Interpretation and the Hieroglyphic Monad: John Dee's Reading of Pantheus's Voarchadumia

Abstract

John Dee's marginalia in his copy of Johannes Pantheus's Voarchadumia (now in the British Library) are an interesting source of information about the development of Dee's scientific ideas in the period between the Propaedeumata Aphoristica (1558) and the Monas Hieroglyphica (1564). In reading the book, Dee has systematically compared the text with Pantheus's earlier work, the Ars Metallicae, and noted any differences between the two largely identical works. Therefore, most of Dee's comments are not indications of his own interests, as has previously been assumed. Only the marginalia that are not concerned with comparing the two texts can be taken to express Dee's own views. These marginalia, probably written in 1559, provide evidence that Dee had already at this time a strong interest in cabbalistic methods as a means of gaining knowledge about natural substances. Cabbalistic speculation was to be central to Dee's thought in the Monas Hieroglyphica, and has previously been taken to indicate a dramatic change in Dee's scientific outlook, towards a spiritual quest. In his marginalia in the Voarchadumia, however, Dee appears to be using cabbalistic methods to gain information on wholly material, non-spiritual matters. The abundant use of the symbol of the hieroglyphic monad in the marginalia provides a further source of insight into the alchemical import of the symbol, five years before the publication of the Monas Hieroglyphica.     

Women and Chemistry in Regency England: New Light on the Marcet Circle

Jane Marcet's Conversations on Chemistry (first edition, 1806) was possibly the best-selling English-language chemistry book of the first half of the nineteenth century. Recent scholarship has explored the degree to which her husband assisted in the writing of the book, without diminishing the high merits of the author. Previously unpublished correspondence, some of which appears here for the first time, casts new light on the social and professional circle of Jane and Alexander Marcet, including its influence on Jane's book. One of the members of that circle was a hitherto unrecognised but highly capable young female chemist, Frederica Sebright. The story told here underlines the tensions in elite circles in early nineteenth-century England between broad-minded acceptance and patronising limitations for women in science.     

Alchemical Patronage and the Making of an Adept: Letters of Michael Sendivogius to Emperor Rudolf II and His Chamberlain Hans Popp

Based on four extant letters the famous Polish alchemist Michael Sendivogius wrote to Emperor Rudolf II and his first chamberlain Hans Popp between 1597 and 1602, this paper adds to a growing body of revisionist scholarship on alchemy in Rudolfine Prague. Unlike most of his many rivals – including luminaries such as John Dee and Michael Maier – who hoped for the Emperor's patronage in vain, Sendivogius officially became a courtier at the imperial court in 1594. As such he was in the privileged position of having access to the Emperor and his close advisors. The surviving correspondence shows how the Pole successfully balanced his alchemical promises against Rudolf's expectations for a number of years. The fact that even Sendivogius found it difficult to translate imperial patronage into ready money suggests that Emperor Rudolf II was considerably more circumspect and less gullible than the widespread cliché suggests. Fully contextualised by all available sources on Sendivogius' early career, the four letters emerge as important documents regarding the Polish adept and alchemical patronage in Rudolfine Prague. They also shed new light on the circumstances which led to the writing and publication of Sendivogius' famous treatise De lapide philosophorum (Novum lumen chymicum).     

Peter Debye: Nazi Collaborator or Secret Opponent?

Abstract

In January 2006, the so-called "Debye Affair" emerged, triggered by the publication of a Dutch book on Einstein. Debye was accused of Nazi collaboration in his capacity as chairman of the German Physical Society when he requested, in December 1938, the remaining Jewish members to leave the society. Within a month, two Dutch universities deleted Debye's name from their research institute and scientific award, and this led, both nationally and internationally, to a heated discussion. The Dutch government commissioned the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation to investigate the case. In its final report, the accusation was toned down to 'opportunism'. This paper is based on new information. Above all, I have researched Debye's extensive American archive. This archive disclosed the correspondence (1940–1963) with his friend Paul Rosbaud, an important MI6 intelligencer in Berlin during the Nazi period. The correspondence, combined with information from other sources, suggests that Debye might have been one of Rosbaud's informants. Therefore, this paper also includes a powerful warning against hasty and definitive conclusions.     

