Orbital Configuration of the Valence Electrons, Ligand Field Symmetry, and Manganese Oxidation States of the Photosynthetic Water Oxidizing Complex: Analysis of the S(2) State Multiline EPR Signals

A theoretical framework is presented for analysis of all three "multiline" EPR spectra (MLS) arising from the tetramanganese (Mn(4)) cluster in the S(2) oxidation state of the photosynthetic water oxidizing complex (WOC). Accurate simulations are presented which include anisotropy of the g and (four) (55)Mn hyperfine tensors, chosen according to a database of (55)Mn(III) and (55)Mn(IV) hyperfine tensors obtained previously using unbiased least-squares spectral fitting routines. In view of the large (30%) anisotropy common to Mn(III) hyperfine tensors in all complexes, previous MLS simulations which have assumed isotropic hyperfine constants have required physically unrealistic parameters. A simple model is found which offers good simulations of both the native "19-21-line" MLS and the "26-line" NH(3)-bound form of the MLS. Both a dimer-of-dimers and distorted-trigonal magnetic models are examined to describe the symmetry of the Heisenberg exchange interactions within the Mn(4) cluster and thus define the initial electronic basis states of the cluster. The effect of rhombic symmetry distortions is explicitly considered. Both magnetic models correspond to one of several possible structural models for the Mn(4) cluster proposed independently from Mn EXAFS studies. Simulated MLS were constructed for each of the eight (or seven) doublet states of the Mn(4) cluster in the WOC for the two viable oxidation models (3Mn(III)-1Mn(IV) or 3Mn(IV)-1Mn(III)), and using a wide range of axial Mn hyperfine tensors, with either coaxial or orthogonal tensor alignments. We find accurate simulations using the 3Mn(III)-1Mn(IV) oxidation model. In the dimer-of-dimers coupling model, the spin state conversion between two doublet states |S(12),S(34),S(T)|(7)/(2),4,(1)/(2)> and |(7)/(2),3,(1)/(2)> is found to explain the large (25%) contraction in the hyperfine splitting observed upon conversion from the native MLS to the NH(3)-bound MLS. Stabilization of this excited state as the new ground state is caused by change in the intermanganese exchange coupling, without appreciable change in the intrinsic hyperfine tensors. The lack of good simulations of the Ca(2+)-depleted MLS suggests that Ca(2+)-depletion changes both Mn ligation and intermanganese exchange coupling. The 3Mn(IV)-1Mn(III) oxidation model is disfavored because only approximate simulations could be found for the native MLS and no agreement with the NH(3)-bound MLS was obtained. The scalar part of the hyperfine tensors for both Mn(III) and Mn(IV) ions were found to approximate (+/-5%) the values for the dimanganese(III,IV) catalase enzyme, suggesting similar overall ligand types. However, the large (30%) anisotropic part of the Mn(III) hyperfine interaction is opposite in sign to that found in all tetragonally extended six-coordinate Mn(III) ions (i.e., the usual Jahn-Teller splitting). The distribution of spin density from the high-spin d(4) electron configuration of each Mn(III) ion corresponds to a flattened (oblate) ellipsoid. This electronic distribution is favored in five-coordinate ligand fields having trigonally compressed bipyramidal geometry, but it could also arise, in principle, in strained six-coordinate ligand fields having tetragonally compressed geometry, i.e. [Mn(2)(&mgr;-O)](4+) (reverse Jahn-Teller distortion). The resulting valence electronic configurations are described as e'(2)e"(2) and (d(pi))(3)(d(x)()()2(-)(y)()()2)(1), respectively, in contrast to the (d(pi))(3)(d(z)()()2)(1) configuration common to unstrained six-coordinate tetragonally-extended Mn(III) ions, such as found in the [Mn(2)(&mgr;-O)(2)](3+) core in several synthetic dimers and catalase. Both of the former geometries predict strongly oxidizing Mn(III) ions, thereby suggesting a structural basis for the oxidative reactivity of the Mn(4) cluster in the WOC. The magnetic model needed to explain the MLS is not readily reconciled with the simplest structural and electronic models deduced from EXAFS studies of the WOC.     

The design of an irradiator for the continuous processing of liquid latex

This paper presents anew design concept for a gamma irradiation plant for the continuous processing of pumpable liquids. Typical applications of such a plant include

• * the irradiation vulcanisation of natural latex rubber

• * disinfection of municipal sewage sludge for agricultural use

• * sterilisation of liquids in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries

• * industrial processing of bulk liquids

The authors describe the design and operation of the latex irradiator now operating on a small production scale in Malaysia and proposed developments.

The design allows irradiation processing to be carried out under an inert or other gaseous environment.

State-of-the-art computer control system ensures the fully automatic processing operation needed by industrial computers.     

