Determination of very low levels of inorganic and organic mercury in natural waters by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration on a chelating resin

Inorganic and organic mercury at ng l^?1 levels in fresh waters are collected simultaneously on a column of a dithiocarbamate-treated resin and quantitatively eluted with slightly acidic aqueous thiourea solution. Mercury vapor is generated from inorganic mercury by reduction with alkaline SnCl₂ solution, and from inorganic and organic mercury with a CdCl₂SnCl₂ solution, for determination by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The range of determination is 0.2–5,000 ppt (ng l^?1) for 20-l water samples.     

Crystallization in low-energy deposition of titanium ions

To investigate crystallization in the ion beam deposition process, titanium ions were deposited on silicon wafers at 105 and 55 eV. As titanium is an active metal, titanium compounds are formed by absorbing backfilled or residual gas. At energy levels of 105 or 55 eV, titanium crystallizes in a NaCl-type titanium compound with the backfilling of air. In all samples, (110)-oriented crystals grew with a rectangular lattice arrangement of titanium atoms. The open channel <110> of preferentially oriented crystal growth was parallel to the direction of incident ions normal to the substrate surface.     

Block copolymer from α,ω-dihydroxyl polystyrene and polyethylene glycol

α,ω-Dihydroxyl polystyrene was synthesized by the addition of styrene oxide to polystyryl dianion initiated with sodium naphthalene. Diglyme was found to be an unsuitable solvent for the preparation of low molecular weight compounds. Block copolymerization of the α,ω-dihydroxyl polystyrenes (M?_n = 2250, 3140, and 6200) with poly(ethylene glycols) (M?_n = 404, 1960, and 5650) was pursued by introducing urethane linkages with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate. The mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic properties, solution viscosity, molecular weight distribution, and moisture absorption of the block copolymers obtained were examined. Incorporation of styrene blocks was found to disturb the crystallization and fusion of poly(ethylene glycol) blocks. Films cast from benzene solution were soft and elastic and absorbed up to 5.8% moisture.     

Asymmetric synthesis of permethric acid. stereochemistry of chiral copper carbenoid reaction

The most effective optical isomer (1$\text{R}$-$\text{cis}$) of permethric acid ($\text{2}$, R = H), a potent intermediate in the production of synthetic pyrethroid, was enantioselectively prepared.     

Highly sensitive determination of a polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer in polypropylene by reactive thermal desorption-gas chromatography using nitrogen-specific detection

Highly sensitive and specific determination of trace amounts of a polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) in polypropylene (PP) materials could be established by improving reactive thermal desorption-gas chromatography (RTD-GC) in the presence of an organic alkali, tetramethylammonium hydroxide. By using nitrogen-phosphorus detection, highly selective detection of the HALS-related components was attained. In addition, the use of a polar poly(ethylene glycol) separation column alleviated the adsorption of minor specific pyrolysis products. This modified RTD-GC method allowed the determination of the polymeric HALS (Mr 1900) in PP even for trace concentrations between 100 and 500 ppm, through observing selectively the characteristic products containing a tetramethylpiperidine moiety, which had been impossible to detect under the previous RTD-GC conditions using a non-polar separation column and conventional flame ionization detection.     

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXVII. Saponin constituents of gotu kola (2): structures of new ursane- and oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, centellasaponins B, C, and D, from Centella asiatica cultivated in Sri Lanka

Ursane- and oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, centellasaponins B, C, and D, were isolated from the aerial parts of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban cultivated in Sri Lanka together with madecassoside, asiaticoside, asiaticoside B, and sceffoleoside A. The chemical structures of centellasaponins B, C, and D were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence to be madecassic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, madasiatic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 3beta,6beta,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.     

Synthesis of optically active cobalt(salen) type complexes and their asymmetric reactivity toward propylene oxide

An optically active Co(I)(salen) type complex, lithium N,N′-bis(salicylaldehyde)-1(R), 2(R)-1,2-trans-cyclohexanediiminatocobalt(I), was prepared by reducing the Co^II complex, N,N′-bis(salicylaldehyde)-1(R),2(R)-1,2-trans-cyclohexanediiminatocobalt(II), with LiAlH₄. The structure of the Co^I complex was determined on the basis of the structure of the corresponding Co^II complex and was confirmed by usual physicochemical methods. Furthermore, characteristics of the absorption and circular dichroism(CD) spectra of the Co^I complex were compared with those of the reported structure of Na⁺[Co(I)(salen)]^?. Highly asymmetric selectivity was found in a resolution reaction of DL-propylene oxide by use of the above optically active lithium cobalt(I) complex as a catalyst.     

Monolayer properties of mixtures of poly(n-stearyl methacrylate), poly(n-lauryl methacrylate), and their corresponding copolymers

The monolayer properties of poly(n-stearyl methacrylate), poly(n-lauryl methacrylate), and their mixtures at various ratios of the two polymers have been studied from the measurements of their surface pressure–area isotherms at air–water interface. The monolayer properties of their mixtures have been compared with those of their corresponding copolymers. The results show that the isotherms of the mixed monolayers have two break points at higher pressures than that of poly(n-lauryl methacrylate). This suggests that the mixtures may form more stable films that consist of separate phases of the two homopolymers, although each phase may contain a small amount of the other. The isotherms of the copolymer monolayers indicate a phase transition from liquid condensed to solid film between 50 segment mole % and 70% poly(n-stearyl methacrylate). The monclayer of these copolymers has properties that differ from those of the corresponding mixtures of two pure homopolymers and is more compatible than the mixtures of pure homopolymers.     

Magnetic susceptibilities of UO2ThO2 solid solutions

The magnetic susceptibility of UO₂ThO₂ solid solutions has been measured from room temperature to 2.0 K. The magnetic moment and the Weiss constant have been determined in the temperature range in which the Curie-Weiss law holds. For the solid solutions showing antiferromagnetic transition, the Néel temperature has been also determined. These values decrease monotonically with increasing ThO₂ concentration. The results were analyzed using the molecular field theory which includes the interaction between next-nearest neighbor spins. The interactions between nearest neighbor spins, J₁, and those between next-nearest neighbor spins, J₂, both decrease with increasing ThO₂ concentration. The change of J₁ with composition is larger than that of J₂. The effect of magnetic dilution with ThO₂ is considered to be stronger on the interaction between nearest neighbor uranium ions.