An ab initio LCAO-MO-SCF study of the electronic structure of phosphirane and thiirane

Wave functions have been determined for the C₂H₄PH and C₂H₄S cyclic molecules, using (951/52/3) and (95/52/3) uncontracted Gaussian basis sets for each molecule. From Mulliken population analyses and electron-density plots, it is shown that the valence orbitals of C₂H₄PH and C₂H₄S are closely related and that these are similar to the respective orbitals of cyclopropane.

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Zusammenfassung Für die zyklischen Moleküle C₂H₄PH und C₂H₄S wurden mit den nichtkontrahierten Basissätzen ((951/52/3) und (95/52/3)) von Gaußfunktionen Wellenfunktionen bestimmt. Die Mullikenschen Populationsanalysen sowie Diagramme der Elektronendichte zeigen, daß die Valenzorbitale von C₂H₄PH und C₂H₄S in enger Beziehung stehen und daß diese den entsprechenden Orbitalen des Cyclopropans ähnlich sind.

     

A new biflavonoid from leaves of Garcinia nervosa

The isolation of a new biflavonoid, identified as I-3, II-3, I-5, II-5, I-7, II-7, I-4', II-4'-octahydroxy [I-2', II-2'] biflavone, from the leaves of Garcinia nervosa is reported. The structure was established by chemical and physical means (IR, UV, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR data).     

A kinetic study of the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-methionine by water soluble colloidal MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Aqueous solution of water soluble colloidal MnO₂ was prepared by Perez-Benito method. Kinetics of l-methionine oxidation by colloidal MnO₂ in perchloric acid (0.93 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.72 × 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³) has been studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction follows first-order kinetics with respect to [H⁺]. The first-order kinetics with respect to l-methionine at low concentration shifts to zero order at higher concentration. The effects of [Mn(II)] and [F⁻] on the reaction rate were also determined. Manganese (II) has sigmoidal effect on the rate reaction and act as auto catalyst. The exact dependence on [Mn(II)] cannot be explained due to its oxidation by colloidal MnO₂. Methionine sulfoxide was formed as the oxidation product of l-methionine. Ammonia and carbon dioxide have not been identified as the reaction products. The mechanism with the observed kinetics has been proposed and discussed.     

Dithiophosphate-Induced Redox Conversions of Reduced and Oxidized Glutathione

Phosphorus species are potent modulators of physicochemical and bioactive properties of peptide compounds. O,O-diorganyl dithiophoshoric acids (DTP) form bioactive salts with nitrogen-containing biomolecules; however, their potential as a peptide modifier is poorly known. We synthesized amphiphilic ammonium salts of O,O-dimenthyl DTP with glutathione, a vital tripeptide with antioxidant, protective and regulatory functions. DTP moiety imparted radical scavenging activity to oxidized glutathione (GSSG), modulated the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH) and profoundly improved adsorption and electrooxidation of both glutathione salts on graphene oxide modified electrode. According to NMR spectroscopy and GC–MS, the dithiophosphates persisted against immediate dissociation in an aqueous solution accompanied by hydrolysis of DTP moiety into phosphoric acid, menthol and hydrogen sulfide as well as in situ thiol-disulfide conversions in peptide moieties due to the oxidation of GSH and reduction of GSSG. The thiol content available in dissolved GSH dithiophosphate was more stable during air oxidation compared with free GSH. GSH and the dithiophosphates, unlike DTP, caused a thiol-dependent reduction of MTS tetrazolium salt. The results for the first time suggest O,O-dimenthyl DTP as a redox modifier for glutathione, which releases hydrogen sulfide and induces biorelevant redox conversions of thiol/disulfide groups.     

