Investigations in (0-0) isotopic bands of the C2 Swann system

Employing the various isotopes of carbon, (0-0) bands of the C₂ Swann system have been investigated. Comparisons have been made between the observed rotational line positions and those obtained by computer calculations with the respective constants evaluated from ¹²C₂. There is a good agreement (within ± 0.5 cm^?1 in most of the cases) between the two sets of values. The studies include the effect of change of nuclear mass and spin on different aspects of rotational structure and intensity pattern.     

A new stepwise synthesis of a family of propylamines derived from diatom silaffins and their activity in silicification

A new method for the stepwise synthesis of propylamines containing fragments of N-methyl propylamine as found in diatom bioextracts is presented and their activity in silicic acid condensation is described.     

Experimental and statistical analysis methods for peptide detection using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has the potential to make a significant impact in biology research due to its ability to provide information orthogonal to that obtained by traditional techniques such as mass spectrometry (MS). While SERS has been well studied for its use in chemical applications, detailed investigations with biological molecules are less common. In addition, a clear understanding of how methodology and molecular characteristics impact the intensity, the number of peaks, and the signal‐to‐noise of SERS spectra is largely missing. By varying the concentration and order of addition of the SERS‐enhancer salt (LiCl) with colloidal silver, we were able to evaluate the impact of these variables on peptide spectra using a quantitative measure of spectra quality based on the number of peaks and peak intensity. The LiCl concentration and order of addition that produced the best SERS spectra were applied to a panel of synthetic peptides with a range of charges and isoelectric points (pIs) where the pI was directly correlated with higher spectral quality. Those peptides with moderate to high pIs and spectra quality scores were differentiated from each other using the improved method and a hierarchical clustering algorithm. In addition, the same method and algorithm was applied to a set of highly similar phosphorylated peptides, and it was possible to successfully classify the majority of peptides on the basis of species‐specific peak differences. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Macromolecule mediated bioinspired silica synthesis using a diol-modified silane precursor

Following recent investigations on the role of synthetic and biological macromolecules in silicification and biosilicification, we report here the bioinspired synthesis of silica structures under ambient conditions and neutral pH mediated by two synthetic macromolecules. In this research ethylene glycol modified silane (EGMS) was used as the silica precursor. The macromolecules used were either poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) or poly-l-lysine (PLL), both being cationically charged at neutral pH in an aqueous medium. Mild conditions that constitute the bioinspired or biomimetic synthesis were used to compare the behaviour of the EGMS to other silica precursors. The products were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The formation of well-defined spherical silica particles (for both PAH and PLL) and hexagons (for PLL only), was shown by electron microscopy. In addition, it was also found that these macromolecules were incorporated into the silica products, thus fulfilling the dual role of catalysts and structure directing agents in a similar fashion to that described in the literature for the formation of (bio)silica, as facilitated by (bio)macromolecules.This paper is dedicated to Mike Owen on occasion of his winning the DeBruyn medal, the first silicon chemist to do so.     

Reaction of benzyl chloride with ammonium sulfide under liquid–liquid phase transfer catalysis: Reaction mechanism and kinetics

The reaction between benzyl chloride and aqueous ammonium sulfide was carried out in an organic solvent – toluene, using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as phase transfer catalyst (PTC). Two products, namely dibenzyl sulfide (DBS) and benzyl mercaptan (BM), were identified in the reaction mixture. The selectivity of DBS was maximised by changing various parameters such as NH₃/H₂S mole ratio, stirring speed, catalyst loading, concentration of benzyl chloride, volume of aqueous phase, and temperature. The highest selectivity of DBS obtained was about 90% after 445 min of reaction with excess benzyl chloride at 60 °C. Complete conversion of benzyl chloride could be achieved at the cost of very low selectivity of DBS and very high selectivity of BM. The apparent activation energy for the kinetically controlled reaction was found to be 12.3 kcal/mol. From the detailed study of the effects of various parameters on the reaction, a suitable mechanism was established which could explain the course of the reaction.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF SOME NEW,STABLE THIETES (THIACYCLOBUTENES)

Abstract

Simple alkyl substituted thietes are liquids which decompose at room temperature presumably via electrocyclic ring opening to give polymeric material.     

Carbon-13 chemical shifts of 3-substituted thietanes,thietane 1-oxides and thietane 1,1-dioxides

Carbon-13 chemical shifts of the α- and β-carbon atoms for 12 thietane 1,1-dixides, 9 thietane 1-oxides and 7 thietanes with a variety of 3-substituents [H, CH(CO₂Et)₂, SEt, Br, SPh, Ph, Cl, NMe₂, OH, OSiMe₃, OAc, OEt] are correlated according to the nature of the sulfur atom (Y=sulfone, sulfoxide, sulfide) and the nature of the 3-substituent (X) by the equations δ_α= a_Y+b_X and δ_β=a_X+b_Y, where a and b are parameters characteristic of X and Y. One-bond coupling constants [J(CH)] are reported for 21 compounds. The chemical shifts for the α- and the β-carbon atoms of the sulfones show the ‘fore-membered ring sulfone effect’ (α-carbon unusually deshielded, β-carbon unusually shielded), but the α-carbon-hydrogen coupling constants are similar to those of the sulfoxides and sulfides; the β-carbon-hydrogen coupling constants are sensitive to the nature of the substituent (X) but no special β-effect is observed. Comparison of the chemical shifts of the α-methylene carbon atoms of 3-phenyl-, 3-(β-naphthyl)- and 3-(α-thienyl)-thietes with those of the coresponding sulfones also reveals the ‘four-membered ring sulfone effect’ cis- and trans-3-Substituted thietane 1-oxides may be distinguished by the greater downfield shift for the β-carbon atom in the trans-isomer.     

On some constructions of modular hadamard matrices

Some new constructions for modular Hadamard and Hadamard matrices are given. Incidentally, it is shown that the Williamson series of H-matrices can also be constructed by using modular Hadamard matrices and resolvable semi-regular group divisible designs.