Synthesis and thermal behavior of 4,5-dihydroxyl-2-(dinitromethylene)-imidazolidine (DDNI)

A novel energetic material, 4,5-dihydroxyl-2-(dinitromethylene)-imidazolidine (DDNI), was synthesized by the reaction of FOX-7 and glyoxal in water at 70 °C. Thermal behavior of DDNI was studied with DSC and TG-DTG methods, and presents only an intense exothermic decomposition process. The apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the decomposition reaction were 286.0 kJ mol⁻¹ and 10^31.16 s⁻¹, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion of DDNI is 183.78 °C. Specific heat capacity of DDNI was studied with micro-DSC method and theoretical calculation method, and the molar heat capacity is 217.76 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 298.15 K. The adiabatic time-to-explosion was also calculated to be a certain value between 14.54 and 16.34 s. DDNI presents lower thermal stability, for its two ortho-hydroxyl groups, and its thermal decomposition process becomes quite intense.     

Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of synthetic serrabrancaite (MnPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O) precursor in N<Subscript>2</Subscript> atmosphere

The thermal decomposition of synthetic serrabrancaite (MnPO₄ · H₂O) was studied in N₂ atmosphere using TG-DTG-DTA. Thermal analysis results indicate that the decomposition occurs in two stages, which are assigned to the dehydration and the reduction processes and the final product is Mn₂P₂O₇. X-ray powder diffraction, FT-IR and FT-Raman techniques were used for identification of the solid decomposition product. The decomposition kinetics analysis of MnPO₄ · H₂O was performed under non-isothermal condition through isoconversional methods of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS). The dependences of activation energies on the extent of conversions are observed in the dehydration and the reduction reactions, which could be concluded the “multi-step” processes.     

Counting minimal reactions with specific conditions in $${\mathbb{R} ^4}$$

We give the sharp lower bound on the number of minimal reactions when no “parallel” species (isomers or multiples) are allowed and all the species are built up from at most four kinds of atoms in Theorem 16. This continues the investigations in Kumar and Pethő (Intern Chem Eng 25:767–769, 1985) through Szalkai and Laflamme (Electr J Comb 5(1), 1998) which results we briefly summarize in the first Section.     

Synthesis of high specific surface area YSZ (ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–8Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>) nanocrystalline powder by modified polymerized complex method

In this study high specific surface area yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO₂–8Y₂O₃) nanocrystalline powder have been synthesized through “modified polymerized complex (MPC) method”. Zirconium chloride, yttrium nitrate, citric acid and ethylene glycol were polymerized at 80 °C to produce a gel-like mass in which metallic ions were uniformly distributed. During the thermal treatment of dried gel, nanocrystalline YSZ powder was formed. Thermal reactions and phase formation of dried gel were investigated through thermal analysis (DTA/TG) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. Chemical bonding and thermal decomposition behavior of dried gel was investigated by FTIR analysis. During decomposition, the nature of the bonding between carboxylate groups and the cations changed from unidentate to bridging at 370 °C and carbonate species were detected at 470 °C. Morphology of powder calcined at 650 °C was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). YSZ powder with high specific surface area was prepared successfully by this method.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of PrMO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (M = Ni or Co) ceramic materials via thermogravimetry

Thermogravimetric data using the non-isothermal kinetic models of Flynn and Wall and “Model-free Kinetics” were used to determine the activation energy to study the decomposition kinetics of the ligand groups with system’s metallic ions that takes part in the synthesis of PrMO₃ (M = Ni or Co). This activation energy was determined for the stage of highest decomposition of the organic matter to establish parameters in synthesis condition optimization and application of the proposed material.     

