Use of an accelerometer and a microphone as gas detectors in the online quantitative detection of hydrogen released from ammonia borane by gas chromatography.

The use of an accelerometer as a gas detector in gas chromatography (GC) is described for the first time. A milli-whistle was connected to the outlet of the GC capillary. When the eluted and GC carrier gases pass through the capillary and milli-whistle, a sound is produced. After a fast Fourier transform (FFT), the sound wave generated from the milli-whistle is picked up by a microphone and the resulting vibration of the milli-whistle body can be recorded by an accelerometer. The release of hydrogen gas, as the result of thermal energy, from ammonia borane (NH3BH3), which has been suggested as a storage medium for hydrogen, was selected as the model sample. The findings show that the frequencies generated, either by sound or by the vibration from the whistle body, were identical. The concentration levels of the released hydrogen gas can be determined online, based on the frequency changes. Ammonia borane was placed in a brass reservoir, heated continually, and the released hydrogen gas was directly injected into the GC inlet at 0.5 min intervals, using a home-built electromagnetic pulse injector. The concentration of hydrogen for each injection can be calculated immediately. When the ammonia borane was encapsulated within a polycarbonate (PC) microtube array membrane, the temperature required for the release of hydrogen can be decreased, which would make such a material more convenient for use. The findings indicate that 1.0 mg of ammonia borane can produce hydrogen in the range of 1.0-1.25 mL, in the temperature range of 85-115 °C.

Simultaneous determination of pyridine-triphenylborane anti-fouling agent and its degradation products in paint-waste samples using capillary zone electrophoresis with field-amplified sample injection.

We proposed a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) procedure using field-amplified sample injection (FASI) for the simultaneous determination of pyridine-triphenylborane (PTPB) and its degradation products: diphenylborinic acid (DPB), phenylboronic acid (MPB), and phenol. The LODs for PTPB, DPB, MPB, and phenol were, respectively, 0.85, 0.88, 44, and 28 µg L(-1). The RSDs (n = 4) for the analytes listed above were in respective ranges of 6.2 - 14, 5.9 - 10, and 0.49 - 0.62% for the peak area, peak height, and migration time. The compounds were extracted from paint-waste samples collected from shipyards using a siliga-gel column. The extract was dissolved with acetonitrile containing 1% (v/v) pyridine. The samples were then analyzed using CZE, revealing respective concentrations of 0.076 - 0.53, 0.015 - 0.36, 1.7 - 22, and 1.2 - 13 µg g(-1). The proposed FASI-CZE method is a simple and promising procedure that is expected to be useful for the determination of PTPB and its degradation products in paint wastes.

Use of species sensitivity distributions to predict no-effect concentrations of an antifouling biocide, pyridine triphenylborane, for marine organisms.

We used species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) and a Bayesian statistical model to carry out a primary risk assessment for pyridine triphenylborane (PTPB) in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. We used SSDs derived from toxicity values, such as EC50 and LC50, obtained from this study and previous work to calculate hazardous concentrations that should protect 95% and 99% of species (HC5 and HC1) and demonstrated that the medians of the HC5 and HC1 were 0.78 and 0.17 µg/L, respectively. We also used liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to investigate the occurrence of PTPB in seawater from several coastal sites of Hiroshima Bay and detected PTPB at concentrations of 4.8-21 pg/L. Comparison of environmental concentrations to the HC values suggests that the current ecological risk posed by PTPB in Hiroshima Bay is low. This is the first report of the detection of PTPB in the natural marine environment.

A novel hybrid mode of sample injection to enhance CZE sensitivity for simultaneous determination of a pyridine-triphenylborane anti-fouling agent and its degradation products.

