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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,729 records · Page 96
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Water-mediated deracemization of a bisporphyrin helicate assisted by diastereoselective encapsulation of chiral guests

Deracemization is a powerful method by which a racemic mixture can be transformed into an excess of one enantiomer with the aid of chiral auxiliaries, but has been applied only to small chiral molecular systems. Here we report a deracemization of a racemic double-stranded spiroborate helicate containing a bisporphyrin unit upon encapsulation of chiral aromatic guests between the bisporphyrin. The chiral guest-included helicate is kinetically stable, existing as a mixture of right- and left-handed double helices, which eventually undergo an inversion of the helicity triggered by water resulting from the water-mediated reversible diastereoselective B-O bond cleavage/reformation of the spiroborate groups, thus producing an optically-active helicate with a high enantioselectivity. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that the stereospecific CH-π interactions between the porphyrin hydrogen atoms of the helicate and an aromatic pendant group of the chiral guest play a key role in the enhancement of the helical handedness of the helicate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Unconventional excited-state dynamics in the concerted benzyl (C7H7) radical self-reaction to anthracene (C14H10)

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are prevalent in deep space and on Earth as products in combustion processes bearing direct relevance to energy efficiency and environmental remediation. Reactions between hydrocarbon radicals in particular have been invoked as critical molecular mass growth processes toward cyclization leading to these PAHs. However, the mechanism of the formation of PAHs through radical – radical reactions are largely elusive. Here, we report on a combined computational and experimental study of the benzyl (C 7 H 7 ) radical self-reaction to phenanthrene and anthracene (C 14 H 10 ) through unconventional, isomer-selective excited state dynamics. Whereas phenanthrene formation is initiated via a barrierless recombination of two benzyl radicals on the singlet ground state surface, formation of anthracene commences through an exotic transition state on the excited state triplet surface through cycloaddition. Our findings challenge conventional wisdom that PAH formation via radical-radical reactions solely operates on electronic ground state surfaces and open up a previously overlooked avenue for a more “rapid” synthesis of aromatic, multi-ringed structures via excited state dynamics in the gas phase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Regions of hepatitis C virus E2 required for membrane association

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) uses a hybrid entry mechanism. Current structural data suggest that upon exposure to low pH and Cluster of Differentiation 81 (CD81), the amino terminus of envelope glycoprotein E2 becomes ordered and releases an internal loop with two invariant aromatic residues into the host membrane. Here, we present the structure of an amino-terminally truncated E2 with the membrane binding loop in a bent conformation and the aromatic side chains sequestered. Comparison with three previously reported E2 structures with the same Fab indicates that this internal loop is flexible, and that local context influences the exposure of hydrophobic residues. Biochemical assays show that the amino-terminally truncated E2 lacks the baseline membrane-binding capacity of the E2 ectodomain. Thus, the amino terminal region is a critical determinant for both CD81 and membrane interaction. These results provide new insights into the HCV entry mechanism.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tuning the reactivity of carbon surfaces with oxygen-containing functional groups

Oxygen-containing carbons are promising supports and metal-free catalysts for many reactions. However, distinguishing the role of various oxygen functional groups and quantifying and tuning each functionality is still difficult. Here we investigate the role of Brønsted acidic oxygen-containing functional groups by synthesizing a diverse library of materials. By combining acid-catalyzed elimination probe chemistry, comprehensive surface characterizations, 15N isotopically labeled acetonitrile adsorption coupled with magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, machine learning, and density-functional theory calculations, we demonstrate that phenolic is the main acid site in gas-phase chemistries and unexpectedly carboxylic groups are much less acidic than phenolic groups in the graphitized mesoporous carbon due to electron density delocalization induced by the aromatic rings of graphitic carbon. The methodology can identify acidic sites in oxygenated carbon materials in solid acid catalyst-driven chemistry.

