Microwave-assisted highly diastereoselective synthesis of oxazolidines derived from ketones and aminoalcohols

A number of oxazolidines derived from ketones and aminoalcohols have been prepared in excellent yields using microwave irradiation. In most cases, conventional reflux failed to provide any of the desired products.     

Exploiting rotational and translational invariance of the energy in derivative calculations in quantum chemistry

It is shown how the invariance of the Born—Oppenheimer potential energy to overall translations and rotations of a molecule can be used to reduce the computational labor required for derivative evaluations at various orders.     

Wall effects on sound propagation in tubes

Numerical solutions have been obtained for the exact equations describing the propagation of periodic axisymmetric waves in a rigid cylindrical tube. Results were obtained for air over a range of conditions corresponding to shear wave numbers (s = R √?ω/μ) from 0·2 to 5000 and reduced frequencies (k = ωR/a) from 0·01 to 6. For conciseness and convenient application, the results for the attenuation and phase shift coefficients are given in the form of simple polynomials for the ranges 5 ? s ? 5000 and 0·01 ? k ? 6. This range covers virtually all values of tube diameter and sound frequency likely to be met in practical situations that are consistent with a continuum gas model.     

Selective volatilisation of trace metals from refractory solids into an inductively coupled plasma

Feasibility studies have been carried out on the use of a graphite electrode assembly for the introduction of U₃O₈ solid samples into a continuously running low-powered argon inductively coupled plasma for the assay of trace metallic elements in uranium. The d.c. arc carrier distillation procedure has been adopted here for the selective volatilisation of analyte elements from the refractory matrix by injecting analyte vapours into the central zone of the plasma using Scribner-Mullin electrodes covered with a graphite lid having a central opening. The experimental parameters have been optimised for the direct determination of B, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mn, Na, Ni and Pb in U₃O₈ powders. The analytical performance of the method has been checked by analysing spiked U₃O₈ samples and is seen to be comparable to or better than d.c. arc methods for these analytes. These results indicate that the carrier-distillation-ICP combination shows promise as a sensitive and precise method for analysis of trace metallic elements in a refractory matrix with a complex spectrum.     

Absorption spectra and magneto-optic figures of merit in the Bi x Sm3-x Fe5-y Ga y O12 system

The absorption (α) and Faraday rotation (θ) spectra of 14 garnets belonging to the series Bi _x Sm_3-x Fe_5-y Ga _y O₁₂ (0<x<1.05, 0.8<y<1.15) have been measured between 15 000 cm⁻¹ and 19 000 cm⁻¹. The figure of merit (θ/α) at 17 850 cm⁻¹ (560 nm) increases linearly with increasing bismuth concentration up tox∼0.6 where it begins to increase less rapidly. For operation of magneto-optic display devices at 17 850 cm⁻¹ there is no advantage in using garnets in this series withx>0.8. The Faraday rotation at 17 850 cm⁻¹ increases linearly with bismuth concentration whereas the absorption coefficient increases more rapidly. The presence of Bi³⁺ increases the intensity of all Fe³⁺ pair transitions in the garnet system as a result of the increased superexchange induced by Bi³⁺. This is in keeping with the observation that the intensity of the⁶A_1g (S)→⁴T_1g (G) transition in (RE)₃Fe₅O₁₂ (RE=Er, Y, Dy, Gd, Eu) increases on traversing the above RE series as do the Curie temperatures of these iron garnets.