Polymerization of acrylonitrile with VCl4–Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system in presence of acetonitrile

The polymerization of acrylonitrile with the homogeneous catalyst system of VCl₄–AlEt₃ in acetonitrile at 40°C has been investigated. The rate of polymerization is found to be first-order with respect to monomer and inversely proportional to the catalyst concentration. The overall activation energy for this catalyst system is 10.97 kcal/mole. The inverse proportionality of rate of polymerization with the catalyst concentration is attributed to the permanent complex formation between the catalyst complex and acrylonitrile, and a reaction scheme is proposed.     

Sodium aluminum hydride reduction of organic compounds in hydrocarbon media

Summary The reduction of complex esters and carbonyl compounds in hydrocarbon media by aluminum hydrides of the alkali metals results in the formation of the corresponding alcohol in high yield. The reduction of nitriles proceeds with the formation of primary amines.     

New method of preparing β-lactams

Summary A method has been devised for the synthesis of -lacrams from amides of -ha!ocarboxylic acids. Some new azetidinones with residues containing carboxyl groups on the nitrogen have been piepated. The method permits the conversion of $-amino acids trio difficulty accessible mixed (secondary) amino acids.This paper is publised under the regulations governing Brief Communications.     

Characterisation of Tokaj wines based on free amino acids and biogenic amines using ion-exchange chromatography

Summary Tokaj wines (Szamorodni and Aszu wines) of Hungarian origin were investigated on the basis of free amino acids and biogenic amines. The separation and determination of these compounds was performed by an amino acid analyser equipped with an ion-exchange resin column. The total amount of free amino acids and biogenic amines was higher in Aszu wines than in Szamorodni wines. The main amino acids were proline and arginine, while the major biogenic amines were tyramine and putrescine. The free amino acid and biogenic amine content of Aszu wines depended on the vineyards the wines originated from. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001     

Polymer-additive extraction via pressurized fluids and organic solvents of variously cross-linked poly(methylmethacrylates)

Variously cross-linked poly(methylmethacrylates) (PMMAs) are synthesized with three additives incorporated at theoretically 1000 microg of the additive per gram of prepared polymer. The additives are Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076, and Irgafos 168. The in-house" synthesized polyacrylates are then subjected to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to determine if additive recovery is a function of percent cross-linking. Although considerable work in this regard has been performed with non-cross-linked polyolefins, the literature is lacking regarding polyacrylates. Some additive degradation apparently occurs during the synthesis, as judged by the increased complexity of the extract high-performance liquid chromatographic trace and the low percent recoveries observed especially for the Irganoxes. For low polymer cross-linking (1%), it appears that both PMMA synthetic reproducibility and readily observed polymer swelling during SFE are serious issues that adversely affect additive percent recovery and precision of results. Higher percent cross-linking yields more consistent analytical data than low percent cross-linking, even though the amount of additive extracted in all PMMA samples (regardless of cross-linking percentage) is essentially the same whether the extraction is via SFE or liquid-solid extraction with methylene chloride. Results for comparably cross-linked poly(ethylmethacrylate) and poly(butylmethacrylate) are similar to PMMA.     

Synthesis and modification of 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-(2-chloro-2-propenyl)quinoline

4-Hydroxy-2-methyl-3-(2-chloro-2-propenyl)quinoline was prepared by O-allylation of 4-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline followed by the Claisen rearrangement of the 2-methyl-4-(2-chloro-2-propenyloxy)quinoline obtained. Chemical modifications of 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-(2-chloro-2-propenyl)quinoline resulted in the synthesis of 4-amino-2-methyl-3-(2-methyl-3-indolyl)quinoline.     

Fractionation and Determination of Different Lead Species in Contaminated Soils

A new approach was proposed to fractionating soil lead species differing in mobility and biological availability. Ground solid samples were retained as a stationary phase in a rotating coiled column while continuously pumping aqueous solutions of salts and complexing agents necessary for the sequential leaching of different element species. It was shown that field-flow fractionation in a rotating coiled column is suitable for separating three lead species in an automatic mode within 4 h, as compared to several days for conventional methods of sequential extraction. The study of lead elution curves at different fractionation steps provides additional information about its mobilization under changing environmental conditions.     

Voltammetry of Formaldehyde at Mechanically Renewable Solid Electrodes

The electrochemical behavior of formaldehyde (CH₂O) at solid electrodes made of platinum, gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, copper, and graphite was studied. The working surface of the electrodes was renewed by cutting a thin layer (0.5 m) immediately in the test solution. It was found that, in alkaline solutions, CH₂O was oxidized at all electrodes other than cobalt and graphite ones while scanning the potential to the anode and cathode regions. The peaks of CH₂O oxidation at platinum and gold electrodes using potential scanning in the anode and cathode directions, as well as at nickel, copper, and silver electrodes using potential scanning in the anodic direction, are suitable for analytical purposes.     

A study of radionuclides in vegetation on abandoned uranium tailings

A study has been carried out of the uptake of uranium and other radionuclides by plants growing on abandoned tailings from an uranium mining operation. Assay methods included instrumental neutron activation analysis, delayed neutron counting, fission track imaging, and counting of natural radioactivity. Care was taken to avoid contamination of the plant material and a number of methods are described to identify such contamination. All plants observed showed high uptake of radionuclides, compared to plants studied from naturally uraniferous and control areas. Graminoid (grass-like) plants showed significant uptake in the above-ground parts while woody plants showed exceedingly high uranium accumulation in the root portions. These results have significance in determination of the spread of radioactive material from such sites.     

A simple convenient synthesis of trans-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydrophenanthridines

trans-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-Octahydrophenanthridine, the 9-methoxy analog, and 5-methyl derivatives ( 6a,6b ) of each have been synthesized from trans-phenylcyclohexylamines ( 2a,2b ) and ethyl chloroformate followed by cyclization and reduction or by cyclization, N-methylation and reduction. The oximes ( la,1b ) of 2-phenylcyclohexanone and the m-methoxy relative, a mixture of the syn and anti isomers, were reduced to 2a and 2b with sodium and ethanol. Hydrogenation (platinum oxide-acetic acid) of 1a gave in addition to 2a , a small yield of 2-cyclohexylcyclohexyl-amine. Similar hydrogenation of 1b gave only this fully reduced compound.