Reactions of β-Dioxo Compounds with Hydrogen Peroxide at Low Temperatures

The paper presents the results obtained for the malonic aldehyde—hydrogen peroxide and β-oxobutanal—hydrogen peroxide systems. The systems were studied by IR spectroscopy in xenon matrices. The potential energy surfaces and vibrational spectra of the molecules that could occur in these systems were calculated quantum-chemically. As distinct from similar systems with monoaldehydes and α-dioxo compounds, the first stage of the reactions that occurred in the systems under consideration involved the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with the formation of atomic oxygen, whose secondary reactions determined the set of reaction products.     

Synergistically Interactive Pyridinic-N–MoP Sites: Identified Active Centers for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Solution

For electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), encapsulating transition metal phosphides (TMPs) into nitrogen-doped carbon materials has been known as an effective strategy to elevate the activity and stability. Yet still, it remains unclear how the TMPs work synergistically with the N-doped support, and which N configuration (pyridinic N, pyrrolic N, or graphitic N) contributes predominantly to the synergy. Here we present a HER electrocatalyst (denoted as MoP@NCHSs) comprising MoP nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped carbon hollow spheres, which displays excellent activity and stability for HER in alkaline media. Results of experimental investigations and theoretical calculations indicate that the synergy between MoP and the pyridinic N can most effectively promote the HER in alkaline media.     

Fabrication of rod-shaped β-FeOOH: the roles of polyethylene glycol and chlorine anion

β-FeOOH nanorods of 40 nm wide and 450 nm long were fabricated through precisely regulating the hydrolysis kinetics of Fe~(3+) in polyethylene glycol and the concentration of Cl~- as the structure-directing agent. Detailed structural and chemical analyses of the intermediates during the synthesis identified that the strong interaction between PEG and Fe~(3+) modulated the hydrolysis kinetics of Fe~(3+) and prevented the aggregation of β-FeOOH nanorods; while Cl~- provided sufficient nucleation sites, stabilized the hollow channel of β-FeOOH, and more importantly induced the growth of the nanorods along [001] direction.     

Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution of Keggin-type Polyoxotungstates and their Electrochemical Behaviors

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water is considered as an approach for conversion of the solar energy into the chemical energy. During the past decades much efforts have been made to exploit the semiconductor photocatalysts working under both UV a…     

Evolution of Graphene Supported RuN (N=1–4) Clusters in CO Atmosphere: A First-Principles Investigation

We investigated the evolution of Ru clusters containing 1–4 atoms supported on graphene in CO atmosphere with extensive first principle-based calculations. Exothermic CO adsorption induces gradual structure reorganization and change of the Ru−Ru, Ru-graphene, and Ru-CO interactions within these Ru carbonyls. The upper limits of CO on a surface of Ru cluster are 3, 6, 10 and 12 for Ru₁, Ru₂, Ru₃ and Ru₄, respectively. The further CO adsorption enhances steric hindrance at the Ru-graphene interface that finally leads to release of undercoordinated Ru carbonyls into gas phase. Competing with the CO adsorption and sintering of Ru species for better thermostability, disintegration of multinuclear surface Ru carbonyls to atomically dispersed Ru species on graphene is still feasible. The current findings bring more insights into the evolution and interconversion of Ru carbonyls in a CO atmosphere and may help to understand the superior performance of heterogeneous transition metal catalysts in operation conditions.     

Bifunctional Hydrogen Bond Donor-Catalyzed Diels–Alder Reactions: Origin of Stereoselectivity and Rate Enhancement

The selectivity and rate enhancement of bifunctional hydrogen bond donor-catalyzed Diels–Alder reactions between cyclopentadiene and acrolein were quantum chemically studied using density functional theory in combination with coupled-cluster theory. (Thio)ureas render the studied Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions exo selective and induce a significant acceleration of this process by lowering the reaction barrier by up to 7 kcal mol⁻¹. Our activation strain and Kohn–Sham molecular orbital analyses uncover that these organocatalysts enhance the Diels–Alder reactivity by reducing the Pauli repulsion between the closed-shell filled π-orbitals of the diene and dienophile, by polarizing the π-orbitals away from the reactive center and not by making the orbital interactions between the reactants stronger. In addition, we establish that the unprecedented exo selectivity of the hydrogen bond donor-catalyzed Diels–Alder reactions is directly related to the larger degree of asynchronicity along this reaction pathway, which is manifested in a relief of destabilizing activation strain and Pauli repulsion.     

