Rheological properties of the aqueous mixtures of cationic-anionic surfactants

The rheological properties of the aqueous mixtures of cationic-anionic surfactants, both in single-phase systems and in aqueous two-phase systems, have been studied. Bizarre rheological properties —negative thixotropy, viscoelasticity and hihg viscosity of shear rate dependent at relatively low concentration — have been observed. An unusual viscosity change, that is, viscosity lowering with increasing concentration, was obtained. The negative thixotropy might be due to the existence of lamellar or sheet-like micelles, viscoelasticity might be induced by rodlike and lamellar or sheet-like micelles, the high viscosity might be a consequence of the formation of network by long rodlike micelles and the concentration-induced viscosity lowering could be interpreted in terms of the decrease of micellar dimensions with concentration.     

Interaction of tetrandrine with human serum albumin: a fluorescence quenching study.

The interaction of tetrandrine with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by measuring fluorescence quenching spectra, synchronous fluorescence spectra and ultra-violet spectra. The fluorescence quenching spectra of HSA in the presence of tetrandrine showed that tetrandrine quenched the fluorescence of HSA. The quenching constants of tetrandrine on HSA were determined using the Stern-Volmer equation. Static quenching and non-radiation energy transfer were the two main reasons leading to the fluorescence quenching of HSA by tetrandrine. According to the F?rster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding distances (r) and the binding constants (K(A)) were obtained. The thermodynamic parameters obtained in this study revealed that the interaction between tetrandrine and HSA was mainly driven by a hydrophobic force. The conformational changes of HSA were investigated by synchronous spectrum studies.     

Cellulose hydrolysis using zinc chloride as a solvent and catalyst

Cellulose gel with < 10% of crystallinity was prepared by treatment of microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel, with zinc chloride solution at a ratio of zinc chloride to cellulose from 1.5 to 18 (w/w). The presence of zinc ions in the cellulose gels enhanced the rate of hydrolysis and glucose yield. The evidence obtained from X-ray diffraction, iodine absorption experiments; and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra analysis suggested the presence of zinc-cellulose complex after Avicel was treated with zinc chloride. Zinc-cellulose complex was more susceptible to hydrolysis than amorphous cellulose. Under the experimental condition, cellulose gels with zinc ions were hyrolyzed to glucose with 95% theoretical yield and a concentration of 14% (w/v) by cellulases within 20 h. The same gel was hydrolyzed by acid to glucose with 91.5% yield and a concentration of 13.4% (w/v).     

A zwitterion of 1,5‐bis­(2‐hydroxy­benzamido)‐3‐aza­pentane: a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network involving dimers

The title compound, 2‐{N‐[2‐(2‐hydroxy­benzamido)ethyl­ammonio­ethyl]amino­carbon­yl}phenolate, C₁₈H₂₁N₃O₄, crystallizes in a zwitterionic form as a result of inter­molecular proton transfer and possesses a negatively charged phenolate group and a protonated amino group. The 2‐hydroxy­benzamide and 2‐(amino­carbonyl)­phenolate moieties attached to the two ends of the C—C—N—C—C backbone adopt a cis conformation in relation to this backbone. All N‐ and O‐bound H atoms are involved in hydrogen‐bond formation; the zwitterions are first linked into head‐to‐tail dimers, which are further organized into a two‐dimensional network parallel to the crystallographic bc plane.     

The molecular mechanism of stabilization of proteins by TMAO and its ability to counteract the effects of urea

Trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO) is a naturally occurring osmolyte that stabilizes proteins and offsets the destabilizing effects of urea. To investigate the molecular mechanism of these effects, we have studied the thermodynamics of interaction between TMAO and protein functional groups. The solubilities of a homologous series of cyclic dipeptides were measured by differential refractive index and the dissolution heats were determined calorimetrically as a function of TMAO concentration at 25 degrees C. The transfer free energy of the amide unit (-CONH-) from water to 1 M TMAO is large and positive, indicating an unfavorable interaction between the TMAO solution and the amide unit. This unfavorable interaction is enthalpic in origin. The interaction between TMAO and apolar groups is slightly favorable. The transfer free energy of apolar groups from water to TMAO consists of favorable enthalpic and unfavorable entropic contributions. This is in contrast to the contributions for the interaction between urea and apolar groups. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to provide a structural framework for the interpretation of these results. The simulations show enhancement of water structure by TMAO in the form of a slight increase in the number of hydrogen bonds per water molecule, stronger water hydrogen bonds, and long-range spatial ordering of the solvent. These findings suggest that TMAO stabilizes proteins via enhancement of water structure, such that interactions with the amide unit are discouraged.     

IR, MS studies on (+/-)-1-[3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)aminocarbonylmethyl]piperazine dihydrochloride salt

The vibration spectrum and FAB mass spectrum of (+/-)-1-[3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)aminocarbonylmethyl]piperazine dihydrochloride salt was studied. By comparing with the spectra of free base, different bands of IR were found in the NH+ stretching, the NH+ deformation motion, the CH2 of NCH2 group symmetric stretching, the CH2 of N-CH2 group twisting and the CN stretching. FAB shows the basic peak is M + H. Other m/e peaks are consistent with the structure.     

Microwave-assisted rapid electrophilic fluorination of 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives with Selectfluor

A microwave-assisted fluorination method for 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using Selectfluor^® has been developed. 2-Monofluorinated products can be obtained in high yield in neutral reaction conditions with addition of 1 eq. of Selectfluor^®. Treatment of 1,3-dicarbonyls with 3 eq. of Selectfluor^® in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) as the base results in the formation of 2,2-difluorinated derivatives only.     

Effect of some factors on the energy band structure of proteins

The effects of four factors (different side chains, side-chain disorder, conformational change, and ions and water) on the energy band structures of proteins have been investigated with the aid of the CNDO/2 crystal orbital method. The results indicate that these factors are very important. The consequences of these effects on the semiconductive properties of proteins are discussed.     

Potential-dependent reorientation of thiocyanate on Au electrodes

Thiocyanate (SCN) adsorption on an Au electrode is examined using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements, along with detailed density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both the calculation and the spectroscopic measurements show that three different geometries are adopted by SCN adsorption in the potential region studied (0.0 V 相似文献   

Theoretical study of the surface energy and electronic structure of pyrite FeS2 (100) using a total-energy pseudopotential method, CASTEP

The geometric and electronic structures of FeS(2) (100) surface have been studied by a quantum-mechanical calculation using a total-energy pseudopotential code, CASTEP. The (100) surface is very stable and does not give any significant geometric relaxation. The electronic structure of FeS(2) (100) surface is characterized by the appearance of new native surface states in the bulk band gap, which correspond to antibonding mixed Fea-Ssp(3) states. These surface states play an important role as mediators of electron transfer on both anodic and cathodic sites in the incipient oxidation of pyrite. Moreover, the (100) surface has small band gaps and shows some metallic character. It is predicted that the rate of cathodic reductive reaction of O(2) in the incipient oxidation of pyrite is much faster than previously considered. The transport of electrons from the anodic sites to the cathodic sites on the (100) surface is faster and hole injection of anodic sites is not the rate-determining step. So we can deduce that the rate-determining step of incipient oxidation for pyrite consists of both electron transfer of pyrite/aqueous O(2) interface and the splitting of H(2)O.