Thermophysical Investigations of the Polymorphous Phases of Calcium Carbonate

1. Results of thermodynamic and kinetic investigations for the different crystalline calcium carbonate phases and their phase transition data are reported and summarized (vaterite: V; aragonite: A; calcite: C). A→C: T _tr=455±10°C, Δ_tr H=403±8 J mol^–1 at T _tr, V→C: T _tr=320–460°C, depending on the way of preparation,Δ_tr H=–3.2±0.1 kJ mol^–1 at T _tr,Δ_tr H=–3.4±0.9 kJ mol^–1 at 40°C, S _V ^Θ= 93.6±0.5 J (K mol)^–1, A→C: E _A=370±10 kJ mol^–1; XRD only, V→C: E _A=250±10 kJ mol^–1; thermally activated, iso- and non-isothermal, XRD 2. Preliminary results on the preparation and investigation of inhibitor-free non-crystalline calcium carbonate (NCC) are presented. NCC→C: T _tr=276±10°C,Δ_tr H=–15.0±3 kJ mol^–1 at T _tr, T _tr – transition temperature, Δ_tr H – transition enthalpy, S ^Θ – standard entropy, E _A – activation energy. 3. Biologically formed internal shell of Sepia officinalis seems to be composed of ca 96% aragonite and 4% non-crystalline calcium carbonate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optimization of the Extraction Conditions and Simultaneous Quantification by RP-LC of Six Alkaloids in Evodiae Fructus

A reversed phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method coupled with DAD (250 nm) has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of six alkaloids, dehydroevodiamine (1), wuzhuyuamide-I (2), 5-hydroxyrutaecarpine (3), 14-formyldihydrorutaecarpine (4), evodiamine (5) and rutaecarpine (6), in 12 batches evodiae fructus [the dried, unripe fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. or E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang, E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. bodinieri (Dode) Huang] as a traditional Chinese medicine. The method was carried out by a C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm) with a gradient mobile phase of methanol, acetonitrile, and phosphoric acid–triethylamine–buffer solution. The contents of 1–6 in the evodiae fructus could easily be determined within 70 min. The experimental results were satisfactory for the intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy of the method for simultaneous determination. The linear calibration ranges of 1–6 were 40–1,000, 20–500, 1–100, 10–500, 40–1,000 and 80–1,000 μg mL⁻¹. The recoveries of 1–6 were 97.43–103.73% with RSDs from 0.21 to 1.99%. The limits of detection for 1–6 were 2.0, 2.0, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 5.0 μg mL⁻¹, and the limits of quantification were 6.6, 6.6, 0.3, 3.3, 16.5 and 16.5 μg mL⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of six alkaloids in the evodiae fructus.     

Constant-volume combustion energy of the lead salts of 2HDNPPb and 4HDNPPb and their effect on combustion characteristics of RDX–CMDB propellant

The constant-volume combustion energies of the lead salts of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitropyridine (2HDNPPb) and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitropyridine (4HDNPPb), ΔU _c (2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPP(s)), were determined as –4441.92±2.43 and –4515.74±1.92 kJ mol^–1 , respectively, at 298.15 K. Their standard enthalpies of combustion, Δ_c ^m H θ(2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPPb(s), 298.15 K), and standard enthalpies of formation, Δ_r ^m H θ(2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPPb(s), 298.15 K) were as –4425.81±2.43, –4499.63±1.92 kJ mol^–1 and –870.43±2.76, –796.65±2.32 kJ mol^–1 , respectively. As two combustion catalysts, 2HDNPPb and 4HDNPPb can enhance the burning rate and reduce the pressure exponent of RDX–CMDB propellant.     

Kinetic parameters determination in non-isothermal conditions for the crystallisation of a silica-soda-lead glass

Two integral isoconversional methods (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose) and the invariant kinetic parameters method (IKP) were used in order to examine the kinetics of the non-isothermal crystallisation of a silica-soda-lead glass. The objective of the paper is to show the usefulness of the IKP method to determine both the activation parameters and the kinetic model of the investigated process. Thismethod associated with the criterion of coincidence of kinetic parameters for all heating rates and some procedures of the evaluation of the parameter from Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Erofeev–Kolmogorov (JMAEK) equation led us to the following kinetic triplet: activation energy, E=170.5±2.5 kJ mol^–1 , pre-exponential factor, A=1.178±0.350·10 10 min^–1 and JMAEK model (A _m) m=1.5.     

