Ion-molecular interactions in solutions of potassium and cadmium thiocyanates in N-methylpyrrolidone at 298.15 k, according to calorimetry and densitometry data

The heat capacity and density of KNCS-N-methylpyrrolidone (MP), Cd(NCS)₂-MP, and KNCS-Cd(NCS)₂-MP solutions at 298.15 K are studied by means of calorimetry and densitometry. Standard partial molar heat capacities and volumes ( $\bar C^\circ _{p,2} $ and $\bar V^\circ _2 $ ) of the studied electrolytes in MP are calculated. Standard values of heat capacity $\bar C^\circ _{p,i} $ and volume $\bar V^\circ _i $ of NCS^? ions in MP at 298.15 K are determined. Values of the heat capacity and volume changes upon the formation of the three-component system KNCS-Cd(NCS)₂-MP from binary solutions are obtained and discussed.     

The effect of pressure on the formation of alkali metal borate ion pairs at 25°C

Pressure dependent UV-visible spectrophotometric measurements were used to determine \(\Delta \bar V^ * \) and \(\Delta \bar \kappa ^ * \) for the formation of alkali metal borate ion pairs. The association constant for each ion pair was measured at 25°C and at ionic strengths of 0.1 and 1.0m over a pressure range of 1 to 2000 atm. The pressure dependence of the apparent association constants, K _A (P)/K _A (1), have been fitted to $$[RT/(P - 1)]ln[K_A (P)]/[K_A (1)] = - \Delta \bar V^0 + \Delta \bar \kappa ^0 [(P - 1)/2]$$ to determine \(\Delta \bar V^0 and \Delta \bar \kappa ^0 \) . The \(\Delta \bar V^0 \) for the alkali metal borate ion pairs range from 5–9 cm³-mol^?1. The association constants were also measured as a function of ionic strength at 1 atm. Extrapolation to I=0 yielded K _A of 2.12, 0.66, 0.76 and 1.12 for [LiB(OH)₄], [KB(OH)₄], [RbB(OH)₄] and [CsB(OH)₄], respectively. The trend generally indicates less ion pairing and a smaller volume change for the ion pair formation as the size of the cation increases. The concept of localized hydrolysis is used to explain the trend observed in the equilibrium constant of the ion pair as the cation size is changed.     

In vitro and in silico inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme by carbohydrates and cyclitols

Fifteen carbohydrates (d-mannose, d-glucose, d-galactose, methyl-α-d-glucose, l-rhamnose, d-xylose, d-fructose, d-arabinose, dulcitol, mannitol, β-maltose, α-lactose, melibiose, sucrose, and raffinose) and four cyclitols [l-(+)-bornesitol, myo-inositol, per-O-acetyl-1-l-(+)-bornesitol, and quinic acid] were assayed for in vitro ACE inhibition. Of these molecules, per-O-Acetyl-1-l-(+)-bornesitol, quinic acid, methyl-α-d-glucose, d-rhamnose, raffinose, and the disaccharides were determined to be either inactive or weak ACE inhibitors, whereas l-(+)-bornesitol, d-galactose, d-glucose, and myo-inositol exhibited significant ACE inhibition. Molecular docking studies were performed to investigate interactions between active compounds and human ACE (Protein Data Bank, PDB 1O83). The results of various calculations showed that all active sugars bind to the same enzyme region, which is a tunnel directed towards the active site. With the exception of myo-inositol (K _i = 13.95 μM, IC₅₀ = 449.2 μM), the active compounds presented similar K _i and IC₅₀ values. d-Galactose (K _i = 19.6 μM, IC₅₀ = 35.7 μM) and l-(+)-bornesitol (K _i = 25.3 μM, IC₅₀ = 41.4 μM) were the most active compounds, followed by d-glucose (K _i = 32.9 μM, IC₅₀ = 85.7 μM). Our docking calculations are in agreement with the experimental data and show a new binding region for sugar-like molecules, which may be explored for the development of new ACE inhibitors.     

Formation of the dispersed phase in mixed solutions of chitosan and magnesium sulfate

Specific features of formation and the composition and characteristics of dispersed phase particles in mixed dilute solutions of chitosan and magnesium sulfate, containing no surfactants, were studied. The component molar ratio, \(\nu _{SO_4 } :\nu _{NH_2 }\) , is the factor exerting the strongest influence on the formation rate and characteristics of chitosan sulfate particles. With an increase in the fraction of sulfate ions in the initial solution, the particle size decreases and their ζ-potential increases. The \(\nu _{SO_4 } :\nu _{NH_2 }\) molar ratio in chitosan sulfate particles only slightly depends on the composition of the initial mixed solution and varies within 0.40–0.44.     

