Adaptive approach for nonlinear sensitivity analysis of reaction kinetics

We present a unified approach for linear and nonlinear sensitivity analysis for models of reaction kinetics that are stated in terms of systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The approach is based on the reformulation of the ODE problem as a density transport problem described by a Fokker-Planck equation. The resulting multidimensional partial differential equation is herein solved by extending the TRAIL algorithm originally introduced by Horenko and Weiser in the context of molecular dynamics (J. Comp. Chem. 2003, 24, 1921) and discussed it in comparison with Monte Carlo techniques. The extended TRAIL approach is fully adaptive and easily allows to study the influence of nonlinear dynamical effects. We illustrate the scheme in application to an enzyme-substrate model problem for sensitivity analysis w.r.t. to initial concentrations and parameter values.     

Elaboration of ZnO Thin Films with Preferential Orientation by a Soft Chemistry Route

Microcrystalline ZnO films presenting well-defined and tunable orientation were obtained by spin coating of alcoholic sols by two different approaches, based on controlled hydrolysis-condensation of Zn-ethanolamine complexes. As-deposited films are formed by amorphous zinc oxide-acetate submicronic particles, which are transformed into oriented ZnO after thermal treatment. The orientation of ZnO depends on the synthesis method, and the solvent. While in ethanol and [Zn] = 0.05 mol·L^–1, films consist of rectangular platelets oriented with the (100) planes parallel to the substrate (a//n), the orientation of the particles changes to (c//n) for systems in 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) and [Zn] = 0.75 mol·L^–1. A study of chemical factors that influence the orientation (precursor, solvent, MEA/Zn ratio, concentration, coating parameters, heat treatment) is presented.     

Rheological Behavior of Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/Fullerene C60 Complexes in Aqueous Medium

Aqueous solutions of complexes formed between poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), as a matrix polymer, and fullerene C₆₀ were investigated. The effect of the external hydrodynamic field on the supermolecular assemblies formed by the complexes was analyzed. Despite the low content in the complexes (1.5 mass%), fullerene significantly modified the viscosity of aqueous PVP. Thus, the dynamic viscosity of the PVP/C₆₀ complexes grew faster than that of the pure PVP upon increasing the PVP/C₆₀ concentration. The difference in viscosities is especially pronounced for semidilute solutions. As a possible explanation, it is assumed that fullerenes act as crosslinks, in addition to the physical entanglements of the PVP macromolecules, which appear in the vicinity of the crossover concentration. Shear flow corresponding to the high shear rates destroyed fullerene‐induced intermolecular crosslinks in PVP/C₆₀ solutions.     

Multigram Synthesis of α- and γ-((Hetera)cyclo)alkylpyridines through α-Arylation of (Hetero)aliphatic Nitriles

A systematic study on the S_nAr reaction of halogenated fluoropyridines and (hetero)aliphatic nitrile anions as an approach to the synthesis of functionalized pyridines bearing a (cyclo)alkyl or saturated heterocyclic substituent by is described. The scope of the method was demonstrated on a wide range of (hetero)aliphatic nitriles (including three- to six-membered cycloalkane derivatives and N-, O-, S-containing saturated heterocycles) and all isomeric halogenated 2-and 4-fluoropyridines. High chemo- and regioselectivity (i. e., exclusive substitution of the fluorine atom), as well as excellent scalability of the proposed reaction sequence were demonstrated (up to 450 g for the arylation step or up to 77 g of cycloalkylpyridine over two steps in a single run). The utility of the synthesized products was illustrated in the additional functional group transformations resulting in synthetically valuable pyridine-containing building blocks.     

Development of Functional Composite Cu(II)-Polyoxometalate/PLA with Antimicrobial Properties

Novel composite self-disinfecting films of polylactic acid (PLA) filled with nanosized particles of double sodium–copper(II) paratungstate B Na₂Cu₃(CuOH)₂[W₁₂O₄₀(OH)₂]·32H₂O (POM) were developed. The solvent casting (POM/PLA film) and solvent-free melt extrusion methods (Extr. POM/PLA film) were applied for film preparation. The copper (II) ion release to water from both types of the films after 10 days at different temperatures demonstrated that the PLA matrix acts as a diffusion barrier, and the resulting concentration of released copper in water at room temperature remained low, at 0.79% for POM/PLA film and 0.51% for Extr. POM/PLA film. The POM-containing films reveals a significant inhibitory effect against E. coli ATCC 25922 in the agar diffusion test. The numbers of CFUs in washes of the films after incubation for 24 h were found to be 3.6 log CFU mL^–1 (POM/PLA film) and 4.1 log CFU mL^–1 (Extr. POM/PLA film). The films combine the antibacterial properties of POM and a bio-based polymer matrix, which makes them a prospective coating material for applications in hospital indoor environments. Excellent thermal stability of POM gives a technological advantage for industrial manufacturing to allow the processing of novel composite material in the solvent free (molten) state.     

