Nucleation of water vapor on Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript> ion pairs: Computer simulation

The Monte Carlo method is used to calculate the free energy, entropy, and work of water cluster formation in the field of Na⁺Cl⁻ ion pairs. A detailed model is used that allows for polarization and covalent many-particle interactions, as well as the effects of ion charge reversal. The model is matched to the experimental data on the free energy of ion hydration and the results of the quantum-chemical calculations of stable configurations. The hydration leads to the cleavage of an ion pair in a molecular cluster after approximately ten water molecules are captured. As vapor molecules are added, the stable interion distance monotonically elongates. The low free energy barrier separating the dissociated and nondissociated states of the ion pair in an equilibrium cluster does not hinders the reversible spontaneous transitions between the states, which are responsible for strong fluctuations and the instability of the system. Unlike hydroxonium-containing ion pairs, the formation of long-lived metastable states of hydrated Na⁺Cl⁻ pairs is impossible.     

Intercalation of water and guest molecules within Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>–Montmorillonite

The high potential for intercalations by water and various guest molecules is induced by the exchangeable cation inside Ca²⁺–Montmorillonite gallery. XRD peak for Mon at 2θ = 6.04° (d ₀₀₁ = 1.462 nm) shows the structural effect on the clay gallery influenced by the intercalated water layers. Further increases in the gallery height are observed with the intercalation of octadecyl ammonium cations in OMON (d ₀₀₁ = 1.840 nm) and ENR-50 matrix chains in CENR-50 (d ₀₀₁ = 1.954 nm). DSC studies on the other hand reveal the thermal behaviors of intercalated molecules that are linked to the exchangeable cations. The endothermic of Ca²⁺–Montmorillonite (H _Mon = 356.3 J/g) in low temperature range (30–100 °C) indicates the removal of free water and hydrogen bonded water molecules, while the endothermic around 150 °C is related to the induced skeletal layer of water within Ca²⁺–Montmorillonite. The OMON endothermic (H _OMON = 47.0 J/g, T _m = 36.94 °C) tells that cation exchange had modified the water structures and content inside the renewed clay. The intercalation of ENR-50 chains into OMON gallery reveals two endothermic with the T _m1 and T _m2 are at 86.24 and 113.80 °C, respectively. These T _ms confirm that the alkyl chain segment on octadecyl ammonium cation occupy the OMON interlayer space.     

Stability of coordination compounds of Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions with succinic acid anion in water–ethanol solvents

Stability constants of the coordination compounds of nickel(II) and cobalt(II) ions with succinic acid anion in water–ethanol solvents are determined via potentiometric titration at ionic strength of 0.1 and at T = 298.15 K. It is found that logβ values of monoligand complexes of these ions and succinic acid anions rise along with the content of ethanol in solution (X _EtOH = 0–0.7 mole fractions). Based on an analysis of the thermodynamic characteristics of the solvation of the reagents involved in complex formation, it is found that the increased stability of succinate complexes of nickel(II) and cobalt(II) ions in water–ethanol solvents is mainly determined by the weakening of the solvation of succinic acid anion (Y^2?).     

Formation of charged H<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Superscript>+</Superscript> and OH<Superscript>–</Superscript> fragments at consistent shifts of protons in water clusters

Probable paths of consistent shifts of bridge protons within the hexamolecular rings of dodecamer water cluster at different arrangement of neighboring molecules are determined. As with individual rings, consistent shifts of protons in molecular cages are found to be promoted by contraction/extension of the oxygen skeleton. Transition states characterized by the formation of different numbers of such charged fragments as H₃O^δ+, H₅O₂^δ+, and OH^–, are identified. Conditions of the relatively long-term (about picoseconds) existence of the fragments in cluster systems are determined.     

Dependence of enthalpies of formation of the Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> complexes with glycinate ions on the composition of water—dimethylsulfoxide solvent

Enthalpies of the complexing reactions of copper (II) with glycinate ions in mixtures of water with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) containing up to 0.9 mole parts of organic component (298 K) were obtained using a titration calorimeter. It was established that upon an increase in the DMSO content, the exothermicity of complexing increases at the first and second steps of the coordination. The obtained results were analyzed from the viewpoint of the solvation approach, based on the thermodynamic characterization of all reagents. It was shown that the main origin of the increase in the exothermicity of the complexing reactions is a weakening of ligand solvation when the DMSO concentration increases.     

Interactions between AuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> and CTA<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions in water

The solubility of hexadecyltrimethylammonium tetrachloroaurate (CTA·AuCl₄) in water was measured at different temperatures of 288.2, 293.2, 298.2, 303.2, and 308.2 K. The enthalpy change associated with the formation of the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate was estimated on the basis of the van’t Hoff equation and was found to be −42.5 ± 2.8 kJ mol⁻¹ at 298.2 K. The calorimetric enthalpy change for the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate formation was directly determined by isothermal titration calorimetry performed at 298.2 K and was found to agree well with that estimated from the van’t Hoff equation.     

