Static electric dipole polarizability of small sodium aggregates

We present pseudopotential local-spin-density calculations of the static electric polarizability of sodium dimers and trimers and their respective cations. The electronic polarizabilities are obtained from self-consistent calculations in the presence of an external electric field, which is kept sufficiently small to avoid non-linear effects. The calculated polarizability tensor has a strong anisotropy directly related to the geometric and electronic structures of the molecules, the anisotropy being larger for the neutral clusters. The polarizabilities are averaged over the vibrational motion and rotations of the aggregates in order to be compared with the experimental measurements. The obtained values show an improvement in the agreement with experiment with respect to the values calculated in the spherical approximation.     

Catalytic Combustion of Methane over CO1-xMgxO/Al2O3/FeCrAl Monolithic Catalysts

A series of CoxMgxO/Al2O3/FeCrAl catalysts （x=0-1） were prepared. The structures of the catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, and TPR analyses. The catalytic activity of the catalysts for methane combustion was evaluated in a continuous flow microreactor. The results indicated that the active washcoats adhered well on the FeCrAl foils. The phases in the catalysts were Co--xMgxO solid solutions, α-Al2O3, and γ-Al2O3. The surface particle size of the catalysts varied with variations in the molar ratios of Co to Mg. The Co component of the Co1_xMgxO/Al2O3/FeCrAl catalysts played an important role in the catalytic activity for methane combustion. In the Co1-xMgxO/AluO3/FeCrAl series catalyst （x=0.2-0.8）, the catalytic activity in terms of x was in the order of 0.5〉0.2〉0.8 under the experimental conditions. The presence of Mg in these catalysts could promote the thermal stability to a large extent. There were strong interactions between the Co1-xMgxO oxides and the AluO3/FeCrAl supports.     

蒙特卡洛模拟退火与距离限制相结合的方法在多肽溶液构象分析中的应用

多维核磁共振技术的飞速发展议得其在生物大分子结构测定方面的应用已经达到可以与【射线晶体学并驾齐驱的地步．蛋白质结构堆积紧密，较适合于用核磁共振方法给出确定的结构．与蛋白质不同的是多肽的柔性较大，在溶液中可能存在多种构象，核磁共振实验给出的只是平均信息＊．利用核磁，（振数据构建分子结构模型常用的方法有距离几何、分子动力学等，在由核磁共振NOESZ得到的距离信息足够多时可以给出较好的结果问．由于多肽本身的特点：柔性较大，由核磁共振得到的距离信息较少等，利用距离几何、分子动力学方法进行构象搜索时容易陷入…     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of oxamido-bridged heterobinuclear Ni(Ⅱ)-Cu(Ⅱ) complexes

The two complexes [Ni(oxen)Cu(L)2](ClO4)2.xH2O (L=2,2'-bipyridyl(bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline(phen)) have been synthesized, where oxen is N,N'-bis(2-aminoethyl)oxamido di-anion. The crystal structure of [Ni(oxen)Cu(bpy)2](ClO4)2.CH3OH has been determined by X-ray diffraction method. The crystal is triclinic system, space group P1 with a=12.179(1),b=12.298(2), c=11.476(2) A, a=97.57(1), B=97.52(1), 7=80.29(2), V=1669.04(67) A3, Z=2, Dcalcd=1.667 g/cm3. The structure has been refined to final R of 0.076 and Rw of 0.080, respectively. The complexes have an extended oxamido-bridged structure and consist of Ni(Ⅱ) ion in a square planar environment and Cu(Ⅱ) ion in a distorted octahedral environment.     

Asymmetric Reduction Using Lithium Aluminum Hydride Modified with Chiral Ligands Prepared from (1R)-(-)-β-Pinene

The reduction of prochiral ketones using chiral reducing reagents, prepared from lithium aluminum hydride and (-)-(1R, 2S, 3S, 5R)-10-anilinopinanediol (5) and (-)-(1R, 2S, 3S, 5R)-10-N-methylanilinopinanediol (6), affords chiral secondary alcohols in useful chemical yields (70 ～ 93%) but in low optical purity (8 ～ 33% ee). Modifiers 5 and 6 are synthesized from (lR)-(-)-β-pinene in three steps.     

