Sorbic Acid as an Alkylating Agent

A kinetic study of the alkylating potential of the sorbic acid + NaOH and sorbic acid + KOH systems was performed in 7:3 (volume/volume) water + dioxane solvent mixtures. The following conclusions were drawn. First, the sorbic acid + sorbate system shows alkylating activity on the nucleophile 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP), which is used as a trap for alkylating agents having nucleophilic characteristics similar to DNA bases. Second, the maximum alkylating capacity is observed in the pH = 5.0 to 6.5 range. Third, the alkylation reactions comply with the rate equation r=k _alk[H⁺][S][NBP]/(K _a +[H⁺]), with K _a being the dissociation constant of sorbic acid. Fourth, an enthalpy–entropy (ΔH ^#/ΔS ^#) compensation effect for activation quantities is observed by comparing NBP alkylation reactions due to sorbic acid + NaOH, sorbic acid + KOH, as well as potassium sorbate + HCl mixtures. Fifth, the results may help to establish suitable expiration times for products preserved with sorbic acid.     

Influence de l'ion compensateur et du squelette macromoleculaire sur le gonflement de resines carboxyliques en milieu aqueux

The swelling of two carboxylic resins during neutralization by different bases MOH (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) has been followed by measuring the volume of the resin phase ($\text{V}$_R). The first resin is a copolymer of acrylic acid, isoprene and divinylbenzene (RA); the second is a copolymer of methacrylic acid and DVB (RMA). At zero ionic strength, the swelling increases regularly for RMA neutralized by LiOH, NaOH, KOH, RbOH and CsOH, and for RA by LiOH and NaOH only. During the neutralization of RA by KOH, RbOH and CsOH, the swelling goes through a minimum. The effect of ionic strength and urea on this anomalous behaviour is studied and discussed. It is interpreted as the result of modifications of cohesion forces according to the influence of the counter-ions on the water structure.     

Oil-Water Partitioning of a Synthetic Tetracarboxylic Acid as a Function of pH

The oil-water partitioning of a synthetic tetraacid acting as a model compound for indigenous C₈₀-C₈₂ ARN acids has been studied as a function of pH, ionic strength and type of monovalent counterion. Experimental data obtained with ultraviolet-visible and HPLC/UV analyses have been fitted to thermodynamic models based on one, two or four dissociation steps to obtain o/w partition coefficients (K _wo ) of the fully protonated acid between chloroform and aqueous solutions, and its apparent acidity constant(s), pK _a. As the study is conducted above the CMC of the tetraacid, in general high apparent acidity constants were obtained in the range from 6 to 8 resulting from micellization equilibria. K _wo values were obtained in the range from 10^?3 to 10^?4, and decreasing with increasing salinity. At 50 mM K⁺, no conclusions could be made regarding the number of distinguishable dissociation steps, while at higher ionic strength (184 mM and 452 mM K⁺) and at 184 mM Na⁺ a model with two dissociation steps provided good fits to the experimental data. The first step was found to be given by a pK _a ≈ 6.6–6.8 and the second dissociation step at pK _a values ≈ 7.8–8.3. The two-step mechanism supports previous results obtained by potentiometric titrations. No significant difference in the o/w behavior was observed when changing the counterion from potassium to sodium. The main partitioning of the tetraacid in the aqueous phase occurred above pH 8, where the fully deprotonated acid was formed.     

Tuning the sugar‐response of boronic acid block copolymers

A detailed study of the pH‐ and sugar‐responsive behavior of poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid pinacol ester)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PAPBAE‐b‐PDMA) block copolymers is presented. Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of the pinacol ester of 3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid resulted in homopolymers with molecular weights between 12,000 and 37,000 g/mol. The resulting homopolymers were employed as macro‐chain transfer agents during the polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA). Successful chain extension and removal of the pinacol protecting groups to yield poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid)‐b‐PDMA (PAPBA‐b‐PDMA) with free boronic acid moieties resulted in pH‐ and sugar‐responsive block copolymers that were subsequently investigated for their behavior in aqueous solution. The PAPBA‐b‐PDMA block copolymers were capable of solution self‐assembly due to the PAPBA block being water‐insoluble below its pK_a. The resulting aggregates were demonstrated to solubilize and release model hydrophobic compounds, as demonstrated by fluorescence studies. Dissociation of the aggregates was induced by raising the pH above the pK_a of the boronic acid residues or by adding sugars capable of forming boronate esters. Aggregate size, dissociation kinetics, and the effect of various sugars were considered. The critical sugar concentration needed to induce aggregate dissociation was tuned by incorporation of hydrophilic DMA units within the PAPBA responsive segment to yield PDMA‐b‐poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid‐co‐DMA) block copolymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Determination of the pKa of Benzophenones by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Electrophoretic behavior of seven benzophenones as a function of the buffer pH was investigated, and their pK_a values were determined by capillary zone electrophoresis. The determination of pK_a allows us to rationalize the influence of the buffer pH on the migration behavior of benzophenones. The results reveal that both the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bond and the favorable π‐electronic delocalization decrease the degree of the acid dissociation of the hydroxyl groups of hydroxybenzophenones. However, the introduction of a hydroxyl group at the 4‐position or at the 2′‐position of the aromatic ring of hydroxybenzophenones would decrease greatly their pK_a1 values. Thus the presence of this type of hydrogen bonding also plays an important role in the acid dissociation of these hydroxybenzophenones.     