Mean force potential of interaction between Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> and Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript> ions in planar nanopores in contact with water under pressure

The mean force potential (MFP) of interaction between counterions Na⁺ and Cl^? in a planar nanopore with structureless hydrophobic walls is calculated via computer simulation under the condition that the nanopore is in contact with water at an external pressure that exceeds the saturation pressure but remains insufficient to fill the nanopore with water. For a nanopore with a liquid phase, the MFP dependence on the interionic distance indicates the dissociation of an ion pair into two hydrated ions in a nanopore that is not completely filled with water. Fluctuations in the number of water molecules drawn into the interionic space decisively influence the dissociation. The attraction between counterions, averaged over thermal fluctuations, depends largely on the pore width and grows as the shielding of the ions’ electric field by water molecules in a narrow pore diminishes. The contributions from energy and entropy to the free energy of hydration are analyzed.     

Thermodynamics of the formation of Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>–glycyl-glycyl-glycine complex in water–ethanol solutions at 298 K

The stability constants of monoligand complexes of copper(II) ions with glycyl-glycyl-glycine zwitterions (triglycine, HL^±) and triglycinate ions (L^?) in a water–ethanol solvent with 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mole fractions of ethanol at an ionic strength of 0.1 created by sodium perchlorate and temperature Т = 298.15 K are determined by means of potentiometric titration. It is found that an increase of ethanol content improves the stability of the investigated complexes, due mainly to the resolvation of ligands.     

Relativistic coupled cluster calculations of the electronic structure of KrH<Superscript>+</Superscript>, XeH<Superscript>+</Superscript> and RnH<Superscript>+</Superscript>

Potential energy curves of NgH⁺ cations (Ng = Kr, Xe, Rn) were obtained by using four-component relativistic CCSD(T) coupled cluster calculations. Dissociation energies, equilibrium bond lengths, electronic properties, such as dipole moments and electric field gradients at the nuclei, and the related spectroscopic parameters of the electronic ground state have been determined. The results obtained for KrH⁺ and XeH⁺ are in good agreement with available experimental data, while those for RnH⁺ have been determined for the first time at this level of theory.     

Quantum chemical study of formation of Cu<Superscript>II</Superscript>–Y<Superscript>III</Superscript> metallamacrocyclic complexes based on glycinehydroximate ligands

The process of solution-phase formation of the Cu^II–Y^III 15-metallacrown-5 complexes bearing the glycinehydroximate ligands has been for the first time investigated by methods of quantum chemistry. The DFT modeling at the B3LYP/DGDZVP (PCM) level was carried out for mono-, bi-, and tri-nuclear copper(II) complexes and also for heteronuclear Cu^II–Y^III derivatives as the metallamacrocycle precursors. The dependence of relative stability of these complexes on the Cu^II and Y^III coordination surroundings and also on the mutual positions of ligands was found. The structural (variations of interatomic distances and valence angles), electronic (changes in the atomic charges and electron density), and thermodynamical (enthalpies and Gibbs free energies) regularities of 15-metallacrown-5 formation were revealed. The key role of Y^III cation was established for the process of formation of the polynuclear metallamacrocyclic compound (15-metallacrown-5).     

Crystallinity of Dynasan<Superscript>®</Superscript>114 and Dynasan<Superscript>®</Superscript>118 matrices for the production of stable Miglyol<Superscript>®</Superscript>-loaded nanoparticles

This study focuses on the physicochemical characterization of lipid materials useful for the production of the so-called solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). The chosen lipids were Dynasan^®114 (glyceril trimyristate) and Dynasan^®118 (glyceril tristearate) as solid lipids (SL), melting temperature above 80 °C, and Miglyol^®812 (caprylic/capric triglyceride) and Miglyol^®840 (propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate) as liquid lipids (LL), crystallizing below ?15 °C. Raw lipids (pure or SL:LL mixtures) were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), before and after tempering at 80 °C for 1 h. The selected SL:LL combination was 70% (Dynasan^®114 and 118) and 30% (Miglyol^®812 and 840) for the production of SLN and NLC by high-pressure homogenization (HPH), respectively. Particles with a mean size of 200 nm (polydispersity index <0.329) and zeta potential of ?15 mV were obtained, and their long-term stability was confirmed for 3 months of storage at 7 °C.     

