Nitrile imines: matrix isolation, IR spectra, structures, and rearrangement to carbodiimides

The structures and reactivities of nitrile imines are subjects of continuing debate. Several nitrile imines were generated photochemically or thermally and investigated by IR spectroscopy in Ar matrices at cryogenic temperatures (Ph-CNN-H 6, Ph-CNN-CH(3)17, Ph-CNN-SiMe(3)23, Ph-CNN-Ph 29, Ph(3)C-CNN-CPh(3)34, and the boryl-CNN-boryl derivative 39). The effect of substituents on the structures and IR absorptions of nitrile imines was investigated computationally at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. IR spectra were analyzed in terms of calculated anharmonic vibrational spectra and were generally in very good agreement with the calculated spectra. Infrared spectra were found to reflect the structures of nitrile imines accurately. Nitrile imines with IR absorptions above 2200 cm(-1) have essentially propargylic structures, possessing a CN triple bond (typically PhCNNSiMe(3)23, PhCNNPh 29, and boryl-CNN-boryl 39). Nitrile imines with IR absorptions below ca. 2200 cm(-1) are more likely to be allenic (e.g., HCNNH 1, PhCNNH 6, HCNNPh 43, PhCNNCH(3)17, and Ph(3)C-CNN-CPh(3)34). All nitrile imines isomerize to the corresponding carbodiimides both thermally and photochemically. Monosubstituted carbodiimides isomerize thermally to the corresponding cyanamides (e.g., Ph-N═C═N-H 5 → Ph-NH-CN 8), which are therefore the thermal end products for nitrile imines of the types RCNNH and HCNNR. This tautomerization is reversible under flash vacuum thermolysis conditions.     

Pressure dependence of stabilized Criegee intermediate formation from a sequence of alkenes

Ozonolysis is a key reaction in atmospheric chemistry, although important details of the behavior of the ozonolysis intermediates are not known. The key intermediate in ozonolysis, the Criegee intermeiate (CI), is known to quickly isomerize, with the favored unimolecular pathway depending on the relative barriers to isomerization. Stabilized Criegee intermediates (SCI), those with energy below any barriers to isomerization, may result from initial formation with low energy or collisional stabilization of high energy CI. Bimolecular reactions of SCI have been proposed to play a role in OH formation and nucleation of new particles, but unimolecular reactions of SCI may well be too fast for these to be significant. We present measurements of the pressure dependence of SCI formation for a set of alkenes utilizing a hexafluoroacetone scavenger. We studied four alkenes (2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (TME), trans-5-decene, cyclohexene, α-pinene) to characterize how size and cyclization (endo vs exo) affect the stability of Criegee intermediates formed in ozonolysis. SCI yields in ozonolysis were measured in a high pressure flow reactor within a range of 30-750 Torr. The linear alkenes show considerable stabilization with trans-5-decene showing 100% stabilization at ～400 Torr and TME having 65% stabilization at 710 Torr. Extrapolation of the yields for linear alkenes to 0 Torr shows yields significantly above zero, indicating that a fraction of their CI are formed below the barrier to isomerization. CI from endocyclic alkenes show little to no stabilization and appear to have neglible stabilization at 0 Torr. Cyclohexene derived CI showed no stabilization even at 650 Torr, while α-pinene CI had ～15% stabilization at 740 Torr. Our results show a strong dependence of SCI formation on carbon number; adding just 2 to 3 CI carbons in linear alkenes increases stabilization by a factor of 10. Stabilization for endocyclic alkenes, at atmospheric pressure, begins to occur at a carbon number of 10, with only modest yields of SCI.     

Comparison of the response of four aerosol detectors used with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography

The responses of four different types of aerosol detectors have been evaluated and compared to establish their potential use as a universal detector in conjunction with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Two charged-aerosol detectors, namely Corona CAD and Corona Ultra, and also two different types of light-scattering detectors (an evaporative light scattering detector, and a nano-quantity analyte detector [NQAD]) were evaluated. The responses of these detectors were systematically investigated under changing experimental and instrumental parameters, such as the mobile phase flow-rate, analyte concentration, mobile phase composition, nebulizer temperature, evaporator temperature, evaporator gas flow-rate and instrumental signal filtering after detection. It was found that these parameters exerted non-linear effects on the responses of the aerosol detectors and must therefore be considered when designing analytical separation conditions, particularly when gradient elution is performed. Identical reversed-phase gradient separations were compared on all four aerosol detectors and further compared with UV detection at 200 nm. The aerosol detectors were able to detect all 11 analytes in a test set comprising species having a variety of physicochemical properties, whilst UV detection was applicable only to those analytes containing chromophores. The reproducibility of the detector response for 11 analytes over 10 consecutive separations was found to be approximately 5% for the charged-aerosol detectors and approximately 11% for the light-scattering detectors. The tested analytes included semi-volatile species which exhibited a more variable response on the aerosol detectors. Peak efficiencies were generally better on the aerosol detectors in comparison to UV detection and particularly so for the light-scattering detectors which exhibited efficiencies of around 110,000 plates per metre. Limits of detection were calculated using different mobile phase compositions and the NQAD detector was found to be the most sensitive (LOD of 10 ng/mL), followed by the Corona CAD (76 ng/mL), then UV detection at 200 nm (178 ng/mL) using an injection volume of 25 μL.     

