Micropore-free surface-activated carbon for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins-dibenzofurans and non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls in environmental samples

2,3,7,8-Substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) account for almost all of the total toxic equivalents (TEQ) in environmental samples. Activated carbon columns are used to fractionate the samples for GC-MS analysis or bioassay. Micropore-free surface-activated carbon is highly selective for PCDD/Fs and non-ortho-PCBs and can improve the conventional activated carbon column clean-up. Along with sulfuric acid-coated diatomaceous earth columns, micropore-free surface-activated carbon provides a rapid, robust, and high-throughput sample preparation method for PCDD/Fs and non-ortho-PCBs analysis.     

Rapid and high-resolution analysis of geometric polyprenol homologues by connected octadecylsilylated monolithic silica columns in high-performance liquid chromatography

A Chromolith Performance octadecylsilyl (ODS) monolithic silica column (Merck) was compared with a conventional microparticulate ODS-bonded silica column in the high-performance liquid chromatography separation of natural polyprenols. A system comprising two connected monolithic columns afforded an equivalent separation at half the analysis time of the conventional method. Furthermore, ten connected columns achieved a tremendously high-resolution separation, in which the complicated series of homologous polyprenols with geometric isomerism were fully separated.     

Loss and recovery in hydrophobicity of silicone rubber exposed to corona discharge

This paper describes the loss and recovery in the hydrophobicity of unfilled high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV-SR) resulting from corona discharge. In this study, HTV-SR specimens were exposed to corona stress generated by a parallel needle-plane electrode system, and physicochemical analyses on the surface layer of SR before and after corona discharge treatment were carried out by using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is demonstrated that hydrophilic OH groups that are by-products of ageing can be formed instead of hydrophobic CH₃ groups on the surface of aged SR and the corona discharge plays an important role on the temporary loss of hydrophobicity. After a substantial period of ‘rest’, the hydrophobic recovery of SR results from the diffusion of low-molecular weight (LMW) silicone fluid from the bulk onto the aged layer.     

Synthetic studies on cyathins: enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B2

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B(2) has been achieved. Our approach features a convergent enantioselective construction of the 5-6-7 tricyclic core system using the originally developed chiral building blocks via asymmetric catalysis, the intramolecular aldol reaction in high yield, successful samarium diiodide-mediated ring expansion, and a newly developed double-bond installation method.     

Localization of Iα and Iβ phases in algal cellulose revealed by acid treatments

Highly crystalline I-rich type Cladophora cellulose, which had been kept in never-dried condition, was treated in 60wt% sulfuric acid at 100°C, for 1–48h. The cellulose microcrystals thus obtained were analysed by X-ray diffractometry, FT-IR, and transmission electron microscopy. The I component was found to be more degraded than the I component. The cellulose I/I ratios of the samples acid-treated for 0, 24, and 48 h were about 8:2, 6:4, and 4:6, respectively. After the acid treatment, the microcrystals became narrower in width, and very sharp at their ends. These results indicate that the I phase is mostly located at the surface of the microcrystals, which is morphologically more susceptible to the acid treatment.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of histamine and 1-methylhistamine with on-column fluorescence derivatization.

An on-column fluorometric derivatization method was developed for the determination of histamine and 1-methylhistamine (HMs) by high-performance liquid chromatography. The system for the derivatization consisted only of a commercially available single-plunger pump and a reversed-phase C18 column supported on synthetic polymer with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and alkaline borate buffer solution containing o-phthalaldehyde as a derivatization reagent. It required no additional reaction system as for a post-column derivatization method. Injected HMs might be derivatized to a fluorophore on the inlet site of the high-performance liquid chromatographic column, followed by chromatography on the same column. Optimization of the on-column reaction conditions resulted in a simple and sensitive analytical method for the determination of HMs with excellent reproducibility and linearity of 0.05-5 micrograms/ml of both HMs. Application of this method to the determination of HMs in food samples resulted in a limit of quantification of 0.05 mg/100 g and in a greater than 95% overall mean recovery at a fortification of 0.1 mg/g of both HMs. This method was furthermore applicable to the determination of histamine released from rat peritoneal mast cells.     

The synthesis of hexahydrooxoepithiopyridinedicarboximides by the reaction of thioamides with N-substituted maleimides

The synthesis of hexahydrooxoepithiopyridinedicarboxyimide (5: X₂ = N-Ph) by the reaction of thioamides 1 with N-substituted maleimide ( 2a ) was examined. The reaction of primary thioamides, such as thiobenzamide and p-toluthioamide with N-phenylmaleimide gives compounds 5 together with corresponding 4-hydroxy-1,3-thiazoles 4 . However, a similar reaction of secondary thioamides, such as N-methylthioacetamide, thiobenzanilide, with N-phenylmaleimide did not provide compounds 5 without addition of acid. The reaction pathway and the configuration of 5 were also investigated.     

Temperature dependence of fractionation of hydrogen isotopes in aqueous sodium chloride solutions

The D/H ratios of hydrogen gas in equilibrium with aqueous sodium chloride solutions of 2, 4 and 6 molalities were determined within the range 10 to 95°C, using a hydrophobic platinum catalyst. With each of the different sodium chloride concentrations, the hydrogen isotope effect between the solution and pure water changes linearly with the square of the reciprocal temperature. On the basis of the results for hydrogen isotope fractionation observed in this study, and those of hydrogen isotope fractionation between pure water and vapor, it is concluded that the structure of the aqueous sodium chloride solution does not change significantly with temperature. The hydrogen isotope effect is evidently different from the results of vapor pressure isotope effects (VPIE) on sodium chloride solutions measured on separated isotopes. The difference between the present work and the VPIE studies is probably due to a non-ideal behavior in a mixture of isotopic water molecules and/or to a H₂O-D₂O disproportionation reaction in sodium chloride solutions. The distinction between the latter two mechanisms can not be differentiated at present.     

Template-directed DNA photoligation via alpha-5-cyanovinyldeoxyuridine

[reaction: see text] We describe an efficient template-directed photoligation of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) using alpha-5-cyanovinyldeoxyuridine (alpha(C)U). An efficient photoligation was produced by photoirradiation of an ODN containing alpha(C)U at the 3' end with an ODN containing thymine at the 5' end in the presence of a template ODN. This photoligation method is a new and efficient way to synthesize branched ODNs.