Methyl salicylate, identified as primary odorant of a specific receptor neuron type, inhibits oviposition by the moth Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera, noctuidae)

The cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a polyphagous species that is often choosing plants of Brassica as hosts for oviposition. In the search for biologically relevant odorants used by these moths, gas chromatography linked to electrophysiological recordings from single receptor neurons (RNs) has been employed, resulting in classification of distinct types of neurons. This study presents specific olfactory RNs responding to methyl salicylate (MeS) as primary odorant and showing a weak response to methyl benzoate, the 2 aromatic compounds occurring together in several plant species. In 2 cases, the neuron was colocated with another RN type responding to 6 green leaf volatiles: 1-hexanol, (3Z)-hexen-1-ol, (2E)-hexen-1-ol, (3Z)-hexenyl acetate, (2Z)-hexen-1-ol, and an unidentified compound. Whereas the specific RNs detected the minor amounts of MeS in some plants, the compound was not found by gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry in intact plants, but it was found after herbivore attack. The behavioral effect of MeS was studied in outdoor test arenas with Brassica napus and artificial plants. These experiments indicated that mated M. brassicae females avoid plants with dispensers emitting MeS. As it is induced by caterpillar feeding, this compound may mediate a message to mated M. brassicae females that the plant is already occupied.

Specificity of phenolic glycoside induction in willow seedlings (Salix sericea) in response to herbivory

Salix sericea (Marsh.) (Salicaceae) seedlings were used to investigate phytochemical induction of phenolic glycosides following beetle herbivory. Seven-week-old full-sibling seedlings were subjected to one of three damage treatments: Plagiodera versicolora adults, P. versicolora larvae, or Calligrapha multipunctata bigsbyana adults. Salicylate concentrations were measured locally (within damaged leaves) and systemically (above and below damaged leaves) 4 d later. Herbivory caused differential salicylate induction; 2'-cinnamoylsalicortin was induced, whereas salicortin was not. The induction of 2'-cinnamoylsalicortin was not specific with regard to the species or developmental stage of beetle tested but did vary with leaf age: induction occurred in the younger undamaged leaves but not in the damaged leaves or in the older undamaged leaves. The amount of leaf area consumed had no detectable effect on induction, indicating an "all-or-none" response triggered by even small amounts of herbivory. Locally, herbivory caused a decrease in salicortin concentrations, probably because of degradation within the damaged leaves. These results suggest a specific but generalized induced response to these leaf-feeding beetles.

[Study on the application of methybenzeneazosalicylfluorone to spectrophotometric determination of microelement molybdenum modality distributions in soy hydrolysate hydrolyzed by enzymes]

A new method has been developed for spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum modality distributions in soy hydrolysate hydrolyzed by enzymes, based on the study on the color reaction of methybenzeneazosalicylfluorone (abbreviated as MBASF) with molybdenum (VI). In hydrochloric acid medium, MBASF reacts with molybdenum (VI) sensitively to form a stable red complex, its apparent molar absorptivity is 1.54 L x mol(-1) x cm(-1), and 0-12 microg of molybdenum obeys Beer's law in 25 mL of solution. Besides normal metal ions, protein, peptide and amino acid also have high tolerance limits. Soy hydrolysate hydrolyzed by enzyme (A) was precipitated at its isoelectric point, and the filtrate (B) was obtained. Subsequently, B was transferred to the chromatogram column with D301R resin. The column was purged by using 20 mL of HAc-NaAc (pH 3.6) and NH4Cl-NH3 x H2O buffer solution(pH 9) orderly and the effluent solutions C and D were obtained. A, B, C and D solutions were used for the spectrophotometric determination of total molybdenum, hydrolyzed molybdenum, chelated molybdenum by peptide or amino acid, and dissociative molybdenum, respectively.

IR, Raman and SERS studies of methyl salicylate

The IR and Raman spectra of methyl salicylate (MS) were recorded and analysed. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in silver colloid. The vibrational wave numbers of the compound have been computed using the Hartree-Fock/6-31G* basis and compared with the experimental values. SERS studies suggest a flat orientation of the molecule at the metal surface.

