Investigation of water environments in a C18 bonded silica phase using 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

High resolution 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra have been obtained on typical C18 bonded silicas used in chromatographic solid-phase extraction separations. It has been shown for the first time that water molecules distributed in distinct physico-chemical environments within the chromatographic system can be detected directly using a simple 1H MAS NMR measurement. The resonances assigned to water protons in differing physico-chemical environments have distinct chemical shifts, line widths, relaxation times (T1 and T2) and also exhibit temperature dependent coalescence behaviour. This novel MAS approach may lead to a better understanding of the environments of other analytes in mixtures during such separations.     

De novo structural prediction of transition metal complexes: application to technetium

De novo structural prediction of transition metal complexes is investigated. Technetium complexes are chosen given their importance in medical imaging and nuclear waste remediation and for the chemical diversity they display. A new conformational searching algorithm (LIGB) for transition metals is described that allows one to search for different conformational and geometric isomers within a single simulation. In the preponderance of cases, both conformational searching techniques (LIGB and high-temperature molecular dynamics/simulated annealing) provide comparable results, while LIGB is superior for macrocyclic complexes. A genetic algorithm-optimized PM3(tm) parametrization for Tc is compared with the standard implementation and found to yield a significant improvement in predictive ability for the most prevalent Tc structural motifs. The utility of a coupled molecular mechanics-semiempirical quantum mechanics protocol is demonstrated for very rapid, efficient, and effective de novo prediction of transition metal complex geometries.     

Atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition of fluorine‐doped tin(IV) oxide from fluoroalkyltin precursors

Perfluoroalkytin compounds R_(4−n)Sn(R_f)_n (R = Me, Et, Bu, R_f = C₄F₉, n = 1; R = Bu, R_f = C₄F₉, n = 2, 3; R = Bu, R_f = C₆F₁₃, n = 1) have been synthesized, characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, and evaluated as precursors for the atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition of fluorine‐doped SnO₂ thin films. All precursors were sufficiently volatile in the range 84–136 °C and glass substrate temperatures of ca 550 °C to yield high‐quality films with ca 0.79–2.02% fluorine incorporation, save for Bu₃SnC₆F₁₃, which incorporated <0.05% fluorine. Films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thickness, haze, emissivity, and sheet resistance. The fastest growth rates and highest quality films were obtained from Et₃SnC₄F₉. An electron diffraction study of Me₃SnC₄F₉ revealed four conformations, of which only the two of lowest abundance showed close F Sn contacts that could plausibly be associated with halogen transfer to tin, and in each case it was fluorine attached to either the γ‐ or δ‐carbon atoms of the R_f chain. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Volatility return intervals analysis of the Japanese market

We investigate scaling and memory effects in return intervals between price volatilities above a certain threshold q for the Japanese stock market using daily and intraday data sets. We find that the distribution of return intervals can be approximated by a scaling function that depends only on the ratio between the return interval τ and its mean 〈τ〉. We also find memory effects such that a large (or small) return interval follows a large (or small) interval by investigating the conditional distribution and mean return interval. The results are similar to previous studies of other markets and indicate that similar statistical features appear in different financial markets. We also compare our results between the period before and after the big crash at the end of 1989. We find that scaling and memory effects of the return intervals show similar features although the statistical properties of the returns are different.     

Quasicrystals in a monodisperse system

We investigate the formation of a two-dimensional quasicrystal in a monodisperse system, using molecular dynamics simulations of hard-sphere particles interacting via a two-dimensional square-well potential. We find that more than one stable crystalline phase can form for certain values of the square-well parameters. Quenching the liquid phase at a very low temperature, we obtain an amorphous phase. By heating this amorphous phase, we obtain a quasicrystalline structure with fivefold symmetry. From estimations of the Helmholtz potentials of the stable crystalline phases and of the quasicrystal, we conclude that the observed quasicrystal phase can be the stable phase in a specific range of temperatures.     

Investigation of intramolecular sulfur-nitro interactions in 2-(2′-pyridylthio)-3-nitropyridine by 13C-NMR spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography

The single crystal X-ray diffraction structure of 2-(2′-pyridylthio)-3-nitropyridine is reported. A non-bonded interaction was observed between the sulfur atom and one of the oxygen atoms of the nitro group with an interatomic distance of 2.678 A. Examination of the molecule's behavior in solution by ¹³C-nmr spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation measurements showed the non-nitro bearing pyridyl ring to reorient anisotropically about the C2′-C5′ bond axis. In contrast, the nitro substituted pyridine ring did not appear to exhibit anisotropic reorientation about the corresponding C2-C5 bond axis. Rather, approximately equivalent relaxation times were noted for all protonated ring carbons, indicating that the relaxations of this portion of the molecule were governed by the overall isotropic reorientation of the system. Based on these observations, it was concluded that the intramolecular sulfur-nitro interaction also operates in the solution state and is sufficiently strong to prevent free rotation of the substituted portion of the molecule about the C2-S bond axis.     

Semimicro determination of carbon in organic compounds by closed flask combustion: Evaluation of the method

Summary A procedure is described for the determination of carbon by closed flask combustion. It involves electrical ignition of the sample (15–20 mg) wrapped in a high melting glass fiber, absorption of the CO₂ in NaOH-BaCl₂ solution, separation and dissolution of the BaCO₃ formed in HCl and back titration with NaOH. This method has been tested with organic compounds containing nitrogen, sulfur and chlorine.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren zur Kohlenstoffbestimmung mit Hilfe der Kolbenverbrennung wurde beschrieben. 15 bis 20 mg der in hochschmelzender Glasfaser verpackten Probe werden elektrisch gezündet, das Kohlendioxid in einer Natronlauge-Bariumchloridlösung absorbiert, das Bariumcarbonat abgetrennt, in Salzsäure gelöst und mit Natronlauge zurücktitriert. Das Verfahren wurde mit organischen Verbindungen überprüft, die Stickstoff, Schwefel bzw. Chlor enthielten.