The valence electronic structure and conformational flexibility of epichlorohydrin

The electronic structure of epichlorohydrin is investigated in the whole valence region by a combined experimental and theoretical study. The issue of controversial assignments of the molecular electronic structure is here addressed. Photoelectron spectra (PES) and Threshold Photoelectron spectra (TPES) of room temperature molecules in the gas phase are recorded. Geometries and energies of the stable conformers due to internal rotation of the C-C-C-Cl dihedral angle, gauche-II (g-II), gauche-I (g-I), and cis, are calculated, and the effect of the conformational flexibility on the photoionization energetics is studied by DFT and 2h-1p Configuration Interaction (CI) methods. Strong breakdown of the Koopmans Theorem (KT) is obtained for the four outermost ionizations, which are further investigated by higher level ab initio calculations. The full assignment of the spectrum is put on a firm basis by the combination of experimental and theoretical results. The orbital composition from correlated calculations is found closer to the DFT orbitals, which are then used to analyze the electronic structure of the molecule. The Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and HOMO--2 are n(O)/n(Cl) mixed orbitals. The nature of each valence MO is generally preserved in all the conformers, although the magnitude of the n(O)/n(Cl) mixing in HOMO and HOMO--2 varies to some extent with the C-C-C-Cl dihedral angle. The low energy part of the HOMO PE band is predicted to be substantially affected by the conformational flexibility, as experimentally observed in the spectra. The rest of the spectrum is described in terms of the dominant conformer g-II, and a good agreement between experiment and theory is found. The inner-valence PE spectrum is characterized by satellite structures, due to electron correlation effects, which are interpreted by means of 2h-1p CI calculations.     

Determination of pyrethroid pesticide residues in vegetables by solvent sublation followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel method is developed for separating and enriching pyrethroid pesticides from vegetables by solvent sublation, and determination of the pyrethroids is performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of organic solvent, pH of the solution, nitrogen flow rate, and sublation time on the sublation efficiency of pyrethroids are investigated in detail, and the optimal conditions of the solvent sublation are selected. The floated product of vegetables in the optimal conditions is determined by HPLC. The limit of detection values range from 1.4 microg/kg (for bifenthrin) to 4.2 microg/kg (for fenpropathin). The recoveries of spiked vegetable samples are from 85.7% to 110.4%, and relative standard deviation values are from 1.70% to 6.19%. The results are satisfactory.     

The application of strictly localized geminals to the description of chemical bonds

A theory is developed in which closed-shell molecules are viewed as systems of weakly interacting chemical bonds. Composite-particle creation operators obtained by an appropriate quasiparticle transformation are used to create the wave function of two-electron bonds. These quasiparticles are bosons, since they are composed of two electrons, but the total many-electron wave function is properly antisymmetric. The internal structure of the quasi-Bose-particles is affected by inductive interbond interactions. Delocalization and dispersion interactions between different bonds are neglected, thus the approach corresponds to a first-order many-body PT (Perturbation Theory) with a correlated, but fully localized, reference state. The whole formalism is developed ab initio. The nonorthogonality problem is handled by a biorthogonal formulation. To illustrate the effectiveness of the model, numerical calculations are reported.     

Influence of spontaneous curvature and microtubules on the conformations of lipid vesicles

The conformations of vesicles deformed by microtubules are studied within the framework of the curvature energy. The phenomenon in which the destruction of a microtubule is followed by the formation of peristaltic shapes on a protrusion created by the microtubule is investigated. The influence of the spontaneous curvature on the conformations of vesicles is examined, and the results are compared to existing experiments. The elastic properties of a vesicle deformed by the microtubule are studied.     

Emulsion polymerization. I. Recalculation and extension of the Smith-Ewart theory

The most important assumptions underlying the Smith-Ewart theory are that the locus of chain propagation is the monomer-swollen latex particle, polymeric chains are initiated by radicals entering from the water phase into the particles, chain termination is an instantaneous reaction between two radicals within one particle, and particles are nucleated by radicals absorbed into monomer-swollen soap micelles. Right or wrong, these and other assumptions used by Smith and Ewart are retained in this paper. The newly derived and experimentally verifiable equations contain only such parameters which can be determined by experiments not involving emulsion polymerization. The proportionality constant between the particle number and the appropriate powers of soap and initiator concentrations is defined in terms of these independent parameters. Absolute rate equations are presented for the intervals before and after the completion of particle nucleation. To calculate these rates it is not necessary to have prior knowledge of the experimental particle number. The conversion at which particle nucleation is complete is calculated. The molecular weight is defined in terms of independent parameters. Predictions are made for the particle size distribution. It is shown that the validity of the theory is confined to specifiable intervals of conversion, to a certain range of monomer/water ratio, and to soap concentrations whose upper and lower limits are given.     

