Elucidation of the mechanisms of peroxyl radical reactions in aqueous solutions using the pulse radiolysis technique

In the investigation of peroxyl radicals the pulse radiolysis technique can be used with some advantage to determine the rate of their unimolecular or bimolecular decay. If the identities of the products of the peroxyl radical reactions are known, pulse radiolysis often provides evidence for mechanistic details. The absorptions of the peroxyl radicals are neither very specific nor strong and optical detection is usually of little help. However, there are many peroxyl radical reactions which result in the formation of HO ₂ ^. /H+O ₂ ^. (pK_a(HO ₂ ^. )=4.7) or other acids. Thus in neutral and alkaline solutions such species can be monitored even quantitatively by the pulse conductometric method. Furthermore, O ₂ ^. can be detected by its rapid reaction with tetranitromethane which yields the strongly absorbing nitroform anion. Since O ₂ ^. is only a short-lived intermediate in neutral solutions, it can be distinguished from permanent acids which are often formed in peroxyl radical reactions. In alkaline solutions, where O ₂ ^. is more stable, superoxide dismutase might be used with advantage to reduce its lifetime and to determine the yield of permanent acids. Some details of the fate of the peroxyl radicals derived from acetate, the -hydroxyethyl-peroxyl radicals, and the cyclopentylperoxyl radicals will be reviewed.     

The UV photolysis (λ = 185 nm) of liquid di-t-butyl ether

In the 185 nm photolysis of di-t-butyl ether the following primary products (quantum yields) have been found: isobutene (0·87), t-butanol (0·84), acetone (0·07), isobutane (0·06), the dehydrodimer 2,5-di-t-butoxy-2,5-dimethylhexane (0·04₅), methane (0·04), 2-t-butoxy-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (0·03₁), t-amyl-t-butyl ether (0·01₅), neopentane (0·01), hexamethylethane (0·01), t-butyl isopropenyl ether (0·01), 1,2-di-t-butoxy-2-methylpropane (0·009), isobutene oxide (0·008), hydrogen (0·005), ethane (0·0008), 2,4-di-t-butoxy-2,4-dimethylpentane (0·0005), and t-butyl isopropyl ether (0·0004). The product material balance is C₈H_17·90O_0·975. Conversions did not exceed 0·4%.Most easily cleaved is the CO bond, predominantly following the molecular route (72% of the total, including cage disproportionation) to t-butanol and isobutene; the homolytic split into t-BuO and t-Bu amounts to a further 19%. The CC bond rupture is of lesser importance (7%), while the CH bond is the least affected (0·5%). Acetone is considered to derive from the sequence

There is some decomposition of di-t-butyl ether by 254 nm radiation into t-BuOH and isobutene in a reaction entirely molecular, amounting to about 2% of the total decomposition.     

The reactions of cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine with SO4.- revisited. Pulse radiolysis and product studies

The reactions of SO4.- with 2'-deoxycytidine 1a and cytidine 1b lead to very different intermediates (base radicals with 1a, sugar radicals with 1b). The present study provides spectral and kinetic data for the various intermediates by pulse radiolysis as well as information on final product yields (free cytosine). Taking these and literature data into account allows us to substantiate but also modify in essential aspects the current mechanistic concept (H. Catterall, M. J. Davies and B. C. Gilbert, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 1992, 1379). SO4.- radicals have been generated radiolytically in the reaction of peroxodisulfate with the hydrated electron (and the H. atom). In the reaction of SO4.- with 1a (k = 1.6 x 10(9) dm3 mol-1 s-1), a transient (lambda max = 400 nm, shifted to 450 nm at pH 3) is observed. This absorption is due to two intermediates. The major component (lambda max approximately 385 nm) does not react with O2 and has been attributed to an N-centered radical 4a formed upon sulfate release and deprotonation at nitrogen. The minor component, rapidly wiped out by O2, must be due to C-centered OH-adduct radical(s) 6a and/or 7a suggested to be formed by a water-induced nucleophilic replacement. These radicals decay by second-order kinetics. Free cytosine is only formed in low yields (G = 0.14 x 10(-7) mol J-1 upon electron-beam irradiation). In contrast, 1b gives rise to an intermediate absorbing at lambda max = 530 nm (shifted to 600 nm in acid solution) which rapidly decays (k = 6 x 10(4) s-1). In the presence of O2, the decay is much faster (k approximately 1.3 x 10(9) dm3 mol-1 s-1) indicating that this species must be a C-centered radical. This has been attributed to the C(5)-yl radical 8 formed upon the reaction of the C(2')-OH group with the cytidine SO4(.-)-adduct radical 2b. This reaction competes very effectively with the corresponding reaction of water and the release of sulfate and a proton generating the N-centered radical. Upon the decay of 8, sugar radical 11 is formed with the release of cytosine. The latter is formed with a G value of 2.8 x 10(-7) mol J-1 (85% of primary SO4.-) at high dose rates (electron beam irradiation). At low dose rates (gamma-radiolysis) its yield is increased to 7 x 10(-7) mol J-1 due to a chain reaction involving peroxodisulfate and reducing free radicals. Phosphate buffer prevents the formation of the sugar radical at the SO4(.-)-adduct stage by enhancing the rate of sulfate release by deprotonation of 2b and also by speeding up the decay of the C(5)-yl radical into another (base) radical. Cytosine release in cytidine is mechanistically related to strand breakage in poly(C). Literature data on the effect of dioxygen on strand breakage yields in poly(C) induced by SO4.- (suppressed) and upon photoionisation (unaltered) lead us to conclude that in poly(C) and also in the present system free radical cations are not involved to a major extent. This conclusion modifies an essential aspect of the current mechanistic concept.     

