Theoretical calculations and vibrational spectra of 1,4-benzodioxan in its S(1)(pi, pi*) electronic excited state

The structure and vibrational frequencies of 1,4-benzodioxan in its S₁(π, π^*) electronic state have been calculated using the GAUSSIAN 03 and TURBOMOLE programs. The results have been compared to experimental data and also to the ground state. Structural data for the T₁(π, π^*) state have also been calculated. The theoretical frequencies agree very well with the experimental values for the S₀ electronic ground state but are less accurate for the S₁ excited state. Nonetheless, they provide valuable guidance for excited state calculations.     

双原子位点M-N-C电催化剂在CO2还原反应中活性位点的最佳分布

双原子位点M-N-C催化剂是催化CO₂还原反应(CO₂RR)性能最佳的催化剂之一. 然而, 目前的研究主要集中于M-N-C活性中心原子类型的调控, 低估了活性位点的配位模式及分布对其催化性能的影响. 本文选取典型的双原子位点M-N-C催化剂(NiFe-N-C)为研究对象, 采用密度泛函理论方法探究了9种活性位点具有不同配位环境的NiFe-N-C催化剂电催化CO₂RR的反应机理. 结果表明, 随着金属原子配位数、 双原子位点间距离的增加, M-N-C催化剂的稳定性、 催化CO₂还原至CO的活性及抑制氢析出反应的选择性均呈现先升高后下降的趋势. 其中, 金属原子四配位且对称分布的NiFe-N-C-model 3催化剂, 因其双原子位点的强相互作用表现出最优的催化性能.     

Factors determining the enzyme catalytic power caused by noncovalent interactions: Charge alterations in enzyme active sites

Understanding the origin of the enormous catalytic power of enzymes is very important. Electrostatic interactions and desolvation are the phenomena that are most proposed to explain the catalysis of enzymes; however, they also decelerate enzymatic reactions. How enzymes catalyze reactions through noncovalent interactions is still not well-understood. In this study, we explored how enzyme-substrate noncovalent interactions affect the free energy barriers (ΔG³s) of reactions by using a theoretical derivation approach. We found that enzymes reduce ΔG³s of reactions by decreasing positive charges and/or increasing negative charges in the electron-donating centers and by decreasing negative charges and/or increasing positive charges in the electron-accepting centers of reactions. Enzyme-substrate noncovalent interactions are essential approaches through which the charge alterations lead to ΔG³ reductions. Validations with reported experimental data demonstrated that this charge alteration mechanism can explain the catalyses caused by diverse types of noncovalent interactions. Electrostatic interactions and desolvation are the most observed noncovalent interactions essential for ΔG³ reductions. This mechanism does not contradict any specific enzymatic catalysis and overcomes the shortages of the electrostatic interaction and desolvation mechanisms. This study can provide useful guidance in exploring enzymatic catalysis and designing catalyst.     

Synthesis of uranium complexes incorporating extended azo-imine ligands: Molecular and electronic structure

The new azo-imine ligands 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((2-((2-hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl) phenylimino)methyl)phenol, H₂L¹, 1a, and 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((2-((2-hydroxyphenyl) diazenyl)p-chlorophenylimino)phenol, H₂L², 1b, were prepared. Reaction of H₂L¹;1a, and H₂L²;1b, with uranyl nitrate hexahydrate afforded the mononuclear complexes of compositions [U(O)₂(L¹)(H₂O)]; 2a, and [U(O)₂(L²)(H₂O)]; 2b, complexes respectively. The newly synthesised ligands (1a and 1b) and the complexes (2a and 2b) were characterised unequivocally. The x-ray structure of 2a was determined. The tetradentate dianionic ligand (L¹)^2- coordinated the uranium ion equatorially with a water molecule in the same plane. Two axially coordinated oxo ligands completed the overall pentagonal bipyramid geometry around U(VI) ion. Structural pattern, electron transfer properties (oxidation near 1.32 ​V vs Ag/AgCl) and electronic transitions of [U(O)₂(L¹)(H₂O)]; 2a, and [U(O)₂(L²)(H₂O)]; 2b have been rationalized by DFT calculations.     

The recent progress of solvent sublation

Solvent sublation is a kind of adsorptive bubble separation technique in which the surface-active (or hydrophobic) compounds in aqueous phase are adsorbed on the bubble surfaces of an ascending gas stream and then collected in an organic layer placed on top of the aqueous phase. The technique has many advantages, such as high separation efficiency, high concentration coefficient, low dosage of organic solvent, soft separation process, and simple operation. Thus, this technique has been widely applied in many fields. The present article reviews solvent sublation's theoretical research and some applications in the last 10 years, and gives the development trend in the future.     

Miniature open channel scrubbers for gas collection

An open channel scrubber is proposed as a miniature fieldable gas collector. The device is 100 mm in length, 26 mm in width and 22 mm in thickness. The channel bottom is rendered hydrophilic and liquid flows as a thin layer on the bottom. Air sample flows atop the appropriately chosen flowing liquid film and analyte molecules are absorbed into the liquid. There is no membrane at the air-liquid interface: they contact directly each other. Analyte species collected over a 10 min interval are determined by fluorometric flow analysis or ion chromatography. A calculation algorithm was developed to estimate the collection efficiency a priori; experimental and simulated results agreed well. The characteristics of the open channel scrubber are discussed in this paper from both theoretical and experimental points of view. In addition to superior collection efficiencies at relatively high sample air flow rates, this geometry is particularly attractive that there is no change in collection performance due to membrane fouling. We demonstrate field use for analysis of ambient SO₂ near an active volcano. This is basic investigation of membraneless miniature scrubber and is expected to lead development of an excellent micro-gas analysis system integrated with a detector for continuous measurements.     

A theoretical investigation into chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reactions of nitroolefins and 4,7-dihydroindoles: reactivity and enantioselectivity

This article mainly focused on high level Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies on the chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reactions between 4,7-dihydroindoles and nitroolefins. Firstly, the reactivities of 4,7-dihydroindole and indole in the chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reactions with nitroolefin have been compared. The higher reactivity of 4,7-dihydroindole could be attributed to its higher HOMO energy as well as its more suitable trajectory to attack the nitroolefin in the transition state. Secondly, the origin of the enantioselectivity of the chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of 4,7-dihydroindole with nitroolefin has been studied using complete models on PBE1PBE/[6-311+G(d,p), 6-31G(d,p)] level. When (S)-1b was used as the catalyst, the enantioselectivity of the reaction is entirely controlled by the steric effect between the catalyst and the substrate. Whereas for catalyst (S)-1c the enantioselectivity is determined by the solvent effect.     

四种新型柔性吡啶基配合物的合成、结构及配体构象与配合物结构的关系

合成了柔性配体3-吡啶甲酸-1,2-乙二酯(3-pyridinecarboxylic acid 1,2-ethanediyl ester,pcaede),并将其分别与Co盐和Hg盐进行组装,得到4个新配合物[Co(pcaede)2Cl2.2CH3CN.H2O]n(1),[Co(pcae-de)2Cl2.H2O]n(2),[Hg(pcaede)I2]n(3)和[Hg(pcaede)Br2]n(4),对其进行了元素分析、红外光谱及X射线单晶结构分析.配合物1和2为含有孔道的一维链状结构,配合物3是1D内消旋螺旋链,配合物4则是锯齿形1D链状结构.研究结果显示,孔道中填充的溶剂分子和平衡阴离子对配合物的组装有显著的影响.此外对4个配合物中配体的构象进行了理论计算.