Lanthanide triflate-catalyzed three component synthesis of alpha-amino phosphonates in ionic liquids. A catalyst reactivity and reusability study

The catalyst reactivity and reusability for the lanthanide triflate-catalyzed three component synthesis of alpha-amino phosphonates have been examined in room temperature ionic liquids, [bmim][X], in which the catalytic activities were very dependent on the counter anion, X, as well as on the phosphorus nucleophile, and moreover, the catalyst immobilized in an ionic liquid was reused several times without any loss of activity.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the pyridinolysis of phenacyl bromides in acetonitrile

Kinetic studies of the reactions of substituted phenacyl bromides (YC6H4COCH2Br) with pyridines (XC5H4N) are carried out in acetonitrile at 45.0 degrees C. A biphasic Bronsted plot is obtained with a change in slope from a large (betaX approximately equals 0.65-0.80) to a small (betaX approximately 0.36-0.40) value at pKa = 3.2-3.6, which can be attributed to a change in the rate-determining step from breakdown to formation of a tetrahedral intermediate in the reaction path as the basicity of the pyridine nucleophile increases. This mechanism is supported by the faster rates with pyridines than with anilines and the change of cross-interaction constant rhoXY from a large positive (rhoXY = +1.4) to a small positive (rhoXY approximately +0.1) value. The large magnitude of Hammett rhoX (= -5.5 to -6.9) values for the pyridines with electron-withdrawing substituents and positive deviations of the pi-acceptors, p-CH3CO and p-CN, are quite similar to those for the pyridinium ion formation equilibria. The activation parameters are also in line with the proposed mechanism.     

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on composite solid polymer electrolytes

The ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes and their interfacial contact with dye-attached TiO2 particles were enhanced markedly by the addition of amorphous oligomer into polymer electrolytes, resulting in very high overall energy conversion efficiency.     

Particle dynamics and particle heat and mass transfer in thermal plasmas. Part III. Thermal plasma jet reactors and multiparticle injection

Thermal plasma processing involves complex interactions of particulates with plasmas. In previous studies (see Parts I and II of this series), an assessment of different effects has been made considering the dynamics and heat and mass transfer of a single particle immersed into a thermal plasma. The last paper of this sequence is concerned with the simulation of thermal plasma jet reactors and the effects caused by multiparticle injection.A mathematical model is proposed for the simulation of thermal plasma jet reactors, including the mixing phenomena between the jet and the surrounding gases by generalizing the governing equations for simple mixing flows. Also included is the density fluctuation effect by extending the K- model to a four-equation turbulence model combined with a probability density function. This model is internally consistent covering additional physical phenomena which are not covered by existing models. Unfortunately, its expected higher accuracy cannot be proven because of the present uncertainties associated with the input.For multiparticle injection, the simulation repeats calculations for single-particle injection, but with different initial conditions correcting the solutions by considering the coupling effects between particles and the plasma.The results indicate that (i) thermal plasmas show different mixing behavior in different gases; (ii) the density fluctuation effect is important since it causes large differences between the mass-weighted and unweighted time-averaged temperatures of thermal plasma jets; (iii) coupling effects become important when the particle loading rate exceeds half of the plasma mass flow rate; (iv) there are 16 constraints imposed on the modeling work which have to be considered for establishing a base for comparison with future experimental studies.     

Efficiency of tributyltin extraction from rhine river sediment

A Rhine river sediment sample was spiked with tributyltin (TBT), equilibrated for ten days and the tributyltin extraction efficiency was optimised using a simplex algorithm. Analysis was effected using hydride generation gas chromatography-atomic absorption spectroscopy (GC-AAS) apparatus. The results show that, in this sediment sample, different molarities of HCl in methanol extract different species with varying extraction efficiencies. The least polar extraction solution extracted TBT more efficiently, whilst DBT and MBT require molar solution of HCl in methanol for efficient extraction.     

