A study of radionuclides in vegetation on abandoned uranium tailings

A study has been carried out of the uptake of uranium and other radionuclides by plants growing on abandoned tailings from an uranium mining operation. Assay methods included instrumental neutron activation analysis, delayed neutron counting, fission track imaging, and counting of natural radioactivity. Care was taken to avoid contamination of the plant material and a number of methods are described to identify such contamination. All plants observed showed high uptake of radionuclides, compared to plants studied from naturally uraniferous and control areas. Graminoid (grass-like) plants showed significant uptake in the above-ground parts while woody plants showed exceedingly high uranium accumulation in the root portions. These results have significance in determination of the spread of radioactive material from such sites.     

A simple convenient synthesis of trans-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydrophenanthridines

trans-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-Octahydrophenanthridine, the 9-methoxy analog, and 5-methyl derivatives ( 6a,6b ) of each have been synthesized from trans-phenylcyclohexylamines ( 2a,2b ) and ethyl chloroformate followed by cyclization and reduction or by cyclization, N-methylation and reduction. The oximes ( la,1b ) of 2-phenylcyclohexanone and the m-methoxy relative, a mixture of the syn and anti isomers, were reduced to 2a and 2b with sodium and ethanol. Hydrogenation (platinum oxide-acetic acid) of 1a gave in addition to 2a , a small yield of 2-cyclohexylcyclohexyl-amine. Similar hydrogenation of 1b gave only this fully reduced compound.     

Infrared spectra and rotational isomerism of epifluorohydrin and other propene oxide derivatives

The infrared spectrum for the vapour, liquid and solid states of epifluorohydrin has been studied, and evidence has been obtained for the presence of rotational isomers. The dominant conformer in all phases corresponds to a gauche structure, which was the only form identified in the vapour by microwave spectroscopy [1]. Similar evidence for conformational equilibria has been found for the chloro, bromo and iodo derivatives, and the enthalpy differences between the rotational isomers of these compounds were measured respectively as 4580 ± 970, 3950 ± 400, and 2350 ± 170 J mol^?1 respectively. At low temperatures, epiiodohydrin was found to crystallize in one of two possible crystalline phases. These two phases correspond to the two rotational isomeric conformations of the molecule.     

Schnelle Trennung von Rückstoßprodukten in der Gasphase

Experiments are described in which recoil products are separated fast and selectively. The aim of these investigations is an identification of short-lived nuclides, either for the study of nuclear reactions or for the study of decay properties of new products. The recoil products were provided by a Cf-252 source. The transportation zone and the identification zone could be heated to different temperatures. Using N₂ as carrier gas it was possible to separate Te selectively under certain experimental conditions. When Cl₂ was added, Sb, Tc, Nb, Mo, Zr, Ru and Sn were transported. Transport output was determined in dependence of temperature and composition of the gas.     

Diffusion in ethylene–propylene rubber

A study of sorption in a copolymer of ethylene and propylene is presented. Long-time sorption and desorption measurements provided the actual diffusion coefficient in the limit of zero concentration gradient. An analysis of the diffusion–sorption data reinforced the Frisch hypothesis about diffusion in a polymer matrix. The better solvent deforms the microstructure, allowing a more marked dependence of the diffusivity upon concentration.     

Reaction of Organoelement Hydrides R<Subscript>3</Subscript>EH (E = Si,Ge) with Metal <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butylate (M = Al,Ti)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butyl Hydroperoxide Oxidative Systems

Trialkyl(aryl)silanes and -germanes effectively react with metal (Al, Ti) tert-butylate-tert-butyl-hydroperoxide under mild conditions (room temperature, benzene or tetrachloromethane) mainly by the element-hydrogen bond. The character of the products depends on the nature of the element, the structure of the radical bound to it, and the solvent. The process is radical in nature. It includes the stages of formation of element-centered radicals and their reaction with the oxygen generated by the system. The intermediate organometallic peroxides can also acts as oxidants for the element (Si, Ge)-hydrogen bonds.__________Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 75, No. 7, 2005, pp. 1161–1170.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Stepovik, Gulenova, Martynova, Skvortsov, Cherkasov.     

