Oxygen equilibrium pressure above V2O5−x and thermodynamic properties of this oxide system

Measurements of oxygen equilibrium pressure above the V₂O_5?x oxide system have been performed within the temperature range 575 to 615°C. The results have been used to determine the standard enthalpy and entropy in the reaction V₆O₁₃ + O₂ = 3 V₂O₅. The thermodynamic properties of the V₂O_5?x system (at x < 1) cited in the literature have been discussed for all the equilibria postulated.     

Parabolic focal conics in self-assembled solid films of cellulose nanocrystals

Suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals form colloidal chiral nematic phases. The liquid crystalline order in these suspensions can be captured in solid films by slow evaporation of the liquid. Studies of the microstructure of such chiral nematic solid films revealed parabolic focal conic (PFC) defects, a symmetric form of focal conic defects in which the line defects form a pair of perpendicular, antiparallel, and confocal parabolas. The cellulose films with PFC defects were characterized by polarized-light and atomic force microscopy. The film surface showed a regular array of large and small elevations resulting from the displacement of the structural layers. Film fracture lines showed a series of layered half-cones. The microstructure of the films was modeled by computer. The model revealed that many structural layers terminate at the film surface.     

Stereospecific ion-molecule reactions of anabolic-type steroid tertiary alcohols with proton-donating cations

Isobutane and methane chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of C-17a-epimeric, 17a-substituted 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10),8-tetraen-17a-ols and at C-17-epimeric 17-substituted 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ols, as well as of some their derivatives, have been studied. In each epimeric pair, the peak intensity ratio [MH-H(2)O](+) / [MH](+) is greater for stereoisomers having an axial (or quasi-axial) hydroxyl group. The same regularity in the peak intensity ratio [MH-CH(3)COOH](+) / [MH](+) is valid for acetates in the D-homo series. The observed quantitative differences in CI mass spectra of epimers are explained by steric hindrance of the attack of the proton-donating cation caused by the angular 18-methyl group. No differences in the ease of elimination of the silanol molecule were observed in CI mass spectra of epimeric silyl ethers.     

Determination of ammonia, ethanol and acetic acid in solution using membrane introduction mass spectrometry

Methods have been developed to allow applications of membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) to monitor solution phase components of fermentation broths using electron ionization. The solutions are transported by flow injection analysis (FIA) through a direct insertion membrane probe, fitted with a silicone membrane in the sheet configuration. Analytes of interest pass through the membrane and are ionized by electron implant ionization. The compounds monitored are ammonia, acetic acid, and ethanol, with ammonia being detected as the monochloramine derivative which is generated at pH 10 upon addition of hypochlorite. Quantitation is achieved using external standard solutions. The dynamic range for the quantification of ammonia is 2-8000 ppm, and for ethanol and acetic acid 10-1000 ppm. This method provides rapid detection of analytes of interest, on-line monitoring capabilities, and the advantage of electron ionization. The introduction of samples into the mass spectrometer is achieved readily and automatically, the response time is a few seconds, and there are no memory effects.     

Quantum mechanical valence study of a bond-breaking–bond-forming process in triatomic systems

The recently introduced set of the quadratic, two-electron covalent and ionic valence indices is used to investigate the bond-breaking–bond-forming (BB-BF ) process in an atom exchange reaction between H₂ and X (X = H, F—I) as well as in the O₂—H system. Valence changes accompanying selected charge reorganizations are examined within the three-orbital model and valence diagrams for symmetric transition states (TS s) are given. The UHF valence data for Li₂O and CO₂ and the H—H—X, O—O—H, and O—H—O (ABC) TS s (collinear and angular) are reported and compared to valence data in the separated fragments limits (SFL ), AB and BC. The overall valence, ν(ABC), and the total (ionic plus covalent) diatomic valences, ν_AB and ν_BC, are used as measures of the overall bond-order in a concerted BB–BF reaction, to test the postulate of the bond-energy–bond-order (BEBO ) model. In collinear TS s of H₂X, ν ? ?1, i.e., one bonding electron pari, is found to be roughly preserved, whereas in the angular H₂X and in collinear O—H—O TS s, the effect of increased valence at the saddle-point is observed, relative to that of diatomic fragments (reactiants or products). For the angular O—O—H TS , a similar increase in | ν (ABC)| relative to both O₂ and OH SFL s is detected; smaller changes relative to the O₂ data are found in the collinear TS . This observation is in agreement with earlier predictions from the intersecting-state model. The relative diatomic valences, ν/ν and ν/ν, are shown to conserve the overall relative bond multiplicity around 1 in both collinear and angular TS s of the H₂—X systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Modified valence indices from the two-particle density matrix

The modified ionic and covalent valence indices are introduced, defined in the framework of the two-particle density matrix, with respect to the reference state of separated atoms or ions (SAL ). They include only quadratic contributions in changes of the molecular charge-and-bond order matrix elements, relative to the SAL . General properties of the modified valence indices are examined and illustrative qualitative results for model systems are presented. Numerical UHF SCF MO valence data for selected diatomic and triatomic molecules are reported and interpreted in terms of the valence saturation effect and the ionic vs. covalent valence competition. A three-orbital valence model of a symmetric transition state of the bond-forming–bond-breaking reaction supports the BEBO model postulate of preservation of the total “bond order.” The model predictions are compared with the UHF numerical values. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fluorous,chromatography-free Mitsunobu reaction

[formula: see text] The reaction of secondary and primary alcohols with highly fluorinated 3,4,5-tris(5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,12-heptadecafluorododecan- 1-yloxy)benzoic acid in the presence of Ph3P and DIAD in THF at room temperature (fluorous Mitsunobu) resulted in a simple, chromatography-free isolation protocol with excellent yields (83-96%).