Wavefunction and reactivity study of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide and its enantiomeric forms

A comparative study on the coordination of diglycolamide isomers with Nd(iii): extraction, third phase formation, structure, and computational studies

A novel asymmetric diglycolamide N,N-dimethyl-N′,N′-dioctyl diglycolamide (L^II) was synthesized. The Nd(iii) extraction behavior from HNO₃ and loading capability of the solution of L^II in 40/60 (v/v)% n-octanol/kerosene were studied. Analyses by the slope method, ESI-MS, and FT-IR indicated that, similar to the previously studied isomer ligand N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dioctyl diglycolamide (L^I), 1 : 3 Nd(iii)/L^II complexes formed. Under the same experimental conditions, the distribution ratio and limiting organic concentration of L^II towards Nd(iii) were smaller than those of L^I, but the critical aqueous concentration of L^II was larger, which implies that L^II exhibited poorer extraction and loading capabilities towards Nd(iii) than L^I, and L^II has a tendency to be less likely to form the third phase. The quasi-relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculation was performed to provide some explanations for the differences in their extraction behaviors. The electrostatic potential of the ligands indicated that the electron-donating ability of the amide O atoms in L^II displayed certain differences compared with L^I. This inhomogeneity in L^II affected the interaction between L^II and Nd(iii), as supported by QTAIM and bonding nature analysis, and it seemed to reflect in the extraction performance towards Nd(iii).

The inhomogeneous interactions of M–O_amide in the L^II ligand result in differences between the metal-ion extraction performances of two isomeric ligands.

Cu2+-modified MOF as laccase-mimicking material for colorimetric determination and discrimination of phenolic compounds with 4-aminoantipyrine

Based on the laccase-mimicking activity of Cu²⁺-modified University of Oslo (UiO) metal-organic framework (UiO-67-Cu²⁺), we developed a colorimetric sensor array for distinguishing a series of phenols with different number and position of substituted hydroxyl group (-OH) and different substituent group on the benzene ring, including phenol, catechol, quinol, resorcinol, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol, o-chlorophenol, o-aminophenol, and o-nitrophenol. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of phenolic compounds were obtained by theoretical calculation. The results show that the lower the LUMO energy level, the easier the chromogenic reaction occurs. The UiO-67-Cu²⁺-catalyzed phenol chromogenic reaction showed a good linearity in the range from 0.1 to 200 μM with limit of detection approximately 61 nM. Through the detection of phenol in tap water and river water, the recovery rate and RSD (n = 3) were calculated as 94.1~103% and 1.0~3.3, respectively, showing good recovery, reliable results, and outstanding stability. Therefore, the proposed colorimetric sensor array will have a great potential for the detection of phenols in the environment. Schematic presentation of a simple and sensitive colorimetric strategy based on the laccase-mimicking activity of Cu²⁺-modified UiO-type metal-organic framework (MOFs, Uio-67-Cu²⁺) to distinguish phenols with analogous structures.

Understanding the aqueous chemistry of quinoline and the diazanaphthalenes: insight from DFT study

The inter-fragment interactions at various binding sites and the overall cluster stability of quinolone (QNOL), cinnoline (CNOL), quinazoline (QNAZ), and quinoxaline (QNOX) complexes with H2O were studied using the density functional theory (DFT) approach. The adsorption and H-bond binding energies, and the energy decomposition mechanism was considered to determine the relative stabilization status of the studied clusters. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), natural bonding orbitals (NBO) and charge decomposition were studied to expose the electronic distribution and interaction between fragments. The feasibility of formations of the various complexes were also studied by considering their thermodynamic properties. Results from adsorption studies confirmed the actual adsorption of H2O molecules on the various binding sites studied, with QNOX clusters exhibiting the best adsorptions. Charge decomposition analysis (CDA) revealed significant charge transfer from substrate to H2O fragment in most complexes, except in QNOL, CNOL and QNAZ clusters with H2O at binding position 4, where much charges are back-donated to substrate. The O---H inter-fragment bonds was discovered to be stronger than counterpart N---H bonds in the complexes, whilst polarity indices confirmed N---H as more polar covalent than O---H bonds. Thermodynamic considerations revealed that the formation process of all studied complexes are endothermic (+ve ΔH f ) and non-spontaneous (+ve ΔG f ).

Metabolic activation mechanism of 2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB136) by cytochrome P450 2B6: A QM/MM approach

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) play an essential role in the bio-transformation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The present work implemented quantum mechanic/molecular mechanic methods (QM/MM) and density functional theory (DFT) to study the metabolic activation of 2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB136) catalyzed by CYP2B6. Electrophilic additions at the C^α and C^β positions generate different active intermediates. The electrophilic addition energy barrier of C^β is 10.9 kcal/mol higher than that of C^α, and C^α is the preferred site for the electrophilic addition reaction. Based on the previous experimental studies, this work investigated the mechanism of converting active intermediates into OH-PCB136, which has high toxicity in a non-enzymatic environment. Structural analysis via the electrostatic and noncovalent interactions indicates that Phe108, Ile114, Phe115, Phe206, Phe297, Ala298, Leu363, Val367, TIP32475 and TIP32667 play crucial roles in substrate recognition and metabolism. The analysis suggests that the halogen-π interactions are important factors for the metabolism of CYP2B6 to halogenated environmental pollutants. This work improved the understanding of the metabolism and activation process of chiral PCBs, and can be used as a guide to improve the microbial degradation efficiency of PCB136.

