Mechanism and kinetics of thermal decomposition of precipitates of the zinc oxide-aluminium oxide system from non-isothermal tg curves

Kinetics of decomposition of the precipitates of the ZnO&2sbndAl₂O₃ system, prepared by coprecipitation and mechanical mixing of the individual precipitates, have been studied. The decomposition of zinc basic carbonate is a first order rate process with an activation energy of 34.5 kcal/mole (Coats and Redfern equation). The decomposition of aluminium hydroxide is also best described as a first order rate process with one break in the Coats and Redfern plot corresponding to activation energies of 29.4 and 8.3 kcal/mole respectively. The entire course of decomposition of coprecipitated as well as mechanically mixed samples cannot be described by any one of the many rate equations available. Consequently, the Coats and Redfern equation has been employed. The plots indicate one or two breaks and thus two to three values of activation energy are reported. From the results it is to be concluded that decomposition of these precipitates is a heterogeneous process. The first step is definitely the decomposition of zinc basic carbonate followed by decomposition of aluminium hydroxide and/or interaction of the two precipitates resulting in the formation of “precursor” to spinel. The results of our earlier investigation on the same system (especially the formation of precursors) are well supported by the results reported in this investigation. p]A new equation (a modified form of the Elovich equation) has been proposed for such heterogeneous decomposition processes. The proposed equation also appears to be the general form of the equations where diffusion is the rate controlling process.     

On the optical properties of the imidazolium ionic liquids

Room-temperature ionic liquids, particularly those based on substituted imidazolium cations, are currently being extensively studied for a variety of applications. Herein, we explore the suitability of several imidazolium salts in optical applications by carefully examining the electronic absorption and fluorescence behavior of these substances, generally believed to be transparent in most of the UV region and fully transparent in the visible region. It is shown that all imidazolium ionic liquids are characterized by significant absorption in the entire UV region and a long absorption tail that extends into the visible region. These absorption characteristics are attributed to the imidazolium moiety and its various associated structures. When excited in the UV or early part of the visible region, these liquids exhibit fluorescence, which covers a large part of the visible region and shows dramatic excitation wavelength dependence. The excitation wavelength dependent shift of the fluorescence maximum has been rationalized taking into consideration the existence of the various associated structures of the ionic liquids and the inefficiency of the excitation energy-transfer process between them. The results imply that these liquids may have serious drawbacks in some of the optical studies.     

Vinylation and polymerization with trivinylaluminum. I. Vinylation of organic halides as a model for termination in cationic polymerization leading to vinyl end groups

An improved synthesis of trivinylaluminum (V₃Al) is described. The proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectrum of V₃Al was recorded and analyzed. A new vinylation method involving the use of V₃Al as the vinylating agent has been developed, and the vinylation of organic halides by V₃Al was studied at ?30, ?50 and ?70°C. Primary alkyl chlorides, such as methyl and methylene chloride, do not react with V₃Al and were used as solvents. Secondary chlorides such as 2-chloropropane also do not react. t-Butyl chloride gives rise to t-butylethylene (70–98%), depending on reaction conditions, and the allylic chlorides, 3-chloro-1-butene, and 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butene, yield the expected vinylated products and their isomers (～90%). Allyl and benzyl chloride do not react under the conditions tried. The reaction between V₃Al and the ditertiary dichloride 2,6-dichloro-2,6-dimethylheptane yields several isomeric C₁₃H₂₄ and C₁₁H₂₀ hydrocarbons; however, surprisingly, C₉H₁₆ does not form. The C₁₃ hydrocarbons arise by divinylation at the termini of the dichloride, while the C₁₁ hydrocarbons are formed by vinylation at one and proton elimination at the other terminus of the dichloride. The presence of unsaturated C₁₃H₂₄ and C₁₁H₂₀ isomers is most likely due to proton induced isomerization. These results are explained by a proximity effect involving vinylation at one end of the dichloride by V₃Al followed by rapid reaction of the second chlorine (mostly) by V₂AlCl generated in situ during the first vinylation in the proximity of the chloride. At the other chlorine terminus V₂AlCl causes either a second vinylation (leading to C₁₃ hydrocarbons) or a proton elimination (leading to C₁₁ hydrocarbons). The absence of C₉H₁₆ among the reaction products indicates that V₃Al exclusively effects vinylation. The RCl + V₃Al ← RV + V₂AlCl reaction may be regarded as a model for initiation followed by immediate termination in cationic olefin polymerization, a process leading to vinyl-ended polymers.     