Thermochemical study of the solid complex Ho(PDC)3 (o-phen)

A novel solid complex, formulated as Ho(PDC)₃ (o-phen), has been obtained from the reaction of hydrate holmium chloride, ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen·H₂O) in absolute ethanol, which was characterized by elemental analysis, TG-DTG and IR spectrum. The enthalpy change of the reaction of complex formation from a solution of the reagents, Δ_rH_m^θ (sol), and the molar heat capacity of the complex, c_m, were determined as being –19.161±0.051 kJ mol^–1 and 79.264±1.218 J mol^–1 K^–1 at 298.15 K by using an RD-496 III heat conduction microcalorimeter. The enthalpy change of complex formation from the reaction of the reagents in the solid phase, Δ_rH_m^θ(s), was calculated as being (23.981±0.339) kJ mol^–1 on the basis of an appropriate thermochemical cycle and other auxiliary thermodynamic data. The thermodynamics of reaction of formation of the complex was investigated by the reaction in solution at the temperature range of 292.15–301.15 K. The constant-volume combustion energy of the complex, Δ_cU, was determined as being –16788.46±7.74 kJ mol^–1 by an RBC-II type rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K. Its standard enthalpy of combustion, Δ_cH_m^θ, and standard enthalpy of formation, Δ_fH_m^θ, were calculated to be –16803.95±7.74 and –1115.42±8.94 kJ mol^–1, respectively.     

On the Importance of H-Bonding Interactions in Organic Ammonium Tetrathiotungstates

Summary. Four new organic ammonium tetrathiotungstates (N–Me–enH₂)[WS₄] (1), (N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂)[WS₄] (2), (1,4-bnH₂)[WS₄] (3), and (mipaH)₂[WS₄] (4), (N–Me–enH₂ = N-methylethylenediammonium, N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂ = N,N′-dimethyl-1,3-propanediammonium, 1,4-bnH₂ = 1,4-butanediammonium, and mipaH = monoisopropylammonium) were synthesized by the base promoted cation exchange reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, Raman, UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1–4 consist of [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedra which are linked to the organic ammonium cations via N–H⋯S hydrogen bonding. The strength and number of the S⋯H interactions affect the W–S bond lengths as evidenced by distinct short and long W–S bonds. The IR spectra exhibit splitting of the W–S vibrations, which can be attributed to the distortion of the [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedron. From a comparative study of several known tetrathiotungstates it is observed that a difference of more than 0.033 ? between the longest and shortest W–S bonds in a tetrathiotungstate will result in the splitting of the asymmetric stretching vibration of the W–S bond.     

On the Importance of H-Bonding Interactions in Organic Ammonium Tetrathiotungstates

Four new organic ammonium tetrathiotungstates (N–Me–enH₂)[WS₄] (1), (N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂)[WS₄] (2), (1,4-bnH₂)[WS₄] (3), and (mipaH)₂[WS₄] (4), (N–Me–enH₂ = N-methylethylenediammonium, N,N′-dm-1,3-pnH₂ = N,N′-dimethyl-1,3-propanediammonium, 1,4-bnH₂ = 1,4-butanediammonium, and mipaH = monoisopropylammonium) were synthesized by the base promoted cation exchange reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, Raman, UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1–4 consist of [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedra which are linked to the organic ammonium cations via N–H⋯S hydrogen bonding. The strength and number of the S⋯H interactions affect the W–S bond lengths as evidenced by distinct short and long W–S bonds. The IR spectra exhibit splitting of the W–S vibrations, which can be attributed to the distortion of the [WS₄]²⁻ tetrahedron. From a comparative study of several known tetrathiotungstates it is observed that a difference of more than 0.033 ? between the longest and shortest W–S bonds in a tetrathiotungstate will result in the splitting of the asymmetric stretching vibration of the W–S bond.     

