A density functional study of propylene glycol conversion to propanal and propanone of various acid-catalyzed reaction models: a water-addition effect

The acid-catalyzed models on reaction mechanisms of pinacol rearrangement of propylene glycol conversion to propanal and propanone have been investigated using the density functional method at 298.15 K. Thermodynamic quantities of activation steps of four water-addition models were obtained. The number of added water interacting with the transition states of three concerted pathways has obviously affected the product ratio. The relative energetic profiles of the conversion reactions of all solvation models have been comparatively displayed. Estimation of the percent ratio of product composition computed from activation free energies of each acid-catalyzed reaction model was carried out. The percent ratios of propanal and propanone were decreased as the number of added water increased.     

Synthesis of tripodal aza crown ether calix[4]arenes and their supramolecular chemistry with transition-, alkali metal ions and anions

Tripodal aza crown ether calix[4]arenes, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b, have been synthesized. The structure of protonated 5a was elucidated by X-ray crystallography to be a self-threaded rotaxane. Complexation studies of 5a and 5b towards anions using Na⁺ as countercation were carried out by ¹H NMR titration in dimethylsulfoxide-d₆ and the mixture of chloroform-d and methanol-d₄, respectively. Ligands 5a and 5b were able to form 1:1 complexes with Br⁻, I⁻ and NO₃⁻ and the complexation stability varied as follows: NO₃⁻>I⁻>Br⁻. The effect of countercation on anion complexation was also investigated. The results showed that the association constants of 5a towards Br⁻ in the presence of various cations varied as K⁺>Bu₄N⁺>Na⁺. The enhancement in anion complexation ability of 5a may result from the rearrangement of the tripodal ammonium unit in the presence of K⁺. The neutral forms, 6a and 6b, were able to form complexes with transition metal ions such as Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The stability of the complexes followed the sequence: Ni²⁺2+Cu²⁺Zn²⁺. Compounds 6a and 6b may, therefore, potentially be used as either transition metal ion or anion receptors that can be controlled by pH of the solution.     

Adsorption CO2 on the perfect and oxygen vacancy defect surfaces of anatase TiO2 and its photocatalytic mechanism of conversion to CO

The adsorption energies for physisorption and the most stable chemisorption of CO₂ on the neutral charge of perfect anatase [TiO₂] (0 0 1) are −9.03 and −24.66 kcal/mol on the spin-unpolarized and −12.98 and −26.19 kcal/mol on the spin-polarized surface. The small activation barriers of 1.67 kcal/mol on the spin-unpolarized surface and of 6.66 kcal/mol on the spin-unpolarized surface were obtained. The adsorption mechanism of CO₂ on the oxygen vacancy defect [TiO₂ + V_O] surface of anatase TiO₂ using density functional theory calculations was investigated. The energetically preferred conversion of CO₂ to CO was found either on the spin-unpolarized or spin-polarized surfaces of oxygen vacancy defect surface [TiO₂ + V_O] as photocatalyst.     

A DFT study of molecular structures and tautomerizations of 2-benzoylpyridine semicarbazone and picolinaldehyde N-oxide thiosemicarbazone and their complexations with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II)

The structure optimizations of picolinaldehyde N-oxide thiosemicarbazone (Hpiotsc), 2-benzoylpyridine semicarbazone (H2BzPS), their imino tautomers and their complexes with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) were carried out using DFT calculations. The structures of Hpiotsc and H2BzPS ligands, transition states of their tautomerizations were obtained at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level and their thermodynamic properties were derived from the frequency calculations at the same level of theory. The B3LYP/LANL2DZ-optimized structures of Hpiotsc and H2BzPS complexes with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II), and the thermodynamic properties of their complexations derived from the B3LYP/LANL2DZ-frequency calculations were obtained. The B3LYP/LANL2DZ-optimized geometrical parameters for the [Ni(Hpiotsc)₂]²⁺, [Cu(Hpiotsc).Cl₂], and [Zn(Hpiotsc).Cl₂] complexes show good agreement with their corresponding X-ray crystallographic data.     

