Molecular structures,vibrational assignments and barriers to pseudorotation of gaseous niobium pentachloride and tantalum pentachloride from electron diffraction data

The pentachlorides of niobium and tantalum have trigonal bipyramidal structures (D_3hsymmetry) with thermal average axial bonds, r_α, longer than the equatorial ones by 0.097(9) and 0.142(5) Å, respectively. The equatorial bonds are r(Nb—Cl) = 2.241(4) and r(Ta—Cl) = 2.227(3) Å. Standard deviations are given. Calculated amplitudes of vibration for the e' type of bending frequencies assigned as v₆ (equatorial in-plane bend) < v₇ (axial—equatorial bend) agree significantly better with the experimental vibrational amplitudes than do amplitudes computed for the opposite assignment. Assuming an analytical quartic-harmonic potential for the pseudorotational motion of the molecules, barriers to pseudorotation of 1.5(0.7) and 1.2(0.6) kcal mol^?1 are estimated from the electron diffraction data for NbCl₅ and TaCl₅, respectively. Effects from interatomic multiple scattering are included in the theoretical intensities, and are found to be of some importance to the results.     

Chemie der Cumalinsäurederivate. I. Synthese und Diels-Alder-Reaktionen von 1-Arylamino-2-methoxycarbonylbutadienen

The nucleophilic attack of substituted anilines at position 6 of methyl coumalate (1) opens the α-pyrone ring to form 4-arylamino-3-(methoxycarbonyl)butadien-1-carboxylic acid 2 (Scheme 1). The latter are easily decarboxylated at room temperature in polar aprotic solvents to 1-arylamino-2-(methoxycarbonyl)butadiene 4 which smoothly undergo regio- and stereospecific Diels-Alder reactions with different dienophiles.     

Sizing up the competition: quantifying the influence of the mental lexicon on auditory and visual spoken word recognition

Much research has explored how spoken word recognition is influenced by the architecture and dynamics of the mental lexicon (e.g., Luce and Pisoni, 1998; McClelland and Elman, 1986). A more recent question is whether the processes underlying word recognition are unique to the auditory domain, or whether visually perceived (lipread) speech may also be sensitive to the structure of the mental lexicon (Auer, 2002; Mattys, Bernstein, and Auer, 2002). The current research was designed to test the hypothesis that both aurally and visually perceived spoken words are isolated in the mental lexicon as a function of their modality-specific perceptual similarity to other words. Lexical competition (the extent to which perceptually similar words influence recognition of a stimulus word) was quantified using metrics that are well-established in the literature, as well as a statistical method for calculating perceptual confusability based on the phi-square statistic. Both auditory and visual spoken word recognition were influenced by modality-specific lexical competition as well as stimulus word frequency. These findings extend the scope of activation-competition models of spoken word recognition and reinforce the hypothesis (Auer, 2002; Mattys et al., 2002) that perceptual and cognitive properties underlying spoken word recognition are not specific to the auditory domain. In addition, the results support the use of the phi-square statistic as a better predictor of lexical competition than metrics currently used in models of spoken word recognition.     

Polarographic determination of α-amylase activity

The enzyme α-amylase splits blue starch in fragments bearing electroactive groups which exhibit two waves in the pulse polarograms. This behaviour is the basis of the polagraphic determination of bacterial and human serum α-amylase activity. The differential pulse mode is more sensitive by a factor of 25 as compared with normal pulse polarography. With serum α-amylase, protein adsorption disturbs the determination of low activities.     

Microwave spectrum,structure, and chemical bonding of trimethylbromosilane

The microwave spectrum of trimethylbromosilane (trimethylsilylbromide) has been investigated in the 26.5–40.0-GHz region. Spectra of several isotopic species have been observed, including the previously unreported spectrum of the ¹H¹²C³⁰Si⁸¹Br species, which yielded a B rotational constant of 1440.92 ± 0.02 MHz. From the experimental data it has been possible to derive the following structural parameters: SiBr = 2.235 ± 0.002 Å, SiC = 1.856 ± 0.010 Å, and ∠CSiBr = 107.5 ± 0.1°. The results have been compared to other relevant data and discussed in terms of prevailing chemical bonding principles.     

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Shape‐directed platinum nanoparticle synthesis: nanoscale design of novel catalysts

Platinum‐based catalytic materials have received significant attention, particularly in the shape and size control of faceted materials for catalysis. More recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of reports of successful preparations in this field; however, a fundamental understanding of controlled growth towards catalytic material design is essential for future implementation and broad application. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent findings reported since 2009, focusing on methods for shape control as well as the effects of exposed surface facets on select catalytic reactions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.