A computational study into the reactivity of epichlorohydrin and epibromohydrin under basic conditions in the gas phase and solution

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were carried out on epibromohydrin (EBH) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) in an attempt to elucidate their reactivity with respect to a hard nucleophile, hydroxide. These systems were modeled in both the gas phase and a polar solvent under basic conditions. In the gas phase, it was determined that a direct displacement mechanism (nucleophilic attack at the C1 position) was operative for EBH, while an indirect pathway (nucleophilic attack at the C3 position and subsequent intramolecular displacement) was followed for ECH. In an acetone solution, only the indirect displacement mechanism was found to occur. An electrostatic argument is advanced to account for this behavior in polar solution. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational (MP2 and DFT) modeling of the substrate/inhibitor interaction with the LDH active pocket in the gas phase and aqueous solution: bimolecular charged (pyruvate/oxamate–guanidinium cation) and neutral adducts (pyruvic/oxamic acids–guanidine)

Two types of bimolecular adducts were studied for the substrate and inhibitor of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), one type of adducts between ionic species, α‐keto‐carboxylates (pyruvate and oxamate) and the guanidinium cation, and the other type of adducts between neutral species, α‐ketocarboxylic (pyruvic and oxamic) acids and guanidine. Calculations were performed in the gas phase and aqueous solution using the MP2 and PCM methods and the 6‐31++G** basis set. Application of the DFT(B3LYP) and PCM methods led to similar results. A change of the adducts' preference was observed when proceeding from the gas phase to aqueous solution. This change is in good agreement with the acidity–basicity scales in both phases. Formation constant (K_HB) for adduct between neutral species is greater for pyruvic than for oxamic acid in the gas phase, whereas a reverse situation takes place in aqueous solution, where the K_HB value for adduct between ionic species is smaller for pyruvate than for oxamate. The water molecules favor interactions of more polar oxamate with the guanidinium cation. Stronger interaction with this cation, a model of the arginine fragment of the LDH pocket, suggests that oxamate (inhibitor of LDH) has stronger binding properties in aqueous solution than pyruvate (substrate of LDH). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nucleophilic reactivity of thiolate, hydroxide and phenolate ions towards a model O-arylated diazeniumdiolate prodrug in aqueous and cationic surfactant media

The kinetics of aromatic nucleophilic substitution of the nitric oxide‐generating diazeniumdiolate ion, DEA/NO, by thiols (L ‐glutathione, L ‐cysteine, DL ‐homocysteine, 1‐propanethiol, 2‐mercaptoethanol, and sodium thioglycolate) from the prodrug, DNP‐DEA/NO, has been examined in aqueous solution and in solutions of cationic DOTAP vesicles. Second‐order rate constants in buffered aqueous solutions (k_RS‐ = 3.48–30.9 M^?1 s^?1; 30 °C) gave a linear Brønsted plot (β_nuc = 0.414 ± 0.068) consistent with the rate‐limiting S_NAr nucleophilic attack by thiolate ions. Cationic DOTAP vesicles catalyze the thiolysis reactions with rate enhancements between 11 and 486‐fold in Tris‐HCl buffered solutions at pH 7.4. The maximum rate increase was obtained with thioglycolate ion. Thiolysis data are compared to data for nucleophilic displacement by phenolate (k_PhO‐ = 0.114 M^?1 s^?1) and hydroxide (k_OH‐ = 1.82 × 10^?2 M^?1 s^?1, 37 °C) ions. The base hydrolysis reaction is accelerated by CTAB micelles and DODAC vesicles, with the vesicles being ca 3‐fold more effective as catalysts. Analysis of the data using pseudo‐phase ion‐exchange (PIE) formalism implies that the rate enhancement of the thiolysis and base hydrolysis reactions is primarily due to reactant concentration in the surfactant pseudo‐phase. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interface Stability of Microencapsulated-Paraffin Filled Epoxy Composites: Effect of Methylation on Melamine–Formaldehyde Shell Material

Microcapsules containing phase change materials (microPCMs) can be filled in polymeric matrix forming smart temperature-controlling composites. The aim of this study was to investigate the composite interface stability of microPCMs/epoxy composites. Paraffin was applied as the phase change materials. Methanol–melamine–formaldehyde (MMF) and melamine–formaldehyde (MF) were both used to form the shell of microPCM by in-situ polymerization. The investigation focused on studying the effect of methylation and interface stability. The MF- and MMF-prepolymers were both successfully used to fabricate microcapsules with globe shapes and smooth surface. Thermal stability tests proved that the MMF-shell microPCMs/epoxy composites had a better interface stability than MF-shell microPCMs/epoxy composites. Mechanical properties also indicated that the MMF-shell microPCMs/epoxy composites had less tensile strength destruction after the thermal treatment. These results mean the MMF-resin enhanced the interface bonding stability though improving the interface molecule entanglement. As the MMF molecular has relative flexible ability and can adjust its conformation under change in environmental conditions, the interface will decrease the microstructure defects such as cracks, gaps and debonding.     

