Structural,electrostatic, and thermodynamic properties of the surface of spherical micelles in solutions of sodium <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkyl sulfate homologues. II. Electrostatic and thermodynamic characteristics

The structural characteristics of micelles from our previous work (Part I) are used to calculate the electrostatic energy of ions in the electric double layer on the surface of spherical ionic micelles in solutions of sodium n-alkyl sulfate homologues with the following number of carbon atoms in the molecule: n _C = 8, 10, 12, and 14. This energy is found to depend on the thickness of the electric double layer and its average radius on the surface of a micelle, the aggregation number, the degree of binding of counterions, and the dielectric constant. The developed semi-empirical method is used to calculate interfacial tensions in spherical micelles for the said homologues in solutions at their critical micellar concentrations and T = 303 K. These values are split into the contributions from the hydrophobic and electrostatic components. The electrostatic component of the interfacial tension in spherical micelles is compared with the expression for the ion–ion repulsion energy to obtain the values of static permittivity (dielectric constant) in the surface layer of micelles.     

Estimating the energy of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in chitosan oligomers

The effect the number of chitosan monomer units CTS_n (n = 1–5), the protonation of chitosan dimers, and the interaction between CTS_n (n = 1–3) and acetate ions have on the energy of intramolecular hydrogen bonds is investigated by means of QTAIM analysis and solving the vibrational problem within the cluster-continuum model. It is established that the number of H-bonds in CTS_n is 2n ? 1 and the total energy of H-bonds grows by ~20 kJ/mol. It is concluded that the hydrogen bonds between CTS and acetate ions play a major role in the stabilization of polyelectrolyte complexes in dilute acetic acid solutions of CTS.     

Structural features of monomeric octahedral <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>-rhenium(V) monooxo complexes with oxygen atoms of bidentate-chelating neutral and acidic ligands (O,P)

The structural features of 38 mononuclear d ²-Re(V) octahedral monooxo complexes (I–XXXVIII) with oxygen atoms of bidentate-chelating (O, P) ligands (L ⁿ ) are considered. The atoms O(L ⁿ ) are mostly in trans positions to O(oxo) ligands. In three compounds of general formula [ReO(L_mono)(L ⁿ )₂] (XXXVI–XXXVIII), the O atoms of two L ⁿ ligands occupy both trans and cis positions to oxo ligands. In one complex, namely, in [ReO(L ⁿ )(L _tri ¹¹ )], n = 3 (XXXV), the atom O(L³) is in the cis position to the oxo ligand; the trans position to O(oxo) is occupied by the atom O(L _tri ¹¹ ).     

Molecular-dynamics simulation of the surface layer of a nonionic micelle

A spherical micelle structure has been studied for cationic (n-dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride) and nonionic (hexaethylene glycol mono-n-hexyl ether) surfactants in pure water and a sodium chloride solution. The molecular-dynamics has been used to simulate the self-assembly of aggregates from an initially homogeneous mixture of water and surfactant molecules and to gain insight into the structure of micelles and their surface layers. The radial distribution functions obtained for charged components have been employed to calculate the local electric potentials of the micelles and the contributions from the charges of water atoms, ions, and a surfactant to it. It has been shown that, similarly to previously studied ionic micelles, in nonionic surfactant micelles, the contributions from water molecules and polar groups (and ions in the case of the salt solution) to the electric potential are mutually compensated in the region of the electrical double layer. Therefore, the resultant electric potential of the surface layer rapidly tends to zero.     

Electronic Structure and Relative Stabilities of 10- and 12-Vertex. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Closo</Emphasis>and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nido</Emphasis>-Heteroborane Clusters of Ga,Ge, and As Elements

A DFT method with the B3LYP functional and the 6-311++G(d,p) diffuse basis set is used to predict geometries, relative stabilities, electronic structures, and the bonding of closo- and nido-Ga_mB_n–mH _n ^2? , Ge_mB_n–mH _n ^m?2 , and As_mB_n–mH _n ^{2 m?2} (n = 10, 12 and m = 1, 2) Clusters are obtained by replacing BH with isolobal GaH, GeH⁺, and AsH²⁺ fragments, keeping the same skeleton electron pairs (SEP). Based on the polyhedral skeletal electron pairs theory (PSEPT), closo and nido structures are predicted and can be of significant interest for experimentalists working in the field of heteroboranes. Different cluster stabilities are studied according to Gimarc′s and Williams′ rules, where our calculations show that the monosubstituted clusters deviate from these rules, giving rise to open structures. As₂B₈H _n ²⁺ as 10-vertex structures lead to nido-type clusters, however, Ge_mB_n–mH _n ^m?2 (n = 10, 12 and m = 1, 2) give rise to closo isomers with close energies. All optimized structures exhibit large HOMO–LUMO gaps suggesting a good kinetic stability, thus predicting their isolation and characterization.     

