Ultrafast forward and backward electron transfer dynamics of coumarin 337 in hydrogen-bonded anilines as studied with femtosecond UV-pump/IR-probe spectroscopy

Femtosecond infrared spectroscopy is used to study both forward and backward electron transfer (ET) dynamics between coumarin 337 (C337) and the aromatic amine solvents aniline (AN), N-methylaniline (MAN), and N,N-dimethylaniline (DMAN), where all the aniline solvents can donate an electron but only AN and MAN can form hydrogen bonds with C337. The formation of a hydrogen bond with AN and MAN is confirmed with steady state FT-IR spectroscopy, where the C═O stretching vibration is a direct marker mode for hydrogen bond formation. Transient IR absorption measurements in all solvents show an absorption band at 2166 cm(-1), which has been attributed to the C≡N stretching vibration of the C337 radical anion formed after ET. Forward electron transfer dynamics is found to be biexponential with time constants τ(ET)(1) = 500 fs, τ(ET)(2) = 7 ps in all solvents. Despite the presence of hydrogen bonds of C337 with the solvents AN and MAN, no effect has been found on the forward electron transfer step. Because of the absence of an H/D isotope effect on the forward electron transfer reaction of C337 in AN, hydrogen bonds are understood to play a minor role in mediating electron transfer. In contrast, direct π-orbital overlap between C337 and the aromatic amine solvents causes ultrafast forward electron transfer dynamics. Backward electron transfer dynamics, in contrast, is dependent on the solvent used. Standard Marcus theory explains the observed backward electron transfer rates.     

Graphene oxide: an efficient and reusable carbocatalyst for aza-Michael addition of amines to activated alkenes

Graphene oxide was found to be a highly efficient, reusable and cost-effective organocatalyst for the aza-Michael addition of amines to activated alkenes to furnish corresponding β-amino compounds in excellent yields.     

Cold gas dual-bell tests in high-altitude simulation chamber

An experimental investigation has been carried out to study dual-bell transition behavior in different set ups inside a high-altitude test facility. Cold gas tests were carried out under two different operating conditions namely (i) test nozzle operating in self-evacuation mode and, (ii) test nozzle operating with an additional ejector nozzle (pre-evacuated condition). Although forward transition nozzle pressure ratio does not show any change in its value irrespective of the type of test facility and test set up, the re-transition nozzle pressure ratio shows a significant increase (7–8%) in its value when tested in the high-altitude facility. The latter is caused due to plume blowback effect which dominates during shut down transients in such facilities. Driven by the high atmospheric pressure, the jet exhaust is pushed backwards into the altitude chamber causing the re-transition to occur earlier than that observed in sea-level tests. Further the reduced mass flow rates for nozzle operation in different test set ups in a high-altitude test facility also reduces the magnitude of side-load peaks during the dual-bell transitions.     

On discrete <Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>-beta operators

The aim of the present paper is to introduce and study the q-analogue of discrete beta operators. First, we show some approximation properties of these operators. Then, we establish some global direct error estimates for the above operators using the second order Ditzian–Totik modulus of smoothness. Finally, we define and study the limit discrete q-beta operator.     

Unprecedented ‘ring transformation-rearrangement’ of pyran-2-ones into 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones through insertion of acetol

One-pot efficient synthesis of functionalized 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones has been delineated by reacting 2H-pyran-2-ones and acetol in the presence of a base at room temperature. The formation of 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones revealed that the reaction proceeded in a unique ‘ring transformation-rearrangement’ sequence.     

PEG-embedded thiourea dioxide (PEG.TUD) as a novel organocatalyst for the highly efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones

The host-guest complex between polyethylene glycol and thiourea dioxide (PEG.TUD) was prepared via different approaches involving co-crystallization method and by a chemical reaction. The resulting PEG.TUD complex was found to be very active and recyclable catalyst for the direct synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones via Biginelli condensation and provided high product yields. Interestingly, the corresponding poly(ethylene glycol)-thiourea complexes, PEG.TU, were found to be unreactive and no reaction occurred under similar reaction conditions.     

