An investigation about the solid state thermal degradation of acetylsalicylic acid: polymer formation

An investigation about the thermal degradation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is performed. It is verified that the thermal degradation of ASA produces not only salicylic acid (SA) and acetic acid (AA) as products but also an ASA polymer, which is transparent and solid. And also verified that the temperature in which the polymer is obtained influences its physical consistence (solid or semi-solid). Furthermore, the ASA polymer is very stable from a thermic point of view, as verified by TG and DSC analysis. X-ray diffraction patterns obtained for the ASA polymer show that it exhibits a low crystallinity.     

Mass spectrometic investigation of the structure and formation mechanism of ions in the autoionization of aliphatic alcohols

The structure and formation mechanism of ions in the field ionization of methanol and ethanol have been studied by isotopic labeling with O¹⁸ and deuterium, and mass spectrometric analysis. It is shown that these alcohols give identical mass spectra in the molecular ion region, these consisting of four lines: M+1, M, M–1, and M–2. The M+2 ions have the structure ROH·H⁺ while the M–1 ions are (R–H)·OH⁺. For methanol the M–2 ions have the structure of formaldehyde, and for ethanol they have those of both an aldehyde and a vinyl alcohol. It is also shown that field ionization may be used to study the catalytic oxidation of alcohols over platinum by free oxygen.     

Mass spectrometric investigation of adduct formation by methylated cyclodextrins

FABMS has been employed to detect the formation of supramolecular adducts between methylated cyclodextrins and (i) organic ammonium salts, (ii) organometallic cations, and (iii) neutral metalloorganic complexes. This is a facile technique for studying the second sphere coordination of transition metal complexes by chemically-modified cyclodextrins.     

On the formation of the so-called arsanthrene

The structure of Kalb's “arsanthrene oxide” and “arsanthrene” have been reinvestigated. The “arsanth-rene oxide” is monomeric and is therefore properly termed 5,10-epoxy-5,10-dihydroarsanthrene(6). A spectroscopic study of “arsanthrene” revealed that this compound has the dimeric structure 12 corresponding to the photodimer of anthracene. Mechanisms of formation of dimeric “arsanthrene” and the possible dissociation of dimeric “arsanthrene” into its monomer by reaction with a dienophile at elevated temperature are discussed. An attempt to synthesize arsanthrene (7) by dehalogenation of 5,10-dichloro-5,10-dihydroarsanthrene (5) was unsuccessful. The mass spectral fragmentation patterns of some 5,10-dihydroarsanthrenes are recorded.     

First evidence for the formation of technetium oxosulfide complexes: synthesis, structure and characterization

The reaction of tetrabutylammonium pertechnetate with bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfide in solution was studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Experimental results and density functional calculations provide the first evidence for the formation of a TcO(3)S(-) precursor. Larger scale synthesis afforded a solid that was characterized by EDX and XANES spectroscopy. XANES showed the presence of technetium in tetravalent state. EDX indicated the solid contained technetium, sulfur and oxygen.     

An investigation of the thermal decomposition of gold acetate

The thermal decomposition characteristics of gold acetate to produce gold nanoparticles were investigated. A rapid and violent fragmentation of the gold acetate particles was observed at approximately 103±20°C when a rapid heating rate of 25°C min⁻¹ was used, leading to formation of nanosized spherical and partially coalesced gold particles. Particle size analysis was used to investigate possible relationships between the gold acetate crystallite size and the gold nanoparticles produced by thermal decomposition. The results indicate rapid (<0.14 ms) coalescence of the gold particles occurs for fragments in close proximity.     

An active spectroscopical study on the plasma parameters of an ICP

Various techniques to measure the electron density and temperature of a 100 MHz inductively coupled plasma (ICP) are compared with each other. Apart from passive spectroscopy of measuring the shape of (e.g. H(beta)) and the area under emission lines we explored the field of active spectroscopy. Non-intrusive and specific are the methods of diode laser absorption (DLA) of an argon 4s-4p transition and Thomson scattering (TS). Intrusive and global is the power interruption (PI) technique: the response of line (argon and analytes) and continuum emission is followed during PI. Finally, a combination of two active techniques, namely TS during PI, is studied. By using the different techniques on the same plasma condition (frequency, power and flows) this intercomparison will reveal the validity region of the various techniques. In this way a strong basis will be created for understanding plasma phenomena.     

