Course of poly(4-aminodiphenylamine)/Ag nanocomposite formation through UV-vis spectroscopy

Kinetics of chemical oxidative polymerization of 4-aminodiphenylamine (4ADPA) was followed in aqueous 1 M p-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TSA) using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as an oxidant by UV-vis spectroscopy. The medium was found to be clear and homogeneous during the course of polymerization. The absorbances corresponding to the intermediate and the polymer were followed for different concentrations of 4ADPA and AgNO3 and at different reaction time. The appearance of a band around 450 nm during the initial stages of polymerization corresponds to the plasmon resonance formed by the reduction of Ag+ ions. Rate of poly(4-aminodiphenylamine)/Ag nanocomposite (RP4ADPA/AgNC) was determined for various reaction conditions. R(P4ADP/AgNC) showed second order power dependence on 4ADPA and first order dependence on AgNO3. The observed order dependences of 4ADPA and AgNO3 on the formation of P4ADPA/AgNC were used to deduce a rate equation for the reaction. Rate constant for the reaction was determined through different approaches. The good agreement between the rate constants obtained through different approaches justifies the selection of rate equation.     

N-H…O,C-H… O hydrogen-bonded supramolecular frameworks in 4-fluoroanilinium and dicyclohexylaminium picrate salts

The asymmetric unit of compound (I), 4-fluoroanilinium picrate, C₆H₇NF⁺.C₆H₂N₃O₇^? contain one 4-fluoroanilinium cation and one picrate anion whereas in compound (II), dicyclohexylaminium picrate, C₁₂H₂₂N⁺.C₆H₂N₃O₇^? the asymmetric unit contains two sets of dicyclohexylaminium cation and picrate anion due to conformational difference between the molecules. In (I), all three nitro groups of the picrate anion are positionally disordered over two sites refined to major and minor components. The molecular ions of (I), interlinked through N–H???O and C–H???O hydrogen bonds forming two-dimensional supramolecular sheet along (-1 0 1) plane. Whereas in (II), the symmetry-independent molecules labeled as A and B molecule form independent one-dimensional supramolecular tape extending along (1 1 0) and (1 0 0) direction. The supramolecular tapes are interlinked through C–H???O interaction to form three-dimensional network in the crystalline solid in (II).

     

A-B-A Triblock and (A-B)n Segmented Block Copolymers of Styrene and Ethylene Oxide via Thermal Iniferters

A free radical technique is described for the synthesis of tri- and multiblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene oxide through polyethylene oxide-based thermal “iniferters.” The mono- or dihydroxy-terminated oligomeric polyethylene oxides were chemically transformed to the secondary amine terminated species. Thiocarba-mylation and oxidation of the amine groups gave rise to macro- or polymeric thiuram disulfides called macro- or polymeric “iniferters,” respectively. Thermal polymerization of styrene in the presence of the macro iniferter led to the formation of their perfect triblock copolymers, with styrene forming the central block. Utilization of the polymeric iniferter, on the other hand, give rise to (A-B)_n type segmented copolymers containing as many as 3 (A-B) sequences. The length of each block could be regulated by the choice of the appropriate iniferter and its relative concentration with respect to the monomer. The iniferters and the block copolymers were characterized.     

N—H...O,O—H...O hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular sheet formation in the bis(2‐aminoanilinium) fumarate, 3‐methylanilinium hydrogen fumarate and 4‐chloroanilinium hydrogen fumarate salts

In bis(2‐aminoanilinum) fumarate, 2C₆H₉N₂⁺·C₄H₂O₄²⁻, (I), the asymmetric unit consists of two aminoanilinium cations and one fumarate dianion, whereas in 3‐methylanilinium hydrogen fumarate, C₇H₁₀N⁺·C₄H₃O₄⁻, (II), and 4‐chloroanilinium hydrogen fumarate, C₆H₇ClN⁺·C₄H₃O₄⁻, (III), the asymmetric unit contains two symmetry‐independent hydrogen fumate anions and anilinium cations with a slight difference in their geometric parameters; the two salts are isostructural. In (II) and (III), the carboxylic acid H atoms of the anions are disordered across both ends of the anion, with equal site occupancies of 0.50. Both the 4‐chloroanilinium cations of (III) are disordered over two orientations with major occupancies fixed at 0.60 in each case. The hydrogen fumarate anions of (II) and (III) form one‐dimensional anionic chains linked through O—H...O hydrogen bonds. Salts (II) and (III) form two‐dimensional supramolecular sheets built from R₄⁴(16), R₄⁴(18), R₅⁵(25) and C₂²(14) motifs extending parallel to the (010) plane, whereas in (I), an (010) sheet is formed built from two R₄³(13) motifs, two R₂²(9) motifs and an R₄⁴(18) motif.     

