Ab initio and DFT conformational study on N-nitrosodiethylamine, (C2H5)2N-N=O

Ab initio (MP2) and DFT (B3LYP) calculations, using the cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets, have been performed to characterize some stationary points on the ground state potential energy surface of the title molecules. Several properties as, for instance, relative energies, the barriers for NO rotation around the NN bond, NBO charges on O and amino N atoms, as well as the dipole moments, have been calculated and analyzed in the light of the structures found. Both computational levels here employed yield three minima, in which the C₂NNO frame is ‘planar’ or ‘quasi-planar’. Important correlations between NBO charges and geometric parameters, as well as between some structural features and dipole moments are also discussed. A total of 17 structures have been found for the (C₂H₅)₂N-N=O molecule. Two ranges of values have been obtained for the dipole moment, with the largest values occurring for the structures in which the nitrogen lone pair is parallel to the NO group π system. For instance, these two ranges are from ~4.1 to 4.5 D, and from ~1.6 to 2.1 D, at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. These ranges are consistent with a larger and a smaller contribution of a dipolar resonance structure, respectively. As the method or basis set changes the values of the dipole moments change by at most ~0.23 D.     

Theoretical study of the interaction between X (H,F) and graphene

This study investigates the interaction between X (X = H and F) and graphene C₅₄H₁₈ (D_6 h), and the potential energy surface of the graphene radical. The calculations on the structures and energies are further discussed thermodynamically and kinetically using the density function theory method at the B3LYP/6-31G (d) level. Our findings show that there are four distinct isomers of C₅₄H₁₈–X. C₅₄H₁₈–H² and C₅₄H₁₈–F⁴ are the most stable isomers in their own systems. In addition, the transition states, as well as reaction pathways of H transferring between different key points on representative patch, are given to explore the possible reaction mechanism. Finally, the stability of C₅₄H₁₈–X₂ is discussed through the density functional theory.     

Biological activity of organometallic bismuth compounds

Summary The chemical aspects of organometallic bismuth(Ill) compounds are discussed with respect to the stability of the metal-carbon bond, their low dipole moments, and the limited solubility of these complexes in hydrophilic solvents. A new Bi heterocycle, which is of potential interest in terms of stability and solution behaviour, was shown to exist as an intermediate under the conditions in the mass spectrometer.Although generally bismuth organic compounds are extremely toxic, in the 1970s they became important as biocides and this is still being investigated. They have also been discussed as irritation causing chemical warfare agents. While their application in chemotherapy never became very widespread because antibiotics were discovered, in the last few years the antitumor activity of some derivatives has been reported.Abbreviations BE bond energy - IC inhibition concentration - MIC minimal inhibition concentration - electronegativity (Allred and Rochow) - X halogen, pseudohalogen=F, Cl, Br, CN - Me CH₃ - Et C₂H₅ - Bu C₄H₉ - Ph C₆H₅ - Ac CH₃COO - MS mass spectrometry     

First principles calculations of the electronic and chemical properties of graphene,graphane, and graphene oxide

The electrical and chemical properties of graphene (C₂₄H₁₂), graphane (C₂₄H₂₄) and graphene oxide (C₅₄H₁₇+O+(OH)₃+COOH) were studied through the density functional theory (DFT) at level of Local Density Approximation (LDA) using a model C_nH_m like. The optimized geometry, energy gap and chemical reactivity for the proposed carbon 2D models are reported. It was found that while the graphene and graphane structures have semiconductor behavior, the graphene oxide behaves as semi-metal. However, a transition from semi-mental to semiconductor is predicted if the carboxyl group (COOH) is removed from such structure. The chemically active sites are analyzed on the basis of the electrophilic Fukui functions for each structure.     

