Comparative study of relativistic density functional methods applied to actinide species AcO(2)(2+) and AcF(6) for Ac = U,Np

A two-component relativistic density functional method based on the Douglas-Kroll-Hess transformation has been applied to the actinyls and hexafluorides of U and Np. All-electron scalar relativistic calculations as well as calculations including spin-orbit interaction have been compared to results obtained with a pseudopotential approach. In addition, several exchange-correlation potentials have been applied to examine their performance for the bond lengths and vibrational frequencies of the title compounds. The calculations confirm the well-known accuracy of the LDA approach for geometries and frequencies, which is corroborated for the hexafluorides where gas phase experimental data are available. Comparison with results of accurate wave function based methods provides further confirmation of this finding. Gradient-corrected functionals tend to overestimate bond lengths and underestimate frequencies also for actinide compounds. The results obtained with Stoll-Preuss (small core) effective core potentials agree very well with those of all-electron calculations, while calculations with Hay-Martin large core pseudopotentials are somewhat less accurate. For all molecules and properties considered, spin-orbit effects have been found negligible concomitant with the closed-shell electronic structure of the U(VI) compounds and the open-shell situation of the Np(VI) compounds with a single valence f electron.     

Experimental design optimization of a capillary zone electrophoresis method for the screening of several diuretics and ACE inhibitors

Experimental design methodologies are applied to the development of a capillary zone electrophoretic method for the separation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril and its derivative enalaprilat and the diuretics xipamide and hydrochlorothiazide. The effects of pH, buffer concentration, proportion of boric acid in the mixed boric acid-potassium dihydrogen phosphate background electrolyte, temperature, applied voltage, and percentage of organic modifier are studied. Critical factors are identified in a screening design (a 2(6-2) fractional factorial design), and afterwards, optimal conditions for the separation are reached by means of an optimization design (a 2(2) + 2 x 2 + k central composite design). The studied response is the resolution between peaks. The four studied compounds can be separated in less than 3.5 min using an electrolyte of 20mM boric acid-potassium dihydrogen phosphate (75:25, v/v) with 5% MeOH adjusted to pH 8.0 with KOH, at a potential of 30 kV. The detection wavelength and temperature are 206 nm and 35 degrees C, respectively.     

k0-NAA, a valuable tool for reference-material producers

The main concern of producers of certified reference materials (CRM) is the preparation of high-quality products with demonstrated homogeneity and stability, combined with a well established set of certified characteristics. CRM producers must, furthermore, comply with other constraints imposed by the ISO Guide 34: ·*production processes, production control, and certification analyses should be performed by expert laboratories, using validated protocols documented in their respective quality assurance manuals; ·*laboratory mean values and the corresponding “expanded” uncertainties, must be used for the determination of the certified values, as recommended by the ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainties in Measurements (GUM); and ·*when possible, traceability of the certified value to the SI units, using appropriately validated and/or primary methods, must be ensured. k₀-NAA, i.e. neutron activation analysis with k₀ standardization, is one of the analytical techniques implemented at the Reference Material Unit of IRMM; it meets the first two requirements.     

Coupling between protein and reaction dynamics in enzymatic processes: application of Grote-Hynes Theory to catechol O-methyltransferase

The generalized Langevin equation (GLE)-based Grote-Hynes (GH) theory is used to calculate the transmission coefficients, kappa, for the methyl transfer from S-adenosylmethionine to catecholate both in aqueous solution and in the catechol O-methyltransferase active site. Values of kappa, which measures the deviation of the rate constants from the Transition State Theory (TST) predictions, are obtained by means of rare event molecular dynamics simulations. The results are 0.62 +/- 0.04 and 0.83 +/- 0.03 for the aqueous and enzymatic environments, respectively, while the Grote-Hynes predictions are 0.58 +/- 0.09 and 0.89 +/- 0.03, respectively. The Kramers theory estimates are much smaller, about 0.01 and 0.1, respectively. Thus, the enzymatic transmission coefficient is closer to TST predictions than the value obtained in solution. In addition, our results show that the enzymatic coefficient is also closer to its nonadiabatic (or frozen environment) limit than is the solution coefficient. These findings can be understood considering that, during the passage over the barrier top, there is a smaller coupling between the reactive system and the environment in the enzyme than in solution, as well as a smaller reorganization suffered by the enzyme. Analysis of the transition state friction kernel leads to the identification of some key vibrational modes governing the coupling between the two different environments and the reacting solute in the transition state region and insights on their relevance for the reaction dynamics' influence on the transmission coefficient.     

