An optimized AM1/MST method for the MST-SCRF representation of solvated systems

The AM1/MST strategy for the computation of hydrated neutral molecules has been optimized. For this purpose, we have systematically explored the best cavity definition, the most suitable strategy to compute the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and the use of MEP scaling factors to correct the semiempirical MEPs. As a result, we have developed an optimized version of the AM1/MST method, which allows us to reproduce well the experimental free energies of hydration (root mean square, rms, deviation in the range of 1 kcal/mol) as well as the water-induced dipoles computed at the 6-31G*/MST level (rms deviations in the range of 0.3 D). © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Solvation in octanol: parametrization of the continuum MST model

This study reports the parametrization of the HF/6‐31G(d) version of the MST continuum model for n‐octanol. Following our previous studies related to the MST parametrization for water, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride, a detailed exploration of the definition of the solute/solvent interface has been performed. To this end, we have exploited the results obtained from free energy calculations coupled to Monte Carlo simulations, and those derived from the QM/MM analysis of solvent‐induced dipoles for selected solutes. The atomic hardness parameters have been determined by fitting to the experimental free energies of solvation in octanol. The final MST model is able to reproduce the experimental free energy of solvation for 62 compounds and the octanol/water partition coefficient (log P_ow) for 75 compounds with a root‐mean‐square deviation of 0.6 kcal/mol and 0.4 (in units of log P), respectively. The model has been further verified by calculating the octanol/water partition coefficient for a set of 27 drugs, which were not considered in the parametrization set. A good agreement is found between predicted and experimental values of log P_o/w, as noted in a root‐mean‐square deviation of 0.75 units of log P. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1180–1193, 2001     

Prediction of n-octanol/water partition coefficients and acidity constants (pKa) in the SAMPL7 blind challenge with the IEFPCM-MST model

Within the scope of SAMPL7 challenge for predicting physical properties, the Integral Equation Formalism of the Miertus-Scrocco-Tomasi (IEFPCM/MST) continuum solvation model has been used for the blind prediction of n-octanol/water partition coefficients and acidity constants of a set of 22 and 20 sulfonamide-containing compounds, respectively. The log P and pK_a were computed using the B3LPYP/6-31G(d) parametrized version of the IEFPCM/MST model. The performance of our method for partition coefficients yielded a root-mean square error of 1.03 (log P units), placing this method among the most accurate theoretical approaches in the comparison with both globally (rank 8th) and physical (rank 2nd) methods. On the other hand, the deviation between predicted and experimental pK_a values was 1.32 log units, obtaining the second best-ranked submission. Though this highlights the reliability of the IEFPCM/MST model for predicting the partitioning and the acid dissociation constant of drug-like compounds compound, the results are discussed to identify potential weaknesses and improve the performance of the method.

     

Modeling, by Frontal Analysis, of the Adsorption of Bovine Serum Albumin on Cibacron Blue-Modified Cellulose Membranes

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on cibacron blue F3GA cellulose affinity membranes has been studied by frontal analysis. The ideal stirred tank (IST) model, the modified stirred tank (MST) model, and the equilibrium–dispersive (E–D) model were used to describe experimental breakthrough curves. The E–D model was found to best describe the initial region of the breakthrough curve whereas the MST model was best for the late region, implying a difference between the initial and late stages of adsorption. According to the E–D model, the effect of axial dispersion was not negligible, possibly because of experimental factors such as inhomogeneous distribution of the feed solution and the thinness of affinity membranes. The variable of the MST model can be taken as the adjusted number of theoretical plates of the affinity membranes. The maximum value of was found experimentally by varying the flow rate; increasing the feed concentration led to a smaller value of .     

Molecular structure and electronic spectrum of ellagic acid: Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations

The molecular structure of ellagic acid has been optimized by using PM3 semiempirical MO method. Ellagic acid has been calculated to be planar with the molecular symmetry of C_2h. The lactone carbonyl groups are not tilted from the molecular plane. CNDO/S MO method has been used to interpret the experimental uv-vis spectroscopic data. The results of the PM3 and CNDO/S calculations have been in good agreement with the experimental data.     

