Influence of structure and solubility of chain transfer agents on the RAFT control of dispersion polymerisation in scCO2

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerisation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) is performed in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) with 2-(dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionic acid (DDMAT) present as chain transfer agent (CTA) and surprisingly shows good control over PMMA molecular weight. Kinetic studies of the polymerisation in scCO2also confirm these data. By contrast, only poor control of MMA polymerisation is obtained in toluene solution, as would be expected for this CTA which is better suited for acrylates. In this regard, we select a range of CTAs and use them to determine the parameters that must be considered for good control in dispersion polymerisation in scCO2. A thorough investigation of the nucleation stage during the dispersion polymerisation reveals an unexpected “in situtwo-stage” mechanism that strongly determines how the CTA works. Finally, using a novel computational solvation model, we identify a correlation between polymerisation control and degree of solubility of the CTAs. All of this ultimately gives rise to a simple, elegant and counterintuitive guideline to select the best CTA for RAFT dispersion polymerisation in scCO

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Application of the QTAIM/CCFDF model for the study of electronic structures for chlorofluoromethanes

Orientador: Roy Edward BrunsDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de QuímicaResumo: Foram calculadas as intensidades fundamentais vibracionais no infravermelho e as contribuições QTAIM/CCFDF do tensor polar atômico, nos níveis MP2/6-311++G(3d,3p) e QCISD/cc-pVTZ, para os clorofluorometanos. Um erro rms de 21,2 km/mol foi encontrado entre as intensidades experimentais e as obtidas no nível MP2/6-311++G(3d,3p), e 20,0 km/mol, entre as intensidades experimentais e as obtidas no nível QCISD/cc-pVTZ. O erro rms encontrado entre as intensidades obtidas das funções de onda e as calculadas através dos parâmetros QTAIM/CCFDF foi de 0,016 km/mol para o nível MP2/6-311++G(3d,3p), e 0,018 km/mol para o nível QCISD/cc-pVTZ. O erro para os elementos do tensor polar atômico e derivada média do momento dipolar entre os níveis QCISD/cc-pVTZ, MP2/6-311++G(3d,3p) e os valores experimentais foi da ordem de 0,06 u.a. Apesar do bom resultado para a derivada média do momento dipolar, as contribuições CCFDF não foram calculadas com a mesma exatidão. Apenas os fluorometanos parecem ter estruturas eletrônicas que se ajustam ao modelo simples de eletronegatividade. o átomo de flúor não tem sua capacidade de atrair os elétrons do átomo central saturada, enquanto a carga efetiva do cloro parece depender da quantidade e identidade dos demais átomos substituintes. Esse efeito de saturação separa as moléculas estudadas em três grupos: fluorometanos, clorometanos e clorofluorometanos. As derivadas médias do momento dipolar seguem melhor o modelo de Siegbahn do que cargas de fluxo zero, apesar contribuições dinâmicas que não se anulam completamente. A regra da soma para as derivadas médias do momento dipolar se mostrou eficiente para o átomo de carbono. Os átomos terminais não tiveram a mesma precisão para a regra da soma. A anisotropia calculada no nível QCISD/cc-pVTZ, teve um concordância superior com os valores experimentais, quando comparada com valores do nível MP2/6-311++G(3d,3p)Abstract: The infrared fundamental intensities and QTAIM/CCFDF contributions to the atomic polar tensor were calculated at MP2/6-311++G(3d, 3p) and QCISD/cc-pVTZ levels, for the chlorofluoromethanes. A rms error of 21.2 km/mol was obtained between experimental and MP2/6-311++G(3d, 3p) intensities. The rms error between experimental and QCISD/cc-pVTZ intensities was 20.0 km/mol. The rms error found between intensities obtained directly from the wave functions and calculated through QTAIM/CCFDF parameters was 0.016 km/mol for the MP2/6-311++G(3d, 3p) level, and 0.018 km/mol for the QCISD/cc-pVTZ level. The error between the theoretical atomic polar tensor elements and mean dipole moment derivatives compared to experimental values is about 0.06 a.u. Despite good results for the mean dipole moment derivatives, the CCFDF contributions have not been calculated with the same accuracy. The fluoromethanes seem to be the only group whose electronic structures fit the simple electronegativity model. The fluorine atom does not has its ability to drain charge from the central atom altered, while the chlorine effective charge seems to depend on the number and identity of other terminal atoms. This saturating effect separates the studied molecules in three groups: fluoromethanes, chloromethane and chlorofluoromethanes. Mean dipole moment derivatives have a better fit to Siegbahn¿s model than zero-flux charges, beside to their dynamic contributions. The sum rule for mean dipole moment derivatives was efficient for the carbon atom. Terminal atoms did not have the same accuracy for the sum rule. QCISD/cc-pVTZ anisotropy values were closer to experimental values, when compared to the MP2/6-311++G(3d, 3p) levelMestradoFísico-QuímicaMestre em Químic

Geography as a Marginal Social Science

International audienceWe discuss two main approaches to decompose the Møller–Plesset perturbation theory molecular energies into atomic contributions within the interacting quantum atoms (IQA) formalism, as implemented in the programs Morphy and AIMAll. For this purpose, the so-called intraatomic energies (also known as self-energies) of a representative set of 55 small molecules are compared with each other. The origin of the possible discrepancies between both approaches is analyzed, and linear models linking the two approaches are proposed for each atom type