B30H8, B39H9 2−, B42H10, B48H10, and B72H12: polycyclic aromatic snub hydroboron clusters analogous to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Calculations performed at the ab initio level using the recently reported planar concentric π-aromatic B₁₈H₆ ²⁺(1) [Chen Q et al. (2011) Phys Chem Chem Phys 13:20620] as a building block suggest the possible existence of a new class of B_3n H _m polycyclic aromatic hydroboron (PAHB) clusters—B₃₀H₈(2), B₃₉H₉ ^2?(3), B₄₂H₁₀(4/5), B₄₈H₁₀(6), and B₇₂H₁₂(7)—which appear to be the inorganic analogs of the corresponding C _n H _m polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHC) molecules naphthalene C₁₀H₈, phenalenyl anion C₁₃H₉ ^?, phenanthrene/anthracene C₁₄H₁₀, pyrene C₁₆H₁₀, and coronene C₂₄H₁₂, respectively, in a universal atomic ratio of B:C?=?3:1. Detailed canonical molecular orbital (CMO), adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP), and electron localization function (ELF) analyses indicate that, as they are hydrogenated fragments of a boron snub sheet [Zope RR, Baruah T (2010) Chem Phys Lett 501:193], these PAHB clusters are aromatic in nature, and exhibit the formation of islands of both σ- and π-aromaticity. The predicted ionization potentials of PAHB neutrals and electron detachment energies of small PAHB monoanions should permit them to be characterized experimentally in the future. The results obtained in this work expand the domain of planar boron-based clusters to a region well beyond B₂₀, and experimental syntheses of these snub B_3n H _m clusters through partial hydrogenation of the corresponding bare B_3n may open up a new area of boron chemistry parallel to that of PAHCs in carbon chemistry.

Syntheses, structures and properties of three nonmetal borates with salicylic acid and organic amines

Three new borates containing nonmetal compounds, [C₄H₁₂N][BO₄(C₇H₄O)₂] (1), [C₈H₂₀N][BO₄(C₇H₄O)₂] (2) and [C₆H₁₈N₂]_0.5[BO₄(C₇H₄O)₂] (3) have been prepared, aiming at the formation of extended supramolecular networks with organic-inorganic hybrid materials of salicylic acid and boric acid. The corresponding compounds have been characterized by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. X-ray diffraction analyses of available single crystals revealed that the molecular structures of the three compounds have the same isolated [BO₄(C₇H₄O)₂]⁻ anion. The [BO₄(C₇H₄O)₂]⁻ anion with a distorted BO₄ tetrahedron is formed by bidentate coordination of the B atom to two salicylic acid molecules via the O atoms of the central carboxyl and α-hydroxyl groups. The three compounds display violet luminescence with emission maxima around 365 nm.     

Extractive compounds of birch buds (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.): I. Composition of fatty acids,hydrocarbons, and esters

This is the first report devoted to study of the hydrocarbon composition of the extract of buds of European birch Betula pendula (family Betulacea). We have identified saturated (C₁₆ to C₂₈, even number of carbon atoms) and unsaturated (linoleic and linolenic) fatty acids, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and the components of epicuticular waxes of cover scales, such as n-alkanes (C₂₁ to C₂₆), esters of fatty acids (C₁₆ to C₂₈, even number of carbon atoms), and fatty alcohols (C₁₈ to C₃₀, even number of carbon atoms). The gas chromatographic retention indices of all identified compounds have been determined.     

Extractive compounds of birch buds (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.): II. Carbonyl compounds and oxides. Esters

This is the first report devoted to study of the hydrocarbon composition of the extract of buds of European birch Betula pendula (family Betulacea). We have identified saturated (C₁₆ to C₂₈, even number of carbon atoms) and unsaturated (linoleic and linolenic) fatty acids, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and the components of epicuticular waxes of cover scales, such as n-alkanes (C₂₁ to C₂₆), esters of fatty acids (C₁₆ to C₂₈, even number of carbon atoms), and fatty alcohols (C₁₈ to C₃₀, even number of carbon atoms). The gas chromatographic retention indices of all identified compounds have been determined.     

Influence of p<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Subscript>a</Subscript> Shifts on the Calculated Dipole Moments of Proteins

The protein dipole moment is a low-resolution parameter that characterizes the second-order charge organization of a biomolecule. Theoretical approaches to calculate protein dipole moments rely on pK _a values, which are either computed individually for each ionizable residue or obtained from model compounds. The influence of pK _a shifts are evaluated first by comparing calculated and measured dipole moments of β-lactoglobulin. Second, calculations are made on a dataset of 66 proteins from the Protein Data Bank, and average differences are determined between dipole moments calculated with model pK _as, pK _as derived using a Poisson–Boltzmann approach, and empirically-calculated pK _as. Dipole moment predictions that neglect pK _a shifts are consistently larger than predictions in which they are included. The importance of pK _a shifts are observed to vary with protein size, internal permittivity, and solution pH.     

