Protonation and methylation of η-2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone(η-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt

The preparation of the η⁴-4-2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinonecomplex [CO(C₅Me₅)(C₁₀H₁₂O₂)] (I) is reported. Complex I undergoesreversible protonation to yield the 2-6-η-4-hydroxy-1-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetramethylcyclohexadienyl complex [Co(C₅Me₅)(C₁₀H₁₃O₂)BF₄ (II) and diprotonation to yield the η⁶-6-1,4-dihydroxy-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene complex [Co(C₅Me₅)(C₁₀H₁₄O₂)] (BF₄)₂ (III). Methylation of complex I with MeI/AgPF₆ gives the 2---6-η-4-methoxy-1-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetramethylcyclohexadienyl complex [Co(C₅Me₅)(C₁₁H₁₅O₂])PF₆ (IV). In trifluoroacetic acid solution complex IV is protonated to form the η⁶-1-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene cation [Co(C₅Me₅)-(C₁₁H₁₆O₂)]²⁺     

Blends of starch with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers: effect of water,glycerol, and amino acids as plasticizers

Blends of thermoplastic starch with poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) copolymer (EVOH) were melt extruded with water/glycerol as plasticizer and a series of amino acid additives. The biggest factor in end‐use mechanical properties proved to be the relative humidity (RH) during storage. Plasticized starch‐EVOH blends stored at 0 and 50% RH changed significantly over time, with, for example, the tensile strength (TS) of the glycerol‐plasticized blend increasing from 4.7 to 26.3 MPa over 8 weeks when maintained at 0% RH. In contrast, the TS of this same sample stored at 75% RH remained unchanged for 8 weeks. Amino acids provided relatively minor, but significant changes in mechanical properties with time. Based on TS, elongation‐to‐break, and modulus, it may be concluded that β‐alanine, sarcosine, and L ‐proline were more effective than glycerol at maintaining strong flexible blends. Increases in crystallinity and changes in morphology with time, as described by modulated DSC were correlated to these changes in mechanical properties. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular rectification: self-assembled monolayers in which donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor moieties are centrally located and symmetrically coupled to both gold electrodes

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) obtained from 1-(10-acetylsulfanyldecyl)-4-[2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)vinyl]quinolinium iodide exhibit asymmetric current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The rectification may be reversibly switched: it is suppressed when the film is exposed to HCl vapor, the intramolecular charge-transfer axis being inhibited by protonation, but restored when exposed to NH(3). The behavior is intrinsic to the donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor moiety, and ambiguity in the assignment has been excluded by matching the alkyl tails on the substrate and contacting STM tip to locate the chromophore midway between the electrodes: Au-S-C(10)H(21)//D-pi-A-C(10)H(20)-S-Au. Films contacted by gold tips exhibit rectification ratios of ca. 18 at +/-1 V, whereas those contacted by pentanethiolate (Au-S-C(5)H(11))- and decanethiolate (Au-S-C(10)H(21))-coated tips have corresponding ratios of ca. 11 and 5, respectively. The I-V curves are different, but when adjusted for thickness the current versus electric field dependence is indistinguishable. Seven dyes are reported: SAMs with sterically hindered D-pi-A moieties, in which the donor and acceptor are twisted out of plane, exhibit rectification, whereas those that are planar or have a weak donor-acceptor combination do not.     

Determination of fluoride and tin in fluoride-doped tin oxide films on glass

Time-consuming fusion and pyrohydrolysis methods for quantifying fluoride and tin in fluoride-doped tin oxide films on glass are replaced by a simple electrolytic reduction for sample preparation. The unusual conductivity of these films enables solutions to be produced in which fluoride can be quantified by ion chromatography. Tin is quantified in the original sample by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Electrolytic reduction and the fusion/pyrohydrolysis methods are compared for films with Sn/F ratios of 10–40 (71–183 μg cm^?2 tin and 0.54–2.8 μ cm^?2 fluoride). The Sn/F ratios and precision are similar for the two methods. The older method only yields the tin/fluoride ratio; the electrolytic method gives results as mass per unit area and requires much less time per sample.     

Mobilities of some positive and negative hydrogen ions in He and H2

Mobilities of H⁺ and H^? in He and in H₂, and of H⁺₂ and H⁺₃ in He, are calculated from ion-neutral potentials derived from theory and ion-beam scattering. Agreement with experiment is reasonable except for H^? in H₂ and H⁺₂ in He, which present unexplained puzzles.     

Longitudinal study of iodine in market milk and infant formula via epiboron neutron activation analysis

A global radionuclide monitoring system is being engineered as part of a multi-technology verification system for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The system detects airborne radioactive aerosols and gases that can indicate nuclear weapons test debris. The backbone of the system is a network of 80 remote detection stations that utilize high-volume air sampling and high-resolution gamma spectrometry to provide in-situ assay and near-real time reporting. These stations are linked to the International Data Centre, which is a central data processing hub where raw spectral data is automatically processed, analyzed, and disseminated to the states parties. Measurements are categorized based on spectral content to determine which contain anomalous anthropogenic radionuclides that require intensive radiochemical analysis at a certified laboratory. The resulting system has the capability to measure microbecquerel concentrations of radionuclides and provide accessible data products within minutes of field measurements. During the past year of international operations, the minimum detectable concentrations and spectroscopy processing statistics were recorded as a function of geographical location and time. The results show that this system is an effective tool for nuclear test monitoring, as well as other applications such as radiological emergency response, public health monitoring, and scientific research.     

Percolation in half-spaces: equality of critical densities and continuity of the percolation probability

Renormalization arguments are developed and applied to independent nearest-neighbor percolation on various subsets of ^d ,d2, yielding:

,-Difluoroketone inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase

The rationale for a new class of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, represented by ,ga-difluoroketones 3 and 4, is described. The syntheses of 3, 4, and their nonfluorinated analogue 5 are presented.