Mechanistic insights into NO3* induced self-terminating radical oxygenations, part 1: a computational study on NO3* and its addition to alkynes

The geometry of the nitrate radical, NO3*, for which unrestricted Hartree-Fock (HF) breaks spatial symmetry of the wave function, was optimized using hybrid density functionals that include varying fractions of Hartree-Fock exchange. Although symmetry breaking was not observed even when the functional with the highest HF exchange (BHandHLYP) was used, only B3LYP correctly describes the D(3h) symmetry of NO3* as ground-state structure with the lowest energy. Further, geometries and energies of the stationary points in the addition of NO3* to ethyne, propyne, and 2-butyne were calculated using ab initio and density functional methods. The reactions proceed through Z-configurated transition states leading to Z-configurated vinyl radicals with the activation barrier decreasing with increasing methyl substitution at the C[triple bond]C by ca. 11 kJ mol(-1) per methyl group. It was found that the results obtained at the BHandHLYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory are in good agreement with the data from single-point QCISD and CCSD(T) calculations.     

J-aggregation of a water-soluble tetracationic porphyrin in mixed LB films with a calix[8]arene carboxylic acid derivative

The molecular organization of a mixed film, containing a water-soluble tetracationic porphyrin (TMPyP) and a p-tert-butyl calix[8]arene octacarboxylic acid derivative (C8A), at the air-water interface and on a solid support (LB film), has been investigated. Although the TMPyP aggregation was not detected at the air-water interface, TMPyP J-aggregates have been found in the LB films (Y-type). Unlike tetraanionic porphyrins, for example TSPP, the TMPyP J-aggregates are not induced by a zwitterion formation. The TMPyP J-aggregation is a result of a "double comb" configuration, where porphyrins from opposite layers are interwoven in a linear infinite J-aggregate. Our results confirm that TMPyP molecules tend to self-aggregate strongly, provided the electrostatic repulsions of their peripheral groups are cancelled by the anionic groups of the C8A matrix.     

A multi-residue cation-exchange clean up procedure for basic drugs in produce of animal origin

There is considerable interest in maximising the amount of information obtained from animal product analyses, when screening for the presence of veterinary drug residues. One of the barriers to effective multi-residue analysis to date has been a lack of effective clean up procedures to isolate a wide range of residues from the potential interferents, which may be present in both simple and complex (including processed) foods. A cation-exchange clean up has, therefore, been developed for use with acetonitrile extracts of foods, when analysing for several basic drug groups (sulfonamides, benzimidazoles, levamisole, nitroimidazoles, tranquillisers and fluroquinolones). The clean up procedure has also been shown to be effective using a modified extraction solvent for malachite green and leucomalachite green in fish.Several of the key parameters that influence analyte recovery have been investigated and in an optimised procedure, tissue/biofluid samples containing sulfonamides, benzimidazoles, levamisole, nitroimidazoles, tranquillisers and fluoroquinolones are first extracted with acetonitrile. The extract is then dried with sodium sulfate and acidified with glacial acetic acid before loading onto a Bond Elut, strong cation-exchange (SCX) solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. Extracts from fish containing malachite green and leucomalachite green can be cleaned up using the same SCX SPE procedure following extraction with citrate buffer/acetonitrile. Typical recoveries of drugs from low level fortified tissues using the optimised procedure lie in the range 53-104% with the exception of carazolol from pig kidney (31%), malachite green from trout (42-51%) and ciprofloxacin from chicken muscle (44%) and from egg (21%).     

Inverse colloidal crystal membranes for hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography

A collaborative study on the robustness and portability of a capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry method for peptide mapping was performed by an international team, consisting of 13 independent laboratories from academia and industry. All participants used the same batch of samples, reagents and coated capillaries to run their assays, whereas they utilized the capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry equipment available in their laboratories. The equipment used varied in model, type and instrument manufacturer. Furthermore, different types of sheath‐flow capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry interfaces were used. Migration time, peak height and peak area of ten representative target peptides of trypsin‐digested bovine serum albumin were determined by every laboratory on two consecutive days. The data were critically evaluated to identify outliers and final values for means, repeatability (precision within a laboratory) and reproducibility (precision between laboratories) were established. For relative migration time the repeatability was between 0.05 and 0.18% RSD and the reproducibility between 0.14 and 1.3% RSD. For relative peak area repeatability and reproducibility values obtained were 3–12 and 9–29% RSD, respectively. These results demonstrate that capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry is robust enough to allow a method transfer across multiple laboratories and should promote a more widespread use of peptide mapping and other capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry applications in biopharmaceutical analysis and related fields.     

Assessment of evolution of loss on ignition matter during heating of iron ores

Ironmaking involves reduction of iron ores to metallic iron using coke, coal or gas as reductants. Although different iron ore reduction processes exist, prior to each reduction type, commonly, the hydroxyl and clay materials present in the iron ores undergo decomposition as a first stage. The mass loss during decomposition of these materials is termed as Loss on Ignition (LOI). The aim of this work is to apply a computer aided thermoanalytical technique to evaluate five different iron ore types during decomposition of the LOI matter and determine associated decomposition temperature ranges and heats of reactions. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were also incorporated to support the analysis interpretation. Three distinctive temperature ranges of decomposition of iron ore LOI matter were detected. The first region was associated with dehydration of the hygroscopic moisture at a temperature range between 100 and 150 °C. The second region occurred at a temperature range between 260 and 425 °C during which strongly bonded water was released and the OH groups associated with primarily iron oxyhydroxides were fractured. The third range, which occurred at a temperature range of 530 and 605 °C, was related to decomposition of the aluminosilicate clay materials.     

