Stability studies of vitamins in three food reference materials

Summary Stability in storage and shipment of retinol, -tocopherol, vitamins B₁, B₂ and C in three foods was studied to assess the feasibility of certifying the vitamin content of three food RMs, whole milk powder (CRM 380), pork muscle (CRM 384) and freeze-dried haricot beans (CRM 383); these were recently certified for major dietary components and major elements. Interpretation of the long-term stability data was complicated by a dominant analytical variability over the measurement period. The long-term stability study (24 months) gave evidence of deterioration of vitamin B₂ in pork muscle. The other vitamins studied seemed to be acceptably stable at –18°C and +4°C. Additional studies showed stability of retinol in milk powder for 34 months and of vitamin C in haricot beans for 31 months at –18°C and +4°C. Long-term storage seems to be possible at a temperature not higher than +4°C except for vitamin B₂. A short-term stability study at +25°C and +30°C for 6 weeks showed acceptable stability of retinol and -tocopherol in milk powder (CRM 380) and of vitamin C in haricot beans (CRM 383). However, storage at +42°C induces degradation of retinol, -tocopherol and vitamin C.     

X-ray crystal structure of tetraaquabis (xanthosinato)nickel(II) hexahydrate

The complex [Ni(XsH_–1)₂(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O (XsH_–1: xanthosinate) was isolated from the reaction of nickel carbonate with xanthosine in aqueous solution. The octahedral coordination is supported by the reflectance measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystals belong to the triclinic P1 space group, with a = 7.152(1), b = 8.830(1),c = 13.783(1) Å, = 82.024(1)°, = 86.155(1)°, = 70.900(1)°, and D = 1.643 mg/m³, forZ = 1. Nickel is six coordinate with four water molecules, and two N7 atoms from xanthosinato ligands. A complicated hydrogen-bonding network is present, all possible donors taking part in it.     

Rapid and convenient semi-automated microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of arylopeptoids

A facile and expedient route to the synthesis of arylopeptoid oligomers (N-alkylated aminomethyl benz-amides) using semi-automated microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis is presented. The synthesis was optimized for the incorporation of side chains derived from sterically hindered or unreactive amines and both ortho- and para-substituted arylo-backbones. By utilizing this optimized protocol a complex nonameric arylopeptoid was synthesized in less than 11 h, featuring a novel alternating ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted backbone pattern and a variety of chemically diverse and challenging side chains.     

Observation and modelling of magnetic vortex core structure in Permalloy nanoparticles

We use an approximate micromagnetic model, based on geometrical simplifications of the problem, to describe the vortex core structure observed in spherical Permalloy nanoparticles using off-axis electron holography. The magnetisation distribution inside the vortex core is directly calculated by minimising the micromagnetic energy functional and is compared with the experimental results. The symmetry constraints underlying the model are discussed envisaging possible generalisation to the case of vortex cores with structure strongly dependent on the coordinate directed along the axis of the vortex. Moreover the many-body effect associated with the presence of two small satellite particles is described by rescaling the size of the particle.     

New triterpene glycoside from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyclamen adzharicum</Emphasis> tubers

Nine pure glycosides were isolated from total saponins of Cyclamen adzharicum Pobed. (Primulaceae). The total chemical structure of cyclamen F, 3β-O-[β-D-Xylp(1→2)]-[β-D-Glcp(1→2)]-(β-D-Glcp(1→4)-α-L-Arap)-16α-hydroxy-13,28-epoxy-30,30-dibutoxyolean, was elucidated using modern physicochemical and spectral methods (NMR, ¹H, ¹³C, HMBC, HMQC, DEPT, COSY, MS). A glycoside with the cyclamen F chemical structure has not been reported and, therefore, is a new organic compound.     

Evaporation and Marangoni driven convection in small heated water droplets

Evaporation dynamics of small sessile water droplets under microgravity conditions is investigated numerically. The water-air interface is free, and the surrounding air is assumed to be quasisteady. The droplet is described by Navier-Stokes and heat equations and its surrounding water/air gaseous phase with Laplace equation. In the thermodynamic conditions of the simulations presented herein, the evaporative mass flow is nonlinear. It shows a minimum that indicates the existence of qualitative changes in the evaporative regimes although the droplet is sessile. Due to temperature gradients on the free interface, Marangoni motion occurs and generates inside the droplet convection cells that furthermore exhibit small fluctuating motion as evaporation goes on.     

Rotational excitation of water by hydrogen molecules: comparison of results from classical and quantum mechanics

Quasiclassical trajectory calculations are carried out for rotational excitation of water by hydrogen molecules. State-to-state rate coefficients are determined at 100 K and are compared to available quantum results. A good agreement between classical and quantum rates is observed for downward transitions, with an average accuracy of classical results better than a factor of 2. It is thus found that the ambiguities described by Faure and Wiesenfeld [J. Chem. Phys. 121, 6771 (2004)] can be solved in the particular case of waterlike asymmetric-top molecules.     

Crystal and molecular structure of bis(imazapyr)diaqua copper(II)

The imidazolinone herbicide imazapyr, 2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl)nicotinic acid (H₂imz) interacts with Cu(II) leading to [Cu(Himz)₂(H₂O)₂] which crystallizes in the space group Pbca, with a = 12.5370(3) Å, b = 19.8500(5) Å, c = 22.7720(9) Å, and Z = 8. The Cu(II) atom is octahedrally surrounded by four nitrogen atoms of two Himz^– anions and two water molecules. Each Himz^– acts as a chelating ligand by means of N pyridine and N lactam atoms leading to five-membered chelate rings. The Cu N distances vary from 1.948(4) to 2.299(5) Å while the Cu O are 2.114(5) and 2.256(6) Å. The imidazol N-H are involved in short intramolecular hydrogen bonds with the carboxylate groups. The structure is stabilized by an intermolecular hydrogen-bonded network involving the water molecules and the carboxylate groups.