Structure conversions of cellulose IIII crystal models in solution state: a molecular dynamics study

This paper re-examines our previous molecular dynamics (MD) study on cellulose III_I crystal models with finite dimensions solvated in explicit water molecules. Eight crystal models, differing in a constituent lattice plane and dimensions, were studied. One calculation allowed for O–H and C–H bond stretching, and had a small time step of 0.5 fs. The other calculation adopted non-scaling factors of the 1–4 non-bonded interactions. As in our previous study, in the former MD calculations, six of the eight crystal models exhibited structure conversion with cooperative chain slippages generated by a progressive fiber bend. This converted the initial non-staggered chain packing of cellulose III_I into a near one-quarter staggering and gave the crystal model a triclinic-like configuration. In contrast, in the non-1–4 scaling MD calculations, all of the eight crystal models retained the initial cellulose III_I crystal structure. Another series of non-1–4 scaling MD calculations were performed for the four crystal models containing chains with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 40 at 370 K, which simulated hot water treatment to convert cellulose III_I to Iβ. Some of the hydroxymethyl groups irreversibly rotated from gt into tg conformation. This accompanied exchange of the intrasheet hydrogen bonding scheme along the (1 ?1 0) lattice plane from O2–O6 to O3–O6. The original corrugated (1 ?1 0) chain sheet was partly converted into a cellulose I-like flat chain sheet.     

Cellulose polymorphism study with sum-frequency-generation (SFG) vibration spectroscopy: identification of exocyclic CH2OH conformation and chain orientation

Sum-frequency-generation (SFG) vibration spectroscopy is a technique only sensitive to functional groups arranged without centrosymmetry. For crystalline cellulose, SFG can detect the C6H₂ and intra-chain hydrogen-bonded OH groups in the crystal. The geometries of these groups are sensitive to the hydrogen bonding network that stabilizes each cellulose polymorph. Therefore, SFG can distinguish cellulose polymorphs (I_β, II, III_I and III_II) which have different conformations of the exocyclic hydroxymethylene group or directionalities of glucan chains. The C6H₂ asymmetric stretching peaks at 2,944 cm^?1 for cellulose I_β and 2,960 cm^?1 for cellulose II, III_I and III_II corresponds to the trans-gauche (tg) and gauche-trans (gt) conformation, respectively. The SFG intensity of the stretch peak of intra-chain hydrogen-bonded O–H group implies that the chain arrangement in cellulose crystal is parallel in I_β and III_I, and antiparallel in II and III_II.     

Prediction of cellulose nanotube models through density functional theory calculations

We report the generation of a nano-scale tubular structure of cellulose molecules (CelNT), through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. When a cellulose III_I (1 0 0) chain sheet model is optimized by DFT calculations, the sheet models spontaneously roll into tubes. The oligomers arrange in a right-handed, four-fold helix with one-quarter chain staggering, oriented with parallel polarity similar to the original crystal structure. Based on a one-quarter chain staggering relationship, six large CelNT models, consisting of 16 cellulose chains with DP = 80, are constructed by combinations of two types of chain polarities and three types of symmetry operations to generate a circular arrangement of molecular chains. All six CelNT models are examined by molecular dynamics (MD) calculations in chloroform. While four CelNT models retain a tubular form throughout MD calculations, the remaining two deform. 3D-RISM theory model is used to estimate the solvation free energies of the four CelNT models. The results suggest that the CelNT model with a chain arrangement of parallel polarity and right-handed helical symmetry forms the most stable tube structure.     

