Solvent and guest isotope effects on complexation thermodynamics of alpha-, beta-, and 6-amino-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrins

The stability constant (K), standard free energy (DeltaG degrees ), enthalpy (DeltaH degrees ), and entropy changes (TDeltaS degrees ) for the complexation of native alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins (CDs) and 6-amino-6-deoxy-beta-CD with more than 30 neutral, positively, and negatively charged guests, including seven fully or partially deuterated guests, have been determined in phosphate buffer solutions (pH/pD 6.9) of hydrogen oxide (H(2)O) or deuterium oxide (D(2)O) at 298.15 K by titration microcalorimetry. Upon complexation with these native and modified CDs, both nondeuterated and deuterated guests examined consistently exhibited higher affinities (by 5-20%) in D(2)O than in H(2)O. The quantitative affinity enhancement in D(2)O versus H(2)O directly correlates with the size and strength of the hydration shell around the charged/hydrophilic group of the guest. For that reason, negatively/positively charged guests, possessing a relatively large and strong hydration shell, afford smaller K(H2O)/K(D2O) ratios than those for neutral guests with a smaller and weaker hydration shell. Deuterated guests showed lower affinities (by 5-15%) than the relevant nondeuterated guests in both H(2)O and D(2)O, which is most likely ascribed to the lower ability of the C-D bond to produce induced dipoles and thus the reduced intracavity van der Waals interactions. The excellent enthalpy-entropy correlation obtained can be taken as evidence for the very limited conformational changes upon transfer of CD complexes from H(2)O to D(2)O.     

Large-scale fabrication of aligned single-walled carbon nanotube array and hierarchical single-walled carbon nanotube assembly

Aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and hierarchical SWNT assembly were fabricated by electrospinning. The high fiber elongation and high DC electric field applied during the electrospinning process result in the orientation of the SWNTs along the axial direction of the fiber. The alignment of the electropsun composite fiber transfers this local SWNT orientation to macroscopically aligned SWNTs. After removing the polymer component from the aligned composite fiber, we produced large area aligned SWNTs. The results show that the directional control of SWNT alignment and debundling of SWNTs into individual tubes can be simultaneously realized.     

Molecular nitrides containing group 4 and 5 metals: single and double azatitanocubanes

Treatment of [[Ti(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(micro-NH)](3)(micro(3)-N)] (1) with the imido complexes [Ti(NAr)Cl(2)(py)(3)] (Ar=2,4,6-C(6)H(2)Me(3)) and [Ti(NtBu)Cl(2)(py)(3)] in toluene affords the single azatitanocubanes [[Cl(2)(ArN)Ti]( micro(3)-NH)(3)[Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)]].(C(7)H(8)) (2.C(7)H(8)) and [[Cl(2)Ti](micro(3)-N)(2)(micro(3)-NH)[Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)]] (3), respectively. Similar reactions of complex 1 with the niobium and tantalum imido derivatives [[M(NtBu)(NHtBu)Cl(2)(NH(2)tBu)](2)] (M=Nb, Ta) in toluene give the single azaheterometallocubanes [[Cl(2)(tBuN)M](micro(3)-N)(micro(3)-NH)(2)[Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)]] (M=Nb (4), Ta (5)), both complexes react with 2,4,6-trimethylaniline to yield the analogous species [[Cl(2)(ArN)M](micro(3)-N)(micro(3)-NH)(2)[Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)]].(C(7)H(8)) (Ar=2,4,6-C(6)H(2)Me(3), M=Nb (6.C(7)H(8)), Ta (7.C(7)H(8))). Also the azaheterodicubanes [M[micro(3)-N)(2)(micro(3)-NH)](2)[Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)](2)].2C(7)H(8) [M=Ti (8.2C(7)H(8)), Zr (9.2C(7)H(8))], and [M[(micro(3)-N)(5)(micro(3)-NH)][Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)](2)].2 C(7)H(8) (Nb (10.2C(7)H(8)), Ta (11.2C(7)H(8))) were prepared from 1 and the homoleptic dimethylamido complex [M(NMe(2))(x)] (x=4, M=Ti, Zr; x=5, M=Nb, Ta) in toluene at 150 degrees C. X-ray crystal structure determinations were performed for 6 and 10, which revealed a cube- and double-cube-type core, respectively. For complexes 2 and 4-7 we observed and studied by DNMR a rotation or trigonal-twist of the organometallic ligands [[Ti(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(micro-NH)](3)(micro(3)-N)] (1) and [(micro(3)-N)(micro(3)-NH)(2)[Ti(3)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(micro(3)-N)]](1-). Density functional theory calculations were carried out on model complexes of 2, 3, and 8 to establish and understand their structures.     

