New In-situ Sampling and Analysis of the Production of CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Powders from Liquid Precursors using a Novel Wet Collection System in a rf Inductively Coupled Thermal Plasma Reactor. Part 1: Reactor System and Sampling Probe

A new reactor and a novel in-situ sampling technique were developed for the study of the synthesis of CeO₂ powders produced from dissolved cerium nitrate salts. The conical reactor minimized particle recirculation and provided a highly symmetrical and undisturbed plasma flow suitable for the analysis of the phenomena affecting the formation of CeO₂ powders. Both a calorimetric study of the reactor and a thermodynamic analysis of CeO₂ formation were conducted. The sampling probe is described and near-isokinetic sampling was achieved. The sampled particles were collected using a miniature wet collection system, i.e. a mist atomizer and a custom-made spray chamber. A numerical simulation of the velocity and temperature fields of the plasma gas in the reactor was done using Fluent. A comprehensive droplet-to-particle formation mechanism presented elsewhere is revisited and expanded based on calorimetry, thermodynamics of CeO₂ formation, numerical simulations and collected particles. No traces of other oxidation states other than CeO₂ were found.     

Preparation and self-assembly of chiral porphyrin diads on the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances: a novel potential approach to the development of enantioselective chemical sensors

Porphyrin diad 1 was synthesized by reaction of the acyl chloride of porphyrin 2 and trans-1,2-dithiane-4,5-diol. The Co complex of this diad was studied as a potential enantioselective receptor for chiral recognition in solution and in the solid state. In solution both enantiomers of limonene induce significant changes in the visible and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of [Co2(1)], while a different behavior is observed in the case of the enantiomeric pair of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. A different efficiency of [Co2(1)] chiral recognition is obtained for these compounds, with a remarkable degree of enantiodiscrimination observed in the case of limonene. Self-assembled monolayers of [Co2(1)] were deposited onto the gold electrodes of quartz crystal microbalances to be used as sensing materials of nanogravimetric sensors operating in the gas phase. The enantiodiscrimination properties of these sensors towards the enantiomeric pairs of chiral analytes have been studied. While in the case of analytes bearing donor ligand atoms we did not observe a remarkable enantioselectivity, a significant degree of chiral discrimination was observed in the case of limonene; this result is particularly encouraging for the potential development of enantioselective chemical sensors for use in an array configuration.     

2-Methylisoxazolin-5-ones III. Curboxylic. Acids and their Derivatives

Carbethoxy-substituted 12-methylisoxazolin-5-ones and several functional derivatives have been prepared. Spectral properties of the corresponding carboxylic acids are discussed. These acids ant stronger when the carboxy group is in position 3 than when in position 4 of the heterocycle.     

Synthese, 13C-NMR-Spektren und räumliche Struktur von ‘Push-Pull’-Diacetylenen

Synthesis, ¹³C-NMR Spectra, and X-Ray Investigation of ‘Push-Pull’ Diacetylenes Phenyl-substituted ‘push-pull’ diacetylenes 1f and 1g have been prepared by acetylation and benzoylation of the appropriate lithiodiynylamines 4 (Scheme 2). ¹³C-NMR spectra of diacetylenes 1a–g (Table 1) are discussed with respect to the expected polarisation of the diacetylene unit by ‘push’ and ‘pull’ substituents. X-Ray investigations of 1c , 1e , and 1f have been performed in view of the planned solid-state polymerisation of ‘push-pull’ diacetylenes. In the crystalline state, diacetylenes 1c and 1f are stacked, however, the stacking parameters do not allow a solid-state polymerisation.     

Impact noise and the equal energy hypothesis

The equal energy hypothesis (EEH) was evaluated over a limited range of conditions by exposing four groups of chinchillas to impact noise (200-ms B duration) presented at a fixed rate of four impacts per second. The intensity of the impacts (107-125 dB peak SPL) and the duration (120-1.87 h) of the four exposure conditions were counterbalanced so that the four groups received the same total energy. The traumatic power of the exposures was assessed by measuring the threshold shift of the auditory evoked response and the amount of hair cell loss. Exposure between 107 and 119 dB were consistent with the EEH in that they produced roughly the same amount of permanent threshold shift (less than 20 dB) and hair cell loss (less than 20%). However, the 125-dB exposure produced substantially more threshold shift and hair cell loss than the three lower intensities. Thus, the EEH may be applicable only at lower impact intensities; above a "critical intensity" the amount of damage increases significantly.     