N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) and N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato): synthesis, characterization, potentiometric, spectroscopic, and DFT studies of their vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes

The Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) (H(2)pyr(2)en, 1) was synthesized by reaction of pyridoxal with ethylenediamine; reduction of H(2)pyr(2)en with NaBH(4) yielded the reduced Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato) (H(2)Rpyr(2)en, 2); their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. The totally protonated forms of 1 and 2 correspond to H(6)L(4+), and all protonation constants were determined by pH-potentiometric and (1)H NMR titrations. Several vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes of these and other related ligands were prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state. The X-ray crystal structure of [V(V)O(2)(HRpyr(2)en)] shows the metal in a distorted octahedral geometry, with the ligand coordinated through the N-amine and O-phenolato moieties, with one of the pyridine-N atoms protonated. Crystals of [(V(V)O(2))(2)(pyren)(2)].2 H(2)O were obtained from solutions containing H(2)pyr(2)en and oxovanadium(IV), where Hpyren is the "half" Schiff base of pyridoxal and ethylenediamine. The complexation of V(IV)O(2+) and V(V)O(2) (+) with H(2)pyr(2)en, H(2)Rpyr(2)en and pyridoxamine in aqueous solution were studied by pH-potentiometry, UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometry, as well as by EPR spectroscopy for the V(IV)O systems and (1)H and (51)V NMR spectroscopy for the V(V)O(2) systems. Very significant differences in the metal-binding abilities of the ligands were found. Both 1 and 2 act as tetradentate ligands. H(2)Rpyr(2)en is stable to hydrolysis and several isomers form in solution, namely cis-trans type complexes with V(IV)O, and alpha-cis- and beta-cis-type complexes with V(V)O(2). The pyridinium-N atoms of the pyridoxal rings do not take part in the coordination but are involved in acid-base reactions that affect the number, type, and relative amount of the isomers of the V(IV)O-H(2)Rpyr(2)en and V(V)O(2)-H(2)Rpyr(2)en complexes present in solution. DFT calculations were carried out and support the formation and identification of the isomers detected by EPR or NMR spectroscopy, and the strong equatorial and axial binding of the O-phenolato in V(IV)O and V(V)O(2) complexes. Moreover, the DFT calculations done for the [V(IV)O(H(2)Rpyr(2)en)] system indicate that for almost all complexes the presence of a sixth equatorial or axial H(2)O ligand leads to much more stable compounds.     

Selenomethionine Extraction from Selenized Yeast: an LC-MS Study of the Acid Hydrolysis of a Synthetic Selenopeptide

A synthetically prepared seleno-peptide (AHPDVLTVXLQMLDDGR) was used as a model system for the acid hydrolysis of selenized yeast proteins. The seleno-peptide is a tryptic peptide of a heat shock protein 104 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was subjected to acid hydrolysis using methanesulfonic acid over a time period of 8 hours. Aliquots of the solution were sub-sampled at predetermined time intervals and the peptide fragments characterized by reversed phase LC MSⁿ. Similarly, the appearance of amino acid residues in the solution was monitored. It was found that after about 8 hours the synthetic peptide completely hydrolyzed. The use of a selenopeptide as a model for hydrolysis of selenized yeast hydrolysis was validated by comparing the decomposition time profile of the synthetic peptide with that of a selenized yeast sample. The rate of hydrolysis was identical in both systems, suggesting that the employed acid hydrolysis yields to the complete decomposition of the Se containing proteins in yeast and consequently to the liberation of selenomethionine.     

Modification of the luminescence properties of an Europium(III) Tris(β-diketonate) Complex by Inclusion in γ-cyclodextrin and 2,3,6-trimethyl-γ-cyclodextrin

A 1:1 inclusion compound between octakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (TRIMEG) and the chelate complex Eu(NTA)₃·2H₂O (NTA=1-(2-naphthoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetonate) was prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results were compared with those obtained for the corresponding native γ-CD adduct. Excitation and emission spectra were measured, and the lifetimes were determined for the Eu³⁺ first excited state (⁵D₀). The results indicate the presence of only one low-symmetry environment for the Eu³⁺ cations in the inclusion compounds. Encapsulation of the Europium complex in the two CDs increases the quantum efficiency of the ligand-to-metal energy transfer pathway, but the efficiency of the Eu³⁺ sensitization was significantly higher with TRIMEG as the host molecule. This may be related with the observation that the two hosts appear to have different influences on the Eu³⁺ coordination environments for the guest molecule.     

Magnetic switch of permeability for polyelectrolyte microcapsules embedded with Co@Au nanoparticles

We explored using a magnetic field to modulate the permeability of polyelectrolyte microcapsules prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly. Ferromagnetic gold-coated cobalt (Co@Au) nanoparticles (3 nm diameter) were embedded inside the capsule walls. The final 5 mum diameter microcapsules had wall structures consisting of 4 bilayers of poly(sodium styrene sulfonate)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PSS/PAH), 1 layer of Co@Au, and 5 bilayers of PSS/PAH. External alternating magnetic fields of 100-300 Hz and 1200 Oe were applied to rotate the embedded Co@Au nanoparticles, which subsequently disturbed and distorted the capsule wall and drastically increased its permeability to macromolecules like FITC-labeled dextran. The capsule permeability change was estimated by taking the capsule interior and exterior fluorescent intensity ratio using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Capsules with 1 layer of Co@Au nanoparticles and 10 polyelectrolyte bilayers are optimal for magnetically controlling permeability. A theoretical explanation was proposed for the permeability control mechanisms. "Switching on" of these microcapsules using a magnetic field makes this method a good candidate for controlled drug delivery in biomedical applications.