Computation of hydration free energies using a parameterized continuum model: Study of equilibrium geometries and reactive processes in water solution

A parameterized self-consistent reaction field model allowing computation of the total free energy of hydration of organic molecules at the ab initio level is presented. The approach uses electrostatic plus polarization energies calculated with the help of a continuum model. The remaining solvation free energy terms are obtained by a simple formula based on atomic parameters and atomic accessible surface areas (ASAs), which are determined with the ASA analytical algorithm. Analytical derivatives of the atomic surfaces areas have been implemented. The atomic parameters have been obtained by a linear regression fit of the calculated and experimental free energies of solution in water for a set of 35 molecules, leading to a standard deviation of 0.75 kcal/mol. Effects of nonelectrostatic terms on solute geometries, association energies, and activation barriers are illustrated. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reaction of ozone with 1, 1-disubstituted alkenes

The gas-phase reaction of ozone with eight alkenes including six 1,1-disubstituted alkenes has been investigated at ambient T (285–298 K) and p = 1 atm. of air. The reaction rate constants are, in units of 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, 9.50 ± 1.23 for 3-methyl-1-butane, 13.1. ± 1.8 for 2-methyl-1-pentene, 11.3 ± 3.2 for 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 7.75 ± 1.08 for 2,3,3-trimethyl-1-butene, 3.02 ± 0.52 for 3-methyl-2-isopropyl-1-butene, 3.98 ± 0.43 for 3,4-diethyl-2-hexene, 1.39 ± 17 for 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentene, and >370 for (cis + trans)-3,4-dimethyl-3-hexene. For isoprene, results from this study and earlier literature data are consistent with: k (cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 5.59 (+ 3.51, &minus 2.16) × 10⁻¹⁵ e^{(−3606±279/RT)}, n = 28, and R = 0.930. The reactivity of the other alkenes, six of which have not been studied before, is discussed in terms of alkyl substituent inductive and steric effects. For alkenes (except 1,1-disubstituted alkenes) that bear H, CH₃, and C₂H₅ substituents, reactivity towards ozone is related to the alkene ionization potential: In k<(10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) = (32.89 ± 1.84) − (3.09 ± 0.20) IP (eV), n = 12, and R = 0.979. This relationship overpredicts the reactivity of C_≥3 1-alkenes, of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, and of alkenes with bulky substituents, for which reactivity towards ozone is lower due to substituent steric effects. The atmospheric persistence of the alkenes studied is briefly discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Studies on pyrrolidones. Reactivity of β-enaminoesters derived from pyroglutamic acid. Synthesis of methyl cyano[l-methyl-5-(5-methyl[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidin-2-ylidene]acetate

The 5-methoxycarbonyl group of β-enaminoesters derived from methyl pyroglutamate was transformed into acids, amides and 1,3,4-oxadiazole.     

Enantioselective crossed intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions mediated by a chiral chelating Lewis acid

In intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions, the two tethered olefins can approach each other in a straight or in a crossed fashion. Despite the fact that the latter reaction mode leads to intriguing, otherwise inaccessible bridged skeletons, there has so far not been any enantioselective variants thereof. This study concerned the crossed [2+2]-photocycloaddition of 2-(alkenyloxy)cyclohex-2-enones to bridged cyclobutanes. It was found that the reaction could be performed with high enantioselectivity (80–94% ee) under visible light conditions when employing a chiral rhodium Lewis acid as a catalyst (2 mol%).

An enantioselective crossed [2+2] photocycloaddition is presented which proceeds under visible light irradiation in the presence of a chiral Lewis acidic metal complex. Chelation of two oxygen atoms to the metal centre accounts for the observed enantioface differentiation.     

Interface Shape Studies for Fluoride- and Silicon Rods Grown by the E.F.G. Method

The influence of the die geometry and of the thermal conductivity of materials on the solid-liquid interface shape in Edge-defined Film-fed Growth has been studied.     

Optimization of the Physical,Optical and Mechanical Properties of Composite Edible Films of Gelatin,Whey Protein and Chitosan

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the concentration of gelatin (G) (3–6 g), whey protein (W) (2.5–7.5 g) and chitosan (C) (0.5–2.5 g) on the physical, optical and mechanical properties of composite edible films (CEFs) using the response surface methodology (RSM), as well as optimizing the formulation for the packaging of foods. The results of the study were evaluated via first- and second-order multiple regression analysis to obtain the determination coefficient values with a good fit (R ˃ 0.90) for each of the response variables, except for the values of solubility and b*. The individual linear effect of the independent variables (the concentrations of gelatin, whey protein and chitosan) significantly affected (p ≤ 0.05) the water vapor permeability (WVP), strength and solubility of the edible films. The WVP of the edible films varied from 0.90 to 1.62 × 10⁻¹¹ g.m/Pa.s.m², the resistance to traction varied from 0.47 MPa to 3.03 MPa and the solubility varied from 51.06% to 87%. The optimized values indicated that the CEF prepared with a quantity of 4 g, 5 g and 3 g of gelatin, whey protein and chitosan, respectively, provided the CEF with a smooth, continuous and transparent surface, with L values that resulted in a light-yellow hue, a lower WVP, a maximum strength (resistance to traction) and a lower solubility. The results revealed that the optimized formulation of the CEF of G–W–C allowed a good validation of the prediction model and could be applied, in an effective manner, to the food packaging industry, which could help in mitigating the environmental issues associated with synthetic packaging materials.     

The Roper resonance in a finite volume

We calculate the energy levels corresponding to the Roper resonance based on a two-flavor chiral effective Lagrangian for pions, nucleons, deltas, and the Roper resonance at the leading one-loop order. We show that the Roper mass can be extracted from these levels for lattice volumes of moderate size.