Radiation-Induced Oxidation Reactions of 2-Selenouracil in Aqueous Solutions: Comparison with Sulfur Analog of Uracil

One-electron oxidation of 2-selenouracil (2-SeU) by hydroxyl (^●OH) and azide (^●N₃) radicals leads to various primary reactive intermediates. Their optical absorption spectra and kinetic characteristics were studied by pulse radiolysis with UV-vis spectrophotometric and conductivity detection and by the density functional theory (DFT) method. The transient absorption spectra recorded in the reactions of ^●OH with 2-SeU are dominated by an absorption band with an λ_max = 440 nm, the intensity of which depends on the concentration of 2-SeU and pH. Based on the combination of conductometric and DFT studies, the transient absorption band observed both at low and high concentrations of 2-SeU was assigned to the dimeric 2c-3e Se-Se-bonded radical in neutral form (2^●). The dimeric radical (2^●) is formed in the reaction of a selenyl-type radical (6^●) with 2-SeU, and both radicals are in equilibrium with K_eq = 1.3 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ at pH 4 (below the pK_a of 2-SeU). Similar equilibrium with K_eq = 4.4 × 10³ M⁻¹ was determined for pH 10 (above the pK_a of 2-SeU), which admittedly involves the same radical (6^●) but with a dimeric 2c-3e Se-Se bonded radical in anionic form (2^●−). In turn, at the lowest concentration of 2-SeU (0.05 mM) and pH 10, the transient absorption spectrum is dominated by an absorption band with an λ_max = 390 nm, which was assigned to the ^●OH adduct to the double bond at C5 carbon atom (3^●) based on DFT calculations. Similar spectral and kinetic features were also observed during the ^●N₃-induced oxidation of 2-SeU. In principle, our results mostly revealed similarities in one-electron oxidation pathways of 2-SeU and 2-thiouracil (2-TU). The major difference concerns the stability of dimeric radicals with a 2c-3e chalcogen-chalcogen bond in favor of 2-SeU.     

Heating of superparamagnetic colloid in high-frequency magnetic field: Implications for electromagnetic hyperthermia

We have prepared a superparamagnetic colloid by milling magnetite particles and evaluated its heating capabilities in an alternating magnetic field with frequency 3.5 MHz. As has been found relaxation losses are able to heat superparamagnetic suspension to ≈ 80°C in about 3 min. This result may be of an importance for the design of a new efficient hyperthermic material for cancer treatment.     

Effects of GSM microwaves, pulsed magnetic field, and temperature on fractal dimension of brain tumors

Fractal dimension of a two-dimensional C-6 rat glioma tumors growing in the microwave field generated by signal simulation of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) with frequency 960 MHz was found significantly enhanced as compared with field free tumors growing at different temperatures and on the other hand a strong pulsed magnetic field lowered fractal dimension of tumors.     

Optimal descriptor as a translator of eclectic information into the prediction of thermal conductivity of micro-electro-mechanical systems

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are involved in various fields of nanotechnology. MEMS are characterized by complex and unclear molecular architecture. However, in most cases information about chemical composition and conditions of synthesis is available. One-variable models for thermal conductivity of MEMS are suggested. These models are based on the representation of MEMS by their chemical composition and technological attributes. We have examined three random splits of available data into the training set and validation set. The average statistical characteristics of these models are quite good. Development of suggested here models is carried out without information on molecular architecture of MEMS.     

CORAL: QSPRs of enthalpies of formation of organometallic compounds

Available on the Internet the CORAL software gives reasonable good prediction for standard enthalpy of formation for selected organometallic compounds (n = 132). The approach is tested using five random splits of the considered data into the sub-training set (n = 32–49), calibration set (n = 36–51), test set (n = 10–29), and the validation set (n = 22–41). Compounds of the validation set are not involved in building up the models. The average statistical quality of prediction is the following: correlation coefficient ( $\overline{R^{2}} )$ R 2 ¯ ) $0.991\pm 0.005$ 0.991 ± 0.005 and standard error of estimation ( $\overline{s} )$ s ¯ ) $22.9 \pm 5.6$ 22.9 ± 5.6  kJ/mol.     

Structure and electrochemical properties for complexes of nitrocompounds with inorganic ions: A theoretical approach

Reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions are widely used for removal of nitrocompounds from contaminated soil and water. Structures and redox properties for complexes of nitrocompounds, such as 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4‐dinitroanisole (DNAN), and 5‐nitro‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H?1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐one (NTO), with common inorganic ions (Na⁺, Cl^?, ) were investigated at the SMD(Pauling)/PCM(Pauling)/MPWB1K/TZVP level of theory. Atoms in molecules (AIM) theory was applied to analyze the topological properties of the bond critical points involved in the interactions between the nitrocompounds and the ions. Topological analyses show that intermolecular interactions of the types O(N)…Na⁺, C‐H…Cl^?( ), and C…Cl^?( ) may be discussed as noncovalent closed‐shell interactions, while N‐H···Cl^?( ) hydrogen bonds are partially covalent in nature. Complexation causes significant decrease of redox activity of the nitrocompounds. Analysis of the reduction potentials of the complexes obtained through application of the Pourbaix diagram of an iron/water system revealed that sodium complexes of NTO might be reduced by metallic iron. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Are the reduction and oxidation properties of nitrocompounds dissolved in water different from those produced when adsorbed on a silica surface? A DFT M05‐2X computational study

The reduction and oxidation properties of four nitrocompounds (trinitrotoluene [TNT], 2,4‐dinitrotoluene, 2,4‐dinitroanisole, and 5‐nitro‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐one [NTO]) dissolved in water as compared with the same properties for compounds adsorbed on a silica surface were studied. To consider the influence of adsorption, cluster models were developed at the M05/tzvp level. A hydroxylated silica (001) surface was chosen to represent a key component of soil. The PCM(Pauling) and SMD solvation models were used to model water bulk influence. The following properties were analyzed: electron affinity, ionization potential, reduction Gibbs free energy, oxidation Gibbs free energy, and reduction and oxidation potentials. It was found that adsorption and solvation decrease gas phase electron affinity, ionization potential, and Gibbs free energy of reduction and oxidation, and thus, promote redox transformation of nitrocompounds. However, in case of solvation, the changes are more significant than for adsorption. This means that nitrocompounds dissolved in water are easier to transform by reduction or oxidation than adsorbed ones. Among the considered compounds, TNT was found to be the most reactive in an electron attachment process and the least reactive for an electron detachment transformation. During ionization, a deprotonation of adsorbed NTO was found to occur. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.