Sweeteners determination in table top formulations using FT-Raman spectrometry and chemometric analysis

A partial least squares (PLS) Fourier transform Raman spectrometry procedure based on the measurement of solid samples contained inside standard glass vials, has been developed for direct and reagent-free determination of sodium saccharin and sodium cyclamate in table top sweeteners. A classical 2² design for standards was used for calibration, but this system provides accuracy errors higher than 13% w/w for the analysis of samples containing glucose monohydrate. So, an extended model incorporating glucose monohydrate (2³ standards) was assayed for the determination of sodium saccharin and sodium cyclamate in all the samples. Mean centering spectra data pre-treatment has been employed to eliminate common spectral information and root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.0064 and 0.0596 was obtained for sodium saccharin and sodium cyclamate, respectively. A mean accuracy error of the order of 1.1 and 1.9% w/w was achieved for sodium saccharin and sodium cyclamate, in the validation of the method using actual table top samples, being lower than those obtained using an external monoparametric calibration. FT-Raman provides a fast alternative to the chromatographic method for the determination of the sweeteners with a three times higher sampling throughput than that obtained in HPLC. On the other hand, FT-Raman offers an environmentally friendly methodology which eliminates the use of solvents. Furthermore, the stability of samples and standards into chromatographic standard glass vials allows their storage for future analysis thus avoiding completely the waste generation.     

Catalysis of the beta-elimination of HF from isomeric 2-fluoroethylpyridines and 1-methyl-2-fluoroethylpyridinium salts. Proton-activating factors and methyl-activating factors as a mechanistic test to distinguish between concerted E2 and E1cb irreversible mechanisms

Second-order rate constants, k(OH)(N), M(-)(1) s(-)(1), for the beta-elimination reactions of HF with 2-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridine (2), 3-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridine (3), and 4-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridine (4) in OH(-)/H(2)O, at 50 degrees C and mu = 1 M KCl, are = 0.646 x 10(-)(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), = 2.97 x 10(-)(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), and = 5.28 x 10(-)(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), respectively. When compared with the second-order rate constants for the same processes with the nitrogen-methylated substrates 1-methyl-2-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridinium iodide (5), 1-methyl-3-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridinium iodide (6), and 1-methyl-4-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridinium iodide (7), the methyl-activating factor (MethylAF) can be calculated from the ratio k(OH)(NCH)3/, and a value of 8.7 x 10(5) is obtained with substrates 5/2, a value of 1.6 x 10(3) with 6/3, and a value of 2.1 x 10(4) with 7/4. The high values of MethylAF are in agreement with an irreversible E1cb mechanism (A(N)D(E) + D(N)) for substrates 5 and 7 and with the high stability of the intermediate carbanion related to its enamine-type structure. In acetohydroxamate/acetohydroxamic acid buffers (pH 8.45-9.42) and acetate/acetic acid buffers (pH 4.13-5.13), the beta-elimination reactions of HF, with substrates 2 and 4, occur at NH(+), the substrates protonated at the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring, even when the [NH(+)] is much lower than the [N], the unprotonated substrate, due to the high proton-activating factor (PAF) value observed: 3.6 x 10(5) for 2 and 6.5 x 10(4) for 4 with acetohydroxamate base. These high PAF values are indicative of an irreversible E1cb mechanism rather than a concerted E2 (A(N)D(E)D(N)) mechanism. Finally, the rate constant for carbanion formation from NH(+) with 2 is k(B)(NH)+ = 0.35 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), which is lower than when chlorine is the leaving group ( = 1.05 M(-)(1) s(-)(1); Alunni, S.; Busti, A. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 2001, 778). This is direct experimental evidence that some lengthening of the carbon-leaving group bond can occur in the intermediate carbanion. This is a point of interest for interpreting a heavy-atom isotope effect.     

Bis(1,10‐phenanthroline)(thio­sulfato)­manganese(II) methanol solvate and catena‐poly­[[di­aqua(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline)­manganese(II)]‐μ‐thio­sulfato]

The structure of bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)(thio­sulfato‐κ²O:S)­manganese(II) methanol solvate, [Mn(S₂O₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·CH₃OH, is made up of Mn²⁺ centers coordinated to two bidentate phenanthroline (phen) groups and an S,O‐chelating thio­sulfate anion, forming monomeric entities. The structure of catena‐poly­[[di­aqua(2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phen­anthro­line‐κ²N,N′)­manganese(II)]‐μ‐thio­sulfato‐κ²O:S], [Mn(S₂O₃)(C₁₄H₁₂N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, is polymeric, consisting of Mn(dmph)(H₂O)₂ units (dmph is 2,9‐di­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) linked by thio­sulfate anions acting in an S,O‐chelating manner.     

Two nickel complexes stabilized by nitrate counter‐ions

Two new nickel nitrates, di­aqua­bis(3,4,7,8‐tetra­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)­nickel(II) dinitrate methanol solvate, [Ni(C₁₆H₁₆N₂)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂·CH₄O, (I), and tri­aqua­[2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine‐κ³N¹,N²,N⁶]nickel(II) di­ni­trate trihydrate, [Ni(C₁₈H₁₂N₆)(H₂O)₃](NO₃)₂·3H₂O, (II), are reported. In both structures, the cation is octahedrally coordinated, to two bidentate 3,4,7,8‐tetra­methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline (tmp) and two water mol­ecules in (I), and to one tridentate 2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (tpt) and three water mol­ecules in (II). Both structures are stabilized by extensive hydrogen‐bonding interactions.     