Controllable preparation and performance of bio-based poly(lactic acid-iminodiacetic acid) as sustained-release Pb2+ chelating agent

The bio-based lactic acid (LA) and the common metal ion chelating agent iminodiacetic acid (IDA) are used to design and prepare a polymeric sustained-release Pb2+ chelating agent by a brief one-step reaction. After the analysis on theoretical calculation for this reaction, poly(lactic acid-iminodiacetic acid) [P(LA-co-IDA)] with different monomer molar feed ratios is synthesized via direct melt polycondensation. P(LA-co-IDA) mainly has star-shaped structure, and some of them have two-core or three-core structure. Thus, a possible mechanism of the polymerization is proposed. The degradation rate of P(LA-co-IDA)s can reach 70% in 4 weeks. The change of IDA release rate is consistent with the trend of the degradation rate, and the good Pb2+ chelating performance is confirmed. P(LA-co-IDA) is expected to be developed as a lead poisoning treatment drug or Pb2+ adsorbent in the environment with long-lasting effect, and this research provides a new strategy for the development of such drugs.

Density Prediction of Ionic Liquids at Different Temperatures Using the Average Free Volume Model

In this work, based on the average free volume model, the correlation between the molar volume and the van der Waals volume V w for the ionic liquids (ILs) was derived. With this model, the density of pure ILs and binary and ternary mixtures of ILs over a wide range of temperature (278-473.15 K) can be calculated with good accuracy only with the information of the chemical components. A total number of 1859 data points of 41 pure ILs and IL mixtures based on imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, and ammonium cations were used to verify the model. For pure ILs and IL mixtures, the average absolute relative deviations (ARDs) are 1.04 and 1.19%, respectively. The overall discrepancies are less than 4%.

Unveiling the self-association and desolvation in crystal nucleation

As the first step in the crystallization process, nucleation has been studied by many researchers. In this work, phenacetin (PHEN) was selected as a model compound to investigate the relationship between the solvent and nucleation kinetics. Induction times at different supersaturation in six solvents were measured. FTIR and NMR spectroscopy were employed to explore the solvent-solute interactions and the self-association properties in solution. Density functional theory (DFT) was adopted to evaluate the strength of solute-solvent interactions and the molecular conformations in different solvents. Based on these spectroscopy data, molecular simulation and nucleation kinetic results, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between molecular structure, crystal structure, solution chemistry and nucleation dynamics is discussed. Both the solute-solvent interaction strength and the supramolecular structure formed by the self-association of solute molecules affect the nucleation rate. The findings reported here shed new light on the molecular mechanism of nucleation in solution.

Screening Ionic Liquids Based on Ionic Volume and Electrostatic Potential Analyses

Ionic liquids (ILs) are known to have tunable solvation properties, based on the pairing of different anions and cations, but the compositional landscape is vast and challenging to navigate efficiently. Some computational screening protocols are available, but they can be either time-consuming or difficult to implement. Herein, we perform a detailed investigation of the fundamental role of electrostatic interactions in these systems. We effectively develop a bridge between the previous volume-based approach with a quantum structure-property relationship approach to create fast, simple screening guidelines. We propose a new parameter that is applicable to both monovalent and multivalent ions, the ionic polarity index (IPI), which is defined as the ratio of the average electrostatic surface potential (V̅) of the ion to the net charge of the ion (q). The IPI correlation has been tested on a diverse data set of 121 ions, and reliable predictions can be obtained within a homologous series of IL compounds.

Solubility Behavior of CO2 in Ionic Liquids Based on Ionic Polarity Index Analyses

Ionic liquids (ILs) can serve as effective CO₂ solvents with an appropriate selection of different anions and cations. However, due to the large library of potential IL compositions, rapid screening methods are needed for characterizing and ranking the expected properties. We have recently proposed the ionic polarity index (IPI) parameter, effectively connecting volume-based approaches and electrostatic potential analyses and providing a single metric that can potentially be used to rapidly screen for desirable IL properties. In this work, the corresponding anion and cation IPIs are used to generate correlations with respect to the CO₂ volumetric solubility in ILs. The relationships are generally applicable to groups of ILs within a homologous ion series, and this can be particularly valuable for prescreening different ion pairings for maximizing gas solvation performance.

