Adsorption of 4‐Chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy Acetic Acid (MCPA) from Aqueous Solution onto Cu‐Fe‐NO3 Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles

The nanoparticles of Cu‐Fe‐NO₃ layered double hydroxide (LDH) were prepared with Cu/Fe molar ratio of 2:1 by a thermal process and co‐precipitation method at pH 9 and were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) and fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). The size and morphology of nanoparticles were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cu‐Fe‐NO₃‐LDH was studied as a potential adsorbent of the acid herbicide MCPA [(4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy) acetic acid] as function of pH, contact time and temperature. The results showed high and rapid adsorption of MCPA on the LDH. The characterization of the adsorption products by XRD indicates that the intercalation of MCPA between the LDH layers has not occurred and surface adsorption has happened. The adsorption kinetic was tested for pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, elovich and intra‐particle diffusion kinetic models and rate constants were calculated. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were applied to experimental equilibrium data obtained from the measurements of pesticide adsorption. Langmuir isotherm slightly better fitted to the experimental data than that of Freundlich. In the adsorption experiments, the Gibbs free energy ΔG⁰ values, the enthalpy ΔH⁰, and entropy ΔS⁰ were determined.     

Theoretical and experimental studies on the structure-antioxidant activity relationship of synthetic 4-methylcoumarins

The development of antioxidants as useful drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer??s is extremely challenging in medicinal chemistry. Coumarins have attracted great attention as possible therapeutic tools against oxygen radicals in human degenerative diseases. In order to establish the possible structure-antioxidant activity relationship, a series of twenty four 4-methylcoumarin derivatives were examined by employing reducing power measurements, and comparison with bond dissociation enthalpy and ionization potential calculations. Based on the reducing potency of 4-methylcoumarin derivatives with respect to trolox, these compounds were classified into five groups as ??most active??, ??more active??, ??moderately active??, ??less active?? and ??inactive?? derivatives. The presence of hydroxyl groups is an essential requirement for the activity, and substitution of hydroxyl groups by methoxy groups leads to non-active derivatives. The results revealed that dihydroxyl groups in the ortho position show a better antioxidant activity with respect to dihydroxyl groups in the meta position. This is ascribed to the ability to construct more stable 4-methylcoumarin radical intermediates by rearrangement of intra-molecular hydrogen bonding. Our findings indicate that other important factors to enhance the antioxidant activity of coumarins are the number of hydroxyl groups, the presence of ester substitutions and a thiono functional group on the pyrone ring. However, bond dissociation enthalpy and ionization potential calculations alone are not sufficient to identify the best antioxidant structures. As a result, chemical and functional properties of molecules such as 4-methylcoumarins should be examined as a whole entity, considering all substitutions versus a single substitution to design functional compounds with good antioxidant activity.     

Calix[4]arene‐Phosphine Dimers: Precursors of Flexible Metallo‐Capsules and Self‐Compacting Molecules

The first diphosphines based on a double calixarene, namely 1,4 (or 1,3)‐bis‐(5‐diphenylphosphino‐25,26,27,28‐tetrapropoxycalix[4]aren‐17‐yl)benzene ( L² , L³ ) were each prepared in four steps starting from 5,17‐dibromo‐25,26,27,28‐tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene. Upon reaction of L² with [Au(tht)(thf)]BF₄, (tht=C₄H₈S) a rigid metallo‐capsule was quantitatively formed, which adopts an oblique form owing to the distinct nature of the spacers linking the two calixarene half‐spheres. In the solid state, the 1,4‐substituted phenylene linker is turned towards the gold ion, suggesting the existence of weak bonding interactions between two aromatic CH protons of this ring and the metal centre (Au???H=2.67 Å). In contrast to this gold complex, the related silver complex shows dynamic behaviour in solution, the exchange between two enantiomeric oblique forms being facilitated by the greater stereochemical flexibility of Ag^I vs. Au^I. A heteronuclear ¹⁰⁹Ag{¹H} HMQC experiment established strong correlations between the CH protons of the phenylene linker and the ¹⁰⁹Ag ion. Dynamic behaviour similar to that observed for the silver complex was further observed in trans‐[PtCl₂? L² ], a chelate complex that could be obtained quantitatively from L² and [PtCl₂(PhCN)₂]. The intended formation of a chelate complex leading to a capsule with an endo‐oriented metal centre was achieved by reacting L³ with [Pd(allyl)(thf)₂]BF₄. The complex thus formed constitutes the first organometallic transition metal complex embedded in a cavity with large portals. Binding of [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)] to L² and L³ resulted in self‐compacting bimetallic complexes in which each calixarene basket entraps a Ru(p‐cymene) unit, thereby forming molecules occupying a minimal volume.     

