A Low Cost LED Based Spectrometer

A low cost LED based spectrometer is described. This LED based spectrometer could be operated as a standalone instrument or under PC control via serial link. A total of seven wavelength selections are available by the plug‐and‐measure LED light module. With the seven wavelength selections, the LED based spectrometer could provide qualitative visible absorption spectra that predict the absorption maximum. Based upon the qualitative visible spectra, quantitative photometric information could be obtained.     

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry based system with an online dual-loop cleanup device for simultaneous quantitation of urinary benzene exposure biomarkers trans,trans-muconic acid and S-phenylmercapturic acid

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) system with an online dual-loop cleanup device was developed for simultaneous quantitation of the urinary benzene exposure biomarkers trans,trans-muconic acid (ttMA) and S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA). The cleanup device was constructed from an autosampler, two electrically operated two-position switching valves, a reversed-phase C18 trap cartridge, a 200-microL loop, and two solvent-delivery pumps. The device was interfaced directly with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer and fully controlled by computer software and hardware. Because isotope dilution by introducing 13C-labeled ttMA and SPMA as internal standards was employed, the precision of the analytical system was high (for ttMA, intra- and inter-day CV values ranged from 3.82-4.53%; for SPMA, 2.13-7.06%). The calibration curves obtained using human urine spiked with ttMA were linear from 15.6-4000 microg/L (R = 0.9998) and SPMA at concentrations from 0.78-200 microg/L (R = 0.9993). The method detection limit (MDL) for SPMA was 0.23 microg/L. The MDL of ttMA could not be determined accurately because of unavailability of an appropriate blank urine matrix, but was estimated to be lower than 7.43 microg/L. Without tedious manual sample cleanup procedures the analytical system is fully automated and is therefore useful for high-throughput simultaneous determination of urinary ttMA and SPMA. The sample throughput is roughly 100 samples per day. With the selectivity and the sensitivity provided by MS/MS detection, the analytical system can be used for large-scale monitoring of environmental or occupational exposure of humans to benzene.     

Condensed 1,3-benzothiazinones 3. Synthesis of 3-substituted 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3]benzothiazin-5-ones

Refluxing 2-hydrazono-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-one 3 with triethyl orthoformate neat or with trimethyl orthoformate 4a , triethyl orthoacetate, orthopropionate, orthobenzoate 4b-d in xylene gave 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3]benzothiazin-5-one 2a and its 3-substituted derivatives 2b-d in 56–95% yields. On the other hand, when 3 was treated with trifluoro-, trichloroacetic anhydride 4e,f , dichloro-, chloroacetyl chloride 4g,h , 2-chloropropionyl and ethoxyoxalyl chloride 4i,j , the corresponding open-chain condensates were produced, together with the title compounds 2g-i , or the Dimroth rearrangement isomers 1e,g,i,j each depending on the reaction conditions. Nevertheless efficient preparation of 2h and 3-hydroxy-derivative 2k to get rid of such rearrangement was developed.     

Full-capillary sample stacking/sweeping-MEKC for the separation of naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde-derivatized tryptophan and isoleucine

In an attempt to improve the sensitivity of detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE), a novel online sample-concentration method, full-capillary sample stacking (FCSS)/sweeping-micellar electrokinetic chromatography (sweeping-MEKC) mode, is proposed. Naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA)-derivatized tryptophan and isoleucine were selected as model compounds. In the initial step, the weakly acidic compounds, dissolved in a low-conductivity buffer (35.1 microS/cm; apparent ph (pH*) in a mixed solution of acetonitrile/methanol/water, 4.6), fill the entire capillary, two vials of a high-conductivity buffer (2.06 mS/cm; pH* 2.0) are placed on each end, and a negative polarity is then applied. Under these conditions, the direction of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) is toward the inlet. Meanwhile, the anionic analytes move in the reverse direction and are neutralized and stacked at the boundary of a dynamic pH-junction (between the sample matrix and the nonmicellar background solution (BGS)). When the sample concentration is completed, the BGS is quickly changed to solutions containing SDS-BGS for the subsequent separation. Since the mobility of SDS-analytes is then greater than the EOF, the following steps occur by the sweeping (for focusing) and MEKC (for separation) mode. Using these steps, a full-capillary sample injection/separation can be achieved.     