Zhou, Jiahua↗
DOE OSTI2024

Variations of organic functional chemistry in carbonaceous matter from the asteroid 162173 Ryugu

Abstract Primordial carbon delivered to the early earth by asteroids and meteorites provided a diverse source of extraterrestrial organics from pre-existing simple organic compounds, complex solar-irradiated macromolecules, and macromolecules from extended hydrothermal processing. Surface regolith collected by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft from the carbon-rich asteroid 162173 Ryugu present a unique opportunity to untangle the sources and processing history of carbonaceous matter. Here we show carbonaceous grains in Ryugu can be classified into three main populations defined by spectral shape: Highly aromatic (HA), Alkyl-Aromatic (AA), and IOM-like (IL). These carbon populations may be related to primordial chemistry, since C and N isotopic compositions vary between the three groups. Diffuse carbon is occasionally dominated by molecular carbonate preferentially associated with coarse-grained phyllosilicate minerals. Compared to related carbonaceous meteorites, the greater diversity of organic functional chemistry in Ryugu indicate the pristine condition of these asteroid samples.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Low-temperature formation of pyridine and (iso)quinoline via neutral–neutral reactions

Aromatic molecules represent fundamental building blocks in prebiotic chemistry and are contemplated as vital precursors to DNA and RNA nitrogen bases. However, despite the identification of some 300 molecules in extraterrestrial environments, the pathways to pyridine (C 5 H 5 N), pyridinyl (C 5 H 4 N•), and (iso)quinoline (C 9 H 7 N) – the simplest represen-tative of mono and bicyclic aromatic molecule carrying nitrogen – are elusive. Here, we afford compelling evidence on the gas-phase formation of methylene amidogen (H 2 CN•) and cyanomethyl (H 2 CCN•) radicals via molecular beam studies and electronic structure calcula-tions. The modeling of the chemistries of Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC-1) and Titan’s atmosphere contemplates a complex chain of reactions synthesizing pyridine, pyridinyl, and (iso)quinoline from H 2 CN• and H 2 CCN• at levels of up to 75%. Furthermore, this study affords unique entry points to precursors of DNA and RNA nitrogen bases in hydrocarbon-rich extraterrestrial environments thus changing the way we think about the origin of prebiotic molecules in our Galaxy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Actinide 2-metallabiphenylenes that satisfy Hückel’s rule

Aromaticity and antiaromaticity, as defined by Hückel’s rule, are key ideas in organic chemistry, and are both exemplified in biphenylene—a molecule that consists of two benzene rings joined by a four-membered ring at its core. Biphenylene analogues in which one of the benzene rings has been replaced by a different (4n + 2) π-electron system have so far been associated only with organic compounds. In addition, efforts to prepare a zirconabiphenylene compound resulted in the isolation of a bis(alkyne) zirconocene complex instead. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of, to our knowledge, the first 2-metallabiphenylene compounds. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that these complexes have nearly planar, 11-membered metallatricycles with metrical parameters that compare well with those reported for biphenylene. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, in addition to nucleus-independent chemical shift calculations, provides evidence that these complexes contain an antiaromatic cyclobutadiene ring and an aromatic benzene ring. Finally, spectroscopic evidence, Kohn–Sham molecular orbital compositions and natural bond orbital calculations suggest covalency and delocalization of the uranium f 2 electrons with the carbon-containing ligand.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Structural basis of the Cope rearrangement and cyclization in hapalindole biogenesis

Hapalindole alkaloids are a structurally diverse class of cyanobacterial natural products defined by their varied polycyclic ring systems and diverse biological activities. These complex metabolites are generated from a common biosynthetic intermediate by the Stig cyclases in three mechanistic steps: a rare Cope rearrangement, 6-exo-trig cyclization, and electrophilic aromatic substitution. In this work, we report the structure of HpiC1, a Stig cyclase that catalyzes the formation of 12-epi-hapalindole U in vitro. The 1.5-Å structure revealed a dimeric assembly with two calcium ions per monomer and with the active sites located at the distal ends of the protein dimer. Mutational analysis and computational methods uncovered key residues for an acid-catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, as well as specific determinants that control the position of terminal electrophilic aromatic substitution, leading to a switch from hapalindole to fischerindole alkaloids.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Discovery of enzymes for toluene synthesis from anoxic microbial communities

