Brønsted Acidity and Aluminum Substitution Characteristics of Si(nAi) Sites in Zeolites: A Theoretical MNDO Calculation

The Brønsted acidity of the various Si(nAl) sites present in zeolites is evaluated from proton binding energy and LUMO energy calculated by the semiempirical MNDO quantum chemical method. The two calculated energy values both exhibit a linear correlation with the existing ²⁹Si NMR chemical shift and the IR hydroxyl stretching frequency data. The inter-convertibility between different Si(nAl) sites during an alumination or dealumination process is also evaluated based on the calculated substitution energy. The results indicate that alumination processes are less favorable to occur in zeolites than dealumination processes and the latter is more likely to occur for Si(nAl) clusters that contain the maximum number of aluminum nearest neighbors.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of 2-furancarbox-aldehyde by thallium(III) in perchloric acid solutions

The kinetics of the oxidation of 2-furancarboxaldehyde by thallic perchlorate at 50°C obeys the rate law

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis of Bacillus spores using a 2.94 microm infrared laser

The performance of infrared (2.94 microm) and ultraviolet (337 nm) lasers were compared for analysis of purified spores of B. subtilis, B. cereus and B. globigii on a four-inch end-cap reflectron time-of-flight instrument. Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR-MALDI) mass spectra of these microorganisms displayed a larger number of biomarker peaks above m/z 4000, compared with UV-MALDI. Biomarker peaks were observed at higher m/z values with the IR laser.     

Neuron-based microarray sensors for environmental sensing

We present a novel sensing scheme for detecting the effects of unburned fossil fuels by integrating microarray technology and dielectrophoresis to develop single-neuron arrays. These arrays have the capability to sense and identify the two fuels, at parts per billion (ppb) concentrations, as well to determine the associated physiological changes at the single-cell level. Identification is achieved through frequency domain analysis of the measured changes to the extracellular electrical activity due to the effect of the fossil fuels. This yields unique electrical identifiers known as "signature patterns". Simultaneous optical visualization to the physiological changes is obtained by specific fluorescent staining. The correlation between the signature patterns and the cellular biological behavior establishes the veracity of this identification technique.     

Photochemistry of bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,5-diones and the corresponding 5-hydroxyimino and 5-methylene derivatives

Synthesis and photochemistry of several title compounds 1-3 containing multiple chromophoric systems are described. The Diels-Alder reactions of 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexa-2,4-dienone (5) with acetylenes 6a-d provided the adducts 7a-d, which upon hydrolysis furnished the desired bicyclo[2.2.2]octenediones 1a-d. Oximes 2a-d were prepared from diones 1a-d by treatment with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in pyridine. 5-Methylenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-en-2-ones 3a-d were obtained via chemoselective Wittig reaction of the corresponding diones 1a-d. Bicyclo[2.2.2]octenediones 1a-c underwent chemoselective oxa-di-pi-methane rearrangement under sensitized conditions and suffered formal ketene extrusion upon direct irradiation. Direct irradiation of 1d afforded 11d via formal ketene extrusion but under sensitization it remained unchanged. Oximes 2a-d suffered ketene extrusion upon direct irradiation and E/Z isomerization under sensitized conditions. On the other hand, 5-methylenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-en-2-ones 3a-d generally underwent 1,3-acyl shift. The plausible courses of all these photochemical processes are discussed.     

Solvent water tapes in two hydrates of μ‐oxo‐bis­[bis­(2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ2N,N′)(sulfato‐κO)iron(III)]

The title compound, [Fe₂O(SO₄)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)₄], crystallizes as two different hydrates, viz. 11H₂O, (I), and 15H₂O, (II). The complex is binuclear, in which the two Fe^III atoms are coordinated in an octa­hedral geometry to four N atoms from the two bipyridine ligands, to one O atom from the sulfate ion and to an oxide ion on a twofold axis, which acts as a bridge between the symmetry‐related units. The Fe⋯Fe separation is 3.556 (4) Å and the Fe—O—Fe angle is 161.6 (2)° in (I); the corresponding values are 3.544 (1) Å and 165.8 (2)° in (II). In (II), one of the O atoms of the sulfate ion is disordered over two positions. In both compounds, the solvent water mol­ecules form slightly different one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks which pass along the c axis of the unit cell. In (I), three solvent water mol­ecules and, in (II), one solvent water mol­ecule, are situated on the twofold axis. In both (I) and (II), the central O atom of the metal complex lies on a twofold axis.     

Electrochemical and chemical polymerization of acrylamide

The electrochemical and chemical polymerization of acrylamide (AA) has been studied. The electrolysis of the monomer in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) containing (C₄H₉)₄NClO₄ as the supporting electrolyte leads to polymer formation in both anode and cathode compartments. The cathodic polymer dissolves in the reaction mixture and the anodic polymer precipitates during the course of polymerization. A plausible mechanism for the anodic and cathodic initiation reaction has been given. The chemical polymerization of acrylamide that has been initiated by HClO₄ is analogous to its anodic polymerization. The polymer yield increases with an increase in concentration of the monomer and HClO₄. Raising the reaction temperature also enhances the polymerization rate. The overall apparent activation energy of the polymerization was determined to be ca. 19 kcal/mole. The copolymerization of acrylamide was carried out with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in a solution of HClO₄ in DMF. The reactivity ratios are r₁ (AA) = 0.25 and r₂ = 2.50. The polymerization with HClO₄ appears to be by a free radical mechanism. When the polymerization of acrylamide is carried out with HClO₄ in H₂O, a crosslinked water-insoluble gel formation takes place.     

Studies on the Polarographic Reduction of Poly-m-xylylviologen Dibromide in Water

Polarographic studies on aqueous solutions of the redox polyelectrolyte poly-m-xylylviologen dibromide were carried out in the 1.70–7.90 pH range. The compound revealed two well-defined, diffusion-controlled cathodic waves with half-wave potentials of -0.482 and -0.906 V vs SCE. The electrode processes were found to be irreversible and independent of pH. The system did not conform to the protonation equilibrium (PXVBr₂ + H⁺?PXVBr₂H⁺) in contrast to its ortho and para isomeric compounds. A suitable mechanism for the reduction processes is suggested.     

Phase behaviour of thermotropic banana-shaped compounds under pressure

The phase behaviour of two achiral bent core banana-shaped compounds, the hexyloxy (compound I) and decyloxy (compound II) members of the 1,3-phenylene bis[N-(2-hydroxy-4-n-alkoxybenzylidene)-4′-aminobenzoate] series was investigated under hydrostatic pressures up to 300?MPa using high pressure differential thermal analysis and light transmission methods. The reversible transition sequence crystal (Cr₁)–B₁ phase–isotropic liquid (I), observed at room pressure for compound I, remains in the pressure region up to c 70?MPa. At higher pressures a pressure-induced crystalline phase (Cr_i) appears between the Cr₁ and B₁ phases, its temperature region becoming wider with increasing pressure. The temperature vs. pressure phase diagram shows a triple point of 72.9?MPa and 160.3°C for the Cr₁, Cr_i and B₁ phases, indicating the lower limit of pressure for the Cr_i phase. In compound II the reversible transition sequence crystal (Cr₁)–B₂ phase–I is seen over the whole pressure region, and the temperature range of the B₂ phase remains unaltered. It is concluded that both the B₁ and B₂ banana phases are stable over the whole pressure region studied.