Synthesis, XRD structure and properties of diaqua(p-toluidine-N,N-di-3-propionato)copper(II) dihydrate [Cu(p-Tdp)(H2O)2]·2H2O

The copper(II) complex [Cu(p-Tdp)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O, where p-Tdp is the anion of p-toluidine-N,N-di-3-propionic acid (or N,N-di(2-carboxyethyl)-p-toluidine), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Three crystallographically independent [Cu(p-Tdp)(H₂O)₂] molecules have a similar structure. The Cu atoms have a square pyramidal environment (4+1) with a small trigonal bipyramidal distortion. The ortho-H atom of the benzene ring blocks up the sixth coordination position of the Cu polyhedron. The basal plane is formed by the donor atoms of the tridentate ligand and by the water molecule (average bond length Cu---N 2.03, Cu---O 1.93, Cu---O_w 2.00 Å), the apex is occupied by another water molecule (Cu---O_w 2.27 Å). The Cu atoms are located 0.20–0.30 Å out of the mean planes of the four basal atoms towards the apical O_w atom. The IR and electronic absorption spectra of p-Tdp and the title compound have been described. UV–Vis reflectance spectra shows that the complex has the same square pyramidal geometry in the crystal state and in solution. The protonation constants of the ligand log K₁=6.87(2), log K₂=3.75(2), log K₃=2.57(2) and stability constants log K_CuH(p-Tdp)=2.13(5), log K_Cu(p-Tdp)=6.38(3) were determined by pH-titration at 25.0 °C and I=0.1 M KNO₃.     

Development and validation of an analytical methodology for the determination of p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD in fish oil pills

An analytical methodology was proposed and validated to be applied to the determination of p,p′-DDT and its metabolites p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD in fish oil. The analytical procedure presented in this paper involves a single-step clean up process prior to the analysis. A solution of 1,2,3,4-tetrachloronaphtalene was used as internal standard.The analytical technique used was gas chromatography coupled to an electron capture detector. Details on the validation process are provided.The limits of detection ranged from 2.6 to 4.7 pg μL^− 1. The BCR 598 standard reference material (cod liver oil) was used to evaluate the performance of the methodology with satisfactory recoveries for all the compounds.The analytes were determined in three different fish oil pills sold in Spain as a supplementary vitamin support. The sum of p,p′-DDT and metabolites was from 13.2 to 51.3 ng g^− 1, the dominant compound being p,p′-DDE.     

Hydrogen bond interactions at the TiO2 surface: Their contribution to the pH dependent photo-catalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol

We have obtained pK_a values of p-nitrophenol–TiO₂ by measuring the adsorption equilibrium constants of p-nitrophenol (PNP) on the TiO₂ surface at different pH values. These values have been obtained from Langmuir isotherms and from a plot of 1/rate vs. 1/[PNP]_o obtained during TiO₂ catalyzed solar light photo-degradation of PNP. Two limit equilibrium constants are readily obtained depending on the solution pH: at pH 5 at which the TiO₂ surface is mainly positively charged and at pH 8 when it is negatively charged. With these and other adsorption equilibrium constants and the PNP pK_a value in solution, thermodynamic cycles are established in order to obtain the PNP pK_a when it is adsorbed on positively charged, neutral and negatively charged TiO₂ surfaces. From these pK_a values useful information on the PNP–TiO₂ interaction is readily obtained. For instance, the PNP nitro group interacts with the TiO₂ surface via a hydrogen bond, arising from the complex of water molecules with the Ti⁴⁺ ions on its surface. The weaker the hydrogen bond donor, the stronger the oxygen nitro group basicity. Therefore, pK_a changes on the phenolic hydroxyl group result from these interactions. Linear free energy correlations, maximum PNP adsorption capacity values (Q_L) and FTIR ATR, spectrum support this proposal. A k_obs vs. pH degradation profile of p-nitrophenol is also provided.     

Benchmarking and validating algorithms that estimate p<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Subscript>a</Subscript> values of drugs based on their molecular structures

The REGDIA regression diagnostics algorithm in S-Plus is introduced in order to examine the accuracy of pK _a predictions made with four updated programs: PALLAS, MARVIN, ACD/pKa and SPARC. This report reviews the current status of computational tools for predicting the pK _a values of organic drug-like compounds. Outlier predicted pK _a values correspond to molecules that are poorly characterized by the pK _a prediction program concerned. The statistical detection of outliers can fail because of masking and swamping effects. The Williams graph was selected to give the most reliable detection of outliers. Six statistical characteristics (F _exp, R ², , MEP, AIC, and s(e) in pK _a units) of the results obtained when four selected pK _a prediction algorithms were applied to three datasets were examined. The highest values of F _exp, R ², , the lowest values of MEP and s(e), and the most negative AIC were found using the ACD/pK _a algorithm for pK _a prediction, so this algorithm achieves the best predictive power and the most accurate results. The proposed accuracy test performed by the REGDIA program can also be applied to test the accuracy of other predicted values, such as log P, log D, aqueous solubility or certain physicochemical properties of drug molecules.     