Distilling Reliable Remedies: Hieronymus Brunschwig's Liber de arte distillandi (1500) Between Alchemical Learning and Craft Practice

Abstract

Hieronymus Brunschwig's Liber de arte distillandi, written in German and first published in Strasbourg in 1500, was the first printed manual on the distillation of medicinal waters. Although influential among early modern audiences and well known to modern scholars, its intriguing blend of intellectual and practical traditions has thus far received little attention. This paper identifies these strands in Brunschwig's technical instructions and shows how they intertwine in the production of reliable remedies. Exploring the intellectual dimension of Brunschwig's work, I argue that his concept of distillation is shaped by an alchemical understanding of matter, especially by the writings on ‘quintessence’ of the fourteenth-century alchemist John of Rupescissa. To realise this concept in the workshop, Brunschwig emphasises the central importance of the body and its senses to ensure true craftsmanship. Brunschwig's printed manual was as much a product of skilled artisanal practices as the distilled waters it describes, and I argue that it was shaped by the same concerns about technical precision and reliability.     

Novel amides and Schiff's bases derived from 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives: synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour

The synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of novel achiral amides (Ia–g, IIa–g and IVa,b), achiral Schiff's bases (IIIa–g and Va–g), chiral amides (VI, VII) and chiral Schiff's bases (VIII–XI) incorporating a 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring are reported. All amides of the series I and II display an enantiotropic smectic A phase. The amide IVa,b did not show mesomorphic properties. Amides of the series Ia–g and IIa–g contain a flexible n-tetradecylthio chain, the other terminal substituent is an n-alkoxy chain and n-alkyl chain, respectively (n?=?4–10) and the 1,3,4-oxadiazole is in the terminal rigid core. Amides Ia–g have broader mesomorphic range and higher thermal stability than the corresponding amides IIa–g. Amides IVa,d contain the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring in the centre of the rigid core and two flexible alkoxy chains as flexible terminal substituents. Thus, the mesomorphic properties are favoured if 1,3,4-oxadiazole is shifted to a terminal position of the rigid core. Schiff's bases IIIa–g display an enantiotropic dimorphism smectic C–smectic A. Schiff's bases IIIa–g have a broader mesomorphic range than the analogous amides Ia–g. Schiff's bases Va–g exhibit a dimorphism smectic A–nematic, and in contrast to this the analogous amide IVa,b did not show mesomorphism. The chiral amides VI and VII and chiral Schiff's bases X and XI did not show mesomorphic properties and only the chiral Schiff's bases VIII and IX display a chiral smectic C phase in a short mesomorphic range. A density functional theory theoretical study at the B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) level was performed in order to analyse the structural features that must be related with the mesomorphic behaviour of the reported compounds.     

The Letters of John Dastin

Abstract

John Dastin, a noted alchemist who lived ca.1300, followed the lead of many of his contemporaries and predecessors in using letters to propagate his views on alchemy. This article identifies a number of letters that Dastin wrote, and includes one text addressed to a cardinal of the city of Naples. This letter is virtually a copy of a work by Arnold of Villanova. I believe that other works ascribed to Dastin will also show a great dependence on Arnold's works.     

On the electronic structure of Li2 (X 1\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\Sigma^{+}_{\mathrm{g}}$\end{document}) and its changes with internuclear distance

A compact, yet accurate, and strictly virial‐compliant ab initio electronic wavefunction for ground‐state Li₂ is exploited for a study of the molecule's electronic structure and electron density. Symmetry‐breaking problems that emerge at the single‐configuration level are solved in a multiconfigurational spin‐coupled approach that enables simultaneous optimization of angularly correlated “resonating” configurations. Particular emphasis is placed on the accurate determination of the electron density's bifurcation points and of the quadrupole moment as a function of internuclear distance R. Tentative connections are drawn between the R dependence of the electron density's topological structure and quadrupole moment and that of the electronic wavefunction. Computation of the latter constitutes the first application to systems other than isolated atoms of the optimized basis set generalized multiconfiguration spin‐coupled method, which entails use of nonorthogonal orbitals and Slater‐type basis functions with variationally optimized exponential parameters. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 78: 378–397, 2000     

