Random packing of monoatomic structures

The dependence of the first coordination number k _n on the packing factor k _y is obtained for four cubic structures: fcc, bcc, simple cubic, and diamond. The k _n (k _y ) dependence is described by a third-degree polynomial k _n = ?71.76782 + 467.78914 k _y ? 925.48451 k _y ² + 603.01146 k _y ³ with the confidence factor R _d = 1. The k _n (k _y ) function has an N loop with a maximum at k _n = 6.32; k _y = 0.454 and a minimum at k _n = 5.84; k _y = 0.573. The tangents intersect the k _n (k _y ) curve at extrema at k _y = 0.4 and k _y = 0.625. Around the N loop, i.e., at 5.84 ≤ k _n ≤ 6.32 and 0.4 ≤ k _y ≤ 0.625, two or three packing factors correspond to a certain value of the coordination number. Therefore, this range of the k _n and k _y values can be defined as a “random packing” region. Estimations presented here agree well with the results of calculations, both geometric and numerical. For monoatomic solids with the random packing parameters, the difference between the specific volumes of the solid and liquid phases is insignificant. The dilatancy effect is possible in the region where ?k _n / ?k _y ≤ 0.     

Dissolution kinetics of silver metal nanoparticles in their reaction with nitric acid in an reverse micelle solution of AOT

The dissolution of silver nanoparticles in their reaction with aqueous HNO₃ solubilized to an reverse micelle solution of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate in decane is studied spectrophotometrically. A physicochemical model is advanced for quantifying the process kinetics on th basis of the following autocatalytic scheme: Ag⁰ + H⁺ + NO ₃ ^? → Ag⁺ + products (k ₁), and Ag⁰ + Ag⁺ + NO ₃ ^? → 2Ag⁺ + products (k ₂). The effective rate constant k ₂ decreases with decreasing solubilization capacity V _S/V _O (where V _S is the volume of the solubilized dispersed aqueous phase and V _O is the volume of the micelle solution); the solubilization capacity determines the size of the micelle cavities in which the reaction between Ag⁰ and HNO₃ occurs: k ₂ = 74 (V _S/V _O) · 100% ≈ 3.8%), 41 (2.9), and 35 (2.0) L/(mol s). The effective constant k ₁ is determined with a high uncertainty; the effect of V _S/V _O on k ₁ has the opposite tendency.     

Electronic effect of substituents in coupling reactions between <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-substituted benzamidoximes and nitrile ligands in <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-[PtCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>(EtCN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>] complex

The rate constants were determined for a number of reactions of nucleophilic addition of para-substituted benzamidoximes 4-RC₆H₄C(NH₂)=NOH to cis-[PtCl₂(EtCN)₂] at 23°C in acetone. A linear correlation between log (k _R/k _H) and σ _para was found, and reaction constant ρ²⁹⁶(σ _para ) was calculated. The prepared compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, and HR ESI⁺-MS.     

Catalytic effects of cationic nanoparticle (CTABr/NaX/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,X = Cl,Br) for the piperidinolysis of phenyl salicylate ions

The expression of pseudo-second-order rate constants (k _X) for cationic nanoparticle (CN) [CTABr/NaX/H₂O, X = Br, Cl, CTABr = cetyltrimethylammonium bromide] catalyzed piperidinolysis-ionized phenyl salicylate (PSa^–), at constant [CTABr]_T, 0.1 M piperidine (Pip), and 35°C, were calculated from the relationship: k _obs = (k ₀ + k _X[NaX])/(1 + K ^X/S[NaX]), in which k ₀, k _X, and K ^X/S are constant kinetic parameters and k _obs represents the pseudo-first-order rate constant for Pip reaction with phenyl salicylate ion in the presence of CN. The source of the large catalytic effect of CN catalyst was shown to be due to the transfer of PSa^– from pseudo-phase of the CNs to the bulk aqueous phase through X^–/PSa^– ion exchange at the surface of the CNs.     

Theoretical study on the fluorination of benzene with N-Fluoropyridinium salts in acetonitrile solution

The prominent roles of organofluorine compounds in various fields have aroused considerable interest in the development of new methods for carbon-fluorine bond formation. Electrophilic fluorination receives much attention. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to theoretically explore the fluorination activity of 12 N-Fluoropyridinium salts on the substrate of benzene in acetonitrile solution. Geometry optimizations and frequency calculations of the reactants, transition states, and products were performed at B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level for the 12 fluorination reaction channels. Based on the optimized structure, all the stationary points have been corrected by the single point energy at a high-level of M06-2x/6-311++G (d,p). Four substituents were considered in this paper, they are nitro-, cyano-, chloro-, methoxy-, respectively. Three substituted sites (ortho-, meso-, para-) were also concluded. Based on the obtained potential energy surfaces information and analysis of substituent effect, the fluorination reaction channel of oNO₂NFpyr is most efficient due to the lowest reaction energy barrier; therefore, oNO₂NFpyr is a promising optimum fluorinating reagent among the studied 12 N-Fluoropyridinium salts.     