Hydrogen bond strength in chromates with kröhnkite-type chains, K2Me(CrO4)2·2H2O (Me = Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd)

Infrared spectra of the title compounds with kröhnkite-type infinite octahedral–tetrahedral chains, K₂Me(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O (Me = Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd), are presented in the regions of the uncoupled O–D stretching modes of matrix-isolated HDO molecules (isotopically dilute samples) and water librations. The strengths of the hydrogen bonds are discussed in terms of the respective O_wO bond distances, the Me–water interactions (synergetic effect), the proton acceptor capability of the chromate oxygen atoms as deduced from Brown's bond valence sum of the oxygen atoms. The spectroscopic experiments reveal that hydrogen bonds of medium strength are formed in the chromates. The hydrogen bond strengths decrease in the order Cd > Zn > Ni > Co in agreement with the decreasing covalency of the respective Me–OH₂ bonds in the same order, i.e. decreasing acidity of the water molecules. The infrared band positions corresponding to the water librations confirm the claim that the hydrogen bonds in K₂Cd(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O are stronger than those formed in K₂Mg(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O on one hand, and on the other—the hydrogen bonds in K₂Ni(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O are stronger than those in K₂Co(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O.     

Conformation dependence of pKa’s of the chromophores from the purple asFP595 and yellow zFP538 fluorescent proteins

Two members of the green fluorescent protein family, the purple asFP595 and yellow zFP538 proteins, are perspective fluorescent markers for use in multicolor imaging and resonance energy-transfer applications. We report the results of quantum based calculations of the solution pK_a values for selected protonation sites of the denatured asFP595 and zFP538 chromophores in the trans- and cis-conformations in order to add in the interpretation of photo-physical properties of these proteins. The pK_a values were determined from the theromodynamic cycle based on B3LYP/6-311++G(2df, 2p) calculations of the gas phase free energies of the molecules and the B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) calculations of solvation energies. The results show that the pK_a’s of the protonation sites of the chromophore from asFP595 noticeably depend on the isomer conformation (cis- or trans-), while those of zFP538 are much less sensitive to isomerization.     

The importance of valencep functions in the bonding of Na2, K2, and Cu2 and their positive and negative ions

Summary The relative importance of the valencep functions for describing the bonding in the valence isoelectronic Na₂, K₂, and Cu₂ molecules and their positive and negative ions is investigated. In absolute magnitude the contribution of thep functions to the dissociation energy follows the trend Cu>Na>K while by percentage of the dissociation energy the importance of thep functions follows the polarizabilities, i.e. K>Na>Cu. The bonding in K₂, K ₂ ⁺ , and K ₂ ^– is analyzed to explain the observed trends.Dedicated to Prof. Klaus Ruedenberg     

X-ray Crystal and Ab Initio Structures of 3′,5′-di-O-Acetyl-N(4)-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxycytidine and Its 5-Fluoro Analogue: Models of the N(4)-OH-dCMP and N(4)-OH-FdCMP Molecules Interacting with Thymidylate Synthase

The crystal and molecular structures of the 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-N(4)-hydroxy-2′-deoxycytidine molecule and its 5-fluoro congener have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-N(4)-hydroxy-5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine molecule crystallizes in the space group C2 with the following unit cell parameters: a = 21.72 Å, b = 8.72 Å, c = 8.61 Å, and β = 90.42^∘. 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-N(4)-hydroxy-2′-deoxycytidine also belongs to the monoclinic space group C2 and the unit cell parameters are: a = 39.54 Å, b = 8.72 Å, c = 22.89 Å, and β = 95.26^∘. The non-fluorine analogue demonstrates a rare example of crystal structure with five symmetry-independent molecules in the unit cell. All the molecules in both crystal structures have the sugar residue anti oriented with respect to the base, as well as have the N(4)-OH residue in cis conformation relatively to the N(3)-nitrogen atom. In addition to the molecular geometries from X-ray experiment, the optimized molecular geometries have been obtained with the use of theoretical ab initio calculations at the RHF/6-31G(d) level. The corresponding geometric parameters in the molecules of 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-N(4)-hydroxy-2′-deoxycytidine and its 5-fluoro congener have been compared. The differences including the C(5)=C(6) bond shortening and C(4)—C(5)—C(6) angle widening in the fluorine analogue are discussed in this paper in relation to the molecular mechanism of enzyme, thymidylate synthase, inhibition by N(4)-hydroxy-2′-deoxycytidine monophosphate and its 5-fluoro congener.     