Sidewall functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by addition of dichlorocarbene

We report the sidewall functionalization of soluble HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by addition of dichlorocarbene. The dichlorocarbene-functionalized SWNTs [(s-SWNT)CCl(2)] retain their solubility in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and dichlorobenzene. The degree of dichlorocarbene functionalization was varied between 12% and 23% by using different amounts of the dichlorocarbene precursor. Because the addition of dichlorocarbene saturates the carbon atoms on the sidewall of the SWNTs and effectively replaces the delocalized partial double bonds with a cyclopropane functionality, the optical spectra of the SWNTs change dramatically. We estimate that the saturation of 25% of the pi-network electronic structure of the SWNTs is sufficient to remove all vestiges of the interband transitions in the infrared spectrum. The transitions at the Fermi level in the metallic SWNTs that appear in the far-infrared (FIR) region of the spectrum show a dramatic decrease of intensity on dichlorocarbene functionalization. The FIR region of the spectrum allows a clear differentiation between the covalent and the ionic chemistry of SWNTs. In contrast with covalent functionalization, we show that reaction of the SWNTs with bromine vapor leads to a strong increase in absorptions at the Fermi level that is observable in the FIR due to hole doping of the semiconducting SWNTs. Thermal treatment of the (s-SWNT)CCl(2) above 300 degrees C resulted in the breakage of C-Cl bonds, but did not restore the original electronic structure of the SWNTs.     

YIHn: A New Family of Metal‐rich Hydride Halides

The graphite‐like yttrium hydride halides, YIH_n (0.8 ? n ? 1.0), have been prepared in quantitative yields by heating either YI₃, YH₂ (1:2) or stoichiometric YI₃, YH₂, Y mixtures in sealed Ta ampoules at 900°C. A lower limit of the homogeneity range, n ≈ 2/3, has been determined from dehydrogenation experiments. All YIH_n phases adopt the ZrBr‐type heavy‐atom structure. The hydrogen variation is accompanied by a change in the c lattice constant from 31.162(3) to 31.033(1) Å for n = 0.61(3) to 1.02(3). The YIH_n phases reversibly react with hydrogen at 400‐600°C to form the light green transparent compound YIH₂. However, increasing the reaction temperature above 700°C causes decomposition to an unidentified phase being in equilibrium with YH₂ and YI₃. The arrangement of the heavy atoms in YIH₂ (P m1; a = 3.8579(3) Å, c = 10.997(1) Å) corresponds to a four‐layer I‐Y‐Y‐I slab with the stacking sequence (AbaB) as was found by x‐ray powder diffraction data refinement with the Rietveld method. A miscibility gap exists between YIH and YIH₂. Samples YIH_n (n ? 1.0) show metallic conductivity at room temperature, which changes into semiconducting behavior with decreasing temperature as n approaches its lower value ≈ 2/3.     

Evaluation of the contribution to hydration of nonelectrolytes from the hydrophobic effect

A new method was suggested for estimating the hydrophobic effect of contributions to the Gibbs energies and enthalpies of hydration of hydrocarbons, inorganic gases and rare gases. In accordance with this method the hydrophobic effect contribution to the Gibbs energy was evaluated from the difference between the hydration Gibbs energy of a solute and the non hydrophobic contribution. To estimate the latter value, the known dependence connecting the Gibbs energies of solvation of a solute in a number of aprotic solvents to the Hildebrand solubility parameter for these solvents was used. The non hydrophobic contribution to the Gibbs energy of hydration was calculated for various solutes from such dependences extended to water as solvent. The Hildebrand solubility parameter for water used in the calculation was corrected for the effect of association through hydrogen bonding. This correction was made by subtraction of the water self-association enthalpy from the enthalpy of vaporization of water. The evaluated Gibbs energies of the hydrophobic effect are positive for saturated hydrocarbons, inorganic gases and rare gases and linearly depend on the solute molecular refraction. The hydrophobic contribution to the hydration enthalpies of the solutes was calculated in the same manner as was made to calculate the hydrophobic contribution to Gibbs energies of hydration. Enthalpies of the hydrophobic effect for the solutes under study are negative.     

Comparison of experimental time-of-flight spectra of the HF products from the F+H2 reaction with exact quantum mechanical calculations

High resolution HF product time-of-flight spectra measured for the reactive scattering of F atoms from n-H2(p-H2) molecules at collision energies between 69 and 81 meV are compared with exact coupled-channel quantum mechanical calculations based on the Stark-Werner ab initio ground state potential energy surface. Excellent agreement between the experimental and computed rotational distributions is found for the HF product vibrational states v'=1 and v'=2. For the v'=3 vibrational state the agreement, however, is less satisfactory, especially for the reaction with p-H2. The results for v'=1 and v'=2 confirm that the reaction dynamics for these product states is accurately described by the ground electronic state 1 (2)A' potential energy surface. The deviations for HF(v'=3, j' > or =2) are attributed to an enhancement of the reaction resulting from the 25% fraction of excited ((2)P(12)) fluorine atoms in the reactant beam.     

Pyramids in the complex projective plane

We study the critical points of the diameter functional on the n-fold Cartesian product of the complex projective plane C P ² with the Fubini-Study metric. Such critical points arise in the calculation of a metric invariant called the filling radius, and are akin to the critical points of the distance function. We study a special family of such critical points, P _kC P ¹C P ², k=1,2... We show that P _k is a local minimum of by verifying the positivity of the Hessian of (a smooth approximation to) at P _k. For this purpose, we use Shirokov's law of cosines and the holonomy of the normal bundle of C P ¹C P ². We also exhibit a critical point of , given by a subset which is not contained in any totally geodesic submanifold of C P ².