Solution redox chemistry of carbon nanotubes

UV/vis/NIR absorbance spectra were used to monitor electron transfer between small-molecule redox reagents and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The oxidation of (6, 5)-enriched nanotubes in water with K(2)Ir(Cl)(6) reveals a valence electron density of 0.2-0.4 e(-)/100 carbon atoms and a reduction potential of approximately 800 mV versus NHE. The reduction potential of CNTs is found to increase with increasing band gap and to decrease with the introduction of an anionic dispersant. In light of this newly revealed redox chemistry of CNTs, we propose that the previously observed bleaching of the CNT absorbance spectrum at low pH is most likely a consequence of the oxidation of the nanotubes by oxygen. These results demonstrate facile oxidation and reduction of CNTs, provide a way to quantify the population of valence electrons, and point to possible applications of CNT in the catalysis of redox reactions.     

Effect of tip functionalization on transport through vertically oriented carbon nanotube membranes

Ionic flux through a composite membrane structure, containing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes crossing a polystyrene matrix film, was studied as a function of chemical end groups at the entrance to carbon nanotubes' (CNTs) cores. Plasma oxidation during the membrane fabrication process introduced carboxylic acid groups on the CNTs' tips that were modified using carbodiimide mediated coupling between the carboxylic acid and an accessible amine groups of the functional molecule. Functionalization molecules included straight chain alkanes, anionically charged dye molecules, and an aliphatic amine elongated by polypeptide spacers. Functionalization was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, and areal functional density was estimated by transmission electron microscopy studies of thiol terminated sites decorated by nanocrystalline gold. The transport through the membrane of two different sized but equally charged molecules (ruthenium bipyridine [Ru-(bipy)3(2+)] and methyl viologen [MV2+]) was quantified in a U-tube permeation cell by UV-vis spectroscopy. Relative selectivity of the permeates varied from 1.7 to 3.6 as a function of tip-functionalization chemistry. Anionic charged functional groups sharply increased the flux of the cationic permeates. This effect was reduced at higher solution ionic strength consistent with shorter Debye screening length. The observed selectivities were consistent with a hindered diffusion model with functionalization at the CNT tip and not along the length of the CNT core.     

Obtusin,a unique bromine-containing polycyclic ketal from the red marine alga Laurenciaobtusa

The structure of a unique bromine-containing ketal, obtusin ($\text{1}$), has been determined by spectral and X-ray crystallographic techniques. Obtusin is a natural component of the Mediteranean red alga $\text{Laurencia}$$\text{obtusa}$.     

Gel electrophoresis as a means of detecting ternary complex formation of thymidylate synthetase

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to resolve as many as three protein components from incubation mixtures containing the inhibitor, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylate, the cofactor, 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate, and thymidylate synthetase. In a series of mixtures containing excess 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and constant levels of thymidylate synthetase, the relative amounts of the protein components were shown to be dependent on the concentration of the inhibitor. Evidence is presented which suggests that the three protein components correspond to (1) native enzyme, (2) an inhibitor-cofactor-enzyme complex in a 1:1:1 molar ratio, and (3) an inhibitorcofactorenzyme complex in a 2:2:1 molar ratio, respectively. Ternary complexes of thymidylate synthetase are stable to gel filtration and are shown to undergo a relatively slow rate of breakdown on storage at 25 °C.     

Cluster chemistry: XXXIX. Gold—ruthenium clusters with sulphur ligands: Synthesis and structure of HRu3Au(μ3-S)(CO)9(PPh3), Ru3Au(μ3-SBut)(CO)9(PPh3) and Ru3Au2(μ3-S)(CO)9(PPh3)2

