Thermal and Photophysical Properties of Highly Quadrupolar Liquid-Crystalline Derivatives of the [closo-B12H12]2− Anion

Two series of 1,12-bis-zwitterionic derivatives of the [closo-B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ anion ( B ), containing either two 4-alkoxypyridinium groups ( 1B[n]-p ) or one 4-alkoxypyridinium and one 4-pentylthianium groups ( 2B[n]-p ), were prepared and their structural (XRD, DFT), thermal, and photophysical properties were compared with those of the analogous derivatives of the [closo-B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ anion ( 1A[n]-p and 2A[n]-p ). Some 1,7-derivatives of B were isolated and investigated. Both series 1[n] and 2[n] exhibit nematic and crystalline polymorphism; the 12-vertex derivatives ( B ) have higher transition temperatures than those of the 10-vertex analogues ( A ). All compounds fluoresce with quantum yields higher for 1B (Φ_F=0.37 for 1B[7]-p and Φ_F=0.27 for 2B[7]-p ) than those for the 10-vertex analogues (Φ_F=0.04 for 2A[5]-p ). DFT calculations demonstrate an order of magnitude lower first hyperpolarizability, β_(−ω,ω,0), for 2B[7]-p than that for the 10-vertex analogue 2A[7]-p (1.7×10⁻³⁰ vs. 18.9×10⁻³⁰ esu at ω=0).     

Ab Initio Ground-State Potential Energy Function and Vibration-Rotation Energy Levels of Aluminum Monohydride

The accurate ground-state potential energy function of aluminum monohydride (AlH) has been determined from ab initio calculations using the multireference averaged coupled-pair functional (MR-ACPF) method in conjunction with the correlation-consistent core-valence basis sets up to septuple-zeta quality. The vibration-rotation energy levels of the two isotopologues, AlH and AlD, were predicted to near the “spectroscopic” accuracy. The importance of electron correlation beyond the MR-ACPF level of approximation, the scalar relativistic, spin-orbit, adiabatic, and nonadiabatic effects was discussed. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Exact matrix elements for general two-body central-force interactions,expressed as sums of products

ABSTRACT

In a manner similar to but distinct from concurrent tensor efforts in electronic structure, it is shown that the Laplace transform can serve as a generator for a sum-of-products (SOP) form that allows one to write essentially any function of distance between two particles (i.e. any central force potential) as an exact two-body matrix. In particular, exact expressions for the Coulomb, Yukawa and long-range Ewald two-body operators are evaluated in a band-limited (Sinc function) basis. The resultant exact, full-basis, SOP representations for these interaction potentials – acting in conjunction with an external harmonic confining field – are validated via comparison with energy eigenstate solutions obtained via an independent calculation based on separation of variables. The new two-body matrix representations may have substantial impact in any of the many disciplines in which pair-wise central force interactions are relevant – especially, electronic structure and dynamics.     

Intramolecular transformation of an antifungal antibiotic nystatin A1 into its isomer,iso‐nystatin A1 – structural and molecular modeling studies

Nystatin A₁, a polyene macrolide antifungal antibiotic, in a slightly basic or acidic solution undergoes an intramolecular transformation, yielding a structural isomer, the translactonization product, iso‐nystatin A₁ with lactone ring diminished by two carbon atoms. Structural evidence is provided by advanced NMR and Mass Spectrometry (MS) studies. Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics calculations gave the insight into the course and mechanism of the transformation and its effect on the conformation of the subject molecule. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation effect of benzotriazole on the corrosion of brass-MM55 alloy in artificial seawater by dynamic EIS

The electrochemical behavior of brass-MM55 alloy was studied in artificial seawater with benzotriazole by using a novel method called dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS). This method gives possibility to investigate the protection of metals in corrosive medium by using inhibitors in galvanostatic conditions for a long time. Instantaneous impedance spectra for brass-MM55 were recorded for 10 h in artificial seawater for different concentration of benzotriazole. It was found that a few hours were not enough for the accurate calculation of corrosion inhibition. Also with this method it is possible to figure out how the charge transfer resistance (R _ct) changes by the time. Usefulness of the DEIS technique in the investigation of non-stationary phenomena has been proved in the field of inhibitor research. All studies clearly show that benzotriazole inhibits the corrosion of brass-MM55 alloy in artificial seawater solution and the value of inhibition efficiency increases with increasing concentration of benzotriazole.     

