Comparative assessment of solid-phase extraction clean-up procedures, GC columns and perfluoroacylation reagents for determination of type B trichothecenes in wheat by GC-ECD

Various solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures for clean-up, two perfluoroacylation reagents (pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) and heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA)) and two chromatographic columns (HP-1701 and HP-5) have been assessed comparatively to achieve the determination of type B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3- and 15-ADON)) in wheat grain by gas chromatography (GC)-electron-capture detection (ECD). Spiked wheat samples were extracted with acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v). Tested SPE procedures were MycoSep 225 column, Florisil and different cartridges prepared in the laboratory with mixtures of various sorbents like alumina, Celite 545, C18, silica and charcoal. We propose MycoSep 225 column, and cartridges made with alumina-charcoal-silica and alumina-charcoal-C18 silica mixtures as clean-up procedures on the basis of recovery values (89.6, 87.3 and 86.1% for deoxynivalenol, respectively, at 1.0 mg/kg spiking level). The two last procedures are less expensive. Pentafluoropropionic anhydride was more stable against moisture and less expensive, while recoveries were similar to those obtained with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. HP-1701 column can separate 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol derivatives while HP-5 cannot, although this last column provided lower bleed and better sensitivity.     

Determination of azolic fungicides in wine by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry

A method for simultaneous analysis of eight azolic fungicides: cyproconazole, diniconazole, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, flusilazole, triadimenol, triadimefon, carbendazim and the degradation product 2-aminobenzimidazole in wine samples is described. The compounds are isolated from the samples and concentrated by solid-phase extraction on polymeric cartridges. The determination is carried out by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in positive ionization and selected ion monitoring modes. The influence of parameters such as the mobile phase composition, column temperature, corona current and fragmentor voltage is studied and the proposed method is validated. Recoveries of the nine compounds added to wine samples range from 83 to 109%, with relative standard deviations below 10%. The quantitation limits are between 9 and 31 microg/L. Real wine samples are analyzed by the proposed method, also.     

Phosphate-selective electrodes containing immobilised ionophores

Phosphate selective electrodes have been produced based upon rubbery membranes containing heterocylic macrocycles as sensors covalently bound to a cross-linked polystyrene-block–polybutadiene-block–polystyrene (SBS) polymer. The membranes were robust and the best HPO₄²⁻-selective membrane fabricated was composed of 7.1% (m/m) dicumyl peroxide, 28.3% (m/m) 2-nitrophenyloctylether, 9.8% (m/m) 3-(10-undecenyl)-1,5,8-triazacyclodecane-2,4-dione, 31.0% (m/m) SBS and 23.8% (m/m) PoleStar™ 200R (clay-based filler). The characteristics of this electrode were a linear Nernstian range of 3.9×10⁻³ to 1×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ HPO₄²⁻ with a limit of detection of 1.0×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ HPO₄²⁻, a slope of −29.7±0.9 mV per activity decade and a pH range from 6 to 8. Selectivity coefficients for phosphate against various interfering anions (chloride, sulfate and nitrate) were determined. Response times were 2 min or under, stability of response and electrode lifetime in continuous use were also very satisfactory. The response behavior of HPO₄²⁻-ISEs based upon mobile and bound ionophores was comparable and suggests that mobility of the ionophore is not necessary to obtain a working ISE and that covalent binding of ionophores can be used to produce ISEs of increased stability and robustness.     

Solvent effects on substitution reactions at complexes of the [Fe(CN)5L]3- type in binary aqueous mixtures

Summary The kinetics of replacement of 4,4-bipyridine, (4,4-bipy), and 4-cyanopyridine, (4-CNpy), by cyanide in [Fe(CN)₅-(4,4-bipy)]^3-. at 298 K have been studied in binary aqueous mixtures containing different amounts of t-butanol, methanol, glycerol, ethyleneglycol and sucrose. The plots of logarithms of the limiting rate constantsversus the mole fraction of water are linear over the entire composition range studied, showing the importance of solvation phenomena. A different straight line of log (k_L/s^–1)versus X_H2O is obtained for each mixture, indicating the influence of other solvent parameters on the reaction rate. A multiparameter regression of G _exp with A (acidity vector), B (basicity vector) and G^E is used for both reactions; plots of G _calc versus G _exp are linear with slopes of near unity.     

Simultaneous spectrofluorimetric determination of europium, dysprosium, gadolinium and terbium using chemometric methods

A spectrofluorimetric method for the simultaneous determination of dysprosium, europium, gadolinium and terbium in ternary and quaternary mixtures by the use of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid as a chelating agent was developed. The influence of chemical variables affecting the analytical reaction was evaluated. A partial least-squares procedure and PC Quant software were used to assess data obtained from a variable number of calibration solutions and wavelengths. The ensuing method was validated by applying it to the analysis of synthetic ternary (Eu-Dy-Tb) and quaternary mixtures (Eu-Dy-Gd-Tb) over the concentration ranges 60-550 mug Eu l(-1), 30-400 mug Dy l(-1) and 30-400 mug Tb l(-1) in the former, and 20-220 mug Eu l(-1), 20-235 mug Dy l(-1), 25-230 mug Gd l(-1) and 75-230 mug Tb l(-1) in the latter. The results obtained by using the two quantitation procedures are compared. The relative errors in the determinations were less than 8% in most cases.     

