Structure Of Solvent Molecules Research Articles

Soft confinement of water in aliphatic alcohols: MIR/NIR spectroscopic and DFT studies

Here, we present the first examination of the state of water under a soft confinement in eight aliphatic alcohols including cyclopentanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol, 1-decanol, 2-octanol and 3-octanol. Due to relatively large size of the aliphatic part, water has limited solubility in all studied alcohols. Water content in saturated solutions was determined by Karl Fischer titration and correlated with the spectroscopic data. This way, we determined the molar absorptivity of the ν2+ν3 combination mode. The effect of addition of water and temperature variation was monitored by ATR-IR and NIR spectroscopy. Analysis of the experimental results was guided by DFT calculations, which provided the structures, harmonic MIR spectra and binding energies of selected alcohol-water complexes.Our studies demonstrated that the state of water in alcohols is related to its solubility, which depends on structure of solvent molecules. The solubility of water in 1-alcohols decreases on increasing of the chain length, but for long chain alcohols this effect is less evident. More apparent solubility reduction appears in going from the primary to secondary alcohols. The effective shielding of the OH group in the linear alcohols is achieved when on both sides of the OH group are ethyl or longer substituents, while the shielding by methyl groups is less efficient. Water is much better soluble in the cyclic alcohols as compared with the linear ones due to better accessibility of the OH group.The soft confinement of water in aliphatic alcohols allows for flexible structural arrangements and interactions. Even at low water content, we did not observe free molecules of water. At these conditions, the molecules of water are singly or doubly bonded to the OH groups from the alcohol. Increasing solubility of water reduces the number of the free OH groups and leads to formation of water clusters. Obtained results allow concluding that in alcohols with sizable aliphatic part the molecules of water are confined in the vicinity of the OH groups.

Consequences of Pore Polarity and Solvent Structure on Epoxide Ring-Opening in Lewis and Brønsted Acid Zeolites.

The structure of solvent molecules within zeolite pores influences the rates and selectivities of catalytic reactions by altering the free energies of reactive species. Here, we examine the consequences of these effects on the kinetics and thermodynamics of 1,2-epoxybutane (C4H8O) ring-opening with methanol (CH3OH) in acetonitrile (CH3CN) cosolvent over Lewis acidic (Zr-BEA) and Brønsted acidic (Al-BEA) zeolites of varying (SiOH) x density. Despite ostensibly identical reaction mechanisms across materials, turnover rates depend differently on (SiOH) x density between acid types. (SiOH) x -rich Zr-BEA (Zr-BEA-OH) provides ∼10 times greater rates than a (SiOH) x -poor material (Zr-BEA-F), while Al-BEA-OH and Al-BEA-F give turnover rates within a factor of 2. Zr-BEA-OH shows more positive activation enthalpies and entropies than Zr-BEA-F across the range of [CH3OH], which reflect the displacement of solvent molecules and lead to greater rates in Zr-BEA-OH due to the dominant role of entropic gains. Measurements of the density and composition of solvent within the pores show that the (SiOH) x nests within Zr-BEA-OH promote hydrogen-bonded solvent structures distinct from Zr-BEA-F, while the Brønsted acid sites confer interactions similar to (SiOH) x nests and give solvent structures within Al-BEA-F that resemble those within Al-BEA-OH. Correlations between apparent activation enthalpies and C4H8O adsorption enthalpies show that interactions with solvent molecules give proportional changes to both C4H8O adsorption and ring-opening transition state formation. The differences in intrapore environment carry consequences for both rates and regioselectivities of epoxide ring-opening, as demonstrated by product regioselectivities that increase by a factor of 3 in response to changes in solvent composition and the type of acid site in the *BEA structure (i.e., Lewis or Brønsted). These results demonstrate the ability to control rates, regioselectivities, and adsorption thermodynamics relevant for industrially relevant liquid-phase reactions through the design of noncovalent interactions among solvating molecules, reactive species, and (SiOH) x functions.

Insights into the effects of solvent properties in graphene based electric double-layer capacitors with organic electrolytes

Abstract Organic electrolytes are widely used in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). In this work, the microstructure of planar graphene-based EDLCs with different organic solvents are investigated with molecular dynamics simulations. Results show that an increase of solvent polarity could weaken the accumulation of counter-ions nearby the electrode surface, due to the screen of electrode charges and relatively lower ionic desolvation. It thus suggests that solvents with low polarity could be preferable to yield high EDL capacitance. Meanwhile, the significant effects of the size and structure of solvent molecules are reflected by non-electrostatic molecule-electrode interactions, further influencing the adsorption of solvent molecules on electrode surface. Compared with dimethyl carbonate, γ-butyrolactone, and propylene carbonate, acetonitrile with relatively small-size and linear structure owns weak non-electrostatic interactions, which favors the easy re-orientation of solvent molecules. Moreover, the shift of solvent orientation in surface layer, from parallel orientation to perpendicular orientation relative to the electrode surface, deciphers the solvent twin-peak behavior near negative electrode. The as-obtained insights into the roles of solvent properties on the interplays among particles and electrodes elucidate the solvent influences on the microstructure and capacitive behavior of EDLCs using organic electrolytes.

