Gas chromatographic properties of two thermotropic Poly(L-glutamates) with long alkyl side chains

Summary Comparative gas chromatographic properties of two thermotropic Poly(L-glutamates) with long alkyl side chains (10 and 16 carbons called Poly 10 and Poly 16 respectively) are studied.Their thermal properties were established with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gas chromatography. They present a cholesteric liquid crystal in a large temperature range.The chromatographic separation abilities of the two polymers in the liquid crystal state were studied using capillary glass columns. Interesting analytical performances were obtained in different fields: isomeric separation of alkanes, aromatics, polyaromatics, volatile aroma compounds and cis and trans isomers. Some differences were noticed in their behaviours; 2 and 3-methyloctane and xylene isomers are separated only on Poly 10 while limonene and eucalyptol are separated only on Poly 16.     

K6Pb8Cd: A Zintl Phase with Oligomers of Pb4 Tetrahedra Interconnected by Cd Atoms

Unprecedented (Pb ₄ )Cd(Pb ₄ )Cd(Pb ₄ )Cd(Pb ₄ ) tetramers (see picture) are present in the structure of the title compound, in which they coexist with isolated Pb₄ tetrahedra. Since Cs₆Ge₈Zn has the same stoichiometry as K₆Pb₈Cd but contains exclusively (Ge₄)₂Zn dimers, this can be viewed as a disproportionation reaction of the type (a).     

Selective dissolution of TiO2 crystalline phases: Physicochemical characterization and photocatalytic activity

In this study, different commercially available TiO₂ powders (Degussa P25, pure anatase, and rutile) were submitted to selective dissolution treatments, with H₂O₂/NH₄OH and 10% HF, known to remove rutile and anatase from physical mixtures. The aim was to check whether a particular separation method designed to remove a specific crystalline phase influences the properties of the other phase from the mixture or not. More precisely, we have studied how the HF dissolution method designed to selectively remove the anatase affected the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of rutile. In a similar way, the changes in the anatase properties were studied, after the H₂O₂/NH₄OH treatment, initially used to remove rutile from the mixture. All the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance (DR) ultraviolet–visible, and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of these powders was tested in the oxidation of p-chlorophenol from water. The selective treatment methods not only dissolved the target phase but also changed some physicochemical and the photocatalytic performances of the other TiO₂ crystalline phase in a considerable manner. These aspects should be taken into account in the studies regarding the synergistic effects of anatase and rutile, especially in reconstructed TiO₂ photocatalysts.     

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals: Synthesis and Thermal Behavior of Optically Active,Three‐Ring Schiff Bases and Salicylaldimines

The chiral ferroelectric smectic C (SmC*) phase, characterized by a helical superstructure, has been well exploited in developing high‐resolution microdisplays that have been effectively employed in the fabrication of a wide varieties of portable devices. Although, an overwhelming number of optically active (chiral) liquid crystals (LCs) exhibiting a SmC* phase have been designed and synthesized, the search for new systems continues so as to realize mesogens capable of meeting technical necessities and specifications for their end‐use. In continuation of our research work in this direction, herein we report the design, synthesis, and thermal behavior of twenty new optically active, three‐ring calamitic LCs belonging to four series. The first two series comprise five pairs of enantiomeric Schiff bases whereas the other two series are composed of five pairs of enantiomeric salicylaldimines. In each pair of optical isomers, the configuration of a chiral center in one stereoisomer is opposite to that of the analogous center in the other isomer as they are derived from (3 S)‐3,7‐dimethyloctyloxy and (3 R)‐3,7‐dimethyloctyloxy tails. To probe the structure–property correlations in each series, the length of the n‐alkoxy tail situated at the other end of the mesogens has been varied from n‐octyloxy to n‐dodecyloxy. The measurement of optical activity of these chiral mesogens was carried out by recording their specific rotations. As expected, enantiomers rotate plane polarized light in the opposite direction but by the same magnitude. The thermal behavior of the compounds was established by using a combination of optical polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X‐ray diffraction. These complementary techniques demonstrate the existence of the expected, thermodynamically stable, chiral smectic C (SmC*) LC phase besides blue phase I/II (BPI or BPII) and chiral nematic (N*) phase. However, as noted in our previous analogous study, the vast majority of the Schiff bases show an additional metastable, unfamiliar smectic (SmX) phase just below the SmC* phase. Notably, the SmC* phase persists over the temperature range ≈80–115 °C. Two mesogens chosen each from Schiff bases and salicylaldimines were investigated for their electrical switching behavior. The study reveals the ferroelectric switching characteristics of the SmC* phase featuring the spontaneous polarization (P_S) in the range 69–96 nC cm^?2. The helical twist sense of the SmC* phase as well as the N* phase formed by a pair of enantiomeric Schiff bases and salicylaldimines has been established with the help of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic technique. As expected, the SmC* and the N* phase of a pair of enantiomers showed mirror image CD signals. Most importantly, the reversal of helical handedness from left to right and vice versa has been evidenced during the N* to SmC* phase transition, implying that the screw sense of the helical array of the N* phase and the SmC* phase of an enantiomer is opposite.     