On the protonated state of amidinium-like diaromatic derivatives: X-ray and UV studies

We present the crystal structures of the chloride salts of the mono-guanidinium 1 (–CH₂CH₂– linker) and the bis-isouronium 2 (–O– linker) that have been resolved by us indicating that these compounds are diprotonated in the solid state as informed by the counterions positions. To determine the pK _a values of these compounds as well as those of their analogues 3 (mono-2-aminoimidazolinium with a –CH₂CH₂– linker) and 4 (mono-guanidinium with a –O– linker), the corresponding UV–Vis titrations were carried out. Thus, in aqueous solution compounds 1, 3 and 4 were present as mono-cationic species while derivative 2 was a bis-cation.     

Excess molar enthalpies of the ternary system mtbe+ethanol+hexane

Excess molar enthalpies of the ternary mixture {x₁ tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE)+x₂ ethanol+(1–x₁–x₂) hexane} and, the involved binary mixtures {x tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE)+(1–x) ethanol}, {x tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE)+(1–x) hexane} and {x ethanol+( 1–x) hexane} have been measured at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, over the whole composition range, using a Calvet microcalorimeter. The results were fitted by means of different variable degree polynomials.     

Microcalorimetric Study of the Oscillating Extraction System

The power–time curves of the oscillating extraction system were determined at different temperatures for the extraction of hydrochloric acid and acetic acid with primary amine N₁₉₂₃ (R–CH(NH₂)–R¹), R, R ¹ represent alkyl of C_9–11 in chloroform using the titration microcalorimetric method. The apparent activation energy was calculated from the induction period (t _in), the first oscillation period (t ^p.1) and the second oscillation period (t _p.2). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mixed conductivity and stability of A-site-deficient Sr(Fe,Ti)O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> perovskites

Deficiency in the A sublattice of perovskite-type Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ (y=0–0.06) leads to suppression of oxygen-vacancy ordering and to increasing oxygen ionic conductivity, unit cell volume, thermal expansion, and stability in CO₂-containing atmospheres. The total electrical conductivity, predominantly p-type electronic in air, decreases with increasing A-site deficiency at 300–700 K and is essentially independent of the cation vacancy concentration at higher temperatures. Oxygen ion transference numbers for Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ in air, estimated from the faradaic efficiency and oxygen permeation data, vary in the range from 0.002 to 0.015 at 1073–1223 K, increasing with temperature. The maximum ionic conductivity was observed for Sr_0.97Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ ceramics. In the system Sr_0.97Fe_{1– x} Ti _x O_3–δ (x=0.1–0.6), thermal expansion and electron-hole conductivity both decrease with x. Moderate additions of titanium (up to 20%) in Sr_0.97(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ result in higher ionic conductivity and lower activation energy for ionic transport, owing to disordering in the oxygen sublattice; further doping decreases the ionic conduction. It was shown that time degradation of the oxygen permeability, characteristic of Sr(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ membranes and resulting from partial ordering processes, can be reduced by cycling of the oxygen pressure at the membrane permeate side. Thermal expansion coefficients of Sr_{1– y} Ti_{1– x} Fe _x O_3–δ (x=0.10–0.60, y=0–0.06) in air are in the range (11.7–16.5)×10^–6 K^–1 at 350–750 K and (16.6–31.1)×10^–6 K^–1 at 750–1050 K. Electronic Publication     

Electrospun cellulose acetate fibers: effect of solvent system on morphology and fiber diameter

