Interplay of thermochemistry and Structural Chemistry, the journal (volume 23, 2012, issues 1–3) and the discipline

In the current review of the journal Structural Chemistry, the contents of the issues 1–3 for the calendar year 2012 are related to thermochemistry. A brief thermochemical commentary is added to the summary of each article.     

Biphenyl-type sensing system in proton-rich environment by fluorescence and quantum-chemical calculations

Biphenyl derivative N-allyl-N′-(4′-nitro[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)thiourea (BP1) was synthesized as a functional fluorescent sensor for protons and their photophysical properties were studied. The influence of environment protonation on photophysical properties of the biphenyls in solutions was investigated using UV absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Semi-empirical and DFT calculations and optimization of the molecular structure of the biphenyl derivatives in vacuum, in polar solvents and in a proton-rich environment were conducted using the HyperChem, Amsol and Gaussian3 software package. Fluorescence quenching with addition of acidic acid was observed and the Stern-Volmer quenching rate constant was about 3.0×10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds formations by the protons with the sulphur being substituted to the biphenyls generate charge movement and strong increase (×5) of the dipole moment of the fluorophore.     

The effect of polyamidoamine dendrimers on human erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase activity

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers impact on activity of acetylcholinesterase was studied. It has been shown that dendrimers induce a biphasic effect: depending on their concentrations they increase or decrease enzyme activity. It may be due to two types of interactions: direct--between dendrimers and the enzyme; indirect--via a modification of the physical state of membrane phospholipids affecting the acetylcholinesterase.     

Abatement of waste-water biorefractory organics via electro-oxidative treatment

The electrochemical oxidation of coumaric acid, a biorefractory compound present in several industrial waste waters, has been investigated by use of Pt-Ti anodes and at electrolyte concentration (0.02 N NaCl or Na2SO4) low enough to allow direct dischargeability of the waste water into superficial water basins according to the Italian law (DL 152/11-5-99). Particularly, the role of the electrolyte over the conversion rate has been assessed. The obtained results show that the oxidation process should take place both at the electrode surface and in the bulk of the solution, via electrochemically-generated oxidising species (H2O2, persulfates, Cl2, NaClO). The faster coumaric acid abatement rates were found with chloride based electrolytes, which, however, lead to the formation of non-biodegradable small-molecular-weight chlorinated hydrocarbons.     

Bis­(tetra­methyl­ammonium) hexa­molyb­date hydrate, [(CH3)4N]2[Mo6O19]·H2O

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound, (C₄H₁₂N)₂[Mo₆O₁₉]·H₂O, has been determined from X‐ray diffraction data. The poly­oxo­anion [Mo₆O₁₉]^2? is built up from six distorted MoO₆ octa­hedra sharing common edges and one common vertex at the central O atom, and has crystallographic m3m (O_h) symmetry. The cation has crystallographic 3m symmetry.     

Simultaneous LC Analysis of Food Dyes in Soft Drinks

Liquid chromatography with diode-array detection has been used for simultaneous analysis of eight water-soluble synthetic colorants (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E129, E131, and E133) in non-alcoholic beverages. The colors were separated in 15 min on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column with a linear mobile phase gradient prepared from tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, methanol, and deionized water. The analytical characteristics of the separation were evaluated. Good linearity (r ² = 0.9988–0.9999), adequate limits of quantification, and high recovery (from 96.3 to 98.5%) were achieved. The method was used for analysis of 57 samples of soft drinks. The experimental results showed the colorants were present in 34 of the samples, and confirmed the method is sensitive, rapid, precise, and suitable for routine analysis of synthetic organic dyes.

     

Macromolecular nature of nanosheets of quasi‐TiO2 from (tetra‐isopropyl)orthotitanate modified by methacrylic acid

In this paper we concentrate on the general behavior of oxotitanium hydrosol, which was earlier developed by us as a precursor of the TiO₂ nanoparticles and nanocomposite. The oxotitanium hydrosol was synthesized by the chemical decomposition of a molecular complex of the methacrylic acid/(tetra‐isopropyl)orthotitanate (MAA/TIPT) by means of the hydrogen peroxide. The raw product chemical decomposition of MAA/TIPT is the colloidal suspension of the oxotitanium compound in the water. The oxotitanium compound was separated from hydrosol and identified on the basis of X‐ray and Raman spectroscopy investigations. The status of water in the hydrosol was also investigated by the Raman spectroscopy. The photophysical behaviors of the oxotitanium hydrosol on the basis of the light absorption and photoluminescence (PL) investigations are presented. The light absorption (260 nm) and PL emission (313 nm) allow us to identify the inorganic phase of hydrosol as nanosheets' crystallites of quasi‐TiO₂. Macromolecular nature of nanosheets of quasi‐TiO₂ was revealed only for a higher concentration solution of nanosheets' crystallites of quasi‐TiO₂ at the hydrosol. A macromolecular nature of nanosheets of quasi‐TiO₂ by the red shift of absorption edge and PL wavelength with increase in the concentration of the oxotitanium hydrosol as well as the formation of hydrogels and birefringence developed under an influence of mechanical shearing is evidenced. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enzymatic electrodes nanostructured with functionalized carbon nanotubes for biofuel cell applications

Nanostructured bioelectrodes were designed and assembled into a biofuel cell with no separating membrane. The glassy carbon electrodes were modified with mediator-functionalized carbon nanotubes. Ferrocene (Fc) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS) bound chemically to the carbon nanotubes were found useful as mediators of the enzyme catalyzed electrode processes. Glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger AM-11 and laccase from Cerrena unicolor C-139 were incorporated in a liquid-crystalline matrix-monoolein cubic phase. The carbon nanotubes–nanostructured electrode surface was covered with the cubic phase film containing the enzyme and acted as the catalytic surface for the oxidation of glucose and reduction of oxygen. Thanks to the mediating role of derivatized nanotubes the catalysis was almost ten times more efficient than on the GCE electrodes: catalytic current of glucose oxidation was 1 mA cm⁻² and oxygen reduction current exceeded 0.6 mA cm⁻². The open circuit voltage of the biofuel cell was 0.43 V. Application of carbon nanotubes increased the maximum power output of the constructed biofuel cell to 100 μW cm⁻² without stirring of the solution which was ca. 100 times more efficient than using the same bioelectrodes without nanotubes on the electrode surface.