Multiresidue determination of 256 pesticides in lavandin essential oil by LC/ESI/sSRM: advantages and drawbacks of a sampling method involving evaporation under nitrogen

The determination of 256 multiclass pesticides in lavandin essential oil has been performed by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry using the scheduled selected reaction monitoring mode available on a quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer. With the aim of improving the limits of quantification (LOQs) of the target molecules, a sampling step based on evaporation of the essential oil under a nitrogen flow assisted by controlled heating was tested. The LOQs determined in this case were compared with the values obtained with the classic dilution preparation method. With sampling by dilution, 247 pesticides were detected and quantified at low concentration, with 74 % of the pesticides having LOQs of 10 μg L^-1 or less. With the evaporation method, a global improvement of the LOQs was observed, with lower LOQs for 92 active substances and LOQs of 10 μg L^-1 or less for 82.8 % of the pesticides. Almost twice as many active substances had an LOQ of 1 μg L^-1 or less when the evaporation method was used. Some pesticides exhibited poor recovery or high variance caused by volatilization or degradation during the evaporation step. This behavior was evidenced by the case of thiophanate-methyl, which is degraded to carbendazim.

Biomimetic Mussel Adhesive Inspired Anchor to Design ZnO@Poly(3‐Hexylthiophene) Hybrid Core@Corona Nanoparticles

The functionalization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles by poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) brush is completed by the combination of a mussel inspired biomimetic anchoring group and Huisgen cyclo‐addition “click chemistry.” Herein, the direct coupling of an azide modified catechol derivative with an alkyne end‐functionalized P3HT is described. This macromolecular binding agent is used to access core@corona ZnO@P3HT with a stable and homogeneous conjugated organic corona. Preliminary photoluminescence measurement proves an efficient electron transfer from the donor P3HT to the acceptor ZnO nanoparticles upon grafting, thus demonstrating the potential of such a combination in organic electronics.

     

Predicting ion concentration polarization and analyte stacking/focusing at nanofluidic interfaces

We report on the investigation of electropreconcentration phenomena in micro-/nanofluidic devices integrating 100 μm long nanochannels using 2D COMSOL simulations based on the coupled Poisson–Nernst–Planck and Navier–Stokes system of equations. Our numerical model is used to demonstrate the influence of key governing parameters such as electrolyte concentration, surface charge density, and applied axial electric field on ion concentration polarization (ICP) dynamics in our system. Under sufficiently extreme surface-charge-governed transport conditions, ICP propagation is shown to enable various transient and stationary stacking and counter-flow gradient focusing mechanisms of anionic analytes. We resolve these spatiotemporal dynamics of analytes and electrolyte ICP over disparate time and length scales, and confirm previous findings that the greatest enhancement is observed when a system is tuned for analyte focusing at the charge, excluding microchannel, nanochannel electrical double layer (EDL) interface. Moreover, we demonstrate that such tuning can readily be achieved by including additional nanochannels oriented parallel to the electric field between two microchannels, effectively increasing the overall perm-selectivity and leading to enhanced focusing at the EDL interfaces. This approach shows promise in providing added control over the extent of ICP in electrokinetic systems, particularly under circumstances in which relatively weak ICP effects are observed using only a single channel.     

Molybdenum(VI) Bis(imido) Complexes: From Frustrated Lewis Pairs to Weakly Coordinating Cations

Molybdenum(VI) bis(imido) complexes [Mo(NtBu)₂(L^R)₂] (R=H 1 a ; R=CF₃ 1 b ) combined with B(C₆F₅)₃ ( 1 a /B(C₆F₅)₃, 1 b /B(C₆F₅)₃) exhibit a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) character that can heterolytically split H−H, Si−H and O−H bonds. Cleavage of H₂ and Et₃SiH affords ion pairs [Mo(NtBu)(NHtBu)(L^R)₂][HB(C₆F₅)₃] (R=H 2 a ; R=CF₃ 2 b ) composed of a Mo(VI) amido imido cation and a hydridoborate anion, while reaction with H₂O leads to [Mo(NtBu)(NHtBu)(L^R)₂][(HO)B(C₆F₅)₃] (R=H 3 a ; R=CF₃ 3 b ). Ion pairs 2 a and 2 b are catalysts for the hydrosilylation of aldehydes with triethylsilane, with 2 b being more active than 2 a . Mechanistic elucidation revealed insertion of the aldehyde into the B−H bond of [HB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻. We were able to isolate and fully characterize, including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, the inserted products Mo(NtBu)(NHtBu)(L^R)₂][{PhCH₂O}B(C₆F₅)₃] (R=H 4 a ; R=CF₃ 4 b ). Catalysis occurs at [HB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ while [Mo(NtBu)(NHtBu)(L^R)₂]⁺ (R=H or CF₃) act as the cationic counterions. However, the striking difference in reactivity gives ample evidence that molybdenum cations behave as weakly coordinating cations (WCC).     