Effect of surface modification of montmorillonite on the properties of aromatic polyamide/clay nanocomposites

The surface modification of montmorillonite clay was carried out through ion‐ exchange reaction using p‐phenylenediamine as a modifier. This modified clay was employed to prepare aromatic polyamide/organoclay nanocomposite materials. The dispersion behavior of clay was examined in the polyamide matrix. Polyamide chains were synthesized from 4‐aminophenyl sulfone and isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) in dimethylacetamide. These amide chains were suitably end‐capped with carbonyl chloride end groups to interact chemically with modified montmorillonite clay. The resulting nanocomposite films containing 2–20 wt% of organoclay were characterized by TEM, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thin‐film tensile testing; thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and water absorption measurements. Mechanical testing revealed that modulus and strength improved up to 6 wt% organoclay loading while elongation and toughness of nanocomposites decreased with the addition of clay content in the matrix. Thermal decomposition temperatures of the nanocomposites were in the range 225–450 °C. These nanocomposites expressed increase in the glass‐transition temperature values relative to pure polyamide describing interfacial interactions among the phases. The percent water uptake of these composites reduced upon the addition of modified layered silicate depicting improved barrier properties. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,static, and dynamic light scattering studies of soluble aromatic polyamide

Aromatic polyamide was synthesized via condensation polymerization of 4‐aminophenyl sulfone (APS) with isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) using N,N‐dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) as a solvent under anhydrous conditions. The purified aramid was studied by laser light scattering (LLS) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a thermodynamically good solvent at 20°C. Static and dynamic light scattering studies permitted to determine the weight average molecular weight , radius of gyration , second virial coefficient A₂, the hydrodynamic radius R_H, and the diffusion coefficient D. Light scattering experiments were conducted at five concentrations ranging from 0.27 to 2.5 g/L. LLS measurement is also a very useful technique to study the aggregation or association in a polymer system as long as the large “clusters” are reasonably stable in time. The intensity autocorrelation function obtained on the quasi‐elastically scattered light showed a simple diffusive relaxation mode. The ratio of radius of gyration to the hydrodynamic radius, i.e. ～ 1.3 indicates that the polyamide chain has coil conformation in DMSO at 20°C. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and properties of aramid/layered silicate nanocomposites by solution intercalation technique

Polymer—clay nanocomposites were synthesized from aromatic polyamide and organoclay using the solution intercalation technique. Polyamide chains were produced through the reaction of 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) in N, N′‐dimethyl acetamide, using stoichiometry yielding chains with carbonyl chloride end groups. The intercalation of sodium montmorillonite (Na‐MMT) was carried out using p‐phenylene diamine as a swelling agent through an ion exchange reaction. Different concentrations of organoclay were blended with the polyamide solution for complete dispersion of clay throughout the matrix. The resulting composite films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mechanical testing, thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and water absorption measurements. The XRD pattern and morphology of the nanocomposites revealed the formation of exfoliated and intercalated clay platelets in the matrix. The film containing a small amount of clay was semitransparent and had a tensile strength of the order of 70 MPa (relative to the 52 MPa of the pure aramid). Thermal decomposition temperatures were in the range of 300–450°C and the weight of the samples remaining after heating to 900°C was found to be roughly proportional to the clay loading. DSC showed a systematic increase in the glass transition temperature with increase in clay content. Water absorption of the pristine aramid film was rather high (5.7%), which reduced upon loading of organoclay. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Empowering Zn Electrode Current Capability Along Interfacial Stability by Optimizing Intrinsic Safe Organic Electrolytes

Metallic Zn is one of the most promising anodes, but its practical application has been hindered by dendritic growth and serious interfacial reactions in conventional electrolytes. Herein, ionic liquids are adopted to prepare intrinsically safe electrolytes via combining with TEP or TMP solvents. With this synergy effect, the blends of TEP/TMP with an IL fraction of ≈25 wt% are found to be promising electrolytes, with ionic conductivities comparable to those of standard phosphate-based electrolytes while electrochemical stabilities are considerably improved; over 1000 h at 2.0 mA cm⁻² and ≈350 h at 5.0 mA cm⁻² with a large areal capacity of 10 mAh cm⁻². The use of functionalized IL turns out to be a key factor in enhancing the Zn²⁺ transport due to the interaction of Zn²⁺ ions with IL-zincophilic sites resulting in reduced interfacial resistance between the electrodes and electrolyte upon cycling leading to spongy-like highly porous, homogeneous, and dendrite-free zinc as an anode material.