Allotropic forms of carbon in the Invar Fe–Ni–C alloy before and after plastic deformation by upsetting

The effect of cold plastic deformation by upsetting (e = 1.13) on structure and hybridised bonds of carbon in the fcc Invar Fe-30.9%Ni-1.23% C alloy was studied by means of X-ray phase analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Carbon precipitates along grain boundaries and inside of grains in the alloy after annealing and plastic deformation were revealed. The presence of mainly sp²- and sp³-hybridised C–C bonds attributing to graphite and amorphous carbon as well as the carbon bonds with impurity atoms and metallic Fe and Ni atoms in austenitic phase were revealed in the annealed and deformed alloy. It was shown for the first time that plastic deformation of the alloy results in partial destruction of the graphite crystal structure, increasing the relative part of amorphous carbon, and redistribution of carbon between structural elements as well as in a solid solution of austenitic phase.     

Graphene-graphite phase transition at the surface of a carbonized metal

A phase transition leading to the transformation of a graphene layer into a multilayer graphite film at the surface of a carbonized metal has been experimentally studied on the atomic level under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. It has been shown that this process is governed by dynamic equilibrium between edge atoms of graphene islands and a chemisorbed carbon phase, two-dimensional carbon “gas,” and is observed in the temperature range of 1000–1800 K. The features of the phase transition at the surfaces Ni(111), Rh(111), and Re(10-10) are similar, although the specific kinetic characteristics of the process depend on the properties of the substrate. It has been shown that change in the emissivity of the substrate after the formation of a multilayer graphite film increases the rate of the phase transition and leads to a temperature hysteresis.     

Spectrophotometric Study of Catechol Oxidation by Aerial O2 in Alkaline Aqueous Solutions Containing Mg(II) Ions.

Electronic absorption spectroscopy was employed to study the aerial oxidation of catechol (1,2-benzenediol) in alkaline aqueous solution containing an excess of Mg(II) ions. Graphical analysis by the matrix method of UV spectra recorded at regular time intervals gave a good fit for two absorbing species in solution. Based on this result and our earlier ESR spectroscopic investigations we concluded that two main absorbing species in this system are Mg(II)-spin stabilized o-benzosemiquinone anion radical and C-C dimer formed by the nucleophilic attack of catecholate anion on o-benzoquinone. Although the formation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol during the catechol oxidation has been detected in some ESR studies its presence was not indicated by this analysis probably because of the low and/or stable steady state concentration throughout the experiment.     

Ionic solvation and association in LiCl aqueous solution: a density functional theory,polarised continuum model and molecular dynamics investigation

In this work, the ionic solvation and association behaviours in the LiCl aqueous solution were investigated using density functional theory (DFT), a polarised continuum model and classical molecular dynamics simulations. DFT calculations of LiCl(H₂O)_1–6,8 clusters show that contact ion pair (CIP) and solvent-shared ion pair (SSIP) conformers of LiCl(H₂O)_n (n ≥ 4) clusters are generally energetic both in the gas phase and in the aqueous solution. Some SSIP conformers may be slightly more stable than their CIP isomers when at least eight water molecules are incorporated in the inner hydration shells of LiCl hydrates. The transformation between CIP and SSIP conformers is easy by overcoming a small energy barrier, which mainly results from the hydration shell reorganisation of Li⁺. Molecular dynamics simulations show that ion pairs or ion clusters can be found in the LiCl aqueous solution, and the probability of CIP conformers or ion clusters presented in the LiCl solution generally increases with rise in temperature. However, the presentation of ion pairs or ion clusters in the LiCl aqueous solution does not inevitably lead to the nucleation of LiCl crystallisation.     

