Performance validation of step-isothermal calorimeters

Isothermal calorimetry is becoming indispensable as a tool for the study of a wide variety of systems. As with all scientific instruments it is essential that robust calibration routines be developed in order to validate the data obtained. Chemical test reactions offer many advantages over (the traditionally used) joule effect heating methods, not least because they have the potential to validate instrument performance (i.e. they can be used to assess all aspects of calorimeter operation). In this work the results of a validation exercise, conducted by Thermal Hazard Technology as part of an installation routine, using the base catalysed hydrolysis of methyl paraben are discussed. In the case described, a systematic misreporting of the reported temperature of a calorimeter was identified, caused by an upgrade to the calorimeter's firmware, a discrepancy which may not have been noted using traditional electrical calibration methods and one which highlights the importance of both manufacturers and end-users adopting chemical test reactions into their test and validation routines.     

An NMR-Based Approach to the Measurement of High Log K HL Values at Low Ionic Strength. 31P NMR Study of 1,2-Diaminoethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetra(methylenephosphonic Acid) Protonation Equilibrium at pH > 12

A sequential NMR based approach is proposed for measurements of high log K values at low ionic strength. [³¹P] NMR technique is used to determine the protonation constants of 1,2-diaminoethane-N,N,N,N-tetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (EDTPH, H₈L) at 25°C in 0.1 mol-dm^–3 KNO₃ and at 37°C in 0.15 mol-dm^–3 NaCl at pH 11–14. For equilibrium L + H HL log K are found to be 13.3 (0.1) and 12.9 (0.1), respectively.     

Ternary β-Cyclodextrin Complexes as Models of Allosteric Effects

Two guests reacting with cyclodextrins (CDs) may form ternary complexes, in addition to the common competition of 1:1 complexes. One of the guests can really be included into the cavity of the CD, while the second guest molecule is either inserted close to the first one or attached to the outer surface of the supramolecule by H-bonding. There is a further possibility when the included guest bears a substituent outside the cavity and the second guest can interact with it. The properties of the ternary species formed are highly influenced by the solely (or primarily) included guest. The changes are attributed to the altered properties of the hydrophilic domain of the CD. The phenomena can be proved by NMR data obtained for some binary systems of -CD inclusion complexes and acetic acid and by the stability constants of the ternary complexes formed. Allosteric effects as well as coenzyme/apoenzyme/substrate interactions could be well modelled by these types of CD complexes.     

Acid-base properties of xanthosine 5'-monophosphate (XMP) and of some related nucleobase derivatives in aqueous solution: micro acidity constant evaluations of the (N1)H versus the (N3)H deprotonation ambiguity

The first acidity constant of fully protonated xanthosine 5'-monophosphate, that is, of H3(XMP)+, was estimated by means of a micro acidity constant scheme and the following three deprotonations of the H2(XMP)+/- (pKa=0.97), H(XMP)- (5.30), and XMP2- (6.45) species were determined by potentiometric pH titrations; further deprotonation of (XMP-H)3- is possible only with pKa>12. The most important results are that the xanthine residue is deprotonated before the P(O)2(OH)- group loses its final proton; that is, twofold negatively charged XMP carries one negative charge in the pyrimidine ring and one at the phosphate group. Micro acidity constant evaluations reveal that this latter mentioned species occurs with a formation degree of 88 %, whereas its tautomer with a neutral xanthine moiety and a PO3(2-) group is formed only to 12 %; this distinguishes XMP from its related nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, like guanosine 5'-monophosphate. At the physiological pH of about 7.5 mainly (XMP-H)3- exists. The question, which of the purine sites, (N1)H or (N3)H, is deprotonated in this species cannot be answered unequivocally, though it appears that the (N3)H site is more acidic. By application of several methylated xanthine species intrinsic micro acidity constants are calculated and it is shown that, for example, for 7-methylxanthine the N1-deprotonated tautomer occurs with a formation degree of about 5 %; a small but significant amount that, as is discussed, may possibly be enhanced by metal ion coordination to N7, which is known to occur preferably to this site.     

Inclusion complexes of proteins: Interaction of cyclodextrins with peptides containing aromatic amino acids studied by competitive spectrophotometry

The stability constants were measured of inclusion complexes formed from aromatic amino acids and their oligopeptides with - and-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin, and partially methylated-cyclodextrin. The method of competitive spectrophotometry withp-nitrophenol as a competing reagent was used, and measurements were made at pH 7.4-Cyclodextrin formed complexes of higher stability than the other hosts. The stability of complexes of oligopeptides containing L-phenylalanine was invariably higher than that of L-phenylalanine itself. A model for interaction of proteins with cyclodextrins is proposed, in which the most stable complexes are formed when the native functional form of proteins is unfolded and the nonpolar residues that are buried inside the structure are exposed to water. The complexation of the unfolded structure favors its formation; thus thermal denaturation of proteins is easier in the presence of cyclodextrins. On the other hand, this complexation prevents the intermolecular association of unfolded structures by noncovalent hydrophobic bonding between the exposed nonpolar residues; furthermore, the unfolded complexed forms may revert to the native functional form. This prevention of intermolecular association may explain the stabilizing effect of cyclodextrins on solutions of proteins: a return to the native form is achieved more easily from the complexed, unfolded form than from the unfolded, aggregated forms.Dedicated to Professor József Szejtli.     

Enthalpies of Dilution of Aqueous Solutions of NaOH, KOH, and CsOH at 300, 325, and 350°C

Dilution enthalpies, measured using isothermal flow calorimetry, are reported for aqueous solutions of KOH and CsOH at 300°C and 11.0 MPa, 325°C and 14.8 MPa, and for aqueous solutions of NaOH, KOH, and CsOH at 350°C and 17.6 MPa. Previously collected dilution enthalpies for aqueous solutions of NaOH at 300°C and 9.3 MPa and at 325°C and 12.4 MPa were included when fitting the Pitzer parameters. The concentration range of the hydroxide solutions was 0.5–0.02 molal. Parameters for the Pitzer excess Gibbs ion-interaction equation were determined from the fits of the experimental heat data. Equilibrium constants, enthalpy changes, entropy changes, and heat capacity changes for alkali metal ion association with hydroxide ion were estimated from the heat data. For all systems, the enthalpy changes and entropy changes were positive and had accelerating increases with temperature. The resulting equilibrium constants show significant, but smaller, increases with temperature.     

Basicity of 2-phenyl-5-R-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

We have studied the basicity of 2-phenyl-5-R-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (R = H, Me, CH₂Ph, t-Bu, CH₂Cl, CCl₃, CF₃) in aqueous sulfuric acid solutions. These compounds are weak organic bases (pK_BH ⁺ is −1.8 to −5.2). The values of pK_BH ⁺ determined on the H₀ and X acidity function scales agree well with each other. The substituent at the 5 position has a substantial effect on the basicity of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 748–756, May, 2006.     

Spectroscopic constants and molecular properties of CN−, SiH−, PO−, SO−, SF−, and SiS−: Density functional study

Spectroscopic constants and molecular properties of selected diatomic anions namely CN^?, SiH^?, PO^?, SO^?, SF^?, and SiS^? in their ground states have been studied in detail using the hybrid HF/DF B3LYP method. The consistency of the calculated values has been verified with four different basis sets, with improved quality. The spectroscopic constants and molecular properties calculated with the aug‐cc‐pVTZ basis set agree very well with the experimental and theoretical values wherever available. Most of the spectroscopic constants and molecular properties of the selected diatomic anions, particularly the spectroscopic constants and molecular properties of SO^? and SiS^? are reported for the first time. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004