Complex mechanism of the gas phase reaction between formic acid and hydroxyl radical. Proton coupled electron transfer versus radical hydrogen abstraction mechanisms

The gas phase reaction between formic acid and hydroxyl radical has been investigated with high level quantum mechanical calculations using DFT-B3LYP, MP2, CASSCF, QCISD, and CCSD(T) theoretical approaches in connection with the 6-311+G(2df,2p) and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The reaction has a very complex mechanism involving several elementary processes, which begin with the formation of a reactant complex before the hydrogen abstraction by hydroxyl radical. The results obtained in this investigation explain the unexpected experimental fact that hydroxyl radical extracts predominantly the acidic hydrogen of formic acid. This is due to a mechanism involving a proton coupled electron-transfer process. The calculations show also that the abstraction of formyl hydrogen has an increased contribution at higher temperatures, which is due to a conventional hydrogen abstraction radical type mechanism. The overall rate constant computed at 298 K is 6.24 x 10(-13) cm3 molecules(-1) s(-1), and compares quite well with the range from 3.2 +/- 1 to 4.9 +/- 1.2 x 10(-13) cm3 molecules(-1) s(-1), reported experimentally.     

Reactivity of 2-pyridinecarboxylic esters with cadmium(II) halides: study of (113)Cd NMR solid state spectra and crystal structures of hexacoordinated complexes [CdI(2)(C(5)H(4)NCOOMe)(2)] and [CdI(2)(C(5)H(4)NCOOPr(n))(2)

The series of complexes [CdX(2)(C(5)H(4)NCOOR)] (X = Cl or Br; R = Me, Et, Pr(n)() or Pr(i)()) and [CdX(2)(C(5)H(4)NCOOR)(2)] (X = I; R = Me, Et, Pr(n)(), or Pr(i)()) have been obtained by the addition reaction of esters of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid to cadmium(II) halides. X-ray crystal structures of two complexes [CdI(2)(C(5)H(4)NCOOR)(2)], R = Me (10) and R = Pr(n)() (12), have been determined. In both cases, the structure consists of discrete neutral monomeric units where the cadmium atom has a distorted octahedral coordination with CdI(2)N(2)O(2) core, two halides being in cis disposition. Structural information is compared with that deduced from (113)Cd CPMAS NMR experiments. Chemical shift anisotropies are discussed in terms of distortions produced in cadmium octahedra. The orientation of the principal axes of (113)Cd shielding tensor is also analyzed and related to the disposition of ligands in the structures of two analyzed compounds.     

Mechanism of the hydrogen transfer from the OH group to oxygen-centered radicals: proton-coupled electron-transfer versus radical hydrogen abstraction

High-level ab initio electronic structure calculations have been carried out with respect to the intermolecular hydrogen-transfer reaction HCOOH+.OH-->HCOO.+H(2)O and the intramolecular hydrogen-transfer reaction .OOCH2OH-->HOOCH(2)O.. In both cases we found that the hydrogen atom transfer can take place via two different transition structures. The lowest energy transition structure involves a proton transfer coupled to an electron transfer from the ROH species to the radical, whereas the higher energy transition structure corresponds to the conventional radical hydrogen atom abstraction. An analysis of the atomic spin population, computed within the framework of the topological theory of atoms in molecules, suggests that the triplet repulsion between the unpaired electrons located on the oxygen atoms that undergo hydrogen exchange must be much higher in the transition structure for the radical hydrogen abstraction than that for the proton-coupled electron-transfer mechanism. It is suggested that, in the gas phase, hydrogen atom transfer from the OH group to oxygen-centered radicals occurs by the proton-coupled electron-transfer mechanism when this pathway is accessible.     

Synthesis and characterization of 1-Methyl-4-mercaptopiperidine complexes of nickel(II), palladium(II) and platinum(II)

Summary Complexes of formulae Ni(HRS)₂X₂ (X=Cl or Br), M(HRS)₂Y₂ (M=Ni or Pd; Y=NO₂ or C1O₄), Pd(HRS)X₂ (X=Cl, Br or I), Pt(HRS)X₂ (X=Cl or Br), Pt(HRS)₂(ClO₄)₂ and M(RS)₂ (M=Pd or Pt) where HRS and RS denote 1-methyl-4-mercaptopiperidine in the zwitterionic or in the thiolato form, respectively, have been prepared and characterized. In all the complexes the ligands are coordinated exclusively through sulphur. Polymeric structures consisting of square-planar geometry with sulphur-bridged metal atoms are proposed in each case.     