H₂Ru₃(μ₃-S)(CO)₉ is deprotonated by K[HBBu^s₃] to give cluster anions which react with [O{Au(PPh₃)}₃]⁺ or with AuCl(PPh₃)/T1⁺ to give HRu₃Au(μ₃-S)(CO)₉(PPh₃) (1) and Ru₃Au₂(μ₃-S)(CO)₉(PPh₃)₂ (3). A similar sequence with HRu₃(μ₃-SBu^t)(CO)₉ leads to Ru₃Au(μ₃-SBu^t)(CO)₉(PPh₃) (2) as the main product although some 1 also forms, indicating SC cleavage competes with deprotonation of HRu₃(μ₃-SBu^t)(CO)₉ by [HBBu^s₃]^?. The X-ray crystal structures of 1, 2 and 3 are described; (1) and (2) have “butterfly” AuRu₃ cores with markedly different hinge angles of 119 and 148° respectively, while 3 has a trigonal-bipyramidal Au₂Ru₃ skeleton. All three clusters have the sulphur atom symmetrically bridging the Ru₃ triangular face.     

The stereochemistry of guggulsterol-1

The steroechemistry of guggulsterol-1, a component of the exudate of $\text{Commiphora}$$\text{mukul}$, is shown to be 20(R), 22(R)($\text{3}$).     

Chiral conflict. The effect of temperature on the helical sense of a polymer controlled by the competition between structurally different enantiomers: from dilute solution to the lyotropic liquid crystal state

Helical polymers appended with paired structurally different enantiomers, which have opposing helical sense preferences, yield a new kind of relationship between optical activity and temperature, and also reveal unusual details of the nature of chiral interactions. Consistent with a statistical physical theory developed for these experiments, the proportion of the competing chiral groups, determined by synthesis, fixes the compensation temperature at which the helical senses are equally populated. The lyotropic liquid crystal state formed by these polymers yields therefore a nematic state at any chosen temperature over a very wide range, with a cholesteric state arising with tightening pitch as temperature deviates from this point. Far from the nematic temperature, the pitch reaches the nanometer scale and therefore the reflection of visible light. Before crossing zero at the nematic temperature, the optical activity becomes so large that it may be observed with the unaided eye through crossed polarizers.     

Properties of a recombinant β-glucosidase from polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces PC-2 and its application for cellulose hydrolysis

A β-glucosidase (BglA, EC 3.2.1.21) gene from the polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces PC-2 was cloned and sequenced. The enzyme containing 657 amino acid residues was homologous to certain animal, plant, and bacterial β-glucosidases but lacked significant similarity to those from aerobic fungi. Neither cellulose- nor protein-binding domains were found in BglA. When expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the enzyme was secreted in two forms with masses of about 110 kDa and also found in two forms associated with the yeast cells. K _m and V _max values of the secreted BglA were 0.762 mM and 8.20 μmol/(min·mg), respectively, with p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as the substrate and 0.310 mM and 6.45 μmol/(min·mg), respectively, for the hydrolysis of cellobiose. Glucose competitively inhibited the hydrolysis of pNPG with a K _i of 3.6 mM. β-Glucosidase significantly enhanced the conversion of cellulosic materials into glucose by Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparations, demonstrating its potential for use in biofuel and feedstock chemical production. Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.     

Esters of 5-carboxyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide: a family of spin traps for superoxide

Apparent rate constants, at acidic pH and neutral pH for the reaction of a family of ester-containing 5-carboxyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxides with superoxide (O2*-) were estimated, using ferricytochrome c as a competitive inhibitor. It was of interest to note that the rate constants were similar among the different nitrones and not that significantly different from that found for 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. At acidic pH, the rate constant for spin trapping O2*- was 3-fold greater than that at physiological pH. Subsequent experiments determined the half-life of aminoxyls, derived from the reaction of these nitrones with O2*-. The EPR spectra were modeled by using a global analysis method. The results clearly demonstrated that EPR spectra of all the aminoxyls were inconsistent with a model that included a single gamma-hydrogen splitting. A better interpretation modeled them as two diastereomers with identical nitrogen splittings and slightly different beta-hydrogen splittings. Detailed line width analyses slightly favored an equal line width-unequal population ratio for the two diastereomers.