Substituent effects on the kinetics of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl cellulose

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of methyl cellulose (MC, DS 1.27 and 1.95) was studied by a two-step procedure, comprising partial hydrolysis in 1 M TFA in water and water/acetone at 120 °C for various time periods, labeling of generated reducing ends by reductive amination, complete depolymerization by methanolysis followed by trimethylsilylation, and gas chromatographic analysis of the two sets of partially O-methylated glucose derivatives. Rate constants of MCs were all in the order of 10^?4 s^?1. In aqueous TFA, overall rate of hydrolysis of the MC with lower DS was faster than of the MC with higher DS. When substituting half of the water by acetone, reaction was slowed down while selectivity regarding different O-methyl glucosyl residues increased. Compared to the parent glucosyl unit methylation at O-2 and at O-6 decreased rate of hydrolysis, while 3-O-methyl favored it especially in the early stage of the conversion of the macromolecules. Beside slight differences between the two MCs and reaction conditions, rate constants k _i (i = position of methyl) followed the order k ₃₆ ≈ k ₃ > k ₀ ≈ k ₂₃ > k ₆ > k ₂ ≥ k ₂₃₆ > k ₂₆. For the higher substituted MC2 an initial slow phase with more pronounced differences of k _i, followed by a faster less selective period was observed. Regioselectivity of hydrolysis with respect to methyl positions was expressed as standard deviation of k _i and was between 16 and 46% depending on MC and conditions. Findings are discussed with respect to electronic effects, solvent-effect, H-bonding pattern and solution state.     

Bending moduli of dendritic polymer brushes in a good solvent

The effect of branching on the Helfrich mean k _C and Gaussian k _G bending moduli of polymer brushes consisting of dendrons grafted to both sides of a thin impermeable surface (membrane) is studied theoretically. The case of an athermal solvent is considered. The moduli are calculated from a change in the free energy of a brush upon cylindrical and spherical bending of the grafting surface, respectively. The grafting density σ, the total number of monomer units N, and the number of generations g in tethered dendrons are varied. Two variants of the self-consistent field method are applied: the analytical approach and the numerical Scheutjens-Fleer method. The first method is applied at small values of σ, when the density profile of monomer units of grafted chains is parabolic in shape. The second method is free of these restrictions. The universal ratio between moduli is found: k _G =?64/105k _C . Both methods predict that the values of moduli decrease with increasing g at constant N and σ. The scaling dependence N ³ remains valid for the moduli of dendritic brushes with different generation numbers g at all of the considered values of σ. The analytical approach also gives the universal scaling dependence k _C ～ k _G ～ σ^7/3; however, the numerical method predicts that the dependences of moduli on σ become stronger with increasing degree of branching of tethered dendrons.     

Structure of aminonitrones and electronic effect of substituents on their acid-base properties

A series of para-substituted aromatic aminonitrones p-RC₆H₄C(NH₂)=N⁺(Me)O^– (R = NMe₂, H, Br, Cl, CF₃) have been prepared. Acidity constants of the conjugate acids RC₆H₄C(NH₂)N⁺(Me)OH at 25°C in a EtOH–H₂O mixture (5: 95) have been determined by potentiometric titration. A linear correlation between log (k_R/k_H) and σ_para values has been revealed, and a ρ²⁹⁸(σ_para) parameter has been determined as of 0.635.     

Kinetics of thermal reaction HOCl ⇄ H(<Superscript>2</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>) + OCl(<Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>Π<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">i</Emphasis></Subscript>) in gas phase

The kinetics of gas reaction \(HOCl\underset{{k_r }}{\overset{{k_f }}{\longleftrightarrow}}H(^2 S) + OCl(X^2 \Pi _i )\) was analyzed by the MP4 method. In the temperature range of 100–373 K the rate constants k _f and k _r and equilibrium constant K were changed from 1.10 × 10^?220 to 1.17 × 10^?52 s^?1, from 2.89 × 10^?16 to 1.68 × 10^?5s^?1 and from 3.80 × 10^?205 to 6.96 × 10^?48 respectively. In the above temperature range, the activation energy of the forward reaction (E _f) is 105.05 kcal/mol. In the same temperature interval there are two kinetic domains for the reverse reaction with activation energies (E _r1 = 5.53 kcal/mol when T is 100–273 K and E _r2 = 14.50 kcal/mol when T is 273–373 K, respectively.     

