Development of an automated sequential injection on-line solvent extraction-back extraction procedure as demonstrated for the determination of cadmium with detection by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An automated sequential injection (SI) on-line solvent extraction-back extraction separation/preconcentration procedure is described. Demonstrated for the assay of cadmium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), the analyte is initially complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) in citrate buffer and the chelate is extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK), which is separated from the aqueous phase by means of a newly designed dual-conical gravitational phase separator. A metered amount of the organic eluate is aspirated and stored in the PTFE holding coil (HC) of the SI-system. Afterwards, it is dispensed and mixed with an aqueous back extractant of dilute nitric acid containing Hg(II) ions as stripping agent, thereby facilitating a rapid metal-exchange reaction with the APDC ligand and transfer of the Cd into the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase is separated in a second dual-conical gravitational phase separator, and 30 μl of it is entrapped and metered in a sample loop (SL) and subsequently introduced via air segmentation into the graphite tube for analyte quantification. The ETAAS determination is performed in parallel with the separation/preconcentration process of the ensuing sample. An enrichment factor of 21.4, a detection limit of 2.7 ng l⁻¹, along with a sampling frequency of 13 h⁻¹ were obtained at a sample flow rate of 6.0 ml min⁻¹. The precision (R.S.D.) at the 0.4 μg l⁻¹ level was 1.8% as compared to 3.2% when quantifying the organic extractant directly. The applicability of the procedure is demonstrated for the determination of trace levels of cadmium in three certified reference materials.     

Magnetic structure of the europium fulleride ferromagnet Eu(6)C(60)

The powder neutron diffraction technique has been used for the direct observation of magnetic scattering below a Curie temperature of approximately 14 K in the fullerene-based molecular ferromagnet Eu6C60. Europium is in the divalent state with a magnetic moment of 7.1(3) muB per atom, and the configurational symmetry of the magnetic structure is body-centered cubic. Close contacts between Eu2+ and neighboring C60 units provide the signature of orbital hybridization, which can evidently account for the conducting and magnetic properties of the material.     

On-line enzymatic reaction,extraction, and chromatography of fatty acids and triglycerides with supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide can be utilized both as an introduction solvent in capillary SFC and as a reaction medium; both possibilities are illustrated in this study. An off-line SFE unit was modified for on-line SFE-SFC. To facilitate rapid depressurization of the extraction cell and to prevent memory effects, a 6-port valve was installed at the outlet line of the extraction unit. An increased background signal was obtained when PEEK polymer was used in the construction of the extraction vessel; when stainless steel was used, the blanks improved. The synthesis of methyl esters and butyl esters of fatty acids from triglycerides in edible fat was examined using an immobilized lipase as a catalyst in on-line SFE-SFC. As a result of 30 minutes reaction – extraction time, high yields of fatty acid esters were obtained at a pressure of 150 bar and a temperature of 50°C.     

Synthesis of 5,6-dihydro-4H-thiopyran-4-ones

The anions of 1,4-diaryl-3-buten-2-ones 1 reacts with arylisothiocyanates, yielding intermediates 4 which can ring close to 5,6-dihydro-4H-thiopyran-4-ones 5 . Under similar reaction conditions ethyl 3-oxo-4-pentenoates 7 gives the 6-spiropyrans 9 . Methylation of 3 gives the S-methylated open form 6 .     

Selective flow injection analysis of ultra-trace amounts of Cr(VI), preconcentration of it by solvent extraction, and determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS)

A rapid, robust, sensitive and selective time-based flow injection (FI) on-line solvent extraction system interfaced with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is described for analyzing ultra-trace amounts of Cr(VI). The sample is initially mixed on-line with isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK). The Cr(VI) is complexed by reaction with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC), and the non-charged Cr(VI)–PDC chelate formed is extracted into IBMK in a knotted reactor made from PTFE tubing. The organic extractant is separated from the aqueous phase by a gravity phase separator with a small conical cavity and delivered into a collector tube, from which 55 μl organic concentrate is subsequently introduced via an air flow into the graphite tube of the ETAAS instrument. The operations of the FI-system and the ETAAS detector are synchronously coupled. A significant advantage of the approach is that matrix constituents, such as high salt contents, effectively are eliminated. The extraction procedure was optimized by a simplex approach. A central composite design was subsequently employed to verify the estimated operational optimum. An 18-fold enhancement in sensitivity of Cr(VI) was achieved after preconcentration for 99 s at a sample flow rate of 5.5 ml min⁻¹, as compared to direct introduction of 55 μl of sample, yielding a detection limit (3σ) of 3.3 ng l⁻¹. The sampling frequency was 24.2 samples h⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully evaluated by analyzing a NIST Cr(VI)-reference material, synthetic seawater and waste waters, and waste water samples from an incineration plant and a desulphurization plant, respectively.     

An approach to sequence-specific antibody proteases

We describe here a novel strategy for the isolation of antibodies with sequence-specific protease activity: the synthesis of dipeptide haptens in which the targeted peptide bond has been replaced by a ring-strained or torsionally strained hydroxyethylene transition-state analog. Thus, the analogs mimic both a peptide bond in a distorted, reactive conformation and the transition state for peptide bond hydrolysis. In order to obtain sequence-specific antibody proteases, these analogs have been flanked with additional amino acid residues in preparation for immunization. In particular, we have synthesized peptides containing analogs such as 2-cis-amino-3-cis-hydroxycyclobutane carboxylic acid andendo-(3-amino-2-hydroxy)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-7-anti-carboxylic acid. We have also prepared a series of peptide derivatives containing analogs, such as 2-[3-amino-2-oxo-1-azetidinyl]-3-methylbutanoic acid, in which the targeted peptide bond has been incorporated into a β-lactam ring. Since the “peptide bond” has been left intact, these species mimic only a distorted ground state. At present, antibodies are being elicited against a number of the above peptide derivatives.     