Studies on the Metabolites of Aspergillus versicolor (Vuillemin) Tiraboschi

Three new pigments, named versicolorins A, Band C, as metabolites from the mycelium of Aspergillus versicolor have been isolated. Versicolorin A, C₁₈H₁₀O₇, is fine orange yellow needles, m.p. 289°C (decomp.), [α]_D^-354°. It is an anthraquinoid pigment having three hydroxyl groups and a vinyl ether system contained in a five-membered ring. Versicolorin A trimethyl ether was hydrogenated to a dihydro-derivative, and by oxidation gave 3,5-dimethoxyphthalic acid and a hydroxy acid which may be 1,6,8-trirnethoxy-3-hydroxy anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid. These chemical behavior and NMR data show that versicolorin A probably has the structure of (I). Versicolorin B, C₁₈H₁₂O₇, is fine orange yellow needles, m.p., 298°C (decomp.), [α]_D^-223° Its trimethyl ether is identical with that of dihydroversicolorin A. Therefore, the structure (II) could be assigned to versicolorin B. Versicolorin C, C₁₈H₁₂O₇, is orange red needles, m.p.>310°C, [α]_D O° Comparison of optical properties, IR and NMR spectra of versicolorin B and its methyl ether with those of versicolorin C and its methyl ether indicates that versicolorin C is very probably a racemate of versicolorin B.     

Pyrene Biodegradation by Bacillus spp. Isolated from Coal Tar–Contaminated Soil

Aerobic, mesophilic bacteria from coal tar–contaminated soil were analyzed for pyrene utilization capacity and identified by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing as members of three genera: Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas sp., and Rhodococcus sp. The soil contained nine different hazardous polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): benzo[g, h, i]perylene, dibenzo[a, h]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, pyrene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene. Bacillus spp. (PK-6) MTCC 1005 showed 56.4% utilization of pyrene (C₁₆H₁₀) (50 μg ml^?1) in 4 days, with growth associated biosurfactant activity and resulted in the formation of five new intermediates: phenanthrene (C₁₄H₁₀), 9,10-diphenylphenanthrene (C₂₆H₁₈), 9-methoxyphenanthrene (C₁₅H₁₂O), 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-naphthoic acid (C₁₁H₁₂O₂), and 1,6,7-trimethylnaphthalene (C₁₃H₁₄). The results suggested that Bacillus spp. could be found suitable for practical field application for effective in situ PAH bioremediation.     

Incorporation of 18O2 and absence of stereospecificity in primary product formation during fungal metabolism of a lignin model compound

The metabolism of a lignin substructure model compound, 1,2-bis(3-methoxy-4-ethoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (Ia) in ligninolytic cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was studied to help elucidate the biochemical mechanism of lignin degradation. The primary reaction was cleavage of the model compound between C₁ and C₂ of the propane moiety to produce 1-(3-methoxy-4-ethoxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-diol and a C₆-C₁ product (probably 3-methoxy-4-ethoxybenzaldehyde). Other identified products arose secondarily; all were further metabolized. Even though the model compound was a mixture of four stereoisomers, no stereoselectivity was observed in its metabolism. In cultures under ¹⁸O₂, the initial cleavage produced the diol product with ≈70% enrichment by ¹⁸O in the benzyl alcohol group. The diol was a mixture of the two possible enantiomers, and the O₂-derived hydroxyl was incorporated at the asymmetric (benzyl) carbon. (Limited optical activity in the diol was traced to selective further metabolism of the D form.) These results show that the primary cleavage reaction lacked stereospecificity and was primarily oxygenative, implicating a nonspecific oxygenase or a nonenzymatic reaction involving activated oxygen. Preliminary experiments demonstrated no cell homogenate activity against Ia.     

The Abiotic Formation of Hydrocarbons from Dissolved CO2 Under Hydrothermal Conditions with Cobalt-Bearing Magnetite

Conversion of CO₂ to organic compounds in hydrothermal systems is important in understanding prebiotic chemical evolution leading to the origin of life. However, organic compounds with carbon number of more than 3 have never been produced from dissolved CO₂ in simulated hydrothermal experiments. In this paper, we report that not only CH₄, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈, but also n-C₄H₁₀ and n-C₅H₁₂ could be produced from dissolved CO₂ and H₂ in the presence of cobalt-bearing magnetite at 300°C and 30 MPa. It is shown that unbranched alkanes in Anderson–Schulz–Flory distribution were the dominant hydrocarbon products produced from dissolved CO₂ catalyzed by cobalt-bearing magnetite under certain hydrothermal conditions. It is proposed that magnetite with other transition metals may act potentially as effective mineral catalysts for abiotic formation of organic compounds from dissolved CO₂ in hydrothermal systems.     

