Recent advances in molecuar and supermolecuar characterization of cellulose and cellulose derivatives

Recent advances between 1985 and early 1993 in the following topics of the characterization of molecular structure and molecular properties of cellulose and its derivates (CD) made in the authors' laboratories are briefly reviewed: (1) A theoretical basis of the assignment of carbonyl carbon peaks of ¹³C NMR spectra on cellulose acetate (CA) was given, especially when the total degree of substitution <<f>> is below 3. (2) Molar fractions of 8 kinds of unsubstituted and partially or fully substituted anhydroglucopyranose units were successfully determined for CA and sodium cellulose sulfate (NaCS). (3) The sequence distribution of substituted and unsubstituted anhydroglucopyranose units along a water–soluble CA chain was evaluated. (4) C₆-substituted (i.e., 6-O-acetyl) CA and C₂- and C₆-substituted CA were synthesized, and the full assignment of the ¹³C NMR spetrum of the former was given and a new method for evaluating the degree of substitution at C₆ position was proposed. (5) By destructing the intramolecular hydrogen bonding, cellulose becomes soluble in aq. sodium hydroxide. The specific supermolecular structure of aq. sodium hydroxide, dissolving mechanism, dissolved state and molecular parameters of cellulose in aq. sodium hydroxide were discussed. (6) The solubility behavior of CA with a wide range of total degree of substitution in solvents including water, acetone/water and acetone is controlled by the distribution of substitution and the supermolecular structure. (7) The existence of O₃-H … O'₅ intramolecular hydrogen bonds in a water-in soluble cellulose derivative with hydrophilic substituent (NaCEC) was confirmed by CP/MAS ¹³C NMR and deuteration IR method. At a relatively low degree of substitution the solubility of the derivative in water or aqueous alkali was mainly governed by considerable destruction of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds. (8) The persistence length q, evaluated directly by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) on CA with different total degree of substitution <<f>> ranging from 0,8 to 2,9 confirmed definitely the conclusion drawn before by Kamide and Saito on the molecular rigidity of CD, especially the effect of <<f>> on q. (9) C₆-substituted CA shows different solubility towards dimethylacetamide and water at 20°C, as compared with C₂- and C₃-subsituted CA and C₂-, C₃- and C₆- substituted CA, whose <<f>> is ca. 0,6.     

3,6-Bis(dimethylamino)-10-propylacridinium iodide

In the title compound, C₂₀H₂₆N₃⁺·I⁻, the acridinium moiety shows mirror symmetry about the central C—N vector. The fused tricyclic system is only approximately planar and the geometry is affected by the presence of both di­methyl­amino groups and the propyl substitution at the central N atom. The propyl chain adopts an extended trans conformation and the plane through the chain C atoms is perpendicular to the mean plane through the rings. The I⁻ ion is involved in short-range hydrogen-bonding interactions with two centrosymmetrically related cations via three activated acridinium C atoms. Stacks of acridinium cations propagate through the crystal along the c direction. The ring overlap is partial, but the di­methyl­amino groups also participate in the stacking.     

Design,synthesis and structure determination of new inherently chiral para-bromoalkoxycalix[4]arenes

The preparative method for the synthesis of inherently chiral para-bromoalkoxycalix[4]arenes based on para-bromination, stepwise regioselective debenzoylation and the following alkylation of the readily available 25-propoxy-26,27-dibenzoyloxycalix[4]arene with propyl bromide or (R)-N-(1-phenylethyl)bromoacetamide has been developed. Three types of the inherently chiral calix[4]arenes in cone or partial cone conformations with asymmetrical (_AHHH^HBHH, _AAHH^HBHH, _AHBH^HCHH) substitution of both upper and lower rims have been obtained in racemic, diastereomerically pure or enantiomerically pure forms. Their structure and the absolute configuration have been determined by NMR and X-ray.     