Studies of the g factors and zero-field splitting for the trigonal Ti(2+)(Ga)-S(p) defect center in GaP crystal

The EPR g factors g(parallel), g(perpendicular) and zero-field splitting D suggested to be caused by a donor-acceptor nearest-neighbour pair defect [Ti(Ga)(2+)-Sp] in GaP:Ti(2+) co-doped with sulphur are calculated from the high-order perturbation formulas based on a two spin-orbit coupling parameter model for the EPR parameters of 3d(2) ion in trigonal symmetry. The calculated results are close to the observed values. The suggestion of [Ti(Ga)(2+)-Sp] pair defect in GaP:Ti co-doped with sulphur is also confirmed from this calculation.     

Solvent effects on infrared spectra of methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate in pure organic solvents and in ethanol/CCl4 binary solvents

Infrared spectroscopy studies of methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MHB) in 17 different organic solvents and in ethanol/CCl4 binary solvent were undertaken to investigate the solvent-solute interactions. The frequencies of carbonyl stretching vibration nu(C=O) of MHB in single solvents were correlated with the solvent acceptor number (AN) and the linear solvation energy relationships (LSER). The assignments of the two bands of nu(C=O) of MHB in alcohols and the single one of that in non-alcoholic solvents were discussed. The shifts of nu(C=O) of MHB in ethanol/CCl4 binary solvents showed that several kinds of solute-solvent hydrogen bonding interactions coexisted in the mixture solvents, with a change in the mole fraction of ethanol in the binary solvents.     

Phase separation of quaternary solubilized solutions or micro emulsion of hydrocarbons containing sodium oleate + phenol + benzene + water by freezing point measurements

Summary The depressions in freezing point measurements in quaternary solubilized solutions or micro-emulsion in sodium oleate + phenol + benzene + water are measured. Maxima and minima were observed, Gibbs' phase rule was applicable, eutectic points were detected, congruent melting points were obtained, loose combination of molecules or clusters, were formed, phases of the system transferred and finally unstable emulsion separated out. This is contrary to the views ofMcBain who called these solutions as thermodynamically stable. The results were compared with the conductivity, stability and heat of solubilization-concentration measurements.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird die Gefrierpunktserniedrigung von quaternären solubilisierten Lösungen im System Natriumoleat-Phenol-Benzol-Wasser gemessen. Die verschiedenen Befunde (Maxima und Minima des Gefrierpunktes in Abhängigkeit von der Zusammensetzung, Anwendbarkeit der Gibbs'schen Phasenregel, Auftreten von Eutektika, kongruente Schmelzpunkte etc.) dienen zum Beweis, daß diese Lösungen thermodynamisch instabil sind.

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With 5 figures and 1 table     

Effect of PEG on the crystallization of PPDO/PEG blends

A new biodegradable polymer system, poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blend was prepared by a solvent casting method using chloroform as a co-solvent. The PPDO/PEG blends have different weight ratios of 95/5, 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30. Crystallization of homopolymers and blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). When 5% of PEG was blended, the crystallization exothermal peaks (T_c) of PPDO increased sharply and the crystallization exothermal peaks (T_c) of PEG decreased slightly compared with the homopolymers. The crystallization rates of both components increased, and caused greater relative crystallization degree (X_t%). But when the content of PEG was more than 5%, the crystalline behaviors of blends had no more significant changes accordingly. The melting points of each sample varied little over the entire composition range in this study. The nonisothermal crystallization of PPDO homopolymer and blend (PPDO/PEG = 70/30) were also studied by DSC. The crystallization began at a higher temperature when the cooling rates were slower. The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of blends was analyzed by Ozawa equation. The results showed that the Ozawa equation failed to describe the whole crystallization of the blend, but Mo equation could depict the nonisothermal crystallization perfectly.     

Folded chain crystals as micro-phases

Summary A thermodynamic treatment of homo-polymer systems out of linear chains with folded chain crystals is developed outgoing from appropriate models for single component systems. An expansion of thermodynamics to multi-micro-phase systems the structure of which is partially or totaly frozen is indispensable. General properties of melt crystallized homopolymers with folded chain crystals can be recognized indeed when the thermodynamic formalisms developed are applied.

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Zusammenfassung Das Schmelzen in polymeren Einteilchensystemen mit Faltungskristallen einheitlicher Dicke kann thermodynamisch als Umwandlung 1. Ordnung in einer Richtung behandelt werden, wenn die Faltungslänge bis zur Umwandlungstemperatur konstant bleibt (Faltungslänge als innerer Zusatzparameter). Eine wesentliche begriffliche Erweiterung ist für eine phänomenologische Beschreibung mit den Mitteln der Thermodynamik unumgänglich, wenn eine Faltungskristallit-Dickenverteilung existiert, weil dann prinzipiell nur noch partielle Koexistenz bestimmter Fraktionen metastabiler autonomer Mikrophasen mit der Schmelze möglich ist. Partielles Aufschmelzen und Rektistallisation können so dann auch in Betracht genommen werden. Die entwickelten Konzeptionen bewähren sich in der Anwendung auf bekannte Experimente.