Exploring hydride-π interactions and their tuning by σ-hole bonds: an ab initio study

In the present work, ab initio calculations are performed to investigate the geometry, interaction energy and bonding properties of binary complexes formed between metal-hydrides HMX (M = Be, Mg, Zn and X = H, F, CH₃) and a series of π-acidic heteroaromatic rings. In all the resulting complexes, the heteroaromatic ring acts as a Lewis acid (electron acceptor), while the H atom of the HMX molecule acts as a Lewis base (electron donor). The nature of this interaction, called ‘hydride-π’ interaction, is explored in terms of molecular electrostatic potential, non-covalent interaction, quantum theory of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbital analyses. The results show that the interaction energies of these hydride-π interactions are between ?1.24 and ?2.72 kcal/mol. Furthermore, mutual influence between the hydride-π and halogen- or pnicogen-bonding interactions is studied in complexes in which these interactions coexist. For a given π-acidic ring, the formation of the pnicogen-bonding induces a larger enhancing effect on the strength of hydride-π bond than the halogen-bonding.     

Physicochemical characterization of chitin from the Mediterranean flour moth,Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Moth chitin was extracted from adult of the Mediterranean flour moth by alkali-acid treatment and its characteristics were investigated and compared with shrimp chitin because the specific applications of chitin is directly associated with its physicochemical properties. The results revealed that the moth contained significant amounts of chitin but lower amounts of minerals. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis (EA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray diffraction (EDX) were used to investigate physicochemical characteristics of chitin samples. FT-IR spectra revealed that the moth chitin had α-chitin form (anti-parallel chains) with respect to the different orientations of its microfibrils. The degree of acetylation of chitin from moth and shrimp calculated using the FT-IR stretching bands were 70.82% and 71.42%, respectively. The SEM observation exhibited the presence of fibrillar material and porous structures in surface of the chitin samples. EDX analysis revealed that the main elements present in the moth chitin (beyond C, O and N) were Br (10.5%) and Si (9.7%). Our study of enzymatic activity toward colloidal chitin as substrate showed that the extracted chitin from E. kuehniella had high chemical purity as well as commercial chitin.     

Application of CuO nanoparticles modified with vitamin B1 for the production of poly(vinyl alcohol)/CuO nanocomposite films with enhanced optical,thermal and mechanical properties

In this Investigation, the CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were treated by vitamin B₁ as a biomolecule modifier. The CuO NPs were used as an appropriate filler for fabrication of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposites (NCs). Then, NCs with various ratios (3, 5, and 7wt%) of modified CuO were fabricated under ultrasonic irradiation and their properties were compared with pure PVA. Several techniques were used for characterization of NCs. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that NPs have proper compatibility with the PVA matrix. Thermal gravimetric analysis results confirmed that NCs displayed higher thermal stability than neat PVA. Also, the addition of the NPs into the PVA matrix improved the optical and mechanical behaviors. Finally, the contact angle measurements verified that the hydrophilicity decreased for different ratios of modified NPs loaded in the polymer matrix. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Protein design: reengineering cellular retinoic acid binding protein II into a rhodopsin protein mimic

