Gelation of aqueous pectin solutions: a dynamic light scattering study

We report the dynamic light scattering study of the gelation of aqueous solutions of the biopolymer, pectin, induced by the addition of calcium chloride. The time correlation function data are analyzed under the framework of the coupling model. As the solution enters the semidilute regime where gelation sets in, the relaxation process shows a stretched exponential behavior. The stretching exponent decreases and the characteristic time of the stretched exponential diverges as the system evolves to a gel. Aqueous pectin solutions in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl show similar behavior. Thus, the molecular relaxation modes of pectin solutions can be well described by the coupling model.     

Radiation (60Co)-Induced Graft Copolymerization of Acrylamide on Jute Fiber

The radiation induced graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto jute fibers was studied following preirradiation of jute in air using a⁶⁰Co source of γ-radiation and subsequent polymerization of acrylamide in a limited aqueous system under nitrogen at 607°C. An increase of the time of preirradiation (at a fixed dose rate) increased the percent grafting measurably and the grafting efficiency marginall Grafting effects showed further improvement on addition of Fe²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions to the system prior to the polymerization step. Increasing the concentration of Fe²⁺ or Co²⁺ ion led to an increase in the grafting parameters with a leveling off effect in the higher concentration range, however. An increase in the polymer (jute) content for a fixed monomer content produced a significant increase in the efficiency of grafting, while % grafting followed a slowly decreasing trend.     

Favorable pendant-amino metal chelation in VX nerve agent model systems

We have performed DFT computational studies [B3LYP, 6-31+G] to obtain metal ion coordination isomers of VX-Me [MeP(O)(OMe)(SCH2CH2NMe2)], a model of two of the most lethal nerve agents: VX [MeP(O)(OEt)(SCH2CH2N(iPr)2)] and Russian-VX [MeP(O)(OCH2CHMe2)(SCH2CH2N(Et)2)]. Our calculations involved geometry optimizations of the neutral VX-Me model as well as complexes with H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ that yielded 2-8 different stable chelation modes for each ion that involved mainly mono- and bidentate binding. Importantly, our studies revealed that the [O(P),N] bidentate binding mode, long thought to be the active mode in differentiating the hydrolytic path of VX from other nerve agents, was the most stable for all ions studied here. Binding energy depended mainly on ionic size as well as charge, with binding energies ranging from 364 kcal mol(-1) for Be2+ to 33 kcal mol(-1) for K+. Furthermore, calculated NMR shifts for VX-Me correlate to experimental values of VX.     

Hydrogen bond lifetime dynamics at the interface of a surfactant monolayer

The dynamics of water near the polar headgroups of surfactants in a monolayer adsorbed at the air/water interface is likely to play a decisive role in determining the physical behavior of such organized assemblies. We have carried out an atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of a monolayer of the anionic surfactant sodium bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) sulfosuccinate (aerosol-OT or AOT) adsorbed at the air/water interface. The simulation is performed at room temperature with a surface coverage of that at the critical micelle concentration (78 Angstrom(2)/molecule). Detailed analyses of the lifetime dynamics of surfactant-water (SW) and water-water (WW) hydrogen bonds at the interface have been carried out. The nonexponential hydrogen bond lifetime correlation functions have been analyzed by using the formalism of Luzar and Chandler, which allowed identification of the bound states at the interface and quantification of the dynamic equilibrium between bound and quasi-free water molecules, in terms of time-dependent relaxation rates. It is observed that the water molecules present in the first hydration layer form strong hydrogen bonds with the surfactant headgroups and hence have longer lifetimes. Importantly, it is found that the overall relaxation of the SW hydrogen bonds is faster for those water molecules which form two hydrogen bonds with the surfactant headgroups than those forming one such hydrogen bond. Equally interestingly, it is further noticed that water molecules beyond the first hydration layer form weaker hydrogen bonds than pure bulk water.     

Photoreversible Assembly–Disassembly of a Polymeric Structure by Using an Azobenzene Photoswitch and Al3+ Ions

A nonmacrocyclic azobenzene‐based photochromic receptor in its E isomer forms an extended polymeric assembly with Al³⁺ ions. Exposure of the E form to UV light at λ=366 nm causes a disassembly of the polymeric structure due to the change in the molecular geometry of the ligand. The linear polymeric structure was regenerated on exposure to visible light.     

