The Structure of the Antibiotic Hedamycin. I. Chemical,Physical and Spectral Properties

Interpretation of the chemical and spectral (IR., UV., ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR.) properties of the antitumor antibiotic hedamycin (C₄₁H₅₀N₂O₁₁) suggests that the molecule contains a methyl substituted 1-hydroxyanthraquinone nucleus, an α, β-unsaturated ketone, two sugar-like tetrahydropyran rings ( 4 and 8 ) and an aliphatic chain 2 , presumably with an epoxy group (see the Scheme).     

Polymer blends—I. Mechanical and morphological behaviour of polyethylene/polyvinyl chloride blends

As part of a fundamental study of the behaviour of mixed plastics during reprocessing and in service, blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been investigated. It was found that Young's modulus increased steadily from pure LDPE to pure PVC whereas both tensile strength at break and elongation at break passed through a minimum at about 5% PVC. Optical and scanning electron microscope studies have related this mechanical behaviour to morphological changes in the two phase system under stress.     

The effect of thermal processing on PVC—III. Photo-oxidation of unstabilized PVC

The rate of photo-oxidation of unstabilized PVC is markedly dependent on the severity of the processing operation. In mildly processed PVC, peroxy gel appears to be a very effective photo-initiator whereas in more severely processed polymer, solvent soluble polymer containing polyconjugation, hydroperoxides and carbonyl groups is primarily responsible for photo-initiation. The auto-retardation of photo-oxidation which occurs in all samples is believed to be due to the build-up of a highly absorbing surface layer of degraded polymer.     

Solvent isotope effects upon the kinetics of some simple electrode reactions

The effects of replacing H₂O with D₂O solvent upon the electrochemical kinetics of simple transition-metal redox couples containing aquo, ammine or ethylenediamine ligands have been investigated at mercury electrodes as a means of exploring the possible contribution of ligand-aqueous solvent interactions to the activation barrier to outer-sphere electron transfer. The general interpretation of solvent isotope effects upon electrode kinetics is discussed; it is concluded that double-layer corrected isotopic rate ratios (k^H/k^D)^E determined at a constant electrode potential vs. an aqueous reference electrode, as well as those determined at the respective standard potentials in H₂O and D₂O (k_S^H/k_S^D), have particular significance since the solvent liquid-junction potential can be arranged to be essentially zero. For aquo redox couples, values of (k_S^H/k_S^D) were observed that are substantially greater than unity and appear to be at least partly due to a greater solvent-reorganization barrier in D₂O arising from ligand-solvent hydrogen bonding. For ammine and ethylenediamine complexes values of (k^H/k^D)^E substantially greater than, and smaller than, unity were observed upon the separate deuteration of the ligands and the surrounding solvent respectively. Comparison of isotope rate ratios for corresponding electrochemical and homogeneous outer-sphere reactions involving cationic ammine and aquo complexes yields values of (k^H/k^D) for the former processes that are typically markedly larger than those predicted by the Marcus model from the homogeneous rate ratios. These discrepancies appear to arise from differences in the solvent environments in the transition states for electrochemical and homogeneous reactions.     

Chemistry of (η5-C5H5)Ru(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)Cl: preparation of cationic ruthenium olefin complexes

The cationic ruthenium complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)L]PF₆ (L=olefin, CO, pyridine or acetonitrile) have been prepared by treatment of (η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)Cl with L and NH₄PF₆ in methanol of 20°C.     

Copolymerization of liquid sulfur with certain olefinic systems and structure-property studies on the polymeric materials

Liquid sulfur–olefinic reactions at 140°C forming crosslinked polysulfide polymers have been investigated. A systematic approach to the characterization and some structure–property studies on these new polymeric materials has been presented. The olefinic systems of interest are endo-and exo-dicyclopentadiene and an oligomeric alkenyl polysulfide. Equimolar S₈–olefinic system copolymers are amorphous and they show no tendency for sulfur crystallization. A correlation has been drawn between chemical structure and glass transition temperature of the copolymers and terpolymers. Mechanical properties and, in particular, chemical stress relaxation of the crosslinked polysulfide polymers have been investigated.     

Nitrogen rotational excitation by collisions with argon-observations and comprison with theory

Measurements of the distribution of rotational states in a nitrogen molecular beam before and after deflection by collision with rare gas atoms are interpreted in terms of the intermolecular potential. A potential of the form V(R, θ) = 4?(1 + b₂P₂(cosθ)| R^*12 ? 4θ [1 + α₂P₂(cosθ)]/R^*6 is used with semiclassical theory using the sudden approximation to fit the observations. As α₂ is known, as well as ? and the size parameter, σ, the objective is to find b₂. However, the calculated state distributions are found to systematically vary from those measured, irrespective of the value of b₂. This result is tentatively explained as due to the inadequacies of the 12-6 potential.     

The effect of processing conditions on the u.v. stability of polyolefins

It is shown that the lifetime of polyolefins in the presence of u.v. light is markedly dependent on the degree of oxidation occurring during the prior processing operation. This is influenced strongly by the presence of pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants, and their effect on subsequent u.v. life can be rationalized on the basis of their functions during processing.     

A comparison of neutron activation and alpha spectroscopy analyses of thorium in crystalline rocks

The concentrations of Th in samples of crystalline rock from three drillcore sections were analysed independently by instrumental neutron activation analysis and by chemical separation and alpha spectroscopy. The two methods show good general agreement over an approximate concentration range of 1 to 100 ppm Th. Variations in results between the two methods are not of a systematic nature and probably arise from sample heterogeneity. The results confirm the reliability of both methods and provide a useful comparison of the standards and reference materials used. The study indicates that, in cases where Th isotopic information is not required, the simpler and more rapid neutron activation analysis provides a satisfactory method.