Using molecular dynamics simulations to identify the key factors responsible for chiral recognition by an amino acid-based molecular micelle

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the binding of six chiral compounds to the amino acid-based molecular micelle (MM) poly-(sodium undecyl-(L)-leucine-leucine) or poly(SULL). The MM investigated is used as a chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis. The project goal was to characterize the chiral recognition mechanism in these separations and to move toward predictive models to identify the best amino acid-based MM for a given separation. Poly(SULL) was found to contain six binding sites into which chiral compounds could insert. Four sites had similar sizes, shapes, and electrostatic properties. Enantiomers of alprenolol, propranolol, 1,1′-bi-2-naphthyl-2,2′-diyl hydrogen phosphate, 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, chlorthalidone, or lorazepam were separately docked into each binding pocket and MD simulations with the resulting intermolecular complexes were performed. Solvent-accessible surface area calculations showed the compounds preferentially associated with binding sites where they penetrated into the MM core and shielded their non-polar atoms from solvent. Furthermore, with five of the six compounds the enantiomer with the most favorable free energy of MM association also experienced the most favorable intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions with the MM. This result suggests that stereoselective intermolecular hydrogen bonds play an important role in chiral discrimination in separations using amino acid-based MMs.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Third order harmonics generation in multilayer nanoshells

Third order harmonics generation has been investigated for multilayer nanoshell structure. Numerical calculations show that the nonlinear susceptibility of this structure depends on the parameters such as size and kind of structure, relaxation time and pump photon energy. The intensity and position of third order nonlinear susceptibility peaks depend on shell thicknesses; smaller thicknesses have peak susceptibility at shorter wavelength.     

ZEOLITE-SUPPORTED CHROMIUM(VI) OXIDE: A MILD,EFFICIENT, AND INEXPENSIVE REAGENT FOR OXIDATIVE DEPROTECTION OF TRIMETHYLSILYL ETHERS UNDER MICROWAVE IRRADIATION

Primary and secondary trimethylsilyl ethers are effeciently converted to the corresponding carbonyl compounds using HZSM-5 zeolite-supported CrO ₃ under microwave irradiation in solventless system.     

Functionalization of Multi Carbon Nanotubes with 1,2‐Naphthoquinone‐4‐sulfonic Acid Sodium: A Novel Sulphydryl Compounds Sensor Based on Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Film Using Michael Addition

The functionalized multi‐wall carbon nanotube with 1,2‐naphthoquinone‐4‐sulfonic acid sodium (Nq‐MWNT) was fabricated by a simple and low‐cost method. Techniques of scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV‐vis) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to characterize the property of the Nq‐MWNT. The results showed that the MWNT with high functionalization of Nq can be obtained using this simple method. The Nq‐MWNT modified carbon paste electrode (Nq‐MWNT/CPE) was fabricated by drop‐casting technique. The resulted modified electrode was tested successfully to detection D‐penicillamine (D‐PA) and captopril (CAP) in an aqueous solution. It is found that D‐PA and CAP participate in Michael addition reaction with Nq on MWNT to form the corresponding thioquinone derivative. The reoxidation of adducts at a potential of less positive than D‐PA and CAP at the surface of the bare CPE leads to an increase in the oxidative current, which is proportional to the concentration of D‐PA and CAP. The catalytic response showed a wide linear range (3‐200 μM and 1‐130 μM for D‐PA and CAP, respectively) as well as its experimental limit of detection can be achieved 0.8 μM, and 0.4 μM for D‐PA and CAP, respectively. The modified electrode for D‐PA and CAP determination is of the property of simple preparation, good stability and high sensitivity. Furthermore, the fabricated electrode was used to determine the content of D‐PA and CAP in the tablet, suggesting the good accuracy of the method.     

Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Dibenzoxazepines

Dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepine derivatives were synthesized in good yields and short reaction times by the reaction of 2‐chlorobenzaldehydes and 2‐aminophenoles in basic conditions under microwave irradiation.     

Modified dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for pre-concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes prior to their determination by GC

We have developed a modified method for the extraction and preconcentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in aqueous samples. It based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction along with solidification of floating organic microdrops. The dispersion of microvolumes of an extracting solvent into the aqueous occurs without dispersive solvent. Various parameters have been optimized. BTEX were quantified via GC with FID detection. Under optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors range from 301 to 514, extraction efficiencies from 60 to 103 %, repeatabilities from 2.2 to 4.1 %, and intermediate precisions from 3.5 to 7.0 %. The relative recovery for each analyte in water samples at three spiking levels is >85.6 %, with a relative standard deviation of <7.4 %.

Effect of Rough Nanoparticle Orientation on DLVO Energy Interaction

This study investigated the effect of the orientation of rough nanoparticles on Derjaguin and Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) energy interaction. Rippled sphere model was used to survey van der Waals attraction energy and repulsive double-layer interaction energy between nanoparticles. The effect of particle size, asperity size, number of asperities, and concentration was studied for different orientations. Spherical coordinates were used to evaluate the effect of changes in orientation under controlled conditions. Surface element integral method was used to calculate DLVO energy interactions between rough particles at specific orientations. The DLVO energy results show that a change in orientation significantly affected the stability of the nanoparticles. The stability of dispersion varied as the contact surface between nanoparticles changed.