Gas-phase deprotonation of arylalkylamines. A collision-induced dissociation study

The collision-induced dissociation (CID) of deprotonated arylalkylamines of general formula R(1)C(6)H(4)CHR(2)CH(2)NR(3)(2) (where R(1) = H, OH, F or NO(2); R(2) = H or OH; R(3) = H or CH(3)) generated by negative chemical ionization with H(2)O and D(2)O as ionizing reagents, is discussed. The negative chemical ionization mass spectra show that, in the absence of a hydroxy group in the aromatic ring, deprotonation takes place at the benzylic position whereas the proton is lost from the OH group when present. The nitro compound forms only M(-.) ions. The CID spectra of the deprotonated molecules show that fragmentations are strongly dependent on the structural features of the molecules, namely the presence or absence of substituents in the aromatic ring or aliphatic chain. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isolation of NO(3)(-)-N as 1-phenylazo-2-naphthol (Sudan-1) for measurement of delta(15)N

The conversion of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) to 1-phenylazo-2-naphthol (Sudan-1) has been examined as a method for natural abundance measurement of delta(15)N of NO(3)(-). The reaction results in dilution of NO(3)(-)-N with only one reagent-derived N and the product is readily concentrated from dilute samples by reverse phase chromatography. There is systematic isotopic fractionation during the reaction, but this can be allowed for by analysing known NO(3)(-) standards along with each sample set. Sudan-1 prepared from surface water samples containing approximately 50 &mgr;g NO(3)(-)-N can be analysed by automated continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry with a precision of 0.2 per thousand (one standard deviation) and the accuracy is not affected by interference from other nitrogenous species in the sample or reagents. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum‐Chemical Study of the FeNCN Conversion‐Reaction Mechanism in Lithium‐ and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

We report a computational study on 3d transition‐metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co) carbodiimides in Li‐ and Na‐ion batteries. The obtained cell voltages semi‐quantitatively fit the experiments, highlighting the practicality of PBE+U as an approach for modeling the conversion‐reaction mechanism of the FeNCN archetype with lithium and sodium. Also, the calculated voltage profiles agree satisfactorily with experiment both for full (Li‐ion battery) and partial (Na‐ion battery) discharge, even though experimental atomistic knowledge is missing up to now. Moreover, we rationalize the structural preference of intermediate ternaries and their characteristic lowering in the voltage profile using chemical‐bonding and Mulliken‐charge analysis. The formation of such ternary intermediates for the lithiation of FeNCN and the contribution of at least one ternary intermediate is also confirmed experimentally. This theoretical approach, aided by experimental findings, supports the atomistic exploration of electrode materials governed by conversion reactions.     

New stannide ScAgSn: determination of the superstructure via two-dimensional 45Sc solid state NMR

The new stannide ScAgSn was synthesized by induction melting of the elements in a sealed tantalum tube and subsequent annealing. ScAgSn crystallizes with a pronounced subcell structure: ZrNiAl type, P2m, a = 708.2(2) pm, c = 433.9(1) pm, wR2 = 0.1264, 321 F2 values, and 14 variables. The Guinier powder pattern reveals weak superstructure reflections pointing to a TiFeSi-type structural arrangement: I2cm, a = 708.1(1) pm, b = 1225.2(2) pm, c = 869.9(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0787, 5556 F2 values, and 49 variables. So far the growth of high-quality single crystals failed. Determination of the superstructure was partly based on merohedral triplet X-ray data augmented by 119Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopy and 119Sn and 45Sc solid-state NMR data. In particular, the observation of three crystallographically inequivalent sites in 45Sc NMR triple quantum magic-angle spinning (TQ-MAS) NMR spectra provided unambiguous proof of the superstructure proposed. The ScAgSn structure consists of a three-dimensional [AgSn] network (with Ag-Sn distances between 273 and 280 pm) in which the scandium atoms are located in distorted hexagonal channels, each having five tin and two silver nearest neighbors. Both crystallographically independent tin sites have a tricapped trigonal prismatic coordination, that is, [Sn1Sc6Ag3] and [Sn2Ag6Sc3] environments, which are well distinguished in the 119Sn NMR and M?ssbauer spectra because of their different site symmetries.     

Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).     

The determination of silicon in deionized process water by graphite furnace AAS

A method for automated in situ preconcentration in graphite furnace AAS is described. The method permits the determination of silicon in deionized process water at the 0.9 μg 1^?1 level with a relative standard deviation of 5%.     

Finite element error bounds for a curve shrinking with prescribed normal contact to a fixed boundary

We approximate the evolution of a curve subject to motion bycurvature by linear finite elements. The curve evolves insidea given domain and meets orthogonally. We derive optimal boundsfor the error with respect to the L²- and H¹-norms and presentsome computed examples.