On the use of two-dimensional potential surface cross sections in the discussion of vibronic spectra of transition metal complexes

For purposes of interpreting broad band electronic spectra of complexes, the 3N-5 dimensional potential energy hypersurface may be reduced substantially. Consideration of the geometry of the orbital transition involved allows selection of an appropriate cross section, depending on which features should be represented. In addition, the orbital transition geometry predicts which vibrational modes will contribute significantly to the width of the spectrum. In the particular case of the first and second spin-allowed bands in d³ and d⁶ complexes, α_1g and ?_g modes are responsible for the band width.     

Measurement of the zeta potential of planar solid surfaces by means of a rotating disk

A method for measuring the zeta potential of disks is described. Combining the hydrodynamic properties of a rotating disk, the solution of Laplace's equation for the potential, and the electrokinetic boundary condition, one obtains an equation that relates the zeta potential of the disk to the streaming potential in the disk's vicinity. Theory predicts a dependence of the streaming potential on the rotation rate raised to the 3/2 power. Theory also shows that placement of one reference electrode on the axis of rotation near the disk surface and the other far from the disk is favorable. Measurement of the streaming potential of silicon oxide and indium tin oxide in contact with a solution of potassium chloride demonstrated the expected 3/2 power dependence on rotation rate. The zeta potentials calculated from the combination of the theory and experimental data agreed with published values.     

Photocatalysis of Chloroform Decomposition by Hexachloroosmate(IV)

Hexachloroosmate(IV) effectively catalyzes the photodecomposition of chloroform in aerated solutions. The decomposition products are consistent with a mechanism in which excited state OsCl₆²⁻ reduces chloroform, rather than one involving photodissociation of chlorine atoms. Trace amounts of ethanol or water in the chloroform lead to photosubstitution to form OsCl₅(EtOH)⁻ or OsCl₅(H₂O)⁻, neither of which is photocatalytically active.     

Measurement of the streaming potential and streaming current near a rotating disk to determine its zeta potential

Methodology for determining the zeta potential of a disk-shaped sample by both streaming potential and streaming current measurements is presented. Integration of Laplace's equation within one radius of the disk surface revealed that the streaming potential decreased strongly in the surface normal direction. With this solution, the zeta potential can be calculated from measurements of the streaming potential near the surface of the disk provided the position of the working electrode near the disk surface is known. Determining the zeta potential of a disk-shaped sample by means of streaming current measurements required determination of a current collection efficiency because not all the streaming current from a disk flows through the auxiliary electronic current path. While the working electrode near the disk should be pointlike, several possible variants on counter electrode shape and size were explored. Although the current collection efficiency was only a few percent in each case, the measured current was of 10 nA order. The current collection efficiency depended only on system geometry and was independent of a disk's zeta potential and solution concentration. Streaming current measurements of zeta potential on silicon wafers in potassium chloride solutions up to 10 mM agreed well with published values.     

Ferrocene/ferrocenium ion as a catalyst for the photodecomposition of chloroform

Irradiation (λ > 320 nm) of ferrocene in chloroform causes decomposition of chloroform and the accumulation of HCl, CCl₃OOH, and C₂Cl₆. This appears to occur initially through a cycle in which (a) ferrocene is oxidized to ferrocenium and tetrachloroferrate ions, (b) FeCl₄ ⁻ undergoes photodissociation, and (c) ferrocenium reoxidizes the chloroferrate(II) species. On extended photolysis, the concentrations of CCl₃OOH and FeCl₄ ⁻ build up and a competing cycle in which FeCl₄ ⁻ is restored through oxidation of the chloroferrate(II) species by CCl₃OOH accelerates the decomposition rate.     

The photocatalytic decomposition of chloroform by tetrachloroaurate(III)

Abstract  

Near-UV irradiation of solutions of (Bu₄N)AuCl₄ in aerated ethanol-stabilized chloroform causes the continuous decomposition of chloroform, as evidenced by the production of many equivalents of HCl and peroxides. At the outset of irradiation, most of the AuCl₄ ⁻ is reduced to AuCl₂ ⁻, but the reduction stops and is reversed. The same experiments done in ethanol-free chloroform cause chloroform decomposition only until the irreversible reduction of the gold is complete. In deoxygenated ethanol-free chloroform, irreversible reduction to AuCl₂ ⁻ is accompanied by the formation of HCl and CCl₄, while the main decomposition products in deoxygenated ethanol-stabilized chloroform are HCl and C₂Cl₆. It is proposed that, in ethanol-free chloroform, photoreduction of AuCl₄ ⁻ begins with the concerted elimination of HCl from an association complex of CHCl₃ with AuCl₄ ⁻, and that ethanol suppresses { \textCHCl₃ ·\textAuCl₄ ^- } \{ {\text{CHCl}}_{3} \cdot {\text{AuCl}}_{4}^{ - } \} complex formation, leaving a slower radical process to carry out the photoreduction of AuCl₄ ⁻ in ethanol-stabilized chloroform. In the presence of oxygen, the radical process causes a build-up of CCl₃OOH, which reoxidizes AuCl₂ ⁻ to AuCl₄ ⁻ and allows the photodecomposition of CHCl₃ to continue indefinitely.     

Calculation of the streaming potential near a rotating disk

A corrected theory of the streaming potential in the vicinity of a disk-shaped sample rotating in an electrolytic solution is presented. When streaming-potential measurements on a variety of materials were reduced to a zeta potential according to a prior theory, the results exceeded expected values by a factor of approximately 2, even though other aspects of the same experiments seemed to confirm the theory. Investigation of the source of the discrepancy revealed a flaw in the prior theory. The crucial understanding is that the surface current produced by the rotation of the disk emerges from the diffuse layer and enters the bulk solution at the periphery of the disk. The new treatment accounts entirely for the discrepancy between literature data and results based on the prior theory.     

A principal component analysis based method to discover chemical differences in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) separations of metabolites in plant samples

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) provides high resolution separations of complex samples with a mass spectrum at every point in the separation space. The large volumes of multidimensional data obtained by GC × GC-TOFMS analysis are analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA) method described herein to quickly and objectively discover differences between complex samples. In this work, we submitted 54 chromatograms to PCA to automatically compare the metabolite profiles of three different species of plants, namely basil (Ocimum basilicum), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and sweet herb stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), where there were 18 chromatograms for each type of plant. The 54 scores of the m/z 73 data set clustered in three groups according to the three types of plants. Principal component 1 (PC 1) separated the stevia cluster from the basil and peppermint clusters, capturing 61.84% of the total variance. Principal component 2 (PC 2) separated the basil cluster from the peppermint cluster, capturing 16.78% of the total variance. The PCA method revealed that relative abundances of amino acids, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates were responsible for differentiating the three plants. A brief list of the 16 most significant metabolites is reported. After PCA, the 54 scores of the m/z 217 data set clustered in three groups according to the three types of plants, as well, yielding highly loaded variables corresponding with chemical differences between plants that were complementary to the m/z 73 information. The PCA data mining method is applicable to all of the monitored selective mass channels, utilizing all of the collected data, to discover unknown differences in complex sample profiles.