Thermodynamic molecular switch in sequence‐specific hydrophobic interactions

This communication will demonstrate the existence of a thermodynamic molecular switch in the pairwise, sequence‐specific hydrophobic interaction of Ile–Ile, Leu–Ile, Val–Leu, or Ala–Leu over the temperature range of 273–333 K reported by Nemethy and Scheraga in 1962. Based on Chun's development of the Planck–Benzinger methodology, the change in inherent chemical bond energy at 0 K, ΔH°(T₀), is 3.0 kcal mol^?1 for Ile–Ile, 2.4 for Leu–Ile, 1.8 for Val–Leu, and 1.2 kcal mol^?1 for Ala–Leu. The value of ΔH°(T₀) decreases as the length of the hydrophobic side chain decreases. It is clear that the strength and stability of the hydrophobic interaction is determined by the packing density of the side chains, with Ala–Leu being the most stable. At 〈T_m〉, the thermal agitation energy, $\int^{T}_{0}\Delta Cp^{\circ}(T)\,dT$, is about five times greater than ΔH°(T₀) in each case. Additionally, the thermal agitation energy for the same series, evaluated at 〈T_m〉, decreases in the same order, that is, as the length of the side chain decreases. This pairwise, sequence‐specific hydrophobic interaction is highly similar in its thermodynamic behavior to that of other biological systems, except that the negative Gibbs free energy change minimum at 〈T_s〉 occurs at a considerably higher temperature, 355 K compared to about 300 K. The melting temperature, 〈T_m〉, is also high, 470 K compared to 343 K in a biological system. The implication is that the negative Gibbs free energy minimum at a well‐defined 〈T_s〉 has it origin in the hydrophobic interactions, which are highly dependent on details of molecular structure. In addition to the four specific dipeptide interactions described, we have shown in our unpublished work the existence of a thermodynamic molecular switch in the interactions of 32 dipeptides wherein a change of sign in ΔCp°(T)_reaction leads to a true negative minimum in the Gibbs free energy of reaction, and hence, a maximum in the related K_eq. Indeed, all interacting biological systems that we have thus far examined using the Planck–Benzinger approach point to the universality of thermodynamic molecular switches. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Rheological properties of multisticker associative polyelectrolytes in semidilute aqueous solutions

Multisticker associative polyelectrolytes of acrylamide (≈86 mol %) and sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate (≈12 mol %), hydrophobically modified with N,N‐dihexylacrylamide groups (≈2 mol %), were prepared with a micellar radical polymerization technique. This process led to multiblock polymers in which the length of the hydrophobic blocks could be controlled through variations in the surfactant‐to‐hydrophobe molar ratio, that is, the number of hydrophobes per micelle (N_H). The rheological behavior of aqueous solutions of polymers with the same molecular weight and the same composition but with two different hydrophobic block lengths (N_H = 7 or 3 monomer units per block) was investigated as a function of the polymer concentration with steady‐flow, creep, and oscillatory experiments. The critical concentration at the onset of the viscosity enhancement decreased as the length of the hydrophobic segments in the polymers increased. Also, an increase in the N_H value significantly enhanced the thickening ability of the polymers and affected the structure of the transient network. In the semidilute unentangled regime, the behavior of the polymer with long hydrophobic segments (N_H = 7) was studied in detail. The results were well explained by the sticky Rouse theory of associative polymer dynamics. Finally, the viscosity decreased with an increase in the temperature, mainly because of a lowering of the sample relaxation time. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1640–1655, 2004     

Determination of hydrochloric acid in organic solutions by gas chromatography

Summary A method is described for the determination of small quantities of hydrochloric acid in two chlorinated organic solvents (CHCl₃ and CCl₄). An excess of gaseous ethylene oxide is added to a liquid sample; the 2-chloroethanol formed is then analyzed by gas chromatography. The procedure is simpler and more sensitive in comparison with other conventional methods. It can be modified for other organic solvents.D.G.R.C.S.T. grant.     

Effect of hydrogen bonding of solvent on the thermodynamic stability of cadmium ethylenediamine complexes

Changes in the stability of the cadmium(ii) ethylenediamine complexes in mixed water—DMSO solvents were studied by pH-metry and calorimetry. Complex cations [Cd(en)]²⁺, [Cd(en)₂]²⁺, and [Cd(en)₃]²⁺ are formed in aqueous solutions, and the [Cd(en)₄]²⁺ complex with a partially dentate ligand is stable in DMSO. An increase in the DMSO content in a solvent increases the stability of the complexes. The maximum increase in logK is observed for coordinatively saturated compounds. The thermodynamics of complexation is discussed from the viewpoint of solvation approach. Principal differences in the influence of aqueous-alcohol and aqueous-aprotic solvents on the stability of the metal amino complexes were revealed. Protolytic solvents exert a destabilizing effect on the multiligand complexes, because the coordination sphere is involved in H bonding.     

