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.     

Surface modification of CaCO3 filler and its characterization using inverse gas chromatography (IGC)

A CaCO₃ filler was treated by generally used coupling agents and a special one — ethylene-octene copolymer (POE)-g-maleic anhydride (MAH). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results show that the special coupling agent POE-g-MAH, in a chemical reaction with CaCO₃, can produce an interfacial layer stronger than simple physical adhesion attained with usual coupling agents. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to investigate the surface free energy of CaCO₃ after surface modification and to optimize the monolayer content of coupling agents. Based on the IGC results, it can be deduced that the monolayer cover is around 1.9% for CaCO₃ treated with a titanate coupling agent. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation results show that the separated morphology existed in the ternary composites containing CaCO₃ after surface treatment with coupling agents, whereas the core-shell morphology was obtained in the ternary composites with POE-g-MAH. The encapsulation of the CaCO₃ filler treated with POE-g-MAH was caused by the strong chemical reaction between the elastomer and CaCO₃ particles. __________ Translated from Journal of Northwestern Polytechnical University, 2007, 25(2): 274–278 [译自: 西北工业大学学报]     

The effect of PVP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PMAA block copolymer on morphologies control of calcium carbonate

A novel double-hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)–block–poly(methacrylic acid) (PVP-b-PMAA) was synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The structure of the resulting copolymer was characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, and the molecular weight of the block copolymer was determined by gel permeation chromatography. The study of morphological control of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) has been performed in the presence of the PVP-b-PMAA block copolymer. Various morphologies of CaCO₃ particles such as rhombohedral, multilayered, and aggregated with cavities can be produced by varying the copolymer concentrations. The all-obtained CaCO₃ particles were calcite, which was confirmed by either X-ray diffraction or Fourier transform infrared spectra. Such calcium carbonate/polymer hybrids with complex morphologies may find valuable applications in biomimic mineralization.     

The Solvent-Like Nature of Silica Particles in Organic Solvents

 Kamlet-Taft’s α (hydrogen bond donor acidity) and π^* (dipolarity/polarizability) values of various silica batches measured in various solvents are presented. The α and π^* parameters for the various solid acids are analyzed by means of Fe(phen)₂(CN)₂ (cis-dicyano-bis-(1,10)-phenanthroline-iron(II), 1), Michler’s ketone (4,4′-bis-(dimethylamino)-benzophenone, 2), and two hydrophilic derivatives of 2, (4-(dimethylamino)-4′-(di-2-hydroxyethyl)-amino-benzophenone (3a) and 4,4′-bis-(di-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino)-benzophenone (3b) as well as coumarin 153 (4) as solvatochromic surface polarity indicators. Apparent β (hydrogen bond acceptor basicity) parameters for bare silica have been evaluated by means of an aminobenzodifuranone dye (5) as solvatochromic probe. The chemical interpretation of the α and π^* parameters and the nature of the solvent/surface interaction which they reflect are discussed. It can be shown that an increase of the HBA (hydrogen bond accepting) capacity of the solvent significantly decreases the HBD (hydrogen bond donating) capacity of the surface environment, whereas the dipolarity/polarizability value of the silica/solvent interface is a composite of many effects. The classification of the polarity of silica particles in organic solvents compared to pure liquids is outlined.     

The Solvent-Like Nature of Silica Particles in Organic Solvents

Summary.   Kamlet-Taft’s α (hydrogen bond donor acidity) and π^* (dipolarity/polarizability) values of various silica batches measured in various solvents are presented. The α and π^* parameters for the various solid acids are analyzed by means of Fe(phen)₂(CN)₂ (cis-dicyano-bis-(1,10)-phenanthroline-iron(II), 1), Michler’s ketone (4,4′-bis-(dimethylamino)-benzophenone, 2), and two hydrophilic derivatives of 2, (4-(dimethylamino)-4′-(di-2-hydroxyethyl)-amino-benzophenone (3a) and 4,4′-bis-(di-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino)-benzophenone (3b) as well as coumarin 153 (4) as solvatochromic surface polarity indicators. Apparent β (hydrogen bond acceptor basicity) parameters for bare silica have been evaluated by means of an aminobenzodifuranone dye (5) as solvatochromic probe. The chemical interpretation of the α and π^* parameters and the nature of the solvent/surface interaction which they reflect are discussed. It can be shown that an increase of the HBA (hydrogen bond accepting) capacity of the solvent significantly decreases the HBD (hydrogen bond donating) capacity of the surface environment, whereas the dipolarity/polarizability value of the silica/solvent interface is a composite of many effects. The classification of the polarity of silica particles in organic solvents compared to pure liquids is outlined. Theoretical E _T(30) values of the solid/solvent interfaces are calculated by applying linear solvation energy (LSE) relationships using the independently measured α and π^* values of the solid acids according to Received February 2, 2001. Accepted (revised) March 3, 2001     

