Polyelectrolyte behavior and macromolecular properties of sodium amylopectin xanthate in dilute solution

Sodium amylopectin xanthate was prepared by xanthation of potato amylopectin in alkaline medium. The pure product was characterized by I₂ solution and ultraviolet spectra of the xanthate groups. The polyelectrolyte behavior of Na amylopectin xanthate in aqueous and salt solutions was investigated by viscometry and light scattering. Its polyelectrolyte behavior in aqueous solution as studied viscometrically was completely different from that of Na amylose xanthate, which is characteristic of linear polyelectrolyte molecules. This difference in behavior could be partly due to the branched structure of amylopectin molecule. A dissymmetry study of Na amylopectin xanthate in aqueous and salt solutions, however, showed that Na amylopectin xanthate molecule underwent expansion in water by about 1.3 times its linear dimension in 0.5M NaCl (unperturbed value). Light-scattering measurements confirmed that the Na amylopectin xanthate molecule had a polydisperse random-coil chain configuration in 0.25M NaCl. Its molecular weight, end-to-end length, and other parameters in salt and alkali solutions were also determined, and the data were then compared with those of Na amylose xanthate in the same media. The solution behavior of Na amylopectin xanthate in 1M NaOH was further investigated and linear expansion factor α, excluded volume factor A₂M _W/[η], and Flory's hydrodynamic constant φ were evaluated.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the conformation of dicarboxylic acid salts in aqueous solutions

It is already known that the molecules of long chain monocarboxylic acid salts have a tendency to form micelles in aqueous solutions, the molecular chain taking the all-trans zigzag structure. However it is considered difficult for dicarboxylic acid salts to adopt the same structure as the monocarboxylic acid salts as they have two carboxyl groups, one on each end of the molecular chain. Therefore, a special structure is expected to exist for dicarboxylic acid salts in aqueous solution. In order to examine this, Raman spectra of suberic acid salt and azelaic acid salt in aqueous solution were measured and the normal vibrational calculation carried out, showing that dicarboxylic acid salts have a helical structure in aqueous solution.     

Thermally induced conformation transition of triple-helical lentinan in NaCl aqueous solution

Lentinan, a beta-(1-->3)-D-glucan, was isolated from Lentinus edodes by using an improved extraction and purification method to show good water solubility and high yield. The results from 13C NMR, size-exclusion chromatography combined with multiangle laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and optical rotation revealed that lentinan existed in a triple-helical conformation in the aqueous solution at 25 degrees C, whereas the thermally induced conformation transition from triple helix to single flexible chains occurred at elevated temperatures. The dependences of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw), radius of gyration (z1/2), hydrodynamic radius (Rh), intrinsic viscosity ([eta]), and specific optical rotation of lentinan on temperature in 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution showed an abrupt drop at 130-145 degrees C. It was confirmed that the conformation transitions from triple strand to single chain and from extended chains to winding chains for lentinan were completed rapidly at 130-145 degrees C, as a result of the simultaneous destruction of the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in lentinan. The thermally induced conformational transition was irreversible. The results from atomic force microscopy (AFM) and DLS demonstrated the existence of intrachain entanglement for the triple-helical chains, leading to the wormlike linear, circular, and crossover species for lentinan having high Mw (1.71x10(6)) in aqueous solution at 25 degrees C.     

The effect of salts on the conformation and microstructure of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) in aqueous solution

We present an experimental investigation of the conformation and microstructure of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) in aqueous solution in the presence of salts. As a model, a strong salting–out salt (Na₂SO₄) and a strong salting–in salt (NaSCN) were chosen. Light scattering measurements show that Na₂SO₄ decreases the radius of gyration of PNIPA compared to its value in water, whereas NaSCN increases it. Moreover, the NaSCN solution was found to be a better solvent for PNIPA compared to water, whereas Na₂SO₄ solution is worse. Small‐angle neutron scattering measurements of semidilute PNIPA solutions, at temperatures well below the phase‐transition temperature, exhibit the behavior predicted by the model of dynamic concentration fluctuations characterized by a single correlation length. Excess scattering at low angles is observed in salt solutions at temperatures that are near, yet below, the phase‐transition temperature. This may indicate intrachain heterogeneities on the scale of 6–8 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3713–3720, 2004     

Hydration and dynamic behavior of cyclodextrins in aqueous solution

The hydration state and dynamics of plain and chemically modified cyclodextrins (CDs) in aqueous solution were investigated by using dielectric relaxation measurements at 25 degrees C over a wide frequency range up to 20 GHz, which is the relaxation frequency of pure liquid water molecules. The obtained dielectric relaxation spectra were decomposed into two major and one minor relaxation modes with relaxation times of approximately 8.3, 20-25, and 1000-2500 ps, respectively, depending on the CD species. The two major modes, fast and medium, were attributed to a rotational relaxation process of water molecules belonging to the bulk (free) state and an exchange of water molecules hydrated to CDs owing to hydrogen bond formation. The hydration numbers of the CDs strongly depend on the number of hydroxy (OH) groups controlled by chemical modification such as methylation. Increasing the number of methoxy or 2-hydroxypropoxy groups increases the hydration number of CD molecules, and results in higher solubilities of the chemically modified CDs than those of the plain CDs. The minor, slow mode was assigned to overall rotational relaxation for CDs with finite permanent dipole moments, which also depends on the number of OH groups.     

