The effect of a carbon-carbon double bond on electron beam-generated plasma decomposition of trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane

The effect of a carbon-carbon double bond on the energy required for decomposition in an electron beam-generated plasma reactor is studied by comparing the decomposition of trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. A reaction mechanism for TCE decomposition based on a chlorine radical chain reaction is presented which accounts for the formation of all of the experimentally observed reaction products. TCE decomposition is autocatalyzed by reaction products, whereas TCA decomposition is inhibited. The rate expression for the decomposition of TCE in the reactor is determined to be r=−[T](15.07[T₀]^−0.40+0.006{[T₀]−[T]}), where [T] and [T₀] are both in ppm, and r is in ppm Mrad⁻¹. The energy expense ɛ for TCE decomposition is determined as a function of inlet concentration. For 99% decomposition of 100 ppm TCE in air, ɛ=28 eV/molecule, and ɛ=2.5 eV/molecule at 3000 ppm. This is only 2.5–5% of the amount of energy required to decompose a similar amount of TCA as reported by the authors in a previous study. By comparing the energy requirements for TCE decomposition to those for TCA decomposition, the TCE reaction chain length is determined to increase from approximately 20 at 100 ppm initial TCE concentration, to 40 at 3000 ppm. This work was supported by the Contaminant Plume Containment and Remediation Focus Area, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy.     

Quantifying the Electrocatalytic Turnover of Vitamin B12‐Mediated Dehalogenation on Single Soft Nanoparticles

We report the electrocatalytic dehalogenation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by single soft nanoparticles in the form of Vitamin B₁₂‐containing droplets. We quantify the turnover number of the catalytic reaction at the single soft nanoparticle level. The kinetic data shows that the binding of TCE with the electro‐reduced vitamin in the Co^I oxidation state is chemically reversible.     

Studies on polymers containing functional groups. VI. Kinetics of the polymerization and copolymerization behaviors of o-hydroxystyrene

Some kinetic studies were made of the homopolymerization of o-hydroxystyrene and its copolymerization behavior with styrene and methyl methacrylate in tetrahydrofuran using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator were done. The rate of polymerization experimentally obtained is given by R_p = K[M][I]^0.72. Accordingly, it is likely that the growing chain radicals are terminated not only by mutual termination but also by a chain-transfer mechanism, the latter occupying a considerable portion. The latter is mostly attributed to the transfer to monomer, i.e., C_m for o-hydroxystyrene was 1.3 × 10^?2. Some transfer mechanisms were assumed, although it is difficult to elucidate the mechanism in detail, owing to its complexity. Effects of solvent on the rate of polymerization were examined, dioxane, methyl ethyl ketone, ethanol, and tetrahydrofuran being used. However, no differences were found among the solvents. The apparent activation energy of polymerization was found to be 21.5 kcal./mole. Monomer reactivity ratios and Alfrey-Price Q–e values for o-hydroxystyrene were determined. The Q–e values (Q = 1.41, e = ?1.13) are rather similar to those of p-methoxystyrene. Thus, the e value for o-hydroxystyrene is more negative than that for styrene.     

Ferroelectric phases in non-symmetric achiral bent liquid crystals towards ambient temperatures: a novel series with oxadiazol as central moiety

Extensive survey carried out in bent liquid crystals (BLCs) exhibiting ferroelectric (FE) phases suggested for the design of non-symmetric (NS) frame. Novel series of BLCs (C₈C_m) with distinct lateral moieties and heterocyclic central (oxadiazole) moiety, viz., octyl 4-(5-(4´-(alkyloxy) biphenyl-4-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)benzoates, are reported. NS BLC frame is realised by incorporating differing number of aromatic cores and varied length of end chains in the lateral moieties. Lateral moiety with biphenyl core is prepared by Suzuki coupling. Purity of the BLC product is confirmed by ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. LC phases exhibited by C₈C_m series of BLCs for m = 8, 10, 12, 15 and 16 are characterised by polarisation optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and spontaneous polarisation (P_S) techniques. C₈C_m series are found to exhibit SmA, CrystalB, B₂, B₅, SmG and SmE phase variance. SmG occurs as monotropic phase. Temperature variation of P_S(T) studied in FE B₂ and B₅ phases by field reversal method infers a moderate P_S value of ~80–100 nC · cm^?2. Order parameter growth in FE B₂ and B₅ phases is analysed through P_S(T). Normalised order parameter θ_N exhibits asymptotic behaviour with universal temperature T^U. Influence of aromatic cores and length of end chains (in lateral moieties) on the thermal stability of FE phases is discussed in the wake of the data on other BLCs.     

