A density functional theory study on the water aggregation behaviour of fatty acid-based anionic surface active ionic liquids

Structural Chemistry - The hydrogen bond interactions between methyl-imidazolium cation (MIM+) and fatty acid anions (CmHnCOO–, where m?=?1–6; n-3–13) of ionic liquids...     

Rhodopsin reconstituted into a planar-supported lipid bilayer retains photoactivity after cross-linking polymerization of lipid monomers

Transmembrane proteins (TMPs), particularly ion channels and receptors, play key roles in transport and signal transduction. Many of these proteins are pharmacologically important and therefore targets for drug discovery. TMPs can be reconstituted in planar-supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs), which has led to development of TMP-based biosensors and biochips. However, PSLBs composed of natural lipids lack the high stability desired for many technological applications. One strategy is to use synthetic lipid monomers that can be polymerized to form robust bilayers. A key question is how lipid polymerization affects TMP structure and activity. In this study, we have examined the effects of UV polymerization of bis-Sorbylphosphatidylcholine (bis-SorbPC) on the photoactivation of reconstituted bovine rhodopsin (Rho), a model G-protein-coupled receptor. Plasmon-waveguide resonance spectroscopy (PWR) was used to compare the degree of Rho incorporation and activation in fluid and poly(lipid) PSLBs. The results show that reconstitution of Rho into a supported lipid bilayer composed only of bis-SorbPC, followed by photoinduced lipid cross-linking, does not measurably diminish protein function.     

A revised structure for hermonionic acid

Hermonionic acid and its decarboxylated product have been isolated from $\text{Garcinia}$$\text{quaesita}$. ¹³C NMR spectral and chemical evidence indicate that hermonionic acid is 2-0-[2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3-methoxy- 4-hydroxy-5-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl]-4-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl-6-hydroxybenzoic acid. The previously assigned dienone structure for this acid is incorrect.     

CO(2)-expanded solvents: unique and versatile media for performing homogeneous catalytic oxidations

The work summarized here demonstrates a new concept for exploiting dense phase CO(2), media considered to be "green" solvents, for homogeneous catalytic oxidation reactions. According to this concept, the conventional organic solvent medium used in catalytic chemical reactions is replaced substantially (up to 80 vol %) by CO(2), at moderate pressures (tens of bars), to create a continuum of CO(2)-expanded solvent media. A particular benefit is found for oxidation catalysis; the presence of CO(2) in the mixed medium increases the O(2) solubility by ca. 100 times compared to that in the neat organic solvent while the retained organic solvent serves an essential role by solubilizing the transition metal catalyst. We show that CO(2)-expanded solvents provide optimal properties for maximizing oxidation rates that are typically 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than those obtained with either the neat organic solvent or supercritical CO(2) as the reaction medium. These advantages are demonstrated with examples of homogeneous oxidations of a substituted phenol and of cyclohexene by molecular O(2) using transition metal catalysts, cobalt Schiff-base and iron porphyrin complexes, respectively, in CO(2)-expanded CH(3)CN.     

More Efficient Palladium Catalyst for Hydrogenolysis of Benzyl Groups

Organic halides absorbed without solvent onto sodium phenylsulfinate on alumina (1) gave phenylsulfones (2) under microwave or ultrasound activation.     

Phase diagram study of CaBr2–CaHBr system

A study of binary, CaBr₂–CaHBr system was carried out by differential thermal analysis (DTA), covering the composition range from 100 % CaBr₂ to 100 % CaHBr between room temperature and 800 °C. From DTA results, the contour of solidus and liquidus temperatures with composition is plotted and the phase diagram of CaBr₂–CaHBr system is constructed. The system shows an eutectic reaction at 576 °C and the eutectic composition is 79.6 mol% CaBr₂. Co-existing phases in different phase fields are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.