Modeling the reaction mechanisms for redox regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B activity

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) functions by removing the phosphoryl group from tyrosinephosphorylated proteins in insulin signaling and metabolism. The regeneration of the active site involves a sulphenylamide intermediate derived from the intrastrand cross-linking between the catalytic serine and the neighboring backbone nitrogen. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of the sulphenylamide intermediate and the subsequent reactivation of the catalytic site. In the current work, the proposed mechanisms have been investigated by the use of density functional theory calculations. Our results suggest that these two mechanisms have similar overall energy barriers and that the preferred route will be determined by the availability of hydrogen peroxide or other oxidizing reagents.     

Water as an Efficient Solvent for Oxygenation Transformations with 34% Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by some Heteropolyoxometalates

Summary. A highly efficient, selective, fast, and cheap protocol is developed for oxidation of aromatic amines and alcohols utilizing 34% hydrogen peroxide in water catalyzed by some W- and Mo-based heteropolyoxometalates. Findings showed that dodecatungstophosphoric acid, H₃PW₁₂O₄₀, was the most efficient catalyst in the examined oxidation reactions. This methodology may prove to be a valuable alternative for eco-friendly green oxidation. Inherent simplicity, easy work up, and using regenerable catalysts were other key aspects of this oxidation protocol.     

Theoretical investigation of the decarbonylation of acetaldehyde by Fe+ and Cr+.

We report a comprehensive theoretical study on the decarbonylation of acetaldehyde by Fe+ and Cr+. Various intermediates, transition states, and products involved in the decarbonylation reactions are fully optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2pd) level of theory. The potential energy surfaces (PESs) corresponding to [M,O,C2,H4]+(M=Cr and Fe) are examined in detail using B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods, respectively. The validity of these theoretical methods is calibrated with respect to the available thermochemical data. Calculations suggest that the Cr+ mediated decarbonylation of acetaldehyde takes place in four steps on the sextet surface: encounter complexation, C-C activation, aldehyde H-shift, and nonreactive dissociation, in good accordance with the Co+ mediated decarbonylation of acetaldehyde [Zhao, Zhang, Guo, Wu, Lu, Chem. Phys. Lett. 2005, 414, 28], while for the Fe+/acetaldehyde system decarbonylation can occur on both the quartet and the sextet PESs. The quartet pathway, which experiences spin-orbit coupling between the two surfaces, is energetically more favorable; whereas along the sextet decarbonylation coordinate several high-energy barriers are revealed. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental product kinetic energy and angular distributions of decarbonylation of acetaldehyde by Fe+ and Cr+ measured using a crossed-beam technique [Sonnenfroh, Farrar, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 3521].     

联二炔囊泡的光致聚合、热致变色及应用

物理化学实验为各大高校本科化学教学的主干实验课程之一。虽然各高校的物理化学实验内容已十分丰富,但仍然缺乏将不同章节知识点融会贯通以及与学科前沿密切联系的综合型实验内容。我们根据南开大学郭东升教授课题组发表的一篇有关联二炔程序性响应检测胆碱酯酶的工作设计了“联二炔囊泡的光致聚合、热致变色及应用”的物理化学实验,涉及到联二炔缔合胶体的制备、联二炔的紫外光致聚合反应和聚联二炔的热致变色,进而显示其在防伪领域的潜在应用价值。希望通过此实验,使学生对物理化学中的缔合胶体、光化学、热力学、动力学等章节有更深一步的贯通性掌握,并了解自组装、光聚合、变色材料和防伪等相关研究领域的前沿动态。     

Aerobic oxidation assisted by ligand-free palladium catalysts

Aerobic oxidation of electron-rich benzylic and phenyl allylic alcohols was achieved with high yields with only 0.1 mol.% of Pd(OAc)2 catalyst in the absence of any ligand. This procedure was expected to be valuable for realistic industrial-scale applications from both economic as well as environmental points of view.     

环境和生物样品中铂族金属的分析研究进展

评述了近年来环境和生物样品中痕量铂族金属的分析研究进展，重点介绍了样品的预处理和分离富集技术以及检测手段等。     

Conformation dependence of electronic structures of poly(ethylene oxide)

The electronic structure of pure poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) for four different polymeric chain conformations has been studied by Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) through the analysis of their valence band photoelectron spectroscopy (VB-PES), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). It is shown that the valence band of PEO presents specific conformation dependence, which can be used as a fingerprint of the polymeric structures. The calculated spectra have been compared with experimental results for PEO powder.     

Investigation of radical cation in electrophilic fluorination by ESI-MS

Reaction solutions of selectfluor (1) with triphenylethylene (4a) and tetraphenylethylene (4b) were monitored by ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS. Detection and characterization of the key radical cationic intermediates 5a.+ and 5b.+) fully supports the SET mechanism in electrophilic fluorination as depicted above. [reaction: see text]     

Identification of a chemical indicator of the rupture of 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose in an oil-impregnated insulating paper system

In this study, headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used to assess the volatile by-products generated by the ageing of oil-impregnated paper insulation of power transformers. Sealed-glass ampoules were used to age under oxidative conditions 0.5-g specimens of insulating paper in 9 mL of inhibited mineral oil in a temperature range of 60–120 °C and moisture of 0.5, 1 and 2% (w/w). A linear relationship between one of the oil-soluble degradation by-products, i.e. methanol, and the number of ruptured 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose, regardless of the type of paper (ordinary Kraft or thermally-upgraded (TU) Kraft paper), was established for the first time in this field. Ageing at 130 °C of model compounds of the Kraft paper constituents (α-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and two cellulosic breakdown by-products (D-(+)-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose) confirmed that the α-cellulose degradation was mostly responsible for the presence of this molecule in the system. Furthermore, additional 130 °C-tests with six different papers and pressboard samples under a tight control of initial moisture indicated that at least one molecule of methanol is formed for each rupture of 1,4-β-glucosidic bond of the molecular chains. Stability tests showed that the ageing indicator is stable under the oxygen and temperature conditions of open-breathing transformers. The presence of methanol was detected in 94% of oil samples collected from over than 900 in-service pieces of equipment, confirming the potential for this application. Lastly, the tests have shown that oil-oxidation by-products and TU-nitrogenous agents modify the methanol partitioning coefficients in the paper/oil/air system, which makes their study essential over a range of field conditions encountered by power transformers. Results are presented and discussed in comparison with 2-furfuraldehyde, which is the current reference in the domain.     

Organic–inorganic nanocomposites prepared from fluoro-aramid and silica

Fluoro-aramid-based sol/gel-derived nanocomposites were synthesized by condensing a mixture of 4,4′-(hexafluoro-isopropylidene)dianiline and 1,3-phenylenediamine with terephthaloylchloride (TPC) in dimethylacetamide. TPC was added in slight excess to produce amide chains with carbonyl chloride end groups and then replaced with alkoxy groups using aminophenyltrimethoxysilane to develop bonding with the silica network. Mechanical, dynamic mechanical thermal, water absorption and morphological measurements were carried out on the thin hybrid films. Increase in the tensile strength and modulus was observed as compared to pristine polyamide. The thermal decomposition temperature was found in the range of 400–500 °C. The water absorption was found to be reduced with higher silica content. The glass transition temperature and the storage moduli increased with increasing silica concentration. The maximum increase in the T _g value (345 °C) was observed with 20 wt% silica. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the uniform distribution of silica in the matrix with an average particle size ranging from 8 to 50 nm.