Accurate heats of formation of polycyclic saturated hydrocarbons predicted by using the XYG3 type of doubly hybrid functionals

Polycyclic saturated hydrocarbons (PSHs) are attractive candidates as hydrocarbon propellants. To assess their potential values, one of the key factors is to determine their energy contents, such as to calculate their heats of formation (HOF). In this work, we have calculated HOFs for a set of 36 PSHs including exo-Tricyclo[5.2.1.0^(2,6)] decane, the principal component of the high-energy density hydrocarbon fuel commonly identified as JP-10. The results from B3LYP, B3LYP-D3BJ, M06-2X, B2PLYP, B2PLYP-D3BJ, and the XYG3 type of doubly hybrid (xDH) functionals are presented. It is demonstrated here that the xDH functionals yield accurate HOFs in good agreement with those from experiments or the G4 theory. In particular, XYGJ-OS, a low scaling xDH functional, is shown to hold the promise for accurate prediction of HOFs for PSHs of larger sizes. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

“说”祭与“说”体

“说”祭是一种以论说的方式说服神灵满足祭祷者诉求的言语行为,“说”祭祝辞因其特定的情境、内涵与形态而固定为格套,具有鲜明的文体属性,经过祝史的书面化处理与篇章化撰作,便生成祭祷性说体。诸子论说本质上跟祝史“说”祭一样,都是“陈论其事”的言语行为,以犀利的言辞陈述并说服对方接受自己的观点。诸子论说在方法与策略、思维与逻辑等方面受祭祷性说体的影响,于是形成议论性说体。诸子论辩时先简要表明观点,再详细加以阐述,于是形成经说体。晚周时期,诸子称自家学说为“经说”而贬斥他家学说为“小说”。两汉后,目录学家借用“小说”一词,泛指所有不本于经典的论著,于是又形成了传统的小说体。     

Theoretical Aspects of a Surface Electrode Reaction Coupled with Preceding and Regenerative Chemical Steps: Square‐wave Voltammetry of a Surface CEC’ Mechanism

Large number of lipophilic substances, whose electrochemical transformation takes place from adsorbed state, belong to the class of so‐called “surface‐redox reactions”. Of these, especially important are the enzymatic redox reactions. With the technique named “protein‐film voltammetry” we can get insight into the chemical features of many lipophilic redox enzymes. Electrochemical processes of many redox adsorbates, occurring at a surface of working electrode, are very often coupled with chemical reactions. In this work, we focus on the application of square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) to study the theoretical features of a surface electrode reaction coupled with two chemical steps. The starting electroactive form Ox_(ads) in this mechanism gets initially generated via preceding chemical reaction. After undergoing redox transformation at the working electrode, Ox_(ads) species got additionally regenerated via chemical reaction of electrochemically generated product Red_(ads) with a given substrate Y. The theory of this so‐called surface CEC’ mechanism is presented for the first time under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry. While we present plenty of calculated voltammograms of this complex electrode mechanism, we focus on the effect of rate of regenerative (catalytic) step to simulated voltammograms. We consider both, electrochemical reactions featuring moderate and fast electron transfer. The obtained voltammetric patterns are very specific, having sometime hybrid‐like features of voltammograms as typical for CE, EC and EC’ mechanisms. We give diagnostic criteria to recognize this complex mechanism in SWV, but we also present hints to access the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters relevant to both chemical steps, and the electrochemical reaction, too. Indeed, the results presented in this work can help experimentalists to design proper experiments to study chemical features of important lipophilic systems.     

On the enthalpy of melting of poly(l-lactide)

Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) is an extensively employed biodegradable semicrystalline polymer with usage from implantable medical devices and drug release matrices to environmentally friendly packaging materials. Since the morphology and crystallinity considerably determine the application field, PLLA samples with a large variation in crystallinity (going from below 20% to over 70%) were prepared by different procedures. Subsequent differences in morphology, crystallinity and thermal properties were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The value of the enthalpy of melting of a perfectly (100%) crystalline PLLA was determined (ΔH_f = 115.7?J/g).     

Square‐wave Voltammetry of Two‐step Surface Electrode Mechanisms Coupled with Chemical Reactions – A Theoretical Overview

Square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) of so‐called “surface redox reactions” is seen as a simple and efficient tool to quantify large number of drugs, physiologically active substances and other important chemicals. It also provides elegant methods to get access to relevant kinetic and thermodynamic parameters related to many lipophilic compounds. Moreover, with this technique we can study activity of various enzymes by exploring the “protein‐film voltammetry” set up. In this work, we focus on theoretical SWV features of four complex surface electrode mechanisms, in which the electron exchange between the working electrode and the studied redox substrate takes place in two successive steps. While we present large number of calculated square‐wave voltammograms, we give hints to recognize particular two‐step surface mechanism, but also to distinguish it from other similar mechanisms. We present plenty of relevant aspects of surface two‐step surface EE, two‐step surface ECE and surface catalytic EEC’ mechanisms. Moreover, we present for the first time a series of theoretical results related to two‐step surface EECrev mechanism (i. e. two‐step surface reaction coupled to follow‐up reversible chemical step). The simulated voltammetric patterns presented in this work can bring relevant aspects to resolve some experimental situations met in voltammetry of many redox enzymes and other important substances whose electrochemical transformation occurs in two‐steps.     