We developed a novel hybrid sample injection mode (HSIM) that presents the combination of electrokinetic injection and vacuum injection to enhance detection sensitivity in CZE. Samples were introduced using both vacuum and electrokinetic injections simultaneously, with a water plug injected into the capillary prior to sample introduction (i.e. similarly to field-amplified sample injection, FASI). Using a sample mixture containing an anti-fouling agent applied to ship hulls, pyridine-triphenylborane and its degradation products (diphenylborinic acid, phenylboronic acid, and phenol) dissolved in ACN, the length of water plug, time, and voltage for sample introduction were optimized. The signal intensity (peak height) was found to be up to a 30-fold increased using HSIM by applying 4 kV for 4 s at the inlet end of the capillary as the cathode with supplementary vacuum in comparison with only vacuum injection for 4 s. The LODs (at a S/N of 3) for pyridine-triphenylborane, diphenylborinic acid, phenylboronic acid, and phenol were 0.88, 1.0, 21, and 23 µg/L, respectively. At the level of 0.04 mg/L, the RSDs (n=4, intra-day) for the above analytes were in the ranges of 1.9-11, 4.3-9.2, and 0.34-0.66% for peak area, peak height, and migration time, respectively. The HSIM is a simple and promising procedure useful for enhancing the sensitivity for both low-and high-mobility ions in CZE.

Charge transfer via the dative N-B bond and dihydrogen contacts. Experimental and theoretical electron density studies of small Lewis acid-base adducts.

The electronic characteristics of the dative N−B bond in three Lewis acid−base adducts, hydrazine borane, hydrazine bisborane, and ammonia trifluoroborane, are analyzed by an approach combining experimental electron density determination with a broad variety of theoretical calculations. Special focus is directed to the weak dihydrogen contacts in hydrazine borane. The Atoms In Molecules partitioning scheme is complemented by additional methods like the Source Function, and the Electron Localizability Indicator. For the multipole-free theoretical models of hydrazine borane and hydrazine bisborane, a weak charge donation from Lewis base to acid of about 0.05 e is found, whereas multipole refinement of theoretical and experimental structure factors resulted in opposite signs for the Lewis acid and base fragments. For ammonia trifluoroborane, the donation from Lewis base to acid is slightly larger (about 0.13 e) in the multipole-free models, and the charges obtained by multipole refinement retain the direction of the charge donation but show quite large variations. The natural population analysis charges predict larger charge donations (0.35 e) from the Lewis bases to the acids for the three title complexes. Although the three compounds exhibit intermolecular interactions of different types and strengths, including classical hydrogen bonds, F···H contacts and the already mentioned dihydrogen bonds, almost no charge transfer is detected between different molecules within the crystal environment. The main electronic effect of the formation of the Lewis acid-base adducts and of the crystallization is an increase in the charge separation within the ammonia/hydrazine fragments, which is supported by all investigated bond and atomic properties. The nature of the dative N-B bond is found to be mainly electrostatic, but with a substantial contribution of covalency. The F-B bonds show similarities and differences from the N-B bonds, which makes a distinction of coordinative (or dative) bonds from polar covalent interactions possible.

Simultaneous determination of a pyridine-triphenylborane anti-fouling agent and its estimated degradation products using capillary zone electrophoresis.

A commercial organoborane compound, pyridine-triphenylborane (PTPB), is often applied to ship hulls as an anti-fouling agent. We developed capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with direct UV detection for the simultaneous determination of PTPB and its estimated degradation products: diphenylborinic acid (DPB), phenylboronic acid (MPB), and phenol. The limits of detection (LODs) for PTPB, DPB, MPB, and phenol were, respectively, 25, 30, 50, and 29 microg/l at a signal-to-noise ratio of three. At concentrations of 0.5mg/l, values of the relative standard deviation (RSD, n=6, intra-day) of peak area were obtained, respectively, for PTPB, DPB, MPB, and phenol, as 4.1, 4.1, 4.7, and 3.4% for peak heights 3.6, 3.2, 1.7, and 1.4%, and for migration times 1.1, 1.1, 1.0, and 0.73%. The analytes were detected within 14 min. Simple photodegradation experiments were conducted to verify the usefulness of the proposed method for additional PTPB degradation investigations.

