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Initiation Step (initiation + step)
Selected AbstractsA hybrid density functional theory study of the low-temperature dimethyl ether combustion pathways.ISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 2-3 2002I: Chain-propagation Dimethyl ether (DME) has been proposed to be a promising alternative to conventional diesel fuel because of its favorable compression ignition property (high cetane number) and its soot-free combustion. A radical chain mechanism for hydrocarbon autoignition has been proposed for DME at low temperatures. In this mechanism, the chain initiation step consists of DME undergoing hydrogen abstraction by a highly reactive species (typically ·OH). The CH3O·H2 created in the initiation step then combines with O2; the subsequent CH3OCH2OO· radical is involved in a Lindemann-type mechanism, which can lead to the production of formaldehyde (CH2 = O) and ·OH. This concludes the chain-propagating step: the one ·OH produced then sustains the chain-reaction by creating another CH3O·H2. A relatively stable intermediate (·CH2OCH2OOH), formed via isomerization of CH3OCH2OO· in the chain-propagation step, can combine with a second O2 to produce a radical (·OOCH2OCH2OOH) that can potentially decompose into two ·OH radical (and other products). This path leads to chain-branching and an exponential increase in the rate of DME oxidation. We have used spin-polarized density functional theory with the Becke-3-parameter Lee,Parr,Yang exchange-correlation functional to calculate the structures and energies of key reactants, intermediates, and products involved in (and competing with) the chain-propagating and chain-branching steps of low-temperature DME oxidation. In this article, Part I, we consider only the chain-propagation mechanism and its competing mechanisms for DME combustion. Here, we show that only certain conformers can undergo the isomerization to ·CH2OCH2OOH. A new transition state has been discovered for the disproportionation reaction ·CH2OCH2OOH , 2CH2O + ·OH in the chain-propagating step of DME autoignition that is much lower than previous barriers. The key to making this decomposition pathway facile is initial cleavage of the O,O rather than the C,O bond. This renders all transition states along the chain-propagation potential energy surface below the CH3O·H2 + O2 reactants. In contrast with the more well-studied CH3·H2 (ethyl radical) + O2 system, the H-transfer isomerization of CH3OCH2OO· to ·CH2OCH2OOH in low-temperature DME oxidation has a much lower activation energy. This is most likely due to the larger ring strain of the analogous transition state in ethane oxidation, which is a five-membered ring opposed to a six-membered ring in dimethyl ether oxidation. Thus low-temperature ethane oxidation is much less likely to form the ·ROOH (where R is a generic group) radicals necessary for chain-branching, which leads to autoignition. Three competing reactions are considered: CH3O·H2 , CH2O + ·CH3; ·CH2OCH2OOH , 1,3-dioxetane + ·OH; and ·CH2OCH2OOH , ethylene oxide + HOO·. The reaction barriers of all these competing paths are much higher in energy (7,10 kcal/mol) than the reactants CH3O·H2 + O2 and, therefore, are unlikely low-temperature paths. Interestingly, an analysis of the highest occupied molecular orbital along the CH3O·H2 decomposition path shows that electronically excited (1A2 or 3A2) CH2O can form; this can also be shown for ·CH2OCH2OOH, which forms two formaldehyde molecules. This may explain the luminosity of DME's low-temperature flames. [source] drr-2 encodes an eIF4H that acts downstream of TOR in diet-restriction-induced longevity of C. elegansAGING CELL, Issue 4 2010Tsui-Ting Ching Summary Dietary restriction (DR) results in a robust increase in lifespan while maintaining the physiology of much younger animals in a wide range of species. Here, we examine the role of drr-2, a DR-responsive gene recently identified, in determining the longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans. Inhibition of drr-2 has been shown to increase longevity. However, the molecular mechanisms by which drr-2 influences longevity remain unknown. We report here that drr-2 encodes an ortholog of human eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4H (eIF4H), whose function is to mediate the initiation step of mRNA translation. The molecular function of DRR-2 is validated by the association of DRR-2 with polysomes and by the decreased rate of protein synthesis observed in drr-2 knockdown animals. Previous studies have also suggested that DR might trigger a regulated reduction in drr-2 expression to initiate its longevity response. By examining the effect of increasing drr-2 expression on DR animals, we find that drr-2 is essential for a large portion of the longevity response to DR. The nutrient-sensing target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway has been shown to mediate the longevity effects of DR in C. elegans. Results from our genetic analyses suggest that eIF4H/DRR-2 functions downstream of TOR, but in parallel to the S6K/PHA-4 pathway to mediate the lifespan effects of DR. Together, our findings reveal an important role for eIF4H/drr-2 in the TOR-mediated longevity responses to DR. [source] Triisobutylaluminum as cocatalyst for zirconocenes.JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 11 2001Abstract An investigation of the catalytic behavior of the dimethylated zirconocenes Me2SiCp*NtBuZrMe2 [Cp* = C5(CH3)4; 1Me], Me2SiCp2ZrMe2 (2Me), Cp2ZrMe2 (3Me), Ind2ZrMe2 (4Me), Me2SiInd2ZrMe2 (5Me), Et(2-MeInd)2ZrMe2 (6Me), and Me2Si(2-MeInd)2ZrMe2 (7Me) with the combined activator triisobutylaluminum (TIBA)/CPh3B(C6F5)4 (Al/Zr = 250; B/Zr = 1) in ethylene polymerizations at increased monomer pressures (5,11 bar, 30 °C) was carried out. Sterically opened zirconocenes in ternary catalysts gave rise to active species effective in the formation of low molecular weight polyethylenes (PEs). These active species tended to increase the PE molecular weight [1Me (2100) < 2Me (20,000) < 5Me (89,000) < 3Me (94,500)] under similar conditions. PE obtained with 4Me showed a bimodal gel permeation chromatography curve with a 64% peak area [weight-average molecular weight (Mw) = 43,000] and a 36% peak area (Mw = 255,000). The increase in sterical demands from the zirconocenes was also demonstrated by the reduction of the chain