Infrared spectra and rotational isomerism of ethyl fluoroformate and ethyl propiolate

The infrared absorption spectra of ethyl fluoroformate and ethyl propiolate have been examined in the vapour, solution and solid states. For both esters evidence is found of rotational isomerism arising from internal rotation about the O-C₂H₅ bond, in close agreement with previous work on other ethyl esters.     

A measurement of the electromagnetic form factor of the eta meson and of the branching ratio for the eta Dalitz decay

In an optical spark chamber experiment we have obtained a sample of 80 eta Dalitz decays (η → e⁺e^?γ) and have measured the eta electromagnetic form factor to be F(X) = 1.0?(0.22 ±0.45)X, where X=M_ee²/M_η², and the branching ratio (η→e⁺e^?γ/(η→π⁺π^?π⁰)= (0.0082 ± 0.0020).     

Lipid vesicles in capillary electrophoretic techniques: characterization of structural properties and associated membrane-molecule interactions

This paper reviews the use of lipid vesicles as model membranes in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The history and utility of CE in the characterization of microparticles is summarized, focusing on the application of colloidal electromigration theories to lipid vesicles. For instance, CE experiments have been used to characterize the size, surface properties, enclosed volumes, and electrophoretic mobilities of lipid vesicles and of lipoprotein particles. Several techniques involving small molecules or macromolecules separated in the presence of lipid vesicles are discussed. Interactions between the analytes and the lipid vesicles - acting as a pseudostationary phase or coated stationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) - can be used to obtain additional information on the characteristics of the vesicles and analytes, and to study the biophysical properties of membrane-molecule interactions in lipid vesicles and lipoproteins. Different methods of determining binding constants by EKC are reviewed, along with the relevant binding constant calculations and a discussion of the application and limitations of these techniques as they apply to lipid vesicle systems.     

Infrared and microwave spectra, molecular conformation and electric dipole moment of methyl thiolformate

The microwave spectrum (41-10 GHz) and the infrared spectrum (4000-50 cm⁻¹) of methyl thiolformate have been obtained and analyzed. The spectra are consistent with a single molecular conformation having a planar array of heavy atoms and with the alkyl group cis to the carbonyl group. The measured rotational constants are: A, 11042.22 MHz; B, 5118.27 MHz; C, 3562.03 MHz (κ = −0.5839). No internal rotation doublets were observed in the microwave spectrum for the ground vibrational state, which implies that the barrier hindering internal rotation of the methyl group is either much larger or much smaller than the corresponding value for methyl formate. If the former is true then a lower limit of 10.5 kJ mol⁻¹ may be placed on the barrier height.The dipole moment of methyl thiolformate was measured using the Stark effect to be 1.58 ± 0.05 Debyes (μ_A = 1.52 D; μ_B = 0.43 D) for the vapor, and for dilute solutions in benzene at 295 K the value of 1.6 ± 0.1 D was found from capacitance measurements.SCF computations using minimal basis sets of STO/3G atomic orbitals and extended basis sets of STO/4.31G atomic orbitals have been carried out for methyl thiolformate and methyl formate. Energy differences between rotational isomers and estimates of barrier heights are given together with the calculated dipole moments.     

Efficiency of volume phase reflection holograms recorded in an attenuating medium

The effect of attenuation when recording a volume phase hologram has been treated by a number of authors who neglect the effect of the varying average permittivity. It is shown here that such a variation, and the consequent violation of the Bragg conditions, leads to lower efficiency, the effect being more detrimental for greater attenuation and greater beam ratio. The mathematical solution is obtained with the aid of a generalisation of the coupled wave approach from which a set of numerical results is derived.