Thermal stability and flame retardancy of LDPE/EVA blends filled with synthetic hydromagnesite/aluminium hydroxide/montmorillonite and magnesium hydroxide/aluminium hydroxide/montmorillonite mixtures

The combination of organophillised montmorillonite (MMT), synthetic hydromagnesite and aluminium hydroxide (ATH) as flame retardant system for polyethylene-based materials was studied and compared with a similar system with magnesium hydroxide, ATH and MMT. The thermal stability and the flame retardant properties were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimeter tests. The results indicated that the addition of montmorillonite makes it possible to reduce the total filler content to achieve the flame retardant requirements. The thermal stability of filled LDPE/EVA blends increases to a higher extent for the samples containing MMT. In the cone calorimeter tests we observed a reduction of the peak heat release rate for the sample containing montmorillonite in comparison with a sample with higher filler loading without this nanoclay. An increase of the stability of the char formed could be responsible for this favourable behaviour when montmorillonite is added.In addition, mechanical properties significantly improved for the composites containing montmorillonite both for the filler loading reduction and the reinforcement effect of the nanoclay.     

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography estimation of size and composition of procyanidins after thiolysis with cysteine

This paper describes the characterization of procyanidin mixtures by acid depolymerization in the presence of cysteine (thiolysis with cysteine) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MEKC were investigated for the separation of the major components of the depolymerized mixtures (catechins and their cysteinyl derivatives). The solutes could only be effectively separated using MEKC. Two background electrolytes (BGEs) are recommended: (i) 50 mM phosphate at pH 7, containing 40 mM sodium cholate (SC) and 10 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); (ii) a BGE with the same composition but containing only 50 mM SDS. The MEKC procedures here reported, are cheap, reliable and fast, and their potential in the determination of the size and composition in procyanidin mixtures has been shown. The proposed MEKC methods were validated by comparison with our intralaboratory reference RP-HPLC method using cysteamine as thiol donor.     

Voltammetry of labile metal—complex systems with induced reactant adsorption. Theoretical analysis for any ligand-to-metal ratio

The validity of the hypothesis of ligand excess is discussed for the voltammetric reduction of a metal ion (M) in the presence of a ligand (L). The following basic assumptions are made: (i) formation of the electroinactive ML complex, (ii) equal mobility of species M, ML and L, (iii) reversible charge transfer, (iv) labile complex and (v) Langmuirian adsorption of the ligand and the complex. The model proposed is solved rigorously for normal pulse polarography (NPP) in the four possible cases assuming either ligand excess or ligand deficiency or either adsorption or non-adsorption. For the case without adsorption, the assumption of ligand excess affects only the increasing part of the NPP wave independent of the total ligand-to-metal ratio. Then (I_NNP)_lim has the same value for both ligand excess and ligand deficiency while E differs, thus preventing the use of the DeFord—Hume method to obtain the stability constant. An analytical expression for E is performed, which allows the evaluation of the stability constant at any total ligand-to-metal ratio and provides a quantitative estimation of the error made by applying the classical procedure assuming ligand excess. In the presence of adsorption, the assumption of ligand excess modifies the whole wave. The discrepancy between the currents obtained from the hypothesis of ligand excess with respect to that with ligand deficiency is even higher for the case with adsorption than for the case without adsorption.     

Local aromaticity of the lowest-lying singlet States of [N]acenes (N = 6-9)

The local aromaticities of the six-membered rings in the two lowest-lying singlet states of [n]acenes (n = 6-9) have been assessed by means of three probes of local aromaticity based on structural, magnetic, and electron delocalization properties. Important differences between the local aromaticities of the closed-shell and diradical singlet electronic states are found. Thus, while the inner rings have the largest aromatic character in the closed-shell singlet states, the outer rings become the most aromatic for the diradical singlet states.     

Assessment of Organic Source Contributions in Coastal Waters by Principal Component and Factor Analysis of the Dissolved and Particulate Hydrocarbon and Fatty Acid Contents

Abstract

Principal component (PCA) and factor analysis (FA) are evaluated for the interpretation of the information contained in large datasets resulting from the study of environmental samples by gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A case involving the identification and quantitation of 64 variables (hydrocarbons and fatty acids) in 87 water samples (dissolved and particulate fractions) of a coastal system (Ebre Delta) has been selected for examination.

PCA has evidenced important differences between the dissolved and particulate materials, as well as between the particulates collected in the bays and those obtained in the river and channels. PCA has also allowed the identification of outlier samples in the dissolved fraction. Independent application of FA to each of these groups has provided a useful method for the characterization of diverse algal, terrestrial, microbial and anthropogenic inputs. Direct correspondences between these source inputs and factor loadings have provided a selection of representative components of each contribution in the coastal system.     

AgentGeom: a multiagent system for pedagogical support in geometric proof problems

This paper aims, first, to describe the fundamental characteristics and workings of the AgentGeom artificial tutorial system, which is designed to help students develop knowledge and skills related to problem solving, mathematical proof in geometry, and the use of mathematical language. Following this, we indicate the manner in which a secondary school student can appropriate these abilities through interactions with the system. Our system uses strategic messages of the agent tutor in an argumentative process that collaborates with a student in the construction of a proof.