Conductivity Studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Tetrabutylammonium Tetraphenylborate in 3-Pentanone in the Temperature Range from 283.15 to 329.15 K

The molar conductivities (Λ) of solutions of n-tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate (NBu₄BPh₄) in 3-pentanone have been measured in the temperature range from 283.15 to 329.15 K. The conductance data have been analyzed using the Lee-Wheaton conductivity equation with the distance parameter (a) set at Bjerrum’s pairing distance, and the limiting molar conductivities (Λ_o) and the association equilibrium constants (K _A) have been derived. The limiting ion conductivities (λ_±^o) have been evaluated according to the method of Krumgalz. The λ₊ ^o values have been compared with λ₊ ^o values calculated from the empirical equation of Gill. The thermodynamic functions, Gibbs energy (Δ G _A ^o), enthalpy (Δ H _A ^o) and entropy (Δ S _A ^o) for the process of ion-pair formation as well as the activation energy of the ionic movement (ΔH ^∗) have been evaluated. The obtained results are discussed in terms of ion-ion and ion-solvent interactions.     

Preparation and Characterization of 6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-(4-stearyloxytrityl)Cellulose acetate Langmuir–Blodgett Films

Multilayer films of 2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-(4-stearyloxytrityl)cellulose (ASTC) were prepared and investigated. The fairly high surface pressure (π)–area (A) isotherms (36– 47 mN/m) suggest that the balky and hydrophobic trityl group contribute to form a condensed monolayer. The cellulose derivative formed a homogeneous monolayer at 10 mN/m. The monolayer on the water surface was transferred successfully at 10 mN/m onto various substrates by modifying the preparation methods, to form Z-type multilayer films. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorbance was independent of the number of layers, indicating that each layer is made of definite number of anhydroglucose unit (AGU). The monolayer thickness determined from atomic force microscope (AFM) and ellipsometry was calculated to be about 1.9 nm, suggesting that the long alkyl chain in the film has a so-called hairy-rod type structure. This is the first paper about the Z-type LB film prepared from cellulose derivatives having long mono-alkyl chain only at 6-O-position.     

Preparation and formation mechanism of CdS nano-films via chemical bath deposition

CdS semiconductor nano-films were grown on ITO glass substrates by means of chemical bath deposition (CBD), with Cd(NO₃)₂ as Cd ion and (NH₂)₂CS as S ion sources. The concentration of Cd ions, deposition temperature, deposition time and post-treatment temperature have an impact on the formation of CdS nano-films. UV-vis absorption spectrum and atomic force microscope (AFM) images indicated that the change of concentration and post-treatment temperature may adjust the band-gap of CdS to obtain stable, homogeneous and compact films. Formation mechanism of the crystal nucleus and CdS film was also discussed. Active sites on the surface of ITO are critical to the formation of the crystal nucleus and a uniform and compact CdS nano-film. The active site and crystal nucleus are formed due to the comprehensive effect of electricity, thermodynamics and chemistry. __________ Translated from Journal of Jilin University (Science Edition), 2007, 45(1): 116–120 [译自: 吉林大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Surface Tension of the 4-Methyl-2-Pentanone/Ethyl Benzoate Binary System in the Temperature Range from 278.15 to 308.15K

Surface tensions (σ) and densities (ρ) of 4-methyl-2-pentanone/ethyl benzoate binary mixtures have been measured over the entire composition range at 278.15, 288.15, 298.15, and 308.15 K. Values of the excess surface tensions (σ^E) and excess molar volumes (V^E) have been calculated. The σ^E and V^E values were fitted by to the Redlich–Kister polynomial equation and the A_k coefficients have been derived. The standard deviations between the calculated and the experimental excess properties have also been derived. The surface tension values have been further used to calculate the surface entropies (S^S) and surface enthalpies (H^S) per unit surface area. The lyophobicity (β) and the surface mole fractions (x₁^S) of the surfactant 4-methyl-2-pentanone have been derived using the extended Langmuir model. The obtained results are discussed from the viewpoint of the existence of specific interactions between unlike molecules in the bulk region and the surface.     