Determination of the Glass Electrode Parameters by Means of Potentiometric Titration of Acetic Acid in Aqueous Sodium or Potassium Chloride Solutions at 25°C

Single-ion activity coefficient equations are presented for the calculation of stoichiometric (molality scale) dissociation constants K _m for acetic acid in aqueous NaCl or KCl solutions at 25°C. These equations are of the Pitzer or Hückel type and apply to the case where the inert electrolyte alone determines the ionic strength of the acetic acid solution considered. K _m for a certain ionic strength can be calculated from the thermodynamic dissociation constant K _a by means of the equations for ionic activity coefficients. The data used in the estimation of the parameters for the activity coefficient equations were taken from the literature. In these data were included results of measurements on galvanic cells without a liquid junction (i.e., on cells of the Harned type). Despite the theoretical difficulties associated with the single-ion activity coefficients, K _m can be calculated for acetic acid in NaCl or KCl solutions by the Pitzer or Hückel method (the two methods give practically identical K _m values) almost within experimental error at least up to ionic strengths of about 1 mol-kg^–1. Potentiometric acetic acid titrations with base solutions (NaOH or KOH) were performed in a glass electrode cell at constant ionic strengths adjusted by NaCl or KCl. These titrations were analyzed by equation E = E _o + k(RT/F) ln[m(H⁺)], where m(H⁺) is the molality of protons, and E is the electromotive force measured. m(H⁺) was calculated for each titration point from the volume of the base solution added by using the stoichiometric dissociation constant K _m obtained by the Pitzer or Hückel method. During each base titration at a constant ionic strength, E _o and k in this equation were observed to be constants and were determined by linear regression analysis. The use of this equation in the analysis of potentiometric glass electrode data represents an improvement when compared to the common methods in use for two reasons. No activity coefficients are needed and problems associated with liquid junction potentials have been eliminated.     

Kinetics of Dimethyl Carbonate Synthesis From Ethylene Carbonate and Methanol Using Alkali-Metal Compounds as Catalysts

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of ethylene carbonate and methanol. K₂ CO₃ , KOH, LiOH and NaOH were used as catalysts for DMC synthesis and their catalytic abilities were compared in terms of kinetics. LiOH showed the best reaction rate among the catalysts. The rate constant was estimated to be 0.02538 (dm 3 /mol) 0.21 /min at 298 K.     

Investigations on the dissociation behavior of hydrolyzed alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and alkenes: 13C-NMR spectra and potentiometric titrations

The pK_a values of the succinic acid moieties of hydrolyzed alternating ethene- and isobutene-maleic anhydride copolymers were determined in D₂O. The pD-dependence on the ¹³C chemical shift of selected signals was analyzed for these copolymers. Four different pK_as were determined for the copolymer with ethene due to the existence of both the erythro- and threo-configuration of the succinic acid moiety: pK_01,erythro = 4.2, pK_0.1,threo = 4.1, pK_02,erythro = 6.1, pK_02,threo = 6.8. The isobutene-maleic anhydride copolymer contains only threo-units. Therefore, only two dissociation steps with pK₀₁ = 3.0 and pK₀₂ = 8.7 were observed for the hydrolyzed form. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Determination of thermodynamic pKa values of pharmaceuticals from five different groups using capillary electrophoresis

A determination of the thermodynamic acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of 22 frequently used pharmaceuticals using capillary electrophoresis in aqueous media is presented in this work. The investigated pharmaceuticals belong to different pharmacological groups: macrolides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, β‐lactams, tetracyclines, and other miscellaneous pharmaceuticals. The electrophoretic mobilities of the investigated analytes were monitored in a pH range from 2.00 to 10.82. The data were fitted with an appropriate mathematical model using a nonlinear regression analysis to obtain pK_a values. Experimentally obtained data were well described by the mathematical model chosen for each analyte that was confirmed by r² values higher than 0.99 for most of the investigated analytes. Extrapolations to zero ionic strength were used to determine the thermodynamic pK_a values. Experimentally obtained acid dissociation constants were interpreted using structural formulae of investigated analytes and the moieties corresponding to specific pK_a were identified.     