Direct Comparison of Subvalent,Polycationic Group 13 Cluster Compounds: Lessons learned on Isoelectronic DMPE Substituted Gallium and Indium Tetracation Salts

The tetracationic, univalent cluster compounds [{M(dmpe)}₄]⁴⁺ (M=Ga, In; dmpe=bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) were synthesized as their pf salts ([pf]⁻=[Al(OR^F)₄]⁻; R^F=C(CF₃)₃). The four-membered ring in [{M(dmpe)}₄]⁴⁺ is slightly puckered for M=Ga and almost square planar for M=In. Yet, although structurally similar, only the gallium cluster is prevalent in solution, while the indium cluster forms temperature dependent equilibria that include even the monomeric cation [In(dmpe)]⁺. This system is the first report of one and the same ligand inducing formation of isoelectronic and isostructural gallium/indium cluster cations. The system allows to study systematically analogies and differences with thermodynamic considerations and bonding analyses, but also to outline perspectives for bond activation using cationic, subvalent group 13 clusters.     

Labile Base-Stabilized Silyliumylidene Ions. Non-Metallic Species Capable of Activating Multiple Small Molecules

Several base-stabilized silyliumylidene ions ( 2 and 3 ) with different ligands were synthesized. Their behaviour appeared strongly dependent on the nature of ligand. Indeed, in contrast to the poorly reactive silyliumylidene ions 3 c,d stabilized by strongly donating ligands (DMAP, NHC), the silylene- and sulfide-supported one ( 2-H and 3 a ) exhibits higher reactivity toward various small molecules. Furthermore, their capability to successively activate multiple small molecules was clearly demonstrated by processes involving successive reactions with silane/formamide, CO₂ and H₂. Moreover, HBPin adduct of 3 a ( 8-C ) catalyzes the hydroboration of pyridine. Of particular interest, silylene-supported silyliumylidene complex 2-H is one of the rare species able to activate two H₂ molecules.     

A Simple Homoleptic Gallium(I) Olefin Complex: Mimicking Transition‐Metal Chemistry at a Main‐Group Metal?

The earth‐metal olefin complex [Ga ^I (COD)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? (COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene; R^F=C(CF₃)₃) constitutes the first homoleptic olefin complex of any main‐group metal accessible as a bulk compound. It is straight forward to prepare in good yield and constitutes an olefin complex of a main‐group metal that—similar to many transition‐metals—may adopt the +1 and +3 oxidation states opening potential applications. Crystallographic‐, vibrational‐ and computational investigations give an insight to the atypical bonding between an olefin and a main‐group metal. They are compared to classical transition‐metal relatives.     

Complexes of Dichlorogermylene with Phosphine/Sulfoxide-Supported Carbone as Ligand

Due to their remarkable electronic features, recent years have witnessed the emergence of carbones L₂C, which consist in two donating L ligands coordinating a central carbon atom bearing two lone pairs. In this context, the phosphine/sulfoxide-supported carbone 4 exhibits a strong nucleophilic character, and here, we describe its ability to coordinate dichlorogermylene. Two original stable coordination complexes were obtained and fully characterized in solution and in the solid state by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. At 60 °C, in the presence of 4, the Ge(II)-complex 5 undergoes a slow isomerization that transforms the bis-ylide ligand into an yldiide.     

Screening of Wood/Forest and Vine By-Products as Sources of New Drugs for Sustainable Strategies to Control Fusarium graminearum and the Production of Mycotoxins

Fusarium graminearum is a fungal pathogen that can colonize small-grain cereals and maize and secrete type B trichothecene (TCTB) mycotoxins. The development of environmental-friendly strategies guaranteeing the safety of food and feed is a key challenge facing agriculture today. One of these strategies lies on the promising capacity of products issued from natural sources to counteract crop pests. In this work, the in vitro efficiency of sixteen extracts obtained from eight natural sources using subcritical water extraction at two temperatures was assessed against fungal growth and TCTB production by F. graminearum. Maritime pine sawdust extract was shown to be extremely efficient, leading to a significant inhibition of up to 89% of the fungal growth and up to 65% reduction of the mycotoxin production by F. graminearum. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of this active extract revealed the presence of three families of phenolics with a predominance of methylated compounds and suggested that the abundance of methylated structures, and therefore of hydrophobic compounds, could be a primary factor underpinning the activity of the maritime pine sawdust extract. Altogether, our data support that wood/forest by-products could be promising sources of bioactive compounds for controlling F. graminearum and its production of mycotoxins.     

Variational wave functions and their overlap with the ground state

An intrinsic measure of the quality of a variational wave function is given by its overlap with the ground state of the system. We derive a general formula to compute this overlap when quantum dynamics in imaginary time is accessible. The overlap is simply related to the area under the E(tau) curve, i.e., the energy as a function of imaginary time. This has important applications to, for example, quantum Monte Carlo simulations where the overlap becomes as a simple by-product of routine simulations. As a result, we find that the practical definition of a good variational wave function for quantum Monte Carlo simulations, i.e., fast convergence to the ground state, is equivalent to a good overlap with the actual ground state of the system.