Molecular dynamics of n-dodecylammonium chloride studied by nuclear magnetic resonance

The relation between molecular dynamics and phase properties of the bilayered compound C₁₂H₂₅NH₃C1 is studied by differential scanning calorimetry, proton second moment, and spin-lattice relaxation times. In the low-temperature phase I of the compound methyl and ammonium groups execute a classical threefold reorientation, while the alkylammonium chains are rigid on the nuclear magnetic resonance time scale. In the intermediate-temperature phase δ a trans-gauche isomerization of the alkyl chains is observed. In the high-temperature phase α the reorientation of the whole chains about their long axes, which are parallel to the normal to the ionic layer is evidenced. In the metastable ε phase the dynamics involves classical rotation of methyl and ammonium groups and CH₂ groups motion of the trans-gauche isomerization type.     

1H NMR studies on molecular motions of 4-aminopyridinium and pyrrolidinium cations in new ferroics

The aim of the study was to check the effect of the cation on the molecular dynamics of the anion, which is not directly observed, in different phases of the following compounds: (C4H8NH2)SbCl6(C4H8NH2)Cl, (C4H8NH2)SbCl6 and (4-apyH)ClO4, (4-apyH)SbCl4.     

Determination of Organic Compounds,Fulvic Acid,Humic Acid,and Humin in Peat and Sapropel Alkaline Extracts

Black, brown, and light peat and sapropel were analyzed as natural sources of organic and humic substances. These specific substances are applicable in industry, agriculture, the environment, and biomedicine with well-known and novel approaches. Analysis of the organic compounds fulvic acid, humic acid, and humin in different peat and sapropel extracts from Lithuania was performed in this study. The dominant organic compound was bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) carbonate, which varied from 6.90% to 25.68% in peat extracts. The highest mass fraction of malonic acid amide was in the sapropel extract; it varied from 12.44% to 26.84%. Significant amounts of acetohydroxamic, lactic, and glycolic acid derivatives were identified in peat and sapropel extracts. Comparing the two extraction methods, it was concluded that active maceration was more efficient than ultrasound extraction in yielding higher amounts of organic compounds. The highest amounts of fulvic acid (1%) and humic acid and humin (15.3%) were determined in pure brown peat samples. This research on humic substances is useful to characterize the peat of different origins, to develop possible aspects of standardization, and to describe potential of the chemical constituents.     

Photoelectrochemistry of silicon in HF solution

Photoelectrochemical, photoelectrocatalytic, and electrochemical processes of silicon anodic oxidation and hydrogen evolution in aqueous HF solution are discussed in terms of thermodynamic stability of Si, oxides SiO, SiO₂, and Si surface hydrides. It is shown that photoelectrochemical oxidation of n-type low-resistivity silicon to SiO₂ is catalyzed by Si $^{+}$ photo-hole formation, whereas in the case of p-type Si, the feasibility of this reaction is predetermined by p-type conductivity. It is suggested that anodic oxidation of Si goes through the stage of SiO oxide formation and its subsequent oxidation to SiO₂. Such mechanism accounts for chemical inertness of Si phase in HF solutions as well as for selective, anisotropic, and isotropic etching of Si within E ranges from $-0.5$ to 0.35 V, $0.35-0.8~V,$ and $E > 0.8$ V, respectively. Hydrogen evolution reaction on Si surface proceeds at very large overpotential ( $\geq 0.5$ V) through the stage of surface Si hydride formation: $\mathrm {Si + H_{2}O + e^{-} \rightarrow (SiH)_{surf} + OH^{-}}$ (the rate determining step) and $\mathrm {(SiH)_{surf} + H_{2}O + e^{-} \rightarrow Si + H_{2} + OH^{-}}$ . Illumination-related effects of surface reactions relevant to selective and anisotropic etching and nano/micro-structuring of Si surface are discussed.     

Proton relaxation studies of 17α hydroxy- and 21 hydroxy-progesterones by1H NMR

Proton spin-lattice relaxation timesT ₁ in 17α hydroxy- and 21 hydroxy-progesterones have been performed in the temperature range from 100 to 400 K at the frequencies of 30 and 90 MHz. The dynamic processes involving the methyl group reorientation about the threefold symmetry axis of the C−C bond are separated, and their activation parameters are determined.     

In Vitro Antioxidant and Prooxidant Activities of Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Stem Extracts

Leaves and stems of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) are used in Lithuanian folk medicine. Healing properties of raspberry are related to the content of bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols. Extracts of raspberry leaves contained higher total phenolic content (TPC) (1290 mg/L, expressed in gallic acid equivalent) compared to that in extracts of stems or peeled bark (up to 420 mg/L and 598 mg/L, respectively). To find out whether the collection time of herbal material was critical for the properties of the extracts, the stems were collected at different times of the year. TPC in the extracts depended more on extraction conditions rather than on the sampling time. Antioxidant activity of raspberry stem and bark extracts tested by spectrophotometric (DPPH^● scavenging) and electrochemical (cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry) assays correlated with TPC. DPPH radical scavenging activity values for stem, leaf, and bark extracts were as follows: ≤1.18 ± 0.07, 1.63 ± 0.10, and ≤1.90 ± 0.04 (mmol/L, TROLOX equivalent), respectively. Assessed electrochemically, hydrogen peroxide-scavenging activity of extracts was independent on TPC. The latter activity was related to the presence of some protein in the extract as revealed by gel electrophoresis. Prooxidant activity of raspberry stem extracts was dependent on solution pH and temperature.     

Molecular dynamics in polyethylene and ethylene-1-butene copolymer investigated by NMR methods

1H and 13C NMR spectra and 1H spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ and T_1ρ have been employed to study the structure and molecular dynamics in polyethylene and ethylene-1-butene copolymer in the temperature range from 100 to 370 K. Results are interpreted in terms of α, β and γ -relaxation, as well as methyl group rotation. The activation energies for all motions were established. The incorporation of 1-butene into ethylene chain leads to an increase of mobility in amorphous and crystalline phases as well as appearance the 13C resonance characteristic to the monoclinic structure in addition to the orthorhombic observed in both polymers. The crystallinity degree derived from T_1ρ in studied polymers is close to that determined using DSC method.     

Overmodulation of projections as signal‐to‐noise enhancement method in EPR imaging

A study concerning the image quality in electron paramagnetic resonance imaging in two‐dimensional spatial experiments is presented. The aim of the measurements was to improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the projections and the reconstructed image by applying modulation amplitude higher than the radical electron paramagnetic resonance linewidth. Data were gathered by applying four constant modulation amplitudes, where one was below 1/3 (A_mod = 0.04 mT) of the radical linewidth (ΔB_pp = 0.14 mT). Three other modulation amplitude values were used in this experiment, leading to undermodulated (A_mod < 1/3 ΔB_pp), partially overmodulated (A_mod ~ 1/3 ΔB_pp) and fully overmodulated (A_mod > > 1/3 ΔB_pp) projections. The advantages of an applied overmodulation condition were demonstrated in the study performed on a phantom containing four shapes of 1.25 mM water solution of 2, 2, 6, 6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxyl. It was shown that even when the overmodulated reference spectrum was used in the deconvolution procedure, as well as the projection itself, the phantom shapes reconstructed as images directly correspond to those obtained in undermodulation conditions. It was shown that the best SNR of the reconstructed images is expected for the modulation amplitude close to 1/3 of the projection linewidth, which is defined as the distance from the first maximum to the last minimum of the gradient‐broadened spectrum. For higher modulation amplitude, the SNR of the reconstructed image is decreased, even if the SNR of the measured projection is increased. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.