Computational modeling of isotropic electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of doublet state main group radicals

The combined use of theoretical and mathematical methods in the analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance data has greatly increased the ability to interpret even the most complex spectra reported for doublet state inorganic main group radicals. This personal account summarizes the theoretical basis of such an approach and provides an in-depth discussion of some recent illustrative examples of the utilization of this methodology in practical applications. The emphasis is on displaying the enormous potential embodied within the approach.     

Thermal response of a PVCL–HA conjugate

The synthesis and self‐assembling of a thermoresponsive conjugate of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) is reported. Both polymers were end functionalized: HA via reductive amination, thereby introducing an azide endgroup to the chain end, and PVCL via thioetherification to introduce a propargyl group. The two were coupled with a copper assisted “click” reaction into a bioconjugate composed of HA blocks with the molar mass 3,600 g mol^?1 (1618 saccharide units) and PVCL blocks of 3,500 g mol^?1 (～25 repeating units). The cloud point temperature measured by transmittance was 50–51 °C in water. The calorimetrically observed phase transition temperature of PVCL in the conjugate increased by 2 °C to 47.7 °C, whereas the enthalpy of the phase transition was unaffected by the conjugation. HA‐PVCL conjugate self‐assembles in water upon heating into monodisperse, colloidally stable, hollow spherical particles whose size may be tuned with the heating rate of the solution. Slow and fast heating resulted in vesicles with the hydrodynamic radii of 443 or 275 nm, respectively. The heating rate did not, however, affect the cloud point. Salt did not noticeably affect the size of the polymer particles, presumably because of interactions between the HA and PVCL blocks. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 425–436     

Vekua Systems in Hyperbolic Harmonic Analysis

In this paper we consider the solutions of the equation \({\mathcal {M}}_\kappa f=0\), where \({\mathcal {M}}_\kappa \) is the so called modifier Dirac operator acting on functions \(f\) defined in the upper half-space and taking values in the Clifford algebra. We look for solutions \(f(\underline{x},x_{n})\) where the first variable is invariant under rotations. A special type of solution is generated by the so called spherical monogenic functions. These solutions may be characterize by a Vekua-type system and this system may be solved using Bessel functions. We will see that the solution of the equation \({\mathcal {M}}_\kappa f=0\) in this case will be a product of Bessel functions.     

Lys Tag: an easy and robust chemical modification for improved de novo sequencing with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Mass spectrometry using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) instrument is a widespread technique for various types of proteomic analysis. Along with an expanding interest in proteomics, there is a strong requirement for the identification of proteins with high confidence from biological samples. Peptide modification by a wide variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs), the existence of different protein isoforms and the presence of uncharacterized genomes of many species, make protein identification through peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) often unachievable. Peptide de novo sequencing has been proven to be a useful approach to overcome these variables, and efficient derivatization processes are important tools to achieve this goal. In the present work we describe the methodology and experimental applications of a fast, efficient and cheap lysine derivatization. This chemical modification improves the signals from lysine-terminated peptides and can be efficiently used as a lysine-blocking agent in combination with other derivatization techniques. Most importantly, upon peptide fragmentation it generates a neat series of predominantly y-ions, allowing the determination of unambiguous amino acid sequences. Moreover, this chemical compound was used with target-eluted samples, enabling a second, alternative analysis of the same sample in the MALDI mass spectrometer.     

Gold nanoparticles protected with pH and temperature-sensitive diblock copolymers

Aqueous dispersions of gold nanoparticles protected with a stimuli-sensitive diblock copolymer were studied as a function of pH and temperature. Poly(methacrylic acid)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PMAA-b-PNIPAM, copolymer was synthesized using the RAFT technique. A one-pot method utilizing the dithiobenzoate functionalized polymer was used to prepare gold nanoparticles protected with PMAA-b-PNIPAM. The gold nanoparticles coated with block copolymers, with the PNIPAM block bound to the particle surface and PMAA as an outer block form stimuli-sensitive aggregates in water. The changes in the absorption maxima of the surface plasmon resonance, SPR, of the gold particles and in the size of the aggregates were investigated as a function of pH and temperature. pH was observed to affect the size of the aggregates, whereas the effect of temperature was moderate. However, a blue shift in the SPR was observed both with decreasing pH and increasing temperature. Whereas the PMAA blocks control the colloidal stability of the particles and their aggregates, the thermo-sensitive PNIPAM blocks have a noticeable effect on the polarity of the immediate surroundings of the particles.     

