Steric control in the oligomerisation of phosphazane dimers; towards new phosphorus-nitrogen macrocycles

The reaction of [ClP(mu-NtBu)]2 (1) with H2O (1 : 2 equivalents) in the presence of excess Et3N gives the new chain compound [(mu-O)[P(mu-NtBu)2P(H)=O]2] (3), consisting of two P2N2 rings linked by a mu-O atom and terminating in P(V)(H)=O groups. A similar chain species is obtained from the reaction of the lithiate of [(tBuNH)P(mu-NtBu)2P(H)=O] (5) with [ClP(mu-NtBu)2P(NHtBu)] (2), the product being [(mu-O)[P(mu-NtBu)2P(NHtBu)]2] (6). Compounds 3 and 6 are the first examples of O-bridged chain phosphazanes and potential precursors to new phosphorus-nitrogen macrocycles. The syntheses and X-ray structures of 3, 5 and 6 are reported.     

Isolation of ammonium-N as 1-sulfonato-iso-indole for measurement of delta15N

The conversion of ammonium (NH(4) (+)) to 1-sulfonato-iso-indole has been examined as a method for natural abundance measurement of delta(15)N of NH(4) (+). The reaction is complete within 2 h and is based on the derivatisation of NH(4) (+) by o-phthaldialdehyde and sodium sulfite at a high pH, 11.2. The product is readily concentrated from dilute solutions by reverse-phase solid-phase extraction (SPE). The method is compound-specific despite partial derivatisation of potentially interfering amino acids, as their derivatives are not extracted by SPE. delta(15)N values of NH(4) (+) in KCL soil extracts can be measured within 48 h by automated continuous-flow IRMS with a precision of 0.23 per thousand (1 SD). Parallel measurements of NH(4) (+) standards of known delta(15)N are made to allow correction for the isotopic dilution by non-sample NH(4) (+). The practicality of this method is demonstrated by measuring the changes in NH(4) (+) concentration and delta(15)N following the addition of urea as a nitrogen source to inorganic N-depleted soil.     

The effect of triethylenetetraamine (Trien) on the ion flotation of Cu(2+) and Ni(2+)

Ion flotation is a separation process involving the adsorption of a surfactant and counterions at an air/aqueous solution interface. It shows promise for removing toxic heavy metal ions from dilute aqueous solutions. Here we report the effect of a neutral chelating ligand, triethylenetetraamine (Trien), on the ion flotation of cations with dodecylsulfate, DS(-), introduced as sodium dodecylsulfate, SDS. Ion flotation in the aqueous SD-Cu(II)-Ca(II)-Trien system gave strongly preferential removal of Cu(II) over Ca(II), which is a reversal of the order of selectivity seen in the SDS-Cu(II)-Ca(II) system containing no Trien. The removal rates of Cu(2+) and Ni(2+) with DS(-) were much faster in the presence of Trien than for simple aquo ions, and the final metal concentration was significantly lower. Surface tension measurements showed that Trien enhanced the surface activity and adsorption density for SDS-Cu(II) and SDS-Ni(II) solutions. The overall change in the Gibbs free energy for adsorption resulting from complexation was -3.60 kJ/mol for Cu(II) and -3.50 kJ/mol for Ni(II). This included the effects of hydrophobic interactions between the metal-Trien complexes at the air/solution interface, along with changes in the amount of dehydration associated with cosorption of the metal-Trien complex with DS(-) at the air/solution interface.     

