Kinetics of the “a” and “b” band emissions of mercury excimers with added gases

The kinetics of the “a” and “b” band emissions arising from the ¹Σ ← ³O_u and ¹Σ ← ³l_u transitions of the diatomic mercury molecule at λ_max ～ 4850 Å and 3350 Å, respectively, have been studied at low concentrations of mercury in the presence of N₂, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, and N₂O. Rate constant values have been obtained for the following reactions of the excimer molecule: Hg₂(³l_u) + N₂ → Hg₂(³O_u) + N₂ and Hg₂(³O_u) + RH → Hg₂(¹Σ) + RH, where RH = C₂H₆ or C₃H₈. From a consideration of the detailed kinetics of band emissions, it was also possible to derive rate constants for the quenching reactions of Hg(³P₀) atoms. These values are in reasonable agreement with those obtained previously from monitoring atom concentrations directly by 4047 Å absorbiometry.     

“Fragmentierung” und “Aggregation” bei Bleioxiden Über das Oligooxoplumbat(IV) K2Li6[Pb2O8]

“Fragmentation” and “Aggregation” on Lead Oxides. On the Oligooxoplumbate(IV) K₂Li₆[Pb₂O₈] For the first time, the dinuclear Oxoplumbate(IV) K₂Li₆[Pb₂O₈] has been prepared as transparent colourless single crystals by heating mixtures of K₂PbO₃, Li₂O, and “PbO₂” with K:Li:Pb = 1:3:1 e. g. [Ag-cylinders, sealed under vacuum in Supremax-glass ampoule, 660°C, 120 d]. The structure determination verifies the space group P1 with a = 6.9720(9), b = 5.9252(6), c = 5.9312(7) Å, α = 88.05(1)°, β = 107.94(1)°, γ = 107.30(1)°; d_x = 4.95 g · cm^?3, d_pyk = 4.91 g · cm^?3; Z = 1, [2107 symmetry independent hkl, fourcircle-diffractometer Philips PW 1100, ω—2Θ—scan, MoKα, R = 5.07%, R_w = 4.59%, absorption not considered]. The structure is characterized by the group [Pb₂O₈] — two edge connected (equatorial/apical) trigonal bipyramids — that is observed for the first time. Several ways of synthesis are given. The Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, Effective Coordination Numbers, ECoN, these via Mean Effective Ionic Radii, MEFIR, are calculated.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Three New Inorganic ＂Host-gues＂ Polyoxomolybdates

Since two interesting inorganic “host‐guest” polyoxomolybdates 1 and 2 have been reported previously, we have now succeeded in selectively isolating three new acetated “host‐guest” polyoxomolybdates 3–5, which considerably extend the range of structures in the cyclic polyoxomolybdate catalogue. 3 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P‐1 with a = 1.22235(1) nm, b = 1.52977(2) nm, c = 1.54022(1) nm, a = 113.746(1)°, β = 96.742(1)°, γ = 101.564(1)°, V = 2.51892(4) nm³, Z =1, D_c = 2.568 g. cm^?3. 4 and 5 crystallize in the monoclinic system: P2(1)/n, a = 1.08298(2) nm, b = 1.54029(1) nm, c = 2.78893(5) nm, β =94.2730(10)°, V = 4.63929(12) nm³, Z = 2 and D_c = 2.671 g. cm^?3 for 4, and C2/c, a =2.59907(8) nm, b = 1.65992(3) nm, c = 2.28473(7) nm, β‐93.4370(10)°, V = 9.8392(5) nm³, Z = 4 and D_c = 2.556 g. cm^?3 for 5. The structures of 3, 4 and 5 consist of 18‐membered “host‐guest” polyoxoanions [ Na (X)₂| ∈ |(μ_3‐OH)₄Mo^y₈Mo^VI₁₀52(μ₂‐CH₃COO)₂]^?(R+9 (X = CH₃COO^?for 3, DMF for 4 and H₂O for 5), which are connected via Na* ions or hydrogen bonds into infinite extended frameworks.     

