Stabilizing the Exotic Carbonic Acid by Bisulfate Ion

Carbonic acid is an important species in a variety of fields and has long been regarded to be non-existing in isolated state, as it is thermodynamically favorable to decompose into water and carbon dioxide. In this work, we systematically studied a novel ionic complex [H₂CO₃·HSO₄]⁻ using density functional theory calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and topological analysis to investigate if the exotic H₂CO₃ molecule could be stabilized by bisulfate ion, which is a ubiquitous ion in various environments. We found that bisulfate ion could efficiently stabilize all the three conformers of H₂CO₃ and reduce the energy differences of isomers with H₂CO₃ in three different conformations compared to the isolated H₂CO₃ molecule. Calculated isomerization pathways and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations suggest that all the optimized isomers of the complex have good thermal stability and could exist at finite temperatures. We also explored the hydrogen bonding properties in this interesting complex and simulated their harmonic infrared spectra to aid future infrared spectroscopic experiments. This work could be potentially important to understand the fate of carbonic acid in certain complex environments, such as in environments where both sulfuric acid (or rather bisulfate ion) and carbonic acid (or rather carbonic dioxide and water) exist.     

Synthesis of macrocyclic tris-cis-tris-trans- dodeca[(phenyl)(hydroxy)]cyclododecasiloxane in carbonic acid solution

The possibility to synthesize stereoregular tris-cis-tris-trans- dodeca[(phenyl)(hydroxy)]cyclododecasiloxane (tris-cis-tris-trans-[PhSi(O)OH]12) in an inorganic liquid medium – aqueous carbonic acid solution – was shown. The interaction of polyhedral phenylcoppersodiumsiloxane, {[(C₆H₅Si(O)O^?]₁₂(Cu₂⁺)₄(Na⁺)₄}*(L)_m (L?=?Buⁿ OH, H₂O), with carbonic acid can be considered as a new ‘green’ method to obtain functional organosiloxane macrocycles. In contrast to the known methods, no organic solvents were used during the reaction. The identification of the structure of the end compound was performed by means of NMR and Infrared spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography.     

The CO2-water system. I. Study of the slower hydration-dehydration step

Using pressure-jump, concentration-jump, and stopped-flow methods, we have studied the rate of dehydration (k_–1) of carbonic acid as a function of temperature (0–40°C) and ionic strength (0.005–3M NaCl, 3M LiBr) in both H₂O and D₂O. A new design of pressure-jump cell with reliable temperature control, as well as improved sensitivity in the spectrophotometric detection for stopped flow, enabled k_–1 values to be determined with an accuracy better than ±8%, based on a comparison of results obtained using five different techniques. The influence of ionic strength, temperature, and isotope effects are discussed.     

Isotope effect in the formation of hydrogen peroxide by the sonolysis of light and heavy water

The kinetics of the formation of hydrogen peroxide by the sonolysis of light and heavy water in argon and oxygen atmospheres was investigated. The sonochemical reaction has a zero order with respect to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, D₂O₂, or DHO₂). The measurement of the kinetic isotope effect (α), defined as the ratio of the reaction rates in H₂O and D₂O, carried out under argon gave a value of 2.2±0.3. The observed isotope effect decreases with an increase in the concentration of light water in H₂O−D₂O mixtures. No isotope effect is displayed in the oxygen atmosphere (α=1.05±0.10). The isotope effect is determined presumably by the mechanism of sonochemical decomposition of water molecules, which includes the H₂O−Ar^* and D₂O−Ar^* energy exchange (where Ar^* are argon atoms in the³P_2.0 excited state) in the nonequilibrium plasma generated by a shock wave, arising upon a cavitation collapse. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 645–649, April, 2000.     

Mid‐IR Spectroscopy and Structural Features of Protonated Carbonic Acid in the Gas Phase

An anti trihydroxycarbenium ion is revealed to be the gas‐phase structure of protonated carbonic acid by IR multiple‐photon dissociation spectroscopy (see picture for calculated structure and comparison of experimental and computed spectra). Deprotonation yields anti‐H₂CO₃ with a nominal gas‐phase basicity of 724 kJ mol^?1.