RAFT polymerization of linear ABC triblock copolymer P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P2VP and regulation of its hierarchical self-assembly structure in solution

Linear ABC triblock copolymer PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ was successfully synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Block copolymer micelles were prepared by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly process. Size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR were used to characterize the structure of samples. Morphologies and size of micelles were determined by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the densely dispersed spherical micelles of PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ were obtained in the first step of the hierarchical self-assembly process. In the second step, core-compartmentalized micelle strings with different lengths and distribution densities were obtained when the primary self-assembled solution was dialyzed in distilled water with pH ≈ 3. When distilled water with pH ≈ 3 was added drop-wise to this solution, uniformly dispersed spherical core-compartmentalized micelles of PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ were prepared. Thus, hierarchical self-assembly structure of linear ABC triblock copolymer was obtained successfully and the preparation of uniformly dispersed spherical micelles of triblock copolymers was realized simply by changing the secondary self-assembly methods.     

A Systematic Search for Structures and Stabilities of Asymmetric Clusters (HfInN<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1-6)

In order to find single source precursors (SSP), the structures, relative stabilities, and IR spectra of small asymmetric clusters (HFInN₃) _n (n = 1–6) are systematically investigated by means of the density functional theory at the B3LYP level. The obtained geometries show that the frameworks of clusters (HFInN₃) _n (n = 2–6) prefer to be 2n-membered ring with alternating indium and α-nitrogen atoms. The averaged binding energies reveal that all of asymmetric clusters (HFInN₃) _n (n = 1–6) can continue to gain energy as the cluster size n increasing. The second-order difference of energy (Δ₂E) and the HOMO-LUMO energy gap (E_gap) as a function of the cluster size n both exhibit a pronounced even-odd alternation phenomenon. The influences of cluster size n and temperature T on the thermodynamic properties of clusters are discussed. Judged by enthalpies and Gibbs free energies, the formations of the most stable clusters (HFInN₃) _n (n = 2–6) from the monomer are thermodynamically favorable in the range of 200–800 K.     

Secondary self-assembly behaviors of PEO-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS triblock terpolymers in solution

A series of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x (x = 42, 84, 165) triblock terpolymers were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization and characterized by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR. Their self-assemblies were conducted by a two-step hierarchical self-assembly method and a one-step dialysis method and the self-assembly behaviors were investigated. The morphologies, sizes, and size distributions of micelles produced by the self-assembly were determined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The secondary self-assembled structure of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x obtained by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly could be controlled by tuning the length of PS block, the core forming block. The micelles were uniform with diameters of 20–25 nm and their size distributions, except for that of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅, were narrow with particle size distribution indexes ranging from 0.014 to 0.246. The one-step dialysis of the triblock terpolymers produced vesicular micelles with distinct vesicle walls that exhibited similar thicknesses. The vesicles did not show significant aggregation. The size distribution of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₄₂ vesicle was the narrowest with a particle size distribution index value of 0.135. The PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅ vesicles tended to overlap with each other.     

The molecular designs and properties of asymmetric heterocycles (HBrBN<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1-4)

The structures and properties of asymmetric heterocycles (HBrBN₃) _n (n = 1-4) are systematically studied at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The molecules (HBrBN₃) _n (n = 2-4) have the core structures of a 2n-membered ring with alternating boron and α-nitrogen atoms. The relationships between geometrical parameters and oligomerization degree n are discussed. The calculated IR spectra have four main characteristic regions. Trends in thermodynamic properties with temperature and oligomerization degree n are discussed. Thermodynamic analysis of the gas-phase oligomerizations shows that formation of the most stable heterocycles (HBrBN₃) _n (n = 2-4) is enthalpy driven in the range of 200-800 K.     

The inductive effect of a radical center and transferability of the properties of functional groups in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkyl radicals

Electron density distribution in n-alkyl radicals (from ethyl to n-octyl) was studied by the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) DFT method. The theory of atoms in molecules was used to show that the inductive effect of a free valence extends to two neighboring CH₂ groups. The electronegativities χ(C^?H₂) > χ(CH₃) > χ(CH₂) of groups and χ(C^?) > χ(H) > χ(C) atoms were qualitatively determined. The group method for calculating the enthalpies of formation of n-alkyl radicals Δ_f H°(n-C _n H_{2n+ 1}, n > 5) was substantiated.     

