Optimization of performance and minimization of silicate interference in continuous flow phosphate analysis

Specific reaction conditions for automated continuous flow analysis of phosphate are optimized in regard to minimizing coating and silicate interference, while maintaining high sensitivity. Use of Sb in the reagent increases sensitivity and yields absorbances with little temperature dependence. Coating can be minimized by using a final solution at a pH>0.5. At final pH of 0.78 there is maximum interference from silicate in the sample. We recommend therefore as an optimal reaction condition with minimal silicate interference, the use of Sb, a final solution pH of 1.00, room temperature for the reaction and a [H(+)]/[Mo] ratio of 70. An equation is provided to correct silicate interference in high precision phosphate determination.     

Tritium in Lebensmitteln

In order to test the method of tritium determination and to determine the tritium activity, foods of known origin were investigated. The accuracy of the method over a prolonged period of time is confirmed by the statistical evaluation of the background values and of the counting efficiency. An average value of 600–800 pCi of tritium in one litre of water was found in milk, potatoes and apples. Drinking water contained very different activities of tritium, depending on its origin as ground or surface water. Food samples from the environment of nuclear reactors were not different in their tritium content when compared to those of other origin.     

REVERSIBLE PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN THE α-SUBUNIT OF PHYCOERYTHROCYANIN: CHARACTERIZATION OF CHROMOPHORE AND PROTEIN BY MOLECULAR DYNAMICS AND QUANTUM CHEMICAL CALCULATIONS

The ground and excited state properties of two regions in the Δ15-configurational space of the phycoviolobilin chromophore in the α-subunit of phycoerythrocyanin are analyzed. Molecular dynamics calculations reveal that the chromophore geometry determines the active-site dynamics. The excited state torsional potential surface shows a negative barrier for isomerization and trapping of an activated complex. Strong coupling of excited states localized in the chromophore and charge transfer states from the surrounding polar residues provides favorable prerequisites for fast excited state surface crossing in competition with other deactivation processes. The formation of a photoreduced intermediate following the photoinduced charge transfer may trigger subsequent chemical reactions.     

Methylenverbindungen von Nichtmetallen. VI. Amide der Methan-bis(phosphonigsäure), -bis(phosphonsäure) und -bis(thiophosphonsäure)

Methylene Compounds of Non-Metals. VI. Amides of Methane-bis(phosphonous Acid), -bis(phosphonic Acid) and -bis(thiophosphonic Acid) Symmetrical- and asymmetrical-substituted amides of methane-bis(phosphonous acid), -bis(phosphonic acid) and -bis(thiophosphonic acid) have been obtained by stepwise aminolysis of the chlorides Cl₂(Z)PCH₂P(Z)Cl₂ ( 1 : Z = electron pair; 7 : Z = S; 13 : Z = O) and the fluoride F₂(S)PCH₂P(S)F₂ 19 with dimethylaminotrimethylsilane. Oxidation reactions of trivalent phosphonous amides with sulfur and dimethylsulfoxide have also been investigated.     

New guaianolides from Berlandiera Pumila and B. Texana,and the X-ray crystal structure of pumilin

The isolation and structure determination of two new guaianolides, pumilin and its 2,3-epoxide, from Berlandiera pumila and B. texana are reported. The structure of pumilin was determined from nmr and mass spectral data, and from an X-ray single crystal study; the structure of the epoxide was found by comparison of nmr spectra. Pumilin is shown to be a Δ¹⁽¹⁰⁾-cis-guaianolide with a cyclopentenone ring attached to C1 and C5, and an α-methylene-γ-lactone ring trans-fused to C6 and C7. The absolute configuration was inferred from spectral considerations and knowledge of previous structural determinations. The cd spectrum of pumilin exhibits a negative Cotton effect, and the lactone chromophore has left-handed chirality. The cyclo-heptene ring is in the chair configuration, with the lactone a half-chair and the cyclopentenone essentially planar. Crystals are orthorhombic, a = 7.065, b = 13.652, c = 19.586 Å, space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, and the final R value is 3.9%. The crystal structure is strengthened by an O···O hydrogen bond linking the molecules into infinite chains.     

Bis(dialkylmetal)-N,N′-dimethyloxamides of aluminium,gallium and indium,preparation, physical and spectroscopic properties

The reaction of N,N′-dimethyloxamide with trialkyl derivatives of aluminium, gallium, and indium yields bis(dialkylmetal) compounds of structural formula (R₂M)₂[O₂C₂(NCH₃)₂] (M = Al, Ga, In; and R = CH₃, C₂H₅). The M₂O₂C₂N₂ skeleton of these monomeric products forms an almost planar system of two fused five-membered rings, with S₂ symmetry. For the dimethylgallium and dimethylindium derivatives, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra show the presence of two conformational isomers which differ in the orientation of the N-methyl relative to the two metal-bound CH₃ groups.     