Essential oil composition of Artemisia herba-alba from southern Tunisia.

The composition of the essential oil hydrodistilled from the aerial parts of 18 individual Artemisia herba-alba Asso. plants collected in southern Tunisia was determined by GC and GCMS analysis. The oil yield varied between 0.68% v/w and 1.93% v/w. One hundred components were identified, 21 of of which are reported for the first time in Artemisia herba-alba oil. The oil contained 10 components with percentages higher than 10%. The main components were cineole, thujones, chrysanthenone, camphor, borneol, chrysanthenyl acetate, sabinyl acetate, davana ethers and davanone. Twelve samples had monoterpenes as major components, three had sesquiterpenes as major components and the last three samples had approximately the same percentage of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The chemical compositions revealed that ten samples had compositions similar to those of other Artemisia herba-alba essential oils analyzed in other countries. The remaining eight samples had an original chemical composition.

Functional group selective ion/molecule reactions: mass spectrometric identification of the amido functionality in protonated monofunctional compounds.

A mass spectrometric method was developed for the screening of the amido functionality in monofunctional protonated analytes. This method is based on selective gas-phase derivatization of protonated analytes by (N,N-diethylamino)dimethylborane in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) and triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Examination of a series of protonated analytes demonstrated that only the compounds containing the amido functionality react with the aminoborane by the derivatization reaction. The mechanism involves proton transfer from the protonated analyte to the borane, followed by addition of the amide to the boron center, which leads to the elimination of neutral diethylamine. The derivatized analytes are readily identified on the basis of a shift of 40 m/z units relative to the m/z value of the protonated analyte and characteristic boron isotope patterns. Collision-activated dissociation was used to provide support for the structures assigned to the derivatized analytes. The structural information gained from this gas-phase derivatization method will aid in the functional group identification of unknown compounds and their mixtures.

Abiotic degradation of triphenylborane pyridine (TPBP) antifouling agent in water.

The abiotic degradation of the new antifouling agent, triphenylborane pyridine (TPBP), was investigated in buffer solutions having different pH values (pH 5, 7, and 9), and in artificial and natural seawater to estimate environmental fate of TPBP. The TPBP in these waters was decomposed by a seven-day hydrolysis process at 50 degrees C both in the dark and a photolysis process under UV-A irradiation using a high-pressure mercury lamp for periods up to 24h. TPBP hydrolysis was significantly enhanced by acidic pH solutions. The photolysis rate of TPBP was higher in acidic pH solutions than in neutral or basic pH solutions, and was highest in natural seawater, which could have contained naturally dissolved organic matter. Two degradation products, phenol and an unknown substance (Peak #1), were observed during the hydrolysis and photolysis studies of TPBP. The concentration of these substances after a one-day photolysis treatment was higher than after a seven-day hydrolysis treatment. The degradation rate of TPBP in the five test water samples was related to the simultaneous photolysis formation of phenol and Peak #1. However, the degradation rate of TPBP was not related to the formation of the hydrolysis products. Therefore, it is suggested that photodegradation of TPBP follows a different pathway to the hydrolysis degradation of TPBP. Our results indicate the chemical and photochemical reaction of TPBP in water occurs in natural aquatic environments.

Synthesis and electrospray ionization mass spectra of AZT/d4T boranophosphates.

New anti-HIV prodrugs, conjugates of AZT and d4T with boranophosphates, were prepared by the H-phosphonate method. Their structures were determined by negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The fragmentation pathways were investigated, and most of the fragment ions contained the boranophosphate or phosphinate group.

Synthesis, NMR, and X-ray crystallographic analysis of C-hydrazino-C-carboxycarboranes: versatile ligands for the preparation of BNCT and BNCS agents and (99m)Tc radiopharmaceuticals.

