Double- and triple-zeta Slater-type basis sets with common exponents

Double- and triple-zeta basis sets of Slater-type functions (STFs) are developed for the 17 atoms from He to Ar. For computational economy, the exponents of STFs corresponding to the same atomic subshell are restricted to be common. Instead, the principal quantum numbers of the STFs are thoroughly optimized within the framework of integer values to reduce the energy loss due to the common exponent restriction. Received: 10 November 1999 / Accepted: 25 January 2000 / Published online: 19 April 2000     

Shape-dependent catalytic properties of Pt nanoparticles

Tailoring the chemical reactivity of nanomaterials at the atomic level is one of the most important challenges in catalysis research. In order to achieve this elusive goal, fundamental understanding of the geometric and electronic structure of these complex systems at the atomic level must be obtained. This article reports the influence of the nanoparticle shape on the reactivity of Pt nanocatalysts supported on γ-Al(2)O(3). Nanoparticles with analogous average size distributions (～0.8-1 nm), but with different shapes, synthesized by inverse micelle encapsulation, were found to display distinct reactivities for the oxidation of 2-propanol. A correlation between the number of undercoordinated atoms at the nanoparticle surface and the onset temperature for 2-propanol oxidation was observed, demonstrating that catalytic properties can be controlled through shape-selective synthesis.     

Synthesis, structure, and dynamic properties of hybrid organic-inorganic rotaxanes

The synthesis and characterization of a series of hybrid organic-inorganic [2]rotaxanes is described. The ring components are heterometallic octa- ([Cr(7)MF(8)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(16)]; M = Co, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd) nuclear cages in which the metal centers are bridged by fluoride and pivalate ((t)BuCO(2)(-)) anions; the thread components feature dialkylammonium units that template the formation of the heterometallic rings about the axle to form the interlocked structures in up to 92% yield in conventional macrocyclization or one-pot 'stoppering-plus-macrocyclization' strategies. The presence in the reaction mixture of additives (secondary or tertiary amines or quaternary ammonium salts), and the nature of the stoppering groups (3,5-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3)CO(2)- or (t)BuCONH-), can have a significant effect on the rotaxane yield. The X-ray crystal structures of 11 different [2]rotaxanes, a pseudorotaxane, and a two-station molecular shuttle show two distinct types of intercomponent hydrogen bond motifs between the ammonium groups of the organic thread and the fluoride groups of the inorganic ring. The different hydrogen bonding motifs account for the very different rates of dynamics observed for the heterometallic ring on the thread (shuttling slow; rotation fast).     

The sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide isolated from Senecio salignus act as phytogrowth and photosynthesis inhibitors

The n-hexane extract of S. salignus plants inhibited ATP synthesis and two sesquiterpenes, the β-caryophyllene (1) and caryophyllene oxide (2) were isolated from this nonpolar fraction. Compound 1 inhibited by 42% the root elongation of Physalis ixocarpa seedlings at 50 μg/mL and by 53% at 150 μg/mL, whereas at 150 μg/mL this compound only inhibited root elongation of Echinochloa crus-galli by 30%. On the other hand, compound 2 had no effect on either germination or root and stem growth of E. cruss galli and P. ixocarpa. However, 1 and 2 inhibited the dry biomass of P. ixocarpa plants grown for 18 days previous to treatment and it was found that 1 was the most active biomass inhibitor. The Chl a fluorescence transient in vivo experiment indicates that 1 (100 μg/mL) has a major effect at 72 h after treatment on leaves of P. ixocarpa plants by inhibiting photosystem II (PS II) transforming active reaction centers to "heat sinks" or the formation of silent reaction centers unable to reduce Q(A). β-Caryophyllene also induces chlorosis on treated leaves.     