Detection of “memory” effects in polyethylene by magnetic susceptibility

The relevance of diamagnetic susceptibility as a tool for the structure analysis of solid high polymers is stressed in the light of some new examples. The present results complement previous data and offer new aspects on the diamagnetic investigations of longchain hydrocarbons, especially polyethylene (PE). The molecular susceptibility is proportional to the average number of repeat units in the chain. The proportionality factor defines an intermolecular constant μ_k which characterizes different physical states. This was found to be 2.5 × 10^?6 for the liquid and 3.5 × 10^?6 cgs for the crystalline state of paraffins and polyethylene (solution-crystallized). For melt-crystallized material, μ_k, approaches the typical value of the liquid paraffin in agreement with previous results. Such a low μ_k is probably related to the increased disorder of the paracrystalline lattice domains, in contrast to the more ordered microparacrystallites in the so-called “single crystals,” where μ_k = 3.5 × 10^?6. In single crystals of branched PE, μ_k approaches 2.5 × 10^?6 with increasing branching ratio. Like paraffins in the gaseous state, molten PE, with chains longer than 1000 Å, has μ_k = 0. If the solution-crystallized material is molten for 10 min and thereafter cooled, μ_k retains the original value 3.5 × 10^?6 cgs characteristic of the crystalline state. Hence, solution-crystallized polyethylene apparently possesses a kind of “memory.” Such a “memory” can, nevertheless, be partly destroyed when molten PE is stirred for 10 min and then quenched. Aggregates of solution-precipitated crystals with 3% branching concentration give μ_k = 2.9 ± 0.2 × 10^?6 in good agreement with x-ray diffraction data. Finally, experimental details on the magnetic measurements are critically discussed, and various aspects of improvements for further investigations are also described.     

Rate constants for the elementary reactions between CN radicals and CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H6, and C2H2 in the range: 295 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 700

Pulsed laser photolysis, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence experiments have been carried out on the reactions of CN radicals with CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₂H₂. They have yielded rate constants for these five reactions at temperatures between 295 and 700 K. The data for the reactions with methane and ethane have been combined with other recent results and fitted to modified Arrhenius expressions, k(T) = A′(298) (T/298)ⁿ exp(?θ/T), yielding: for CH₄, A′(298) = 7.0 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = 2.3, and θ = ?16 K; and for C₂H₆, A′(298) = 5.6 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = 1.8, and θ = ?500 K. The rate constants for the reactions with C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₂H₂ all decrease monotonically with temperature and have been fitted to expressions of the form, k(T) = k(298) (T/298)ⁿ with k(298) = 2.5 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.24 for CN + C₂H₄; k(298) = 3.4 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.19 for CN + C₃H₆; and k(298) = 2.9 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.53 for CN + C₂H₂. These reactions almost certainly proceed via addition-elimination yielding an unsaturated cyanide and an H-atom. Our kinetic results for reactions of CN are compared with those for reactions of the same hydrocarbons with other simple free radical species. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Was ist „Molybdänsäure”︁ oder „Polymolybdänsäure”︁?

What is “Molybdic Acid” or “Polymolybdic Acid”? According to a comparative study of the literature, supplemented by well-aimed experimental investigations and equilibrium calculations, the terms “molybdic acid” or “polymolybdic acid”, used for many substances, species, or solutions in the literature, are applicable to a species, a solution, and two solids:

• a) The monomeric molybdic acid, most probably having the formula MoO₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₂(? H₂MoO₄, aq), exists in (aqueous) solution only and never exceeds a concentration of ≈ 10^?3 M since at higher concentrations it reacts with other monomemeric molybdenum (VI) species to give anionic or cationic polymers.
• b) A concentrated (>0.1 M Mo^VI) aqueous molybdate solution of degree of acidification P = 2 (realized, e. g., by a solution of one of the Mo^VI oxides; by any molybdate solutions whose cations have been exchanged by H₃O⁺ on a cation exchanger; by suitable acidification of a molybdate solution) contains 8 H₃O⁺ and the well-known polyanion Mo₃₆O₁₁₂(H₂O)₁₆^8? exactly in the stoichiometric proportions.
• c) A glassy substance, obtained from an alkali metal salt-free solution prepared according to (b), refers to the compound (H₃O)₈[Mo₃₆O₁₁₂(H₂O)₁₆]·xH₂O, x = 25—29.
• d) A solid having the ideal composition [(H₃O)Mo₅O₁₅(OH)H₂O·H₂O]∞ consists of a polymolybdate skeleton (the well-known ?decamolybdate”? structure), in the tunnels of which H₃O⁺ and H₂O are intercalate. The structure is very unstable if only H₃O⁺ cations are present, but it is enormously stabilized by a partial exchange of H₃O⁺ by certain alkali or alkaline earth metal cations.

