Thermal decomposition of Cd(CH3COO)2·2H2O studied by a coupled TG-DTA-MS method

The thermal decomposition of cadmium acetate dihydrate in helium and in air atmosphere has been investigated by means of a coupled TG-DTA-MS method combined with X-ray diffraction analysis. Dehydration of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O is a two-stage process with Cd(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O as intermediate. The way of Cd(CH₃COO)₂ decomposition strongly depends on the surrounding gas atmosphere and the rate of heating. CdO, acetone and CO₂ are the primary products of decomposition in air. In helium decomposition goes by two parallel and consecutive reactions in which intermediates, Cd and CdCO₃, are formed. Metallic cadmium oxidizes and cadmium carbonate decomposes giving CdO. Some of the metallic cadmium, depending on the heating rate and the concentration of oxygen, evaporates. Acetone is partially oxidized in secondary reactions with oxygen. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Domain-wall energy in sintered Nd15Fe77B8 permanent magnet

From measurements of the magnetic domain widthsD versus grain thicknessL, we have determined the domain wall energy in the demagnetized state for a sintered Nd₁₅Fe₇₇B₈ magnet: = 56 erg/cm². Using this wall energy and the published magnetocry-stalline constantK ₁=4.9×10⁷ erg/cm³, we have calculated the exchange constantA=4.0×10^–6 erg/cm, domain wall thickness _B=89 Å, and the critical diameter for single domain particlesD _c=0.67 m.     

Ab initio study of the NMR shielding constants and spin-spin coupling constants in cyclopropene

Summary Ab initio calculations of parameters which characterize the NMR spectrum are presented for the cyclopropene molecule. The London orbitals CHF (or GIAO-CHF, Gauge-Independent Atomic Orbital Coupled Hartree-Fock) results for the shielding constants are in good agreement with the experimental data, accurately determined, and with otherab initio values. The calculations of the NMR spin-spin coupling constants have been performed using the Multiconfiguration Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock (MC TDHF) approach. Different basis sets and MC SCF wavefunctions were used to estimate the accuracy of the results. Good agreement is obtained with the coupling constants estimated using the available experimental data.Dedicated to Professor Werner Kutzelnigg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

9-acetoxyanthracene derivatives. Part VIII. The mechanism of degradation of 9-acetoxy-10-arylanthracenes to anthraquinone

The mechanism of degradation of 9-acetoxy-10-arylanthracenes to anthraquinose with the use of HNO₃ in AcOH has been reported. This was proved by way of example on 9-acetoxy-10-(4′-acetoxyphenyl )anthracene (1) by means of separation and identification of intermediate products $\text{2}$, $\text{3}$ and $\text{4}$.     

Synthesis and characterization of metal polycarboxylates constructed from lanthanides(iii) and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid

The complexes of yttrium(III) and lanthanides(III) with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid were prepared as crystalline solids of the general formula Ln₄(C₁₀H₂O₈)₃⋅14H₂O. They are insoluble in water. On heating in air or inert gas atmosphere all compounds lose water molecules; next anhydrous compounds decompose to oxides. The yttrium complex and heavy lanthanide (from Ho to Lu) ones crystallize in monoclinic crystal system. The dehydration does not change the crystal structure of the compounds.     

Photogeneration and quenching of reactive oxygen species by urocanic acid

Urocanic acid, UCA, is characterized by two electronic transitions in the UV-B (280-320 nm) which comprise its broad absorption spectrum and give rise to wavelength-dependent isomerization quantum yields. The absorption spectrum of UCA extends into the UV-A (320-400 nm). Given the UV-A component of sunlight is significantly greater than the UV-B component it is hypothesized even weak UV-A photochemistry of UCA could be important for in vivo responses to UV radiation. Degenerate pump-probe experiments performed on t-UCA at several wavelengths in the UV-A reveal an excited-state absorption that undergoes a rapid, approximately 1 ps decay. Photoacoustic experiments performed on both the cis and trans isomers reveal the formation of a long-lived intermediate following UV-A excitation. The efficiency and action spectra for this latter photoactive process are presented and are similar for both isomers of UCA. Cholesterol hydroperoxide assays designed to investigate the nature of the UV-A photoreactivity of t-UCA confirm the production of reactive oxygen species. The bimolecular rate constant for the quenching of singlet oxygen by t-UCA is determined to be 3.5 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Taking into consideration recent theoretical calculations and jet expansion studies of the electronic structure of gas-phase t-UCA, a model is proposed to explain the isomerization and photoreactivity of t-UCA in solution over the UV-A region.     

Analysis of the effect of the electronic structure of the Cl atom in complexes of chlorides of group IV elements on Cl NQR frequency and asymmetry parameter

Analysis of changes in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency of complexes MCl₄.L and MCl₄.2L for M = Si, Ge, Sn and Ti was performed. The population of the atomic orbitals was calculated by the quantum chemistry methods PM3 and INDO. The results provided an explanation of the changes in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency and the asymmetry parameter upon complex formation. In the complexes of non-transition elements, a decrease in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency is first of all related to increasing population of p_z orbitals on Cl atoms. In the complexes of Ti, the increase in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency depends on a decrease in the p_π to d_π electron density transfer.     

Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry with insitu graphite tube trapping for the determination of Se (IV) and Se (VI) in baltic sea water samples

This paper reports the results of an optimisation study for a procedure to determine the total selenium and its inorganic species, Se(IV) and Se(VI) using atomic absorption spectrometry combined with hydride generation and in-situ trapping of the analyte on the inner walls of the graphite tube. With the use of the proposed modification, a detection limit (3σ) of 0.018 ng/ml is achieved. This paper presents exemplary results, according to the proposed procedure, for selenium determination in samples of marine water. The concentrations of selenium in the samples ranged from <0.02 ng/ml to 0.16ng/ml of Se(IV) and from <0.02 ng/ml to 0.10 ng/ml of Se(VI).     

Spectrophotometric determination of dopamine in microliter scale using microfluidic system based on polymeric technology

In this paper we report two simple and sensitive spectrophotometric procedures for the determination of dopamine in microfluidic system based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) technology and comparison of their interference-susceptibility. The analytical reactions and measurements were carried out at ambient temperature in a microreactor of total volume 6 μl coupled with a spectrophotometric flow-through cuvette.     

Thermal copolymerization of acrylonitrile with methacrylate units arranged in matrix

Copolymerization of acrylonitrile with methacrylates on a matrix has been examined (using methacrylate of p-cresol-formaldehyde resin). It has been found that the copolymerization proceeds at 70° without an initiator. The reactivity ratios depend on the length of the matrix used. The method of calculating Q and e according to the Alfrey-Price scheme has been discussed for the system under investigation.