Validation of a thermal decomposition mechanism of formaldehyde by detection of CH2O and HCO behind shock waves

The thermal decomposition of formaldehyde was investigated behind shock waves at temperatures between 1675 and 2080 K. Quantitative concentration time profiles of formaldehyde and formyl radicals were measured by means of sensitive 174 nm VUV absorption (CH₂O) and 614 nm FM spectroscopy (HCO), respectively. The rate constant of the radical forming channel (1a), CH₂O + M → HCO + H + M, of the unimolecular decomposition of formaldehyde in argon was measured at temperatures from 1675 to 2080 K at an average total pressure of 1.2 bar, k_1a = 5.0 × 10¹⁵ exp(‐308 kJ mol^?1/RT) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. The pressure dependence, the rate of the competing molecular channel (1b), CH₂O + M → H₂ + CO + M, and the branching fraction β = k_1a/(kA_1a + k_1b) was characterized by a two‐channel RRKM/master equation analysis. With channel (1b) being the main channel at low pressures, the branching fraction was found to switch from channel (1b) to channel (1a) at moderate pressures of 1–50 bar. Taking advantage of the results of two preceding publications, a decomposition mechanism with six reactions is recommended, which was validated by measured formyl radical profiles and numerous literature experimental observations. The mechanism is capable of a reliable prediction of almost all formaldehyde pyrolysis literature data, including CH₂O, CO, and H atom measurements at temperatures of 1200–3200 K, with mixtures of 7 ppm to 5% formaldehyde, and pressures up to 15 bar. Some evidence was found for a self‐reaction of two CH₂O molecules. At high initial CH₂O mole fractions the reverse of reaction (6), CH₂OH + HCO ? CH₂O + CH₂O becomes noticeable. The rate of the forward reaction was roughly measured to be k₆ = 1.5 × 10¹³ cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 157–169 2004     

Thermodynamics of the decomposition processes of donor-acceptor complexes MX3 x en x MX3 and MX3 x en.

The structural and thermodynamic properties of the donor-acceptor (DA) complexes of Group 13 metal halides (MX3) with ethylenediamine and their decomposition products have been studied theoretically at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ(d,p) level of theory. Gas-phase dissociation into various components and HX elimination reactions are considered. Both processes are endothermic but favored by entropy. Complexes of 2:1 composition are predicted to be stable in the gas phase up to 640-1000 K. It is found that complexation with the second acceptor molecule lowers the HX elimination enthalpy; in turn, HX elimination increases DA bonding with a second MX3 molecule. Exceptionally high values of the dissociation enthalpies (310-390 kJ mol(-1)) and HX elimination reactions (360-420 kJ mol(-1)) of the amido compounds MX2NHC2H4NH2 and MX2NHC2H4NHMX2 make them important intermediates in the decomposition processes. Dissociation reactions of the complexes are more favorable than HX elimination reactions; however, the subsequent oligomerization and cyclization processes of coordinationally unsaturated amido and imido compounds may facilitate HX elimination. Since HI elimination reactions are predicted to be the least endothermic, and aluminum-containing compounds have the strongest M-N dissociation enthalpies, it is expected that compounds based on aluminum iodide are promising objects for experimental studies.     

Assignment of Relative Configuration to Acyclic Compounds Based on (13)C NMR Shifts. A Density Functional and Molecular Mechanics Study

1,3-Dimethylated hydrocarbon segments occur frequently as structural elements in polyketide natural products. The (13)C NMR chemical shifts of a series of model compounds containing such segments can be well reproduced by a combination of molecular mechanics and SOS-DFPT/IGLO calculations. (13)C NMR chemical shifts are calculated on MM3 geometries and are Boltzmann weighted according to the MM3 energies. On the basis of the resulting thermally averaged chemical shifts, all diastereomers of the model compounds can be unequivocally distinguished. Significant differences in chemical shifts occur at methyl groups and methylene groups that are adjacent to a single stereogenic center. The method is applied to predict the relative configuration of two stereocenters in the side chains of two natural products, sambutoxin and the bradykinin inhibitor L-755,897.     

Substituted cyclononatetraenes and nonafulvenes

Reaction of $\text{cis}$,$\text{cis}$,$\text{cis}$,$\text{cis}$-[9]annulene anion ($\text{1}$) with electrophiles ($\text{2a}$-$\text{d}$) leads to substituted $\text{cis}$,$\text{cis}$,$\text{cis}$,$\text{cis}$-1,3,5,7-cyclononatetraenes ($\text{3a}$-$\text{d}$) which are precursors for the preparation of 10- and 10,10′-donor-substituted nonafulvenes (e.g. $\text{7b′}$$\text{e′}$). The influence of solvent and temperature on the ¹H-nmr spectra of the nonafulvenes $\text{7b′}$-$\text{h′}$ has been investigated.     

Quantum chemical investigations and bonding analysis of iron complexes with mixed cyano and carbonyl ligands

The equilibrium structures and vibrational frequencies of the iron complexes [Fe(CN)(x)(CO)(y)](q) (x = 0-6 and y = 0-5) have been calculated at the BP86 level of theory. The nature of the Fe-CN and Fe-CO has been analyzed with an energy partitioning method. The calculated Fe-CO bond lengths are in good agreement with the results of X-ray structure analysis whereas the Fe-CN bonds are calculated somewhat longer than the experimental values. The theoretically predicted vibrational frequencies of the C-O stretching mode are always lower and the calculated CN(-) frequencies are higher than the observed fundamental modes. The results of the bonding analysis suggest that the Fe-CO binding interactions have approximately 55% electrostatic character and approximately 45% covalent character. There is a significant contribution of the pi orbital interaction to the Fe-CO covalent bonding which increases when the complexes become negatively charged. The strength of deltaE(pi) may even be larger than deltaE(sigma). The Fe-CN(-) bonds have much less pi character. The calculated binding energy of the Fe-CO pi-interactions correlates very well with the C-O stretching frequencies.     

Ansamycine, 5. Mitt., Chemie der Metacycloprodigiosine

In order to obtain a better partition of a prodigiosin derivative in biological media, two hydroxy groups were introduced into theansa-part of the molecule. The synthesis of the title compound is described in detail.     

Soliton concept in general relativity

Soliton physics has made considerable progress in solving nonlinear problems. This paper is meant to relate the soliten concept to the stationary axisymmetric vacuum fields in general relativity. We present a functional transformation which, working as a nonlinear creation operator, generates gravitational fields of isolated sources. When applied to flat space-time (gravitational vacuum) this operation leads to a nonlinear superposition of an arbitrary number of Kerr particles. This superposition also includes the Tomimatsu-Sato fields. The functional transformations form an infinite-parameter group which contains the Kinnersley-Geroch group as a subgroup.This essay received the second award from the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 1980.-Ed.