Speciation of antimony by atomic absorption spectrometry. Applicability to selective determination of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in liquid samples and of bioavailable antimony in sediments and soil samples

A comparative study was made of several methods to speciale Sb(III) and Sb(V) by AAS: 1) Selective extraction of Sb(III) with lactic acid/malachite green graphite furnace-AAS, 2) Sb(III) and total antimony determination by hydride generation-AAS coupled to flow injection, batch, and continuous flow systems. These methods were applied to determine total antimony and Sb(III) in sea and surface water and total antimony in sediments and in soil. For soils different sample pretreatments were used: HNO₃-H₂SO₄-HC1O₄, HF-HNO₃-H₂SO₄-HC1O₄, cold aqua regia and slurry formation procedures in water and 4M HC1. In each case the recovery of total antimony and the ability to selective determine Sb(III) were studied. The detection limits obtained were 0.01 ng, 0.07 ng, 2.97 ng and 0.21 ppb for GF-AAS, FIA-HG-AAS, HG (Batch)-AAS, and HG (continuous flow)-AAS, respectively.     

Determination of amitraz and its transformation products in pears by ethyl acetate extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A method has been developed for identification and quantification of the acaricide amitraz and its transformation products, 2,4-dimethylaniline (DMA), 2,4-dimethylformamidine (DMF) and N-2,4-dimethylphenyl-N-methylformamidine (DMPF) in pears. The analytes were extracted using ethyl acetate and anhydrous sodium sulphate. Analysis was performed by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) in the positive ion mode using a triple quadrupole (QqQ) instrument. Two precursor-product ion transitions were monitored for each compound in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The method was validated with pears taken from the orchard before the amitraz treatment and spiked at the limit of quantification (LOQ), 10 times the LOQ and the maximum residue limit (MRL). Recoveries were between 70 and 106% and relative standard deviations were below 19% (n = 5 at each spiked level). Excellent sensitivity resulted in limits of detection (LODs) for all the compounds below 10 μg kg⁻¹. Quantification was carried out using matrix-matched standards calibration, response was a linear function of the concentration from the LOQs to, at least, three orders of magnitude. Recoveries and standard deviations were comparable to those obtained after hydrolysis of amitraz and its metabolites to DMA. Occurrence of amitraz and its metabolites in field-treated pears showed that, seven days after the treatment, DMPF and DMF are the main degradation products. This work reports for the first time the use of a conventional pesticide multiresidue method and LC–ESI-MS/MS for determining amitraz and its metabolites in pears.     

Heteropolynuclear complexes with the ligand Ph2PCH2SPh: theoretical evidence for metallophilic Au-M attractions

Addition of two equivalents of diphenylthiomethylphosphine (PPh2-CH2SPh) to the starting materials [Au(tht)2]A (tht = tetrahydrothiophene), AgCF3SO3, or [Cu(CH3CN)4]CF3SO3 produces the mononuclear derivatives [M(PPh2CH2SPh)2]A (M = Au, A = CF3SO3 (1a); M = Au, A = ClO4 (1b); M = Ag, A = CF3SO3 (4); M = Cu, A = CF3SO3 (5)) which are able to form the heterodinuclear complexes [AuM'(PPh2CH2SPh)2](CF3SO3)2 (M' = Ag (2), Cu (3)) with a P-Au-P environment. If the starting gold complex is [Au(C6F5)(tht)], reaction with the phosphine produces [Au(C6F5)-(PPh2CH2SPh)] (6) from which, by reaction with AgCF3SO3 or [Cu(CH3CN)4]CF3SO3, the "snake"-type linear complexes [Au2M(C6F5)2-(PPh2CH2SPh)2]CF3SO3 (M = Ag (7), Cu (8)) are obtained. If the silver starting complex is AgCF3CO2, reaction in a 1:1 ratio gives the tetranuclear complex [Au2Ag2(C6F5)2(PPh2CH2SPh)2-(CF3CO2)2] (9). When the molar ratio is 1:2 the trinuclear complex [AuAg2(C6F5) (CF3CO2)2(PPh2CH2SPh)] (10) is obtained. According to ab initio calculations, the presence of only one gold atom is enough to induce metallophilic attractions in the group congeners, and this effect can be modulated depending on the gold ligand.     

