Is the ring conformation the most critical parameter in lipase-catalysed acylation of cycloalkanols?

CAL-B catalysed the resolution of several five and six-membered cyclic beta-hydroxy esters efficiently with the exception of the cis-cyclohexanol (+/-)-4. When employing molecular modelling techniques the conformation turned out to be the most important determinant for their reactivity towards O-acetylation. In all cases, the R enantiomers reacted faster than the S enantiomers since the reactive intermediates of the former can adopt more favourable ring conformations and thus experience less steric hindrance in the active site. Furthermore, the minimised structure for the main conformer of R-4 showed that the axial hydrogens in the 3 and 5-positions with respect to the hydroxyl group prevent the enzymatic reaction.     

FT-IR spectra of NaCl�CH2O in the region from near to beyond the critical state

Water and NaCl?CH₂O solutions and their molecular spectra at high temperatures and pressures were observed and examined using a new design of hydrothermal diamond anvil cell (HDAC) connected to both a light and an infrared microscope. We have modified the diamond window of the HDAC to have a wide angle to allow the infrared beam to pass the window. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of NaCl?CH₂O?CD₂O were examined at high temperatures and pressures up to 850 °C and 3 GPa. The effect of increasing temperature on water spectra differed from that of increasing pressure. The O?CH stretching frequency of water molecules increases with increasing temperature (from 20 to 600 °C), and also with increasing salinity of the solution.     

Is it worthwhile to go beyond the local-density approximation in subsystem density functional theory?

Frozen density embedding (FDE) theory is one of the major techniques aiming to bring modeling of extended chemical systems into the realm of high accuracy calculations. To improve its accuracy it is of interest to develop kinetic energy density functional approximations specifically for FDE applications. In the study reported here we focused on optimizing parameters of a generalized gradient approximation-like kinetic energy functional with the purpose of better describing electron excitation energies. We found that our optimized parametrizations, named excPBE and excPBE-3 (as these are derived from a Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof-like parametrization), could not yield improvements over available functionals when applied on a test set of systems designed to probe solvatochromic shifts. Moreover, as several different functionals yielded very similar errors to the simple local-density approximation (LDA), it is questionable whether it is worthwhile to go beyond the LDA in this context.     

The vibrational spectrum and the conformation of the P2O4−7 anion in Fe2P2O7

The infrared and Raman spectra of Fe₂P₂O₇ have been recorded and discussed. The results point to a bent bridge conformation and to a centrosymmetric space group. They make it possible to solve some discrepancies arising from contradictory results formerly reported by two independent crystallographic studies.     

Synthesis of (VO)2P2O7 catalystsvia exfoliation-reduction of VOPO4·2H2O in butanol in the presence of ethanol

The exfoliation-reduction of VOPO₄·2H₂O in l-butanol oriso-butanol alone, and in a l-butanol/ethanol oriso-butanol/ethanol mixture, were conducted. Although all precursors were composed of a lamellar compound with intercalated alcohol molecules, VOHPO₄·0.5H₂O was formed when the exfoliation-reduction process was carried out in the mixed alcohol. All precursors transformed to a single phase of (VO)₂P₂O₇ under the reaction conditions forn-butane oxidation, but the crystallinity of (VO)₂P₂O₇ was different. The catalyst synthesized iniso-butanol/ethanol was well crystalline (VO)₂P₂O₇, and exhibited higher selectivity to maleic anhydride than that synthesized iniso-butanol alone for then-butane oxidation.     

Amplified Electrochemical Immunoassay Using HRP Labeled Protein as an Inhibitor to Silver Deposition in the Presence of H2O2

A novel electrochemical immunosensor with amplification effect based on the enzyme inhibition of silver deposition was proposed. In this method, the capture antibody was first immobilized onto a gold electrode via a self-assembled layer. After a sandwich immunoreaction, HRP labeled antibody was bound to the gold electrode. The HRP on the electrode inhibited silver deposition when the electrode was incubated in hydroquinone-H2O2 solution and silver ion solution. The linear sweep voltammetry was chosen to detect the deposited silver and the result showed that the peak current was linearly proportional to the content of IgG in the range of 50 to 2500 ng/mL with a detection limit of 35 ng/mL.     