Predicting the melting point of human C-type lysozyme mutants

A complete understanding of the relationships between protein structure and stability remains an open problem. Much of our insight comes from laborious experimental analyses that perturb structure via directed mutation. The glycolytic enzyme lysozyme is among the most well characterized proteins under this paradigm, due to its abundance and ease of manipulation. To speed up such analyses, efficient computational models that can accurately predict mutation effects are needed. We employ a minimal Distance Constraint Model (mDCM) to predict the stability of a series of lysozyme mutants (specifically, human wild-type C-type lysozyme and 14 point mutations). With three phenomenological parameters that characterize microscopic interactions, the mDCM parameters are determined by obtaining the least squares error between predicted and experimental heat capacity curves. The mutants are chemically and structurally diverse, but have been experimentally characterized under nearly identical thermodynamic conditions (pH, ionic strength, etc.). The parameters found from best fits to heat capacity curves for one or more lysozyme structures are subsequently used to predict the heat capacity on the remaining. We simulate a typical experimental situation, where prediction of relative stabilities in an untested mutated structure is based on known results as they accumulate. From the statistical significance of these simulations, we establish that the mDCM is a viable predictor for relative stability of protein mutants. Remarkably, using parameters from any single fitting yields an average percent error of 4.3%. Across the dataset, the mDCM reproduces experimental trends sufficiently well (R = 0.64) to be of practical value to experimentalists when making decisions about which mutations to invest time and funds for characterization.     

Forces mediating protein–protein interactions: a computational study of p53 “approaching” MDM2

The protein MDM2 forms a complex with the tumor suppressing protein p53 and targets it for proteolysis in order to down-regulate p53 in normal cells. Inhibition of this interaction is of therapeutic importance. Molecular dynamics simulations of the association between p53 and MDM2 have revealed mutual modulation of the two surfaces. Analysis of the simulations of the two species approaching each other in solution shows how long range electrostatics steers these two proteins together. The net electrostatics is controlled largely by a few cationic residues that surround the MDM2 binding site. There is an overall separation in electrostatics of MDM2 and p53 that are mutually complementary and drive association. Upon close approach, there is significant energetic strain as the charges are occluded from water (desolvated). However, the complexation is driven by packing interactions that lead to highly favorable van der Waals interactions. Although the complementarity of the electrostatics of the two surfaces is essential for the two partners to form a complex, steric collisions of Y100 and short ranged van der Waals interactions of F19, W23, L26 of p53 determine the final steps of native complex formation. The electrostatics seem to be evolutionarily conserved, including variations in both partners.     

Chemical investigation of the essential oil of Thymus linearis (Benth. ex Benth) from western Himalaya, India

Thymus linearis (Benth. ex Benth) was collected from five distinct locations of western Himalaya (India) during the summer season. The hydro-distilled essential oil (yield 0.84-0.95%) was analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 56 constituents, representing 81.55% to 98.11% of the total oil composition, were identified. Thymol (52.28-66.65%), p-cymene (1.81-21.60%) and γ-terpinene (1.94-12.48%) were the major constituents in all populations. Other constituents identified in significant amounts were carvacrol, p-cymen-8-ol, borneol, terpinen-4-ol and thymol methyl ether. The presence of high phenol and essential oil contents in this species make it a suitable substitute for common thyme oil.     

Molecular-imprinted polymer extraction combined with dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extractionfor ultra-preconcentration of mononitrotoluene

Molecular-imprinted polymer (MIP) combined with dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (DLLME) were developed for ultra-preconcentration and determination of mononitrotoluenes in wastewater samples using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. MIP was synthesized by copolymerization of methacrylic acid-ethylene glycole dimethacrylate-2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator that imprinted with 3-nitrotoluene as the template molecule. Effects of several factors, such as type and volume of eluent, adsorption, and desorption times of the analyte on the polymer, and breakthrough volume were investigated. Optimization of 3-nitrotoluene extraction from MIP was studied forward followed by DLLME. Preconcentration factor of MIP-DLLME method was about 2800 under the optimum conditions. The LOD of the proposed method was 0.02?μg/L and a linear dynamic range in the range of 0.04-20?μg/L was obtained. The performance of the present method was evaluated for extraction and determination of nitrotoluene compounds in wastewater samples in the range of microgram per liter and satisfactory results were achieved (RSD<13%).