This paper reports an investigation of the effects of solvent system, solution concentration, and applied electrostatic field strength (EFS) on the morphological appearance and/or size of as-spun cellulose acetate (CA) products. The single-solvent systems were acetone, chloroform, N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF), dichloromethane (DCM), methanol (MeOH), formic acid, and pyridine. The mixed-solvent systems were acetone–DMAc, chloroform–MeOH, and DCM–MeOH. Chloroform, DMF, DCM, MeOH, formic acid, and pyridine were able to dissolve CA, forming clear solutions (at 5% w/v), but electrospinning of these solutions produced mainly discrete beads. In contrast, electrospinning of the solution of CA in acetone produced short and beaded fibers. At the same solution concentration of 5% (w/v) electrospinning of the CA solutions was improved by addition of MeOH to either chloroform or DCM. For all the solvent systems investigated smooth fibers were obtained from 16% (w/v) CA solutions in 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 (v/v) acetone–DMAc, 14–20% (w/v) CA solutions in 2:1 (v/v) acetone–DMAc, and 8–12% (w/v) CA solutions in 4:1 (v/v) DCM–MeOH. For the as-spun fibers from CA solutions in acetone–DMAc the average diameter ranged between 0.14 and 0.37 μm whereas for the fibers from solutions in DCM–MeOH it ranged between 0.48 and 1.58 μm. After submersion in distilled water for 24 h the as-spun CA fibers swelled appreciably (i.e. from 620 to 1110%) but the physical integrity of the fibrous structure remained intact.     

Basis of the 'duplication' strategy for enhancing the enantiomeric excess in chiral resolutions: proof of the equivalence of rate and product ratios

The 'duplication' strategy for the further enrichment of an already enantiomerically-enriched mixture consists of the formation of all the three possible 'dimeric' diastereomers, i.e., (R)–X–(R), (R)–X–(S) and (S)–X–(S), where X is an appropriate spacer that can be readily cleaved to yield the original enantiomers. The mixture of (R)–X–(R) and (S)–X–(S) thus obtained would be of higher enantiomeric excess (e.e.) as compared to the original mixture, on the basis of a simple kinetic scheme. The success of the strategy is experimentally well-established, but is apparently based on the (unproven) assumption that the theoretically-derived rate ratios are identical to the experimentally observed product ratios. Although the detailed kinetic treatment for a system such as the above is extremely complex, it is possible to show (mathematically) that the above assumption is indeed justified when all the three diastereomers are formed without chiral discrimination (as assumed in the strategy).     

A new triterpene from the leaves of Craibiodendron yunnanense

A new triterpene, taraxast-20(30)-en-3β,12β-diol (1), and eight known compounds were isolated from the leaves of Craibiodendron yunnanense. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral evidence. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 35–37, January–February, 2008.     

Conformational Analysis,Infrared, and Fluorescence Spectra of 1-Phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and Related Tautomers: Experimental and Theoretical Study

Summary. Conformational analysis and frequency calculation were achieved for 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and its four tautomers: 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol, 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone, 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime, and 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol. Calculations were carried out at the Hartree–Fock (HF), Density Functional Theory (B3LYP), and the second-order M?ller–Plesset perturbation (MP2) levels of theory using 6-31G^* and 6-311G^** basis sets. Five conformers with no imaginary vibrational frequency were obtained by free rotations around three single bonds of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione-1-oxime: Ph–C(NOH)C(O)CH₃, PhC(NOH)–C(O)CH₃, and PhC(N–OH)C(O)CH₃. Similarly, eight structures with no imaginary vibrational frequency were encountered upon rotations around three single bonds of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol: Ph–C(NO)C(OH)CH₃, PhC(N–O)C(OH)CH₃, and PhC(NO)C(–OH)CH₃. In the same manner, six minima were found through rotations around three single bonds of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone: Ph–CH(NO)C(O)CH₃, PhCH(–NO)C(O)CH₃, and PhCH(NO)–C(O)CH₃. Also, two minima were found through rotations around four single bonds of 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime: Ph–C(NOH)C(OH)CH₂, PhC(N–OH)C(OH)CH₂, PhC(NOH)–C(OH)CH₂, and Ph-C(NOH)C(–OH)CH₂. Finally, two minima were found through rotations around four single bonds of 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol: Ph–CH(NO)C(OH)CH₂, PhCH(–NO)C(OH)CH₂, PhCH(NO)–C(OH)CH₂, and PhCH(NO)C(–OH)CH₂. Interconversions within the above sets of conformers were probed through scanning (one and/or two dimensional), and/or QST3 techniques. The order of the stability of global minima encountered was: 1,2-propandione-1-oxime > 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone > 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol > 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime > 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol. Hydrogen bonding appears significant in tautomers of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol and 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime. The CIS simulated λ_max for the first excited singlet state (S₁) of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime is 300.4 nm, which was comparable to its experimental λ_max of 312.0 nm. The calculated IR spectra of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and its tautomers were compared to the experimental spectra.     

