Native silica nanoparticle catalyzed anti-Markovnikov addition of thiols to inactivated alkenes and alkynes: a new route to linear and vinyl thioethers

A new route for the synthesis of linear and vinyl thioethers has been demonstrated using bare silica nanoparticle as catalyst at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst can be reused up to six times without loss of catalytic activity.     

Refinement of the primary hydration shell model for molecular dynamics simulations of large proteins

A realistic representation of water molecules is important in molecular dynamics simulation of proteins. However, the standard method of solvating biomolecules, that is, immersing them in a box of water with periodic boundary conditions, is computationally expensive. The primary hydration shell (PHS) method, developed more than a decade ago and implemented in CHARMM, uses only a thin shell of water around the system of interest, and so greatly reduces the computational cost of simulations. Applying the PHS method, especially to larger proteins, revealed that further optimization and a partial reworking was required and here we present several improvements to its performance. The model is applied to systems with different sizes, and both water and protein behaviors are compared with those observed in standard simulations with periodic boundary conditions and, in some cases, with experimental data. The advantages of the modified PHS method over its original implementation are clearly apparent when it is applied to simulating the 82 kDa protein Malate Synthase G. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009     

Direct Spectroscopic Detection of the Orientation of Free OH Groups in Methyl Lactate–(Water)1,2 Clusters: Hydration of a Chiral Hydroxy Ester

Hydration of chiral molecules is a subject of significant current interest in light of recent experimental observations of chirality transfer from chiral solutes to water in solution and the important roles which water plays in biological events. Using a broadband chirped pulse and a cavity based microwave spectrometer, we detected spectroscopic signatures of the mono‐ and dihydrates of methyl lactate, a chiral hydroxy ester. Surprisingly, these small hydration clusters show highly specific binding preferences. Not only do they strongly prefer the insertion H‐bonding topology, but they also favor specific pointing direction(s) for their non‐H‐bonded hydroxy group(s). We observed that the particular dihydrate conformer identified is not the most stable one predicted. This work highlights the superior capability of high‐resolution spectroscopy to identify specific water binding topologies, and provides quantitative data to test state‐of‐the‐art theory.     

Solvation Chemistry of DL‐Nor‐Valine in Aqueous Mixture of Dipolar Aprotic N,N‐Dimethyl Formamide

In this article, we reported the solubilities of the amino acid DL‐nor‐valine (VAL) at five equidistant temeratures i.e. from 15 to 35 °C in aqueous mixtures of N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF). The Standard free energies (ΔG (i)) and entropies (ΔS (i)) of transfer of VAL from water to aqueous mixture of cationophilic dipolar aprotic DMF have been evaluated at 25 °C. The transfer of Gibbs energies (ΔG (i)) and entropies (TΔS (i)) due to the chemical effects have been obtained after elimination of cavity effect, estimated by the scaled particle theory and dipole‐dipole interaction effects, computed by the used of Keesom‐orientation expression. The chemical contribution of transfer energetics of DL‐nor‐valine (VAL) are mainly guided by the composite effects of increased dispersion interaction, basicity effect and decreased acidity, hydrogen bonding effects, hydrophilic hydration and hydrophobic hydration of aqueous DMF mixtures as compared to that of reference solvent, water.     

A molecular dynamics study of uranyl hydration

Molecular dynamics calculations were carried out in order to investigate the hydration structure of uranyl in aqueous solution. The CF1 model of flexible water molecules is used. This model allows one to investigate a hydrolysis reaction for water molecules in the first uranyl hydration shell. Charge redistribution effects on hydrolysis products are also taken into account. We found five ligands in uranyl hydration shell, which is of bipyramidal pentacoordinated structure. The charge redistribution effects resulted in ligands of four water molecules and one hydroxyl, which was found closer to uranium than the other ligands.     

