Adsorption of comb copolymers on weakly attractive solid surfaces

In this work continuum and lattice Monte Carlo simulation methods are used to study the adsorption of linear and comb polymers on flat surfaces. Selected polymer segments, located at the tips of the side chains in comb polymers or equally spaced along the linear polymers, are attracted to each other and to the surface via square-well potentials. The rest of the polymer segments are modeled as tangent hard spheres in the continuum model and as self-avoiding random walks in the lattice model. Results are presented in terms of segment-density profiles, distribution functions, and radii of gyration of the adsorbed polymers. At infinite dilution the presence of short side chains promotes the adsorption of polymers favoring both a decrease in the depletion-layer thickness and a spreading of the polymer molecule on the surface. The presence of long side chains favors the adsorption of polymers on the surface, but does not permit the spreading of the polymers. At finite concentration linear polymers and comb polymers with long side chains readily adsorb on the solid surface, while comb polymers with short side chains are unlikely to adsorb. The simple models of comb copolymers with short side chains used here show properties similar to those of associating polymers and of globular proteins in aqueous solutions, and can be used as a first approximation to investigate the mechanism of adsorption of proteins onto hydrophobic surfaces.     

Valence band photoelectron spectra of platinum cyanides

Valence band X-ray photoelectron spectra of K₂[Pt(CN)₄]·3H₂O (1), K₂[Pt(CN)₄]Cl_0.3·xH₂O (2), and K₂[Pt(CN)₄Cl₂]·3H₂O (3), and the ultraviolet photoelectron spectrum of (2) have been recorded. These spectra imply that the binding energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) in (1) is greater than in (2). A band-like character for the HOMO of (2) with finite electron density at the Fermi level is consistent with this observation. The photoelectron spectra are correlated with the solid state electronic absorption spectra. Shifts in the K 3 binding energies are attributed to considerable differences in lattice site potentials between (1) and (2).     

Investigations on chemical interactions between alternate cathodes and lanthanum gallate electrolyte for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (ITSOFC)

The doped perovskite oxides such as La_0.65Sr_0.30MnO_3-δ (LSM), La_0.70Sr_0.30CoO_3-δ (LSC), La_0.65Sr_0.30FeO_3-δ (LSF), La_0.65Sr_0.30NiO_3-δ (LSN) and La_0.60Sr_0.40Co_0.20Fe_0.80O_3-δ (LSCF) are proposed as alternate cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells working at reduced temperature (< 1073 K). The critical requirement for their applicability is their chemical compatibility in conjunction with an alternate solid electrolyte, La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3-δ (LSGM) without any new phase formation. To understand the chemical reactivity between these two components, thoroughly mixed different cathode and LSGM electrolyte (1:1 by wt.) powders were pressed as circular components and subjected to annealing at 1573 K for 3 h in air. XRD and SEM were used for the characterization of the annealed samples. XRD measurements revealed that no new secondary phases were formed in LSM, LSC, and LSF with LSGM mixtures whereas LSN and LSCF with LSGM resulted in the formation of new secondary phases after high temperature treatment. The sintering shrinkage for all the components (cathode + electrolyte mixture) was also estimated. For comparison of data, the individual powders (cathode/electrolyte) were also compacted and studied in the same manner. The obtained results are discussed keeping in view the requirements that the candidate cathode material must meet out with respect to its chemical compatibility to qualify for the LSGM based ITSOFC systems at 1073 K.     

The [4.4.4.4]Fenestranes and[2.2.2.2]paddlane. Prospects for the realization of planar tetracoordinate carbon?

Semi-empirical (MINDO/3 and UNDO) MO calculations on highly strained planar tetracoordinate carbon candidates indicate the central carbons in $\text{cis}$- [4.4.4.4] fenestrane ($\text{1}$) to have pyramidal ($\text{1a}$) and in trans-[4.4.4.]fenestrane ($\text{2}$) to have distorted tetrahedral ($\text{2a}$) geometries. In [2.2.2.2]paddlane ($\text{3}$), the two central carbons are pentacoordinate. Each is nearly coplanar with four carbon neighbours; additionally, the two bridgehead carbons are connected by a single bond ($\text{3a}$).     

Realizing an Aza Paternò–Büchi Reaction

Intramolecular atropselective aza Paternò–Büchi reaction involving atropisomeric enamide and imine functionalities under sensitized irradiation leads to azetidine products in good yield and selectivity (ee >96 %). A mechanistic model based on detailed photophysical and isomerization kinetic studies is provided that shed light into the reactivity of enamides leading to aza Paternò–Büchi reaction.     

Spectral,BVS, and Thermal Studies on Bisdithiocarbamates of Divalent Zn,Cd, and Their Adducts: Single Crystal X-Ray Structure Redetermination of (Diiodo) (Tetraethylthiuramdisulfide)mercury(II), [Hg(tetds)I2]

The current article describes the TG and DT analyses of divalent Zn, Cd, and Hg dithiocarbamato (dtc) complexes and their adducts (dchdtc = N,N-dicyclohexyldithiocarbamate anion, 4-mpzdtc = 4-methylpiperazinecarbodithioato anion, padtc = N,N′-(iminodiethylene)bisphthalimidedithiocarbamate anion, pipdtc = piperidinecarbodithioate anion, 1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and 2,2′-bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) along with the structural reinvestigation of [Hg(tetds)I ₂ ], where tetds = tetraethylthiuramdisulfide. In the case of Zn(II) and Cd(II) dithiocarbamates and their nitrogenous adducts, thermal decomposition of the nitrogenous bases is followed by the decay of dithiocarbamate leading to the formation of ZnS or CdS as residue. The interaction of iodine with [Hg(dedtc) ₂ ] in CHCl ₃ results in the oxidation of diethyldithiocarbamate leading to the formation of [Hg(tetds)I ₂ ], and the structure was redetermined because the earlier determination was by a Polaroid crystallographic technique with a higher R value. The S-Hg-I bond angles [105.09(3); 105.59(3); 109.26(3), and 100.99(3)°] indicate the near tetrahedral environment around the metal ion. ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR spectra of the complex were analyzed. Whether the product formed upon oxidation is a disulfide or an iodo-substituted product, in the present investigation, is clearly decided by the bulkiness of the substituent attached to the nitrogen. Interestingly, the steric influence is a deciding factor only in the case of mercury compounds and the dithiocarbamates involving Zn, Cd forms of the disulfide complexes.     

Molecular characterization and antioxidant assay of pigment producing bacteria,Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Microbacterium arborescens isolated from fresh water sediments

Abstract

This study focuses on isolation of pigment producing bacteria from fresh water sediment. The isolated bacteria were grown in nutrient broth and the maximum absorbance of 2.512 was obtained for the extracted pigment at 500 nm. The effective strains were optimized, pH 11 and temperature 30 °C was found to be more favorable for its maximum growth. The isolates were identified based on their molecular characterestics as Microbacterium arborescens and Sphingomonas paucimobilis, molecular size of the amplified 16S rRNA gene sequence was found to be approximately 1270 and 765 bp respectively. The antioxidant property of the pigment was analyzed using DPPH and ABTS assay. The IC₅₀ value of Microbacterium arborescens was higher in all the three assays in comparison with Sphingomonas paucimobilis. The extracted pigment was characterized for the presence of compounds using GC-MS and FTIR analysis to determine the functional groups. As the pigment obtained from M. arborescens had shown better antioxidant activity it may be used as colorant in food industrial applications.