Thermal behavior and thermal safety on 3,3-dinitroazetidinium salt of perchloric acid

3,3-Dinitroazetidinium (DNAZ) salt of perchloric acid (DNAZ·HClO₄) was prepared, it was characterized by the elemental analysis, IR, NMR, and a X-ray diffractometer. The thermal behavior and decomposition reaction kinetics of DNAZ·HClO₄ were investigated under a non-isothermal condition by DSC and TG/DTG techniques. The results show that the thermal decomposition process of DNAZ·HClO₄ has two mass loss stages. The kinetic model function in differential form, the value of apparent activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factor (A) of the exothermic decomposition reaction of DNAZ·HClO₄ are f(α) = (1 − α)⁻¹/2, 156.47 kJ mol⁻¹, and 10^15.12 s⁻¹, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion is 188.5 °C. The values of ΔS ^≠, ΔH ^≠, and ΔG ^≠of this reaction are 42.26 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, 154.44 kJ mol⁻¹, and 135.42 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The specific heat capacity of DNAZ·HClO₄ was determined with a continuous C _p mode of microcalorimeter. Using the relationship between C _p and T and the thermal decomposition parameters, the time of the thermal decomposition from initiation to thermal explosion (adiabatic time-to-explosion) was evaluated as 14.2 s.     

Mass Spectrometry Characterization of the Thermal Decomposition/Digestion (TDD) at Cysteine in Peptides and Proteins in the Condensed Phase

We report on the characterization by mass spectrometry (MS) of a rapid, reagentless and site-specific cleavage at the N-terminus of the amino acid cysteine (C) in peptides and proteins induced by the thermal decomposition at 220–250 °C for 10 s in solid samples. This thermally induced cleavage at C occurs under the same conditions and simultaneously to our previously reported thermally induced site-specific cleavage at the C-terminus of aspartic acid (D) (Zhang, S.; Basile, F. J. Proteome Res. 2007, 6, (5), 1700–1704). The C cleavage proceeds through cleavage of the nitrogen and α–carbon bond (N-terminus) of cysteine and produces modifications at the cleavage site with an amidation (−1 Da) of the N-terminal thermal decomposition product and a −32 Da mass change of the C-terminal thermal decomposition product, the latter yielding either an alanine or β-alanine residue at the N-terminus site. These modifications were confirmed by off-line thermal decomposition electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS, tandem MS (MS/MS) analyses and accurate mass measurements of standard peptides. Molecular oxygen was found to be required for the thermal decomposition and cleavage at C as it induced an initial cysteine thiol side chain oxidation to sulfinic acid. Similar to the thermally induced D cleavage, missed cleavages at C were also observed. The combined thermally induced digestion process at D and C, termed thermal decomposition/digestion (TDD), was observed on several model proteins tested under ambient conditions and the site-specificity of the method confirmed by MS/MS.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of MgHPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · 3H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O by non-isothermal decomposition data

The thermal decomposition of magnesium hydrogen phosphate trihydrate MgHPO₄ · 3H₂O was investigated in air atmosphere using TG-DTG-DTA. MgHPO₄ · 3H₂O decomposes in a single step and its final decomposition product (Mg₂P₂O₇) was obtained. The activation energies of the decomposition step of MgHPO₄ · 3H₂O were calculated through the isoconversional methods of the Ozawa, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Iterative equation, and the possible conversion function has been estimated through the Coats and Redfern integral equation. The activation energies calculated for the decomposition reaction by different techniques and methods were found to be consistent. The better kinetic model of the decomposition reaction for MgHPO₄ · 3H₂O is the F _1/3 model as a simple n-order reaction of “chemical process or mechanism no-invoking equation”. The thermodynamic functions (ΔH*, ΔG* and ΔS*) of the decomposition reaction are calculated by the activated complex theory and indicate that the process is non-spontaneous without connecting with the introduction of heat.     

Phase equilibria in binary subsystems of urea–biuret–water system

Joint results of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) experiments were the basis for the fusion enthalpy and temperature determination of the biuret (NH₂CO)₂NH (synthesis by-product of the urea fertilizer (NH₂)₂CO). Recommended values are Δ_m H = (26.1 ± 0.5) kJ mol⁻¹, T _m = (473.8 ± 0.4) K. The DSC method allowed for the phase diagrams of “water–biuret,” “water–urea,” “urea–biuret” binary systems to be studied; as a result, liquidus and solidus curves were precisely defined. Stoichiometry and decomposition temperature of the biuret hydrate identified, composition of the compound in “urea–biuret” system was suggested.     

