Kinetics of lamellar-to-cubic and intercubic phase transitions of pure and cytochrome c containing monoolein dispersions monitored by time-resolved small-angle X-ray diffraction

We investigated the effect of incorporation of a small aqueous peripheral membrane protein (cyt c) into the three-dimensional periodic nanochannel structures formed by the lipid monoolein (MO) on its rich phase behavior as a function of temperature, pressure, and protein concentration using synchrotron X-ray small-angle diffraction. By simultaneous use of the pressure-jump relaxation technique and time-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction, we also studied the kinetics of various lipid mesophase transformations of the system for understanding the mechanistic pathways of their formation influenced by the protein-lipid interactions. Cyt c incorporated into the bicontinuous cubic phase Ia3d of MO has a significant effect on the lipid structure and the pressure stability of the system already at low protein concentrations. Concentrations higher than 0.2 wt % of cyt c led to an increase in interfacial curvature due to interaction of the protein with the lipid headgroups. This promotes the formation of a new, probably partially micellar cubic phase of crystallographic space group P4(3)32. Upon pressurization, the P4(3)32 phase undergoes a phase transition to a cubic Pn3m phase with smaller partial specific volume. Increase in protein concentration increases the pressure stability of the P4(3)32 phase. The formation of this phase from the cubic phase Pn3m is a slow process taking many seconds and having a time lag in the beginning. It seems to occur as a two-state process without ordered intermediate states. At temperatures above 60 degrees C, the P4(3)32 phase is unable to accommodate the unfolded protein and transforms to a bicontinuous cubic Ia3d phase. Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering studies show that the L(alpha) --> Ia3d transition in pure MO dispersions under limited hydration conditions occurs within a time interval of 1 s at 35 degrees C preceded by a lag phase of 1.5 s. The Ia3d cubic phase initially forms with a much larger lattice constant due to hydration and experiences an initially lower curvature that relaxes within about 1 s. Interestingly, no other cubic phases are involved as intermediates in the transition, i.e., the gyroid cubic phase is able to form directly from the L(alpha) phase. The mechanism behind the L(alpha) --> Ia3d transition in pure MO dispersions has been discussed within the framework of recent stalk models for membrane fusion. In the presence of cyt c, the L(alpha) --> Ia3d transition is much slower. The rather long relaxation times of the order of seconds are probably due to a kinetic trapping of the system and limitation by the transport and redistribution of water and lipid in the evolving new lipid phases. We also studied the transition from the pure lamellar L(alpha) phase to the Ia3d-P4(3)32 two phase region and observed a rather complex transition behavior with transient lamellar and cubic intermediate states.     

Effect of s-, p-, d-, and f-block elements on the structure and properties of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate crystals

The influence of the s-, p-, d-, and f-block elements (Cs, Sb, Pd, and Ce) doping on the properties of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) crystals has been described. Incorporation of small quantity of dopants into the crystalline matrix is well confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques. The reduction in the intensity observed in powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) of doped specimens and slight shifts in vibrational frequencies confirm the lattice stress. Surface morphological changes due to doping of metals are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves show only a slight variation in endothermic peak temperatures. The sharpness of the DSC peaks shows the good degree of crystallinity of the material. The cell parameters have been determined using single crystal XRD analysis of pure ADP and ADP:Cs/ADP:Sb/ADP:Pd/ADP:Ce specimens. The influence of metals on the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency is also investigated.     

Growth, structure, and characterization of tris(thiourea)silver(I) nitrate

Single crystals of tris(thiourea)silver(I) nitrate have been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique from an aqueous solution at 25 °C. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals that the crystal belongs to tetragonal system and cell parameters are a = b = 14.2790(4) Å, c = 24.8900(7) Å, and V = 5074.8(2) Å³. The various functional groups present in the molecule are confirmed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The structure and the crystallinity of the materials were further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis reveal the purity of the sample and no decomposition is observed up to the melting point. The crystal is further characterized by UV–Vis and Vickers microhardness analysis.     

