Internal energy distributions deposited in doubly and singly charged tungsten hexacarbonyl ions generated by charge stripping,electron impact,and charge exchange

The distribution Pε of internal energies deposited in W(CO)₆ ^+?. ions upon charge stripping (that is, electron detachment to yield the doubly charged ion in the course of a single kiloelec-tronvolt energy collision) was estimated by a thermochemical method from the measured relative abundances of the doubly charged fragment ions produced. The thermochemical information needed to estimate P/ge was obtained by measuring the threshold translational energy losses associated with charge stripping of the singly charged fragment ions, W(CO) _n ⁺ (n = 0-5). The P(/ge) curve falls exponentially with increasing internal energy. The average energy transferred to W(CO)₆ ^+? upon a 7.8-keV collision with O₂ is 19 eV, yielding W(CO)₆ ^2? ions with an average of 4 eV of internal energy. In its general appearance, the P(ε) distribution associated with charge stripping is similar to the curves obtained from simple collisional activation of either W(CO) ₆ ^+?. or W(CO)₆ ^2+? in kiloelectronvolt energy gaseous collisions. Given that charge stripping occurs by way of an electronic excitation process, this similarity in the energy deposition function is taken to indicate that electronic excitation is also the major mechanism for simple collisional activation in this system at zero scattering angle in the kiloelectronvolt energy regime. The internal energy distribution associated with a related charge-stripping process, charge inversion from the metal carbonyl anions to yield the corresponding cations, was also recorded. This reaction shows a large (～7 eV) average internal energy deposition with a distribution that indicates near-zero probability of formation of unexcited ions. These data are tentatively interpreted in terms of vibrationalelectron detachment. The internal energy distribution associated with an exothermic process, charge exchange [W(CO)₆ ^2+? + O₂ → W(CO) ₊ ^6?+O₂ ^+?], was also characterized. Unexpectedly strong coupling of translational to internal energy is observed, and there is a large probability of depositing internal energies in excess of 10 eV, even though the exothermicity is only 3 eV. Finally, the internal energy distributions associated with the formation of doubly charged W(CO)₆ ^2+? ions by electron ionization have been measured. Unlike the distribution for charge stripping, but like that for singly charged ions generated by electron impact, this distribution shows considerable structure, presumably due to Franck-Condon factors.     

Alignment of carbon nanotubes in nematic liquid crystals

The self-organizing properties of nematic liquid crystals can be used to align carbon nanotubes dispersed in them. Because the nanotubes are so much thinner than the elastic penetration length, the alignment is caused by the coupling of the unperturbed director field to the anisotropic interfacial tension of the nanotubes in the nematic host fluid. In order to relate the degree of alignment of the nanotubes to the properties of the nematic liquid crystal, we treat the two components on the same footing and combine Landau-de Gennes free energies for the thermotropic ordering of the liquid crystal and for the lyotropic nematic ordering of carbon nanotubes caused by their mutually excluded volumes. The phase ordering of the binary mixture is analyzed as a function of the volume fraction of the carbon nanotubes, the strength of the coupling and the temperature. We find that the degree of ordering of the nanorods is enslaved by the properties of the host liquid and that it can be tuned by raising or lowering the temperature or by increasing or decreasing their concentration. By comparing the theory to recent experiments, we find the anchoring energy of multiwalled carbon nanotubes to be in the range from 10(-10) to 10(-7) N m(-1).     