Mixed layers of DPPC and a linear poly(ethylene glycol)-b-hyperbranched poly(glycerol) block copolymer having a cholesteryl end group

Interactions of the phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) with the amphiphilic diblock copolymer Ch-lPEG₃₀-b-hbPG₂₄ (ChP) are studied at the air–water interface by surface pressure–mean molecular area (π–mmA) measurements of mixed Langmuir films and adsorption measurements of ChP to the air–water interface covered with DPPC monolayers at different initial surface pressure values π ₀. ChP is composed of a single hydrophobic cholesteryl (Ch) moiety covalently bound to a diblock copolymer consisting of a hydrophilic linear poly(ethylene glycol) (lPEG) block and a hydrophilic hyperbranched poly(glycerol) (hbPG) block. Langmuir isotherms and compression moduli of the mixed Langmuir films of different molar ratios reveal distinct interactions between DPPC and ChP during compression. It is demonstrated that the behavior of the DPPC/ChP mixtures is dominated by DPPC up to a molar ratio of 10:1, whereas the behavior is predominantly governed by ChP in mixtures with lower DPPC content (molar ratios of 5:1, 2:1, and 1:1). In adsorption measurements, a strong affinity of ChP to DPPC is observed after injection into the water subphase. The surface pressure value π _in up to which ChP is able to penetrate into DPPC monolayers is determined to the remarkably high value of 48.2 mN/m which attests the favorable interactions between DPPC and the Ch moiety of ChP. Atomic force microscopy on LB films of DPPC/ChP mixtures of different molar ratios transferred onto hydrophilic substrates confirms the presence of two different phases, a DPPC-rich phase and a ChP-rich phase.     

Reactions of silylated Schiff bases with organotitanium(IV) and organotin(IV) chlorides

The interactions of silylated dibasic quadridentate Schiff bases derived fromo-hydroxyacetophenone and ethylenediamine and orthophenylenediamine with (π-C₅H₅)TiCl₃, (π-C₅H₅)(MeO)TiCl₂, (MeO)₂TiCl₂, Me₂SnCl₂ and MeSnCl₃ yield a new series of organotitanium(IV) and tin(IV) compounds. The reactivity of (π- C₅H₅)Ti(L₁)Cl and MeSn(L₁)Cl, towards MeSH, Me₂NSiMe₃, SiMe₃N₃ and Me₃SiC = CPh are also described. The structures for the compounds isolated are proposed on the basis of elemental analyses, molecular weights, IR and¹H nmr spectroscopic studies.     

Employing perichromism for probing the properties of carboxymethyl cellulose films: an expedient, accurate method for the determination of the degree of substitution of the biopolymer derivative

The properties of films of carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC, of different degree of substitution, DS, have been examined by the use of perichromic indicators (probes). The film properties that have been determined are: empirical polarity, E_T(33); “acidity”, α; “basicity”, β; and dipolarity/polarizability, π*. This has been achieved by employing the following perichromic probes: 4-nitroaniline, 4-nitroanisole, 4-nitro-N,N-dimethylaniline, and 2,6-dichloro-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-pyridinium-1-yl)phenolate, WB. The correlations between both E_T(33)- or π* and DS were found to be linear; that between β and DS is a second order polynomial; no obvious correlation was found between α and DS. The polarities of CMC films are in the range of those of butyl alcohols. As models for CMC, we have employed cellulose plus CMC of high DS; oxidized cellulose with degree of oxidation = 0.5; sodium glucuronate. The former model behaved akin to CMC, but the plots of the perichromic properties versus DS showed different slopes/intercepts. FTIR data and molecular dynamics simulations on the solvation of WB have shown that this difference can be traced to more efficient hydrogen bonding between the film of the model and the probe. This affects the intra-molecular charge-transfer energy of the latter, leading to different responses to the variation of DS. Based on the excellent linear correlation between E_T(33) and DS, for CMC from different origins, we suggest that perichromism is a simple, accurate, and expedient alternative for the determination of DS of the biopolymer derivative.     

