The assessment of π-π selective stationary phases for two-dimensional HPLC analysis of foods: Application to the analysis of coffee

Differences between alkyl, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding, and π-π selective surfaces represented by non-resonance and resonance π-stationary phases have been assessed for the separation of ‘Ristretto’ café espresso by employing 2DHPLC techniques with C18 phase selectivity detection. Geometric approach to factor analysis (GAFA) was used to measure the detected peaks (N), spreading angle (β), correlation, practical peak capacity (n_p) and percentage usage of the separations space, as an assessment of selectivity differences between regional quadrants of the two-dimensional separation plane. Although all tested systems were correlated to some degree to the C18 dimension, regional measurement of separation divergence revealed that performance of specific systems was better for certain sample components. The results illustrate that because of the complexity of the ‘real’ sample obtaining a truly orthogonal two-dimensional system for complex samples of natural origin may be practically impossible.     

Isolation and crystal structures of two singlet bis(triarylamine) dications with nonquinoidal geometries

We report the first structural data for bis(diarylamine) "bipolarons": we have isolated and crystallographically characterized salts of the dications obtained by two-electron oxidation of E-4,4'-bis[di(p-anisyl)amino]stilbene and E,E-2,5-bis{4-[di(p-anisyl)amino]styryl}-3,4-di(n-butoxy)thiophene, [1](2+) and [2](2+) respectively. ESR, NMR, and magnetometry suggest both species have singlet ground states. X-ray structures, together with (1)H NMR coupling constants for [2](2+), indicate geometries in which the bond lengths are shifted toward a quinoidal pattern relative to that in the neutral species, but not to a fully quinoidal extent. In particular, the bond-length alternations across the vinylene bridging groups approach zero. DFT calculations with closed-shell singlet configurations reproduce the observed structures well. Our results indicate that singlet species for which one might expect quinoidal geometries (with differences of ca. 0.1 A between formally single and double bonds) on the basis of a limiting valence-bond representation of the structure can, in fact, show structures with significantly different patterns of bond lengths.     

Photoinduced signal amplification through controlled externally sensitized fragmentation in masked sensitizers

Addition of lithiated dithianes to diaryl ketones, potential electron-transfer sensitizers, disrupts conjugation between the two aromatic moieties, effectively masking the sensitizer. A novel photoamplification strategy is developed based on photosensitized cleavage in such adducts, where each fragmentation event releases more diaryl ketone, capable of sensitization. As a result, mass release of dithianes, triggered with a very small amount of the initiator, is observed. Such amplified release can be made contingent on a molecular recognition event, offering a promising methodology for high throughput bioanalytical applications. The concept is proved with the use of micro- and nanosized polymeric supports, including dendrimers.     

Mass Spectrometric Imaging of Red Fluorescent Protein in Breast Tumor Xenografts

Mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) in combination with electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a powerful technique for visualization and identification of a variety of different biomolecules directly from thin tissue sections. As commonly used tools for molecular reporting, fluorescent proteins are molecular reporter tools that have enabled the elucidation of a multitude of biological pathways and processes. To combine these two approaches, we have performed targeted MS analysis and MALDI-MSI visualization of a tandem dimer (td)Tomato red fluorescent protein, which was expressed exclusively in the hypoxic regions of a breast tumor xenograft model. For the first time, a fluorescent protein has been visualized by both optical microscopy and MALDI-MSI. Visualization of tdTomato by MALDI-MSI directly from breast tumor tissue sections will allow us to simultaneously detect and subsequently identify novel molecules present in hypoxic regions of the tumor. MS and MALDI-MSI of fluorescent proteins, as exemplified in our study, is useful for studies in which the advantages of MS and MSI will benefit from the combination with molecular approaches that use fluorescent proteins as reporters.