Nano-MoO2 activates peroxymonosulfate for the degradation of PAH derivatives

The rapid and efficient degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives with toxicological properties remains a substantial challenge. In this study, a cost-effective and eco-friendly catalyst, nano-MoO₂ (0.05 g L^-1), exhibited excellent performance in activating 4.0 mmol L^-1 peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of naphthalene derivatives with 1 mg L^-1 in aqueous systems; these derivatives include 1-methylnaphthalene, 1-nitronaphthalene, 1-chloronaphthalene, 1-naphthylamine and 1-naphthol, with high degradation rates of 87.52%, 86.23%, 97.87%, 99.74%, and 77.16%. Nano-MoO₂ acts as an electron donor by transferring an electron causing O-O bond of PMS to cleave producing SO₄^·-, and later ^·OH. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis combined with free radical quenching research indicated that SO₄^·- and ^·OH dominated the degradation of naphthalene derivatives, and O₂^·- and ¹O₂ participated in the processes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the transformation of Mo(IV) to Mo(V) and Mo(VI), which suggested that the activation process proceeded via electron transfer from nano-MoO₂ to PMS. The applicability of the nano-MoO₂/PMS system in influencing parameters and stability was explored. The degradation pathways were primarily elucidated for each naphthalene derivative based on the intermediates identified in the systems. The -CH₃, -NO₂, -Cl, -OH substituents increased the positive electrostatic potential (ESP) on the molecular surface of 1-methylnaphthalene, 1-nitronaphthalene, 1-chloronaphthalene, and 1-naphthol, which reduced the electrophilic reaction and electron transfer between the reactive species and pollutants, leading to a lower degradation rate of naphthalene derivatives than the parent compound. However, the effect of -NH₂ substituents is the opposite. These findings suggest that nano-MoO₂ may aid as a novel catalyst in the future remediation of environments polluted with PAH derivatives.

Surface modification of polyamide reverse osmosis membranes with small-molecule zwitterions for enhanced fouling resistance: a molecular simulation study

Surface modification with small-molecule zwitterions is experimentally proved to be an effective solution to improve the antifouling performance of polyamide membranes. However, there is no comprehensive understanding of their microscopic mechanism. In order to address this issue, in this work we constructed two atomistic models, PA (a pure polyamide membrane) and QDAP-PA (a polyamide membrane surface-modified with QDAP), where QDAP was a zwitterion that was prepared by 2,6-daaminopyridine quaternized with 3-bromopropionic acid experimentally. Density functional theory was adopted to elucidate the variations in the electrostatic potential before and after modification. Then, equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations were conducted to investigate the structure and hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the membrane surface in the two models. Finally, we introduced two typical organic foulants, sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC), to evaluate the antifouling performance of the membranes with the umbrella sampling method. The analyses of the membrane structure and properties show that surface modification with small-molecule zwitterions can densify the membrane surface as well as enlarge the distribution of electrostatic potential on the membrane surface. Water molecules tend to have more interactions with the membrane and more hydrogen bonds near the membrane surface are observed in QDAP-PA. The antifouling test supports that QDAP-PA shows a better antifouling performance, as the surface-modified membrane exhibits a stronger resistance to SDS and DTAC. Even if the foulant is adsorbed to the membrane surface, the denser interface region can prevent a further pollution of the foulant. Also, the free energy needed during the process for QDAP-PA to desorb a foulant is relatively small, indicating that this kind of membrane is easy to clean. The current work might provide a comprehensive understanding of the enhanced fouling resistance of polyamide membranes after surface modification with small-molecule zwitterions.

Pyromellitic-Based Low Molecular Weight Gelators and Computational Studies of Intermolecular Interactions: A Potential Additive for Lubricant

Low molecular weight gelators (LMWG) have been extensively explored in many research fields due to their unique reversible gel-sol transformation. Intermolecular interactions between LMWG are known as the main driving force for self-assembly. During this self-assembly process, individually analyzing the contribution difference between various intermolecular interactions is crucial to understand the gel properties. Herein, we report 2,5-bis(hexadecylcarbamoyl)terephthalic acid (BHTA) as a LMWG, which could efficiently form a stable organogel with n-hexadecane, diesel, liquid paraffin, and base lubricant oil at a relatively low concentration. To investigate the contribution difference of intermolecular interactions, we first finished FT-IR spectroscopy and XRD experiments. On the basis of the d-spacing, a crude simulation model was built and then subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Then, we knocked out the energy contribution of the H-bonding interactions and π-π stacking, respectively, to evaluate the intermolecular interactions significantly influencing the stability of the gel system. MD simulations results suggest that the self-assembly of the aggregates was mainly driven by dense H-bonding interactions between carbonyl acid and amide moieties of BHTA, which is consistent with FT-IR data. Moreover, wave function analysis at a quantum level suggested these electrostatic interactions located in the middle of the BHTA molecule were surrounded by strong dispersion attraction originating from a hydrophobic environment. Furthermore, we also confirmed that 2 wt % BHTA was able to form gel lubricant with 150BS. The coefficient of friction (COF) data show that the gel lubricant has a better tribological performance than 150BS base lubricant oil. Finally, XPS was performed and offered valuable information about the lubrication mechanism during the friction.

Significantly promoted SO2 uptake by the mixture of N-methylated ethylene imine polymer and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrazolate

A novel class of hybrid solvents (mEIP:Tetz) comprising of N-methylated ethylene imine polymer (mEIP) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrazolate ([Emim][Tetz]) were developed for the highly efficient and reversible capture of SO₂. The synergistic interactions rather than simple mixing between mEIP and [Emim][Tetz] were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Besides, it was experimentally demonstrated that mEIP:Tetz mixtures exhibited improved kinetics for SO₂ absorption, and the production of viscous solids were completely eliminated, compared with using mEIP alone. More significantly, an exceedingly high solubility of 0.308 g SO₂·g^-1 absorbent in 2mEIP:8Tetz was received for trapping SO₂ from simulated flue gas containing 2000 ppm SO₂, which was much higher than most of the results reported in previous literatures under the same conditions. Finally, the absorption and desorption mechanisms were proposed according to the results of FTIR and ¹H NMR analysis.

