The role of radicals in enzymatic processes

Research on the mechanism of action of coenzyme B12, adenosylcobalamin, as a graduate student introduced the author to the field of organic free radicals in enzymology. Twenty years later, related work on S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as a "poor man's coenzyme B12" was initiated in a detailed analysis of the mechanism of action of lysine 2,3-aminomutase (LAM). The interconversion of L-lysine and L-beta-lysine is catalyzed by LAM, which requires SAM, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), and a [4Fe-4S] cluster as coenzymes. The mechanism of this reaction has been delineated as a radical isomerization, in which radical formation is initiated by the [4Fe-4S]-dependent cleavage of the SAM into methionine and the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical. The mechanism of this process is discussed, together with the role of this radical in hydrogen abstraction from lysine to initiate the substrate radical isomerization. The chemistry underlying the functions of SAM, PLP, and [4Fe-4S] in the action of LAM is novel in all respects, except for the formation of a lysine-PLP aldimine at the active site. Of the four free radicals in the mechanism, three have been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. In the suicide inactivation of adenosylcobalamin-dependent dioldehydrase (DDH) by glycolaldehyde, the formation of cob(II)alamin and 5'-deoxyadenosine is accompanied by the conversion of glycolaldehyde to cis-ethanesemidione radical at the active site. The cis-ethanesemidione radical has been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. Its exceptional stability at the active site is the basis for the inactivation of DDH by glycolaldehyde.     

Preparation of Fluorine‐Doped Lead Dioxide Modified Electrodes for Electroanalytical Applications

The effect of F^? on the modified films of lead dioxide in morphology and structure was studied. The results obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV), X‐diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques indicated that F^? could change the magnitude of lead dioxide crystal grain and the preferred crystallizing orientation on the substrate surface, even though it didn't change the basic structure of PbO₂. When the modified electrode was applied as an analytical sensor to determine phenolic compounds, the linearity was in the range of 2×10^?5 – 1×10^?3 mol/L and the detection limit was 2.5×10^?6 mol/L. It was all found that the stability and reproducibility of the oxide‐modified electrodes were improved by additional F^?.     

二氧化铈还原表面上水煤气变换反应机理

采用原位红外，程序升温脱附，脉冲表面反应技术研究了ＣｅＯ２还原表面在中温变换反应条件下表面物种的生成及脱附，并根据研究结果归纳出水煤气变换反应机理。     

Analysis to obtain precise density fluctuation of supercritical fluids by small-angle X-ray scattering

A procedure of analysis for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data has been established to obtain density fluctuation of supercritical fluids near the critical point. It is indispensable for the certain analysis to utilize both of high-quality SAXS data measured under stable thermodynamic condition and accurate P–ρ–T data in supercritical region. As a standard example, SAXS measurements have been performed for supercritical CO₂, which is a suitable sample satisfying the condition for both experiment and analysis. The measurements were carried out along four isothermal conditions at reduced temperature of T_r = T/T_c = 1.020, 1.022, 1.043 and 1.064. Comparing the experimental density fluctuation with calculated one from the most reliable equation of state, the differences are within 8% at most.     

Influence of Gas Atmosphere on Removal of Sulphate Groups From Titanium Oxide

The studies were devoted to determination of the effect of gas atmosphere and its pressure on the second step of decomposition of hydrated titanium dioxide (HTD) promoted by sulfate groups. It has been found that thermal decomposition of HTD at temperatures above 300°C consists of a number of processes such as dehydroxylation, desulfuration, recrystallization and sintering of solid grains, photochemical processes (if the decomposition proceeds in the presence of light) and adsorption of gas phase components (in the presence of air or SO₂). Kinetic parameters characterizing this step of decomposition have been determined for processes carried out in vacuum and in argon or air atmospheres (at a pressure of 13.33hPa). The kinetic curves of decomposition carried out in the presence of gases capable of being adsorbed on the surface of partly dehydrated HTD are featured by local extrema due to simultaneous processes of decomposition and adsorption of gas components. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ni2（OEt）2／SiO2催化二氧化碳与丙烯直接合成甲基丙烯酸的研究

 采用表面改性法制备了负载型Ni2（OEt）2／SiO2双核金属乙氧基配合物催化剂，利用示差量热、红外光谱和微反技术对催化剂的表面结构、热稳定性、化学吸附性质和催化活性进行了研究．结果表明，负载型双核金属乙氧基配合物Ni2（OEt）2／SiO2中的Ni2＋与载体SiO2表面的O2－以双齿配位形式键合；二氧化碳在催化剂表面存在桥式吸附态和碳酸单乙酯基物种两种吸附态，丙烯则只有一种分子吸附态；在适宜的反应条件下，二氧化碳和丙烯在Ni2（OEt）2／SiO2催化剂上的反应产物主要是甲基丙烯酸．根据实验结果，提出了二氧化碳和丙烯在Ni2（OEt）2／SiO2催化剂表面的反应机理，反应物分子共吸附于催化剂表面同一活性单元上，羧酸根和丙烯解离吸附态的形成是反应顺利进行的关键步骤．     

Formation of SnO2 Nanoparticles on External Surface of NaY Zeolite

Tin dioxide nanoparticles of 5 nm in size were prepared on NaY zeolite external surface by impregnation of SnCl2 solution and subsequent calcination at 623 K. A SnO2-NaY based chemical sensor for detecting H2 was demonstrated.     

二氧化碳同环氧丙烷交替共聚用催化剂的研究

探讨了有机金属催化剂的组成及其对二氧化碳同环氧丙烷交替共聚产物结构的影响,发现二乙基锌—助剂体系的催化活性按如次顺序递降:二乙基锌—连苯三酚>二乙基锌—间苯二酚>二乙基锌—对苯二胺>二乙基锌—亚乙基脲。若用三异丁基铝代替二乙基锌同连苯三酚构成催化剂,则失去对二氧化碳同环氧丙烷交替共聚反应的活性同时,著者发现二乙基锌—二元芳胺催化体系与二乙基锌—二元酚催化体系的催化活性规律完全不同。     

Fluorine-doped nanocrystalline SnO2 powders prepared via a single molecular precursor method as anode materials for Li-ion batteries

Fluorine-doped nanocrystalline tin dioxide materials (F:SnO₂) have been successfully prepared by the sol-gel process from a single molecular precursor followed by a thermal treatment at 450-650 °C. The resulting materials were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption porosimetry (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mean particle size increased from 5 to 20 nm and the specific surface area decreased from 123 to 37 m²/g as the temperature of heat treatment was risen from 450 to 650 °C. Fluorine-doped nanocrystalline SnO₂ exhibited capacity of 560, 502, and 702 mA h/g with 48%, 50%, and 40% capacity retention after 25 cycles between 1.2 V and 50 mV at the rate of 25 mA/g, respectively. In comparison, commercial SnO₂ showed an initial capacity of 388 mA h/g, with only 23% capacity retention after 25 cycles.     

The Mutual Conversion of CO2 and CO in Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD)

Non-equilibrium plasma, which was engendered by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used to analyze the mutual conversion between CO₂ and CO. The results showed that the conversion ratio of CO increased monotonously with the increasing voltage. But CO₂ was not so. Its conversion ratio reached maximum when the voltage was 3600 V in Ar system. It also showed that the existence of water molecules was more advanageous for the conversion of CO to CO₂ in Air system than in oxygen system, and the conversion ratio could reach 75.8% when the relative humidity was 100%. We also discussed the energy yield and energy efficiency, and the result was that high voltage and high concentration of reactant was disadvantageous for energy utilization.