A new approach to counterpoise correction to BSSE

In the present work the intermolecular BSSE, associated to the A-B interaction, is obtained by subtracting the intramolecular BSSE of the fragments from the intramolecular BSSE of the supermolecule, and considering every atom as a fragment in the calculation of each intramolecular BSSE. This atom by atom scheme (CP(aa)) is based on the consideration that the proximity of the fragments may affect the intramolecular BSSE of every involved species, and artificially influences the value of the BSSE associated to the supermolecule formation. It drastically decreases the reported counterpoise overcorrection of the A-B interaction, even though it does not deal with all the overcorrection because it includes all the orbitals, and not only the unoccupied ones. This new approach has been tested on the water dimer, some hydrogen fluoride weakly bonded complexes, the conformational analysis of 1,2-dichloroethane, and the reaction profile of formaldehyde + OH reaction.     

A combined theoretical-experimental study on the acidity of WO(x)-ZrO(2) systems

This work provides a chemical approach to the relationship between structure and electronic behavior of the active surface of the WO(x)-ZrO(2) system as a function of W loads. This study shows that the electronic hardness (eta), the Lewis and Br?nsted acidity are functions of the local coordination and of the polymerization degree of the WO(x) domain. From theoretical calculations the observed behavior in the WO(x)-ZrO(2) system is explained: the Br?nsted acidity increases while the Lewis acidity decreases as the W centers go from tetrahedral to octahedral coordination and as the condensation degree of the WO(x) domain increases. Our results also indicate that not all the Br?nsted sites in the WO(x) domains are equally acid, and that as the W load increases the most acid sites decrease in number due to the condensation process. This finding also means a decrease on the average acidity per H site. Additionally, our results suggest that for surface densities in the 4-7 W nm(-2) range, mainly dimeric-tungstate species are present. A maximum in Br?nsted acidity was observed for a W surface density about 7 W nm(-2).     

Computational strategies for predicting free radical scavengers' protection against oxidative stress: Where are we and what might follow?

Oxidative stress, which is frequently induced by an overproduction of free radicals (FR), poses a high risk to human health. Thus, finding efficient strategies for scavenging FR is a research area of current interest. Among many other aspects, this involves identifying chemical compounds capable of offering antioxidant protection (AOP) and quantifying such protection. This review summarizes different computational approaches that can contribute to gain a deeper knowledge on this subject. Several reaction mechanisms that may contribute to AOP are discussed, as well as some key factors influencing their relative importance including the chemical nature of the reacting FR, the polarity of the environment and the pH in aqueous solution. Kinetics-based analyses to characterize antioxidants, through their FR scavenging activity, are presented. Trends in such activity, from the data currently available in the literature are provided. Some key aspects, regarding AOP, that still deserves further investigation, are discussed.     

Theoretical determination of the rate constant for OH hydrogen abstraction from toluene

The OH abstraction of a hydrogen atom from both the side chain and the ring of toluene has been studied in the range 275-1000 K using quantum chemistry methods. It is found that the best method of calculation is to perform geometry optimization and frequency calculations at the BHandHLYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, followed by CCSD(T) calculations of the optimized structures with the same basis set. Four different reaction paths are considered, corresponding to the side chain and three possible ring hydrogen abstractions, and the branching ratio is determined as a function of temperature. Although negligible at low temperatures, at 1000 K ring-H abstraction is found to contribute 11% to the total abstraction reaction. The calculated rate coefficients agree very well with experimental results. Side chain abstraction is shown to occur through a complex mechanism that includes the reversible formation of a collisionally stabilized reactant complex.     

OH hydrogen abstraction reactions from alanine and glycine: A quantum mechanical approach

Density functional theory (B3LYP and BHandHLYP) and unrestricted second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2) calculations have been performed using 3‐21G, 6‐31G(d,p), and 6‐311 G(2d,2p) basis sets, to study the OH hydrogen abstraction reaction from alanine and glycine. The structures of the different stationary points are discussed. Ring‐like structures are found for all the transition states. Reaction profiles are modeled including the formation of prereactive complexes, and very low or negative net energy barriers are obtained depending on the method and on the reacting site. ZPE and thermal corrections to the energy for all the species, and BSSE corrections for B3LYP activation energies are included. A complex mechanism involving the formation of a prereactive complex is proposed, and the rate coefficients for the overall reactions are calculated using classical transition state theory. The predicted values of the rate coefficients are 3.54×10⁸ L?mol^?1?s^?1 for glycine and 1.38×10⁹ L?mol^?1?s^?1 for alanine. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1138–1153, 2001     

