Perturbative treatment of the electron-correlation contribution to the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction

A perturbative scheme for the treatment of electron-correlation effects on the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction (DBOC) is suggested. Utilizing the usual Moller-Plesset partitioning of the Hamiltonian formulas for first and second orders (termed as MP1 and MP2) are obtained by expanding the wave function in the corresponding coupled-cluster expressions for the DBOC[J. Gauss et al., J. Chem. Phys. 125, 144111 (2006)]. The obtained expressions are recast in terms of one- and two-particle density matrices in order to take advantage of existing analytic second-derivative implementations for many-body methods. Test calculations show that both MP1 and MP2 recover large fractions (on average 90% and 95%, respectively) of the coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) electron-correlation corrections to the DBOC and thus render the suggested MP treatments cost-effective (though still accurate) alternatives to high-level coupled cluster (CC) treatments. The applicability of the MP1 and MP2 schemes for treating DBOC is demonstrated in calculations for the atomization energies of benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene. The corresponding corrections are surprisingly large (about 0.6 kJmol for benzene, 1.1 kJmol for naphthalene, 1.5 kJmol for anthracene, and 1.8 kJmol for tetracene) with the electron-correlation corrections reducing the corresponding Hartree-Fock self-consistent field values by 25%-30%.     

Reversible Optical Writing and Data Storage in an Anthracene‐Loaded Metal–Organic Framework

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) enable the design of host–guest systems with specific properties. In this work, we show how the confinement of anthracene in a well‐chosen MOF host leads to reversible yellow‐to‐purple photoswitching of the fluorescence emission. This behavior has not been observed before for anthracene, either in pure form or adsorbed in other porous hosts. The photoresponse of the host–guest system is caused by the photodimerization of anthracene, which is greatly facilitated by the pore geometry, connectivity, and volume as well as the structural flexibility of the MOF host. The photoswitching behavior was used to fabricate photopatternable and erasable surfaces that, in combination with data encryption and decryption, hold promise in product authentication and secure communication applications.     

Study of the effects of operational parameters on multiresidue pesticide analysis by LC-MS/MS

In this paper, the influence of several operational parameters on a well established multiresidue LC-MS/MS method has been studied in relation to the analysis of 150 pesticides commonly present in vegetable samples. The operational parameters investigated are: (i) the influence of different modifiers (0.1% formic acid; 5 mM ammonium formiate; 5 mM ammonium acetate in aqueous phase) - both on the retention time and on the analytical response of the studied compounds; (ii) the effect of the analytical column's temperature on the retention time and on the analytical response of the pesticides investigated; (iii) the effects of co-elution in mixture containing 150 pesticides and, additionally, (iv) the carrying out of a study about the common transitions obtained by LC-MS/MS. Various common transitions were found among the 150 pesticides, but there were only two problematic cases, the pairs diuron-fluometuron and prometryn-terbutryn, which have common scanned transitions and have very close retention times. The use of ammonium salts as modifier instead of formic acid reports enhancement or suppression of the response depending on the pesticides. No great influence on the retention time or on the response of the pesticides and commodities studied was observed with relation to the column temperature. Two different columns: an HPLC (5 μm particle size) and an UHPLC analytical column (1.8 μm particle size) have been used. As was expected, shorter run times and lower peak width was achieved with the UHPLC column.In this paper, the effect of the compounds on each other in the MS analysis when the number of co-eluting compounds is quite high is also described. Mainly small suppression or enhancement co-elution effect was observed, but some particular pesticides presented high sensitivity (>±60% effect) when they elute together with others. This is an important factor and it has to be taken into account when performing multiresidue pesticide analysis.     

Compact poly(ethylene oxide) structures adsorbed at the ethylammonium nitrate-silica interface

The adsorption of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) onto silica from ethylammonium nitrate (a protic ionic liquid) has been investigated using colloid probe AFM force curve measurements. Steric repulsive forces were measured for PEO, confirming that PEO can compete with the ethylammonium cation and adsorb onto silica. The range of the repulsion increases with polymer molecular weight (e.g., from 1.4 nm for 0.01 wt % 10 kDa PEO to 40 nm for 0.01 wt % 300 kDa PEO) and with concentration (e.g., from 16 nm at 0.001 wt % to 78 nm at 0.4 wt % for 300 kDa PEO). Fits to the force curve data could not be obtained using standard models for a polymer brush, but excellent fits were obtained using the mushroom model, suggesting the adsorbed polymer films are compressed and relatively poorly solvated. No evidence for adsorption of 3.5 kDa PPO could be detected up to its solubility limit.     