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Notation g ^c (y);g ^m (Y) molar Gibbs-free energy of a chain of a lengthy within an extended chain crystal and the melt rsp - g _o ^c ;g _o ^m molar free enthalpy of the unit in the crystal lattice and the melt rsp - g(y,y, f) molar Gibbs-function of an ideally folded chain crystal with the fold heighty _f - gco(y, y _ef,y _f) molar free enthalpy of the crystal corey _co - g ₀ ^ex ((y_ef) excess free enthalpy of the longitudinal layers of folded chain crystals - g ^f(y_ef,g _o ^ex ) molar free enthalpy of the longitudinal layers of the folded chain crystals - g ^tot molar free enthalpy of a chain of the lengthy within a folded chain crystal with longitudinal layers - h _o ^1c ,h _o ^m molar enthalpy of the chain unit within the crystal lattice and the melt rsp - h =h _o ^m -h _o ^c molar heat of fusion of the unit - C _p=C _p ^m -C _p ^c difference of the molar specific heat of a unit within the melt and within the chain crystal - h ^D molar defect enthalpy of local defects within the crystal lattice - h ^D molar defect enthalpy of the unit - s _o ^c ,s _o ^m molar entropy of the chain unit within the crystal lattice and the melt rsp - s _c ^m conformational entropy of a chain in the melt - s _gk conformational entropy of a chain of lengthy within a super-lattice as indicated in figure 5, - s molar entropy of fusion of the melt - s _n ^c nematic configurational entropy - T absolute temperature - T _M melting temperature of extended chain crystals of infinite size - T _M(y) melting temperature of extended chain crystals containing only chains of the lengthy - T _M (y, y _f) melting temperatureof folded chain crystals of the thicknessy _f composed of chains of the lengthy - T _M(y _f) melting temperature of folded chain crystals of the thicknessy _fy - _eh excess free enthalpy of the chain ends occupying crystallographic places - _ef excess free enthalpy of a single fold loop - z coordination number of the lattice - 7 Euler's constant - R Boltzmann's constant - y number of chain units - y _f height of lamelliform folded chain crystals - f=(y/y _f - 1) number of fold loops of a chain of a lengthy when being built into a folded chain crystal of the thicknessy _f - y _co thickness of the crystal core of the simplified twophase model - y _et average thickness of the surface layers of folded chain crystals - N _c number of crystallized units of a chain of the lengthy - x _c molar number of crystallized units of a chain of the lengthy - x _nc molar number of noncrystallized units - excess free enthalpy parameter - (y _f) thickness distribution of the fold heightsy _f With 15 figures and 2 tables     

Über 1-Alkyl-bzw. 1-Aryl-dihydro-6-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinthione

The title compounds7 are formed in a general reaction by heating β-isothiocyanoketones3 with primary amines in inert solvents, or by thermal elimination of water from tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-6-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinethiones5, also in inert solvents. The 1-alkyl compounds can also be prepared under similar conditions from α,β-unsaturated ketones by reaction with alkylammonium rhodanides. The NMR-spectra show that the 1-substituted dihydro-6-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinethiones are in tautomeric equilibrium with the tetrahydro-6-methylene-2(1H)-pyrimidinethiones13. The reactivity of 1-alkyl and 1-aryldihydro-6-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinethiones is similar to that of dihydro-4,4,6-trimethyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinethione7 j, although their ring stability is certainly less.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Sulfamids, 1. Mitt.: Zur Konstitution des Disilber-sulfamids

According to spectroscopic (IR, broadline proton NMR) and chemical (alkylation) investigations of disilver sulphamide the following molecular structure is assumed: $$\begin{gathered} O \hfill \\ || \hfill \\ H_2 N\_\_S\_\_NAg| \hfill \\ OAg \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ From the IR and NMR data deduction concerning the nature of the chemical bonds in this compound is possible. The instability of the still unknown mono-and trisilver sulphamide is discussed with regard to the structure of disilver sulphamide.     

The two-phase structure of segmented block copoly(ether ester)

The annealing induced morphological changes in isotropic block copoly(etherester)s are investigated by small angle X-ray scattering methods. The observed results are consistent with a lamellar model which is comprised of a crystalline core of thickness 35 to 45 Å, a diffuse boundary zone of width 9 Å, and an amorphous layer which is varying strongly in thickness. The enhanced crystallinity of the samples annealed at higher temperatures is mainly due the lateral growth of the lamellae; the long period increases by not more than 20%. The scattering power of the samples is explained by means of an equivalent two-phase model in which the crystalline phase has the same structure as theα-form of poly(butylene terephthalate), whereas the amorphous phase is a mixture of the uncrystallized ester segments and the ether segments. The crystallinity determined from the scattering power is very much higher than that determined from thermoanalytical investigations.