A Review of Surface Functionalized Amine Terminated Dendrimers for Application in Biological and Molecular Sensing

Dendrimers are three dimensional nanosized synthetic molecules that have internal cavities and numerous surface groups. In recent times they have received increased attention in sensing applications. For dendrimers to be used as sensors, they most commonly require functionalization at their surface. This is because the surface is generally the first point of contact between the dendrimer and the outside world, hence surface functionalization serves to selectively home in on the target analyte. Further, sensor signals may be transmitted through surface functionalities e.g. fluorochromic molecules. It is therefore important to document surface functionalization approaches. Dendrimers with amine surface groups have the advantage of being able to be conjugated to other molecules via an amide linkage, which is one of the most fundamental and widespread chemical bonds in nature. In this paper we demonstrate the properties of dendrimers that make them so applicable to sensing. We review several methods for functionalizing dendrimers via an amide linkage, as well as present a review of surface functionalized polyamidoamine, polyamine, and polypeptide dendrimers that have been employed for biological, chemical and molecular sensing.     

Stable cellulose nanospheres for cellular uptake

Pure, perfectly spherical cellulose nanoparticles with sizes of ≈80-260 nm can be prepared by dialysis starting from trimethylsilylcellulose (TMSC). The aqueous suspensions obtained are storable for several months. Subsequent covalent labeling of the cellulose nanoparticles with FITC has no influence on particle size, shape, and stability. The particles can be sterilized and suspended in biological media without structural changes. Incorporation of FITC-labeled cellulose nanoparticles into living human fibroblasts is studied using confocal LSM. In contrast to cellulose nanocrystals, fast cellular uptake is found for the nanospheres without transfection reagents or attachment of a receptor molecule. This suggests an influence of the geometry of biocompatible nanomaterials on endocytosis.     

Identification of polyimide materials using quantitative CE with UV and QTOF‐MS detection

Polyimides (PIs) are a group of widely used synthetic materials that service a variety of different purposes including microelectronics, insulating films and aerospace applications. Depending on the requirements (defined by the particular final product), the actual composition of PIs may show substantial chemical variation. To study this variation in chemical structure, CE‐MS can be employed for the determination of PI composition following chemical degradation of the polymer sample. PI is chemically decomposed to corresponding aromatic diamine and carboxylic acid components using an alkali fusion reaction. Solid polymer samples are fused in a potassium hydroxide melt yielding reaction products that are diluted in acid and can be immediately analysed by CE coupled to a Q/TOF‐MS with quantification performed using conventional UV detection. This approach involves a simple and rapid sample preparation yielding both qualitative and quantitative information regarding the chemical composition of the polymer. Application of the CE‐MS approach is shown for a range of commercially available PI and poly(amide–imide) materials and the results are used to infer the respective chemical compositions.     

Development and validation of an analytical method for detection of estrogens in water

An analytical procedure enabling routine analysis of four environmental estrogens at concentrations below 1 ng L^–1 in estuarine water samples has been developed and validated. The method includes extraction of water samples using solid-phase extraction discs and detection by gas chromatography (GC) with tandem mass spectrometry (MS–MS) in electron-impact (EI) mode. The targeted estrogens included 17- and 17-estradiol (aE2, bE2), estrone (E1), and 17-ethinylestradiol (EE2), all known environmental endocrine disruptors. Method performance characteristics, for example trueness, recovery, calibration, precision, accuracy, limit of quantification (LOQ), and the stability of the compounds are presented for each of the selected estrogens. Application of the procedure to water samples from the Scheldt estuary (Belgium – The Netherlands), a polluted estuary with reported incidences of environmental endocrine disruption, revealed that E1 was detected most frequently at concentrations up to 7 ng L^–1. aE2 was detected once only and concentrations of bE2 and EE2 were below the LOQ.Presented at the 9th FECS Conference on Chemistry and the Environment, Bordeaux, France, 29 August–1 September 2004     

Syntheses, structures and intermolecular interactions of tetraorganoammonium, -phosphonium and -stibonium dimethyl- and diphenyltetrahaloantimonates

The syntheses and spectroscopic (NMR, MS) investigations of the antimonates [Ph₄P]⁺[Me₂SbCl₄]⁻ (1), [Me₄Sb]⁺[Me₂SbCl₄]⁻ (2), [Et₄N]⁺[Ph₂SbCl₄]⁻ (3), [Bu₄N]⁺[Ph₂SbCl₄]⁻ (4), [Me₄Sb]⁺[Ph₂SbCl₄]⁻ (5), [Et₃MeSb]⁺[Ph₂SbCl₄]⁻ (6), [Et₄N]⁺[Ph₂SbF₄]⁻ (7) and [Et₄N]⁺[Ph₂SbBr₄]⁻ (8) are reported. Halogen scrambling reactions of Et₄NBr or Ph₄EBr (E = P, Sb) with R₂SbCl₃ (R = Me, Ph) produce mixtures of compounds from which crystals of [Et₄N]⁺[Ph₂SbBr_1.24Cl_2.76]⁻ (9), [Et₄N]⁺[Ph₂SbBr_2.92Cl_1.08]⁻ (10) or [Ph₄Sb]⁺[Me₂SbCl₄]⁻ (11) were isolated. The crystal and molecular structures of 1 and 3-11 are reported.