Microbial toluene biosynthesis was reported in anoxic lake sediments more than three decades ago, but the enzyme catalyzing this biochemically challenging reaction has never been identified. Here we report the toluene-producing enzyme PhdB, a glycyl radical enzyme of bacterial origin that catalyzes phenylacetate decarboxylation, and its cognate activating enzyme PhdA, a radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme, discovered in two distinct anoxic microbial communities that produce toluene. The unconventional process of enzyme discovery from a complex microbial community (>300,000 genes), rather than from a microbial isolate, involved metagenomics- and metaproteomics-enabled biochemistry, as well as in vitro confirmation of activity with recombinant enzymes. This work expands the known catalytic range of glycyl radical enzymes (only seven reaction types had been characterized previously) and aromatic-hydrocarbon-producing enzymes, and will enable first-time biochemical synthesis of an aromatic fuel hydrocarbon from renewable resources, such as lignocellulosic biomass, rather than from petroleum.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Kerogen Swelling and Confinement: Its implication on Fluid Thermodynamic Properties in Shales

Type I kerogen was isolated from Green River Shale and characterized using SEM, TGA, DSC, and nitrogen adsorption. The swelling behavior of this kerogen with decane was analyzed using traditional test-tube swelling experiment and Dynamic Light Scattering. The TGA and DSC were used to analyze the thermodynamic behavior of decane that was sorbed in the kerogen and show that kerogen suppresses the boiling point of decane due to the effect of confinement. However, the suppression is larger when oil (a multicomponent mixture) was used, possibly due to the combined effect of differential uptake of components by kerogen (kerogen prefers and sorbs polars and aromatics more than saturates, leading to splitting of oil into a sorbed and a free phase) and confinement in nano pores. Test-tube swelling, TGA, and DSC experiments were also performed on pyridine(polar-aromatic)-swelled kerogen. The combined and individual contributions from the two effects (the effect of confinement and differential uptake of hydrocarbon components) on properties of liquid in contact with kerogen, are studied in this work. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the variation in the swelling of type II kerogen in the presence of same amount of different liquids (differential swelling of kerogen).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury reflects burn pits exposure

This descriptive case series retrospectively reviewed medical records from thirty-one previously healthy, war-fighting veterans who self-reported exposure to airborne hazards while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and the present. They all noted new-onset dyspnea, which began during deployment or as a military contractor. Twenty-one subjects underwent non-invasive pulmonary diagnostic testing, including maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and impulse oscillometry (IOS). In addition, five soldiers received a lung biopsy; tissue results were compared to a previously published sample from a soldier in our Iraq Afghanistan War Lung Injury database and others in our database with similar exposures, including burn pits. We also reviewed civilian control samples (5) from the Stony Brook University database. Military personnel were referred to our International Center of Excellence in Deployment Health and Medical Geosciences, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell under the auspices of Northwell IRB: 17-0140-FIMR Feinstein Institution for Medical Research “Clinicopathologic characteristics of Iraq Afghanistan War Lung Injury.” We retrospectively examined medical records, including exposure data, radiologic imaging, and non-invasive pulmonary function testing (MGC Diagnostic Platinum Elite Plethysmograph) using the American Thoracic Society (ATS) standard interpretation based on Morgan et al., and for a limited cohort, biopsy data. Lung tissue, when available, was examined for carbonaceous particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Raman spectroscopy), metals, titanium connected to iron (Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source II, Beamline 5-ID), oxidized metals, combustion temperature, inflammatory cell accumulation and fibrosis, neutrophil extracellular traps, Sirius red, Prussian Blue, as well as polarizable crystals/particulate matter/dust. Among twenty-one previously healthy, deployable soldiers with non-invasive pulmonary diagnostic tests, post-deployment, all had severely decreased MEP values, averaging 42% predicted. These same patients concurrently demonstrated abnormal airways reactance (X5Hz) and peripheral/distal airways resistance (D5–D20%) via IOS, averaging – 1369% and 23% predicted, respectively. These tests support the concept of airways hyperresponsiveness and distal airways narrowing, respectively. Among the five soldiers biopsied, all had constrictive bronchiolitis. We detected the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)—which are products of incomplete combustion—in the lung tissue of all five warfighters. All also had detectable titanium and iron in the lungs. Metals were all oxidized, supporting the concept of inhaling burned metals. Combustion temperature was consistent with that of burned petrol rather than higher temperatures noted with cigarettes. All were nonsmokers. Neutrophil extracellular traps were reported in two biopsies. Compared to our prior biopsies in our Middle East deployment database, these histopathologic results are similar, since all database biopsies have constrictive bronchiolitis, one has lung fibrosis with titanium bound to iron in fixed mathematical ratios of 1:7 and demonstrated polarizable crystals. These results, particularly constrictive bronchiolitis and polarizable crystals, support the prior data of King et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 365:222–230, 2011) Soldiers in this cohort deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, with exposure to airborne hazards, including sandstorms, burn pits, and improvised explosive devices, are at high risk for developing chronic clinical respiratory problems, including: (1) reduction in respiratory muscle strength; (2) airways hyperresponsiveness; and (3) distal airway narrowing, which may be associated with histopathologic evidence of lung damage, reflecting inhalation of burned particles from burn pits along with particulate matter/dust. Non-invasive pulmonary diagnostic tests are a predictor of burn pit-induced lung injury

