Fumonisins determination in urine by LC-MS-MS

The present work shows the optimization and validation results of an analytical methodology based on imunoaffinity clean-up (IAC) followed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass detection (LC-MS-MS) for the analysis of the mycotoxins fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and B₂ (FB₂) in human urine samples, in order to evaluate fumonisins exposure in two Portuguese populations. As far as we know, imunoaffinity clean-up procedure was used, for the first time, in the analysis of fumonisins (FBs) in urine. Using this analytical methodology, the limit of quantification achieved was 10 ng mL⁻¹ for FB₁ and for FB₂. Recoveries were higher than 73.4% for fortification levels between 10 and 100 ng mL⁻¹ and intra-day and inter-day repeatibility were lower than 8.6%. The natural occurrence of FB₁ and FB₂ in 68 human urine samples obtained from the central zone of Portugal was studied. None of the studied samples presented detectable levels of FB₁ and FB₂.     

Strategies for internal quality control in antidoping analyses

Internal quality control (IQC) is one of the most important elements contributing to quality assurance in the laboratory. In this study, the strategy for the implementation of an IQC program to monitor performance of the analytical procedures used in an antidoping control laboratory is presented. Different IQC parameters have been defined according to the aim of the method (qualitative or quantitative, screening or confirmation). They are based on the analysis of control and calibration samples in each analytical batch and on the use of an internal standard in chromatographic methods. IQC parameters for chromatographic and immunological methods and the acceptance criteria used to check the quality control data obtained are described and discussed. These IQC procedures have been applied during routine antidoping analyses of more than 5000 samples per year in a laboratory accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and meeting the requirements of the quality standard ISO 17025.     

Structures with tunable strong ferromagnetic coupling: from unordered (1D) to ordered (Discrete)

The X-ray crystal structures, magnetic susceptibilities from 2 to 300 K, and theoretical analyses of the magnetism for 1D and trinuclear azido Cu(II) carboxylate complexes [Cu(1.5)(hnta)(N(3))(2)(H(2)O)](n) (1) and [Cu(3)(hnta)(4)(N(3))(2)(H(2)O)(3)] (2), respectively, where hnta is 6-hydroxynicotinate, are described. Although both exhibit strong ferromagnetic coupling, discrete complex 2 exhibits long-range ferromagnetic ordering, while the very similar 1D system 1 does not. Density functional calculations provided accurate J values and allowed rationalization of the ferromagnetic coupling in terms of the magnetic orbitals and spin densities.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of new dinuclear palladium complexes as precatalysts for the amination of aryl chlorides

A series of new palladium dinuclear species with general formula [Pd2X(mu-X)[mu-P(t)Bu2(Bph-R)]] (X = Cl, Br; Bph = biphenyl; R = H, Me, NMe2) have been prepared. The two palladium centers in these species are bridged by one of the aromatic rings of the biphenyl group present in the corresponding phosphine. The X-ray crystal structure of one of these complexes has been obtained, providing a clear picture of the bonding pattern. The stability of these dimers in solution is shown to be highly dependent on the nature of the phosphine R group and also on the bridging halide. When R = NMe2, the dimers dissociate, yielding the palladium(II) compounds PdX2[P(t)Bu2(BPh-NMe2)] (X = Cl, Br), and the X-ray crystal structure of one of them (X = Br) has shown that the biphenyl group from the phosphine interacts directly with the metal center. This interaction seems to play an important role in stabilizing the otherwise coordinatively unsaturated palladium(II) complex. In contrast, when R = H or Me, the analogous monomeric palladium(II) complexes are unstable and undergo cyclometalation to generate a palladium(II) dinuclear species in which each of the two phosphines cyclometalates with the palladium centers forming a strained four-membered ring. In addition to their unusual structures, these aryl-bridged dimers have also proven to be excellent precatalysts for the amination of aryl chlorides. To rationalize some of the experimental results, a detailed DFT computational study has been carried out and is presented herein.     

Layered oxysulfides Sr2MnO2Cu2m-0.5Sm+1 (m = 1, 2, and 3) as insertion hosts for Li ion batteries

The layered oxysulfides Sr2MnO2Cu2m-0.5Sm+1 (m = 1-3) consist of alternating perovskite-type Sr2MnO2 layers and copper sulfide layers. The copper ions can be replaced electrochemically and reversibly by Li. The lithiated materials were studied by Li MAS NMR, and Li resonances were observed with shifts that could be rationalized based on the number of sulfide layers. The materials were cycled versus Li and showed enhanced capacity retention in comparison to pure Cu2S; the good electrochemical performance was ascribed to the presence of the layered framework structure and rapid Li+ and Cu+ conductivity in the sulfide layers.     

Chemical communication: conductors and insulators of screw-sense preference between helical oligo(aminoisobutyric acid) domains

(1)H NMR studies quantify the abilities of achiral amino acids to communicate a left-handed screw-sense preference from one helical Aib(4) domain to another: certain quaternary amino acids (e.g. Ac(6)c) act as effective conductors of conformational preference while others (e.g. diphenylglycine) acts as insulators.     

Synthesis,structure elucidation and chemotherapeutic activity of 6-substituted 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-7-[(1-imidazolyl)phenylmethyl]- 4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids

The synthesis, structure elucidation and chemotherapeutic activity of novel 3-quinolinecarboxylic acid derivatives are reported. These derivatives are characterized by a group (1-imidazolyl)phenylmethyl attached to the 7-position and chloro 10a , fluoro 10b or methoxy 10c appended to the 6-position.     

On the structure of tetracoordinated organocobalt complexes of the type [CoR2L2]

A series of square-planar organocobalt complexes of the type [CoR₂L₂] (R = 2,3,4,6-C₆,HCl₄ and 2,3,6-C₆H₂Cl₃, L = PEtPh₂, PEt₂Ph, and PEt₃; R = 2,3,5,6-C₆HCl₄, and 2,6-C₆H₃Cl₂, L = PEt₂Ph, PEt₃, and $\text{1}\text{2}$dpe) have been prepared in which the electronegativities of the ligand R vary progressively. The reaction of o-C₆H₄ClMgBr with [CoCl₂L₂] (L = PEtPh₂ PEt₂Ph, γ-pic or $\text{1}\text{2}$bipy) did not give air stable compounds at room temperature, but the solutions obtained at ?78°C appear to contain square-planar species for L = PEtPh₂, PEt₂Ph, and γ-pic, and tetrahedral for L₂ = bipy. The tendency towards square-planar or tetrahedral structures for the compounds [CoR₂L₂] depends on the following factors in order of importance: (i) when the neutral ligand is a phosphine a square-planar structure is adopted; (ii) when L is an aromatic amine, bulky ortho substituents on R favour a square-planar structure; and (iii) a tetrahedral geometry is favoured by bidentate amine ligands. The electronegativity of the organic group R seems to be less important.     

Episodic synchronization via dynamic injection

We report the occurrence of spontaneous synchronizing events between two semiconductor lasers, when the emission of a frequency- and intensity-chaotic driving laser is unidirectionally coupled into a second stable response laser. The driving laser is driven chaotic by delayed optical feedback, the response laser is a device-identical solitary laser. We demonstrate the onset of an episodic synchronization regime when the two lasers are spectrally detuned with respect to each other. By a joint experimental and modeling analysis we can attribute the onset and the duration of the episodes to properties of spectral overlap of both lasers. This effect can even give rise to seemingly anticorrelated intensity behavior. We expect episodic synchronization to be a generic scenario for the loss of synchronization of chaotic oscillators exhibiting frequency cycles.