Novel supramolecular compounds based on Cucurbit[6]uril, 1,8-diaminooctane and octahedral thiohydroxo anions with cluster core [Re6S8]

Supramolecular compounds {C₈N₂H₂₂@Cuc[6]}{Re₆S₈(H₂O)₂(OH)₄}·18H₂O (1), and K₂{C₈N₂H₂₂@Cuc[6]}{Re₆S₈(OH)₆}·14H₂O (2) were obtained by crystallization from aqueous solutions that contained the macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[6]uril (C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂), 1,8-diaminooctane and the cluster thiohydroxo complex [Re₆S₈(OH)₆]⁴⁻. The resultant composition of the formed compounds depends on the experiment technique. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis, 1,8-diaminooctane molecules are encapsulated within the cavity of the cucurbit[6]uril molecules in such a way that the aminogroups are above and below the plane of the cavitand. The 1,8-diaminooctane molecules formed hydrogen bonds with the cavitand and the cluster thiohydroxo complexes to give chains.     

Biomass Pyrolysis in an Argon/Hydrogen Plasma Reactor

This paper presents the experimental results of biomass pyrolysis in a laboratory argon/hydrogen plasma reactor. The samples tested were wood and rice husk. The gaseous product was found to contain mainly H₂, CO, C₂H₂ and CH₄. The conversion of carbon and oxygen from the biomass feed to gaseous product can reach up to 79 % and 72 %, respectively. The results indicate that plasma pyrolysis of biomass may be a useful way for gaseous fuel production.     

Nonallergenic urushiol derivatives inhibit the oxidation of unilamellar vesicles and of rat plasma induced by various radical generators

Urushiols consist of an o-dihydroxybenzene (catechol) structure and an alkyl chain of 15 or 17 carbons in the 3-position of a benzene ring and are allergens found in the family Anacardiaceae. We synthesized various veratrole (1,2-dimethoxybenzene)-type and catechol-type urushiol derivatives that contained alkyl chains of various carbon atom lengths, including –H, –C₁H₃, –C₅H₁₁, –C₁₀H₂₁, –C₁₅H₃₁, and –C₂₀H₄₁, and investigated their contact hypersensitivities and antioxidative activities. 3-Decylcatechol and 3-pentadecylcatechol displayed contact hypersensitivity, but the other compounds did not induce an allergic reaction, when the ears of rats were sensitized by treatment with the compounds every day for 20 days. Catechol-type urushiol derivatives (CTUDs) exerted very high radical-scavenging activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and inhibited lipid peroxidation in a methyl linoleate solution induced by 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). However, veratrole-type urushiol derivatives did not scavenge or inhibit lipid peroxidation. CTUDs also acted as effective inhibitors of lipid peroxidation of the egg yolk phosphatidylcholine large unilamellar vesicle (PC LUV) liposome system induced by various radical generators such as AMVN, 2,2′-azobis(2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride, and copper ions, although their efficiencies differed slightly. In addition, CTUDs suppressed formation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides in rat blood plasma induced with copper ions. CTUDs containing more than five carbon atoms in the alkyl chain showed excellent lipophilicity in a n-octanol/water partition experiment. These compounds also exhibited high affinities to the liposome membrane using the ultrafiltration method of the PC LUV liposome system. Therefore, CTUDs seem to act as efficient antioxidative compounds against membranous lipid peroxidation owing to their localization in the phospholipid bilayer. These results suggest that nonallergenic CTUDs act as antioxidants to protect against oxidative damage of cellular and subcellular membranes.     

Hydrolysis of DMPC or DPPC by pancreatic phospholipase A2 is slowed down when (perfluoroalkyl) alkanes are incorporated into the liposomal membrane

The effect of the incorporation of linear (perfluoroalkyl)alkanes (C_mF_2m+1C_nH_2n+1, FmHn) into liposomes made of DMPC or DPPC on the activity of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A₂ was investigated. A large decrease in enzyme activity and modifications of the kinetic profile, especially at and above the phospholipid's phase transition temperature, were observed; both depend on the relative lengths of the phospholipid's fatty acid chains and of the Hn segment of the FmHn molecule. With DMPC Hn must have a minimum of 10 carbon atoms to be effective, as in F6H10, F8H10 and F4H12; F8H8 had no significant hydrolysis-rate-reducing effect. With DPPC H_n must have a minimum of 12 carbon atoms, as in F4H12, while F8H8, F6H10 and F8H10 were ineffective. The absence of effect when C₁₀H₂₂ or C₁₆H₃₄ was incorporated establishes that the fluorinated segment, although its length (from C₄ to C₈) is not crucial, is required to hinder hydrolysis by PLA₂, indicating that this segment plays an important role in structuring the liposomal membrane.     