A conformationally constrained fused tricyclic nisin AB-ring system mimic toward an improved pyrophosphate binder of lipid II

The bacteria-specific membrane component lipid II is essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. A tricyclic nisin mimic was designed and synthesized in which both thioether moieties were mimicked by an alkane-bridge, as well as the introduction of a third conformational constraint consisting of a macrocyclic lactam-bridge between the N-terminus and the B-ring. The newly designed tricyclic AB-ring mimic was found to bind lipid II since it was able to inhibit nisin-induced membrane leakage in a dose-dependent manner. These results imply that the tricyclic AB-ring mimic may form a novel class of lead structures for the development of nisin-based peptide antibiotics.     

Dissolvable disulphide-polyacrylamide gels for the electrophoretic analysis of chromosomal proteins and for affino-electrophoresis of thiol-proteins

A discontinous gel system is described that is composed of the dissolvable, disulphide-containing acrylamide gel developed by Hansen and the acetic acid-urea gel as introduced by Panyim and Chalkley. A cleavable SDS gel is used for the identification and an initial separation of proteins according to molecular weight; it is then solubilized by tris-mercaptoethanol and layered on the acidic gel, where it functions as a stacking gel with a pronounced concentrating capacity. The final resolution obtained by this technique permits the identification of single protein species according to the degree of enzymatic modification (acetylation and phosphorylation). Side reactions of the disulphide gel matrix with thiol proteins are discussed and other possible application are considered.     

Monitoring of optical isomers of β-methylphenylalanine in opioid peptides

-erythro- and -threo-β-methylphenylalanines were synthesized and incorporated into the delta opioid receptor-selective deltorphin C peptide by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The enantiomeric composition of β-methylphenylalanine and the diastereomeric composition of the peptide were determined. To distinguish exactly between the two enantiomeric pairs of β-methylphenylalanine, different liquid, gas and thin-layer chromatographic methods are suggested, while the four diastereomers Of [β-Mephe₃]deltorphin C Can be identified and separated conveniently by high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Coating of Sol Particles for Membrane Applications

For improving chemical and thermal stability of γ-Al₂O₃ membranes boehmite (AlOOH) sol-particles are coated with Zr⁴⁺-species with two techniques. These techniques are heterogeneous precipitation (HP-method) and “surface-reaction-followed-by-polycondensation” (SRPC-method). A continuous coating layer is formed at relative low Zr⁴⁺-concentration, about one monolayer coverage of boehmite particles, and with the HP-method. For large concentrations and for the SRPC-method small particles (order 1 nm) of Zr⁴⁺-species are formed on the surface of the boehmite particles. After drying and calcination up to 1000°C no continuous layer of a zirconia phase could be detected for all samples. However the thermal stability of the porous structure is improved. Phase transitions of alumina occur at temperatures of 1100°C and the porous structure of the membrane material is then destabilized.     

SYNTHESIS AND CONFORMATIONAL STUDIES OF A NUMBER OF SATURATED BICYCLIC SIX-MEMBERED RING PHOSPHITES

Abstract

An ¹H NMR study of the conformation of the dioxaphosphorinane ring of a number of diastereoisomeric bicyclic saturated six-membered ring phosphites (3ab-10ab) has been performed. The dioxaphosphorinane ring of these phosphites is transannelated with a tetrahydrofuran, cyclopen-tane, tetrahydropyran or cyclohexane ring. The substituent on the phosphorus atom is a methoxy or phenoxy group. It is shown that the cis isomers 3a-10a prefer a chair conformation of the dioxaphosphorinane ring, independent of the substituent on the phosphorus atom and of the nature of the transannelated ring. In contrast, for the trans isomers 3b-10b a twist rather than a chair conformation of the dioxaphosphorinane ring is preferred. The fraction of the twist conformer in the trans isomers is mainly determined by the substituent on phosphorus. The size and composition of the transannelated ring are relatively unimportant in this respect. For both cis and trans isomers the preferred geometry is solvent-independent. The measured ^3JPOCH couplings of the cis isomers 3a-10a are used to formulate an expression for the dependence of such couplings upon dihedral angles in bicyclic phosphites.     

Functionalization of the pyridazin-3(2H)-one ring via palladium-catalysed aminocarbonylation

5-Iodo- and 4,5-dibromo-2-methylpyridazin-3(2H)-ones were aminocarbonylated in the presence of various amines including amino acid methyl esters in a palladium-catalysed reaction. The iodo derivative afforded the corresponding amides with complete conversion and high isolated yields. The dibromo derivative has shown unexpectedly high reactivity in this reaction, resulting in 4,5-dicarboxamides using primary amines as N-nucleophiles. Monoaminocarbonylation has not been observed, i.e., neither 4-bromo-5-carboxamide nor 4-carboxamido-5-bromo derivatives have been formed. However, the use of secondary amines such as piperidine and morpholine resulted in the formations of mixtures of amino-substituted bromopyridazinones. That is, no carbon monoxide insertion took place in these cases. Some mechanistic details of the formation of aminocarbonylation and amination products are also discussed.