The structure of the complex of cellulose I with ethylenediamine by X-ray crystallography and cross-polarization/magic angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

X-ray crystallographic and cross-polarization/magic angle spinning ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been used to study an ethylenediamine (EDA)-cellulose I complex, a transient structure in the cellulose I to cellulose III_I conversion. The crystal structure (space group P2 ₁ ; a = 4.546 Å, b = 11.330 Å, c = 10.368 Å and γ = 94.017°) corresponds to a one-chain unit cell with one glucosyl residue in the asymmetric unit, a gt conformation for the hydroxymethyl group, and one EDA molecule per glucosyl residue. Unusually, there are no O–H···O hydrogen bonds between the cellulose chains; the chains are arranged in hydrophobic stacks, stabilized by hydrogen bonds to the amine groups of bridging EDA molecules. This new structure is an example of a complex in which the cellulose chains are isolated from each other, and provides a number of insights into the structural pathway followed during the conversion of cellulose I to cellulose III_I through EDA treatment.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of dissociation behavior of various crystalline celluloses treated with hot-compressed water

The dissociation behavior of the crystalline cellulose polymorphs I_β, II, III_I, and IV_I (Cell I_β, etc.) at 503 K and 100 bar was studied by molecular dynamics simulation, and the mechanism of the experimental liquefaction during treatment with hot-compressed water was elucidated. The results showed that the mini-crystals of Cell I_β and Cell IV_I exhibited similar resistance to dissociation, which implies the occurrence of crystal transformation from Cell IV_I to Cell I. On the other hand, the mini-crystal of Cell II gradually dissociated into the water environment with the progress of time in the simulation. The water molecules gradually penetrated the Cell II crystal, especially along the (1 \(\overline{1}\) 0) crystal plane. In contrast, the dissolution behavior differed for the surface and the core areas of the mini-crystal of Cell III_I. The cellulose chains on the surface were dissociated into the water environment, whereas the ordered structure of the chains in the core region was maintained for the entire simulation period. The detailed investigation showed that the core part of Cell III_I was transformed into Cell I at an early stage of the simulation: Cell I is resistant to dissociation of the structure even in the hot-compressed water environment. It can be confirmed that the stability of these four crystals under high temperature and pressure conditions follows the order: Cell II < III_I < IV_I ≈ I_β.     

Elastic modulus of the crystalline regions of cellulose polymorphs

The elastic modulus E_l of the crystalline regions of cellulose polymorphs in the direction parallel to the chain axis was measured by x-ray diffraction. The E_l values of cellulose I, II, III_I, III_II, and IV_I were 138, 88, 87, 58, 75 GPa, respectively. This indicates that the skeletons of these polymorphs are completely different from each other in the mechanical point of view. The crystal transition induces a skeletal contraction accompanied by a change in intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which is considered to result in a drastic change in the E_l value of the cellulose polymorphs. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Decomposition behaviors of various crystalline celluloses as treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water

Various types of crystalline cellulose consisting of group I (cell I, III_I, IV_I) and group II (cell II, III_II, IV_II) prepared from cotton linter were adjusted for their degree of polymerization (DP) as starting materials. These celluloses were then treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water (HCW) at 230–270 °C/10 MPa/2–15 min to study their decomposition behaviors. The treatments performed resulted in residues of celluloses and water-soluble (WS) portions. Consequently, the crystallinity of the residues was found to remain the same, but the DP was reduced as the temperature increased. Additionally, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform-infrared analyses demonstrated that crystallographic changes occurred for residues of cell III_I, IV_I and III_II. Despite these changes, the overall results of the residues showed that group I has higher resistance to decomposing than group II. As for the WS portions, the yields of the hydrolyzed and degraded products were higher in group II than group I, indicating that group II is less resistant to decomposition by HCW treatment. Results for both the residues and WS portions are in agreement with each other, showing that the degree of difficulty of decomposition was higher in group I than group II. Therefore, the decomposition behaviors of the celluloses are due to differences in the crystalline forms.     

