Tautomerism of uracil and 5-bromouracil in a microcosmic environment with water and metal ions. What roles do metal ions play?

The base tautomerization processes of uracil/5-bromouracil were investigated in a microcosmic environment with both H2O and Na+ (W-M environment). It was found that uracil was more stable in the W-M environment than in the microcosmic environment with only water, which suggested that the metal ions and water work cooperated to maintain the classical nucleic acid bases. However, 5-bromouracil, a chemical mutagen, was found to be less stable than uracil in the W-M environment. Why the 5-bromouracil is easier to tautomerize and therefore induce gene mutation was explained to some extent. Further research revealed that the water molecule would assist the tautomerization in the W-M environment. However, the metal ions in different regions play absolutely opposite roles: in one region, the metal ions can prevent the base from tautomerizing, whereas in another region, the metal ion can assist the tautomerization process. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ionization of the base, it seems BrU has a stronger tendency to lose the proton at N3, which is an intrinsic consequence of the bromine atom and is not affected by the metal cation.     

Apparent molar volumes and compressibilities of electrolytes and ions in γ-butyrolactone

The densities of tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, sodium tetraphenylborate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate and lithium bromide in γ-butyrolactone at (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15) K and speed of sound at 298.15 K have been measured. From these data apparent molar volumes V_Φ at (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15) K and the apparent molar isentropic compressibility K_S,Φ, at T = 298.15 K of the salts have been determined. The apparent molar volumes and the apparent molar isentropic compressibilities were fitted to the Redlich, Rosenfeld and Mayer equation as well as to the Pitzer and Masson equations yielding infinite dilution data. The obtained limiting values have been used to estimate the ionic data of the standard partial molar volume and the standard partial isentropic compressibility in γ-butyrolactone solutions.     

μSR-study of reactivity of substituent ions and point-like defects in quartz monocrystals

SR-method has been used for studying reactions of muonium as an analogue of a light hydrogen isotope with impurity atoms and point-like defects. The relaxation rate of muonium polarization _Mu was measured for 11 samples with different concentrations of impurity atoms and defects. The rate constants of reactions of muonium with Fe, Al, Li, Ba, Cu, Mn, Ti and Pb atoms in quartz were defined.     

Structures of α-type ions formed in the 157 nm photodissociation of singly-charged peptide ions

One hundred fifty-seven nm photodissociation of singly-charged peptide ions induces the cleavage of alpha-carbon to carbonyl-carbon bonds along the backbone. a(n) + 1 radical ions are observed as the primary photolysis products of peptides with N-terminal arginines in a linear ion trap mass spectrometer. The radical elimination pathways undertaken by the a(n) + 1 radical ions to form more stable even-electron species are studied in hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments. Two types of a(n) ions along with d-type ions are observed as secondary elimination products. The relative abundance of each depends on the C-terminal residue of the radical fragment ion.     

Novel ions of quaternary ammonium halides in FDMS

Field desorption mass spectrometry exhibited novel ions [ Y-n H+n R ]+and [ Y-nH+nX]+as well as cluster ions [nY+(n-1)X-mH+mR]+and [nY+( n-1)X-mH+mX]+(n,m=0-3; X and Y represent the cation and anion moieties of quaternary ammonium halides),whose formation mechanism was discussed.     

ESI-TEM imaging of surfactants and ions sorbed in Stöber silica nanoparticles

The sorption of surfactants and NaCl in silica nanosized particles creates unexpected spatial distributions of solutes that were evidenced by electron spectroscopy imaging in the transmission electron microscope (ESI/TEM). The spectral images show that simple ions (Na(+), Cl(-), Br(-)) are actually absorbed within the particles irrespective of their charges, while surfactant chains are adsorbed at the particle surfaces. The expected effect of the surfactants on particle aggregation is also observed in the micrographs. In the case of salt, close-packed silica particle arrays are formed at low ionic strength, but only coarse aggregates form at higher salt concentrations. The particles absorb both Na(+) and Cl(-) ions in similar amounts, from 0.5 mol L(-)(1) NaCl, but Na(+) ions are depleted from the particles' immediate outer vicinity, where Cl(-) ions are in turn accumulated. These results confirm that St?ber silica nanoparticles are highly porous and reveal their potential usefulness as carriers of small molecules and ions, due to the small particle size, exceptional colloidal stability, and this newly found sorption behavior.     

The role of metal ions in dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease

Abstract  

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the selective degeneration of neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus. Although the cause of this disease remains unknown, several transition metals, including manganese and copper, have been associated with the development of the atypical form of Parkinsonism, and iron accumulation has been associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease. Manganese³⁺ is a strong oxidizing agent, which oxidizes dopamine to aminochrome (dopaminochrome), the precursor of neuromelanin. Aminochrome formation in cell culture medium induces acute cell death in cells that uptake aminochrome, explaining the role of manganese in the development of atypical Parkinsonism. Copper accumulation in Wilson’s disease also induces Parkinsonism as one of the main symptoms, and an atypical Parkinsonism has also been observed in young copper miners. Interestingly, copper is able to complex with dopamine, which can be taken up by cells expressing the dopamine transporter, inducing caspase-independent cell death with formation of autophagic vacuoles. Iron is also able to form a complex with dopamine, the neurotoxic action of which also depends on the cellular expression of the dopamine transporter. The neurotoxicities of these transition metals to cells expressing the dopamine transporter all involve dopamine oxidation to quinones and require the inhibition of DT-diaphorase.     