Adsorption relaxation for nonionic surfactants under mixed barrier-diffusion and micellization-diffusion control

Relaxation processes of surfactant adsorption and surface tension, which are characterized by two specific relaxation times, are theoretically investigated. We are dealing with fluid interfaces and small initial deviations from equilibrium. For surfactant concentrations below the critical micellization concentration (CMC), we consider adsorption under mixed barrier-diffusion control. General analytical expressions are derived, which are convenient for both numerical computations and asymptotic analysis. Series expansions for the short- and long-time limit are derived. The results imply that the short-time asymptotics is controlled by the adsorption barrier, whereas the long-time asymptotics is always dominated by diffusion. Furthermore, for surfactant concentrations above the CMC, adsorption under mixed micellization-diffusion control is considered. Again, a general analytical expression is derived for the relaxation of surfactant adsorption and surface tension, whose long- and short-time asymptotics are deduced. The derived equations show that at the short times the relaxation is completely controlled by the diffusion, whereas the long-time asymptotics is affected by both demicellization and diffusion. The micellar effect is manifested as an exponential (rather than square-root) decay of the perturbation. The derived expressions are applied to process available experimental data for the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 and to determine the respective demicellization rate constant.     

Solubility behaviour of metals in ordinary vegetables after cell breakdown

Summary The suitability of the mechanical cell breakdown by liquid shearing (ultra-turrax treatment) as an initial step of speciation of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb and Sr in storebought vegetables is examined. The subject of the investigation are celeriac, chard, Jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, leek and spinach plants. Pre-cut parts of these plants are homogenised by ultra-turrax treatment in the presence of buffer. A contamination with respect to the elements of interest can be excluded. The homogenates are separated into cytosols (liquid fractions) and pellets (solid fractions) by centrifugation and the distribution of the elements is determined. Metals are analysed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and the quantification is performed by using one internal standard. The results obtained are of great interest since the individual metals show a similar distribution in diverse plants. The metals K, Zn, Cu, and Rb predominate in all examined cytosols. Calcium and especially Sr, are not well transferred into a soluble form by ultra-turrax treatment. Iron is mainly bound to the pellets, as is Mn, though to a smaller degree. The quick and simple method of cell breakdown in fresh vegetable foodstuffs using liquid shearing transfers K, Cu, Zn, and Rb in significant percentages into a soluble form without contaminations. Consequently, a great fraction of these elements are directly accessible to further analytical separation procedures.     

Production of acetone-butanol-ethanol from corn mash and molasses in batch fermentation

The production of solvents from corn mash and molasses in batch fermentation usingClostridium acetobutylicum P 262 was examined. The content of saccharose of beet molasses used in experiments is determined by using the gravimetric method (52.45% saccharose). The quantities of molasses that are used in the nutrient medium are calculated after doing the above determination. The samples of fermentation liquid are taken within a certain time, the determination of saccharose is done by using the same method, and all the saccharose is converted by the microorganism to organic end products. The quantitative and qualitative determination of acetone-butanol has been made by using gas chromatography. On the other hand, using the three isolation way, three different cultures are obtained, and with microscopic observations, the cultures obtained are of the C.acetobutylicum genus. According to the literature values, the concentration of maximum mixed solvent formed during fermentation is about 2%. This is seen in this experiment. There is only a slight difference from this value. This difference is caused by another organic product that is formed during fermentation.     

Efficiency and accuracy of the elongation method as applied to the electronic structures of large systems

Current state of development of the elongation method originally proposed by Imamura is presented. Recent progress in methodology, including geometry optimization and employment of the fast multiple method, is highlighted. The accuracy and efficiency of the elongation method as compared to exact canonical Hartree-Fock and Kohn-Sham approaches are discussed. Potential applications are illustrated by wide range of calculations for model systems. The elongation calculations are demonstrated to be much more efficient compared to the conventional ones with high accuracy maintained. The elongation CPU time is shown by the model calculations as linear or sub-linear scaling for quasi-one-dimensional systems. Future work of development into post-Hartree-Fock methodologies are pointed out.     