Pseudo[3]rotaxane Type Compelxation between α- and β-Cyc1odextrins and N,N′-Dsiheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium

Pseudo[3]rotaxane type complexation of α- and β-cyclodextrins (α- and β-CDs, respectively) with N,N′-Diheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (diheptyl viologen; HV²⁺) was investigated. A spectral displacement method using p-nitrophenol as a dye revealed that α-CD and HV²⁺ formed a 2:1 host-guest complex with stability constants being 3280 and 976 M⁻¹ as the first and second steps of complexation, respectively. ¹H-NMR spectra strongly indicated that α-CD accommodated the heptyl groups of HV²⁺. Although previous studies based on circular dichroism spectroscopy suggested the primary hydroxy side of α-CD faced to the positively charged bipyridinium moiety od HV²⁺, 2D-NMR studies clearly demonstrated that the secondary hydroxy side of α-CD faced to the bipyridinium moiety. β-CD also formed a 2:1 complex with HV²⁺ with a similar fashion.     

Density functional theory and topological analysis on the hydrogen bonds in cysteine–propanoic acid complexes

The complexes formed via hydrogen bonding interactions between cysteine and propanoic acid have been studied at the density three-parameter hybrid functional DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level regarding their geometries, energies, vibrational frequencies, and topological features of the electron density. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was employed to elucidate the interaction characteristics in cysteine–propanoic acid (Cys–Prop) complexes. More than 10 kinds of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) including intra- and inter-molecular H-bonds have been found in Cys–Prop complexes. The results show that both the strength of H-bonds and the deformation are important factors for the stability of Cys–Prop complexes. The strongest H-bonds (O2H^A···O1^B and O2H^A···O1^B) exist in the most stable Cys–Prop complex. The stronger H-bonds formed between hydroxyl and O (or N) atom usually stronger than those involve C (or S) atom. Relationships between the electron density (ρ) of BCP and H-bond length as well as the Fock matrix element (F _ij) has also been investigated and used to study the nature of H-bonds. Moreover, the results show that the change of the bond length linearly correlates with the corresponding frequency shift.     

Synthesis and monolayer film of a series of new twin-tailed gemini cationic surfactants at the air/water interface

A series of new dimeric surfactants, twin-tailed gemini surfactants, 2(12)-s-2(12), were successfully prepared and characterized, and their monolayer films investigated by the measurement of surface pressure-area (π-A) and surface pressure-time (π-t) isotherms at the air/water interface by a Langmuir film balance. Compared to their monomeric counterparts, their collapse pressure (γ_collapse) is smaller, whilst all the molecular area parameters are larger. The limited area (A_limited) and the initial area (A_initial) of these twin-tailed gemini surfactants change with increasing spacer length s, and the surface pressure decreases with increasing time. It was also found that the higher the initial surface pressure, the larger the attenuation.      

Glycoprotein adsorption into bilirubin/cholesterol mixed monolayers at the air-water interface

The adsorption of α₁-acid glycoprotein into bilirubin/cholesterol mixed monolayers with various component molar ratios is investigated using surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms and (dπ/dA)-A curves. The results showed that the surface area per molecule increased after the adsorption/insertion of glycoprotein molecules into the monolayers. The compressibility of mixed monolayers increased as a result of hydrogen bonding between bilirubin and glycoprotein molecules, while the interactions between bilirubin and cholesterol are weakened. The adsorption of glycoprotein into a monolayer induced changes in molecular surface area depending on the surface pressure and molar fraction of bilirubin. The transmission electron microscopy of mixed monolayers confirmed the insertion of glycoprotein particles of spherical shape with an average diameter of about 80 nm into the monolayer. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Structure of surface films of malonate mono- and dinitroxyl methanofullerenes