Chemistry of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzonitrile. 1. Nitro group substitution in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzonitrile under the action of anionic nucleophiles. Factors favoring substitution of the ortho-nitro group

The direction of the nitro group substitution (the ratio of the ortho/para substitution) in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzonitrile under the action of anionic nucleophiles (MeO^–, RS^–, and N₃ ^–) as well as of HCl was studied. The factors favoring ortho substitution were revealed.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Water Soluble Gold Nanoclusters of Varied Core Size

A series of water soluble gold nanoclusters of variable core size were prepared and characterized. The clusters were synthesized using a ligand substitution reaction between CH₃(OCH₂CH₂)₃SH and hexanethiol encapsulated gold nanoclusters, and characterized using NMR, FTIR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy, as well as TGA, DSC, and TEM. Conductivity values were obtained for the clusters and increased as expected along with the gold core size. The substitution reaction used in the synthesis was followed by ¹H NMR and found to produce only partial ligand substitution after 24 h, consistent with solubility observations and necessitating use of a two-step preparation scheme.     

Role of bridging diamine linkers on the rate of ligand substitution in a series of dinuclear PtII complexes

A series of dinuclear platinum^II complexes of the type [{trans‐Pt(H₂O)(NH₃)₂}₂‐NH₂(CH₂)_nH₂N]⁴⁺ (where n = 2, 3, 4, and 6) were synthesized to investigate the influence of the bridging diamine linker on the reactivity of the platinum centers. The pK_a values were determined, and the rates of substitution of the aqua moieties by a series of neutral nucleophiles viz. thiourea, 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐thiourea, and 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyl‐2‐thiourea were studied as a function of concentration and temperature. All reactions studied gave excellent fits to a single exponential and obeyed the simple rate law, k_obs=k₂[Nu]. Negative activation entropies support an associative mode of substitution. The results obtained suggest that the rate of substitution is definitely influenced by the length of the diamine chain, with the rate of substitution decreasing as the length of the diamine chain increases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 202–210, 2006     

Configurational stereoselectivity in the nucleophilic substitution of poly(vinyl chloride) with sodium thiophenate: NMR study and Monte-Carlo simulation of the reaction

The nucleophilic substitution of the chlorine atoms of poly(vinyl chloride) with sodium thiophenate is assumed to obey an SN2 mechanism with inversion of configuration and a steric control according to which reactivities R of the triads follow the order R_mm > R_mr ? R_rr. Such a reaction cannot be described by simple differential equations, but a Monte Carlo simulation, first generating a random Bernouillian chain and then simulating random attack of the chain by the reactant according to the triad reactivities, allows a good agreement with the experimental results of both the kinetics of a reaction carried out in cyclohexanone solution at 40°C and the evolution of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra of the tertiary carbon atoms, assuming the following parameters: Bernouillian probability for a meso placement in the initial chain: 0.431; relative reactivities of the mm, mr and rm, rr triads: 1, 0.5, and 0., respectively. The agreement is excellent until the reaction is about three-quarters complete; this shows a limiting level of about 60% substitution. Better agreement can be obtained up to the limit, if a secondary process of steric control by the substituant in a partially substituted mr triad is assumed. Other possibilities for that secondary process are discussed.     

Mechanism of Substitution in Carbonated Apatites

Single-phase AB-type carbonate apatites were prepared by sintering appropriate mixtures of CaHPO₄ and CaCO₃ at 870°C in a CO₂ atmosphere with a partial water vapor pressure of 5 mm Hg. Chemical and physical analyses indicate that at a constant CO₃^2?/OH^? ratio in the hydroxyl sublattice, carbonate substitutes for phosphate on a 1:1 mole basis. For every three PO₄^3? ions substituted, two vacancies in the Ca²⁺ sublattice and one in the OH^? sublattice are created. The same substitution mechanism seems to apply in pure B-type carbonate apatite.     

Densities and Apparent Molar Volumes of Aqueous H<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">3</Emphasis></Subscript>BO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">3</Emphasis></Subscript> Solutions at Temperatures from 296 to 573 K and at Pressures up to 48 MPa

