Electromagnetism as a second order effect

An historical survey of the theories of the forces between current elements is given and Ampère's formula is compared with the Biot-Savart law. It is shown that the Biot-Savart law, in differential form, is consistent with both Classical Electromagnetism and the Special Theory of Relativity.     

Synthesis and thermal decomposition of N,N-dialkoxyamides

N,N-dialkoxyamides 1c, a virtually unstudied member of the new class of anomeric amides, amides bearing two electronegative atoms at nitrogen, have been synthesised in useful yields directly from hydroxamic esters using phenyliodine(III)bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA). Infrared carbonyl stretch frequencies and carbonyl (13)C NMR properties have been reported, which support strong inhibition of amide resonance in these amides. Their thermal decomposition reactions in mesitylene at 155 °C proceed by homolysis to form alkoxyamidyl and alkoxyl free radicals in preference to HERON rearrangements to esters. The reactions follow first-order kinetics and for a series of N,N-dimethoxy-4-substituted benzamides, activation energies of 125-135 kJ mol(-1) have been determined together with weakly negative entropies of activation.     

Obliquely propagating ion-acoustic shock waves in a degenerate quantum plasma

A theoretical investigation has been carried out on the propagation of non-linear ion-acoustic shock waves (IASHWs) in a magnetized degenerate quantum plasma system composed of inertial non-relativistic positively charged light and heavy ions, inertialess non-relativistically or ultra-relativistically degenerate electrons and positrons. The reductive perturbation method has been employed to derive the Burgers' equation. It has been observed that under consideration, our plasma model supports only positive potential shock structure. It is also found that the amplitude and steepness of the IASHWs have been significantly modified by the variation of ion kinematic viscosity, oblique angle, number density, and charge state of the plasma species. The results of our present investigation will be helpful for understanding the propagation of IASHWs in white dwarfs and neutron stars.     

Commensurability oscillations in NdBa2Cu3Oy single crystals

Commensurability between inter-vortex distance and crystal lattice constant is investigated by angular dependent magnetization in very pure twinned and twin-free NdBa₂ Cu₃ O_y single crystals. With increasing temperature the incommensurate states split up and become finally commensurate with half the vortex distance. These new commensurate states are related to a substructure of the intrinsic pinning potential within the unit cell and discussed with respect to temperature, field, anisotropy, and twin structure.     

Determining a 'safe' high-mass limit in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectra of coal derived materials with reference to instrument noise

Three methods for determining a 'safe' estimate for high-mass limits of MALDI spectra of coal derived liquids were explored, using a sample of coal-tar pitch and its pyridine-insoluble fraction. Co-addition of increasing numbers of single-shot spectra (10, 30, 50 and 100 pulses) showed visually observable reductions in noise levels, consistent with robust and statistically meaningful signals. Three separate types of post-acquisition calculation were used to identify high-mass limits of the spectra. (i) A literature method indicated high-mass limits similar to those observed visually-as a shift from baseline at the highest masses, nearly 350 000 u for the coal tar pitch and about 390 000 u for its pyridine insoluble fraction. (ii) Comparing instrument signal with pre-selected multiples of the standard deviation, upper mass estimates of between 40-60 000 u for the coal-tar pitch and about 95 000 u for its pyridine-insoluble fraction were found. (iii) Calculation of the slope was used to identify 'lift-off' of the spectrum from baseline. The angle between the smoothed spectrum and the baseline was matched to a pre-selected value (e.g. 0.5 degrees and 1 degrees ). However, the arbitrary specification of the key parameter did not establish this last method on a firm basis. The choice of a criterion for estimating high-mass limits of MALDI spectra remains a semi-quantitative procedure; a reasonably conservative high-mass limit may be estimated by comparison of signal with five times the standard deviation. However, evaluation of size exclusion chromatograms of the present samples using polystyrene standards suggests that molecular mass distributions of pitch samples arrived at by MALDI mass spectrometry are, at least partly, determined by the limitations of available instruments. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diastereocontrolled synthesis of trans- and cis-meso-cyclopentene aziridines

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of novel substituted meso-aziridines is described: aziridination of 4-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy-cyclopent-1-ene is trans selective using Cu(I)/PhI=NSO(2)Ar and cis selective using PhNMe(3)(+)Br(3)(-)/Chloramine-T.     

Electrocatalytic and Solar‐Driven CO2 Reduction to CO with a Molecular Manganese Catalyst Immobilized on Mesoporous TiO2

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction to CO was achieved with a novel Mn complex, fac‐[MnBr(4,4′‐bis(phosphonic acid)‐2,2′‐bipyridine)(CO)₃] ( MnP ), immobilized on a mesoporous TiO₂ electrode. A benchmark turnover number of 112±17 was attained with these TiO₂| MnP electrodes after 2 h electrolysis. Post‐catalysis IR spectroscopy demonstrated that the molecular structure of the MnP catalyst was retained. UV/vis spectroscopy confirmed that an active Mn–Mn dimer was formed during catalysis on the TiO₂ electrode, showing the dynamic formation of a catalytically active dimer on an electrode surface. Finally, we combined the light‐protected TiO₂| MnP cathode with a CdS‐sensitized photoanode to enable solar‐light‐driven CO₂ reduction with the light‐sensitive MnP catalyst.     

Syntheses and degradations of fluorinated heterocyclics II. Perfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkylether-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

3-Perfluoroalkylether-5-perfluoro-n-heptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole and 3,5-bis(perfluoroalkylether)-1,2,4-oxadiazole were synthesized and characterized. The 3,5-bis(perfluoroalkylether)-1,2,4-oxadiazole was subjected to thermal, thermal oxidative, and hydrolytic degradations at 235 and 325°C and was found to be stable under these conditions as evidenced by practically quantitative recovery of the test samples. In the presence of Jet-A-fuel at 235°C a low degree of degradation,～4%, was observed. 3,5-Bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole was found to be stable to attack by water at 325°C; however in air in the presence of Jet-A at 235°C the extent of degradation was in excess of 10%.     

Syntheses and degradations of fluorinated heterocyclics

Tris (perluoro-n-heptyl)-s-triazine, the perfluoroether substituted-s-triazine [C₃F₇OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF(CF₃]₃C₃N₃, 1,4-bis[(5-perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1, 2,4-oxadiazolyl]benzene, its perfluoroalky ether substituted analogue, and 3,5-bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole were synthesized and characterized. Each of these compounds was subjected to thermal and oxidative degradation at 235 and 325°C and to hydrolytic degradation at 235°C. Two benzene derivatives decomposed completely during heating in nitrogen or air at 325°C, tris(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-s-triazine was quantitatively hydrolyzed at 235°C. The perfluoroalkyl ether substituted triazine and 3,5-bis(perfluoro-n-heptyl)-1,2,4- oxadiazole were found to be stable under all conditions employed as evidenced by practically quantitative recovery of the test samples.