Maximization of β-Galactosidase Production: A Simultaneous Investigation of Agitation and Aeration Effects

In this work, the agitation and aeration effects in the maximization of the β-galactosidase production from Kluyveromyces marxianus CCT 7082 were investigated simultaneously, in relation to the volumetric enzyme activity and the productivity, as well as the analysis of the lactose consumption and production of glucose, and galactose of this process. Agitation and aeration effects were studied in a 2 L batch stirred reactor. A central composite design (2² trials plus three central points) was carried out. Agitation speed varied from 200 to 500 rpm and aeration rate from 0.5 to 1.5 vvm. It has been shown in this study that the volumetric enzyme production was strongly influenced by mixing conditions, while aeration was shown to be less significant. Linear models for activity and productivity due to agitation and aeration were obtained. The favorable condition was 500 rpm and 1.5 vvm, which lead to the best production of 17 U mL⁻¹ for enzymatic activity, 1.2 U mL⁻¹ h⁻¹ for productivity in 14 h of process, a cellular concentration of 11 mg mL⁻¹, and a 167.2 h⁻¹ volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient.     

Chemical Reactions and Kinetics of the Carbon Monoxide Coupling in the Presence of Hydrogen

The chemical reactions and kinetics of the catalytic coupling reaction of carbon monoxide to diethyl oxalate were studied in the presence of hydrogen over a supported palladium catalyst in the gaseous phase at the typical coupling reaction conditions. The experiments were performed in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor. The results indicated that hydrogen only reacts with ethyl nitrite to form ethanol, and kinetic studies revealed that the rate-determining step is the surface reaction of adsorbed hydrogen and the ethoxy radical (EtO-). A kinetic model is proposed and a comparison of the observed and calculated conversions showed that the rate expressions are of rather high confidence.     

Studies on Structure and Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution of Nanocrystalline Ni-Mo-Fe Alloy Electrodeposit

NanocrystallineNi Mo Fealloydepositswereobtainedbyelectrode position .ThestructuresofthealloydepositswereanalyzedbyX raydiffraction (XRD )andX rayphotoelectronspectroscopy(XPS) .TheXRDresultsofnanocrystallineNi Mo Fealloydepositshowthatmanydiffractionlinesdisappear ,andthatthereisonlyonediffractionpeakat 44 .0° .TheXPSresultsofnanocrystallineNi Mo Fealloydepositsindicatethatthenickel,molybdenumandironofthedepositsexistinmetallicstate ,andthatthebindingen ergyofthealloyedelementsincre…     

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of the Absorption of Hydrogen in β-titanium Alloys

A thermogravimetric method was applied to study the hydrogen uptake in the near-β-titanium alloy Ti 10 2 3 and the metastable β-titanium alloy Ti 21S. The tests were performed in H₂-He gas mixtures with various partial pressures of H₂ at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. Basic findings such as the decreasing solubility of H₂ with increasing temperature could be verified, and first information on the effects of surface conditions was gained. Thus, it could be shown that, despite the low atomic mass of hydrogen, thermogravimetry is an appropriate tool for investigation of the H₂/metal interactions of titanium alloys. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Simple and New Method for the Synthesis of β-Acetamido Ketones on a Solid Surface

Diels–Alder reactions of 3-vinylindoles were carried out with methyl acrylate and N-phenylmaleimide as dienophiles under microwave conditions to furnish unreported tetrahydrocarbazoles regio- and stereoselectively in good yields. Further dehydrogenation resulted in new substituted carbazoles.     

Directed Evolution of a Thermophilic β-glucosidase for Cellulosic Bioethanol Production