Cellulose Iβ investigated by IR-spectroscopy at low temperatures

Highly crystalline oriented Halocynthia roretzi cellulose Iβ films were investigated by IR-spectroscopy between ?180 and +10 °C. Changes in the IR-spectra induced by temperature were compared to published changes induced by mechanical stretching. This made it possible to conclude that frequency shifts in the O–H stretching region of the IR-spectra due to temperature were not predominantly an indirect effect of thermal expansion leading to greater O–O distances, but were due directly to the effect of temperature on the O–H···O hydrogen bonds. Temperature induced frequency shifts of C–H stretching bands were consistent with the presence of weak inter-sheet C–H···O bonds. Furthermore, no phase transition in cellulose Iβ was found between ?180 and +10 °C.     

Structural stability of the solvated cellulose IIII crystal models: a molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of cellulose III_I crystal models have been carried out. The crystal models were composed by either 24 or 48 cellooligomers consisting of either 20 or 40 residues and were surrounded by waters in a periodic boundary box. Two base plane types differing in a constituent crystal lattice plane, (0 −1 0) × (0 1 0) and (1 0 0) × (0 1 0), were additionally considered. Among the resulting eight crystal models, an overall structure conversion was observed for the seven models. The final structures had a triclinic-like chain arrangement involving one-quarter staggering chains with respect to its axis. The successive, local transformation involving cooperative bends in cellooligomers was observed during the structure conversion. Only the 48 × 20-mer model having the (0 −1 0) lattice plane retained the original crystal structure throughout a 2.5-ns simulation. The MD simulations with an implicit solvent system and a vacuum system were also performed to asses a solvent effect on the structure conversion.     

Lateral thermal expansion of cellulose Iβ and IIII polymorphs

Measurements of the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of cellulose crystals in the lateral direction are reported. Oriented films of highly crystalline cellulose I_β and III_I were prepared and then investigated with X‐ray diffraction at specific temperatures from room temperature to 250 °C during the heating process. Cellulose I_β underwent a transition into the high‐temperature phase with the temperature increasing above 220–230 °C; cellulose III_I was transformed into cellulose I_β when the sample was heated above 200 °C. Therefore, the TECs of I_β and III_I below 200 °C were measured. For cellulose I_β, the TEC of the a axis increased linearly from room temperature at α_a = 4.3 × 10^?5 °C^?1 to 200 °C at α_a = 17.0 × 10^?5 °C^?1, but the TEC of the b axis was constant at α_b = 0.5 × 10^?5 °C^?1. Like cellulose I_β, cellulose III_I also showed an anisotropic thermal expansion in the lateral direction. The TECs of the a and b axes were α_a = 7.6 × 10^?5 °C^?1 and α_b = 0.8 × 10^?5 °C^?1. The anisotropic thermal expansion behaviors in the lateral direction for I_β and III_I were closely related to the intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding systems. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1095–1102, 2002     

Synchrotron X-ray structures of cellulose I<Subscript>β</Subscript> and regenerated cellulose II at ambient temperature and 100 K

Synchrotron X-ray data have been collected to 1.4 Å resolution at the NE-CAT beam-line at the Advanced Photon Source from fibers of cellulose I_β and regenerated cellulose II (Fortisan) at ambient temperature and at 100 K in order to understand the effects of low temperature on cellulose more thoroughly. Crystal structures have been determined at each temperature. The unit cell of regenerated cellulose II contracted, with decreasing temperature, by 0.25%, 0.22% and 0.1% along the a, b, and c axes, respectively, whereas that of cellulose I_β contracted only in the direction of the a axis, by 0.9%. The value of 4.6×10^?5 K^?1 for the thermal expansion coefficient of cellulose I_β in the a axis direction can be explained by simple harmonic molecular oscillations and the lack of hydrogen-bonding in this direction. The molecular conformations of each allomorph are essential unchanged by cooling to 100 K. The room temperature crystal structure of regenerated cellulose II is essentially identical to the crystal structure of mercerized cellulose II.     