Densities of four aqueous H₃BO₃ solutions (0.062, 0.155, 0.315, and 0.529 mol-kg^–1) have been measured in the liquid phase with a constant volume piezometer immersed in a precisely controlled liquid thermostat. Measurements were made at temperatures between 296 and 573 K and pressures from 0.82 to 48 MPa. The total uncertainties of the density, pressure, temperature, and molality measurements were estimated to be less than 0.06%, 0.05%, 10 mK, and 0.0005 mol-kg^–1, respectively. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by PVT measurements on pure water for two isobars (30 and 39 MPa) at temperatures from 313 to 573 K. The experimental and calculated (IAPWS formulation) densities for pure water show excellent agreement which is within their experimental uncertainties (average absolute deviation, AAD=0.012%;). Apparent and partial molar volumes were derived using the measured densities for solutions and pure water, and these results were extrapolated to zero concentration to yield the partial molar volumes of the electrolyte (H₃BO₃) at infinite dilution. The temperature, pressure, and concentration dependencies of the apparent and partial molar volumes were studied. Small pressure and concentration effects on the apparent molar volumes were found at temperatures up to 500 K. The parameters of a polynomial type of equation of state for the specific volume V_sol(P, T, m) as a function of pressure, temperature, and molality were obtained with a least-squares method using the experimental data. The root-mean-square deviation between measured and calculated values from this polynomial equation of state is ±0.2 kg-m^–3 for density. Measured values of the solution densities and the apparent and partial molar volumes are compared with data reported in the literature.     

Acrylate-Assisted Arene–Chromium Bond Cleavage: Generation of a [Cr(CO)2] Fragment under Mild Conditions*

Displacement of the benzene ligand in 1 surprisingly occurs more readily than that of the methyl acrylate ligand. This paves the way for 1 to undergo arene exchange and arene substitution reactions, which may be triggered by a η²→η⁴ haptotropic rearrangement of the acrylate. Complex 1 is thus a mild precursor of the highly unsaturated fragments [Cr(CO)₂] (see scheme) and [Cr(CO)₂(η₂-acrylate)].     

Atomic-scale investigation of the interaction between coniferyl alcohol and laccase for lignin degradation using molecular dynamics simulations and spectroscopy

The interaction between coniferyl alcohol (CA) and laccase (LAC) was investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and spectral experiments. The mode of interaction between CA and LAC was established by MD simulations. The micro-environmental changes, stability and rigidity of the LAC-CA system were assessed by relevant parameters. These parameters include root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) and radius of gyration (Rg). The calculated binding free energy (ΔG_binding=??19.99?kcal·mol.^?1), the van der waals (VDW) contribution (ΔG_vdw=?23.99?kcal·mol^?1) and the electrostatic energy (ΔG_ele=?23.09?kcal·mol^?1) of LAC-CA system demonstrated that the interaction of LAC-CA was a spontaneous process and the main interaction forces were van der Waal's and electrostatic forces. The values of ΔG_vdw and ΔG_ele were negative, which demonstrated that VDW interactions and electrostatic interactions were favorable for the binding of CA and LAC. The binding constants, thermodynamic parameters, molecular force types and binding distances confirmed the interaction between CA and LAC and further verified the rationality of the theoretical model by spectral experiments. The MD simulations and experimental approaches provide clues for the discovery of new mediators and useful references for the mechanism of microbial degradation of lignin and industrialization of lignocellulose.     

Synthesis of new conducting poly(2,5-thienylene)s containing alkylhydroxy and alkylester side chains

The chemical synthesis of new electroconducting poly(2,5-thienylene)s containing alkylhydroxy and alkylester side-chains in the β-position of the thiophene rings is reported. The polymers were obtained by oxidative homopolymerization or copolymerization of 2-(3-thienyl)ethanol and 2-(3-thienyl)ethyl hexanoate by FeCl₃ in nitromethane. Structural characterization using elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy shows that a partial nucleophilic substitution of the hydroxy group by chlorine and a partial cleavage of the ester function take place during polymerization. The presence of the ester function with a long aliphatic chain makes the polymers soluble and allows them to be processed into films. The polymers can be doped using a solution of FeCl₃ to the maximum electrical conductivity of 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹.     

