205Tl NMR studies: Ion pairing of Tl+ and (CH3)2Tl+ with NO 3 − and ClO 4 − in various solvents

The concentration dependence of the²⁰⁵Tl chemical shifts of Tl⁺ and of (CH₃)₂Tl⁺ ions was determined in several solvents with NO ₃ ^– and ClO ₄ ^– counterions. In general, increased ion pairing caused a low-frequency shift of the²⁰⁵Tl resonance, with the exceptions of (CH₃)₂TlNO₃ inn-butylamine and TlNO₃ in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and in hexamethylphosphorotriamide (HMPA). In HMPA,²⁰⁵Tl linewidths of both Tl⁺ and (CH₃)₂Tl⁺ increased dramatically with dilution below 0.1M. Analysis of the data allowed ion-pair formation constants and²⁰⁵Tl chemical shifts for the ion-paired cation and for the free (solvated) cation to be estimated for some of the solvents.     

Effects of Added Urea and Alkylureas on Gel to Liquid-Crystal Transitions in Doab Vesicles

The gel to liquid-crystal transition for vesicles in aqueous solution formed by dimethyldi-n-octadecylammonium bromide (DOAB) occurs at 44.7°C. Moreover, the shapes of the scans recorded by a sensitive DSC microcalorimeter are very similar when the vesicular solutions are prepared starting with solid DOAB and comparable amounts of either solid urea or solid alkylureas. Therefore, the DOAB vesicles in aqueous solution accommodate this class of solutes without marked changes in the melting temperature and the enthalpy of the transition. The contrast with effects of added surfactants and simple organic solutes such as THF and ethanol is particularly significant. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The activity of calcium chloride in aqueous solutions of some amino acids at 25°C

The activity coefficients of calcium chloride in aqueous solutions of the amino acids glycine, β-alanine, γ-amino butyric acid, ε-aminocaproic acid, and glycylglycine have been determined with cells utilizing a calcium ion-exchange electrode. Application of the cross-differential relationship allows a measure of the variation of the salting-in parameter across the series of amino acids. The variation of this parameter is discussed using a semiempirical approach developed earlier.     

A new polarographic response for ethynyloestradiol and its application to electrochemical detection associated with reverse-phase liquid chromatography

Mercury electrodes are oxidized in the presence of ethynyloestradiol, a synthetic steroid. The direct polarographic response obtained is based on the formation of an insoluble mercury compound. In analytical applications of this response, interference from laevonorgestrel, which is found in extracts from combined oral contraceptives, renders the direct determination of ethynyloestradiol impossible. However, reverse-phase liquid chromatography provides separation of the two steroids prior to electrochemical detection of both species at either static or dropping mercury electrodes. Linear response is obtained for 2.5–15.0 μg ml^-1 ethynyloestradiol and 12.5–50 μg ml^-1 laevonorgestrel with 20-μl injections. A microprocessor-based waveform generator is used to optimize the electro-chemical detection. The method is applied to pharmaceutical formulations; the data obtained agree satisfactorily with the nominal contents. Cathodic stripping voltammetry is briefly investigated for very low levels of ethynyloestradiol; the detection limit is around 5 × 10^-9 M on standard solutions.     

An XPS and UPS study of the interaction of oxygen with sodium-dosed Ag(110)

The adsorption of Na and the coadsorption of Na and O₂ on Ag(110) have been studied by XPS and UPS. Adsorption of Na results in a rapid decrease in the work function. Δφ reaching a limiting value of ?2.0 eV at θ_Na = 0.5 and thereafter remaining constant. In the coverage range 0 < θ_Na <1 adsorption of O₂ onto the Na dosed surface always results in an increase in the work function to an almost constant value of Δφ ~ ?1 eV. At the same time the XPS data show that the Na/O stoichiometry of the oxygen saturated surface remains essentially constant and independent of the initial Na dose. Calibration experiments using sodium formate as a standard compound indicate that this surface phase has the stoichiometry Na₂O. For θ_Na > 1 there is a sharp change in behaviour; the work function of the oxygen saturated surface begins to decrease rapidly, and eventually falls below the value for the Na covered surface itself at θ_Na ~ 1.5. The XP spectrum now shows the appearance of a new oxygen peak which increases in intensity as θ_Na increases beyond unity. The UP spectra indicate that the binding energy of the surface orbital derived from Na (3s) is increased by ~6.7 eV as compared with the free atom value, and the emission at ~3 eV below E_F, which is associated with surface oxygen is not greatly affected by the presence of Na. These results are discussed against the background of information already available from LEED, Auger, and thermal desorption studies, and we attempt to give a consistent interpretation of the properties of the system at coverages both below and above one monolayer.     

The CF bond as a tool in the conformational control of amides

The conformation of 2-fluoro-N-(2-fluoroethyl)-propionamide 4 in the solid state indicates the influence of both a β-fluorine-amide gauche effect and an α-fluoroamide effect. The structure reveals the influence of two recently observed stereoelectronic effects associated with the CF bond, which has resulted in the successful prediction of the solid state conformation of amide 4. A gauche relationship (−69.9°) was observed for atoms N(1)C(4)C(5)F and a syn planar (2.0°) relationship was observed for N(1)C(3)C(2)F. The paper demonstrates the predictive power of using the CF bond as a tool in influencing the conformation of amides and peptides.     

pi-stacking interactions in cis-Bisfullerene

Experimental, molecular modeling, and model compound studies suggest that favorable fullerene[60] pi-stacking interactions in the ground state and in syn-transition states account for the high cis stereoselectivities observed in the reactions between C(60) and 6, 13-disubstituted pentacenes.