Aluminum alkoxide complexes from highly substituted 3,4‐epoxy alcohols: An NMR and computational study

The organoaluminum mediated epoxide ring opening of epoxy alcohols is a key step in the oxirane‐based approach for polypropionate synthesis. However, this reaction has shown unanticipated regioselectivities when applied to 2‐methyl‐3,4‐epoxy alcohols. In order to gain mechanistic insight into the factors controlling the epoxide ring opening process, diastereomeric 2‐methyl‐3,4‐epoxy alcohols were reacted with triethylaluminum in order to identify the aluminum complexes formed by these systems. Different epoxide–aluminum complexes were calculated using ab initio HF/[13s7p/11s5p] and B3PW91/6‐31G** gauge‐including atomic orbital (GIAO) methods and compared to the experimental NMR data. The calculated and experimental data correlates with the aluminum dimer complex (TIPSOCH₂CH(OAlEt₂)CH(CH)₃CHCH(O)(AlEt₃))₂ (VIII) for the systems favoring the nucleophilic attack at the external C4 epoxide carbon, while an unusual trialuminum species TIPSOCH₂CH(OAlEt₂)CH(CH)₃CHCH(O)(AlEt₃)₂ (X) is consistent with the systems favoring the internal C3 attack. The ²⁷Al NMR data established the tetracoordinated nature of the aluminum metal in all alkoxy aluminum intermediates, while the ¹³C NMR data provided insight into the aluminum‐oxygen coordination. The formation of the complexes was dictated by the stereochemical disposition of the substituents. These complexes are different from the generally accepted bidentate intermediates proposed for 2,3‐epoxy alcohols and simpler 3,4‐epoxy alcohols. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

模板对异构体选择性生长的动力学控制作用与化学气相沉积金刚石的生长机理

阐述了模板的动力学控制作用对大尺度有序结构特别是亚稳相的生长，对自由能相差很小的异构体的选择生长所具有的重要作用.汲取现有金刚石生长理论的合理思想，以模板概念为基础给出了对化学气相沉积(CVD)过程的动力学热力学综合描述：1)碳原子在碳氢化合物中的化学势高于固相碳，气相碳氢化合物的碳原子有可能落到化学势较低的固态碳的各种异构体.2)气相碳通过表面反应实现向固相碳的转化.3)表面的模板作用是控制气相碳原子转换方式的主要动力学因素，不同的表面(石墨各种取向的表面及金刚石不同取向的表面)选择了落入其上的碳原子的结构方式及能量状态.4)因此,衬底的不同区域可发生几种不同的独立的表面反应过程,这些反应对应于不同表面的生长.5）而这些表面反应的方向性及速度受表面临域热力学因素的影响，反应的方向性决定了某种晶面是生长或刻蚀，在特定的温度、压强及各种气体分压下可以实现金刚石的生长和石墨的刻蚀.6)衬底局域晶格结构及键价结构和衬底表面气相的温度、压强及各种气体分压等热力学条件共同决定了成核的临界条件.7）与外界有能量和物质交换的等离子体系统，以及气相中发生的一系列化学反应，仅起到了维持某种固相表面生长所需要的非平衡热力学条件和化学条件的作用.金刚石和石墨表面具有的模板动力学控制作用，在特定热力学条件下主导自身外延层的生长方式；异质衬底的某些局域微观结构可以作为新相生长成核的局域模板；不同材料、不同的处理方法、及不同的化学环境下的衬底具有不同的局域微观结构，从而决定了多晶薄膜的取向优势. 关键词： 模板 异构体 选择性生长 金刚石薄膜     

Role of curing conditions and silanization of glass fibers on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced glass fiber epoxy composites

Curing behavior of amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes (ACNT) used as reinforcing agent in epoxy resin has been examined by thermal analysis. Experiments performed as per supplier’s curing conditions showed that modification of the curing schedule influences the thermo-mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Specifically, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of ACNT-reinforced composites increased likely due to the immobility of polymer molecules, held strongly by amino carbon nanotubes. Further, a set of composites were prepared by implementing the experimentally determined optimal curing schedule to examine its effect on the mechanical properties of different GFRP compositions, while focusing primarily on reinforced ACNT and pristine nanotube (PCNT) matrix with silane-treated glass fibers. From the silane treatment of glass fibers in ACNT matrix composition it has been observed that amino silane is much better amongst all the mechanical (tensile and flexural) properties studied. This is because of strong interface between amino silane-treated glass fibers and modified epoxy resin containing uniformly dispersed amino-CNTs. On the other hand, PCNT GFRP composites with epoxy silanes demonstrated enhanced results for the mechanical properties under investigation which may be attributed to the presence of strong covalent bonding between epoxy silane of glass fiber and epoxy–amine matrix.     

