Influence of Differential Diffusion on Super-Equilibrium Temperature in Turbulent Non-Premixed Hydrogen/Air Flames

In this paper we wish to investigate the occurrence of super-equilibrium temperature values, observed in many experimental configurations. We would like to understand the origin of this phenomenon. Previous authors have already shown that differential diffusion can lead to considerable changes in the temperature field and we would like to build on top of this observation. We investigate numerically super-equilibrium combustion by considering both laminar counter-flow and turbulent diluted hydrogen/air diffusion flames. These turbulent flames are computed using direct numerical simulations (DNS). A detailed reaction mechanism is employed and the transport properties are modeled using multicomponent diffusion velocities, including the Soret effect. Analyzing these results we introduce three complementary parameters (dilution-free mixture fraction, dilution excess and local enthalpy) to describe the local combustion conditions. Introducing a measure of dilution separately from the mixture fraction is necessary for a proper analysis. Using this set of parameters it becomes possible to explain super-equilibrium temperature levels as a consequence of differential diffusion.     

On the crucial importance of the pH for the formation and self-stabilization of protein microgels and strands

Stable suspensions of protein microgels are formed by heating salt-free β-lactoglobulin solutions at concentrations up to about C = 50 g·L(-1) if the pH is set within a narrow range between 5.75 and 6.1. The internal protein concentration of these spherical particles is about 150 g·L(-1) and the average hydrodynamic radius decreases with increasing pH from 200 to 75 nm. The formation of the microgels leads to an increase of the pH, which is a necessary condition to obtain stable suspensions. The spontaneous increase of the pH during microgel formation leads to an increase of their surface charge density and inhibits secondary aggregation. This self-stabilization mechanism is not sufficient if the initial pH is below 5.75 in which case secondary aggregation leads to precipitation. Microgels are no longer formed above a critical initial pH, but instead short, curved protein strands are obtained with a hydrodynamic radius of about 15-20 nm.     

Benzoxazole-based heterometallic dodecanuclear complex [Dy(III)4Cu(II)8] with single-molecule-magnet behavior

Three Cu-Ln (Ln = Dy, Gd, Y) dodecanuclear clusters assembled by a novel ligand of the benzoxazole type are reported. The dysprosium cluster exhibits a frequency dependence of the alternating-current susceptibility and hysteresis loop at low temperature, indicating single-molecule-magnet behavior.     

Structure resolution of Ba5Al3F19 and investigation of fluorine ion dynamics by synchrotron powder diffraction, variable-temperature solid-state NMR, and quantum computations

The room temperature structure of Ba(5)Al(3)F(19) has been solved using electron microscopy and synchrotron powder diffraction data. One-dimensional (1D) (27)Al and ultrafast magic-angle-spinning (MAS) (19)F NMR spectra have been recorded and are in agreement with the proposed structural model for Ba(5)Al(3)F(19). The (19)F isotropic chemical shift and (27)Al quadrupolar parameters have been calculated using the CASTEP code from the experimental and density functional theory geometry-optimized structures. After optimization, the calculated NMR parameters of both the (19)F and (27)Al nuclei show improved consistency with the experimental values, demonstrating that the geometry optimization step is necessary to obtain more accurate and reliable structural data. This also enables a complete and unambiguous assignment of the (19)F MAS NMR spectrum of Ba(5)Al(3)F(19). Variable-temperature 1D MAS (19)F NMR experiments have been carried out, showing the occurrence of fluorine ion mobility. Complementary insights were obtained from both two-dimensional (2D) exchange and 2D double-quantum dipolar recoupling NMR experiments, and a detailed analysis of the anionic motion in Ba(5)Al(3)F(19) is proposed, including the distinction between reorientational processes and chemical exchange involving bond breaking and re-formation.     

Synthesis and photochemical behavior of the tetrazolo tautomer of 2-azido-4-pyrimidinone-2'-deoxyriboside

The 2-azido analogue of 2'-deoxyuridine was prepared in three steps from 2'-deoxy-2-thiouridine. The sulfur atom of the 2-thio nucleoside was methylated and then displaced by hydrazine to furnish the corresponding 2-hydrazino derivative. After diazotization, the 2-azido compound that exists as its tetrazolo tautomer was obtained. Upon UV irradiation in aqueous solution, the title compound led to isocytosine.     

