A mass spectrometry study of XCO+, X=Si, Ge: is SiCO+ a main group carbonyl? Comments on the bonding in ground state SiCO and the

The cation [Si,C,O]+ has been generated by 1) the electron ionisation (EI) of tetramethoxysilane and 2) chemical ionisation (CI) of a mixture of silane and carbon monoxide. Collisional activation (CA) experiments performed for mass-selected [Si,C,O]+, generated by using both methods, indicate that the structure is not inserted OSiC+; however, a definitive structural assignment as Si(+)-CO, Si(+)-OC or some cyclic variant is impossible based on these results alone. Neutralisation-reionisation (+NR+) experiments for EI-generated [Si,C,O]+ reveal a small peak corresponding to SiC+, but no detectable SiO+ signal, and thus establishes the existence of the Si(+)-CO isomer. CCSD(T)@B3LYP calculations employing a triple-zeta basis set have been used to explore the doublet and quartet potential-energy surfaces of the cation, as well as some important neutral states. The results suggest that both Si(+)-CO and Si(+)-OC isomers are feasible; however, the global minimum is 2 pi SiCO+. Isomeric 2 pi SiOC+ is 12.1 kcal mol-1 less stable than 2 pi SiCO+, and all quartet isomers are much higher in energy. The corresponding neutrals Si-CO and Si-OC are also feasible, but the lowest energy Si-OC isomer (3A") is bound by only 1.5 kcal mol-1. We attribute most, if not all, of the recovery signal in the +NR+ experiment to SiCO+ survivor ions. The nature of the bonding in the lowest energy isomers of Si(+)-(CO,OC) is interpreted with the aid of natural bond order analyses, and the ground state bonding of SiCO+ is discussed in relation to classical analogues such as metal carbonyls and ketenes.     

Effect of Fiber-Polymer Interactions on Fracture Toughness Behavior of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Matrix Composites

The effect of anodic oxidation on high-strength polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers has been studied in terms of fiber surface energetics and fracture toughness of the composites. According to contact angle measurements based on the wicking rate of a test liquid, anodic oxidation leads to an increase in surface free energy, mainly due to the increase of its specific (or polar) component. For the carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin matrix system, a direct linear relationship is shown between the specific component and the critical stress intensity factor measured by the single edge notched beam fracture toughness test. From a surface-energetic point of view, the anodic treatment may be suitable for carbon fibers incorporated in a polar organic matrix, resulting in an increased specific component of the surface free energy. Good wetting plays an important role in improving the degree of adhesion at interfaces between fibers and matrices of the resulting composites. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Six-coordinate and five-coordinate Fe(II)(CN)(2)(CO)(x) thiolate complexes (x = 1, 2): synthetic advances for iron sites of [NiFe] hydrogenases

The dicyanodicarbonyliron(II) thiolate complexes trans,cis-[(CN)(2)(CO)(2)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) (R = OEt (2), N(Et)(2) (3)) were prepared by the reaction of [Na][S-C(S)-R] and [Fe(CN)(2)(CO)(3)(Br)](-) (1). Complex 1 was obtained from oxidative addition of cyanogen bromide to [Fe(CN)(CO)(4)](-). In a similar fashion, reaction of complex 1 with [Na][S,O-C(5)H(4)N], and [Na][S,N-C(5)H(4)] produced the six-coordinate trans,cis-[(CN)(2)(CO)(2)Fe(S,O-C(5)H(4)N)](-) (6) and trans,cis-[(CN)(2)(CO)(2)Fe(S,N-C(5)H(4))](-) (7) individually. Photolysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of complexes 2, 3, and 7 under CO led to formation of the coordinatively unsaturated iron(II) dicyanocarbonyl thiolate compounds [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) (R = OEt (4), N(Et)(2) (5)) and [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,N-C(5)H(4))](-) (8), respectively. The IR v(CN) stretching frequencies and patterns of complexes 4, 5, and 8 have unambiguously identified two CN(-) ligands occupying cis positions. In addition, density functional theory calculations suggest that the architecture of five-coordinate complexes 4, 5, and 8 with a vacant site trans to the CO ligand and two CN(-) ligands occupying cis positions serves as a conformational preference. Complexes 2, 3, and 7 were reobtained when the THF solution of complexes 4, 5, and 8 were exposed to CO atmosphere at 25 degrees C individually. Obviously, CO ligand can be reversibly bound to the Fe(II) site in these model compounds. Isotopic shift experiments demonstrated the lability of carbonyl ligands of complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. Complexes [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) and NiA/NiC states [NiFe] hydrogenases from D. gigas exhibit a similar one-band pattern in the v(CO) region and two-band pattern in the v(CN) region individually, but in different positions, which may be accounted for by the distinct electronic effects between [S,S-C-R](-) and cysteine ligands. Also, the facile formations of five-coordinate complexes 4, 5, and 8 imply that the strong sigma-donor, weak pi-acceptor CN(-) ligands play a key role in creating/stabilizing five-coordinate iron(II) [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) complexes with a vacant coordination site trans to the CO ligand.     

