A theoretical investigation of the ground and core-hole states of the secondary butyl cation

Non-empirical LCAO MO SCF computations have been carried out on the ground and core-hole states of various structures for the 2-butyl cation. The enhancement of weak interactions on going to the core-hole state manifold potentially provides a straightforward means of distinguishing between isomeric structures since the computed ESCA spectra are so distinctive.     

The effect of interface deformation due to gravity on line tension measurement by the capillary rise in a conical tube

Much research has been done on line tension measurement and interpretation, and attempts have also been made to measure line tension with simple, cheap and reliable methods that do not require excessive sophistication. Of particular interest is the method of determining line tensions of solid–liquid–vapor systems from the capillary rise in a conical tube. This simple and relatively inexpensive method gives line tension values comparable to those reported in the literature obtained via highly sophisticated instruments or techniques such as the well known axisymmetric drop shape analysis technique. The absolute value of line tension obtained using the conical tube method and assuming a spherical liquid–vapor interface is larger but of the same order of magnitude (1 μJ m⁻¹) as that reported in the literature. A theoretical analysis presented herein shows that by including the deformation of the liquid–vapor interface due to gravity in the conical capillary analysis, the line tension value inferred from the experimental data is reduced by approximately 50% and compares better with values in the literature obtained using other sophisticated methods. Thus a relatively simple, cheap, accurate and reliable method of line tension measurement has been advanced.     

Catalytic oxidation of thiols to disulfides using iodine and CeCl3·7H2O in graphite

A very simple procedure for the efficient oxidation of thiols to disulfides catalyzed by I₂/CeCl₃·7H₂O in graphite and ethyl acetate as the solvent, in an open system at room temperature is described. The reaction proceeds cleanly under mild conditions and was performed with aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic thiols.     

Non-empirical LCAO-MO-SCF calculations with gaussian type functions on the electrocyclic transformation of cyclopropyl to allyl

Non-empirical molecular quantum chemical calculations have been performed on the electrocyclic transformation of planar and non planar cyclopropyl anions, to allyl anions in the LCAO-MO-SCF framework using gaussian type functions as atomic orbitals. Employing a total of 37 GTF 3 disrotatory and 2 conrotatory modes of transformation have been considered. A total of 34 calculations have been carried out. In the transformation of planar and non planar cyclopropyl anions to allyl anions, both the disrotatory and conrotatory modes possess activations barriers, those for the conrotatory modes being the lower by substantial margins. A detailed analysis of the energy terms involved show that is little theoretical justification for the postulate that the mode of ring opening depends only on the symmetries of the highest occupied orbitals.

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Zusammenfassung Nichtempirische SCF-MO-Rechnungen mit Gaußfunktionen (GF) für den Übergang des planaren und des unplanaren Cyclopropylanions zum Allyanion wurden vorgenommen. Mit einem Basissatz von 37 GF wurden 34 Rechnungen für 3 disrotatorische und 2 conrotatorische Übergänge durchgeführt. Sowohl die disrotatorischen als auch die conrotatorischen Übergänge besitzen Aktivierungsbarrieren, von denen diejenigen für die conrotatorischen Übergänge stets kleiner sind. Die Analyse der Energieterme gibt wenig Anlaß zu der Annahme, daß die Art der Ringöffnung nur von der Symmetrie des obersten besetzten Orbitals abhängt.

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Résumé Des calculs ab-initio en orbitales gaussiennes ont été effetués sur la transformation de cations cyclopropyliques en cations allyliques. Les barrières d'activation sont toujours plus basses pour la mode conrotatoire que pour la mode disrotatoire. Il est peu évident que l'ouverture du cycle dépende que de la Symmetrie de la plus haute orbitale occupée.