1H-NMR Investigation of the Binding of 2-Methylnaphthalene to α-Cyclodextrin in D2O Solutions

As -cyclodextrin (-CD) was added to D₂Osolutions of 2-methylnaphthalene, its proton signals shifted to lower fieldsat low concentrations of -CD. At 2.0 × 10^-2 moldm^-3 of -CD, however, a reverse, higher-field shift wasobserved for the H-8 signal, indicating the formation of 1 : 1 and 2 : 1-CD–2-methylnaphthalene inclusion complexes. Intrinsic chemicalshift differences of all the protons in 2-methylnaphthalene have beenevaluated for both the 1 : 1 and the 2 : 1-CD–2-methylnaphthalene inclusion complexes. These intrinsicchemical shift differences suggest that the first -CD molecule has noselectivity in accommodating one end of uncomplexed 2-methylnaphthalene;-CD binds to a methyl group, as well as a naphthalene ring-end havingno methyl group, to form the 1 : 1 inclusion complex, resulting in theformation of two kinds of 1 : 1 complexes.     

Optical properties of metallic copper in relation to the photochromic system CuCl(s)H2O(l)

An extended Mie theory has been used to interpret the green colour change observed in the photochemical disproportionation of CuCl. Comparison of calculated and experimental spectra leads to the following conclusions: (i) the green colour arises from colloidal metallic copper in CuCl present in low concentrations (<5 vol %); (ii) the colloid consists of particles with an average diameter of about 3 nm in diameter and probably oblate in shape with an axis ratio of about 0.6; (iii) under the conditions of the present experiment the spectrum of the green species stayed constant, i.e. continued exposure has primarily the effect of increasing the number of copper particles without affecting their size and shape.     

Crystal structure of a new small-pore zirconosilicate Na2ZrSi2O7·H2O and its relation to stoichiometrically and topologically similar compounds

The small-pore zirconosilicate Na₂ZrSi₂O₇·H₂O crystallizes in monoclinic system with space group C2/c, a = 5.4715(4); b = 9.4111(6); c = 13.0969(8) Å, β = 92.851(7)°. Its framework consists of layers built of ZrO₆ octahedra and SiO₄ tetrahedra and forming condensed [Si₂O₇] pyrogroups by connection. The sodium ions and water molecules are placed in channels set up between the layers. The stoichiometric and structural similarities of the studied phase with anhydrous compounds having general chemical formula A₂₍₃₎MT₂O₇ (A = Na,K; M = Zr,Lu,Sc; T = Si,Ge) are discussed. The topological relationship of their structures is interpreted in the light of spatial combination of silicon and zirconium polyhedra as basic building units into larger composite building units and their three-dimensional arrangement.     

Effect of substrate materials on the superconducting properties of electrophoretically deposited YBa2Cu3O7−x coatings

Coatings of the high-temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (x = 0.1–0.2) (YBCO), were deposited on commercial Ni,Ti and stainless steel substrates, by an electrophoretic deposition technique. Sintering and annealing procedures were followed in order to get strongly adherent superconducting films. The suitability of the used substrates was tested by measuring the stoichiometry and the superconducting properties of the deposited coatings by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and magnetization measurements with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID).     

Introduction to the dynamic theory of the (H+, e−) couple insertion in γ-MnO2

This paper presents a phenomenological theory of coupled H⁺ and e⁻ diffusion in γ/ɛ-MnO₂. A set of five dynamic regimes governs the (H⁺, e⁻) insertion during the entire reduction (0.08 < r < 1) of the dioxide. It is imposed by a global balance of several physical quantities which depend on the reduction level r. The principal potential factor for the diffusion in a given direction is the difference between the components, along this direction, of the self velocities V _e− and V _H+. The longitudinal component E _ld of the internal electric field vector E _d plays, with respect to electrons and protons, the velocity regulator role. The transversal component E _td allows some homogenisation of (H⁺,e⁻) concentration during the first half of the reaction and trapping of electrons in the second half. Towards r≈ 0.50, V _e− and V _H+ are equal, the internal electric field reverses its orientation after taking a null value and the first Mn³⁺ ions appear. This introduction to the dynamic theory of γ/ɛ-MnO₂ is a new finding and can interpret most of its physical/chemical properties, especially the behaviour change around r≈ 0.50. Received: 11 November 1998 / Accepted: 25 March 1999     

Do we have to explicitly model the ions in brownian dynamics simulations of proteins?