Rational redesign of the binding pocket of Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein II (CRABPII) has provided a mutant that can bind retinal as a protonated Schiff base, mimicking the binding observed in rhodopsin. The reengineering was accomplished through a series of choreographed manipulations to ultimately orient the reactive species (the epsilon-amino group of Lys132 and the carbonyl of retinal) in the proper geometry for imine formation. The guiding principle was to achieve the appropriate Bürgi-Dunitz trajectory for the reaction to ensue. Through crystallographic analysis of protein mutants incapable of forming the requisite Schiff base, a highly ordered water molecule was identified as a key culprit in orienting retinal in a nonconstructive manner. Removal of the ordered water, along with placing reinforcing mutations to favor the desired orientation of retinal, led to a triple mutant CRABPII protein capable of nanomolar binding of retinal as a protonated Schiff base. The high-resolution crystal structure of all-trans-retinal bound to the CRABPII triple mutant (1.2 A resolution) unequivocally illustrates the imine formed between retinal and the protein.     

Die Reaktion von Ph3AsCl2 mit Acetonitril. Kristallstrukturen von [Ph3AsNC(Me)C(AsPh3)CN]+Cl– und des Palladium‐Molekülkomplexes [Ph3AsNC(Me)C(AsPh3)CN–PdCl3]

The Reaction of Ph₃AsCl₂ with Acetonitrile. Crystal Structures of [Ph₃AsNC(Me)C(AsPh₃)CN]⁺Cl^– and of the Palladium Molecular Complex [Ph₃AsNC(Me)C(AsPh₃)CN–PdCl₃] In the presence of potassium hydride the reaction of Ph₃AsCl₂ with acetonitrile leads to [Ph₃AsNC(Me) · C(AsPh₃)CN]⁺Cl^– ( 1 ), which is characterized by its infrared spectrum and by a crystal structure analysis. 1 can be explained as an insertion reaction of acetonitrile into an ylidic As–C bond of the primarily formed [(Ph₃As)₂CCN]Cl. 1 : Space group P1, Z = 2, lattice dimensions at –70 °C: a = 991.9(1), b = 1255.2(1), c = 1381.3(1) pm, α = 81.64(1)°, β = 80.12(1)°, γ = 78.17(1)°; R₁ = 0.051. 1 reacts with palladium(II) chloride to give the molecular complex [Ph₃AsNC(Me)C(AsPh₃)CN–PdCl₃] ( 2 ) with zwitterionic structure. The fragment {PdCl₃^–} is terminally bonded at the nitrogen atom of the CCN group of the cation of 1 in a linear arrangement CCNPd. 2 · CH₃CN: Space group P2₁, Z = 2, lattice dimensions at –90 °C: a = 1079.2(1), b = 1261.5(1), c = 1560.9(1) pm; β = 110.20(1)°; R₁ = 0.0283.     

Synthese und Kristallstrukturen der homoleptischen Phosphaniminato‐Kationen [E(NPPh3)3]+ (E = S,Se, Te) mit Iodid und Triiodid als Gegenionen

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of the homoleptic Phosphoraneiminato Cations [E(NPPh₃)₃]⁺ (E = S, Se, Te) with Iodide and Triiodide Counter Ions N‐Iod‐triphenylphosphaneimine, INPPh₃, reacts with the chalcogenes sulfur, selenium and tellurium in boiling tetrahydrofuran to give the phosphoraneiminato complexes [E(NPPh₃)₃]⁺[¹/₂ I₃^–, ¹/₂ I^–] · THF (E = S ( 1 ), E = Se ( 2 )) and [Te(NPPh₃)₃]⁺I₃^– ( 3 ), respectively. The componds form red crystals which are characterized by IR spectroscopy and by crystal structure determinations. The homoleptic cations [E(NPPh₃)₃]⁺ have pyramidal structures with short EN and PN bond lengths, corresponding to double bonds. 1 : Space group Pa 3, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = b = c = 2192.9(1) pm, R₁ = 0.0299. 2 : Space group Pa 3, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = b = c = 2202.5(1) pm, R₁ = 0.0357. 3 : Space group Pca2₁, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at –90 °C; a = 1075.8(2); b = 1988.8(4); c = 2437.2(3) pm, R₁ = 0.0443.