Thermolysis of disubstituted 1,2-dioxetanes: Activation parameters and chemiexcitation yields

trans-3-Methyl-4-(p-anisyl)-1,2-dioxetane 1, trans-3-methyl-4-(o-anisyl)-1,2-dioxetane 2 , 3-methyl-3-benzyl-1,2-dioxetane 3 , and 3-methyl-3-p-methoxybenzyl-1,2-dioxetane 4 were synthesized in low yield by the β-bromo hydroperoxide method. The activation parameters were determined by the chemiluminescence method (for 1 ΔG≠ = 22.8 ± 0.3 kcal/mol, Δ≠ = 22.2, ΔS≠ = −1.7 e.u., k₆₀ = 7.6 × 10⁻³s⁻¹; for 2 ΔG≠ + 23.6 ± 0.3 kcal/mol, ΔH≠ = 22.8, ΔS≠ = −2.2 e.u., k₆₀ = 2.5 × 10⁻³S⁻¹; for 3 ΔG≠ = 24.0 ± 0.4 kcal/mol, ΔH≠ = 23.1, ΔS≠ = −2.7 e.u., k₆₀ = 1.2 × 10⁻³S⁻¹; for 4 ΔG≠ = 24.0 ± 0.2 kcal/mol, ΔH≠, = 23.2, ΔS≠, = −2.4 e.u., k₆₀ = 1.2 × 10⁻³s⁻¹). Thermolysis of 1–4 produced excited carbonyl fragments (direct production of high yields of triplets relative to excited singlets) [chemiexcitation yields ϕ^T, ϕ^S, respectively: for 1 0.02, 0.0001; for 2 0.02, 0.0001; for 3 0.03, 0.0002; for 4 0.02, 0.0001]. The effect of paramethoxyaryl substitution was consistent with electronic effects. The ortho substitution in 2 resulted in an increase in stability of the dioxetane, opposite that observed for an electronic effect. The results are discussed in relation to a diradical-like mechanism.     

Facile Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Descurainia sophia</Emphasis> and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties

The objective of the present study was to evaluate efficiency of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) biosynthesis using Descurainia sophia as a novel biological resource. The resulting synthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using UV visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The UV–Vis spectra gave surface plasmon resonance at ~420 nm. TEM images revealed formation spherical shaped Ag-NPs with size ranged from to 1–35 nm. DLS confirmed uniformity of the synthesized Ag-NPs with an average size of ~30 nm. Following, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the synthesized Ag-NPs were investigated. The concentration 25 µg/ml of the Ag-NPs showed maximum inhibitory effect on mycelium growth of Rhizoctonia solani (More than 86 % inhibition), followed by 15 µg/ml (55 % inhibition) and 10 µg/ml (63 % inhibition). The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Ag-NPs against Agrobacterium tumefaciens (strain GV3850) and A, rhizogenes (strain 15843) were 4 and 8 µg/ml, respectively. The Ag-NPs were stable in vitro for 3 months without any precipitation or decrease of antifungal effects. Finally, it could be concluded that D. sophia can be used as an effective method for biosynthesis of nanoparticles, especially Ag-NPs.     

Surface modification of sulfonated polyvinylchloride cation-exchange membranes by using chitosan polymer containing Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles

Sulfonated polyvinylchloride (SPVC) cation-exchange membranes were coated using chitosan solutions comprising different amounts of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Influence of chitosan immobilization as well as nanofiller concentration on the electrochemical performance of the membranes was investigated. Electrochemical properties of the membranes including permselectivity, ionic permeability, and areal resistance were studied using an equipped electrodialysis setup and NaCl solution as model electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed for membrane characterization. Electrochemical performance of the SPVC membranes was improved by coating chitosan polymer. In addition, ionic permeability and permselectivity of the membranes were initially raised by increasing nanoparticles concentration from nil to 2 wt% and then decreased by further insertion of the nanofiller. The areal resistance of the plain SPVC membrane was decreased from 9.4 to 2.9 (ohm) by coating of chitosan solution including optimum value of nano-Fe₃O₄ due to electrical potential field enhancement across the membrane.

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Graphical Abstract Chitosan-coated cation-exchange membranes for electrodialysis process

     

Sensitive amperometric pyridoxine sensor based on self‐assembled Prussian blue nanoparticle‐modified poly(o‐phenylenediamine)/glassy carbon electrode

Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) were prepared by a self‐assembly process on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with poly(o‐phenylenediamine) (PoPD) film. The stepwise fabrication process of PBNP‐modified PoPD/GCE was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The prepared PBNPs showed an average size of 70 nm and a homogeneous distribution on the surface of the modified electrode. The PBNPs/PoPD/GCE showed electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of pyridoxine (PN) and was used as an amperometric sensor. The modified electrode exhibited a linear response for PN oxidation over the concentration range 3–38.5 μM with a detection limit of ca 6.10 × 10^?7 M (S/N = 3) and sensitivity of 2.79936 × 10³ mA M^?1 cm^?2 using an amperometric method. The mechanism and kinetics of the catalytic oxidation reaction of PN were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The values of α, k_cat and D were estimated as 0.36, 1.089 × 10² M^?1 s^?1 and 8.9 × 10^?5 cm² s^?1, respectively. This sensor also exhibited good anti‐interference and selectivity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Simple and Sensitive Analytical Method for Determination of Naltrexone Level in Plasma by GC–MS

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for determination of naltrexone in plasma is presented. The method is based on pre-column derivatization of analyte to trimethylsilyl derivative of naltrexone. The analyte and internal standard were extracted from plasma by liquid–liquid extraction. Validation of the method has been studied in the concentration range 1–50 ng mL⁻¹.

