Exploring the accuracy level of new potential energy surfaces for the F + HD reactions: from exact quantum rate constants to the state-to-state reaction dynamics

Exact quantum reactive scattering calculations in the collision energy range 1-250 meV have been carried out for both the isotopic product channels of the title system. The dynamical studies compares an ab initio potential energy surface (PES) recently appeared in the literature (J. Chem. Phys., 2008, 129, 011103) with other phenomenological PESs. Vibrational branching ratios, cross sections and rate constants are presented and compared with molecular beam scattering experiments as well as with chemical kinetics data. In particular, the agreement of the vibrational branching ratios with experimental measurements is improved with respect to previous studies on other PESs, mainly because of the presence of a broad peak in the HF(v' = 3) integral cross section completely absent in the previous simulations. This feature, observed by molecular beam experiments, is the fingerprint of a new reaction mechanism operative in the dynamics described by the new PES. A conjecture for its origin, able to explain many of its characteristic aspects, is analyzed and discussed.     

Probing the early stages of thermal fractionation by successive self‐nucleation and annealing performed with fast scanning chip‐calorimetry

The thermal fractionation kinetics of a linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) during Successive Self‐Nucleation and Annealing (SSA) is investigated by fast scanning chip‐calorimetry (FSC), by systematically varying the holding times (t_s) at each fractionation temperature (T_s). The range of explored fractionation times spans four orders of magnitude, from 0.001 to 10 s. Discernible thermal fractions are already detected in the very early stages of the process, at t_s shorter than one second. As t_s increases, the melting endotherm after SSA indicates a progressive lamellar thickening and narrowing of the thicknesses distribution of the various crystalline fractions. The largest variations are observed for the families of crystals containing the longest crystallizable sequences, which also undergo a change of their relative content as a consequence of self‐nucleated crystallization at T_s. The quality of the thermal fractionation obtained in 10 seconds with FSC is equivalent to that of conventional differential scanning calorimetry SSA (t_s = 300 s). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2200–2209     

Solid-State Dynamics and High-Pressure Studies of a Supramolecular Spiral Gear

The structures and solid-state dynamics of the supramolecular salts of the general formula [(12-crown-4)₂ ⋅ DABCOH₂](X)₂ (where DABCO=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, X=BF₄, ClO₄) have been investigated as a function of temperature (from 100 to 360 K) and pressure (up to 3.4 GPa), through the combination of variable-temperature and variable-pressure XRD techniques and variable-temperature solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The two salts are isomorphous and crystallize in the enantiomeric space groups P3₂2₁ and P3₁2₁. All building blocks composing the supramolecular complex display dynamic processes at ambient temperature and pressure. It has been demonstrated that the motion of the crown ethers is maintained on lowering the temperature (down to 100 K) or on increasing the pressure (up to 1.5 GPa) thanks to the correlation between neighboring molecules, which mesh and rotate in a concerted manner similar to spiral gears. Above 1.55 GPa, a collapse-type transition to a lower-symmetry ordered structure, not attainable at a temperature of 100 K, takes place, proving, thus, that the pressure acts as the means to couple and decouple the gears. The relationship between temperature and pressure effects on molecular motion in the solid state has also been discussed.     

Determination of the two major endocannabinoids in human plasma by μ-SPE followed by HPLC-MS/MS

Endocannabinoids (ECs) are endogenous compounds that interact with type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid receptors (CB₁ and CB₂), as well as non-cannabinoid receptors. The multitude of roles attributed to ECs makes them an emerging target of pharmacotherapy for a number of disparate diseases. Here a high-throughput bioanalytical method based on micro SPE (μ-SPE) followed by LC-MS/MS analysis for the simultaneous determination of the two major endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) in human plasma is presented. The chromatographic conditions obtained with the fused-core column allowed a good separation in 10 min also of the AG isomers. A very simple and reliable extraction has been optimised by means of C18-modified tips: it requires only 100 μL of plasma and allows the use of minimal volumes of organic solvent. The present method allows a rapid and effective clean-up, which also minimises the isomerisation of 2-AG. The whole procedure has been validated following the FDA guidelines for bioanalytical methods validation: the satisfactory recovery values, the negligible matrix effect and the good values of accuracy and reproducibility make it a simple and high-throughput analytical tool for clinical and biochemical studies on endocannabinoid signaling in humans.

Solid-state supramolecular organization, established directly from powder diffraction data, and photoluminescence efficiency of rigid-core oligothiophene-S,S-dioxides

The "rigid-core" material 3,5-dimethyl-2,3'-bis(3-methylthiophene)-dithieno[3,2-b:',3'-d]thiophene-4,4-dioxide (DTTOMe4) has the highest photoluminescence ever reported for thiophene-based molecules in the solid state. We report the structure of this material, determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data using the Genetic Algorithm method for structure solution, followed by Rietveld refinement, and the structural properties are discussed in relation to the structures of the corresponding subsystems DTTO and DTTOMe. While the crystal structures of the latter compounds contain cofacial dimers, the crystal structure of DTTOMe4 comprises layers of molecules aligned in an antiparallel fashion. Intermediate neglect of differential overlap with single configuration interaction (INDO/SCI) calculations on the intermolecular interactions in the three crystal structures show that the different solid-state photoluminescence efficiencies of DTTOMe4, DTTOMe, and DTTO cannot be correlated with the different types of dipole-dipole alignment in the solid state. Instead, photoluminescence efficiencies correlate well with the rate of formation of nonradiatively decaying charge-transfer pairs upon photoexcitation. Because of larger intermolecular distances in DTTOMe4, the photoluminescence is less effectively quenched by charge-transfer processes than in DTTOMe and DTTO.     

Traceless solid-phase synthesis of 2,4,6-chlorodiamino and triaminopyrimidines

An effective traceless solid-phase synthesis of chloro-diaminopyrimidines via an amino-de-chlorination reaction of polymer-bound 4-alkoxycarbonylamino-2,6-dichloropyrimidines has been developed. After release from the polymer the target molecules were obtained in good to excellent purity, although with modest regiocontrol. Further reaction of solid-supported N-alkoxycarbonyl-chloro-diaminopyrimidines with secondary amines afforded triaminopyrimidines in good purity under mild conditions, whereas less nucleophilic primary amines did not perform well under the conditions explored so far.     

Mechanochemical preparation of hydrogen-bonded adducts between the diamine 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length: an X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR study

Mechanical mixing of solid dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length HOOC(CH(2))(n)COOH (n = 1-7) with solid 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane generates the corresponding salts or co-crystals of the formula [N(CH(2)CH(2))(3)N]-H-[OOC(CH(2))(n)COOH] (n=1-7). Preparation of the same systems from solution has been instrumental for a full characterization of the mechanochemical products by means of single-crystal and powder-diffraction X-ray analyses, as well as by solid-state NMR. The acid-base adducts, whether involving proton transfer from the COOH group to the N-acceptor, that is having ((-))O...H-N((+)) interactions, or the formation of neutral O-H...N hydrogen bonds, show a melting point alternation phenomenon analogous to that shown by the neutral carboxylic acids. The carbon chemical shift tensors of the COOH group obtained from the sideband intensity of low speed spinning NMR spectra provide a reliable criterion for assigning the protonation state of the adducts.     

Rigid optically-active D2 and D3 macrocycles

The synthesis and characterization of novel optically-active macrocycles, obtained by esterification reaction from a binaphthyl-containing diol and phthalic or terephthalic acids, and possessing overall D2 or D3 symmetry, is described.