Interaction of cationic liposomes with cell membrane models

The colloidal dispersion stability of nano-sized graphene sheets in supercritical fluid (SCF) media is very important for developing SCF-based exfoliation and dispersion technologies for stabilization and solubilization of graphenes. We carried out molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the stability mechanism of graphene in supercritical CO(2) (scCO(2)). The potential of mean force (PMF) between two graphene nanosheets in scCO(2) was simulated, and the effect of scCO(2) density and temperature on the PMF behavior has been investigated. The simulation results demonstrate that there exists a free energy barrier between graphenes in the scCO(2) fluid, possibly obstructing the aggregation of graphenes. The single-layer confined CO(2) molecules between the graphene sheets can induce a dominating repulsion interaction between graphene sheets. At higher scCO(2) fluid density, there are more confined CO(2) molecules within the interplate regions, resulting in a stronger repulsive free energy barrier. The effect of temperature on the PMF is relatively minor. The scCO(2) solvent structure shows layered confined arrangement in the interfacial region near the graphene nanosheets, which is correlated well with the PMF profile curve.     

Pristine Graphene as a Racemization Catalyst for Axially Chiral BINOL

Despite versatile applications of functionalized graphene in catalysis, applications of pure, unfunctionalized graphene in catalysis are in their infancy. This work uses both computational and experimental approaches to show that single-layer graphene can efficiently catalyze the racemization of axially chiral BINOL in solution. Using double-hybrid density functional theory (DHDFT) we calculate the uncatalyzed and catalyzed Gibbs free reaction barrier heights in a number of representative solvents of varying polarity: benzene, diphenyl ether, dimethylformamide (DMF), and water. These calculations show that (i) graphene can achieve significant catalytic efficiencies (▵▵G^≠_cat) varying between 47.2 (in diphenyl ether) and 60.7 (in DMF) kJ mol⁻¹. An energy decomposition analysis reveals that this catalytic activity is driven by electrostatic and dispersion interactions. Based on these computational results, we explore the graphene-catalyzed racemization of axially chiral BINOL experimentally and show that single-layer graphene can efficiently catalyze this process. Whilst the uncatalyzed racemization requires high temperatures of over 200 °C, a pristine single-layer graphene catalyst makes it accessible at 60 °C.     

Molecular insights into the surface morphology, layering structure, and aggregation kinetics of surfactant-stabilized graphene dispersions

The production of graphene with open band gaps for the manufacturing of graphene-based electronic and optical devices requires synthesis methods to either control the number of layers to enrich AB-stacked bilayer or trilayer graphene or control the extent of functionalization of monolayer graphene. Solution-phase dispersion of graphene is promising for both methods to create printable electronics and nanocomposites. However, both methods face common challenges, including controlling the surface morphology, reducing the turbostratic layering, and enhancing the dispersion stability. To address these challenges at the molecular level, we successfully combined molecular simulations, theoretical modeling, and experimental measurements. First, we probed the surface structure and electrostatic potential of monolayer graphene dispersed in a sodium cholate (SC) surfactant aqueous solution, which exhibits 2D sheets partially covered with a monolayer of negatively charged cholate ions. Similar to the case of carbon nanotube functionalization, one may regulate the binding affinity of charged reactants for graphene functionalization by manipulating the surface morphology. Subsequently, we quantified the interactions between two graphene-surfactant assemblies by calculating the potential of mean force (PMF) between two surfactant-covered graphene sheets, which confirmed the existence of a metastable bilayer graphene structure due to the steric hindrance of the confined surfactant molecules. The traditional Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory was found to be adequate to explain the long-range electrostatic repulsions between the ionic surfactant-covered graphene sheets but was unable to account for the dominant, short-range steric hindrance imparted by the confined surfactant molecules. Interestingly, one faces a dilemma when using surfactants to disperse and stabilize graphene in aqueous solution: on the one hand, surfactants can stabilize graphene aqueous dispersions, but on the other hand, they prevent the formation of new AB-stacked bilayer and trilayer graphene resulting from the reaggregation process. Finally, the lifetime and time-dependent distribution of various graphene layer types were predicted using a kinetic model of colloid aggregation, and each graphene layer type was further decomposed into subtypes, including the AB-stacked species and various turbostratic species. The kinetic model of colloid aggregation developed here can serve as a useful tool to evaluate the quality of graphene dispersions for subsequent substrate-transferring or functionalization processes.     

