Heat Content Asymptotics for Operators of Laplace Type with Spectral Boundary Conditions

Let P be an operator of Dirac type and let D=P ² be the associated operator of Laplace type. We impose spectral boundary conditions and study the leading heat content coefficients for D.     

Orientation modulation of a synthetic polypeptide in self-assembled monolayers: a TOF-SIMS study

Structure and orientation of molecules are key properties of functionalized surfaces. Using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), here we investigate how to modulate these parameters upon the immobilization process varying the conditions of self-assembly. The molecule of interest, a template-assembled synthetic protein (TASP), consists of a central peptide ring with orthogonally arranged residues. Thioalkane chains allow the directed self-assembly of the molecule on a gold surface; four serine residues on the opposite side of the ring can be used as anchoring sites for various functional sensing molecules. The TASP conformation and its orientation in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) play a central role for the accessibility of these serine residues. To study the influence of the self-assembly conditions, two series of samples were prepared. Pure TASP monolayers of different surface densities are compared to mixed TASP/alkanethiol monolayers prepared by sequential adsorption varying sequence and particular incubation times as well as by coadsorption modifying incubation times and TASP/alkanethiol mass ratios. Switching the TASP orientation from a state where the molecules are lying flat on the surface to an upright orientation turned out to be possible by inserting the TASP into a preformed alkanethiol monolayer of an appropriate surface density. This study demonstrates that TOF-SIMS is an excellent tool not only to investigate the surface composition, but also the molecular structure of functionalized surfaces.     

Competing interactions in the tetranuclear spin cluster [Ni[(OH)(2)Cr(bispictn)](3)]I(5).5H(2)O. An inelastic neutron scattering and magnetic study

The properties of the spin state manifold of the tetranuclear cluster Ni[(OH)(2)Cr(bispictn)](3)]I(5).5H(2)O (bispictn = N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-propanediamine) are investigated by combining magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements with an inelastic neutron scattering (INS) study on an undeuterated sample of Ni[(OH)(2)Cr(bispictn)](3)]I(5).5H(2)O. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility indicates an S = (1)/(2) ground state, which requires antiferromagnetic interactions both between Cr(3+) and Ni(2+) ions and among the Cr(3+) ions. INS reveals potential single-ion anisotropies to be negligibly small and enables an accurate determination of the exchange parameters. The best fit to the experimental energy level diagram is obtained by an isotropic spin Hamiltonian H = J(CrNi)(S(1)().S(4)() + S(2)().S(4)() + S(3)().S(4)()) + J(CrCr)(S(1)().S(2)() + S(1)().S(3)() + S(2)().S(3)()) with J(CrNi) = 1.47 cm(-)(1) and J(CrCr) = 1.25 cm(-)(1). With this model, the experimental intensities of the observed INS transitions as well as the temperature dependence of the magnetic data are reproduced. The resulting overall antiferromagnetic exchange is rationalized in terms of orbital exchange pathways and compared to the situation in oxalato-bridged clusters.     

Molecular structure and conformational composition of 2-chloro-1-phenylethanone, ClH2C-C(=O)Ph, obtained using gas-phase electron-diffraction data and results from theoretical calculations

The structure and conformation of 2-chloro-1-phenylethanone, ClH(2)C-C(=O)Ph (phenacyl chloride), have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), augmented by results from ab initio molecular orbital calculations, employing the second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) level of theory and the 6-311+G(d) basis set. The molecules may exist as a mixture of different conformers with the C-Cl bond either syn (torsion angle phi = 0 degrees ) or gauche to the carbonyl bond. At 179 degrees C, the majority of the molecules (90 +/- 11%) have the gauche conformation (phi = 112(3) degrees). Torsion is also possible about the C-Ph single bond. Both experimental and theoretical data indicated, however, that the phenyl ring is coplanar or nearly coplanar with the carbonyl group. The results for the principal distances (r(g)) and angles (angle(alpha)) for the gauche conformer from a combined GED/ab initio study (with estimated 2sigma uncertainties) are the following: r(C-C)(phenyl) = 1.394(2) (average value) A, r(C(phenyl)-C(carbonyl)) = 1.484(5) A, r(C(carbonyl)-C(alkyl)) = 1.513(5) A, r(C-Cl) = 1.790(5) A, r(C=O) = 1.218(6) A, r(C-H)(phenyl) = 1.087(9) (average value) A, r(C-H)(alkyl) = 1.090(9) A (average value), angle C(phenyl)-C=O = 119.5(9) degrees, angle C(phenyl)-C(carbonyl)-C(alkyl) = 119.2(10) degrees, angle C-C-Cl = 109.8(12) degrees, angle C(2)-C(1)-C(carbonyl) = 122.8(15) degrees, angle C-C(alkyl)-H = 111.2 degrees (ab initio value).     