A simulation of thermal characteristic parameters with an inverse “S” type curve

A synthetical equation is proposed to characterize the essential features of the inverse “S” type curve on the basis of summing-up simulation approach of “S” type curve. The two physical variables in the model obtained are discussed and the detailed method used to determine the parameters is given. The model is then presented to describe the crystallization of poly(caryleher ether ketone) (PEEK) and thermal decomposition of poly(amide-imide) (PAI) respectively. It is found that some thermal characteristic parameters can be well estimated from the model simu-lated in computer.     

H/D exchange kinetics: Experimental evidence for formation of different b fragment ion conformers/isomers during the gas-phase peptide sequencing

Electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) combined with H/D exchange reactions was utilized to explore the existence of different b₅⁺ and b₄⁺ fragment ion conformers/isomers of hexapeptide WHWLQL in the gas phase. Distinct H/D exchange trends for protonated WHWLQL ([M + H]⁺) and its b₅⁺ and b₄⁺ fragment ions (with ND₃) were observed. Isolated ¹²C_all isotopomers of both b₅⁺ and b₄⁺ fragment ions yielded bimodal distributions of H/D exchanged product ions. The H/D exchange reaction kinetics also confirmed that b₅⁺ and b₄⁺ fragment ions exist as combination of slow-exchanging (“s”) and fast-exchanging (“f”) species. The calculated rate constant for the first labile hydrogen exchange of [M + H]⁺ (k_{[M + H]} ⁺ = 3.80 ± 0.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) was ∼30 and ∼5 times greater than those for the “s” and “f” species of b₅⁺, respectively. Data from H/D exchange of isolated “s” species at longer ND₃ reaction times confirmed the existence of different conformers or isomers for b₅⁺ fragment ions. The sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) of WHWLQL combined with the H/D exchange reactions indicate that “s” and “f” species of b₅⁺ and b₄⁺ fragment ions can be produced in the ICR cell as well as the ESI source. The significance of these observations for detailed understanding of protein sequencing and ion fragmentation pathways is discussed.     

Characterization of unstable enzyme systems which evolve according to a three-exponential equation

The time course of an enzyme catalyzed reaction is normally followed either by monitoring the instantaneous concentration or velocity of an enzyme species or a product. In many enzyme catalyzed reactions these time variations are multi-exponential. The accurate fit of the relevant curves to obtain the kinetic parameters involved can be difficult using conventional methods (Galvez et al. in J Theor Biol 89:37–44, 1981; Garcia-Canovas et al. in Biochim Biophys Acta 912:417–423, 1987; Tudela et al. in Biochim Biophys Acta 912:408–416, 1987; Teruel et al. in Biochim Biophys Acta 911:256–260, 1987; Garrido del Solo et al. in Biochem J 294:459–464, 1993; Varon et al. in Int J Biochem 25:1889–1895, 1993; Garrido del Solo et al. in An Quim 89:319–324, 1993; Varon et al. in J Mol Catal 83:273–285, 1993; Garrido del Solo et al. in Biochem J 303(Pt 2):435–440, 1994; Garrido del Solo and Varon in An Quim 91:13–18, 1995; Garrido del Solo et al. in Biosystems 38:75–86, 1996; Garrido del Solo et al. in Int J Biochem Cell Biol 28:1371–1379, 1996; Garrido del Solo et al. in Int J Biochem Cell Biol 30:735–743, 1998; Varon et al. in J Mol Catal 59:97–118, 1990). In order to circumvent such difficulties Arribas et al. (J Math Chem 44:379–404, 2008) proposed an evaluation method which is applicable regardless of the complexity of the kinetic equation. This procedure is based on the numerical determination of statistical moments from experimental time progress curves. The fitting of these experimentally obtained moments to the corresponding theoretical symbolic expressions allows, in most cases, all the individual rate constants involved to be evaluated. In this paper we perform a general analysis that can be applied to any unstable enzyme system described by a three-exponential equation and apply it to a substrates induced enzyme inactivation process that is described by this type of equation. To verify the goodness of the method we have simulated time progress curves and applied the suggested procedure to these curves, obtaining kinetic parameters values very close to those used to obtain simulated curves. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained in previous contributions in which other procedures were used.     

