Effect of varying counterions on the sensitivity of electrohydrodynamic and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

The abundance of ion pairs (CA⁺) relative to that of doubly charged ions (C²⁺) in electrohydrodynamic (EH) mass spectra of a series of anions with a common dication in glycerol was found to increase in the order acetate < nitrite < chloride < bromide ≈ nitrate < iodide < perchlorate. Correlation with enthalpies of hydration for the anions suggests that this trend reflects the solution chemistry of ion association. These spectra also reveal that solvation rather than interactions with the extracting field is more important in determining the overall EH mass spectrometric sensitivity to doubly charged ions. Therefore, the use of anions that promote more extensive ion pairing enhances the overall sensitivity to multiply charged ions that otherwise interact strongly with the solvent, but reduces sensitivity to singly charged ions. These observations hold in fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, surviving the invasive effects of the primary beam.     

Synthesis and crystal chemistry of NH3(MoO3)3

NH₃(MoO₃)₃ crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{m}$, lattice constants a = 10.568 Å, c = 3.726 Å, and Z = 2. The crystal structure has been determined by Patterson synthesis and refined assuming isotropic temperature factors to a final conventional R value of 0.085. The structure shows a three-dimensional arrangement built up of double chains of distorted MoO₆ octahedra, parallel to the [001] direction. The octahedral double chains are linked among each other through common oxygen atoms. In addition to the shared oxygen atoms, each molybdenum is coordinated to one terminal oxygen. MoO distances range from 1.645 to 2.378 Å and OMoO angles from 74.3 to 114.3°. These results are consistent with the fact that molybdenum in high-valence states shows octahedral coordination with terminal oxygens.     

A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of specific organophosphorus pesticide biomarkers in human urine

Organophosphorus pesticides are commonly used in both agricultural and residential settings. The widespread use of these chemicals makes it almost impossible for humans to avoid exposure. In order to determine background human exposure, there is a need for fast, reliable, and sensitive analytical methods. We have developed a sensitive method to quantify specific biomarkers of the organophosphorus pesticides acephate, azinphos, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, diazinon, isazofos, malathion, methamidophos, parathion and pirimiphos or their O,O-dimethyl analogues in human urine, as their selective metabolites or as the intact pesticide. Isotopically labeled internal standards were used for eight of the analytes. The use of labeled internal standards in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry provided a high degree of specificity. Repeated analysis of urine samples fortified with high and low concentrations of the analytes gave relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 10% for the analytes with an isotopically labeled standard. Analytes without isotopically labeled standards had higher RSD. For all compounds except methamidophos and acephate, the recoveries were greater than 70%. The limits of quantification for most of the analytes were in the range of 0.1 to 1 ng/mL. We detected concentrations of most of these pesticides and/or their metabolites in urine samples from non-occupationally exposed persons using our method. Our frequencies of detection for the analytes measured ranged from 1% to 98%.     

Atypical silica-based column packings for high-performance liquid chromatography

Column packings widely used for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mostly are based on porous silica microspheres with certain pore sizes and pore size distributions. Such materials have the most desirable compromise of properties that provide for effective and reproducible separations over a wide range of operating conditions. To provide desired separation characteristics, several manufacturers specially synthesize the silica particles for these packings. While such column packing materials have general utility for a wide range of needs, special silica-based particles have been synthesized with different physical conformations for special separation goals. This presentation describes some atypical types of silica-based particles with unique separation properties that enlarge the capabilities of HPLC methods.     

Development of some stationary phases for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The availability of a variety of stable organic stationary phases for columns has been a key factor in the development of HPLC as a major scientific tool. This paper explores the history and rationale used in the development of some important stationary phases and attempts to identify some of the strengths and limitations of these materials. Some of the author's experiences in stationary phase development illustrate approaches leading to present-day columns that exhibit a broad range of selectivity coupled with a high degree of reproducibility. Suggestions also are made for additional stationary phases that may be needed to complete column selectivity potential for HPLC separations.     

Improved computer algorithm for characterizing skewed chromatographic band broadening : II. Results and comparisons

A newly developed method using an exponentially modified Gaussian peak shape model produces results that are more precise and less subject to baseline noise than previous methods for characterizing chromatographic band broadening. The method requires only precisely measurable experimental peak parameters: peak retention time, peak height, peak area, and peak centroid (first moment). Accuracy and precision of the new method were compared with other digital approaches by using computer-synthesized peaks and experimental chromatographic data from many HPLC columns. The proposed method offers a reasonable compromise between accuracy, precision, and convenience. A rapid visual estimate of peak skew can be made by inspecting peak shape and referring to a calibration plot involving peak parameters. Peak variance and skew data from this method are also useful for finding column dispersion corrections in size-exclusion chromatography calibrations.     

Effect of branching and confinement on star-branched polymeric systems

The effect of confinement, number of branches (functionality), and size of the molecules on various properties as a function of temperature of star-branched polymers confined between two walls was studied using Monte Carlo simulations with the parallel tempering technique. The coil-to-globule transition and the liquidlike to solidlike transition, similar to those observed for linear chains, were characterized in all systems by changes in the heat capacity, internal energy, and radius of gyration. The transitions were also characterized by the most probable isomeric structure at a given temperature. The radius of gyration of the star polymers was smaller than the values of linear chains when the number of arms f increased. For star chains with more than f=5 arms the values of the radius of gyration, and therefore the size of the molecules, were similar for every condition of confinement studied, especially at higher temperatures. As confinement was increased, the difference in the radius of gyration of linear chains and star polymers became even larger. The coil-to-globule transition temperatures shifted to higher temperatures as the size of the chains and the number of arms in a molecule were increased. Effects of confinement were higher on the properties of the system at the smallest separations (less than twice the monomer diameter), where the coil-to-globule transition shifted to lower temperatures. The liquidlike to solidlike transition was present at almost the same temperature for different conditions of confinement, chain size, and number of arms. The behavior of the systems for separations between the walls greater than five bead diameters was similar to the behavior in the unconfined case. Hence, no considerable effect of confinement was found above this separation.     

Free Radical Reaction between 1,6-Dienes and P-Toluenesulfonyl Cyanlde

A sulfonyl-radical-induced addition-cyclization reaction of 1,6-dienes with p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide giving functionalized cyclopentane systems is described.