Variational Solution of Stochastic Schrödinger Equations With Power-Type Nonlinearity

We investigate a Schrödinger problem with multiplicative Gaussian noise term and power-type nonlinearity on a bounded one-dimensional domain. In order to prove the existence and uniqueness of the variational solution, a further process will be introduced which allows to transform the stochastic nonlinear Schrödinger problem into a pathwise one. Galerkin approximations and compact embedding results are used.     

Synthesis and Complexing Properties of Phosphorus-Substituted Pyridine-2-Carboxylic Acid Anilides

Abstract

Novel phosphorus-containing ligands have been synthesized by the condensation of 2-(thio)phosphorylated anilines with 2,6-dichloro- and 4-chloropyridine-2-carbonyl chlorides in the presence of Et₃N and unsubstituted pyridine-2-carboxylic acid using P(OPh)₃ as a coupling agent. The compounds derived readily form complexes with a range of transition metals (M=Re(I), Pd(II), and Cu(II)), serving as bi- or tridentate monoanionic ligands. The composition and structure of the resulting metallocycles depend both on the presence/amount of the Cl atoms in the pyridine ring and on the nature of the donor atom X in the P=X moiety. The novel compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography.     

Efficient Biocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants by Enzyme‐Releasing Self‐Propelled Motors

The first example of a self‐propelled tubular motor that releases an enzyme for the efficient biocatalytic degradation of chemical pollutants is demonstrated. How the motors are self‐propelled by the Marangoni effect, involving simultaneous release of SDS surfactant and the enzyme remediation agent (laccase) in the polluted sample, is illustrated. The movement induces fluid convection and leads to the rapid dispersion of laccase into the contaminated solution and to a dramatically accelerated biocatalytic decontamination process. The greatly improved degradation efficiency, compared to quiescent solutions containing excess levels of the free enzyme, is illustrated for the efficient biocatalytic degradation of phenolic and azo‐type pollutants. The high efficiency of the motor‐based decontamination approach makes it extremely attractive for a wide‐range of remediation processes in the environmental, defense and public health fields.     

Reactions of fullerene C60 with methyl methacrylate radicals: A density functional theory study

We have investigated the stepwise addition of four growing methyl methacrylate (MMA) radicals to C₆₀ fullerene, taking into account all possible types of the formed adducts. This reaction set is a reliable approximation for understanding the MMA polymerization process in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene. We have analyzed the structures of the fullerene-MMA adducts and energy parameters of their formation (heat effects and activation enthalpies). We found that up to three MMA growing radicals are favorably attached to C₆₀ as the fullerene-MMA trisadduct is a stable radical of the allyl type. It is inactive for further radical addition, and the elimination of the hydrogen atom from the growing MMA radical becomes preferable. The effects of steric factors and structures of the products of multiple growing MMA radical additions to C₆₀ on the radical polymerization of MMA in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene are considered.     

Synthesis of a macrocycle based on Linked Amino Acid Mimetics (LAAM)

We report the synthesis of a macrocycle utilizing a novel framework of standard amino acids in combination with subunits that we have named as Linked Amino Acid Mimetics (LAAMs). Macrocycles based on the LAAM concept provide both a peptide targeting region and two independently variable functional regions. In the prototype structure, the commonly known Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence was used for the targeting region. The functional regions contain a phenyl group, and the linkage was formed via a Ring-Closing Metathesis (RCM) reaction.     

Multiscale Approach to the Study of the Electronic Properties of Two Thiophene Curcuminoid Molecules

We studied the electronic and conductance properties of two thiophene–curcuminoid molecules, 2‐thphCCM ( 1 ) and 3‐thphCCM ( 2 ), in which the only structural difference is the position of the sulfur atoms in the thiophene terminal groups. We used electrochemical techniques as well as UV/Vis absorption studies to obtain the values of the HOMO–LUMO band gap energies, showing that molecule 1 has lower values than 2 . Theoretical calculations show the same trend. Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were studied by using electrochemistry, showing that the interaction with gold reduces drastically the HOMO–LUMO gap in both molecules to almost the same value. Single‐molecule conductance measurements show that molecule 2 has two different conductance values, whereas molecule 1 exhibits only one. Based on theoretical calculations, we conclude that the lowest conductance value, similar in both molecules, corresponds to a van der Waals interaction between the thiophene ring and the electrodes. The one order of magnitude higher conductance value for molecule 2 corresponds to a coordinate (dative covalent) interaction between the sulfur atoms and the gold electrodes.     