Simultaneous tailoring of surface topography and chemical structure for controlled wettability

Wettability was controlled in a rational manner by individually and simultaneously manipulating surface topography and surface chemical structure. The first stage of this research involved the adsorption of charged submicrometer polystyrene latex particles to oppositely charged poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film samples to form surfaces with different topographies/roughness; adsorption time, solution pH, solution ionic strength, latex particle size, and substrate charge density are external variables that were controlled. The introduction of discrete functional groups to smooth and rough surfaces through organic transformations was carried out in the second stage. Amine groups (-NH(2)) and alcohol groups (-OH) were introduced onto smooth PET surfaces by amidation with poly(allylamine) and adsorption with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), respectively. On latex particle adsorbed surfaces, a thin layer of gold was evaporated first to prevent particle redistribution before chemical transformation. Reactions with functionalized thiols and adsorption with PVOH on patterned gold surfaces successfully enhanced surface hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. Particle size and biomodal particle size distribution affect both hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. A very hydrophobic surface exhibiting water contact angles of 150 degrees /126 degrees (theta(A)/theta(R)) prepared by adsorption of 1-octadecanethiol and a hydrophilic surface with water contact angles of 18 degrees /8 degrees (theta(A)/theta(R)) prepared by adsorption of PVOH were prepared on gold-coated surfaces containing both 0.35 and 0.1 microm latex particles. The combination of surface topography and surface-chemical functionality permits wettability control over a wide range.     

Quantitative analysis of solid mixtures by diffuse reflectance measurements

The factors affecting the reflectance of an absorbing substance mixed with material not absorbing at the wavelength of measurement were investigated and it was found that the effect of particle size could be eliminated by prolonged grinding. It is shown that the percentage by weight of the absorbing substance is directly proportional to the quantity (A/R)^1.383 (R = percentage reflectance ; A = 100 — R) and that this quantity is additive for 2 absorbing substances. A method is developed for the accurate determination of low concentrations of one and two absorbing substances mixed with non-absorbing material. The method is applicable to poorly crystallized substances which give no characteristic X-ray powder diffraction patterns as well as to crystalline solids. The reflectance of some substances is shown to be dependent on the previous history of the particular sample. The method is not applicable if there is physical interaction between the components of the mixture.     

A study of the epoxidation of 6-deoxyhex-5-enopyranosides. 1,5-Dicarbonyl derivatives and novel synthetic routes to D-xylo-hexos-5-ulose and D-lyxo-hexos-5-ulose

The work described deals with the isolation and characterization of epoxides from 6-deoxyhex-5-enopyranosides and preliminary exploration of their synthetic potential. Prolonged epoxidation reaction times led to their hydrolysis in situ and gave novel protected D-hexos-5-ulose derivatives (sugar 1,5-dicarbonyls). Some reactions of the hexos-5-uloses were studied, and in some cases septanoside (seven-membered-ring saccharide) derivatives were isolated. Novel routes to D-xylo-hexos-5-ulose and D-lyxo-hexos-5-ulose, of interest as intermediates in the synthesis and biosynthesis of inositols and aza sugars, are also described. The structures of the epoxides and novel hexos-5-uloses were established by NMR and X-ray crystallographic methods.     

The direct synthesis of the cyclic sulphamidate of (S)-prolinol: SimultaneousN-protection and activation towards nucleophilic displacement of oxygen.

The preparation of the cyclic sulphamidate of (S)-prolinol has been achieved by reaction with sulphuryl chloride at low temperature. This material has been shown to be susceptible to acid catalysed nucleophilic attack to furnish 2-(NN-dialkylamino)methyl- and 2-(methoxymethy]pyrrolidines after hydrolysis of the intermediate sulphamic acid derivatives.     

Total synthesis of (±) zoapatanol: a stereospecific synthesis of a key intermediate

The development of a stereospecific synthesis of a key intermediate in the synthesis of (±)-zoapatanol from the Weiland-Miescher ketone is described.     

The complete matter sector in a three-generation compactification

We consider a Calabi-Yau compactification paradigm with three light generations and anR-symmetry. From a special form of the Tian-Yau manifold, we also construct a new three-generation model with markedly different phenomenology. Thecomplete spectrum of all light matter fields is obtained in a universal way and moreover in a physically suitable basis, allowing a straightforward analysis of all their couplings. Here we discuss all the renormalizable Yukawa couplings. This computation can equally well be repeated for all compactification models based on Calabi-Yau complete intersections in products of homogeneous spaces.