Quantum trajectories in atom-surface scattering with single adsorbates: the role of quantum vortices

In this work, a full quantum study of the scattering of He atoms off single CO molecules, adsorbed onto the Pt(111) surface, is presented within the formalism of quantum trajectories provided by Bohmian mechanics. By means of this theory, it is shown that the underlying dynamics is strongly dominated by the existence of a transient vortitial trapping with measurable effects on the whole diffraction pattern. This kind of trapping emphasizes the key role played by quantum vortices in this scattering. Moreover, an analysis of the surface rainbow effect caused by the local corrugation that the CO molecule induces on the surface, and its manifestation in the corresponding intensity pattern, is also presented and discussed.     

Chiral separation of some triazole pesticides by supercritical fluid chromatography

The enantiomeric separation of six triazole pesticides: cyproconazole, propiconazole, diniconazole, hexaconazole, tebuconazole and tetraconazole, using supercritical fluid chromatography and the Chiralpak AD column, is presented in this work. The effect of different organic modifiers such as methanol, ethanol and 2-propanol on the retention and resolution was studied as well as the presence of additives in the mobile phase. The results obtained were highly successful, all the compounds were enantiomerically separated and in most of the cases the analysis time was close to 10 min. The type of organic modifier that provided the best results depended on the compound.     

Titanocene-catalyzed cascade cyclization of epoxypolyprenes: straightforward synthesis of terpenoids by free-radical chemistry

The titanocene-catalyzed cascade cyclization of epoxypolyenes, which are easily prepared from commercially available polyprenoids, has proven to be a useful procedure for the synthesis of C(10), C(15), C(20), and C(30) terpenoids, including monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic natural products. Both theoretical and experimental evidence suggests that this cyclization takes place in a nonconcerted fashion via discrete carbon-centered radicals. Nevertheless, the termination step of the process seems to be subjected to a kind of water-dependent control, which is unusual in free-radical chemistry. The catalytic cycle is based on the use of the novel combination Me(3)SiCl/2,4,6-collidine to regenerate the titanocene catalyst. In practice this procedure has several advantages: it takes place at room temperature under mild conditions compatible with different functional groups, uses inexpensive reagents, and its end step can easily be controlled to give exocyclic double bonds by simply excluding water from the medium.     

Approach to Quality System in Research and Development

 There is growing interest in developing a general strategy and quality standards for possible accreditation or certification of R&D laboratories. This article discusses the scope and limitations of Quality Systems in R&D activities. The extension of QA to R&D centres in general requires emphasis on project management and scientific competence in addition to quality management and technical competence. Received: 11 September 1996 Accepted: 13 November 1996     

Thermal behavior of orthorhombic polymorphs I and II of spironolactone

Investigation into the thermal behavior of orthorhombic Forms I and II of spironolactone, by means of differential scanning calorimetry and high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction, showed that Form I melts then recrystallizes into Form II at 373–393 K, i.e. in the temperature range within which high resolution X-ray powder diffration showed that Form I transforms into Form II. Refinements of the lattice parameters of the two forms indicated that Form I is denser than Form II in the range from 298 K up to the temperature at which it melts.     

One-pot enantioselective formation of eight-membered rings from alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes and ketone enolates

Eight-membered carbocycles with up to five new stereogenic centers are enantioselectively obtained following a one-pot procedure that involves the coupling of three components: an alkenyl Fischer carbene complex, a ketone enolate, and allyl lithium.     

Very-large-volume sampling of water in gas chromatography using the through oven transfer adsorption desorption (TOTAD) interface for pesticide-residue analysis

The Through Oven Transfer Adsorption Desorption (TOTAD) interface is used to directly introduce large volumes of water (1 mL or more) into a capillary gas chromatograph. The TOTAD interface is a greatly modified programmed temperature vaporizer injector incorporating changes that affect the pneumatics, sample introduction, solvent elimination, and operation mode. The system can easily be automated. The technique is applied to the analysis of pesticide residue in standard solutions and real water samples from the Ebro River (northeastern Spain). The speed of sample introduction was 1 mL/min, and the solvent elimination was almost complete. A nitrogen phosphorous detector is used, and the relative standard deviation varied from 5.7% to 11.7% for the absolute peak areas. The sensitivity achieved by introducing 1 mL of the sample is sufficient for most pesticide-residue analyses in water. The limits of detection ranged from 0.5 to 8.1 ng/L.     

Analysis of the Association Process Between a Series of Phenol Derivatives with Two Novel Fluorinated Stationary Phase Using the Cl− Anion as Retention Marker

Summary Lithium chloride (LiCl) effect on the retention process of a phenol derivative series was investigated on two types of fluorinated stationary phase (i.e. a silica grafted with fluorinated linear alkyl chain (L-FSP) and a silica grafted with fluorinated aromatic ring stationary phase (A-FSP)). The results showed that the solute retention is enhanced when the A-FSP was used instead of the L-FSP due to additional – interactions. For the two fluorinated stationary phases (FSPs), the phenol-FSP association process can be divided into two LiCl concentration domains demonstrated that it was important to take into account the adsorbtion of Cl^– anion on the FSPs. As well, enthalpy-entropy compensation revealed that the solute retention mechanism was independent of the solute molecular structure and confirmed a change on the solute retention mechanism at a critical LiCl concentration value around 0.02M.     

Assignment of Saharan dust sources to episodes in Hungarian atmosphere by PIXE and TOMS observations

Summary Thirty-seven episodes of dust intrusion were observed between February 12, 1991 and August 31, 2000 in the Hungarian atmosphere and found to be of Saharan origin. They have been assigned to typical source areas in Northern Africa selected by systematic investigations related to the Mediterranean Basin. Elemental concentrations and regional signatures deduced from PIXE analysis, total suspended particle mass, and black carbon mass have been measured on dust samples collected in Debrecen, Hungary. These data combined with Aerosol Index data, and dust plume axes obtained from TOMS data from NASA satellites were used for assigning the most probable source areas of the dust transported to the sampling site. Our data and conclusions are in accordance with other published investigations on the predominant role of Saharan dust emission in building up the aerosol load of the global atmosphere.     

On the biological importance of the hydrogen bond breaking potency of fluorocarbons

Fluorocarbons containing higher halogens have the potency of breaking certain hydrogen bonds in solutions. The relative strength of this potency varies in the series F < Cl < Br < I and the presence of hydrogen atoms in the fluorocarbon increases it. There is a striking parallelism between the hydrogen bond breaking and the anaesthetic potency of these molecules. It is suggested that the breaking of hydrogen bonds is an important step in the mechanism of anaesthesia.