Vinyl polymerization. 275. Polymerization of vinyl monomers photosensitized by tetramethyltetrazene

A study of the photopolymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of tetramethyltetrazene (TMT) was made. TMT was found to act as an effective sensitizer. In the photopolymerization of vinyl monomers such as methyl methacrylate or styrene the rate of polymerization was expressed by the equation: R_p = k[TMT]^1/2[monomer]. The chain-transfer constant of TMT under ultraviolet irradiation was estimated to be 3.8 × 10^?2 for the above monomers. A linear correlation was found to exist between the reactivity of dimethylamino radical toward the vinyl monomers and e values for the corresponding monomers.     

Zn3(C6H14N2)3[B6P12O39(OH)12] · (C6H14N2)[HPO4]: A Chiral Borophosphate – Triethylenediammonium Hydrogenphosphate Composite

A novel borophosphate, Zn₃(C₆H₁₄N₂)₃[B₆P₁₂O₃₉(OH)₁₂] · (C₆H₁₄N₂)[HPO₄] has been synthesised under mild hydrothermal conditions at T = 165 °C. The chiral crystal structure was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction data (trigonal, R3 (no. 146), Z = 3, a = 2089.55(4) pm, c = 1237.03(4) pm, V = 4677.5(2) · 10⁶ pm³, R₁ = 0.066, wR₂ = 0.164 for 5100 observed reflections). The title compound can be considered as an ordered composite of the two different and neutral structures which fit into each other: An open framework of composition Zn₃(C₆H₁₄N₂)₃[B₆P₁₂O₃₉(OH)₁₂] and columns of composition (C₆H₁₄N₂)[HPO₄]. The framework structure is formed by mixed octahedral‐tetrahedral secondary building units, in a three‐dimensional arrangement reflecting a hierarchical derivative of the NbO structure type. The underlying NbO topology is illustrated with the help of Periodic Nodal Surfaces. The composite nature of the compound is resolved in the spatial segregation of two frameworks with a separating surface.     

Chain transfer in anionic polymerization. Determination of chain-transfer constants by using carbon-14-labeled chain transfer agents

A method is described in which ¹⁴C-labeled chain-transfer agents are employed to measure chain-transfer constants in anionic polymerization as low as 10^?6. Each chain-transfer step incorporates one molecule of the chain-transfer agent into the polymer so that measurement of the activity and conversion allows evaluation of the chain-transfer constant. This method is independent of the initiator concentration and efficiency, making the technique especially useful when problems with the initiator are encountered. The experimental procedure is described in detail for the case of chain transfer to toluene in the n-butyllithium-initiated polymerization of styrene, where C_RH was found to be 5 × 10^?6. A mathematical treatment is given showing the relationship between the degree of polymerization (DP _n) and chain transfer.     

Kinetics and mechanism of silver(I) catalysed autoxidation of aqueous sulphur(IV) in acetate buffered medium

The kinetics of the silver(I) catalysed autoxidation of aqueous sulphur(IV) an acetate buffered medium obey the rate law: –d[S^IV]/dt = D[Ag^I][S^IV]²[H⁺]^–1/(B+C[S^IV]). The rate is independent of [O₂] but strongly inhibited by EtOH. A free radical mechanism is proposed.     

Undecaborates M2[B11H11]: Facile Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Reactions

closo-Undecaborates were synthesized by the deprotonation of B₁₁H₁₃(SMe₂) with LitBu in thp or K[BHEt₃] in thf, [Li(thp)₃]₂[B₁₁H₁₁] and K₂[B₁₁H₁₁] being obtained in 83 and 93% yield, respectively. K₂[B₁₁H₁₁] can be transformed into A₂[B₁₁H₁₁] with the corresponding ammonium chlorides in aqueous solution (A = [NMe₃Ph], [NBzlEt₃], [N(PPh₃)₂]). The crystal structure analysis of [Li(thp)₃]₂[B₁₁H₁₁] (space group P2₁/c) reveals a rather distorted octadecahedron for the [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– anion, whereas the corresponding octadecahedron in [NBzlEt₃]₂[B₁₁H₁₁] (space group P2₁2₁2₁) exhibits a structure close to C_2v symmetry, expected for the free anion. The protonation of [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– at low temperature gives [B₁₁H₁₂]^–, whose structure could be elucidated by NMR methods; it is formed, apparently, by the opening of the B1–B4 edge of [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– in the course of its known degenerate skeletal rearrangement, followed by the protonation of the B2–B4 edge. The reaction of [B₁₁H₁₂]^– with a second molecule of the acid HX (X = CF₃COO) gives nido-[B₁₁H₁₃X]^–. The addition of BH₃ to [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– yields closo-[B₁₂H₁₂]^2– under loss of H₂. Two [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– units are fused by the aid of FeCl₃, with the known anion [B₂₂H₂₂]^2– as the product, whose ¹¹B-NMR signals could completely be assigned on the basis of C_s symmetry. The compound [NBzlEt₃][N(PPh₃)₂][B₂₂H₂₂] crystallizes in the space group Pna2₁.     