Infrared spectroscopy of ethylene–vinyl chloride copolymers

This paper continues an investigation into the ethylene–vinyl chloride copolymers prepared by partial reduction of poly(vinyl chloride). The infrared spectra of the copolymers have been obtained and the individual resonances assigned. Each infrared band has been quantitatively analyzed in terms of peak position (cm^?1) and intensity, and correlations with the sequence microstructure (dyad, triads, etc.) have been determined. The infrared resonances have been found to be sensitive to long sequences; i.e., (V)_x or (E)_x where x ≥ 10. Sequences of up to 10–15 monomer units were seen to affect the position (cm^?1) and intensity of C? H stretching and bending frequencies. Methylene rocking bands between 850 and 700 cm^?1 were observed to be sequence dependent with ? V(E)_xV? resonanting at 860, 750, or 730 cm^?1 for x = 0, 1 and 2, or ≥3, respectively. The C? Cl stretching resonances, which are well known for their conformational complexity in pure PVC, were found to be dominated by sequence length effects reducing to two bands at 665 and 610 cm^?1 characteristic of and isolated ? CH? Cl unit in a long methylene chain.     

Competing Fragmentation,Substitution and Elimination in the Solvolysis of Alkylated 3-Chloropropanols and their Ethers. Fragmentation reactions no. 28

The unstrained 3-chloroalcohols 1a , 2a and 3a do not undergo solvolytic fragmentation in neutral and weakly acidic 80% ethanol, only substitution and elimination products being formed by the limiting S_N1-E1 mechanisms. This also applies to the corresponding ethers 1b and 3b . Addition of sodium hydroxide causes the observed rate constants for the 3-chloroalcohols to rise steeply by factors of at least 10³ to 10⁵. These level off at higher base concentrations due to an opposing ionic strength effect. Whereas 3a fragments quantitatively in the presence of base, 1a and 2a fragment in competition with elimination to the Δ³-olefins 9a and 10 , respectively. 2a also yields 2% of the oxetane 6b . These results support a concerted base-induced fragmentation mechanism which competes with intramolecular base-induced elimination (E_i) in the case of the acyclic chloroalcohols 1a and 2a . The formation of small amounts of the oxetane 6b from 2a is attributed to intramolecular nucleophilic substitution at the tertiary carbon atom.     

Ring opening reaction of protonated polyfluorinated benzenes in the gas phase. A theoretical MNDO study

The MNDO calculations of protonated polyfluorobenzenes [Ph-F_n]H⁺ indicate the possibility of a relatively free migration of the hydrogen proton with energy barriers of 125–145 kJ mol^?1. At a higher degree of substitution (n) the protonation of the ipso carbon atom occupied by fluorine becomes energetically feasible, along with analogous migrations of fluorine, which, however, are energetically the most advantageous (ΔE_a ～ 230 kJ mol^?1). In addition to bridged fluoronium ions, relatively stable cyclic intermediates were also found, which make possible a rearrangement to the difluoromethylenecyclopentadienyl cation and thus the elimination of CF₂ observed in collision-induced dissociation mass spectra.     

Molecular parameters of sodium cellulose xanthate in dilute solution

Molecular parameters of sodium cellulose xanthate in NaOH solution have been determined by means of light scattering and viscometry. The effect of the degree of substitution on the molecular configuration of sodium cellulose xanthate has been studied for three series of samples of varying degree of substitution. The expansion factor has been determined from the expression due to Orofino and Flory. The effective bond length b and the ratio of the unperturbed dimension to the dimension assuming free rotation of the chain units (R?_o²/R?_f²)^1/2, have also been determined. It is concluded that sodium cellulose xanthate in dilute solution is a loosely coiled molecule, comparable to other cellulose derivatives in chain stiffness.     

Experimental Vapor Pressures and Derived Thermodynamic Properties of Aqueous Solutions of Lithium Nitrate from 423 to 623 K

Vapor pressures of six aqueous lithium nitrate solutions with molalities of (0.181, 0.526, 0.963, 1.730, 2.990, and 5.250) mol-kg^–1 have been measured in the temperature range 423.15–623.15 K with a constant-volume piezometer immersed in a precision liquid thermostat. The static method was used to measure the vapor pressure. The total uncertainty of the temperature, pressure and composition measurements were estimated to be less than 15 mK, 0.2%, and 0.014%, respectively. The vapor pressures of pure water were measured with the same apparatus and procedure to confirm the accuracy of the method used for aqueous lithium nitrate solutions. The results for pure water were compared with high-accuracy P_S–T_S data calculated from the IAPWS standard equation of state. Important thermodynamic functions (activities of water and lithium nitrate, partial molar volumes, osmotic coefficient, excess relative partial molar entropy, and relative partial molar enthalpy values of the solvent) were derived using the measured values of vapor pressure for the solution and pure water. The measured and derived thermodynamic properties for solutions were compared with data reported in the literature. The present results are consistent with most previous reported thermodynamic data for the pure water and H₂O + LiNO₃ solutions at low temperatures.     