A facile approach to architecturally defined nanoparticles via intramolecular chain collapse

A novel approach is presented for the controlled intramolecular collapse of linear polymer chains to give well-defined single-molecule nanoparticles whose structure is directly related to the original linear polymer. By employing a combination of living free radical polymerization and benzocyclobutene (BCB) chemistry, nanoparticles can be routinely prepared in multigram quantities with the size being accurately controlled by either the initial degree of polymerization of the linear chain or the level of incorporation of the BCB coupling groups. The latter also allows the cross-link density of the final nanoparticles to be manipulated. In analogy with dendritic macromolecules, a significant reduction of up to 75% in the hydrodynamic volume is observed on going from the starting random coil linear chains to the corresponding nanoparticles. The facile nature of the living free radical process also permits wide variation in monomer selection and functional group incorporation and allows novel macromolecular architectures to be prepared. Furthermore, the use of block copolymers functionalized with benzocyclobutene groups in only one of the blocks gives, after intramolecular collapse, a hybrid architecture in which a single linear polymer chain is attached to the globular nanoparticle.     

Reductive activation of nitrate reductases

Protein film voltammetry of Paracoccus pantotrophus respiratory nitrate reductase (NarGH) and Synechococcus elongatus assimilatory nitrate reductase (NarB) shows that reductive activation of these enzymes may be required before steady state catalysis is observed. For NarGH complementary spectroscopic studies suggest a structural context for the activation. Catalytic protein film voltammetry at a range of temperatures has allowed quantitation of the activation energies for nitrate reduction. For NarGH with an operating potential of ca. 0.05 V the activation energy of ca. 35 kJ mol-1 is over twice that measured for NarB whose operating potential is ca. -0.35 V.     

Detection of ClSO with time-resolved Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy

ClSO was produced as an intermediate upon irradiating a flowing mixture of Cl2SO and Ar with a KrF excimer laser at 248 nm. A step-scan Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer coupled with a small multipass absorption cell was employed to detect time-resolved absorption spectrum of ClSO. A transient spectrum in the region 1120-1200 cm(-1), which diminished on prolonged reaction, is assigned to the S-O stretching (nu1) mode of ClSO. A spectrum with a resolution of 0.3 cm(-1) partially reveals rotational structure with the Q-branch at 1162.9 cm(-1). Calculations with density-functional theory (B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ) predict the geometry, vibrational, and rotational parameters of ClSO. An IR absorption spectrum of ClSO simulated based on predicted rotational parameters agrees satisfactorily with experimental results. ClSO produced from photolysis of Cl2SO at 248 nm is internally hot.     

Pattern generation of biological ligands on a biodegradable poly(glycolic acid) film

The micropatterns of biological ligands (biotin and RGD peptides) were generated on a flat surface of biodegradable polymer, poly(glycolic acid) (PGA). The immobilization of biological ligands onto the surface of biodegradable polymers (especially aliphatic polyesters) is usually hampered by the absence of functionalizable groups on the polymer backbone. We demonstrate herein that PGA polymer films were modified by surface hydrolysis to introduce carboxylic acid groups on the film surfaces, which were subsequently used for patterning amine-terminated ligands by microcontact printing. Fluorescence microscopy was used to verify the pattern of biotin on the surface of the PGA films after complexation with fluorescein-conjugated streptavidin. In addition, the cellular micropatterns were obtained from micropatterns of RGD peptides on the surface-hydrolyzed PGA films.     

An addition to the oxoacid family: H2B12(OH)12

The acid H(2)B(12)(OH)(12) can be isolated as a crystalline solid by protonation of the hydroxylated borane anion, B(12)(OH)(12)(2)(-). This acidic compound has low solubility in water, conducts protons in the solid state, and has thermal stability to a temperature of 400 degrees C. The conductivity mechanism is a Grotthuss mechanism with a low activation enthalpy (9-13 kcal/mol). This new acid represents an addition to the class of oxoacids, of which sulfuric and phosphoric acid are the most prominent examples.