THE PHOTOSENSITIZED OXIDATION OF SULPHIDES

Abstract— The rates of photosensitized oxidation of a number of sulphides were determined under standard conditions in 1, 1, 2,2-tetrachloroethane and in methanol. It was found that the ratio of the rates of reaction in the two solvents was not constant for different sulphides and that t -butyl sulphide does not react in methanol. It is inferred that the presence of an H atom in the α position is essential for reaction in polar solvents and an appropriate mechanism is suggested. The results indicate that reaction in chlorinated solvents may take place by a different mechanism which possibly involves H-abstraction by triplet sensitizer.     

Effect of solidified salts on1 3 7Cs leaching from bituminized products

The leaching rate of^{1 3 7}Cs from bituminized products was studied by leach tests conducted for two years.     

Analysis of tea components by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance capillary electrophoresis

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The number of reports on the analysis of tea components, especially for catechins, has recently been increasing. We review the recent reports on the analysis of tea components using the analytical methods of high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance capillary electrophoresis.     

An investigation of the structure of butadiene by high resolution infra-red and raman spectroscopy

The rotational Raman spectra of butadiene and butadiene-d₆ are found to consist of discrete lines having small ≈0·4 cm⁻¹) yet almost constant spacings, as would be expected for symmetric or nearly symmetric top molecules. An infra-red absorption band (Type C) of butadiene at 908 cm⁻¹ is observed to have a spacing of about 2·5 cm⁻¹. Both the Raman and infra-red spectra provide evidence for the trans structure of the butadiene molecule. From the rotational constants A″ and ″ the following structural parameters were obtained: C=C---C) = 122·9 ± 0·5° rC---C) = 1·47₆ ± 0·010 Å dy]somewhat shorter than recently determined from electron-diffraction experiments).     

The solid-state E/Z-photoisomerization of 1,2-dibenzoylethene

The E/Z-photoisomerization of trans-1,2-dibenzoylethene (DBE) in the confinement of its crystal lattice proceeds readily, but not as a single crystal to single crystal process which was claimed previously by others. This model for the Z-->E isomerization at the 11-12 double bond of the retinal moiety in the crystal-like confinement of rhodopsin was investigated in view of the fact that the precise geometric features are crucial for a better understanding of the postulated twist mechanism. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) monitored long-range anisotropic molecular movements if trans-DBE was photoisomerized, but cis-DBE was unreactive even at the extreme sensitivity of AFM. The crystal lattices of both isomers cannot accommodate a rotational mechanism but at best the twist mechanism with the large groups not leaving their planes. The unidirectional solid-state photochemistry derives from the crystal packing of cis-DBE which exhibits severe 3D-interlocking. Thus, trans-DBE molecules are not formed in the cis-lattice, because their moving away would be prohibited. Conversely, photochemically formed cis-DBE molecules escape the foreign trans-DBE lattice easily along its glide planes, as is experimentally observed by AFM. These findings are reminiscent of the escape of 11-trans-retinal from the rhodopsin array in the vision cascade.     

Transient behavior of a nonequilibrium plasma formed by merged beams

A low density, low temperature plasma formed by two merged beams of electrons and ions at near zero relative velocity is studied by solving a set of time-dependent rate equations. In particular, we investigate the role played by the radiative recombination (RR) and three-body recombination (TBR) on the population of excited states during the initial stage of plasma rearrangement and relaxation. It is found in the case of hydrogenic plasmas that low-lying states are filled predominantly by RR, while high Rydberg states are populated mainly by TBR. As the plasma further relaxes, the collisional excitation and de-excitation, and radiative decays become important, filling the median excited states. The dependence of the TBR and RR rates on ionic chargeZ is discussed to extend the result to plasmas of highZ ions.     

Preparation-Proprietes physico-chimiques enthalpie de formation de l'hydrure d'aluminium AlH3α′

Résumé L'hydrure d'aluminium AlH₃- a été obtenu par action de LiAlH₄ sur AlCl₃ ou ZnCl₂ dans l'éther éthylique. La décomposition thermique a été étudiée par thermogravimé trie sous pression réduite (10^–2 torr). La capacité calorifique molaire à 298 K, l'enthalpie de décomposition, ainsi que l'enthalpie de formation ont été déterminées avec un microcalorimètre Calvet.