Evaluation of Matrix Effects in Metabolite Profiling Based on Capillary Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

The coupling of liquid chromatography to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry can be a powerful tool for metabolomics, i.e., the comprehensive detection of low molecular weight compounds in biological systems. There have, however, been doubts about the feasibility and reliability of this approach, because LC-MS--especially with electrospray ionization--can be subject to matrix effects. We evaluated matrix effects for our metabolomics platform in three ways: (i) postextraction addition of a set of reference compounds to different complex biological matrixes to determine absolute and relative matrix effects, (ii) postcolumn infusion of two reference compounds, and (iii) mixing of two complex matrixes. Our data demonstrate that there are indeed significant absolute matrix effects when comparing highly divergent samples. However, relative matrix effects are negligible--unless extremely divergent matrixes are compared--and do not compromise the relative quantification that is aimed for in nontargeted metabolomics studies. In conclusion, employing LC-coupled ESI-QTOF-MS for metabolomics studies is feasible yet rigorous validation is necessary.

Jasmonate, Salicylate, and Benzoate in Insect Eggs

Jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) are key molecules in the initiation of plant defensive responses to attack by herbivores and pathogens, respectively. Our previous work has shown that JA occurs at high concentrations in eggs and neonates of lepidopteran species. Here, we extend our analyses to eggs of 15 non-lepidopteran insect species spanning eight orders, again screening for JA, but also including SA and one of its metabolic precursors, benzoic acid. We detected all three compounds in eggs of almost all the species examined. Moreover, concentrations of these compounds were variable across species, suggesting that species accumulate and/or utilize the compounds differently. Eggs of the fruit-feeding fly Rhagoletis pomonella contained the greatest concentrations of all three compounds, which appear to be common in fruit. The presence of these plant-derived compounds in eggs may serve defensive or other functions for insects, and could conceivably trigger plant defensive responses after oviposition.

Application of microchip-CE electrophoresis to follow the degradation of phenolic acids by aquatic plants

In this paper, we describe the separation and detection of six phenolic acids using an electrophoretic microchip with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). The selected phenolic acids are particularly important because of their biological activity. The analysis of these compounds is typically performed by chromatography or standard CE coupled with a wide variety of detection modes. However, these methods are slow, labor intensive, involve a multistep solvent extraction, require skilled personnel, or use bulky and expensive instrumentation. In contrast, microchip CE offers the possibility of performing simpler, less expensive, and faster analysis. In addition, integrated devices can be custom-fabricated and incorporated with portable computers to perform on-site analysis. In the present report, the effect of the separation potential, buffer pH and composition, injection time and PAD parameters were studied in an effort to optimize both the separation and detection of these phenolic acids. Using the optimized conditions, the analysis can be performed in less than 3 min, with detection limits ranging from 0.73 microM (0.10 microg/mL) for 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid to 2.12 microM (0.29 microg/mL) for salicylic acid. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the device, the degradation of a mixture of these acids by two aquatic plants was followed using the optimized conditions.

Simultaneous determination of thiocyanate and salicylate by a combined UV-spectrophotometric detection principal component artificial neural network

A modified principle component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) model is developed for simultaneous determination of thiocyanate and salycilate concentration after passing through the bulk of a liquid membrane by tri-phenyl benzyl phosphonium chloride. All calibration, and test samples data were obtained using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. In this way, a modified PC-ANN consisting of three layers of nodes was trained by combination of Bayesian-Levenberg-Marquardt as training rule. Sigmoid and liner transfer functions were used in the hidden and output layers respectively to facilitate nonlinear calibration. The model could accurately estimate the concentration of components with acceptable precision and accuracy, for mixtures. The PC-ANN model exhibits a good ability for the simultaneous determination of the thiocyanate and salycilate in concentration range 0.5 x 10(-4) mol.l(-1) up to 5.0 x 10(-4) mol.l(-1) with Root Mean square error (2.22% and 2.20%, for thiocyanate and salycilate, respectively) and high correlation coefficients (R2= 0.998 or greater). Results obtained with modified trained PC-ANN were compared with stepwise linear regression (SMLR) model. Validation of the two models shows a better ability in estimation of the modified PC-ANN as compared with the SMLR model (MSRE given are 3.12%, 6.31%.).

Pressure Effects in Differential Mobility Spectrometry

A microfabricated planar differential ion mobility spectrometer operating from 0.4 to 1.55 atm in a supporting atmosphere of purified air was used to characterize the effects of pressure and electric field strength on compensation voltage, ion transmission, peak width, and peak intensity in differential mobility spectra. Peak positions, in compensation voltage as a function of separating rf voltage, were found to vary with pressure in a way that can be simplified by expressing both compensation and separation fields in Townsend units for E/N. The separation voltage providing the greatest compensation voltage and the greatest resolution is ion-specific but often occurs at E/N values that are unreachable at elevated pressure because of electrical breakdown. The pressure dependence of air breakdown voltage near 1 atm is sublinear, allowing higher E/N values to be reached at reduced pressure, usually resulting in greater instrumental resolution. Lower voltage requirements at reduced pressure also reduce device power consumption.