Influence of fluorine substitution on the molecular conformation of 3′‐deoxy‐3′‐fluoro‐5‐methyluridine

Fluorine substitutions on the furanose ring of nucleosides are known to strongly influence the conformational properties of oligonucleotides. In order to assess the effect of fluorine on the conformation of 3′‐deoxy‐3′‐fluoro‐5‐methyluridine (^RT^F), C₁₀H₁₃FN₂O₅, we studied its stereochemistry in the crystalline state using X‐ray crystallography. The compound crystallizes in the chiral orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ and contains two symmetry‐independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The furanose ring in molecules A and B adopts conformations between envelope (²E, 2′‐endo, P = 162°) and twisted (²T₃, 2′‐endo and 3′exo, P = 180°), with pseudorotation phase angles (P) of 164.3 and 170.2°, respectively. The maximum puckering amplitudes, ν_max, for molecules A and B are 38.8 and 36.1°, respectively. In contrast, for 5‐methyluridine (^RT^OH), the value of P is 21.2°, which is between the ³E (3′‐endo, P = 18.0°) and ³T₄ (3′‐endo and 4′‐exo, P = 36°) conformations. The value of ν_max for ^RT^OH is 41.29°. Molecules A and B of ^RT^F generate respective helical assemblies across the crystallographic 2₁‐screw axis through classical N—H…O aand O—H…O hydrogen bonds supplemented by C—H…O contacts. Adjacent parallel helices of both molecules are linked to each other via O—H…O and O…π interactions.     

Twinkling fractal theory of the glass transition: Rate dependence and time–temperature superposition

The twinkling fractal theory (TFT) of the glass transition temperature T_g provides a new method of analyzing rate effects and time–temperature superposition in amorphous materials. The rate dependence of T_g was examined in the light of new experimental and theoretical evidence for the nature of the dynamic heterogeneity near T_g. As T_g is approached from above, dynamic solid fractal clusters begin to form and eventually percolate rigidity at T_g. The percolation cluster is a solid fractal and to the observer, appears to “twinkle” as solid and liquid clusters interchange in dynamic equilibrium with a vibrational density of states g(ω) ∼ ω. The solid-to-liquid twinkling frequencies ω_TF are controlled by the Boltzmann population of intermolecular oscillators in excited energy levels of their anharmonic potential energy functions U(x) such that ω_TF = ω exp −B(T*² − T²)/kT in which T* ≈ 1.2T_g. An oscillator changes from a solid to a liquid when a thermal fluctuation causes it to expand beyond its inflection point in the anharmonic potential. This leads to a continuous solid fraction P_s near T_g given by P_S ≈ 1−[(1 − p_c) T/T_g] where p_c ≈ 1/2 is the rigidity percolation threshold. Since g(ω) is continuous from very low to very high frequencies, the complex twinkling dynamics existing near T_g produces a continuous relaxation spectrum with many different length scales and times associated with the fractal clusters. The twinkling frequencies control the kinetics of T_g such that for a given observation time t when the rate γ > 1/t, only those parts of the twinkling spectrum with ω > γ can contribute to relaxation or percolation upto time t. The most important results in this article are as follows: The TFT describes the rate dependence of T_g, both for DSC thermal heating/cooling rates and DMA frequencies as the classic T_g − lnγ law as T_g(γ) = T_go + (k/2B) ln γ/γ_o in which the constant B = 0.3 cal/mol K². The constant B appears quite universal for the 17 thermoset polymers investigated in this study and 18 linear polymers investigated by others. Many other amorphous metal and ceramic glass materials exhibited the same rate law but required a new B value approximately half that for polymers. The same B = 0.3 value was also used to successfully describe the TTS shift factors using the twinkling fractal frequencies ω_TF = ωexp −B(T*² − T²)/kT, as ln a_T(TFT) = exp B(T_R² − T²)/kT, which gave comparable results with the classical WLF equation, log a_T = [−C₁(T − T_R)]/[C₂ + (T − T_R)]. The advantage of the TFT over the WLF is that C₁ and C₂ are not universal constants and must be determined for every material, whereas the TFT uses one known constant B which appears to be the same for all polymers. The TFT has also been found to describe the strong and fragile nature of the viscosity behavior of liquids and the rate and temperature dependence of the yield stress in polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2578–2590, 2009     