The metastable Ni7±xS6, and mixed Ni6±x(S1−ySey)5, phases

The closely related, narrowly non-stoichiometric, metastable as well as thermodynamically stable “phases” in the metal-rich part of the Ni–S phase diagram near the nominal composition Ni_7±xS₆ have been carefully re-investigated via electron diffraction and transmission electron microscope imaging. Two quite distinct polymorphs have been identified, a minority incommensurate interface-modulated polymorph and a (heavily twinned) majority I1a1, a=2a_p, b=2b_p, c=−a_p+c_p superstructure (of an underlying Bmmb, a_p3.3, b_p16.4, c_p11.3 Å parent structure) polymorph. The incommensurate polymorph is shown to be very closely related to the only known polymorph of Ni_6±xSe₅ and is rapidly stabilized to room temperature upon doping of the sulfide compounds with selenium.     

α- and β-cyclodextrin complexes with n-alkyl carboxylic acids and n-alkyl p-hydroxy benzoates. A molecular mechanics study of 1:1 and 1:2 associations

Molecular mechanics (MM) methods were employed to evaluate stabilization upon formation of inclusion compounds between two different guest molecules and α- and β-cyclodextrins (CDs) for two different stoichiometries 1:1 and 1:2. The two guest molecules studied were n-alkyl carboxylic acids and n-alkyl p-hydroxy benzoates with variety of chain lengths. The computed stability for the inclusion compounds between α-CDs and n-alkyl carboxylic acids reproduced experimental data reported in the literature. The transition between 1:1/1:2 complexes occurred at an alkyl chain length of n_C=9. It was previously demonstrated by diffusion coefficients measures that a stable 1:2 stoichiometry inclusion compound could be formed between n-alkyl p-hydroxy benzoates and α-CD for the chain length n_C>4. The computed results reproduced the experimental ones. The combination between OPLS and GB/SA resulted in better agreements with experiments than those obtained with MM2 and MM3.     

Solubility and Hydrolysis of La, Pr, Eu, Er, and Lu in 1 M NaCl Ionic Strength at 303 K

The pLn-pC _H diagrams obtained by a radiometric technique were used for the determination of the solubility and the first hydrolysis constants for La, Pr, Eu, Er, and Lu in 1 M NaCl ionic strength at 303 K. The saturation and unsaturation zones, and the borderline of precipitation were determined from these diagrams. The first hydrolysis constants were determined from pH titrations where no precipitation was found; these data were treated with the SUPERQUAD program. Fitting methods involving pLn versus pC _H and the average ligand number vs. pC _H were used to calculate both the first hydrolysis constants and the solubility products. The log K _sp values obtained for La, Pr, Eu, Er, and Lu were –19.53, –20.92, –22.24, –22.62, and –23.05 and the log* ₁ average values obtained were –8.87 ± 0.05, –8.54 ± 0.04, –8.34 ± 0.03, –8.16 ± 0.04, and –8.11 ± 0.03, respectively, under CO₂ free conditions. Finally, the results were compared with those found in the literature.     

A variety of oxidation products of antioxidants based on N,N′-substituted p-phenylenediamines

Electrochemical and spectroscopic (EPR, UV–Vis, IR) studies of the aromatic secondary amines N,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (DPPD), N-phenyl-N′-isopropyl-p-phenylene diamine (IPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(α-methylbenzyl)-p-phenylenediamine (SPPD) and N-phenyl-N′-(1,3-dimethyl-butyl)-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), which represent the most important group of antioxidants used in the rubber industry, are presented. During oxidation, all the compounds show reversible redox couples in acetonitrile/0.1 M TBABF₄. The first oxidation potential depends substantially on the R substituent at the –N′H– moiety. Very similar UV–VIS spectra of monocation radicals and dications for all the compounds were observed by applying anodic oxidation as well as oxidation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide both in air and in inert atmosphere. The samples with N′-bonded aliphatic carbon in the molecule (e.g. IPPD) heated in air undergo consecutive chemical reactions leading to the formation of –N′C– group. By the use of RO₂ radicals only very low concentration of nitroxide radicals was obtained. Very high concentration of nitroxide radicals was achieved using 3-chloroperbenzoic acid. In the oxidation of investigated aromatic secondary amines with powder PbO₂ no EPR spectra were observed and UV–Vis and IR studies indicate the rapid formation of the final dehydrogenated oxidation product.     

