CFD simulation of aggregation and breakage processes in laminar Taylor-Couette flow

An experimental and computational investigation of the effects of local fluid shear rate on the aggregation and breakage of approximately 10 microm latex spheres suspended in an aqueous solution undergoing laminar Taylor-Couette flow was carried out according to the following program. First, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed and the flow field predictions were validated with data from particle image velocimetry experiments. Subsequently, the quadrature method of moments (QMOM) was implemented into the CFD code to obtain predictions for mean particle size that account for the effects of local shear rate on the aggregation and breakage. These predictions were then compared with experimental data for latex sphere aggregates (using an in situ optical imaging method) and with predictions using spatial average shear rates. The mean particle size evolution predicted by CFD and QMOM using appropriate kinetic expressions that incorporate information concerning the particle morphology (fractal dimension) and the local fluid viscous effects on aggregation collision efficiency match well with the experimental data.     

Pyrimidines-19: Ring transformation of 5-nitrouracil into nitroresorcinols

The first intermolecular right transformation of a uracil derivative into the benzene system is reported. Treatment of 1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrouracil (1) with acetone in NaOMe/MeOH afforded 6-acetonyl-5,6-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrouracil (6) which was converted into 4-nitroresorcinol (5) upon treatment with NaOEt/EtOH at reflux. Reaction of1 with butanone gave two major products, 3-(5,6-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrouracil-6-yl)butanone (7) and the 1-(uracil-6-yl)butanone isomer (8). Prolonged treatment of7 with NaOEt/EtOH afforded 4-methyl-6-nitro-resorcinol (9) whereas8 was converted into 2-methyl-4-nitro-resorcinol (10). Treatment of1 with diethyl acetonedicar?ylate in NaOEt/EtOH afforded diethyl-2-(5,6-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrouracil-6-yl)-acetonedicar?ylate (2). Prolonged treatment of2 with NaOEt/EtOH at reflux afforded (5,6-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-6-nitrouracil-6-yl)-acetate (3). Apparently,2 underwent a retroClaisen reaction to give3. Reaction of1 with ethyl acetoacetate in NaOEt/EtOH gave adduct isomers4 which underwent transformation reaction to give eventually 6-nitroresorcinol (5).     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.     

Synthetic models of the reduced active site of superoxide reductase

We report the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and magnetic and electrochemical studies of a series of iron(II) complexes of the pyridyl-appended diazacyclooctane ligand L(8)py(2), including several that model the square-pyramidal [Fe(II)(N(his))(4)(S(cys))] structure of the reduced active site of the non-heme iron enzyme superoxide reductase. Combination of L(8)py(2) with FeCl(2) provides [L(8)py(2)FeCl(2)] (1), which contains a trigonal-prismatic hexacoordinate iron(II) center, whereas a parallel reaction using [Fe(H(2)O)(6)](BF(4))(2) provides [L(8)py(2)Fe(FBF(3))]BF(4) (2), a novel BF(4)(-)-ligated square-pyramidal iron(II) complex. Substitution of the BF(4)(-) ligand in 2 with formate or acetate ions affords distorted pentacoordinate [L(8)py(2)Fe(O(2)CH)]BF(4) (3) and [L(8)py(2)Fe(O(2)CCH(3))]BF(4) (4), respectively. Models of the superoxide reductase active site are prepared upon reaction of 2 with sodium salts of aromatic and aliphatic thiolates. These model complexes include [L(8)py(2)Fe(SC(6)H(4)-p-CH(3))]BF(4) (5), [L(8)py(2)Fe(SC(6)H(4)-m-CH(3))]BF(4) (6), and [L(8)py(2)Fe(SC(6)H(11))]BF(4) (7). X-ray crystallographic studies confirm that the iron(II)-thiolate complexes model the square-pyramidal geometry and N(4)S donor set of the reduced active site of superoxide reductase. The iron(II)-thiolate complexes are high spin (S = 2), and their solutions are yellow in color because of multiple charge-transfer transitions that occur between 300 and 425 nm. The ambient temperature cyclic voltammograms of the iron(II)-thiolate complexes contain irreversible oxidation waves with anodic peak potentials that correlate with the relative electron donating abilities of the thiolate ligands. This electrochemical irreversibility is attributed to the bimolecular generation of disulfides from the electrochemically generated iron(III)-thiolate species.     

Adsorption and structure of hydrocarbons in MCM-41: a computational study

The adsorption of linear, branched, and cyclic hydrocarbons in MCM-41 is studied using Configurational Bias Monte Carlo simulations. A new computational model for MCM-41 is proposed which, although simple, is able to predict adsorption isotherms which are in agreement with the scarce experimental data. The structure of the adsorbed phase is analyzed and found to be similar to that of studies using small, hard spheres trapped in pores. The adsorption of mixtures is investigated, and the adsorption hierarchy is discussed. The structure of the adsorbed mixture is revealed and shows that all components of the mixture exhibit structure, even if they are only adsorbed in small quantities. Finally, the model is modified to include surface roughness and the effect on the adsorption isotherms and structure of the adsorbed phase is discussed.     

Computer based screening of compound databases: 1. Preselection of benzamidine-based thrombin inhibitors

We present a computational protocol which uses the known three-dimensional structure of a target enzyme to identify possible ligands from databases of compounds with low molecular weight. This is accomplished by first mapping the essential interactions in the binding site with the program GRID. The resulting regions of favorable interaction between target and ligand are translated into a database query, and with UNITY a flexible 3D database search is performed. The feasibility of this approach is calibrated with thrombin as the target. Our results show that the resulting hit lists are enriched with thrombin inhibitors compared to the total database.     

The effect of the “Inert” support on relative photocatalytic activity in the oxidative decomposition of alcohols on irradiated titanium dioxide composites

Reduced quantum efficiencies for the photocatalytic degradation of cyclohexanol, cyclododecanol, 2-hexanol, and benzyl alcohol are observed on TiO₂ particles included within small pore zeolitic supports suspended in acetonitrile. A modest reduction in photocatalytic activity observed with TiO₂ included within large pore zeolites and pillared clays is attributed to reflective and refractive losses of incident light. No appreciable substrate size selectivity could be observed in this series of supported TiO₂ composites. TS-1, a titanium-containing zeolite with Ti in tetrahedral lattice sites, was photoactive, although ETS-10, a titanium-containing zeolite with Ti in octahedral lattice sites, was less so. The low quantum yield residual photoactivity observed with these alcoholic substrates on unmodified zeolites may derive from surface charge transfer complexation, as suggested by diffuse reflectance absorption measurements.     

Mild and efficient Cs2CO3-promoted synthesis of phosphonates

A mild and convenient synthesis for phosphonates using cesium carbonate (Cs₂CO₃), tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) and DMF was developed at room temperature. Numerous dialkyl phosphites were screened using a diverse array of alkyl halides and these reaction conditions were found to be highly efficient producing various phosphonates exclusively in moderate to high yields.