Thermochemical studies on the thioproline

The combustion energy of thioproline was determined by the precision rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K to be Δ_c U= –2469.30±1.44 kJ mol^–1. From the results and other auxiliary quantities, the standard molar enthalpy of combustion and the standard molar enthalpy of formation of thioproline were calculated to be Δ_c H _m ^θC₄H₇NO₂S, (s), 298.15 K= –2469.92±1.44 kJ mol^–1 and Δ_f H _m ^θC₄H₇NO₂S, (s), 298.15K= –401.33±1.54 kJ mol^–1.     

Complete basis set,hybrid-DFT study,and NBO interpretations of the conformational behavior of 1,2-dihaloethanes

The conformational behavior of 1,2-difluoroethane (1), 1,2-dichloroethane (2), 1,2-dibromoethane (3), and 1,2-diiodoethane (4) have been analyzed by means of complete basis set CBS-QB3, hybrid-density functional theory (B3LYP/Def2-TZVPP) based methods and natural bond orbital (NBO) interpretation. Both methods showed the expected greater stability of the gauche conformation of compound 1 compared to its anti conformation. Contrary to compound 1, the anti conformations of compounds 2–4 are more stable than their gauche conformation. The stability of the anti conformation compared to the gauche conformation increases from compound 1 to compound 4. The NBO analysis of donor–acceptor (σ → σ*) interactions showed that the generalized anomeric effect (GAE) is in favor of the gauche conformation of compound 1. Contrary to compound 1, GAE is in favor of the anti conformations of compounds 2–4. The GAE values calculated (i.e., GAE_anti − GAE_gauche) increase from compound 1 to compound 4. On the other hand, the calculated dipole moment values for the gauche conformations decrease from compound 1 to compound 4. In the conflict between the GAE and dipole moments, the former succeeded in accounting for the increase of the anti conformation stability from compound 1 to compound 4. There is a direct correlation between the calculated GAE, ∆[r _c–c(G) − r _c–c(A)] and ∆[r _c–x(A) − r _c–x(G)] parameters. The correlations between the GAE, bond orders, total steric exchange energies (TSEEs), ΔG _{Anti–Gauche}, ΔG ^‡(Gauche → Gauche′, C _2v), ΔG ^‡(Anti → Gauche, C ₂), dipole–dipole interactions, structural parameters, and conformational behaviors of compounds 1–4 have been investigated.     

Conformational Analysis, Infrared, and Fluorescence Spectra of 1-Phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and Related Tautomers: Experimental and Theoretical Study