Acid-catalyzed Grob fragmentation reactions of acetonides derived from terpenes

[reaction: see text] Acetonides derived from different terpenes undergo Grob fragmentation by treatment with a catalytic amount of acid, triflic acid, or boron trifluoride, giving aldehydes containing a cyclopropane or cyclobutane ring with good yields and complete diastereoselectivity. The structure and the stereochemistry of the starting acetonide have a crucial influence on the reaction course.     

On the Dumas determination of nitrogen

Summary Reactions in theDumas nitrogen determination method have been investigated. The presence of free oxygen in the combustion tube was found to cause retention of nitrogen oxides by the metal oxide catalyst. Nickel oxide was found superior to copper oxide because it allows the use of higher temperatures and does not liberate oxygen on heating, thus eliminating the retention error.A new method is described which uses automatic combustion and makes use of the reaction C + CO₂ = 2 CO at 1050° C and combustion with nickel oxide at 1000° C. The standard deviation of 20 analyses on known compounds carried out in direct succession was 0.045%.

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Zusammenfassung Einige bei der Stickstoffbestimmung nachDumas ablaufende Reaktionen wurden untersucht. Es wurde gefunden, daß die Gegenwart von freiem Sauerstoff im Verbrennungsrohr zu einer chemischen Bindung von Stickstoffoxyden an den Metalloxydkatalysator führt. Nickeloxyd eignet sich besser als Kupferoxyd, da es die Anwendung höherer Temperaturen ermöglicht und beim Erhitzen keinen Sauerstoff abgibt, so daß der obenerwähnte Fehler vermieden wird.Eine neue Methode wird beschrieben, nach der die Substanz durch Anwendung der Reaktion C + CO₂ = 2 CO bei 1050° C vergast und dann über Nickeloxyd bei 1000°C verbrannt wird. Die mittlere Abweichung bei 20 direkt nacheinander ausgeführten Analysen betrug 0,045%.

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Résumé On a examiné les réactions qui se produisent dans le dosage de l'azote par le procédéDumas. On a trouvé que la présence d'oxygène libre dans le tube à combustion produisait une rétention des oxydes de l'azote par l'oxyde métallique catalyseur. L'oxyde de nickel a été trouvé supérieur à celui de cuivre car il permet l'emploi de plus hautes températures et ne libère pas d'oxygène par chauffage, ce qui élimine l'erreur de rétention.On décrit une nouvelle méthode qui utilise la combustion automatique et fait usage de la réaction C + CO₂ = 2 CO à 1050° C et de la combustion avec l'oxyde de nickel à 1000° C. L'erreur standard sur 20 analyses de composition connue effectuées à la suite a été de 0,045%.

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With 7 figures.     

A combined μ-mercury reference electrode/Au counter-electrode system for microelectrochemical applications

Different types of mercury-based μ-reference electrodes (Hg/Hg₂SO₄/Na₂SO₄, Hg/Hg₂(CH₃COO)₂/NaCOOCH₃) have been developed following the concept of agar-based μ-reference electrodes. Mercury was electrochemically deposited onto a gold wire to form an amalgam. The corresponding mercury salt was formed electrochemically at the surface. This electrode can be inserted into a capillary that is filled with the electrolyte of interest. To simplify the handling of this μ-reference electrode, to reduce diffusion and to avoid leakage, the electrolyte was immobilised with agar. A 250-nm-thick gold layer on the outer surface of the capillary of the reference electrode served as counter-electrode. The electrochemical behaviour of reference electrodes and counter-electrodes were proven by micro-polarisation curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potential transients and cyclic voltammetry.