Determination of benzoylurea insecticides in food by pressurized liquid extraction and LC‐MS

A method based on pressurized liquid extraction and LC‐MS/MS has been developed for determining nine benzoylureas (BUs) in fruit, vegetable, cereals, and animal products. Samples (5 g) were homogenized with diatomaceous earth and extracted in a 22 mL cell with 22 mL of ethyl acetate at 80°C and 1500 psi. After solvent concentration and exchange to methanol, BUs were analyzed by LC‐MS/MS using an IT mass analyzer, which achieved several transitions of precursor ions that increase selectivity providing identification. LOQs were between 0.002 and 0.01 mg/kg, which are equal or lower than maximum residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius. Excellent linearity was achieved over a range of concentrations from 0.01 to 1 mg/kg with correlation coefficients 0.995–0.999 (n=7). Validation of the total method was performed by analyzing in quintuplicate seven different commodities (milk, eggs, meat, rice, lettuce, avocado, and lemon) at three concentration levels (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg). The recoveries ranged from 58 to 97% and the RSDs from 5 to 19% depending on the compound and the commodity. The combination of pressurized liquid extraction with LC‐MS/MS provides a sensitive and selective method for the determination of BUs in food.     

Hierarchical ZSM‐5 Zeolites in Shape‐Selective Xylene Isomerization: Role of Mesoporosity and Acid Site Speciation

The isomerization of o‐xylene, a prototypical example of shape‐selective catalysis by zeolites, was investigated on hierarchical porous ZSM‐5. Extensive intracrystalline mesoporosity in ZSM‐5 was introduced by controlled silicon leaching with NaOH. In addition to the development of secondary porosity, the treatment also induced substantial aluminum redistribution, increasing the density of Lewis acid sites located at the external surface of the crystals. However, the strength of the remaining Brønsted sites was not changed. The mesoporous zeolite displayed a higher o‐xylene conversion than its parent, owing to the reduced diffusion limitations. However, the selectivity to p‐xylene decreased, and fast deactivation due to coking occurred. This is mainly due to the deleterious effect of acidity at the substantially increased external surface and near the pore mouths. A consecutive mild HCl washing of the hierarchical zeolite proved effective to increase the p‐xylene selectivity and reduce the deactivation rate. The HCl‐washed hierarchical ZSM‐5 displayed an approximately twofold increase in p‐xylene yield compared to the purely microporous zeolite. The reaction was followed by operando infrared spectroscopy to simultaneously monitor the catalytic performance and the buildup of carbonaceous deposits on the surface. Our results show that the interplay between activity, selectivity, and stability in modified zeolites can be optimized by relatively simple post‐synthesis treatments, such as base leaching (introduction of mesoporosity) and acid washing (surface acidity modification).     

Changes in lipid distribution in E. coli strains in response to norfloxacin

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become an increasing threat, requiring not only the development of new targets in drug discovery, but more importantly, a better understanding of cellular response. In the current study, three closely related Escherichia coli strains, a wild type (MG1655) and an isogenic pair derived from the wild type (DPB635 and DPB636) are studied following exposure to sub lethal concentrations of antibiotic (norfloxacin) over time. In particular, genotype similarities between the three strains were assessed based on the lipid regulation response (e.g. presence/absence and up/down regulation). Lipid identification was performed using direct surface probe analysis (matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization, MALDI), coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, FT‐ICR MS) followed by statistical analysis of variability and reproducibility across batches using internal standards. Inspection of the lipid profile showed that for the MG1655, DPB635 and DPB636 E. coli strains, a similar distribution of the altered lipids was observed after exposure to norfloxacin antibiotic (e.g. fatty acids and glycerol phospholipids are up and down regulated, respectively). Additionally, variations in the lipid distribution resemble the extent to which each strain can combat the antibiotic exposure. That is, the topA66 topoisomerase I mutation of DPB636 translates into diminished response related to antibiotic sensitivity when compared to MG1655 and the DPB635 strains. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Practical Iron‐ and Cobalt‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions between N‐Heterocyclic Halides and Aryl or Heteroaryl Magnesium Reagents

The reaction scope of iron‐ and cobalt‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions in the presence of isoquinoline (quinoline) in the solvent mixture tBuOMe/THF has been further investigated. Various 2‐halogenated pyridine, pyrimidine, and triazine derivatives were arylated under these mild conditions in excellent yields. The presence of isoquinoline allows us to perform Fe‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions between 6‐chloroquinoline and aryl magnesium reagents. Furthermore, it was found that the use of 10 % N,N‐dimethylquinoline‐8‐amine increases the yields of some Co‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions with chloropyridines bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents.     

Synthesis and study of sodium vanadomanganate

Sodium 13-vanadomanganate Na₇[MnV₁₃O₃₈]·5H₂O (I) has been synthesized and studied by mass spectrometry, thermogravimetry, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The crystals of compound I are monoclinic: a = 11.487 Å, b = 7.613 Å, c = 11.359 Å, β = 114.15°, V = 906.52 ų, ρ_calcd = 2.73 g/cm³, Z = 1.