An effect of aqueous subphases composition on the character of change of the bilayer structure of malonate mono- and dinitroxyl methanofullerenes surface films has been established. Their transformation to monolayers takes place in the presence of hydroxy-containing compounds (quercetin, dihydroquercetin, 4-methylphenol, ascorbic acid, as well as in a buffer mixture with pH 10). A loosening of mixed films on the basis of nitroxyl methanofullerenes in the presence of compounds affecting radical processes (2,4,6-tri(tert-butyl)phenol, 2-methyl-3-nitrosopropane, and TEMPO) has been demonstrated. The character of compression isotherms π = f(A ₀) (π is a surface pressure, A ₀ is an effective molecular area of methanofullerene) of the mixed films on water depends on the nature of component incorporated and the reaction time in solution: in all the cases, A ₀ increased almost 2-fold, to 1.05 nm² molecule⁻¹, whereas a compressibility parameter β decreased 2–3-fold, to (1–2)·10¹⁷ N m⁻³. Visualization of the thin film surfaces (atomic force spectroscopy) showed that a decrease of parameter β in the Langmuir layers corresponds to the particle aggregation and structurization of the films. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1920–1931, September, 2008.     

Dependence of the energy of surface-active substances/metal interaction on their ionization potentials. Evaluation of hydrophilicity of metal

The function Δ(ΔG _A ⁰), which is the difference of Gibbs energies characterizing surface-active substance (surfactant, SAS) adsorption at metal/solution and air/solution surfaces, has been introduced. The equation connecting the function Δ(ΔG _A ⁰) with SAS ionization potential has been obtained using the elementary theory of donor-acceptor interactions. Published experimental data on SAS adsorption at mercury, bismuth and gold have been used for Δ(ΔG _A ⁰) calculation. The dependence of Δ(ΔG _A ⁰) on ionization potentials can be described by an equation derived in this work. It has been demonstrated that the value of the hydrophilicity of gold is much higher than the values for mercury and bismuth. The lifetime of SAS molecules at a metal surface has been estimated. The question of the possibility of theoretica l estimation of standard energies ΔG _A ⁰ characterizing SAS adsorption at a metal/solution surface has been discussed. Received: 9 December 1996 / Accepted: 13 January 1997     

Experimental Study of the Effect of Temperature,Pressure and Concentration on the Viscosity of Aqueous NaBr Solutions

The viscosity of 10 (0.049, 0.205, 0.464, 0.564, 0.820, 1.105, 1.496, 2.007, 2.382, and 2.961 mol ċ kg⁻¹) binary aqueous NaBr solutions has been measured with a capillary-flow technique. Measurements were made at pressures up to 40 MPa. The range of temperature was 288–595 K. The total uncertainty of viscosity, pressure, temperature and composition measurements were estimated to be less than 1.6%, 0.05%, 15 mK, and 0.02%, respectively. The effect of temperature, pressure, and concentration on viscosity of binary aqueous NaBr solutions were studied. The measured values of the viscosity of NaBr(aq) were compared with data, predictions and correlations reported in the literature. The temperature and pressure coefficients of viscosity of NaBr(aq) were studied as a function of concentration and temperature. The viscosity data have been interpreted in terms of the extended Jones–Dole equation for the relative viscosity (η/η₀) to calculate accurately the values of viscosity A- and B-coefficients as a function of temperature. The derived values of the viscosity A- and B-coefficients were compared with the results predicted by the Falkenhagen–Dole theory of electrolyte solutions and calculated with the ionic B-coefficient data. The physical meaning parameters V and E in the absolute rate theory of the viscosity and hydrodynamic molar volume V k were calculated using the present experimental viscosity data. The TTG model has been used to compare predicted values of the viscosity of NaBr(aq) solutions with experimental values at high pressures.     

