Study of sol–gel derived di-ureasils doped with zinc triflate

Zinc triflate (Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂)-doped sol–gel derived di-urea cross-linked POE/siloxane ormolytes (designated as di-ureasils) with ∞>n1 (where the salt content is expressed as n, the molar ratio of oxyethylene moieties to Zn²⁺ ions) were investigated. The hybrids with n5 are entirely amorphous; those with n>10 are thermally stable up to approximately 305 °C. The siliceous network of representative samples (n=200 and 10) is essentially composed of (SiO)₃Si(CH₂)-environments and is thus highly branched. The distance between the structural units in samples with 200n10 and n7 is 4.2 and 4.3 Å, respectively. The estimated interdomain distance is 11 and 13 Å for xerogels with 200n20 and n10, respectively. At n=1 a crystalline POE/Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂ complex of unknown stoichiometry is formed. The conductivity maxima are located at n=60 () and n=20 () at 30 and 100 °C, respectively.     

Burkholderia cepacia lipase is an excellent enzyme for the enantioselective hydrolysis of β-heteroaryl-β-amino esters

The enantioselective (E >200) lipase PS-catalysed hydrolysis of β-heteroaryl-β-amino esters is described. The reactions were performed with H₂O (0.5 equiv) in either diisopropyl ether or tert-butyl methyl ether at 25 °C. The resulting β-heteroaryl-substituted β-amino acid enantiomers were formed in high enantiomeric excess (ee  97%) and in good yield (40%).     

An efficient new enzymatic method for the preparation of β-aryl-β-amino acid enantiomers

An efficient synthesis of β-aryl-β-amino acid enantiomers has been developed via the lipase-catalysed enantioselective hydrolysis of the corresponding racemic ethyl esters in an organic solvent. High enantioselectivities (E >100) were observed when the lipase PS-catalysed reactions were performed with H₂O (0.5 equiv) in diisopropyl ether at 45 °C. The products could be easily separated and were obtained in good yields of 40%.     

Density functional study of hydrogen adsorption and dissociation on small Pdn (n = 1–7) clusters

Density functional theory has been performed to investigate the interaction of H₂ and Pd_n clusters (n = 1–7). The local minima configurations for different H₂ molecule approach modes towards Pd_n clusters are presented. Our results show that in some cases H₂ is physically adsorbed around Pd atom, and in other cases H₂ is dissociated to be H atoms. Except for PdH2, Pd_n clusters with H atoms dissociatively adsorbed are most stable. For these most stable PdnH2 clusters (n  2), the binding energy of hydrogen atom decreases as the number of Pd atom increases until n = 4, and when n  4, the binding energy almost keeps constant with the H atoms bound sites changing from Pd–Pd bonds to Pd triangle planes. Besides, the adsorption of H₂ on other low-lying isomers of Pd_n clusters is also discussed.     

Anisotropic exchange interactions in dinuclear systems (Ln = Dy, Tm, Yb): Magnetometry and Dual Mode X-band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopic study

A recently developed experimental and theoretical procedure is used in order to calculate the magnitude and anisotropy of interaction between a lanthanide and a 3d-metal ion. The general formula of the molecular compounds is [Ln(H₂O)₃(dmf)₄(μ-CN)Fe–(CN)₅] · nH₂O where 1  n  1,5 and dmf = N,N′-dimethylformamide, abbreviated as [LnFe] from now on. The main parts of this procedure are (a) the evaluation of the effective g-parameters of the lanthanide ion with the help of EPR measurements. (b) The use of dual mode EPR spectroscopy to define the anisotropic exchange interactions with the help of an anisotropic Hamiltonian model. (c) Use of the same magnetic model to fit magnetization and susceptibility data in order to verify the EPR findings.It was possible to define some trends concerning the exchange components of the [DyFe] dimer according to which the antiferromagnetic isotropic exchange constant is smaller than 4 cm⁻¹ and the anisotropic components are [D_exc, E_exc] = [6(1), 0.0] cm⁻¹. Also for the case of [TmFe] and [YbFe] dimers the antiferromagnetic isotropic exchange constant is smaller than 0.3 cm⁻¹ while the anisotropic components are [D_exc, E_exc] = [12.0, 0.0] cm⁻¹ and [D_exc, E_exc] = [0.4(1), 0.0] cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Electroreduction of anions on chemically etched and electrochemically polished Bi(1 1 1) electrode

