Proton conductivity along interface in thin cast film of Nafion®

Using a newly developed substrate with microelectrodes for the four-point method, the proton conductivity of a cast thin film of the Nafion^® along the lateral (parallel to the interface) direction in a humidified atmosphere was measured. It was found to be much smaller than that of the as-received Nafion membrane. This difference should affect the simulation to design the gas diffusion electrodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), because the ionic conductivity is one of the fundamental data for it.     

Thermal properties of sulfonic acid group functionalized Brönsted acidic ionic liquids

Thermal decomposition onset temperatures have been measured for a total of 24 methylimidazolium, triethanolammonium, and pyridinium type sulfonic acid groups functionalized Brönsted acidic ionic liquids with Cl^?, Br^?, SO₄ ^2?, PO₄ ^3?, BF₄ ^? _, CH₃CO₂ ^?, and CH₃SO₃ ^? anions, using thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal stabilities of these sulfonic acid group functionalized ionic liquids decreases in the order, methylimidazolium > triethanolammonium > pyridinium. The methylimidazolium, pyridinium, and triethanolammonium ionic liquids investigated showed decomposition onset temperatures (air) in the 213–353, 167–240, and 230–307 °C ranges, respectively. Additionally, the decomposition temperatures of these ionic liquids are highly dependent on the nature of the anion.     

Carbon transfer reactions of Δ2-oxazolinium and thiazolinium cations

Δ²-Oxazolinium and thiazolinium cations with or without an appendage at any of the heteroatoms transfer their C(2) units at the carboxylic acid oxidation level to binucleophiles and provide the corresponding heterocycles, thus mimicking carbon transfer reactions exhibited by THF models, N-methyl N'-tosyl/acetyl imidazolinium cations. However, these azolinium cations react with phen ethyl amine and tryptamine to furnish their N-acyl derivatives.     

Kinetics and mechanism of electron transfer reactions involving pyridinium chlorochromate and α-hydroxy acids in acid medium catalysed by ruthenium(III)

Summary The oxidation of -hydroxy acids (HA), viz. glycolic acid (GA), mandelic acid (MA) and lactic acid (LA), by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) in aqueous ethanoic acid solution was investigated in the presence and absence of Ru^IIICl₃. The order in [HA] and [PCC] was found to be unity, with or without ruthenium(III) catalyst, and the order in [Ru^III] was found also to be unity. The reaction was acid catalysed also in the presence and absence of ruthenium(III) catalyst, and hence the protonated form of PCC, was assumed to be the active species of oxidant. Added salts, and the change in dielectric constant of the medium, did not affect the oxidation rate. No induced polymerization occurred when acrylamide monomer was added to the reaction mixture. The pseudo-first order rate constants (k the formation constants (K _f) of the substrate-catalyst complexes, activation and thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated. Suitable mechanisms in conformity with the experimental observations have been proposed for the uncatalysed and catalysed reactions.     

Oxygen permeability and the state of water in Nafion® membranes with alkali metal and amino sugar counterions

The mobility of hydration water and the dissolved oxygen permeability through different cation forms of the Nafion^® membranes were determined. Two alkali metals (Na and K) and two amino sugars (an equivalent molar mixture of d-glucopyranosyl-α(1′ → 6)-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-mannitol and its sorbitol (GPA)and d-glucosamine (GLU)) were used as counterions. Based on the two-state model, the content and mobility of hydration water were determined using DSC and ¹⁷O NMR. The dissolved oxygen permeability through the Nafion^® membrane containing GPA was the lowest value in this study because, for the membrane, the fraction of hydration water was the greatest and the mobility of hydration water was the lowest. The amount and location of the hydrophilic group contained in substances as well as the kind of hydrophilic group affected the fraction and mobility of hydration water and dissolved oxygen permeability through the membranes.     

