Implementation of the direct SCF and RPA methods on loosely coupled networks of workstations

The use of a cluster of workstations as an alternative supercomputer resource is demonstrated using the ab initio direct SCF and RPA code DISCO. DISCO was implemented using several different mechanisms to achieve the requisite parallelization. The various parallel software mechanisms are characterized based upon several different criteria, including portability, ease of use, and relative efficiency. The application of direct SCF and RPA techniques to study the static polarizability of paranitroaniline is described. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Copper-mediated N-alkynylation of carbamates, ureas, and sulfonamides. A general method for the synthesis of ynamides

[reaction: see text] A general amination strategy for the N-alkynylation of carbamates, sulfonamides, and chiral oxazolidinones and imidazolidinones is described. A variety of substituted ynamides are available by deprotonation of amides with KHMDS followed by reaction with CuI and an alkynyl bromide.     

Pretreatment of corn fiber by pressure cooking in water

The pretreatment of corn fiber using liquid water at temperatures between 220 and 260°C enhances enzymatic hydrolysis. This paper describes the laboratory reactor system currently in use for cooking of corn fiber at temperatures ranging from 200 to 260°C. The corn fiber at approx 4.4% solid/liquid slurry was treated in a 2-L, 304 SS, Parr reactor with three turbine propeller agitators and a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID), controller that controlled temperature within ±1°C. Heat-up times to the final temperatures of 220, 240, or 260°C were achieved in 50 to 60 min. Hold time at the final temperature was less than 10 s. A serpentine cooling coil, through which tap water was circulated at the completion of the run, cooled the reactor’s contents to 180°C within 2 min after the maximum temperature was attained. Ports in the reactor’s head plate facilitated sampling of the slurry and monitoring the pH. A continuous pH monitoring system was developed to help observe trends in pH during pretreatment and to assist in the development of a base (2.0M KOH) addition profile to help keep the pH within the range of 5.0 to 7.0. Enzymatic hydrolysis gave 33 to 84% conversion of cellulose in the pretreated fiber to glucose compared to 17% for untreated fiber.     

Relating the Composition of PtxRu100−x/C Nanoparticles to Their Structural Aspects and Electrocatalytic Activities in the Methanol Oxidation Reaction

A controlled composition‐based method—that is, the microwave‐assisted ethylene glycol (MEG) method—was successfully developed to prepare bimetallic Pt_xRu_100?x/C nanoparticles (NPs) with different alloy compositions. This study highlights the impact of the variation in alloy composition of Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs on their alloying extent (structure) and subsequently their catalytic activity towards the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The alloying extent of these Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs has a strong influence on their Pt d‐band vacancy and Pt electroactive surface area (Pt ECSA); this relationship was systematically evaluated by using X‐ray absorption (XAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and electrochemical analyses. The MOR activity depends on two effects that act in cooperation, namely, the number of active Pt sites and their activity. Here the number of active Pt sites is associated with the Pt ECSA value, whereas the Pt‐site activity is associated with the alloying extent and Pt d‐band vacancy (electronic) effects. Among the Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs with various Pt:Ru atomic ratios (x=25, 50, and 75), the Pt₇₅Ru₂₅/C NPs were shown to be superior in MOR activity on account of their favorable alloying extent, Pt d‐band vacancy, and Pt ECSA. This short study brings new insight into probing the synergistic effect on the surface reactivity of the Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs, and possibly other bimetallic Pt‐based alloy NPs.     

Certification of total arsenic in blood and urine standard reference materials by radiochemical neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) was used to measure arsenic at four levels in standard reference material (SRM) 955c Toxic Elements in Caprine Blood and at two levels in SRM 2668 Toxic Elements in Frozen Human Urine for the purpose of providing mass concentration values for certification. Samples were freeze-dried prior to analysis followed by neutron irradiation for 3 h at a fluence rate of 1 × 10¹⁴ cm^?2 s^?1. After sample dissolution in perchloric and nitric acids, arsenic was separated from the matrix either by retention on hydrated manganese dioxide (urine) or by extraction into zinc diethyldithiocarbamate in chloroform (blood). ⁷⁶As was quantified by gamma-ray spectroscopy. Differences in chemical yield and counting geometry between samples and standards were monitored by measuring the count rate of a ⁷⁷As tracer added before sample dissolution. RNAA results were combined with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry values from National Institute of Standards and Technology and collaborating laboratories to provide certified values of 10.81 ± 0.54 and 213.1 ± 0.73 μg/L for SRM 2668 Levels I and II, and certified values of 21.66 ± 0.73, 52.7 ± 1.1, and 78.8 ± 4.9 μg/L for SRM 955c Levels II–IV, respectively. Because of discrepancies between values obtained by different methods for SRM 955c Level I, an information value of <5 μg/L was assigned for this material.     