A study of the genetic variability of Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca using DNA sequences and secondary metabolic substances

Specimens of Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca from Mount Wuling can be divided into two distinct groups based on obvious differences in morphological characters. Here we investigated 26 specimens of R. chrysoleuca from Mount Wuling, 10 specimens of this species from other areas and seven specimens of other Rhizoplaca species by analyzing morphology, chemistry and genetics. Nine chemotypes were detected among the specimens of R. chrysoleuca from Mount Wuling, and five of them were reported for the first time. Based on the ITS phylogenetic analysis, the chemotypes and the insertion distribution patterns in SSU rDNA, the samples of R. chrysoleuca from Mount Wuling were grouped in two distinct clades corresponding to two phenotypic groups and no gene flow was detected between these two groups. Our results establish all individuals of Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca are conspecific although some populations have been isolated on Mount Wuling, indicating that they are in the process of speciation. Our study also reveals that the relationships between genotypes and chemotypes are complicated and should be avoided, and we instead recommend using single individuals or few individuals from the same site to represent the population or whole species in systematics study. The results also indicate that Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca might provide a good model for studying the speciation of saxicolous lichenized fungi.

NMR investigation of methyl-2,4-dimethoxysalicylate: effect of solvent and temperature

(1)H NMR and (13)C NMR of methyl-2,4-dimethoxysalicylate 2 was measured in chloroform-d at the temperature range of 220-330 K, in dimethyl sulfoxide-d(6) at the temperature range of 300-400 K and in a polar protic solvent (CD(3)OD) at 300 K. The structure of 2 in liquid phase (solvent) is compared with those in solid phase (X-ray) and in the gas phase (quantum mechanical calculations). The relationship between molecular geometry, (1)H NMR chemical shift and W coupling of involved protons has a complex nature, but hydrogen bonds [C=O...H-O and C=O...H-CH(2)O] strength is the principle factor.

Evaluation of partial least-squares with second-order advantage for the multi-way spectroscopic analysis of complex biological samples in the presence of analyte–background interactions

The combination of unfolded partial least-squares (U-PLS) with residual bilinearization (RBL) has not been properly exploited to process experimental second-order spectroscopic information, although it is able to achieve the important second-order advantage. Among other desirable properties, the technique can handle incomplete calibration information, i.e., when only certain analyte concentrations are known in the training set. It can also cope with analyte spectral changes from sample to sample, due to its latent variable structure. In this work, U-PLS/RBL has been successfully applied to experimental fluorescence excitation-emission matrix data aimed at the quantitation of analytes in complex samples: these were the antibiotic tetracycline and the anti-inflammatory salicylate, in both cases in the presence of human serum, where significant analyte-background interactions occur. The interactions of the analyte with the serum proteins modify their spectral fluorescence properties, making it necessary to employ training sets of samples where the biological background is present, possibly causing analyte spectral changes from sample to sample. The predictive ability of the studied model has been compared with that of parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), as regards test samples containing different sera, and also other pharmaceuticals which could act as potential interferents.

The influence of organic ligands on the retention of lead in soil

Organic acids are commonly produced and exuded by plant roots and soil microorganisms. Some of these organic compounds are effective chelating agents and have the potential to enhance metal mobility. The effect of citrate and salicylate on the leaching of lead in soil was investigated in a laboratory experiment. In short-term batch experiments, adsorption of lead to soil was slightly enhanced with increasing salicylate concentration (500-5000 microM) but decreased significantly in the presence of citrate. These observations suggested that citrate may enhance Pb leaching, but this was not observed in the column study. Soluble Pb in the presence and absence citrate or salicylate (up to 5000 microM) was added to soil columns at a moderate flow rate, but no Pb was observed to emerge from the soil in any of the soil columns. Rapid biodegradation of citrate in soil eliminated potential complexing ability. Breakthrough of Pb from soil was noted only when using small columns at high flow rates (>20 pore volumes per day). Under these conditions of physical and chemical non-equilibrium, citrate was not degraded and significantly enhanced Pb mobility. As in the batch adsorption experiments, the presence of salicylate reduced Pb leaching. Considering the extreme conditions required to induce Pb leaching, it is likely that Pb will remain relatively immobile in soil even in the presence of a strong complexing agent such as citrate.

