Microstructure of supercritical CO2-in-water microemulsions: a systematic contrast variation study

Microemulsions of the type H(2)O-scCO(2)-surfactant are potential candidates for novel solvent mixtures in the field of green chemistry. Furthermore, scCO(2)-microemulsions are highly interesting from a fundamental point of view since their properties such as the bending elastic constants can be strongly influenced solely by varying the pressure without changing the components. With this motivation we studied the phase behavior and the microstructure of water-rich scCO(2)-microemulsions. Such microemulsions were formulated using the technical grade non-ionic surfactants Zonyl FSO 100 and Zonyl FSN 100. At elevated pressures the temperature dependent phase behavior of these systems follows the general patterns of non-ionic microemulsions. Small angle neutron scattering experiments were conducted to determine the length scales and the topology of the microstructure of these systems. Having determined the exact scattering length densities and the composition of the respective sub-phases by a systematic contrast variation we could show that these systems consist of CO(2)-swollen microemulsion droplets that are dispersed in a continuous aqueous-phase. The scattering data were analyzed using a newly derived form factor for polydisperse, spherical core/shell particles with diffuse interfaces. The underlying analytical density profiles could be confirmed applying the model-free Generalized Indirect Fourier Transformation (GIFT) to the scattering data. Following the general patterns of non-ionic microemulsions the radius of the microemulsion droplets is found to increase almost linearly upon the addition of CO(2).     

The influence of hydrogen bonding on the physical properties of ionic liquids

Potential applications of ionic liquids depend on the properties of this class of liquid material. To a large extent the structure and properties of these Coulomb systems are determined by the intermolecular interactions among anions and cations. In particular the subtle balance between Coulomb forces, hydrogen bonds and dispersion forces is of great importance for the understanding of ionic liquids. The purpose of the present paper is to answer three questions: Do hydrogen bonds exist in these Coulomb fluids? To what extent do hydrogen bonds contribute to the overall interaction between anions and cations? And finally, are hydrogen bonds important for the physical properties of ionic liquids? All these questions are addressed by using a suitable combination of experimental and theoretical methods including newly synthesized imidazolium-based ionic liquids, far infrared spectroscopy, terahertz spectroscopy, DFT calculations, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), viscometry and quartz-crystal-microbalance measurements. The key statement is that although ionic liquids consist solely of anions and cations and Coulomb forces are the dominating interaction, local and directional interaction such as hydrogen bonding has significant influence on the structure and properties of ionic liquids. This is demonstrated for the case of melting points, viscosities and enthalpies of vaporization. As a consequence, a variety of important properties can be tuned towards a larger working temperature range, finally expanding the range of potential applications.     

On the formation of ozone in oxygen-rich solar system ices via ionizing radiation

The irradiation of pure molecular oxygen (O(2)) and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) ices with 5 keV H(+) and He(+) ions was investigated experimentally to simulate the chemical processing of oxygen rich planetary and interstellar surfaces by exposure to galactic cosmic ray (GCR), solar wind, and magnetospheric particles. Deposited at 12 K under ultra-high vacuum conditions (UHV), the irradiated condensates were monitored on-line and in situ in the solid-state by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), revealing the formation of ozone (O(3)) in irradiated oxygen ice; and ozone, carbon monoxide (CO), and cyclic carbon trioxide (c-CO(3)) in irradiated carbon dioxide. In addition to these irradiation products, evolution of gas-phase molecular hydrogen (H(2)), atomic helium (He) and molecular oxygen (O(2)) were identified in the subliming oxygen and carbon dioxide condensates by quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS). Temporal abundances of the oxygen and carbon dioxide precursors and the observed molecular products were compiled over the irradiation period to develop reaction schemes unfolding in the ices. These reactions were observed to be dependent on the generation of atomic oxygen (O) by the homolytic dissociation of molecular oxygen induced by electronic, S(e), and nuclear, S(n), interaction with the impinging ions. In addition, the destruction of the ozone and carbon trioxide products back to the molecular oxygen and carbon dioxide precursors was promoted over an extended period of ion bombardment. Finally, destruction and formation yields were calculated and compared between irradiation sources (including 5 keV electrons) which showed a surprising correlation between the molecular yields (～10(-3)-10(-4) molecules eV(-1)) created by H(+) and He(+) impacts. However, energy transfer by isoenergetic, fast electrons typically generated ten times more product molecules per electron volt (～10(-2)-10(-3) molecules eV(-1)) than exposure to the ions. Implications of these findings to Solar System chemistry are also discussed.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of multielectron transfer reactions induced by stored electrons in TiO2 nanoparticles: a stopped flow study