Kinetic and mechanism of reactions of L-α-Glutamic acid and L-Glutamine with pyridoxal

The kinetics and mechanisms of condensation of pyridoxal with L-α-glutamic acid and L-glutamine were studied by UV spectroscopy and polarimetry. L-α-Glutamic acid reacts with pyridoxal to form a Schiff base whose subsequent hydrolysis gives rise to pyridoxamine and α-ketoglutaric acid. The reaction of Lglutamine with pyridoxal involves the Γ-NH₂ group and affords a Schiff base whose subsequent hydrolysis gives rise to pyridoxamine and L-α-glutamic acid.     

The α-effect of oximate ions and solvent effect in the transfer of the toluenesulfonyl group in aqueous dimethylsulfoxide

The kinetic behaviour of oximate ions was studied in the transfer of the toluenesulfonyl group in aqueous dimethylsulfoxide (0–95 vol.% DMSO). The solvation effects of the solvent are a factor controlling the nucleophilicity and magnitude of the α-effect of the oximate ions. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 30–35, January–February, 2000.     

Backbone modification of β-hairpin-forming tetrapeptides in asymmetric acyl transfer reactions

Synthetic oligopeptides as mimics of enzymes have been increasingly exploited as catalysts for asymmetric reactions, but highly effective oligopeptide catalysts with relatively low molecular weight are still in great demand. In this paper, we showed the conformational engineering of the β-hairpin-forming tetrapeptide 4 which was first reported by Miller's group as the catalyst for the asymmetric acyl transfer reaction of trans-2-(N-acetylamino)cyclohexan-1-ol (k(rel)=28). Through our backbone modification strategy, thioamide and sulfonamide as the isosteres of amide were introduced in the β-hairpin secondary structure. The thioxo peptides also adopt β-hairpin conformations as the oxopeptide supported by the combined use of NMR, IR, and X-ray techniques. Thioxo tetrapeptide 14 formed a more constrained β-hairpin conformation and therefore delivered much higher enantioselectivity (k(rel)=109) in the same reaction. Moreover, the examination of the conformational changes of tetrapeptide 8 upon the protonation of the N(π)-methylhistidine moiety provided evidence to explain the variation of its catalytic efficiency in the asymmetric acyl-transfer reaction.     

A comparative study of the multicomponent Ugi reactions of an oxabicycloheptene-based β-amino acid in water and in methanol

Di-exo-3-amino-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid 1, five aldehydes and two isocyanides were reacted both in methanol and in water to prepare a 10-membered β-lactam library via a Ugi-4-centre-3-component reaction. The yields were found to be similar in water and methanol. The diastereoselectivities of the aqueous reactions were similar, though in a few cases higher than those in methanol. The benefits of water are the facile isolation of the precipitated product and the shorter reaction time.     

Preparation of organic–inorganic hybrid silica monolith with octyl and sulfonic acid groups for capillary electrochromatograhpy and application in determination of theophylline and caffeine in beverage

An organic–inorganic hybrid silica monolithic column with octyl and sulfonic acid groups has been prepared by sol–gel technique for capillary electrochromatograhpy. The structure of hybrid monolith was optimized by changing the composition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), octyltriethoxysilane (C₈-TEOS) and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) in the mixture of precursors. Then, the obtained hybrid monolith was oxidized using hydrogen peroxide (30%, w/w) to yield sulfonic acid groups. The sulfonic acid group, which served as strong cation-exchanger, dominated the charge on the surface of the capillary column and generated stable electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a wide range of pH. The monolithic column was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis (EA), and the performance of column was evaluated in detail by separating different kinds of compounds with column efficiency up to 155,000 plates/m for thiourea. In addition, this monolithic column was also applied in the analysis of theophylline (TP) and caffeine (CA) in beverages. The detection limits were 0.39 and 0.48 μg/mL for theophylline and caffeine, respectively. The method reproducibility was tested by evaluating the intra- and inter-day precisions, and relative standard deviations of less than 3.9 and 8.4%, respectively, were obtained. Recoveries of compounds from spiked beverage samples ranged from 87.2 to 105.2%.     