Electrochemically synthesized nanoporous gold as a cathode material for Li-O<Subscript>2</Subscript> batteries

Nanoporous gold (NPG) prepared via chemical de-alloying has been recently shown to dramatically improve the reversibility and kinetics of Li-O₂ batteries, but high cost makes its use as practical electrode material difficult. Recently developed electrochemical routines for synthesis of very thin NPG layers (<100 nm) on various low-cost substrates could potentially provide a feasible economic alternative. In this work, NPG on both gold and glassy carbon (GC) substrates was successfully synthesized via electrochemical de-alloying method and tested as cathode material in Li-O₂ batteries. The results show that electrochemically synthesized NPG cathode cycles repeatedly with LiFePO₄ anode. The voltage hysteresis is also significantly reduced when NPG is used in comparison with plain GC. Along with these results, challenges that need to be addressed for future implementation of NPG cathode in practical Li-O₂ batteries are also discussed.

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Graphical abstract Thin film NPG electrodes on both Au and GC substrates reduce voltage hysterisis

     

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the formation of S 2 - from CS2 by electron impact

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the formation of S ₂ ^- from CS₂ by electron impact has been carried out. Molecular orbital calculations show that some of the low lying states of CS ₂ ^- have lower potential energy in the bent geometries suggesting a transformation in the geometric structure of the precursor molecular ion, leading to the formation of S ₂ ^- . In contrast to the formation of S ₂ ^- and S ₂ ^- , the kinetic energy associated with S ₂ ^- is small and disproportionate to the increase in electron energy, indicating the formation of S ₂ ^- in vibrationally excited states due to the mechanism of its formation.     

Determination of Surface Characteristics of Epoxidized Soybean Oil by Inverse GC

The dispersive free energy and acid–base forces of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) were determined by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Eight non-polar and polar solvents were used as the probes in the temperature range between 303.15 and 343.15 K. The IGC characterization encompassed the adsorption thermodynamic parameters, including the standard enthalpy ( $ \Updelta H_{\text{a}}^{\text{s}} $ ) and the free energy change of adsorption ( $ \Updelta G_{\text{a}}^{\text{s}} $ ), using the retention time of different non-polar and polar probes at the infinite dilution region. Surface characterization showed that ESO has low $ r_{\text{s}}^{\text{d}} $ value, even at 303.15 K, and is a Lewis amphoteric material with predominantly basic character, as confirmed by the Lewis acidity and basicity constants K _a and K _b, respectively.     

Adsorption studies of the removal of anions from aqueous solutions onto an adsorbent prepared from wheat straw

Modified wheat straw (MWS) was prepared by the grafting of epichlorohydrin, triethylamine and ethylenediamine onto WS. The characteristics of MWS and its adsorption capacity for NO ₃ ^? , PO ₄ ^3? and Cr₂O ₇ ^2? were investigated. The results indicate that amine groups with positive charge have been introduced into the structure of MWS, and significantly increased its anion adsorption property. The functions of MWS dosage, the solution pH, the contact time and temperature have significant influence on the adsorption process, and the adsorption is well fitted with the Langmuir equation and pseudo second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacity of MWS for NO ₃ ^? , PO ₄ ^— (P) and Cr₂O ₇ ^2? (Cr) is 53.5, 62.4 and 386.2 mg g^?1, respectively.     

Enzymatic Oxidation and Separation of Various Saccharides with Immobilized Glucose Oxidase

Glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger, the specific enzyme for β-d-glucose oxidation, can also oxidize other related saccharides at very slow or negligible rates. The present study aimed to compare the kinetics of d-glucose oxidation using immobilized glucose oxidase on bead cellulose for the oxidation of related saccharides using the same biocatalyst. The significant differences were observed between the reaction rates for d-glucose and other saccharides examined. As a result, k _cat/K _M ratio for d-glucose was determined to be 42 times higher than d-mannose, 61.6 times higher than d-galactose, 279 times higher than d-xylose, and 254 times higher than for d-fructose and d-cellobiose. On the basis of these differences, the ability of immobilized glucose oxidase to remove d-glucose from d-cellobiose, d-glucose from d-xylose, and d-xylose from d-lyxose was examined. Immobilized catalase on Eupergit and mixed with immobilized glucose oxidase on bead cellulose or co-immobilized with glucose oxidase on bead cellulose was used for elimination of hydrogen peroxide from the reaction mixture. The accelerated elimination of d-glucose and d-xylose in the presence of co-immobilized catalase was observed. The co-immobilized glucose oxidase and catalase were able to decrease d-glucose or d-xylose content to 0–0.005% of their initial concentrations, while a minimum decrease of low oxidized saccharides d-xylose, d-cellobiose, and d-lyxose, respectively, was observed.     