Dissociative Excitation of C2H2 in the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma of Ar: Production of CH(A2Δ) Radicals and Formation of Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon Films

The dissociative excitation reaction of C₂H₂ with the electron-cyclotron resonance plasma of Ar was investigated based on the electrostatic-probe measurements and on the optical emission spectroscopy of the CH(A²Δ–X²Π) transition. The density, n _e, and the temperature, T _e, of free electrons were controlled by adding H₂O molecules externally into the reaction region, and the dependence of the CH(A²Δ–X²Π) emission intensity on the addition of H₂O was observed to compare with the evaluated dependencies based on n _e and T _e. The mechanism of production of CH(A²Δ) was found, predominantly, to be the electron impact with the contribution of 10–20% of the electron-impact dissociation of C₂H radicals; the contribution of the ion–electron recombination was negligible. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon films were fabricated using the same reaction system. The atomic compositions, Raman spectra, and the hardness of films were discussed in terms of the variations of n _e and T _e upon the addition of H₂O molecules.     

A systematic theoretical investigation of the valence excited states of the diatomic molecules B2, C2, N2 and O2

A quantitative survey on the performance of multireference (MR), configuration interaction with all singles and doubles (CISD), MRCISD with the Davidson correction and MR-average quadratic coupled cluster (AQCC) methods for a wide range of excited states of the diatomic molecules B₂, C₂, N₂ and O₂ is presented. The spectroscopic constants r _e, ω_e, T _e and D _e for a total of 60 states have been evaluated and critically compared with available experimental data. Basis set extrapolations and size-extensivity corrections are essential for highly accurate results: MR-AQCC mean-errors of 0.001 ?, 10 cm⁻¹, 300 cm⁻¹ and 300 cm⁻¹ have been obtained for r _e, ω_e, T _e and D _e, respectively. Owing to the very systematic behavior of the results depending on the basis set and the choice of method, shortcomings of the calculations, such as Rydberg state coupling or insufficient configuration spaces, can be identified independently of experimental data. On the other hand, significant discrepancies with experiment for states which indicate no shortcomings whatsoever in the theoretical treatment suggest the re-evaluation of experimental results. The broad variety of states included in our survey and the uniform quality of the results indicate that the observed systematics is a general feature of the methods and, hence, is molecule-independent. Received: 12 June 2000 / Accepted: 1 September 2000 / Published online: 21 December 2000     

On the study by D.S.C. of the unexpected ice melting at 0°C of emulsified aqueous saline solutions

Firstly, the behavior of droplets (Φ ≈ 1μm) of aqueous saline solutions dispersed within an emulsifying medium and subjected to steady cooling and heating is described. Droplets undergo freezing around a temperature T¹(x) and partial ice melting and total salt melting at the eutectic temperature T_E. This melting is followed by progressive melting of the remaining ice which ceases when the equilibrium temperature (T_e(x)) ice ⇆ solution is reached. Between T_e and T¹ the droplets are undercooled. Secondly, the results obtained when water crystallization occurs versus time at a fixed temperature _C, such as T¹(x) < > _C < T_e(x) are reported. During heating following crystallization at Θ_C, an unusual ice melting at 0° and/or ice melting ending at T & >; T_e(x) is noticed on the thermogram obtained by differential scanning calorimetry of the emulsion. This shows that pure ice or at all events less concentrated solutions must be present within the emulsion. A possible mechanism of crystallization at Θ_C is proposed.     

Graft polymers: Chain transfer and branching

The vinyl monomers, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and methyl acrylate were polymerized in the presence of chlorinated rubber or poly(vinyl chloride) in homogeneous solution with benzoyl peroxide as catalyst. A graft polymer was formed by a chain-transfer reaction involving the growing polymer radicals to the backbone of chlorinated rubber or poly(vinyl chloride), in addition to homopolymer from the monomer. The homopolymer was isolated from the polymer mixture by fractional precipitation from methyl ethyl ketone solution with methanol as precipitant. The chain-transfer constants for the branching reactions were evaluated. The ratios k_p/(k_t)^1/2 for the grafting reactions were obtained by a correlation of chain-transfer constants with the extent of branching. The chain-transfer data were correlated on the basis of an extension of the Q–e scheme of Alfrey and Price to polymer–polymer transfer reactions. Specific effects due to the backbone are found to have considerable influence on the course of the chaintransfer reactions and k_p/(k_t)^1/2 of the grafting reactions.     

