Long-range dispersion coefficients for like centrosymmetric linear molecules and an application to H2-H2

The real spherical tensor theory of long-range intermolecular coefficients developed in previous papers is applied to derive explicit formulae for the first three dispersion coefficients for like centrosymmetric linear molecules. The expansion of angle-dependent coefficients in associated Legendre polynomials allows one to identify the isotropic and anisotropic components of the dispersion interaction in terms of London dispersion constants, the treatment of higher coefficients being simplified by the coupling of the elementary (l, l′)-polarizations to resultant angular momenta L_A and L_B onto each molecule. The contributions from all coupling schemes are given explicitly for C₆, C₈, C₁₀, and numerical results are presented for H₂-H₂ using two-term reduced spectra values from the Kaiserlautern group.     

Theoretical and experimental study of the adsorption of neutral glycine on silica from the gas phase.

The adsorption of neutral glycine onto amorphous silica was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. DFT calculations were performed at the BLYP-631++G** level using a cluster approach. Several possible configurations involving the formation of H bonds between glycine and one, two, or three silanol groups (SiOH) were considered. The most favorable bonding of glycine with one silanol group (45 kJ mol(-1)) occurs through the COOH moiety, thus forming a cycle in which the CO group is an H-bond acceptor whereas the acidic OH group is an H-bond donor. With two or three silanol groups, additional H bonds are formed between the amine moiety and the silanol groups, which leads to an increased adsorption energy (70 and 80 kJ mol(-1) for two and three silanol groups, respectively). Calculated nu(CO), delta(HNH), and delta(HCH) values are sensitive to the adsorption mode. A bathochromic shift of nu(CO) as compared to the nu(CO) of free glycine (calculated in the 1755-1790 cm(-1) range) is found for glycine in interaction with silanol(s). The more H bonds are formed between the COOH moiety and silanol groups, the higher the bathochromic shift. For delta(HNH), no shift is found for glycine adsorbed on one and two silanol groups (where the amine is either not bound or an H-bond donor), whereas a bathochromic shift is calculated with three silanols when the amine moiety is an H-bond acceptor. Experimental FTIR spectra performed at room temperature for glycine adsorbed at 160 degrees C on Aerosil amorphous silica exhibit bands at 1371, 1423, 1630, and 1699 cm(-1). The experimental/calculated frequencies have their best correspondence for glycine adsorbed on two silanol groups. It is important to note that the forms giving the best correspondence to experimental frequencies are the most stable ones.     

Automatic flow procedure for the determination of glycerol in wine using enzymatic reaction and spectrophotometry

An automatic flow procedure for the determination of glycerol in wines by employing a flow system based on multicommutation and enzymatic reaction is described. Glycerol dehydrogenase was immobilized on aminopropyl glass beads and packed into a column that was coupled to the flow system. The NADH produced by the enzymatic reaction was monitored by spectrophotometry at 340 nm and its radiation absorption presented a relationship with glycerol concentration. The system manifold comprised a set of three-way solenoid valves controlled by a microcomputer, which was furnished with electronic interfaces and runs a software that was designed to carry out on-line sample dilution, reagent addition, and data acquisition. The procedure allows the determination of glycerol in wine samples without any prior pretreatment. The procedure presented as profitable features a linear response range between 2.0 and 10.0 g l⁻¹ glycerol (R=0.998), a detection limit of 0.006 g l⁻¹ glycerol, a relative standard deviation of 1.8% (n=14) for a typical wine sample presenting 5.3 g l⁻¹ glycerol, a sampling throughput of 33 determinations per hour, and a NAD⁺ consumption of 0.8 mg per determination. The results were compared with those obtained using a reference method and no significant difference at 90% confidence level was observed.     

The influence of water on the photophysical and photochemical properties of Piroxicam in AOT/iso-octane/water reversed micelles

The photophysical properties of Piroxicam , a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), were investigated at different pH_ext values in reversed micelles of Aerosol-OT (AOT) in iso -octane, using both steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In contrast with the very complex data obtained in aqueous media, where several prototropic species are in equilibrium, the reversed micellar system essentially favors two species. The absorption spectra shows only one isosbestic point at λ= 348 nm. Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), also detected in water, is promoted at low water pool contents measured by ω₀= [H₂O]/[AOT]. A strongly shifted (λ_em= 470 nm) tautomeric emission is found. Upon the gradual increase of ω₀, striking differences with pH_ext are found. At pH_ext= 4, the drug preferentially locates itself in the interfacial region partitioning between a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic domain. Global analysis was applied to the decay data and the results were interpreted by the "two-state excited-state" formalism. At pH_ext= 7, the anionic species is prevalent and the probe locates itself deeper inside the water core of the reversed micelles. Thus, a strong dependence on water content is detected, approaching a behavior similar to that observed in free aqueous solutions.     

The inclusion of rhodium(II)α-methyl-cinnamate in β-cyclodextrin

The preparation and characterization of the 1:1 inclusion compound of rhodium(II) -methyl cinnamate in -cyclodextrin is reported. Evidence of inclusion was obtained from X-ray powder diffraction results, Raman, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic studies and thermal analysis. Given the potential antitumor activity of the rhodium(II) carboxylate and its virtual insolubility in water, its inclusion in -cyclodextrin opens the possibility for its transference to the aqueous phase.     

Chaos in classical cosmology (II)

We present a new dynamical calculation about the Friedman-Robertson-Walker universe considered as an autonomous Hamiltonian. The time evolution of this Hamiltonian presents numerical instabilities so we apply a symplectic integration via infinitesimal canonical transformations of the phase space time evolution that preserves the Poincaré invariant. In this way, we have also obtained a sensitive improvement in the accuracy of the Hamiltonian constraint, as well as in the computing time. We confirm our previous results; in a spatially closed universe, the route to chaos is reached by sucessive breakage of the resonant tori due to the action of 11 resonances.     

Spectrophotometric determination of zinc in copper-base alloys with TAN

TAN reacts with zinc(II) forming a red complex with composition 1:2 Zn(II)-TAN and absorption maximum at 582 nm. Zinc can be determined with this reagent in the presence of Triton X-100, in the pH range 6.20-8.00 with a molar absorptivity of 4.5×10⁴ l/mol/cm Beer's Law was obeyed up to least 1.55 g/ml. Copper interference was eliminated with a mixture of thiosulfate and ascorbic acid and nickel separated by precipitation with dimethylglyoxime. The proposed method was used for zinc determination in several copper-base alloys and the results of analysis in comparison with certified values indicated that the procedure was accurate and precise. A derivative procedure is also proposed, allowing zinc determination with high sensitivity (5-400 ng/ml).