One-pot synthesis of benzoquinoline and coumarin derivatives using Meldrum’s acid in three-component reactions

A series of 1-aryl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[f]quinolin-3(4H)-one derivatives and 4-aryl-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydrocoumarin derivatives have been synthesized by one-pot multicomponent reaction of Meldrum’s acid with benzaldehyde, naphthalene-2-amine, or cyclohexanedione in PEG-400. The method has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, good yields, and easy processing, and is environmentally benign.     

Solution chemistry in fused monochloroacetic acid—V: Solvolytic reactions of Lewis acids in monochloroacetic acid and the nature of the solvolysed products

Tetrachlorides of tin, titanium, zirconium, thorium and silicon form compounds of composition SnCl₂(CH₂ClCOO)₂, Ti(CH₂ClCOO)₄, Zr(CH₂ClCOO)₄, Th(CH₂ClCOO)₄ and Si₂O(CH₂ClCOO)₆ when refluxed with excess of monochloroacetic acid. From i.r., molecular weight and conductance studies, their structures have been elucidated. Their Lewis acid character is established by isolating and characterising their adducts with organic tertiary bases. Antimony pentachloride, aluminium trichloride and ferric chloride form compounds of composition SbCl₂(CH₂ClCOO)₃, Al(CH₂ClCOO)₃, FeCl(CH₂ClCOO)₂ and Fe(CH₂ClCOO)₃ when refluxed with excess of solvent and these have been characterised by i.r. studies.     

New directions in perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid–based proton-exchange membranes

Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer membranes have enabled a variety of electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices such as fuel cells and flow batteries and material conversion devices such as electrolyzers to produce hydrogen and chlorine. For decades, a small group of simple copolymers were relied on in these applications. The practical limits for conductivity through lower equivalent weight are being approached for these polymers. Recently, the community has recognized the need for new PFSA ionomers with properties tailored to the specific needs of each application. An emerging area of importance is the manipulation of the diffusion properties of these polymers. For example, fuel cell membranes need to maintain good barrier properties as thicknesses are reduced, while ionomers with increased oxygen diffusion rates are sought for fuel cell electrodes. In recent years, the class of PFSA ionomers has expanded to include new side chain structures, new comonomers, and even hydrocarbon hybrid structures.     

Thermochemical study of the reactions of acid–base interaction in an aqueous solution of α-aminobutyric acid

The heat effects of the interaction between a solution of α-aminobutyric acid and solutions of HNO₃ and KОН are measured by means of calorimetry in different ranges of рН at 298.15 K and values of ionic strength of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 (KNO₃). The heat effects of the stepwise dissociation of the amino acid are determined. Standard thermodynamic characteristics (Δ_r H ⁰, Δ_r G ⁰, and Δ_r S ⁰) of the reactions of acid–base interaction in aqueous solutions of α-aminobutyric acid are calculated. The connection between the thermodynamic characteristics of the dissociation of the amino acid and the structure of this compound is considered.     

Broadband dielectric spectroscopic studies of molecular motions in a Nafion® membrane vs. annealing time and temperature

The dynamics of macromolecular motions as coupled to proton migration in annealed Nafion® membranes were explored at temperatures above 100 °C using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Loss permittivity vs. frequency spectra of both β and α relaxations showed increased relaxation times with annealing which was rationalized in terms of water de-sorption and diminished free volume. The α relaxation time increases with increased annealing temperature. A parameter N reflecting connectedness of charge hopping pathways was extracted and indicated that the conductivity network accumulates more charge traps, presumably due to free volume decrease, with increased annealing time. Conductivity increases with increased annealing time at all temperatures despite the decrease in N; this suggests a change in the nature of proton hopping on annealing at high temperatures to be between sulfonic acid groups rather than by hopping across H₂OH⁺OH₂ bonds.