Towards more fair and effective doping tests based on chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

Van Eenoo and Delbeke in Accred Qual Assur (2009) have criticized Faber (in Accred Qual Assur, 2009) for not taking “all factors under consideration when making his claims”. Here, it is detailed that their criticism is based on a misunderstanding of examples that were merely intended to be illustrative. Motivated by this criticism, further discussion is provided that may help in the pursuit of more fair and effective doping tests, here exemplified by chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Surely, any doping test can only be improved or even optimized if the risks of false positives and false negatives are well defined. This requirement is consistent with a basic principle concerning mathematical approximations (Parlett in “The symmetric eigenvalue problem”, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1980): apart from just being good, they should be known to be good. Author’s reply to the response on “Regulations in the field of residue and doping analysis...” Papers published in this section do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editors, the Editorial Board and the Publisher.     

Thermal unimolecular decomposition mechanism of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene: a first-principles DFT study

Simple C–NO₂ homolysis, 4,6-dinitroanthranil (DNAt) production by dehydration, and the nitro-nitrite rearrangement–homolysis for gas-phase TNT decomposition were recently studied by Cohen et al. (J Phys Chem A 111:11074, 2007), based on DFT calculations. Apart from those three pathways, other possible initiation processes were suggested in this study, i.e., CH₃ removal, O elimination, H escape, OH removal, HONO elimination, and nitro oxidizing adjacent backbone carbon atom. The intermediate, 3,5-dinitro-2(or 4)-methyl phenoxy, is more favor to decompose into CO and 3,5-dinitro-2(or 4)-methyl-cyclopentadienyl than to loss NO following nitro-nitrite rearrangement. Below ~1,335 K, TNT condensing to DNAt by dehydration is kinetically the most favor process, and the formations of substituted phenoxy and following cyclopentadienyl include minor contribution. Above ~1,335 K, simple C–NO₂ homolysis kinetically dominates TNT decomposition; while the secondary process changes from DNAt production to CH₃ removal above ~2,112 K; DNAt condensed from TNT by dehydration yields to that by sequential losses of OH and H above ~1,481 K and to nitro-nitrite rearrangement–fragmentation above ~1,778 K; O elimination replaces DNAt production above ~2,491 K, playing the third role in TNT decomposition; H escaping directly from TNT thrives in higher temperature (above ~2,812 K), as the fourth largest process. The kinetic analysis indicates that CH₃ removal, O elimination, and H escape paths are accessible at the suggested TNT detonation time (~100–200 fs), besides C–NO₂ homolysis. HONO elimination and nitro oxidizing adjacent backbone carbon atom paths are negligible at all temperatures. The calculations also demonstrated that some important species observed by Rogers and Dacons et al. are thermodynamically the most favor products at all temperatures, possibly stemmed from the intermediates including 4,6-dinitro-2-nitroso-benzyl alcohol, 3,5-dinitroanline, 2,6-dinitroso-4-nitro-phenylaldehyde, 3,5-dinitro-1-nitrosobenzene, 3,5-dinitroso-1-nitrobenzene, and nitrobenzene. All transition states, intermediates, and products have been indentified, the structures, vibrational frequencies, and energies of them were verified at the uB3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. Our calculated energies have mean unsigned errors in barrier heights of 3.4–4.2 kcal/mol (Lynch and Truhlar in J Phys Chem A 105:2936, 2001), and frequencies have the recommended scaling factors for the B3-LYP/6-311+G(d,p) method (Andersson and Uvdal in J Phys Chem A 109:2937, 2005; Merrick et al. in J Phys Chem A 111:11683, 2007). All calculations corroborate highly with the previous experimental and theoretical results, clarifying some pertinent questions.     

Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of NiFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized using egg white solution route

The thermal decomposition kinetics of nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) precursor prepared using egg white solution route in dynamical air atmosphere was studied by means of TG with different heating rates. The activation energy (E _α) values of one reaction process were estimated using the methods of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), which were found to be consistent. The dependent activation energies on extent of conversions of the decomposition reaction indicate “multi-step” processes. XRD, SEM and FTIR showed that the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ precursor after calcination at 773 K has a pure spinel phase, having particle sizes of ~54 ± 29 nm.     