Interactions of water-soluble polymers with small molecules II: Poly(2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-methyl orange and its homolog systems at different temperatures

In order to investigate the interactions of poly(2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) with methyl orange and its homologs in solution, temperature dependence of the complex formation has been examined in detail by the measurements of transmittance and specific conductance for the systems. Furthermore, the binding course of dyes to PDEAEMA has been studied on the basis of thermodynamic parameters obtained from equilibrium dialysis experiments at different temperatures. It was observed that the flocculation process shifted to lower dye concentrations in accordance with increasing hydrophobicity of the dyes in the order, methyl orange < ethyl orange < butyl orange, and the process of complex formation was characterized by three separate regions according to the slope of specific conductivity-mixing ratio curve for mixtures of PDEAEMA and dye. The temperature dependences of F,H and S suggest that, for dyes-PDEAEMA complex formation, the hydrophobic interaction is predominant at a low temperature but the electrostatic interaction becomes important as the temperature increases.     

溶剂蒸气对聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯作用的差示扫描量热研究

用差示扫描量热(DSC)研究了几种有机溶剂蒸气对聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯(PET)的作用,表明可分为反应性的和非反应性的两种。同时,对于非反应性的作用,依冷结晶峰面积的变化,又可分为三种类型:冷结晶峰面积不变,经诱导期后下降,无诱导期而迅速下降。双冷结晶峰现象在一些非反应性溶剂处理过的PET试样的DSC曲线也观察到。     

共混合聚(醚-酯)多嵌段共聚物的表面表征及其血液相容性研究

本文通过X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)、表面接触角、表面ξ电位和血液相容性实验,研究了聚(醚-酯)多嵌段共聚物及其共混物的表面组成和性质与血液相容性的关系。实验结果表明,疏水性的PET-PTMO多嵌段共聚物的血液相容性很差,并且与表相中软段的富集量无关;当亲水性的PET-PEO多嵌段共聚物与疏水性的PET-PTMO多嵌段共聚物共混后,发现存在着一个最佳的共混比例,此时材料表面的血小板粘附量大大降低。对于共混物,表相△[C—O)/[C—O]和表面ξ电位可以较好地与血小板粘附量相关联。以上结果清楚地表明,材料表面的亲-疏水性平衡、软段深度层次分布及表面电位是影响血液相容性的重要因素。     

Adsorption parameters of cyclobutane carboxylic acid at the interface of a mercury electrode with aqueous solutions of 0.4 M Na2SO4 + 0.1 M H2SO4

Based on the results of the regression analysis of differential capacitance curves of a mercury electrode in solutions of cyclobutane carboxylic acid (CBCA) at 25, 50, and 75°C, the adsorption parameters that enter into both the Frumkin isotherm and the model of two parallel capacitors are estimated. The free energies of adsorption found from the analysis of the temperature dependence of these parameters are incorrect due to the partial blowing out of CBCA during the deaeration of the solutions. The corresponding adsorption parameters are corrected under the assumption that the hydrophobic effect associated with the increase in the liquid-water entropy at the removal from it of CBCA molecules is the same as for n-valeric acid. The physical meaning of the squeezing-out effect is revised.     

Volume and compressibility changes on mixing aqueous solutions of the amino acid and poly(ethylene glycol)

The volume and compressibility changes on mixing aqueous solutions of the amino acid and poly(ethylene glycol) were measured with a vibration densimeter and a sing-around velocimeter at 298.15 K. For the system of alanine-PEG-H₂O, the additivity rule for the mean apparent molal volume and compressibility at infinite dilution held, and the excess volume and compressibility changes on mixing were obtained. For the system of glycine-PEG-H₂O, the additivity rule for the mean apparent molal compressibility at infinite dilution did not hold. While the mean apparent molal volume and compressibility changes were negative and positive for the systems of another amino acid-PEG-H₂O, respectively, where amino acids were valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. These results suggest that glycine and alanine are excluded from the hydration layer around PEG chain and the amino acids with a larger side chain than alanine are bound to the PEG chain due to the hydrophobic interaction. The hydration number per monomer around PEG chain was estimated to be 3.9.     

Critical micelle concentrations for alkyltrimethylammonium bromides in water from 25 to 160°C

Critical micelle concentrations were determined by conductance measurements for decyl-, dodecyl-, tetradecyl- and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in water at 25, 60, 95, 130, and 160°C. The results are discussed in terms of the equilibrium model and the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann model for micelle formation. The free energies of transferring a methylene group from water to the oil-like interior of the micelle are found to be –781 at 25°C, –796 at 60°C, –819 at 95°C, –815 at 130°C, and –787 at 160°C cal-mol^–1.