Simultaneous quantification of multiple amino acid adducts from sulfur mustard-modified human serum albumin in plasma at trace exposure levels by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry after propionyl derivatization.

Sulfur mustard (HD) is a highly toxic vesicant and is prohibited by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). HD can modify human serum albumin (HSA) to generate hydroxyethylthioethyl (HETE) adducts, which could be utilized as biomarkers for verifying HD exposure in forensic analysis. Here, five amino acid adducts generated from pronase digestion of HD-exposed human serum albumin (HD-HSA) in plasma were selected as biomarkers to retrospectively detect HD exposure.

Iron(II)-catalyzed direct cyanation of arenes with aryl(cyano)iodonium triflates.

A direct oxidative cyanation of arenes under Fe(II) catalysis with 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl(cyano)iodonium triflate (DFCT) as the cyanating agent has been developed. The reaction is applicable to wide range of aromatic substrates, including polycyclic structures and heteroaromatic compounds.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed direct conversion of methyl arenes into aromatic nitriles.

From methyl to nitrile: A mild ammoxidation method, which directly converts methyl arenes into aromatic nitriles, has been developed by using Pd(OAc)2 and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as the catalysts, and tert-butyl nitrite as the nitrogen source and oxidant.