Second-order perturbation theory for the angular pair correlation function in molecular fluids

Second-order perturbation theory is used to calculate spherical harmonic coefficients of the angular pair correlation function g(rω₁ω₂) for a liquid in which the molecules interact with a pair potential that is the sum of Lennard-Jones and quadrupole-quadrupole parts. The theory is compared with both molecular dynamics results and with the predictions of the GMF ≡ LHNC, QHNC and first-order perturbation theories. Second-order perturbation theory gives excellent results for the harmonic coefficient g(224,r), but is poorer for g(222,r) and g(202,r).     

From solution-phase to solid-phase enyne metathesis: crossover in the relative performance of two commonly used ruthenium pre-catalysts

A crossover in the ability of two distinct ruthenium-based metathesis pre-catalysts to effect the synthesis of dialkenylboronic esters in solution and on the solid-phase was observed. Specifically, while the Grubbs 2nd generation pre-catalyst 3 affords a greater degree of conversion to product than the Hoveyda-Grubbs pre-catalyst 2 in a solution-phase enyne-metathesis reaction, this trend is reversed in the solid-phase variant. Systematic investigation showed this trend to be general, regardless of variations in the homoallylic alcohol and alkynylboronic ester components of the reaction, as well as in the type of solid support employed. Experiments to determine a mechanistic hypothesis for this trend highlighted the significance of the ruthenium remaining bound to the substrate after metathetic rearrangement and found the presence of phosphine ligand to be detrimental to the success of the solid-phase reaction. Therefore, these results suggest an expanded role for phosphine-free pre-catalysts, such as 2, in challenging solid-phase metathesis reactions.     

Monte Carlo study of the pair correlation function for a liquid with non-central forces

The pair correlation function g(R), giving the probability that the centers of two nonspherical molecules are a distance R apart irrespective of their orientations, has been studied by the Monte Carlo method. The pair potential model studied is of the type u_o + u_a, where u_o is the isotropic Lennard-Jones (12,6) potential and u_a is either a dipole-dipole, quadrupole-quadrupole, or anisotropic overlap interaction. Dipolar and quadrupolar forces are found to have a small effect on g(R), whereas anisotropic overlap forces have a large effect.     

The Crystal structure of 2-Diisopropylamino-3,7-dehydrotropone

Die erste Röntgenstrukturanalyse eines 3,7-Dehydrotropon ( 1 )-Derivates, nämlich von 2-Diisopropylammo-3,7-dehydrotropon ( 4 ) zeigt das Ringsystem in 4 als planaren Bicyclus mit nahezu C_2V-Symmetrie. Dementsprechend enthalten Dehydrotropone formell zwei trans-konfigurierte Doppelbindungen in einem 7-gliedrigen Ring; auch das O-Atom und das N-Atom mit seinen Ligandatomen liegen in derselben Ebene wie die Ringatome. Die Bindung zwischen den beiden C-Atomen, welche die Heteroatome tragen, (C(1) and C(2)), ist wesentlich langer (1,56 Å) als die anderen Bindungen im Ringsystem (1,37-1,46 Å). Dies impliziert eine ‘push-pull’-π-Elektronen-Delokalisierung, in der auch das O-und das N-Atom involviert sind, und macht eine ‘aromatische’ Ring-Delokalisierung weniger wahr-scheinlich. Im Gegensatz zu 2-(t-Butyl)-3,7-dehydrotropon ( 3 ) existiert das 2-Diiso-propylamino-3,7-dehydrotropon ( 4 ) im Kristall als Monomeres, was dem stabili-sierenden Einfluss der ‘push-pull’-Delokausierung zugeschrieben werden kann.     

Study of deposition offset in plasma spray of zirconia

Numerical modeling and experimental measurements have been performed to study the effects of powder carrier gas flow rates and powder sizes on the deposition offset in a plasma spray of yttria-stablized zirconia. The mathematical model involved simultaneous solution of the continuity, momentum and energy equations of the plasma gas, the dynamics and heat transfer of powder particles in the plasma, and the coupling effects between the plasma and panicles. Experiments included measurement of particle velocities by laser strobe technique and measurement of deposition offset. Calculated plasma temperatures and velocities are greater than 13,000 K and 2,000 m/s, respectively, in the vicinity of nozzle exit. For the plasma-particle momentum transfer, the drag coefficient was computed in two ways- with corrections accounting for the strongly varying plasma properties, and without these corrections. Calculated and experimental results, in respect to deposition offset, are in agreement to within 25% when calculated without varying properties corrections, and within about 40% with corrections; agreement in respect to average particle velocities is within 20% when calculated without varying properties corrections, and within the range 30–50% with corrections.     