复合阴离子稀土穴醚配合物的分子和晶体结构研究

首次合成了稀土元素镱的异硫氰酸、硝酸复合阴离子穴醚(2,2,2)配合物H2Yb(NCS)~3(NO3)~2.H2O.(2,2,2)。测定了它的晶体结构及红外光谱, 发现Yb^3+没有进入穴醚空穴, 它通过H2O桥以氢键与穴醚的O原子结合。经研究认为, 分子中2个H^+结合在穴醚中2个N原子上。与Yb^3+配位的异硫氰酸根、硝酸根及分子形成八配位的三角十二面几何构型。晶体属单斜晶系, 空间群:P2~1/n。     

Microcomputer application of non-linear regression analysis to metal-ligand equilibria

A non-linear least-squares regression program is described which is suitable for PC-compatible microcomputers. The program is written in GWBASIC, but compiled to run with the Intel 8087 fast numeric processor. Subroutines which simulate functions are compiled separately from the main program. Parameters are optimized by a Gauss-Newton-Marquardt algorithm which can be provided with either analytically or numerically calculated partial derivatives. Multi-component potentiometric titrations are simulated and parameters optimized by using analytical derivatives. Spectrophotometric titrations are also simulated, but absorptivities are optimized by linear regression while stability constants are optimized non-linearly by using numerical derivatives. Provision is made for "global analysis" of parameters. The experimental points can be displayed on screen, along with the "best" fit and the speciation. The program is demonstrated here by the determination of the pK(a) values and stability constants of a hydroxypyridinone ligand and its complexes with Fe(III).     

Threshold effects on the lectin-mediated aggregation of synthetic glycolipid-containing liposomes

Cholesterol analogs containing sugar residues linked by spacer groups to the cholesterol O can be incorporated into egg yolk lecithin small unilamellar liposomes. The synthetic glycolipid analogs distribute evenly on both sides of the bilayer. These liposomes are aggregated by the appropriate lectin. For example, when the sugar residue is a beta-galactoside the liposomes are aggregated by ricin and when it is an alpha-mannoside they are aggregated by Con A. The lectin-mediated aggregation of these liposomes is reversed by the addition of the appropriate sugar. The rates but not the extents of aggregation of these liposomes are highly sensitive to the amount of glycolipid incorporated. Below approximately 5% glycolipid incorporation the rate of the lectin-mediated aggregation of these liposomes is exceedingly slow, whereas above this level rapid aggregation proceeds. At all concentrations studied the synthetic glycolipids are incorporated in a unimodal fashion so that the observed threshold effects cannot be based on possible differences in the manner in which the glycolipids are incorporated at different concentrations. This conclusion is based on 1) studies with galactose oxidase that show that the percentage of galactose oxidation in a liposome prepared from a galactosyl-containing glycolipid is independent of glycolipid concentration, and 2) studies on the aggregation of liposomes containing mixed glycolipids in which the glycolipids are shown to behave independently. The importance of a critical density of membrane-bound receptors in order for aggregation to occur is discussed.     

Synthese et etude de poly (esters insatures-seq-ethers)—I. Preparation de poly (esters insatures-seq-ethers) par polycondensation en solution

The preparation of ωω′ bisfunctional oligoesters (unsaturated or not) is described. The oligoesters are characterised by NMR, end-group titration and tonometry. Their modification by transformation of acid to acid chloride end-group is reported. Their solution polycondensation with ωω′ dihydroxy polyethers is described. A statistical method has been used to optimize the reaction conditions. The properties of the poly (unsaturated esters-b-ethers) are studied. Examination by thermal differential analysis shows that the two blocks are compatible.     

液相色谱手性拆分机理的热力学方法研究

手性识别是分子识别的一个重要组成部分。液相色谱手性拆分机理研究有助于色谱条件的优化和新型手性固定相的设计,也有助于理解手性识别机制。本文就线性色谱与非线性色谱条件下手性拆分过程对应热力学参数的推求方法进行了评述,阐述了相关热力学参数的涵义及其在色谱保留及手性拆分机理探讨中的应用,并展望了该领域的研究前景。     

Linearized multiple standard additions for the potentiometric determination of weak acids

The feasibility of potentiometric determination of weak monoprotic acids by the multiple standard addition method is examined. A standard solution of pure weak acid is added to the solution containing an unknown amount of the same weak acid, alone or mixed with its conjugate base. The experimental data are processed by Gran-type plots, for which rigorous and approximate equations are obtained. It is shown that weak acids can be determined by multiple standard additions with a precision comparable with that of the usual kinds of potentiometric addition-methods. The validity range of the approximate equations is established. Linear equations similar to those of Hofstee, Scatchard, Lineweaver and Burk, and Scott are also obtained, by which aciditity constants can be determined together with equivalence volumes. The effects of systematic and random measurement errors are examined.     