Low-temperature thermolysis behavior of tetramethyl- and tetraethyldistibines

The thermolysis behavior of tetramethyl- and tetraethyldistibine (Sb(2)Me(4) and Sb(2)Et(4)) was investigated using a mass spectrometer coupled to a tubular flow reactor under near-chemical vapor deposition (CVD) conditions. Sb(2)Me(4) undergoes a gas-phase disproportionation with an estimated activation energy of 163 kJ/mol. This reaction leads to the formation of methylstibinidine, SbMe, that reacts on the surface to produce antimony film and SbMe(3). Unfortunately, this clean decomposition pathway is limited to a narrow temperature range of 300-350 degrees C. At temperatures exceeding 400 degrees C, SbMe(3) decomposes following a radical route with a consequent risk of carbon contamination. In contrast, Sb(2)Et(4) disproportionates at the hot wall of the reactor. According to mass-spectrometric data, this reaction is significant starting at a temperature of 100 degrees C, with an apparent activation energy of 104 kJ/mol. Within the temperature range of 100-250 degrees C, the precursor decomposition leads to the formation of antimony films and SbEt(3), whereas different molecular reaction pathways are significantly activated above 250 degrees C. The use of Sb(2)Et(4) lowers the risk of carbon contamination compared to Sb(2)Me(4) at high temperature. Therefore, Sb(2)Et(4) is a promising CVD precursor for the growth of antimony films in the absence of hydrogen atmosphere in a wide temperature range.     

Mass transport characteristics of alkyl amines in a water/n-decane system

Rhenium (Re) nanoparticles have been synthesized by pulsed-laser decomposition of ammonium perrhenate (NH(4)ReO(4)) or dirhenium decacarbonyl (Re(2)(CO)(10)) in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as capping agent, in both aqueous and organic media. Preliminary studies showed that the MPA-capped Re nanoparticles are capable of catalyzing the isomerization of 10-undecen-1-ol to internal alkenols via long chain migration of the C=C double bond at ca. 200°C. A one-pot synthesis of graphite-coated Re nanoparticles has also been achieved by pulsed-laser decomposition of Re(2)(CO)(10), due to photo-induced catalytic graphitization of the phenyl groups of PPh(3) on the surface of rhenium nanoparticles.     

In-Line Particle Size Determination for Jet Agglomeration Processes

In jet agglomeration plants, powders are agglomerated to obtain good instant properties. The free-falling initial material is wetted in a spray cone by droplets or in a steam jet by condensation at the particle surface. In a subsequent region of high particle concentration, collision between particles occurs and agglomerates form, if the forces of adhesion are strong enough. A commercial measurement device, working according to the principle of Fraunhofer diffraction, was modified for in-line application. It was used to measure particle size distributions and concentrations of solid particles and droplets in jets. A model is presented to calculate local particle sizes by means of mass balances from integral measurements over large volumes. The results of in-line particle size and agglomerate size analyses show the practical importance of dry agglomeration during transport and lead to a better understanding of the subsequent wet agglomeration process.     

The pyrolyses of tri- and tetramethylethylene in the presence of nitric oxide

The pyrolyses of trimethylethylene and tetramethylethylene have been investigated in the presence and absence of nitric oxide. It appears that apart from a unimolecular split, e.g., a disproportionation reaction such as may play an important role in initiation. Nitric oxide had no effect on H₂ production, which is probably a molecular process. There was similar behavior of both compounds in the presence of NO, indicating that the olefinic hydrogen atom does not play a decisive role. Other aspects of the mechanisms are discussed.