Molecular dynamics simulations of the Ag+ or Na+ cation with an excess electron in bulk water

The properties of an excess electron interacting with a monovalent cation in bulk water are studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Sodium and silver cations are chosen as prototypical cases because of their very different redox properties. In both cases, mixed quantum classical molecular dynamics simulations reproduce the experimental UV-Vis spectra. In the case of silver, we observe a highly polarized neutral atom, corresponding to a dipolar excitonic state. For sodium a contact cation/electron pair is observed. Free energy curves along the cation electron coordinate are calculated using quantum Umbrella Sampling technique. The relative stability of the different chemical species is discussed.     

Chlorotris(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)tin(IV) and its ethanol hemisolvate

Chloro­tris(2,4,6‐tri­methyl­phenyl)­tin(IV), crystallizes from ethanol as solvent‐free needles, [Sn(C₉H₁₁)₃Cl], (I), and as the hemisolvate, [Sn(C₉H₁₁)₃Cl]·0.5C₂H₆O, (II). The asymmetric unit in (I) has three independent mol­ecules, whereas in (II), there are two [Sn(C₉H₁₁)₃Cl] mol­ecules together with one ethanol molecule. In the unit cell of (II), the ethanol mol­ecules lie in channels between stacks of (Mes)₃SnCl mol­ecules (Mes is 2,4,6‐tri­methyl­phenyl) and each ethanol mol­ecule is disordered (0.50:0.50) over two positions. A comparison of the structures of the title compounds and other (Mes)₃SnX (X = F, Br or I) systems with those of the tri­phenyl­tin analogues shows that the steric requirements of the o‐CH₃ groups are met by a flattening of the SnC₃ skeleton and increases in the average Sn—X and Sn—C values. Comparing Sn—X data for (Mes)₃SnX (X = F, Cl, Br or I) systems with values for the tris(o‐methoxy­phenyl)­tin analogues suggests that the Sn—F distance of 1.961 Å in (Mes)₃SnF may well be characteristic of sterically unhindered four‐coordinate Ar₃SnF systems.     

Synthesis and biological activities of conformationally restricted cyclopentenyl-glutamate analogues.

An efficient method for preparing conformationally restricted cyclopentenyl-glutamate analogues in a regioselective and diastereoselective manner has been developed using a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of dehydroamino acids. Methods for preparing optically active versions of these compounds have also been devised. Of these compounds, (S)-2 is an agonist at the mGlu5 (EC(50) 18 microM) and mGlu2 (EC(50) 45 microM) receptors.     

Density functional calculations for modeling the active site of nickel-iron hydrogenases. 2. Predictions for the unready and ready States and the corresponding activation processes

ZORA relativistic DFT calculations are presented which aim to model the geometric and electronic structure of the active site of NiFe hydrogenases in its EPR-active oxidized states Ni-A (unready state) and Ni-B (ready state). Starting coordinates are taken from the X-ray structure of a mutant of Desulfovibrio fructosovorans hydrogenase refined at 1.81 A resolution. Nine possible candidates for Ni-A and Ni-B are analyzed in terms of their geometric and electronic structure. Comparison of calculated geometric and magnetic resonance parameters with available experimental data indicates that both oxidized states have a micro-hydroxo bridge between the two metal centers. The different electronic structures of both forms can be explained by a modification of a terminal cysteine in Ni-B, best modeled by protonation of the sulfur atom. A possible mechanism for the activation of both oxidized forms is presented.     

Effective writing in science

Scientists spend a good part of their working day writing, yet few have formal training in the techniques of technical writing, particularly in ways to address an interdisciplinary audience. One useful technique is to take the traditional mould of the academic report, with its dense abstract, curt introduction, and compressed discussion, and refocus it bearing in mind the background and expectations of the audience. A direct writing style that avoids negatives, nominalizations and wordiness will increase a report's readability, as will an informative abstract, an introduction that includes the theoretical background, and an emphasis on implications in the conclusion.     