Electroreduction kinetics of to anions at chemically etched (CHE) and electrochemically polished (EP) Bi(1 1 1) electrodes has been studied using rotating disc electrode method. The surface nanostructure of CHE Bi(1 1 1) and EP Bi(1 1 1) electrodes has been studied by in situ STM and the very different values of root mean squared roughness (Rms) have been obtained (1000 times higher for CHE Bi(1 1 1) (Rms  143 nm) than for EP Bi(1 1 1) (Rms  0.145 nm)). The influence of the nanoroughness of CHE Bi(1 1 1) on the current density, heterogeneous reaction rate constant and corrected Tafel plots (cTp) has been demonstrated. For CHE Bi(1 1 1) the more pronounced inhibition of electroreduction reaction at moderate negative surface charge density has been observed in comparison with EP Bi(1 1 1), caused by the differences in surface charge density and also in diffuse layer ψ₀ potential drop values at crystallographically different homogeneous regions (planes) exposed at the surface of the macroheterogeneous polycrystalline CHE Bi(1 1 1) surface. The very low apparent transfer coefficient α_app obtained indicates the nearly activationless charge transfer mechanism for electroreduction at the CHE Bi(1 1 1) electrode similarly to EP Bi(1 1 1). However, α_app only very weakly depends on Rms for the Bi electrodes at high negative surface charge densities where the values of ψ₀ potential are nearly equal for different planes at fixed electrode potential. At very high negative surface charge densities the cationic catalysis through the adsorbed ion pairs is possible.     

Conformational dependence of the second hyperpolarizability of quadrupolar molecules

Hatree–Fock calculations at ab initio and semiempirical levels were carried out for the averaged polarizability α and second hyperpolarizability γ of two pairs of quadrupolar isomers with different donor and acceptor groups. These properties were correlated with the antibonding/bonding π occupation number (π*/π ratio). It was found that isomers with extended π systems had low π*/π ratios and high α and γ values, while low α and γ values were obtained for isomers with large π*/π ratios and no extended π system. The PM3 and PM6 α values were found to be in excellent agreement with the HF/6-31+G(d,p) ones. The PM3 values for γ were significantly larger than those calculated by HF/6-31+G(d,p), with an average PM3/HF ratio of 1.43. The PM6 results were noticeably better with a ratio of 0.85. The calculation of α and γ at MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level for representative isomers showed that the contribution of the electron correlation to their values was small and that the HF/6-31+G(d,p) method provides reliable values at much lower computational cost.     

Electrochemical wettability control on conductive TiO2 nanotube surfaces modified with a ferrocene redox system

This work reports on an electrochemical system which allows the control of surface wettability properties by voltage induced changes in contact angle (Θ) of ΔΘ  50°. For this we used conductive TiO₂ nanotubular layers that were modified with ferrocene coupled to the TiO₂ surface via triethoxysilane. To enhance the hydrophobic character of the nanotubular TiO₂ surface, also mixed organic monolayers namely perfluorotriethoxysilane, were explored. Formation of the ferrocene and mixed organic monolayer was confirmed by X-ray-photoelectron-spectroscopy (XPS). Contact angle combined with electrochemical measurements show that ferrocene in these monolayers can successfully be switched from Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ and that this change in the redox state considerably alters the wetting properties. Using a conductive nanotube substrate allows us to amplify this change by a factor of more than 10, and thus this surface can be used to trigger significant wetting alterations.     

Preparation, characterization of the Ta-doped ZnO nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity under visible-light illumination

This paper describes a novel catalyst of the Ta-doped ZnO nanocrystals prepared by a modified polymerizable complex method using the water-soluble tantalum precursor as the sources of Ta. The catalysts were characterized by means of various analytical techniques as a function of Ta content (x=0–4 mol%) systematically. A remarkable advantage of the results was confirmed that dopant Ta enhanced the visible-light absorption of ZnO and the low-solubility tantalum doping could restrain the growth of crystal and minish the particle size. The relationship between the physicochemical property and the photocatalytic performance was discussed, and it was found that the photocatalytic activity in the photochemical degradation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation (λ420 nm) was dependent on the contents of the dopant, which could affect the particle size, concentration of surface hydroxyl groups and active hydrogen-related defect sites, and the visible-light absorption. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained for the 1.0 mol% Ta-doped ZnO sample.     

