Joint QTAIM and Hirshfeld study of the sigma and pi charge distribution and electron delocalization in carbonyl compounds: a comparative study with the resonance model

Atomic charges and delocalization indexes (DIs) for a series of carbonyl compounds comprising dimethyl ketone, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl acetate, acetamide, methyl vinyl ketone, divinyl ketone, and benzoic acid were studied using two different atomic partitionings: the QTAIM and the Hirshfeld (stockholder) scheme. The resonance model, traditionally employed to explain the reactivity of these compounds, is not in line with the total atomic charges and DIs calculated by both methodologies. However, the resonance model is supported to some extent by the pi charges and pi DIs calculated by both schemes, but the calculated values indicate that the pi population delocalizes only to a small degree. Although the absolute values of QTAIM and stockholder atomic charges are significantly different, the pi charges and the values of the DIs show similar trends for all the atoms and molecules of this study; this is especially the case for the pi DIs. A study of the electron density on the level of a single MO performed for CO, H2CO, F2CO, and H2CS reveals that the differences in the atomic sigma charges computed with both partitionings can be traced back to their different treatment of interatomic regions.     

Determination of aniline by adsorptive stripping voltammetry using an improved diazotization and coupling procedure application to the evaluation of the light degradation of D&C red no. 33 in the presence of ascorbic acid

A method for the determination of aniline was developed, based on the diazotization and coupling of the aromatic amine to form an azo compound capable of being determined by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. A fast derivatization procedure was developed using 1-naftol as the coupling agent. A detection limit of 0.8 mug/l was obtained for aniline, using an accumulation time of 2 min. The method was applied in the determination of the amount of aniline in the colouring matter D&C Red No. 33, after a liquid-liquid extraction with chloroform, before and after submitting the colouring matter to a process of degradation, using accelerated light conditions in the presence of ascorbic acid.     

Interaction of Tb(III) and hydrolyzed polyacrylamides in solution as a gel and in the solid state

Formation of the HPAM-Tb³ complex in solution was observed in the intensification of Tb(III) fluorescence, viscosity, and light scattering. The interaction is dependent on the degree of hydrolysis of the copolymer and the pH of the solution. As the pH value increases, an intensification of the interaction and formation of a gel is observed. The latter was associated with the appearance of crosslinks in which terbium, or one of its hydrolysis products, works as a binding agent between chains. After drying, the characterization of the residues of the gels was effected by analytical determination (C, H, N, Cl, Tb), fluorescence, and infrared spectrophotometry. The analysis and fluorescence revealed the existence of particles of terbium hydroxide; the infrared spectrophotometry showed the binding of terbium (III) to carboxylate of the copolymer.     

Studies on the encapsulation of diclofenac in small unilamellar liposomes of soya phosphatidylcholine

The encapsulation of acid (AD) and sodium diclofenac (SD) in small unilamellar liposomes (SUV) as well as the interactions of the drug with the bilayer was studied. SUV was prepared by sonication from multilamellar liposomes containing soya phosphatidylcholine and diclofenac at various proportions. The size distribution obtained from dynamic light scattering showed that the incorporation of SD decreases significantly the size of the liposomes suggesting that the drug interacts with the bilayer of the liposomes. This size decrease is related with the phase transition of liposomes to mixed micelar solution. The encapsulation of the hydrophilic dye indocyanine green in the aqueous compartment of liposomes showed that the rate of captured dye decreases with SD concentration suggesting the transition of liposomes to mixed micelles. The (31)P NMR analysis indicates that SD interacts with the phosphate of phosphatidylcholine head groups. A schematic model for interaction of SD with phosphatidylcholine of the liposomes in which the diclofenac anion interacts with the ammonium group of the phospholipid and the dichlorophenyl ring occupies a more internal site of bilayer near phosphate group was proposed.     

Characterisation of Sugar Cane Combustion Particles in the Araraquara Region, Southeast Brazil

Biomass burning is an important primary and secondary source of aerosol particles. The presence of carbonaceous particles in the respirable size range makes the study of this fraction important in view of possible health and climatic effects. The annual burning of sugar cane plantations causes emission of huge amounts of pyrogenic particles. Aerosol samples were collected in Araraquara city, São Paulo state, Brazil, during the harvest season for fine and coarse particles and bulk; they were analysed by electron-probe microanalysis, including facilities for low-Z element determination (low-Z EPMA) and by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), in order to investigate the elemental composition of individual particles and bulk samples, respectively. Numerical analysis of the EPMA results by hierarchical clustering shows high contributions of carbonaceous particles that can be distinguished mainly in two different types: biogenic and carbon-rich. Additionally, two significant contributions of aluminosilicate particles were identified: as rather pure aluminosilicates or mixed with carbonaceous species. The EDXRF results are compatible with those of aerosol particles in Amazon, which is nowadays one of the main sources of biogenic particles in the world.     

A simulation model of a high-capacity methane adsorptive storage system

A two-dimensional model is developed to describe the hydrodynamics, heat transfer and adsorption phenomena associated with the adsorptive storage of natural gas (NG) in cylindrical reservoirs. Intraparticle and film resistances to both heat and mass transfer are neglected. In the momentum equation, Ergun's law is considered locally valid and is extended to two dimensions. These assumptions are fully justified in the paper. Numerical results are presented concerning the pressurization and blowdown of an ultra-lightweight 50 litre cylinder, commercially available for the storage of compressed NG, if it were filled with an activated carbon having a good adsorptive storage capacity. A simple formula is also proposed to predict the filling times for fast charges. The predicted temperature changes in the packed-bed are in good agreement with those reported in the literature for an experimental charge/discharge.     

The role of hydrogen bonding in supercooled methanol

The role of hydrogen bonding on the microscopic properties of supercooled methanol has been analyzed by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Thermodynamic, structural, and dynamical properties have been investigated in supercooled methanol. The results have been compared with those of an ideal methanol-like system whose molecules have the same dipole moment as the methanol but lack sites for hydrogen bonding. Upon cooling the methanol samples, translational relaxation times increase more rapidly than reorientational ones. This effect is much more important when hydrogen bonds are suppressed. Suppression of hydrogen bonds also results in lower critical temperatures for diffusion and for several characteristic relaxation time constants. The anisotropy of individual dynamics and the existence of dynamical heterogeneities have also been investigated.     

The Birch reduction-dialkylation reaction. Scope and limitations

The Birch reduction-dialkylation reaction has been studied with different aromatic carboxylic acids and primary and secondary bromides. From these results it can be concluded that it is a reasonably general reaction. However, we found important exceptions with the primary bromides: allyl bromide, β-phenethyl bromide, and 5-bromo-2-methyl-2-pentene. The unusual behavior of allyl bromide is briefly discussed.     

Some remarks on the homogenization of the dam problem

The homogenization of the dam problem is discussed in the general weak formulation by means of the technique of correctors. In the two special cases of horizontal layers and of the isotropic coefficients with separated variables the problem is solved. However, in general, the unsaturated region is not stable for the homogenization, as a counterexample by Alt shows.