Triboluminescence of zirconium η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-complexes

This work describes a comparative study of tribo- and photoluminescence of metallocenes (Cp₂HfCl₂, Cp₂TiCl₂, Cp₂ZrCl₂, (CpMe)₂ZrCl₂, rac-Me₂C(3-Bu^t-Cp)₂ZrCl₂, Ind*₂ZrCl₂). Occurring under mechanodestruction of polycrystals, triboluminescence of zirconium bis-cyclopentadienyl complexes, Cp₂ZrCl₂, (CpMe)₂ZrCl₂, and rac-Me₂C(3-Bu^t-Cp)₂ZrCl₂ has been revealed for the first time. The triboluminescence spectrum in air is similar to the photoluminescence spectrum of zirconocene polycrystals. The triboluminescence spectrum does not show *N₂ luminescence. Ne and Ar lines are observed in the triboluminescence spectrum in the atmosphere of these gases. An increase in the number of substituents in zirconocene ligands leads to a bathochromic shift of the emission band maximum in triboluminescence spectra of the complexes. Possible mechanisms of zirconocene triboluminescence excitation are discussed.     

Coordinatively Unsaturated Polynuclear Mixed-Valent Sn<Superscript>II</Superscript>–Sn<Superscript>IV</Superscript> and Cu<Superscript>II</Superscript>–Sn<Superscript>IV</Superscript> Oxo-Centered Carboxylates

The tetranuclear mixed-valent oxo-cluster [Sn^IISn^IVO(O₂CCF₃)₄]₂ (1) has been prepared by reacting SnCl₂ with AgO₂CCF₃ in a sealed ampoule at 90 °C. Alternatively, 1 was obtained by acidolysis of Ph₃SnSnPh₃ with trifluoroacetic acid in solution. The X-ray diffraction study of 1 revealed the presence of a Sn^IIOSn₂^IVOSn^II core comprised of the penta-coordinated divalent and six-coordinated tetravalent tin atoms. The ¹¹⁹Sn NMR studies confirmed the stability of the cluster in solution and the presence of two different oxidation states of tin. An acidolysis of Ph₃SnSnPh₃ in the presence of [Cu₂^II(O₂CCF₃)₄] followed by sublimation of the resulting product at 90 °C afforded the first trinuclear mixed metal Sn–Cu cluster [(C₆H₅)₂Sn₂^IVCu^IIO(O₂CCF₃)₆] (2). The X-ray diffraction analysis of 2 revealed the presence of two phenyl groups attached to the six-coordinated tin(IV) atoms and the tetragonal pyramidal environment of the copper(II) atom. Both complexes have been obtained free of exogenous ligands.     

Evaluation of bias,precision, and systematic errors in proficiency testing of Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript> and Cu concentration in water

The proficiency testing exercise was conducted to assess the quality of water testing in several laboratories in India. The 11 participants from all over India gathered at one place and attended the workshop organized at NEERI, Nagpur. The test samples were analyzed for Cl⁻ (Chloride) and Cu (Copper) concentration in water. The objective of the study was to determine bias and precision among participants for the analysis of Cl⁻ and Cu concentration. Statistical analysis indicated that most of the measurement results were overestimating the Cl⁻ concentration and underestimating the Cu concentration. The presence of systematic error identified the need for further improvement in determining the Cu concentration in water by the participants.     

<Superscript>13</Superscript>C-labeled bilirubin: synthesis of 3<Superscript>1</Superscript>(3<Superscript>2</Superscript>),17<Superscript>1</Superscript>(17<Superscript>2</Superscript>)-di-[<Superscript>13</Superscript>C]-mesobilirubin-XIIIα

Abstract  The title compound, labeled with ¹³C in the ethyl groups was synthesized from K¹³CN and low-molecular-weight components. The synthetic relay compound was 3¹(3²)[¹³C]-xanthobilirubinic acid methyl ester in a synthetic route that leads to a label in the ethyl β-substituent of a dipyrrinone model for bilirubin. This labeled dipyrrinone was oxidatively coupled to the dimethyl ester of mesobiliverdin-XIIIα, thereby providing a route to a ¹³C-labeled mesobiliverdin and mesobilirubin, with one carbon of each ethyl being 98% ¹³C-enriched. Graphical Abstract        

Thermodynamics of the complex formation between Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and triglycine in water–ethanol solutions at 298 K

Thermodynamic functions Δ_r H, Δ_r G, and TΔ_r S of the complex formation between Cu²⁺ and triglycine in water–ethanol solutions are calculated on the basis of calorimetric data. It is found that raising the concentration of EtOH results in a monotonic increase in the exothermic effect of [CuHL]²⁺ complex formation due to the weakening of triglycine solvation with the mutual compensation of ion solvation contributions. The enthalpy of [CuL]⁺ complex formation has an exothermic maximum at 0.1?0.3 molar fractions of EtOH due to competition between the solvation contributions from ions and ligands.     