Speciation of arsenic in body fluids

Inorganic arsenic is metabolized by consecutive reduction and methylation reactions to dimethylated arsenic (DMA), and then excreted into the urine mostly in the form of DMA. Therefore, arsenic metabolites in the body fluids and organs/tissues are present in the form of inorganic (arsenite and arsenate) and methylated arsenics (MMA and DMA). Although pentavalent arsenics can be present mostly in the form of free ions, trivalent ones may be present more in the forms conjugated with thiol groups of glutathione (GSH) or proteins. Arsenic in the body fluids (plasma, bile and urine) is present in the soluble forms and can be speciated on ion exchange columns by HPLC with on-line detection by an inductively coupled argon plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Free forms of arsenite, arsenate, and monomethylarsonous, monomethylarsonic, dimethylarsinous and dimethylarsinic acids in the body fluids have been demonstrated to be speciated simultaneously within 10 min or so on both anion and cation exchange columns together with arsenobetaine (AsB) and arsenocholine (AsC). Trivalent arsenics conjugated with GSH were eluted in intact forms on an anion exchange column but were liberated into free forms on a cation exchange column. Thus, free and GSH-conjugated arsenic metabolites in the bile and urine have been speciated simultaneously on ion exchange columns by HPLC-ICP-MS.     

Indium(I) iodide-promoted cleavage of diaryl diselenides and disulfides and subsequent condensation with alkyl or acyl halides. One-pot efficient synthesis of diorganyl selenides, sulfides, selenoesters, and thioesters

Diphenyl diselenides and disulfides undergo facile cleavages by indium(I) iodide and the corresponding generated selenate and thiolate anions condense in situ with alkyl or acyl halides present in the reaction mixture. Thus, a simple, efficient, and general procedure has been developed for the synthesis of unsymmetrical diorganyl selenides, sulfides (thioethers), selenoesters, and thioesters by this one-pot reaction at room temperature.     

Excited state proton transfer reaction of two new intramolecularly hydrogen bonded Schiff bases at room temperature and 77K.

Two new orthohydroxy Schiff bases, 7-phenylsalicylidene benzylamine (PSBA) and 7-ethylsalicylideneaniline (ESA) have been synthesized. The excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and the structure of PSBA and ESA in its crystalline form and in the solvents n-hexane, n-heptane and 1,4-dioxane have been investigated by means of absorption, emission and nanosecond spectroscopy at room temperature and 77K. One ground state species has been detected both in neutral and basic solutions of both PSBA and ESA: the cis-enol form with an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The ESIPT and formation of keto tautomer are evidenced by a large Stokes shifted emission (approximately 12000 cm(-1)) at room temperature only in the case of ESA. On the other hand the keto tautomer is the predominant species at 77K in a solid matrix and as a solid sample at room temperature both in the case of ESA and PSBA. In the case of both ESA and PSBA the more intense, higher energy emission is due to the species which has not undergone ESIPT and attributed mainly due to cis-enol form. The trans-enol form is also observed by changing the excitation wavelength. Both the compounds are found to undergo a structural change to a zwitterionic and intermolecular hydrogen bonded form in the presence of a strong base like triethylamine. From the nanosecond measurements and quantum yield of fluorescence we have estimated the decay rates of proton transfer reaction in the case of PSBA. Our theoretical calculation at the AM1 level of approximation shows that the ground singlet state has a rather large activation barrier both in the case of PSBA and ESA. The barrier height is much lower on the corresponding excited singlet surface only in the case of ESA. The process is predicted to be endothermic in the ground state and exotherrmic in the excited singlet state.     

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer in a new o-hydroxy Schiff base in non polar solvents at room temperature and 77 K

A new orthohydroxy Schiff base, 7-ethylsalicylidenebenzylamine (ESBA) has been synthesised. The excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) processes have been investigated by means of absorption, emission and nanosecond spectroscopy at room temperature and at 77 K in non polar solvents. The ESIPT is evidenced by a large Stokes shifted emission (11 000 cm⁻¹) only at 77 K. From fluorescence and excitation spectra it is suggested that at least three different species are present in the excited state at room temperature. Our theoretical calculation at AM1 level confirm the cis-isomer to be the only viable form in the ground state.     

Absorption and fluorescence behavior of cytosine irradiated at different pH and in the presence of Cu(II) ions at neutral pH

Dilute aqueous solutions of cytosine were irradiated with⁶⁰Co -rays under N₂O saturated conditions at different pH and in the presence of Cu(II) ions at neutral pH. The base degradation decreased from neutral to acidic and basic conditions. In the presence of metal ions at neutral pH conditions there was a significant increase in the base degradation compared to that in the absence of metal ions under similar conditions. From the difference absorption spectra and fluorescence behavior of the irradiated solutions it was observed that the major radiolytic products of cytosine under different conditions are cytosine glycols, 5-hydroxycytosine, hydroxy-hydrocytosine and cytosine dimers. The yields of dimers is maximum in neutral conditions and it decreased from basic to acidic conditions. However, in the presence of Cu(II) ions formation of cytosine dimers is completely restricted and there is an increase in the yields of cytosine glycol, hydroxy-hydrocytosine and 5-hydroxycytosine. From the post-radiolytic changes in absorption and fluorescence behavior of irradiated solutions, it is revealed that some of the radiolytic products, namely cytosine glycol and hydroxy-hydrocytosine decompose to 5-hydroxycytosine and cytosine, respectively.