Beam of monoenergetic neutrons for the calibration of a dark-matter detector

A new method has been proposed for obtaining a beam of monoenergetic neutrons with almost arbitrary energies. The production of the beam for the calibration of a dark-matter detector with liquid argon as a working medium has been described.     

Urease adsorption and activity on magnetite nanoparticles functionalized with monofunctional and bifunctional surface layers

The surface of magnetite nanoparticles was coated with functional polysiloxane layers using reaction of hydrolytic copolycondensation of tetraethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (or N-[3-trimethoxysilylpropyl]ethylendiamine), and also that of tetraethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane (or n-propyltriethoxysilane). It was shown that these functionalized magnetically controllable particles (about 60–150 nm in size as aggregates), as opposed to magnetite, adsorb urease well from aqueous solutions (up to 1 g/g), and that the level of residual activity of adsorbed layers is up to 84 % in the case of a bifunctional sample. It was established that the activity of immobilized urease is normally gradually reduced during storage of the samples, but in the case of ethylenediamine functional group is not decreased for 45 days. The synthesized samples are promising for use as magnetically directed biocatalysts.     

Screening of Synthetic Cathinones by Potentiometric Sensor Array and Chemometrics

This work demonstrates the analytical applicability of single ion-selective membranes (ISMs) and potentiometric sensor array to distinguish and detect cathinone derivatives. Potentiometric data from ISMs based on cation exchanger and varying content of calix[4]arene derivative were processed by principal component analysis (PCA). Such a combination of methods allowed discriminating various individual synthetic cathinones and their recognition from the mixture comprising primary amines (substituted amphetamines+aminoindane). Analytical parameters of ISM containing 1wt % of calix[4]arene derivative were sufficient to detect 1.0×10⁻⁴ mol.l⁻¹ 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(ethylamino)butan-1-one and 2-(methylamino)-1-phenylbutan-1-one (buphedrone) in both model and saliva samples.     

Mechanistic studies on the reaction between glutathionylcobalamin and selenocysteine

Abstract

The reaction between glutathionylcobalamin (GSCbl), a complex of Co(III)-cobalamin with glutathione, and selenocysteine (Sec) was investigated using ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The interaction results in the formation of cob(II)alamin and proceeds via two pathways: (i) a rapid formation of complex between GSCbl and Sec followed by the rate-determining substitution of glutathionyl-ligand by Sec and rapid electron-transfer from Se-atom to Co(III)-ion and (ii) a nucleophilic attack of Co(III)-S bond by Sec.     

Which Stereoinductor Is Better for Asymmetric Functionalization of α-Amino Acids in a Nickel(II) Coordination Environment? Experimental and DFT Considerations

The results of extended comparative investigation of nickel(II) Schiff base complexes (containing various auxiliary chiral moieties) commonly used as a methodological platform for the asymmetric synthesis of tailor-made α-amino acids are provided. The following issues are addressed: 1) redox activity (determining the possibility for electrochemically induced reactions); 2) quantitative estimation of the reactivity of deprotonated complexes towards electrophiles; and 3) quantum-chemical estimation of noncovalent interactions in the metal coordination environment (which shed light on the origin of the stereochemical outcome observed for different stereoinductors). Possible mechanisms that determine the relationship between the stereochemical configuration of a molecule and its electronic structure are discussed. The DFT-calculated HOMO–LUMO energies and localization, as well as relative energies for the (S)- and (R)-alanine derivatives, that determine the stereoinduction efficiency in thermodynamically controlled reactions in nickel(II) coordination are provided. The computational data are supported by experimental results on the monobenzylation of glycine derivatives.     

Sulfonimidamides and Imidosulfuric Diamides: Compounds from an Underexplored Part of Biologically Relevant Chemical Space

Two novel solid reagents—1-sulfonimidoyl- and 1-sulfamimidoyl-3-methylimidazolium derivatives—for the synthesis of sulfonimidamides and imidosulfuric diamides, respectively, were developed. It is shown that these reagents are very effective in substitution reactions with various N- and O-nucleophiles; therefore, they significantly extend the accessibility to the chemical space covered by organosulfur(VI) compounds with S=N bonds. In addition, previously unknown imidosulfuric diamides with free imino nitrogen groups were prepared, and their physical and chemical properties were characterized (including molecular geometry, pK_a, Log P, microsomal stability, and reactivity towards typical electrophiles). Similar to other organosulfur(VI) derivatives with S=N bonds, these compounds can be considered as promising bioisosteres of amides, ureas, or sulfonamides.     

Substructure of Intermetallic Thin-Film Cu3Sn

Technical Physics - The crystalline structure of intermetallic Cu3Sn synthesized by successively condensing thin layers of copper and tin on a substrate at 150°C has been studied. Cu3Sn...