Determination of (1)H homonuclear scalar couplings in unlabeled carbohydrates

The scarcity of structural information on carbohydrates results from combined difficulties to crystallize and the limitations in NMR analysis. Current methods for determining basic NMR parameters such as (1)H homonuclear scalar couplings are very limited, especially for large molecules such as polysaccharides, oligonucleotides, and the carbohydrate part of glycoproteins. In this paper, a NMR experiment for the determination of endocyclic (1)H homonuclear scalar couplings ((3)J(HH)) in unlabeled carbohydrates is presented. In addition to scalar couplings, cross-correlated dipole-dipole relaxation rates were measured for large polysaccharides. The measurement of all endocyclic homonuclear coupling constants within monosaccharide units is presented for lactose, a model disaccharide, and for a natural-abundance 2 MDa bacterial polysaccharide excreted by Streptococcus thermophilus Sfi39.     

FT-Raman spectroscopy of lichens on dolomitic rocks: an assessment of metal oxalate formation

The FT-Raman spectra of five epilithic lichen taxa growing on dolomite and magnesium-rich carbonate rocks have been analysed and interpreted for the key molecular marker bands associated with calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite), calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddelite) and magnesium oxalate dihydrate. From the results, it can be concluded that the biomineral product of lichen biodeterioration involves the calcareous part of the substratum only; no trace of magnesium oxalate has been found in the Raman spectra. Two of the species, Lecanora sulfurea and Aspicilia calcarea, produce calcium oxalate monohydrate exclusively, but Dirina massiliensis f. sorediata, D. massiliensis f. massiliensis and Tephromela atra produce significant quantities of the dihydrate. An explanation is advanced for the exclusive accumulation of calcium oxalate into the lichen thallus despite the significant presence of magnesium ions.     

Unique Fluxional Behavior. Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Novel (Diamine)platinum(II) Complexes of 9-Fluorenylidene- and Benzhydrylidenemalonate Ligands

New (diamine)platinum(II) complexes A(2)PtX(2) (A(2) = trans-(+/-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH), tetrahydro-4H-pyran-4,4-diylbis(methylamine)(THPDMA); X(2) = 9-fluorenylidenemalonate(FM), benzhydrylidenemalonate(BHM)) have been synthesized and characterized by means of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. (DACH)Pt(FM) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/c with eight formula units in a cell of dimensions a = 20.071(7) ?, b = 12.717(3) ?, c = 24.512(6) ?, beta = 103.25(2) degrees, and V = 6090(3) ?.(3) (DACH)Pt(BHM) crystallizes in space group P&onemacr; with four molecular units in a cell of dimensions a = 11.048(3) ?, b = 13.639(3) ?, c = 14.043(6) ?, alpha = 90.17(3) degrees, beta = 91.31(4) degrees, gamma = 89.98(3) degrees, and V = 2116(1) ?(3). The platinum atom in both complexes adopts a typical square planar arrangement with two nitrogen atoms in cis position. The 9-fluorenylidene and benzhydrylidene groups of the amine ligands chelated to platinum are strikingly bent up by 88.8(3) and 80.8(2) degrees, respectively, from the platinum square plane in the solid state. Variable temperature (1)H NMR spectra of the title complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide solution reveals that the amine proton resonances are sensitive to the fluxional motion of the remote arylidene groups, and suggests that interconversion occurs between two "bent-up" and "bent-down" forms. The prominent difference between the FM and BHM complexes is observed in solution, due to the presence or absence of the angle constraint of the anionic coligands.     