Towards a Molecular Understanding of Cation-Anion Interactions and Self-aggregation of Adeninate Salts in DMSO by NMR and UV Spectroscopy and Crystallography

Rare anionic forms of nucleic acids play a significant biological role and lead to spontaneous mutations and replication and translational errors. There is a lack of information surrounding the stability and reactivity of these forms. Ion pairs of mono-sodium and -potassium salts of adenine exist in DMSO solution with possible cation coordination sites at the N1, N7 and N9 atoms of the purine ring. At increasing concentrations π-π stacked dimers are the predominant species of aggregates followed by higher order aggregation governed by coordination to metal cations in which the type of counter ion present has a central role in the aggregate formation.     

Iridium and Ruthenium Complexes Bearing Perylene Ligands

The present review summarizes the work carried out mostly in the last decade on iridium and ruthenium complexes bearing various perylene ligands, of particular interest for bioimaging, photodynamic therapy, and solar energy conversion. In these complexes, the absorption spectra and the electrochemical properties are those of the perylene subunit plus those of the metal moiety. In contrast, the emissions are completely changed with respect to perylenes considered alone. Thus, fully organic perylenes are characterized by a strong fluorescence in the visible region, lifetimes of a few nanoseconds, and luminescence quantum yields approaching 100%, whereas perylene Ir and Ru complexes usually do not emit; however, in few cases, weak phosphorescent emissions, with lifetimes in the range of microseconds and relatively low quantum yields, are reported. This is due to a strong interaction between the perylene core and the heavy metal center, taking place after the excitation. Nevertheless, an important advantage deriving from the presence of the heavy metal center is represented by the ability to generate large amounts of singlet oxygen, which plays a key role in photodynamic therapy.     

Coordination Sites for Sodium and Potassium Ions in Nucleophilic Adeninate Contact ion-Pairs: A Molecular-Wide and Electron Density-Based (MOWED) Perspective

The adeninate anion (Ade⁻) is a useful nucleophile used in the synthesis of many prodrugs (including those for HIV AIDS treatment). It exists as a contact ion-pair (CIP) with Na⁺ and K⁺ (M⁺) but the site of coordination is not obvious from spectroscopic data. Herein, a molecular-wide and electron density-based (MOWED) computational approach implemented in the implicit solvation model showed a strong preference for bidentate ion coordination at the N3 and N9 atoms. The N3N9-CIP has (i) the strongest inter-ionic interaction, by −30 kcal mol⁻¹, with a significant (10–15%) covalent contribution, (ii) the most stabilized bonding framework for Ade⁻, and (iii) displays the largest ion-induced polarization of Ade⁻, rendering the N3 and N9 the most negative and, hence, most nucleophilic atoms. Alkylation of the adeninate anion at these two positions can therefore be readily explained when the metal coordinated complex is considered as the nucleophile. The addition of explicit DMSO solvent molecules did not change the trend in most nucleophilic N-atoms of Ade⁻ for the in-plane M-Ade complexes in M-Ade-(DMSO)₄ molecular systems. MOWED-based studies of the strength and nature of interactions between DMSO solvent molecules and counter ions and Ade⁻ revealed an interesting and unexpected chemistry of intermolecular chemical bonding.     

A coated wire-type lead(II) ion-selective electrode based on a phosphorylated calix[4]arene derivative.

The preparation of a lead-selective electrode based on 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis-(diphenylphosphinoylmethoxy)calix[4]arene (1) as an ionophore is reported. The plasticized PVC membrane containing 30% PVC, 57% ortho-nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE), 4% sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and 9% ionophore 1 was directly coated on a graphite electrode. It exhibits a nearly Nernstian slope of 28.0 +/- 0.2 mV decade(-1) over a concentration range of 1 x 10(-5) - 1 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3) with a detection limit of 1.4 x 10(-6) mol dm(-3). The response time of the electrode was found to be ca. 17 s. The potential of the sensor was independent of the pH variation in the range 3.5 - 5.0. The selectivity of the electrode performance towards lead ions over Th4+, La3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Y3+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, NH4+ Ag+, Li+, Na+ and K+ ions was investigated. The prepared electrode was used successfully as an indicator electrode for a potentiometric titration of a lead solution using a standard solution of EDTA. The applicability of the sensor for Pb2+ measurements in various synthetic water samples spiked with lead nitrate was also checked.