     

Trihydroxycarbenium Hexafluorometalates: Salts of Protonated Carbonic Acid

Stabilization by salt formation : carbonic acid, which is not available as a pure substance, was isolated in the form of its trihydroxycarbenium salts, C(OH)₃⁺ MF₆⁻ (M=As, Sb), from the reaction of carbonic acid bis(trimethylsilyl) ester in the superacids HF/MF₅. The structure of the cation is shown in the picture. The ion was also characterized by vibrational spectroscopic studies.     

Autocatalytic decomposition of carbonic acid

Long held to be unstable or metastable in the gas phase, carbonic acid has successfully been produced and identified in its gaseous form in recent decades. Theoretical studies have indicated that isolated carbonic acid in the gas phase may in fact be quite stable, its decomposition attributable to the catalytic effect of water molecules, either present or produced in a chain reaction by an initially slow decomposition. In this study, a previously unreported autocatalytic decomposition route is studied using high‐accuracy ab initio quantum chemical methods. Results indicate that a carbonic acid dimer may react and decompose in a single‐step, highly concerted reaction. The transition state of this reaction was characterized, and the reaction pathway was found to have significantly lower activation energy than the uncatalyzed decomposition, and comparable or lower energy than the water‐catalyzed reaction. The results indicate that gaseous carbonic acid should be unstable even in the absence of water. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Decane oxidation in a shock tube

The ignition delay of n‐decane and oxygen diluted in argon was investigated for a series of mixtures ranging from 0.49 to 1.5% decane and 4.16 to 23.25% O₂ diluted in argon. The temperature range was 1239–1616 K and the pressure range was 1.82–10.0 atm. All experiments were performed in a heated shock‐tube. An overall ignition delay equation was deduced for 144 experiments: τ = 10⁻¹² exp(+34240/RT)[C₁₀H₂₂]^0.60[O₂]^−1.305[Ar]^0.08 s. Product distribution from preignition periods were measured. Detailed simulation schemes available in the literature were checked and a corrected model is proposed that fits well our experiments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 703–713, 2006     

Screening and docking studies of natural phenolic inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase II

Carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) is an important enzyme complex with Zn²⁺, which is involved in many physiological and pathological processes, such as calcification, glaucoma and tumorigenicity. In order to search for novel inhibitors of CA II, inhibition assay of carbonic anhydrase II was performed, by which seven natural phenolic compounds, including four phenolics (grifolin, 4-O-methyl-grifolic acid, grifolic acid, and isovanillic acid) and three flavones (eriodictyol, quercetin and puerin A), showed inhibitory activities against CA II with IC₅₀s in the range of 6.37–71.73 μmol/L. Grifolic acid is the most active one with IC₅₀ of 6.37 _μmol/L. These seven phenolic compounds were proved to be novel natural carbonic anhydrase II inhibitors, which were obtained in flexible docking study with GOLD 3.0 software. Results indicated that the aliphatic chain and polar groups of hydroxyl and carboxyl are important to their inhibitory activities, providing a new insight into study on CA II potent inhibitors. Authors with the equal contribution Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30725048) and the Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (West Light Program).     

A De Novo Designed Metalloenzyme for the Hydration of CO2

Protein design will ultimately allow for the creation of artificial enzymes with novel functions and unprecedented stability. To test our current mastery of nature’s approach to catalysis, a Zn^II metalloenzyme was prepared using de novo design. α₃DH₃ folds into a stable single‐stranded three‐helix bundle and binds Zn^II with high affinity using His₃O coordination. The resulting metalloenzyme catalyzes the hydration of CO₂ better than any small molecule model of carbonic anhydrase and with an efficiency within 1400‐fold of the fastest carbonic anhydrase isoform, CAII, and 11‐fold of CAIII.     