Chromosomally located gene fusions constructed in Acinetobacter sp. ADP1 for the detection of salicylate

Acinetobacter sp. ADP1 is a common soil-associated bacterium with high natural competency, allowing it to efficiently integrate foreign DNA fragments into its chromosome. This property was exploited to engineer salicylate-inducible luxCDABE and green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants of Acinetobacter sp. ADP1. Specifically, Acinetobacter sp. ADPWH_lux displayed the higher sensitivity when comparing the two variants (minimum detection c. 0.5-1 microM salicylate) and a faster turnover of the lux marker gene, making it suitable for whole-cell luminescence assays of salicylate concentration. In contrast, the longer maturation and turnover times of the GFP protein make the Acinetobacter sp. ADPWH_gfp variant more suited to applications involving whole-cell imaging of the presence of salicylate. The sensitivity of the luxCDABE variant was demonstrated by assaying salicylate production in naphthalene-degrading cultures. Assays using ADPWH_lux specifically mapped the kinetics of salicylate production from naphthalene and were similar to that observed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data. However, ADPWH_lux exhibited the higher sensitivity, when compared with HPLC, for detecting salicylate production during the first 24 h of naphthalene metabolism. These data demonstrate that the engineered Acinetobacter variants have significant potential for salicylate detection strategies in laboratory and field studies, especially in scenarios where genetic stability of the construct is required for in situ monitoring.

Determination of mercury complexation in coastal and estuarine waters using competitive ligand exchange method

While many studies have examined Hg(II) binding ligand in natural dissolved organic matter, determined ligand concentrations far exceed natural Hg(II) concentrations. This ligand class may not influence natural Hg(II) complexation, given the reverse relation between ligand concentration and metal-ligand binding strength. This study used a new competing ligand, thiosalicylic acid, in a competitive ligand exchange method in which water-toluene extraction was used to determine extremely strong Hg(II) binding sites in estuarine and coastal waters (dissolved [Hg] = 0.5-8 pM). Thiosalicylic acid competition lowered the detection limit of Hg(II) complexing ligand by 2 orders of magnitude from values found by previous studies; the determined Hg(II) complexing ligand ranged from 13 to 103 pM. The logarithmic conditional stability constants between Hg(II) and Hg(II) complexing ligand (Kcond' = [HgL]/([Hg2+][L']), [L'] = total [L] - [HgL]) ranged from 26.5 to 29.0. Applying the same method for chloride competition detected another class of ligand that is present from 0.5 to 9.6 nM with log conditional stability constants ranging from 23.1 to 24.4. A linear relationship was observed between the log conditional stability constant and log Hg(II) complexing ligand concentration, supporting the hypothesis that Hg(II) binding ligand should be characterized as a series or continuum of binding sites on natural dissolved organic matter. Calculating Hg(II) complexation using the conditional stability constants and ligand concentrations determined in this study indicates that >99% of the dissolved mercury is complexed by natural ligand associated with dissolved organic matter in estuarine and coastal waters of Galveston Bay, Texas.

Rapid determination of methyl salicylate, a plant-signaling compound, in tomato leaves by direct sample introduction and thermal desorption followed by GC-MS

Many plants infested by herbivores or viruses can rapidly produce and accumulate a plant-signaling compound, methyl salicylate (MeSA), in their leaves to activate disease resistance. In the present work, a simple, rapid, and sensitive method was developed for the determination of MeSA in tomato leaves by direct sample introduction and thermal desorption followed by GC-MS. Results show that the proposed method has a low detection limit (0.08 ng mg(-1)) and good precision (RSD = 8.9%). The present method was applied to the investigation of tomato plant defense response to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) by rapid analysis of volatile compounds in plant leaves. It was found that tomato plants can produce large amounts of MeSA as a defense response to TMV. This indicates that MeSA may be a plant-signaling compound in tomato plant defense response to TMV.