Interplay of thermochemistry and Structural Chemistry, the journal (volume 23, 2012, issues 1–3) and the discipline

In the current review of the journal Structural Chemistry, the contents of the issues 1–3 for the calendar year 2012 are related to thermochemistry. A brief thermochemical commentary is added to the summary of each article.     

Dilute Ammonia Pretreatment of Sorghum and Its Effectiveness on Enzyme Hydrolysis and Ethanol Fermentation

A new pretreatment technology using dilute ammonium hydroxide was evaluated for ethanol production on sorghum. Sorghum fibers, ammonia, and water at a ratio of 1:0.14:8 were heated to 160 °C and held for 1 h under 140–160 psi pressure. Approximately, 44% lignin and 35% hemicellulose were removed during the process. Hydrolysis of untreated and dilute ammonia pretreated fibers was carried out at 10% dry solids at an enzyme concentration of 60 FPU Spezyme CP and 64 CBU Novozyme 188/g glucan. Cellulose digestibility was higher (84%) for ammonia pretreated sorghum as compared to untreated sorghum (38%). Fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae D₅A resulted in 24 g ethanol /100 g dry biomass for dilute ammonia pretreated sorghum and 9 g ethanol /100 g dry biomass for untreated sorghum.     

Analysis of paramagnetic NMR spectra of triple-helical lanthanide complexes with 2,6-dipicolinic acid revisited: a new assignment of structural changes and crystal-field effects 25 years later

Variable-temperature (1)H and (13)C NMR measurements of the D(3)-symmetrical triple-helical complexes [Ln(L1-2H)(3)](3)(-) (L1 = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid; Ln = La-Lu) show evidence of dynamic intermolecular ligand-exchange processes whose activation energies depend on the size of the metal ion. At 298 K, the use of diastereotopic probes in [Ln(L3-2H)(3)](3)(-) (L3 = 4-ethyl-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) shows that fast intramolecular P <==> M interconversion between the helical enantiomers occurs on the NMR time scale. Detailed analyses of the paramagnetic NMR hyperfine shifts according to crystal-field independent techniques demonstrate the existence of two different helical structures, one for large lanthanides (Ln = La-Eu) and one for small lanthanides (Ln = Tb-Lu), in complete contrast with the isostructurality proposed 25 years ago. A careful reconsideration of the original crystal-field-dependent analysis shows that an abrupt variation of the axial crystal-field parameter A(0)2 parallels the structural change leading to some accidental compensation effects that prevent the detection of structural variations according to the classical one-nucleus method. Crystal structures in the solid state and density functional theory calculations in the gas phase provide structural models that rationalize the paramagnetic NMR data. A regular triple-helical structure is found for small lanthanides (Ln = Tb-Lu) in which the terdentate chelating ligands are rigidly tricoordinated to the metals. A flexible and distorted structure is evidenced for Ln = La-Eu in which the central pyridine rings interact poorly with the metal ion. The origin of the simultaneous variation of structural parameters and crystal-field and hyperfine constants near the middle of the lanthanide series is discussed together with the use of crystal-field-independent techniques for the interpretation of paramagnetic NMR spectra in axial lanthanide complexes.     

Glutathionyl transferase catalyzed addition of glutathione to COMC: a new hypothesis for antitumor activity

[reaction: see text] Data are presented indicating that the potent antitumor activity of 2-crotonyloxymethyl-(4R,5R,6R)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-cyclohexenone (COTC) and 2-crotonyloxymethyl-2-cyclohexenone (COMC) is not likely the result of glyoxalase I inhibition, as has long been assumed. An alternative hypothesis is presented, based on the finding that COMC is a substrate for human glutathionyl transferase, which produces a transient, highly electrophilic glutathionylated 2-exomethylenecyclohexanone that can covalently modify proteins and nucleic acids.