A paradigm shift in rate determining step from single electron transfer between phenylsulfinylacetic acids and iron(III) polypyridyl complexes to nucleophilic attack of water to the produced sulfoxide radical cation: a non‐linear Hammett

Mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of phenylsulfinylacetic acids (PSAAs) by iron(III) polypyridyl complexes in aqueous acetonitrile medium has been investigated spectrophotometrically. An initial intermediate formation between PSAA and [Fe(NN)₃]³⁺ is confirmed from the observed Michaelis–Menten kinetics and fractional order dependence on PSAA. Significant rate retardation with concentration of [Fe(NN)₃]³⁺ is rationalized on the basis of coordination of a water molecule at the carbon atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen of the metal polypyridyl complexes by nucleophilic attack at higher concentrations. Electron‐withdrawing and electron‐releasing substituents in PSAA facilitate the reaction and Hammett correlation gives an upward ‘V’ shaped curve. The apparent upward curvature is rationalized based on the change in the rate determining step from electron transfer to nucleophilic attack, by changing the substituents from electron‐releasing to electron‐withdrawing groups. Electron‐releasing substituents in PSAA accelerate the electron transfer from PSAA to the complex and also stabilize the intermediate through resonance interaction leading to negative reaction constants (ρ). Conversely, electron‐withdrawing groups, while retarding the electron transfer exert an accelerating effect on the nucleophilic attack of H₂O which leading to low magnitude of ρ⁺ compared to high ρ^? values of electron‐releasing groups. Marcus theory is applied, and a fair agreement is seen with the experimental values. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New nanocrystalline manganese oxides as cathode materials for lithium batteries: Electron microscopy,electrochemical and X-ray absorption studies

New nanostructured manganese oxy-iodides were prepared by redox reaction of sodium permanganate with lithium iodide in aqueous medium at room temperature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that they are nanocrystalline with grain size in the 5–10 nm range. TEM and X-ray absorption confirmed the short-range ordered structure of these compounds, which contain octahedrally coordinated manganese atoms. The electrochemical properties were studied as a function of preparation conditions (Li/Mn ratio, carbon incorporation at the synthesis stage and grinding). Best electrochemical results were obtained either on samples with carbon black incorporated directly in the aqueous reaction medium at the synthesis stage, or on samples with carbon mixed after synthesis, submitted to extensive grinding. Typical capacities in the potential window 1.8–3.8 V are 160 and 130 mAh/g at the 40th and 100th cycle, respectively. Step-potential electrochemical spectroscopy and the evolution of X-ray absorption spectra on discharge are consistent with a single-phase lithium intercalation reaction with simultaneous manganese oxidation–reduction.     

Kinetic study on the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of 3,6‐dichloro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine by biothiols

The aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of 3,6‐dichloro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine (DCT) with a series of biothiols RSH: (cysteine, homocysteine, cysteinyl–glycine, N‐acetylcysteine, and glutathione) is subjected to a kinetic investigation. The reactions are studied by following spectrophotometrically the disappearance of DCT at 370 nm. In the case of an excess of N‐acetylcysteine and glutathione, clean pseudo first‐order rate constants (k_obs1) are found. However, for cysteine, homocysteine and cysteinyl–glycine, two consecutive reactions are observed. The first one is the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the chlorine by the sulfhydryl group of these biothiols (RSH) and the second one is the intramolecular and intermolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitutions of their alkylthio with the amine group of RSH to give the di‐substituted compound. Therefore, in these cases, two pseudo first‐order rate constants (k_obs1 and k_obs2, respectively) are found under biothiol excess. Plots of k_obs1 versus free thiol concentration at constant pH are linear, with the slope (k_N) independent of pH (from 6.8 to 7.4). The kinetic data analysis (Brønsted‐type plot and activation parameters) is consistent with an addition–elimination mechanism with the nucleophilic attack as the rate‐determining step. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The importance of the ortho effect in the solvolyses of 2,6‐difluorobenzoyl chloride