Tetracyanometalates of Ni,Pd, and Pt with cyclic diquaternary cations of 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline. A vibrational,crystallographic, and theoretical study of intermolecular weak interactions

The compounds (bpy-dq)[Ni(CN)(4)].2H(2)O (1), (bpy-dq)[Pd(CN)(4)].2H(2)O (2), and ((bpy-dq)[Pt(CN)(4)].2H(2)O (3) (bpy-dq = (C(12)H(12)N(2))(2+), 6,7-dihydrodipyrido[1,2-a:2',1'-c]pyrazinediium) and (phen-dq)[Ni(CN)(4)] (4), (phen-dq)[Pd(CN)(4)].H(2)O (5), and (phen-dq)[Pt(CN)(4)].H(2)O (6) (phen-dq = (C(14)H(12)N(2))(2+), 5,6-dihydropyrazino[1,2,3,4-lmn]-1,10-phenanthrolinediium) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The three bipyridinium diquaternary salt derivatives are isostructural. The crystal structures of these dihydrated compounds consist of columns formed by alternating anion complexes and diquaternary cations, pi-pi interacting through cyanide ligands and the aromatic rings, and stabilized by an extended hydrogen-bond network. On the other hand, the packing in the phenanthrolinium diquaternary salt derivatives is strongly dependent on the hydration degree. Thus, the anhydrous [Ni(CN)(4)](2-) compound presents a laminar arrangement and the hydrated salts show a columnar packing, similar but not the same as compounds 1-3. The anhydrous form of compound 5 is isostructural with compound 4. Vibrational (IR, Raman) and thermogravimetric studies of these compounds have been carried out. Finally, DFT calculations have been performed on the isolated tetracyanometalate anions and diquaternary cations to assign the fundamental modes in the vibrational spectra. The intermolecular weak interactions were studied through the analysis of the charge density by using the theory of atoms in molecules (AIM).     

Silica-based powders and monoliths with bimodal pore systems

Porous pure and doped silicas with pore sizes at two length scales (meso/macroporous) have been prepared and shaped both as powders and monoliths through a one-pot surfactant assisted procedure by using a simple template agent and starting from atrane complexes as inorganic precursors.     

On the polynomial limit cycles of polynomial differential equations

In this paper we deal with ordinary differential equations of the form dy/dx = P(x, y) where P(x, y) is a real polynomial in the variables x and y, of degree n in the variable y. If y = φ(x) is a solution of this equation defined for x ∈ [0, 1] and which satisfies φ(0) = φ(1), we say that it is a periodic orbit. A limit cycle is an isolated periodic orbit in the set of all periodic orbits. If φ(x) is a polynomial, then φ(x) is called a polynomial solution.     

Synthesis of Novel Carbohydrate Acridinone Derivatives with Potential Biological Activities using 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

Novel 10‐{[3‐(6‐hydroxy‐2,2‐dimethyltetrahydrofuro[2,3‐d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐5‐isoxazolyl]methyl}‐9(10H)‐acridinone derivatives (13–16) were synthesized by 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition using the carbohydrate derivative as dipole and different 10‐allyl‐9(10H)‐acridinone derivatives (9–12) as dipolarophiles. The new cycloadducts as well as the dipolarophiles precursors were characterized spectroscopically.