Brownian dynamics (BD) is a very efficient coarse-grained simulation technique which is based on Einstein's explanation of the diffusion of colloidal particles. On these length scales well beyond the solvent granularity, a treatment of the electrostatic interactions on a Debye-Hu?ckel (DH) level with its continuous ion densities is consistent with the implicit solvent of BD. On the other hand, since many years BD is being used as a workhorse simulation technique for the much smaller biological proteins. Here, the assumption of a continuous ion density, and therefore the validity of the DH electrostatics, becomes questionable. We therefore investigated for a few simple cases how far the efficient DH electrostatics with point charges can be used and when the ions should be included explicitly in the BD simulation. We find that for large many-protein scenarios or for binary association rates, the conventional continuum methods work well and that the ions should be included explicitly when detailed association trajectories or protein folding are investigated.     

La2O3 promotional effect to Co3O4/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with CO2 as soft oxidant

Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts with variable Co₃O₄ loadings (5–20 wt%) and deposition of 15% Co₃O₄ on La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ were prepared by wet impregnation method. La₂O₃-γ-Al₂O₃ support with variable composition of La₂O₃ (2–6 wt%) were prepared by co-precipitation method. All the catalysts were tested for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with CO₂ as soft oxidant. Among the Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, 15% Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ has shown good performance and hence this catalyst has been chosen to investigate the effect of La₂O₃ species. CO₂ pulse chemisorption data indicate more amount of CO₂ uptake over 15% Co₃O₄/4%La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst which clearly indicates that this catalyst exhibits good performance in ethylbenzene dehydrogenation with CO₂ as soft oxidant because of reverse water gas shift reaction. Temperature programmed reduction studies indicate that the Co₃O₄ catalysts follow two step reduction mechanism from Co₃O₄ to CoO and then to Co and La₂O₃ promotional effect is visible through facile reduction of Co₃O₄ species. La₂O₃ doping has a vital influence in getting enhanced ethylbenzene conversion, styrene yield and alleviates catalyst deactivation compared to that of unpromoted Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst. TGA studies indicate the presence low amount coke deposition during time-on-stream over 15% Co₃O₄/4%La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst compared to 15% Co₃O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Is the Herbicidal Activity of 3-Cyanopyridin-2-yl Phosphates Related to Phosphatase?

The herbicidal activity of 3-cyanopyridin-2-yl phosphates, which were designed according to the idea of a mechanism-based inactivator, is probably related to a phosphatase.     

Application of the ABEEM/MM model in studying the properties of the water clusters(H_2O)_n(n=7-10)

ABEEM/MM model has been applied to compute the various properties characterizing water clusters(H2O) n(n = 7-10) ,such as optimized geometries,the hydrogen bonds number,cluster interaction en-ergies,stabilities,ABEEM charge distributions,dipole moments,structural parameters,and so on,and to describe the transition reflected by the hexamer region from two-dimensional(from dimer to pen-tamer) to three-dimensional structures(for clusters larger than the hexamer) .     

What are the Implications of Nonequilibrium in the O+OH and O+HO2 Reactions?

Vibrationally excited O2, OH, and HO2 species have been suggested (J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 758) to provide clues for explaining the "ozone deficit problem" and "HOx dilemma" in the middle atmosphere under conditions of local thermodynamic disequilibrium (LTD), but the question arises of how much LTD will affect the title ozone sink reactions. Besides providing novel kinetic results, it is shown that LTD tends to disfavor ozone depletion relative to traditional atmospheric modeling under Boltzmann equilibration, which is partly due to competition between the various reactive channels. The calculations also suggest that the title LTD processes can be important sources of highly vibrationally excited O2 in the middle atmosphere. Moreover, LTD is shown to offer an explanation for the fact that some down revision of the O + HO2 rate constant, or the ratio of the O + HO2 to O + OH rate constants, is required to improve agreement between the predictions of traditional modeling and observation. This, in turn, provides significant evidence supporting LTD at such altitudes.