Homogeneous,unimolecular gas‐phase elimination kinetics of ethyl esters of glyoxylic, 2‐oxo‐propanoic,and 3‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐butanoic acids

The rates of elimination of several ethyl esters of 2‐oxo‐carboxylic acid were determined in a seasoned static reaction vessel over the temperature range 350–430°C and pressure range 33–240 Torr. The reactions, in the presence of a free‐radical inhibitor, are homogeneous, unimolecular, and follow a first‐order rate law. The overall and partial rate coefficients are expressed by the Arrhenius equation. Ethyl glyoxalate Ethyl 2‐oxo‐propionate Ethyl 3‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐butyrate The mechanisms of these elimination reactions are described in terms of concerted cyclic transition state structures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 268–275, 2007     

Crystallization of binary carboxylic acids characterized with streaming potential measurement

The streaming potential of supersaturated solution of binary carboxylic acids, which have even carbon atoms, was determined to characterize crystallization under different temperatures. The value of the streaming potential was related to the type and solubility of the acids and the starting temperature of crystallization, and was easily influenced by the pressure difference of the liquid or the rate of temperature decline. When the temperature was declined to the point where a crystal nucleus appeared, the streaming potential reached the minimum. Thereafter, as the temperature was sequentially lowered, some minicrystals grew, and the streaming potential presented an ascendant tendency. The higher the starting temperature of the acids saturated solution, the higher is the temperature corresponding to the streaming potential minimum. The less the carbon atoms in the acids and the greater the solubility of the acids are, the higher is the temperature of the streaming potential minimum. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reversible immobilization of engineered molecules by Ni-NTA chelators

Electrochemical synthesis of nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) chelators, for subsequent immobilization of (His)(6)-tagged proteins (Photosystem II (PSII) as model molecule), on Au or Au-graphite electrodes is compared to chemical synthesis. Results show: (i) higher Ni-NTA surface density, (ii) shorter treatment time (1-12 min vs. 16 h normally needed for self-assembled monolayer (SAM)), (iii) possibility of addressing the chelator to only one Au electrode, in a sensor micro-array.     

Density functional theory investigation of the active site of Fe-hydrogenases. systematic study of the effects of redox state and ligands hardness on structural and electronic properties of complexes related to the [2Fe](H) subcluster

Density functional theory has been used to investigate complexes related to the [2Fe](H) subcluster of [Fe]-hydrogenases. In particular, the effects on structural and electronic properties of redox state and ligands with different sigma-donor pi-acceptor character, which replace the cysteine residue coordinated to the [2Fe](H) subcluster in the enzyme, have been investigated. Results show that the structural and electronic properties of fully reduced Fe(I)Fe(I) complexes are strongly affected by the nature of the ligand L, and in particular, a progressive rotation of the Fe(d)(CO)(2)(CN) group, with a CO ligand moving from a terminal to a semibridged position, is observed going from the softest to the hardest ligand. For the partially oxidized Fe(I)Fe(II) complexes, two isomers of similar stability, characterized either by a CO ligand in a terminal or bridged position, have been observed. The switching between the two forms is associated with a spin and charge transfer between the two iron atoms, a feature that could be relevant in the catalytic mechanism of dihydrogen activation. The structure of the fully oxidized Fe(II)Fe(II) models is extremely dependent on the nature of the L ligand; one CO group coordinated to Fe(d) switches from terminal to bridging position going from complexes characterized by neutral to anionic L ligands.     

Self-Assembling of cytosine nucleoside into triply-bound dimers in acid Media. A comprehensive evaluation of proton-bound pyrimidine nucleosides by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry,X-rays diffractometry,and theoretical calculations

Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) is used to evaluate the assembling of cytosine and thymine nucleosides in the gas phase, through the formation of hydrogen bonded supermolecules. Mixtures of cytidine analogues and homologues deliver in the gas phase proton-bound heterodimers stabilized by multiple interactions, as proven by the kinetics of their dissociation into the corresponding protonated monomers. Theoretical calculations, performed on initial structures of methylcytosine homodimers available in the literature, converged to a minimized structure whereby the two pyrimidine rings interact through the formation of three hydrogen bonds of similar energy. The crystallographic data here reported show the equivalency of the two interacting pyrimidines which is attributable to the presence of an inversion center. Thymine and uracil pyrimidyl nucleosides form, by ESI, gaseous proton-bound dimers. The kinetic of their dissociation into the related protonated monomers shows that the nucleobases are weekly interacting through a single hydrogen bond. The minimized structure of the protonated heterodimer formed by thymine and N-1-methylthymine confirmed the existence of mainly one hydrogen bond which links the two nucleobases through the O4 oxygens. No crystallographic data exists on thymine proton-bound species, nor have we been able to obtain these aggregates in the solid phase. The gaseous phase, under high vacuum conditions, seems therefore a suitable environment where vanishing structures produced by ESI can be studied with a good degree of approximation.     

