Structure of salvioccidentalin, a diterpenoid with a rearranged neo-clerodane skeleton from Salvia occidentalis

From the aerial parts of Salvia occidentalis (Labiatae) a new diterpenoid with a rearranged neo-clerodane skeleton was isolated. This new compound was named salvioccidentalin and its structure was established by spectroscopic means. A probable biogenetic relationship with salvigenolide from S. fulgens and salvileucalin A and spiroleucantholide from Salvia leucantha is proposed.     

Daytime Reactions of 1,8‐Cineole in the Troposphere

Relative rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of chlorine atoms (Cl) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) with 1,8‐cineole were determined by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy between 285 and 313 K at atmospheric pressure. The temperature dependence of both reactions shows simple Arrhenius behaviour which can be represented by the following expressions (in units of cm³ molecule^?1s^?1): k(1,8‐cineole+OH)=(6.28±6.53)×10^?8exp[(?2549.3±155.7)/T] and k(1,8‐cineole+Cl)=(1.35±1.07)×10^?10exp[(?151.6±237.7)/T]. Major products of the titled reactions were identified by solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to a GC‐MS. Additionally, the first step of the reaction was theoretically studied by ab initio calculations and a reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Theoretical Study on Cooperativity Effects between Anion–π and Halogen‐Bonding Interactions

This article analyzes the interplay between lone pair–π (lp–π) or anion–π interactions and halogen‐bonding interactions. Interesting cooperativity effects are observed when lp/anion–π and halogen‐bonding interactions coexist in the same complex, and they are found even in systems in which the distance between the anion and halogen‐bond donor molecule is longer than 9 Å. These effects are studied theoretically in terms of energetic and geometric features of the complexes, which are computed by ab initio methods. Bader′s theory of “atoms in molecules” is used to characterize the interactions and to analyze their strengthening or weakening depending upon the variation of charge density at critical points. The physical nature of the interactions and cooperativity effects are studied by means of molecular interaction potential with polarization partition scheme. By taking advantage of all aforementioned computational methods, the present study examines how these interactions mutually influence each other. Additionally, experimental evidence for such interactions is obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD).     

A density functional theory study of uranium(VI) nitrate monoamide complexes

Density functional theory calculations were performed on uranyl complexed with nitrate and monoamide ligands (L) [UO(2)(NO(3))(2)·2L]. The obtained results show that the complex stability is mainly governed by two factors: (i) the maximization of the polarizability of the coordinating ligand and (ii) the minimization of the steric hindrance effects. Furthermore, the electrostatic interaction between ligands and uranium(vi) was found to be a crucial parameter for the complex stability. These results pave the way to the definition of (quantitative) property/structure relationships for the in silico screening of monoamide ligands with improved extraction efficiency of uranium(vi) in nitrate acidic solution.     

The effect of selective contact electrodes on the interfacial charge recombination kinetics and device efficiency of organic polymer solar cells

Organic polymer solar cells (OPSCs) have been prepared using TiO(x) metal oxides as selective electrodes for electron collection. The interfacial charge transfer reactions, under working conditions, that limit the energy conversion efficiency of these devices have been measured and compared to the standard OPSC geometry which collects the electrons through a low work function metal contact.     

Divalent cations reduce the pH sensitivity of OmpF channel inducing the pK(a) shift of key acidic residues

In contrast to the highly-selective channels of neurophysiology employing mostly the exclusion mechanism, different factors account for the selectivity of large channels. Elucidation of these factors is essential for understanding the permeation mechanisms in ion channels and their regulation in vivo. The interaction between divalent cations and a protein channel, the bacterial porin OmpF, has been investigated paying attention to the channel selectivity and its dependence on the solution pH. Unlike the experiments performed in salts of monovalent cations, the channel is now practically insensitive to pH, being anion selective all over the pH range considered. Electrostatic calculations based on the available structural data suggest that the binding of divalent cations has two main effects: (i) the pK(a) values of key ionizable groups differ significantly from those of the isolated groups in solution and (ii) the cation binding has a decisive impact on the effective electric charge regulating the channel selectivity. A simple molecular model based on statistical thermodynamics provides additional qualitative explanations to the experimental findings that could also be useful for other related systems like synthetic nanopores, ion exchange membranes, and polyelectrolyte multilayers.