     

Effect of temperature on the intrinsic viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol) in water/dimethyl sulfoxide solutions

In this work, the intrinsic viscosities of poly(ethylene glycol) with molar mass of 20 kg mol^− 1 were measured in water/dimethyl sulfoxide solutions from (298.15 to 318.15) K. The expansion factors of the polymer chains were calculated from the intrinsic viscosity data. The expansion factor were decreased by increasing temperature; therefore the chain of PEG shrinks and the end-to-end distance become smaller by increasing temperature. Perhaps the interactions of segment-segment are favored toward segment-solvent by increasing temperature; therefore the hydrodynamic volumes of the polymer coils become smaller by increasing temperature. The thermodynamic parameters (entropy of dilution parameter, the heat of dilution parameter, theta temperature and polymer-solvent interaction parameter) were derived by the temperature dependence of the polymer chain expansion factor. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the interactions of segment-segment were increased by increasing temperature.     

Heat transfer in granular materials: effects of nonlinear heat conduction and viscous dissipation

In this paper, we study the heat transfer in a one‐dimensional fully developed flow of granular materials down a heated inclined plane. For the heat flux vector, we use a recently derived constitutive equation that reflects the dependence of the heat flux vector on the temperature gradient, the density gradient, and the velocity gradient in an appropriate frame invariant formulation. We use two different boundary conditions at the inclined surface: a constant temperature boundary condition and an adiabatic condition. A parametric study is performed to examine the effects of the material dimensionless parameters. The derived governing equations are coupled nonlinear second‐order ordinary differential equations, which are solved numerically, and the results are shown for the temperature, volume fraction, and velocity profiles. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evolution of local atomic structure in a melt-spun Ni25Ti50Cu25 shape memory alloy during crystallization

The local atomic environment of a melt-spun Ni₂₅Ti₅₀Cu₂₅ amorphous alloy and bond evolution during crystallization were studied by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. In the amorphous alloy, the interatomic distances of Ni–Ti and Cu–Ti are distinct from Ti–Ti and can be indicative of the formation of two types of dominant polyhedra or distorted polyhedral clusters centered with Ni and Cu, with the majority of shell atoms being Ti. The overall increase in the coordination numbers of Ni, Ti, and Cu by crystallization and evidence for structural relaxation suggest that the melt-spun ribbon contains a combination of ordered structures and free volume prior to the heat treatment. Copper and nickel are co-located as their absorption spectra are similar. Although crystallization occurs rapidly (within 4?min at 500 °C), the local atomic environment change persists at longer annealing durations (up to 10?min). An increase in the Ti–Ti and Cu–Cu homo-bond fractions at short and intermediate annealing times suggests that these species segregate between Cu-rich and Cu-poor phases. Crystallization continues through a short-range Ti and Cu diffusion-dominated process, as the near-neighbor structures of Ti and Cu change considerably more than for Ni during annealing. This homogenizes the microstructure followed by possible precipitation of a TiCu compound.     

Theoretical study on the molecular tautomerism of the 3-hydroxy-pyridin-4-one system

3-hydroxy-pyridin-4-one is a parent molecule for the family of hydroxypyridinones that are known in coordination chemistry as efficient metal ions chelators. In this work, relative stabilities of some possible tautomers were investigated using several quantum chemical methods: CBS (complete basis set methods), Gn, DFT (density functional theory), Hartree–Fock and MP2. Performed calculations show that the system under consideration exists as a mixture of two tautomers with comparable energies. Among them, the hydroxypyridinone structure of the studied molecular system seems to be a bit more stable than the o-dihydroxypyridine one, by a few kJ/mol only. Aromaticity and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding are the main effects influencing the stability of the studied tautomeric structures. Consequently, aromatic effects were calculated using several indices of aromaticity: HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity), NICS (nucleus independent chemical shift), H, PDI (para delocalisation index), MCI (multi-centre index) and ASE (aromatic stabilisation energy). The strength of possible intra-molecular hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) was determined by means of the AIM (atoms-in-molecules) method and by calculating enthalpies for theoretical reactions that do or do not involve H-bonds. The AIM method was employed to understand how variations in atomic energies influence the stability of different tautomeric structures.     

Perturbation theory based direct correlation function for fluids with hard core potentials

Using second-order Barker–Henderson perturbation theory we are able to derive an explicit expression for the direct correlation function of fluids with hard core potentials. Using the obtained direct correlation function, one can explicitly calculate all thermodynamic properties of simple fluids with hard core potentials. Comparisons with computer simulation data show good agreement for both thermodynamic properties and the static structure factor of the hard core double Yukawa potential.