Role of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cationic surfactant) on the tryptophan–MnO4 reaction

Upon addition of permanganate to a solution of tryptophan (Trp), yellow-brown color species appears within the time of mixing of tryptophan in absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which was stable for some days. Spectroscopic and kinetic evidences suggest the formation of water-soluble colloidal MnO₂ as the most stable reduction product of MnO₄⁻. Carbon dioxide and ammonia are not formed as the oxidation products. Carbon–carbon double bond of indole moiety of Trp is responsible for the fast reduction of permanganate. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide catalyses the permanganate oxidation of Trp with a rate enhancement of ca. 200-fold. Sub- and postmicellar catalytic effect of CTAB ascribed to the association/incorporation/solubilization of both reactants (MnO₄⁻ and Trp) with the CTAB aggregates and into the Stern layer of cationic micelles. Quantitative kinetic analysis of the rate constant–[CTAB] data has been performed on the basis of modified pseudo-phase model of the micelles. A comparison was made of the oxidation rates of different amino acids by permanganate. The order of the effectiveness was as follows: tryptophan  tyrosine  phenylalanine.     

Molecular structure and conformation of diethylmethylamine determined by gas electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy combined with theoretical calculations

We have investigated the molecular structure and conformation of diethylmethylamine, C(4)H₃C(2)H₂N(1)[CH₃]C(3)H₂C(5)H₃, by gas electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy with the aid of theoretical calculations. Diffraction data are consistent with a conformational mixture of 35(14)% tt + 27(14)% g⁺t + 20(17)% g⁻t + 18(23)% g⁺g⁺ where the numbers in parentheses denote three times the standard errors (3σ). Normal-coordinate analysis based on B3LYP/6-311+G^** calculations supports the existence of the four conformers. The dihedral angle ₁(C4C2N1C3) (= −₂(C5C3N1C2)) of the tt conformer was 170(4)° whereas the ₁ and ₂ values of the other conformers were fixed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p) values: 72.4° and −163.3° for the g⁺t, −66.0° and −158.2° for the g⁻t, and 60.3° and 63.5° for the g⁺g⁺. Average values of the structural parameters (r_g/Å and _α/°) with 3σ are: r(N–C) = 1.462(2), r(C–C) = 1.523(3), r(C–H) = 1.113(2), CNC = 111.6(5), NCC = 114.5(5), NCH/CCH_Me = 110.6(5).     

H NMR Dynamic study of thermal Z/E isomerization of 5-substituted 2-alkylidene-4-oxothiazolidine derivatives: Barriers to rotation about CC bond

The rotational barriers between the configurational isomers of two structurally related push–pull 4-oxothiazolidines, differing in the number of exocyclic CC bonds, have been determined by dynamic ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The equilibrium mixture of (5-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-4-oxothiazolidin-2-ylidene)-1-phenylethanone (1a) in CDCl₃ at room temperature to 333 K consists of the E- and Z-isomers which are separated by an energy barrier ΔG^# 98.5 kJ/mol (at 298 K). The variable-temperature ¹H NMR data for the isomerization of ethyl (5-ethoxycarbonylmethylidene-4-oxothiazolidin-2-ylidene)ethanoate (2b) in DMSO-d₆, possessing the two exocyclic CC bonds at the C(2)- and C(5)-positions, indicate that the rotational barrier ΔG^# separating the (2E,5Z)-2b and (2Z,5Z)-2b isomers is 100.2 kJ/mol (at 298 K). In a polar solvent-dependent equilibrium the major (2Z,5Z)-form (>90%) is stabilized by the intermolecular resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding and strong 1,5-type S · · · O interactions within the SCCCO entity. The ¹³C NMR Δδ_C(2)C(2′) values, ranging from 58 to 69 ppm in 1a–d and 49-58 ppm in 2a–d, correlate with the degree of the push-pull character of the exocyclic C(2)C(2′) bond, which increases with the electron withdrawing ability of the substituents at the vinylic C(2′) position in the following order: COPh COEt > CONHPh > CONHCH₂CH₂Ph. The decrease of the Δδ_C(2)C(2′) values in 2a–d has been discussed for the first time in terms of an estimation of the electron donor capacity of the S fragment on the polarization of the CC bonds.     

