Preparation and characterization of n-alkanoic acid self-assembled monolayers adsorbed on 316L stainless steel

The electrochemical formation and characterization of decanoic, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid self-assembled monolayers on a native oxide surface of 316L stainless steel have been studied. This work describes a new approach to surface modification of stainless steel in which the self-assembly of n-alkanoic acids is facilitated by applying a potential to the stainless steel in an organic electrolyte solution. While decanoic acid forms a disorganized monolayer as a result of sweeping the potential in an acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 mM of the respective acid, longer acids, that is, myristic and palmitic acids, form highly ordered closed-packed monolayers. This electrochemical approach results in highly reproducible monolayers that are deposited within a shorter time than the traditional assembly process. The monolayers were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, double-layer capacity (ac voltammetry), contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and external reflection-absorption Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The utilization and implications of this modification technique are discussed.     

Electron transfer from dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene dianion: Attempted synthesis of dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene

When dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene dianion (3) was allowed to react with either iron (III) chloride or ethylene bromide, a one-electron transfer from3 took place readily to give the radical anion11. Further electron transfer from11 did not occur presumably due to the antiaromatic character of dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalene (1) that would have resulted. The radical anion11 underwent further transformation by hydrogen abstraction from the solvent to give 5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (2) and by dimerization to themeso and (R,S) isomers of 5,5,10,10-tetrahydro-10,10-biindeno[1,2-b]indole (4 a and4 b) respectively.

---

Elektronentransfer von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen-Dianion: Ein Versuch zur Synthese von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktion von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen-Dianion (3) mit Eisen (III) oder Ethylenbromid ergab einen Ein-Elektronentransfer zum Radikalanion11. Ein weiterer Elektronentransfer fand nicht statt, vermutlich wegen des antiaromatischen Charakters von Dibenzo[b,f]-1-azapentalen (1), das dabei entstehen müßte. Das Radikalanion11 ergab unter Wasserstoffentzug aus dem Lösungsmittel 5,10-Dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indol (2), das weiter zummeso- bzw. (R,S)-5,5,10,10-tetrahydro-10,10-biindeno[1,2-b]indol (4 a bzw.4 b) dimerisierte.

     

An approach to estimate the energy and strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in different conformers of 4‐methylamino‐3‐penten‐2‐one

The molecular structure and intramolecular hydrogen bond energy of 32 conformers of 4‐methylamino‐3‐penten‐2‐one were investigated at MP2 and B3LYP levels of theory using the standard 6–31G** basis set and AIM analyses. Furthermore, calculations for all the possible conformations of 4‐methylamino‐3‐penten‐2‐one in water solution were also carried out at B3LYP/6–31G** level of theory. The calculated geometrical parameters and conformational analyses in gas phase and water solution show that the ketoamine conformers of this compound are more stable than the other conformers (i.e., enolimine and ketoimine). This stability is mainly due to the formation of a strong N? H···O intramolecular hydrogen bond, which is assisted by π‐electrons resonance. Hydrogen bond energies for all conformers of 4‐methylamino‐3‐penten‐2‐one were obtained from the related rotamers method. The nature of intramolecular hydrogen bond existing within 4‐methylamino‐3‐penten‐2‐one has been investigated by means of the Bader theory of atoms in molecules, which is based on topological properties of the electron density. The results of these calculations support the results which obtained by related rotamers method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

A photoactivated diazopyruvoyl cross-linking agent for bonding tissue containing type-I collagen