Biotransformation of 7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene derivatives by Gibberella fujikuroi

The microbiological transformation of 7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene by the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi gave fujenoic acid as the main compound, whilst the incubation of 18-hydroxy-7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene and 3α,18-dihydroxy-7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene afforded the corresponding 6β-hydroxy-derivatives. These facts indicate that the formation of fujenoic acid in this biotransformation should occur via a 7-oxo-6β-hydroxy derivative. In the three biotransformations, an 11β-hydroxylation was also produced, in low yield, indicating that a 7-oxo-group also directs hydroxylation at C-11.     

Excess enthalpies of some aromatic aldehydes in n-hexane, n-heptane and benzene

Calorimetric measurements of molar excess enthalpies, H^E, at 298.15 K, of mixtures containing aromatic aldehydes of general formula C₆H₅(CH₂)_mCHO (with m = 0, 1 and 2) + n-hexane, n-heptane or benzene are reported, together with the values of H^E at equimolar composition compared with the corresponding values of H^E for the aromatic ketones in the same solvents. The experimental results clearly indicate that the intermolecular interactions between the carbonyl groups (CHO) are influenced by the intramolecular interactions between the carbonyl and phenyl groups, particularly for the mixtures containing benzaldehyde.     

Metal ion catalysis in the beta-elimination reactions of N-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium and N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium in aqueous solution

Catalysis of the beta-elimination reaction of N-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium (1) and N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]quinuclidinium (2) by Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) in OH(-)/H(2)O (pH = 5.20-6.35, 50 degrees C, and mu = 1 M KCl) has been studied. In the presence of Zn(2+), the elimination reactions of both isomers occur from the Zn(2+)-complexed substrates (C). The equilibrium constants for the dissociation of the Zn(2+)-complexes are as follows: K(d) = 0.012 +/- 0.003 M (isomer 1) and K(d) = 0.065 +/- 0.020 M (isomer 2). The value of k(C)(H2O) for isomer 1 is 4.81 x 10(-6) s(-1). For isomer 2 both the rate constants for the "water" and OH(-)-induced reaction of the Zn(2+)-complexed substrate could be measured, despite the low concentration of OH(-) in the investigated reaction mixture [k(C)H2O)= 1.97 x 10(-6) s(-1) and k(C)(OH-)= 21.9 M(-1) s(-1), respectively]. The measured metal activating factor (MetAF), i.e., the reactivity ratio between the complexed and the uncomplexed substrate, is 8.1 x 10(4) for the OH(-)-induced elimination of 2. This high MetAF can be compared with the corresponding proton activating factor (Alunni, S.; Conti, A.; Palmizio Errico, R. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 2000, 453), PAF = 1.5 x 10(6) and is in agreement with an E1cb irreversible mechanism (A(xh)D(E)* + D(N)) (Guthrie, R. D.; Jencks, W. P. Acc. Chem. Res. 1989, 22, 343). A value of k(C)(H2O)>or= 23 x 10(-7) s(-1) is estimated for the Cd(2+)-complexed isomer 2, while catalysis by Cd(2+) has not been observed for isomer 1.     

Transformation of dynamic DSC results into isothermal data for the curing kinetics study of the resol resins

Kinetics of thermosetting polymers curing is difficult to study by isothermal methods based on the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The difficulty is due to the low sensitivity of the equipment for total reaction heat measurements during high temperature process. The aim of this paper is to display the equivalence between a dynamic model, the Ozawa method, and an isothermal isoconversional fit, which allows predicting the isothermal behavior of the resol resins cure through dynamic runs by DSC. In this work, lignin–phenol–formaldehyde and commercial phenol–formaldehyde resol resins were employed. In addition, the isothermal kinetic parameters for both resins were performed by means of transformation of the data obtained from the dynamic Ozawa method.     

Regioselective synthesis of 4- and 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides and -phosphonates from 2H-azirines and acyl chlorides

A simple and efficient regioselective synthesis of 4-oxazole-phosphine oxides 11 and -phosphonates 12 from 2H-azirine-phosphine oxides 1 and -phosphonates 6 is described. The key step for the synthesis of oxazoles 11 is a base-mediated ring closure of vinylogous α-aminophosphorus compounds derived from phosphine oxides 4 and from phosphonates 8. These derivatives 4 and 8 are obtained by reaction of functionalized azirines 1 and 6 with acyl chlorides 2 and subsequent acid-catalyzed ring opening of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 and -phosphonates 7. Regioselective thermal ring cleavage of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 leads α-chloro-β-(N-acylamido)-phosphine oxides 13 and their treatment with bases gives 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides 16.     

The partial hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene by nanoscale ruthenium catalysts in imidazolium ionic liquids

The controlled decomposition of an Ru(0) organometallic precursor dispersed in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMI.PF(6)), tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF(4)) or trifluoromethane sulfonate (BMI.CF(3)SO(3)) ionic liquids with H(2) represents a simple and efficient method for the generation of Ru(0) nanoparticles. TEM analysis of these nanoparticles shows the formation of superstructures with diameters of approximately 57 nm that contain dispersed Ru(0) nanoparticles with diameters of 2.6+/-0.4 nm. These nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquids are efficient multiphase catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkenes and benzene under mild reaction conditions (4 atm, 75 degrees C). The ternary diagram (benzene/cyclohexene/BMI.PF(6)) indicated a maximum of 1 % cyclohexene concentration in BMI.PF(6), which is attained with 4 % benzene in the ionic phase. This solubility difference in the ionic liquid can be used for the extraction of cyclohexene during benzene hydrogenation by Ru catalysts suspended in BMI.PF(6). Selectivities of up to 39 % in cyclohexene can be attained at very low benzene conversion. Although the maximum yield of 2 % in cyclohexene is too low for technical applications, it represents a rare example of partial hydrogenation of benzene by soluble transition-metal nanoparticles.