Simple correction for perturbations of peak amplitudes in statistical models of overlap

Summary The application of statistical models of overlap (SMOs) to saturated separations is made possible by theory that addresses variable peak amplitudes. These amplitudes cause peak widths to vary, and this variation can be modeled by a random variable whose effect on the probability of overlap is expressed by a convolution integral. Modified probabilities of overlap are derived for both homogeneous and nonhomogeneous one-dimensional separations, and the new probabilities are compared to results determined from published computer simulations. The new theory can describe overlap at saturations that are 3 to 4 times larger than before. Previously reported experimental chromatograms are reinterpreted to show the capabilities of theory. The theoretical extension is an important step towards making SMOs into practical tools for screening analytical separations.     

Source allocation of organic air pollutants by application of fuzzy c-varieties pattern recognition

Data for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from 44 air samples are processed by unsupervised clustering techniques in oder to resolve the contributions from two sources (domestic and motor vehicles). The fuzzy c-varieties (FCV) clustering algorithms are applied. The cluster configuration which best describes the characteristic properties of the samples is selected by computation of validity discriminant coefficients. the FCV method permits the data samples to belong partially to different clusters, and source apportionments are estimated by multiplying the membership values by the PAH concentrations of the individual samples. The results are compared to those obtained by other methods of dispersion or receptor modelling in the same areas. The FCV method is valuable for estimating contributions from two types of emission sources.     

Gas Plasma Treatment of Polymer Surfaces

The modification of polymer surfaces by gas plasma treatment is reviewed. The two regimes of major interest are radio-frequency at low pressure (about 1 torr) and corona discharge at atmospheric pressure. The reactions produced by plasmas at polymer surfaces are due to both radiation and chemically active species created by electron bombardment. The major changes produced are in wettability, molecular weight, chemical composition, and surface morphology. The mechanisms of plasma polymerization and the properties of polymers produced by this technique are described. Finally, a brief outline is given of the industrial applications of plasma techniques.     

Fluorine for hydrogen exchange in the hydrofluorobenzene derivatives C6H(x)F(6-x), where x = 2, 3, 4 and 5 by monomeric [1,2,4-(Me3C)3C5H2]2CeH: the solid state isomerization of [1,2,4-(Me3C)3C5H2]2Ce(2,3,4,5-C6HF4) to [1,2,4-(Me3C)3C5H2]2Ce(2,3,4,6-C6HF4)

The reaction between monomeric bis(1,2,4-tri-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)cerium hydride, Cp'2CeH, and several hydrofluorobenzene derivatives is described. The aryl derivatives that are the primary products, Cp'2Ce(C6H(5-x)F(x)) where x = 1,2,3,4, are thermally stable enough to be isolated in only two cases, since all of them decompose at different rates to Cp'2CeF and a fluorobenzyne; the latter is trapped by either solvent when C6D6 is used or by a Cp'H ring when C6D12 is the solvent. The trapped products are identified by GC/MS analysis after hydrolysis. The aryl derivatives are generated cleanly by reaction of the metallacycle, Cp'((Me3C)2C5H2C(Me2)CH2)Ce, with a hydrofluorobenzene, and the resulting arylcerium products, in each case, are identified by their (1)H and (19)F NMR spectra at 20 degrees C. The stereochemical principle that evolves from these studies is that the thermodynamic isomer is the one in which the CeC bond is flanked by two ortho-CF bonds. This orientation is suggested to arise from the negative charge that is localized on the ipso-carbon atom due to C(o)(delta+)F(o)(delta-) polarization. The preferred regioisomer is determined by thermodynamic rather than kinetic effects; this is illustrated by the quantitative, irreversible solid-state conversion at 25 degrees C over two months of Cp'2Ce(2,3,4,5-C6HF4) to Cp'2Ce(2,3,4,6-C6HF4), an isomerization that involves a CeC(ipso) for C(ortho)F site exchange.