Electrochemical formation of anodic oxide films on Nb surfaces: ellipsometric and Raman spectroscopical studies

Electrochemical formation of anodic oxide films on niobium (Nb) surfaces in 1 M H₂SO₄ solutions was studied using ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy. By in situ ellipsometric measurements, the coefficient of film thickness growth and the complex index of refraction of anodic oxide films in the voltage range between 0 and 100 V were determined. The Raman spectra reveal that the thin passive films are amorphous. In the beginning of crystallization, the anodic oxide films consist of mixtures of NbO₂ and Nb₂O₅, while NbO₂ is completely transformed to Nb₂O₅ for thicker and well-crystallized films.     

An active spectroscopical study on the plasma parameters of an ICP

Various techniques to measure the electron density and temperature of a 100 MHz inductively coupled plasma (ICP) are compared with each other. Apart from passive spectroscopy of measuring the shape of (e.g. H) and the area under emission lines we explored the field of active spectroscopy. Non-intrusive and specific are the methods of diode laser absorption (DLA) of an argon 4s-4p transition and Thomson scattering (TS). Intrusive and global is the power interruption (PI) technique: the response of line (argon and analytes) and continuum emission is followed during PI. Finally, a combination of two active techniques, namely TS during PI, is studied. By using the different techniques on the same plasma condition (frequency, power and flows) this intercomparison will reveal the validity region of the various techniques. In this way a strong basis will be created for understanding plasma phenomena.     

An electronic structure investigation of the BNO-BON-NBO system

The potential energy hypersurface of the ground triplet states of the BNO-BON-NBO system has been investigated using traditional ab initio electronic structure theory. The molecules studied have the molecular formula BON and include three linear and three angular species, and two transition states for the isomerization of an angular N-B-O to an angular B-O-N and a linear B-NO, respectively. All stationary points on the BNO-BON-NBO isomerization potential energy surface have been characterized employing UMP2, UMP4, and Gaussian-2 (G2) theory with the 6-311G(d), 6-311G(2d), and TZ2P basis sets. The isomerization for an angular N-BO to the linear B-NO has a lower energy barrier than that of the former to an angular B-ON. Energetics are presented with G2 energies. Two sets of resonance structures for both bent B-NO (boron nitrosyl) and B-ON (boron isonitrosyl) were proposed and the bonding in the two species was analyzed. For the purpose of comparison, the density functional theory based hybrid methods B3LYP/6-311G(d) and B3LYP/TZ2P have also been applied to both geometry optimization and single-point calculations. It is found that the B3LYP prediction of the nature of the linear B-O is contradictory to that made by all MPn(n = 2 and 4) calculations. The cause for this contradiction is discussed.     

A new and facile hydroazulene formation: evidence for the thermal oxygen to oxygen migration of a trimethylsilyl group

Thermolysis of the 2,5-bis(trimethylsiloxy)-tricyclo[4.4.0.0^2,5]decan-7-ones $\text{3}$ and $\text{16}$ leads to hydroazulenes by a transannular reaction involving a remarkable oxygen to oxygen migration of a silylgroup in the intermediate cyclodecadienones.     

The diphenyliodonium-2-carboxylates: An NMR structure investigation

Diphenyliodonium-2-carboxylate, phenyl 4-methylphenyliodonium-2-carboxylate and phenyl 5-methyl-phenyliodonium-2-carboxylate have been examined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Each compound showed one proton considerably upfield from the others. From the two substituted compounds this was deduced to be H-6 on the ring containing the carboxylate group. Shift reagents and relaxation measurements were used to make the ¹³C chemical shift assignments. These data are most consistent with a cyclic, neutral structure for these iodonium carboxylates. The iodine is in the center of a trigonal bipyramid with the unsubstituted phenyl and carboxylate group apical, which places the C-6 proton in the shielding region of the adjacent phenyl group.     

Systematic investigation of zinc aminoalkylphosphonates: influence of the alkyl chain lengths on the structure formation