Characterising latex particles and fractal aggregates using image analysis

The fractal nature of latex particles and their aggregates was characterised by image analysis in terms of fractal dimensions. The one- and two-dimensional fractal dimensions, D ₁ and D ₂, were estimated for polystyrene latex aggregates formed by flocculation in citric acid/phosphate buffer solutions. The dimensional analysis method was used, which is based on power law correlations between aggregate perimeter, projected area and maximum length. These aggregate characteristics were measured by image analysis. A two-slopes method using cumulative size distributions of aggregate length and solid volume has been developed to determine the three-dimensional fractal dimension (D ₃) for the latex aggregates. The fractal dimensions D ₁, D ₂ and D ₃ measured for single latex particles in distilled water agreed well with D ₁ = 1, D ₂ = 2 and D ₃ = 3 expected for Euclidean spherical objects. For the aggregates, the fractal dimension D ₂ of about 1.67 ± 0.04 (±standard deviation) was comparable to the fractal dimension D ₃ of approximately 1.72 ± 0.13 (±standard deviation), taking the standard deviations into account. The measured three-dimensional fractal dimension for latex aggregates is within the fractal dimension range 1.6–2.2 expected for aggregates formed through a cluster-cluster mechanism, and is close to the D ₃ value of about 1.8 indicated for cluster formation via diffusion-limited colloidal aggregation. Received: 28 September 1998 Accepted: 29 October 1998     

Effects of PAA additive and temperature on morphology of calcium carbonate particles

Calcium carbonate particles with various shapes were prepared by the reaction of sodium carbonate with calcium chloride in the absence and presence of a polyacrylic acid (PAA) at 25°C and 80°C, respectively. The as-prepared products were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The effects of pH, temperatures, aging time and concentration of PAA and CaCO₃ on the crystal form and morphologies of the as-prepared CaCO₃ were investigated. The results show that pH, temperatures, concentration of PAA and CaCO₃ are important parameters for the control of morphologies of CaCO₃. Various crystal morphologies of calcite, such as, plates, rhombohedras, rectangles, ellipsoids, cubes, etc. can be obtained depending on the experimental conditions. Especially, the monodispersed cubic calcite particles can be produced by PAA addition at 80°C. Moreover, higher temperature is beneficial to the formation of monodispersed cubic or rectangular calcite particles. This research may provide new insight into the control of morphologies of calcium carbonate and the biomimetic synthesis of novel inorganic materials.     

Crystal structures and photoreactivity of trans- and cis-valerophenone diperoxides

Abstract  

The crystal structures of valerophenone diperoxides trans-1 and cis-1 were elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The 1,2,4,5-tetraoxane rings of both compounds adopt chair conformations. Intermolecular CH···O hydrogen bond, π–π, and CH/π interactions exist in cis-1, whereas only CH/π interactions exist in trans-1. In the asymmetric unit of the crystal, a half molecule exists for trans-1, while one molecule for cis-1 which shows whole-molecule disorder. Solid-state photolysis (at 254 nm) or solution-state thermolysis (at 150 °C) of trans-1 and cis-1 produced valerophenone (2) and butyl benzoate (3). Rationalization of the solid-state photoreactivity of the diperoxides by their crystal structures was attempted.     