Molecular Dynamics Study of Confined Fluid in Graphene Nanopores

With the miniaturization of the NEMS/MEMS, the size effect becomes significant in the nanochannels/nanopores through which fluid flows as well as the interface effect. By all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the ion transportation is investigated in nanopores as well as the physical properties at solid-liquid interface. To describe the anion and cation distributions of NaCl solution in vicinity of graphene nanopores, a new MD model was developed, taking thermal vibration of wall atoms, the structure of solvent molecules and ion sizes into consideration. The main peak locations of ion distributions stayed unchanged by changing the nanopore size, the solution concentration and the electric field strength. The ionic currents increased linearly with the diameter and the electric field strength, while it increased non-linearly with the solution concentration.

Structures of Prostacyclin Synthase and Its Complexes with Substrate Analog and Inhibitor Reveal a Ligand-specific Heme Conformation Change

Prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) is a cytochrome P450 (P450) enzyme that catalyzes production of prostacyclin from prostaglandin H(2). PGIS is unusual in that it catalyzes an isomerization rather than a monooxygenation, which is typical of P450 enzymes. To understand the structural basis for prostacyclin biosynthesis in greater detail, we have determined the crystal structures of ligand-free, inhibitor (minoxidil)-bound and substrate analog U51605-bound PGIS. These structures demonstrate a stereo-specific substrate binding and suggest features of the enzyme that facilitate isomerization. Unlike most microsomal P450s, where large substrate-induced conformational changes take place at the distal side of the heme, conformational changes in PGIS are observed at the proximal side and in the heme itself. The conserved and extensive heme propionate-protein interactions seen in all other P450s, which are largely absent in the ligand-free PGIS, are recovered upon U51605 binding accompanied by water exclusion from the active site. In contrast, when minoxidil binds, the propionate-protein interactions are not recovered and water molecules are largely retained. These findings suggest that PGIS represents a divergent evolution of the P450 family, in which a heme barrier has evolved to ensure strict binding specificity for prostaglandin H(2), leading to a radical-mediated isomerization with high product fidelity. The U51605-bound structure also provides a view of the substrate entrance and product exit channels.

Solvent effects versus concentration effects in determining rates of base-catalyzed keto-enol tautomerization

Solvent effects of homogeneous media (such as solvent–water mixtures) on chemical reactivity may be interpreted as due to solvent polarity and/or molecular structure of solvent molecules. In microheterogeneous media (such as aqueous micellar solutions), solvent effects on reaction rates must include concentration effects, in addition to changes in the solvent polarity of the micelle interface where the reaction is assumed to occur. In this work, we measured the rates of keto-enol tautomerization of the 2-acetylcyclohexanone (ACHE) and 2-acetyl-1-tetralone (ATLO) systems in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)–water mixtures and in aqueous micellar solutions with both anionic and cationic surfactants and in the presence of buffers. The results appear as an ideal framework to understand the paramount importance of the specific molecular structure of solvent molecules in determining chemical reactivity versus solvent polarity or even concentration effects.

Electroconduction of lithium perchlorate solutions in sulfones

Electroconduction and viscosity of 0.0007–0.0022 to 1–1.15 M lithium perchlorate solutions in methylethylsulfone, methylpropylsulfone, methylbutylsulfone, sulfolane, 2,4-dimethylsulfolane, and 3-methoxysulfolane are studied at 30–50°C. It is found that properties of sulfolane and 3-methoxysulfolane differ and that the structure of solvent molecules has a considerable influence on transport parameters in sulfone electrolytes.

Direct ab initio dynamics study of the photoelectron detachment processes of the H 3O − anion

Direct ab initio dynamics calculations on the photoelectron detachment processes of H 3O − anion have been carried out by using HF/6-311G∗∗ full dimensional potential energy surface (PES). Total energy and the energy gradient of atoms were calculated in each time step. The excess energy was assumed to be zero at the starting point of the trajectory. The H 3O − anion is composed of two isomers, H −(H 2O) and OH −(H 2) in which H − and OH − anions are solvated by H 2O and H 2 molecules, respectively. The present calculations indicated that the available energy, yielded by the electron detachment of H −(H 2O), is almost distributed into the relative translational energy between fragments. On the other hand, the available energy in an OH −(H 2) isomer is partitioned into both the relative translational mode and internal modes of the fragments, although the latter energy is minor. The excitation of internal modes of the products were observed for only the detachment process of the OH −(H 2) complex. These are due to the fact that the structure of solvent molecules (H 2O and H 2) in each complex is significantly close to that of free molecules whereas the PES of the neutral state is always repulsive. The mechanism of the electron detachment process of H 3O − is discussed on the basis of theoretical results.

The Neurotoxicity of Organic Solvents Studied Using Synaptosomes and Neural Cell Cultures

The most common acute neurotoxic effect of organic solvents is their central nervous system (CNS) depressant effect. The molecular mechanism underlying this effect is not known. The purpose of our studies has been to evaluate the adverse effects of organic solvents on the CNS in vitro. Synaptosomal membranes, whole brain reaggregate and astrocyte cultures were studied. Our results suggest that cell membrane integral proteins are targets for solvent impact, but that there are differences among various cell types. In addition to lipophilicity, the structure of solvent molecules seems to be important when considering CNS toxicity. Organic solvents increase the fluidity of the membranes, which may disturb the lipid-protein interaction and the optimal functioning of the enzyme. However, direct effects of solvents on proteins cannot be excluded. In vitro cell models can be used in methods designed to predict acute neurotoxic effects of foreign compounds, and in studies of neurotoxic mechanisms.