Simple and rapid extraction, separation, and detection of alkaloids in beverages

Implementation of an uncomplicated SPE process for the rapid extraction and preconcentration of the alkaloids, colchicine, strychnine, aconitine, and nicotine, from water, apple juice, and nonfat milk samples is presented. When coupled to analysis via micellar EKC (MEKC), the total analysis time per sample was less than 15 min for the water and juice samples and less than 20 min for the milk. The SPE process allowed for anywhere from a three to a fourteen-fold improvement in the LOD for each alkaloid when compared to detecting the alkaloids in a nontreated water sample matrix. Following SPE, the LODs for colchicine, strychnine, and nicotine were sufficient to meet levels from 150 to 5000 times more dilute than the LD(50) for a 50 kg individual drinking 12 oz of a contaminated beverage. Aconitine, on the other hand, was detected at approximately the LD(50) level. The percent recoveries for the SPE ranged from 37% to as high as 99%. Nicotine attained the highest recovery efficiencies, followed by colchicine, and finally, aconitine and strychnine, which were nearly identical. The greatest recovery efficiencies were achieved from apple juice and water, whereas nonfat milk yielded the lowest.     

Surface diffusive motion in a periodic and asymmetric potential

9,10-Dithioanthracene adsorbed on Cu(111) diffuses exclusively along the high-symmetry axis of the molecule-substrate system. Further reduction of the symmetry of the system by asymmetric methylation does not reduce the symmetry of the motion although it has a substantial effect on the diffusion rate (100-fold reduction) and renders the diffusion barrier asymmetric. This is in contrast to the behavior expected of a classical particle, and it provides a direct single-molecule-scale vista on the validity of The Principle of Microscopic Reversibility first formulated by Tolman in 1924, which despite its fundamental role has attracted little visualization.     

Steric blocking as a tool to control molecular film geometry at a metal surface

The application of steric blocking in surface science is exemplified by the control of surface patterns through the selective methylation of pentacenetetrone. Pentacenetetrones interact (with one another) on Cu(111) via intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving the carbonyl oxygen and the adjacent hydrogen atoms. Steric blocking of the intermolecular interaction by the successive insertion of inert methyl groups at terminal locations transforms a dense molecular pattern first into isolated double rows and eventually into single rows in a highly predictable fashion. Density functional theory modeling reveals the underlying energetics.     

Synthesis and characterization of homo- and heterodinuclear M(II)-M'(III) (M(II) = Mn or Fe, M'(III) = Fe or Co) mixed-valence supramolecular pseudo-dimers. The effect of hydrogen bonding on spin state selection of M(II)

Reaction of H(3)L(1), the Schiff base condensate of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with three equivalents of 5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxaldehyde, with manganese(II)perchlorate or iron(II)tetrafluoroborate results in the isolation of [MH(3)L(1)]X(2) (M = Mn and X = ClO(4) and M = Fe and X = BF(4)). These complexes are high spin d(5) and d(6), respectively, as inferred from the long M-N bond distances obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction for both and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility and M?ssbauer spectroscopy for the iron complex. Aerobic treatment of a solution of [CoH(3)L(1)](2+) with three equivalents of potassium hydroxide produced [CoL(1)]. Homonuclear pseudo-dimers were prepared by the aerobic reaction of [FeH(3)L(1)](BF(4))(2) with 1.5 equivalents of potassium hydroxide to give {[FeH(1.5)L(1)](BF(4))}(2) or by the metathesis reaction of [FeH(2)L(1)][FeHL(1)](ClO(4))(2) with sodium hexafluorophosphate to give [FeH(3)L(1)][FeL(1)](PF(6))(2). The complexes were characterized by EA, IR, ESI-MS, variable temperature single crystal x-ray diffraction and M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The iron(III) atom is low spin while the iron(II) atom is spin crossover. Heteronuclear pseudo-dimers were prepared by the 1:1 reaction of [FeH(3)L(1)](BF(4))(2) or [MnH(3)L(1)](ClO(4))(2) with [CoL(1)]. [MH(3)L(1)][CoL(1)](X)(2) (M = Fe and X = BF(4) or M = Mn and X = ClO(4)), were characterized by IR, EA, variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction and M?ssbauer spectroscopy in the iron case. The data support a spin crossover and high spin assignment for the iron(II) and manganese(II), respectively. DFT calculations demonstrate that the spin state of the iron(II) atom in {[FeH(3)L(1)][FeL(1)]}(2+) changes from high spin to low spin as the iron(II)-iron(III) distance decreases. This is supported by experimental results and is a result of hydrogen bonding interactions which cause a significant compression of the M(II)-N(pyrazole) bond distances.     