Kinetics of Phase Transfer Catalytic Preparation of Benzyl Benzoate

The kinetics is studied for the phase transfer catalytic preparation of benzyl benzoate from sodium benzoate and benzyl chloride with tetrabutylaramonium iodide as catalyst in a well stirred batch reactor. Benzyl chloride is dissolved in toluene as the organic phase and sodium benzoate is dissolved in water as the aqueous phase. The kinetics of the overall reaction is described by a first-order model based on the concentration of benzyl chloride in the organic phase at the later time of the batch reaction. The rate constant increases with an increase of the catalyst concentration while decreases slightly with an increase of the concentration of sodium benzoate under the experimental condition.     

Kinetics of Phase Transfer Catalytic Preparation of Benzyl Phenyl Ether

Benzyl phenyl ether is prepared in a well-stirred batch reactor from phenol and benzyl chloride using tetrabutylammonium iodide as phase transfer catalyst. Phenol with sodium hydroxide is dissolved in water as the aqueous phase, and benzyl chloride is dissolved in toluene as the organic phase. Tetrabutylammonium iodide gives high reaction rate without the formation of micelles during the reaction. The reaction mechanism is verified by infrared spectrum study and other experimental observations. The kinetics of the reaction of benzyl chloride is modelled as a first-order chemical reaction. The cocatalytic effect of the iodide ion, and salting out effect on the overall reaction rate are discussed in detail using experimental data.     

CYTIDINE-C(5)-PHOTOEXCHANGE: A KINETIC ANALYSIS*

Abstract. –The kinetics of photolytic tritium exchange at C(5) of [5-T]cytidine are analyzed in terms of the rate of cytidine light absorption in order to demonstrate its light-induced nature as opposed to spontaneous exchange from a stable photoproduct. Corrections must be included for an inner filter effect and a spontaneous C(5)-tritium exchange both due to cytidine photohydrate produced during UV exposure. The quantum efficiency of this C(5)-photoexchange process is of the same order of magnitude as that for cytidine photohydration.     

Catalytic asymmetric Staudinger reactions to form beta-lactams: an unanticipated dependence of diastereoselectivity on the choice of the nitrogen substituent

There are relatively few methods for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of beta-lactams, and those that have been reported are generally cis selective. This communication describes the first catalytic enantioselective Staudinger reactions that preferentially furnish trans beta-lactams (trans = relationship of Ph to R1). The key to this method is the use of an N-triflyl protecting group for the imine. Along with serving as interesting targets in their own right, N-triflyl beta-lactams readily react with nucleophiles to generate useful families of compounds, such as gamma-amino alcohols and beta-amino acids.     

Synthesis and redox behavior of biferrocenyl-functionalized ruthenium(II) terpyridine gold clusters

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations of ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiolate monolayer-protected clusters were investigated and reported. The electrochemical measurements of Ru2+ coordinated with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine complexes were dominated by the Ru2+/Ru3+ redox couple (E(1/2) at approximately 1.3 V), Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) redox couples (E(1/2) from approximately 0.6 to approximately 0.9 V), and terpy/terpy-/terpy2- redox couples (E(1/)(2) at ca. -1.2 and ca. -1.4 V). The substantial appreciable variations detected in the Ru2+/Ru3+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ oxidation potentials indicate that there is an interaction between the Ru2+ and Fe2+ metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ metal center with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine leads to an intense 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] --> 1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition in the visible region. The 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] -->1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition observed at approximately 510 nm revealed that there was a qualitative electronic coupling between metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ transition metal center lowers the energy of the pi*terpy orbitals, causing this transition.