Pair correlation function and freezing transitions in a two-dimensional system of model ultrasoft colloids

Density functional theory (DFT) of freezing has been used to investigate the freezing transitions in a system of colloidal particles confined to a two-dimensional plane. The particles interact via a model Hertzian type potential of varying softness. The pair-correlation functions (PCFs) needed as input structural information in DFT are calculated by solving hypernetted chain (HNC) integral equation theory. The PCFs thus obtained have been compared with those obtained through experiment and simulations and are found to be in good qualitative agreement. We found that the PCFs are sensitive to the softness of the potential: showing splitting of pair-correlation peak in the harder case and anomalous non-monotonic density dependence in the softer case. Using the common tangent construction method, we have also proposed the fluid-triangular solid phase diagrams in the temperature-density plane. We found that the phase diagram exhibit solid-fluid coexistence region whose thickness decreases with the increasing temperature as well as with increasing softness of the potential. In the temperature and density range of our calculation, DFT fails to produce any reentrance in the phase diagram.     

Recent advances in Garratt-Braverman cyclization: Mechanistic and synthetic explorations

Garratt-Braverman cyclization has emerged as one of the simplest synthetic tool to construct two consecutive CC bonds leading to the formation of various important structural scaffolds having significance in the field of therapeutics and material science. The strategic design of suitable precursor for this cycloaromatization reaction involves the deep understanding of reaction pathways involving diradicals and ions. On the other hand, the reaction offers an unprecedented mechanistic paradox for the chemists to solve. This report aims at outlining the recent mechanistic and synthetic developments with special emphasis on the research outcomes from our laboratory.     

Two enantiomers of [Cu(3)(mnt)(3)](3-) as ligands to Cu(i) or Ag(i) in building [Cu(6)M(2)(mnt)(6)](4-) complexes (M = Cu or Ag) with the reversal of the reaction by X(-) (X = Cl, Br)

Two enantiomers of [Bu(4)N](3)[Cu(3)(mnt)(3)] () formed by Na(2)(mnt) (mnt = maleonitriledithiolate, [S(2)C(2)(CN)(2)](2-)) and CuCl in a 1 : 1 molar ratio react further with MCl (M = Cu or Ag) involving both the enantiomers of to produce the larger complex, [Bu(4)N](4)[Cu(6)M(2)(mnt)(6)] (M = Cu (2), Ag (3)) from which the capped Cu(+) or Ag(+) ion can readily be removed by Bu(4)NX (X = Cl, Br), reverting or back to . Such reversal does not work with non-coordinating anions like BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-) and PF(6)(-).     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of chiral tungsten and molybdenum carbonyl complexes

A major challenge that must be met for an asymmetric intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction is to be able to limit the possible positions on the metal complex for the organic partners. Toward this end, the synthesis of monometallic systems derived from M(CO)₆ and two bidentate ligands, in which the number of possible coordination sites is reduced to two, has been investigated.     

Photodynamic efficacy of chlorin p6: a pH dependent study in aqueous and lipid environment

Photodynamic efficacy of chlorin p6, a potential candidate of photodynamic therapy (PDT), has been studied at pH 5.0, 6.0 and 7.6 in aqueous and lipid environment. Increased chlorin p6 mediated photodynamic bleaching of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (RNO), a measure of singlet oxygen yield, was obtained at higher pH. Rate of photodynamic bleaching of RNO was also higher at higher pH and the rate decreased with lowering in pH of irradiated solution. Photodynamic oxidation of tryptophan was also found to be higher at higher pH. Diminished oxidation of RNO was obtained with decrease in pH of irradiated solution. Both, RNO bleaching and tryptophan oxidation was significantly reduced by sodium azide, a known quencher of singlet oxygen. At lower pH, chlorin p6 mediated photodynamic malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid hydroperoxide formation in egg lecithin liposome was higher. At higher pH chlorin p6 was found to be photodynamically more effective in aqueous environment whereas at lower pH chlorin p6 was photodynamically more effective in hydrophobic environment.     

Curl condition for a four-state Born-Oppenheimer system employing the Mathieu equation

When a group of four states forms a subspace of the Hilbert space, i.e., appears to be strongly coupled with each other but very weakly interacts with all other states of the entire space, it is possible to express the nonadiabatic coupling (NAC) elements either in terms of s or in terms of electronic basis function angles, namely, mixing angles presumably representing the same sub-Hilbert space. We demonstrate that those explicit forms of the NAC terms satisfy the curl conditions--the necessary requirements to ensure the adiabatic-diabatic transformation in order to remove the NAC terms (could be often singular also at specific point(s) or along a seam in the configuration space) in the adiabatic representation of nuclear SE and to obtain the diabatic one with smooth functional form of coupling terms among the electronic states. In order to formulate extended Born-Oppenheimer (EBO) equations [J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 124, 074101] for a group of four states, we show that there should exist a coordinate independent ratio of the gradients for each pair of ADT/mixing angles leading to zero curls and, thereafter, provide a brief discussion on its analytical validity. As a numerical justification, we consider the first four eigenfunctions of the Mathieu equation to demonstrate the interesting features of nonadiabatic coupling (NAC) elements, namely, the validity of curl conditions and the nature of curl equations around CIs.     

