Heterophase Photocatalysts from Water‐Soluble Conjugated Polyelectrolytes: An Example of Self‐Initiation under Visible Light

We herein report a new design route to stable, heterophase photocatalysts, which function as highly dispersible conjugated polymer nanoparticles and porous monoliths under visible light in aqueous medium. They were constructed by attachment of the ionic‐liquid species 1‐alkyl‐3‐vinylimidazolium bromide onto the side chains of a photoactive polymer. The structure configuration allows not only photocatalysis in aqueous environment but also a unique self‐initiation radical cross‐linking process to transform the water‐soluble photoactive polymer into a heterophase system, either as nanoparticles or a porous monolith. High photocatalytic activity and reusability of the heterophase system were demonstrated in the degradation of organic dyes and reduction of Cr^VI into Cr^III in water under visible‐light irradiation.     

Luciferin‐Regenerating Enzyme Mediates Firefly Luciferase Activation Through Direct Effects of D‐Cysteine on Luciferase Structure and Activity

Luciferin‐regenerating enzyme (LRE) contributes to in vitro recycling of D‐luciferin. In this study, reinvestigation of the luciferase‐based LRE assay is reported. Here, using quick change site‐directed mutagenesis seven T‐LRE (Lampyris turkestanicusLRE) mutants were constructed and the most functional mutant of T‐LRE (T⁶⁹R) was selected for this research and the effects of D‐ and L‐cysteine on T⁶⁹R T‐LRE‐luciferase‐coupled assay are examined. Our results demonstrate that bioluminescent signal of T⁶⁹R T‐LRE‐luciferase‐coupled assay increases and then reach equilibrium state in the presence of 5 mm D‐cysteine. In addition, results reveal that 5 mm D‐ and L‐cysteine in the absence of T⁶⁹R T‐LRE cause a significant increase in bioluminescence intensity of luciferase over a long time as well as decrease in decay rate. Based on activity measurements, far‐UV CD analysis, ANS fluorescence and DLS (Dynamic light scattering) results, D‐cysteine increases the activity of luciferase due to weak redox potential, antiaggregatory effects, induction of changes in conformational structure and kinetics properties. In conclusion, in spite of previous reports on the effect of LRE on luciferase bioluminescent intensity, the majority of increase in luciferase light output and time‐course originate from the direct effects of D‐cysteine on structure and activity of firefly luciferase.     

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial studies of mixed ligand silver(I) complexes of triphenylphosphine and heterocyclic thiones: Crystal structure of bis[{(μ-diazinane-2-thione)(diazinane-2-thione)(triphenylphosphine)silver(I) nitrate}]

Mixed ligand silver(I) complexes of triphenylphosphine and heterocyclic thiones (imidazolidine-2-thione (Imt), diazinane-2-thione (Diaz) and 2-mercaptopyridine (Mpy)) having the general formulae [(Ph₃P)Ag(thione)₂]NO₃ and [(Ph₃P)₂Ag(thione)]NO₃ were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopic methods. The crystal structure of one of the complexes, [Ag(Ph₃P)(Diaz)₂]₂(NO₃)₂ (1) was determined by X-ray crystallography. The title complex (1) is dinuclear, having each silver atom coordinated to three thione sulfur atoms of Diaz and to one phosphorus atom of PPh₃ in a nearly tetrahedral environment, with an average P-Ag-S bond angle of 108.5°. The spectral data of the complexes are consistent with sulfur coordination of the thiones to silver(I). Antimicrobial activities of the complexes were evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentrations and the results showed that the complexes exhibit a wide range of activity against two gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) and molds (A. niger, P. citrinum), while the activities were poor against yeasts (C. albicans, S. cerevisiae).     

Hydrogen bonding interactions between α-, β-glucose,and methacrylic acid

Intermolecular interactions between α-, β-glucose, and methacrylic acid (MAA) have been investigated. Twenty-two possible conformations have been optimized at the DFT(B3LYP) level of theory with the 6-31G(d) basis set. The geometrical parameters for the most stable configurations of hydrogen bonding sites in the optimized systems have been determined. The binding energies ΔE _bind have been calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of approximation taking into account the basis set superposition error (BSSE) and the zero-point vibrational energies corrections. Results indicate that the most stabilized complexes form hydrogen bonds either through carboxylic and hemiacetal oxygen atoms acting as proton acceptors. Both, α- and β-anomers are studied in the pyranose six-membered ring. In all complexes, the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants (χ) for ¹⁷O nuclei were obtained about 10.0 MHz, while for the ²H atoms they vary from ≈200.0 to ≈350.0 kHz.     