Xylose recovery by nanofiltration from different hemicellulose hydrolyzate feeds

Xylose is an intermediate product in xylitol production. Nanofiltration could simplify and enhance this separation step conventionally done by chromatographic methods. Here different hemicellulose hydrolyzate feeds were nanofiltered to recover xylose into the permeate.Two different batches of hemicellulose hydrolyzate were prepared: the hydrolyzate as such and modified with crystalline xylose addition. Both feed solutions were diluted to a total dry solids (TDS) content of approximately 21 wt.% and the xylose contents were 48.7% and 59.1% of the TDS_f (total dry solids in feed). The filtration experiments were made at 40, 50 and 60 °C in total reflux mode for approximately 30 min at each pressure of 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 bar. In addition, a 20-h filtration was made at 50 °C and 30 bar. A DDS LabStak M20-filter was used and it was equipped with Desal-5 DK, Desal-5 DL and NF270 membranes.In short-term filtrations, the nanofiltered permeate of the original hydrolyzate had 78–82% xylose of the TDS_p (total dry solids in permeate) and the modified hydrolyzate 86–88% xylose of the TDS_p. Thus, considerable xylose purification was obtained. The addition of crystalline xylose into the hemicellulose hydrolyzate gave a notable increase in permeate fluxes. The 20-h filtration showed fouling and compaction effects as a flux decrease of approximately 10–25% was detected in the retention integrity test. According to the results, xylose purification from hemicellulose hydrolyzate could be enhanced by nanofiltration.     

Bi-, tetra-, and hexanuclear AuI and binuclear AgI complexes and AgI coordination polymers containing phenylaminobis(phosphonite), PhN{P(OC6H4OMe-o)2}2, and pyridyl ligands

The reactions of phenylaminobis(phosphonite), PhN{P(OC6H4OMe-o)2}2 (1) (PNP), with [AuCl(SMe2)] in appropriate ratios, afford the bi- and mononuclear complexes, [(AuCl)2(micro-PNP)] (2) and [(AuCl)(PNP)]2 (3) in good yield. Treatment of 2 with 2 equiv of AgX (X = OTf or ClO4) followed by the addition of 1 or 2,2'-bipyridine affords [Au2(micro-PNP)2](OTf)2 (4) and [Au2(C10H8N2)2(micro-PNP)](ClO4)2 (5), respectively. Similarly, the macrocycles [Au4(C4H4N2)2(micro-PNP)2](ClO4)4 (6), [Au4(C10H8N2)2(micro-PNP)2](ClO4)4 (7), and [Au6(C3H3N3)2(micro-PNP)3](ClO4)6 (8) are obtained by treating 2 with pyrazine, 4,4'-bipyridine, or 1,3,5-triazine in the presence of AgClO 4. The reaction of 1 with AgOTf in a 1:2 molar ratio produces [Ag2(micro-OTf)2(micro-PNP)] (9). The displacement of triflate ions in 9 by 1 leads to a disubstituted derivative, [Ag2(micro-PNP)3](OTf)2 (10). The equimolar reaction of 1 with AgClO4 in THF affords [Ag2(C4H8O)2(micro-PNP)2](ClO4)2 (11). Treatment of 1 with AgClO4 followed by the addition of 2,2'-bipyridine affords a discrete binuclear complex, [Ag2(C10H8N2)2(micro-PNP)](ClO4)2 (12), whereas similar reactions with 4,4'-bipyridine or pyrazine produce one-dimensional zigzag Ag (I) coordination polymers, [Ag2(C10H8N2)(micro-ClO4)(ClO4)(micro-PNP)]n (13) and [Ag2(C4H4N2)(micro-ClO4)(ClO4)(micro-PNP)]n (14) in good yield. The nature of metal-metal interactions in compounds 2, 4, 5, and 12 was analyzed theoretically by performing HF and CC calculations. The structures of the complexes 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 14 are confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