For the compounds MoO₃, MoO₃·H₂O, and MoO₃·2H₂O the term ?molybdic acid”? is unjustified. The commercial product ?molybdic acid, ≈85% MoO₃”? is the well-known polymolybdate (NH₄)₂O·4 MoO₃ with a layer structure of the polyanion.     

On the concept of “Partitions” in the perturbation theory of n-electron systems

This paper deals with the perturbation theory of an n-electron Hamiltonian of the general form H = ∑ⁿ ?(i) + λ∑ⁿ g(i, j) = H (f, g; n). In comparison to the Brueckner–Goldstone diagrammatic perturbation theory, we adopt the more general standpoint of admitting, for the construction of an n-particle state, component states of 1, 2, 3, and more particles [O. Sinanoglu, Phys. Rev. 122 , 493 (1961) and C. D. H. Chisholm and A. Dalgarno, Proc. R. Soc. (London) Sec. A 292 , 264 (1966)]. We show that this leads to the concept of a “partition” of a perturbational eigenstate (or energy) of H. A “partition” is a natural decomposition which: (i) is finite; (ii) relates the eigenvalue problem of the system H = H (f, g; n) to those of certain subsystems H (f, g; n₁)(n₁ < n); (iii) uses “nonseparable” components. We domonstrate (under the preliminary assumption of “strict” nondegeneracy) the second-order energy to possess a “partition.” The components therein are second-order energies of two- and three-particle states. The proof uses an extension of Racah's concept of the fractional-parentage expansion.     

Über Oxide mit dem “Butterfly-Motiv”: Rb6[Fe2O5] und K6[Fe2O5]

New Oxides with the “Butterfly-Motive”: Rb₆[Fe₂O₅] and K₆[Fe₂O₅] Rb₆[Fe₂O₅] and K₆[Fe₂O₅] were obtained for the first time by annealing intimate mixtures of “Rb₆CdO₄” with CdO (molar ratio 1 : 1.1) and KO_0.48 with CdO (molar ratio 5.9 : 1) respectively in closed Fe-cylinders. Determination and refinement of the crystalstructure confirms the space group C2/m (four-circle-diffractometer data). Rb₆[Fe₂O₅]: Ag Kα , 720 out of 1220 Io(hkl), R = 9.68%, R_w = 6.09%; a = 718.9pm, b = 1183.1 pm, c = 695.4pm, β = 95.05°, Z = 2; K₆[Fe₂O₅]: MoKα , 1214 Out of 12141_o(hkl), R = 3.20070, R_w = 2.48%, a = 691.21 pm, b = 1142.78pm, c = 665.50pm, β = 93.82°, Z = 2. The binuclear unit [O₂FeOFeO₂]^6? already known to be planar with oxoferrates(II) now was observed to be angular here and closely related to Na₆[Be₂O₅].     

Graphene Quantum Dots Assembled with Metalloporphyrins for “Turn on” Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide and Glucose

Noncovalent and multifunctional hybrids have been generated via π–π stacking and electrostatic interactions by combining the nanometer‐scale graphene structure of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with Fe^III 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(1‐methyl‐4‐pyridyl)porphine (FeTMPyP). The inner filter effect (IFE) of FeTMPyP on the GQDs results in substantial PL quenching of the GQDs. The quenched PL of GQDs by the FeTMPyP can be switched back “on” in response to the reaction between FeTMPyP and H₂O₂, which causes rupture of the cyclic tetrapyrrolic nucleus with consequential loss of iron from FeTMPyP, and then proceeds further to produce colorless dipyrroles and monopyrroles. This “turn on” system can be applied for simple and convenient H₂O₂ sensing and can be further extended to the detection of glucose in combination with the specific catalytic effect of glucose oxidase (GOx) through the oxidation of glucose and formation of H₂O₂. Because of the inherent synthetic control available for the design of metalloporphyrins, the GQDs‐based optical sensing approach described here has the potential to be highly versatile for other target analytes.     