Complexing of polymer-bound crown ethers with sodium salts in aqueous solution

It has been established that polymer-bound crown ethers L₁ and L₂ are effective sorbents for sodium salts in aqueous solution; the manner in which sodium salts are bound by these ligands differs. Complex compounds of immobilized macrocyclic polyether L₁ with sodium salts have been shown to have the properties of reversible anion exchangers.L. V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, 252028 Kiev. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 87–91, January, 1992.     

Influence of salts on hydrophobically end-capped polyethylene oxides in aqueous solution

The influence of four different salts (NaCl, KBr, CaCl₂ and MgCl₂) on the associative behaviour of poly(ethylene oxide) (POE with M=32000g/mol) hydrophobically end-capped with hexadecyl groups in aqueous solutions was investigated. Phase diagrams were obtained, structural properties were established by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements and studies on the viscoelastic properties of the solutions were performed by low-shear viscosity and dynamic stress experiments. The influence of the four salts is compared as well as the difference of the interactions obtained with and without salts.     

Pyrolysis—gas chromatography of quaternary ammonium salts in aqueous solution

The pyrolysis of a range of simple quaternary ammonium salts in aqueous solution has been studied by gas chromatographic procedures. The results indicate that the structure of the cation governs the thermal stability and breakdown pattern of the salts, the nature of the anion having no apparent effect on the process. The mechanism of the decomposition is discussed as is the potential of aqueous pyrolysis—gas chromatography for analytical studies of quaternary ammonium salts in general.     

Synthesis and aqueous solution behavior of phosphonate-functionalized chitosans

A series of novel phosphonate-functionalized pH-responsive chitosans were directly synthesized via Michael addition of chitosan with mono-(2-acryloyloxyethyl) phosphonate. The conformational and phase transitions of these phosphonate-functionalized chitosans were investigated by turbidity and UV-vis spectroscopy studies. The results indicated that the inter- or intra-chain electrostatic interactions of the phosphonate-functionalized chitosans could be controlled via adjusting the solution pH, leading to the reversible conformational and phase transitions of these chitosans. These phosphonate-functionalized chitosans exhibited typical anti-polyelectrolyte effect and polyelectrolyte effect.     

Partial molal compressibilities of salts in aqueous solution and assignment of ionic contributions

Apparent molal adiabatic compressibilities of a number of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 electrolytes have been accurately determined in the concentration range 0 to 1 m at 25°C. Debye-Hückel limiting-law behavior is observed in the low concentration region, and a scale of individual ionic compressibilities is proposed in terms of semiempirical calculations based on assessment of the contributions of the various types of solute-solvent interaction in the Frank and Wen model for a series of alkali halides. On this scale, K _s ^o (Cl^?, 25°C)=?17×10^?4 ml-mole^?1 bar^?1. Isothermal compressibility values also have been calculated for a number of the salts studied, and specific effects of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding on compressibility are indicated.     

Ion chromatographic determination of hydrolysis products of hexafluorophosphate salts in aqueous solution

In this work, hydrolysis of three different hexafluorophosphate salts in purified water was investigated. Aqueous samples of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), sodium hexafluorophosphate (NaPF₆) and potassium hexafluorophosphate (KPF₆) were prepared and stored for different times. Ion chromatography (IC) with UV as well as non-suppressed and suppressed conductivity detection was used for the analysis of the reaction products. For the detection and identification of the formed decomposition products, an IC method using IonPac AS14A 250 mm × 4.0 mm i.d. column and 2.5 mM KHCO₃–2.5 mM K₂CO₃ eluent was established. Besides hexafluorophosphate, four other anionic species were detected in fresh and matured aqueous solutions. The hydrolysis products fluoride (F⁻), monofluorophosphate (HPO₃F⁻), phosphate (HPO₄²⁻) and difluorophosphate (PO₂F₂⁻) were found and were unambiguously identified by means of standards or electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). It was shown that stability of hexafluorophosphate solutions depends on the nature of the counter ion and decreases in the order potassium > sodium > lithium.     

Solubilization and precipitation of cholesterol in aqueous solution of bile salts and their mixtures

Solubilization of cholesterol by mixed micelles of sodium chenodeoxycholate with sodium ursodeoxycholate was investigated in carbonate-tetraborate buffer (Kolthoff) solution at pH 10 and 37°C. It was found that the mixing of the two bile salts gives a negatively synergetic effect on solubilization of cholesterol. The solubilizing power of bile salts for cholesterol was remarkably influenced with the change in mole fraction of sodium ursodeoxycholate (X _UDC).The behavior of bile salt solutions saturated with cholesterol was examined by measuring the surface tension. Two break points were observed in the curves of surface tension vs. concentration. The break points seem to correspond to a CMC in the absence of solubilized cholesterol and another CMC in the presence of solubilized cholesterol inside bile salt micelle.     