On the basis of the earlier examples of diazopyruvoyl (DAP) groups reported by Lawton for covalent binding and cross-linking of proteins and oligopeptides and our recent demonstration that a coumaryl diazopyruvamide was used to label Type-I collagen, we have extended our investigations to the synthesis and cross-linking capabilities of a bis-DAP polyethylene glycol to cross-link Type-I collagen. The new photoactivated cross-linking agent, N,N'-bis(3-diazopyruvoyl)-2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) (DPD, 2), has been designed and synthesized specifically to "weld" collagenous tissues by cross-linking Type-I collagen. A working model for the photochemical welding studies of collagenous tissues was developed using gelatin strips (gel strips) composed of denatured Type-I collagen. Gel strips are transparent to near-UV and visible light, uniform in thickness, and have reproducible composition. Furthermore, the availability of nucleophilic amine sites in gel strips was demonstrated by reaction with o-phthalaldehyde, producing a fluorescent derivative of the protein. Gel strips were coated with a solution of DPD in chloroform 7 irradiated at 320-390 nm, and the resulting bonded gel strips were tested for the strength of the weld. The welds were generally brittle and had average tensile strengths that exceeded 100 N/cm2. Welds were not formed in the absence of light or DPD. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed a pockmarked surface from severed welds. Welds of rabbit Achilles tendon were also obtained using the tethered diazopyruvamide. These welds were much weaker, having an average tensile strength of 11.95 N/cm2 for DPD-2,2'-ethylenedioxy(bis)ethylamine comonomers in the cross-linking reaction. In both studies the welds obtained by this method were significantly stronger than the controls.     

Structural, Infrared, and Magnetic Characterization of the Solid Solution Series Sr2−xPbx(VO)(VO4)2; Evidence of the Pb6sLone Pair Stereochemical Effect

The solid solution Sr_2−xPb_xV₃O₉, 0≤x≤2, was prepared by solid state reactions and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Single crystals of the pure strontium phase and mixed Sr/Pb compounds were prepared by high temperature treatment of the respective powder compositions. Pb₂V₃O₉crystals could only be obtained by the electrochemical reduction of molten PbV₂O₆. These crystals were always twinned. The previously reported crystal structure of Sr₂V₃O₉was confirmed. It was refined toR=0.050,R_w=0.057, in space group C2/c,a=7.555(1) Å,b=16.275(2) Å,c=6.948(1) Å,β=119.78(1)°. The single crystal structural studies of the Sr_1.02Pb_0.98V₃O₉and Sr_0.67Pb_1.33V₃O₉members of the series show that the introduction of lead gives rise to a progressively complicated splitting of Sr²⁺/Pb²⁺and the tetrahedral vanadium ion crystallographic sites. As a consequence the vanadium framework distorts and beyond the Sr_0.5Pb_1.5V₃O₉composition the crystal symmetry becomes triclinic. This distortion is ascribed to the stereochemical effect of the 6s²lone pair of Pb²⁺. The crystallographic parameters of Pb₂V₃O₉area=7.598(1) Å,b=16.393(3) Å,c=6.972(2) Å,α=91.38(1)°,β=119.35(1)°,γ=90.47(1)°. Pb₂V₃O₉exhibits a more complex IR spectrum than the monoclinic phases. Despite the similarity between the triclinic and monoclinic phases the magnetic susceptibilities indicate differences in the coupling between V⁴⁺ions at low temperatures.     

Formation of different products during photo-catalytic reaction on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> suspension in water with and without 2-propanol under diverse ambient conditions

Studies on photo-catalytic reduction of CO₂ using TiO₂ photo-catalyst (0.1%, w/v) as a suspension in water was carried out at 350 nm light. CO₂ from both commercially available source, as well as generated in situ through 2-propanol oxidation, was used for this study. The photolytic products such as hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO) andmethane (CH₄) generated were monitored in TiO₂ suspended aqueous solution with and without a hole scavenger, viz., 2-propanol. Similar photolytic experiments were also carried out with varying ambient such as air, O₂, N₂ and N₂O. The yields of CO and CH₄ in all these systems under the present experimental conditions were found to be increasing with light exposure time. H₂ yield in N₂-purged systems containing 2-propanol was found to be more as compared to the without 2-propanol system. The rate of H₂ production in N₂-purged aqueous solutions containing 0.1% TiO₂ suspension were evaluated to be 0.226 and 5.8 μl/h, without and with 0.5 M 2-propanol, respectively. This confirmed that 2-propanol was an efficient hole scavenger and it scavenged photo-generated holes (h⁺), allowing its counter ion, viz., e⁻, to react with water molecule/H⁺ to yield more H₂. The formation of both CO and CH₄ in the photolysis of CO₂-purged aqueous solutions containing suspended TiO₂ in absence of 2-propanol reveal that the generation of CH₄ is taking place mainly through CO intermediate. In presence of air/O₂, the yield of H₂ in the system without 2-propanol was observed to be negligible as compared to the system containing 2-propanol in which low yield of H₂ was obtained with a formation rate of approx. 0.5 μl/h.     

