Conformational behaviour of 2,2′-bipyrrole

The rotational potential around the interannular bond in 2,2-bipyrrole has been calculated making use of standard minimal STO-3G and split valence 4-31G basis sets. Geometrical optimization concerning the most significant interannular internal parameters has been performed with both basis sets. The trans conformer is predicted to be more stable than the cis. The minimal basis set predicts the existence of a cisoid-gauche minimum which after limited optimization becomes very shallow and it seems to be an artifact of the rigid rotor approximation. At 4-31G level, both the trans and cis conformers represent maxima in the potential curve and two gauche minima appear at =46.0° and =147.6°, the latter being the absolute minimum. The absolute maximum of the potential curve corresponds to the cis conformer.     

Extraction of microamounts of strontium by a nitrobenzene solution of bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate in the presence of 15-crown-5

Extraction of⁸⁵Sr by a nitrobenzene solution of bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate in the presence of 15-crown-5 (15C5, L) has been investigated. The equilibrium data and the typical maxima concerning the dependencies of the Sr distribution ratios on the analytical concentration of 15C5 in the system under study can be explained assuming that the HL⁺, HL₂ ⁺ and SrL₂ ²⁺ species are extracted into the nitrobenzene phase. The values of the corresponding extraction and stability constants of the extracted species in nitrobenzene saturated with water have been determined.     

Microwaves in organic synthesis. Thermal and non-thermal microwave effects

Microwave irradiation has been successfully applied in organic chemistry. Spectacular accelerations, higher yields under milder reaction conditions and higher product purities have all been reported. Indeed, a number of authors have described success in reactions that do not occur by conventional heating and even modifications of selectivity (chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity). The effect of microwave irradiation in organic synthesis is a combination of thermal effects, arising from the heating rate, superheating or "hot spots" and the selective absorption of radiation by polar substances. Such phenomena are not usually accessible by classical heating and the existence of non-thermal effects of highly polarizing radiation--the "specific microwave effect"--is still a controversial topic. An overview of the thermal effects and the current state of non-thermal microwave effects is presented in this critical review along with a view on how these phenomena can be effectively used in organic synthesis.     

Chiral comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron-capture detection applied to the analysis of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls in food samples

The feasibility of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC x GC-ECD) for the enantioseparation of chiral PCBs from other possible interfering compounds has been evaluated. Three commercially available enantioselective beta-cyclodextrin-based capillary columns (Chirasil-Dex, BGB-172 and BGB-176SE) have been tested as first-dimension columns. Three non-enantioselective stationary phases (HT-8, BPX-50 and Supelcowax-10) were combined with the enantioselective columns to allow the unambiguous determination of the enantiomers of the target chiral PCBs. Each enantioselective first-dimension column tested was able to separate into enantiomers different PCB congeners, but in all cases, the use of Supelcowax-10 as second-dimension column provided the most satisfactory results. The Chirasil-Dex x Supelcowax-10 column combination allowed the determination of the enantiomeric fraction (EF) of PCBs 84, 91, 95, 132, 136, 149, 174 and 176 in the working standard solution, while that of congener 135 was hindered. The BGB-172 x Supelcowax-10 column set allowed a proper EF determination of congeners 45, 84, 131, 132, 135, 171, 174 and 183, while that of PCB 91 was interfered with co-elutants. The column combination BGB-176SE x Supelcowax-10 allowed the determination of all congeners that this enantioselective stationary phase was able to separate into enantiomers, i.e. PCBs 45, 91, 95, 136, 149 and 176. These column combinations have also been evaluated for the simultaneous determination of the 12 congeners with a toxic equivalency factor assigned by the WHO (PCBs 77, 81, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 156, 157, 167, 169, 189) and the seven indicator congeners (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180), and evaluated for the analysis of food samples.     