Acidity of Several Anilinium Derivatives in Pure Tetrahydrofuran

The acidity constant (pK _a) of eleven substituted anilinium ions and the dissociation constants of their perchlorate salts (pK _salt) were determined in pure tetrahydrofuran by potentiometry and conductometry. The pK _a values of the studied aniliniums extend downward the range of previously determined pK _a values. The resolution of acid strength for cationic acids in tetrahydrofuran was compared with those obtained in other amphiprotic and aprotic solvents. It is shown that the resolution in tetrahydrofuran is higher than the ones in water and methanol, similar to those in acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide and isobutylmethylketone, but lower than those in acetonitrile and nitromethane.     

Quantum-chemical DFT study of acid properties of thiols RSH and ligand power of their anions RS<Superscript>−</Superscript>

The DFT calculations of electronic and geometry structure, dissociation energies of S-H and S-C bonds, and acid dissociation constants (pK _a) for ten RSH thiols were fulfilled. Calibration corrections to the calculated pK _a^DFT values, which allowed obtaining a good correspondence with experimental data were introduced. Donor power of thiolate anions RS- was estimated for the prediction of stability of their compounds with ions of d-elements.     

Determination of aqueous acid‐dissociation constants of aspartic acid using PCM/DFT method

Determination of acid‐dissociation constants, pK_a, of aspartic acid in aqueous solution, using density functional theory calculations combined with the conductor‐like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) and with integral‐equation‐formalism polarizable continuum model (IEFPCM) based on the UAKS and UAHF radii, was carried out. The computed pK_a values derived from the CPCM and IEFPCM with UAKS cavity model of bare structures of the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p)‐optimized tetrahydrated structures of aspartic acid species are mostly close to the experimental pK_a values. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Thermodynamic Estimate of pKa Values of the Carboxylic Acids in Aqueous Solution with the Density Functional Theory

The 96 pK_a values of 85 carboxylic acids in aqueous solution were calculated with the density functional theory method at the level of B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) and the polarizable continuum model (PCM) was used to describe the solvent. In the calculations of pK_a values, the dissociation Gibbs free energies were directly calculated using carboxylic acid dissociation reactions in aqueous solution, i. e., no thermodynamic cycle was employed, which is different from the previous literatures. A highly significant correlation of R²=0.95 with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.36 between the experimental pK_a values and the calculated dissociation Gibbs free energies [ΔG(calc.)] was found. The slope of pK_a vs. (G(calc.)/(20303RT) is only 47.6% of the theoretically expected value, which implies that the ΔG(calc.) value from the theoretical calculation is larger than the actual one for all 85 carboxylic acids studied. Thus, by adding the 0.476 scaling‐factor into the slope, we can derive a reliably procedure that can reproduce the experimental pK_a values of carboxylic acids. The pK_a values furnished by this procedure are in good agreement with the experimental results for carboxylic acids in aqueous solution.     

Acid-base strengths in 1,2-dichloroethane

The pK_a value of hydriodic acid in 1,2-dichloroethane was determined from conductivity measurements. A glass electrode was calibrated for dichloroethane in the potentiometric titration of hydriodic acid with tetramethylguanidine. From potentiometric titrations, the pK_a values in dichloroethane of hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, picric acid and some sulfonphthaleins as well as some protonated nitrogen bases were determined. In the curves of the titrations of the carboxylic acids and the hydrogen halides with TMG, evidence was found for the formation of the complex B(HX)₂.     

Studies on the Physical Chemistry of (2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)acetic Acid in Two-phase Systems: Organic Solvent-Water

The dissociation constants (p _s K _a ) of 2,4-D acid were determined in methanol-water mixtures of 10.9 to 38.9 wt.% methanol content. The Yasuda-Shedlovsky procedure was used to obtain the pK _a value in zero-% methanol. The distribution of 2,4-D acid in twelve two-phase organic solvent + water systems and its dimerization in the organic phase were investigated. Values of the distribution coefficient (D _HR), distribution constant (K _D ), and dimerization constant (K _dim) of 2,4-D were obtained. The influence of the structure and polarity of the investigated organic solvents, as well as that of pH of the aqueous phase, on the physical chemistry of 2,4-D in the two-phase systems are described.     