Mechanism of OH radical reactions with HCN and CH3CN: OH regeneration in the presence of O2

A theoretical study on the mechanism of the OH reactions with HCN and CH(3)CN, in the presence of O2, is presented. Optimum geometries and frequencies have been computed at BHandHLYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory for all stationary points. Energy values have been improved by single-point calculations at the above geometries using CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2d,2p). The initial attack of OH to HCN was found to lead only to the formation of the HC(OH)N adduct, while for CH(3)CN similar proportions of CH(2)CN and CH(3)C(OH)N are expected. A four-step mechanism has been proposed to explain the OH regeneration, experimentally observed for OH + CH(3)CN reaction, when carried out in the presence of O2. The mechanism steps are as follows: (1) OH addition to the C atom in the CN group, (2) O2 addition to the N atom, (3) an intramolecular H migration from OH to OO, and (4) OH elimination. This mechanism is in line with the one independently proposed by Wine et al. for HCN. The results obtained here suggest that for the OH + HCN reaction, the OH regeneration might occur even in larger extension than for OH + CH(3)CN reaction. The agreement between the calculated data and the available experimental evidence on the studied reactions seems to validate the mechanism proposed here.     

OH radical reactions with phenylalanine in free and peptide forms

Density functional theory has been used to model the reaction of OH with l-phenylalanine, as a free molecule and in the Gly-Phe-Gly peptide. The influence of the environment has been investigated using water and benzene as models for polar and non-polar surroundings, in addition to gas phase calculations. Different paths of reaction have been considered, involving H abstractions and addition reactions, with global contributions to the overall reaction around 10% and 90% respectively when Phe is in its free form. The ortho-adducts (o-tyrosine) were found to be the major products of the Phe+OH reaction, for all the modeled environments and especially in water solutions. The reactivity of phenylalanine towards OH radical attacks is predicted to be higher in its peptidic form, compared to the free molecule. The peptidic environment also changes the sites' reactivity, and for the Gly-Phe-Gly+OH reaction H abstraction becomes the major path of reaction. The good agreement found between the calculated and the available experimental data supports the methodology used in this work, as well as the data reported here for the first time.     

Mechanism and kinetics of the hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radical scavenging activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetylcysteine amide

The ^·OH and ^·OOH radical scavenging activity of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) has been studied using density functional theory, specifically the M05-2X functional. All possible reaction sites have been considered, and the branching ratios have been estimated. The efficiency of different mechanisms of reaction has been evaluated, and it has been concluded that NACA reacts exclusively by hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). The overall reactivity of NACA toward OH radicals is proposed to be diffusion-controlled in both non-polar and polar media. The values of the overall rate coefficients are 3.80 × 10⁹ and 1.36 × 10⁹ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ for benzene and aqueous solutions, respectively. The reactivity of NACA toward ^·OOH, on the other hand, is much lower but still higher than those of melatonin and caffeine. HAT from the –SH site is proposed to be the channel accounting for most of the radical scavenging activity of NACA in aqueous solution. In non-polar environments, two channels of reaction were found to similarly contribute to the overall reactivity of NACA toward OH radicals. They are those corresponding to hydrogen atom transfer from –CH₂ and –SH sites.     

金(111)电极表面浮动磷脂双层膜的原位偏振红外反射光谱研究(英文)

应用电化学原位偏振红外反射光谱法研究了构建于金(111)电极表面的浮动磷脂双层膜.金电极表面先自组装一层巯基葡萄糖单层来增加表面的亲水性,浮动磷脂双层膜通过LB-LS技术构建在巯基葡萄糖单层上.双层膜由双肉豆蔻磷脂酰胆碱(DMPC)、胆固醇和神经节苷脂GM1构成.GM1分子中的糖链可以物理吸附在巯基葡萄糖表面,在双层膜和基底间形成一个富含水的隔层.红外光谱表明浮动双层膜中的DMPC分子比传统的支撑双层膜中的DMPC分子有更强的水合作用,证实了双层膜和基底间水层的存在.该浮动双层膜更接近于实际的生物膜体系,并且在金电极表面有宽的电位区间,非常适于进一步的离子通道蛋白质研究.