Half-life measurement of <Superscript>126</Superscript>Sn isolated from Hanford nuclear defense waste

Summary Long-term risk assessment of residual and disposed nuclear fuel reprocessing waste requires good knowledge of component isotopes with long half-lives. For example, the accuracy of the accepted ¹²⁶Sn half-life of approximately 100,000 years is insufficient for desired risk assessments. From modeling and sampling, ¹²⁶Sn is known to exist in Hanford nuclear waste. Excess portions of waste characterization samples were used to isolate ¹²⁶Sn for measurement of its half-life. Isolation was performed with ion-exchange resins. The resulting ¹²⁶Sn was gamma-assayed with a hyperpure germanium spectrometer for decay photon identification and activity values. An inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometer was used to measure the atom quantity of the isolated ¹²⁶Sn. The separation chemistry, observed gamma energies, and calculated half-life are presented. The half-life of ¹²⁶Sn estimated in this work is (2.33±0.10) ^. 10⁵ years.     

Reductive Elimination of Phenylsulfonyl Groups in the 3‐Position of Benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols

3‐(Phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols 1 can be desulfonylated with an excess of LiAlH₄/MeLi?LiBr in boiling THF in good yields (Scheme 6). When the reaction is run with LiAlH₄/MeLi, mainly the 3,3′‐disulfides 6 of the corresponding 2,4‐dihydroxybenzo[a]heptalene‐3‐thiols are formed after workup (Scheme 7). However, the best yields of desulfonylated products are obtained when the 2,4‐dimethoxy‐substituted benzo[a]heptalenes 2 are reduced with an excess of LiAlH₄/TiCl₄ at ?78→20° in THF (Scheme 10). Attempts to substitute the PhSO₂ group of 2 with freshly prepared MeONa in boiling THF led to a highly selective ether cleavage of the 4‐MeO group, rather than to desulfonylation (Scheme 13).     

Photolyse von 3-Methyl-2, 1-benzisoxazol (3-Methylanthranil) und 2-Azido-acetophenon in Gegenwart von Schwefelsäure und Benzolderivaten

Photolysis of 3-Methyl-2, 1-benzisoxazole (3-Methylanthranil) and 2-Azido-acetophenone in the Presence of Sulfuric Acid and Benzene Derivatives Irradiation of 3-methylanthranil ( 1 ) in acetonitrile in the presence of sulfuric acid and benzene, toluene, p-xylene, mesitylene or anisole with a mercury high-pressure lamp through a pyrex filter yields beside varying amounts of 2-amino-acetophenone ( 3 ) and 2-amino-5-hydroxy- ( 4a ) and 2-amino-3-hydroxy-acetophenone ( 4b ) the corresponding diphenylamine derivatives 5 (see Table 1). In the case of toluene and anisole mixtures of the corresponding ortho- and para-substituted isomers ( 5b, 5d or 5g, 5i respectively), but no meta-substituted isomers ( 5c or 5h ) are obtained. In addition to these products, the irradiation of 1 in the presence of anisole yields also 2-amino-5-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-acetophenone ( 7 ), 2-amino-3-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-acetophenone ( 8 ) and 2-methoxy-9-methyl-acridine ( 6 ; see Scheme 1). The latter product is also formed thermally by acid catalysis from the diphenylamine derivative 5i . Irradiation of 2-azido-acetophenone ( 2 ) in acetonitrile solution in the presence of sulfuric acid and benzene leads to the formation of 1, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a and 9 (see Table 2). Compounds 3, 4a, 4b and 5a are also obtained after acid catalyzed decomposition of 2 in the presence of benzene. Thus, it is concluded that irradiation of 1 or 2 in the presence of sulfuric acid yields 2-acetyl-phenylnitrenium ions 10 in the singlet ground state which will undergo electrophilic substitution of the aromatic compounds, perhaps via the π-complex 11 (see Scheme 2).     

Photochemische Cycloadditionen von 3-Phenyl-2H-azirinen an Carbonsäurechloride. 35. Mitteilung über Photoreaktionen

Irradiation of 2, 3-diphenyl-2H-azirine ( 1a ) and 1-azido-1-phenyl-propene, the precursor of 2-methyl-3-phenyl-2H-azirine ( 1b ), in benzene, with a high pressure mercury lamp (pyrex filter) in the presence of acid chlorides yields the oxazoles 5a–d (Scheme 2). Photolysis of 2, 2-dimethyl-3-phenyl-2H-azirine ( 1c ) under the same conditions gives after methanolysis the 5-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-3-oxazolines 7a, b, d , while hydrolysis of the reaction mixture leads to the formation of the 1, 2-diketones 8a, c, d (Scheme 4). The suggested reaction path for all these reactions is a 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition of the photochemically generated benzonitrilemethylides 2 to the carbonyl double bond of the acid chlorides to give the intermediates 4 , followed by either elimination of hydrogen chloride or solvolysis (Schemes 2 and 4). Irradiation of 1c in the presence of acetic acid anhydride leads via the intermediate 9 to the 5-hydroxy-3-oxazoline 10 and the 5-methylidene-3-oxazoline 11 (Scheme 5).