Skin permeation of cacalol, cacalone and 6-epi-cacalone sesquiterpenes from a nanoemulsion

The objective of the present study was to investigate the transdermal permeation of cacalol (1) and a mixture of cacalone (2) and 6-epi-cacalone (3) in comparison with diclofenac acid (4) delivered from the same characterized nanoemulsion using Franz diffusion cells (formulae I, II and III). Results show that de Kp, J, Q24, PI and P2 were higher for the acid diclofenac nanoemulsion than for the natural products nanoemulsions. As for the differences between the formulations I and II, with the natural products, Q24, the quantity extracted from skin and P2 were higher in the mixture of 2 and 3 nanoemulsion compared with the corresponding nanoemulsion of 1. In conclusion, the low permeability of the natural products nanoemulsions in comparison with that of diclofenac acid has the potential for development for drugs with local and systemic applications, respectively.     

Towards β-selectivity in functional estrogen receptor antagonists

Based on the benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]furan and benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene frameworks, a series of ligands with different basic side chains (BSCs) has been synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated. Also, their binding modes have been modelled using docking techniques. It was found that the introduction of a BSC in these systems brings about a decrease of affinity for both estrogen receptors α and β in an in vitro competitive binding assay. However, two full antagonists of the estrogen receptor β ( and ) have been discovered, with potency in the low micromolar concentration in a cell-based luciferase reporter assay, and completely devoid of activity against the α receptor at the same concentration range. Differences in the ERα/ERβ binding modes have also been rationalized with the help of molecular modelling techniques. This interesting functional profile could be used to elucidate the physiological role of each ER subtype.     

Determination of carboxylic acids in water by gas chromatography using several detectors after flow preconcentration

A novel analytical method is reported that combines continuous solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography for the determination of 22 carboxylic acids in water. The highly polar and hydrophilic analytes were preferentially sorbed on a mixture of LiChrolut EN-Supelclean ENVI-18 (1:1) sorbent column and eluted with methanol; this extraction process did not require derivatisation. The extract was analysed by gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionisation detector as well as a mass spectrometer with electron impact (EI) or positive chemical ionisation modes. The highest sensitivity was achieved when using MS-EI, with good linearity in calibration curves and low detection limits (2-40ngL(-1)) for 50mL of sample. The entire procedure from raw aqueous sample to a ready-to-inject methanol solution of the acids requires less than 15min. Another benefit of this method is the good accuracy (recoveries between 93 and 102%) and precision (relative standard deviation, 3.4-6.2%), which allows the determination of carboxylic acids in environmental water and in real chlorinated and ozonated drinking water.     

Dependence of chymosin and pepsin partition coefficient with phase volume and polymer pausidispersity in polyethyleneglycol-phosphate aqueous two-phase system

The influence of the phase volume ratio and polymer pausidispersity on chymosin and pepsin partition in polyethylenglycol-phosphate aqueous two-phase systems was studied. Both proteins showed a high affinity for the polyethylenglycol rich phase with a partition coefficient from 20 to 100 for chymosin and from 20 to 180 for pepsin, when the polyethyleneglycol molecular mass in the system varied between 1450 and 8000. The partition coefficient of chymosin was not affected by the volume phase ratio, while the pepsin coefficient showed a significant decrease in its partition coefficient with the increase in the top/bottom phase volume ratio.     

Luminescence quenching of Eu(III) carboxylates by Cu(II) in a composite polymer xerogel film

Three Eu(III) luminescent compounds were separately entrapped in a xerogel porous silica matrix and finely ground particles of it were deposited on a glass support with polyvinylacetate (PVAc) as a binder to build a thin film sensor. These 3 devices were immersed in aqueous solutions of Cu(II) and the content of this metal was evaluated by emission-quenching experiments. The sensor containing the highly luminescent antenna chelate of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (dtpa) sensitized with Coumarin120 rendered the largest Stern-Volmer constant (K(SV) = 1.49 x 10(4) M(-1)), showing no leaching of the Eu(III) complex to the aqueous solution and a reproducible value of the luminescence ratio between water and Cu(II) solution. The in situ sensor we developed can measure the concentration of Cu(II) in aqueous media down to the ppm level by emission-quenching experiments. This methodology permits a simple calibration of the sensor and an easy to use reusable device.