Frontier orbital interactions of electron pushing and drawing substituents with ferrocenyl group

The frontier orbital interactions of electron pushing and drawing substituents with ferrocenyl group were analyzed based on the electrochemical,UV visible spectral and spectroelectrochemical results of five ferrocene derivatives,R-Fc-A1(PⅠ),A1-Fc-A1(PⅡ),D-Fc-R (PⅢ),D-Kc-A1(PIV) and D-Fc-A2(PV)(R,CH2OH;A1 CHO;A2,CH=C(CN)2 and D,(C18H37)2N-C6H4-CH=CH) It was found that there are strong interactions of the LUMO (πA) of electron drawing substituents with le2g(dxy,dx2 y2)and e2u of the ferroeenyl group because the energy levels of πA and e2g,C2U of (Cp )2 are close,which lower not only the energy levels of bonded orbits,πA+ and dx2-y2+[πA] of PⅠ,PⅡ,PⅣ and PⅤobviously,but also those of their non-bonded orbu dxy For PⅢ,PⅣ and PⅤ,there are strong interactions of HOMO(πD) of the electron pushing substituent with le of the ferrocenyl group because the levels of πD and e of (Cp)2 are close,which result in the formation of anti-bonded orbit,πD- and bonded orbit     

Intensity of bands of the C≡C stretching modes in the IR spectra and conjugation in silylacetylenes

A comparative study of the integrated extinction coefficients (A) of the C≡C stretching bands in the IR spectra of acetylene derivatives Me₃SiC≡CR, HC≡CR, and Me₃CC≡CR was carried out. The resonance interactions of substituents with a triple bond are the main cause of the changes in the values ofA. The total resonance effect of the Me₃Si fragment involves both acceptor (d, π-conjugation) and donor (σ, π-conjugation) components; d, π-conjugation dominates in the silylacetylenes studied. Theσ _R ⁰ resonance constant of the Me₃Si substituent in compounds Me₃SiC≡CR is 0.17±0.02. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 76–80. January 1997.     

Effect of the Counter Anion and Solvate on the Structure,Stability and Spectral Properties of a Ruthenium(II) Complex Containing Group 15 Donors and 2,2′ :6′,2′′-terpyridine

Ruthenium complexes [Ru(κ³−tpy)(AsPh₃)₂C1]PF₆ · 0.42H₂O (tpy =2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) (1) and a new crystal form of [Ru(κ³−tpy)(AsPh₃)₂Cl]BF₄ (2), which crystallized without water solvate, and their comparative studies on spectral, structure and stability aspects are reported. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FAB-MS, i.r., ¹H n.m.r. and electronic spectral studies. In these complexes weak C—H···Fπ and face-to-face π–π interactions lead to a single helical motif while, C—H···FX (X=F, Cl) interactions result in linear chains. Various studies on the stability of the complexes suggested that the compound containing the counter anion PF₆^- is more stable than the other containing BF₄^- as the counterpart.     

The conjugation and effective charges of the atoms at the triple bond in germylacetylenes

The integrated extinction coefficients (A) of the C≡C stretching modes in the IR spectra of 12 germylacetylenes Me₃GeC≡CR are determined by the resonance interactions of substituents with the triple bond. TheA ^1/2 values change linearly with change in the difference between the effective π-electron charges on the atoms at the triple bond and σ⁰ _R constants of organic substituents R. The average value of the σ⁰ _R constant of the Me₃Ge substituent in the compounds studied is +0.06. The resonance acceptor effect of the Me₃Ge substituent toward the triple bond (d,π-conjugation) is stronger than the donor effect (σ,π-conjugation). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1569–1574, August, 1998.     

Surface active and aggregation behavior of methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids of type [Cnmim] [X], n?=?4, 6, 8 and [X]?=?Cl?, Br?, and I? in water

The surface active and aggregation behavior of ionic liquids of type [C _n mim][X] (1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium (mim) halides), where n = 4, 6, 8 and [X] = Cl⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻ was investigated by using three techniques: surface tension, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). A series of parameters including critical aggregation concentrations (CAC), surface active parameters and thermodynamic parameters of aggregation were calculated. The ¹H NMR chemical shifts and SANS measurements reveal no evidence of aggregates for the short-chain 1-butylmim halides in water and however small oblate ellipsoidal shaped aggregates are formed by ionic liquids with 1-hexyl and 1-octyl chains. Analysis of SANS data analysis at higher concentrations of [C₈mim][Cl] showed that the microstructures consist of cubically packed molecules probably through π–π and hydrogen bond interactions.     