Spectrophotometric enzymatic cycling method using -glutamate dehydrogenase and -phenylglycine aminotransferase for determination of -glutamate in foods

This report describes a new spectrophotometric method capable of determining low levels of -glutamate. The assay is based on substrate cycling between -glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH) and the novel enzyme -phenylglycine aminotransferase ( -PhgAT). In this system, GlDH converts -glutamate to 2-oxoglutarate with concomitant reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH. The 2-oxoglutarate is recycled to -glutamate in a transamination reaction catalyzed by -PhgAT using -4-hydroxyphenylglycine as an amino donor, which is converted to 4-hydroxybenzoylformate. Both NADH and 4-hydroxybenzoylformate strongly absorb UV light at 340 nm (_340nm=6.22×10³ and 8.90×10³ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively). The signal amplification effect of the cycling reactions is thus further enhanced by the combined absorption of the two accumulating reaction products. The standard calibration curve for -glutamate was linear from 0.2 to 20 μM, with a detection limit of 0.14 μM. Food samples can be significantly diluted before subjected to the assay, thus reducing the effects of interfering substances. Because of the unique substrate specificity of -PhgAT, -glutamate could be selectively determined in the presence of other common amino acids at relatively high concentrations. The assay was satisfactorily applied to measure -glutamate in various kinds of food products. The procedure is simple, rapid, accurate, and should be easily automated.     

Quantum chemical investigation on structures of pyrrolic amides functionalized (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotube and their binding with halide ions

The structures of mono- and di-podal pyrrolic amides functionalized (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their complexes with fluoride, chloride, and bromide ions were obtained using the two-layered ONIOM(MO:MO) and density functional theory (DFT) methods. The binding energies between halide ions and all the receptors and their charge transfers were obtained using DFT method. The computational results indicate that the pyrrolic amide functionalized on the SWCNT affects to the density of state and energy gap of SWCNT. All the free receptors, mono-, di-podal pyrrolic amides and the functionalized SWCNT forming the strongest complexes were found.     

A DFT study of transformation of nitrosothiol isomers and their decomposition to nitric oxide in gas phase

The structures of nitrosothiol isomers were obtained by geometry optimizations using the density functional theory calculations. Two cis‐isomeric, 2 trans‐isomeric, and 1 zwitterionic species of the HSNO isomers were found and the most stable species is the trans‐isomer. Energetics, thermodynamic properties, rate constants, equilibrium constants of all transformation reactions, and their energy profiles were obtained. Decomposition of the HSNO trans‐isomer to nitric oxide was investigated and its rate constant was obtained. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Molecular structures of 8,8′-dithioureido-2,2′-binaphthalene derivatives and their anions recognition: an ONIOM investigation

The structures of 8,8′-bis(3-phenylthioureidomethyl)-2,2′-binaphthalene (1), 8,8′-bis(3-butylthioureidomethyl)-2,2′-binaphthalene (2) and their complexes with anionic guests such as carboxylate ions (acetate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, adipate, pimelate, suberate, and azelate), inorganic oxygen-containing anions (nitrate, sulfate, bicarbonate, hydrogen phosphate, and dihydrogen phosphate), and halide ions (fluoride, chloride, and bromide) were obtained using the ONIOM approach. The binding abilities of receptors 1 and 2 to anionic species in terms of binding energy, thermodynamic properties, and selectivity coefficient were obtained at the ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G(d):AM1) and BSSE-corrected B3LYP/6-31G(d)//ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G(d):AM1) levels of theory. The multipoint hydrogen bonding between receptors (either the receptor 1 or 2) and anionic guests were found. The hydrogen phosphate is the most preferable ion to bind with either the receptor 1 or 2.     

Isomeric structures of benzimidazole, benzoxazole, and benzothiazole derivatives, their electronic properties and transformations

The optimized structures of all isomers of HBI, HBO, HBT, HPyBI, HPyBO, and HPyBT compounds were obtained using the potential energy surface method at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Four isomers and three transition states of their transformations for each compound of HBO, HBT, HPyBO, and HPyBT and two isomers and one transition state for each HBI and HPyBI compounds were found. Energetics, thermodynamic properties, rate constants, and equilibrium constants of their transformations were determined. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

First principles theoretical study of the hole-assisted conversion of CO to CO2 on the anatase TiO2(101) surface

First principles density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the adsorption and oxidation of CO on the positively charged (101) surface of anatase, as well as the desorption of CO(2) from it. We find that the energy gain on adsorption covers the activation energy required for the oxidation, while the energy gain on the latter is sufficient for the desorption of CO(2), leaving an oxygen vacancy behind. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the process can be spontaneous at room temperature. The oxidation process described here happens only in the presence of the hole. The possibility of a photocatalytic cycle is discussed assuming electron scavenging by oxygen.