A new application of statistical moment theory to evaluate the swelling behavior of thermo-responsive gels

The loosely cross-linked poly(acryloyl-L -proline methyl ester) gel, which is known as one of the typical thermo-responsive gels, shows a volume transition around approximately 14°C in pure water. This volume transition is shifted to higher temperature by treatment in aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The analysis of the swelling-temperature curve (frequency distribution) was performed according to a moment analysis, in which the area under the swelling-temperature curve (AUC), mean swelling transition temperature (MSTT) and variance of swelling transition temperature (VSTT) were calculated. It is shown that the apparent volume transition temperature can be estimated from MSTT and that VSTT can be used to characterize the shape of the corresponding curves.     

Study of reduction processes over cerium oxide surfaces with atomic hydrogen using ultra accelerated quantum chemical molecular dynamics

Ceria plays an important role in catalysis, due to its ability to store and release oxygen depending on the condition present in the catalyst environment. To analyze the role of ceria in catalytic reactions, it is necessary to know the details of the interaction of ceria surface with environmentally sensitive molecules. This study was conducted using ultra accelerated quantum chemical molecular dynamics. Its purpose was to investigate the reduction process of the (1 1 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces of ceria with atomic hydrogen as well as water desorption mechanisms from the surfaces. This simulation demonstrated that when a high-energy colliding hydrogen atoms are adsorbed on the ceria, it pulls up an O atom from the ceria surfaces and results in the formation of a H₂O molecule. This is the first dynamics simulation related to such reduction processes based on quantum chemistry.     

C-S bond cleavage of pyridine-2-thiol: a new functionality of quadruply bridged dinuclear platinum and palladium complexes

Treatment of pyridine-2-thiol (pytH) with H(2) (60 atm) in the presence of 5-methylpyridine-2-thiolate (5-mpyt)-bridged dinuclear Pt(III), Pt(II), or Pd(II) complexes (1 mol %) in DMF at 150 degrees C for 72 h leads to the formation of pyridine in 3-51% yield. From the (1)H NMR study of the exchange reactions and of the products under D(2) pressure, it is suggested that the catalytic reaction involves bimetallic activation of the pyt ligand followed by the liberation of pyridine and H(2)S.     

Spectroscopic and crystallographic studies on the stability of self-assembled coordination nanotubes

On complexation with (en)Pd(NO3)2, tetrakis(3,5-pyridine) ligand gives two isomeric coordination nanotubes, which are in slow equilibrium despite the presence of sixteen Pd-N bonds in the tube framework.     

Reaction of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanopyrazine with enamines and some tertiary amines

The reaction of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanopyrazine ( 1 ) with enamines as well as a few tertiary amines as enamine precursors was investigated. Both reactions gave aminovinyl-substituted pyrazine derivatives. During the attempted purification of 3c or 3d by column chromatography on silica gel, 2-chloro-5,6-dicyano-3-(1′-oxocyclopent-2′-yl)pyrazine ( 4 ) was obtained, apparently by hydrolytic cleavage. The products prepared are all of interest as potential pesticides.     

Immobilization of microbial cells by radiation-induced polymerization of glass-forming monomers and immobilization ofStreptomyces phaeochromogenes cells by polymerization of various hydrophobic monomers

The immobilization ofStreptomyces phaeochromogenes cells was studied by the radiation-induced polymerization of various hydrophobic glass-forming monomers at low temperatures. The glucose isomerase activity of cells immobilized in hydrophobic polymers showed no decrease in activity with repeated use (batch enzyme reaction). Activity increased with increasing monomer concentration in contrast to results with the immobilized enzyme. The hydrophobic polymer composite was microspheric in form. The particle diameter of the composite increased with the increasing monomer concentration.K _m values of the immobilized cells were close to that of intact cells. It was deduced that the cells were trapped on the surface part of the hydrophobic polymer ready to react with the substrate, and not within the matrix where diffusion would play an important role in reaction rates.