible general scheme of implementation of uncertainty estimation into analytical instrument software is presented based on the example of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) but is also applicable to most other analytical instruments. This implementation would be very beneficial for the analysts/practitioners as the uncertainty would be handled within their everyday software environment.

     

ATR-FT-IR spectral collection of conservation materials in the extended region of 4000-80 cm–1

In this paper, a spectral collection of over 150 ATR-FT-IR spectra of materials related to cultural heritage and conservation science has been presented that have been measured in the extended region of 4000-80 cm^–1 (mid-IR and far-IR region). The applicability of the spectra and, in particular, the extended spectral range, for investigation of art-related materials is demonstrated on a case study. This collection of ATRFT-IR reference spectra is freely available online (http://tera.chem.ut.ee/IR_spectra/) and is meant to be a useful tool for researchers in the field of conservation and materials science.     

Synthesis of 2'-amino-LNA: a new strategy

In this paper we present revised and significantly improved synthetic routes to 2'-amino-LNA (locked nucleic acid). The optimal route is convergent with the synthesis of LNA monomers ("2'-oxy-LNA") via a common intermediate obtained by a mild deacetylation for the liberation of the 2'-hydroxy group to give compound 23 without the concomitant ring closure that affords the 2'-oxy-LNA skeleton. After inversion of the stereochemistry at C2' and triflate formation at the 2'-hydroxy group a new common intermediate 16 is obtained which gives easy access to a range of other analogues exemplified by the introduction of a sulfur nucleophile leading to the 2'-thio-LNA structure. After substitution of the triflate with azide a basic reduction affords the desired 2'-amino-LNA structure, i.e., compound 18. This new synthesis strategy towards 2'-amino-LNA improves the overall yield significantly and converges the syntheses of 2'-oxy-LNA and LNA analogues.     

Particle release and control of worker exposure during laboratory-scale synthesis,handling and simulated spills of manufactured nanomaterials in fume hoods

Fume hoods are one of the most common types of equipment applied to reduce the potential of particle exposure in laboratory environments. A number of previous studies have shown particle release during work with nanomaterials under fume hoods. Here, we assessed laboratory workers’ inhalation exposure during synthesis and handling of CuO, TiO₂ and ZnO in a fume hood. In addition, we tested the capacity of a fume hood to prevent particle release to laboratory air during simulated spillage of different powders (silica fume, zirconia TZ-3Y and TiO₂). Airborne particle concentrations were measured in near field, far field, and in the breathing zone of the worker. Handling CuO nanoparticles increased the concentration of small particles (<?58 nm) inside the fume hood (up to 1?×?10⁵ cm^?3). Synthesis, handling and packaging of ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles did not result in detectable particle release to the laboratory air. Simulated powder spills showed a systematic increase in the particle concentrations inside the fume hood with increasing amount of material and drop height. Despite powder spills were sometimes observed to eject into the laboratory room, the spill events were rarely associated with notable release of particles from the fume hood. Overall, this study shows that a fume hood generally offers sufficient exposure control during synthesis and handling of nanomaterials. An appropriate fume hood with adequate sash height and face velocity prevents 98.3% of particles release into the surrounding environment. Care should still be made to consider spills and high cleanliness to prevent exposure via resuspension and inadvertent exposure by secondary routes.     

Transport properties of 2F <==> F2 in a temperature gradient as studied by molecular dynamics simulations

We calculate transport properties of a reacting mixture of F and F(2) from results of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The reaction investigated is controlled by thermal diffusion and is close to local chemical equilibrium. The simulations show that a formulation of the transport problem in terms of classical non-equilibrium thermodynamics theory is sound. The chemical reaction has a large effect on the magnitude and temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity and the interdiffusion coefficient. The increase in the thermal conductivity in the presence of the chemical reaction, can be understood as a response to an imposed temperature gradient, which reduces the entropy production. The heat of transfer for the Soret stationary state was more than 100 kJ mol(-1), meaning that the Dufour and Soret effects are non-negligible in reacting mixtures. This sheds new light on the transport properties of reacting mixtures.     

Analysis of dammar resin with MALDI‐FT‐ICR‐MS and APCI‐FT‐ICR‐MS

Comprehensive analysis of high‐resolution mass spectra of aged natural dammar resin obtained with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT‐ICR‐MS) using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) is presented. Dammar resin is one of the most important components of painting varnishes. Dammar resin is a terpenoid resin (dominated by triterpenoids) with intrinsically very complex composition. This complexity further increases with aging. Ten different solvents and two‐component solvent mixtures were tested for sample preparation. The most suitable solvent mixtures for the MALDI‐FT‐ICR‐MS analysis were dichloromethane‐acetone and dichloromethane‐ethanol. The obtained MALDI‐FTMS mass spectrum contains nine clusters of peaks in the m/z range of 420–2200, and the obtained APCI‐FTMS mass spectrum contains three clusters of peaks in the m/z range of 380–910. The peaks in the clusters correspond to the oxygenated derivatives of terpenoids differing by the number of C₁₅H₂₄ units. The clusters, in turn, are composed of subclusters differing by the number of oxygen atoms in the molecules. Thorough analysis and identification of the components (or groups of components) by their accurate m/z ratios was carried out, and molecular formulas (elemental compositions) of all major peaks in the MALDI‐FTMS and APCI‐FTMS spectra were identified (and groups of possible isomeric compounds were proposed). In the MALDI‐FTMS and APCI‐FTMS mass spectrum, besides the oxidized C₃₀, triterpenoids also peaks corresponding to C₂₉ and C₃₁ derivatives of triterpenoids (demethylated and methylated, correspondingly) were detected. MALDI and APCI are complementary ionization sources for the analysis of natural dammar resin. In the MALDI source, preferably polar (extensively oxidized) components of the resin are ionized (mostly as Na⁺ adducts), whereas in the APCI source, preferably nonpolar (hydrocarbon and slightly oxidized) compounds are ionized (by protonation). Either of the two ionization methods, when used alone, gives an incomplete picture of the dammar resin composition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Making sense of shape: An analysis of children's written responses

In this study, we examine a large set of student responses to a constructed-response geometry item on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered in 1992 and 1996. The item asks students to name the similarities and differences between a parallelogram and a rectangle of equal area presented side by side on a grid. Through categorization of student work utilizing the constant comparison method [Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications], we identified two distinct categories of responses. The first group of responses indicates that students view the two figures as the same based on flexible prototypes while the second group indicates students view the two figures as distinct shapes based on inflexible prototypes. The research uncovers responses that show evidence of students’ development of a dynamic figural concept in which student understanding is based on sense-making that involves mentally manipulating the shapes. In addition, the research highlights the richness of the evidence obtained from constructed-response items administered as part of standardized assessments.