Studies on enzymatic oxidation of 3′,4′-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine to dopachrome using kinetic isotope effect methods

We report the studies on the mechanism of oxidation of 3′,4′-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (l-DOPA) to neurotoxic dopachrome catalyzed by enzyme horseradish peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) using the kinetic (KIE), and solvent (SIE), isotope effect methods. For kinetic studies two specifically deuterated isotopomers: [2′,5′,6′-²H₃]-l -DOPA was synthesized by the acid catalyzed isotopic exchange between native l-DOPA and heavy water, and [5′-²H]-l-DOPA was synthesized in two step reaction. The first step involved acid catalyzed isotopic exchange between l-tyrosine and deuterated water and resulting product [3′,5′-²H₂]-l-tyrosine was hydroxylated by enzyme tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1). The values of deuterium KIEs and SIE’s in the enzymatic oxidation of l-DOPA and its isotopomers are determined using non-competitive spectrophotometric method. The measured values were: KIE on V _max (1.1 and 2.2) and KIE on V _max/K _M (1.7 and 3.2) for [2′,5′,6′-²H₃]-l-DOPA and [5′-²H]-l-DOPA, respectively, while the corresponding values of SIE were: SIE on V _max (2.1, 2.4, and 2.1) and SIE on V _max/K _M (1.3. 1.6, and 1.1) for l-DOPA, [2′,5′,6′-²H₃]-l-DOPA, and [5′-²H]-l-DOPA, respectively. The size of KIE and SIE, typical for secondary isotope effects indicate that both the solvent and presence of deuterium at the 2′-, 5′, and 6′-positions of l-DOPA has the little impact on the enzymatic oxidation of this compound.     

The state of Cu2+ ions in concentrated aqueous ammonia solutions of copper nitrate

Stabilization of Cu²⁺ ions in concentrated aqueous ammonia solutions of copper nitrate in a wide range of ammonium ion concentrations has been studied by EPR and electronic absorption spectroscopy. Three types of Cu²⁺ associates with different types of orbital ordering have been identified. The ammonium ion concentration in a solution has a decisive effect on the type of orbital ordering of Cu²⁺ ions in associates. In all cases, Cu²⁺ ordering in associates is caused by the existence of bridging OH groups in the axial and equatorial positions of [Cu(NH₃) _n (H₂O)_{6 ? n} ]²⁺ complexes (n < 6). At a high concentration of ammonium ions, weakly bound associates of tetramminecopper with the $d_{x^2 - y^2 }$ ground state are formed. In solutions with low ammonium concentrations, bulky associates with the $d_{y^2 }$ and $d_{x^2 - z^2 }$ ground states and associates of Cu²⁺ ions with the $d_{x^2 - y^2 }$ ground state with hydroxyl groups in the equatorial plane and axial water molecules are formed.     

Metastable and collision-induced fragmentation studies of all C4H12Si+ isomers; a systematic study of structure-reactivity relations

Metastable ion (MI) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra have been recorded and compared for all nine C₄H₁₂Si^+. isomers. The (Me)₄Si^+., t-BuSiH ₃ ^+. , s-BuSiH ₃ ⁺ , and (Me)₂EtSiH^+. isomers have unique MI and CID mass spectra. The MI mass spectra, including the kinetic energy release values, of (Me)(i-Pr)SiH ₂ ^+. and (Me)(n-Pr)SiH ₂ ^+. are identical, which implies isomerization. MI data also suggest that a fraction of the n-BuSiH ₃ ^+. ions rearrange into branched (Me)₂EtSiH^+. ions and a fraction of the n-BuSiH ₃ ^+. ions rearrange into branched s-BuSiH ₃ ^+. ions. A comparison with the isomeric C₅H ₁₂ ^+. pentanes reveals a crucial difference: H₂ loss occurs for n-BuSiH ₃ ^+. , i-BuSiH ₃ ^+. , s-BuSiH ₃ ^+. , (Me)(n-Pr)SiH ₂ ^+. , (Me)(i-Pr)SiH ₂ ^+. , and Et₂SiH ₂ ^+. , but not for any of the C₅Hi ₁₂ ^+. isomers. Generation of four- or five-membered silicon containing rings is suggested for H₂ loss from the C₄H₁₂Si^+. silanes.     