Application of the elongation method to the electronic structure of spin-polarized molecular wire under electric field

The elongation method has been applied to elucidate the spin-dependent behavior of the pyrrole-based spin-polarized molecular wire containing 1-pyrrolylphenyl nitronyl nitroxide with oligothiophene units under the influence of an applied electric field. It was found that the donor pyrrole ring causes the delocalization of electrons over the molecular wire regardless of the spin-orientation. In addition, nitronyl nitroxide as a radical unit shows two important features. First, it changes the spin-distribution of the delocalized electrons from same ratio of α- and β-spins to dominant β-spin. Second, it shifts the distribution of electrons in the same direction as that of the applied electric field.     

Quantitative SNIFTIRS studies of (bi)sulfate adsorption at the Pt(111) electrode surface

Subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy (SNIFTIRS) was applied to study (bi)sulfate adsorption on a Pt(111) surface in solutions of variable pH while maintaining a constant total bisulfate/sulfate ((bi)sulfate) concentration without the addition of an inert supporting electrolyte. The spectra were recorded for both the p- and s-polarizations of the IR radiation in order to differentiate between the IR bands of the (bi)sulfate species adsorbed on the electrode surface from those species located in the thin layer of electrolyte. The spectra recorded with p-polarized light consist of the IR bands from both the species adsorbed at the electrode surface and those present in the thin layer of electrolyte between the electrode surface and ZnSe window whereas the s-polarized spectra contain only the IR bands from the species located in the thin layer of electrolyte. A new procedure was developed to calculate the angle of incidence and thickness of the electrolyte between the Pt(111) electrode surface and the ZnSe IR transparent window. By combining these values with the knowledge of the optical constants for Pt, H(2)O and ZnSe, the mean square electric field strength (MSEFS) at the Pt(111) electrode surface and for thin layer of solution were accurately calculated. The spectra recorded using s-polarization were multiplied by the ratio of the average MSEFS for p- and s-polarizations and subtracted from the spectra recorded using p-polarization in order to remove the IR bands that arise from the species present within the thin layer cavity. In this manner, the resulting IR spectra contain only the IR bands for the anions adsorbed on the Pt(111) electrode surface. The spectra of adsorbed anions show little change with respect to the pH ranging from 1 to 5.6. This behavior indicates that the same species is predominantly adsorbed on the metal surface for this broad range of pH values and the results suggest that sulfate is the most likely candidate for this adsorbate.     

Determination of PAHs, PCBs, minerals, trace elements, and fatty acids in Rapana thomasiana as an indication of pollution

The aim of this investigation was to introduce several analytical methods for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), minerals, trace elements, and fatty acids in Rapana thomasiana as a marine pollution indicator organism. The chemical differences of the gastropod Ra. thomasiana from polluted and nonpolluted sites of the Black Sea on the Bulgarian coast were investigated. Chromatography and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma/MS analyses were used for evaluation of PAHs, PCBs, fatty acids, minerals, and trace elements. These methods can be applied to other marine products.     

How do sterols determine the antifungal activity of amphotericin B? Free energy of binding between the drug and its membrane targets

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a well-known polyene antibiotic used to treat systemic fungal infections. It is commonly accepted that the presence of sterols in the membrane is essential for the AmB biological activity, that is, for the formation of transmembrane ion channels. The selective toxicity of AmB for fungal cells is attributed to the fact that it is more potent against fungal cell membranes containing ergosterol than against the mammalian membranes with cholesterol. According to the "primary complex" hypothesis, AmB associates with sterols in a membrane to form binary complexes, which may subsequently assemble into a barrel-stave channel. To elucidate the molecular nature of the AmB selectivity for ergosterol-containing membranes, in the present work, we used computational methods to study the formation of the putative AmB/sterol complexes in a lipid bilayer. The free energy profiles for the AmB-sterol association in phospholipid bilayers containing 30 mol % of sterols were calculated and thoroughly analyzed. The results obtained confirm the formation of specific AmB/ergosterol complexes and are used to determine the energetic and structural origin of the enhanced affinity of AmB for ergosterol than for cholesterol. The significance of this affinity difference for the mechanism of action of AmB is discussed. The data obtained allowed us also to suggest a possible origin of the increased selectivity of a novel class of less toxic AmB derivatives.