Synthesis of cadmium sulphide in pure and mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films of n -octadecylsuccinic acid

Cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles were grown by the reaction of sodium sulphide (Na₂S) with Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of cadmium salts ofn-octadecylsuccinic acid (ODSU) and with LB films of ODSU in mixtures of octadecylamine and octadecyl alcohol. The results indicate that heterogeneous nucleation and aggregation in the pure ODSU LB films due to processes like Ostwald ripening are destabilized by the presence of the long-chain amine and alcohol in mixed systems. CdS nanoparticles in the LB films were monitored by UV-visible absorption spectra, which allow an estimation of the size of the particles. The morphology, size and nature of the nanocrystallites formed depend on whether the sulphidation was done on the pure film or in the mixed films. It is seen that particles of size around 1.6 nm were formed in ODSU/octadecylalcohol and ODSU/ octadecylamine mixed LB films while in pure ODSU films the size was about 2.7 nm. These films showed typical needle-shaped structures, as observed by the optical microscopic technique. Mean size and morphology were confirmed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, while selective area electron diffraction patterns showed six-fold symmetry and indicated that the CdS crystals grow epitaxially with respect to the monolayer. Further, the crystallisation enhanced in the mixed LB films showed a characteristic zinc oxide (Wurtzite) structure compared with the pure ODSU matrix.     

Synthesis of 1,11,11-trimethyl-3,6-diazotricyclo [6.2.1.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]undeca-2,6-diene and 1,15,15-trimethyl-3,10-diazotetracyclo[10.2.1.0<Superscript>2,11</Superscript>.0<Superscript>4,9</Superscript>]pentadeca-2,4(9),5,7,10-pentaene from camphoroquinone enantiomers

Optically active camphordihydro-2,3-pyrazine and camphorquinoxaline were prepared from camphoroquinone enantiomers. It was shown that (1S,4R)-(+)-camphoroquinone was formed by oxidation of (1S,3R, 4R)-(−)-3-bromocamphor and (1R,4S)-(−)-camphoroquinone from (1R,3S, 4S)-(+)-3-bromocamphor, respectively. Camphor anhydride was a side product (6–10%) of the reaction. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 50–52, January–February, 2007.     

Synthesis of lomazarin and norlomazarin, pigments from Lomandra hastilis

5,8-Dihydroxy-2,3,6-trimethoxy-7-ethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) was used to synthesize in high yield 5,8-dihydroxy-7(1′-hydroxyethyl)-2,3,6-trimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lomazarin, 3), a pigment from Lomandra hastilis. Alkaline hydrolysis of lomazarin produced mainly 5,6,8-trihydroxy-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (9) through a retro-aldol decomposition of the 6-keto-form of 5,6,8-trihydroxy-7(1′-hydroxyethyl)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (13b) formed during the reaction. 2,5,8-Trihydroxy-7(1′-hydroxyethyl)-3,6-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (norlomazarin, 4a), a pigment of L. hastilis, and its 3,5,8-trihydroxy-7(1′-hydroxyethyl)-2,6-dimethoxy isomer 4b were formed as a difficultly separable mixture in addition to quinone 9. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 581–584, November–December, 2008.     

Complexes of transition metals bonded to silica via β-diketonate groups — synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity

Transition metal complexes bonded to silica via silanes with β-diketonate groups can be used as packings for complexation gas chromatography or as immobilized homogenous metal complex catalysts. On basis of elemental analysis and the determination of surface area, possible structures of the complexes formed on the silica surface have been proposed. The possibility of using the immobilized complexes as catalysts has been indicated. Especially nickel complexes were taken into consideration. These immobilized complexes were used previously as packings for complexation gas chromatography.     

Crystal structure and single crystal EPR of (NH4)2(15-crown-5)3[Cu(mnt)2] and (NH4)2(benzo-15-crown-5)4[Cu(mnt)2]·0.5H2O

The X-ray crystal structures of (NH4)2(15-crown-5)3[Cu(mnt)2] (1) and (NH4)2(benzo-15-crown-5)4- [Cu(mnt)2]·0.5H2O (2) were determined. Two single crystals are composed of distinct structures of ammonium-crown ether supramolecular cation and [Cu(mnt)2]2- anion. The triple-decker dication in complex 1 and a sandwich dimmer in complex 2 were observed. X-Band EPR studies on the single crystals of both complex 1 and complex 2 have been carried out at room temperature, which revealed that complex 2 showed a perfect hyperfine structure of Cu whereas that of complex 1 could not be observed. The principal values and direction cosines of the principal axes of the g and A tensors were computed by a least-squares fitting procedure. The spin density of Cu(Ⅱ) was estimated according to the principal values of the A tensors and compared well with the results calculated based on DFT method.     

