Identification of inorganic anions by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Inorganic anions were identified by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Derivatization of the anions was achieved with pentafluorobenzyl p-toluenesulphonate (PFB-Tos) as the reaction reagent and a crown ether as a phase transfer catalyst. When PFB-Br was used as the reaction reagent, the retention time of it was close to those of the derivatized inorganic anions and interfered with the analysis. In contrast, the retention time of PFB-Tos differed greatly from the PFB derivatives of the inorganic anions and the compounds of interest could be detected without interference. Although the PFB derivatives of SO4, S2O3, CO3, ClO4, and ClO3 could not be detected, the derivatives of F, Cl, Br, I, CN, OCN, SCN, N3, NO3, and NO2 were detected using PFB-Tos as the derivatizing reagent. The inorganic anions were detectable within 30 ng approximately, which is of sufficient sensitivity for use in forensic chemistry. Accurate mass number was measured for each PFB derivative by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) within a measurement error of 2 millimass units (mmu), which allowed determination of the compositional formula from the mass number. In addition, actual analysis was performed successively by our method using trial samples of matrix.

Application of intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cyclic addition of azide and olefin; construction of (pyrrolidine-2-ylidene)glycinate and glycinamides.

Oxopropyl E-(pyrrolidine-2-ylidene)glycinamide (5c) and allyl E-(pyrrolidine-2-ylidene)glycinate (5d) were effectively synthesized from 2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-4-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl(TBDMS)-D-arabinal (7) using intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cyclic reaction of azide and olefin as a key reaction. These results proved this cyclic reaction should be applicable for the synthesis of various (pyrrolidine-2-ylidene)glycinate and glycinamide. In addition, the development of a synthetic route for the precursor of an unsaturated cyclic dehydro amino acid involved in azinomycins (carzinophilin) using relating glycinate, methyl E-(pyrrolidine-2-ylidene)glycinate (5a) was described.

Identification of pressure-sensitive adhesive polypropylene tape.

Identification of colorless, transparent, pressure-sensitive adhesive polypropylene tape (PP tape) was performed using infrared absorption spectrometry (IR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to determine the pressure-sensitive adhesive. Twenty different products of colorless, transparent PP tapes were examined in this study, and the results of analysis of IR spectra and Py-GC/MS were classified into twelve groups. In addition, the tapes were classified into 14 groups on the basis of IR measurement of release agent present in the backside. The results indicate that colorless, transparent PP tapes can be distinguished in terms of manufacturer, thereby demonstrating that this method of identifying colorless, transparent PP tape is effective. Moreover, the method was applied to the analysis of an actual forensic sample.

Detection of multiple anions by thin-layer chromatography.

A novel detection method for 21 different anions by thin-layer chromatography is presented. Anions on the target plate form salts with amine in a developing solvent and are visualized after staining with citric acid-acetic anhydride reagent as white spots contrasting against a pale red-pink background. This method has particularly high sensitivity for anions of chlorate, sulfate, phosphate, chromate and dichromate (0.02-0.05 microg). The method is demonstrated to efficiently detect toxic arsenite in curry sauce as an example application. The proposed method offers highly efficient indirect detection for a wide range of anions, and serves as a purification procedure for the preparation of anionic sample solutions for other analytical methods.