Protected hydrazine derivatives of ortho-, meta-, and para-carboranes were synthesized in good to excellent yields by reacting the mono-lithio salts of the respective carboranes with di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate (DBAD). Subsequent deprotonation of the remaining carborane CH group, followed by the addition of CO(2)(g), resulted in the formation of bifunctional C-hydrazino-C-carboxycarboranes in good to excellent overall yields. Crystal structures of the monosubstituted ortho-carborane, 1-[(N,N'((tert-butyloxy)carbonyl)hydrazino)]-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (8) [a = 21.213(6) A, b = 10.498(3) A, c = 9.866(2) A, alpha = gamma = 90 degrees, beta = 90.529(4) degrees ] and the bifunctional para-carborane 1-[(N,N'((tert-butyloxy)carbonyl)hydrazino)]-1,12-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-12-carboxylic acid (3) [a = 12.744(10) A, b = 12.875(9) A, c = 14.767(9) A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees ] were obtained. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding was a dominant packing feature in both structures. The reported compounds represent a unique class of bifunctional carboranes that can be used in peptidomimetic research and as synthons to prepare novel radiopharmaceuticals and boron neutron capture therapy/boron neutron capture synovectomy (BNCT/BNCS) agents.

Discrimination and thermal degradation of toxaphene compounds in capillary gas chromatography when using split/splitless and on-column injection.

Technical toxaphene and a 22-component Reference Mixture were analyzed using capillary gas chromatography with split/splitless injection (SSL) and on-column injection (OC). In both techniques, electron-capture, negative ionization mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS) was used for detection of chlorobornanes, chlorocamphenes and related compounds. Significant discrimination of highly chlorinated congeners was observed as a result of incomplete transfer of these compounds from the vaporizer to the analytical column when using SSL. This resulted in a much lower response for nona- and decachloro congeners than when using OC. In addition, several toxaphene components, especially the chlorobornanes with gem dichloro substitution on the six-member carbon ring, undergo thermal degradation when using SSL. Some of these congeners are major components of technical toxaphene, but generally are not present, except at low concentrations, in environmental and biological samples. Therefore, technical toxaphene may be discriminated and/or degraded differently than toxaphene compounds in environmental samples when using SSL. This results in significant bias of the quantitative data when using the technical material as a reference. OC suffers much less from these deficiencies and, therefore, is a preferable technique for toxaphene analysis.

Conformational stability of CH3CH2PH2BH3 from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of xenon solutions and r0 structural parameters.

Variable temperature (-55--100 degrees C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500-400 cm(-1)) of ethylphosphine-borane, CH3CH2PH2BH3, and ethylphosphine-borane-d5 dissolved in liquid xenon have been recorded. From these data, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 86 +/- 8 cm(-1) (1.03 +/- 0.10 kJ/mol), with the trans conformer the more stable rotamer. Complete vibrational assignments are presented for both conformers, which are consistent with the predicted frequencies obtained from the ab initio MP2/6-31G(d) calculations. The optimized geometries, conformational stabilities, harmonic force fields, infrared intensities, Raman activities, and depolarization ratios have been obtained from RHF/6-31G(d) and/or MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. These quantities are compared to the corresponding experimental quantities when appropriate as well as with some corresponding results for some similar molecules. The r0 structural parameters have been obtained from a combination of the previously reported microwave rotational constants and ab initio predicted parameters.

A GLC and GC/MS study of the reaction between benzylpenicillin and BF3-methanol.

A study of the reaction of BF3-methanol with benzylpenicillin showed that penicillin could be converted to a form suitable for gas-liquid chromatography. This study indicated possible use of the reaction in an analytical method for penicillin, by determining the methyl phenylacetate product. A reaction rate and yield study was conducted using gas-liquid chromatography employing an internal standard for improved measurement accuracy. The reaction gave a relatively constant yield of 70 +/- 2% and was complete in less than 1 minute. Investigations of the identity of side products were conducted using GC/MS, UV, and IR. A variety of products, including penicillenates, penillates, penilloates, and acrylic acid esters, were indicated at very mild reaction conditions.