Thermal Stability of Sol-Gel Hydrotalcites

Sol-Gel Hydrotalcites were synthesized using magnesium ethoxide and variable aluminum sources: aluminum acetilacetonate, aluminum chloride, aluminum nitrate and aluminum sulfate; in all cases, the gelation was done at pH 10. X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystallinity depends on the aluminum precursor used. The crystallinity was found in the order aluminum acetylcetonate>aluminum chloride>aluminum nitrate>aluminum sulfate. The precursor determines the sintering behavior as well.     

Investigation of proton-proton short-range correlations via the 12C(e,e'pp) reaction

We investigated simultaneously the 12C(e,e'p) and 12C(e,e'pp) reactions at Q2=2 (GeV/c)2, xB=1.2, and in an (e, e'p) missing-momentum range from 300 to 600 MeV/c. At these kinematics, with a missing momentum greater than the Fermi momentum of nucleons in a nucleus and far from the delta excitation, short-range nucleon-nucleon correlations are predicted to dominate the reaction. For (9.5+/-2)% of the 12C(e,e'p) events, a recoiling partner proton was observed back-to-back to the 12C(e,e'p) missing-momentum vector, an experimental signature of correlations.     

A Bioinspired Molybdenum Complex as a Catalyst for the Photo‐ and Electroreduction of Protons

A molybdenum–dithiolene–oxo complex was prepared as a model of some active sites of Mo/W‐dependent enzymes. The ligand, a quinoxaline–pyran‐fused dithiolene, mimics molybdopterin present in these active sites. For the first time, this type of complex was shown to be active as a catalyst for the photoreduction of protons with excellent turnover numbers (500) and good stability in aqueous/organic media and for the electroreduction of protons in acetonitrile with remarkable rate constants (1030 s^?1 at ?1.3 V versus Ag/AgCl). DFT calculations provided insight into the catalytic cycle of the reaction, suggesting that the oxo ligand plays a key role in proton exchange. These results provide a basis to optimize this new class of H₂‐evolving catalysts.     

Influence of Ag+ on the Magnetic Response of [2.2.2]Paracyclophane: NMR Properties of a Prototypical Organic Host for Cation Binding Based on DFT Calculations

The complexation of metal cations into a host–guest situation is particularly well exemplified by [2.2.2]paracyclophane and Ag^I, which leads to a strong cation–π interaction with a specific face of the host molecule. Through this study we sought a deeper understanding of the effects the metal center has on the NMR spectroscopic properties of the prototypical organic host, generating theoretical reasons for the observed experimental results with an aim to determine the role of the cation–π interaction in a host–guest scenario. From an analysis of certain components of the induced magnetic field and the ¹³C NMR shielding tensor under its own principal axis system (PAS), the local and overall magnetic behavior can be clearly described. Interestingly, the magnetic response of such a complex exhibits a large axis-dependent behavior, which leads to an overall shielding effect for the coordinating carbon atoms and a deshielding effect for the respective uncoordinated counterparts, evidence that complements previous experimental results. This proposed approach can be useful to gain further insight into the local and overall variation of NMR shifts for host–guest pairs involving both inorganic and organic hosts.     

Characterization of Glycan Structures of Chondroitin Sulfate-Glycopeptides Facilitated by Sodium Ion-Pairing and Positive Mode LC-MS/MS

Purification and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) characterization of glycopeptides, originating from protease digests of glycoproteins, enables site-specific analysis of protein N- and O-glycosylations. We have described a protocol to enrich, hydrolyze by chondroitinase ABC, and characterize chondroitin sulfate-containing glycopeptides (CS-glycopeptides) using positive mode LC-MS/MS. The CS-glycopeptides, originating from the Bikunin proteoglycan of human urine samples, had ΔHexAGalNAcGlcAGalGalXyl-O-Ser hexasaccharide structure and were further substituted with 0-3 sulfate and 0-1 phosphate groups. However, it was not possible to exactly pinpoint sulfate attachment residues, for protonated precursors, due to extensive fragmentation of sulfate groups using high-energy collision induced dissociation (HCD). To circumvent the well-recognized sulfate instability, we now introduced Na⁺ ions to form sodiated precursors, which protected sulfate groups from decomposition and facilitated the assignment of sulfate modifications. Sulfate groups were pinpointed to both Gal residues and to the GalNAc of the hexasaccharide structure. The intensities of protonated and sodiated saccharide oxonium ions were very prominent in the HCD-MS2 spectra, which provided complementary structural analysis of sulfate substituents of CS-glycopeptides. We have demonstrated a considerable heterogeneity of the bikunin CS linkage region. The realization of these structural variants should be beneficial in studies aimed at investigating the importance of the CS linkage region with regards to the biosynthesis of CS and potential interactions to CS binding proteins. Also, the combined use of protonated and sodiated precursors for positive mode HCD fragmentation analysis will likely become useful for additional classes of sulfated glycopeptides.

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Split injection: A simple introduction of subnanoliter sample volumes for chip electrophoresis

The ability to accurately inject small volumes of sample into microfluidic channels is of great importance in electrophoretic separations. While electrokinetic injection of nanoliter scale volumes is commonly utilized in microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE), mobility and matrix bias makes quantitation difficult. Herein, we describe a new injection method based on the simple patterning of the crossing of channels that does not require sophisticated instrumentation. The sample volume injected into the separation channel is dependent on the ratio of the widths of the crossing channels. This injection method is capable of introducing, into a separation channel, multiple plugs of sample on a large scale. This injection technique is tested for zone electrophoresis in native and surface modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chips.     

Physical properties of small water clusters in low and moderate electric fields

Likely candidates for the lowest minima of water clusters (H(2)O)(N) for N ≤ 20 interacting with a uniform electric field strength in the range E ≤ 0.6 V/? have been identified using basin-hopping global optimization. Two water-water model potentials were considered, namely TIP4P and the polarizable Dang-Chang potential. The two models produce some consistent results but also exhibit significant differences. The cluster internal energy and dipole moment indicate two varieties of topological transition in the structure of the global minimum as the field strength is increased. The first takes place at low field strengths (0.1 V/? 10) usually forming helical structures.     

Correlating the scattered intensities of P3HT and PCBM to the current densities of polymer solar cells

Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and rocking scans have quantified the structure of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester in the active layers of organic solar cells. Our study reveals that the device J(SC) correlates with the local structural development of pure PCBM and, to second order, the extent of out-of-plane P3HT π-stacking.     

A facile method to tune zeolite L crystals with low aspect ratio

We demonstrate an alternative route to tune the morphology of zeolite L crystals using C(2)H(5)OH as the co-solvent in the synthesis gel. A low aspect ratio (0.2 to 0.4) of zeolite L crystals was obtained at lower synthesis temperature (150 °C) and shorter synthesis duration (3 days).