transfer to monomer, the reinsertion of vinyl-ended PE chains, and their ability for isomerization. These reactions were most pronounced for the zirconocenes 1Me and 2Me. The active species responsible for the formation of low molecular weight PEs deactivated quickly. The zirconocenes 6Me, 7Me, and (2-PhInd)2ZrMe2 (8Me) bearing substituent at the 2-position of the indenyl ring was activated with TIBA alone, yielding active species effective in ethylene and propylene polymerizations. PEs formed with 6Me,8Me complexes activated with TIBA had high molecular weights. An increase in the Al/Zr ratio in the catalytic system 8Me/TIBA from 50 to 300 led to an enhancement of the molecular weight of polypropylene (PP) samples from oligomeric products to an viscosity-average molecular weight of 220,000. The increase in the molecular weights of PPs with an increase in the propylene concentration was also observed. An analysis of the catalytic performance of the 8Me/TIBA system showed first-order dependency of the initial polymerization rates on the TIBA concentration and close to second-order dependency on propylene. The second-order dependency on the monomer concentration is explained in terms of the monomer participation in the initiation step of the polymerization reaction. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1915,1930, 2001 [source] Structural compatibility of novel nucleotide modifications with shortened linkages designed for antigene/antisense therapyJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 5 2004J. Hanu Abstract The impact of isopolar shortened internucleotide linkage modification on the hybridization properties of potential antisense or antigene oligonucleotides was studied by using a model molecular system consisting of polyuridylic acid (PolyU) and analogs of diadenosine monophosphate with the modified linkage. Raman spectra of mixed aqueous solutions were measured at various temperatures and compositions of the mixtures for four types of modified linkage and natural ApA (3,,5,) as a reference. Analysis of the spectral sets provided amounts of formed complexes and their Raman spectra. It has been found that as in the case of ApA (3,,5,), the studied ApA analogs form with PolyU triplex-like complexes containing a central pseudo-chain of closely arranged adenosine dimers. In the case of S - and R -configured 2,,5, and 3,,5, ApCOH A analogs, respectively, the amounts of complexes formed even exceed the ApA. This hybridization effectiveness is reached, however, by a more feasible prolongation of the pseudo-chain, while the stability constant for the initiation step is significantly lower. Raman spectra of the complexes showed that for both of the above analogs the structural compatibility with the natural nucleic acid chain is decreased, because of the distorted position of one adenine residue. This distortion influences the Watson,Crick hydrogen bonds. The two types of linkages may be suitable just for construction of longer antigene or antisense oligonucleotides with alternating lengthened and shortened linkages. There is, however, a warning of possible decreased binding specificity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Effect of Persistent TEMPO Radicals on the Gilch PolymerizationMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 1 2007Jens Wiesecke Abstract The mechanism of the Gilch polymerization leading to poly(p -phenylene vinylenes) is still a matter of controversial discussion. Similar to some other research groups, we strongly favor a basically radical process. Moreover, we believe it is initiated by spontaneously formed diradicals. Here, we describe further experimental evidence which clearly supports the assumed initiation step: it is shown how the polymerization process is affected quantitatively when different amounts of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine- N -oxyl (TEMPO) are added as a scavenger. In full agreement with our expectations, the chain growth is either retarded or completely prevented, depending on the respective molar ratio of monomer and scavenger. [source] Kinetic Study of the Thermopolymerization of Furfuryl Methacrylate in Bulk by Mathematical Modeling.MACROMOLECULAR THEORY AND SIMULATIONS, Issue 9 2009Part A: Simulation of Experimental Data, Sensitivity Analysis of Kinetic Parameters Abstract Mathematical modeling of the thermopolymerization of FM and CMFMA was carried out using a cross-linked kinetic model proposed for the photo-initiated polymerization of acryl-furanic compounds. In this model, the photochemical initiation step was substituted by a thermal one and it was assumed that the constant of radical termination was time-dependent, which allowed the gel effect (Trommsdorff) at high monomer conversion to be simulated. Optimization of all kinetic constants was achieved and the results of simulation suitably fitted the experimental data of the monomer conversion. The contribution of each step in the mechanism and its dependence on the experimental conditions were estimated by a sensitivity analysis technique. [source] Comprehensive Study of Free Radical Copolymerization Using a Monte Carlo Simulation Method, 1MACROMOLECULAR THEORY AND SIMULATIONS, Issue 5 2005Yousef Mohammadi Abstract Summary: In order to investigate the influence of reactivity ratios and initial feed composition on the microstructure of macromolecules in free radical copolymerization, a comprehensive study was carried out using a Monte Carlo simulation method. As a result, a new procedure was introduced to modify the works of others on the initiation step. The variation of the copolymer composition and the fashion of the arrangement of monomers in simulated chains were evaluated as a function of copolymerization parameters. The model was capable of monitoring any change in azeotropy as well as the magnitude and direction of composition drift from the azeotrope point. The maximum reachable conversion (MRC) was predicted for different combinations of initial feed compositions and reactivity ratios. According to the simulation results, a critical conversion where the macromolecules produced inherited the maximum allowed alternation was obtained for the reactivity ratios given. Change of sequence distribution of simulated copolymer chains with conversion for various initial feed compositions on a triangular graph (rA,=,0.5, rB,=,0.9). [source] | |||||||||||||