Synthesis and dispersion of Ni(OH)2 platelet-like nanoparticles in water

Synthesis of nanometric platelet-like Ni(OH)2 particles is described. The role of several experimental parameters on the particle size is investigated. A colloidal dispersion of particles is produced by adsorbing ionizable organic ligands (trisodium citrate) on the particle surface. The stability of this colloidal dispersion and the particle charge density are determined for different citrate ions concentrations.     

Carbon monoxide induced decomposition of the active site [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster of CO dehydrogenase

During the past two years, crystal structures of Cu- and Mo-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODHs) and Ni- and Fe-containing CODHs have been reported. The active site of CODHs from anaerobic bacteria (cluster C) is composed of Ni, Fe, and S for which crystallographic studies of the enzymes from Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Moorella thermoaceticarevealed structural similarities in the overall protein fold but showed substantial differences in the essential Ni coordination environment. The [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster C in the fully catalytically competent dithionite-reduced CODH II from C. hydrogenoformans (CODHII(Ch)) at 1.6 A resolution contains a characteristic mu(2)-sulfido ligand between Ni and Fe1, resulting in a square-planar ligand arrangement with four S-ligands at the Ni ion. In contrast, the [Ni-4Fe-4S] clusters C in CO-treated CODH from R. rubrum resolved at 2.8 A and in CO-treated acetyl-CoA synthase/CODH complex from M. thermoacetica at 2.2 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively, do not contain the mu(2)-sulfido ligand between Ni and Fe1 and display dissimilar geometries at the Ni ion. The [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster is composed of a cubane [Ni-3Fe-4S] cluster linked to a mononuclear Fe site. The described coordination geometries of the Ni ion in the [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster of R. rubrum and M. thermoacetica deviate from the square-planar ligand geometry in the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster C of CODHII(Ch). In addition, the latter was converted into a [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster under specific conditions. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the structure of cluster C in CODHII(Ch) and the functionality of the protein. We have determined the CO oxidation activity of CODHII(Ch) under different conditions of crystallization, prepared crystals of the enzyme in the presence of dithiothreitol or dithionite as reducing agents under an atmosphere of N(2) or CO, and solved the corresponding structures at 1.1 to 1.6 A resolutions. Fully active CODHII(Ch) obtained after incubation of the enzyme with dithionite under N(2) revealed the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster. Short treatment of the enzyme with CO in the presence of dithiothreitol resulted in a catalytically competent CODHII(Ch) with a CO-reduced [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster, but a prolonged treatment with CO caused the loss of CO-oxidizing activity and revealed a [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster, which did not contain a mu(2)-S. These data suggest that the [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster of CODHII(Ch) is an inactivated decomposition product originating from the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster.     

Directed evolution experiments reveal mutations at cycloartenol synthase residue His477 that dramatically alter catalysis

[reaction: see text] Cycloartenol synthase cyclizes and rearranges oxidosqualene to the protosteryl cation and then specifically deprotonates from C-19. To identify mutants that deprotonate differently, randomly generated mutant cycloartenol synthases were selected in a yeast lanosterol synthase mutant. A novel His477Asn mutant was uncovered that produces 88% lanosterol and 12% parkeol. The His477Gln mutant produces 73% parkeol, 22% lanosterol, and 5% Delta(7)-lanosterol. These are the most accurate lanosterol synthase and parkeol synthase that have been generated by mutagenesis.     