Conformational analysis and frequency calculation were achieved for 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and its four tautomers: 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol, 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone, 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime, and 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol. Calculations were carried out at the Hartree–Fock (HF), Density Functional Theory (B3LYP), and the second-order M?ller–Plesset perturbation (MP2) levels of theory using 6-31G^* and 6-311G^** basis sets. Five conformers with no imaginary vibrational frequency were obtained by free rotations around three single bonds of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione-1-oxime: Ph–C(NOH)C(O)CH₃, PhC(NOH)–C(O)CH₃, and PhC(N–OH)C(O)CH₃. Similarly, eight structures with no imaginary vibrational frequency were encountered upon rotations around three single bonds of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol: Ph–C(NO)C(OH)CH₃, PhC(N–O)C(OH)CH₃, and PhC(NO)C(–OH)CH₃. In the same manner, six minima were found through rotations around three single bonds of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone: Ph–CH(NO)C(O)CH₃, PhCH(–NO)C(O)CH₃, and PhCH(NO)–C(O)CH₃. Also, two minima were found through rotations around four single bonds of 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime: Ph–C(NOH)C(OH)CH₂, PhC(N–OH)C(OH)CH₂, PhC(NOH)–C(OH)CH₂, and Ph-C(NOH)C(–OH)CH₂. Finally, two minima were found through rotations around four single bonds of 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol: Ph–CH(NO)C(OH)CH₂, PhCH(–NO)C(OH)CH₂, PhCH(NO)–C(OH)CH₂, and PhCH(NO)C(–OH)CH₂. Interconversions within the above sets of conformers were probed through scanning (one and/or two dimensional), and/or QST3 techniques. The order of the stability of global minima encountered was: 1,2-propandione-1-oxime > 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-2-propanone > 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol > 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime > 3-nitroso-3-phenyl-propen-2-ol. Hydrogen bonding appears significant in tautomers of 1-nitroso-1-phenyl-1-propen-2-ol and 2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propenone oxime. The CIS simulated λ_max for the first excited singlet state (S₁) of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime is 300.4 nm, which was comparable to its experimental λ_max of 312.0 nm. The calculated IR spectra of 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione 1-oxime and its tautomers were compared to the experimental spectra.     

Different coordination modes of the dimethyldisulfide ligand in trimethylplatinum(IV) complexes

The reaction of [PtMe₃(bpy)(Me₂CO)](BF₄) (2) (prepared from [PtMe₃I(bpy)] (1) plus Ag(BF₄)) with MeSSMe resulted in the formation of [PtMe₃(bpy)(MeSSMe-κS)](BF₄) (3). A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed in the octahedral Pt(IV) complex (configuration index: OC-6-33), a conformation of the monodentately κS bound MeSSMe ligand (C–S–S–C 92.7(4)°) being very close to that in non-coordinated MeSSMe, thus allowing some hyperconjugative interaction stabilizing the S–S bond. The reaction of [K(18C6)][(PtMe₃)₂(μ-I)(μ-pz)₂] (4; 18C6 = 18-crown-6, Hpz = pyrazole) with Ag(BF₄) and MeSSMe resulted in the formation of dinuclear complexes [(PtMe₃)₂(μ-pz)₂(μ-MeSSMe)] existing at room temperature in acetone solution as different fast interconverting isomers. At –40 °C, two isomers with a μ-1κS:2κS (5a) and a μ-1κS:2κS′ (5b) coordinated MeSSMe ligand in the ratio 2:1 could be identified ¹H NMR spectroscopically. DFT calculations of type 5 complexes revealed the existence of two conformers with a μ-MeSSMe-1κS:2κS ligand, which differ mainly in the C–S–S–C dihedral angle (66.4 vs. 180.0° 6a/6a′). They have essentially the same energy and a very low activation barrier in acetone as solvent (1.3 kcal/mol) for their mutual interconversion. A further equilibrium structure was identified to be an isomer having a μ-MeSSMe-1κS:2κS′ ligand (6b) that proved to be only 1.9 kcal/mol higher in energy than 6a/6a′.     

Investigation of the influence of NaCl concentration on Halobacterium salinarum growth

Microcalorimetry was used to study the influence of NaCl concentration on Halobacterium salinarum growth. From the thermogenic curves and thermokinetic parameters of H. salinarum growth in different concentrations of NaCl, it was found that the optimum NaCl concentration for H. salinarum growth was not a wide range from 3.5 mol L^–1 to NaCl saturation (about 5.2 mol L^–1), as is generally acknowledged, but just around 230 g L^–1 (approximately 3.9 mol L^–1). And when external NaCl concentration was above 230 g L^–1, the growth metabolism of H. salinarum decreased constantly with the increasing of NaCl concentration. These have never been described before. Further investigation by transmission electron microscopy revealed that H. salinarum growing in approaching NaCl saturation underwent plasmolysis, which interpreted the novel finding of microcalorimetry perfectly. Our work shows that microcalorimetry may reveal more and newer details about microbial growth than the existing methods do. These details are significant to understand biological processes.