Selective Separation of HNO3 and HCl by Extraction: The Investigation on the Noncovalent Interaction between Extractants and Acids by Density Functional Theory

There is a huge demand for the highly selective separation of HNO₃ and HCl in many industries, and solvent extraction is considered a feasible method. In this article, DFT calculations were performed to investigate the interactions between acids and extractants including alcohols, ketones, phosphorus, and amines. One of the significant findings to emerge from this study is that amines bind to acids through ion association. Nevertheless, the interaction between acids and alcohols, ketones, and phosphorus with a (RO)₃P═O structure is mainly dominated by hydrogen bonds. The change of Gibbs free energy in the extraction process shows that the phosphorus ((RO)₃P═O) is superior to other types of extractants in the selective separation of HNO₃ and HCl. Furthermore, after the alkoxyl group (RO-) in phosphorus ((RO)₃P═O) is replaced by RN- or R- with less electronegativity, the interaction between HCl and the substituted extractants transitions from a hydrogen bond to ion association, but there are still strong hydrogen bonds between them and HNO₃. That will lead to a decrease in the selectivity of phosphorus due to the change in interaction types. This new understanding should help the design and screening of efficient extractants for the separation of mineral acids.

Multicomponent crystals of clotrimazole: a combined theoretical and experimental study

Compared with clotrimazole, some multicomponent crystals showed an improvement in solubility and dissolution rate.

Theoretical Investigations on the Excited-State Dynamics of an Al3+ Fluorescence Sensor

Twisted internal charge transfer (TICT) states are of fundamental importance during the photo-physical processes of dyes and sensors. In this contribution, excited-state dynamics of an Al³⁺ fluorescence sensor 1-{[(2-hydroxyphenyl)-imino]methyl}naphthalen-2-ol based on the turn-on signal is clarified. Two different dark TICT states are observed by exploring the excited-state potential energy surface. With the twist of the C2-N bond, the two dark states can be reached facilely, which induce the experimentally observed weak fluorescence of the sensor. The sensing mechanism is then uncovered by investigating the electronic coupling between the sensor and analyte. Al³⁺ is proved to form strong coordination bonds with the sensor, which restricts the motion of the C2-N bond. Consequently, the TICT states are eliminated, which generate the turn-on signal. This sensing mechanism is trustworthy and intrinsically different from the previously proposed one, which would shed some light on the design of turn-on sensors.

van der Waals potential: an important complement to molecular electrostatic potential in studying intermolecular interactions

Electrostatics and van der Waals (vdW) interactions are two major components of intermolecular weak interactions. Electrostatic potential has been a very popular function in revealing electrostatic interaction between the system under study and other species, while the role of vdW potential was less recognized and has long been ignored. In this paper, we explicitly present definition of vdW potential, describe its implementation details, and demonstrate its important practical values by several examples. We hope this work can arouse researchers' attention to the vdW potential and promote its application in the studies of weak interactions. Calculation, visualization, and quantitative analysis of the vdW potential have been supported by our freely available code Multiwfn ( http://sobereva.com/multiwfn ).

A density functional theory study on the electronic and adsorption characteristics of cyclo M9N9 (M = B and Al)

On the basis of experimental and theoretical calculations conducted for cyclo C₁₈, we predicted two novel inorganic cyclo M₉N₉ (M = B and Al) molecules. Because of the significant difference in electronegativity between M and N atoms, M-N bonds were ionic. Furthermore, the interaction of cyclo M₉N₉ with cyclopropylpiperazine (CPPP) was investigated. In cyclo M₉N₉, each M atom could adsorb one CPPP molecule. The CPPP molecules exhibited a preference to remain outside cyclo M₉N₉ molecules. Depending on the structural characteristics of CPPP molecules, the exciting part is that up to four CPPP molecules could be adsorbed on the exterior surface of cyclo M₉N₉. We calculated adsorption energies and analyzed the main structural parameters in the process. The research results indicated that adsorption on cyclo Al₉N₉ was energetically more favorable than that on cyclo B₉N₉. The cyclo M₉N₉ have considerable potential in the future. Graphical abstract.

Polymer/molecular semiconductor all-organic composites for high-temperature dielectric energy storage

Dielectric polymers for electrostatic energy storage suffer from low energy density and poor efficiency at elevated temperatures, which constrains their use in the harsh-environment electronic devices, circuits, and systems. Although incorporating insulating, inorganic nanostructures into dielectric polymers promotes the temperature capability, scalable fabrication of high-quality nanocomposite films remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report an all-organic composite comprising dielectric polymers blended with high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors that exhibits concurrent high energy density (3.0 J cm⁻³) and high discharge efficiency (90%) up to 200 °C, far outperforming the existing dielectric polymers and polymer nanocomposites. We demonstrate that molecular semiconductors immobilize free electrons via strong electrostatic attraction and impede electric charge injection and transport in dielectric polymers, which leads to the substantial performance improvements. The all-organic composites can be fabricated into large-area and high-quality films with uniform dielectric and capacitive performance, which is crucially important for their successful commercialization and practical application in high-temperature electronics and energy storage devices.

