Counterion-accelerated diffusion of aqueous serum albumin

A modified Harned conductimetric procedure has been used to measure binary diffusion coefficients at 25°C for aqueous sodium and potassium salts of the protein bovine serum albumin (M _n BSA; M=Na⁺ or K⁺; n=2 to 23). The condition of electroneutrality requires that the BSA ions diffuse at the same speed as the relatively mobile sodium or potassium counterions. Consequently, the protein ions diffuse 3 to 8 times more rapidly than the isoionic protein diffuses. An approximate analysis of counterion-accelerated diffusion of high molecular weight solutes is presented which shows that the increase in diffusivity with the number of counterions is a thermodynamic effect brought about by an increase in the free energy gradient of the solutes.     

A Rigid Nested Metal–Organic Framework Featuring a Thermoresponsive Gating Effect Dominated by Counterions

We herein report a rigid nested metal–organic framework (MOF) featuring a unique thermoresponsive gating adsorption behavior, which, in contrast to any known flexibility modes for stimuli‐responsive MOFs, depends on the thermal motion of the extra‐framework counterions. In addition, this MOF also exhibits adsorption selectivity of CO₂ over N₂, H₂, and Ar at 273 K, thus enabling a strategic separation and encapsulation of CO₂.     

Theoretical study of Ce2+ cubic centres in alkaline earth fluoride crystals

In this paper we present theoretical study of Ce²⁺ impurity centres in alkaline earth fluoride crystals (CaF₂, SrF₂). Only cubic configurations of centres were considered. Electronic levels and related properties were studied using CASSCF/CASPT2 approach within embedded-cluster formalism including scalar relativistic corrections and spin-orbital interaction. Calculated absorption spectra for Ce²⁺ in CaF₂ and SrF₂ are in good agreement with experimental data. For both crystals the ground state of Ce²⁺ ion has predominantly 4f¹5d¹ singlet character.     

Electronic band structures and photovoltaic properties of MWO4 (M=Zn, Mg, Ca, Sr) compounds

Divalent metal tungstates, MWO₄, with wolframite (M=Zn and Mg) and scheelite (M=Ca and Sr) structures were prepared using a conventional solid state reaction method. Their electronic band structures were investigated by a combination of electronic band structure calculations and electrochemical measurements. From these investigations, it was found that the band structures (i.e. band positions and band gaps) of the divalent metal tungstates were significantly influenced by their crystal structural environments, such as the W-O bond length. Their photovoltaic properties were evaluated by applying to the working electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. The dye-sensitized solar cells employing the wolframite-structured metal tungstates (ZnWO₄ and MgWO₄) exhibited better performance than those using the scheelite-structured metal tungstates (CaWO₄ and SrWO₄), which was attributed to their enhanced electron transfer resulting from their appropriate band positions.     

Theoretical study of the effect of counterions on the structure of pyrrole oligomers

The influence of counterions on the calculated properties of positively charged pyrrole oligomers is studied using the semiempirical AM1 and PM3 methods. The geometry and properties of the charged pyrrole oligomers are significantly affected by counteranions both in anti and syn conformations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 88: 296–301, 2002     

Viscometric and conductometric study of polyelectrolytes of low charge density in salt free aqueous solutions

Viscometric and conductometric measurements have been performed on dilute, salt free solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinyl alcohol, vinyl sulphate ester) copolymer salts in order to get information on transition from a neutral to charged macromolecules. With increasing linear charge density from a very low value to a moderate one a non linear dependence of polyelectrolyte effect on copolymer composition was observed. A comparison has shown that there is a close analogy between the expansion of polyanions and swelling of polyelectrolyte networks at comparable linear charge density range. Due to the intra- and inter-molecular mobile ionic bridges a considerable contraction was pointed out by viscometry for barium, magnesium and copper salts. However, the differences in properties of counterions of higher charge number indicates that in addition to the valency, there is a definite chemical effect, too. It has been revealed by the electric conductance measurements that the transition from a neutral to charged macromolecules could be a very complex one calling for a new and more detailed theoretical consideration of polyelectrolyte solutions.     

Ion-pair extraction behavior of divalent metal cations using neutral di-Schiff base ligands derived from 1,2-cyclohexanediamine and o-phenylenediamine

Di-Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethylidene)-trans-1,2-diiminocyclohexane (trans-BPIC), having sufficient hydrophobicity acts as neutral bidentate ligand in ion-pair extraction of divalent metal cations into nitrobenzene with picrate anion. In present study, the effect of steric restriction by chemical structure around imine-N donor atoms in trans-BPIC analogs on their complexation with divalent metal cations in ion-pair extraction was investigated by using N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethylidene)-cis-1,2-diiminocyclohexane (cis-BPIC) and N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethylidene)-o-diiminobenezene (BPIB). The former was used to observe the effect by geometrical restriction and the latter was by conjugate restriction. In BPIB-NaPic system, the higher extractability was obtained than those in cis- and trans-BPIC systems, and this result seems to be led by the increase of steric distortion originated from conformational restriction. Namely, it is considered that the extractability can be controlled by steric restriction on the complexation.     

Transformation of Structure and Properties of Vesicles Induced by Transition Metal Ions

This paper proved that octodecyl propylenediamine could form vesicles in pure water and aqueous solution of CuCl2 or Cu（NO3）2. The structure and morphology of vesicles were different when the copper （Ⅱ） salt was added to the solution. The results showed that both the counterions and the ligands had strong influence on the configuration of coordinated structures and packing model in bilayer membrane of vesicles.     

Rhodium complexes with chiral counterions: achiral catalysts in chiral matrices

The neutral complexes [Rh(I)(NBD)((1S)-10-camphorsulfonate)] (2) and [Rh(I)((R)-N-acetylphenylalanate)] (4) reacted with bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) to form the cationic Rh(I)(NBD)(dppe) complexes, 5 and 6, respectively, accompanied by their corresponding chiral counteranions. Analogously, 4 reacted with 4,4^′-dimethylbipyridine to yield complex 7. Complexes 5 and 6 disproportionated in aprotic solvents to form the corresponding bis-diphosphine complexes 8 and 9, respectively. 8 was characterized by an X-ray crystal structure analysis. In order to form achiral Rh(I) complexes bearing chiral countercations new sulfonated monophosphines 13-16 with chiral ammonium cations were synthesized. Tris-triphenylphosphinosulfonic acid (H₃TPPS, 11) was used to protonate chiral amines to yield chiral ammonium phosphines 14-16. Thallium-tris-triphenylphosphinosulfonate (Tl₃TPPS, 12) underwent metathesis with a chiral quartenary ammonium iodide to yield the proton free chiral ammonium phosphine 13. Phosphines 15 and 16 reacted with [Rh(NBD)₂]BF₄ to afford the highly charged chiral zwitterionic complexes [Rh(NBD)(TPPS)₂][(R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(naphtyl)ethylammonium]₅ (17) and [Rh(NBD)(TPPS)₂][BF₄][(R)-N,N-dimethyl-phenethylammonium]₆ (18), respectively. Complexes 5, 6, and 18 were tested as precatalysts for the hydrogenation of de-hydro-N-acetylphenylalanine (19) and methyl-(Z)-(α)-acetoamidocinnamate (MAC, 20) under homogeneous and heterogeneous (silica-supported and self-supported) conditions. None of the reactions was enantioselective.