Ligand dynamics and reactivity in trimetallic clusters

The general relationships between trinuclear cluster reactivity and the ligand dynamical processes in these systems are explored. Three specific mechanistic studies are presented: (1) the rate and stereochemistry of ligand addition to ₃-imidoyl complexes, (2) the factors influencing the rate of carbon-hydrogen bond activation in ₃-alkyne complexes, and (3) the origin of anomalously large kinetic deuterium isotope effect in metal to ligand and ligand to metal hydrogen transfer in trinuclear and binuclear complexes. In all three cases, the current state of the mechanistic studies are summarized and the possible rate of specific ligand dynamical processes in controlling the mechanism are put forth.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of the partial ozonolysis products of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene)

The low molecular weight compounds formed by partial ozonolysis of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene) were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). In the poly(chloroprene) case, the ozonized mixtures were treated with piperidine before the MS analysis to transform in amide end groups the reactive acyl chlorides formed by the cleavage of double bonds along the main chain. Only one family of compounds having carboxyl and ketone or carboxyl and amide end groups were obtained from the ozonolysis of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene), respectively. The assigned structures were confirmed by FAB-MS analysis of the GPC separation fractions [poly(chloroprene)] or by FAB-MS of the KOH-doped ozonolysis mixtures [poly(isoprene)]. It has been also ascertained, by GPC experiments, that poly(chloroprene) decomposes more rapidly than poly(isoprene) and poly(butadiene).     

Synthesis of quaternary amino acids bearing a (2'Z)-fluorovinyl alpha-branch: potential PLP enzyme inactivators

Protected alpha-formyl amino acids, themselves available from the corresponding alpha-vinyl amino acids, are stereoselectively transformed into the (Z)-configured alpha-(2'-fluoro)vinyl amino acids via a three-step sequence. The route employs McCarthy's reagent, diethyl alpha-fluoro-alpha-(phenylsulfonyl)methyl phosphonate, and proceeds via the intermediate (E)-alpha-fluorovinyl sulfones and (E)-alpha-fluorovinylstannanes. The latter may either be exploited as novel cross-coupling partners for fluorovinyl branch extension or be globally deprotected, to provide the title compounds. [structure: see text]     

Determination of salicylate in blood serum using an amperometric biosensor based on salicylate hydroxylase immobilized in a polypyrrole-glutaraldehyde matrix

The use of an amperometric biosensor for the salicylate determination in blood serum is described. The biosensor is based on salicylate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.1) electropolymerized onto a glassy carbon-working electrode with polypyrrole and glutaraldehyde, to improve the biosensor lifetime. The hexacyanoferrate (II) was also incorporated to work as a redox mediator to minimize possible interferences. The salicylate is enzymatically converted to catechol, which is monitored amperometrically by its electrooxidation at+0.170 V versus SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Salicylate determination was carried out maintaining the ratio between beta-NADH and salicylate at 4:1 (30 degrees C). The amperometric response of the biosensor was linearly proportional to the salicylate concentration between 2.3x10(-6) and 1.4x10(-5) mol l(-1), in 0.1 mol l(-1) phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), containing 0.1 mol l(-1) KCl and 5.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) Na(2)H(2)EDTA, as supporting electrolyte. The recovery studies, in the presence of several interfering compounds, showed recoveries between 96.4 and 104.8%. The useful lifetime of the biosensor in the concentration range evaluated was at least 40 days, in continuous use. Blood serum samples analyzed by this biosensor showed a good correlation compared to the spectrophotometric method (Trinder) used as reference, presenting relative deviations lower than 7.0%.     

Ring-opening Sn2'' reactions of 7-oxanorbornenes by organolithium reagents. Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of substituted cyclohexenediols

The nucleophilic Sn2' bridge opening of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1] hept-5-en-2-ols with organolithium reagents occurs in a regio- and stereospecific fashion to produce 6-substituted-cyclohex-4-en-1,3-diols, regardless of the stereochemistry at C-2. A free alcohol functionality is necessary to attain complete regiocontrol of the process. The methodology is utilized to prepare an optically pure cyclohexene derivative, (+)-(1S,3S,6R)-6-n-butyl-3-methyl-cyclohex-4-en-1,3-diol (5b), as a model system.