Rare earth-rich compounds RE9TMg4 (RE = Y,Dy-Tm,Lu; T = Ru,Rh, Os,Ir) with an ordered Co2Al5-type structure

The rare earth-rich intermetallic phases RE₉TMg₄ (RE = Y, Dy-Tm, Lu; T = Ru, Rh, Os, Ir) were synthesized by induction melting of the elements using sealed niobium ampoules as crucible material. The melted samples were additionally annealed in muffle furnaces and subsequently characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The RE₉TMg₄ compounds adopt an ordered Co₂Al₅ type structure, space group P6₃/mmc. Four structures were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: a = 953.71(5), c = 968.41(5) pm, wR2 = 0.00273, 603 F² values, 21 parameters for Tm_8.76RuMg_4.24; a = 958.37(5), c = 975.66(5), wR2 = 0.00384, 661 F² values, 20 parameters for Dy₉OsMg₄; a = 943.70(5), c = 967.91(5) pm, wR2 = 0.00430, 592 F² values, 21 parameters for Tm_8.74OsMg_4.26; a = 968.09(5), c = 978.25(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0439, 623 F² values, 21 parameters for Y_9.18IrMg_3.82. The compounds are prone to small homogeneity ranges (RE/Mg mixing). The transition metal atoms have tricapped trigonal prismatic rare earth coordination. These T@RE₉ units (TP) are condensed with empty RE₆ octahedra (O) via common triangular faces forming infinite strands with a sequence –TP–O–O–. These strands show the motif of hexagonal rod packing and they are separated by chains of edge- and corner-sharing tetrahedra. The magnesium substructures in the hexagonal Laves phase YMg₂ and the prototype Y₉CoMg₄ are structurally closely related. Charge transfer trends, electronic band structures and bonding properties were studied within DFT. The resulting picture is that cobalt brings covalent character by reducing the overall charge transfer and modifies the Laves phase YMg₂ by providing larger localization in the density of states. The Y–Co bonding in Y₉CoMg₄ prevails while weakening the Y–Mg bonds. The investigations of the magnetic properties of selected RE₉TMg₄ compounds revealed Pauli paramagnetic behavior for Y₉CoMg₄, Y₉OsMg₄ and Y₉IrMg₄. A ferromagnetic ground state with Curie temperatures of 46.0 and 47.6 K was observed for Dy₉RuMg₄ and Dy₉OsMg₄, respectively. Ho₉RuMg₄, Ho₉OsMg₄ and Tm₉OsMg₄ reveal antiferromagnetic ordering with Neél temperatures below 20 K.     

Enantioselective separation of twelve pairs of enantiomers on polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phases and thermodynamic analysis of separation mechanism

The enantioseparation of twelve pairs of structurally related 1‐aryl‐1‐indanone derivatives was studied in the normal‐phase mode using three different polysaccharide‐type chiral stationary phases, namely Chiralpak IB, Chiralpak IC, and Chiralpak ID. n‐Hexane/2‐propanol and n‐hexane/ethanol were employed as mobile phases. Among all the investigated chiral columns, Chiralpak IC exhibited the most universal and the best enantioseparation ability toward all the racemates, particularly with the mobile phase composed of n‐hexane/2‐propanol (90/10, v/v). Then the effects of column temperature on retention and enantioselectivity were examined in the range of 25–40°C. Satisfactory enantioseparation was obtained at ambient temperature. The natural logarithm of retention and separation factors (ln k and ln α) versus the reciprocal of absolute temperature (1/T) (Van't Hoff plots) were found to be linear for all racemates, indicating that the retention and separation mechanisms were independent of temperature in the range investigated. Then, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔΔH°, ΔΔS°, and ΔΔG°) were calculated from Van't Hoff plots. These values indicated that the solute transfer from the mobile to stationary phase was enthalpically favorable, and the process of enantioseparation was mainly enthalpy controlled. At last, the impact of small changes in molecular structures of the tested 1‐indanone derivatives on enantioseparation was also discussed.     