The relation between the microphase separation transition and the glass transition in diblock copolymers

The microphase separation transition (MST) has been studied for short chain diblock copolymers poly(styrene-b-isoprene) and poly(styrene-b-mma). A detailed analysis of small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) profiles in the homogeneous phase allows determination of the interaction parameter and the spinodal temperature T_s of the MST. T_s for the PS/PI diblocks is found to be lower than the glass transition temperature of their hard blocks. This results in a coupling of the MST and the glass transition. Using both structural (SAXS) and thermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods it is shown that an endothermal peak found in the DSC diagrams is related to the combined effect of the MST and the glass transition. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Residual Solvents Determination in Pharmaceuticals by Static Headspace-Gas Chromatography and Headspace Liquid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography

A headspace liquid phase microextraction (HS-LPME) method has been developed and optimized for the residual solvent determination in pharmaceutical products. A microdrop of n-hexanol containing isopropanol (as internal standard) was suspended at the tip of a gas chromatographic syringe and exposed to the headspace of the sample solution. After extraction for an optimized time, the microdrop was retracted into the syringe and injected directly into a GC injection port. Critical experimental factors, including extraction solvent, temperature, ionic strength, stirring rate, extraction time, equilibrium time, drop volume, and sample volume were investigated and optimized. Compared with the static headspace technique, HS-LPME method showed superior results, being compatible with the pharmaceutical samples.     

Solvent bar microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for preconcentration and determination of pramipexole in biological samples

A simple, rapid and sensitive analytical method for preconcentration and determination of pramipexole in different biological samples has been developed using solvent bar microextraction (SBME) combined with HPLC‐UV. The target drugs were extracted from 10 mL of basic aqueous sample solution into an organic extracting solvent located inside the pores of a polypropylene hollow fiber, then back‐extracted into an acidified aqueous solution in the lumen of the hollow fiber. In order to obtain high extraction efficiency, the effect of different variables on the extraction efficiency was studied simultaneously using an experimental design. The experimental parameters of SBME were optimized using a Box–Behnken design after a Plackett–Burman screening design. Under the optimized conditions, an enrichment factor up to 96 was achieved and the relative standard deviation of the method was 4.64% (n = 5). The linear range was 0.05–2000 µg/L with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.987. Finally, the applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by extraction and determination of pramipexole in plasma and urine samples. The results indicated that SBME method has excellent clean‐up and high preconcentration factor and can serve as a simple and sensitive method for analysis of pramipexole in biological samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular structures,electronic spectra,and aromaticity of 1,6- and 1,8-dioxa analogues of pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations

The molecular structures of [1]benzopyrano[6,5,4-def][1]benzopyran, [2]benzopyrano[7,8,1,def]-1-benzopyran, 1-benzopyrano[6,5,4-mna]xanthene, and 2-benzopyrano[7,8,1-mna]xanthene have been optimized by using the PM3 semiemperical MO method. These calculated molecules have been shown to be planar. Their aromaticity has been investigated by use of the HOMA index. The molecules are found to be less aromatic than the correspolding parednt hydrocarbons, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. The CNDO/S MO method has been used to interpret th experimental uv-vis specrtoscopic data. The result of the PM3, CNDO/S and HOMA-index clculations are in good arteement with the experimental data.     

Study on ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction of biphenyl cyclooctene lignans from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill

The ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction (ILUAE) has been successfully applied in extracting four biphenyl cyclooctene lignans from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill. Seventeen different types of ionic liquids with different cations and anions have been investigated. 0.8 M 1-lauryl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C12mim]Br) solution was selected as solvent. In addition, the ultrasonic parameters including ultrasonic power, time for ultrasonic treatment and solid–liquid ratio have been optimized by Response Surface Method (RSM). Compared with the conventional solvent extraction, the efficiency of the approach proposed in this work is about 3.5 times as much as that of the conventional solvent extraction method. With the proposed extraction method, the extraction time has been reduced to 30 min, whereas the conventional extraction method requires about 6.0 h. The experimental results presented in this work indicate that the ILUAE is a simple and efficient technique for sample preparation. The proposed method is reproducible.     