Nine-coordinate rare earth metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acids: Mononuclear (NH4)3[TbIII(ttha)]·5H2O and binuclear (NH4)4[Tb 2 III (dtpa)2]·9H2O

The two title coordination compounds, (NH₄)₃[Tb^III(ttha)]·5H₂O (ttha = triethylenetetramine-N,N,N′,N″,N‴,N‴-hexaacetic acid) and (NH₄)₄[Tb ₂ ^III (ttha)]·9H₂O (dtpa = diethylenetriamine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid), have been prepared and characterized by FT-IR, elemental analyses, TG-DTA and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The (NH₄)₃[Tb^III(ttha)]·5H₂O compound is monoclinic, P2₁/c; a = 10.398(1) Å, b = 12.791(1) Å, c = 23.199(2) Å; β = 90.914(2)°; V = 3084.9(5) ų; Z = 4; D _calc = 1.704 g/cm³; μ(MoK _α ) = 2.376 mm^™; R = 0.023 and wR ² = 0.049 for 5429 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I). The [Tb^III(ttha)]³⁻ complex anion in the crystal has a nine-coordinate mononuclear molecular structure with pseudo-monocapped square-antiprismatic configuration. The (NH₄)₄[Tb ₂ ^III (dtpa)₂]·9H₂O compound is triclinic, P-1; a = 9.739(1) Å, b = 10.010(1) Å, c = 12.968(2) Å; α= 85.890(2)°, β = 77.338(2)°, γ = 77.587(2)°; V = 1204.2(2) ų; Z = 1; D _calc = 1.832 g/cm³; μ(MoK _α ) = 3.015 mm^™; R = 0.024 and wR ² = 0.060 for 4750 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I). The [Tb ₂ ^III (dtpa)₂]₄₋ complex anion has a binuclear structure in the crystal; the two Tb^III centers are equivalent and have a nine-coordinate environment with the same pseudo-tricapped trigonal-prismatic configuration. The thermal analysis revealed that the coordination cores of the (NH₄)₃[Tb^III(ttha)]·5H₂O and (NH₄)₄[Tb ₂ ^III (dtpa)₂]·9H₂O compounds are stable up to 221°C and 252°C, respectively. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2008 by J. Wang, X. Zh. Liu, X. F. Wang, G. R. Gao, Zh. Q. Xing, X. D. Zhang, and R. Xu The text was submitted by the authors in English. Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 81–89, January–February, 2008.     

Syntheses, structural determination, and binding studies of mononuclear nine-coordinate (EnH2)1.5[HoIII(Ttha)] · 4.5H2O and two dimensional unlimited network (EnH2)[HoIII(Egta)(H2O)]2 · 6H2O

Two novel complexes, (EnH₂)_1.5[Ho^III(Ttha)] · 4.5H₂O (I) (En = ethylenediamine and H₆Ttha = triethylenetetramine-N,N,N′,N″,N?,N?-hexaacetic acid) and (EnH₂)[Ho^III(Egta)(H₂O)]₂ · 6H₂O (II) (H₄Egta = ethyleneglycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid), were synthesized and their crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Complex I has a nine-coordinate mononuclear structure with distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic conformation and crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with P2/n space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 17.7541(18), b = 9.6810(10), c = 22.166(2) Å, β = 118.913(2)°, and V = 3335.0(6) ų. Complex II has a mononuclear nine-coordinate structure with pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic conformation and crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with P2₁/n space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 12.978(8), b = 12.685(8), c = 14.905(9) Å, β = 105.333(7)°, and V = 2366(2) ų. In I, there are two types of EnH ₂ ²⁺ anions. They connect to [Ho^III(Ttha)]^3? by hydrogen bonds leading to the formation of 3D pore structure along z axis. In II, EnH ₂ ²⁺ cation connects three adjacent [Ho^III(Egta)(H₂O)]^? complex anions through hydrogen bonds, these hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of 2D network structure in [101] plane. The results showed that ligand structures play a crucial role in crystal and molecular structure of their complexes. In addition, the protonated (EnH ₂ ²⁺ ) cations conjugating to [Ho^III(Ttha)]^3? and [Ho^III(Egta)(H₂O)]^? complex anions are reviewed, which act as an important beginning for study of Ho(III) complexes conjugating with other various amino and heterocyclic biomolecule.     