Sandwich complexes of Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb with cyclopentadienyl type derivatives of corannulene and fullerene C60: stability estimates and molecular and electronic structure prediction by the MNDO/PM3 method

The ability of cyclopentadienyl type derivatives of corannulene C₂₀H₁₀ and fullereneI _h -C₆₀ to form η⁵-π-complexes and the problem of their existence is discussed. MNDO/PM3 calculations of half-sandwich complexes η⁵-π-MC₂₀H₁₅, η⁵-π-MC₂₀H ₁₅ ⁺ , η⁵-π-MC₆₀H₅, η⁵-π-MC₆₀H₅ and sandwich complexes 2η⁵-π-M(C₂₀H₁₅)₂, 2η⁵-π-M(C₂₀H₁₅)₂, 2η⁵-π-M(C₆₀H₅)₂ (M=Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) were performed. For all systems studied, local minima were found on corresponding potential energy surfaces and the heats of formation, geometric parameters, and distributions of effective atomic charges were calculated. Sandwich complexes are most likely to exist with M=Si and Ge. The energy and geometric characteristics of η⁵-π-complexes of corannulene were compared with those of η⁵-π-complexes of fullereneI _h -C₆₀. It was concluded that the results of quantum-chemical calculations of sandwich type corannulene derivatives can be used for simulation of the geometry and electronic structure of analogous complexes of fullereneI _h -C₆₀. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1649–1656, September, 1999.     

Synthesis,characterization, and quantum chemical calculational studies on 3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methylphenyl-4-amino- 1, 2, 4-triazole-5-thione

The title compound of 3-p-methylphenyl-4-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole-5-thione was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectra, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Quantum chemical calculations of the structure, natural bond orbital, and thermodynamic functions of the title compound were performed by using B3LYP/6-311G** and HF-6-311G** methods. Both the methods can well simulate the molecular structure. Vibrational frequencies were predicted, assigned and compared with the experimental values, and B3LYP/6-311G** method is superior to HF/6-311G** method to predict the vibrational frequencies. Electronic absorption spectra calculated by B3LYP/6-311G** method have some red shifts compared with the experimental ones and natural bond orbitals analyses indicate that the two absorption bands are mainly derived from the contribution of n → π^* and π → π^* transitions. On the basis of vibrational analyses, the thermodynamic properties of the title compound at different temperatures have been calculated, revealing the correlations between C ⁰ _p,m , S ⁰ _m , H ⁰ _m , and temperatures.     

Electrochemical bandgaps of a series of poly-3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylthiophenes

The change of the UV-Vis optical absorption of electropolymerized substituted poly-3-p-X-phenylthiophenes (X = -H, -CH₃, -OCH₃, -COCH₃, -COOC₂H₅, -NO₂) has been followed in situ as a function of applied electrode potential in an electrolyte solution of tetraethylammoniumtetrafluoroborate Et₄NBF₄ in acetonitrile. The UV-Vis spectra show features between 300 and 900 nm similar to those observed with many other polythiophenes having a high degree of conjugation. During stepwise oxidation of the poly-3-p-X-phenylthiophene films, the intensity of the absorption due to the π→π*-transition around 450–566 nm decreases, and a new broad absorption band associated with (bi)polaron states appears around 730–890 nm. On the other hand, during the oxidation (p-doping) of the poly-3-p-X-phenylthiophene films, a blue (hypsochromic) shift is observed for both absorption bands. This is explained by taking into account that a polymer contains a distribution of chain lengths, and the longest polymer chains (the absorption of which occurs at lower energies) start to oxidize at the relatively lowest potentials. The electrochemical bandgaps of poly-3-p-X-phenylthiophenes have been estimated based on results of cyclic voltammetry. Bandgaps obtained this way have been found to be generally higher than optical bandgaps; the actual discrepancy was found to depend on the mode of evaluation. Dedicated to Piero Zanello on the occasion of his 65th birthday in recognition of his numerous contributions to inorganic electrochemistry.

---