Detailed Mechanism of Phenol-Inhibited Peroxidase-Catalyzed Oxidation of Indole-3-Acetic Acid at Neutral pH*

The inhibition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-cata-lyzed oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by a phenol, caffeic acid (CA), was studied using both a kinetic approach and computer simulation. The presence of CA resulted in a lag period in IAA oxidation. The lag period increased slowly with increasing [CA] until a critical concentration, [CA]_cr, was reached, then it increased much faster when [CA] was greater than [CA]_cr. The [CA]_cr was proportional to [IAA] and did not depend upon [HRP]. Caffeic acid was oxidized by compound I and compound II of HRP with bimolecular rate constants (6.8 ± 10⁷ and 2.1 ± 10⁷M-¹s^?l), which were much higher than the corresponding rate constants for IAA oxidation (2.3 ± 10³ and 2.0 ± 10²M^?1s^?1). Our experimental data show that CA inhibits IAA oxidation because it is able to compete effectively as a peroxidase substrate. A model based on a detailed mechanism of IAA oxidation was investigated using computer simulation. A rate constant driving nonenzymatic hydroperoxide formation in IAA solution was determined, 3.0 × 10^?-⁷ s^?1. The model quantitatively describes the experimental results of this work and also qualitatively explains data published earlier. The critical inhibitor concentration is approximately equal to twice the concentration of hydroperoxide in IAA solution at the time of inhibitor addition. Therefore hydroperoxide Concentration can be calculated from the determination of critical inhibitor concentration.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Luminescent Properties of a Dimeric Complex [(bzdmpzm)Cu(μ-I)]2 and a Polymeric Complex [(bzdmpzm)Cu(μ-NCS)]n (bzdmpzm=Bis(4-benzyl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methane)

Reactions of CuX (X=I, NCS) with bis(4‐benzyl‐3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)methane (bzdmpzm) in MeCN resulted in the formation of one dimer [(bzdmpzm)Cu(µ‐I)]₂ ( 1 ) and one 1D polymer [(bzdmpzm)Cu(µ‐NCS)]_n ( 2 ) in high yields. 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR spectra, powder X‐ray diffraction and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. 1 consists of two scorpion‐like [(bzdmpzm)Cu]⁺ fragments bridged by two iodides, forming a dimeric structure. 2 contains a unique 1D scolopendra‐like chain of [(bzdmpzm)Cu]⁺ fragments linked by pairs of thiocyanates. The luminescence properties of 1 and 2 were also investigated.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the interaction of adenosine with cis‐diaqua(cis‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane)platinum(II) perchlorate in aqueous medium

The kinetics of the interaction of adenosine with cis‐[Pt(cis‐dach)(OH₂)₂]²⁺ (dach = diaminocyclohexane) was studied spectrophotometrically as a function of [cis‐[Pt(cis‐dach)(OH₂)₂]²⁺], [adenosine], and temperature at a particular pH (4.0), where the substrate complex exists predominantly as the diaqua species and the ligand adenosine exists as a neutral molecule. The substitution reaction shows two consecutive steps: the first is the ligand‐assisted anation followed by a chelation step. The activation parameters for both the steps have been evaluated using Eyring equation. The low negative value of ΔH^≠₁ (43.1 ± 1.3 kJ mol^?1) and the large negative value of ΔS^≠₁ (?177 ± 4 J K^?1 mol^?1) along with ΔH^≠₂ (47.9 ± 1.8 kJ mol^?1) and ΔS^≠₂ (?181 ± 6 J K^?1 mol^?1) indicate an associative mode of activation for both the aqua ligand substitution processes. The kinetic study was substantiated by infrared and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopic analysis. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 219–229, 2011