Sustainable Synthesis of α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acids by Manganese Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Ethylene Glycol and Primary Alcohols**

Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of valuable α-hydroxycarboxylic acid molecules via an acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of ethylene glycol and primary alcohols. A bench-stable manganese complex catalyzed the reaction, which is scalable, with the product being isolated with high yields and selectivities under mild conditions. The protocol is environmentally benign, producing water and hydrogen gas as the only byproducts. Methanol can also be used as a C1 source for producing the platform molecule lactic acid, with a high turnover of >10⁴. The methodology was also used to functionalize alcohols derived from natural products and fatty acids. Furthermore, it was applied for synthesizing α-amino acid, α-thiocarboxylic acid, and several drugs and bioactive molecules, including endogenous metabolites, Danshensu, Enalapril, Lisinopril, and Rosmarinic acid. Preliminary mechanistic studies were performed to shed light on the mechanism involved in the reaction.     

Valence-state analysis through spectroelectrochemistry in a series of quinonoid-bridged diruthenium complexes [(acac)(2)Ru(mu-L)Ru(acac)(2)](n) (n=+2, +1, 0, -1, -2)

The quinonoid ligand-bridged diruthenium compounds [(acac)(2)Ru(mu-L(2-))Ru(acac)(2)] (acac(-)=acetylacetonato=2,4-pentanedionato; L(2-)=2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinone, 1; 3,6-dichloro-2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinone, 2; 5,8-dioxido-1,4-naphthoquinone, 3; 2,3-dichloro-5,8-dioxido-1,4-naphthoquinone, 4; 1,5-dioxido-9,10-anthraquinone, 5; and 1,5-diimido-9,10-anthraquinone, 6) were prepared and characterized analytically. The crystal structure analysis of 5 in the rac configuration reveals two tris(2,4-pentanedionato)ruthenium moieties with an extended anthracenedione-derived bis(ketoenolate) pi-conjugated bridging ligand. The weakly antiferromagnetically coupled {Ru(III)(mu-L(2-))Ru(III)} configuration in 1-6 exhibits complicated overall magnetic and EPR responses. The simultaneous presence of highly redox-active quinonoid-bridging ligands and of two ruthenium centers capable of adopting the oxidation states +2, +3, and +4 creates a large variety of possible oxidation state combinations. Accordingly, the complexes 1-6 exhibit two reversible one-electron oxidation steps and at least two reversible reduction processes. Shifts to positive potentials were observed on introduction of Cl substituents (1-->2, 3-->4) or through replacement of NH by O (6-->5). The ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) absorptions in the visible region of the neutral molecules become more intense and shifted to lower energies on stepwise reduction with two electrons. On oxidation, the para-substituted systems 1-4 exhibit monocation intermediates with intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions of Ru(III)Ru(IV) mixed-valent species. In contrast, the differently substituted systems 5 and 6 show no such near infrared (NIR) absorption. While the first reduction steps are thus assigned to largely ligand-centered processes, the oxidation appears to involve metal-ligand delocalized molecular orbitals with variable degrees of mixing.     

Twist‐dependent stacking energy of base‐pair steps in B‐DNA geometry: A density functional theory approach

Stacking energy of all the 10 unique DNA base‐pair steps (bp step) are calculated using density functional theory within the ultrasoft pseudopotential plane wave method and local density approximation for the exchange‐correlation functional. We have studied the dependence of stacking energy on twist angle, an aspect found difficult to explain using classical theory. We have found that the twist angle for different bp steps at stacking energy minimum matches extremely well with the values of average twist obtained from B‐DNA crystal structure data. This indicates that the use of a proper quantum chemical method to calculate the π‐π electronic interactions may explain stacking energy without incorporating hydrophobic interaction through solvent or effect of backbone through pseudobond. From the twist angle‐dependent stacking energy profile, we have also generated the probability distributions of twist for all the bp steps and calculated the variance of the distribution. Our calculated variances show similar trend to that of the experimental data for which sufficient numbers of data are available. The TA, AT, and CG doublets show large variances among the 10 possible bp steps, indicating their maximum flexibility. This might be the case of unusual deformation observed at the TATA‐box while binding to TBP protein. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008