Rapid determination of nitroimidazole residues in honey by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

We developed a rapid and efficient means of determining residues of four nitroimidazoles-i.e., dimetridazole, ipronidazole, metronidazole, and ronidazole-and three hydrophilic metabolites- i.e., 2-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, 1 -methyl-2-(2'-hydroxyisopropyl)-5-nitroimidazole, and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-hydroxymethyl-nitroimidazole--in honey. We applied a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) procedure improved to suit a nitroimidazole analysis, which is fast (approximately 30 min) and uses less organic solvent. The procedure involves initial single-phase extraction of 5 g of honey with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid, followed by liquid-liquid partitioning involving the addition of 5 g sodium chloride, 1.5 g trisodium citrate dihydrate, and 4 g magnesium sulfate. Moreover, matrix from honey was reduced by an SPE method with an alumina-N cartridge. The samples were analyzed using LC/MS/MS. Chromatographic separation of these nitroimidazoles and metabolites was performed in the gradient mode on a pentafluorophenylpropyl-bonded silica column (150x2.0 mm, 3 pm particle size) at 40 degrees C. The mobile phase consisted of a 0.01% acetic acid solution and acetonitrile, and the flow rate was 0.2 mL/min. The method was validated using honey spiked with these nitroimidazoles from 0.1 to 0.5 microg/kg. The overall recovery of the seven nitroimidazoles ranged from 76.1 to 98.5%; intra- and interassay CV values were <9.5 and <14.2%, respectively. The LOQ ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 microg/kg. LC/MS/MS coupled with the QuEChERS method showed good potential as a method for determining nitroimidazole residues in honey.     

Enantiodivergent Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution: Conversion of Racemic Propargyl Alcohols into Both Enantiomers

Natural lipases typically recognize enantiomers of alcohols based on the size differences of substituents near the carbinol moiety and selectively react with the R enantiomers of secondary alcohols. Therefore, lipase-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic secondary alcohols produces only R enantiomers. We report herein a method for obtaining S enantiomers by DKR of secondary 3-(trialkylsilyl)propargyl alcohols by using a well-known R-selective Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase in combination with a racemization catalyst VMPS4, in which the silyl group reverses the size relationship of substituents near the carbinol moiety. We have already reported R-selective DKR of the corresponding propargyl alcohols without substituents on the ethynyl terminal carbon, and the presence of an easily removable silyl group has enabled us to produce both enantiomers of propargyl alcohols in high chemical yields and with high enantiomeric excess. In addition, immobilization of the lipase on Celite was found to be important for achieving a high efficiency of the DKR.     

The solid state reaction between hexaamminechromium(III) complexes and L-α-alanine

The solid reaction between [Cr(NH₃)₆]X₃(X^? = Cl, I, SCN and NO₃) and L-α-alanine was studied under continuous rise in temperature and isothermal heating. Under continuous rise in temperature, the main products were [Cr(NCS)₃-(NH₃)₃] (X^? = NCS) and [Cr(L-ala)₃] (X^? = NO₃), when [Cr(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ and [Cr(NH₃)₆]I₃ as starting complexes were used; in both cases only the decomposition proceeds. Under isothermal heating at 150°C the main products were [CrCl(NH₃)₅]-Cl₂ (X^? = Cl), [Cr(NH₃)₆]I₂ (X^? = I), [Cr(NCS)₃(NH₃)₃] (X^? = SCN) and [Cr(L-ala)₃] (X^? = NO₃). In those matrix reactions, the ease of anion coordination was: SCN^? > Cl^? > I^? > alanine. For the synthesis of tris(alaninato)chromium(III) complex the most desirable starting complex was [Cr(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₃.The solid state reaction between [Cr(en)₃]X₃ type complexes and NH₄X (X^? = F, Cl, Br, I and SCN), KX (X^? = Cl, Br and I), and NaSCN have been reported by Wendlandt and Stembridge¹. They reported that the reaction product in most cases, was cis-[Cr(en)₂Y₂]X, where Y and X are the same or different anions, depending upon the matrix material employed and the thermal matrix method appears to be a useful new route for the synthesis of bis(ethylendiamine(chromium(III) complexes.In the previous paper², the solid state reaction between [Cr(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₃ and L-amino acids has been utilized in the preparation of tris(amino acidato)chromium(III) complexes. The preparation of [Cr(L-ala)₃] by the solid state reaction between [Cr(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₃ and L-alanine have been reported. No studies on the effect of the counter-ion have been reported.In this paper, various hexaamminechromium(III) complexes, [Cr(NH₃)₆]X₃ (X^? = Cl, I, SCN and NO₃), were heated with L-α-alanine under continuous rise in temperature and under isothermal heating at 150°C for studies on the ease of anion coordination. It will seen that the anion which replaces the ammonia in the hexaamminechromium(III) complex comes from either the alanine or counter-ion.     

Flow characteristics around a square cylinder with changing chamfer dimensions

Abstract  

It is known that for a square cylinder subjected to uniform flow, the drag force changes with the angle of attack. To clarify the flow characteristics around a square cylinder with corner cutoffs, we measured the drag coefficient and the Strouhal number for changing chamfer dimensions. We analyzed the flow around a square cylinder with corner cutoffs by applying the RNG k–ε turbulent model, and investigated the surface flow pattern using visualization by means of the oil film and mist flow method. From these results, we obtained the surface flow patterns by the oil film method and numerical analysis. The numerical results agreed well with the experimental values. The drag coefficient of the square cylinder with corner cutoffs decreased suddenly at an angle of attack of about α = 0°– 10° when compared with the drag coefficient for a square cylinder. The minimum value of the drag coefficient for the square cylinder with corner cutoffs decreased by about 30% compared with that for the square cylinder. The drag coefficient of the square cylinder with 10% corner cutoffs was found to be smallest, since the wake area of this square cylinder was smaller compared with that of the other square cylinder.     

Effect of groove shape on flow characteristics around a circular cylinder with grooves

In the flow around a circular cylinder, a sudden decrease in the drag force occurs at a high Reynolds number, but the same phenomenon occurs at a lower Reynolds number in the case where there exist grooves or roughness on the circular cylinder surface. In this paper, in order to make clear the flow characteristics around a circular cylinder in the case of changing the shapes of grooves, the drag coefficient, pressure distribution, velocity distribution and turbulent distribution were measured. Moreover the flow around the cylinder was analyzed by applying the RNGk · ∈ turbulent model, and the surface flow pattern was investigated using the oil-film technique. From these results, it is clear that the drag coefficient of a circular cylinder with triangular grooves decreases by about 15% compared with that of a circular cylinder with arc grooves.