Comparison of two ultrasound‐enhanced microextractions combined with HPLC for determining acaricides in water

An ultrasound‐enhanced in situ solvent formation microextraction has been developed first time and compared with ultrasound‐enhanced ionic‐liquid‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the HPLC analysis of acaricides in environmental water samples. A ionic liquid ([C₈MIM][PF₆]) was used as the green extraction solvent through two pathways. The experimental parameters, such as the type and volume of both of the extraction solvent disperser solvent, ultrasonication time, and salt addition, were investigated and optimized. The analytical performance using the optimized conditions proved the feasibility of the developed methods for the quantitation of trace levels of acaricides by obtaining limits of detection that range from 0.54 to 3.68 μg/L. The in situ solvent formation microextraction method possesses more positive characteristics than the ionic‐liquid‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method (except for spirodiclofen determination) when comparing the validation parameters. Both methods were successfully applied to determining acaricides in real water samples.     

A molecularly imprinted monolith for the fast chiral separation of antiparasitic drugs by pressurized CEC

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) monoliths with (S)‐ornidazole ((S)‐ONZ) as the template molecule have been designed and prepared by the simple thermal polymerization of methacrylic acid, 4‐vinylpyridine, and ethylene dimethacrylate in the presence of a binary porogenic mixture of toluene and dodecanol. The influences of polymerization mixture composition on the chiral recognition of ONZ have been evaluated, and the imprint effect in the optimized MIP monolith has been clearly demonstrated. The new monolithic stationary phase with optimized porous property and good selectivity was used for the chiral separation of ONZ by pressurized CEC. The pressurized CEC conditions were also optimized to obtain the good chiral separation. The enantiomers were rapidly separated within 9 min on the MIP‐based chiral stationary phase, whereas the chiral separation was not obtained on the nonimprinted polymer. Additionally, the proposed method has been successfully applied to the chiral separation of ONZ in tablet samples by injection of the crude sample. The cross‐selectivity for similar antiparasitic drug was investigated. The results indicated that the chiral separation of secnidazole could also be obtained on the optimized MIP monolith within 14 min.     

Solvent effects on tautomerism equilibria in heterocycles

. High-level ab initio quantum mechanical methods have been used to analyze the tautomeric preferences in the gas phase and in aqueous solution of three important five-member heterocycles: 4-(5-)methylimidazole, 5-hydroxyisoxazole, and 3-hydroxypyrazole. Solvent effects have been introduced by means of self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) calculations at the ab initio level using our parametrized version of the polarizable continuum model developed by Miertus, Scrocco and Tomasi (MST), including geometry relaxation upon solvation. The extent to which the MST model, and SCRF methods in general, are suitable for the study of processes of this type is discussed.     

Semiempirical quantum-chemical calculations on the conformations of methyl formate and methyl thiolformate

The cis, trans, and gauche conformations of the methyl esters of formic and thiolformic acids have been investigated by different semiempirical methods. Total geometry optimization (CNDO/2, MINDO/3) and bond angle optimization (PCILO, NDDO) have been performed for the O-alkyl ester. The S-alkyl ester has been studied by the MINDO/3 method at the total geometry optimization level and by CNDO/2 and PCILO methods at the bond angle optimization level. The influence of sulphur d orbitals on the optimized molecular geometry as well as on the magnitude and direction of the dipole moment vector has been investigated in the CNDO/2 framework. The total energy differences of the conformers are compared to the experimental and ab initio results. CNDO/2 and NDDO energy partitioning have been performed to obtain information on the origin of the cis—trans energy difference and of the rotation barrier. The extent of the lone-pair delocalization has been studied in the different conformations using localized molecular orbitals. Calculations have been performed on the staggered and eclipsed positions of the methyl group in the planar conformations of both esters.     

Enhanced extraction of polychlorinated organic compounds from soil samples by fluidized-bed extraction (FBE)

Summary The extraction and determination of polychlorinated organic compounds, like hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, octachlorostyrene and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils and solid wastes continues to be a subject for study. In this work Soxhlet extraction and a new extraction technique, fluidized-bed extraction, have been compared. The extraction of polychlorinated organic compounds by this technique has been optimized using experiemental design procedures. The variation of the number of extraction cycles, composition of extraction solvent (mixtures ofn-hexane-acetone) and the holding time after reaching the heating temperature were considering as experimental variables to generate a surface response design. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection was used to determine levels of the analytes in the extracts. Extraction and analysis of a certified reference material (BCR CRM 392) showed the applicability of the method.     