Identification of homemade inorganic explosives by ion chromatographic analysis of post-blast residues

Anions and cations of interest for the post-blast identification of homemade inorganic explosives were separated and detected by ion chromatographic (IC) methods. The ionic analytes used for identification of explosives in this study comprised 18 anions (acetate, benzoate, bromate, carbonate, chlorate, chloride, chlorite, chromate, cyanate, fluoride, formate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, phosphate, sulfate, thiocyanate and thiosulfate) and 12 cations (ammonium, barium(II), calcium(II), chromium(III), ethylammonium, magnesium(II), manganese(II), methylammonium, potassium(I), sodium(I), strontium(II), and zinc(II)). Two IC separations are presented, using suppressed IC on a Dionex AS20 column with potassium hydroxide as eluent for anions, and non-suppressed IC for cations using a Dionex SCS 1 column with oxalic acid/acetonitrile as eluent. Conductivity detection was used in both cases. Detection limits for anions were in the range 2-27.4ppb, and for cations were in the range 13-115ppb. These methods allowed the explosive residue ions to be identified and separated from background ions likely to be present in the environment. Linearity (over a calibration range of 0.05-50ppm) was evaluated for both methods, with r(2) values ranging from 0.9889 to 1.000. Reproducibility over 10 consecutive injections of a 5ppm standard ranged from 0.01 to 0.22% relative standard deviation (RSD) for retention time and 0.29 to 2.16%RSD for peak area. The anion and cation separations were performed simultaneously by using two Dionex ICS-2000 chromatographs served by a single autoinjector. The efficacy of the developed methods was demonstrated by analysis of residue samples taken from witness plates and soils collected following the controlled detonation of a series of different inorganic homemade explosives. The results obtained were also confirmed by parallel analysis of the same samples by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with excellent agreement being obtained.     

Kinetics of loop formation in polymer chains

We investigate the kinetics of loop formation in ideal flexible polymer chains (the Rouse model), and polymers in good and poor solvents. We show for the Rouse model, using a modification of the theory of Szabo, Schulten, and Schulten, that the time scale for cyclization is tau(c) approximately tau(0)N(2) (where tau(0) is a microscopic time scale and N is the number of monomers), provided the coupling between the relaxation dynamics of the end-to-end vector and the looping dynamics is taken into account. The resulting analytic expression fits the simulation results accurately when a, the capture radius for contact formation, exceeds b, the average distance between two connected beads. Simulations also show that when a < b, tau(c) approximately N(alpha)(tau), where 1.5 < alpha(tau) < or = 2 in the range 7 < N < 200 used in the simulations. By using a diffusion coefficient that is dependent on the length scales a and b (with a < b), which captures the two-stage mechanism by which looping occurs when a < b, we obtain an analytic expression for tauc that fits the simulation results well. The kinetics of contact formation between the ends of the chain are profoundly effected when interactions between monomers are taken into account. Remarkably, for N < 100, the values of tau(c) decrease by more than 2 orders of magnitude when the solvent quality changes from good to poor. Fits of the simulation data for tau(c) to a power law in N (tau(c) approximately N(alpha)(tau)) show that alpha(tau) varies from about 2.4 in a good solvent to about 1.0 in poor solvents. The effective exponent alpha(tau) decreases as the strength of the attractive monomer-monomer interactions increases. Loop formation in poor solvents, in which the polymer adopts dense, compact globular conformations, occurs by a reptation-like mechanism of the ends of the chain. The time for contact formation between beads that are interior to the chain in good solvents changes nonmonotonically as the loop length varies. In contrast, the variation in interior loop closure time is monotonic in poor solvents. The implications of our results for contact formation in polypeptide chains, RNA, and single-stranded DNA are briefly outlined.     

Inelastic scattering with Chebyshev polynomials and preconditioned conjugate gradient minimization

We describe and test an implementation, using a basis set of Chebyshev polynomials, of a variational method for solving scattering problems in quantum mechanics. This minimum error method (MEM) determines the wave function Psi by minimizing the least-squares error in the function (H Psi - E Psi), where E is the desired scattering energy. We compare the MEM to an alternative, the Kohn variational principle (KVP), by solving the Secrest-Johnson model of two-dimensional inelastic scattering, which has been studied previously using the KVP and for which other numerical solutions are available. We use a conjugate gradient (CG) method to minimize the error, and by preconditioning the CG search, we are able to greatly reduce the number of iterations necessary; the method is thus faster and more stable than a matrix inversion, as is required in the KVP. Also, we avoid errors due to scattering off of the boundaries, which presents substantial problems for other methods, by matching the wave function in the interaction region to the correct asymptotic states at the specified energy; the use of Chebyshev polynomials allows this boundary condition to be implemented accurately. The use of Chebyshev polynomials allows for a rapid and accurate evaluation of the kinetic energy. This basis set is as efficient as plane waves but does not impose an artificial periodicity on the system. There are problems in surface science and molecular electronics which cannot be solved if periodicity is imposed, and the Chebyshev basis set is a good alternative in such situations.