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Aluminium hydride,-AlH₃, was prepared by reaction of LiAlH₄ on A1C1₃ or ZnCl₂ in diethyl ether. Thermogravimetry was used to investigate its thermal decomposition under low pressure (10^–2 torr). The molar heat capacity at 298 K, the heat of decomposition, and the heat of formation, were measured with a Calvet microcalorimeter.

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Zusammenfassung Aluminiumhydrid AlH₃- wurde durch Einwirkung von LiAlH₄ auf AlCl₃ oder ZnCl₂ in DiÄthylether hergestellt. Die Thermo gravimetrie wurde zur Untersuchung der thermischen Zersetzung bei niedrigem Druck (10^–2 torr) herangezogen. Die molare WÄrmekapazitÄt bei 298 K, die Zersetzungsenthalpie sowie die Bildungsenthalpie wurden mit einem Calvet-Mikrokalorimeter bestimmt.

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— - l₃ LiAlH₄ ll₃ ZnCl₂ . (10^–2 ) . 298 , .

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Ce travail a été effectué dans le cadre d'un contrat de recherches passé par le laboratoire de Thermochimie Minérale avec la Direction des Recherches et Moyen d'Essai. Nous remercions bien vivement cet organisme de l'aide qu'il nous a apportée.     

CHEMICALLY MODIFIED PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIAL REACTION CENTERS: CIRCULAR DICHROISM, RAMAN RESONANCE, LOW TEMPERATURE ABSORPTION, FLUORESCENCE AND ODMR SPECTRA AND POLYPEPTIDE COMPOSITION OF BOROHYDRIDE TREATED REACTION CENTERS FROM Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26

Abstract— Reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides have been modified by treatment with sodium borohydride similar to the original procedure [Ditson et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 766 , 623 (1984)], and investigated spectroscopically and by gel electrophoresis.
(1) Low temperature (1.2 K) absorption, fluorescence, absorption- and fluorescence-detected ODMR, and microwave-induced singlet-triplet absorption difference spectra (MIA) suggest that the treatment produces a spectroscopically homogeneous preparation with one of the 'additional' bacteriochlorophylls being removed. The modification does not alter the zero field splitting parameters of the primary donor triplet (^TP870).
(2) From the circular dichroism and Raman resonance spectra in the1500–1800 cm^-1 region, the removed pigment is assigned to Bchl_M, e.g. the "extra" Bchl on the "inactive" M-branch.
(3) A strong coupling among all pigment molecules is deduced from the circular dichroism spectra, because pronounced band-shifts and/or intensity changes occur in the spectral components assigned to all pigments. This is supported by distinct differences among the MIA spectra of untreated and modified reaction centers, as well as by Raman resonance.
(4) The modification is accompanied by partial proteolytic cleavage of the M-subunit. The preparation is thus spectroscopically homogeneous, but biochemically heterogenous.     

Oxygen uptake photosensitized by disorganized chlorophyll in model systems and thylakoids of greening barley

Light-dependent oxygen uptake was observed and studied in thylakoids from early greening barley in comparison to oxygen uptake in chlorophyll solutions and in thylakoids from fully green leaves. Substantial oxygen uptake was observed in chlorophyll solutions supplemented with tryptophan, histidine, ascorbic acid or linoleic acid. This uptake was diminished by adding azide, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, which are specific singlet-oxygen quenchers. Illuminated thylakoids from greening barley also exhibited marked oxygen uptake that, likewise, was strongly quenched by azide. In comparison, azide was found not to affect oxygen uptake that is associated with the methyl viologen-catalyzed Mehler reaction. It is reasoned that in the first two cases the oxygen uptake arises from chlorophyll-photosensitized activation of oxygen to the singlet state and its consumption by exogenous or endogenous substrates. In greening, we propose that disorganized chlorophyll photo-sensitizes the oxygen uptake.     

THE FLUORESCENCE DECAY OF REDUCED NICOTINAMIDES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION AFTER EXCITATION WITH A UV-MODE LOCKED Ar ION LASER

Abstract— The fluorescence decay kinetics of the reduced nicotinamides NMNH, NADH and NADPH in aqueous solution were investigated using an Ar ion laser, mode locked in the UV, as source of excitation and single photon counting electronics in the detection system allowing for a time resolution in the picosecond range. Analysis of the experimental fluorescence decay showed that the dinucleotides did not follow a single exponential decay law. Good fitting was accomplished with a sum of two exponentials. The mononucleotide fluorescence decay was a single exponential for at least 95% of its amplitude.
The heterogeneity in lifetimes of the fluorescence of the dinucleotides was interpreted in terms of an exciplex mechanism.