Fragmentation of clusters induced by collision with a solid surface: comparison of antimony and bismuth cluster ions

Mass-selected antimony cluster ions Sb _n ⁺ (n = 3-12) and bismuth cluster ions Bi _{ntn} ⁺ (n = 3-8) are allowed to collide with the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite at energies up to 350 eV. The resulting fragment ions are analysed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Two main fragmentation channels can be identified. At low impact energies both Sb _n ⁺ and Bi _n ⁺ cluster ions lose neutral tetramer and dimer units upon collision. Above about 150 eV impact energy Sb ₃ ⁺ becomes the predominant fragment ion of all investigated antimony clusters. The enhanced stability of these fragment clusters can be explained in the framework of the polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory. In contrast, Bi _n ⁺ cluster scattering leads to the formation of Bi ₃ ⁺ , Bi ₂ ⁺ and Bi+ with nearly equal abundances, if the collision energy exceeds 75 eV. The integral scattering yield is substantially higher in this case as compared to Sb _n ⁺ clusters.     

The thermodynamic parameters of oxygen nonstoichiometry defects in lanthanum cobaltite doped with acceptor impurities (Sr and Ni)

The oxygen nonstoichiometry δ of lanthanum cobaltite doped with acceptor impurities (Sr and Ni), La_{1 ? x} Sr_xCo_0.9Ni_0.1O_{3 ? δ} (x = 0.1, 0.3), was studied by high-temperature thermogravimetry over the temperature and pressure ranges 723 K ≤ T ≤ 1373 K and 10^?3 atm ≤ $p_{O_2 } $ ≤ 1 atm. The partial replacement of cobalt with nickel and lanthanum with strontium increased the oxygen nonstoichiometry δ. The partial molar enthalpies $\Delta \bar H^\circ _O $ and entropies $\Delta \bar S^\circ _O $ of solution of oxygen in the solid phase were calculated. Models of point defect formation were suggested and analyzed. The equilibrium constants of formation and concentrations of predominant point defects, ionized oxygen vacancies V _o ^.. , holes Me _Co ^. (Co _Co ^. and Ni _Co ^. ), and electrons Me _Co ^′ (Co _Co ^′ and Ni _Co ^′ ) localized on 3d transition metals, were determined by nonlinear regression from the experimental and theoretical logp $p_{O_2 } $ ?δ dependences.     

Diffusion and Ion Association in Concentrated Solutions of Aqueous Lithium, Sodium, and Potassium Sulfates

Taylor dispersion is used to measure mutual diffusion coefficients for aqueous Li₂SO₄ solutions at concentrations from 0.09 to 2.62 mol-dm^-3 at 25°C. The Li₂SO₄ results and previously reported diffusion coefficients for aqueous Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ are compared with predictions made by treating the limiting electrolyte diffusion coefficients as reference values and applying corrections for nonideal solution behavior, ionic hydration, and viscosity changes as the concentration is raised. Good agreement is obtained if the M⁺ + SO ₄ ^2- ? MSO ₄ ^- (M = Li, Na, K) association equilibria are included in the analysis. Extents of formation of the MSO ₄ ^- ion pairs are evaluated by fitting Pitzer's mixed electrolyte equations for aqueous M⁺–MSO ₄ ^- –SO ₄ ^2- ions to osmotic coefficient data. Diffusion coefficients for hypothetical solutions of the completely dissociated M₂SO₄ electrolytes are calculated to illustrate the effects of ion association on diffusion. Association of the M⁺ and SO ₄ ^2- ions increases the overall mobility and thermodynamic driving forces for their diffusion.     

Gas-phase reactions between O−. and C6H5F: On the acidity of fluorobenzene and 1,4-difluorobenzene

The gas-phase reactions of negative ions (O^-., NH ₂ ^? , C₂H₅NH^?, (CH₃)₂N^?, C₆H ₅ ^t- , and CH₃SCH ₂ ^? ) with fluorobenzene and 1,4-difluorobenzene have been studied with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The O^?. ion reacts predominantly by (1) proton abstraction, (2) formal H ₂ ^+. abstraction, and (3) attack on an unsubstituted carbon atom. In addition to these processes, attack on a fluorine bearing carbon atom yielding F^? and C₆H₄FO^? ions occurs with 1,4-difluorobenzene. Site-specific deuterium labeling reveals the occurrence of competing 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-H ₂ ^+. abstractions in the reaction of O^?. with fluorobenzene. Attack of the O^?. ion on the 3- and 4-positions in fluorobenzene with formation of the 3- and 4-fluorophenoxide ions, respectively, is preferred to reaction at the 2-position, as indicated by the relative extent of loss of a hydrogen and a deuterium atom in the reactions with labeled fluorobenzenes. The NH ₂ ^? , C₂H₅NH^?, (CH₃)₂N^?, C₆H ₅ ^? , and CH₃SCH ₂ ^? anions react with fluoroberuene and 1,4-difluorobenzene only by proton abstraction. The relative importance of H⁺ and D⁺ abstraction in the reaction of these anions with labeled fluorobenzenes indicates that the 2-position in fluorobenzene is more acidic than the 3- and 4-positions, suggesting that the literature value of the gas-phase acidity of this compound (ΔH _acid ^o = 1620 ± 8 kJ mol^?1) refers to the former site. Based on the occurrence of reversible proton transfer between the CH₃O^? ion and 1,4-difluorobenzene, the ΔH _acid ^o of this compound is redetermined to be 1592 ± 8 kJ mol^?1.     