The kinetics and the mechanism of various multielectron transfer reactions initiated by stored electrons in TiO(2) nanoparticles have been investigated employing the stopped flow technique. Moreover, the optical properties of the stored electrons in the TiO(2) nanoparticles have been studied in detail following the UV (A) photolysis of deaerated aqueous suspensions of TiO(2) nanoparticles in the presence of methanol. The reduction of common electron acceptors that are often present in photocatalytic systems such as O(2), H(2)O(2), and NO(3)(-) has been investigated. The experimental results clearly show that the stored electrons reduce O(2) and H(2)O(2) to water by multielectron transfer processes. Moreover, NO(3)(-) is reduced via the transfer of eight electrons evincing the formation of ammonia. On the other hand, the reduction of toxic metal ions, such as Cu(II), has been studied mixing their respective anoxic aqueous solutions with those containing the electrons stored in the TiO(2) particles. A two-electron transfer is found to occur, indicating the reduction of the copper metal ion into its non toxic metallic form. Other metal ions, such as Zn(II) and Mn(II), could not be reduced by TiO(2) electrons, which is readily explained on the bases of their respective redox potentials. The underlying reaction mechanisms are discussed in detail.     

A serendipitous phosphonocarboxylate complex of boron: when vessel becomes reagent

Under certain conditions, the phosphonocarboxylate analogue (3) of the bisphosphonate drug minodronate (4) in contact with borosilicate glassware reversibly forms an isolable dimer complex of boron, as revealed by the X-ray crystallographic structure of the (R,R/S,S) complex and supported by NMR and HRMS data.     

Investigation of polymers by a novel analytical approach for evolved gas analysis in thermogravimetry

A newly developed measurement technique for evolved gas analysis in thermogravimetry, viz. a thermo balance coupled to comprehensive gas chromatography/single photon ionization mass spectrometry (TG–GC × SPIMS), has been applied to investigate the thermal degradation of two polymers (polycarbonate (PC) blended with ABS and PVC). This detection method provides a two-dimensional analysis of the evolved gaseous products. TG relevant data is obtained as well as an improved resolution power to separate isobaric molecular structures without losing any fraction of the samples. In addition, this solution is not associated with any extension of the measurement time. The assignment of the substance pattern to distinct species is improved compared to solely using MS without a preceding separation step. Furthermore, hitherto undetected compounds when compared to applying TG–SPIMS without GC such as benzonitrile and its methylated derivatives have been found in the evolved gases from the thermal degradation of PC/ABS blend. Finally, a first estimation of the limit of detection has been carried out, yielding 400 ppt for styrene and 500 ppt for toluene from the thermal decomposition of PC/ABS blend.     

Indene Formation under Single‐Collision Conditions from the Reaction of Phenyl Radicals with Allene and Methylacetylene—A Crossed Molecular Beam and Ab Initio Study

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are regarded as key intermediates in the molecular growth process that forms soot from incomplete fossil fuel combustion. Although heavily researched, the reaction mechanisms for PAH formation have only been investigated through bulk experiments; therefore, current models remain conjectural. We report the first observation of a directed synthesis of a PAH under single‐collision conditions. By using a crossed‐molecular‐beam apparatus, phenyl radicals react with C₃H₄ isomers, methylacetylene and allene, to form indene at collision energies of 45 kJ mol^?1. The reaction dynamics supported by theoretical calculations show that both isomers decay through the same collision complex, are indirect, have long lifetimes, and form indene in high yields. Through the use of deuterium‐substituted reactants, we were able to identify the reaction pathway to indene.     