The α-effect of oximate ions and solvent effect in the transfer of the toluenesulfonyl group in aqueous dimethylsulfoxide

The kinetic behaviour of oximate ions was studied in the transfer of the toluenesulfonyl group in aqueous dimethylsulfoxide (0–95 vol.% DMSO). The solvation effects of the solvent are a factor controlling the nucleophilicity and magnitude of the α-effect of the oximate ions. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 30–35, January–February, 2000.     

Textural and surface chemistry of activated bagasse and its role in the removal of chromium ions from solution

The role of the surface chemical and physical properties of activated carbon in the removal of chromium was investigated. This was conducted by fitting the chromium removal by adsorption and reduction to Cr(III) to the physical properties including total surface and pore size of the carbon and its chemical property globally measured using carbon pH. The role of heteroatoms—sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen, to chromium removal was also investigated. This study showed that the structural and chemical properties displayed dual and conflicting properties in removing chromium. As such efficiencies gained in controlling the structure of the carbon are minimal. Optimal carbon properties which exhibited high chromium adsorption included high surface area, large pore size, high quantities of sulfur and nitrogen and minimal hydrogen and oxygen contents.     

Local structure and valence of impurity ions in oxides by TDPAC and Mössbauer emission spectroscopy

The features of time-differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) in studies on local chemical structures around impurity atoms are described in comparison with those of Mössbauer emission spectroscopy with four typical examples of recent applications to metal oxide systems, namely,⁹⁹Rh⁹⁹Ru in -Fe₂O₃ and YBa₂Cu₃O_7– and¹¹⁷Cd¹¹⁷In in MO (M=Mn, Co, Ni) and BaRu_2/3Cd_1/3O₃.     

Spectroscopic and structural studies of chromate ions in zinc complexes with 2,2′-bipyridine. Analysis of the lowest triplet states in the CrO42− entity

Two novel complexes of Zn(II) chromate with 2,2′-bipyridine have been synthesised: [Zn(bpy)₃]CrO₄·7.5H₂O (1) and catena-(μ-CrO₄-O,O′)[Zn(bpy)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (2). Complex 1 has been characterised by a structural method. The [Zn(bpy)₃]CrO₄·7.5H₂O crystals have a monoclinic symmetry with space group C2/c and eight chemical units. The chromate ion is not coordinated to the zinc(II) ion. The O(3) and O(4) atoms of CrO₄²⁻ and O(8) of the water molecule statistically occupy their position with k=0.5, which means that the chromate ions execute reorientational motion between two equilibrium arrangements with equal probability. 4 K electronic spectra (1) revealed the vibrational fine structure in ν₃(F₂)=820 cm⁻¹ for the spin-forbidden ¹A₁→³T₁ transition. The pure electronic 0–0 transition in ¹A₁→¹T₁ was found at 20 270 cm⁻¹. In complex 2 the broad low intensity band at ca. 16 800 cm⁻¹ has been assigned to a forbidden ZnOCr transition in the bridge.     

Interaction of sodium and potassium ions withκ-carrageenan

Summary NMR and potentiometric methods revealed at least two types of interactions of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions with -carrageenan, viz., Coulombic interaction with polysaccharide sulfate groups, and a coordination one, leading, in the case of the Na⁺ ions, to formation of nonstoichiometric complexes. The absence of any correlation between the coordination binding density of the cations and their promoting effect on gelation process was demonstrated.     

Cadmium ions and cadmium sulphide particles in γ-titanium dihydrogen phosphate. Synthesis, thermal behaviour and X-ray characterization

Layered compounds with CdS particles supported on the ion-exchanger, γ-titanium dihydrogen phosphate, were prepared by the stepwise reaction of the ion-exchanger and cadmium solution, followed by reaction with H₂S gas. The CdS content on the ion-exchanger is dependent on the timeframe of the H₂S gas flow. The materials obtained were layered, as shown by the X-ray measurements that exhibit both precursor and CdS diffraction peaks. The thermal treatment of the material obtained gives evidence of its stability (≤ 320°C) before the CdS decomposition, which occurs in a single step.      