Observations and spectral simulations of the7Li2 21 Σ u + →X 1 Σ g + transition

The⁷Li₂ 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ →X ¹ Σ _g ⁺ electronic transition has a bound-bound and a bound-free part due to the double minimum nature of the upper 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ state. We have studied this transition both experimentally and by performing spectral simulations. When inner well was excited the bound-free part at 4525 Å was observed due to the collisions between Li ₂ ^* and argon. We found that when levels above the barrier are excited the bound-free emission is strongly affected by collisional relaxation of Li ₂ ^* by Li atoms. Conditions for the observation of the bound-free part are discussed.     

Crystal structure and thermodynamic properties of dipotassium diiron(III) hexatitanium oxide

In the present work, the temperature dependence of heat capacity of dipotassium diiron(III) hexatitanium oxide has been measured for the first time in the range from 10 to 300 K by means of precision adiabatic vacuum calorimetry. The experimental data were used to calculate standard thermodynamic functions, namely the heat capacity $ C_{p}^{ \circ } (T) $ , enthalpy $ H^{ \circ } (T) - H^{ \circ } (0) $ , entropy $ S^{ \circ } (T) - S^{ \circ } (0), $ and Gibbs function $ G^{ \circ } (T) - H^{ \circ } (0) $ for the range from T → 0 to 300 K. The structure of K₂Fe₂Ti₆O₁₆ is refined by the Rietveld method: space group I4/m, Z = 1, a = 10.1344(2) Å, c = 2.97567(4) Å, V = 305.618(7) Å³. The high-temperature X-ray diffraction was used for the determination of coefficients of thermal expansion.     

Photoionization/fragmentation of endohedral fullerenes

Photoionizationlfragmentation of endohedral fullerenes was investigated by use of laser-de sorption time-offlight (LD-TOF) mass spectroscopy. The velocity distribution of the parent ion (LaC ₈₂ ⁺ ) was found to be bimodal, as has previously been shown for laser desorbed C ₆₀ ⁺ . The 0 fragment ions have velocity distributions corresponding predominantly to the fast parent ion distribution. The LD-TOF mass spectra taken with a relatively low laser fluence were independent of the delay time of the extraction pulse, showing only a monotonically decreasing pattern of LaC _2n ⁺ (as n decreased). However, with higher laser fluence, it was shown that the mass distributions drastically changed from the monotonically decreasing pattern to that of C _2n ⁺ and LaC _2n ⁺ with magic numbers. Based on these findings, a plausible photoionization/fragmentation mechanism is presented and discussed.     

C(methyl)–H ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ π(aryl) Interaction Stabilizing Molecular Conformation. X-Ray Crystal Structure of an Inclusion Compound of a Nonprotic Host with Nitromethane Guest

In the cocrystal formation of a nonprotic polar (host) molecule (1) with nitromethane (guest) several weak, but directional, intermolecular interactions have vital importance. The endo conformation of the (N)-xylene group of the polycyclic succinimide-based host 1 is stabilized by a C_methyl $---$ H ??? π interaction [C ??? π /H ??? π distances are 3.554(7)/2.57 Å, the C $---$ H ??? π angle is 159^○], and the crystal packing is governed by dipole–dipole type interhost (C $ =$ )O ??? C( $ =$ O) connection [C ??? O $ =$ 3.000(5) Å and <C $ =$ O ??? C $ =$ 159.8(3)^○] in conjunction with possible C $---$ H ??? O interactions [with C ??? O distances ranging between 3.20 and 3.50 Å] involving the polar groups of both host and guest. Crystal data: 1 ??? nitromethane (1:1), C₂₆H₂₁O₂ N ? CH₃NO₂, M _w = 440.50, P2 ₁/n, a = 14.143(1), b = 7.973(1), c = 20.291(2) Å, β = 95.183(9)^○, Z = 4, D _c = 1.2840(2) g cm^?3, R = 0.055 for 1709 reflections.