Dielectric polymers are widely used in electrostatic energy storage but suffer from low energy density and efficiency at elevated temperatures. Here, the authors show that all-organic composites containing high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors exhibit excellent capacitive performance at 200 °C.

Molecular docking, photocatalytic activity and biomedical investigations of some metal complexes

Metal(II)-(furfural-L-his) complexes with a potentially bidentate furfural-L-his have been synthesized. Furfural-L-his and its Co/Ni/Cu/Zn(II)-(furfural-L-his) complexes have been optimized by DFT. The structural features were determined from their elemental analyses, molar conductance, magnetic, UV-Vis, IR, mass, ¹H NMR and EPR spectral studies. On the basis of electronic spectral data and magnetic measurements, suitable geometry has been proposed for each complex. The redox behaviour of Cu(II)-(furfural-L-his) complex has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Thermal decomposition profiles are consistent with the proposed formulation of Co/Ni/Cu/Zn(II)-(furfural-L-his) complexes. PXRD studies reveal that furfural-L-his and Zn(II)-(furfural-L-his) complex are of nanomeric structure. SEM images of furfural-L-his exhibit flake-like morphology. Photodegradation of methylene blue dye indicates that they are photocatalyticaly efficient. NBO and NPA shown considerable reduction in the formal charge on metal ions. Docking analysis with EGFR and cyclooxygenase-2 receptor has been performed to find the best binding energy. Antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity against standard at variable concentrations revealed that the Co/Ni/Cu/Zn(II)-(furfural-L-his) complexes show enhanced antimicrobial, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities as compared to furfural-L-his. Furfural-L-his and Cu(II)-(furfural-L-his) complex have been tested against human ovarian cancer cells, which showed that Cu(II)-(furfural-L-his) complex exhibited promising anticancer activity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Amino and hydroxy substitution influences pyrene-DNA binding

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA binding is an essential step in PAH-induced carcinogenesis. A large number of PAHs contain substituents, it is unclear whether functional groups will influence the PAH-DNA binding. Here, we investigated amino (-NH₂) and hydroxy (-OH) substitution on pyrene-DNA binding. Because of the considerable effects of electrostatic surface potential (ESP), -NH₂ substitution significantly facilitated binding by increasing the binding constant (log K_A) from 4.14 L mol^-1 to 12.31 L mol^-1, while -OH substitution inhibited binding by reducing log K_A to 3.68 L mol^-1. Spectroscopy results revealed that pyrene and its derivatives were able to bind with thymine to induce DNA damage or double helix distortion. Quantum chemical calculations showed that -NH₂ substitution induces hydrogen bond formation, thereby enhancing the binding of pyrene with DNA; moreover, binding force changes due to -OH substitution may not be an essential factor. All structural descriptors were not correlated with the quenching constant (K_SV) or binding constant, indicating that changes in physicochemical properties shows no influence on pyrene-DNA binding. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the contribution of functional groups to PAH-DNA binding.

Eutectics and Salt of Dapsone With Hydroxybenzoic Acids: Binary Phase Diagrams, Characterization and Evaluation

Poor solubility and low dissolution rate of pharmaceuticals in many cases largely limit their bioavailability and efficacy. One of the promising approaches to improve dissolution behavior is to develop new multicomponent solid forms. Herein we use this strategy to synthesize new multicomponent solids of dapsone (DAP), which belongs to BCS class IV, with a series of hydroxybenzoic acid coformers. A new salt of DAP with 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid (26DHBA) and 4 eutectics with other hydroxybenzoic acids were reported through comprehensive characterizations using powder X-ray diffraction DSC, and vibrational spectroscopy techniques. The salt formation was evidenced by the presence of ionic interactions detected using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, and the stoichiometric ratio was determined to be 1:1. Binary phase diagrams were established to determine the composition of eutectics. The cause for salt and eutectic selection was further understood by computing molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface where 26DHBA shows the greatest acidity. Moreover, the powder dissolution study and microenvironment pH measurement reveal that both salt and eutectics of DAP display improvements on the dissolution rate and equilibrium concentration in which the acidity of coformers plays a dominant role. Our findings provide a direction for future coformer screening of multicomponent solids with improved pharmaceutical properties.

High-performance particulate matter including nanoscale particle removal by a self-powered air filter

Particulate matter (PM) pollutants, including nanoscale particles (NPs), have been considered serious threats to public health. In this work, a self-powered air filter that can be used in high-efficiency removal of PM, including NPs, is presented. An ionic liquid-polymer (ILP) composite is irregularly distributed onto a sponge network to form an ILP@MF filter. Enabled by its unique electrochemical properties, the ILP@MF filter can remove PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ with high efficiencies of 99.59% and 99.75%, respectively, after applying a low voltage. More importantly, the charged ILP@MF filter realizes a superior removal for NPs with an efficiency of 93.77%. A micro-button lithium cell or silicon-based solar panel is employed as a power supply platform to fabricate a portable and self-powered face mask, which exhibits excellent efficacy in particulate removal compared to commercial masks. This work shows a great promise for high-performance purification devices and facile mask production to remove particulate pollutants.

