Occurrence of glycidyl esters in infant formula products on the Canadian market between 2015 and 2019.

Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) are processing contaminants formed during refining steps of vegetable oils. 'In vivo' hydrolysis of GEs releases potentially carcinogenic and genotoxic glycidol (2,3-epoxy-1-propanol). Occurrence of GEs in vegetable oils used for infant formula manufacturing may pose a potential health concern for formula-fed infants. Refined oils are commonly used as the main fat ingredient in formula manufacturing. For this study, different infant formula products (powders, concentrates and ready-to-feed formula products) were purchased and analysed in 2015 (35 samples) and 2019 (33 samples). Seven individual GEs were analysed by LC-MS/MS via direct approach by stable isotope dilution analysis, and total bound glycidol concentrations were calculated. Concentrations of bound glycidol in reconstituted formula reached maxima of 40.3 ng/g in the 2015 samples and 31.5 ng/g in the samples collected in 2019, with respective means of 8.7 ng/g and 6.7 ng/g. The analysed bound glycidol concentrations are comparable with concentration ranges from other studies, but are higher than observed in studies from the European market. Temporal trend data show a reduction of bound glycidol concentrations in 2019. GE concentrations were compared across different manufacturers.

Occurrence of 2- and 3-monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDE) in infant formula products on the Canadian market between 2015 and 2019.

2- and 3-monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDEs) are most commonly formed as process-induced contaminants during the refinement of vegetable oils used for food production. 'In vivo' hydrolysis of 3-MCPDEs releases the potential carcinogen 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD). Levels of MCPDEs in infant formula are of particular concern, as refined oils are commonly used as main fat ingredients. For this study, infant formula samples (powders, liquid concentrates and ready-to-feed infant formula samples) from the Canadian market were purchased and analysed in 2015 (35 samples) and 2019 (33 samples). MCPDE concentrations (expressed as free MCPD equivalents) were examined through an indirect analytical approach, applying acid-catalysed ester cleavage and using cyclohexanone as derivatising agent. Labelled diesters were used as internal standards. 2015 Survey data were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). 2019 Survey data were analysed with an updated method using GC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring modes (MRM). In 2015, levels in reconstituted formula ranging from 3.7 ng/g to 111 ng/g for 3-MCPD and 2.2 ng/g to 56.2 ng/g for 2-MCPD were found. In 2019, levels ranging from 3.9 ng/g to 74.8 ng/g for 3-MCPD and 1.0 ng/g to 33.9 ng/g for 2-MCPD were found. A significantly reduced mean of combined MCPDEs was observed between 2015 and 2019 data (64.5 ng/g, standard deviation (SD) 8.6 ng/g in 2015 to 31.8 ng/g, SD 5.6 ng/g in 2019, p-value = 0.024). For the majority of manufacturers, the data comparison among brand products over time shows decreased levels of MCPDEs. Occurrence data of MCPDEs, including data from previously published surveys (2012/2013), were also compared and a temporal trend was established.

Wire like diplatinum, triplatinum, and tetraplatinum complexes featuring X[PtC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C]mPtX segments; iterative syntheses and functionalization for measurements of single molecule properties.

Reaction of (p-tol3P)2PtCl2 and Me3Sn(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (1 : 1/THF/reflux) gives monosubstituted trans-Cl(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (63%), which with wet n-Bu4N+ F- yields trans-Cl(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2H (2, 96%). Hay oxidative homocoupling (O2/CuCl/TMEDA) gives all-trans-Cl(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4Pt(Pp-tol3)2Cl (3, 68%). Reaction of 3 and Me3Sn(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (1 : 1/rt) affords monosubstituted all-trans-Cl(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4Pt(Pp-tol3)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (46%), which is converted by a similar desilylation/homocoupling sequence to all-trans-Cl[(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4]3Pt(Pp-tol3)2Cl (7; 79%). Reaction of (p-tol3P)2PtCl2 and excess H(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (HNEt2/cat. CuI) gives trans-Me3Si(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2Pt(Pp-tol3)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (78%), which with wet n-Bu4N+ F- affords trans-H(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2Pt(Pp-tol3)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2H (96%). Hay oxidative cross coupling with 2 (1 : 4) gives all-trans-Cl[(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4]2Pt(Pp-tol3)2Cl (10, 36%) along with homocoupling product 3 (33%). Reaction of 3 and Me3Sn(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (1 : 2/rt) yields all-trans-Me3Si(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4Pt(Pp-tol3)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2SiMe3 (17, 77%), which with wet n-Bu4N+ F- gives all-trans-H(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2(p-tol3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4Pt(Pp-tol3)2(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2H (96%). Reaction of 3 and excess Me3P gives all-trans-Cl(Me3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4Pt(PMe3)2Cl (4, 86%). A model reaction of trans-(p-tol)(p-tol3P)2PtCl and KSAc yields trans-(p-tol)(p-tol3P)2PtSAc (12, 75%). Similar reactions of 3, 7, 10, and 4 give all-trans-AcS[(R3P)2Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)4]nPt(PR3)2SAc (76-91%). The crystal structures of 3, 17, and 12 are determined. The first exhibits a chlorine-chlorine distance of 17.42 Å; those in 10 and 7 are estimated as 30.3 Å and 43.1 Å.

Highly enantioselective Simmons-Smith fluorocyclopropanation of allylic alcohols via the halogen scrambling strategy of zinc carbenoids.

Highly enantio- and diastereoenriched monofluorocyclopropanes were accessed via the Simmons-Smith fluorocyclopropanation of allylic alcohols using difluoroiodomethane and ethylzinc iodide as the substituted carbenoid precursors. The scrambling of halogens at the zinc carbenoid led to the formation of the fluorocyclopropanating agent (fluoroiodomethyl)zinc(II) fluoride. This strategy circumvented the ongoing limitation in Simmons-Smith fluorocyclopropanations relying on the use of the relatively inaccessible and expensive carbenoid precursor fluorodiiodomethane.

Readily available hydrogen bond catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of nitroolefins.

This paper focuses on readily accessible thiourea hydrogen bond catalysts derived from amino acids, whose steric and electronic features are modulated by their degree of substitution at the carbinol carbon center. These catalysts were applied in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of nitroolefins furnishing the chiral products in up to 99% yield and 86% enantiomeric excess. The proposed catalyst's mode of action is supported by mechanistic investigations.