Single‐drop microextraction followed by in‐syringe derivatization and GC‐MS detection for the determination of parabens in water and cosmetic products

A single‐drop microextraction (SDME) method followed by in‐syringe derivatization and GC‐MS determination has been developed for analysis of five parabens, including methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n‐propyl and n‐butyl paraben in water samples and cosmetic products. N,O‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) was used as derivatization reagent. Derivatization reaction was performed inside the syringe barrel using 0.4 μL of BSA. Parameters that affect the derivatization yield such as temperature and time of the reaction were studied. In addition, experimental SDME parameters such as selection of organic solvent, addition of salt, extraction time and extraction temperature were investigated and optimized. The RSD of the method for aqueous samples varied from 8.1 to 13%. The LODs ranged from 0.001 (n‐butyl paraben) to 0.015 (methyl paraben) μg/L, and the enrichment factors were between 23 and 150.     

Geometry optimization and electronic structures of molecules H_3AXAH_3

The geometries of molecules H_3AXAH_3(X=O,S,Se and A=C,Si)have been optimizedusing STO-3G ab initio calculations and gradient method and the results are in good agreement withreported experimental values.From the STO-3G optimized geometries,we have also calculated theelectronic structures of these molecules using 4-31G and 6-31G basis sets to obtain the MO energies.atomic net charges and dipole moments.The ionization potentials calculated by 6-31G basis set are ingood agreement with experimental values.     

Development of a Joint Hydrogen and Syngas Combustion Mechanism Based on an Optimization Approach

A comprehensive and hierarchical optimization of a joint hydrogen and syngas combustion mechanism has been carried out. The Kéromnès et al. (Combust Flame, 2013, 160, 995–1011) mechanism for syngas combustion was updated with our recently optimized hydrogen combustion mechanism (Varga et al., Proc Combust Inst, 2015, 35, 589–596) and optimized using a comprehensive set of direct and indirect experimental data relevant to hydrogen and syngas combustion. The collection of experimental data consisted of ignition measurements in shock tubes and rapid compression machines, burning velocity measurements, and species profiles measured using shock tubes, flow reactors, and jet‐stirred reactors. The experimental conditions covered wide ranges of temperatures (800–2500 K), pressures (0.5–50 bar), equivalence ratios (? = 0.3–5.0), and C/H ratios (0–3). In total, 48 Arrhenius parameters and 5 third‐body collision efficiency parameters of 18 elementary reactions were optimized using these experimental data. A large number of directly measured rate coefficient values belonging to 15 of the reaction steps were also utilized. The optimization has resulted in a H₂/CO combustion mechanism, which is applicable to a wide range of conditions. Moreover, new recommended rate parameters with their covariance matrix and temperature‐dependent uncertainty ranges of the optimized rate coefficients are provided. The optimized mechanism was compared to 19 recent hydrogen and syngas combustion mechanisms and is shown to provide the best reproduction of the experimental data.     

Determination of Saikosaponins in Bupleuri Radix by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography with Experimental Design

The important pharmacological components of Bupleuri radix include saikosaponins a–d. A multivariable approach with experimental design was employed in this study to determine four saikosaponins in different species of Bupleuri radix by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Compared to traditional multiple-parameter investigations, the current experimental design can shorten the time necessary for method development, and the multivariable approach can be used to evaluate the separation capability of the method and to explore the interactions of the different parameters. The significant influences of two experimental variables, including the concentration of γ-cyclodextrin and the percentage of methanol, on the responses were investigated using chromatographic resolution statistics. The optimized conditions were as follows: 25?mM of borate (pH 9.18) containing 50?mM of sodium dodecyl sulfate, 5?mM of γ-cyclodextrin, and 15% methanol (v/v) as running buffer. After the separation conditions were optimized and good resolution was acquired, solid phase extraction was performed to reduce the interference of crude extracts of Bupleurum kaoi and Bupleurum chinense DC. The simple and rapid analytical method was successfully applied, allowing for the determination of four saikosaponins and the identification of species of Bupleuri radix.