Reconciling Electrostatic and n→π* Orbital Contributions in Carbonyl Interactions

Interactions between carbonyl groups are prevalent in protein structures. Earlier investigations identified dominant electrostatic dipolar interactions, while others implicated lone pair n→π* orbital delocalisation. Here these observations are reconciled. A combined experimental and computational approach confirmed the dominance of electrostatic interactions in a new series of synthetic molecular balances, while also highlighting the distance-dependent observation of inductive polarisation manifested by n→π* orbital delocalisation. Computational fiSAPT energy decomposition and natural bonding orbital analyses correlated with experimental data to reveal the contexts in which short-range inductive polarisation augment electrostatic dipolar interactions. Thus, we provide a framework for reconciling the context dependency of the dominance of electrostatic interactions and the occurrence of n→π* orbital delocalisation in C=O⋅⋅⋅C=O interactions.     

Analytical formulas for complex permittivity of periodic composites. Estimation of gain and loss enhancement in active and passive composites

ABSTRACT

The asymptotic homogenization method is applied to complex dielectric periodic composites. An equivalence to coupled dielectric problems with real coefficients is shown. This is similar to a piezoelectric problem: an out-plane mechanical displacement and an in-plane electric potential establishing a correspondence principle. Closed-form formulas for the complex dielectric effective tensor in the case of a square array of circular inclusions embedded in a matrix are given. These formulas are written in terms of a real and symmetric matrix which facilitates the implementation of the computational scheme. We also get similar formulas for multilayered complex dielectric composites. The real closed-form formulas are advantageous for estimating gain and loss enhancement properties of active and passive composites in certain volume fraction intervals. Numerical computations are performed and the results are compared with other approaches showing the usefulness of the obtained formulas. This may be of interest in the context of metamaterials.     

One‐pot Synthesis of Fused Dipyranocoumarins from Dihydroxycoumarins and Propargyl Chlorides under Microwave Irradiation

Dipetalolactone and 4‐methyldipetalolactone are prepared in excellent yield by a one‐pot tandem propargylation/Claisen rearrangement/cyclization reaction of the corresponding 5,7‐dihydroxycoumarins with 3‐chloro‐3‐methylbut‐1‐yne in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ under microwave irradiation. The analogous reactions of propargyl chloride with esculetins or 5,7‐dihydroxycoumarins led to dipropargyloxy derivatives. The later by treatment with gold nanoparticles supported on TiO₂ or BF₃.Et₂O in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) under microwave irradiation resulted in very good to excellent yield to the corresponding fused dipyranocoumarins. The reactions of esculetins with 3‐chloro‐3‐methylbut‐1‐yne gave mainly exomethylene fused dioxino[g]coumarins.     

Influence of salt and acetonitrile on the capillary zone electrophoresis analysis of imatinib in plasma samples

A simple, sensitive, specific, and cost‐effective analytical methodology was developed for the analysis of human plasma samples spiked with imatinib by CZE with on‐line UV detection in the context of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. Several analytical conditions such as the ionic strength (I) and the pH of the BGE composed of citric acid and ε‐amino caproic acid were studied in regards of the presence of sodium chloride (NaCl) in plasma samples (1% m/v). Computer simulations (Simul software) were used to confirm the experimental results and to understand imatinib electrophoretic behavior in the presence of NaCl. Furthermore, the advantages of adding ACN to the sample containing NaCl to combine efficient protein precipitation and on‐line CZE stacking of imatinib were demonstrated. LOD and LOQ values of 48 and 191 ng/mL were obtained from plasma sample supernatant after protein precipitation with ACN, which is much lower than mean imatinib plasma level observed for patients treated by imatinib mesylate (about 1000 ng/mL). Good linearity was obtained in the concentration range 191–5000 ng/mL (R² > 0.997). RSD of less than 1.68% and 2.60% (n = 6) for migration times and corrected peak areas, respectively, were observed at the LOQ.     

A Mechanistically and Operationally Simple Route to Metal–N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Complexes

We have been puzzled by the involvement of weak organic and inorganic bases in the synthesis of metal–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. Such bases are insufficiently strong to permit the presumed required deprotonation of the azolium salt (the carbene precursor) prior to metal binding. Experimental and computational studies provide support for a base-assisted concerted process that does not require free NHC formation. The synthetic protocol was found applicable to a number of transition-metal- and main-group-centered NHC compounds and could become the synthetic route of choice to form M–NHC bonds.     

Influence of Side‐Chain Composition on Polythiophene Properties and Supramolecular Assembly of Anionic Polythiophene Derivatives

A series of 10 polythiophene derivatives is reported, in which each polymer has a different percentage of carboxylic acid‐bearing repeat units. The properties of these polymers are explored under acidic conditions, where the carboxylic acid moieties remain neutral, and under basic conditions, where the carboxylic acid units become anionic carboxylates. The properties that are examined for both solutions and films include UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and red‐edge optical band gaps. All the properties studied are strongly dependent both on protonation state and percentage of carboxylic acid/carboxylate side chains along the polymer backbone. The anionic form of each polythiophene derivative was also used in layer‐by‐layer film deposition with a cationic phosphonium polyelectrolyte. The film growth process was studied by spectroscopic techniques to assess the influence of side‐chain composition on the film growth and optical properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019     

Sphaerococcus coronopifolius (Rhodophyta,Gigartinales): a Mediterranean red alga with potential and applications in restoration

Abstract

Experimental studies conducted on some species of Mediterranean red algae allowed to identify Sphaerococcus coronopifolius Stackhouse as a valid alternative to the Pacific alga Gloiopeltis furcata (Postels & Ruprecht) J. Agardh, for the extraction of a material usable as natural consolidant and adhesive in the field of restoration. Promising results have been observed by comparing the extracts obtained from these two algae after the same extraction procedure. Chemical analysis (FTIR) revealed that S. coronopifolius has qualities similar to G. furcata. Even more promising results for S. coronopifolius compared to G. furcata were observed after the analysis of pH and conductivity, and the adhesion tests carried out on both extracts.     

Regeneration of a Coked Zeolite via Nonthermal Plasma Process: A Parametric Study

Among alternative techniques to overcome the difficulties associated with thermal regeneration, non-thermal plasma can be considered as one of the most promising technology. The coke trapped in the zeolite micropores can be oxidized at room temperature with a low energy consumption using a dielectric barrier discharge reactor with a pin to plate geometry. The influence of various experimental parameters for coke removal efficiency and ozone production was investigated: input power, gap between the two electrodes, gas flow rate, catalyst mass and compactness. We showed that the efficiency was not strongly increased by increasing the deposited power from 23 to 36 W, but it depends strongly on the mass, so the depth of the wafer. The elimination of coke becomes more difficult as soon as the compactness is increased. The removal of coke is not uniform within the wafer, the one localized into the depth of the wafer is difficult to remove and requires higher input power (>?30 W).