Concentration of bisphenol A in thermal paper

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used as a color developer in thermal paper. Thermal paper is ubiquitous in daily life due to its use in cash register receipts, so opportunities for human contact abound. For this study, 10 blank cash register receipts were obtained from businesses in suburban Boston. BPA was extracted and analysis of concentration was performed using gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector. In some receipts, BPA was not detected but in others it was as high as 19 mg for a 12-inch long receipt, which is in line with concentrations indicated in patents. This study is intended to highlight the potential for human exposure to BPA as well as the ease with which exposure may be reduced through the use of BPA-free thermal paper.     

Margaret Cavendish's materialist critique of van Helmontian chymistry

A striking omission in the scholarship on the reception of the chymical philosophy of Jan Baptista van Helmont in England in the seventeenth century is the work of the mid-seventeenth-century natural philosopher Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. In her Philosophical Letters (1664), Cavendish offers an extended critique of Van Helmont's work (whose Ortus Medicince had recently been translated into English by John Sadler). In this paper, I compare Cavendish's criticisms with those of Robert Boyle in his Sceptical Chymist (1661). Both Boyle and Cavendish attacked Van Helmont for the obscurity of his chymical vocabulary and concepts, and attacked his seminalism. Although their critiques had much in common, they diverged in their attitudes to Van Helmont's experiments. As an opponent of the experimental philosophy, Cavendish had little interest in the quality of Van Helmont's experimental claims, whereas Boyle was critical of their unreplicability. I also try to show that the two writers had very different polemical agendas, with Boyle defending his vision of chymistry based on a corpuscularian natural philosophy, and Cavendish being as much concerned with establishing her religious orthodoxy as with defending the truth claims of her own materialist vitalism. For Cavendish, Van Helmont was an example of the dangers of mingling theology and natural philosophy.     

Directed molecular recognition: furfurylamine appended ditopic receptor for succinic acid

A furfurylamine appended ditopic receptor (R1) for dicarboxylic acids has been designed and synthesised. The association constants (K_a) between receptors and dicarboxylic acids have been determined using UV–vis and NMR titration techniques. The binding constant (K_a) of succinic acid with R1 was observed maximum, which implies the optimum chain length selectivity for succinic acid. Theoretical calculation and molecular modelling using Gaussian 03 program also support the optimised receptor's cavity for succinic acid.     

An Introduction to The Bibliography of Alchemy—Part I

Abstract

This article contributes to a growing body of research on the dissemination, dispersion or diffusion of scientific knowledge via pedagogical networks. By examining students’ handwritten lecture notes, I compare the eighteenth-century chemistry lectures given by William Cullen (1710–1790) at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities with those of his one-time student George Fordyce (1736–1802), in London, at first privately and then as part of the medical education of physicians at St. Thomas's Hospital. Part I examines the broad structure of Cullen's and Fordyce's courses, comparing both course content and pedagogical approaches to ask how far knowledge flowed directly ‘downstream,’ and the extent to which it was transformed, translated or transmuted in the process of transmission. Part II (forthcoming) will approach the affinity theories of Cullen and Fordyce in greater depth, revealing the dynamics of knowledge transfer. The results shed light on the transmission of knowledge and skills between master and student, and reflect on whether Fordyce can be better described as Cullen's pedagogical progeny, or less straightforwardly as a tactical translator.     