Synthesis, Electrical Properties, and Powder Neutron Crystal Structure Refinement of Pb1−xBixPt2O4 Compounds (0≤x≤0.3)

Substitution of Pb for Bi in the recently characterized mixed-valence lead-platinum oxide PbPt₂O₄ was attempted and a Pb_1−xBi_xPt₂O₄ solid solution was obtained for 0≤x≤0.3. Powder X-ray diffraction study showed that all substituted compounds crystallize with similar triclinic unit cell and PbPt₂O₄ lattice parameters. The structural model of Pb_0.7Bi_0.3Pt₂O₄ was refined from powder X-ray diffraction data using the Rietveld method and the results indicate the same crystal structure than PbPt₂O₄ with one mixed Pb/Bi atomic site. Neutron diffraction realized on the two limit compositions of the solid solution (x=0 and 0.3) allowed to confirm the PbPt₂O₄ and Pb_0.7Bi_0.3Pt₂O₄ stoichiometries. Mean oxidation degree of Pt atoms in the [PtO₄] infinite chains decreases from +3 for PbPt₂O₄ to +2.7 for Pb_0.7Bi_0.3Pt₂O₄. Conductivity measurements show a metallic behavior for all the compositions except the limit composition x=0.3 for which a semiconducting behavior appears.     

Determination of fluid--solid transitions in model protein solutions using the histogram reweighting method and expanded ensemble simulations

Protein crystallization conditions are usually identified by empirical screening methods because of the complexity of the process, such as the existence of nonequilibrium phases and the different crystal forms that may result from changes in solution conditions. Here the crystallization of a model protein is studied using computer simulation. The model consists of spheres that have both an isotropic interaction of short range and anisotropic interactions between patch-antipatch pairs. The free energy of a protein crystal is calculated using expanded ensemble simulations of the Einstein crystal, and NpT-Monte Carlo simulations with histogram reweighting are used to determine the fluid-solid coexistence. The histogram reweighting method is also used to trace out the complete coexistence curve, including multiple crystal phases, with varying reduced temperature, which corresponds to changing solution conditions. At a patch-antipatch interaction strength five times that of the isotropic interaction, the protein molecules form a stable simple cubic structure near room temperature, whereas an orientationally disordered face-centered-cubic structure is favored at higher temperatures. The anisotropic attractions also lead to a weak first-order transition between orientationally disordered and ordered face-centered-cubic structures at low temperature, although this transition is metastable. A complete phase diagram, including a fluid phase, three solid phases, and two triple points, is found for the six-patch protein model. A 12-patch protein model, consistent with the face-centered-cubic structure, leads to greater thermodynamic stability of the ordered phase. Metastable liquid-liquid phase equilibria for isotropic models with varying attraction tails are also predicted from Gibbs ensemble simulations.     

Structure Determination of a Complex Tubular Uranyl Phenylphosphonate, (UO(2))(3)(HO(3)PC(6)H(5))(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(5))(2).H(2)O, from Conventional X-ray Powder Diffraction Data

The three-dimensional structure of a complex tubular uranyl phosphonate, (UO(2))(3)(HO(3)PC(6)H(5))(2)(O(3)PC(6)H(5))(2).H(2)O, was determined ab initio from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data and refined by the Rietveld method. The crystals belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 17.1966(2) ?, b = 7.2125(2) ?, c = 27.8282(4) ?, and Z = 4. The structure consists of three independent uranium atoms, among which two are seven-coordinated and the third is eight-coordinated. These metal atoms are connected by four different phosphonate groups to form a one-dimensional channel structure along the b axis. The phenyl groups are arranged on the outer periphery of the channels, and their stacking forces keep the channels intact in the lattice. The determination of this structure which contains 50 non-hydrogen atoms in the asymmetric unit, from conventional X-ray powder data, represents significant progress in the application of powder techniques to structure solution of complex inorganic compounds, including organometallic compounds.