FT-Raman, FT-IR spectra and total energy distribution of 3-pentyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one: DFT method

FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra were recorded for 3-pentyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one (PDPO) sample in solid state. The equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared and the Raman scattering intensities were computed using DFT/6-31G(d,p) level. Results obtained at this level of theory were used for a detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra, based on the total energy distribution (TED) of the normal modes. Molecular parameters such as bond lengths, bond angles and dihedral angles were calculated and compared with X-ray diffraction data. This comparison was good agreement. The intra-molecular charge transfer was calculated by means of natural bond orbital analysis (NBO). Hyperconjugative interaction energy was more during the π–π* transition. Energy gap of the molecule was found using HOMO and LUMO calculation, hence the less band gap, which seems to be more stable. Atomic charges of the carbon, nitrogen and oxygen were calculated using same level of calculation.     

Molecular structure, vibrational spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman), UV and NBO analysis of 2-chlorobenzonitrile by density functional method

In this work, we will report a combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular structure, vibrational spectra, NBO and UV spectral analysis of 2-chlorobenzonitrile (2-ClBN). The FT-IR solid phase (4000-400 cm(-1)), and FT-Raman spectra (3500-50 cm(-1)) of 2-ClBN was recorded. The molecular geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies and bonding features of 2-ClBN in the ground state have been calculated by using the density functional methods (BLYP, B3LYP) with 6-31G(d,p) as basis set. The assignments of the vibrational spectra have been carried out with the help of normal co-ordinate analysis (NCA) following the Scaled Quantum Mechanical Force Field Methodology (SQMFF). Stability of the molecule arising from hyper conjugative interactions, charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The results show that charge in electron density (ED) in the σ* and π* anti bonding orbitals and E2 energies confirms the occurrence of ICT (Intra molecular Charge Transfer) within the molecule. The UV spectrum was measured in ethanol solution. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) results complements with the experimental findings. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies also confirm that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. Finally calculated results were applied to simulated Infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound which show good agreement with observed spectra.     

Stigmasterol-based novel low molecular weight/mass organic gelators

Conjugates consisting of stigmasterol and L-phenylalanine, interconnected through short-chained dicarboxylic acyls by ester and amide bonds, respectively, were synthesized as potential low molecular weight/mass organic gelators (LMWGs/LMMGs). Their physico-chemical properties were subjected to investigation, especially their ability to form gels reversibly based on changes of the environmental conditions. Other self-assembly properties detectable by UV-VIS traces were measured in systems consisting of two miscible solvents (water/acetonitrile) with varying solvent ratios and using constant concentrations of the studied compounds. Partition and diffusion coefficients and solubility in water were calculated for the target conjugates. The conjugate 3a was the only compound from this series capable of forming a gel in 1-octanol. All three conjugates 3a-3c displayed supramolecular characteristics in the UV-VIS spectra.     

Biotransformation of (1S)-2-carene and (1S)-3-carene by Picea abies suspension culture

Biotransformation of (1S)-2-carene and (1S)-3-carene by Picea abies suspension culture led to the formation of oxygenated products. (1S)-2-Carene was transformed slowly and the final product was identified as (1S)-2-caren-4-one. On the other hand, the transformation of (1S)-3-carene was rapid and finally led to the formation of (1S)-3-caren-5-one and (1S)-2-caren-4-one as equally abundant major products. The time-course of the reaction indicates that some products abundant at the beginning of the reaction (e.g. (1S, 3S, 4R)-3,4-epoxycarane and (1R)-p-mentha-1(7),2-dien-8-ol) were consumed by a subsequent transformations. Thus, a precise selection of the biotransformation time may be used for a production of specific compounds.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of NMR powder lineshapes of linear guests in structure I clathrate hydrates

We perform molecular dynamics simulations (up to 6 ns) for the structure I clathrate hydrates of linear molecules CS, CS(2), OCS, and C(2)H(2) in large cages at different temperatures in the stability range to determine the angular distribution and dynamics of the guests in the large cages. The long axes of linear guest molecules in the oblate large structure I clathrate hydrate cages are primarily confined near the equatorial plane of the cage rather than axial regions. This non-uniform spatial distribution leads to well-known anisotropic lineshapes in the solid-state NMR spectra of the guest species. We use the dynamic distribution of guest orientations in the cages during the MD simulations at different temperatures to predict the (13)C NMR powder lineshapes of the guests in the large cages. The length of the guests and intermolecular interactions of the guests in the water cages determine the angular distribution and the mobility of the guests in the sI large cages at different temperatures. At low temperatures the range of motion of the guests in the cages are limited and this is reflected in the skew of the predicted (13)C lineshapes. As the guest molecules reach the fast motion limit at higher temperatures, the lineshapes for CS, OCS, and C(2)H(2) are predicted to have the "standard" powder lineshapes of guest molecules.