A simple approach to prepare a sulfone‐embedded stationary phase for HPLC

In the present study, a polar‐embedded reversed‐phase liquid chromatographic stationary phase that contained internal sulfone groups was prepared. The synthesis involved the “thiol‐ene” click chemistry between the vinyl functionalized silica and 1‐octadecanethiol, followed by the oxidization of sulfide to sulfone groups. The resulting material simultaneously possessed the alkyl chain, i.e. C18, and the internal sulfone groups. Elemental analysis demonstrates that the element contents of the C18/sulfone silica were C 8.94%, H 1.87% and S 0.66%. Chromatographic evaluations indicate that the C18/sulfone stationary phase exhibited a little less retention than the C18/sulfide one. A comparable chromatographic performance of neutral analytes was obtained on these two columns, but much better chromatographic performance in the case of basic and acid analytes was obtained on C18/sulfone stationary phase with additional features such as lower silanol activity, better stability (stable working conditions of pH 1.0–10.0), and better compatibility with 100% aqueous mobile phases. The batch‐to‐batch reproducibility was acceptable (the RSDs of retention times for the probes were no higher than 1.73%), demonstrating the suitability of the applied synthetic strategy for the new stationary phase. The C18/sulfone is a promising polar‐embedded RPLC stationary phase.     

Investigation of the chromatographic regulation properties of benzyl groups attached to bridging nitrogen atoms in a calixtriazine‐bonded stationary phase

Two reversed‐phase/anion‐exchange mixed‐mode stationary phases for high‐performance liquid chromatography using calixtriazines as chromatographic ligands were investigated with Tanaka test solutes, monosubstituted benzenes, aromatic positional isomers, and inorganic anions. Calixtriazine as a chromatographic ligand has been reported previously, but the benzylated nitrogen‐bridged calixtriazine‐bonded silica gel reported in this study is new. The experimental data showed that the calixtriazine platform is a unique chromatographic selector because its multiple active sites are available for different solutes and its chromatographic selectivity could be tuned by introducing substituent on the bridging nitrogen atoms present in the calixtriazine matrix. The synergistic effects of aromatic rings, nitrogen atoms, benzyl groups, and tunable cavity in the host molecule influenced the separation selectivity by multiple retention mechanisms. Such hybrid stationary phases provide more versatility and have great potential in the analysis of complex samples. Moreover, the synthetic protocols presented herein may provide an alternative understanding on macrocyclic host–guest chemistry, leading to new and selective separation media.     

Separation of enantiomers of new psychoactive substances by high‐performance liquid chromatography

New psychoactive substances are defined as compounds with consciousness‐changing effects and have been developed simultaneously with classical drugs. They arise through structural modifications of illegal substances and are mainly produced to circumvent laws. Availability is simple, since new psychoactive substances can be purchased from the Internet. Among them many chemical drug compound classes are chiral and thus the two resulting enantiomers can differ in their effects. The aim of this study is to develop a suitable chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography separation method for a broad spectrum of new psychoactive substances using cellulose tris(3,5‐dichlorophenylcarbamate) as a chiral selector. Experiments were performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography in normal‐phase mode under isocratic conditions using ultraviolet detection. Direct separation was carried out on a high‐performance liquid chromatography column (Lux® i‐Cellulose‐5, 3.5 μm, Phenomenex®), available since 2016. Excellent separation results were obtained for cathinones. After further optimization, even 47 instead of 39 out of 52 cathinones showed baseline separation. For amphetamine derivatives, satisfactory results were not achieved. Further, new psychoactive substances from other compound classes such as benzofuranes, thiophenes, phenidines, phenidates, morpholines, and ketamines were partially resolved, depending on the polarity and degree of substitution. All analytes, which were mainly purchased from the Internet, were proven to be traded as racemates.     

Gas chromatography of halogenated adamantanes

The main thermodynamic characteristics of the adsorption of haloadamantanes on graphitized thermal carbon black were determined by experimental measurements and by calculations in terms of molecular-statistic theory of adsorption. Using experimental data, the Kovac retention indices were calculated and the optimum conditions for gas-chromatographic separation of haloadamantanes on stationary phases with different polarity were elucidated. The influence of the cage effect in the adamantane unit on the chromatographic properties of haloadamantanes was established.