Tertiary contact formation in alpha-synuclein probed by electron transfer

To explore tertiary contact formation in alpha-synuclein, a natively unfolded protein implicated in Parkinson's disease, we have measured the rates of reaction between a powerful electron donor, the tryptophan (W) triplet excited state, and an acceptor, 3-nitro-tyrosine (Y(NO2)) in six different variants, probing loop sizes between 15 and 132 residues. Electron transfer rates decrease with loop size with the fastest contact time of 140 ns for the N-terminal pair and the slowest of 1.2 mus for the N- to C-terminal pair. Diffusion coefficients ranging from approximately 2 x 10-6 to approximately 10-5 cm2 s-1 were extracted from simultaneous fits of the W to Y(NO2) electron (triplet excited state) and energy transfer (singlet excited state) kinetics.     

Lowest electronic excited states of platinum(II) diimine complexes

Absorption and emission spectra of Pt(diimine)L2 complexes (diimine = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy); L = pyrazolate (pz-), 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate (dmpz-), or 3,4,5-trimethylpyrazolate (tmpz-)) have been measured. Solvent-sensitive absorption bands (370-440 nm) are attributed to spin-allowed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (1MLCT) transitions. As solids and in 77 K glassy solution, Pt(bpy)(pz)2 and Pt(dmbpy)(pz)2 exhibit highly structured emission systems (lambda max approximately 494 nm) similar to those of the diprotonated forms of these complexes. The highly structured bands (spacings 1000-1400 cm-1) indicate that the transition originates in a diimine-centered 3(pi-->pi*) (3LL) excited state. The intense solid-state and 77 K glassy solution emissions from 3MLCT[d(Pt)-->pi*(bpy)] excited states of complexes with dmpz- and tmpz- ligands occur at longer wavelengths (lambda max = 500-610 nm), with much broader vibronic structure. These findings are consistent with increasing electron donation of the pyrazolate ligands, leading to a distinct crossover from a lowest 3LL to a 3MLCT excited state.     

Simultaneous quantification of terpenelactones and flavonol aglycones in hydrolyzed ginkgo biloba extract by liquid chromatography with inline ultraviolet and evaporative light scattering detection

We report here a liquid chromatography (LC) method with inline ultraviolet/evaporative light scattering (UV/ELS) detection for the simultaneous quantification of the terpenelactones and flavonol aglycones in a single sample of hydrolyzed Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE). The sample is hydrolyzed by a rapid and convenient oven heating method for 1 h at 90 degrees C with 10% hydrochloric acid. The 1 h hydrolysis was found to be equivalent to the 2.25 h reflux treatment for dry powder extract, where total flavonol glycosides were 28.4 and 28.1%, respectively. Acceptable precision was achieved for total terpenelactones [relative standard deviation (RSD) = 4.8%] by ELS detection, and total flavonol aglycones (RSD = 2.3%) by UV detection. The analytical range was 1.5 to 7.3% (w/w) for the individual terpenelactones (ELS) and 2.5 to 15.0% (w/w) for the individual glycosides (UV) calculated from the aglycones quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. This improved method allows for the first time high throughput sample preparation coupled with the quantification of the predominant compounds generally used for quality control of GBE in a single assay.     

A radiochemical study of the kinetics of exchange between manganese oxides and some cations in solution

The kinetics of the exchange between⁵⁶Mn-labelled manganese dioxide and cations in aqueous solution was studied by measuring the β⁻ activity acquired by the solution. The results of the exchange between a chemical γ MnO₂ and a divalent M²⁺ ion (M=Mn, Co, Cu or Zn) or a trivalent M³⁺ ion (M=Ga, Fe, In, Rh or Al) indicate a fast initial process followed by a diffusion—controlled exchange. It is assumed that M²⁺ ions exchange with Mn²⁺ ions and M³⁺ ions exchange with Mn³⁺ ions in MnO₂. The process depends on the radii of the host and substituent ions and on consideration of crystal field stabilisation energies. It seems that the γ MnO₂ studied contains more Mn³⁺ than Mn²⁺ ions. The possibility of the exchange between Mn ions and cations of a different charge cannot be ruled out. The exchange between Co²⁺ ions and MnO₂ was enhanced in presence of pyrophosphate, which stabilises Mn(III) as a complex. The fraction of Mn in different samples of MnO₂ exchanged with a given cation depends on the type and not on the surface area of the sample.