Modulation of Electron Injection Dynamics of Ru‐Based Dye/TiO2 System in the Presence of Three Different Organic Solvents: Role of Solvent Dipole Moment and Donor Number

In the present work, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs‐TAS) has been employed to investigate the electron injection efficiency (EIE) both from the singlet and triplet excited states of a well‐known ruthenium dye (N719) to the conduction band (CB) of nanostructured TiO₂ in presence of three different organic solvents [γ‐butylactone (GBL), 3‐methoxypropionitrile (MPN), and dimethylformamide (DMF)] with different donor numbers (DNs) and dipole moments (DMs). The DM and DN of a solvent modulates the CB edge energy of TiO₂, and this effect reflects well in the fs‐TAS results, which shows an EIE trend following the order GBL≥MPN?DMF, that is, highest in GBL and lowest in DMF solvent environments. Fs‐TAS results indicate a lower contribution of electron injection from both the singlet and triplet states in DMF, for which the dominant adsorption of DMF molecules on the TiO₂ surface seems to play an important role in the mechanism.     

某些萃取剂与C6—C9芳烃相互作用的1H NMR研究

以四氯化碳作为惰性参考溶剂, 研究了N-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮(NMP)、环丁砜、N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)、N,N-二甲基乙酰胺(DMA)和γ-丁内酯(γ-BL)等五种萃取剂在几种芳烃溶剂中的~1H NMR谱。观察到萃取剂分子的化学位移在芳烃溶剂中均大幅度移向高场, 且NMP、γ-BL的共振谱线在芳烃中发生分裂或重叠。在不同的芳烃溶剂中, 以在苯乙烯中NMP、DMF、DMA、环丁砜共振谱线的移动幅度为最大。各萃取剂谱线位移的幅度随着苯环上甲基数目的增多而递减。结合溶液热力学的结果, 推断出NMP等萃取剂和芳烃分子之间存在着弱化学作用。     

石墨烯狭缝受限孔道中水分子的分子动力学模拟

石墨烯是一种具有广泛应用前景的纳米材料,特别是由石墨烯片层自组装形成的二维纳米通道能够应用于物质的过滤分离.本文采用分子动力学模拟方法研究了原态石墨烯/羟基改性石墨烯狭缝孔道中水分子的微观行为,模拟计算了水的界面结构性质和扩散动力学性质,所研究的石墨烯孔宽为0.6-1.5 nm.模拟结果表明,在石墨烯狭缝孔道中,水分子受限结构呈现层状分布,在超微石墨烯孔道(0.6-0.8 nm)中水分子可形成特殊的环状有序结构,石墨烯表面可诱导产生特殊的水分子界面取向.在石墨烯孔道中,水分子的扩散运动低于主体相水分子的扩散运动,羟基化石墨烯孔道可以促使水分子的扩散能力降低.对于改性石墨烯狭缝孔道,由于羟基的作用,水分子可以自发渗入0.6 nm的石墨烯孔道内.模拟所得到的受限水分子的动力学性质与水分子在石墨烯孔道内的有序结构有关.本文研究结果将有助于分析理解水分子通过石墨烯纳米通道的渗透机理,为设计基于石墨烯的纳米膜提供理论指导.     

煤的缔合结构研究 Ⅰ 溶液缔合动力学

研究了煤可溶组分——吡啶不溶物（PI）在溶液中的缔合动力学，该PI系二硫化碳/N-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮（CS2/NMP）混合溶剂可溶组分。结果表明PI在NMP溶液中的缔合属于反应控制机理，并提出了二步动力学反应过程，即基本缔合单元的生成和缔合单元之间的缔合。通过实验获得了有关缔合的动力学参数，PI在NMP溶液中二步缔合的活化能分别为73.3 kJ/mol和21.6 kJ/mol。温度对缔合速率的影响显著，随着温度的升高，缔合速率增加。由于PI分子在CS2/NMP混合溶剂中相对NMP具有较高的扩散性，因而其在CS2/NMP混合溶剂中缔合速率较NMP快。此外，还讨论了PI在溶液中的缔合机理。     

Effects of aprotic solvents on the stability of metal‐free superoxide dismutase probed by native electrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry

Considering that aprotic solvents are often used as cosolvents in investigating the interactions between small molecules and proteins, we assessed the effects of five aprotic solvents represented by dimethylformamide (DMF) on the structure stabilities of metal‐free SOD1 (apo‐SOD1) by native electrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry (ESI‐IM‐MS). These aprotic solvents include DMF, 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐imidazolidinone (DMI), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (ACN), and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Results indicated that DMI, DMSO, and DMF at low percentage concentration could reduce the average charge and the dimer dissociation of apo‐SOD1. By contrast, ACN and THF at low concentration have no similar effect. DMF was selected as a representative solvent to further investigate the detailed effects on the structure stability of apo‐SOD1 by using collision‐induced dissociation and unfolding. The results reveal that the addition of minimal DMF to an aqueous protein solution can protect against the unfolding and dissociation of dimer, even under destabilizing conditions (such as low pH or high cone voltage). When the different percentage concentrations of DMF were added, the average collision cross section of apo‐SOD1 showed that apo‐SOD1 became compacted when the DMF concentration increased from 0% to 1% and eventually started extending when increased from 1% to 20%. The results indicated that DMF has similar effects to DMSO in native mass spectrometry (MS) and it can also be used as a cosolvent besides DMSO in investigating the stabilities of proteins and the interactions between small molecules and proteins.     

溶剂对相分离法制备聚偏氟乙烯微孔膜性质的影响

研究了用相转换法制备聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）微孔膜时溶剂对成膜性质的影响.用浊点法测定了二甲基亚砜、N,N-二甲基甲酰胺、N,N-二甲基乙酰胺、N-甲基吡咯烷酮、磷酸三甲酯等五种溶剂配制的质量分数为wPVDF=0.12的铸膜液在30℃时的相分离点,显微镜拍照法测定了这些铸膜液与水接触时相分离前沿推进速率,泡点法测定了膜孔径,并测定了气体通量.结果表明,二甲基亚砜、磷酸三甲酯、N,N-二甲基乙酰胺是适于制作聚偏氟乙烯微孔膜的溶剂.     

Direct measurement of the interactions of amide solvents with single-walled carbon nanotubes using isothermal titration calorimetry

The interaction enthalpy of amide solvents with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) dispersions is measured using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). N,N-Dimethyl-formamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrilidone (NMP) were used to make dispersions of highly purified (6,5) SWCNTs. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, the ΔH and K(A) terms related to the solvent-nanotube interactions were measured, and ΔG and ΔS of the interaction were determined. It was found that the interaction enthalpy of NMP with SWCNTs dispersed in DMF was exothermic. The addition of a second solvent into a NMP or DMF dispersion produced spontaneous exfoliation of SWCNT bundles as the solvent properties became more favorable. During the titration, a positive change in interaction entropy within the dispersed system due to the unbundling of SWCNTs was measured. From blank titrations of pure DMF into pure NMP and the reverse, dilution enthalpies were also calculated and compared to the literature, along with the corresponding enthalpic interaction coefficients, h(xx) and h(xxx). From our results, ITC appears to be a viable technique for measuring the interaction of solvent molecules with the surface of SWCNTs and for measuring the effect of mixed solvent properties on SWCNT dispersions.     