Hydrolysis behavior of various crystalline celluloses treated by cellulase of Tricoderma viride

Cellobiose and glucose are valuable products that can be obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. This study discusses changes in the crystalline form of celluloses to enhance the production of sugars and examines the effect on structural properties during enzymatic hydrolysis. Various crystalline celluloses consisting of group I (cell I, cell III_I, cell IV_I) and group II (cell II, cell III_II, cell IV_II) of similar DPs were prepared as starting materials. The similar DP values allowed a more direct comparison of the hydrolysis yields. The outcomes were analyzed and evaluated based on the residues and supernatants obtained from the treatment. As a result: (1) action of the cellulase of Trichoderma viride decreased both DP and crystallinity, with greater changes in group II celluloses, (2) the polymorphic interconversion process that occurred for cell III_I, cell IV_I, cell III_II and cell IV_II during the treatment was independent of the enzymatic hydrolysis, thus, the hydrolysis behaviors depended on the starting material of the celluloses, and (3) higher sugar production was obtained from cell III_I and group II. Therefore, the hydrolysis behavior of the various crystalline celluloses depended on the particular polymorph of the starting material.     

Stoichiometry and stability of cellulose-hydrazine complexes

Highly crystalline cellulose samples from green algae (cellulose I) and mercerized ramie (cellulose II) were treated with anhydrous hydrazine and the resulting complexes were analyzed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry. Cellulose I-hydrazine complex could be fully described by a two-chain monoclinic unit cell, a = 0.879 nm, b = 1.076 nm, c = 1.038 nm, and γ = 122.0°, with space group P2₁. Cellulose II-hydrazine complex prepared from mercerized ramie gave a different two-chain monoclinic unit cell, a = 1.042 nm, b = 1.046 nm, c = 1.038 nm, γ = 129.7°, also with space group P2₁. Though having different crystal structures, the number of hydrazine molecules per glucopyranoside residue was 0.82 for cellulose I-complex and 0.93 for cellulose II-complex, probable stoichiometric value of 1.0. Hydrazine could be extracted from the complexes by organic solvents retaining the crystalline orders, resulting in the allomorphic conversion to cellulose III_I and cellulose III_II, both having non-staggered chain arrangements. These features are similar to those of cellulose-ethylenediamine complexes.     

Syntheses and structures of nine-coordinate K3[DyIII(nta)2(H2O)]·5H2O and eight-coordinate (NH4)3[DyIII(nta)2] complexes

K₃[Dy^III(nta)₂(H₂O)]·5H₂O and (NH₄)₃[Dy^III(nta)₂] have been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by IR, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In K₃[Dy^III(nta)₂(H₂O)]·5H₂O the Dy^III ion is nine coordinated yielding a tricapped trigonal prismatic conformation, and its crystal belongs to monoclinic system and C2/c space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 15.373(5) Å, b = 12.896(4) Å, c = 26.202(9) Å; β = 96.122(5)°, V = 5165(3) ų, Z = 8, D _c = 1.965 g·cm^?3, μ = 3.458 mm^?1, F(000) = 3016, R ₁ = 0.0452 and wR ₂ = 0.1025 for 4550 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I). In (NH₄)₃[Dy^III(nta)₂] the Dy^III ion is eight coordinated yielding a usual dicapped trigonal anti-prismatic conformation, and its crystal belongs to monoclinic system and C2/c space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 13.736(3) Å, b = 7.9389(16) Å, c = 18.781(4) Å; β = 104.099(3)°, V = 1986.3(7) ų, Z = 2, D _c = 1.983 g·cm^?3, μ = 3.834 mm^?1, F(000) = 1172, R ₁ = 0.0208 and wR ₂ = 0.0500 for 2022 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I). The results indicate that the difference in counter ion also influences coordination numbers and structures of rare earth metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acid ligands.     

