Study of the performances of an oxygen carrier: Experimental investigation of the binder's contribution and characterization of its structural modifications

The aim of this work is to investigate the contribution of the binder (NiAl₂O₄) on the performances of the oxygen carrier NiO/NiAl₂O₄. To this purpose, oxidation/reduction cycles have been performed in a fixed bed reactor using CO as a fuel. The results reveal that the binder can react with the fuel to form CO₂, and that its total reduction capacity increases with temperature. XRD characterizations performed on the binder (on the fresh and after several cycles) show a shift of the diffraction peaks of NiAl₂O₄ toward the ones of γ-alumina, which can be attributed to a progressive decomposition of NiAl₂O₄ to alumina and NiO.     

The regioselectivity of the formation of 2-pyrazolylthiazoles and their precursors from the reaction of 2-hydrazinothiazoles with 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-hetaryl-1,3-butanediones

Reaction of 2-hydrazinothiazoles 1 with 1-thienyl- and 1-furyl-1,3-butanediones 2a,b in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid mainly leads to a mixture of pyrazoles 3 and pyrazolines 4 or pyrazoles 3 and 5 in strong acidic conditions. Isomeric hydrazones 6 and pyrazolines 4 were formed and isolated in these reactions in the absence of hydrochloric acid. It has been shown that the regioselectivity in the reaction of diketones 2 with hydrazine 1 is governed by both the concentration of acid and the nature of substituents in the 1,3-diketones 2. Cyclization of hydrazones 6 is shown to occur under milder conditions than dehydration for pyrazolines 4. The new heterocyclic compounds were prepared and fully characterized by NMR spectra and by X-ray analysis for 3c.     

Interaction behavior study of HCl on (ZnS)n (n = 1–12) clusters and HCl effect on Hg0 adsorption

The interaction behavior of HCl and (ZnS)_n (n = 1–12) clusters and HCl effect on Hg⁰ adsorbed by (ZnS)_n have been studied theoretically. The combined genetic algorithm and density functional theory (GA-DFT) method has been used to obtain the structures of (ZnS)_nHCl and (ZnS)_nHgHCl (n = 1–12) clusters. The structural properties of (ZnS)_nHCl and (ZnS)_nHgHCl have been analyzed. The adsorption energies and interaction energies have been calculated. Bond length and bond order analysis has revealed that S H and Zn Cl bonds form after HCl adsorbed on (ZnS)_n clusters, while Hg⁰ can only weakly bind with (ZnS)_nHCl clusters. According to thermodynamic adsorption analysis, the formation of (ZnS)_nHCl clusters from (ZnS)_n and HCl are spontaneous because of their negative Gibbs free energy changes. The formation of (ZnS)_nHgHCl from (ZnS)_nHCl and Hg are nonspontaneous for n = 1–4 and 9, and the Gibbs free energy changes have small negative values for other sizes. Electron localization function and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analysis of (ZnS)₁₀HgHCl manifest that Hg and its nearest Zn form zinc amalgam. Projected density of state study has been performed to obtain the interaction nature of HCl and (ZnS)_n clusters and Hg⁰ adsorption on (ZnS)_nHCl clusters. Based on our study, HCl is chemical adsorbed by (ZnS)_n clusters except (ZnS)₄ cluster. After (ZnS)_n adsorbs HCl, Hg⁰ can physically adsorb on (ZnS)_nHCl clusters. The strength of Hg⁰ on (ZnS)_nHCl is comparable to that of Hg⁰ on (ZnS)_n, indicating that HCl can hardly affect the adsorption of Hg⁰ on ZnS clusters.     

Novel organotin‐containing shell‐cross‐linked knedel and core‐cross‐linked knedel: Synthesis and application in catalysis

A series of novel organotin‐containing core‐cross‐linked knedels and shell‐cross‐linked knedels were first synthesized facilely from poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(acrylate acid) nanoparticles in different selective solvents [Tetrahydrofuran (THF)/H₂O or THF/n‐octane] by using organotin compound 1,3‐dichloro‐tetra‐n‐butyl‐distannoxane as a new cross‐linker. The formation of the 1‐chloro‐3‐carboxylato‐tetra‐n‐butyl‐distannoxane layer in our cross‐linking reaction was supported by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) and inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP) analysis of the resulting shell‐cross‐linked knedels and core‐cross‐linked knedels. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study showed the spherical morphology and the size of the core‐cross‐linked knedels and shell‐cross‐linked knedel. Especially, the layer structure of the core‐cross‐linked knedels was clearly displayed in TEM image. The increase of extent of cross‐linking lead to the increasing of diameter for the shell‐cross‐linked knedels, whereas there was no significant effect on the core‐cross‐linked knedels. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements gave hydrodynamic diameters of the core‐cross‐linked knedels that were in agreement with the TEM diameters. Moreover, the wall thickness of the shell layer of the core‐cross‐linked knedels could be easily modified by varying the block copolymer composition. Notably, the organotin‐containing core‐cross‐linked knedel exhibited highly efficient catalytic activity for the aqueous esterification reaction under nearly neutral conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Design of liquid crystals with ‘de Vries-like’ properties: the effect of an ethynyl spacer in the core structure