The ortho effect of the chloro substituents in 2,6‐dichlorobenzoyl chloride sufficiently hindered attack on the acyl carbon such that an ionization mechanism was observed over the full range of solvents studied. We now compare this behavior with that of 2,6‐difluorobenzoyl chloride. The smaller fluoro substituents allow the dominant pathway to be addition–elimination (association–dissociation) in all solvents except those rich in fluoroalcohol, where ionization is dominant. Ranges of operation for both mechanisms had previously been observed for the parent benzoyl chloride but with a wider ionization range than for the 2,6‐difluoro derivative. This indicates that, relative to the parent, the electronic destabilizing influence of the fluorines on acyl cation formation outweighs the steric retardation to attack because of the presence of the two ortho‐fluorine atoms. An extended (two‐term) Grunwald–Winstein equation treatment of the solvolyses of 2,6‐difluorobenzoyl chloride is reported. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase diagram of Ge:(C,Sn)

We present the self-assembling conditions of 1C4Sn tetrahedral nanoclusters with carbon atoms in their centers in Ge:(C, Sn) in the wide temperature range as a function of the impurity contents and temperature. These conditions are the phase diagram of Ge:(C, Sn) since nanocluster occurrence and completion of self-assembling when all carbon atoms are in nanoclusters are results of the continuous phase transitions. The significant decrease of the strain energy after formation of nanoclusters is a cause of self-assembling. It is shown that the nanocluster occurrence temperature depends only on the Sn content. The impurity content conditions when all carbon atoms are in 1C4Sn nanoclusters are obtained for the temperatures up to 855 ^°C.     

Two‐phase flow electrosynthesis: Comparing N‐octyl‐2‐pyrrolidone–aqueous and acetonitrile–aqueous three‐phase boundary reactions

A microfluidic double channel device is employed to study reactions at flowing liquid–liquid junctions in contact with a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) working electrode. The rectangular flow cell is calibrated for both single‐phase liquid flow and biphasic liquid–liquid flow for the case of (i) the immiscible N‐octyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NOP)–aqueous electrolyte system and (ii) the immiscible acetonitrile–aqueous electrolyte system. The influence of flow speed and liquid viscosity on the position of the phase boundary and mass transport‐controlled limiting currents are examined. In contrast to the NOP–aqueous electrolyte case, the acetonitrile–aqueous electrolyte system is shown to behave close to ideal without ‘undercutting’ of the organic phase under the aqueous phase. The limiting current for three‐phase boundary reactions is only weakly dependent on flow rate but directly proportional to the concentration and the diffusion coefficient in the organic phase. Acetonitrile as a commonly employed synthetic solvent is shown here to allow effective three‐phase boundary processes to occur due to a lower viscosity enabling faster diffusion. N‐butylferrocene is shown to be oxidised at the acetonitrile–aqueous electrolyte interface about 12 times faster when compared with the same process at the NOP–aqueous electrolyte interface. Conditions suitable for clean two‐phase electrosynthetic processes without intentionally added supporting electrolyte in the organic phase are proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermochemistry analyses for transformation of C6 glucose compound into C9, C12 and C15 alkanes using density functional theory

The hydrolysis of cellulose fraction of biomass yields C6 glucose which further can be transformed into long-chain hydrocarbons by C–C coupling. In this study, C6 glucose is transformed into three chain alkanes, namely, C9, C12 and C15 using C–C coupling reactions under the gas and aqueous phase milieus. The geometry optimisation and vibrational frequency calculations are carried out at well-known hybrid-GGA functional, B3LYP with the basis set of 6-31+g(d,p) under the density functional theory framework. The single point energetics are calculated at M05-2X/6-311+g(3df,2p) level of theory. All thermochemical properties are calculated over a wide range of temperature between 300 and 900 K at an interval of 100 K. The thermochemistry suggested that the aqueous phase behaviour is suitable for the hydrolysis of sugar into long-chain alkanes compared to gas-phase environment. The hydrodeoxygenation reactions under each reaction pathway are found as most favourable reactions in both phases; however, aqueous phase dominates over gas phase in all discussed thermodynamic parameters.     

Lithium diffusion in polyether ether ketone and polyimide stimulated by in situ electron irradiation and studied by the neutron depth profiling method

Diffusion of lithium from a LiCl aqueous solution into polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polyimide (PI) assisted by in situ irradiation with 6.5?MeV electrons was studied by the neutron depth profiling method. The number of the Li atoms was found to be roughly proportional to the diffusion time. Regardless of the diffusion time, the measured depth profiles in PEEK exhibit a nearly exponential form, indicating achievement of a steady-state phase of a diffusion–reaction process specified in the text. The form of the profiles in PI is more complex and it depends strongly on the diffusion time. For the longer diffusion time, the profile consists of near-surface bell-shaped part due to Fickian-like diffusion and deeper exponential part.