One-Electron Pseudo-Potential Determination of Stable Isomers of the Li*Ar n Excited Clusters: Absorption Spectra

We present pseudo-potential calculations of geometrical structures of stable isomers of LiAr _n clusters with both an electronic ground state and excited states of the lithium atom. The Li atom is perturbed by argon atoms in LiAr _n clusters. Its electronic structure obtained as the eigenfunctions of a single-electron operator describing the electron in the field of a Li⁺Ar _n core, the Li⁺ and Ar atoms are replaced by pseudo-potentials. These pseudo-potentials include core-polarization operators to account for the polarization and correlation of the inert core with the valence Lithium electron [J Chem Phys 116, 1839 1]. The geometry optimization of the ground and excited states of LiAr _n (n = 1–12) clusters is carried out via the Basin-Hopping method of Wales et al. [J Phys Chem 101, 5111 2; J Chem Phys 285, 1368 3]. The geometries of the ground and ionic states of LiAr _n clusters were used to determine the energy of the high excited states of the neutral LiAr _n clusters. The variation of the excited state energies of LiAr _n clusters as a function of the number of argon atoms shows an approximate Rydberg character, corresponding to the picture of an excited electron surrounding an ionic cluster core, is already reached for the 3s state. The result of optical transitions calculations shows that the absorption spectral features are sensitive to isomer structure. It is clearly the case for transitions close to the 2p levels of Li which are distorted by the cluster environment.     

Kinetic Study of the Isotope Exchange Reactions of Malonic Acid and Malonate Ion Using 1H NMR Spectroscopy. Inhibition of Acid and Base

The isotope exchange reactions of malonic acid and a malonate ion were investigated in acidic and basic D₂O solutions, respectively, using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The isotope exchange reaction of malonic acid is inhibited by the presence of DNO₃ (0–3 M) and DSO₄^? ion (0–0.1 M), whereas it is catalyzed by the presence of DSO₄^? ion (> 0.2 M), D₃PO₄, D₂PO₄^? ion or DPO₄^2– ion. The order of relative reactivity for catalyzing the isotope reaction of malonic acid in D₂O is DPO₄^2– > D₂PO₄^? > D₃PO₄ > DSO₄^? > DNO₃. The rate of the isotope exchange reaction of malonate ion in D₂O decreases to a minimum and then increases with increased [NaOD]₀. The mechanism of the isotope exchange reaction of malonic acid in acidic D₂O is different from the general acid-catalyzed mechanism generally observed for organic acids like acetic and dichloroacetic acids. The bimalonate ion plays an important role in the isotope exchange reactions of this system.     

Crystallographic Snapshot of an Arrested Intermediate in the Biomimetic Activation of CO2

The design of molecular catalysts that mimic the behavior of enzymes is a topical field of activity in emerging technologies, and can lead to an improved understanding of biological systems. Herein, we report how the bulky arms of the cations in [(n C₄H₉)₄N]⁺[HCO₃]^‐ give rise to a host scaffold that emulates the substrate binding sites in carbonic anhydrase enzymes, affording a unique glimpse of an arrested intermediate in the base‐mediated binding and activation of CO₂.     

N2: a potential pitfall for bulk 2H isotope analysis of explosives and other nitrogen‐rich compounds by continuous‐flow isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry

Observations made during the ¹³C isotope analysis of gaseous CO₂ in the simultaneous presence of argon in the ion source of the isotope ratio mass spectrometer prompted us to investigate what influence the simultaneous presence of nitrogen would have on both accuracy and precision of bulk ²H isotope analysis of nitrogen‐rich organic compounds. Initially an international reference material, IAEA‐CH7, was mixed with silver nitrate in various ratios to assess the impact that N₂ evolved from the pyrolysis of nitrogen‐rich organic compounds would have on measured δ²H‐values of IAEA‐CH7. In a subsequent experiment, benzoic acid was mixed with silver nitrate to mimic the N:H ratio of organic‐rich nitrogen compounds such as cellulose nitrate and RDX. The results of both experiments showed a significant deterioration of both accuracy and precision for the expected δ²H values for IAEA‐CH7 and benzoic acid when model mixtures were converted into hydrogen and nitrogen, and subsequently separated by gas chromatography using standard experimental conditions, namely a 60 cm packed column with molecular sieve 5 Å as stationary phase held at a temperature of 85°C. It was found that bulk ²H stable isotope analysis of nitrogen‐rich organic compounds employing published standard conditions can result in a loss of accuracy and precision yielding δ²H values that are 5 to 25‰ too negative, thus suggesting, for example, that tree‐ring ²H isotope data based on cellulose nitrate may have to be revised. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ammelinium Sulfate Monohydrate and Ammelinium Sulfate Cyanuric Acid – Synthesis and Structural Characterization

