1, 3-azaphospholo[5, 1-b]thiazolines and benzothiazoles

The title compounds 3 and 7 are novel heterocyclic systems incorporating two-coordinate phosphorus. They are obtained in reasonable to good yields from the condensation of suitable 2-ethyl-3-alkylthiazolinium and -benzothiazolium bromides 2 and 6 with phosphorus trichloride in the presence of triethylamine in an aprotic solvent. Intermediate dichlorophosphino-substituted N-ylides can be observed or isolated in some cases. From a 2-methyl-3-alkylthiazolinium bromide ( 2a ), a 1-(dichlorophosphino) substituted 1, 3-azaphospholo[5,1-b]thiazoline ( 4 ) was obtained. The chemical shift of the two-coordinate phosphorus in 1,3-azaphosphole derivatives clearly reflects the influence of the heterocyclic system annulated to its 1,5-bond and of the substituents in its 2-and 4-positions.     

Nonexistence of Multiple-Instanton Solution of the Massless 4D ϕ4 Theory

The massless ϕ⁴ theory in four Euclidean dimensions is shown not to have a multiple-instanton solution — even though it does have a single-instanton solution. Our criterion for a multiple-instanton solution of this nontopological theory is that the energy-momentum tensor of the solution be identically zero. Arguments are given that a similar result holds in any number of dimensions for a one-component scale-invariant scalar theory.     

Structures and conformations of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF3SO2)2O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF3SO2)2CF2

The geometric structures and conformational properties of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF₃SO₂)₂O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio calculations (HF/3–21G*). The calculations predict for both systems two stable conformers with C₂ symmetry and one with C₁ symmetry. In both compounds structures with C₂ symmetry and dihedral angles SOSC ≈ 100° ((CF₃SO₂)₂O) and SCSC≈ 150° ((CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ are lowest in energy. According to the GED analyses the dominant conformer of (CF₃SO₂)₂O₂ possesses C₂ symmetry with SOSC dihedral angles of 99.1(14)°. The presence of up to 30% of the two other conformers cannot be excluded; for (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ only one conformer with C₂ symmetry and SCSC dihedral angles of 143(2)° is observed. A complete set of geometric parameters is given.     

The development of a high resolution mass spectrometer: A reminiscence

This article is a review of the events leading to the development of the double-focusing tandem mass spectrometer system, which is sometimes called the Johnson-Nier geometry. An essential feature of the geometry is that it eliminates second-order angular aberration, enhancing the sensitivity, without a loss in resolution. Flexibility in the choice of ion source and collector designs is assured because both are outside of regions of electric and magnetic fields. The vacuum housing permits high-temperature baking, ensuring ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Although introduced initially for the purpose of determining precise atomic masses, the design has found its greatest application in studies of structure of heavy molecules, making use of the high resolution to identify fragments. In many cases the composition of a molecule, or fragment, can be deduced from its exact mass by utilizing the known atomic masses of likely constituent atoms.