Post-source decay of alkylated and functionalized polycyclic aromatic compounds

Post-source decay (PSD) is a valuable tool for providing structural information from large molecules by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). We used PSD to obtain this type of data from small molecules in the laser desorption/ionization (LDI) study of diesel engine exhaust particles. As the original nitrogen laser (lambda = 337 nm, E = 3.5 eV/photon) of our TOF mass spectrometer does not yield sufficient energy to ionize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a second laser with a shorter wavelength has been coupled to the instrument. The fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 266 nm, 4.6 eV/photon) has been chosen to achieve two-photon single-step desorption/ionization of PAHs. The PSD fragmentation of functionalized, alkylated and sulfur PAHs is discussed. Diesel engine exhaust particles are also studied as an example of a real complex sample. This technique is presented herein as a way to identify small molecules in environmental samples. Information provided by LDI-PSD-TOFMS can be a way to distinguish pollutants with very close molecular weights even if the resolving power of a TOF mass spectrometer is not sufficient.     

Rapid headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay for the quantitative determination of some of the main odorants causing off-flavours in wine

In this study we present a rapid and simultaneous assay method using headspace (HS) solid-phase microextraction (SPME)/gas chromatography (GC)/electron impact (EI) mass spectrometry (MS) (selected ion monitoring) for contaminants causing the principal organoleptic defects of wine (2,4,6-trichloroanisole, 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole, pentachloroanisole, 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, 1-octen-3-ol, geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine, fenchol, fenchone, 2-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 4-ethylphenol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-vinylphenol, 4-vinylguaiacol, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, guaiacol and ethyl acetate). The method was validated according to protocols NF ISO 5725-1, 2 and NF V03-110. Its characteristics (limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), uncertainties) were determined after having optimised the SPME parameters. The target contaminants were quantified in the wines below their threshold of perception with a satisfactory relative standard deviation for all the analytes except ethyl acetate (RSD=36%); for that, the assay method permits clear differentiation of the wines that are at risk of presenting an acescent character, i.e. containing more than 120mgL(-1) ethyl acetate. The target volatile and odorous substances were determined at concentrations significantly below their threshold of perception in a hydroalcoholic context and their threshold of recovery in wines.     

On the Synthesis of Pyrrolobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thieno[1,4]diazepines

Summary. 2-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile was converted into the corresponding 2-(pyrrol-1-yl) derivative, followed by reduction of the latter compound into the corresponding amine. This amine and its acyl, aroyl, and arylidene derivatives were used as synthons in the synthesis of several title compounds.     

Electrochemical detection of Arachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin binding to monovalent and clustered lactosyl motifs immobilized on a polypyrrole film

Direct detection of peanut agglutinin/lactose interactions was realized by an electrochemical approach based on a polypyrrole coated electrode displaying pendant carbohydrates.     

Cobalt-catalyzed hydrohydrazination of dienes and enynes: access to allylic and propargylic hydrazides

[reaction: see text] The cobalt-catalyzed hydrohydrazination reaction of dienes and enynes is presented. Allylic and propargylic hydrazines were obtained in synthetically useful yields (allylic amines, 60-90%; propargylic amines, 47-83%) and good chemo- and regioselectivity.     

Multiresidue method for simultaneous determination of ten quinolone antibacterial residues in multimatrix/multispecies animal tissues by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: single laboratory validation study

Quinolone antibacterials are veterinary drugs authorized for use in food animal production. The analysis of residual amounts of drugs in food from animal origin is important for quality control of products for consumers. For this purpose, Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) have been set up by a European Union Council Regulation on Veterinary Drug Residues (No. 90/2377/EEC and subsequent), and 8 quinolones received MRLs at concentration levels depending on both the matrix and the animal species of interest. A method was developed for screening and confirming 10 quinolone residues (ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine, marbofloxacin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, oxolinic acid, sarafloxacin) in a wide variety of matrixes of different animal species. It involves extraction of the residues from the biological tissues/fluids by acidic aqueous solution, centrifugation and filtration prior to injection on a C18 narrow-bore column, and detection through a 3-step-mode fluorescence detector. The method was validated during a 2-week study for a set of 8 species-matrixes (i.e., bovine raw milk, bovine muscle, porcine muscle, porcine kidney, porcine liver, fish flesh and skin, poultry muscle, whole egg). Residues were quantified down to 15 microg/kg with limits of detection and quantitation ranging from 4 to 11 and 13 to 36 microg/kg, respectively, which are sufficient compared to the wide range of MRLs set for these substances (from 30 microg/kg for danofloxacin in milk to 1900 microg/kg for difloxacin in poultry liver). The limit of performance of the method in terms of CCalpha and CCbeta, the critical concentrations stated in the Decision No. 2002/657/EC and the ISO Standard No. 11843, has been calculated for the authorized (MRL) substances but only estimated in the case of the nonauthorized (non-MRL) substances.     

A theoretical study of the formation of the parent phosphinine C5H5P from the flash vacuum thermolysis of diallylvinylphosphine

The gas-phase decomposition of diallylvinylphosphine 1 into C5H5P 12 is studied by DFT/6-311+G(d,p) calculations with the B3LYP functional, followed by single-point energy-only calculations at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d,p) level. According to these calculations, the first step involves a retro-ene elimination that yields 3-phosphahexatrienes 2Z and 2E. Both compounds equilibrate through the formation of 1,2- and 3,4-dihydrophosphetes 3 and 4, and it is shown that the formation of 2Z is favored by the exothermic formation of the 3,4-dihydrophosphinine 5 through a 6pi-electrocyclization. Though 5 can easily isomerize into 2,3- (6) and 1,2-diyhydrophosphinines (7) by successive 1,5-hydrogen shifts, the formation of 12 from 5, 6, or 7 through an elimination of H2 is found to be a high energy process. It is also shown that the elimination of H2 from lambda5-phosphinine 8 following a C2v pathway is a symmetry-forbidden process. Finally, 1,4-dihydrophosphinine 9, which can be formed through a 1,4-hydrogen shift from lambda5-phosphinine 8, is found to be a convenient precursor of 12 through a 1,4-elimination of H2. The formation of 9 from 5 involves the intermediary formation of 3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-ene 10. The mechanism eventually proposed for the formation of 12 from 2Z is given in Scheme 16 at the CCSD(T) level.     

New mono- and bis-carbene samarium complexes: synthesis, X-ray crystal structures and reactivity

New samarium carbene complexes have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis; the carbenic nature was assessed by reactivity studies.