Properties of alkali metal atoms deposited on a MgO surface: a systematic experimental and theoretical study

The adsorption of small amounts of alkali metal atoms (Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) on the surface of MgO powders and thin films has been studied by means of EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. From a comparison of the measured and computed g values and hyperfine coupling constants (hfccs), a tentative assignment of the preferred adsorption sites is proposed. All atoms bind preferentially to surface oxide anions, but the location of these anions differs as a function of the deposition temperature and alkali metal. Lithium forms relatively strong bonds with MgO and can be stabilized at low temperatures on terrace sites. Potassium interacts very weakly with MgO and is stabilized only at specific sites, such as at reverse corners where it can interact simultaneously with three surface oxygen atoms (rubidium and cesium presumably behave in the same way). Sodium forms bonds of intermediate strength and could, in principle, populate more than a single site when deposited at room temperature. In all cases, large deviations of the hfccs from the gas-phase values are observed. These reductions in the hfccs are due to polarization effects and are not connected to ionization of the alkali metal, which would lead to the formation of an adsorbed cation and a trapped electron. In this respect, hydrogen atoms behave completely differently. Under similar conditions, they form (H(+))(e(-)) pairs. The reasons for this different behavior are discussed.     

Mass spectrometry analysis of gliadins in celiac disease

In recent years, scientific research on wheat gluten proteins has followed three main directions aimed at (1) finding relationships between individual genetic alleles coding for gliadins, high or low molecular weight glutenin subunits, and the viscoelastic dough properties of flour-derived products such as pasta and bread; (2) identifying prolamins and derived peptides involved in celiac disease, a pathological condition in which the small intestine of genetically predisposed individuals is reversibly damaged; and (3) developing and validating sensitive and specific methods for detecting trace amounts of gluten proteins in gluten-free foods for celiac disease patients. In this review, the main aspects of current and perspective applications of mass spectrometry and proteomic technologies to the structural characterization of gliadins are presented, with focus on issues related to detection, identification, and quantification of intact gliadins, as well as gliadin-derived peptides relevant to the biochemical, immunological, and toxicological aspects of celiac disease.     

Oxytetracycline as environmental contaminant in arable lands

Oxytetracycline (OXY) is a broad-range antimicrobial routinely used in pig production, at doses in the range of few g/kg of medicated feed, during the weaning period. It could persist at ppm level in pig liquid manure that routinely is used for organic fertilisation. In the present work we describe a methodology to study OXY environmental fate in arable land where crops are cultivated for animal feeding purposes. A liquid-liquid extraction followed by metal chelate affinity chromatography was applied to environmental samples of manures and soils drawn within a case-control study. Extracts were then analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with UV/DAD detection, using a reverse phase column, and expressing the results as 4-epioxytetracycline epimer. Results indicate OXY is well retained at mg kg(-1) levels in soil exposed to contaminated pig manure fertilisation. Such compartment could constitute an abiotic reservoir for the systemic and/or for the external contamination of corn.     

DFT evidence for a stepwise mechanism in the O-neophyl rearrangement of 1,1-diarylalkoxyl radicals

Hybrid DFT calculations of the potential energy surface (PES) relative to the O-neophyl rearrangement of a series of ring-substituted 1,1-diarylalkoxyl radicals have been carried out at the UB3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. On the basis of the computational data, the rearrangement can be described as a consecutive reaction of the type a <--/--> b --> c (see above graphic), and the steady-state approximation could be applied in all cases to the intermediate b. The first-order rearrangement rate constants [kobs = k1k2/(k-1 + k2)] were thus obtained from the computed activation free-energies and were compared with the experimental rate constants measured previously in MeCN solution by laser flash photolysis. An excellent agreement is observed along the two series, which strongly supports the hypothesis that the O-neophyl rearrangement of 1,1-diarylalkoxyl radicals proceeds through the formation of the reactive 1-oxaspiro [2,5]octadienyl radical intermediate. This is in contrast to previous hypotheses that involve either a long-lived intermediate or the absence of this intermediate along the reaction path. The calculated rearrangement free-energies decrease upon going from the methoxy-substituted radical (Delta G degrees = -16.4 kcal x mol-1) to the nitro-substituted one (Delta G degrees = -21.8 kcal x mol-1), which follows a trend that is similar to the one observed for the CAr-O bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of ring-substituted anisoles. This evidence indicates that in the O-neophyl rearrangement the effect of ring substituents on the strength of the newly formed CAr-O bond plays an important role.     

Template effects in the formation of [2]pseudo-rotaxanes containing diazapyrenium units

The template effects exerted by guests 14 and 15 in the ring closure reaction of 3 have been quantitatively evaluated. The rate largely increases in the presence of the two templates. The results are compared with those relative to the ring closure reaction of 1 yielding cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), 2. The comparison indicates that the formation of tetracationic aromatic cycles templated by aromatic donors benefits from the use of extended pi surfaces both in the acceptor and in the donor components.     

Experimental and Theoretical DFT Investigations in the [2,3]-Wittig-Type Rearrangement of Propargyl/Allyl-Oxy-Pyrazolones

Here we report the synthesis of interesting 3-alkyl-4-hydroxy-1-aryl-4-(propa-1,2-dienyl)1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-ones and 9-alkyl-7-aryl-1-oxa-7,8-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-dien-6-ones, starting from 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes (DDs) and propargyl alcohol. The reaction proceeds through a sequence Michael-type nucleophilic attack/cyclization/[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement. In the same way, the reaction between the aforementioned DDs and allyl alcohol furnished 4-allyl-4-hydroxy-3-alkyl-1-aryl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-ones. A DFT study was also carried out, in order to have decisive clarifications about the mechanism.     

Regioselective synthesis of spiro-cyclopropanated 1-aminopyrrol-2-ones by Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed one-pot ‘Mukaiyama-Michael addition/cyclization/ring-contraction’ reactions of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)cyclobutene with 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes

Unknown spiro-cyclopropanated 1-aminopyrrol-2-ones are regioselectively prepared in high yields by Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed one-pot ‘Mukaiyama-Michael addition/cyclization/ring-contraction’ reactions of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)cyclobutene with 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes at room temperature.     

Benzyl ions from 1,1-(2,2'-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes under electron ionization

The electron ionization (EI)-induced fragmentations of a series of 1,1-(2,2'-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes (1-20) in both 70 eV and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra have been investigated. The EI-MS spectra of these compounds are characterized by the presence of abundant benzyl ions. These ions result from competitive hydrogen migration from the 2- and 2'-methoxy groups on the carbenium center of the diphenylmethyl cations formed by benzylic cleavage of the molecular ions. The relative abundances of the benzyl ions arising from such competitive processes are discussed and rationalized. The steric effect of the 3- or 3'-substituents is the main discriminating factor between the two competitive processes. The structural information, arising either from the 70 eV or the MIKE spectra, is discussed.