In search of the [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2]2As. radical: experimental and computational investigations of the redox chemistry of group 15 bis-boraamidinates

DFT calculations for the group 15 radicals [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2]2M. (M = P, As, Sb, Bi) predict a pnictogen-centered SOMO with smaller contributions to the unpaired spin density arising from the nitrogen and boron atoms. The reactions of Li 2[PhB(mu-NR)2] (R = (t)Bu, Dipp) with PCl 3 afforded the unsolvated complex LiP[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2] 2 ( 1a) in low yield and ClP[PhB(mu-NDipp)2] (2), both of which were structurally characterized. Efforts to produce the arsenic-centered neutral radical, [PhB(mu-N (t) Bu) 2] 2As., via oxidation of LiAs[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2]2 with one-half equivalent of SO 2Cl 2, yielded the Zwitterionic compound [PhB(mu-N (t) Bu) 2As(mu-N(t)Bu)2B(Cl)Ph] (3) containing one four-coordinate boron center with a B-Cl bond. The reaction of 3 with GaCl3 produced the ion-separated salt, [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2] 2As (+)GaCl 4 (-) ( 4), which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. The reduction of 3 with sodium naphthalenide occurred by a two-electron process to give the corresponding anion [{PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2} 2As] (-) as the sodium salt. Voltammetric investigations of 4 and LiAs[PhB(mu-N (t) Bu) 2] 2 ( 1b) revealed irreversible processes. Attempts to generate the neutral radical [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)2] 2As. from these ionic complexes via in situ electrolysis did not produce an EPR-active species.     

NO(2) dissociation on Ag(111) revisited by theory

NO(2) dissociation on Ag(111) is investigated with first-principles calculations. For single NO(2) molecules, a high adsorption potential energy is found to prohibit dissociation. This result is surprising as experiments indicate dissociation at low temperatures. Neither entropy effects nor irregularities in the potential energy surface can remedy the discrepancy. Instead it is proposed that collective Eley-Rideal type of reaction mechanisms can drive the dissociation.     

Structure, vibrational spectra, and unimolecular dissociation of gaseous 1-fluoro-1-phenethyl cations

The multiple CF bond character of PhCFMe (+) ions has been examined by means of theory, vibrational spectroscopy of the gaseous ions, and unimolecular decomposition chemistry. Atoms in Molecules analysis of DFT wave functions gives a CF bond order of n = 1.25 (as compared with n = 1.38 for Me 2CF (+), relative to n = 1 for fluoromethane and n = 2 for diatomic CF (+)), which is consistent with calculations of adiabatic CF stretching frequencies (nu CF). Experimental gas phase IR spectra, recorded by means of resonant multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) using a free-electron laser connected to an FTICR mass spectrometer, show good agreement with predicted band positions for five deuterated isotopomers of PhCFMe (+). Metastable ion decompositions of deuterated analogues of PhCFMe (+) show the same HF/DF loss patterns as those produced by IRMPD. The evidence supports the conclusion that PhCFMe ions retain structural integrity until they become sufficiently excited to dissociate, whereupon they undergo intramolecular hydrogen scrambling that is competitive with HF/DF expulsion. Relative rates of hydrogen transposition and unimolecular dissociation are extracted from relative experimental fragment ion abundances. The predominant decomposition pathway is inferred to operate via a five-center transition state, as opposed to a four-center transition state for HF loss from gaseous Me 2CF (+).