The preparation and properties of neutral diamide ionophores for group IIa metal cations

The preparation of a series of neutral ligands featuring ether and N-methyl-N-carbethoxypentylamide groups is described. These ligands as well as related ones bearing other diamide groups are shown to selectively chelate Group IIA cations by picrate extraction from water to methylene chloride. The changes in UV absorption of aromatic rings and amide groups in the ligands upon titration with metal salts in methanol allow the estimation of the stoichiometry of complexation and the ordering of cation binding. The observed selectivity sequences of cation extraction and binding are briefly discussed. Preliminary proton and ¹³C NMR studies on the effect of addition of Group IIA cation salts to several of the ligands in methanol suggest that most of the complexation occurs at the central ether and amide groups. ¹³C NMR T₁ changes by the Inversion Recovery Fourier Transform method are in agreement with the cation-induced shift data.     

Solid-phase synthesis of a library of hydroxyproline derivatives

The synthesis of a library of N-alkylated O-arylated hydroxyproline derivatives has been achieved on solid phase. The choice of O-protection and the optimization of the Mitsunobu reaction involving a secondary alcohol were key to the success of this synthesis. First, acylation of resin-bound amines with N-Fmoc-O-THP-hydroxyproline was accomplished readily. Subsequent deprotection of the Fmoc and reductive amination with different aldehydes resulted in the tertiary amine intermediate. The deprotection of the THP group by p-toluenesulfonic acid was followed by a Mitsunobu reaction with a series of phenols. Finally, the products were cleaved from the resin using trifluoroacetic acid to produce a 10 200 member library.     

Dependence on sampling rates of Radiello((R)) diffusion sampler for BTEX measurements with the concentration level and exposure time

Radiello^® diffusive samplers filled with a thermally desorbable adsorbent (graphitised charcoal Carbograph 4) have been tested for the monitoring of BTEX. The sampling rates have been estimated under various controlled atmospheres in order to evaluate the effects of two factors (exposure time, concentration levels and their interaction) on the performances of the Radiello^® sampler. Experiments have been carried out under various atmospheres in exposure chamber. A total of 174 Radiello^® samplers were exposed while varying two conditions: exposure time (1, 3, 7 and 14 days) and BTEX concentrations (low, medium and high levels). The results show that the sampling rates of benzene and toluene decrease for exposure of 14 days and especially for high concentration levels: decrease of 30% at 10 μg m⁻³ for benzene and 14% at 30 μg m⁻³ for toluene.

To try to explain the variations of these sampling rates, the breakthrough volumes (V_B) of BTEX on Carbograph 4 have been determined at different temperature and concentration conditions in order to evaluate the Langmuir parameters and their adsorption enthalpy (−ΔH_ads) using the Van’t Hoff equation. With regard to these adsorption characteristics, the dependence of sampling rates with concentration level and exposure time were analysed and discussed.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Chiral Schiff Base Complexes with Diiminobinaphthyl or Diiminocyclohexyl Moieties as Potential Enantioselective Epoxidation Catalysts

New chiral Schiff base complexes have been obtained by condensation of 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-binaphthalene or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and various salicylaldehydes and by subsequent metalation with manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, or zinc. The complete (1)H and (13)C NMR characterization of the ligands is reported, as are the X-ray crystal structures of (1R,2R)-(-)-N,N'-bis[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)salicylidene]-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediimine and [(1R,2R)-(-)-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediiminato]copper(II). The new chiral manganese complexes have been evaluated in the oxygenation of prochiral olefins and sulfides using sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, or N-methylmorpholine N-oxide/m-chloroperbenzoic acid as oxidant.     

Synthesis of 7,8,9,10-tetrahydropyrido[3′,4′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinolines

A series of structurally novel 7,8,9,10-tetrahydropyrido[3′,4′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-c,]quinolines, 4a-c , were synthesized via a facile Fischer indole cyclization from the appropriately substituted hydrazinoquinolines 2a-c . Acetamides 4a,c were hydrolyzed to 5a,b and further converted to tertiary amines 6a-c . Potent antihypertensive activity has been observed with a number of the title compounds as well as the intermediate 3a .