Characteristics that would make enzymes more desirable for industrial applications can be improved using directed evolution. We developed a directed evolution technique called random drift mutagenesis (RNDM). Mutant populations are screened and all functional mutants are collected and put forward into the next round of mutagenesis and screening. The goal of this technique is to evolve enzymes by rapidly accumulating mutations and exploring a greater sequence space by providing minimal selection pressure and high-throughput screening. The target enzyme was a β-glucosidase isolated from the thermophilic bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus that cleaves cellobiose resulting from endoglucanase hydrolysis of cellulose. Our screening method was fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), an attractive method for assaying mutant enzyme libraries because individual cells can be screened, sorted into distinct populations and collected very rapidly. However, FACS screening poses several challenges, in particular, maintaining the link between genotype and phenotype because most enzyme substrates do not remain associated with the cells. We employed a technique where whole cells were encapsulated in cell-like structures along with the enzyme substrate. We used RNDM, in combination with whole cell encapsulation, to create and screen mutant β-glucosidase libraries. A mutant was isolated that, compared to the wild type, had higher specific and catalytic efficiencies (k _cat/K _M) with p-nitrophenol-glucopyranoside and -galactopyranoside, an increased catalytic turnover rate (k _cat) with cellobiose, an improvement in catalytic efficiency with lactose and reduced inhibition (K _i) with galactose and lactose. This mutant had three amino acid substitutions and one was located near the active site.     

Investigation of inclusion complexes of citronella oil, citronellal and citronellol with β-cyclodextrin for mosquito repellent

The aim of this study was to prepare the inclusion complexes of citronella oil, citronellal or citronellol with β-cyclodextrin and evaluate their physicochemical properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A kneading method was employed to prepare the inclusion complexes and weight ratios of each of the active substance to β-cyclodextrin were 1:1 (1:1 CPX) and 1:2 (1:2 CPX). For comparison purposes, physical mixtures of these active compounds and β-cyclodextrin were also prepared and investigated. Unlike the physical mixtures, the SEM technique revealed drastic changes in the shapes and morphologies of the particles for the inclusion complexes. Furthermore, the FTIR and DSC results seemed to reveal some interactions between the active substance and β-cyclodextrin. The o/w lotions, which contained 10% w/w citronella oil (normal citronella oil; 1:1 CPX or 1:2 CPX), were formulated using Cremophors as emulsifiers. With modified Franz diffusion cell and synthetic membrane, the release rates of citronella oil from the lotions containing the inclusion complexes were significantly lower than that from the prepared lotion containing normal citronella oil. The mosquito (Aedes aegypti) repellent efficacy of the lotions containing citronella oil, citronellal or citronellol (both normal and inclusion complexes) was further evaluated by human-bait technique. The highest mosquito repellent activity was observed in the formulation which contained citronella oil–β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex at weight ratio of 1:1.     

Heterocyclization Reactions of Isonitroso β-Diketones with Hydrazine Hydrate and Alkylhydrazines

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - A previously unknown isonitroso diketone containing a naphthalen-1-yl substituent was synthesized. Its condensation with hydrazine hydrate resulted in the...     

Reactions of Diferrocenylmorpholino- and -Methylsulfanyl-cyclopropenylium Salts with β-Dicarbonyl Compounds and Diethyl Malonate

2,3-Diferrocenyl-1-morpholinocyclopropenylium tetrafluoroborate reacts with ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl benzoylacetate, and diethyl malonate in the presence of triethylamine to yield 3-[acyl(ethoxycarbonyl)]-, 3-(diethoxycarbonyl)-methyl-3-morpholino-1,2-diferrocenylcyclopropenes (3a–c), and 3-[acyl(ethoxycarbonyl)]- and (diethoxycarbonyl)-methylidene-1,2-diferrocenylcyclopropenes (4a–c) in a ca. 1:1.5 ratio. 2,3-Diferrocenyl-1-methylsulfanylcyclopropenylium iodide with the same substrates affords compounds 4a,b (～10–15%), 3-[acyl(ethoxycarbonyl)]methyl-3-methylsulfanyl-1,2-diferrocenylcyclopropenes (5a,b) (～8–10%), 2-acyl-3,4-diferrocenyl-5-methylsulfanylcyclopentadienones (6a,b), ethyl 2-acyl-3,4-diferrocenyl-5-methylsulfanylpenta-2,4-dienoates (7a,b; 8a,b), and ethyl 3,4-diferrocenyl-2-methylsulfanyl-6-oxohexa(hepta)-2,4-dienoates (9a,b). The spatial structure of ethyl Z,E-3,4-diferrocenyl-2-methylsulfanyl-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoate (9b) was established based on the data from x-ray diffraction analysis. Electrochemical properties of 3-[acyl(ethoxycarbonyl)]- and (diethoxycarbonyl)-methylidene-1,2-diferrocenylcyclopropenes (4a–c) are studied.     

