Direct Electrochemistry of Multi‐Copper Oxidases at Carbon Nanotubes Noncovalently Functionalized with Cellulose Derivatives

This study describes the direct electron transfer of multi‐copper oxidases, i.e., laccase (from Trametes versicolor) and bilirubin oxidase (BOD, from Myrothecium verrucaria) at multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) noncovalently functionalized with biopolymers of cellulose derivatives, i.e., hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), methyl cellulose (MC), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The functionalization of the MWNTs with the cellulose derivatives is found to substantially solubilize the MWNTs into aqueous media and to avoid their aggregation on electrode surface. Under anaerobic conditions, the redox properties of laccase and BOD are difficult to be defined with cyclic voltammetry at either laccase/MWNT‐modified or BOD/MWNT‐modified electrodes. The direct electron transfer properties of laccase and BOD are thus studied in terms of the bioelectrocatalytic activities of the laccase/MWNT‐modified and BOD/MWNT‐modified electrodes toward the reduction of oxygen and found to be facilitated at the functionalized MWNTs. The possible application of the laccase‐catalyzed O₂ reduction at the laccase/MWNT‐modified electrode is illustrated by constructing a CNT‐based ascorbate/O₂ biofuel cell with the MWNT‐modified electrode as the anode for the oxidation of ascorbate biofuel.     

Solute-solvent interactions in water-tert-butyl alcohol mixtures. VI. Enthalpies of solution for halo-para-substituted benzoates

Enthalpies of solution of sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, and potassium halo-substituted benzoates are reported at 298.15°K in water and in nine water-tert-butyl alchol mixtures. Transfer enthalpies from water to the mixed solvent go through a maximum for about 0.055 mole fraction of alcohol. Additivity of ionic contributions in the enthalpies of transfer is verified. Substituent effects on the transfer enthalpies of benzoates are discussed in terms of size of the solutes and cohesion of the solvent mixtures. For Part V, see ref. 1.     

Heavy metal phosphate nanophases in silica: influence of radiolysis probed via f-electron state properties

We have assessed the feasibility of carrying out time- and wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence measurements of radiation damage in glassy silica. The consequences of alpha decay of Es-253 in LaPO₄ nanophases embedded in silica were probed based on excitation of 5f states of Cm³⁺, Bk³⁺, and Es³⁺ ions. The recorded emission spectra and luminescence decays showed that alpha decay of Es-253 ejected Bk-249 decay daughter ions into the surrounding silica and created radiation damage within the LaPO₄ nanophases. This conclusion is consistent with predictions of an ion transport code commonly used to model ion implantation. Luminescence from the ⁶D_7/2 state of Cm³⁺was used as an internal standard. Ion-ion energy transfer dominated the dynamics of the observed emitting 5f states and strongly influenced the intensity of observed spectra. In appropriate sample materials, laser-induced fluorescence provides a powerful method for fundamental investigation of alpha-induced radiation damage in silica.     

On the 6-exo-trig ring closure of substituted 5-hexen-1-oxyl radicals

Substituted 5-hexen-1-oxyl radicals have been generated from N-(5-hexen-1-oxy)-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones under tin-free conditions and have been successfully applied as reactive intermediates in a mechanistic study on the formation of bromomethyl-substituted tetrahydropyrans via 6-exo-trig selective cyclizations.     

Synthesis and applications of C2-symmetric guanidine bases

The preparation of the tetracyclic C₂-symmetric guanidinium salts 5 and 11-13 is reported together with their application to enantioselective transformations.     

Crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) modified with tetraalkylammonium salts as phase transfer catalyst

Radiation crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEO) modified with two tetraalkylammonium salts: allyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide and ethylmethacrylate dimethyldodecylammonium bromide were prepared. They have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H-NMR spectra, and DSC measurements. Their activity as phase transfer catalysts (PTC) in the model displacement reaction of 1-bromooctane with aqueous sodium cyanide were studied. The reaction kinetics were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions. Small amounts of onium salt inserted into the PEO network gave rise to a five time increase in the rate constant. The recovered catalysts could be re-used without loss of activity. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Micellar effect on the electron transfer reaction of chromium(V) ion with organic sulfides

The rate of electron transfer from organic sulfides to [Cr^V(ehba)₂]⁻ (ehba-2-ethyl-2-hydroxy butyric acid) decreases with a decrease in the polarity of the medium. The anionic surfactant, SDS and the cationic surfactant, CTAB have different effects on the kinetics of this reaction. The micellar inhibition observed in the presence of SDS is probably due to the decrease in the polarity and the electrostatic repulsion faced by the anionic oxidant from the anionic micelle and the partition of the hydrophobic substrate between the aqueous and micellar phases. The micellar catalysis in the presence of CTAB is attributed to the increase in the concentration of both reactants in the micellar phase. This micellar catalysis is observed to offset the retarding effects of the less polar micellar medium and the unfavorable charge-charge interaction between the + charge developed on S center in the transition state and the cationic micelle. This catalysis is contrary to the enormous micellar inhibition observed with IO₄⁻, HSO₅⁻ and HCO₄⁻ oxidation of organic sulfides.     

Highly selective conversion of N-aroyl-α-dehydronaphthylalaninamides into 3,4-dihydrobenzoquinolinone derivatives via photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer

The irradiation of substituted (Z)-N-aroyl-α-dehydronaphthylalaninamides [(Z)-1] in methanol containing triethylamine (TEA) with Pyrex-filtered light was found to give 3,4-dihydrobenzoquinolinone derivatives (2) in high yields along with minor amounts of 4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives (3). Analysis of the substituent effects on product composition revealed that both the photoreactivity of 1 and the selectivity of 2 are decreased with increasing electron-withdrawing ability of the substituent introduced at the para-position on the N-benzoyl benzene ring. From the analysis of the dependence of the quantum yield for the formation of 2 on the TEA concentration, it was found that back electron transfer occurs efficiently within an (E)-1 anion radical-TEA cation radical pair intermediate.     

Time-resolved fluorescence analysis of the mobile flavin cofactor in p -hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase

Conformational heterogeneity of the FAD cofactor in p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) was investigated with time-resolved polarized flavin fluorescence. For binary enzyme/substrate (analogue) complexes of wild-type PHBH and Tyr222 mutants, crystallographic studies have revealed two distinct flavin conformations; the ‘in’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring located in the active site, and the ‘out’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring disposed towards the protein surface. Fluorescence-lifetime analysis of these complexes revealed similar lifetime distributions for the ‘in’ and ‘out’ conformations. The reason for this is twofold. First, the active site of PHBH contains various potential fluorescence-quenching sites close to the flavin. Fluorescence analysis of uncomplexed PHBH Y222V and Y222A showed that Tyr222 is responsible for picosecond fluorescence quenching free enzyme. In addition, other potential quenching sites, including a tryptophan and two tyrosines involved in substrate binding, are located nearby. Since the shortest distance between these quenching sites and the isoalloxazine ring differs only little on average, these aromatic residues are likely to contribute to fluorescence quenching. Second, the effect of flavin conformation on the fluorescence lifetime distribution is blurred by binding of the aromatic substrates: saturation with aromatic substrates induces highly efficient fluorescence quenching. The flavin conformation is therefore only reflected in the small relative contributions of the longer lifetimes.