Ana Filipa L.O.M. Santos

Experimental and Computational Study on the Molecular Energetics of 2-Pyrrolecarboxylic Acid and 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxylic Acid

This paper reports a combined thermochemical experimental and computational study of 2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid. Static bomb combustion calorimetry and Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique were used to determine the standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of combustion, Delta(c)H(m) degrees, and sublimation, Delta(cr)(g)H(m) degrees, respectively, from which the standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, were derived. The values obtained were -(286.3 +/- 1.7) and -(291.6 +/- 1.7) kJ x mol for 2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid, respectively. For comparison purposes, the gas-phase enthalpies of formation of these two compounds were estimated by G3(MP2)//B3LYP and MP2 approaches, using a set of gas-phase working reactions; the results are in excellent agreement with experimental data. G3(MP2)//B3LYP computations were also extended to the calculation of N-H bond dissociation enthalpies, gas-phase acidities and basicities, proton and electron affinities and adiabatic ionization enthalpies. Moreover, the results are also discussed in terms of the energetic effects of the addition of a carboxylic and of a methyl groups to the pyrrole ring and compared with structurally similar compounds.

Estimation of postmortem interval by hypoxanthine and potassium evaluation in vitreous humor with a sequential injection system.

The estimation of the time since death known as postmortem interval (PMI) is a main issue in the field of forensic science and legal medicine. In this work it is proposed a sequential injection system for the determination of hypoxanthine and potassium in the same sample of vitreous humor since the concentrations of both parameters change with PMI and the vitreous humor has been regarded as the ideal extracellular fluid for these kinds of determinations. By measuring both parameters the accuracy of estimation of PMI can be increased, and the effects of factors which influence the values in postmortem chemistry minimized. Hypoxanthine determination is based on its oxidation to uric acid (290 nm), catalyzed by immobilized xanthine oxidase, and the quantification of potassium levels in vitreous humor was performed using a tubular potassium ion-selective electrode. With a unique analytical cycle both analytes were evaluated being potassium levels determined during the degradation of hypoxanthine in the enzymatic reactor. Working concentration ranges between 6.04-40.00 micromol L(-1) and 7.00 x 10(-5) to 1.00 x 10(-1)mmol L(-1) were obtained, for hypoxanthine and potassium, respectively. The method proved to be reproducible with R.S.D. <5% for hypoxanthine and <3% for potassium. Sampling rate was approximately 30 per hour for the sequential determination of both parameters being 15 and 60 determinations per hour if hypoxanthine or potassium, where evaluated independently. Statistical evaluation at the 95% confidence level showed good agreement between the results obtained, for the vitreous humor samples, with both the SIA system and the comparison batch procedures. Moreover the methodology has low environmental impact in agreement with the demands of green analytical chemistry as only 2.7 mL of chemical waste is produced during both determinations.

Experimental and computational thermochemical study of α-alanine (DL) and β-alanine.

This paper reports an experimental and theoretical study of the gas phase standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, at T = 298.15 K, of α-alanine (DL) and β-alanine. The standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of crystalline α-alanine (DL) and β-alanine were calculated from the standard molar energies of combustion, in oxygen, to yield CO2(g), N2(g), and H2O(l), measured by static-bomb combustion calorimetry at T = 298.15 K. The vapor pressures of both amino acids were measured as function of temperature by the Knudsen effusion mass-loss technique. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation at T = 298.15 K was derived from the Clausius−Clapeyron equation. The experimental values were used to calculate the standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) enthalpy of formation of α-alanine (DL) and β-alanine in the gaseous phase, Δ(f)H(m)°(g), as −426.3 ± 2.9 and −421.2 ± 1.9 kJ·mol(−1), respectively. Standard ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G3 level were performed. Enthalpies of formation, using atomization reactions, were calculated and compared with experimental data. Detailed inspections of the molecular and electronic structures of the compounds studied were carried out.

2-and 3-Acetylpyrroles : A Combined Calorimetric and Computational Study

A combined experimental and computational study on the thermochemistry of 2- and 3-acetylpyrroles was performed. The enthalpies of combustion and sublimation were measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry and Knudsen effusion mass-loss technique, respectively, and the standard (p(o) = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, were determined. Additionally, the gas-phase enthalpies of formation were estimated by G3(MP2)//B3LYP calculations, using several gas-phase working reactions, and were compared with the experimental ones. N-H bond dissociation enthalpies, gas-phase acidities and basicities, proton and electron affinities and ionization enthalpies were also calculated. Experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement and show that 2-acetylpyrrole is thermodynamically more stable than the 3-isomer. The substituent effects of the acetyl group in pyrrole, thiophene and pyridine rings were also analyzed.

Diaminobenzenes: an experimental and computational study.

In the present work, the values of the standard (p(o) = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, of 1,2-diaminobenzene, 1,3-diaminobenzene, and 1,4-diaminobenzene are reported as 86.6 ± 1.6, 89.6 ± 1.6, and 99.7 ± 1.7 kJ·mol⁻¹, respectively. These values were derived from experimental thermodynamic parameters, namely the standard (p(o) = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the crystalline phase, Δf H(m)(o)(cr), at T = 298.15 K, obtained from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, Δ(c) H(m)(o), measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, derived from the temperature-vapor pressure dependence, determined by the Knudsen mass loss effusion method. The results were compared with estimates obtained by standard ab initio molecular calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level. Experimental and calculated data are in very good agreement and show that the 1,2-diaminobenzene is, thermodynamically, the most stable isomer. Finally, proton and electron affinities, basicities and adiabatic ionization enthalpies were also computed at the same level.