Substituent Effects on the C-C Bond Strength, 15[1] Geminal Substituent Effects, 7[2]. Thermochemistry and Thermal Decomposition of Alkyl-substituted Tricyanomethyl Compounds

The thermolysis reactions of the tricyanomethyl compounds 10a-c were studied in solution. 2,2-Dicyano-3-methyl-3-phenylbutyronitrile ( 10a ) and 2,2-dicyano-3-methyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)butyronitrile ( 10b ) decomposed heterolytically into carbenium ions and (CN)₃C⁻ anions, while 9-methyl-9-(tricyanomethyl)fluorene ( 10c ) underwent about 11% homolytic C-C bond cleavage into 9-methyl-9-fluorenyl- and tricyanomethyl radicals. The rates of the homolysis were determined by a radical scavenger procedure under conditions of pseudozero order kinetics. From the temperature effect on the rate constants the activation parameters were determined [ΔH ( 10c ) = 155· 2 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS ( 10c ) = 58· 5 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹]. Standard enthalpies of formation ΔH (g) were determined for 2,2-dicyanopropionitrile ( 2 ) (422.45 kJ mol⁻¹), 2,2-dicyanohexanenitrile ( 3 ) (349.74 kJ mol⁻¹), 2,2-dicyano-3-phenylpropionitrile ( 4 ) (540.75 kJ mol⁻¹), 2-butyl-2-methylhexanentrile ( 5 ) (-133.20 kJ mol⁻¹), 2,2-dimethylpentanenitrile ( 6 ) (-45.78 kJ mol⁻¹), and 2-methylbutyronitrile ( 7 ) (2.44 kJ mol⁻¹) from the enthalpies of combustion and enthalpies of sublimation/vaporization. From these data and known Δ (g) values for alkanenitriles and -dinitriles, thermochemical increments for ΔH (g) were derived for alkyl groups with one, two, or three cyano groups attached. The comparison of these increments with those of alkanes reveals a strong geminal destabilization, which is interpreted by dipolar repulsions between the cyano groups. - From ΔH (g) of 10c and ΔH of its homolytic decomposition the radical stabilization enthalpy for the tricyanomethyl radical 1 RSE ( 1 ) = -18 kJ mol⁻¹ was determined. Thus, 1 is destabilized, in comparison with the RSEs of tertiary α-cyanalkyl (23 kJ mol⁻¹) and α,α-dicyanoalkyl (27 kJ mol⁻¹) radicals, which were recalculated from bond homolysis measurements^[4] and the new thermochemical data. This change of RSE on increasing the number of α-cyano groups is discussed as the result of the additive contributions by resonance stabilization and increasing destabilization by dipolar repulsion. The amount of the dipolar energies was estimated by molecular mechanics (MM2).     

Thermochemical study of aliphatic and phenyl-substituted geminal diacetates

The standard enthalpies of combustion _c H ^o of aliphatic diacetates1 and aromatic diacetates2 were measured calorimetrically. The enthalpies of vaporization _vap H ^o or sublimation _sub H ^o of1 and2 were obtained from the temperature function of the vapor pressure measured in a flow system. From _f H ^o(g) of1 and2 new values of group increments for the estimation of standard enthalpies of formation of these classes of compounds were derived. The geminal interaction energy between the geminal acyloxy groups shows no anomeric stabilization.Geminal Substituent Effects, Part 12, for part 11 see Ref. 7.     

Automated multi-attribute method sample preparation using high-throughput buffer exchange tips

Rationale

The multi-attribute method (MAM) has become a valuable mass spectrometry (MS)-based tool that can identify and quantify the site-specific product attributes and purity information for biotherapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fusion molecules in recent years. As we expand the use of the MAM at various stages of drug development, it is critical to enhance the sample preparation throughput without additional chemical modifications and variability.

Methods

In this study, a fully automated MAM sample preparation protocol is presented, where rapid desalting in less than 15 minutes is achieved using miniaturized size-exclusion chromatography columns in pipette tips on an automated liquid handler. The peptide samples were analyzed using an electrospray ionization (ESI) orbitrap mass spectrometer coupled to an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system with a dual column switching system.

Results

No significant change was observed in product attributes and their quantities compared with manual, low-artifact sample preparation. The sample recovery using the buffer exchange tips was greatly enhanced over the manual spin cartridges while still demonstrating excellent reproducibility for a wide variety of starting sample concentrations. Unlike a plate desalting system, the individual columns provide flexibility in the number of samples prepared at a time and sample locations within plates.