The thermodynamic characteristics of vaporization in the NaI-PrI<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The vaporization of the NaI-PrI₃ quasi-binary system was studied by high-temperature mass spectrometry over the whole concentration range. At 623–994 K, saturated vapor contained not only (NaI) _n and (PrI₃) _n molecules (n = 1, 2) and Na⁺(NaI) _n (n = 0–4) and I^?(PrI₃) _n (n = 1–2) ions but also mixed molecular and ionic associates recorded for the first time (NaPrI₄, Na₂PrI₅, NaPrI ₃ ⁺ , Na₂PrI ₄ ⁺ , Na₃PrI ₅ ⁺ , Na₄PrI ₆ ⁺ , NaPrI ₅ ^? , and NaPr₂I ₈ ^? ). The partial vapor pressures of molecules were calculated, and the equilibrium constants of the dissociation of neutral and charged associates were measured. The enthalpies of molecular and ion-molecular reactions were determined, and the enthalpies of formation of gaseous molecules and ions were obtained.     

Microbial Transformation of Curcumin to Its Derivatives with a Novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia kudriavzevii</Emphasis> ZJPH0802 Strain

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, has shown a wide range of pharmacological activities and has been widely used as a food additive. However, the clinical use of curcumin is limited to some extent because of its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these problems, many approaches have been attempted and structural modification of curcumin by microbial transformation has been proven to be an alternative. In this study, we isolated a novel yeast strain Pichia kudriavzevii ZJPH0802 from a soil sample, which is capable of converting curcumin to its derivatives. The transformed products by this strain were evaluated by HPLC, (+) electrospray ionization (ESI)-MSⁿ, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Compared with controls, two new peaks of the transformed broth appeared at retention times of 26 min (I) and 62 min (II) by HPLC analysis. The two transformed products were then further identified by (+) ESI-MSⁿ. The spectrum showed that compound I had an accurate [M+H+NH₃]⁺ ion at m/z 392, [M+H]⁺ ion at m/z 375, [M+H–H₂O]⁺ ion at m/z 357, and (+) ESI-MS³ spectrum showed that ion at m/z 357 could further form fragment ions at m/z 339, 177, and 163; compound II had an accurate [M+H]⁺ ion at m/z 373, [M+H–H₂O]⁺ ion at m/z 355, and (+) ESI-MS³ spectrum showed that ion at m/z 355 could further form fragment ions at m/z 219, 179, 177, 163, and 137. These two transformed products thereby were confirmed as hexahydrocurcumin (I) and tetrahydrocurcumin (II).     

Compositions and structures of nanoparticles of pentagonal axial symmetry <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis><Subscript>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis></Subscript>: Nanotubes

The method of determination of the structure and the number of atoms in the shells of nanoparticles as a function of the arrangement of atoms at the symmetry elements of a symmetry group has been developed. The formulas for the calculation of the number of particles with symmetry group D _5d are reported. The number of particles in these shells is determined by three structurally invariant numbers and the “quantum number” of the group order n. The classification of all possible nanostructures with symmetry group D _5d is given: C _θ+10z , z = 0, 1, 2, …, where the basic shells are C _θ = C ₂, C ₁₀, C ₁₂. The sum rule has been obtained for the coordination numbers of shell sites located at symmetry axes. Pentagonal axial nanoparticles are shown to be the initial shells for obtaining (5,5) and (10,10) armchair nanotubes or (5,0) and (10,0) zigzag nanotubes. The general formula of these nanotubes closed with icosahedral and dodecahedral caps is N _20+10p , N _60+10p (p = 1, 2, …). The graphical constructions of all classes of nanoparticles and nanotubes of the pentagonal axial type are reported.     

Structural state of solvent in electrolyte solutions

Isoentropic compressibilities were determined for aqueous solutions of five electrolytes ranging from dilute to almost saturated solutions at 278.15–308.15 K based on precision measurements of ultrasound velocity. Using correct relations we have found hydration numbers (h) and molar parameters of volume and compressibility of hydrated complexes (V _h , β_h V _h ), water in the hydration shell (V _1h , β 1_h V _1h ), and void containing a stoichiometric mixture of ions (V _2h , β _2h V _2h ). In the temperature range under study, the hydration numbers h and the parameters β_h V _h are independent of temperature; molar compressibilities of hydration sphere (β _1h V1_h) are independent of concentration. Since β_h V _h is independent of temperature at a constant concentration of electrolyte, Y _K,S ^e also becomes independent of temperature. It is shown that the chemical potentials of bound and unbound water are equal and that γ_R = F(h) is an example of a discontinuous function that defines the abrupt change in the solvent at the complete solvation limit in solution.     

Determination of the Water/AOT/Isooctane Reverse Micelles Size Parameters from Their Refractive Index Data

The present paper aims to study the proprieties of water confined in water/AOT/isooctane reverse micelles from their refractive indices at 298.5 K. The refractive indices of the microemulsions were investigated at increasing water concentration and at different micellar volume fractions, Φ _d. The refractive index of micellar water was deduced for a large water to AOT molar ratio, W ₀. The refractive index of interfacial water was also calculated. Then, the molar faction of interfacial water, α, was deduced for different W ₀ values and compared with those measured by NMR as reported in the literature. The results show qualitative agreement. Finally, the average aggregation number, n _agg, the area per surfactant headgroup, σ, as well as the interfacial thickness, d _i, of the reverse micelles were determined for the W ₀ values studied. The values of these structural parameters also show good qualitative agreement with NMR and small angle X-ray scattering data reported in the literature. Thus, the refractive index method can be a cheap and fast alternative for these two methods.     