Changes in respiratory quinone profiles of enhanced biological phosphorus removal activated sludge under different influent phosphorus/carbon ratio conditions

Changes in the microbial community of an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) activated sludge system under different influent phosphorus/carbon (P/C) ratio conditions were investigated through evaluation of population respiratory quinone profiles. A total of 13 types of respiratory quinone homologs consisting of 3 types of ubiquinones (UQ) and 10 types of menaquinones (MK) were identified in this study. The dominant quinones were UQ-8 and MK-7 throughout the operational period. A higher P/C ratio (0.1) in the influent stimulated an increase in the mole fractions of UQ-8, MK-7, MK-8(H₄), MK-9(H₄) and MK-8(H₈), suggesting that actinobacterial polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO) containing partially hydrogenated MK, mainly MK-8(H₄), were contributing to EBPR. However, when the P/C ratio gradually decreased from 0.1 to 0.01, the mole fractions of UQ-8 increased from 0.46 to 0.58, while MK-7, MK-8(H₂), MK-8(H₄), MK-9(H₄), MK-8(H₈) and MK-9(H₆) markedly decreased. These changes in the respiratory quinone profiles suggest that glycogen-accumulating organisms corresponding to some Gammaproteobacteria had become dominant populations with a decrease in actinobacterial PAO. On the other hand, increasing abruptly the P/C ratio to 0.1 further caused an increase in the mole fraction of UQ-8, indicating that Rhodocyclus-related organisms were important PAO.     

Anaerobic C1 Metabolism of the O-Methyl-14C-Labeled Substituent of Vanillate

The O-methyl substituents of aromatic compounds constitute a C₁ growth substrate for a number of taxonomically diverse anaerobic acetogens. In this study, strain TH-001, an O-demethylating obligate anaerobe, was chosen to represent this physiological group, and the carbon flow when cells were grown on O-methyl substituents as a C₁ substrate was determined by ¹⁴C radiotracer techniques. O-[methyl-¹⁴C]vanillate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoate) was used as the labeled C₁ substrate. The data showed that for every O-methyl carbon converted to [¹⁴C]acetate, two were oxidized to ¹⁴CO₂. Quantitation of the carbon recovered in the two products, acetate and CO₂, indicated that acetate was formed in part by the fixation of unlabeled CO₂. The specific activity of ¹⁴C in acetate was 70% of that in the O-methyl substrate, suggesting that only one carbon of acetate was derived from the O-methyl group. Thus, it is postulated that the carboxyl carbon of the product acetate is derived from CO₂ and the methyl carbon is derived from the O-methyl substituent of vanillate. The metabolism of O-[methyl-¹⁴C]vanillate by strain TH-001 can be described as follows: 3¹⁴CH₃OC₇H₅O₃ + CO₂ + 4H₂O → ¹⁴CH₃COOH + 2¹⁴CO₂ + 10H⁺ + 10e^- + 3HOC₇H₅O₃.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-bacterial activity of some copper(I) complexes with N,N′-disubstituted thioureas

A series of copper(I) complexes of N,N′-disubstituted thioureas, [C₆H₅CONHCSNHR]Cu(I)Cl where R = C₆H₅ (1a), 2-ClC₆H₄ (2a), 3-ClC₆H₄ (3a), 4-ClC₆H₄ (4a), 2,3-Cl₂C₆H₃ (5a), 2,4-Cl₂C₆H₃ (6a), 2,5-Cl₂C₆H₃ (7a), 2,6-Cl₂C₆H₃ (8a), 3,4-Cl₂C₆H₃ (9a) and 3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃ (10a) have been synthesized. These complexes (1a–10a) have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and single crystal XRD for 1a and 8a, and for ligand 7. The X-ray crystal structures reveal that the complexes 1a and 8a are mononuclear in the solid state in which the copper atoms adopt a distorted tetrahedral geometry. In both the cases, the neutral N,N′-disubstituted thiourea ligands have been coordinated to the Cu(I) through the sulphur atom in a terminal mode. The complexes have been screened for their in vitro cytotoxic activity in human cell lines carcinomas A498 (Renal), EVSA-T (Breast), H226 (Lung), IGROV (Ovarian), M19 (Melanoma-Skin), MCF-7 (Breast) and WIDR (Colon). They show a moderate cytotoxicity against these seven human cancer cell lines comparable to that of the less active standard chemotherapeutic drugs used for comparison. They were also screened for their anti-bacterial activity and were found less active than the standard drug Imipenem.