A combined experimental and computational thermodynamic study of the isomers of pyrrolecarboxaldehyde and 1-methyl- pyrrolecarboxaldehyde.

The present paper reports an experimental calorimetric study of 2-pyrrolecarboxaldehyde and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxaldehyde, which aims to determine their standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K. These values were derived from the standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the condensed phase, Δ(f)H(m)°(cr,l), at T = 298.15 K, obtained from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, ΔcHm°, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and from the standard molar enthalpies of phase transition, Δ(cr,l)(g) H(m)° at T = 298.15 K, obtained by high temperature Calvet microcalorimetry. Additionally, the standard enthalpies of formation of these two compounds were estimated by computations based on standard ab initio molecular calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level. The estimated values are in very good agreement with experimental data, giving us support to estimate the gas-phase enthalpies of formation of the 3-pyrrolecarboxaldehyde and 1-methyl-3-pyrrolecarboxaldehyde that were not studied experimentally. N-H bond dissociation enthalpies, gas-phase acidities and basicities, proton and electron affinities, and adiabatic ionization enthalpies were also calculated. Furthermore, the molecular structure of the four molecules was established and the structural parameters were determined at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory.

Energetics and molecular structure of 2,5-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrole and 2,5-dimethyl-1-(4-nitrophenyl)pyrrole.

Thermochemical and thermodynamic properties of 2,5-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrole and 2,5-dimethyl-1-(4-nitrophenyl)pyrrole have been determined by using a combination of calorimetric and effusion techniques as well as high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the crystalline state, Δ(f)H(m)°(cr), at T = 298.15 K, were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, Δ(c)H(m)°, which were obtained from static bomb combustion calorimetry. The Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique was used to determine the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, Δ(cr)(g)H(m)°, at T = 298.15 K. From the experimental results, the standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, were derived. The results were analyzed and interpreted in terms of enthalpic increments and molecular structure. For comparison purposes, standard ab initio molecular calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level were performed, using a set of working reactions and the gas-phase enthalpies of formation of both compounds were estimated; the results are in excellent agreement with experimental data. The computational study was also extended to the determination of proton and electron affinities, basicities and adiabatic ionization enthalpies.

Calorimetric and Computational Study of 2- and 3-Acetyl-1-methylpyrrole Isomers

This work reports the enthalpies of formation in the condensed and gas phases of 2-acetyl-1-methylpyrrole and 3-acetyl-1-methylpyrrole, derived from the standard (p(o) = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of combustion, in oxygen, Delta(c)H(m)(o), measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry and the standard molar enthalpies of vaporization, Delta(l)(g)H(m)(o), at T = 298.15 K, obtained by high-temperature Calvet microcalorimetry. The theoretically estimated gas-phase enthalpies of formation were calculated from high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level; the computed values compare very well with the experimental results obtained in this work and show that the 2-acetyl-1-methylpyrrole is thermodynamically more stable than the 3-isomer. Furthermore, this composite method was also applied in the calculation of bond dissociation enthalpies, gas-phase basicities, proton and electron affinities, and adiabatic ionization enthalpies.

Experimental and Computational Thermochemical Study of N-Benzylalanines

Calorimetric measurements are expected to provide useful data regarding the relative stability of α- versus β-amino acid isomers, which, in turn, may help us to understand why nature chose α- instead of β-amino acids for the formation of the biomolecules that are essential constituents of life on earth. The present study is a combination of the experimental determination of the enthalpy of formation of N-benzyl-β-alanine, and high-level ab initio calculations of its molecular structure. The experimentally determined standard molar enthalpy of formation of N-benzyl-β-alanine in gaseous phase at T = 298.15 K is -(298.8 ± 4.8) kJ·mol(-1), whereas its G3(MP2)//B3LYP-calculated enthalpy of formation is -303.7 kJ·mol(-1). This value is in very good agreement with the experimental one. Although the combustion experiments of N-benzyl-α-alanine were unsuccessful, its calculated enthalpy of formation is -310.7 kJ·mol(-1); thus, comparison with the corresponding experimental enthalpy of formation of N-benzyl-β-alanine, -(298.8 ± 4.8) kJ/mol, is in line with the concept that the more branched amino acid (α-alanine) is intrinsically more stable than the linear β-amino acid, β-alanine.

Thermodynamic and Conformational Study of Proline Stereoisomers

Amino acids play fundamental roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. Proline, one of the 20 natural amino acids, has a primordial function in enzymes, peptide hormones, and proteins. The energetic characterization of these molecules provides information concerning stability and reactivity and has great importance in understanding the activity and behavior of larger molecules containing these structures as fragments. In the present work, parallel experimental and computational studies have been performed. The experimental studies have been based on calorimetric and effusion techniques, from which the enthalpy of formation in the crystalline phase and the enthalpy of sublimation of the sterioisomers L-, D-, and the DL-mixture of proline have been derived. Additionally, vapor pressure measurements have also enabled the determination of the entropies and Gibbs energies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K. From the former results, the experimental standard (p(o) = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, of L-proline, D-proline, and DL-proline have been calculated as -388.6 ± 2.3, -391.9 ± 2.0, and -391.5 ± 2.4 kJ·mol(-1), respectively. A computational study at the G3 and G4 levels has been carried out. Conformational analysis has been done and the enthalpy of formation of proline as well as other intrinsic properties such as acidity, basicity, adiabatic ionization enthalpy, electron and proton affinities, and bond dissociation enthalpies have been calculated. There is a very good agreement between calculated and experimental values, when they are available.