Quantifying the influence of dispersion interactions on the elastic properties of crystalline cellulose

Dispersion and electrostatic interactions both contribute significantly to the tight assembly of macromolecular chains within crystalline polysaccharides. Using dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculation, we estimated the elastic tensor of the four crystalline cellulose allomorphs whose crystal structures that are hitherto available, namely, cellulose Iα, Iβ, II, III_I. Comparison between calculations with and without dispersion correction allows quantification of the exact contribution of dispersion to stiffness at molecular level.

     

3-(diallylamino)propanenitrile ((C3H5)2NC2H4CN, L) π-complexes with copper(I) ionic salts. Syntheses and crystal structures of compounds [Cu(H+L)ClO4]ClO4 · H2O, [Cu(H+L)BF4]BF4 · H2O, and [Cu(H+L)(H2O)]SiF6 · H2O

Qualitative single crystals of ??-complexes Cu(H⁺L)(ClO₄)]ClO₄ · H₂O (I), Cu(H⁺L)(BF₄)]BF₄ · H₂O (II), and [Cu(H⁺L)(H₂O)]SiF₆ · H₂O (III) are synthesized from solutions of 3-(diallylamino)propanenitrile (L) in propanol, ethanol, and methanol-water acidified with the corresponding acid to pH 3.5?C5 and from the copper(II) salts (Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, Cu(BF₄)₂ · 6H₂O, and CuSiF₆ · 4H₂O) using the alternating-current electrochemical method on copper wire electrodes. The crystal structures of the complexes are determined. All compounds crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system: complexes I and II are isostructural, space group P2₁/n, Z = 4. For compound III, space group P2₁/c, Z = 8. Unit cell parameters: for I a =7.8153(3), b = 16.7824(7), c = 12.4426(5) ?, ?? = 93.410(2)°, V = 1629.1(1) ?³; for II, a = 7.6755(4), b = 16.7119(7), c = 12.3784(6) ?, ?? = 94.354(2)°, V = 1583.2(1); and for III a = 9.826(2), b = 24.009(3), c = 12.061(2) ?, ?? = 91.820(6)°, V = 2843.9(7) ?³. The trigonal pyramidal coordination of the copper atom in complexes I-III is formed by two C=C bonds of the allyl groups of H⁺L, the nitrile N atom of the adjacent cation of the ligand, and the O or F atom of the ClO ₄ ^? or BF ₄ ^? anions. In structure III, the apical position of the pyramid is occupied by the O atom of the water molecule, since the SiF ₆ ^2? anion is considerably remote from the copper(I) atom. However, this anion is bound to the organic cation by hydrogen bonds F??H (2.05?C2.51 ?).     

Diversity of potential hydrogen bonds in cellulose I revealed by molecular dynamics simulation

We have performed molecular dynamics calculations using a revised version of the Gromos56A_carbo force field to understand the consequences of the different potential hydrogen bonding patterns on the structural stability and thermal behavior of the I_α and I_β forms of native cellulose. For each allomorph, we considered three patterns of hydrogen bonds: two patterns obtained from neutron diffraction data refinement and a regular mixture of the two. Upon annealing, the hydrogen bonding schemes of cellulose I_β, irrespective of the starting structure, re-arranged into the main hydrogen bond pattern experimentally observed (pattern A). On the other hand, the I_α structures, irrespective of the starting hydrogen bonding pattern, converged to a non-experimental structure where the adjacent chains are shifted along the chain direction by 0.12 nm in the hydrogen-bonded plane, and the hydroxymethyl group conformation alternates between gt and tg along the chain. The exotic structure in I_α might be a consequence of a deficiency in force field parameters and/or potential molecular arrangement in less crystalline cellulose.