1‐(4‐Bromo­phenyl)‐3‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)­prop‐2‐en‐1‐one

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C₁₆H₁₃BrO, the two benzene rings are rotated in opposite directions with respect to the central C—C=C—C part of the mol­ecule. The phenone O atom deviates from the least‐squares plane of the mol­ecule by 0.300 (3) Å. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are paired through C—H⋯π interactions. The molecular pairs along [001] are hydrogen bonded through three translation‐related co‐operative hydrogen bonds in the `bay area', forming molecular chains, which are further hydrogen bonded through C—H⋯Br weak interactions, forming (010) molecular layers. In the third direction, there are only weak van der Waals interactions. The co‐operative hydrogen bonds in the `bay area' are discussed briefly.     

Electrocatalysis of the SiC Particle‐Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for the Oxidation of Adrenaline

The electrocatalytic properties of the SiC particle‐modified glassy carbon electrode (MGC) for adrenaline oxidation were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), double‐potential step chronocoulometry (DPSCC), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques in McIlvaine buffer solution. It was shown that the electrode modified with SiC particles markedly displayed an electrocatalytic effect on the process of the electrochemical reaction of adrenaline, i.e., the activity and the reversibility of the MGC electrode has been significantly improved. This was attributed to the adsorption effect of the electroactive adrenaline molecules on the MGC electrode surface.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of monofluorinated cyclopropanoid nucleosides

Diastereopure monofluorinated cyclopropanoid nucleosides were synthesized for biological studies. As key intermediates cis- and trans-(+/-)-[1-fluoro-2-(acetoxymethyl)cyclopropyl]methanol were prepared starting from diastereopure fluorinated cyclopropanecarboxylates. The latter were synthesized by copper(i)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of [small alpha]-fluorostyrene with ethyl diazoacetate. After reduction and O-acetylation the diastereomeric (2-fluoro-2-phenylcyclopropyl)methyl acetates were obtained. Oxidative degradation using RuO(4) and reduction of the formed carboxyl group with borane gave the fluorinated alcohols, which were coupled with different nucleobases. After deprotection, the corresponding cyclopropanoid nucleosides of adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine and uracil were obtained. Antiviral tests revealed for the cis-configured guanosine a low, but specific activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2. In addition low affinities of the adenine derivatives to adenosine receptors were detected.     

Source apportionment of groundwater pollutants in Apulian agricultural sites using multivariate statistical analyses: case study of Foggia province

Background

Ground waters are an important resource of water supply for human health and activities. Groundwater uses and applications are often related to its composition, which is increasingly influenced by human activities.In fact the water quality of groundwater is affected by many factors including precipitation, surface runoff, groundwater flow, and the characteristics of the catchment area. During the years 2004-2007 the Agricultural and Food Authority of Apulia Region has implemented the project “Expansion of regional agro-meteorological network” in order to assess, monitor and manage of regional groundwater quality. The total wells monitored during this activity amounted to 473, and the water samples analyzed were 1021. This resulted in a huge and complex data matrix comprised of a large number of physical-chemical parameters, which are often difficult to interpret and draw meaningful conclusions. The application of different multivariate statistical techniques such as Cluster Analysis (CA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Absolute Principal Component Scores (APCS) for interpretation of the complex databases offers a better understanding of water quality in the study region.

Results

Form results obtained by Principal Component and Cluster Analysis applied to data set of Foggia province it’s evident that some sampling sites investigated show dissimilarities, mostly due to the location of the site, the land use and management techniques and groundwater overuse. By APCS method it’s been possible to identify three pollutant sources: Agricultural pollution 1 due to fertilizer applications, Agricultural pollution 2 due to microelements for agriculture and groundwater overuse and a third source that can be identified as soil run off and rock tracer mining.

Conclusions

Multivariate statistical methods represent a valid tool to understand complex nature of groundwater quality issues, determine priorities in the use of ground waters as irrigation water and suggest interactions between land use and irrigation water quality.

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