Symmetrical, unsymmetrical and bridged calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral carrier ionophores in poly (vinyl chloride) membrane sodium selective electrodes

The complexing ability of a range of 19 symmetrical, unsymmetrical and bridged calix[4]arene derivatives having ester, ketone, amide, amine and thioether functionalities were determined by the picrate extraction method. On incorporating these calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral carrier ionophores in sodium-selective poly (vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes the performance was assessed on the basis of the sensitivity and selectivity over the alkali, alkaline earth metals and hydrogen and ammonium ions. The temperature dependence, response times and lifetimes were also determined. Four ionophores in particular gave excellent sensitivity and selectivity and lifetimes of > 200 days. These electrodes were then tested without additional lipophilic additives and one ionophore was incorporated into poly (vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes with plasticizing solvents of varying polarity.     

Channel Flow Cell Studies of the Inhibiting Action of Gypsum on the Dissolution Kinetics of Calcite: A Laboratory Approach with Implications for Field Monitoring

The rate of dissolution of surface-treated calcite crystals in aqueous acidic solution has been studied using an adaptation of the channel flow cell method with microdisc electrode detection. Surface treatments of calcite with sulfuric acid lead to the nucleation of gypsum overgrowths, which reduce the rate of dissolution of calcite. Rate constants for untreated calcite and calcite pretreated with sulfuric acid conditions of 0.01 M for 1 h, 0.05 M for 5 h, and 0.1 M for 21 h are found to be 0.035, 0.018, 0.006, and 0.004 cm s(-1), respectively. Deterioration of calcite materials caused by acid deposition was investigated by field exposure of untreated and sulfate pretreated calcite rocks under urban conditions for 12 months. The rate constant for both pretreated and untreated calcite exposed to weathering is 0.003 cm s(-1). This suggests that calcite self-passivates the surface from further reaction when exposed to acid deposition. However, surface studies indicate that the surface undergoes erosion and dissolution before passivation. Pretreatment of the surface with sulfate protects the surface from acid deposition so it remains less reactive toward acid compared with untreated calcite. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Post-source decay in the analysis of polystyrene by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Various secondary series are observed in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectra of polystyrene. The number and positions of the series depend on the choice of matrix and added cation. For a given treatment, series observed in linear mode are not necessarily observed in reflectron mode, and vice versa. Post-source decay analysis was used to determine that the secondary series arise at least in part from formation and decay of adducts of polystyrene with matrix species. There is some treatment-to-treatment variation, but adduct formation and decay were observed for all tested treatments. The multiplicity of secondary series makes it unclear whether post-source decay occurs for the main series (polystyrene + cation)⁺ ions under the conditions normally used for polystyrene analysis. Such ions do undergo post-source decay at laser fluences greater than normally used. Although only polystyrene was investigated in this work, other polymers may also produce adduct and decay series in MALDI analysis. Their presence can mask the presence of minor components in a sample, but at least as observed here, do not have a strong influence on molecular mass determinations.     

Effect of ionic strength, pH and polymer concentration on the separation of DNA fragments in the presence of electroosmotic flow

DNA separations in the presence of electroosmotic flow (EOF) using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions have been demonstrated. During the separations, PEO entered capillaries filled with Tris-borate (TB) free buffers by EOF and acted as sieving matrices. We have found that ionic strength and pH of polymer and free solutions affect the bulk EOF and resolution differently from that in capillary zone electrophoresis. The EOF coefficient increases with increasing ionic strength of the free TB buffers as a result of decreases in the adsorption of PEO molecules. In contrast, the bulk EOF decreases with increasing the ionic strength of polymer solutions using capillaries filled with high concentrations of free TB buffers. Although resolution values are high due to larger differential migration times between any two DNA fragments in a small bulk EOF using 10 mM TB buffers, use of a capillary filled with at least 100 mM TB free buffers is suggested for high-speed separations. On the side of PEO solutions, 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 to 200 mM TB buffers are more proper in terms of resolution and speed. The separation of DNA markers V and VI was accomplished less than 29 min in 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 mM TB buffers, pH 7.0 at 500 V/cm using a capillary filled with 10 mM free TB buffers, pH 7.0.