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

The oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum modifies corn stover alkali lignin

The current paradigm in synthetic biology for lignin bioconversion platforms includes primarily bacteria and filamentous fungi. Yeast are notoriously understudied for their role in lignin degradation and utilization, despite their ubiquity in saprophytic microbial communities. A few publications report lignin-modifying yeasts, but investigations to date have relied on model aromatic compounds or lignin-containing substrates replete with other carbon sources. In this work, we use a suite of analytical tools to evaluate interactions between corn stover-extracted lignin and the oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum. Notably, 2D-NMR analysis showed a significant decrease in the H-lignin component as well as resinol (β-β) and phenylcoumaran (β-5) linkages. Using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated that this yeast may uptake polymeric lignin and/or undertakes interactions at the cellular envelope. To explore mechanisms of lignin modification, transport, and aromatics catabolism, extensive secretomics and proteomics analyses were conducted. Compared to carbon-limited glucose and “No Carbon” controls, several putative laccases, quinone reductases, superoxide dismutases, and glyoxal/oxalate oxidases were upregulated in the lignin condition. Excitingly, two ferric reductases and an oxalate exchanger were only observed in the lignin condition. These results indicate that C. oleaginosum may perform extracellular quinone redox cycling to generate lignin-modifying reactive oxygen species. These findings enhance our understanding of yeast-lignin interactions and provide valuable insights for validation studies and metabolic engineering.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mechanically interlocked pyrene-based photocatalysts

Triplet excited-state organic chromophores present countless opportunities for applications in photocatalysis. Here we describe an approach to the engineering of the triplet excited states of aromatic chromophores, which involves incorporating pyrene into pyridinium-containing mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs). The π-extended nature of the pyrenes enforces [π···π] stacking, affording an efficient synthesis of tetrachromophoric octacationic homo[2]catenanes. These MIMs generate triplet populations and efficient intersystem crossing on account of the formation of a mixed charge-transfer/exciplex electronic state and a nanoconfinement effect, which leads to a high level of protection of the triplet state and extends the triplet lifetimes and yields. These compounds display excellent catalytic activity in photo-oxidation, as demonstrated by the aerobic oxidation of a sulfur-mustard simulant. Furthermore this research highlights the benefits of using the mechanical bond to fine-tune the triplet photophysics of existing aromatic chromophores, providing an avenue for the development of unexplored MIM-based photosensitizers and photocatalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Excited state dynamics of azanaphthalenes reveal opportunities for the rational design of photoactive molecules

Abstract Various photoactive molecules contain motifs built on aza-aromatic heterocycles, although a detailed understanding of the excited state photophysics and photochemistry in such systems is not fully developed. To help address this issue, the non-adiabatic dynamics operating in azanaphthalenes under hexane solvation was studied following 267 nm excitation using ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. Specifically, the species quinoline, isoquinoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, 1,6-naphthyridine, and 1,8-naphthyridine were investigated, providing a systematic variation in the relative positioning of nitrogen heteroatom centres within a bicyclic aromatic structure. Our results indicate considerable differences in excited state lifetimes, and in the propensity for intersystem crossingvsinternal conversion across the molecular series. The overall pattern of behaviour can be explained in terms of potential energy barriers and spin-orbit coupling effects, as demonstrated by extensive quantum chemistry calculations undertaken at the SCS-ADC(2) level of theory. The fact that quantum chemistry calculations can achieve such detailed and nuanced agreement with experimental data across a full set of six molecules exhibiting subtle variations in their composition provides an excellent example of the current state-of-the-art and is indicative of future opportunities for rational design of photoactive molecules.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2014

