Cyclobutane polymers from acrylonitrile dimer

A wide variety of polyesters and polyamides was prepared from 1,2- and 1,3-disubstituted cyclobutane derivatives. In general, polyamides containing the trans-disubstituted cyclobutane ring were crystalline. Polyesters containing predominantly the trans-isomer tended to be crystalline but those containing mixtures of cis-trans isomers were amorphous. Mechanical properties have been determined wherever possible. Appreciable yields of cyclic dimers were isolated during the preparation of certain polyesters. These cyclic dimers readily polymerized when treated with dibutylzinc. Examination of acrylonitrile dimer (1,2-dicyanocyclobutane) by gas chromatography failed to reveal the presence of any 1,3-dicyanocyclobutanes.     

Optical activity in the biaryl series

The relationship between the CD spectra of the chiral biaryls and their stereochemical configuration, as a function of the dihedral angle between the molecular planes of the aromatic moieties, has been investigated for biphenyl, 1,1′-binaphthyl, 1,1′-bianthryl and 9,9′-bianthryl in the exciton approximation and, for the 1,1′-binaphthyls, in the π-SCF approximation. Both methods provide unambiguous assignments of absolute configuration except for biaryls with a critical dihedral angle of π/2 in those with effective D_data2 chromophoric symmetry, or 100–110° in the case of the 1,1′-binaphthyls.     

Characteristics of the glucose isomerase from Streptomyces atratus

The molecular mass (Mr) of highly purified glucose isomerase fromStreptomyces atratus has been determined. The native glucose isomerase, which has affinity for xylose, consists of an oligomeric protein containing 1552 amino acid residues and formed of four subunits. The enzyme is stable in the range of temperatures from 40 to 80°C and at pH values of from 6.0 to 11.0.     

Simultaneous determination of mercury and arsenic by anodic stripping voltammetry

An electrochemical method for the simultaneous determinations of Hg^II concentration and total As^III and As^V concentration has been developed. The method does not require the additional preliminary step of the chemical reduction of As^V to As^III, or oxidation of As^III to As^V before stripping analysis takes place. Also, the method for the simultaneous determination of Hg^II concentration and As^III concentration is described. Measurements were performed in 0.1 M HCl using a gold-plated graphite electrode as sensor. Detection limits for both methods are below 0.4 ppb. Relative standard deviation did not exceed 15%. The possible interference by other trace metals was investigated. Analyses of natural water and industrial solutions were made using proposed methods and AAS. The t-test demonstrates that there was no significant difference between the results obtained with these methods. Proposed methods decrease the time of analysis because concentrations of the Hg^II and arsenic ions were measured simultaneously. Also, the removal of the additional step of chemical reduction of As^V to As^III or oxidation of As^III to As^V decreases analysis time, and also reduces the chance of contamination due to the use of additional reagents.     

Ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations on trifluoromethylamine

Extensive ab initio molecular-orbital calculations were carried out on trifluoromethylamine (TFM) to elucidate changes in geometry and electronic structure upon fluorination. The calculations show that the decomposition of CF₃NH₂ is slightly endoenergetic, and the heats of atomization of CF₃NH₂ and CH₃NH₂ show decreased stability of the species upon fluorination. Characteristic of CF₃NH₂ is a highly polar, strong, short CN bond. More limited calculations were carried out on CF₃OH and CH₃OH, and the electronic structure of CF₃OH is found to be generally similar to that of CF₃NH₂. The reduced basicity of the fluorinated amine cannot be ascribed to the inductive effect; the enhanced acidity of the fluorinated alcohol reflects the weakening of the OH bond. No evidence leads to a confirmation of the existence of nitrogen–fluorine hyperconjugation in the fluorinated amine.     

Double asymmetric induction in benchrotrene derivatives

Attachment of a Cr(CO)₃ moiety to one of the aromatic rings in rigid diaryl ketones of very low prochirality followed by addition of a chiral and optically pure reagent leads to satisfactory asymmetric induction ~40%. Asymmetric induction is smaller in the case of acyclic systems.     

Manganese Complexes with Octaphenyltetraazaporphine: Acid–Base Interactions and Kinetic Stability in Proton-Donor Solvents

Complexes of manganese(III) and manganese(V) with octaphenyltetraazaporphine (H₂OPTAP) were synthesized. Acid–base interactions of these complexes in the CH₂Cl₂–CF₃COOH system and kinetics of their dissociation in concentrated sulfuric acid, as well as kinetics of octaphenyltetraazaporphine destruction in sulfuric acid solutions were studied by spectrophotometric methods. Acid–base interactions in CH₂Cl₂–CF₃COOH were shown to involve two macrocyclic meso-nitrogen atoms in succession. Concentration stability constants of the acid forms obtained pK ₁ = 0.29 ± 0.01 and pK ₂ = –0.62 ± 0.08 for (chlorine)manganese(III)octaphenyltetraazaporphine ((Cl)MnOPTAP); pK ₁ = 0.99 ± 0.02 and pK ₂ = – 0.70 ± 0.03 for (nitrido)manganese(V)octaphenyltetraazaporphine ((N)MnOPTAP). The rate of dissociation of the complexes in 94–98% H₂SO₄ does not depend on the acid concentration. The manganese(V) complex is three times as stable as the manganese(III) complex.     

Bimetallic Alkoxides of Barium and Zirconium: Preparation of BaZrO3 Powder

Complex formation in solutions of barium and zirconium alkoxides in ROH (R=i-Pr, Et) was studied. A number of bimetallic complexes were isolated, and their structure and properties were studied. The sol-gel method yields a single-phase BaZrO₃ powder only wheni-PrOH solutions of the alkoxides are used. In this case, the oxocomplex, BaZrO(OPr-i)₄.(1–2)i-PrOH, is the precursor of the mixed oxide.