Photolysis wavelength dependence of the translational anisotropy and the angular momentum polarization of O2(a 1Deltag) formed from the UV photodissociation of O3

The translational anisotropy and angular momentum polarization of the O(2)(a (1)Delta(g),v = 0;J = 15-27) molecular photofragment produced from the UV photodissociation of O(3) in the range from 270 to 300 nm have been determined using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization in conjunction with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. At the shortest photolysis wavelengths used, the fragments exhibit the anisotropic vector correlations expected from a prompt dissociation via the (1)B(2) <--(1)A(1) transition. Deviations from this behavior are observed at longer photolysis wavelengths with, in particular, the angular momentum orientation showing a significant reduction in magnitude. This indicates that the dissociation can no longer be described by a purely impulsive model and a change in geometry of the dissociating molecule is implied. This observation is substantiated by the variation of the translational anisotropy with photolysis wavelength. We also observe that the bipolar moments describing the angular momentum polarization of the odd J states probed are consistently lower in magnitude than those of the even J states and that this variation is observed for all photolysis wavelengths.     

Microwave activation of electrochemical processes: enhanced PbO2 electrodeposition, stripping and electrocatalysis

Microwave activation of electrochemical processes has recently been introduced as a new technique for the enhancement and control of processes at electrode|solution (electrolyte) interfaces. This methodology is extended to processes at glassy carbon and boron-doped diamond electrodes. Deposition of both Pb metal and PbO₂ from an aqueous solution of Pb²⁺ (0.1 M HNO₃) are affected by microwave radiation. The formation of PbO₂ on anodically pre-treated boron-doped diamond is demonstrated to change from kinetically sluggish and poorly defined at room temperature to nearly diffusion controlled and well defined in the presence of microwave activation. Calibration of the temperature at the electrode|solution (electrolyte) interface with the Fe^3+/2+ (0.1 M HNO₃) redox system allows the experimentally observed effects to be identified as predominantly thermal in nature and therefore consistent with a localized heating effect at the electrode|solution interface. The microwave-activated deposition of PbO₂ on boron-doped diamond remains facile in the presence of excess oxidizable organic compounds such as ethylene glycol. An increase of the current for the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol at PbO₂/boron-doped diamond electrodes in the presence of microwave radiation is observed. Preliminary results suggest that the electrodissolution of solid microparticles of PbO₂ abrasively attached to the surface of a glassy carbon electrode is also enhanced in the presence of microwave radiation. Electronic Publication     

Formyloxyacetoxyphenylmethane and 1,1-diacylals as versatile O-formylating and O-acylating reagents for alcohols

Formyloxyacetoxyphenylmethane, symmetric 1,1-diacylals and mixed 1-pivaloxy-1-acyloxy-1-phenylmethanes have been used as moisture stable O-formylating and O-acylating reagents for primary and secondary alcohols, allylic alcohols and phenols under solvent/catalyst free conditions to afford their corresponding esters in good yield.     

Sonoelectroanalytical detection of lead at a bare copper electrode

The sonochemically facilitated, mercury free detection of Pb2+ at a copper electrode has been investigated as a means of simplifying the quantification of this important analyte and to minimise the interference of copper ion. The procedure relies upon maximising the formation of Pb-Cu intermetallic compounds leading to the emergence of a single, easily quantifiable stripping signal. Linear responses to Pb2+ were obtained with a sensitivity comparable to that obtained at a bare glassy carbon electrode. Interference from Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ was assessed on the copper electrode with no appreciable change in the Pb2+ voltammetric profile observed. In contrast, bare glassy carbon showed a significant change in Pb2+ voltammetric profile as Cu2+ was added, due to the formation of intermetallic species.     

The electronic structure of Lu

The electronic structure of hcp Lu has been calculated using a linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) method and the Hedin-Lundqvist local density approximation for exchange and correlation. Although complete self-consistency was hindered by the proximity of the 4f levels to the Fermi energy, the valence bands were converged and the calculation yielded a Fermi surface remarkably similar to that calculated by Keeton and Loucks. Comparison is made with recent de Haas-van Alphen and neutron magnetic form factor experiments.     

1,1-Diacyloxy-1-phenylmethanes as versatile N-acylating agents for amines

1,1-Diacyloxy-1-phenylmethanes and 1-pivaloxy-1-acyloxy-1-phenylmethanes have been used as bench stable N-acylating reagents for primary and secondary amines and anilines under solvent-free conditions to afford their corresponding amides in good yield.     

A photoelectron study of palladium,nickel, and copper clusters on carbon surfaces

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra show that even at the threshold of detectability, Pd, Ni, and Cu atoms deposited on the basal plane of cleaved graphite nucleate into clusters sufficiently large to exhibit valence band and core binding energies characteristics of bulk metals. However at very low coverage of these metals on amorphous carbon, the spectra show that the valence d-bands have decreased widths and larger binding energies than the bulk metals. Core binding energies show a similar increase at very low coverage. These effects occur because at low coverage on amorphous carbon these metals are present as isolated adatoms.     

Determination of demecarium bromide and related compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of demecarium bromide and related process intermediate and companion products is described. The compounds of interest are separated by isocratic reversed-phase chromatography on a mu Bondapak CN column using UV detection. The reproducibility of the method and stability of demecarium bromide is demonstrated. Applications presented for the method include quantitation of demecarium bromide in aqueous solutions and control of the raw material.