Synthesis of Tricyclic (λ5)-Phosphoranes; unusual N-demethylation/N-alkylation reactions during the oxidative addition of hexafluoroacetone and tetrachloro-ortho-benzoquinone to benzodiaza-λ3-phosphorinones. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of various products

The reaction of methylisatoic acid anhydride 1 with benzylamines led to the N-benzyl-N′-methylanthranilamide derivatives 2 – 4 . Their reaction with phosphorus trichloride furnished the 2-chloro-1-halobenzyl/benzyl-3-methyl-4(1 H)-1,3,2-benzodiazaphosphorin-4-ones 5 – 7 which, upon reaction with bis-(2-chloroethyl)ammonium chloride/triethylamine, were converted into the P-bis-(2-chloroethyl)amino-1-halobenzyl/benzyl-3-methyl-4(1 H)-1,3,2-benzodiazaphosphorin-4-ones 8 – 10 and 12 . With 2-chloroethylammonium chloride/triethyl-amine the P? NHCH₂CH₂Cl-substituted compound 11 was obtained from the P^IIICl-species 6 . The reaction of 8 – 10 and 12 with hexafluoroacetone (HFA) took an unusual course: apart from the oxidative addition of HFA and formation of the perfluoropinacolyl ring system, one of the two CH₂CH₂Cl groups was found to alkylate the CH₃N atom with formation of a five-membered (diazaphospholane) ring in the tricyclic phosphoranes 13 – 16 . The reaction of 11 with HFA also produced a spirophosphorane 17 which involved a λ⁵-oxazaphosphetidine ring system. In the reaction of 8, 10 and 12 with tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone, an oxidative addition reaction with concomitant N-alkylation and formation of the tricyclic phosphoranes 18 – 20 was found to take place. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations are described for the phosphoranes 13, 14 and 16 , and for the precursor compound 9 . The following features are common to the isostructural compounds 13 and 16 and the diethyl ether hemisolvate of 14 : the (λ⁵)-spiro phosphorus atom lies out of the plane of the other atoms of the rings to which it is common, and the dioxaphospholane rings display a twist conformation. In the λ³P-compound 9 the phosphorus atom also lies out of the plane of the other ring atoms.     

Absorption Spectra and Termination Kinetics of Transient Free Radicals in Solution Observed by UV./VIS. Spectroscopy with modulated excitation

Free radicals are generated in liquid solutions by harmonically modulated photolysis of suitable substrates. Harmonic analysis of the absorbance as functions of wavelength and modulation frequency yields the optical spectra and the decay kinetics of the transient species. The experimental technique and the analysis are described in detail. Results on t-butyl, 2-propyl and benzyl radicals generated by photolysis of the corresponding dialkyl resp. dibenzyl ketones are reported. They confirm previous spectral assignments and show that the termination reactions are diffusion controlled.     

Positive muons as probes in liquid phase free radical chemistry: Radical structures and reaction rates

Muonium-substituted organic free radicals are observed by muon spin rotation when positive muons are stopped in liquid unsaturated compounds. From muon precession frequencies in high external magnetic fields the isotropic muon-electron hyperfine coupling constants are determined. They lead to radical structure assignments. Results of a variety of projects are described which show thatSR can successfully complement conventional physical methods of free radical chemistry: A study of the temperature dependence of the coupling constants of isotopically substituted ethyl radicals yields information on structure and barriers to internal rotation. Rate constants for several radical reactions are extracted from the damping of theSR signals, in particular for unimolecular rearrangements and cis-trans-isomerizations. The theory for the analysis for the case of reversible site exchange is outlined.All results described here were obtained by E. Roduner, P. Burkhard and W. Strub of this laboratory, and B. Webster, M. Ramos and D. McKenna of the University of Glasgow. We all appreciate support from the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research, the National Institut for Scientific Investigations of Portugal, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, the Royal Society London and SIN.     

Determination of the average lifetime of bottom hadrons

We have determined the average lifetime of hadrons containing b quarks produced in e⁺e^? annihilation to be

$\text{τ}\text{B}\text{=}\text{1.83}\text{+0.83}\text{+0.37}\text{?}\text{?0.34}\text{×10}{}^{\mathrm{?12}}\text{s}$

. Our method uses charged decay products from both non-leptonic and semileptonic decay modes.