1,4‐Diaryl and Schiff's base [1,2,3]‐triazole derivative liquid crystalline compounds

Regioselective synthesis of [1,2,3]‐triazoles based on the ‘click‐reaction’, involving the Cu(I)‐catalysed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of aryl azide to terminal arylacetylenes, was successfully employed in the preparation of two series of non‐linear mesogens, based on 1,4‐diaryl‐[1,2,3]‐triazole (Ia–e) and with Schiff's base units (IIa–c). Their mesophases were characterized by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All final compounds exhibited preferentially the SmC phase. In addition, compounds of series I showed weak blue fluorescence in solution (λ_{max. em.} = 380–386 nm) with poor quantum yields and a Stokes shift of around 90 nm.     

A Letter Signed: The Very Beginnings of Dalton's Atomic Theory

Abstract

This paper explores the provenance and content of a previously unknown personal letter by John Dalton (1766–1844), which is dated 12 April 1803. It relates to a startling breakthrough in Dalton's research, which pre-dates by five months the earliest date in his laboratory notebook, namely, 6 September 1803. The author acquired the letter about thirty years ago, and now offers it to the public. He makes no attempt to explain how it contributes to — or even changes — our understanding of Dalton, but leaves that privilege to Dalton scholars.     

Biaryl monophosphine ligands in palladium-catalyzed C–N coupling: An updated User's guide

Over the past three decades, Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have become a mainstay of organic synthesis. In particular, catalysts derived from biaryl monophosphines have shown wide utility in forming C–N bonds under mild reaction conditions. This work summarizes a variety of C–N cross-coupling reactions using biaryl monophosphines as supporting ligands, with the goal of directing synthetic chemists towards the ligands and conditions best suited for a particular coupling.PreludeWhen I learned that I had received the 2018 Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry, jointly with Professor John F. Hartwig of UC Berkeley, I felt a sense of great accomplishment. Accomplishment not specifically for me, but by my research group (and that of John's) in developing new chemistry that was both intrinsically interesting and of practical utility. The latter aspect is the reason that we have chosen to write this review to help practitioners in the field utilize palladium-catalyzed C–N coupling reactions more broadly, efficiently, and predictively in their own research efforts. We note that while we have limited this review to reactions using biaryl phosphine ligands, that many other good alternatives exist.     

Enantioselective Recognition for Carboxylic Acids by Novel Chiral Macrocyclic Polyamides Derived from L-/D-tartaric Acid

The enantioselectivity of chiral macrocyclic polyamides 1–3 derived from L-/D-tartaric acid was investigated by using ¹H NMR. All the macrocycles exhibited certain chiral recognition towards the enantiomers of the racemic carboxylic acids we had chosen. As a chiral solvating agent, the compound 3 has the excellent enantiomeric discriminating ability for mandelic acids and its derivatives, containing an α-OH at the chiral carbon, while the compound 2 has the best enantioselectivity towards dibenzoyltartaric acid. The molar ratio and the association constants of the compound 3 with each of the enantiomers of some guest molecules were determined by using the Job's plots and a nonlinear leastsquares fitting method, respectively. The effect of the structure of the hosts or guests on the enantioselectivity of the compound 1–3 has been explored.     

A NEW SOURCE OF METHYLENE MELDRUM'S ACID. REACTIONS WITH ENAMINES

ABSTRACT

The unsymmetrical Knoevenagel–Michael product derived from Meldrum's acid, phenyl Meldrum's acid and formaldehyde was prepared as a pure, stable and crystalline product. This compound readily dissociates under the reaction conditions to produce methylene Meldrum's acid. This Knoevenagel–Michael product was used to explore a new application of methylene Meldrum's acid: the reaction with enamines.     

Commentary: Reflections on “interfacial polycondensation. I.,” by Emerson L. Wittbecker and Paul W. Morgan,J. Polym. Sci., XL, 289 (1959)

The book, Science and Corporate Strategy: DuPont R&D, 1902–1980, by David A. Hounshell and John Kelly Smith, Jr., and published by Cambridge University Press (1988) was used as a source for some of the information in this perspective of polymer research before and during the exploration of interfacial polycondensation. Dacron® and Lycra® are trademarks of the E. I. DuPont Company for its polyester and spandex fibers. Nomex® and Kevlar® are trademarks for its aramid fibers.