Bursts in single-file motion mediated conduction

We present a cellular automaton (CA) model of particles in a single-file motion with free particle exchange at the boundaries of a one-dimensional channel connected to two infinite reservoirs in order to study the self-transmission of particles with excluded mutual passage. The parallel, local and homogeneous rule sets of the CA algorithm consider two different interactions of varying strength between particles, without any specific particle-channel interaction. CA model results suggest that one hallmark of single-file motion is the conduction bursts at a particular time scale, which have thus far only been discovered for hydrogen bond networked water translocation. The cumulative transport probabilities of particles through single-file channels of different length follow a single profile, which can be obtained through proper scaling of time. The universal features of our results suggest new experiments in single-file channel with fluids other than water.     

A microwave-assisted bismuth nitrate-catalyzed unique route toward 1,4-dihydropyridines

The classical Hantzsch reaction is one of the simplest and most economical methods for the synthesis of biologically important and pharmacologically useful 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives. Bismuth nitrate pentahydrate under microwave irradiation is proven to act as a very efficient catalyst for a one-pot, three-component synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines in excellent yields from diverse amines/ammonium acetate, aldehydes and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds within 1-3 min under solvent-free conditions. The present environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines is suitable for library synthesis and it will find application in the synthesis of potent biologically active molecules. The excellent yield and extreme rapidity of the method is due to a concurrent effect of the catalyst and microwave irradiation.     

A study of the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of microcrystalline cellulose particles prepared from cotton slivers using different acid concentrations

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles are mostly prepared by acid hydrolysis of various agro sources. Acid hydrolysis is usually carried out with high concentration (64 wt%) of sulfuric acid. Here, an attempt has been made to optimize lower acid concentrations which can effectively produce MCC particles. In this work, different concentrations of sulfuric acid (20, 30, 35, 40, 47 and 64 wt%) have been used to prepare MCC particles, which have been characterized by XRD, particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation and thermogravimetric analysis. MCC prepared with 35 and 47% sulfuric acid (MCC 35 and MCC 47) had finest particle size and fibrils were produced in the range of 15–25 nm. MCC 20 showed wide particle size distribution, indicating low breakdown of the cellulose chains. The energy absorption behavior and mechanical properties of the MCC pellets were determined by nanoindentation test for the first time. MCC 35 pellets exhibited lowest modulus and hardness.     

Unexpected Chemistry from the Reaction of Naphthyl and Acetylene at Combustion‐Like Temperatures

The hydrogen abstraction/acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism has long been viewed as a key route to aromatic ring growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in combustion systems. However, doubt has been drawn on the ubiquity of the mechanism by recent electronic structure calculations which predict that the HACA mechanism starting from the naphthyl radical preferentially forms acenaphthylene, thereby blocking cyclization to a third six‐membered ring. Here, by probing the products formed in the reaction of 1‐ and 2‐naphthyl radicals in excess acetylene under combustion‐like conditions with the help of photoionization mass spectrometry, we provide experimental evidence that this reaction produces 1‐ and 2‐ethynylnaphthalenes (C₁₂H₈), acenaphthylene (C₁₂H₈) and diethynylnaphthalenes (C₁₄H₈). Importantly, neither phenanthrene nor anthracene (C₁₄H₁₀) was found, which indicates that the HACA mechanism does not lead to cyclization of the third aromatic ring as expected but rather undergoes ethynyl substitution reactions instead.     

Iodine/CuI-mediated alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction: synthesis of 1-aryl-1,2-dihydrochromeno[2,3-b]azepine-3,6-dione

Iodine/cuprous iodide-mediated intramolecular alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction has been developed using 2-(N-aryl-N-propargyl)aminochromone-3-carbaldehyde as the substrate. It led to the synthesis of hitherto unreported chromeno[2,3-b]azepine-3,6-dione. The special features of this methodology are mild reaction conditions, 100% atom economy and use of inexpensive reagents. This is the first example of I₂/CuI-mediated alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction.