Modeling and electrokinetic evidences on the processes of the Al(III) sorption continuum in SiO2(s) suspension

Reactions of Al(III) at the interface between SiO2(s) and aqueous solution were characteristically and quantitatively studied using electrophoretic methods and applying a surface complexation/precipitation model (SCM/SPM). The surface and bulk properties of Al(III)/SiO2 suspensions were determined as functions of pH and initial Al(III) concentration. Simulated modeling results indicate that the SCM, accounting for the adsorption mechanism, predicts sorption data for low surface coverage only reasonably well. Al(III) hydrolysis and surface hydroxide precipitation must be invoked as the Al(III) concentration and/or pH progressively increase. Accordingly, the three processes in the Al(III) sorption continuum, from adsorption through hydrolysis to surface precipitation, could be identified by the divergence between the SCM/SPM predictions and the experimental data. SiO2(s) suspensions with low Al(III) concentrations (1 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-5) M) exhibit electrophoretic behavior similar to that of a pure SiO2(s) system. In Al(III)/SiO2 systems with high Al concentrations of 1 x 10(-3), 5 x 10(-3) and 1 x 10(-2) M, three charge reversals (CR) are observed, separately representing, in order of increasing pH, the point of zero charge (PZC) on the SiO2 substrate (CR1), the onset of the surface precipitation of Al hydroxide (CR2), and at a high pH, the PZC of the Al(OH)3 coating (CR3). Furthermore, in the 1 x 10(-3) M Al(III)/SiO2(s) system, CR2 is consistent with the modeling results of SCM/SPM and provides evidence that Al(III) forms a surface precipitate on SiO2(s) at pH above 4. SiO2(s) dissolution was slightly inhibited when Al(III) was adsorbed onto the surface of SiO2(s), as compared to the dissolution that occurs in a pure SiO2(s) suspension system. Al hydroxide surface precipitation dramatically reduced the dissolution of SiO2(s) because the Al hydroxide passive film inhibited the corrosion of the SiO2(s) surface by OH- ions.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel 2-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-4-trifluoromethylthiazole-5-carboxamide derivatives

Novel 2-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-4-trifluoromethylthiazole-5-carboxamides were designed and synthesized utilizing ethyl 3-amino-4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butenoate as a starting material via six steps. Subsequently, their biological activities were evaluated in the greenhouse. Results indicated that several compounds have some insecticidal or fungicidal activity at 600 g ai/ha and 300 g ai/ha, respectively.     

Unicyclic Graphs with Minimal Energy

If G is a graph and ₁,₂,..., _n are its eigenvalues, then the energy of G is defined as E(G)=|₁|+|₂|++| _n |. Let S _n ³ be the graph obtained from the star graph with n vertices by adding an edge. In this paper we prove that S _n ³ is the unique minimal energy graph among all unicyclic graphs with n vertices (n6).     

Theoretical study of the local structure and Raman spectra of CaO-SiO2 binary melts

A procedure for the Raman spectra calculation of vitreous and molten silicates was presented in this paper. It includes molecular dynamics MD simulation for the generation of equilibrium configurations, Wilson's GF matrix method for the calculations of eigenfrequencies and corresponding vectors, electro-optical parameters method (EOPM) for the Raman intensity calculations, and the bond polarizability model (BPM) for the determination of polarizability and polarizability derivative. One of the most important characteristics of this procedure is the achievement of the partial Raman spectra of five tetrahedral units, as well as the total spectral envelope. In this paper, the calculation was carried out for the vitreous and molten calcium silicates with different compositions and at various temperatures. It is worthwhile to note that the calculation is based on statistical configurations distribution in the space and so it is not needed to artificially adjust the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of spectra. It was also tested through the good agreement of the calculated spectra with the experimental, including some regularity of spectral properties. According to the calculation, the symmetrical stretching of whole tetrahedral units, to which the stretching of Si-O(nb) bond gives the main contribution to intensity, is proven to be the dominance in the high-frequency range (800-1200 cm(-1)) and the symmetrical bending of Si-O(b)-Si, to which the stretching of Si-O(b) bond exhibits the main contribution, is the dominance in the medium-frequency range (400-700 cm(-1)). As the first theoretical results, the Raman scattering coefficient of each Q(i) was found little change along with the variation of composition and temperature.     

Unexpected differences in the alpha-halogenation and related reactivity of sulfones with perhaloalkanes in KOH-t-BuOH