Macrocyclization of polymers via ring‐closing metathesis and azide/alkyne‐“click”‐reactions: An approach to cyclic polyisobutylenes

The end‐to‐end cyclization of telechelic polyisobutylenes (PIB's) toward cyclic polyisobutylenes is reported, using either ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) or the azide/alkyne‐“click”‐reaction. The first approach uses bisallyl‐telchelic PIB's (M_n = 1650, 3680, 9770 g mol^?1) and Grubbs 1st‐, 2nd‐, and 3rd‐generation catalyst leading to cyclic PIB's in 60–80% yield, with narrow polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.25). Azide/alkyne‐“click”‐reactions of bisalkyne‐telechelic PIB's (M_n = 3840 and 9820 g mol^?1) with excess of 1,11‐diazido‐undecane leads to the formation of mixtures of linear/cyclic PIB's under formation of oligomeric cycles. Subsequent reaction of the residual azide‐moieties in the linear PIB's with excess of alkyne‐telechelic PEO enables the chromatographic removal of the resulting linear PEO‐PIB‐block copolymers by column chromatography. Thus pure cyclic PIB's can be obtained using this double‐“click”‐method, devoid of linear contaminants. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 671–680, 2010     

La3OCl[AsO3]2: Ein Lanthan‐Oxidchlorid‐Oxoarsenat(III) mit “lone‐pair”‐Kanalstruktur

La₃OCl[AsO₃]₂: A Lanthanum Oxide Chloride Oxoarsenate(III) with a “Lone‐Pair” Channel Structure La₃OCl[AsO₃]₂ was prepared by the solid‐state reaction between La₂O₃ and As₂O₃ using LaCl₃ and CsCl as fluxing agents in evacuated silica ampoules at 850 °C. The colourless crystals with pillar‐shaped habit crystallize tetragonally (a = 1299.96(9), c = 558.37(5) pm, c/a = 0.430) in the space group P4₂/mnm (no. 136) with four formula units per unit cell. The crystal structure contains two crystallographically different La³⁺ cations. (La1)³⁺ is coordinated by six oxygen atoms and two chloride anions in the shape of a bicapped trigonal prism (CN = 8), whereas (La2)³⁺ carries eight oxygen atoms and one Cl^? anion arranged in the shape of tricapped trigonal prism (CN = 9). The isolated pyramidal [AsO₃]^3? anions (d(As–O) = 175–179 pm) consist of three oxygen atoms (O2 and two O3), which surround the As³⁺ cations together with the free, non‐binding electron pair (lone pair) Ψ¹‐tetrahedrally (?(O–As–O) = 95°, 3×). One of the three crystallographically independent oxygen atoms (O1), however, is exclusively coordinated by four (La2)³⁺ cations in the shape of a real tetrahedron (d(O–La) = 236 pm, 4×). These [(O1)(La2)₄]¹⁰⁺ tetrahedra form endless chains in the direction of the c axis through trans‐edge condensation. Empty channels, constituted by the lone‐pair electrons of the Cl^? anions and the As³⁺ cations in the Ψ¹‐tetrahedral oxoarsenate(III) anions [AsO₃]^3?, run parallel to [001] as well.     

Inner-sphere oxidation of iron(II) by tris(malonato)cobaltate(III)

The kinetics of oxidation of Fe²⁺ by [Co(C₃H₂O₄)₃]^3? in acidic solutions at 605 nm showed a simple first-order dependence in each reactant concentration. The second-order rate constant dependence on [H⁺] is in accordance with eqn (i) k₂ = k′₂ + k₃[H⁺] (i) where k′₂ and k₃ have values of 73.4 ± 14.0 M ^?1 s^?1 and 353 ± 41 M^?2 s^?1, respectively, at 1.0 M ionic strength (NaClO₄) and 25°C. At 310 nm the formation and decomposition of an intermediate, believed to be [FeC₃H₂O₄]⁺, was observed. The increase in the rate of oxidation with increasing [H⁺] was interpreted in terms of a “one-ended” dissociation mechanism which facilitates chelation of Fe₂₊ by the carbonyl oxygens of malonate in the transition state.     