Cloning and expression of NDM-1 metallo-β-lactamase gene and study of the catalytic properties of the recombinant enzyme

A gene-expression system has been designed to express the NDM-1 metallo-β-lactamase gene in E. coli cells. This system enables the synthesis of the recombinant protein in a soluble and active form. A method for the isolation and purification of the recombinant enzyme has been developed. The yield of the homogeneous protein preparation was 10–15 mg per liter of E. coli culture medium. The catalytic parameters of the recombinant NDM-1 β-lactamase were measured for ampicillin (K_m = 185 μM and k_cat = 585 s^–1) and meropenem (K_m = 85 μM and k_cat = 160 s^–1). These values correlate well with the literature data. The catalytic parameters for the chromogenic CENTA substrate (K_m = 14 μM and k_cat = 290 s^–1) were obtained for the first time.     

An efficient method for selective oxidation of (oxime)Pt(II) to (oxime)Pt(IV) species using <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dichlorotosylamide

The oxidation of (oxime)Pt^II species using the electrophilic chlorine-based oxidant N,N-dichlorotosylamide (4-CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NCl₂) was studied. The reactions of trans-[PtCl₂(oxime)₂] (where oxime = acetoxime, cyclopentanone oxime, or acetaldoxime) with this oxidant led to trans-[PtCl₄(oxime)₂] products. The oxidation of trans-[Pt(o-OC₆H₄CH = NOH)₂] at room temperature gave trans-[PtCl₂(o-OC₆H₄CH = NOH)₂], whereas the same reaction upon heating was accompanied by electrophilic substitution of the benzene rings.     

Determination of thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f), epithermal neutron flux shape factor (α) and comparator factor (F<Subscript>c</Subscript>) in the Triga Mark II reactor,Malaysia

The thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f or Ø _th /Ø _e ), epithermal neutron flux shape factor (α) and comparator factor (F _c ) are essential parameters when calculating the concentration of sample using k ₀-standardization method in the neutron activation analysis (NAA). The work was performed in the Triga Mark II reactor of Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) using Au/Zr monitor couple. Twenty channels in the reactor have been evaluated and the corresponding thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratios (f) ranged from 11.69 to 47.89. The epithermal neutron flux shape factors (α) were found in the range of ?1.50·10^?1 to 1.59·10^?1 and the comparator factors (F _c ) were calculated within the range of 9.85·10³ to 6.70·10⁴. These results allowed us to study the neutron flux distribution more precisely and established the goodness of fit for k ₀-NAA.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of hydrogen strontium paratungstate Sr<Subscript>4.5</Subscript>H[W<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>] · 30H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The conditions for formation of individual isopolytungstates in solutions of the Sr(NO₃)₂-Na₂WO₄-HNO₃-H₂O system acidified to Z = ν(H⁺)/ν(WO ₄ ^2? ) = 1.29 were studied. The conditions of formation of strontium paratungstate B, strontium hydroheptatungstate, and hydrogen strontium paratungstate were determined. An X-ray diffraction study of single crystals of Sr_4.5H[W₁₂O₄₀(OH)₂] · 30H₂O was carried out. Selected crystallographic data for H₆₃O₇₂Sr_4.50W₁₂ are: M _r = 3815.99, monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 11.41270(10) Å, b = 23.7575(3) Å, c = 12.4392(2) Å, β = 110.476(2)°, V = 3159.64(7) ų at T = 293 K, Z = 2, ρ = 4.011 g/cm³, F₀₀₀ = 3396, μ(MoK _α) = 25.635 mm^?1, ?14 ≤ h ≤ 14, ?30 ≤ k ≤ 30, ?16 ≤ l ≤ 16, R _F = 0.0430, wR ² = 0.1067 (R _F = 0.0506, wR ² = 0.1129), and S = 1.043.     

Von den Größen der chemischen Kinetik

An Hand der denkbar einfachsten chemischen Reaktion\(A\underset{2}{\overset{1}{\longleftrightarrow}}B\) wird gezeigt, daß die Geschwindigkeitskoeffizienten (Gk)k ₁ undk ₂ sowie ihr Quotient, also die Gleichgewichtskonstante (Glk)K=k ₁/k ₂,keine Eigene xistenz beistzen. Sie werden erst dann physikalischwinklich und sinnvoll, wenn sie mit ihrenStoffgrößen gepaart sind, ink ₁ A undk ₂ B und Geschwindigkeiten, inKA=B zum Gleichgewichte.     