Two ionic carbon nitride type compounds containing the ammelinium cation, ammelinium sulfate cyanuric acid (6C₃N₅H₆O⁺ · 3SO₄^2– · 1?C₃N₃H₃O₃ · H₂O) ( 1 ) and ammelinium sulfate monohydrate (2C₃N₅H₆O⁺ · SO₄^2– · H₂O) ( 2 ) were synthesized through hydrolysis of melam (C₆N₁₁H₉) in diluted sulfuric acid. 1 crystallizes in hexagonal space group P6₃ (no. 173) with lattice parameters of a = 14.642(3), c = 13.113(4), and Z = 2. The structure is comprised of protonated ammelinium ions and neutral cyanuric acid molecules, which form a layered structure, as well as sulfate ions that span through these layers. 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with lattice parameters of a = 7.404(3), b = 9.673(4), c = 10.040(4), α = 91.098(15), β = 109.884(10), γ = 92.567(13), and Z = 2. As for 1 , the ammelinium rings form layers with the sulfate ions located in between. In both structures, no extended hydrogen bond networks between the respective triazine‐based molecules are formed. Instead, single molecules or small building blocks occur isolated and interact primarily with sulfate anions. Compound 1 , which was obtained phase pure, was further investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and powder X‐ray diffractometry.     

Synthesis of compounds of the triallylmethane series based on reactions of triallylborane and derivatives of carbonic acid

An original method was developed for the synthesis of functional derivatives of triallylmethane (CH₂=CH-CH₂)₃C-X (X = OH, NH₂, or SCOPh) based on reactions of triallylborane with the corresponding derivatives of carbonic acid (ethylene carbonate, diethylcyanamide, and 0,S-dimethyidithio carbonate) at 110–120 °C.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp 2739–2742, November, 1996.     

METABOLICALLY CONVERTIBLE LIPOPHILIC DERIVATIVES OF pH-SENSITIVE AMPHIPATHIC PHOTOSENSITIZERS

Abstract We propose the use of acetoxymethyl esters of pH-sensitive amphipathic photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). These compounds may be applicable for PDT involving endocytosis of lipophilic carriers leading to lysosomal uptakc of the esterified PS by target cells. Partial and/or total enzymatic de-esterification may result in the extralysosomal distribution of the photoactive agents, possibly culminating in a multisite photochemical response. We report here the synthesis and properties of chlorin e₆ triacetoxymethyl ester (CAME) and pheophorbide a acetoxymethyl ester (PAME). Chlorin e₆ and pheophorbide a are photocytotoxic chlorins that possess free carboxylate groups and exhibit optimum wavelengths of excitation substantially red shifted relative to hematoporphyrin derivative. Acetoxymethyl esterification of chlorin e₆ and pheophorbide a was accomplished with bromomethyl acetate. High-performance liquid chromatography allowed for the purification of PAME, in 87% purity, and CAME, in 63% yield and 94% purity, as well as the detection of the presumed mono- and diesters of chlorin e₆ as transient intermediates in the synthesis of CAME. The ultraviolet-visible absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission, NMR and mass spectra of the chlorin e₆ tnester are consistent with those expected for CAME. The pH-sensitive amphipathicity of pheophorbide a and chlorin e₆ but not CAME was demonstrated using a water/1-octanol partition assay. The production of pheophorbide a from PAME and the sequential formation of the di- and monoesters and free chlorin e₆ from CAME, by the action of lysosomal esterases obtained from cancer cells, demonstrate the potential of cellular enzymes to convert the lipophilic esters to pH-sensitive amphipathic PS. It is expected that the product of the esterases' action in the acidic lysosome will be hydrophobic and tend to diffuse into the organelle membrane. Contact with the neutral pH of the adjacent cytosol will result in conversion of the PS to a more hydrophilic anionic species, presumably allowing for it lo diffuse into that compartment and partition throughout the lipophilic and aqueous compartments of the cell.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of [(Nicotinic Acid)2H]+I-, [(2-Amino-6-methylpyridine)H]+(NO3)-, and the 1:1 Complex Between 1-Isoquinoline Carboxylic Acid (Zwitter Ion) and L-Ascorbic Acid Assembled via Hydrogen Bonds

