Photoelectron spectra and ion chemistry of imidazolide

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of imidazolide anion has been measured. The electron affinity (EA) of the imidazolyl radical is determined to be 2.613 +/- 0.006 eV. Vibrational frequencies of 955 +/- 15 and 1365 +/- 20 cm(-1) are observed in the spectrum of the (2)B1 ground state of the imidazolyl radical. The main features in the spectrum are well-reproduced by Franck-Condon simulation based on the optimized geometries and the normal modes obtained at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of density functional theory. The two vibrational frequencies are assigned to totally symmetric modes with C-C and N-C stretching motions. Overtone peaks of an in-plane nontotally symmetric mode are observed in the spectrum and attributed to Fermi resonance. Also observed is the photoelectron spectrum of the anion formed by deprotonation of imidazole at the C5 position. The EA of the corresponding radical, 5-imidazolyl, is 1.992 +/- 0.010 eV. The gas phase acidity of imidazole has been determined using a flowing afterglow-selected ion tube; delta(acid)G298 = 342.6 +/- 0.4 and delta(acid)H298 = 349.7 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1). From the EA of imidazolyl radical and gas phase acidity of imidazole, the bond dissociation energy for the N-H bond in imidazole is determined to be 95.1 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1). These thermodynamic parameters for imidazole and imidazolyl radical are compared with those for pyrrole and pyrrolyl radical, and the effects of the additional N atom in the five-membered ring are discussed.     

Crystal structures of two complexes of the rare-earth-DOTA-binding antibody 2D12.5: ligand generality from a chiral system

We report the crystal structures of antibody 2D12.5 Fab bound to an yttrium-DOTA analogue and separately to a gadolinium-DOTA analogue. The rare earth elements have many useful properties as probes, and 2D12.5 binds the DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N' ',N' "-tetraacetic acid) complexes of all of them (Corneillie et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 3436-3437). The structures show that there are no direct protein-metal interactions: a bridging water acts as a link between the protein and metal, with the chelate present as the M isomer in each case. DOTA forms an amphipathic cylinder with the charged carboxylate groups toward the face of the chelate near the metal ion, while nonpolar methylene groups from the macrocycle and the carboxymethyl groups occupy the rear and sides of the molecule. The orientation of the metal-DOTA in the 2D12.5 complex places most of the methylene carbon atoms of DOTA in hydrophobic contact with aromatic protein side chains. Other binding interactions between the metal complex and the antibody include a bidentate salt bridge, four direct H-bonds, and four to five water-mediated H-bonds. We find that 2D12.5 exhibits enantiomeric binding generality, binding yttrium chelates in both Lambda(deltadeltadeltadelta) and Delta(lambdalambdalambdalambda) configurations with modestly different affinities. This develops from the symmetrical nature of the DOTA chelate, which places heteroatoms and hydrophobic atoms in approximately the same relative positions regardless of the helicity of DOTA.     

Polysilicato-iron for improved NOM removal and membrane performance

The natural organic matter (NOM) removal efficiency of polysilicato-iron (PSI) coagulants and the fouling potential of PSI pretreated waters have been studied using two microfiltration (MF) membrane types: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF-2) and polypropylene (PP). The results showed that PSI coagulant with a Si/Fe ratio of 1 (PSI-1) was the most effective, compared to conventional coagulants, in removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and in improving the fouling potential. A relative flux of unity through PVDF-2 membrane was achieved for both water sources pretreated with PSI-1.

Aluminium-based coagulants, particularly aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH), worked best at lower coagulant dose. Increasing the coagulant dose to improve DOC removal led to increased membrane fouling, possibly due to increased level of unsettleable flocs and pore blocking. For PSI with larger floc size, the advantage of increased DOC removal was not overridden by the adverse effect of pore blocking. In addition, the residual neutral fraction in the waters and/or the presence of a filter cake on the membrane surfaces seemed to have a limiting effect on the fouling rates through both PP and PVDF-2 membranes to the extent that similar rates were obtained, despite substantial differences in DOC removal.