In situ spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry of uranium in high-temperature alkali chloride molten salts

Soluble uranium chloride species, in the oxidation states of III+, IV+, V+, and VI+, have been chemically generated in high-temperature alkali chloride melts. These reactions were monitored by in situ electronic absorption spectroscopy. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy of uranium(VI) in a molten LiCl-KCl eutectic was used to determine the immediate coordination environment about the uranium. The dominant species in the melt was [UO 2Cl 4] (2-). Further analysis of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure data and Raman spectroscopy of the melts quenched back to room temperature indicated the possibility of ordering beyond the first coordination sphere of [UO 2Cl 4] (2-). The electrolytic generation of uranium(III) in a molten LiCl-KCl eutectic was also investigated. Anodic dissolution of uranium metal was found to be more efficient at producing uranium(III) in high-temperature melts than the cathodic reduction of uranium(IV). These high-temperature electrolytic processes were studied by in situ electronic absorption spectroelectrochemistry, and we have also developed in situ X-ray absorption spectroelectrochemistry techniques to probe both the uranium oxidation state and the uranium coordination environment in these melts.     

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Four Medicinal Mediterranean Plants: Investigation of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity

With everyday advances in the field of pharmaceuticals, medicinal plants have high priority regarding the introduction of novel synthetic compounds by the usage of environmentally friendly extraction technologies. Herein, a supercritical CO₂ extraction method was implemented in the analysis of four plants (chamomile, St. John’s wort, yarrow, and curry plant) after which the non-targeted analysis of the chemical composition, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity was evaluated. The extraction yield was the highest for the chamomile (5%), while moderate yields were obtained for the other three plants. The chemical composition analyzed by gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) demonstrated extraction of diverse compounds including terpenes and terpenoids, fatty acids, flavonoids and coumarins, functionalized phytosterols, and polyphenols. Voltammetry of microfilm immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode using square-wave voltammetry (SWV) was applied in the analysis of extracts. It was found that antioxidant activity obtained by SWV correlates well to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazine (DPPH) radical assay (R² = 0.818) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay (R² = 0.640), but not to the total phenolic content (R² = 0.092). Effective results were obtained in terms of activity showing the potential usage of supercritical CO2 extraction to acquire bioactive compounds of interest.     

Guanidiniocarbonylpyrrole–Aryl Derivatives: Structure Tuning for Spectrophotometric Recognition of Specific DNA and RNA Sequences and for Antiproliferative Activity

We present a systematic study of different guanidiniocarbonylpyrrole‐aryl derivatives designed to interact with DNA or RNA both through intercalation of an aromatic moiety into the base stack of the nucleotide and through groove binding of a guanidiniocarbonylpyrrole cation. We varied 1) the size of the aromatic ring (benzene, naphthalene, pyrene and acridine), 2) the length and flexibility of the linker connecting the two binding groups, and 3) the total number of positive charges present at different pH values. The compounds and their interactions with DNA and RNA were studied by UV/Vis, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy. Antiproliferative activities against human tumour cell lines were also determined. Our studies show that efficient interaction with, for example, DNA requires a significantly large aromatic ring (pyrene) connected through a flexible linker to the pyrrole moiety. However, a positive charge, as in 12 , is also needed. Compound 12 allows for base‐pair‐selective recognition of ds‐DNA at physiological pH values. The antiproliferative activities of these compounds correlate with their binding affinities towards DNA, suggesting that their biological effects are most probably due to DNA binding.     

Structural Changes in a Protein Fragment from Abalone Shell during the Precipitation of Calcium Carbonate

Mineralized tissues grow through biologically controlled processes in which specific macromolecules are involved. Some of these molecules, which are present in very low concentrations and are difficult to localize and characterize, become entrapped inside the mineralized tissue. Herein, a protein fragment, GP, which was obtained by the alkaline digestion of the green sheet of the abalone shell, is used as a probe to study the changes in molecular structure that occur during the precipitation of calcium carbonate. This important goal was achieved by exploiting a fluorescent tag in GP. The experimental results that were obtained by using spectroscopic‐, chromatographic‐, and microscopic techniques indicate that GP controls the precipitation kinetics and morphology of calcium carbonate crystals, and that it only undergoes structural reorganization when entrapped inside calcium carbonate crystals. To the best of our knowledge, this report represents one of the first studies on the conformational changes of a protein fragment that is involved in biomineralization processes on moving from the solution phase into the mineral phase.     

