Miscibility in systems containing aqueous solutions of various alkylbenzenesulfonates, toluene and, n-butanol

Miscibility relationships in four-component systems containing sodium alkylbenzenesulfonates, toluene, n-butanol, and water were studied at 25°C in the hope of clarifying the complex systems used in the “micellar flood” enhanced oil recovery process. Phase boundary curves for the pseudo three-component systems (constant sulfonate/water ratios, 2.5 moles sulfonate per kg water) were determined. The sulfonates included those of benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, mesitylene, cymene, methyl-t-butylbenzene, and diisopropylbenzene, in all of which the alkyl substituents are smaller than in the usual surfactants. The phase boundary curves have similar and fairly symmetrical shapes. The amount of n-butanol (cosolvent) required to produce miscibility decreases with increasing number of alkyl carbons on the benzene ring of the sulfonates and seems relatively independent of the isomeric structure. The sodium salt of diisopropylbenzenesulfonate gives the lowest phase boundary curve (least n-butanol required for miscibility) among the nine sulfonates studied.     

Observation of a quadrupole plasmon mode for a colloidal solution of gold nanoprisms

The synthesis and optical properties of single crystalline gold nanoprisms have been investigated. A three-step mediated seed growth process in an aqueous solution generated gold nanoprisms with a relatively homogeneous size distribution. The purity of these nanostructures has allowed us to observe a weak quadrupole resonance in addition to a strong dipole resonance associated with these novel structures. The experimental optical spectra agree with discrete dipole approximation calculations that have been modeled from the dimensions of gold nanoprisms produced in this synthesis.     

Enhanced electrodeposition of indium hexacyanoferrate thin films through improved plating solution stability

An ordinary plating solution for indium hexacyanoferrate (InHCF) thin film deposition, mainly composed of equal concentrations of In³⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]^3–, usually forms precipitates rapidly when either concentration is higher than few millimolar. This contributes to the plating solution's instability. Moreover, electrodeposited capacities are limited accordingly. In this work, the plating solution's stability and the electrodeposition of InHCF were greatly enhanced by adding a large amount of K⁺ and/or H⁺. It was found that a 10-mM plating solution added with 1 M HCl and 1 M KCl could be stored as fresh over a one-week period, whereas an unmodified plating solution became useless within a couple of minutes. Also, such cationic additions, especially adding H⁺, increased the electrodeposited capacity ca. 18 times at least, as compared with that obtained from the unmodified plating solution. Furthermore, related enhancing mechanisms were proposed and verified. To sum up, this study offers a means for better InHCF electrodeposition and should promote the applications of InHCF films. Electronic Publication     

Substituted γ-lactones. Some observations on the synthesis and reactivity of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones

The reaction pathway towards formation of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones 1 from the base catalyzed reaction between an acetophenone, diethyl oxalate and formaldehyde was investigated. If methoxide was used as base, a transesterification was found to occur in the first step, while a side reaction, namely the retro Claisen reaction, was in competition with the desired lactone formation in the second step. The nature of the solvent and the acidic character of 1 as well as the basicity of the aminoarylene were found to have a profound influence on the course of the reaction of 1 with aminoarylenes.     

A simple and general method for the synthesis of multicomponent Na2V6O16.3H2O single-crystal nanobelts

Multicomponent Na2V6O16.3H2O (barnesite) single-crystalline nanobelts were synthesized by a direct reaction-crystallization growth of bulk V2O5 and NaF powders under hydrothermal treatment without using any templates or catalysts. This new strategy could be extended to prepare other one-dimensional multicomponent nanomaterials including ammonium, alkali-metal or alkali-earth metal vanadium oxide bronzes and other transition metal oxyfluorides. This is an efficient and mild solution method with clear advantages over the traditional high-temperature approach for the large-scale production of 1D multicomponent nanomaterials. The applicability of this approach toward the preparation of other inorganic systems, such as tungstates and molybdates, will be explored.     

Gas chromatographic determination of estrone,estradiol and estriol in non-pregnancy plasma

Summary A gas Chromatographic method for the determination of estrone, estradiol and estriol in plasma of normal females is described. Purification is done by means of TLC of the free compounds and the acetates and quantitation is achieved by electron capture-gas chromatography of the estrogen heptafluorobutyrates. Experiments on the validation of the method are described along with some examples of its application.

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Zusammenfassung Eine gaschromatographische Methode zur Bestimmung von Östron, Östradiol und Östriol im normalen weiblichen Plasma wurde beschrieben. Die Reinigung erfolgte durch Dünnschichtchromatographie der freien Verbindungen und ihrer Acetate. Die quantitative Bestimmung wurde gaschromatographisch mit Hilfe eines Elektroneneinfangdetektors an Hand der Östrogenheptafluorobutyrate bewerkstelligt. Versuche zur Bewertung dieser Methode sowie Beispiele für ihre Anwendung wurden beschrieben.

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Supported by USPHS Grants AM 09908 and RCDA 5 K 3-AM-31, 321 (S. K.) and a grant from the Ford Foundation.