Keggin-type heteropoly-11-molybdo-1-vanadophosphoric acid supported montmorillonite K-10 clay-catalysed one-pot multi-component synthesis of chromeno[2,3-b]indoles

One-pot three-component synthesis of twelve different chromeno[2,3-b]indole derivatives were achieved by the condensation of β-naphthol, oxindole and various substituted aldehydes. Two more chromeno[2,3-b]indole derivatives were also synthesized through one-pot two-component condensation of salicylaldehyde with oxindole/chlorooxindole. Both the condensations were achieved by using Keggin-type heteropoly-11-molybdo-1-vanadophosphoric acid, H₄[PVMo₁₁O₄₀] supported on montmorillonite K-10 clay for about 10% as catalyst under environmentally benign solvent-free reaction condition. Shorter reaction time, excellent yield of product, sustainability of catalytic material and simple workup procedure under green experimental conditions are the advantages of this protocol.

     

KOtBu‐Catalyzed Michael Addition Reactions Under Mild and Solvent‐Free Conditions

Designed transition metal complexes predominantly catalyze Michael addition reactions. Inorganic and organic base‐catalyzed Michael addition reactions have been reported. However, known base‐catalyzed reactions suffer from the requirement of solvents, additives, high pressure and also side‐reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a mild and environmentally friendly strategy of readily available KO^tBu‐catalyzed Michael addition reactions. This simple inorganic base efficiently catalyzes the Michael addition of underexplored acrylonitriles, esters and amides with (oxa‐, aza‐, and thia‐) heteroatom nucleophiles. This catalytic process proceeds under solvent‐free conditions and at room temperature. Notably, this protocol offers an easy operational procedure, broad substrate scope with excellent selectivity, reaction scalability and excellent TON (>9900). Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction follows an ionic mechanism. Formal synthesis of promazine is demonstrated using this catalytic protocol.     

Os(VIII)-catalysed oxidation of sulfides by sodium salt of N-chlorobenzenesulfonamide

Catalytic activity of Os(VIII) in the oxidation of some twenty organic sulfides with sodium salt of N-chlorobenzenesulfonamide (CAB) has been investigated in alkaline (pH8.7) t-butanol–water (1:1 v/v) medium. Significant retarding influence of [OH⁻] on the reactivity is exhibited. The catalysed reaction is strongly accelerated in the presence of Hg(II). Imperfections are observed in the linear Hammett relationship in the case of –NO₂ substituents.     

Effect of chelating agent (1,10-phenanthroline) on potassium hydrogen phthalate crystals

The influence of a new organic additive, chelating agent 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) (∼5.0·10⁻³ M L⁻¹) on potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) single crystals at 30° is investigated. The crystals were grown from the aqueous solutions of pH ∼4.5 at constant temperature by solvent evaporation technique. The chelating agent leads to an increase in metastable zone width and assists the bulk growth process. The growth rate of crystals in the presence of Phen decreases considerably with an increase in impurity concentration. Not much variation is observed in FTIR and cell parameter values, determined by XRD analysis. It appears that the growth promoting effect (GPE) of Phen is caused by the adsorption of the organic additive on the prism of KHP crystals. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and TG-DTA studies reveal the purity of the sample and no decomposition is observed up to the melting point. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs exhibit the effectiveness of the impurity in changing the surface morphology of KHP crystals. Contrary to expectations, Phen depresses the NLO efficiency of KHP, suggesting that the molecular alignments in the presence of Phen results in cancellation effects disturbing the non-linearity.     

Effect of anthracene doping on potassium hydrogen phthalate crystals

The influence of the highly fluorescent dopant, anthracene (over a concentration range from 5 × 10^?4 to 1.2 × 10^?2 mol dm^?3) on the nonlinear optical properties and fluorescence intensity of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) single crystals grown at 30 °C by a slow evaporation solution growth technique (SEST) has been investigated. Powder XRD and FTIR spectral analyses confirm the slight distortion of the structure of crystal because of doping. UV–Visible study shows that the transparency is not affected much by the dopant. The SEM investigation reveals that KHP suffers from crack development. Thermal analysis indicates that there is no decomposition of the crystal up to the melting point. It is interesting to observe that additions of small quantity anthracene to KHP results in the enhancement of fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity dependence on dopant concentration is observed. Interestingly, second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of KHP is dramatically improved by doping with small quantities of anthracene.