1D + 1D model of a DMFC: localized solutions and mixedpotential

Our 1D + 1D model of DMFC reveals a new effect. At infinitely small total current in the cell, near the channel inlet forms a “bridge”, a narrow region with finite local current density. The bridge short-circuits the electrodes, thus reducing cell open-circuit voltage. In our previous work the effect is described for the case of equal methanol λ^a and oxygen λ^c stoichiometries. In this Letter, we analyze the general case of arbitrary λ^a and λ^c. In the case of λ^a > λ^c current may occupy finite domain of the cell surface. Asymptotic solution for the case of λ^a  λ^c shows, that the size of this domain is proportional to oxygen stoichiometry. In the opposite limit of λ^a  λ^c local current exponentially decreases with the distance along the channel. Asymptotic solutions suggest that the bridge forms regardless of the relationship between λ^a and λ^c. In all cases local current density in the bridge increases with the rate of methanol crossover and decreases with the growth of the “rate-determining” stoichiometry. The expression for voltage loss at open-circuit is derived.     

DFT study on second-order nonlinear optical properties of the derivatives of 7-vertex cobalt–carborane metallocenyl

Density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP method was employed to calculate electron properties and the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) responses of the derivatives which were formed by (C₅H₅)Co(C₂B₄H₆) and CHCHC₆H₄NO₂, CHCHC₆H₄NH₂. The results show: when H atom of (C₅H₅)Co(C₂B₄H₆) is substituted by CHCHC₆H₄NO₂, the β_tot values of isomers are all slightly smaller than that of ferrocene (Fc) derivative (FcCHCHC₆H₄NO₂). However, when H atom of (C₅H₅)Co(C₂B₄H₆) is substituted by CHCHC₆H₄NH₂, the β_tot values of isomers are close to that of ferrocene (Fc) derivative (FcCHCHC₆H₄NH₂). It indicates that (C₅H₅)Co(C₂B₄H₆) can be either a donator or an acceptor.     

Specific crystal structure of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thin films studied by infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy

Infrared reflection–absorption (IR-RAS) and transmission spectra were measured for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) thin films to explore its specific crystal structure in the surface region. As IR-RAS is sensitive to the vibration mode of perpendicular orientation of the surface, differences between IR-RAS and transmission spectra indicate an orientation of the lamella structure in the surface of PHB thin films. The relative intensity of the crystalline CO stretching band in the IR-RAS spectrum is significantly weaker than that in the transmission spectrum. It may be concluded that the transient dipole moment of the CO stretching mode of the crystalline state is not oriented perpendicular but nearly parallel to the substrate surface. On the other hand, the relative intensity of the band at 3009 cm⁻¹ due to the C–H stretching mode of the C–HOC hydrogen bonding is similar between the IR-RAS and transmission spectra, suggesting that the C–H bond is oriented neither perpendicular nor parallel to the substrate surface but in an intermediate direction. Since the CO group of the C–HOC hydrogen bonding is oriented nearly parallel to the surface and its C–H group is in the intermediate direction, it is very likely that the C–HOC hydrogen bonding has a somewhat bent structure. These results are in good agreement with our previous conclusion that the C–HOC hydrogen bonding of PHB exists along the a-axis (not the b-axis) between the CH₃ group of one helix and the CO group of another helix.     

Carboxylated core–shell particles: I. A system showing hindered swelling behavior

We study the swelling behavior of carboxylated core–shell particles. It is well-known that these particles swell with increasing pH due to the electrostatic repulsion between carboxylate groups. Our results reveal that the swelling behavior is affected by the preparation method. We find that the swelling is promoted in those particles which were initially in a highly swollen state (pH  10). However, the swelling is hindered for those particles which were not previously in this trigger pH. In the hindered systems, a compact conformation of the polymer shell is induced by hydrophobic attractions between the non-charged segments which compete against the swelling driving force. In addition, an interesting hysteresis behavior emerges when promoted systems are subjected to a heating–cooling cycle; a new stable system appears with a less extended polymer shell conformation. Furthermore, salt-induced swelling experiments corroborate not only polymer restructuring but also assembly among carboxylate groups which affects their ionization grade.     

