Lewis acid–base interactions enhance explosives sensing in silacycle polymers

The high sensitivity of silole- and silafluorene-containing polymers for detecting organic nitro, nitrate, and nitramine explosives cannot be solely attributed to favorable analyte–polymer hydrophobic interactions and amplified fluorescence quenching due to delocalization along the polymer chain. The Lewis acidity of silicon in conjugated poly(silafluorene-vinylene)s is shown to be important. This was established by examining the ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts (Δ) for the model trimer fragment of the polymer CH₃–silafluorene–(trans-C₂H₂)–silafluorene–(trans-C₂H₂)–silafluorene–CH₃. The peripheral and central silicon resonances are up-field from a TMS reference at −9.50 and −18.9 ppm, respectively. Both resonances shift down-field in the presence of donor analytes and the observed shifts (0 to 1 ppm) correlate with the basicity of a variety of added Lewis bases, including TNT. The most basic analyte studied was acetonitrile and an association constant (K _a) of 0.12 M⁻¹ was calculated its binding to the peripheral silicon centers using the Scatchard method. Spin-lattice relaxation times (T ₁) of 5.86(3) and 4.83(4) s were measured for the methyl protons of acetonitrile in benzene-d ₆ at 20 °C in the absence and presence of the silafluorene trimer, respectively. The significant change in T ₁ values further supports a binding event between acetonitrile and the silafluorene trimer. These studies as well as significant changes and shifts observed in the characteristic UV–Vis absorption of the silafluorene group support an important role for the Lewis acid character of Si in polymer sensors that incorporate strained silacycles. The nitro groups of high explosives may act as weak Lewis-base donors to silacycles. This provides a donor–acceptor interaction that may be crucial for orienting the explosive analyte in the polymer film to provide an efficient pathway for inner-sphere electron transfer during the electron-transfer quenching process. Figure   Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Biophysical and electrochemical studies of protein–nucleic acid interactions

Monatshefte für Chemie - Chemical Monthly - This review is devoted to biophysical and electrochemical methods used for studying protein–nucleic acid (NA) interactions. The importance of...     

FT-IR studies of molecular interactions in formamide–methanol mixtures

FT-IR spectra of formamide (FA)–methanol (MeOH) mixtures have been measured by ATR technique. Factor analysis applied to the spectra has shown two kinds of intermolecular complexes differing in a manner of polarization of component molecules. The composition of the complexes changes monotonically with the composition of the mixtures. The spectra in the CO stretching region have been analyzed separately using both: the factor analysis and the difference spectra method. Four different environments of carbonyl group of formamide has been revealed over the whole range of the mixture composition. The mean number of formamide molecules disturbed by one methanol molecule via carbonyl group in the formamide-rich region has been found as equal to 1.5. Presumable structures for the molecular complexes have been proposed to explain the results of the analyses.     

Acid–base interactions and swelling of cellulose fibers in organic liquids

Drago’s acid–base approach was used to quantify the hydrogen bonding interactions in solvent swelling of cellulose fibers. The fiber swelling was correlated with acid–base, dispersive interactions and solvent molar volume. The acid–base interaction potentials of solvents were expressed in terms of their electron pair donor and acceptor numbers. The acid–base interaction terms of cellulosic materials were determined by using: (1) Flory–Huggins; (2) multiple regression models. We have used the swelling data of Mantanis and coworkers, which were based on the equilibrium liquid holding capacities of various compressed fibers in water and series of organic solvents. According to our interpretations, acid–base interactions and molar volume parameters were the major contributors to the overall solubility parameter. Acid–base interaction terms were balanced in alpha-cellulose sample. However spruce wood and sulfite pulp samples were more acidic than basic and therefore swollen better in organic basic solvents. For a good swelling behavior solvent must have high electron pair donor number/acceptor number ratio and high electron pair donor number–acceptor number difference.     

The solvent effect in obtaining of acid–base multicomponent systems: thermal,structural and luminescence study

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Acid–base multicomponent systems based on active pharmaceutical ingredients 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (2Cl5NBH) and monoethanolamine were...     