In contrast, these limiting factors did not influence the fouling potential of PSI-1 treated waters through the PVDF-2 membrane, as suggested by the relative flux of unity for both water sources. It is suggested that the oxide deposits on the PVDF-2 membrane may act as a ‘screening layer’, acting as pre-filtration by the filter cake. This layer may be effectively removed by backwashing, together with deposited NOM, throughout the experiment to maintain the flux at unity. The hydrophobic nature of the PP membrane may discourage the deposition of the oxides, thus minimising the positive effects of the oxides in the system. The high removal of hydrophobic fractions by PSI-1 may also lead to less association between residual NOM and less binding to the membranes, particularly on the PVDF-2 membrane.     

Design of microfluidic channel geometries for the control of droplet volume, chemical concentration, and sorting

Passive microfluidic channel geometries for control of droplet fission, fusion and sorting are designed, fabricated, and tested. In droplet fission, the inlet width of the bifurcating junction is used to control the range of breakable droplet sizes and the relative resistances of the daughter channels were used to control the volume of the daughter droplets. Droplet fission is shown to produce concentration differences in the daughter droplets generated from a primary drop with an incompletely mixed chemical gradient, and for droplets in each of the bifurcated channels, droplets were found to be monodispersed with a less than 2% variation in size. Droplet fusion is demonstrated using a flow rectifying design that can fuse multiple droplets of same or different sizes generated at various frequencies. Droplet sorting is achieved using a bifurcating flow design that allows droplets to be separated base on their sizes by controlling the widths of the daughter channels. Using this sorting design, submicron satellite droplets are separated from the larger droplets.     

A synthetic glycan array containing Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan capsular polysaccharide fragments allows the mapping of protective epitopes

A convergent synthetic strategy to Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) capsular polysaccharide part structures was developed based on di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexasaccharide thioglycoside building blocks. The approach permitted the synthesis of a library of spacer-containing serotype A and D related GXM oligosaccharide structures, ranging from di- to octadecasaccharides. Ten deprotected GXM compounds (mono- to decasaccharide) were printed onto microarray plates and screened with seventeen mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to GXM. For the first time a GXM oligosaccharide structure (a serotype A decasaccharide), capable of being recognized by neutralizing forms of these GXM-specific mAbs, has been identified, offering insight into the binding epitopes of a range of protective monoclonal antibodies and furthering our efforts to develop semi-synthetic conjugate vaccine candidates against C. neoformans.

A library of Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) oligosaccharides was synthesized using a thioglycoside building block strategy. The first GXM microarray was printed, allowing mapping of epitopes of antibodies directed towards GXM.     

Food safety evaluation: Detection and confirmation of chloramphenicol in milk by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid procedure for extraction of chloramphenicol (CAP) in milk and analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry in tandem was developed. The method consisted of one step of liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate and acidified water (10 mmol L⁻¹ formic acid) and HPLC-MS/MS detection. CAP-D5 was used as internal standard. The method was validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The calibration curves were linear, with typical r² values higher than 0.98. Absolute recovery of CAP from milk proved to be more than 95%, however CAP-D5 absolute recovery was 75%. The method was accurate and reproducible, being successfully applied to the monitoring of CAP in milk samples obtained from the Brazilian market. Decision limit (CCα) was 0.05 ng mL⁻¹ and detection capability (CCβ) was 0.09 ng mL⁻¹.     

