Effect of cryopreservation on the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) embryogenic calluses

In this paper, we investigated if the differences consistently noted in survival and plantlet production between cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved, control sugarcane embryogenic calluses were related to modifications induced during cryopreservation in the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes. For this, the evolution of electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation products and cell membrane protein contents was measured during 5 d after cryopreservation. Differences between control and frozen calluses were observed only during the first 2 (electrolyte leakage) or 3 d (lipid peroxidation products and membrane protein content) after freezing. It was not possible to link these differences with the differences noted in survival and plant production between control and cryopreserved calluses. Additional studies are thus needed to elucidate which biochemical factors, linked to survival and plantlet regeneration, are affected by cryopreservation.     

Progress and prospect of anodic oxidation for the remediation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater using diamond electrodes

Although diamond electrodes are widely used in the field of electroanalysis and sensing, their application in the field of environmental engineering has yet to be fully realized. Many research studies have considered their potential application in water and wastewater treatment, where the in-situ electrochemical process can avoid the need for chemical additives by facilitating the oxidation of pollutants on the electrode surface or mediated by electrochemically synthesized oxidants in solution. Diamond-based electro-oxidation can effectively treat a number of organic micropollutants and is now being evaluated for the abatement of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which pose health concerns and are ubiquitous recalcitrant environmental contaminants. To move implementation of diamond-based electro-oxidation forward, the integration of modifications and codopants to yield more advanced electrode materials needs to be further developed and understood. The progress and current strategies associated with diamond electrode modifications for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances abatement as well as future considerations are discussed.     

The reaction mechanism of the gas‐phase thermal decomposition kinetics of neopentyl halides: A DFT study

The kinetics and mechanisms of the gas‐phase elimination reactions of neopentyl chloride and neopentyl bromide have been studied by means of electronic structure calculations using density functional methods: B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p), B3LYP/ 6‐31++G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6‐31G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6‐31++G(d,p), PBEPBE/6‐31G(d,p), PBEPBE /6‐31++G(d,p). The reaction channels that account in products formation have a common first step involving a Wagner‐Meerwein rearrangement. The migration of the halide from the terminal carbon to the more substituted carbon is followed by beta‐elimination of HCl or HBr to give two olefins: the Sayzeff and Hoffmann products. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that these eliminations proceed through concerted asynchronous process. The transition state (TS) located for the rate‐determining step shows the halide detached and bridging between the terminal carbon and the quaternary carbon, while the methyl group is also migrating in a concerted fashion. The TS is described as an intimate ion‐pair with a large negative charge at the halide atom. The concerted migration of methyl group provides stabilization of the TS by delocalizing the electron density between the terminal carbon and the quaternary carbon. The B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) allows to obtain reasonable energies and enthalpies of activation. The nature of these reactions is examined in terms of geometrical parameters, electron distribution, and bond order analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Homogeneous catalysis on the gas-phase dehydration reaction of tertiary alcohols by hydrogen bromide. Density functional theory calculation

The gas-phase thermal dehydration mechanism of tert-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol by homogeneous catalysis of hydrogen bromide was examined by density functional theory calculations with the hybrid functionals: M062X, CAMB3LYP and WB97XD. Reasonable agreements were found between theoretical and experimental enthalpy values at the WB97XD/6-311++G(d,p) level. The dehydration mechanism of tert-butanol with and without catalysis was evaluated in order to examine the catalyst effect on the mechanism. The elimination reaction without catalysis involves a four-membered transition state (TS), while the reaction with catalysis involves a six-membered TS. The mechanism without catalysis has enthalpy activation over 150 kJ mol^–1 greater than the catalysed reaction. In all these reactions, the elongation of the C–O bond is significant in the TS. The un-catalysed reaction is controlled by breaking of C–O bond, and it was found to be more synchronous (Sy ≈ 0.91) than the hydrogen bromide catalysed reactions (Sy ≈ 0.75–0.78); the latter reactions are dominated by the three reaction coordinates associated with water formation. No significant effect on the enthalpies of activation was observed when the size of the alkyl chain was increased.     

Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Dicyclopentadiene‐1,8‐dione: The Reaction Path through Quantum Chemical Calculation

Thermal decomposition kinetics of dicyclopentadiene‐1,8‐dione 7 implied an intramolecular competition between α,β‐ and β,γ‐double bond to assist the CO elimination. Experimental thermolysis of 7 in dioxane gave 3a,7a‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐1‐one (cis‐bicyclo[4.3.0]nona‐2,4,7‐triene‐9‐one), CO gas, and a very small amount of indanone. This result suggested β,γ‐double bond favored the extrusion of CO gas. Calculations of several density functional theory (DFT) levels of theory and CBS‐QB3 method were employed. Two mechanisms were considered: a one‐step concerted pathway and a stepwise mechanism involving [1,3] and [1,5] hydrogen sigmatropic migrations. The CAM‐B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) calculation reasonably agrees with the experimental kinetic parameters. The mechanism appears to be unimolecular in one step concerted through a five‐membered cyclic transition state. Isomerization of product cis‐bicyclo[4.3.0]nona‐2,4,7‐triene‐9‐one yielding 1‐indanone is presented and described. Calculation from substrate 7 may explain in a similar way the mechanism of decomposition of compounds 1‐6 . The present work may well promote to the possibility of carrying out experimental research works on the thermal decarbonylation kinetics in a liquid solution and in the gas phase of β,γ‐unsaturated aliphatic ketones.     

Déformation cumulée tensorielle dans le référentiel en rotation logarithmiqueCumulated tensorial strain measure in the logarithmic rotating frame.

The time integration of strain rate tensor $\stackrel{?}{\mathit{D}}$ is a central problem in large transformations even if it is often an underlying one. The cumulated tensorial strains, obtained by the time integration of strain rate tensor $\stackrel{?}{\mathit{D}}$, allow the tackling of this problem from a geometrical point of view, and independently of material behaviour considerations. The time integration here takes place in the local objective frame defined by the logarithmic spin proposed by Lehmann et al. and Xiao et al. The numerical results obtained in a closed deformation path are presented here. The advantages and drawbacks of this novel integration for the development of behaviour laws are described. To cite this article: V. Mora et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).