We investigate the origins of ‘de Vries-like’ liquid crystalline behaviour by introducing an ethynyl spacer in the core of the tricarbosilane-terminated 5-phenylpyrimidine mesogens QL16-6 and QL17-6. The rationale for this structural change is based on the assumption that an ethynyl spacer would create more free volume in the core sub-layer and therefore decrease the orientational order parameter S₂ in the SmA phase. The tricarbosilane-terminated mesogens WL41-5 and WL42-6 with a 5-(phenylethynyl)pyrimidine core in either a normal or inverted orientation were synthesised, and their mesomorphic and ‘de Vries-like’ properties characterised using polarised optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, birefringence measurements, small–angle (SAXS) and 2D X-ray scattering. Reduction factors R derived from SAXS and optical tilt angle measurements suggest that neither WL41-5 (R = 0.49) nor WL42-6 (R = 0.80) exhibit ‘de Vries-like’ properties. The S₂(T) profiles show an increase in orientational order with decreasing temperature and a sharp discontinuity at the SmA-SmC transition, which is consistent with ‘de Vries-like’ behaviour. However, the L_eff(T) profiles suggest an increase in interdigitation that reduces the positive effect of increasing S₂ in compensating for the molecular tilt.     

Versatile transamination in quinonediimine chemistry: Towards a novel class of water soluble UV/violet chromophores

The transamination reaction of 2,5-diaminobenzoquinonediimine (QDI) with ethylenediamine gave fluorescent 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline (1). When the same reaction was carried out with N,N’-bis(aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine, a novel cationic quinoxalinium species (2) was isolated, which can be further condensed with p-cyanobenzaldehyde to afford a benzimidazolo-fused quinoxaline dye (3) that is a water-soluble fluorophore in the UV–visible range.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Borago officinalis L. leaf extract growing in Algeria

The aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of borage (Borago officinalis) leaves from Annaba region (Algeria) were preliminary analyzed for their phenolic profile (total phenolics, total flavonoids, total flavonols, total tannins and total anthocyanins). These extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant properties by different methods such as DPPH radical scavenging, test NBT and total antioxidant activity. The two extracts have exhibited a high antiradical capacity. Indeed, the ethanolic extract showed the lower IC50 values and the highest amount of phenolics (94.09 ± 1.72 mg gallic acid/g dry extract). Using LC-MS/MS analysis, it was possible to identify phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterol and for the first time oleuropein was identified in the aqueous extract of the plant. The obtained results have demonstrated that phenolic compounds are the major contributor to the antioxidant activity of plants.     

Ti-Zr-Fe-Si system amorphous alloys with excellent biocompatibility

Ti-based amorphous alloys Ti70Zr6Fe7Si17 (at.%) and Ti64Zr5Fe6Si17Mo6Nb2 (at.%) are fabricated by a single roller spun-melt technique. The feature of the alloy composition satisfies Inoue’s three empirical rules. Amorphous structures of the both alloys were confirmed by the X-ray diffraction patterns. The both alloys were cultivated in the simulate body fluid (SBF) for 15 days and the experiment result shows that Ca phosphates depositions on alloys surfaces were gained. Moreover, n(Ca)/n(P) atom ratio of the deposition is about 1.6/1, which approach to that of human bone - 1.66/1, suggesting that the both alloys were with an excellent biocompatibility.     

Hydrogen bonding cooperativity of water to nucleotide recognition: structure of octadecahydrated inosine 5′-monophosphate, 2(C10H12N4O8P)·18H2O at atomic resolution

The crystal structure of an octadecahydrated complex between two inosine 5-monophosphate (IMP) has been determined at atomic resolution, which reveals the hydrogen bonding and the coordination cooperativity of water molecules to nucleotide recognition. The crystal belongs to monoclinic space group P2₁ with cell dimensions a = 8.65(1), b = 21.90(1), c = 12.37(1)Å, and = 110.38(9)°. The ribose hydroxyls, purine N7, keto(O6) bonded water molecules W1, W2, W5, W6, W8 and the phosphate bridge forming water oxygens of W4, W7, W11 appear to play an invariant role in their hydrogen bonding interactions with the IMPs. The synergistic role of the water molecules W5, W6, W8 in the purine staking domain N27W5=2.583,O16W8=2.759,O2627W6=2.723 Åhave been clearly observed for the first time. The complexation of the water molecules through variable hydrogen bonding coordination indicate their functional involvement through extensive cooperative donor-acceptor network mechanism. The occurrence of hydrogen-bonded water spines, water bridges and their interplay in the structural association of IMPs could indicate the possible viability of those aquatic centers in the biological situation.