Theoretical studies on the interaction of partial agonists with the 5-HT<Subscript>2A</Subscript> receptor

A series of 51 5-HT_2A partial agonistic arylethylamines (primary or benzylamines) from different structural classes (indoles, methoxybenzenes, quinazolinediones) was investigated by fragment regression analysis (FRA), docking and 3D-QSAR approaches. The data, pEC₅₀ values and intrinsic activities (E_max) on rat arteries, show high variability of pEC₅₀ from 4 to 10 and of E_max from 15 to 70%. FRA indicates which substructures affect potency or intrinsic activity. The high contribution of halogens in para position of phenethylamines to pEC₅₀ points to a specific hydrophobic pocket. Other results suggest the significance of hydrogen bonds of the aryl moiety for activation and the contrary effect of benzyl groups on affinity (increasing) and intrinsic activity (decreasing). Results from fragment regression and data on all available mutants were considered to derive a common binding site at the rat 5-HT_2A receptor. After generation and MD simulations of a receptor model based on the β₂-adrenoceptor structure, typical derivatives were docked, leading to the suggestion of common interactions, e.g., with serines in TM3 and TM5 and with a cluster of aromatic amino acids in TM5 and TM6. The whole series was aligned by docking and minimization of the complexes. The pEC₅₀ values correlate well with Sybyl docking energies and hydrophobicity of the aryl moieties. With this alignment, CoMFA and CoMSIA approaches based on a training set of 36 and a test set of 15 compounds were performed. The correlation of pEC₅₀ with steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic and H-bond acceptor fields resulted in sufficient fit (q ²: 0.75–0.8, r ²: 0.92–0.95) and predictive power (r _pred²: 0.85–0.88). The important interaction regions largely reflect the patterns provided by the putative binding site. In particular, the fit of the aryl moieties and benzyl substituents to two hydrophobic pockets is evident.     

Metrological concept for comparable measurement results under the European water framework directive: demonstration of its applicability in elemental analysis

Within the scope of a project of the “European Association of National Metrology Institutes??(EURAMET), a European metrological dissemination system (network) providing traceable reference values assigned to matrix materials for validation purposes is described and put to the test. It enables testing laboratories (TL) to obtain comparable results for measurements under the “EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC??(WFD) and thus, to comply with a core requirement of this very directive. The dissemination system is characterized by the fact that it is available to all laboratories throughout Europe which intend to perform measurements in the context of the WFD and that it can ensure sustainable metrological traceability to the International System of Units (SI) as a reference point for the measurement results. This dissemination system is set up in a hierarchical manner and links up the level of the national metrology institutes (NMI) with that of the TLs via an intermediate level of calibration laboratories (CL) by comparison measurements. The CLs are expert laboratories with respect to the measurement of the analytes considered here (within the project, the CLs are called potential calibration laboratories (PCL)) and are additionally involved in the organization of comparison measurements within the scope of regional quality assurance (QA) systems. Three comparison measurements have been performed to support the approach. A total of about 130 laboratories participated in this exercise with the focus on the measurement of the priority substances Pb, Cd, Hg, and Ni defined in the WFD. The elemental concentrations in the water samples roughly corresponded to one of the established environmental quality standards (EQS), the annual average concentration (AA-EQS), which is defined in the daughter Directive 2008/105/EC of the WFD. It turned out that a significant number of TLs still need to improve their measurement methods in order to be able to fulfill the minimum requirements of the WFD, in particular, with regard to the elements Cd and Hg probably due to their low EQS values. Furthermore, it became obvious that the hierarchical dissemination system suggested here actually corresponds to the measuring capabilities of the three participating groups (NMIs, PCLs, and TLs).