Cross-linked polyimide membranes for solvent resistant nanofiltration in aprotic solvents

Solvent stable nanofiltration membranes were prepared through the chemical cross-linking of asymmetric Matrimid^®-based polyimide membranes with p-xylylenediamine. The influence of this straightforward post-treatment on membrane stability, morphology and performance in dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was thoroughly investigated. With permeabilities up to 5.4 l/m² bar h and rejections up to 98% for low molecular weight dyes in these demanding solvents, optimally performing, truly solvent resistant nanofiltration membranes were obtained. Nanozeolite-filled membranes were prepared in parallel to study the effect of an inorganic filler on the cross-linking reaction and performance in aprotic solvents. The outstanding stability and performance of these membranes and their easy preparation clearly offer vast potential for applications in harsh solvent environments.     

含二氮杂萘酮结构聚芳酰胺超滤膜的研制

膜性能;含二氮杂萘酮结构聚芳酰胺超滤膜的研制     

Room temperature ionic liquid as matrix medium for the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceuticals by static headspace gas chromatography

Using new solvent room temperature ionic liquid (IL) matrix media, testing of residual solvents in pharmaceutical preparations with static headspace gas chromatographic (SH-GC), is described. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of IL as diluent, six solvents utilized in synthesis of Adefovir Dipivoxil: acetonitrile, dichloromethane, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), toluene, dimethylformamide (DMF), n-butyl ether were dissolved in IL: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim]BF(4)). The method of external standard was used for quantitative analysis. Its performance was evaluated and validated: all the RSD were lower than 10%, the limits of detection were all of the ppm level and the method was both accurate and linear. And better sensitivities for the six solvents were gained with [bmim]BF(4) as diluent comparing with DMSO.     

Proton-transfer reaction of 4-methyl 2,6-diformyl phenol in cyclodextrin nanocage

We report here on the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies on proton-transfer (PT) reaction of 4-methyl 2,6-diformyl phenol (MFOH) in confined nanocavities in three solvents, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl formamide (DMF), and water. Though DMSO and DMF individually interact with MFOH in a similar fashion, their modes of interaction get significantly modified in the presence of cyclodextrin (CD) nanocages. In DMSO, in the ground state, the solvated molecular anion of MFOH forms 1:1 inclusion complex with beta- or gamma-CD and attains greater stability compared to the normal form. In DMF, the solvated molecular anion gets converted to the H-bonded complex within the CD cavity resulting in a 50-nm blue shift in the absorption spectra. In the excited state, the anionic species gets more stabilized in DMSO while in DMF it is significantly destabilized in the presence of CDs. However, in case of water, MFOH gets trapped inside the water cages so that the CDs fail to complex with it effectively. There are also no changes in the excited-state lifetimes in water in the presence of CDs, but in case of DMSO and DMF, because of restricted rotation of the formyl group within the CD cavity, the contribution of the shorter lifetime components reduce significantly increasing the larger components. Some theoretical calculations at the AM1 level of approximation have also been carried out to demonstrate how the dipolar nature of the solvent influences excited-state PT in confined media.     

聚苯胺在有机溶剂中掺杂樟脑磺酸的UV-Vis光谱

UV-Vis光谱法;聚苯胺在有机溶剂中掺杂樟脑磺酸的UV-Vis光谱     

煤的缔合结构研究Ⅱ溶液黏度变化

采用Pal-Rhodes方程描述了一种煤可溶组分PI-1溶液黏度随时间的变化关系,并计算得到了缔合物的缔合维数。25 ℃下PI-1在NMP和CS2/NMP混合溶剂中缔合物的缔合维数分别为2.08和2.19,表明其在低温下缔合属于反应控制机理。随着温度的提高,缔合维数趋于减小,表明在较高温度下,PI-1具有较快的缔合动力学过程,在50 ℃时PI-1在NMP中的缔合维数大于在CS2/NMP混合溶剂中的缔合维数,表明PI-1在NMP的缔合速率相对低于CS2/NMP混合溶剂。     

Formation of DMSO and DMF radicals with minute amounts of base

So far overlooked DMSO and DMF form long-lived radicals in the presence of small amounts of bases, DMF radicals being less stable than DMSO radicals. In solvent mixtures, the presence of DMSO prolonged the lifetime of DMF radicals. The occurrence of radicals may explain previously reported unexpected outcomes of reactions performed in these solvents. The commonly accepted inertness of these solvents towards minor quantities of alkali seems not to be warranted.     