Mechanistic Study on AgI-Catalyzed Oxidative Cross-Coupling/Cyclization between Terminal Alkynes and β-Enamino Esters under Base Conditions

A combined computational and experimental study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the Ag^I-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling/cyclization of terminal alkynes with β-enamino esters. The results indicated a more favorable Ag^I/Ag⁰-catalyzed radical mechanism (than cationic mechanism) which involves three key stages: (i) the initiation of radical species, (ii) the cyclization, and (iii) the formal 1,2-H shift. Meanwhile, the Ag^I species was found to be the active initiator for the delocalized nitrogen radical species generation, and Ag₂CO₃ acts as an effective oxidant to initiate the β-enamino ester radical formation. Furthermore, it was shown that the silver acetylide is the key intermediate in the title reaction and that the coordination of solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) regulates the electronic properties of the Ag center better as compared with base 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), thereby enhancing the negative charge of the reaction sites and promoting the cyclization process. Finally, the DBU was revealed to play a key role in the final 1,2-H shift process through the formation of [DBU-H]⁺, acting as a proton shuttle to assist the proton migration process. The theoretical results provide key insights into the Ag^I/Ag⁰-catalyzed radical mechanism and guidelines for further development of Ag-catalyzed synthetic methods.

Molecular docking, quantum chemical computational and vibrational studies on bicyclic heterocycle "6-nitro-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine": Anti-cancer agent

The heterocyclic aromatic compounds are primarily used to make pharmaceutical and agrochemicals. In addition, these compounds can be chosen as antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, electro and opto-electronic devices, polymer material, dye stuff, developers, etc. On the account of this, the heterocyclic aromatic 6-nitro-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine (6N3DB) was chosen and the structure is optimized to predict the important properties of it. The structural parameters such as bond length and bond angle have been obtained by DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) basis set to know the geometry and orientation of 6N3DB. The molecule has been characterized by FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopic techniques to predict the functional groups, vibrational modes and aromatic nature of 6N3DB. The chemical shifts of ¹H and ¹³C have been obtained experimentally and compared with the theoretical data. The parameters such as the band gap between HOMO-LUMO orbitals, λ_max, and electron transition probability in frontier orbitals have been estimated to know the NLO and corrosion inhibition activity. HOMO-LUMO orbital diagram has been obtained for different energy levels and their band gap energies have been compared with UV-vis band gap values. The chemical significance of the molecule has been explained using ELF, LOL, and RDG. The binding energy and intermolecular energy values indicate that the title compound possesses anti-cancer property through hydrolase inhibition activity.

Role of glycine on sulfuric acid-ammonia clusters formation: Transporter or participator

Glycine (Gly) is ubiquitous in the atmosphere and plays a vital role in new particle formation (NPF). However, the potential mechanism of its on sulfuric acid (SA) - ammonia (A) clusters formation under various atmospheric conditions is still ambiguous. Herein, a (Gly)_x·(SA)_y·(A)_z (z ≤ x + y ≤ 3) multicomponent system was investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) combined with Atmospheric Cluster Dynamics Code (ACDC) at different temperatures and precursor concentrations. The results show that Gly, with one carboxyl (-COOH) and one amine (-NH₂) group, can interact strongly with SA and A in two directions through hydrogen bonds or proton transfer. Within the relevant range of atmospheric concentrations, Gly can enhance the formation rate of SA-A-based clusters, especially at low temperature, low [SA], and median [A]. The enhancement (R) of Gly on NPF can be up to 340 at T = 218.15 K, [SA] = 10⁴, [A] = 10⁹, and [Gly] = 10⁷ molecules/cm³. In addition, the main growth paths of clusters show that Gly molecules participate into cluster formation in the initial stage and eventually leave the cluster by evaporation in subsequent cluster growth at low [Gly], it acts as an important "transporter" to connect the smaller and larger cluster. With the increase of [Gly], it acts as a "participator" directly participating in NPF.

Crystal Structure and Computational Study on Methyl-3-Aminothiophene-2-Carboxylate

Methyl-3-aminothiophene-2-carboxylate (matc) is a key intermediate in organic synthesis, medicine, dyes, and pesticides. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that matc crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system P21/c space group. Three matc molecules in the symmetric unit are crystallographically different and further linked through the N–H⋯O and N–H⋯N hydrogen bond interactions along with weak C–H⋯S and C–H⋯Cg interactions, which is verified by the three-dimensional Hirshfeld surface, two-dimensional fingerprint plot, and reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis. The interaction energies within crystal packing are visualized through dispersion, electrostatic, and total energies using three-dimensional energy-framework analyses. The dispersion energy dominates in crystal packing. To better understand the properties of matc, electrostatic potential (ESP) and frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) were also calculated and discussed. Experimental and calculation results suggested that amino and carboxyl groups can participate in various inter- and intra-interactions.