Mechanistic analysis and thermochemical kinetic simulation of the products from pyrolysis of poly(α-methylstyrene), especially the unrecognized role of phenyl shift

Mechanisms for pyrolysis of poly(α-methylstyrene) must rationalize high selectivity for monomer formation, negligible formation of volatile oligomers, and notably slow decrease in molecular weight compared with the rate of weight loss, i.e., unzipping dominates both back-biting and transfer. Backbone homolysis should form both a tert-benzylic radical R_tb and a prim radical R_p, with formation of the latter potentially supplemented in chain propagation steps emanating from the former. Hence product-forming pathways characteristic of each are expected to compete. Simulations of initial product distributions based on assigned rate constants for chain propagation steps indicate that R_tb is indeed predicted to efficiently unzip with minimal transfer or back-biting. However, R_p is predicted to give comparable amounts of transfer and back-biting with minimal unzipping, behavior inconsistent with experimental data. The proposed escape from this impasse is a previously unrecognized pathway, 1,2-phenyl shift in R_p to form a tert radical. If it undergoes β-scission, the net result is an inter-conversion of R_p to R_tb. Quantitative simulations suggest that this sequence is indeed highly competitive with other reactions of R_p and thus efficiently subverts the otherwise expected propagation of chains emanating from R_p.     

Nucleophilic destruction of organophosphate toxins: A computational investigation

Computed reaction enthalpies, free energies, and activation barriers in vacuo are presented for the nucleophilic detoxification of the organophosphorus compounds (H)(HO)P(O)F, (H)(H₃CO)P(O)F and (H₃C)(CH(CH₃)₂O)P(O)F via the reaction R₁OH + (R₂)(R₃O)P(O)F → (R₂)(R₃O)P(O)(OR₁) + HF for a wide variety of R₁OH nucleophiles. Density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) computational level was employed for all the calculations. A multi-step Wright-type reaction mechanism [J. B. Wright, W.E. White, J. Mol. Struct. (THEOCHEM) 454 (1998) 259], which proceeds via a proton transfer from the nucleophile to the fluorine atom through the phosphinyl oxygen atom, was consistently found to have a lower activation barrier in the gas-phase than for the corresponding mechanism that operates via a proton transfer from the nucleophile directly to the fluorine atom. Of the nucleophilic agents investigated, peroxybenzoic acid and o-iodosobenzoic acid had the lowest classical activation barrier for the Wright-type mechanism.     

Gas-phase reactions of halogenated radical carbene anions with sulfur and oxygen containing species

The reactivities of mono- and dihalocarbene anions (CHCl⁻, CHBr⁻, CF₂⁻, CCl₂⁻, and CBrCl⁻) were studied using a tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube instrument. Reaction rate constants and product branching ratios are reported for the reactions of these carbene anions with six neutral reagents (CS₂, COS, CO₂, O₂, CO, and N₂O). These anions were found to demonstrate diverse chemistry as illustrated by formation of multiple product ions and by the observed reaction trends. The reactions of CHCl⁻ and CHBr⁻ occur with similar efficiencies and reactivity patterns. Substitution of a Cl atom for an H atom to form CCl₂⁻ and CBrCl⁻ decreases the rate constants; these two anions react with similar efficiencies and reactivity trends. The CF₂⁻ anion displays remarkably different reactivity; these differences are discussed in terms of its lower electron binding energy and the effect of the electronegative fluorine substituents. The results presented here are compared to the reactivity of the CH₂⁻ anion, which has previously been reported.     

Interligand interactions involved in the molecular recognition between copper(II) complexes and adenine or related purines

The available crystal structure information in the CSD database on ternary species prepared by the reaction of diverse copper(II) complexes (CuL) and purine, adenine and guanine or related purine derivatives is considered in order to deepen the intra-molecular interligand interactions affecting the molecular recognition patterns of the ‘metal complex + purine nucleobase’ and closely related systems. The degree of protonation and the possibilities of different tautomeric forms in the purine-like moieties are taken into account. The main conclusion is a general trend to form a CuN(purine-like) coordination bond which can be reinforced by an intra-molecular interligand H-bonding interaction. NH(purines)A (O or Cl acceptor) or NH(amino ligand L)O6(oxo-purines) are commonly observed. In addition, selected examples revealed that the presence of a variety of non-coordinating groups in L or in the purine-like nucleobases can significantly influence the structurally observed molecular recognition pattern. Moreover, examples are known where binuclear cores of the types Cu^II₂(μ₂-N3,N9-adeninate)₄(aqua)₂ or Cu^I₂(μ₂-N3,N9-adeninate)₂(aqua)₂ recognise CuL chelates by means of the expectable pattern (CuN7 coordination bond + N6HO(L) interaction).