Summary. Three new complexes, namely [(nicotinic acid)₂H]⁺I^–, [(2-amino-6-methylpyridine)H]⁺ (NO₃)^–, and the 1:1 complex between 1-isoquinoline carboxylic acid (zwitter ion form) and L-ascorbic acid were synthesized. The IR spectra revealed different types of hydrogen bonds in these compounds. The X-ray structure determination has shown the first compound to consist of a packing of [(nicotinic acid)₂H]⁺ cations and I^– anions. In the dimeric cation the two nicotinic acid molecules (zwitter ions) are connected through hydrogen bonds (O–HO). Each dimer is further engaged in other hydrogen bonds with adjacent dimers giving 2D layers. The I^– ion is located at the inversion center. In the second compound the cation and anion are connected via hydrogen bonds formed between oxygen atoms of the NO₃ ^– anion and NH and NH₂ of the cation generating a layer structure. All atoms are coplanar on mirror planes. In the 1:1 complex the two molecules are connected through hydrogen bonds formed between the two oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group of 1-isoquinoline carboxylic acid (zwitter ion) and the oxygen atoms of the two adjacent hydrogen groups of the L-ascorbic acid molecule. These complex molecules are engaged in other hydrogen bonds with each other forming a 2D system normal to the long b-axis of the unit cell.     

Hydrogen-Atom Tunneling in Metaphosphorous Acid

Metaphosphorous acid (HOPO), a key intermediate in phosphorus chemistry, has been generated in syn- and anti-conformations in the gas phase by high-vacuum flash pyrolysis (HVFP) of a molecular precursor ethoxyphosphinidene oxide (EtOPO→C₂H₄+HOPO) at ca. 1000 K and subsequently trapped in an N₂-matrix at 2.8 K. Unlike the two conformers of the nitrogen analogue HONO, the anti-conformer of HOPO undergoes spontaneous rotamerization at 2.8 K via hydrogen-atom tunneling (HAT) with noticeable kinetic isotope effects for H/D (>10⁴ for DOPO) and ¹⁶O/¹⁸O (1.19 for H¹⁸OPO and 1.06 for HOP¹⁸O) in N₂-matrices.     

Plasma diagnostics of barrier-torch discharge in argon flow in a capillary by cross-correlation spectroscopy

The radiation kinetics of the plasma of barrier-torch disrcharge in argon flow in a capillary has been studied by cross-correlation spectroscopy. It was established that the discharge emission spectrum consists of peaks of electronically excited states of argon, bands of hydroxyl radicals, and a second positive system of nitrogen. An analysis of the spatio-temporal distributions of emission intensity for the selected spectral indicators showed that the causes of the torch are ionization waves that extend through the capillary from the electrode system with a speed of 10⁵ m/s and project up to 3–4 mm. It was established that the formation of electronically excited molecules of nitrogen N₂(C ³Π _u ) in the torch of discharge occurs mainly on the reaction between metastable electronically excited atoms of argon and molecules of nitrogen in the electronic ground state.