Cross-validation and evaluation of the performance of methods for the elemental analysis of forensic glass by μ-XRF, ICP-MS, and LA-ICP-MS

Elemental analysis of glass was conducted by 16 forensic science laboratories, providing a direct comparison between three analytical methods [micro-x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μ-XRF), solution analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry]. Interlaboratory studies using glass standard reference materials and other glass samples were designed to (a) evaluate the analytical performance between different laboratories using the same method, (b) evaluate the analytical performance of the different methods, (c) evaluate the capabilities of the methods to correctly associate glass that originated from the same source and to correctly discriminate glass samples that do not share the same source, and (d) standardize the methods of analysis and interpretation of results. Reference materials NIST 612, NIST 1831, FGS 1, and FGS 2 were employed to cross-validate these sensitive techniques and to optimize and standardize the analytical protocols. The resulting figures of merit for the ICP-MS methods include repeatability better than 5 % RSD, reproducibility between laboratories better than 10 % RSD, bias better than 10 %, and limits of detection between 0.03 and 9 μg g^?1 for the majority of the elements monitored. The figures of merit for the μ-XRF methods include repeatability better than 11 % RSD, reproducibility between laboratories after normalization of the data better than 16 % RSD, and limits of detection between 5.8 and 7,400 μg g^?1. The results from this study also compare the analytical performance of different forensic science laboratories conducting elemental analysis of glass evidence fragments using the three analytical methods.

Supramolecular synthesis based on piperidone derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable co‐formers

The target complexes, bis{(E,E)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐4‐oxopiperidinium} butanedioate, 2C₂₇H₃₆N₃O⁺·C₄H₄O₄²⁻, (II), and bis{(E,E)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐4‐oxopiperidinium} decanedioate, 2C₂₇H₃₆N₃O⁺·C₁₀H₁₆O₄²⁻, (III), were obtained by solvent‐mediated crystallization of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) (E,E)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐4‐piperidone and pharmaceutically acceptable dicarboxylic (succinic and sebacic) acids from ethanol solution. They have been characterized by melting point, IR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. For the sake of comparison, the structure of the starting API, (E,E)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐4‐piperidone methanol monosolvate, C₂₇H₃₅N₃O·CH₄O, (I), has also been studied. Compounds (II) and (III) represent salts containing H‐shaped centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded synthons, which are built from two parallel piperidinium cations and a bridging dicarboxylate dianion. In both (II) and (III), the dicarboxylate dianion resides on an inversion centre. The two cations and dianion within the H‐shaped synthon are linked by two strong intermolecular N⁺—H...⁻OOC hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure of (II) includes two crystallographically independent formula units, A and B. The cation geometries of units A and B are different. The main N—C₆H₄—C=C—C(=O)—C=C—C₆H₄—N backbone of cation A has a C‐shaped conformation, while that of cation B adopts an S‐shaped conformation. The same main backbone of the cation in (III) is practically planar. In the crystal structures of both (II) and (III), intermolecular N⁺—H...O=C hydrogen bonds between different H‐shaped synthons further consolidate the crystal packing, forming columns in the [100] and [10] directions, respectively. Salts (II) and (III) possess increased aqueous solubility compared with the original API and thus enhance the bioavailability of the API.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Arenes by Nickel‐Catalyzed Site‐Selective Hydroarylation of 1,3‐Dienes with Aryl Boronates

A catalytic method for the site‐selective and enantioselective synthesis of functionalized arenes by the intermolecular hydroarylation of terminal and internal 1,3‐dienes with aryl pinacolato boronates is reported. The reactions are promoted by 5.0 mol % of a readily available monodentate phosphoramidite‐Ni complex in ethanol, affording a variety of enantioenriched products in up to 96 % yield and 99:1 er. Mechanistic studies indicate that Ni–allyl formation is irreversible and related to the nature of the arylboronate.     

A highly enantioselective catalyst for asymmetric hydroformylation of [2.2.1]-bicyclic olefins

Rh(CO)₂(acac)/TangPhos was found to be a highly enantioselective catalyst for asymmetric hydroformylation of norbornylene under mild conditions. Application of the protocol to the desymmetrization of other [2.2.1]-bicyclic olefins gave moderate to excellent enantioselectivity (55-92% ee).