Conclusions

This automated protocol enables the preparation of up to 96 samples with less “at-bench” time than the manual preparation of a smaller batch of samples, thereby greatly facilitating support of process development and the use of the MAM in quality control.

     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Spectral Properties of a Cobalt(II) Complex with N‐Salicylidene‐p‐Toluidine

The complex Co(C₁₄H₁₃NO)₂Cl₂ with the protonated N‐salicylidene‐p‐toluidine ligand was synthesized from an ethanolic solution of CoCl₂·6H₂O and N‐salicylidene‐p‐toluidine. The crystal structure was determined from X‐ray single crystal data (monoclinic, space group Cc, a = 1496.2(3) pm, b = 1257.4(4) pm, c = 1544.6(3) pm, β = 115.01(1)°, Z = 4). Co²⁺ adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The UV‐Vis and IR spectra of the complex are discussed.     

Beiträge zur Untersuchung anorganischer nichtstöchiometrischer Verbindungen. XIV. Oxydationsprodukte von orthorhombischem Nb12O29 Elektronenoptische Untersuchung

Contributions to the Investigation of Inorganic Non-stoichiometric Compounds. XIV. Oxidation Products of Orthorhombic Nb₁₂O₂₉, Electron Optical Investigation An electron optical investigation shows that the orthorhombic starting material Nb₁₂O₂₉(BII) is well ordered. The oxidation products Nb₂O₅(Ox1BII) and Nb₂O₅(Ox2BII) are different from each other in structures as well as in their reactions. Nb₂O₅(Ox1BII) is unstable in the electron beam and differs from BII by characteristic point-defects. The radiation load can lead to the reduction to BII or to a transition into a defect structure with R-type-tunnels. The not well ordered structure of Nb₂O₅(Ox2BII) is stable in the electron beam. Characteristic is the sequence of [2×5] and [3×4] blocks, the latter in two different orientations. The observed composition O/Nb = 2.500 can be described by the present structural modell assuming vacant niobium tetrahedral sites. The large structural differences between the oxidation products of the orthorhombic and the monoclinic Nb₁₂O₂₉ are remarkable.     

Photometrische Bestimmung von Antimon mit Methylfluoron

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Arbeitsvorschrift zur photometrischen Bestimmung kleiner Mengen Antimon mit Methylfluoron beschrieben. Die günstigsten Arbeitsbedingungen und die Störung durch Fremdionen werden untersucht. Das Extinktionsmaximum liegt bei 530 nm. Die photometrische Bestimmung wird bei 495 nm durchgeführt. Das Beersche Gesetz ist im Bereich von 0,2– 4 g Sb/ml erfüllt, die Bestimmungsgrenze liegt bei 0,21 g Sb/ml · cm. Der Zeitbedarf einer Einzelbestimmung beträgt 15–20 min.Für die sorgfältige Durchführung der zahlreichen Versuche sprechen wir Herrn H. Siffrin unseren Dank aus.     

A multitechnique surface analytical study of a segmented block copolymer poly(ether-urethane) modified through an H2O radio frequency glow discharge

Recent work in our laboratories has fully characterized the surface region of a segmented poly(ether-urethane) (PEU) extending from the air/polymer interfacial region through bulk depths in the micron range. This characterization utilized energy and angle dependent Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR), and Comprehensive Wettability Profiling (contact angle using a homologous series of liquids) as defined by Zisman. In this study this same multi-analytical-technique approach is used to elucidate changes in these PEU surfaces induced through an H₂O Radio Frequency Glow Discharge (RFGD) plasma. This investigation reports both qualitative and quantitative changes due to the modification treatments as well as the permanency of the changes effected on these surfaces through the plasma treatment. From our analyses, the amount of surface residing polyurethane (hard segment) is observed to increase due to a proposed plasma etching mechanism. Further, the addition of oxygen containing functionality is detected at the modified surfaces unique with respect to the unmodified PEU. These surface modifications which show large increases in wettability, are finally observed to be semi-permanent over a time period of 6 months.