Thermochemical study of the reactions of acid–base interaction in an aqueous solution of α-aminobutyric acid

The heat effects of the interaction between a solution of α-aminobutyric acid and solutions of HNO₃ and KОН are measured by means of calorimetry in different ranges of рН at 298.15 K and values of ionic strength of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 (KNO₃). The heat effects of the stepwise dissociation of the amino acid are determined. Standard thermodynamic characteristics (Δ_r H ⁰, Δ_r G ⁰, and Δ_r S ⁰) of the reactions of acid–base interaction in aqueous solutions of α-aminobutyric acid are calculated. The connection between the thermodynamic characteristics of the dissociation of the amino acid and the structure of this compound is considered.     

Naringenin Schiff base: antioxidant activity,acid–base profile,and interactions with DNA

A Schiff base derived from naringenin (NTSC) and its complex with Cu(II) ([Cu(H₃L)(OAc)]·H₂O, Cu(II)–NTSC) have been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. EPR studies confirmed that nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur are the donor atoms bound to Cu(II) in the complex. The geometry of the complex has been modelled using DFT methods. Furthermore, naringenin and NTSC were used for the formation of Cu(II) complexes in solution, for comparison of biological activities. Antioxidant studies confirmed better radical scavenging activity of both NTSC and its Cu(II) complex compared to naringenin. The interaction of these compounds with calf thymus DNA was monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopy.     

Potentiometric detection of thiols: a mechanistic evaluation of quinone–thiol interactions

The potentiometric response resulting from the sequential addition of reduced thiols to a benzoquinone/hydroquinone couple has been investigated. The system has been shown to offer a simple route through which thiol could be quantified but a discrepancy in the reaction stoichiometry between glutathione and cysteine was observed. A mechanistic appraisal of the quinone–thiol interactions has been conducted and the proposed reaction pathways corroborated by spectroscopic analysis.     

Solid–liquid equilibria in the acetic acid–propanoic acid and propanoic acid–trifluoroacetic acid systems

Solid–liquid equilibria in the binary systems, propanoic acid–acetic acid and propanoic acid–trifluoroacetic acid, were measured by a synthetic method. A solid compound (1:1) was found in the propanoic acid–trifluoroacetic acid system. The obtained activity coefficients were successfully fitted by the Wilson equation.     

Potentiometric determination of ascorbic acid in water–acetonitrile solution using pyrite and chalcopyrite electrodes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Performance characteristics of the solid-state potentiometric sensors, based on natural sulfide minerals pyrite and chalcopyrite, are assayed in aqueous...     

Ab initio studies of push–pull systems

Twelve push–pull ethylene derivatives, NH₂CH=CHX, NH₂C≡CCH=CHX, and ⁻OCHX=CHX (with X=BH₂, C≡N, NO₂, and CH₂ ⁺) have been studied by ab initio calculations. The rotational barrier around the central double bond was chosen as a probe for push–pull effects, as push–pull effects would remove electron density from the central double bond. The amount of reduction of double bond character will increase with the contribution of the zwitterionic resonance hybrid structure. Complete geometry optimizations and calculations of vibrational frequencies were performed for all minima and transition state structures of these 12 systems. The calculations were carried out with the B3LYP and MP2 methods using the 6-311+G(d,p) and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets. All the systems investigated exhibited properties consistent with push–pull effects such as elongated C=C double bonds, dipolar electronic structures, and reduced barriers to internal rotation.     

Thermodynamic characteristics of acid–base equilibria of glycyl-glycyl-glycine in water–ethanol solutions at 298 K

The enthalpies of the acid dissociation of glycyl-glycyl-glycine zwitterions and triglycinium ions are determined calorimetrically in water–ethanol solvents containing 0.0, 0.10, 0.30, and 0.50 molar fractions of ethanol at ionic strengths of 0.1 (maintained by sodium perchlorate) and Т = 298.15 K. It is found that increasing the ethanol content in the solvent enhances the endothermic effect of triglycinium ion dissociation and reduces the endothermic effect of glycyl-glycyl-glycine dissociation. The results are discussed in terms of the solvation thermodynamics.     

Molecular interactions in substituted pyrimidines-acetonitrile solutions at 298.15–318.15 K

Density, ultrasonic speed in pure solvent acetonitrile (AN) and ligand solution of substituted pyrimidine in pure AN were measured at different temperatures (298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, and 318.15 K). Acoustical parameters such as adiabatic compressibility, intermolecular free length, acoustical impedance and relative association were determined from the experimental data of density and ultrasonic speed. The effect of temperature variations on the strength of molecular interaction has been studied. An excellent correlation represents in terms of solute-solvent interaction at all temperatures.     

Spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of cocaine–opioid interactions

The drugs of abuse cocaine (C), heroin (H), and morphine (M) have been studied to enable understanding of the occurrence of cocaine–opioid interactions at a molecular level. Electrochemical, Raman, and NMR studies of the free drugs and their mixtures were used to study drug–drug interactions. The results were analyzed using data obtained from quantum-mechanical calculations. For the cocaine–morphine mixture (C–MH), formation of a binary complex was detected; this involved the 3-phenolic group and the heterocyclic oxygen of morphine and the carbonyl oxygen and the methyl protons of cocaine’s methyl ester group. NMR studies conducted simultaneously also revealed C–MH binding geometry consistent with theoretical predictions and with electrochemical and vibrational spectroscopy results. These results provide evidence for the occurrence of a cocaine–morphine interaction, both in the solid state and in solution, particularly for the hydrochloride form. A slight interaction, in solution, was also detected by NMR for the cocaine–heroin mixture. Figure "Schematic representation of the proposed model for cocaine:morphine salt interaction"     

Hydrogen bonding ability and acid–base behavior of formylphosphinous acid: an isostere of formohydroxamic acid

The conformational isomerism, relative stabilities of isomeric forms, acid–base behavior, and hydrogen bonding of formylphosphinous acid (FPA), an isostere of formohydroxamic acid (FHA) and its tautomer formylphosphine oxide have been analyzed in the present study. Molecular orbital and density functional theory methods in conjunction with 6-31+G* basis set have been employed. The protonation, deprotonation, and hydrogen bonding abilities of FHA and FPA have been compared. FPA has P as preferred site of deprotonation like N in FHA, but they differ in their preferred site of protonation. With similar nature and orientation of H-bond donor and acceptor atoms, stabilization energy of most stable aggregate of FHA with water is 0.99 kcal/mol higher than that of similar aggregate of FPA with water. In addition, FPA is more stable than its corresponding oxide form in gas phase as well as on H-bonding interaction with single water molecule.     

Determination of microscopic acid–base parameters from NMR–pH titrations

The theory and practice of proton microspeciation based on NMR–pH titrations are surveyed. Principles of bi-, tri-, tetra-, and n-protic microequilibrium systems are discussed. Evaluation methods are exemplified by case studies on bi- and tetraprotic biomolecules. Selection criteria and properties of reporter NMR nuclei are described. Literature data on complete microspeciations of small ligands and site-specific basicity characterizations of peptides and proteins are critically reviewed.     

Site-specific acid–base properties of pholcodine and related compounds

The acid–base properties of pholcodine, a cough-depressant agent, and related compounds including metabolites were studied by ¹H NMR-pH titrations, and are characterised in terms of macroscopic and microscopic protonation constants. New N-methylated derivatives were also synthesized in order to quantitate site- and nucleus-specific protonation shifts and to unravel microscopic acid–base equilibria. The piperidine nitrogen was found to be 38 and 400 times more basic than its morpholine counterpart in pholcodine and norpholcodine, respectively. The protonation data show that the molecule of pholcodine bears an average of positive charge of 1.07 at physiological pH, preventing it from entering the central nervous system, a plausible reason for its lack of analgesic or addictive properties. The protonation constants of pholcodine and its derivatives are interpreted by comparing with related molecules of pharmaceutical interest. The pH-dependent relative concentrations of the variously protonated forms of pholcodine and morphine are depicted in distribution diagrams.     

Effect of temperature on acid–base equilibria in separation techniques. A review

Studies on the theoretical principles of acid–base equilibria are reviewed and the influence of temperature on secondary chemical equilibria within the context of separation techniques, in water and also in aqueous-organic solvent mixtures, is discussed. In order to define the relationships between the retention in liquid chromatography or the migration velocity in capillary electrophoresis and temperature, the main properties of acid–base equilibria have to be taken into account for both, the analytes and the conjugate pairs chosen to control the solution pH. The focus of this review is based on liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), with emphasis on the use of temperature as a useful variable to modify selectivity on a predictable basis. Simpli?ed models were evaluated to achieve practical optimizations involving pH and temperature (in LLE and CE) as well as solvent composition in reversed-phase LC.