Natural abundance 2H-ERETIC-NMR authentication of the origin of methyl salicylate

Methyl salicylate is a compound currently used in the creation of many flavors. It can be obtained by synthesis or from two natural sources: essential oil of wintergreen and essential oil of sweet birch bark. Deuterium site-specific natural isotope abundance (A(i)) determination by NMR spectroscopy with the method of reference ERETIC ((2)H-ERETIC-NMR) has been applied to this compound. A(i) measurements have been performed on 19 samples of methyl salicylate from different origins, natural/synthetic and commercial/extracted. This study demonstrates that appropriate treatment performed on the data allows discrimination between synthetic and natural samples. Moreover, the representation of intramolecular ratios R(6/5) as a function of R(3/2) distinguishes between synthetics, wintergreen oils, and sweet birch bark oils.

Sensing of Antipyretic Carboxylates by Simple Chromogenic Calix[4]pyrroles

We present a simple, two- or three-step method for the synthesis of chromogenic octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole-based (OMCP) sensors for anions. Electrophilic aromatic substitution allows for converting the pyrrole moieties of OMCP into a dye. The formation of a sensor-anion complex results in partial charge transfer and a dramatic change in color. The absorption (UV-vis) and NMR titration experiments show that the chromogenic OMCPs sense anions administered as aqueous solutions, even at high ionic strength ( approximately 0.1 M NaCl), while displaying selectivity for pyrophosphate and carboxylate anions. The experiments with polyurethane sensor films show a strong response for aqueous carboxylates, such as antipyretics naproxen approximately ibuprofen > salicylate, without being biased by bicarbonate or carboxy termini of blood plasma proteins.

Copolymerizations of ε-Caprolactone and GlycolideA Comparison of Tin(II)Octanoate and Bismuth(III)Subsalicylate as Initiators†

Copolymerizations of epsilon-caprolactone (epsilonCL) and glycolide (GL) were conducted in bulk at 120 degrees C with variation of the reaction time. Either Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct(2)) or bismuth(III)subsalicylate (BiSS) were used as initiators combined with tetra(ethylene glycol) as co-initiator. The resulting copolyesters were analyzed by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy with regard to the total molar composition and to the sequence of the comonomers. Furthermore, two series of copolymerizations (either Sn- or Bi-initiated) were performed at constant time with variation of the temperature. It was found that BiSS favors alternating sequences more than SnOct(2). Time-conversion curves and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of homopolymerization suggest that SnOct(2) is the more efficient transesterification catalyst. A hypothetical reaction mechanism is discussed.

Synthesis of Photoactivatable Acyclic Analogues of the Lobatamides

[structure: see text] The lobatamides and related salicylate enamide natural products are potent mammalian V-ATPase inhibitors. To probe details of binding of the lobatamides to mammalian V-ATPase, three photoactivatable analogues bearing benzophenone photoaffinity labels have been prepared. The analogues were designed on the basis of a simplified acyclic analogue 2. Late-stage installation of the enamide side chain and tandem deallylation/amidation were employed in synthetic routes to these derivatives. Simplified analogue 2 showed strong inhibition against bovine clathrin-coated vesicle V-ATPase (10 nM). Analogues 3-5 were also evaluated for inhibition of bovine V-ATPase in order to select a suitable candidate for future photoaffinity labeling studies.

[Simultaneous determination of aspirin and salicyclic acid by synchronous fluorescence spectrometry]

A simple, rapid and inexpensive fluorimetric method for simultaneously determining ASA and SA in a single scan of the co-existing specimen had been established. When the wavelength interval (delta lambda) is 80 nm for scaning, the amounts of ASA and AS could be quantitatively determined respectively. The fluorescence intensity was linearly related to the aspirin concentration in the range of 4.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) with correlation coefficient 0.9949; the fluorescence intensity was linearly related to the salicyclic acid concentration in the range of 8.0 x 10(-7)-1.0 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) with correlation coefficient 0.9975, the determination limit was 4.0 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1). The method is simple, rapid and inexpensive, it can be used for medicament analysis.

Exposure of lima bean leaves to volatiles from herbivore-induced conspecific plants results in emission of carnivore attractants: active or passive process?