A synthesis of 1-substituted 5-[2-(acylamino)ethyl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides

A seven-step synthesis of 1-substituted 5-(2-acylaminoethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides 20 as the pyrazole analogues of histamine was developed. The synthesis starts with a three-step preparation of N(1)-substituted methyl 5-(2-tert-butoxycarbonylaminoethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylates 7 from commercially available Boc-β-alanine (1). Subsequent four-step transformation of the key-intermediates 7 into the final products 20 was performed following two complementary reaction sequences comprising acidolytic removal of the Boc group, hydrolysis of the COOMe group, amidations of the COOH group, and acylations of the NH₂ group. The structures of pyrazole derivatives were determined by spectroscopic methods and by X-ray diffraction.     

Remarkable effect of water on functionalization of the phenyl ring in methyl-substituted benzene derivatives with F-TEDA-BF4

Various N-F reagents reacted with hexamethylbenzene (1) forming side chain substituted alkoxides or esters in protic solvents, Ritter type side chain functionalization was observed in acetonitrile in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, while in aqueous acetonitrile solution phenyl ring transformation took place, starting with ipso attack of water and further rearrangement of the methyl group as the main process. Rearranged 2,3,4,5,6,6-hexamethylcyclohexa-2,4-dienone (7) was transformed to 5-fluoro-2,3,5,6,6-pentamethyl-4-methylenecyclohex-2-en-1-one (8) or 5-hydroxy-2,3,5,6,6-pentamethyl-4-methylenecyclohex-2-en-1-one (9). 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexamethyl-bicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene reacted with F-TEDA-BF4 in the presence of water and 7 was formed in high yield. Durene (12) followed similar ipso attack of water as 1, but on the other hand 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene displayed different regioselectivity and 2,3,4,5-tetramethylphenol was formed, further transforming to 4-fluoro-2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone. The functionalizations of methylbenzenes obeyed a second-order rate equation v = d[N-F]/dt = k2[N-F][substrate], and DeltaG# values between 77 and 94 kJ/mol were determined. The presence of water did not significantly influence DeltaG# but considerably affected DeltaS# and positive values were found where methyl group migration was the dominant process (9.1 J/(mol K) for 1 and 0.5 J/(mol K) for 12). A higher reactivity of durene than mesitylene (k2(MES)/k2(DUR) = 0.23) was found, supporting the assumption that single electron transfer (SET) is the dominant process in the functionalizations of methyl-substituted benzene derivatives with F-TEDA-BF4.     

Proton N.M.R. lineshape in nematic microdroplets

The dependence of the proton N.M.R. absorption spectrum on nematic director configuration and molecular self-diffusion in nematic submicrondroplets is analysed. The lineshape is evaluated numerically for radial and bipolar director configuration. The motional averaging is taken into account by means of a numerical simulation of the molecular diffusion which induces slow molecular reorientations due to non-uniform orientational ordering in the droplet. This diffusion process strongly affects the absorption spectra of the radial configuration, whereas spectra of the bipolar configuration are only slightly influenced. The possibility of determinating the submicrometre nematic droplet structures using the proton N.M.R. lineshape is discussed.     

Stochastic resonance in a locally excited system of bistable oscillators

Stochastic resonance is studied in a one-dimensional array of overdamped bistable oscillators in the presence of a local subthreshold periodic perturbation. The system can be treated as an ensemble of pseudospins tending to align parallel which are driven dynamically by an external periodic magnetic field. The oscillators are subjected to a dynamic white noise as well as to a static topological disorder. The latter is quantified by the fraction of randomly added long-range connections among ensemble elements. In the low connectivity regime the system displays an optimal global stochastic resonance response if a small-world network is formed. In the mean-field regime we explain strong changes in the dynamic disorder strength provoking a maximal stochastic resonance response via the variation of fraction of long-range connections by taking into account the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition of the pseudospins. The system size analysis shows only quantitative power-law type changes on increasing number of pseudospins.