Error analysis for complex kinetics systems methyl-vinyl cross-radical reactions

Many rate constants, particularly for radical-radical reactions, are determined in systems exhibiting complex kinetics. Parameters often comprise several species concentrations, absorption cross sections, and rate constants. They cannot be obtained from an exact analytic expression, and therefore, must be solved iteratively through an efficient numerical differential equation solver. We examine here the reaction kinetics of the CH₃ and the C₂H₃ mixed-radical system, generated by excimer laser photolysis of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) at 193.3 nm. As a model, a detailed error analysis for determination of the cross-radical reaction rate constant, the initial CH₃ and C₂H₃ radical concentrations are performed using a least-squares modeling program (Acufit). The least-squares program, an assumed mechanism, a detailed set of signal-averaged data, are viewed as the measuring “instrument.” The output of the “instrument” consists of a “signal” that is fit to the data using the least-squares criterion. This gives estimated parameters that are examined with respect to random as well as systematic errors. The biases due to uncertainties of each known parameter and combined uncertainties on the measured parameters are assessed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Efficient search for all low energy conformations of polypeptides by Monte Carlo methods

The Metropolis Monte Carlo method has been added to the program FANTOM for energy refinement of polypeptides and proteins using a Newton–Raphson minimizer in torsion angle space. With this extension, different strategies for global minimization of the semiempirical energy function ECEPP/2 by various temperature schedules and restriction of conformational space were tested for locating local minimum conformations with low energy of the pentapeptide Met-enkephalin. In total, 1881 conformations below ?10 kcal/mol were found. These conformations could be represented by 77 nonidentical conformations which were analysed for their pattern of hydrogen bonds, types of tight turn, pairwise root-mean-square-deviation (rmsd), Zimmermann codes and side chain conformations. All low energy conformations below ?10.4 kcal/mol show strong similarity to the global minimum conformation in the backbone structure.     

New oxidative transformations of phenolic and indolic oxazolines: an avenue to useful azaspirocyclic building blocks

The oxidative cyclization of a phenolic amide to a spirolactam has long been regarded as an "impossible" reaction, because exposure of the substrates to a variety of oxidants results in formation of spirolactones with consequent loss of the amine segment. We recently communicated that this heretofore unknown transformation may be achieved by oxidation of oxazoline analogues of phenolic and indolic amides. Herein, we provide full details of our work.     

Quantitative differential thermal analysis of the reduction of uranyl fluoride

The enthalpy of the reduction of UO₂F₂ with hydrogen was obtained from quantitative DTA measurements with a linear heating rate and under isothermal conditions, and the thermodynamic data on UO₂F, formed as a stable intermediate in the reduction of UO₂F₂ to UO₂, are also presented. The advantages of isothermal DTA in the reduction of U₃O₈ to UO₂ could be demonstrated.     

Darstellung und Untersuchung von Aminoschwefeltrifluoriden sowie eines Hydrolyseprodukts, 1-(Fluorooxothio)-2,5-dihydropyrrol

Synthesis and Investigation of Aminosulphur Trifluorides and of a Hydrolysis Product 1-(Fluorooxothio)-2,5-dihydropyrrole The reaction of previously unknown (trimethylsilyl)amines with sulphur tetrafluoride gives some new aminosulphurtrifluorides. Experiments to cleaver 1-(Trifluorothio)-2,5-dihydropyrrole and 1-(trifluorothio)pyrrolidin into butadiene and ethylene respectively and NSF₃ by way of a chelotrope cycloelimination were unsuccessful. ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR spectra revealed the nitrogen in the aminosulphur trifluorides must be regarded sp³ hybridized rather than sp².