The catalytic hydrogenolysis of 1-phenylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane and the corresponding azidirine and epoxide

The hydrogenolysisof 1-phenylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (1a), cis-1-phenyl-2-methylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (1b), 1-phenyl-7-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (2) and 1-phenyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (3) was studied using Ni, Pd, Rh and Pt as catalysts. The hydrogenolysis of the C₁C₇ bond of 1a and 1b led to the selective formation of trans-1-phenyl-2-methylcyclohexane (4a) with retention of configuration. Compound 1a gave not only 4a but also phenylcycloheptane (6a), which is the product of C₁C₆ bond fission, and the ratio of 6a to 4a increased in the sequence: Ni ? Pd, Rh < Pt. No C₁C₆ bond fission was observed in the hydrogenolysis of 1b. These results can be explained by a mechanism involving the formation of the π-benzyl complex.trans-2-Phenylcyclohexylamine (8) was obtained stereoselectively in the hydrogenolysis of 2 over Raney Ni. This selective formation can be ascribed to the competition of “SN i” and “radical” processes. The Pd catalysed hydrogenolysis gave cis-2-phenylcyclohexylamine (9) as the main product, while the presence of sodium hydroxide promoted the formation of 8.Raney Ni catalysed hydrogenolysis of 3 yielded a mixture of phenylcyclohexane (13) and 2-phenylcyclohexanols (10 and 11). trans-2-Phenylcyclohexanol (10) was the dominant isomer; the hydrogenolysis resulted in the predominant configurational retention. Compound 13 was confirmed to be produced via 1-phenylcyclohexene (12). This deoxygenation may be explained by a mechanism involving the radical cleavage reaction of 3. The presence of sodium hydroxide led to the formation of cis-2-phenylcyclohexanol (11). The Pd catalysed hydrogenolysis also gave mainly 11.The difference in behaviour of cyclopropane, azidirine and epoxide we ascribe to the differences in the affinity for the catalyst and differences in the electronegativity between C, N and O atoms.     

Effective asymmetric synthesis of 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benzo[e]indol-4-one (CBI)

A short, asymmetric synthesis of the 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benzo[e]indol-4-one (CBI) analogue of the CC-1065 and duocarmycin alkylation subunits is detailed that employs an effective enzymatic desymmetrization reaction of prochiral diol 12 using a commercially available Pseudomonas sp. lipase. The optically active monoacetate (S)-13 is furnished in exceptional conversions (88%) and optical purity (99% ee) and serves as an intermediate for the preparation of either enantiomer of CBI. Similarly, the Pseudomonas sp. lipase resolved the racemic intermediate 19, affording advanced intermediates of CBI in good conversions and optical purity (99% ee), and provided an alternative approach to the preparation of optically active CBI derivatives.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization and redox reactivity of the copper(II) salicylaldiminates containing sterically hindered 2,6-diphenylphenol

New bidentate N-(2,6-di-phenyl-1-hydroxyphenyl) salicylaldimines bearing X = H and 3,5-di-t-butyl substituents on the salicylaldehyde ring, L ^x H, and their copper(II) complexes, Cu(L ^x )₂, have been synthesized and characterized by i.r., u.v./vis., ¹H-n.m.r., ¹³C-n.m.r., e.s.r. spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. E.s.r. study has shown that chemical oxidation of Cu(L ^x )₂ with PbO₂ produces ligand-centered Cu^II-phenoxyl radical species. The complexes are easily reduced with PPh₃ via intramolecular electron transfer from ligand to copper(II) to give unstable radical intermediates, which in time are converted to another stable secondary radical species. The analysis of e.s.r. spectra of Cu(L ^x )₂ and generated radical intermediates are presented.     

Eine neuc Umlagerung an einem Metathebainon-Derivat mit Cyclohexa-2,5-dienon-Struktur

Zusammenfassung 4-O-Methyl-7,8-dehydro-metathebainon-methin (1) geht in alkalischer Lösung in das Naphthalin-Derivat3 über, das unter Abspaltung von Formiat7 liefert. Das Auftreten von3 kann durch Isolierung von13a nach Reduktion mit NaBH₄ nachgewiesen werden. Die aus3 und7 durch Reduktion erhaltenen Alkohole8a und13a werden in saurer Lösung unter Methanol-Abspaltung zu den 2,3-Dihydro-naphtho[1,8-bc]pyranen9 und14 cyclisiert.

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A new rearrangement of a metathebainone derivative with a cyclohexa-2,5-dienone groupment

4-O-Methyl-7.8-dehydrometathebainonemethine (1) in alkaline solution rearranges to the naphthalene derivative3, which eliminates formiate to give7. The occurrence of3 was confirmed by isolation of13a after reduction with NaBH₄. The hydroxy compounds8a and13a, obtained by reduction, eliminate methanol and cyclize to the 2.3-dihydronaphtho[1.8-bc]pyrans9 and14.

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