How to complete the tautomerization and substrate-assisted activation prior to C–C bond fission by meta-cleavage product hydrolase LigY?

Two feasible binding modes could complete the C–C bond fission of the substrate. One is the bidentate mode and five-coordination, and the other is the monodentate mode and five-coordination.

Theoretical insights into selective separation of trivalent actinide and lanthanide by ester and amide ligands based on phenanthroline skeleton

Phenanthroline based ligands have shown potential performance for partitioning trivalent actinides from lanthanides. In this work, we have explored four ester and amide ligands based on the phenanthroline skeleton and elucidated the separation mechanism between Am(iii) and Eu(iii) ions. The molecular geometries and extraction reactions of the metal-ligand complexes were modeled by using scalar-relativistic density functional theory. The results show that the amide based ligands have stronger coordination ability with the metal ions than the corresponding ester based ligands. According to the thermodynamic results, ligands N,N'-diethyl-N,N'-ditolyl-2,9-diamide-1,10-phenanthroline (L2) and N,N'-(1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diyl)bis(N-ethyl-P-methyl-N-(p-tolyl)phosphinic amide) (L4) appear to have the strongest complexing ability, which is supported by the result of electrostatic potential (ESP) and the M-OL bond orders. Moreover, ligand L2 has excellent selectivity for Am(iii)/Eu(iii) among the four ligands. Additionally, the bonding properties between the metal ions and the ligands reveal that the Am(iii)/Eu(iii) selectivity stems from the Am-N bonds with more covalent character, which is supported by the analysis of the hardness of the ligands and the bond orders. This work provides useful information for understanding the Am(iii)/Eu(iii) selectivity of phenanthroline derived ligands bearing ester and amide groups.

Consistency and variability of cocrystals containing positional isomers: the self-assembly evolution mechanism of supramolecular synthons of cresol-piperazine

The disposition of functional groups can induce variations in the nature and type of interactions and hence affect the molecular recognition and self-assembly mechanism in cocrystals. To better understand the formation of cocrystals on a molecular level, the effects of disposition of functional groups on the formation of cocrystals were systematically and comprehensively investigated using cresol isomers (o-, m-, p-cresol) as model compounds. Consistency and variability in these cocrystals containing positional isomers were found and analyzed. The structures, molecular recognition and self-assembly mechanism of supramolecular synthons in solution and in their corresponding cocrystals were verified by a combined experimental and theoretical calculation approach. It was found that the heterosynthons (heterotrimer or heterodimer) combined with O-H⋯N hydrogen bonding played a significant role. Hirshfeld surface analysis and computed interaction energy values were used to determine the hierarchical ordering of the weak interactions. The quantitative analyses of charge transfers and molecular electrostatic potential were also applied to reveal and verify the reasons for consistency and variability. Finally, the molecular recognition, self-assembly and evolution process of the supramolecular synthons in solution were investigated. The results confirm that the supramolecular synthon structures formed initially in solution would be carried over to the final cocrystals, and the supramolecular synthon structures are the precursors of cocrystals and the information memory of the cocrystallization process, which is evidence for classical nucleation theory.

Exploring Nature and Predicting Strength of Hydrogen Bonds: A Correlation Analysis Between Atoms-in-Molecules Descriptors, Binding Energies, and Energy Components of Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory

This work studies the underlying nature of H-bonds (HBs) of different types and strengths and tries to predict binding energies (BEs) based on the properties derived from wave function analysis. A total of 42 HB complexes constructed from 28 neutral and 14 charged monomers were considered. This set was designed to sample a wide range of HB strengths to obtain a complete view about HBs. BEs were derived with the accurate coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples correction (CCSD(T))(T) method and the physical components of the BE were investigated by symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). Quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules (QTAIM) descriptors and other HB indices were calculated based on high-quality density functional theory wave functions. We propose a new and rigorous classification of H-bonds (HBs) based on the SAPT decomposition. Neutral complexes are either classified as "very weak" HBs with a BE ≥ -2.5 kcal/mol that are mainly dominated by both dispersion and electrostatic interactions or as "weak-to-medium" HBs with a BE varying between -2.5 and -14.0 kcal/mol that are only dominated by electrostatic interactions. On the other hand, charged complexes are divided into "medium" HBs with a BE in the range of -11.0 to -15.0 kcal/mol, which are mainly dominated by electrostatic interactions, or into "strong" HBs whose BE is more negative than -15.0 kcal/mol, which are mainly dominated by electrostatic together with induction interactions. Among various explored correlations between BEs and wave function-based HB descriptors, a fairly satisfactory correlation was found for the electron density at the bond critical point (BCP; ρ_BCP ) of HBs. The fitted equation for neutral complexes is BE/kcal/mol =  - 223.08 × ρ_BCP /a. u. + 0.7423 with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 14.7%, while that for charged complexes is BE/kcal/mol =  - 332.34 × ρ_BCP /a. u. - 1.0661 with a MAPE of 10.0%. In practice, these equations may be used for a quick estimation of HB BEs, for example, for intramolecular HBs or large HB networks in biomolecules. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mechanistic insight into the self-coupling of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural to C12 fuel intermediate catalyzed by ionic liquids