Binuclear complexes with uranyl ions in non-equivalent coordination environments – 2. Synthesis and electrochemistry of the complexes with binucleating aroyl hydrazones and 1,10-phenanthroline

The ternary binuclear complexes, [(UO₂phen)₂L^1–5](NO₃) _n · S (1–3): n = 1; (4, 5): n = 2; S = solvent {H₃L^1–3 = 1-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-2-(2-hydroxybenzal/2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzal/2-hydroxynaphthal)hydrazine; H₂L^4,5 = 1-(2-aminobenzoyl)-2-(2-hydroxybenzal/2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzal)hydrazine; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline} have been prepared and characterised, and their spectral and electrochemical properties studied. Complexes (4, 5) possess longer O=U=O bonds than those in complexes (1–3) as a result of the strong -donating phenolate group being replaced by an amino group. The i.r. spectra and electrochemical behaviour confirm the electronic non-equivalence of the coordination environments around the two uranyl ions in these complexes.     

Characterization of nitrate ions adsorption and diffusion in P（DMAEMA/HEMA） hydrogels

In this work, the adsorption and diffusion behavior of nitrate ions into polycationic P（DMAEMA/HEMA） hydrogels is analyzed. Experimental results indicated that nitrate ions can be removed efficiently from aqueous solutions. Adsorption isotherm of gels was well according to the Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich models. At the same time, the diffusion behavior of nitrate ions from P（DMAEMA/HEMA） hydrogels was investigated. The diffusion coefficients are strongly influenced by the changes of temperature and pH value of solutions. At the same time, D does not depend on the gels cross-linking ratio and initial solute concentration.     

Kinetics and optimisation of process parameters for electrochemical generation of uranous ions in nitric acid–hydrazine media

For the quantitative generation of uranous from uranyl ions in the presence of hydrazine in nitric acid medium, electrochemical reduction was carried out in divided and undivided cells. The influence of process conditions, viz. current density, concentration of nitric acid and hydrazine was studied for 50, 100 and 150 g/l of U(VI) solutions. The performance of the cathodes (titanium and platinum) was evaluated by calculating the conversion efficiencies in the reduction process using these electrodes for the reduction of 100 g/l U(VI) at 6 mA/cm² as the cathodic current density. Batch mode experiments using Ti cathode revealed the reduction reaction of U(VI) to follow zero order kinetics and the simultaneous reduction of nitric acid to follow first order kinetics. From the temperature dependence, the activation energy for the reduction of U(VI) was determined to be 4.05 kJ/mol. The chemical stability of U(IV) in nitric acid–hydrazine medium, under ambient conditions of temperature and pressure was established from the amount of U(VI) produced from U(IV) by aerial oxidation over a period of 16 weeks.     

Donor-Acceptor Complexes in Copolymerization. XVI. NMR Analyses of Alternating and Random Copolymers of Styrene and α-Methylstyrene with Acrylonitrile and Methacrylonitrile

An NMR investigation was carried out on random and alternating copolymers of acrylonitrile (AN) with a-methylstyrene (MS) and methacrylonitrile (MAN) with α-methylstyrene and styrene (S). The alternating MS-AN copolymer, prepared by complexation with AlEti_1-5Cl_1-5, was found to have a predominantly coisotactic configuration which was attributed to the interaction between the CH₃ and CN groups. The cotacticity of the alternating copolymer was found to be independent of the temperature of polymerization and the amount of AlEt_1-5Cl_1-5 used for complexation. The NMR spectra of random MS-AN copolymers of varying compositions indicated a high value (0.85) for the coisotacticity probability parameter (σ). The equimolar random MS-AN copolymer was also found to have essentially alternating sequences which was attributed to their low reactivity ratios. The equimolar alternating MS-MAN copolymer was found to have a random stereochemical configuration in which the coisotactic placement was slightly preferrred over the cosyndiotactic placement. The NMR spectrum of the equimolar free radical initiated MS-MAN copolymer lacked the fine structure observed in the spectrum of the alternating copolymer which was attributed to the presence of other sequences. The equimolar alternating S-MAN copolymer was found to have a high coisotactic configuration similar to that observed in the MS-AN copolymer. The equimolar free radical initiated S-MAN copolymer had a random sequence distribution.     

Kinetics and adsorption equilibrium in the system aqueous solution of copper ions—granulated activated carbon

The feasibility of using granulated activated carbon for adsorption removal of copper from aqueous solution was studied. The influence of pH, amount of the adsorbent, contact time, and copper concentration on adsorption of copper was investigated. The single-component equilibrium data on copper adsorption were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich—Peterson, Temkin, and Toth adsorption isotherms. The adsorption process was followed by two simplified kinetic models including pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order equations. Kinetic parameters, rate constants, equilibrium sorption capacities, and the corresponding correlation coefficients were calculated and examined for each kinetic model. It was shown that copper adsorption can be described by the pseudo-second-order equation.     

Coordination of fluoro ligands toward sodium ions makes the difference: aqua sodium ions act as Brønsted acids in polymerization of vinyl ethers and styrenes

In searching for aqua sodium species acting as Br?nsted acids in catalysis, we explored the phenomenon that sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate dihydrate (NaBAr(F)4.2H2O) evidently provides one proton source to initiate the polymerization of vinyl ethers in anhydrous dichloromethane solutions. In addition, NaBAr(F)4 catalyzed efficiently in the polymerization of activated styrenes, such as p-methoxystyrene.