Light-scattering studies on polystyrenes in isorefractive poly(methyl methacrylate)–toluene “solvents”

The rms radii of gyration 〈S²〉^1/2 and second virial coefficients Γ₂ of five monodisperse polystyrenes (M × 10^?5 = 1.6, 2.8, 4.2, 6.6) were measured in isorefractive toluene–poly(methyl methacrylate) (M?_v = 4.0 × 10⁴, 1.6 × 10⁵, and 6.3 × 10⁵) “solvents.” For a given PMMA, the concentration at which the θ condition (defined by Γ₂ = 0) was reached was independent of PS molecular weight, but varied inversely with PMMA molecular weight (0.10, 0.056, and 0.023 g/mL, respectively). When this θ condition is reached by adding PMMA to toluene, the radii of gyration are decreased by only about 15%, much less than when it is reached by going to a poor, low-molecular-weight solvent. This reflects the exclusion of PMMA from the PS coils, the internal environment of which is essentially pure toluene.     

Über Oxoferrate mit „isolierten”︁ Anionen. Zur Kenntnis von Na8Fe2O7

On Oxoferrato with “isolated” Anions: Na₈Fe₂O₇ Na₈Fe₂O₇ has been prepared by heating of Na₂O and Fe₂O (Na:Fe = 4.6:1, sealed Ag-cylinders, 600°C, 7d) in from of yellow transparent single crystals [monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14); a = 8.70₃, b = 11.01₀, c = 10.09₆ Å, β = 107.6°; Z = 4; 4420 independent reflections, R = 0.063] which are isotypic with Na₈Ga₂O₇. The bonding angle Fe? O? Fe within an “isolated” group [Fe₂O₇] is extraordinary small (119.7°). Effective Coordination Numbers, ECoN (these by means of Mean Fictive Ionic Radii, MEFIR), and the Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, are calculated and discussed.     

Kinetic study of reactions of C2H5O2 with NO at 298 K and 0.55 – 2 torr

The kinetics of C₂H₅O₂ and C₂H₅O₂ radicals with NO have been studied at 298 K using the discharge flow technique coupled to laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and mass spectrometry analysis. The temporal profiles of C₂H₅O were monitored by LIF. The rate constant for C₂H₅O + NO → Products (2), measured in the presence of helium, has been found to be pressure dependent: k₂ = (1.25±0.04) × 10^?11, (1.66±0.06) × 10^?11, (1.81±0.06) × 10^?11 at P (He) = 0.55, 1 and 2 torr, respectively (units are cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). The Lindemann-Hinshelwood analysis of these rate constant data and previous high pressure measurements indicates competition between association and disproportionation channels: C₂H₅O + NO + M → C₂H₅ONO + M (2a), C₂H₅O + NO → CH₃CHO + HNO (2b). The following calculated average values were obtained for the low and high pressure limits of k_2a and for k_2b : k = (2.6±1.0) × 10^?28 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1, k = (3.1±0.8) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k_2b ca. 8 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The present value of k, obtained with He as the third body, is significantly lower than the value (2.0±1.0) × 10^?27 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1 recommended in air. The rate constant for the reaction C₂H₅O₂ + NO → C₂H₅O + NO₂ (3) has been measured at 1 torr of He from the simulation of experimental C₂H₅O profiles. The value obtained for k₃ = (8.2±1.6) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 is in good agreement with previous studies using complementary methods. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetic Study of Peroxidase‐Catalyzed Coupling of Benzene‐1,4‐diamine and N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)naphthalen‐1‐amine: Development of Micromolar Hydrogen Peroxide Reaction System