DFT calculations have been carried out to obtain insight into the self-coupling of biomass-based 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) to C₁₂ fuel intermediate 5,5′-dihydroxymethyl furoin (DHMF) catalyzed by ionic liquids (ILs). It was found that acetate-based IL or thiazolium IL in combination with the additive Et₃N show high catalytic performance, wherein N-heterocyclic carbons (NHCs) derived from the cations of ILs act as the nucleophiles and the protonated acetate anion or the [Et₃NH]⁺ acts as the proton shuttle. The effectiveness of this catalysis is attributed to the proton-shared three-center-four-electron (3c-4e) bonds between HMF and HOAc or [Et₃NH]⁺, which stabilize the transition states and the intermediates. In addition, the results of the calculations also confirm that the nucleophilicity and basicity of NHCs are key factors for the self-coupling reaction. These results rationalize the experimental findings and offer valuable insights into understanding the catalysis of ILs.

The self-coupling of HMF to DHMF catalyzed by ionic liquids has been rationalized well by performing DFT calculations.

Theoretical Studies on the Electronic Structure Parameters and Reactive Activity of Neu5Gc and Neu5Ac under Food Processing Solvent Environment

The animal product hazard factor N-glycolylneuraminic (Neu5Gc) and brain nutrient substance N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) were studied at the M062X/6-311 + G(d,p) geometry optimization level. We considered the electronic structure parameters with different solvents: (benzene ε = 2.27, acetic acid ε = 6.25, ethanol ε = 24.85, lactic acid ε = 22.00, formic acid ε = 51.1, water ε = 78.35). The maximum molecular surface electrostatic potentials, which were 62.77 for Neu5Gc and 60.90 kcal/mol for Neu5Ac, are both located on the carboxyl group hydrogen. The orbital analysis showed that the amide group and carboxyl group confer the sites with susceptibility to nucleophilic and electrophilic attack, respectively. The solvent effect showed that polar solvents, such as formic acid and water, can enhance the two molecules’ nucleophilic activity. To better understand the roles of the hydroxyl group in the two molecules, the independent gradient model theory confirmed the four intramolecular hydrogen bonds of Neu5Gc at gas phase, whereas Neu5Ac only has two. The lowest bond dissociation energy in solvent occurs at O7-H, which is 104.03 kcal/mol in water for Neu5Gc and 104.57 kcal/mol in lactic acid for Neu5Ac. The lowest proton affinity value for Neu5Gc (20.34 kcal/mol) and Neu5Ac (20.76 kcal/mol) was both occur at the carboxyl group O6-H under ethanol. The antioxidant mechanisms of the two sialic acid are prone to sequential proton-loss electron transfer under polar or non-polar solvents.

Influence of nanopore density on ethylene/acetylene separation by monolayer graphene

We designed a monolayer nanoporous graphene membrane and revealed the influence of nanopore density on its ethylene/acetylene separation performance by employing molecular dynamics simulations. Our results indicate that an optimal nanopore density exists for permeation flux and selectivity.

Designing High-Performance Composite Electrodes for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries: Experimental and Computational Investigation

Highly catalytic electrodes play a vital role in exploiting the capability of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), but they suffer from a tedious synthesis process and ambiguous interaction mechanisms for catalytic sites. Herein, a facile urea pyrolysis process was applied to prepare graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphite felt (GF@CN), and by the virtue of a density functional theory-assisted calculation, the electron-rich pyridinic nitrogen atom of CN granules is demonstrated as the adsorption center for redox species and plays the key role in improving the performance of VRFBs, with 800 cycles and an energy efficiency of 75% at 150 mA cm^-2. Such experimental and computational collaborative investigations guide a realizable and cost-effective solution for other high-power flow batteries.

The potential role of malonic acid in the atmospheric sulfuric acid - Ammonia clusters formation

Malonic acid (MOA), one of the major dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) in aerosols, has been identified experimentally and computationally to be a strong acid. However, its potential role in the atmospheric clusters formation is still ambiguous. Hence, the participant mechanism of MOA on the formation of atmospheric sulfuric acid (SA)- ammonia (A) clusters was investigated by combining computational methods with atmospheric cluster dynamics code (ACDC). The most stable molecular structures obtained at the M06-2X/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory shows that the added MOA molecule in the SA-A-based clusters presents a promotion on the interactions between SA and A molecules. ACDC simulations indicate directly an obvious enhancement strength R_MOA on the clusters formation rates at 218 K and the concentration of MOA ([MOA]) larger than 10⁸ molecules cm^-3, up to five orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, enhancement strength of MOA is compared with that of glycolic acid, and as expected, MOA presents a superior enhancement strength. Both R_MOA and the compared enhancement strength (r_com) present a positive dependency on [MOA] and a negative dependency on [SA]. With the increase of [A], both R_MOA and r_com (except at [SA] = 10⁴ molecules cm^-3) first increase, reaching the maximum value and then decrease. Finally, a catalytic participant mechanism of MOA where MOA acts as a mediate bridge for the formation of pure SA-A-based clusters has been identified by tracing the main growth pathways of the system.