EPR of vanadyl ion in a natural mineral, apophyllite

Single crystal EPR spectra of a natural mineral, apophyllite, containing VO(II) ion as an impurity have been investigated. The EPR spectra of the mineral, as obtained, was complex in nature, but was simplified by annealing the crystals at 490 K. The EPR parameters of the VO(II) species in the annealed crystal,g _∥ = 1.924 (2);g _⊥ = 1.983 (2);A _∥ = 18.35 (5); andA _⊥ = 7.24 (5)mT, are very close to a typical VO(II) impurity. Theoretically calculated line positions, using second-order hyperfine terms in the spin Hamiltonian with an axially symmetricg andA tensor values, agreed very well with the experimental ones. The EPR analysis of the annealed crystal has further revealed that the most preferred location of the VO(II) impurity is a substitutional Ca(II) site. The calculated bonding parameters and admixture coefficients indicate a fair amount of covalent bonding in the complex.     

Asymmetric alkylation catalyzed by chiral alkali metal alkoxides of TADDOL. Synthesis of α-methyl amino acids

It is shown that sodium alkoxides formed from (4R,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-bis(diphenylmethanol) ((R,R)-TADDOL) and some of its derivatives can be used as chiral catalysts for enantioselective alkylation of Schiff's bases derived from alanine with reactive alkyl halides. Acid hydrolysis of the reaction products affords (R)-α-methylphenyl-alanine, (R)-α-allylalanine, and (R)-α-methylnaphthylalanine in 61–93% yields and withee 69–94%. When (S,S)-TADDOL is used, the (S)-amino acid is formed. A mechanism explaning the observed features of the reaction is proposed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 926–932, May, 1999.     

Chemical synthesis and optical properties of CdS–poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites and their transparent fluorescent films

This paper describes the first synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites and their transparent fluorescent films by covalently grafting PLA onto the surfaces of CdS nanocrystals (NCs). Synthesis of the nanocomposites involved two steps. Lactic acid (LA)-capped CdS NCs were first prepared by reacting cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) with sodium sulfide (Na₂S) using LA as the organic ligand in H₂O/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. CdS–PLA nanocomposites were then formed by in situ ring-opening polymerization of lactide on the surface of modified CdS NCs. We also demonstrated herein the fabrication of the transparent fluorescent films of CdS–PLA nanocomposites by blending as-prepared nanocomposites with high-molecular-weight PLA. The as-prepared CdS NCs and their nanocomposites were studied by transmission electron microscopic imaging, thermogravimetric analyses, and spectroscopic measurements (ultraviolet–visible absorption and photoluminescence). The results revealed that the CdS–polymer nanocomposites exhibited good optical properties in terms of their photoluminescence and transparency.     

Electrochemical study on screen-printed carbon electrodes with modification by iron nanoparticles in Fe(CN)<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>4−/3−</Superscript> redox system

The remarkable enhancement of electron transfer on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) with modification by iron nanoparticles (Fe_nano), coupled with Fe(CN)₆ ^4−/3− redox species, was characterized with an increase of electroactive area (A _ea) at electrode surface together with a decrease of heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k°) in the system. Hence, Fe_nano-Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻ SPCEs with deposition of glucose oxidase (GOD) demonstrated a higher sensitivity to various glucose concentrations than Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻/GOD-deposited SPCEs. In addition, an inhibited diffusion current from cyclic voltammograms was also observed with an increase in redox concentration and complicated the estimation of A _ea. Further analysis by the electrochemical impedance method, it was shown that this effect might be resulted from the electrode surface blocking by the products of activated complex decomposition.