A new rapid micro-method for the molecular-chemical characterization of rhizodeposits by field-ionization mass spectrometry

Time-consuming investigation of rhizodeposit composition by leaching, freeze-drying of leachate, and pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS) of solid samples was replaced by direct Py-FIMS of a 5 microL liquid rhizodeposit sample which was evaporated overnight in the quartz tube of a mass spectrometer inlet system. Application of this new rapid technique to a set of 14 liquid rhizodeposit samples from maize (Zea mays L.), leached twice with a time lag of 80 min, unequivocally showed the effect of soil texture on the chemical composition of the rhizodeposits. Irrespective of leaching time, a partial least-squares analysis separated the Py-FI mass spectra of the maize rhizodeposits leached from a soil from those leached from a soil + quartz sand-mixture (prepared by addition of 50% w/w quartz sand to the original soil). The signals which had the strongest discrimination power and were significantly enriched in leachates from the soil + quartz sand were assigned to sugars, peptides and polyamines. Mass signals of putrescine and cadaverine, a priori not expected in the rhizodeposits, were indicators of modified root environment and rhizosphere processes in the soil + quartz sand. In conclusion, the new rapid mass spectrometric profiling method is suitable for rhizosphere research because it requires very small sample volumes, is fast and highly sensitive to detect and quantify a wide range of a priori expected and unexpected organic substances.     

Nickel-Catalyzed Sulfonylation of Aryl Bromides Enabled by Potassium Metabisulfite as a Uniquely Effective SO2 Surrogate

The development and mechanistic investigation of a nickel-catalyzed sulfonylation of aryl bromides is disclosed. The reaction proceeds in good yields for a variety of substrates and utilizes an inexpensive, stench-free, inorganic sulfur salt (K₂S₂O₅) as a uniquely effective SO₂ surrogate. The active oxidative addition complex was synthesized, isolated, and fully characterized by a combination of NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography analysis. The use of the isolated oxidative addition complex in both stoichiometric and catalytic reactions revealed that SO₂ insertion occurs via dissolved SO₂, likely released upon thermal decomposition of K₂S₂O₅. Key to the success of the reaction is the role of K₂S₂O₅ as a reservoir of SO₂ that is slowly released, thus preventing catalyst poisoning.     

Glycine Imine—The Elusive α-Imino Acid Intermediate in the Reductive Amination of Glyoxylic Acid

Simple unhindered aldimines tend to hydrolyze or oligomerize and are therefore spectroscopically not well characterized. Herein we report the formation and spectroscopic characterization of the simplest imino acid, namely glycine imine, by cryogenic matrix isolation IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Glycine imine forms after UV irradiation of 2-azidoacetic acid by N₂ extrusion in anti-(E,E)- and anti-(Z,Z)-conformation that can be photochemically interconverted. In matrix isolation pyrolysis experiments with 2-azidoacetic acid, glycine imine cannot be trapped as it further decarboxylates to aminomethylene. In aqueous solution glycine imine is hydrolyzed to hydroxy glycine and hydrated glyoxylic acid. At higher concentrations or in the presence of Fe^IISO₄ as a reducing agent glycine imine undergoes self-reduction by oxidative decarboxylation chemistry. Glycine imine may be seen as one of the key reaction intermediates connecting prebiotic amino acid and sugar formation chemistry.     

Study of posttranslational non-enzymatic modifications of collagen using capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

The depository effects that occur in slowly metabolized proteins (typically glycation) are very difficult to assess, owing to their extremely low concentration in the protein matrix. Collagen accumulates reactive metabolites through reactions that are not regulated by enzymes. A typical example of these non-enzymatic changes is glycation (the Maillard reaction, the formation of advanced glycation end products), resulting from the reaction of the oxo-group of sugars with the epsilon-amino group of lysine and arginine. Collagen samples (type I) as a test protein were incubated separately with glucose, ribose and malondialdehyde. Collagen was fragmented with cyanogen bromide and then digested with trypsin. This peptide digest was separated by CE, CE-MS/MS, and HPLC-MS/MS. An ion trap MS was used and MS conditions were optimized for both methods. These on-line CE-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS couplings made it possible to discover specific modifications such as (N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)-lysine) in the precise location in the structure of collagen corresponding to posttranslational non-enzymatic modifications. A new CE-MS/MS technique for peptide analysis was developed, and applied in the identification of posttranslational modifications in slowly metabolized test proteins.     

E4 Transfer (E=P,As) to Ni Complexes

The use of [Cp′′₂Zr(η^1:1-E₄)] (E=P ( 1 a ), As ( 1 b ), Cp′′=1,3-di-tert-butyl-cyclopentadienyl) as phosphorus or arsenic source, respectively, gives access to novel stable polypnictogen transition metal complexes at ambient temperatures. The reaction of 1 a/1 b with [Cp^RNiBr]₂ (Cp^R=Cp^Bn (1,2,3,4,5-pentabenzyl-cyclopentadienyl), Cp′′′ (1,2,4-tri-tert-butyl-cyclopentadienyl)) was studied, to yield novel complexes depending on steric effects and stoichiometric ratios. Besides the transfer of the complete E_n unit, a degradation as well as aggregation can be observed. Thus, the prismane derivatives [(Cp′′′Ni)₂(μ,η^3:3-E₄)] ( 2 a (E=P); 2 b (E=As)) or the arsenic containing cubane [(Cp′′′Ni)₃(μ₃-As)(As₄)] ( 5 ) are formed. Furthermore, the bromine bridged cubanes of the type [(Cp^RNi)₃{Ni(μ-Br)}(μ₃-E)₄]₂ (Cp^R=Cp′′′: 6 a (E=P), 6 b (E=As), Cp^R=Cp^Bn: 8 a (E=P), 8 b (E=As)) can be isolated. Here, a stepwise transfer of E_n units is possible, with a cyclo-E₄²⁻ ligand being introduced and unprecedented triple-decker compounds of the type [{(Cp^RNi)₃Ni(μ₃-E)₄}₂(μ,η^4:4-E′₄)] (Cp^R=Cp^Bn, Cp′′′; E/E′=P, As) are obtained.     