Photochemistry of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene oxide: concurrent triplet and singlet processes via singlet excitation

The photochemistry of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene oxide (254 nm) was reexamined and indan was found to be a primary photoproduct, as well as the traditionally assumed secondary photoproduct. Quenching studies demonstrated that indan, as a primary photoproduct, is derived from a triplet pathway, competing with a singlet route, back to the ground state surface. CASSCF calculations strongly suggest that the triplet pathway consists of a dissociation of the oxirane moiety to give a triplet carbene and aldehyde, which via hydrogen abstraction-decarbonylation-ISC recloses to give indan. Conical intersections corresponding to the presumed 1,2-hydrogen shift and 1,2-alkyl shift to give 2-tetralone and 1-indancarbaldehyde, respectively, were located computationally.     

Surface-mediated growth of transparent, oriented, and well-defined nanocrystalline anatase titania films

A new, surface-mediated method to grow transparent, oriented, and well-defined nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 films has been developed. The morphology of crystals is tunable from octahedral pyramids to truncate octahedral pyramids. These novel nanocrystalline films could have implications not only for practical applications but also for understanding the structure and orientation dependent properties of the important anatase material.     

The effects of charge transfer on the properties of liquid water

A method for treating charge transfer interactions in classical potential models is developed and applied to water. In this method, a discrete amount of charge is transferred for each hydrogen bond formed. It is designed to be simple to implement, to be applicable to a variety of potential models, and to satisfy various physical requirements. The method does not transfer charge at large intramolecular distances, it does not result in a conductive liquid, and it can be easily parameterized to give the correct amount of charge transfer. Two charge transfer models are developed for a polarizable and a non-polarizable potential. The models reproduce many of the properties of liquid water, including the structure, the diffusion constant, and thermodynamic properties over a range of temperatures.     

Combined Photoredox and Carbene Catalysis for the Synthesis of Ketones from Carboxylic Acids**

As a key element in the construction of complex organic scaffolds, the formation of C−C bonds remains a challenge in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Recent advancements in single-electron chemistry have enabled new methods for the formation of various C−C bonds. Disclosed herein is the development of a novel single-electron reduction of acyl azoliums for the formation of ketones from carboxylic acids. Facile construction of the acyl azolium in situ followed by a radical–radical coupling was made possible merging N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and photoredox catalysis. The utility of this protocol in synthesis was showcased in the late-stage functionalization of a variety of pharmaceutical compounds. Preliminary investigations using chiral NHCs demonstrate that enantioselectivity can be achieved, showcasing the advantages of this protocol over alternative methodologies.     

Scaling Platinum-Catalyzed Hydrogen Dissociation on Corrugated Surfaces

We determine absolute reactivities for dissociation at low coordinated Pt sites. Two curved Pt(111) single-crystal surfaces allow us to probe either straight or highly kinked step edges with molecules impinging at a low impact energy. A model extracts the average reactivity of inner and outer kink atoms, which is compared to the reactivity of straight A- and B-type steps. Local surface coordination numbers do not adequately capture reactivity trends for H₂ dissociation. We utilize the increase of reactivity with step density to determine the area over which a step causes increased dissociation. This step-type specific reactive area extends beyond the step edge onto the (111) terrace. It defines the reaction cross-section for H₂ dissociation at the step, bypassing assumptions about contributions of individual types of surface atoms. Our results stress the non-local nature of H₂ interaction with a surface and provide insight into reactivity differences for nearly identical step sites.