Titrations of sulphonamides in cationic micellar systems

A titrimetric determination of some sulphonamides with 0.1 M sodium hydroxide in the presence of hexadecylpyridinium chloride is described. Potentiometric titrations are slow; visual titrations are satisfactory. The pK_a shift can be interpreted in the light of general micellar behaviour.     

Determination of acid dissociation constants of flavin analogues by capillary zone electrophoresis

Acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of nine kinds of flavin analogues as molecular catalyst candidates were determined by CZE. Although some of the analogues are instable and degradable under the light exposure or in alkaline aqueous solutions, the effective electrophoretic mobility of the flavin analogue of interest has been measured with the residual substance. The pK_a values of the flavin analogues were analyzed through the changes in the effective electrophoretic mobility with varying pH of the separation buffer. One or two steps pK_a values were determined by the analysis. One of the degraded species from the flavin analogues, lumichrome, was also detected in the CZE analysis, and its pK_a values were also determined. While coexisting impurities generated over the storage conditions were found in some analogues, the pK_a values of the target analogues were successfully determined with the help of the CZE separations. A pressure-assisted CZE was utilized for the determination or the estimation of the pK_a values of such analogues as possessing carboxylic acid moiety.     

NMR spectroscopic studies on the mechanism of cellulose dissolution in alkali solutions

It was considered that the dissolution of cellulose in alkali solutions is mainly due to the breakage of hydrogen bonds. As an alkali hydroxide, KOH can provide OH^? just like LiOH and NaOH; but it is well known that LiOH and NaOH can dissolve cellulose, whereas KOH can only swell cellulose. The inability of KOH to dissolve cellulose was investigated and the mechanism of cellulose dissolving in alkali solutions was proposed. The dissolution behavior of cellulose and cellobiose in LiOH, NaOH and KOH were studied by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR as well as longitudinal relaxation times. The structure and properties of the three alkali solutions were compared. The results show that alkali share the same interaction mode with cellobiose and with the magnitude of LiOH > NaOH > KOH; the alkalis influence the structure of water also in the same order LiOH > NaOH > KOH. The different behavior of the three alkalis lies in the different structure of the cation hydration ions. Li⁺ and Na⁺ can form two hydration shells, while K⁺ can only form loose first hydration shell. The key to the alkali solution can or cannot dissolve cellulose is whether the cation hydration ions can form stable complex with cellulose or not. K⁺ cannot form stable complex with cellulose result in the KOH solution can only swell cellulose.     

Negative influence of pKa on activation energy barrier: A case study for double proton transfer reaction in inorganic acid dimers

Strength of acid can be determined by means of pK_a value. Attempts have been made to find a relationship between pK_a and activation energy barrier for a double proton transfer (DPT) reaction in inorganic acid dimers. Negative influence of pK_a is observed on activation energy (E_a) which is contrary to the general convention of pK_a. Four different levels of theories with two different basis sets have been used to calculate the activation energy barrier of the DPT reaction in inorganic acid dimers. A model based on first and second order polynomial has been created to find the relationship between activation energy for DPT reaction. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Surface tension of polymer mixtures and copolymers

Contact angles θ of liquids of different polarity were measured on a series of mixtures of solid high polymers and a series of copolymers. The mixtures were composed of an alternating poly(ethylene-co-maleic anhydride) (EMA), and its addition product with n-octadecylamine, poly(ethylene-co-N-n-octadecylmaleamic acid) (EOM). The co-polymers were composed of the same monomeric units as the mixtures. The surface tension γ_s of EOM, calculated from θ by the Good-Fowkes-Owens-Wendt treatment, decreased slightly with increasing molecular weights and then reached a limiting value. Plots of γ_s against EOM concentration indicated large negative excess surface tension of the units with lower surface tension, EOM, in both series studied. For the mixture series, γ_a first sharply decreased with the EOM concentration; then it reached a limiting value, the γ_s of pure EOM, at a very low EOM concentration. This indicates phase separation of the two polymers, and the thickness of a monomolecular surface layer was calculated from these data. For the copolymers, γ_s varied logarithmically with the EOM concentration. Throughout the whole concentration range, the data fitted the equation developed by Belton and Evans for ideal mixtures.