With the high-throughput (HT) methodology, the bifunctional aminoalkylphosphonic acids (AAPA) linker molecules 2-aminoethyl- (AEPA), 3-aminopropyl- (APPA), and 4-aminobutylphosphonic acid (ABPA) [HO(3)P-C(n)H(2n)-NH(2) (n = 2-4)] and zinc nitrate were used to synthesize new metal phosphonates in order to investigate the influence of the alkyl chain length on the structure formation. The systematic investigations led to one known (ZnO(3)PC(2)H(4)NH(2)) and six new compounds: one using AEPA, three using APPA, and two using ABPA. The crystal structures of five compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data as well as structure modeling employing force field methods. For compound 1, Zn(O(3)P-C(2)H(4)-NH(3))(NO(3))(H(2)O) (monoclinic, Cc, a = 4.799(1) ?, b = 29.342(6) ?, c = 5.631(1) ?, β = 91.59(3)°, V = 792.7(3) ?(3), Z = 4), and compound 2, Zn(2)(OH)(O(3)P-C(3)H(6)-NH(3))(NO(3)) (monoclinic, P2/c, a = 12.158(2) ?, b = 5.0315(10) ?, c = 13.952(3) ?, β = 113.23(3)°, V = 784.3(3) ?(3), Z = 2), the structures were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The crystal structures of [Zn(O(3)P-C(3)H(6)-NH(2))]·H(2)O (3) (monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.094(2) ?, b = 5.0118(7) ?, c = 16.067(4) ?, β = 90.38(2)°, V = 732.3(2) ?(3), Z = 4) and Zn(O(3)P-C(4)H(8)-NH(2)) (5) (monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.570(7) ?, b = 8.378(4) ?, c = 9.902(6) ?, β = 90.94(5)°, V = 710.9(8) ?(3), Z = 4) were determined using XRPD data. The structural model for compound 6, Zn(O(3)P-C(4)H(8)-NH(3))(NO(3))(H(2)O), was established using lattice parameters from XRPD data and following crystal structure modeling employing force field methods. The structures depend strongly on the alkyl chain length n. For n = 2 and 4 isoreticular compounds are observed, while n = 3 leads to new structures. Larger amounts of all compounds were obtained employing scale-up syntheses in a conventional oven as well as in a microwave reactor system. In addition, in situ energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) experiments at 130 °C were performed at beamline F3 at HASYLAB, DESY, Hamburg, to investigate the formation of compounds 2 and 3 as well as the phase transformation of 2 into 3 upon addition of NaOH. All compounds were characterized in detail using X-ray powder diffraction, IR/Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric and elemental analysis.     

Mass spectrometric investigation of buspirone drug in comparison with thermal analyses and MO-calculations

The buspirone drug is usually present as hydrochloride form of general formula C(21)H(31)N(5)O(2).HCl, and of molecular weight (MW)=421.96. It is an analgesic anxiolytic drug, which does not cause sedative or depression of central nervous system. In the present work it is investigated using electron impact mass spectral (EI-MS) fragmentation at 70 eV, in comparison with thermal analyses (TA) measurements (TG/DTG and DTA) and molecular orbital calculation (MOC). Semi-empirical MO calculation, PM3 procedure, has been carried out on buspirone both as neutral molecule (in TA) and the corresponding positively charged species (in MS). The calculated MOC parameters include bond length, bond order, particle charge distribution on different atoms and heats of formation. The fragmentation pathways of buspirone in EI-MS lead to the formation of important primary and secondary fragment ions. The mechanism of formation of some important daughter ions can be illuminated from comparing with that obtained using electrospray ESIMS/MS mode mass spectrometer through the accurate mass measurement determination. The losses of the intermediate aliphatic part (CH2)4 due to cleavage of N-C bond from both sides is the primary cleavage in both techniques (MS and TA). The PM3 provides a base for fine distinction among sites of initial bond cleavage and subsequent fragmentation of drug molecule in both TA and MS techniques; consequently the choice of the correct pathway of such fragmentation knowing this structural session of bonds can be used to decide the active sites of this drug responsible for its chemical, biological and medical reactivity.     

In-situ cryo-SEM investigation of porous structure formation of chitosan sponges

Aiming at better understanding of porous structure formation unique in-situ experiments on freeze-drying the chitosan-based solvents were carried out by cryo-SEM method. It allowed us to visualize the lyophilization process and to follow the formation of the porous structure in the chitosan sponge. It was clearly shown that the chitosan solutions just after freezing possess an evident microstructure consisting of the walls of the future pores and of the frozen solvent filling the space between them. The diameter of the pores and their wall thickness are controlled be pre-freezing temperature. An incorporation of nanofillers (chitin nanofibrils and montmorillonite) into the chitosan solution did not affect the pore size and wall thickness. However, they can promote the formation of the layered structure of the pore walls.     

Spectroscopic evidence for the formation of goldfingers

Gold(I) has long been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but the therapeutically relevant biological targets of gold(I) are not well understood. Here, we report the results of a spectroscopic investigation into the formation of goldfingers. By exploiting a thiolate to gold charge-transfer band in the UV, we observed that gold(I) interacts with zinc finger peptides with a stoichiometry of one gold ion for each two cysteine residues, forming 1:1, 1.5:1, and 2:1 adducts with zinc finger peptides containing CCHH, CCHC, and CCCC donor sets, respectively. In addition, circular dichroism experiments provided evidence that goldfingers are more ordered than the corresponding metal-free peptides but do not exhibit the canonical zinc finger structure.     

Mass spectral evidence for the hydroxymethylene radical cation

Collisionally-activated decompositions show that ·CHO⁺H ions are stable, confirming theoretical predictions.