Preorganization and reorganization as related factors in enzyme catalysis: the chorismate mutase case

In this paper a deeper insight into the chorismate-to prephenate-rearrangement, catalyzed by Bacillus subtilis chorismate mutase, is provided by means of a combination of statistical quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulation methods and hybrid potential energy surface exploration techniques. The main aim of this work is to present an estimation of the preorganization and reorganization terms of the enzyme catalytic rate enhancement. To analyze the first of these, we have studied different conformational equilibria of chorismate in aqueous solution and in the enzyme active site. Our conclusion is that chorismate mutase preferentially binds the reactive conformer of the substrate--that presenting a structure similar to the transition state of the reaction to be catalyzed--with shorter distances between the carbon atoms to be bonded and more diaxial character. With respect to the reorganization effect, an energy decomposition analysis of the potential energies of the reactive reactant and of the reaction transition state in aqueous solution and in the enzyme shows that the enzyme structure is better adapted to the transition structure. This means not only a more negative electrostatic interaction energy with the transition state but also a low enzyme deformation contribution to the energy barrier. Our calculations reveal that the structure of the enzyme is responsible for stabilizing the transition state structure of the reaction, with concomitant selection of the reactive form of the reactants. This is, the same enzymatic pattern that stabilizes the transition structure also promotes those reactant structures closer to the transition structure (i.e., the reactive reactants). In fact, both reorganization and preorganization effects have to be considered as the two faces of the same coin, having a common origin in the effect of the enzyme structure on the energy surface of the substrate.     

Pervaporative transport modelling in a ternary system: ethyltertiarybutylether/ethanol/polyurethaneimide

The study deals with the analysis of diffusion and mass transfer modelling during pervaporation in a true ternary system involving a polar liquid mixture (ETBE/EtOH) and a polar block copolymer (polyurethaneimide or PUI). A survey of methods of pervaporative transfer modelling in ternary systems is first developed. From differential permeation experiments carried out with both pure liquids, it appears that both permeants obey a Fickian law. Moreover, the diffusional behaviour is consistent with Long's model, which has thus been assumed for the related ternary system. An extension of the Brun's model is then derived, which takes into account the diffusion coupling as well the significant deviation from sorption ideality. From a practical point of view, the calculated values of fluxes show generally good agreement with the experimental results, although a small deviation occurs for mixtures of low ethanol content. Diffusion coefficients of both pure solvents corresponding to transient or steady state are compared. A very good agreement is found for the aprotic permeant (ETBE). whereas the diffusion coefficient of ethanol in transient state is only the quarter of the value corresponding to steady state. The results are discussed in comparison with related investigations in the literature, involving specific liquid-polymer interactions.     

Determination of Aroma Compounds in Blackberry by GC/MS Analysis

The aromatic composition of five blackberry cultivars (Bursa 2, Navaho, Nessy, Chester Thornless, and Jumbo) was studied. The Im-SPME (Immersion Solid Phase Micro Extraction) extraction technique was applied and the samples were analyzed by GC/MS. Furfural and its derivatives were found to be the major aromatic compounds and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was the most abundant compound in all the blackberry varieties.     

Thermoanalytical study of nucleating effects in polypropylene composites

Nucleating and transcrystallization behaviour of additives in engineering PP composites and the effect of modified interfacial structure is the subject of this series of papers. The first part concentrates on polypropylene/liquid crystalline polyester blends. Increased crystallisation temperature and degree of crystallinity of polypropylene is characteristic to the blends containing different amount of LCP additive. Transcrystallization process governs the formation of crystalline structure in these systems in course of isothermal crystallisation at 132C. The nucleating effect of LCP gives rise to more uniform crystalline structure in the polypropylene phase.The financial support of the OTKA 014194 is acknowledged with gratitude.     

CuO/Ce-Zr-La-O催化剂的表征及CO氧化活性

采用柠檬酸溶胶-凝胶法制备的Ce-Zr-La-O固溶体为载体，制备CuO／Ce-Zr-La-O催化剂，用XRD，Raman，TPR等实验技术对Ce-Zr-La-O固溶体及CuO／Ce-Zr-La-O的物相、Redox性能进行了表征。实验结果表明，Ce0.7Cr0.3-yLayO固溶体的还原性能与La含量有关，适量的La能促进固溶体的氧化还原。CuO的负载量为6％时，CuO／Ce0．7Zr0.15La0.15O的活性最高，高分散且与载体相互作用的CuO是CO氧化活性相。     

New aspects in the reaction of azomethines with cyclic CH-acidic compounds

Summary Treatment of substituted benzylidene anilines1 a – df with cyclic CH-acidic compounds2a–m in ethanol at room temperature yields in additon/elimination reactions the corresponding arylidene derivatives4 and the 2:1 adducts5. The addition products3, which are formed as intermediates, could not be isolated in any case. The donor/acceptor effect of the substituents on the benzylidene moiety influences to a significant extent the reactivity towards the azomethine carbon.