Approximate transferability in alkanenitriles

The atomic and bond properties of a series of alkanenitriles were calculated in order to analyze the transferability of the CN, methyl, and methylene groups. The calculations were carried out using the atoms in molecules (AIM) theory on RHF/6‐31++G**// RHF/6‐31G** wave functions obtained for compounds CN–R (R ranging from H to C₁₁H₂₃). Linear correlations between L(Ω) and N(Ω) were used to establish N(CH₂) and N(CH₃) nearly transferable values. Average values and maximum differences to the mean value of several properties were used for classifying the CN group. It shows a transferable behavior along the CN–R series for R>Et. The methyl group presents specific properties when R<Pr. The methylene groups can be classified considering both their position with respect to the end of the chain and the position with respect to the CN group. The atomic energy displays a dependence on the molecular size. Although this behavior does not allow to consider this property as transferable, both the ab initio total electronic molecular energies and the experimental heats of formation can be fitted, by linear regression analysis, as a function of the number of methylene groups. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Aluminum Lon Removal from Monoaluminum Ovotransferrin by Pyrophosphate

The rates at which aluminum was removed from the N- and C-terminal monoaluminum ovotransferrins by pyrophosphate were evaluated by UV difference spectra in 0.01 mol/L Hepes, pH=7.4 and at 37℃. Pesudo first-order rate constants as a function of pyrophosphate concentration were measured. The results indicate that the pathways of aluminum removal are different. For the N-terminal binding site, aluminum removal follows simple saturation kinetics, while the removal of aluminum from the C-terminal binding site reverts to the combination of saturation and first-order kinetics. The saturation component is consistent with a rate-limiting conformational change in the protein as has been reported. We propose that the first-order kinetics mechanism is attributed to a pre-equilibrium process. The rate constants of saturation kinetics are accelerated from both terminals with the addition of 0.1 mol/L chloride to the monoaluminum ovotransferrin solutions, whereas the rates of the first-order kinetics are decreased for the C-terminal binding site. The effect of chloride ionic strength causes a continuing increase on kobs for the N- and C-terminal binding sites. Moreover, the kinetics behavior of the N-terminal is more easily affected by chloride than that of the C-terminal. In the experiment presumably the N-terminal site is apparently kinetically more labile than the C-terminal site.     

Structure analysis of intercalated layer silicates: combination of molecular simulations and experiment

Na(+)-montmorillonite type Wyoming, cloisite Na(+) from Southern Clay Products, Inc., was intercalated (i) with octadecylammonium cations and subsequently intercalated with octadecylamine molecules, (ii) with dodecylamine molecules, and (iii) with octylamine molecules to determine the applicability of these intercalates for nanocomposite materials on the base of polymer/clay. The structures were determined on the basis of a combination of results from X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations. The calculated values of basal spacings are in good agreement with experimental basal spacings when experimental samples were prepared. The interlayer space of intercalated montmorillonite shows a monolayer or bilayer arrangement of alkyl chains in dependence on the concentration of the intercalation solution. The values of the total sublimation energy, interaction energy, and exfoliation energy were calculated for all investigated samples. Low values of exfoliation energies lead to better exfoliation of intercalated silicate layers and this material appears suitable for use as a precursor for polymer/clay nanocomposites. The values of exfoliation energy for the investigated samples show that montmorillonite intercalated with dodecylamine or octadecylamine molecules is suitable for exfoliation of silicate layers.     

Solvent-mediated folding of a doubly charged anion

The microsolvation of the suberate dianion, -O2C(CH2)6CO2-, with two separate charge centers was studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation one solvent molecule at a time for up to 20 waters. It is shown that the two negative charges are solvated in the linear suberate alternately. As the solvent number increases, the negative charges are screened and a conformation change occurs at 16 waters, where the cooperative hydrogen bonding of water is large enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion and pull the two negative charges closer through a water bridge. This conformation change, revealed both from the experiment and from the simulation, is a manifestation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic forces at the molecular level.     

Solubility and first hidrolysis constants of europium at different ionic strength and 303 K

The solubility of europium at 0.02M, 0.1M and 0.7M NaClO₄ ionic strength solutions was determined by a radiometric method and pEu_s-pC_H diagrams were obtained. Hydrolysis constants were also determined at the same ionic strengths by pH titration and the values found were log *₁ = -7.68±0.11, -8.07±0.10 and -8.20±0.11. The log K _sp values were -23.5±0.2, -22.7±0.2 and -21.9±0.2 for 0.02M, 0.1M and 0.7M NaClO₄ ionic strengths, respectively, at 303 K under CO₂-free conditions and the extrapolated value at zero ionic strength was log K _sp ⁰ = -24.15. The working pC_H ranges for the calculation of the hydrolysis constants were selected from the pEu_s-pC_H diagrams in the region where precipitation of europium oxide or hydroxide was less than 20%. Europium removal from aqueous solutions with zeolites was explored.