Photon-induced dissociation with a four-sector tandem mass spectrometer

The feasibility of using photodissociation of protonated peptide molecules to sequence specific fragment ions with a 193-nm pulsed laser beam in a magnetic deflection tandem mass spectrometer of EBEB configuration was demonstrated. Although the short pulse (15 ns) and low repetition rate (100 Hz) of the excimer laser permitted the irradiation of only ～ 0.02% of the (M + H)⁺ ions exiting MS-1, a photon-induced decomposition spectrum of the heptapeptide angiotensio III (M _r 930.5) was produced that was practically the same (but with better signal-to-noise ratio) as that generated by collision-activated dissociation at the same low duty cycle. Because of the low and pulsed fragment ion currents, an array detector was used to record the spectra. A dependence between laser power and abundance of fragment ions was observed (increased power increases the relative abundance of ions of low mass). Laser power was varied from 6 to 80 mJ. Formation of fragment ions from a large peptide (melittin, M, 2844.75) was also observed. The results permit the design of modifications that may increase the fragment ion yield to 10% or higher, which would make photon-induced decomposition a useful method for magnetic deflection mass spectrometers.     

Inclusion of Nonopiate Analgesic Drugs in Cyclodextrins. I. X-Ray Structure of a 1 : 1 β-Cyclodextrin-p-bromoacetanilide Complex

The preparation and X-ray crystal structure of a 1 : 1 complex between -cyclodextrin (-CD) and the analgesic p-bromoacetanilide are reported. Thermogravimetric and UV spectrophotometric analyses of single crystals grown from an aqueous solution containing host and guest in 1 : 1 molar ratio yielded the composition -CD p-bromoacetanilide $ 13.5H2O. Crystals of the complex are triclinic, space group P1, with a = 15.197(3), b = 15.613(2), c = 15.743(4) Å, = 87.16(2), = 98.29(2), = 103.39(1)° and Z = 2 crystallographically independent complex units per unit cell. The -CD molecules form head-to-head dimers which pack in the channel-mode. Each dimer contains two guest molecules whose acetylamino substituents are located at the dimer interface while the bromine atoms protrude from the -CD primary faces. The acetyl residues of both guest molecules were found to be disordered but the X-ray data permitted     

Infrared and Raman spectral interpretations of the ferroelectric phases of NaH3(SeO3)2 and NaD3(SeO3)2

The infrared and Raman spectra of NaH₃(SeO₃)₂ and NaD₃(SeO₃)₂ have been recorded from 24 to 300°K. The interpretation, assignments, and analysis of the spectral studies are presented on the paraelectric α phase (proton disordered), ferroelectric β phase (proton ordered) and ferroelectric γ phase (proton ordered). A discussion of a newly proposed proton-triggered phase transition mechanism and a possible origin of the hydrogen-bonded OH stretching region of KH₂PO₄-type ferroelectrics is given.     

Determination of isotopic composition of lithium by neutron activation analysis; comparison with mass spectrometry

An activation analysis method is described for routine determination of⁶Li-abundances in various lithium compounds on the basis of the reaction sequence⁶Li(n,α)T and¹⁶O(t, n)¹⁸F and the measurement of¹⁸F. Irradiations of diluted equeous solutions of samples containing CrO₃ as internal flux monitor were carried out at a thermal neutron flux density of ϕ≤10¹¹ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹. Interferences from variations in neutron self-shielding oxygen concentration and triton range do not exceed 0.5% when using the dilution technique. The results for⁶Li abundances from 3.52 to 7.60% with standard deviations of 1 to 2.5% were confirmed by mass spectrometric measurements.     

Rapid polarographic method for determining arsenic in steel

A simple and sensitive polarographic method for determining arsenic in steel is presented. The steel is dissolved in HNO(3), and arsenic reduced with Na(2)S(2)O(5)-K.I. The polarographic wave is recorded for an electrolyte at pH 3.0 and containing Fe(II), Mn(II). citric and ascorbic acids. Levels of 0.2% and 0.003% As can be determined with a coefficient of variation of +/- 6%.     

Matrix elements for spin-adapted configurations

It is shown that the turn-over rule which is used to simplify matrix elements between spin-projected Slater determinants may also be used to simplify formation of matrix elements between any orthonormal set of spin-coupled Slater determinants. The coefficients for the spin-coupling may then be chosen freely to reduce the number of important configurations in the secular equation.     

Liquid-phase oxidation of tert-butyldimethylsilane

Kinetics and mechanism of liquid-phase oxidation of tert-butyldimethylsilane t-BuMe₂SiH with molecular oxygen in the temperature range 297–350K were studied. Reaction orders in silane, initiator, and oxygen were evaluated. The major product of the oxidation of t-BuMe₂SiH is tert-butyldimethylsilyl hydroperoxide t-BuMe₂SiOOH. It was shown for the first time that the major reaction product is a silyl hydroperoxide. A kinetic scheme of the oxidation of t-BuMe₂SiH is offered and discussed.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 10, 2004, pp. 1625–1630.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Lutsik-Maksim, Timokhin, Zaborovskii, Pristanskii, Turovskii, Chatgilialoglu.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Mutagenesis approaches to deduce structure-function relationships in terpene synthases

This review highlights mutagenesis studies of terpene synthases, specifically sesquiterpene synthases and oxidosqualene cyclases. Mutagenesis studies of these enzymes have provided mechanistic insights, structure-function relationships for specific enzymatic residues, novel terpene structures and enzymes with novel activities. The literature through 2002 is reviewed and 113 references cited.     

Fractionation and Determination of Different Lead Species in Contaminated Soils

A new approach was proposed to fractionating soil lead species differing in mobility and biological availability. Ground solid samples were retained as a stationary phase in a rotating coiled column while continuously pumping aqueous solutions of salts and complexing agents necessary for the sequential leaching of different element species. It was shown that field-flow fractionation in a rotating coiled column is suitable for separating three lead species in an automatic mode within 4 h, as compared to several days for conventional methods of sequential extraction. The study of lead elution curves at different fractionation steps provides additional information about its mobilization under changing environmental conditions.     

Simultaneous radiochemical neutron activation analysis of iodine, uranium and mercury in biological and environmental samples

The determination of medium and long-lived nuclides can be combined with short-lived ones if a medium or long irradiation is made prior to the short irradiation and radiochemical processing. Thus, an RNAA method previously developed for determination of iodine based on the reaction¹²⁷I(n,)¹²⁸I (T _1/2=25 m) using oxygen flask ignition of the irradiated sample, followed by solvent extraction with an iodine-iodide redox cycle, was combined with an overnight preirradiation to induce the²³⁵U fission product¹³³I (T _1/2=20.8 h). By reactivating the sample, cooled 1–2 days after the first irradiation, for few minutes both¹²⁸I and¹³³I could be quantified in the separated iodine fraction. Non-combustible inorganic materials (e.g., sediment, soil, etc.) can be successfully ignited after mixing with excess cellulose powder. Chemical yields for iodine were determined spectrophotometrically in the organic phase, while homogeneously spiked Whatman cellulose powder was used as uranium standard. Mercury is also released on ignition and collected in the absorbing solution, from where it was separated by toluene extraction. Its chemical yield was determined for each aliquot using²⁰³Hg tracer and counting on an LEPD. Results for some suitable SRMs are presented, and the general features of the double irradiation technique discussed.