Electrostatic properties and macroscopic electrodiffusion in OmpF porin and mutants

The bacterial porin OmpF found in the outer membrane of E. coli is a wide channel, characterized by its poor selectivity and almost no ion specificity. It has an asymmetric structure, with relatively large entrances and a narrow constriction. By applying continuum electrostatic methods we determine the ionization states of titratable amino acid residues in the protein and calculate self-consistently the electric potential 3-D distribution within the channel. The average electrostatic properties are then represented by an effective fixed charge distribution along the pore which is the input for a macroscopic electrodiffusion model. The theoretical predictions agree with measurements performed under different salt gradients and pH. The sensitivity of reversal potential and conductance to the direction of the salt gradient and the solution pH is captured by the model. The theory is also able to explain the influence of the lipid membrane charge. The same methodology is satisfactorily applied to some OmpF mutants involving slight structural changes but a large number of net charges. The correlation found between atomic structure and ionic selectivity shows that the transport characteristics of wide channels like OmpF and its mutants are mainly regulated by the collective action of a large number of residues, rather than by the specific interactions of residues at particular locations.     

A one-pot synthesis of (E)-disubstituted alkenes by a bimetallic [Rh-Pd]-catalyzed hydrosilylation/hiyama cross-coupling sequence

A bimetallic [Rh-Pd] catalyst was prepared by soaking into an iodide ionic gel an equimolar solution of [RhCl(PPh(3))(3)] and Pd(OAc)(2) in CH(2)Cl(2). Its catalytic activity was evaluated by rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylation (H), palladium-catalyzed Hiyama coupling (C), and in the one-pot hydrosilylation/Hiyama coupling sequence (H/C). It was found that the homogeneous combination [RhCl(PPh(3))(3)]/NaI was a superior system compared to the polyionic mono- and bimetallic rhodium catalysts in the hydrosilylation of terminal alkynes. Interestingly, the most effective catalyst in terms of stereo- and chemoselectivities was observed to be the bimetallic ionic gel [Rh-Pd] in the one-pot process leading to (E)-alkenes with good yields. The remarkable stereocontrol is ascribed to a beneficial Pd-catalyzed isomerization from the mixture of stereoisomeric vinylsilanes obtained in the initial hydrosilylation step into the more stable (E)-adduct. The [Rh-Pd] heterogeneous catalyst also showed a higher chemoselectivity than the homogeneous catalytic combination, and no detrimental formation of Sonogashira side product was observed due to an ionic-gel-mediated kinetic modulation. To illustrate its scope and limitations, the described one-pot bimetallic catalytic sequence was extended to functionalized terminal alkynes and various iodide substrates. Conjugated systems, such as hydroxycinnamaldehyde, dienes, and trienes, were synthesized in good overall yields. To avoid deactivation of the Rh species, N-heterocyclic iodides had to be added sequentially after completion of hydrosilylation.     

A comparative study on absorption and selectivity of organic vapors by using ionic liquids based on imidazolium, quaternary ammonium, and guanidinium cations

A novel study on organic solute absorption from the vapor phase is reported. The organic solutes chosen for the absorption studies include 1,4-benzodioxane, biphenyl, xanthene, and menthol. A series of imidazolium, ammonium, and guanidinium-based ionic liquids (ILs) containing several types of anions were used as absorbents. Absorption of water vapor was also studied along with the organic solutes. Absorption studies of each organic solute were performed by using a specially devised glass apparatus at 50 degrees C. It was observed that the rate of absorption increases with time and is faster in the case of 1,4-benzodioxane (24 h). The absorption process for each organic solute with different classes of ionic liquids was studied and the results were compared with each other. Absorption values of more than 25,000 ppm were observed in some ionic liquids. Distribution ratios of organic solutes in an ionic liquid and in the vapor phase were measured and the selectivity was evaluated by using the distribution ratio values. A remarkable selectivity was observed for some ionic liquids towards a specific organic solute. Importantly, it was observed that the selectivity remained constant, even though a mixture of solute was used for the absorption study. Desorption of organic vapors from ionic liquids was successfully carried out by applying a vacuum. Further, it was observed that the same ionic liquid can be repeatedly reused several times for absorption. These studies reveal that, in future, a task-specific ionic liquid can be prepared and used for specific solute capture from the vapor phase.     