There is increasing evidence that volatiles emitted by herbivore-damaged plants can cause responses in downwind undamaged neighboring plants, such as the attraction of carnivorous enemies of herbivores. One of the open questions is whether this involves an active (production of volatiles) or passive (adsorption of volatiles) response of the uninfested downwind plant. This issue is addressed in the present study. Uninfested lima bean leaves that were exposed to volatiles from conspecific leaves infested with the spider mite Tetranychus urticae, emitted very similar blends of volatiles to those emitted from infested leaves themselves. Treating leaves with a protein-synthesis inhibitor prior to infesting them with spider mites completely suppressed the production of herbivore-induced volatiles in the infested leaves. Conversely, inhibitor treatment to uninfested leaves prior to exposure to volatiles from infested leaves did not affect the emission of volatiles from the exposed, uninfested leaves. This evidence supports the hypothesis that response of the exposed downwind plant is passive. T. urticae-infested leaves that had been previously exposed to volatiles from infested leaves emitted more herbivore-induced volatiles than T. urticae-infested leaves previously exposed to volatiles from uninfested leaves. The former leaves were also more attractive to the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, than the latter. This shows that previous exposure of plants to volatiles from herbivore-infested neighbors results in a stronger response of plants in terms of predator attraction when herbivores damage the plant. This supports the hypothesis that the downwind uninfested plant is actively involved. Both adsorption and production of volatiles can mediate the attraction of carnivorous mites to plants that have been exposed to volatiles from infested neighbors.

6-Alkylsalicylic Acids and 6-Alkylresorcylic Acids from Ants in the Genus Crematogaster from Brunei

The defensive chemistry of two species of ants from Brunei in the genus Crematogaster (Physocrema group) has been investigated. Ants in this group release a white secretion from hypertrophied metapleural glands on their thorax when they are disturbed. Previously, one species in this group has been shown to produce alkylphenols and alkylresorcinols. In the present investigation, similar compounds along with salicylic acids and resorcylic acids that are anacardic acid and olivetolic acid homologs, respectively, are described from two species. The structures of these compounds were suggested by their spectroscopic data and confirmed by direct comparison with synthetic samples. Some of these compounds occur in lichens and have well documented physiological activities.

Improved detection of low vapor pressure compounds in air by serial combination of single-sided membrane introduction with fiber introduction mass spectrometry (SS-MIMS-FIMS)

The use of two methods in tandem, single-sided membrane introduction mass spectrometry (SS-MIMS) and fiber introduction mass spectrometry (FIMS), is presented as a technique for field analysis. The combined SS-MIMS-FIMS technique was employed in both a modified commercial mass spectrometer and a miniature mass spectrometer for the selective preconcentration of the explosive simulant o-nitrotoluene (ONT) and the chemical warfare agent simulant, methyl salicylate (MeS), in air. A home-built FIMS inlet was fabricated to allow introduction of the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber into the mass spectrometer chamber and subsequent desorption of the trapped compounds using resistive heating. The SS-MIMS preconcentration system was also home-built from commercial vacuum parts. Optimization experiments were done separately for each preconcentration system to achieve the best extraction conditions prior to use of the two techniques in combination. Improved limits of detection, in the low ppb range, were observed for the combination compared to FIMS alone, using several SS-MIMS preconcentration cycles. The SS-MIMS-FIMS response for both instruments was found to be linear over the range 50 to 800 ppb. Other parameters studied were absorption time profiles, effects of sample flow rate, desorption temperature, fiber background, memory effects, and membrane fatigue. This simple, sensitive, accurate, robust, selective, and rapid sample preconcentration and introduction technique shows promise for field analysis of low vapor pressure compounds, where analyte concentrations will be extremely low and the compounds are difficult to extract from a matrix like air.

Potentiometric Membrane Electrode for Salicylate Based on an Organotin Complex with a Salicylal Schiff Base of Amino Acid

A novel salicylate-selective electrode based on an organotin complex with a salicylal Schiff base of amino acid salicylaldehydeaminoacid-di-n-butyl-Sn(IV) [Sn(IV)-SAADB] as ionophore is described, which exhibits high selectivity for salicylate over many other common anions with an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence: Sal- >> PhCOO- > SCN- > Cl04- > I- > NO3- > NO2- > Br- > Cl- > CH3COO-. The electrode, based on Sn(IV)-SAADB, with a 30.44 wt% PVC, a 65.45 wt% plasticizer (dioctyl phthalate, DOP), a 3.81 wt% ionophore and a 0.3 wt% anionic additive is linear in 6.0 x 10(-6) - 1.0 x 10(-1) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 2.0 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) and a slope of 62.0 +/- 1.2 mV/decade of salicylate concentration in a phosphate buffer solution of pH 5.5 at 25 degrees C. The influence on the electrode performances by lipophilic charged additives was studied, and the possible response mechanism was investigated by UV spectra. The electrode was applied to medicine analysis and the result obtained has been satisfactory.