Most alkyl phenyl sulfones are readily alpha-chlorinated with CCl(4) and alpha-brominated with CBrCl3 in KOH-t-BuOH via radical-anion radical pair (RARP) reactions. While isopropyl mesityl sulfone (4) is easily alpha-chlorinated with CCl(4), it was completely recovered when treated with the more reactive CBrCl3. Subsequent investigations showed the latter result to be due to the poor acidity of 4 together with the rapid depletion of CBrCl3 and KOH by their reaction with each other, and led to a variety of other important results. 4-Hydroxyphenyl isopropyl sulfone (6) is unreactive with either CCl4 or CBrCl3 in KOH-t-BuOH, its phenoxide anion strongly reducing the electronegativity of the sulfonyl group, thereby inhibiting alpha-anion formation. This effect is reversed by the electron-withdrawing influence of two alpha-phenyls, so that benzhydryl 4-hydroxyphenyl sulfone (8) is readily alpha-halogenated in KOH-t-BuOH with CCl4 or CBrCl3. On further contact with KOH-t-BuOH the alpha-halogenated sulfones from 8 are decomposed into benzophenone and phenol. While the alpha-halogenated derivatives of 4-methoxyphenyl benzhydryl sulfone (9) are stable to base, they are decomposed even under mildly acidic conditions into 4-methoxyphenyl 4-methoxybenzenethiolsulfonate (9c), phenol, and benzophenone. Mono-alpha-halogenation of benzyl phenyl sulfone (10) enhances the rate of the subsequent halogenation, so that alpha,alpha-dihalogenation is attained while much substrate is still present and the mono-alpha-halogenated product is not detected. The ease of reductive debromination of alpha-bromo sulfones with Cl3C- was correlated with the stability of the formed alpha-anions, explaining the success with alpha-bromobenzylic sulfones but failure with alpha-bromoalkyl sulfones. In the presence of air and the absence of competing halogenation, formation of the alpha-anions of alkyl aryl sulfones is quickly accompanied by oxidative cleavage by atmospheric O2, leading to the formation of arenesulfonyl alcohols, arenesulfonyl halides, and haloarenes.     

New reactions of 1-alkynes catalyzed by transition metal complexes

Recently discovered catalytic reactions with ruthenium and lanthanide metal complexes have extended the scope of 1-alkynes as useful reagents. The specific formation of aryl-substituted (Z)-1,3-enzymes via the dimerization of HC(triple bond) CR(1) (R(1) = aryl) has been attained using dimeric lanthanide complexes, the catalytic activity of which appears to be unaffected by time. The dimerization of HC(triple bond) CR(2) (R(2) = t-Bu, SiMe(3)) catalyzed by Ru(cod)(cot)/PR(3) or RuH(2)(PPh(3))(3) produces a good yield of butatrienes (Z)R(2)CH=C=C=CHR(2) with a high degree of selectivity. Under certain conditions, HC(triple bond) C=SiMe(3) dimerizes to yield exclusively (Z)-M(3)Si-C(triple bond) C-CH=CH-SiMe(3). The hydration of HC(triple bond)CR(3) (R(3) = alkyl, aryl) catalyzed by RuCl(2)/PR'(3) or CpRuCl(PR"(3))(2) has realized the first example of anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity in an addition reaction of water that produces aldehydes R(3)CH(2)bond;CHO. The application of this reaction to propargylic alcohols has lead to their formal isomerization to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. In contrast, the addition of amines R(4)bond;NH(2) (R(4) = aryl) to HCtbond;CR(5) (R(5) = alkyl, aryl) conforms to Markovnikov's rule to produce ketimines R(5)bond;(C=NR(4))bond;CH(3) when catalyzed by a Ru(3)(CO)(12)/additive. Since the reaction can be performed in air without the need for any solvents, it enables the practical synthesis of aromatic ketimines, which are difficult to prepare by conventional methods. The synthesis of indoles using deactivated anilines is one practical application of this reaction. The mechanisms of some of these reactions have been analyzed in detail with the aid of theoretical calculations.     

Theoretical investigations on the SO2 + HO2 reaction and the SO2–HO2 radical complex

The mechanism of the SO₂ + HO₂ reaction was studied theoretically for the first time. Three product channels were revealed, namely, O₂ + HOSO, O₂ + HSO₂, and OH + SO₃. The O₂ + HOSO channel dominates the reaction under combustion conditions. A five-member-ring complex [SO₂–HO₂] exists at the entrance of the reaction. The structure and binding energy (D_e and D₀) of the SO₂–HO₂ complex have been calculated. In view of D₀ = 21.2 ± 2.0 kJ mol⁻¹, the SO₂–HO₂ complex should be stable at low temperature. The infrared spectra and frequency shifts were calculated for both SO₂–HO₂ and SO₂–DO₂, and compared with the available experimental data.     

A fluorescent molecular imaging probe with selectivity for soluble tau aggregated protein

Soluble forms of aggregated tau misfolded protein, generally termed oligomers, are considered to be the most toxic species of the different assembly states that are the pathological components of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, a critical biomedical need exists for imaging probes that can identify and quantify them. We have designed and synthesized a novel fluorescent probe, pTP-TFE for which binding and selectivity profiles towards aggregated tau and Aβ proteins were assessed. Our results have shown pTP-TFE to be selective for early forms of soluble tau aggregates, with high affinity of dissociation constants (K_d) = 66 nM, and tenfold selectivity over mature tau fibrils. Furthermore, we found that pTP-TFE is selective for tau over Aβ aggregates and had good cell permeability. This selectivity of pTP-TFE towards early forms of aggregated tau protein ex vivo was also supported with studies on human brain tissue containing tau and Aβ pathology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fluorescent molecule to be reported to have this form of selectivity profile, which suggests that pTP-TFE is a unique probe candidate for imaging-based detection of early stages of Alzheimer''s disease and other tauopathies.

pTP-TFE imaging probe can distinguish soluble tau aggregated proteins from other aggregated proteins enabling earlier detection of neurodegenerative diseases.