Effects of citrate on the composition and enzymic coagulation of colloidal bovine casein aggregates

Colloidal casein aggregates (CCA) prepared from soluble whole bovine caseinates in the presence of Ca²⁺ and phosphate (Pi) ions by addition of different citrate (Cit) concentrations showed different mineral and proteic composition. Citrate concentration conditions the Ca and Pi concentrations incorporated into CCA, probably due to the complexing effect of this anion on calcium. A significant change in the incorporated Ca/Pi ratio at 8 mM citrate could very likely be associated to changes in CCA net charge. The incorporation of individual caseins to the colloidal particles obtained, as well as their average size and size distribution, depended also on the Cit concentration used [Cit]_P. α_S- and β-caseins assembled in the CCA structure sharply decreased at a [Cit]_P higher than 15 mM, i.e., at a low Ca²⁺ concentration in the aggregates, showing that the presence of this cation is necessary for the incorporation of these caseins. An inverse relationship between the aggregation step rate in CCA enzymic coagulation and their average size was observed. The aggregation rate vs the average size curve obtained at [Cit]_P 8 mM clearly differed from the curves obtained at 10 and 12 mM, respectively, a fact probably related to a change in the CCA net charge. This behavior showed the effect of citrate concentration on CCA functional properties.     

The Arveson Extension Theorem and coanalytic models

We develop techniques which allow one to describe in simple terms the set of operators on Hilbert space of the form M^{* ()} |M, where M is multiplication by z on a Hilbert space of analytic functions satisfying certain technical assumptions, M^{* ()} is the direct sum of a countably infinite number of copies of M^*, andM is invariant for M^{* ()}. One of the main ingredients in our technique is the Arveson Extension Theorem and this paper illustrates the great power and tractability of that theorem in a concrete setting.Research partially supported by NSF grant MCS 81-02518     

Tentoxin as a scaffold for drug discovery. Total solid-phase synthesis of tentoxin and a library of analogues

[reaction: see text] A solid-phase method for the synthesis of tentoxin has been developed. Two key steps-dehydration and N-alkylation-are carried out while the peptide is anchored to the resin. The method, which has been validated by the preparation of a library of tentoxin analogues, should be applicable to the generation of further libraries that have the tentoxin scaffold structure, as well as other structures containing N-alkylated didehydroamino acids.     

The Potential Energies of Cohesion of a Crystalline Organic Enantiomer and the Racemate; on the Energy for the Liquid Racemate [1]

The cohesion potential energy of the crystal of one enantiomer of ethyl 3-cyano-3-(3,4-dimethyloxyphenyl)-2,2,4-trimethylpentanoate, −47.7 ± 0.1 kJ mol⁻¹ (0–90°C), was found out from the heat of sublimation (123.2 ± 5.1 kJ mol⁻¹, 78.6°C) and the kinetic energies for the gas phase and the crystal. It was found that the entropy function of Debye’s theory of solids mathematically agreed with the vibrational entropy of the gas (variationally obtained), allowing to disclose the vibrational energy using the Debye energy function (E _vib 835.0 kJ mol⁻¹ (78.6°C), E ⁰ included). E _kin for the crystal (771.1 kJ mol⁻¹ (78.6°C)) was obtained by Debye’s theory with the experimental heat capacity. The cohesion energy represented a moderate part of the sublimation energy. The cohesion energy of the racemic crystal, −44.2 kJ mol⁻¹, was obtained by the heat of formation of the crystal in the solid state (3.0 kJ mol⁻¹, 83.3°C) and E _kin for the crystal (by Debye’s theory). The decrease in cohesion on formation of the crystal accounted for the energy of formation. The change in potential energy on liquefaction of the racemate from the gas state was disclosed obtaining added-up E _{vib + rot} for the liquid in the way as to E _vib for the gas, the Debye entropy function being increasedly suited for the liquid (E _{vib + rot} 763.4 kJ mol⁻¹ (115.4°C)). Positive ΔE _pot, 13.0 kJ mol⁻¹, arised from the increase in electronic energy (Δ _l ν_mean − 154.3 cm⁻¹, by the dielectric nature of the liquid), added to the cohesion energy.     

Modular bis(oxazoline) ligands for palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation: unprecedented conformational behaviour of a bis(oxazoline) palladium eta3-1,3-diphenylallyl complex

New families of enantiopure bis(oxazolines) with 4,5-trans (5 a-g) or 4,5-cis (6 c) stereochemistry at the individual rings have been prepared in high yield. Their eta(3)-allyl palladium complexes (8 a-g, 9 c and 10) have been used as catalytic precursors in allylic alkylation reactions with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %) for the trans oxazoline derivatives, while Pd/6 c system was inactive. NMR studies on palladium eta(3)-1,3-diphenylallyl intermediates (11 a, c and e) showed the presence of syn/syn- and syn/anti-allyl isomers in solution; this resembles the first example of eta(3)-eta(1)-eta(3) isomerism in Pd allylic complexes containing bis(oxazolines) derived from malonic acid.