A novel chromogenic method to measure the peroxidase activity using para‐phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (=benzene‐1,4‐diamine hydrochloride; PPDD) and N‐(1‐naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (=N‐(2‐aminoethyl)naphthalen‐1‐amine; NEDA) is presented. The PPDD entraps the free radical and gets oxidized to electrophilic diimine, which couples with NEDA to give an intense red‐colored chromogenic species with maximum absorbance at 490 nm. This assay was adopted for the quantification of H₂O₂ between 20 and 160 μM . Catalytic efficiency and catalytic power of the commercial peroxidase were found to be 4.47×10⁴ M ^?1 min^?1 and 3.38×10^?4 min^?1, respectively. The catalytic constant (k_cat) and specificity constant (k_cat/K_m) at saturated concentration of the co‐substrates were 0.0245×10³ min^?1 and 0.0445 μM ^?1 min^?1, respectively. The chromogenic coupling reaction has a minimum interference from the reducing substances such as ascorbic acid, L ‐cystein, citric acid, and oxalic acid. The method being simple, rapid, precise, and sensitive, its applicability has been tested in the crude vegetable extracts that showed peroxidase activity.     

On the mechanism of interaction between copper (I) and O2

The mechanism of the interaction of Cu⁺-α,α-dipyridyl complex (Cu⁺L₂) with O₂ in both neutral and acid media was studied by the stopped-flow method. The dependence of the mechanism on the acidity of the medium was established. In an acid medium H⁺ participated in a direct O₂ reduction to HO₂ by interaction with an oxygen adduct L₂Cu⁺O₂ formed without displacement of ligand molecules. In a neutral medium the reaction rate was limited by inner sphere charge transfer from Cu⁺ to O₂ to form an oxygen “charge transfer” complex L₂CuO⁺₂. The latter interacted either with the second ion Cu⁺L₂ or with the free ligand, or else it dissociated, reversibly or irreversibly, to form a radical anion O^?₂. The bimolecular rate constants of the oxygen “adduct” and “charge transfer” complex formation appeared to be k_bi = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁵ and (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁴M^?1?sec^?1, respectively. The effective termolecular rate constants of O₂ reduction to HO₂ in an acid medium (with contribution from H⁺) and to O^?₂ in a neutral medium (with contribution from α,α-dipyridyl) were k_ter = 2.7 × 10⁸ and 10⁷M^?2?sec^?1. The rate constants of the elementary steps were estimated. The auto-oxidation mechanism of the aquoion and complexes of Cu⁺ is discussed in terms of the results obtained.     

Synthesis of arborescent polystyrene by “click” grafting

A method was developed for the synthesis of arborescent polystyrene by “click” coupling. Acetylene functionalities were introduced on linear polystyrene (M_n = 5300 g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.05) by acetylation and reaction with potassium hydroxide, 18‐crown‐6 and propargyl bromide in toluene. Polymerization of styrene with 6‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxyhexyllithium yielded polystyrene (M_n = 5200 g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.09) with a protected hydroxyl chain end. Deprotection, followed by conversions to tosyl and azide functionalities, provided the side chain material. Coupling with CuBr and N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine proceeded in up to 94% yield. Repetition of the grafting cycles led to well‐defined (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.1) polymers of generations G1 and G2 in 84% and 60% yield, respectively, with M_n and branching functionalities reaching 2.8 × 10⁶ g/mol and 460, respectively, for the G2 polymer. Coupling longer (M_n = 45,000 g/mol) side chains with acetylene‐functionalized substrates was also examined. For a linear substrate, a G0 polymer with M_n = 4.6 × 10⁵ g/mol and M_w/M_n = 1.10 was obtained in 87% yield; coupling with the G0 (M_n = 52,000 g/mol) substrate produced a G1 polymer (M_n = 1.4×10⁶ g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.38) in 28% yield. The complementary approach using azide‐functionalized substrates and acetylene‐terminated side chains was also investigated, but proceeded in lower yield. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1730–1740     

Hemoglobin as a nitrite anhydrase: modeling methemoglobin-mediated N2O3 formation

