IR/Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations of cyclic di-amino acid peptides. Part III: comparison of solid state and solution structures of cyclo(L-Ser-L-Ser)

B3-LYP/cc-pVDZ calculations of the gas-phase structure and vibrational spectra of the isolated molecule cyclo(L-Ser-L-Ser), a cyclic di-amino acid peptide (CDAP), were carried out by assuming C-2 symmetry. It is predicted that the minimum-energy structure is a boat conformation for the diketopiperazine (DKP) ring with both L-Beryl side chains being folded slightly above the ring. An additional structure of higher energy (15.16 kJ mol(-1)) has been calculated for a DKP ring with a planar geometry, although in this case two fundamental vibrations have been calculated with imaginary wavenumbers. The reported X-ray crystallographic structure of cyclo(L-Ser-L-Ser), shows that the DKP ring displays a near-planar conformation, with both the two L-Beryl side chains being folded above the ring. It is hypothesized that the crystal packing forces constrain the DKP ring in a planar conformation and it is probable that the lower energy boat conformation may prevail in the aqueous environment. Raman scattering and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of solid state and aqueous solution samples of cyclo(L-Ser-L-Ser) are reported and discussed. Vibrational band assignments have been made on the basis of comparisons with the calculated vibrational spectra and band wavenumber shifts upon deuteration of labile protons. The experimental Raman and IR results for solid-state samples show characteristic amide I vibrations which are split (Raman:1661 and 1687 cm(-1), IR:1666 and 1680 cm(-1)), possibly due to interactions between molecules in a crystallographic unit cell. The cis amide I band is differentiated by its deuterium shift of ~ 30 cm(-1), which is larger than that previously reported for trans amide I deuterium shifts. A cis amide II mode has been assigned to a Raman band located at 1520 cm(-1). The occurrence of this cis amide II mode at a wavenumber above 1500 cm(-1) concurs with results of previously examined CDAP molecules with low molecular weight substituents on the C-alpha atoms, and is also indicative of a relatively unstrained DKP ring.

Vibrational spectroscopy and DFT calculations of di-amino acid cyclic peptides. Part I: cyclo(Gly-Gly), cyclo(L-Ala-L-Ala) and cyclo(L-Ala-Gly) in the solid state and in aqueous solution

Investigations of the vibrational spectra of cyclo(Gly-Gly), cyclo(L-Ala-L-Ala) and cyclo(t-Ala-Gly) are reported. Raman scattering and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of solid-state and aqueous protonated samples, as well as their corresponding N-deuterated isotopomers, have been examined. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) (B3-LYP/cc-pVDZ) calculations of molecular structures and their associated vibrational modes were carried out. In each case, the calculated structures of lowest energy for the isolated gas-phase molecules have boat conformations. Assignments have been made for the observed Raman and FTIR vibrational bands of the cyclic di-amino acid peptides (CDAPs) examined. Raman polarization studies of aqueous phase samples are consistent with C-2 and C-1 symmetries for the six-membered rings of cyclo(L-Ala-L-Ala) and cydo(L-Ala-Gly), respectively. There is a good correlation between experimental and calculated vibrational bands for the three CDAPs. These data are in keeping with boat conformations for cydo(L-Ala-L-Ala) and cyclo(L-Ala-Gly) molecules, predicted by the ab initio calculations, in both the solid and aqueous solution states. However, Raman spectroscopic results might infer that cyclo(L-AlaGly) deviates only slightly from planarity in the solid state. The potential energy distributions of the amide I and II modes of a cis-peptide linkage are shown to be significantly different from those of the trans-peptides. For example, deuterium shifts have shown that the cis-amide I vibrations found in cyclo(Gly-Gly), cyclo(L-Ala-L-Ala), and cyclo(L-Ala-Gly) have larger N-H contributions compared to their trans-amide counterparts. Compared to trans-amide II vibrations, cis-amide II vibrations show a considerable decrease in N-H character.

Production of lightweight aggregate from industrial waste and carbon dioxide

The concomitant recycling of waste and carbon dioxide emissions is the subject of developing technology designed to close the industrial process loop and facilitate the bulk-re-use of waste in, for example, construction. The present work discusses a treatment step that employs accelerated carbonation to convert gaseous carbon dioxide into solid calcium carbonate through a reaction with industrial thermal residues. Treatment by accelerated carbonation enabled a synthetic aggregate to be made from thermal residues and waste quarry fines. The aggregates produced had a bulk density below 1000 kg/m3 and a high water absorption capacity. Aggregate crushing strengths were between 30% and 90% stronger than the proprietary lightweight expanded clay aggregate available in the UK. Cast concrete blocks containing the carbonated aggregate achieve compressive strengths of 24 MPa, making them suitable for use with concrete exposed to non-aggressive service environments. The energy intensive firing and sintering processes traditionally required to produce lightweight aggregates can now be augmented by a cold-bonding, low energy method that contributes to the reduction of green house gases to the atmosphere.