The Application of Composite Energy Methods to n-butyl Radical β-scission Reaction Kinetic Estimations

Hydrocarbon cracking reactions are key steps in petroleum refinery processes and understanding reaction kinetics has very important applications in the petroleum industry. In this work, G3 and complete basis set (CBS) composite energy methods were applied to investigate butyl radical β-scission reaction kinetics and energetics. Experimental thermodynamic and kinetic data were employed to evaluate the accuracy of these calculations. The CBS compound model proved to have excellent agreement with the experimental data, indicating that it is a reliable method for studying other large hydrocarbon cracking reactions. Furthermore, a reaction kinetic model with pressure and temperature effects was proposed. For P ≤ P ₀, k = 2.04 × 10⁹ × P ^0.51 × e^(-9745.70/T); for P > P ₀, k = 9.43 × 10¹³ × e^{(-15135.70/T)}, where k is the reaction rate constant in units of s⁻¹; P is pressure in units of kPa, T is temperature in units of Kelvin, and the switching pressure is P ₀ = 1.53 × 10⁹ × e^{(-10610.24/T)}. This model can be easily applied to different reaction conditions without performing additional expensive and complicated calculations.     

Chiral functionalized bisphosphine ligands: Transition metal complexes of 1,2-bis(tert-Butylchlorophosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)

When rac- or meso-1,2-bis(tert-butylchlorophosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) (1a or 1b) is reacted with [M(CO)₄(NBD)] (M = Cr, Mo, NBD = norbornadiene), [Mo(CO)₄(EtCN)₂] or [W(CO)₆], rac-[Cr(CO)₄{1,2-(P^tBuCl)₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀}] (2), rac- or meso-[Mo(CO)₄{1,2-(P^tBuCl)₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀}] (3a or 3b) and rac-[W(CO)₄{1,2-(P^tBuCl)₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀}] (4) could be isolated as pure diastereomers. UV irradiation of 1 with [Cr(CO)₆] in moist THF proceeds with hydrolysis and formation of [Cr(CO)₄{1,2-(P(OH)^tBu)₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀}] (5) which contains the metal complex-stabilized phosphinous acid. Compounds 2–5 were characterized spectroscopically (¹H, ³¹P, ¹¹B, ¹³C NMR), by mass spectrometry and by X-ray structure determination.     

Maximum Thermodynamic Electrical Efficiency of Fuel Cell System and Results for Hydrogen,Methane, and Propane Fuels

The maximum electrical efficiency of fuel cell system, η_e^max, is important for the understanding and development of the fuel cell technology. Attempt is made to build a theory for η_e^max by considering the energy requirement of heating the fuel and air streams to the fuel cell operating temperature T. A general thermodynamic analysis is performed and the energy balances for the overall operating processes of a fuel cell system are established. Explicit expressions for the determination of η_e^max are deduced. Unlike the Carnot efficiency, η_e^max is found to be fuel specific. Except for hydrogen fuel, chemical equilibrium calculations are necessary to compute η_e^max. Analytical solutions for the chemical equilibrium of alkane fuels are presented. The theoretical model is used to analyze the effects of T and the steam contents of CH₄, C₃H₈, and H₂ on η_e^max for systems with various degrees of waste heat recovery. Contrary to the common perception concerning methane and propane fuels, η_e^max decreases substantially with the increase of T. Moreover, η_e^max of hydrogen fuel can be higher than that of methane and propane fuels for a system with a medium level of waste heat recovery and operated at 700 ℃≤T≤900 ℃.     

Improved Tougaard background calculation by introduction of fittable parameters for the inelastic electron scattering cross‐section in the peak fit of photoelectron spectra with UNIFIT 2011

The shape of the background in x‐ray photoemission spectra is strongly affected by scattered electrons from inelastic energy loss processes. A polynomial of low order has very often been applied to model the secondary‐electron background, giving satisfying results in some cases. An improved analysis employing the Tougaard background model has been successfully used to characterize the inelastic loss processes. However, the correct usage of the Tougaard background needs a well defined inelastic electron scattering cross‐section function λ(E) · K(E, T) (λ = inelastic mean free path, E = kinetic energy, T = energy loss). This paper presents a four‐parameter loss function λ(E) · K(E, T) = B · T/(C + C′ · T²)² + D · T² with the fitting parameters B, C, C′ and D implemented in the background function allowing the improved estimation of the λ(E) · K(E, T) function for homogenous materials. The fit of the background parameters is carried out parallel to the peak fit. The results will be compared with the parameters recommended by Tougaard. The calculation of inelastic electron scattering cross‐sections of clean surfaces from different materials using UNIFIT 2011 will be demonstrated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.