Computer simulations and analysis of structural and energetic features of some crystalline energetic materials

A database of 43 literature X-ray crystal structure determinations for compounds with known, or possible, energetic properties has been collected along with some sublimation enthalpies. A statistical study of these crystal structures, when compared to a sample of general organic crystals, reveals a population of anomalously short intermolecular oxygen-oxygen separations with an average crystal packing coefficient of 0.77 that differs significantly from 0.70 found for the general population. For the calculation of lattice energies, three atom-atom potential energy schemes and the semiempirical SCDS-PIXEL scheme are compared. The nature of the packing forces in these energetic materials is further analyzed by a study of the dispersive versus Coulombic contributions to overall lattice energies and to molecule-molecule energies in pairs of near neighbors in the crystals, a partitioning made possible by the unique features of the SCDS-PIXEL scheme. It is shown that dispersion forces are stronger than Coulombic forces, contrary to common belief. The low abundance of hydrogen atoms in these molecules, the close oxygen-oxygen contacts, and the high packing coefficients explain the observation that, for these energetic materials, crystal densities are anomalously high compared to those of most organic materials. However, an understanding, not to mention prediction or control, of the deeper mechanisms for the explosive power of these crystalline materials, such as the role of lattice defects, remains beyond present capabilities.     

Ab initio calculation of anion proton affinity and ionization potential for energetic ionic liquids

Developing a better understanding of the bulk properties of ionic liquids requires accurate measurements of the underlying molecular properties that help to determine the bulk behavior. Two computational methods are used in this work: second‐order perturbation theory (MP2) and completely renormalized coupled cluster theory [CR‐CC(2,3)], to calculate the proton affinity and ionization potential of a set of anions that are of interest for use in protic, energetic ionic liquids. Compared with experimental values, both methods predict similarly accurate proton affinities, but CR‐CC(2,3) predicts significantly more accurate ionization potentials. It is concluded that more time intensive methods like CR‐CC(2,3) are required in calculations involving open shell states like the ionization potential. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of ultrasound frequency on antioxidant activity,total phenolic and anthocyanin content of red raspberry puree

Ultrasound in the 20–1000 kHz range show unique propagation characteristics in fluid media and possess energy that can break down fruit matrices to facilitate the extraction of valuable bioactive compounds. Red raspberries carry significant amounts of specific antioxidants, including ellagitannins and anthocyanins that are important for human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasound frequencies associated with cavitation (20 kHz) and microstreaming (490 and 986 kHz) on total antioxidant activity (AOA), total phenolics content (TPC), and total monomeric anthocyanin content (ACY) of red raspberry puree prepared from crushed berries. The pureed fruit was subjected to high-intensity (20 kHz) and higher frequency-low intensity (490 and 986 kHz) ultrasound for 30 min. The temperature of treated purees increased to a maximum of 56 °C with 986 kHz. Sonication at 20 and 490 kHz significantly (p < 0.05) affected the AOA, ACY, and TPC of red raspberry puree, while 986 kHz had no significant effect on ACY and AOA (p < 0.05). In all cases, ultrasound treatment had significant and positive effect on at least one of the measured parameters up to 30 min. Sonication beyond 10 min (and up to 30 min) using 20 kHz either produced no change or caused a drop in AOA and ACY. However, for 986 and 20 kHz, TPC, increased by 10% and 9.5%, respectively after 30 min (p < 0.05) compared to the control. At 20 kHz, AOA and ACY increased by 17.3% and 12.6% after 10 min. It was demonstrated that 20 kHz ultrasound treatment, when limited to 10 min, was the most effective for extraction of bioactive compounds in red raspberry compared to 490 and 986 kHz although the effect could be similar at the higher frequencies if different amplitudes are used.     

Hybrid genetic algorithm with an adaptive penalty function for fitting multimodal experimental data: application to exchange-coupled non-Kramers binuclear iron active sites

A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is a stochastic optimization technique based on the mechanisms of biological evolution. These algorithms have been successfully applied in many fields to solve a variety of complex nonlinear problems. While they have been used with some success in chemical problems such as fitting spectroscopic and kinetic data, many have avoided their use due to the unconstrained nature of the fitting process. In engineering, this problem is now being addressed through incorporation of adaptive penalty functions, but their transfer to other fields has been slow. This study updates the Nanakorrn Adaptive Penalty function theory, expanding its validity beyond maximization problems to minimization as well. The expanded theory, using a hybrid genetic algorithm with an adaptive penalty function, was applied to analyze variable temperature variable field magnetic circular dichroism (VTVH MCD) spectroscopic data collected on exchange coupled Fe(II)Fe(II) enzyme active sites. The data obtained are described by a complex nonlinear multimodal solution space with at least 6 to 13 interdependent variables and are costly to search efficiently. The use of the hybrid GA is shown to improve the probability of detecting the global optimum. It also provides large gains in computational and user efficiency. This method allows a full search of a multimodal solution space, greatly improving the quality and confidence in the final solution obtained, and can be applied to other complex systems such as fitting of other spectroscopic or kinetics data.