天花粉蛋白溶液构象与稳定性及生物活性的关系

用圆二色性研究了天花粉蛋白在不同PH,不同温度和不同的时间条件下的溶液构象变化.阐明了天花粉蛋白溶液的外部环境,并研究了天花粉蛋白的溶液构象与抗生育活性的关系,结果表明随着溶液中a-helix含量的增加,抗生育活性也相应增加,当a-helix含量减少到15%以下,其抗生育活性也就丧失.     

Thermal diffusion of tetrabutylammonium salts in aqueous solution at 25°C

A conductimetric technique is used to measure the Soret coefficients of dilute aqueous solutions of tetra-n-butylammonium (NBu₄) chloride, bromide, iodide and thiocyanate at 25°C and salt molalities from 0.0005 to 0.02 mol-kg^–1. Entropies of transport calculated from the Soret coefficients pass through minima near 0.001 mol-kg^–1 for NBu₄I and NBu₄SCN, and near 0.003 mol-kg^–1 for NBu₄Cl and NBu₄Br. The results for NBu₄Cl are in good agreement with those obtained by Lin et al. from thermocell measurements.     

Raman spectra of isotopic bisulfite and disulfite ions in alkali salts and aqueous solution

The Raman spectra of solid lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium, rubidium, and ammonium disulfite and of rubidium and cesium bisulfite were recorded and compared with the spectrum of an aqueous solution saturated with 1.2m K₂S₂O₅. Deuterium, ³⁴S₈, and ¹⁸O₂ were used to label cesium bisulfite, CsHSO₃, cesium disulfite, Cs₂S₂O₅, and potassium disulfite. All six fundamentals of the bisulfite ion were observed and assigned. Eleven of the fifteen expected fundamentals of the disulfite ion were observed and correlated to older experimental data, as well as recent calculations. Isotope shifts confirm assignments in the SO stretching region. In the low frequency region, assignment is less conclusive and two frequencies have been tentatively reassigned.     

Aggregation behavior of naphthalimide fluorescent surfactants in aqueous solution

A group of novel fluorescent surfactants, N-n-alkyl-4-(1-methylpiperazine)-1,8-naphthalimide iodine [C_nndi]I (n?=?8, 10, and 12), have been synthesized and their aggregation behavior in aqueous solution have been explored by surface tension, electric conductivity, hydrogen-1 NMR spectra, absorption, and fluorescence spectra. Compared with traditional cationic surfactants, the [C_nndi]I have a rather lower critical micelle concentration and higher surface activity. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were proved to be facile method to monitor directly the aggregation states of fluorescent surfactant molecules in solution and revealed clearly the formation of face-to-face stacked structure of the [C_nndi]I molecules driven by the π–π interactions. The micelle formation process for [C_nndi]I was demonstrated to be enthalpy-driven in the temperature range investigated. Possible aggregation process was given based on the experimental results. The combination of dye and surfactant provides a way for monitoring the formation process of micelle directly by fluorescence spectra.     

The aggregation behavior of O-carboxymethylchitosan in dilute aqueous solution

O-Carboxymethylchitosan (OCMCS) is a kind of biocompatible derivatives of chitosan whose water solubility is strongly dependent on the degree of carboxymethylation. The OCMCS with 100 carboxymethyl groups and 75 amino groups per 100 anhydroglucosamine units of OCMCS was synthesized by the reaction of chitosan and monochloroacetic. When OCMCS was dissolved in water, its solution was neutral and OCMCS behaved like a weak polyanionic polyeclectrolyte because most of carboxylic groups were not dissociated in neutral aqueous solution. The aggregation behavior of OCMCS in aqueous solution was studied by surface tensiometry, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and viscometry. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) of OCMCS was determined to be between 0.042 mg/ml and 0.050 mg/ml. The possible aggregation mechanism of OCMCS in water was elucidated.     

Aggregation behavior of imidazolium-based chiral surfactant in aqueous solution

A novel imidazolium-based chiral surfactant with a Y-type hydrophobic chain, (S)-(+)-1-(2,3-bis(octanoyloxy)propyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bopmim]Cl), was synthesized. The aggregation behavior of [Bopmim]Cl in aqueous solution was then investigated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, ¹H NMR, and fluorescence measurements. Compared with [C₁₂mim]Cl, the critical micelle concentration for [Bopmim]Cl is lower, indicating that the novel chiral surfactant has superior capacity to form micelles. A larger value of pC ₂₀, a greater minimum area per surfactant molecule (A _min), a smaller degree of counterion binding (β), and a looser aggregate are caused by the relatively larger Y-type hydrophobic chain of [Bopmim]Cl. Furthermore, analysis of the ¹H NMR spectra revealed that the introduced Y-type hydrophobic chain may prevent the hydrophobic group from forming an extended chain configuration and cause a changeover from trans to gauche conformations upon micellization. The micelles of the novel chiral surfactant may provide some potential applications in the stereochemical recognition of surfaces or of biological structures.