Nitrite has recently been recognized as a storage form of NO in blood and as playing a key role in hypoxic vasodilation. The nitrite ion is readily reduced to NO by hemoglobin in red blood cells, which, as it happens, also presents a conundrum. Given NO’s enormous affinity for ferrous heme, a key question concerns how it escapes capture by hemoglobin as it diffuses out of the red cells and to the endothelium, where vasodilation takes place. Dinitrogen trioxide (N₂O₃) has been proposed as a vehicle that transports NO to the endothelium, where it dissociates to NO and NO₂. Although N₂O₃ formation might be readily explained by the reaction Hb‐Fe³⁺+NO₂^?+NO?Hb‐Fe²⁺+N₂O₃, the exact manner in which methemoglobin (Hb‐Fe³⁺), nitrite and NO interact with one another is unclear. Both an “Hb‐Fe³⁺‐NO₂^?+NO” pathway and an “Hb‐Fe³⁺‐NO+NO₂^?” pathway have been proposed. Neither pathway has been established experimentally. Nor has there been any attempt until now to theoretically model N₂O₃ formation, the so‐called nitrite anhydrase reaction. Both pathways have been examined here in a detailed density functional theory (DFT, B3LYP/TZP) study and both have been found to be feasible based on energetics criteria. Modeling the “Hb‐Fe³⁺‐NO₂^?+NO” pathway proved complex. Not only are multiple linkage‐isomeric (N‐ and O‐coordinated) structures conceivable for methemoglobin–nitrite, multiple isomeric forms are also possible for N₂O₃ (the lowest‐energy state has an N? N‐bonded nitronitrosyl structure, O₂N? NO). We considered multiple spin states of methemoglobin–nitrite as well as ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling of the Fe³⁺ and NO spins. Together, the isomerism and spin variables result in a diabolically complex combinatorial space of reaction pathways. Fortunately, transition states could be successfully calculated for the vast majority of these reaction channels, both M_S=0 and M_S=1. For a six‐coordinate Fe³⁺‐O‐nitrito starting geometry, which is plausible for methemoglobin–nitrite, we found that N₂O₃ formation entails barriers of about 17–20 kcal mol^?1, which is reasonable for a physiologically relevant reaction. For the “Hb‐Fe³⁺‐NO+NO₂^?” pathway, which was also found to be energetically reasonable, our calculations indicate a two‐step mechanism. The first step involves transfer of an electron from NO₂^? to the Fe³⁺–heme–NO center ({FeNO}⁶) , resulting in formation of nitrogen dioxide and an Fe²⁺–heme–NO center ({FeNO}⁷). Subsequent formation of N₂O₃ entails a barrier of only 8.1 kcal mol^?1. From an energetics point of view, the nitrite anhydrase reaction thus is a reasonable proposition. Although it is tempting to interpret our results as favoring the “{FeNO}⁶+NO₂^?” pathway over the “Fe³⁺‐nitrite+NO” pathway, both pathways should be considered energetically reasonable for a biological reaction and it seems inadvisable to favor a unique reaction channel based solely on quantum chemical modeling.     

A “Mitsubishi emblem” tetrauclear aluminum complex containing two unsymmetric N2O2‐ligands and a symmetric NO3‐ligand as initiator for polymerization of rac‐lactide

A novel hydroxy‐, methoxy‐, and phenoxy‐bridge “Mitsubishi emblem” tetranuclear aluminum complex ( 1 ) is synthesized from an unsymmetric amine‐pyridine‐bis(phenol) N₂O₂‐ligand (H₂L¹) and a symmetric amine‐tris(phenol) NO₃‐ligand (H₂L²). Two same configuration chiral nitrogen atoms are formed in the tetranuclear Al complex upon coordination of the unsymmetric tertiary amine ligand to central Al. Complex 1 initiates controlled ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of rac‐lactide and afford polylactide (PLA) with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.05–1.19). The analysis of ¹H NMR spectra of the oligomer indicates that the methoxy group is the initiating group and the ring‐opening polymerization of lactide follows a coordination‐insertion mechanism. The Homonuclear decoupled ¹H NMR spectroscopy suggests the isotactic‐rich chains is preferentially formed in PLA. The study on kinetics of the ROP of lactide reveals the homopropagation rate is higher than the cross‐propagation rate, which is in agreement with the observed isotactic selectivity in the ROP of rac‐lactide. The stereochemistry of the polymerization was also supported by activation parameters. The introduction of unsymmetric ligand H₂L¹ has an effect on stereoslectivity of polymerization. This result may be of interest for the design of multinuclear metal complex catalysts containing functionalized ligands. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2084–2091