Ni(Et2PCH2NMeCH2PEt2)2]2+ as a functional model for hydrogenases

The reaction of Et(2)PCH(2)N(Me)CH(2)PEt(2) (PNP) with [Ni(CH(3)CN)(6)](BF(4))(2) results in the formation of [Ni(PNP)(2)](BF(4))(2), which possesses both hydride- and proton-acceptor sites. This complex is an electrocatalyst for the oxidation of hydrogen to protons, and stoichiometric reaction with hydrogen forms [HNi(PNP)(PNHP)](BF(4))(2), in which a hydride ligand is bound to Ni and a proton is bound to a pendant N atom of one PNP ligand. The free energy associated with this reaction has been calculated to be -5 kcal/mol using a thermodynamic cycle. The hydride ligand and the NH proton undergo rapid intramolecular exchange with each other and intermolecular exchange with protons in solution. [HNi(PNP)(PNHP)](BF(4))(2) undergoes reversible deprotonation to form [HNi(PNP)(2)](BF(4)) in acetonitrile solutions (pK(a) = 10.6). A convenient synthetic route to the PF(6)(-) salt of this hydride involves the reaction of PNP with Ni(COD)(2) to form Ni(PNP)(2), followed by protonation with NH(4)PF(6). A pK(a) of value of 22.2 was measured for this hydride. This value, together with the half-wave potentials of [Ni(PNP)(2)](BF(4))(2), was used to calculate homolytic and heterolytic Ni-H bond dissociation free energies of 55 and 66 kcal/mol, respectively, for [HNi(PNP)(2)](PF(6)). Oxidation of [HNi(PNP)(2)](PF(6)) has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, and the results are consistent with a rapid migration of the proton from the Ni atom of the resulting [HNi(PNP)(2)](2+) cation to the N atom to form [Ni(PNP)(PNHP)](2+). Estimates of the pK(a) values of the NiH and NH protons of these two isomers indicate that proton migration from Ni to N should be favorable by 1-2 pK(a) units. Cyclic voltammetry and proton exchange studies of [HNi(depp)(2)](PF(6)) (where depp is Et(2)PCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)PEt(2)) are also presented as control experiments that support the important role of the bridging N atom of the PNP ligand in the proton exchange reactions observed for the various Ni complexes containing the PNP ligand. Similarly, structural studies of [Ni(PNBuP)(2)](BF(4))(2) and [Ni(PNP)(dmpm)](BF(4))(2) (where PNBuP is Et(2)PCH(2)N(Bu)CH(2)PEt(2) and dmpm is Me(2)PCH(2)PMe(2)) illustrate the importance of tetrahedral distortions about Ni in determining the hydride acceptor ability of Ni(II) complexes.     

Synthesis and Properties of 2‐Phenylbenzoxazole‐Based Luminophores for in situ Photopolymerized Liquid‐Crystal Films

We report the synthesis of a series of blue‐emitting 2‐phenylbenzoxazoles (PBOs) substituted at either the 5‐ or 6‐position of the benzoxazole ring and the para‐position of the phenyl substituent. The thermal and optical properties of the materials can be rationalized in terms of the position of the substituent at the benzoxazole moiety and the electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating character of the substituents. From the results, we conclude that the combination of an electron‐donating substituent at the benzoxazole fragment and an electron‐withdrawing one at the phenyl fragment has a more marked effect on the electronic properties of the aromatic PBO core than other possibilities. This particular combination gives luminophores that are suitable for optical applications on the basis of their high emission efficiency and photostability. In view of that, oriented films were prepared by in situ polymerization of a mixture of a liquid crystalline direactive matrix containing 5% (w/w) of the luminophore. The films exhibit linearly polarized emission.     

Dispersive kinetic models for isothermal solid-state conversions and their application to the thermal decomposition of oxacillin

The authors recently published works in which the use of two novel equations for modeling the dispersive kinetics observed in various solid-state conversions are described. These equations are based on the assumptions of a ‘Maxwell-Boltzmann (M-B)-like’ distribution of activation energies and a first-order rate law. In the present work, it is shown that it may be possible to expand the approach to include mechanisms other than first-order, i.e. some of those commonly encountered in the field of thermal analysis, thus obtaining ‘dispersive versions’ of these kinetic models. The application of these dispersive kinetic models to the slightly sigmoidal, isothermal conversion-time (x-t) data of Rodante and co-workers for the degradation of the antibiotic, oxacillin, is described. This is done in an effort to test the limitations of the proposed dispersive models in describing kinetic data which is not clearly sigmoidal (i.e. as shown in previous works). Finally, it is demonstrated that, using graphical analysis, the typically sigmoidal x-t plots of first-order dispersive processes are the direct result of (asymmetric) activation energy distributions that are either ‘∩-shaped’ (for heterogeneous conversions) or ‘∪-shaped’ (for homogeneous conversions) in appearance, i.e. when the activation energy is plotted as a function of conversion. This finding lends support to the founding hypothesis of the authors’ approach for modeling dispersive kinetic processes: the existence of ‘M-B-like’ distributions of activation energies.