An Unexpected Molecular Imprinting Effect for a Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon,Anthracene, Using Uniform Size Ethylene Dimethacrylate Particles

A non-covalent type of molecular imprinting effect toward a polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), viz. anthracene, was studied utilizing uniformly sized ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) polymer particles without functional host monomers. Although polymerization at 0°C initiated by a redox initiation system was expected to afford larger molecular imprinting effect due to stronger and more effective intermolecular interaction between the template and surface functional groups of the polymer, almost no imprinting effect was observed, while a much higher polymerization temperature of 70°C unexpectedly afforded a larger molecular imprinting effect for the template anthracene. In order to determine the unexpected imprinting effects observed, uniformly sized, macroporous un-imprinting EDMA polymer particles (base particles) were prepared by various polymerization techniques at different polymerization temperature as well as with different initiation systems. The careful studies proved that each kind of base polymer particle showed different molecular recognition ability, especially toward anthracene, which is depends upon the physical properties of each kind of base polymer particle. On the basis of these facts, we would propose that the potential molecular recognition ability of the un-imprinted base polymer particles is another important factor for realization of effective molecular imprinting alongside the factors reported previously.     

A Strategy for the Simplification and Solution of Complex Chromatographic Analysis Problems Utilizing Two-Dimensional Mapping of Retention Indexes Followed by Computer Modeling of Heart Cuts from Serially Coupled Columns Containing Different Stationary Phases

The analysis of four components in a mixture containing many possible interferents is simplified by heart-cutting serially connected columns containing stationary phases of widely different polarities. The design of the proper lengths of the two columns and timing the heart-cuts is accomplished with the aid of a computer simulation of the problem. The computer program calculates the proper lengths of column to produce the shortest analysis time and also outputs the predicted chromatograms from both columns. The chromatogram from the first column is used to construct the timing gates for the heart-cuts and the chromatogram from the second or analytical column is used to set integration gates for the selected compounds of interest.     

正已烷在HZSM-5上的芳构化

本文合成了两种HZSM-5沸石,用于正已烷的芳构化反应。结果表明,在500℃,常压,WHSV为3.3 h-1的条件上,转化活性>90%（分子）,芳烃选择性～50%（分子）。研究了温度、空速对反应的影响。并用吡啶中毒法估算了沸石的酸量     

Repair of Pd/α-Al2O3 composite membrane with defects

A palladium composite membrane with a large number of defects was repaired using the electroless plating combined with the technique of osmosis. The loose structure of palladium film prepared by the conventional electroless plating was densified. Defects were repaired. Hydrogen selectivity was thus significantly increased without significantly increasing palladium film thickness and reducing hydrogen permeability. Project supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KJ951-A1-508) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 29392003).     

Investigations on the selectivity of catalytic no reduction by ammonia

The activity and selectivity of V₂O₅/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst were studied in the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide by ammonia. The activity of the catalyst monotonically increases as a function of temperature, however, its selectivity decreases. The DeNOx reaction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia can be described well by a mathematical model, which considers selectivity-decreasing side reactions as well in a wide temperature range (220–420°C).     

聚冠醚的合成和性质——Ⅵ.聚冠醚为载体的碱金属离子选择性电极

本文报道以含有12-冠-4、15-冠-5和18-冠-6结构单元的双酚A型聚冠醚为载体的钠、钾和铯离子选择性电极的制备及电极响应特性的研究。结果表明三种电极都有较好的Nernstian响应特性和对碱金属及碱土金属的良好选择性。