A series of Ln-p-chlorobenzoic acid–terpyridine complexes: lanthanide contraction effects, supramolecular interactions and luminescent behavior

Fifteen new lanthanide p-chlorobenzoic acid complexes, [PrL3(terpy)(H2O)]2 (1), [LnL3(terpy)(H2O)]2 (Ln = Nd (2), Sm (3), and Eu (4)), and [LnL3(terpy)(H2O)] (Ln = Sm (3'), Eu (4'), Gd (5), Tb (6), Dy (7), Ho (8), Er (9), Tm (10), Yb (11), Lu (12), and Y (13); HL: p-chlorobenzoic acid; terpy: 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine), have been synthesized hydrothermally at varying temperatures and structurally characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The series is comprised of binuclear molecular units (Pr–Eu) that give way to mononuclear molecular complexes (Sm–Y) as the lanthanide contraction takes effect. All fifteen complexes feature a tridentate terpyridine ligand, p-chlorobenzoic acid ligands exhibiting multiple binding modes, bidentate, bridging bidentate, and monodentate, and a bound water molecule. Binuclear complexes 1–4 are stitched together via intermolecular interactions: aromatic–aromatic interactions for 1, halogen•••halogen interactions for 2–4, to form 1D chains. Mononuclear complexes 3', 4', and 5–13 utilize supramolecular hydrogen and halogen bonding to form 2D sheets. Visible and near-IR solid state luminescence studies were performed on complexes 2, 3, 3', 4, 4', 6, 7 and 11 and the characteristic visible luminescence of Sm(III), Eu(III), Tb(III), and Dy(III) was exhibited. The near-IR spectra of the Nd(III) and Yb(III) complexes exhibit weak characteristic luminescence, showing that terpy can act as a sensitizing chromophore in these systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Facile one-pot synthesis of porphyrin based porous polymer networks (PPNs) as biomimetic catalysts

Stable porphyrin based porous polymer networks, PPN-23 and PPN-24, have been synthesized through a facile one-pot approach by the aromatic substitution reactions of pyrrole and aldehydes. We report PPN-24(Fe) shows high catalytic efficiency as a biomimetic catalyst in the oxidation reaction of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) in the presence of H 2 O 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Synergistic effects of Ni and acid sites for hydrogenation and C–O bond cleavage of substituted phenols

The cleavage of C–O bonds in phenol, catechol, and guaiacol has been explored with mono- and dualfunctional catalysts containing Ni and/or HZSM-5 in the aqueous phase. The aromatic ring of phenol is hydrogenated in the first step, and the C–O bond of the resulting cyclohexanol is dehydrated in sequence. The initial turnover frequency (TOF) of phenol hydrodeoxygenation increases in parallel with the acid site concentration irrespective of the concentration of the accessible surface Ni atoms. For catechol and guaiacol conversion, Ni catalyzes the hydrogenolysis of the C–O bonds in addition to arene hydrogenation. For catechol, the hydrogenation of the aromatic ring and the hydrogenolysis of the phenolic –OH group occur in parallel with a ratio of 8 : 1. The saturated cyclohexane-1,2-diol can be further dehydrated over HZSM-5 or hydrogenolyzed on Ni to complete hydrodeoxygenation. Guaiacol undergoes primarily hydrogenolysis (75%) to phenol via demethoxylation, and the hydrogenation route accounts for only 25%. This is attributed to the steric effects arising from the adjacent sp3 hybrid O–CH3 group. 2-Methoxycyclohexanol (from guaiacol hydrogenation) reacts further either via hydrogenolysis by Ni to cyclohexanol or via acid catalyzed demethoxylation and rearrangement steps followed by the subsequent hydrogenation of the intermediately formed olefins. On Ni/HZSM-5, the hydrodeoxygenation activities are much higher for the phenolic monomers than for their respective saturated analogues, pointing to the importance of sp2 orbitals. The presence of proximal acid sites increases the activities of Ni in the presence of H2 by a synergistic action.

Song, Wenji↗