Yongju Wei

Asynchronous Orthogonal Sample Design Scheme for Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy (2D-COS) and Its Application in Probing Intermolecular Interactions from Overlapping Infrared (IR) Bands

This paper introduces a new approach to analysis of spectra called asynchronous orthogonal sample design (AOSD). Specifically designed concentration series are selected according to mathematical analysis of orthogonal vectors. Based on the AOSD approach, the interfering portion of the spectra arising strictly from the concentration effect can be completely removed from the asynchronous spectra. Thus, two-dimensional (2D) asynchronous spectra can be used as an effective tool to characterize intermolecular interactions that lead to apparent deviations from the Beer–Lambert law, even if the characteristic peaks of two compounds are substantially overlapped. A model solution with two solutes is used to investigate the behavior of the 2D asynchronous spectra under different extents of overlap of the characteristic peaks. Simulation results demonstrate that the resulting spectral patterns can reflect subtle spectral variations in bandwidths, peak positions, and absorptivities brought about by intermolecular interaction, which are barely visualized in the conventional one-dimensional (1D) spectra. Intermolecular interactions between butanone and dimethyl formamide (DMF) in CCl4 solutions were investigated using the proposed AOSD approach to prove the applicability of the AOSD method in real chemical systems.

Two-dimensional asynchronous spectrum with auxiliary cross peaks in probing intermolecular interactions

A new approach called “asynchronous spectrum with auxiliary peaks (ASAP)” is proposed for generating a 2D asynchronous spectrum to investigate the intermolecular interaction between two solutes (P and Q) dissolved in the same solution. In the ASAP approach, a virtual substance S with an isolated peak assumed to be at νS is introduced, while the characteristic peaks of P and Q are actually observed at νP and νQ. The concentrations series of P, Q and S are specifically designed so that a spectral portion that has nothing to do with the intermolecular interaction between P and Q is completely removed from the 2D asynchronous spectrum. Auxiliary cross peaks around (νP, νS) and (νQ, νS) can be used to reveal spectral variation caused by intermolecular interaction, which cannot be observed on conventional cross peaks appearing around the spectral coordinates (νP, νP), (νP, νQ), (νQ, νP), (νQ, νQ). For example, variation of the absorptivity of P caused by an intermolecular interaction between P and Q can be probed from the auxiliary cross peaks around (νP, νS) when Q does not even have any characteristic peak in the observed spectral range.

Design of a New Concentration Series for the Orthogonal Sample Design Approach and Estimation of the Number of Reactions in Chemical Systems.

A new concentration series is proposed for the construction of a two-dimensional (2D) synchronous spectrum for orthogonal sample design analysis to probe intermolecular interaction between solutes dissolved in the same solutions. The obtained 2D synchronous spectrum possesses the following two properties: (1) cross peaks in the 2D synchronous spectra can be used to reflect intermolecular interaction reliably, since interference portions that have nothing to do with intermolecular interaction are completely removed, and (2) the two-dimensional synchronous spectrum produced can effectively avoid accidental collinearity. Hence, the correct number of nonzero eigenvalues can be obtained so that the number of chemical reactions can be estimated. In a real chemical system, noise present in one-dimensional spectra may also produce nonzero eigenvalues. To get the correct number of chemical reactions, we classified nonzero eigenvalues into significant nonzero eigenvalues and insignificant nonzero eigenvalues. Significant nonzero eigenvalues can be identified by inspecting the pattern of the corresponding eigenvector with help of the Durbin-Watson statistic. As a result, the correct number of chemical reactions can be obtained from significant nonzero eigenvalues. This approach provides a solid basis to obtain insight into subtle spectral variations caused by intermolecular interaction.

Development of narrow-band TLC plates for TLC/FTIR analysis

The present paper focuses on the development of narrow-band thin-layer chromatography (TLC) coupled with Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. We adopted a new method to prepare a narrow-band TLC plate by using silver iodide as stationary phase. The narrow-band TLC plate exhibits a variety of advantages: the preparation time is about 20 minutes, while 3–7 days are needed to prepare a common TLC plate suitable for TLC/FTIR analysis by using “settlement volatilization method”. Furthermore, the usage of stationary phase in narrow-band TLC plates decreases by about one order of magnitude in comparison with that of common TLC plates. This is very important for an expensive stationary phase such as silver iodide. In addition, experimental results of TLC/FTIR analysis on mixed samples containing rhodamine B and bromocresol green demonstrate the detection limit significantly improves by using the narrow-band TLC technique.

Using Lanthanum Fluoride Fine Particles as Stationary Phase for Thin-Layer Chromatography/Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis

While in situ TLC/FTIR technique has tremendous potential in the analysis of complex mixtures, the conventional stationary phase, such as silica gel, used for TLC/FTIR analysis, has strong absorption in IR region and thus brings about severe interference in the obtained FTIR spectra of the separated samples. In this work, we propose to use lanthanum fluoride fine particles as a new stationary phase of a TLC plate. The average size of LaF3 particles is around 100 nm. FTIR spectrum of the LaF3 particles has no interfering absorption. Preliminary TLC experiments show that mixtures of rhodamine B and methylene blue mixture can be successfully separated by this new TLC plate using LaF3 fine particles as a stationary phase. Methylene blue and rhodamine B from separated spot can be clearly detected by using in situ FTIR spectra.

Analysis of a Benzamide/Cholesterol Mixture by Using TLC/FTIR Technique

We applied TLC/FTIR coupled with a mapping technique to analyze a cholesterol/benzamide mixture. Narrow-band TLC plates by using AgI as a stationary phase were used to separate benzamide and cholesterol. The distribution of cholesterol and benzamide spots was manifested by 3D chromatogram. Benzamide and cholesterol can be successfully separated by the narrow-band TLC plate. Moreover, characteristic bands of benzamide and cholesterol can be identified from their FTIR spectra. In addition, the FTIR spectra of the separated benzamide and cholesterol spots on the narrow band TLC plate are roughly the same as the corresponding reference IR spectra.

Superconcentrated hydrochloric acid.

We report the discovery of a potentially useful superconcentrated HCl at ambient temperature and pressure by using a simple surfactant-based reversed micelle system. Surprisingly, the molar ratios of H(+) to H(2)O (denoted as n(H+)/n(H2O)) in superconcentrated HCl can be larger than 5, while the maximum achievable n(H+)/n(H2O) value for conventional saturated HCl aqueous solution (37 wt %) is only about 0.28. Furthermore, both NMR and FT-IR results indicate that a significant amount of HCl remains in the molecular form rather than being ionized into H(+) and Cl(-). The superconcentrated HCl may promote some organic reactions that are not feasible by using conventional 37 wt % HCl solution. For example, addition reaction between C═C and HCl occurs in superconcentrated HCl solution without using catalysts.