The effect of platinum oxide films on reaction kinetics at platinum electrodes

It has been known for some time that the pre-treatment of platinum electrodes often effects subsequent electrochemical reactions. Part of the effect of pre-treatment is due to the fact that anodized or chemically oxidized platinum electrodes become coated to some degree with a film of platinum oxide. This work was concerned with quantitative measurement of kinetic parameters as a function of the extent of oxide film formation. Whenever possible, variations in reaction mechanisms are proposed.

Most of the experimental evidence has been taken from current-potential curves but the techniques of chronopotentiometry and microscopy were also used.

The reduction of vanadium^V chromium^VI, arsenic^V, iodate and oxygen were investigated as well as the oxidation of vanadium^IV, arsenic^III, oxalic acid, and formic acid. The presence of the platinum oxide film effected the reactions studied in a variety of ways but in every case some variation in the kinetic parameters of the reactions studied was recorded. For a number of cases, a modified oxygen bridge theory was found useful.     

Isochorismate pyruvate lyase: a pericyclic reaction mechanism?

Isochorismate pyruvate lyase (IPL) catalyzes the cleavage of isochorismate to give salicylate and pyruvate, a key step in bacterial siderophore biosynthesis. We investigated the enzyme from Pseudomonas aeruginosa using isochorismate selectively deuterated at C2 as a substrate. Monitoring the reaction by 2H NMR spectroscopy revealed that the label is quantitatively transferred from C2 to C9, producing stoichiometric amounts of [3-2H]pyruvate as product. Moreover, the deuterium kinetic isotope effect of 2.34 +/- 0.08 on kcat indicates that C-H cleavage is significantly rate limiting. Consistent with these data, hybrid density functional theory (HDFT) calculations at the Becke3LYP/DZ+(2d,p) level of theory predict a concerted but highly asynchronous pericyclic transition structure, in which carbon-oxygen bond cleavage is more advanced than hydrogen atom transfer from C2 to C9; the calculated 2H isotope effect of 2.22 at C2 is in excellent accord with the experimental value. Together, these findings indicate that IPL should be added to the small set of proteins that are known to catalyze pericyclic reactions. They also raise the possibility that enzymes, such as chorismate pyruvate lyase, salicylate synthase, 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase, and anthranilate synthase, which accelerate formally similar reaction steps, may also exploit pericyclic mechanisms.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of involatile monophosphonated and mixed sulphonated/monophosphonated azo dyestuffs

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of a range of involatile monophosphonated and mixed sulphonated/monophosphonated azo dyestuffs are presented. Good spectra are obtained and the fragmentations are discussed with special reference to the ions formed by cleavage of the azo linkage. The negative ion spectra are shown to be superior in terms of signal to background and structural information to those obtained in the positive ion mode. The results are compared with those obtained from sulphonated azo dyestuffs.     

An approximate potential energy surface for HeI2 collisions

We have calculated the interaction potential for HeI₂ in T-shaped geometries using Hartree—Fock and Møller—Plesset third-order perturbation t     

Molecular overtones as local modes

The apparent simplicity of polyatomic overtone spectra and the conceptual utility of local modes are considered. The form and basis-set-dependence of the dipole moment operator are discussed and a criterion given for overtone spectra to be well described within a local mode picture. Caution is needed in making dynamical inferences based on agreement between overtone and local mode line positions.     

Fluoride ion catalyzed isomerization of 2-aryl-F-butenes [1]

A kinetic study of the fluoride ion catalyzed isomerization of a series of 2-aryl$\text{F}$1-butenes shows the reactions to be pseudo first order in olefin at constant fluoride ion concentration. The resultant Hammett plot is non-linear witb a concave downward break near $\text{σ}$=0. A two step mechanism involving formation of a carbanionic intermediate is proposed. A change in the rate limiting step causes the break in the Hammett plot. Carbanion trapping experiments are also reported.     

Contact angle hysteresis, adhesion, and marine biofouling

Adhesive and marine biofouling release properties of coatings containing surface-oriented perfluoroalkyl groups were investigated. These coatings were prepared by cross-linking a copolymer of 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate and acrylic acid with a copolymer of poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) and methyl methacrylate at different molar ratios. The relationships between contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, adhesion, and marine biofouling were studied. Adhesion was determined by peel tests using pressure-sensitive adhesives. The chemical nature of the surfaces was studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Resistance to marine biofouling of an optimized coating was studied by immersion in seawater and compared to previous, less optimized coatings. The adhesive release properties of the coatings did not correlate well with the surface energies of the coatings estimated from the static and advancing contact angles nor with the amount of fluorine present on the surface. The adhesive properties of the surfaces, however, show a correlation with water receding contact angles and contact angle hysteresis (or wetting hysteresis) resulting from surface penetration and surface reconstruction. Coatings having the best release properties had both the highest cross-link density and the lowest contact angle hysteresis. An optimized coating exhibited unprecedented resistance to marine biofouling. Water contact angle hysteresis appears to correlate with marine biofouling resistance.     

DNA polymerase template interactions probed by degenerate isosteric nucleobase analogs

The development of novel artificial nucleobases and detailed X-ray crystal structures for primer/template/DNA polymerase complexes provide opportunities to assess DNA-protein interactions that dictate specificity. Recent results have shown that base pair shape recognition in the context of DNA polymerase must be considered a significant component. The isosteric azole carboxamide nucleobases (compounds 1-5; ) differ only in the number and placement of nitrogen atoms within a common shape and therefore present unique electronic distributions that are shown to dictate the selectivity of template-directed nucleotide incorporation by DNA polymerases. The results demonstrate how nucleoside triphosphate substrate selection by DNA polymerase is a complex phenomenon involving electrostatic interactions in addition to hydrogen bonding and shape recognition. These azole nucleobase analogs offer unique molecular tools for probing nonbonded interactions dictating substrate selection and fidelity of DNA polymerases.     

Electrical conductivity measurements of aqueous sodium chloride solutions to 600°C and 300 MPa

Electrical conductance measurements of dilute (<0.1>^–1) aqueous NaCl solutions were made primarily to quantify the degree of ion association which increases with increasing temperature and decreasing solvent density. These measurements were carried out at temperatures from 100 to 600°C and pressures up to 300 MPa with a modified version of the apparatus used previously in the high temperature study in this laboratory. Particular emphasis was placed on conditions close to the critical temperaturelpressure region of water, i.e., at 5° intervals from 370 to 400°C. The results verify previous findings that the limiting equivalent conductance A_o of NaCl increases linearly with decreasing density from 0.75 to 0.3 g-cm^–1 and also with increasing temperature from 100 to 350°C. Above 350°C. A_o is virtually temperature independent. The logarithm of the molal association constant as calculated exclusively from the data400°C is represented as a function of temperature (Kelvin) and the logarithm of the density of water (g-cm^–3) as follows:

Complexation of aluminate anion by bis-tris in aqueous media at 25–50°C

Gibbsite, Al(OH)₃, solubility studies in aqueous NaCl solutions at pH 9 demonstrate that the aluminate anion forms a strong complex with the neutral Bis-tris molecule 2,2-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2,2-nitrilotriethanol, at low temperatures. The logarithm of the molal concentration quotient for the reaction