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Neue Aspekte der Reaktion von Azomethinen mit cyclischen CH-aciden Verbindungen

Zusammenfassung Bei der Umsetzung der substituierten Benzylidenaniline1 a – f mit den cyclischen CH-aciden Verbindungen2 a – m in Ethanol bei Raumtemperatur erhält man in Additions/Eliminierungsreaktionen die Arylidenderivate4 und die 2:1-Addukte5. Die als Intermediat gebildeten Additionsprodukte3 konnten in keinem Fall isoliert werden. Die Donor-bzw. Acceptorwirkung der Substituenten am Benzylidenrest beeinflußt maßgebend die Reaktivität am Azomethinkohlenstoff.

     

甲烷氧化偶联W-Mn/SiO2催化剂上O2-脉冲频率效应(PFE)的研究

采用频率脉冲反应方法,以Mn-Na2WO4/S iO2催化剂上甲烷氧化偶联为探针反应,通过实时、原位的四极质谱检测手段,研究氧物种对甲烷C-H键选择性活化的微观历程.首次发现了Mn-Na2WO4/S iO2催化剂上O2-脉冲频率效应,即脉冲反应产物量随氧脉冲注入频率的增加而增加.研究结果表明,在反应条件下,Mn-Na2WO4/S iO2催化剂上有两种活化甲烷的氧物种同时存在,它们活化甲烷的方式不同。     

Crystal Structure Analysis of Tetras[L-tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt(Ⅲ)] tris[hexacyanoruthenate(Ⅱ)]

1 INTRODUCTION The tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt (Ⅲ) complex in which there are L and D configurations is one of the very interest cations due to the chirality among research complexes and the characterization of reaction on the ion-pair charge-transfer transitions. It has been mentioned in a lot of examples on the chirality and the structure, such as [L-Co(en)3]- [?Co(edta)]2Cl?0H2O[1], [(+)DCo(en)3]Cl3稨2O[2], [(+)-Co(en)3?-)-Cr(en)3]Cl?.1H2O[3], [()-Co(en)3] (SCN)3[4], [(+)D…     

Synthesis,molecular structures,and thermal decomposition of heterometallic (π-cyclooctadiene)platinum-bis(tricarbonyliron-μ3-chalcogenides)[Fe—Fe], (π-C8H12)Pt(μ3-X)2Fe2(CO)6, where X = S,Se, or Te

Transmetallation of the Fe₃(₃-X)₂(CO)₉ clusters (X = S, Se, or Te) under the action of (-C₈H₁₂)PtCl₂ afforded new heterometallic clusters (-C₈H₁₂)Pt(₃-X)₂Fe₂(CO)₆ (2—4, respectively), which were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The (-C₈H₁₂)Pt fragment in these clusters is bound to two ₃-bridging chalcogen atoms X. The iron atoms are linked to each other. The coordination environment about the Pt atom is planar-square; the Pt...Fe distance is larger than 3.2 . In the synthesis of cluster 4, a new Pt complex was also obtained for which the structure (CO)₂Pt(-Te)₂Pt(CO)₂ (5) was proposed. According to the results of differential scanning calorimetry, thermal decomposition of complex 5 gave rise only to PtTe, whereas complexes 1—4 gave products with the empirical formula Fe₂PtX₂C₂O₂. The influence of the steric effects on the geometry of the clusters is discussed.     

Spectroscopic properties in the liquid phase: combining high-level ab initio calculations and classical molecular dynamics.

We present an integrated computational tool, rooted in density functional theory, the polarizable continuum model, and classical molecular dynamics employing spherical boundary conditions, to study the spectroscopic observables of molecules in solution. As a test case, a modified OPLS-AA force field has been developed and used to compute the UV and NMR spectra of acetone in aqueous solution. The results show that provided the classical force fields are carefully reparameterized and validated, the proposed approach is robust and effective, and can also be used by nonspecialists to provide a general and powerful complement to experimental techniques.