New linear driving force correlation spanning long and short cycle time pressure swing adsorption processes

A simple, semi-empirical, generalized expression was developed for the LDF mass transfer coefficient k as a function of the half cycle time θ _c that encompasses and transitions between the well-known regions governed by the long cycle time constant Glueckauf k and the short cycle time dependent k. This new expression can be used to estimate k = f(θ _c ) for any system, irrespective of the loading and irrespective of θ _c , no matter if k is in the cycle time dependent region or not. A three times wider transition region between the Glueckauf k and the cycle time dependent k was also established, with the Glueckauf LDF limit now valid for θ _c  > 0.3 and the short cycle time limit now valid for θ _c  < 0.01. When evaluating this region for several adsorbate-adsorbent systems, the minimum Glueckauf θ _c spanned three orders of magnitude from thousands of seconds to just a few seconds, indicating a cycle time dependent k is not necessarily limited to what is normally considered a short cycle time. For virtually any θ _c less than this minimum Glueckauf θ _c , this new first-of-its-kind expression can be used to readily provide an accurate value of k = f(θ _c ). Since the widely accepted half cycle time concept does not apply to the actual simulation of a multi-step, unequal step time, pressure swing adsorption process, the value of k = f(θ _c ) from this new expression can be based on either the shortest cycle step in the cycle or a different value of k = f(θ _c ) for each cycle step time in the cycle, with validity confirmed either by experiment or by process simulation using the exact solution to the pore diffusion equation.     

Electrophilic addition of selenium and telluriom halides to methyldiethynylsilane

Regio- and stereoselective electrophilic addition reactions of SeCl₂, SeBr₂, SeCl₄, SeBr₄ to methyldiethynylsilane lead to predominant formation of the Z-isomers of 3,6-dihalo-4-methyl-1,4-selenasilafulvenes, disiloxanes on their bases, as well as disiloxanes formed upon the reaction with methyldiethynylsilane. TeCl₄ reacts with methyldiethynylsilane with predominant formation of the E-isomer of 1,1,3,6-tetrachloro-1-methyl-1-(methyldiethynylsiloxy)-1,4-tellura(IV)silafulvene as a result of the reaction of the intermediate E-isomer of 4-methyl-1,1,3,6-tetrachloro-1,4-tellura(IV)silafulvene with methyldiethynylsilane. The structure of the products was proved by the methods of ¹H, ⁷⁷Se NMR, IR spectroscopy and chromatomass spectrometry.     

Characterization of neutron spectrum at Es-Salam Research Reactor using Høgdahl convention and Westcott formalism for the k<Subscript>0</Subscript>-based neutron activation analysis

For the general applicability of the k ₀-NAA method two formalisms were carried out to deal with “1/ν and non-l/ν ((n,γ)” reaction nuclides, respectively. In the Høgdahl-formalism the reactor neutron spectrum parameters, such as α and f were measured using three methods: Cd-ratio, Cdcovered and bare triple monitors. In addition, bare bi-isotopic method using Zr is also utilized for the calculation of f. According to the Westcottformalism the modified spectral index r(α)√T _n /T ₀ and g(T _n ) factor for monitoring neutron temperature T _n , were measured employing Lu as non “1/v” monitor and ¹⁹⁷Au, ⁹⁶Zr and ⁹⁴Zr as “1/v” monitors. The reduced resonance integral of lutetium s _0,Lu was also calculated. To evaluate the applicability of k ₀-NAA in our analytical system, the analysis of two kinds of SRMs was executed. The analytical results showed that the relative error of most of the elements was less than 10%.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> study of scandium fluoride molecules: ScF,ScF<Subscript>2</Subscript>, AND ScF<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Equilibrium geometric parameters, normal mode frequencies and intensities in IR spectra, atomization enthalpy, and relative energies of low-lying electronic states of scandium fluoride molecules (ScF, ScF₂, and ScF₃) are calculated by the coupled-cluster method (CCSD(T)) in triple-, quadruple, and quintuple-zeta basis sets with the subsequent extrapolation of the calculation results to the complete basis set limit. The ScF molecule is also studied by the CCSDT technique. The error in the approximate calculation of triple excitations in the CCSD(T) method does not exceed 0.002 Å for the equilibrium internuclear distance R _e, 4 cm^?1 for the vibrational frequency, and 0.2 kcal/mol for the dissociation energy of the molecule. In the ground electronic state \(\tilde X^2 \) A ₁(C _2ν ) of ScF₂ molecules, R _e(Sc-F) = 1.827 Å and α_e(F-Sc-F) = 124.2°; the energy barrier to bending (linearization) h = E _min(D _g8h ) ? E _min(C_2ν) = 1652 cm^?1. The relative energies of Ã²Δ _g and \(\tilde B^2 \)Π _g electronic states are 3522 cm^?1 and 14633 cm^?1 respectively. The bond distance in the ScF₃ molecule (\(\tilde X^1 \) A′₁, D _3h ) is refined: R _e(Sc-F) = 1.842 Å. The atomization enthalpies Δ_at H ₂₉₈ ⁰ of ScF _k molecules are 139.9 kcal/mol, 289.0 kcal/mol, and 444.8 kcal/mol for k = 1, 2, 3 respectively.