C-Glucosylflavonoid biosynthesis from 2-hydroxynaringenin by Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) (Fabaceae)

[2′,3′,5′,6′-²H₄]-2-Hydroxynaringenin is synthesised and incubated with commercially available UDP-glucose and the crude protein extract from Desmoduim uncinatum leaves. The organic extract produces isotopically labelled [2′,3′,5′,6′-²H₄]-vitexin and [2′,3′,5′,6′-²H₄]-isovitexin. Repeating the experiment with denatured protein or replacing the 2-hydroxynaringenin with [2′,3′,5′,6′-²H₄]-apigenin or [2′,3′,5′,6′-²H₄]-naringenin results in no observable incorporation. 2-Hydroxynaringenin is therefore the substrate for C-glucosylflavonoid biosynthesis in D. uncinatum.     

On p -nilpotency and minimal subgroups of finite groups

We call a subgroup H of a finite group G c-supplemented in G if there exists a subgroup K of G such that G = HK and H ∩ K ≤ core(H). In this paper it is proved that a finite group G is p-nilpotent if G is S ₄-free and every minimal subgroup of P ∩ G ^N is c-supplemented in N _G(P), and when p = 2 P is quaternion-free, where p is the smallest prime number dividing the order of G, P a Sylow p-subgroup of G. As some applications of this result, some known results are generalized.     

Chromium(III) Hydroxide Solubility in The Aqueous Na+-OH?-H2PO?4-HPO2?4-PO3?4-H2O System: A Thermodynamic Model

Chromium(III)-phosphate reactions are expected to be important in managing high-level radioactive wastes stored in tanks at many DOE sites. Extensive studies on the solubility of amorphous Cr(III) solids in a wide range of pH (2.8–14) and phosphate concentrations (10^–4 to 1.0 m) at room temperature (22±2)°C were carried out to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for important Cr(III)-phosphate reactions. A combination of techniques (XRD, XANES, EXAFS, Raman spectroscopy, total chemical composition, and thermodynamic analyses of solubility data) was used to characterize solid and aqueous species. Contrary to the data recently reported in the literature,⁽¹⁾ only a limited number of aqueous species [Cr(OH)₃H₂PO^–₄, Cr(OH)₃(H₂PO₄)^2–₂), and Cr(OH)₃HPO^2–₄] with up to about four orders of magnitude lower values for the formation constants of these species are required to explain Cr(III)-phosphate reactions in a wide range of pH and phosphate concentrations. The log K^o values of reactions involving these species [Cr(OH)₃(aq)+H₂PO^–₄&#x21CC;Cr(OH)₃H₂PO^–₄; Cr(OH)₃(aq)+2H₂PO^–₄&#x21CC;Cr(OH)₃(H₂PO₄)^2–₂; Cr(OH)₃(aq)+HPO^2–₄&#x21CC;Cr(OH)₃HPO^2–₄] were found to be 2.78±0.3, 3.48±0.3, and 1.97±0.3, respectively.     

Supramolecular fullerene/porphyrin charge transfer interaction studied by absorption spectrophotometric method

A detailed UV–Vis spectrometric and thermodynamic studies were done to look insight into the nature of molecular interactions of the electron donor–acceptor complexes of C₆₀ and C₇₀ with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(octadecyloxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (1) in chloroform and toluene. Charge transfer (CT) absorption bands were located in the visible region and vertical ionization potential of 1 was determined utilizing CT transition energy. Low values of oscillator and transition dipole strengths suggested that the complexes were almost of neutral character in ground states. The high binding constant value for the C₇₀–1 complex indicated high selectivity of 1 molecule towards C₇₀. Experimental as well as theoretically determined of enthalpies of formation value substantiated the trend in K values for fullerene–1 complexes.     

Neutron diffraction study of the β′ and γ phases of LiFeO2

The β, β′, γ and α phases of LiFeO₂, synthesized as powders, were annealed at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray measurements. The β′ and γ modifications were also studied by time-of-flight neutron diffraction (ISIS Facility, UK). The structure of the β′ phase was refined in the monoclinic C2/c space group (a=8.566(1), b=11.574(2), c=5.1970(5) Å, β=146.064(5)°) to wR_p=0.071–0.080 (data from four counter banks). Fe and Li atoms are ordered over two of the four independent sites, and partially disordered over the other two. The ordered Li has a distorted tetrahedral coordination. The γ structure was refined at RT (a=4.047(1), c=8.746(2) Å) and at 570 °C (a=4.082(3), c=8.822(6) Å) in the I4₁/amd symmetry, showing full order with Li in octahedral coordination at RT, and in a split-atom configuration at high temperature. On annealing, the β′ polymorph was found to transform to γ at 550 °C, thus suggesting that it is a metastable phase. Electrostatics is discussed as the driving force for the α→β′→γ ordering process of LiFeO₂.