Synthesis and Incorporation of k2U into RNA

Lysidine (k²C) is one of the most modified pyrimidine RNA bases. It is a cytidine nucleoside, in which the 2-oxo functionality of the heterocycle is replaced by the ϵ-amino group of the amino acid lysine. As such, lysidine is an amino acid-containing RNA nucleoside that combines directly genotype (C-base) with phenotype (lysine amino acid). This makes the compound particularly important in the context of theories about the origin of life and here especially for theories that target the origin of translation. Here, we report the total synthesis of the U-derivative of lysidine (k²U), which should have the same base pairing characteristics as k²C if it exists in the isoC-like tautomeric form. To investigate this question, we developed a phosphoramidite building block for k²U, which allows its incorporation into RNA strands. Within RNA, k²U can base pair with the counter base U and isoG, confirming that k²U prefers an isoC-like tautomeric structure that is also known to dominate for k²C. The successful synthesis of a k²U phosphoramidite and its use for RNA synthesis now paves the way for the preparation of a k²C phosphoramidite and RNA strands containing k²C.     

Prediction of the Conductance of Strong Electrolytes and the Calculation of the Ionization Constant of Weak Electrolytes in a Dilute Solution by a New Equation

In order to predict the conductance for dilute 1-1 valent electrolyte solutions,a new conductance equation was proposed based on the Onsager and Onsagar-Fuoss-Chen conductance equation.It has only one parameter A,which can be obtained directly from the data of ionic limiting molar conductivity Λ∞m,and its expression is very simple.The new equation has been verified by the experimental molar conductivities of some single strong electrolyte and mixed electrolyte solutions at 298.15 K reported in literatures.The results are in good agreement with the experimental data.Meanwhile the ionization constants of some weak electrolyte solutions were calculated by a modified equation of this new equation,and it was also found that the calculation results are in good agreement with the data in the literature.     

Accurate prediction of norbornadiene cycle enthalpies by DLPNO-CCSD(T1)/CBS method

The DLPNO-CCSD(T₁)/CBS method combined with simple reactions containing small reference species leads to an improvement in the accuracy of theoretically evaluated enthalpies of formation of medium-sized polyalicyclic hydrocarbons when compared with the widely used composite approach. The efficiency of the DLPNO-CCSD(T₁)/CBS method is most vividly demonstrated by comparing with the results of G4 calculations for adamantane. The most important factor in choosing appropriate working reaction is the same number of species on both sides of the equation. Among these reactions, the reactions with small enthalpy change usually provide a better cancellation of errors. The DLPNO-CCSD(T₁)/CBS method was used to calculate the enthalpies of formation of compounds belonging to the norbornadiene cycle (norbornadiene, quadricyclane, norbornene, nortricyclane, and norbornane). The most reliable experimental enthalpies of formation are recommended for these compounds by comparing calculated values with conflicting experimental data.     

Physical,Thermal and Biological Properties of Yellow Dyes with Two Azodiphenylether Groups of Anthracene

Two yellow bis-azo dyes containing anthracene and two azodiphenylether groups (BPA and BTA) were prepared, and an extensive investigation of their physical, thermal and biological properties was carried out. The chemical structure was confirmed by the FTIR spectra, while from the UV–Vis spectra, the quantum efficiency of the laser fluorescence at the 476.5 nm was determined to be 0.33 (BPA) and 0.50 (BTA). The possible transitions between the energy levels of the electrons of the chemical elements were established, identifying the energies and the electronic configurations of the levels of transition. Both crystals are anisotropic, the optical phenomenon of double refraction of polarized light (birefringence) taking place. Images of maximum illumination and extinction were recorded when the crystals of the bis-azo compounds rotated by 90° each, which confirms their birefringence. A morphologic study of the thin films deposited onto glass surfaces was performed, proving the good adhesion of both dyes. By thermal analysis and calorimetry, the melting temperatures were determined (~224–225 °C for both of them), as well as their decomposition pathways and thermal effects (enthalpy variations during undergoing processes); thus, good thermal stability was exhibited. The interaction of the two compounds with collagen in the suede was studied, as well as their antioxidant activity, advocating for good chemical stability and potential to be safely used as coloring agents in the food industry.     

4GPa超高压凝固Mg-6Zn-3Y合金的凝固组织及相分析

利用X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜并配合能谱分析研究了Mg-6Zn-3Y合金4 GPa超高压凝固组织.结果表明:在4 GPa超高压条件下凝固时,实验合金的凝固组织得到显著细化,基体α-Mg相的晶格间距有所减小;Zn在基体α-Mg中溶解度大幅提高,Y不溶于基体α-Mg;实验合金凝固组织中出现呈对称性的四瓣或六瓣花的初晶Y固溶体,该初晶花瓣形貌完整、尺寸较大,显示其充分自由生长;先发生的共晶反应的共晶组织为成“簇”分布的共晶团,共晶相呈点状或棒状;后发生的共晶反应的组织为离异共晶.超高压凝固显著地改变了实验合金的凝固过程.