Cis→Trans Isomerization of Pro<Superscript>7</Superscript> in Oxytocin Regulates Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Binding

Ion mobility/mass spectrometry techniques are employed to investigate the binding of Zn²⁺ to the nine-residue peptide hormone oxytocin (OT, Cys¹-Tyr²-Ile³-Gln⁴-Asn⁵-Cys⁶-Pro⁷-Leu⁸-Gly⁹-NH₂, having a disulfide bond between Cys¹ and Cys⁶ residues). Zn²⁺ binding to OT is known to increase the affinity of OT for its receptor [Pearlmutter, A. F., Soloff, M. S.: Characterization of the metal ion requirement for oxytocin-receptor interaction in rat mammary gland membranes. J. Biol. Chem. 254, 3899–3906 (1979)]. In the absence of Zn²⁺, we find evidence for two primary OT conformations, which arise because the Cys⁶–Pro⁷ peptide bond exists in both the trans- and cis-configurations. Upon addition of Zn²⁺, we determine binding constants in water of K_A = 1.43 ± 0.24 and 0.42 ± 0.12 μM^?1, for the trans- and cis-configured populations, respectively. The Zn²⁺ bound form of OT, having a cross section of Ω = 235 Ų, has Pro⁷ in the trans-configuration, which agrees with a prior report [Wyttenbach, T., Liu, D., Bowers, M. T.: Interactions of the hormone oxytocin with divalent metal ions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 5993–6000 (2008)], in which it was proposed that Zn²⁺ binds to the peptide ring and is further coordinated by interaction of the C-terminal, Pro⁷-Leu⁸-Gly⁹-NH₂, tail. The present work shows that the cis-configuration of OT isomerizes to the trans-configuration upon binding Zn²⁺. In this way, the proline residue regulates Zn²⁺ binding to OT and, hence, is important in receptor binding.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

Theoretical evaluation of the radiative lifetimes of LiCs and NaCs in the A<Superscript>1</Superscript>Σ<Superscript>+</Superscript> state

Calculations of the adiabatic potential energy curves and the transition dipole moments between the ground (A¹Σ⁺) and the first excited (A¹Σ⁺) states have been determined for the LiCs and NaCs molecules. The calculations are performed using an ab initio approach based on non-empirical pseudopotentials for Cs⁺, Li⁺ and Na⁺ cores, parameterized l-dependent polarization potentials and full configuration interaction calculations. The potential energy curves and the transition dipole moment are used to estimate the radiative lifetimes of the vibrational levels of the A⁺Σ⁺ state using the Franck–Condon (FC) approximation and the approximate sum rule method. The radiative lifetimes associated with the A⁺Σ⁺ state are presented here for the first time. These data can help experimentalists to optimize photoassociative formation of ultracold molecules and their longevity in a trap or in an optical lattice.     

Characterization and application of SuperLig<Superscript>®</Superscript> 620 solid phase extraction resin for automated process monitoring of <Superscript>90</Superscript>Sr

Characterization of SuperLig^® 620 solid phase extraction resin was performed in order to develop an automated on-line process monitor for ⁹⁰Sr. The main focus was on strontium separation from barium, with the goal of developing an automated separation process for ⁹⁰Sr in high-level wastes. High-level waste contains significant ¹³⁷Cs activity, of which ^137mBa is of great concern as an interference to the quantification of strontium. In addition barium, yttrium and plutonium were studied as potential interferences to strontium uptake and detection. A number of complexants were studied in a series of batch K_d experiments, as SuperLig^® 620 was not previously known to elute strontium in typical mineral acids. The optimal separation was found using a 2 M nitric acid load solution with a strontium elution step of ~0.49 M ammonium citrate and a barium elution step of ~1.8 M ammonium citrate. ⁹⁰Sr quantification of Hanford high-level tank waste was performed on a sequential injection analysis microfluidics system coupled to a flow-cell detector. The results of the on-line procedure are compared to standard radiochemical techniques in this paper.     

Cyclotron production of <Superscript>211</Superscript>At/<Superscript>211g</Superscript>Po by <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi(α,2n) reaction

Astatine-211 (T _1/2 = 7.214 h) is an α-emitter at secular equilibrium by EC with its ultra-short-lived α-emitting daughter, polonium-211g (T _1/2 = 0.516 s), with a high Linear Energy Transfer (LET — 130 eV·nm⁻¹) and a half-life suitable for metabolic radiotherapy; the overall α branching of the ²¹¹At/^211gPo system is 100%. The direct production of ²⁰⁹Bi(α,2n)²¹¹At/^211gPo seems the most satisfactory method; Bi targets were irradiated at JRC-Ispra Cyclotron of European Commission, EC, using α-energy higher than 28.61 MeV in order to produce, via ²⁰⁹Bi(α,3n) reaction, small amounts of the γ-emitter ²¹⁰At (used as internal spike).