Evolution of class C β-lactamases: factors influencing their hydrolysis and recognition mechanisms

The most common bacterial resistance mechanism to β-lactam antibiotics is the production of β-lactamases. So far, β-lactamases have been classified into four different classes, three of them (A, C and D) have a serine in the active site as the nucleophilic group, which attacks to lactam antibiotic. Despite the large number of kinetic and theoretical studies and many native and complexed β-lactamases crystal structures, the mechanism by which they act is not well understood. The aim of this review is to show the different hypotheses which have been proposed to explain the hydrolysis mechanisms for class A and C lactamases and to cast light onto the interactions between the antibiotic and the Enterobacter cloacae P99 (a class C β-lactamase) in the Henry-Michaelis complex formed previous to the serine attack. Knowledge of these crucial points is essential for obtaining new β-lactam antibiotics not vulnerable to β-lactamases in order to minimize bacterial resistance.     

Nonclassical Aryl Radicals: Intermediates or Transition States for the Hydrogen Shift Reactions?

Electronic properties of aryl radicals obtained by removing single hydrogen atoms from the sterically congested regions of benzo[c]phenanthrene, biphenyl, triphenylene, phenanthrene, and perylene are studied at the UBLYP/6-311G level of theory. Two structures are considered by each radical, the classical one involving a C-H.C arrangement of atoms and the nonclassical one possessing a three-center C-H-C linkage. The five nonclassical radicals under study are found to be transition states for degenerate 1,4- and 1,5-hydrogen shift reactions that interconvert the classical species. However, the results of the present calculations indicate that the nonclassical structures with the C-H distances in the C-H-C linkages shorter than 1.34 ? should be energy minima representing potentially observable chemical systems. The predicted energy barrier to the 1,5-hydrogen shift in the 1-benzo[c]phenanthrenyl radical is only 9.3 kcal/mol (6.1 kcal/mol with the zero-point energies included), making the hydrogen migration in this system facile at relatively low temperatures. Rigorous analysis of the computed electronic wave functions provides a clear-cut picture of bonding in both the classical and nonclassical aryl radicals.     

Investigation of the inclusion complex of tolfenamic acid with β-cyclodextrin: Geometry and NBO analysis

Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to investigate geometry and driving forces for inclusion complexes of tolfenamic acid (TA) into β-CD (at 1:1 stoichiometry). Two possible orientations of TA in the β-CD cavity were considered. Both PM3MM and ONIOM2 method evidence that TA is encapsulated in the β-CD cavity for A and B orientation. Finally, charge transfer between the donor and acceptor orbitals of each TA and β-CD play an important role to stabilize the inclusion complex.     

An Improved Synthesis of β-Nicotyrine from the Dehydrogenation of Nicotine: Comparison of Conventional and Microwave-Assisted Reactions

Abstract

β-Nicotyrine, a minor tobacco alkaloid, can be rapidly prepared in good yield from the dehydrogenation of S-(-)-nicotine over MnO₂ with microwave irradiation. This method is superior to dehydrogenation reactions that utilize S-(-)-nicotine and MnO₂ in a variety of solvents under reflux.     

Identifying the Role of Brønsted and Lewis Acid Sites in the Diels-Alder Cycloaddition of 2,5-DMF and Ethylene

The role of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites in the Diels-Alder cycloaddition (DAC) of ethylene to 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF) to p-xylene was investigated. Amorphous silica catalysts containing Al³⁺ (ASA), Ga³⁺ (ASG), and In³⁺ (ASI) were prepared via homogeneous deposition-precipitation. Silica modified with Zr⁴⁺ (ASZ) was prepared by impregnation. Their acidic properties were characterized by various IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Measurements using pyridine as a probe molecule highlighted the presence of mostly Lewis acid sites (LAS) in all materials. Using CO as a probe, in contrast, demonstrated the existence of Brønsted acid sites (BAS) in ASA and ASG, which were nearly absent in ASI and ASZ. Differences in basic strength can explain the contrast in results observed between the two probe molecules. The highest p-xylene yield (~20 %) in the DAC reaction, could be achieved with ASA and ASG. The lack of BAS in ASI and ASZ resulted in inferior performance in the DAC, with p-xylene yields below 5 %. These results indicate the importance of BAS for the DAC reaction. Several other heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts were explored for the DAC reaction to show the generality of our conclusion that BAS play a critical role in obtaining p-xylene from 2,5-DMF and ethylene.