Solvent-assisted thiocarboxylation of amines and alcohols with carbon monoxide and sulfur under mild conditions

DMSO or DMF as a solvent strongly accelerated the thiocarboxylation of amines and alcohols with carbon monoxide and sulfur. Under mild conditions (1 atm, 20 °C), this thiocarboxylation of amines assisted by DMSO with carbon monoxide and sulfur has been developed into a practical and convenient synthetic method for S-alkyl thiocarbamates in good to excellent yields, including EPTC, thiobencarb, orbencarb, and molinate (herbicides). DMF also showed the similar solvent effect. NMP slightly decreased the effect for the thiocarboxylation of amines, and the yield of S-alkyl thiocarbamate was lowered in DMAc. Surprisingly, no formation of S-alkyl thiocarbamate was observed at the use of the other solvents, such as THF, hexane, toluene, AcOEt, MeCN, MeOH, and H₂O. The present solvent-assisted thiocarboxylation with carbon monoxide and sulfur could be also applied to a new synthesis of S-alkyl O-alkyl carbonothioates from alcohols under mild conditions (1 atm, 20 °C) in DMF using DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene).     

Coordination steric effect of N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone on the assembly of coordination polymers

Three coordination polymers 1, 2 and 3 have been synthesized in DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide), DMA (N,N-dimethylacetamide) and NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), respectively. In 1, DMF solvent molecule coordinates to zinc ion as an ancillary ligand, and 1D chain structure is obtained. 2 and 3 are isostructural, in which solvent molecules, DMA and NMP, do not coordinate to zinc ions, and 1D double stranded chain structures are formed. The coordination steric hindrance of the solvents is suggested as the decisive factor of the assemblies. Crystallography and thermoanalysis reveal that 2 and 3 are more stable and also include more guest solvent molecules than 1.     

High quality dispersions of hexabenzocoronene in organic solvents

We have studied the exfoliation and dispersion of hexabenzocoronene (HBC) in 28 different solvents. We see a wide range of dispersed concentrations and aggregation states, all of which can be related to the solvent properties. To a first approximation, the dispersed concentration is maximized for solvents with Hildebrand solubility parameter close to 21 MPa(1/2), similar to graphitic materials such as nanotubes and graphene. We have also studied the concentration dependence of the absorbance and photoluminescence of HBC for both a good solvent, cyclohexyl pyrrolidone (CHP), and a poor solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF). In both cases, we observe features that can be associated with either individual molecules or aggregates, allowing us to establish metrics both for aggregate and individual molecule content. While the aggregate content always increases with concentration, good solvents disperse individual molecules at relatively high concentrations while poor solvents display aggregation even at low concentrations. Using these metrics, we determine that large populations of individual molecules are present at low concentrations in certain solvents with Hildebrand solubility parameters close to 21 MPa(1/2). However, the aggregation state of HBC is considerably more sensitive to solvent Hildebrand parameter for halogenated solvents than for amide solvents. We find a combination of high overall concentrations and large populations of individual molecules in four solvents: cyclohexyl pyrrolidone, 1-chloronaphthalene, 1-bromonaphthalene, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) measurements show the formation of self-assembled monolayers at the interface between a HBC-solvent dispersion and a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrate. Similar structures were observed on ultrathin supports by aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also observed were graphitic objects of size ~1 nm consistent with monomers or aggregated stacks of very few monomers. We believe this is strong evidence of the presence of individual molecules in dispersions prepared with appropriate solvents.