Mechanism of mercury monomethyl cation detoxication in the interaction with 1-chloro-2,2-propane dithiol

The potential interaction surface between polyhydrated monomethyl mercury cation and 1-chloro-2.2-propane dithiol has been studied by quantum chemical methods. The system generates the hydroxonium cation due to the interaction, which is a demethylating agent for methylmercury. The total thermal balance of the demethylation reaction is 244.5 kJ/mol, the activation energy of the limiting stage in the process has a value of 39.1 kJ/mole.     

Calorimetric studies of β-Ca2SiO4 hydration in solutions of electrolytes

The hydration of β-Ca₂SiO₄ stabilized by thermal treatment and barium addition was studied in CaCl₂, Ca(NO₃)₂ and BaCl₂ solutions. The heat evolution kinetics was followed by calorimetry. A considerable acceleration of the hydration process was found in the presence of electrolytes. The positive influence of barium ions was confirmed. The highest total heat output during the 3-day hydration was found for samples doped with 3 mole % BaO.     

Colloidal microstructure of binary systems and model creams stabilized with an alkylpolyglucoside non-ionic emulsifier

The aim of this study was to examine the lyotropic potential of an alkylpolyglucoside mixed emulsifier (Cetearyl glucoside&Cetearyl alcohol), which belongs to the new generation of natural (sugar) surfactants, and to elaborate the potential stabilization mechanism and relation between the colloid microstructure and water distribution within the systems. Polarization and ordinary light as well as transmission electron microscopy, wide and small-angle X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and rheological measurement were employed for the systems characterization.It was suggested that Cetearyl glucoside&Cetearyl alcohol stabilizes the o/w creams by synergistic effects of viscoelastic hydrophilic gel of lamellar type and lipophilic gel network built up from cetostearyl alcohol semi-hydrates as well as by lamellar liquid crystalline bilayers surrounding the oil droplets. The hydrophilic gel consists of mixed cetearyl glucoside/cetearyl alcohol crystalline bilayers entrapping the water interlamellarly by hydrogen bonding. It is also showed that oil addition into the chosen binary system influences the creams microstructure significantly, which particularly reflects onto the mode of water distribution within the creams and consequently their potential of skin hydration.     

Physicochemical studies on hydrophobic PEO‐PPO‐PEO triblock copolymer micelles in SDS micellar environment

The shape, size, aggregation, hydration, and correlation times of water insoluble PEO‐PPO‐PEO triblock copolymer micelles with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micelles were investigated using transport studies and dynamic light scattering technique. From the conductance of micellar solutions of the polymer in 25 mM SDS and 5 mM NaCl, the hydration of polymer micelles were determined using the principle of obstruction of electrolyte migration by the polymer. The asymmetry of the micellar particles of polymer and polymer‐SDS mixed micellar systems in 5 mM NaCl and their average axial ratios were calculated using intrinsic viscosity and hydration data obeying Simha–Einstein equation. Hydration number and micellar sizes were variable with temperature. The shape of the polymer micelles has been ellipsoidal rather than spherical. The micellar volume, hydrodynamic radius, radius of gyration, diffusional coefficients as well as translational, rotational and effective correlation times have been calculated from the absolute values of the axes. The partial molal volume of polymer micelles has also been determined and its comparison with the molar volume of pure polymer suggested a volume contraction due to immobilization of the water phase by the hydrophilic head groups of the polymer. The thermodynamic activation parameters for viscous flow favor a more ordered water structure around polymer micelles at higher temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2410–2420, 2007     

State of Water in Hydration Spheres of Potassium Iodide

Ion hydration has been studied for potassium iodide solutions with concentrations from 0 to 51 wt.% at temperatures from 288.15 to 308.15 K based on ultrasonic measurements and molar adiabatic compressibility data. For hydration complexes, structural characteristics have been determined. The structure of noncoordinated water plays a significant role even in concentrated solutions. An electrostatic ion field has a strong effect on the temperature dependence of the molar volume of hydration water. A method for the precise determination of the total solvation boundary is presented.