Crystal structure and properties of polymeric hexaaqua-<Emphasis Type="Italic">hexakis</Emphasis>-(2-thiobarbiturato)-disamarium(III)

The structure (CIF file CCDC No. 1401886) of the hexaaqua-hexakis(2-thiobarbiturato)-disamarium [Sm₂(H₂O)₆(HTBA)₆] _n polymeric complex (I), where H₂ТВА is 2-thiobarbituric acid, is determined; its thermal decomposition and IR spectrum are studied. The crystals of I are monoclinic: a = 14.072(1) Å, b = 10.0842(6) Å, c = 15.323(1) Å, β = 110.408(2)°, V = 2037.9(2) ų, space group P2/n, Z = 2. All three independent thiobarbiturate anions HTBA^– coordinate to Sm³⁺ through oxygen atoms. To one of independent Sm³⁺ ions six (two terminal and four bridging) HTBA^– ions and two water molecules are coordinated; the second is bonded with four bridging HTBA^– and four water molecules, forming square antiprisms. The bridging HТВА–anions arrange antiprisms in layers. The structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds and a π–π interaction between the HТВА^– ions. The topology of the polymer network of I is analyzed.     

Mass spectra of new heterocycles: XV. Fragmentation of 1-substituted 3-alkoxy-2-(propargylsulfanyl)- and 3-alkoxy-2-(allenylsulfanyl)-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrroles under electron impact

The electron impact mass spectra of 1-R-substituted 3-alkoxy-2-(propargylsulfanyl)- and 3-alkoxy-2-(allenylsulfanyl)-1H-pyrroles (R = Me, i-Pr, s-Bu, Ph) have been studied for the first time. These compounds give rise to stable molecular ions whose primary fragmentation follows three competing pathways: cleavage of the C–O bonds with expulsion of alkyl radical, cleavage of the C–S bonds with formation of [M–C₃H₃]⁺ ions, and cleavage of the C–N bonds with synchronous hydrogen transfer to give odd-electron [M–C_nH_2n]+ · ion. The main fragmentation pathway of 2-(propargylsulfanyl) derivatives is cleavage of the C–S bond with formation of [M–C₃H₃]⁺ ion.     

X-ray diffraction study of CsZn<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>5</Subscript>

CsZn₂Br₅ crystals are studied by X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the unit cell parameters a = 6.8880(12) Å, b = 10.4703(19) Å, c = 6.5197(9) Å, β = 108.25°, V = 446.55 ų, ρ_calcd = 4.960 g/cm³. Refractive indices are n _p = 1.640 and n _p = 1.754.     

Crystal structure and antitumor activities of a dinuclear cobalt(II) complex based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-1,2,3,4-tetra(1H-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]imidazol-2-yl)butane

The [Co₂(tbb)Cl₄]?4DMF complex, where tbb is meso-1,2,3,4-tetra(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)butane, is synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. For the complex: C₄₄H₅₄Co₂C_l4N₁₂O₄, M_r = 1074.65, monoclinic crystal system, space group P21/n, a = 9.2350(13) Å, b = 11.3566(15) Å, c = 23.879(3) Å, β = 90.547(2)°, V = 2504.3(6) ų, Z = 2, D_c = 1.425 g/cm³, λ = 0.71073 Å, μ(MoK_α) = = 0.929 mm^–1, F(000) = 1112, S = 1.047, R = 0.0765, and wR = 0.2110 for 13668 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). It is a neutral dinuclear complex. One meso-1,2,3,4-tetra(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)butane coordinates two cobalt(II) ions. Each cobalt(II) ion is formed by two tbb nitrogen atoms and two chloride ions. The antiproliferative activities of the complex are screened by MTT assay against Eca109 cancer cells. The complex exhibits inhibition on the growth of Eca109 cancer cells with IC₅₀ of 22.1±6.7 μM after 48 h treatment. The cobalt complex has potential application in treatment of Eca109 cancer. CCDC 1015791.     

Processes of hydrogenation of trifluoromethylfullerenes in the mass spectrometer ion source

The processes of hydrogenation of a mixture of trifluoromethylfullerenes was studied in situ by means of positive-and negative-ion mass spectrometry. The effective addition of 1, 5, and 11 hydrogen atoms was revealed. The appearance energies of positive trifluoromethylfullerene ions C ₆₀ (CF₃) _n ⁺ (n = 1–8) and C₆₀(CF₃) _n H⁺ (n = 1, 3, 5, 7) were determined.