First steps of the reactions of alkanes and arenes with adamantyl cations in sulfuric acid in comparison with other reagents

Solutions of 1-adamantanol in sulfuric acid at T < 100 °C interact with alkanes (RH, [H₂SO₄] > 85%) and arenes (ArH, [H₂SO₄] > 59%). The data on the kinetics, kinetic isotope effect (KIE), effects of the structure of RH and ArH and acidity of the medium, and the observation of 1,4-cis-dimethylcyclohexane isomerization indicate that adamanyl cations (Ad⁺) serve as reactive species. In the reactions with alkanes, the Ad⁺ cation abstracts the hydride ion from RH in the rate-determining step. Compensation dependences appear between the activaion parameters for the KIE and “effect 5/6” (ratio of the rate constants for the C–H bond cleavage in cyclopentane and cyclohexane) in the reactions of cycloalkanes with Ad⁺ and other electrophilic reagents, such as “anthracene” (An₂)H⁺ and hydroxymethyl (CH₂OH)⁺ cations and Hg^II ions, including the points of the lower selectivity limit (k _H/k _D) = 1.4, (“5/6”) = 1. In the reactions with the Ad⁺ cation, the bond selectivity 3⁰: 2⁰ of alkanes is higher, while 2⁰: 2⁰ is lower compared to other reagents. In the first case, the selectivity is probably determined predominantly by the energies of the cleaved C–H bonds, whereas in the second case it is determined by steric hindrances. Judging by the kinetic and selectivity data in the series benzene—toluene—o-xylene—m-xylene and the absence of the reaction with p-xylene, mesitylene, and pseudocumene, it can be concluded that the main contribution to the Ad⁺ + ArH interaction is made by adamantylation to the para- and meta-positions of the benzene ring, whereas the ortho-positions are inaccessible to the attack because of steric hindrances. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1581–1596, August, 2008.     

A comparative study of in- and post-source decays of peptide and preformed ions in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: Effective temperature and matrix effect

In-source decay (ISD) and post-source decay (PSD) of a peptide ion ([Y₆ + H]⁺) and a preformed ion (benzyltriphenylphosphonium, BTPP) generated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) were investigated with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. α-Cyano-4-hydroxycinammic acid (CHCA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) were used as matrices. For both ions, ISD yield was unaffected by delay time, indicating rapid termination of ISD. This was taken as evidence for rapid expansion cooling of hot “early” plume formed in MALDI. CHCA was hotter than DHB for [Y₆ + H]⁺ while the matrix effect was insignificant for BTPP. The “early” plume temperature estimated utilizing previous kinetic results was 800–900 K, versus 400–500 K for “late” plume. The results support our previous finding that the temperature of peptide ions interrogated by tandem mass spectrometry was lower than most rough estimates of MALDI temperature.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Conformationally Restricted N4-Tetradentate Ligands for Implementation in An(III)/Ln(III) Separations

The previous literature demonstrates that donor atoms softer than oxygen are effective for separating trivalent lanthanides (Ln(III)) from trivalent actinides (An(III)) (Nash, K.L., in: Gschneider, K.A. Jr., et al. (eds.) Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths, vol. 18—Lanthanides/Actinides Chemistry, pp. 197–238. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1994). It has also been shown that ligands that “restrict” their donor groups in a favorable geometry, appropriate to the steric demands of the cation, have an increased binding affinity. A series of tetradentate nitrogen containing ligands have been synthesized with increased steric “limits”. The pK _a values for these ligands have been determined using potentiometric titration methods and the formation of the colored copper(II) complex has been used as a method to determine ligand partitioning between the organic and aqueous phases. The results for the 2-methylpyridyl-substituted amine ligands are encouraging, but the results for the 2-methylpyridyl-substituted diimines indicate that these ligands are unsuitable for implementation in a solvent extraction system due to hydrolysis.