A low communication and large time step explicit finite-volume solver for non-hydrostatic atmospheric dynamics

An explicit finite-volume solver is proposed for numerical simulation of non-hydrostatic atmospheric dynamics with promise for efficiency on massively parallel machines via low communication needs and large time steps. Solving the governing equations with a single stage lowers communication, and using the method of characteristics to follow information as it propagates enables large time steps. Using a non-oscillatory interpolant, the method is stable without post-hoc filtering. Characteristic variables (built from interface flux vectors) are integrated upstream from interfaces along their trajectories to compute time-averaged fluxes over a time step. Thus we call this method a Flux-Based Characteristic Semi-Lagrangian (FBCSL) method. Multidimensionality is achieved via a second-order accurate Strang operator splitting. Spatial accuracy is achieved via the third- to fifth-order accurate Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) interpolant.We implement the theory to form a 2-D non-hydrostatic compressible (Euler system) atmospheric model in which standard test cases confirm accuracy and stability. We maintain stability with time steps larger than CFL = 1 (CFL number determined by the acoustic wave speed, not advection) but note that accuracy degrades unacceptably for most cases with CFL > 2. For the smoothest test case, we ran out to CFL = 7 to investigate the error associated with simulation at large CFL number time steps. Analysis suggests improvement of trajectory computations will improve error for large CFL numbers.     

Unearthing the Mechanism of Prebiotic Nitrile Bond Reduction in Hydrogen Cyanide through a Curious Association of Two Molecular Radical Anions

HCN is clearly associated with the prebiotic chemical evolution of life. It has been known for decades that the radiolysis of HCN solutions produces sugars, amino acids and nucleobases. Remarkably, recent experimental studies have shown that the photolytic reduction of aqueous HCN by a photoredox reagent [Cu(CN)₃]^2? specifically yields sugars, which are the essential building blocks of RNA. Although a mechanistic understanding of such reductions with solvated electrons is poor, the general consensus is that they involve neutral free radicals. We show herein through the use of electronic structure studies and molecular simulations that the reduction of the nitrile bond of HCN is initiated through the formation of a molecular dipole‐bound anion from the photoredox reagent. Our theoretical studies show how HCN binds to the photoexcited reagent and then extracts an electron from the reagent and is ultimately detached as a dipole‐bound anion. The dipole‐bound anionic form of [HCN]^? can easily convert into a solvated valence‐bound form of [HCN]^?. After the formation of solvated [HCN]^?, an extraordinary chemical event ensues through a counter‐intuitive coupling of two valence‐bound anions to form a solvated molecular dianionic intermediate, [HCN]₂^2?. Finally, a proton‐coupled electron transfer occurs within the dianionic entity to complete the reduction. This mechanistic scenario is applicable to the reduction of other prebiotic nitrile species and avoids neutral radical‐based pathways, thereby preventing the proliferation of reactive species and preserving chemical selectivity. Furthermore, we show how such similar nitrile reduction pathways operate to yield the sugar precursors.     

Computational Design,Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of Naproxen-Guaiacol Chimera for Gastro-Sparing Anti-Inflammatory Response by Selective COX2 Inhibition

The 4-allyl guaiacol is a natural phenolic molecule that has been widely studied for its antioxidant capacity against reactive-oxygen-species-mediated cellular damage. Therefore, we hypothesized that concomitant use of an antioxidant and NSAID may decrease the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity and make the therapy safer. To address the gastrointestinal toxicity of conventional NSAIDs, a new S-naproxen-4-allyl guaiacol chimera (MAS-1696) was computationally developed, chemically synthesized, and tested for anti-inflammatory effectiveness and gastrointestinal safety. The inhibitory potency of MAS-1696 tested against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), 15-lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX2), and lipoxygenase-5 (5-LOX) in vitro revealed a stronger inhibition of COX2. Furthermore, the MAS-1696 chimera increased the COX selectivity index by 23% as compared to the parent compound naproxen, implying higher efficacy and gastric safety. In vivo data showed that MAS-1696 was less likely to cause gastrointestinal harm than naproxen while also exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects equivalent to or superior to naproxen. In conclusion, MAS-1696 is orally active, bio-labile, and crystalline, making it a medication that may be administered orally.     

Accuracy of the two-iteration spectral method for phase change problems

The accuracy of the solution of phase change problems using a spectral method is studied. Two iterations in the expansion are used to obtain the interface location of a solidification problem in semi-infinite domain. Asymptotic expansion of the current approach is compared to the existing analytical solution of the problem, and the validity of the expansion is studied. The results indicate the accuracy of a numerical application of the current approach to finite and semi-infinite geometries.