Analysis of Amisulpride in Human Plasma by SPE and LC with Fluorescence Detection

A rapid, precise, accurate, and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection has been validated and used for analysis of amisulpride in human plasma after a simple solid-phase extraction procedure. Compounds were separated on a CN column with 0.03?M potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 6.5)-acetonitrile 65:35 (v/v) as mobile phase. Fluorescence detection was performed at excitation and emission wavelengths of 274 and 370?nm, respectively. Calibration plots were linear over the concentration range 10-1,000?ng?mL(-1) in human plasma, and the lower limit of quantification was 10?ng?mL(-1). Accuracy was between 0.4 and 6.4% and precision was between 3.1 and 7.5%. Amisulpride was sufficiently stable through three freeze-thaw cycles, during storage for 6?h at room temperature, and for 2?months at -22?°C. The method is suitable for the analysis of clinical samples from pharmacokinetic studies.     

Hierarchical analysis of conformational dynamics in biomolecules: transition networks of metastable states

Molecular dynamics simulation generates large quantities of data that must be interpreted using physically meaningful analysis. A common approach is to describe the system dynamics in terms of transitions between coarse partitions of conformational space. In contrast to previous work that partitions the space according to geometric proximity, the authors examine here clustering based on kinetics, merging configurational microstates together so as to identify long-lived, i.e., dynamically metastable, states. As test systems microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of the polyalanines Ala(8) and Ala(12) are analyzed. Both systems clearly exhibit metastability, with some kinetically distinct metastable states being geometrically very similar. Using the backbone torsion rotamer pattern to define the microstates, a definition is obtained of metastable states whose lifetimes considerably exceed the memory associated with interstate dynamics, thus allowing the kinetics to be described by a Markov model. This model is shown to be valid by comparison of its predictions with the kinetics obtained directly from the molecular dynamics simulations. In contrast, clustering based on the hydrogen-bonding pattern fails to identify long-lived metastable states or a reliable Markov model. Finally, an approach is proposed to generate a hierarchical model of networks, each having a different number of metastable states. The model hierarchy yields a qualitative understanding of the multiple time and length scales in the dynamics of biomolecules.     

Fully adaptive propagation of the quantum-classical Liouville equation

In mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics few but important degrees of freedom of a dynamical system are modeled quantum-mechanically while the remaining ones are treated within the classical approximation. Rothe methods established in the theory of partial differential equations are used to control both temporal and spatial discretization errors on grounds of a global tolerance criterion. The TRAIL (trapezoidal rule for adaptive integration of Liouville dynamics) scheme [I. Horenko and M. Weiser, J. Comput. Chem. 24, 1921 (2003)] has been extended to account for nonadiabatic effects in molecular dynamics described by the quantum-classical Liouville equation. In the context of particle methods, the quality of the spatial approximation of the phase-space distributions is maximized while the numerical condition of the least-squares problem for the parameters of particles is minimized. The resulting dynamical scheme is based on a simultaneous propagation of moving particles (Gaussian and Dirac deltalike trajectories) in phase space employing a fully adaptive strategy to upgrade Dirac to Gaussian particles and, vice versa, downgrading Gaussians to Dirac-type trajectories. This allows for the combination of Monte-Carlo-based strategies for the sampling of densities and coherences in multidimensional problems with deterministic treatment of nonadiabatic effects. Numerical examples demonstrate the application of the method to spin-boson systems in different dimensionality. Nonadiabatic effects occurring at conical intersections are treated in the diabatic representation. By decreasing the global tolerance, the numerical solution obtained from the TRAIL scheme are shown to converge towards exact results.     

Atroposelective Silylation of 1,1′-Biaryl-2,6-diols by a Chiral Counteranion Directed Desymmetrization Enhanced by a Subsequent Kinetic Resolution

A desymmetrizing silylation of aromatic diols is reported. The previously unknown asymmetric silyl ether formation of phenol derivatives is achieved by applying List's counteranion directed silylation technique. A silylium-ion-like silicon electrophile generated from an allylic silane paired with an imidodiphosphorimidate (IDPi) enables enantioselective discrimination of achiral 1,1′-biaryl-2,6-diols. The enantioselectivity of that desymmetrization is further improved by a downstream kinetic resolution, converting the monosilylated minor enantiomer into the corresponding, again achiral bissilylated diol.