The structure of cyclopentene oxide determined by gas phase electron diffraction

The r_g structure of cyclopentene oxide has been determined by the simultaneous least squares analysis of electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopic data. The investigation has reaffirmed previous studies indicating that the molecule prefers a boat conformation. The methylene and epoxide flap angles obtained are 152.3±2.1° and 104.7±1.0° respectively. Other structural parameters determined are: r_g (C-H avg.) = 1.120±0.004 Å; r_g (C-C avg.) = 1.538±0.002 Å; r_g (C-O) = 1.443±0.003 Å, and r_g (C-C) = 1.482±0.004 Å for the carbon-carbon bond in the three membered epoxide ring. These results compare favorably with the reported structures of ethylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide. A tentative rationalization of the unusual boat conformation is also offered.     

Resonance energy transfer between lasing dyes in micellar media

The photophysical behaviour of rhodamine 6G and coumarin 1 has been studied in a range of aqueous micellar media. Resonance energy transfer is demonstrated in dilute (10^?5 M) solutions and the location of the dye molecules in the micelle deduced from fluorescence lifetimes. A highly efficient, energy transfer dye laser is reported for dyes in micellar matrices.     

The crystal structure of CuVo3(II), a high-pressure ilmenite phase

The crystal structure of a second high-pressure copper vanadate phase, CuVO₃(II), has been determined and refined by full-matrix least-squares procedures using automatic diffractometer data to a residual R = 0.042 (R_w = 0.051). The space group is rhombohedral, $\text{R}\text{3}$, with hexagonal unit cell a = 4.966(2) and c = 14.084(5) Å [a_R = 5.501(2) Å and α = 53.66(3)°]. The structure is the fully ordered ilmenite-type and, on the basis of published magnetic data and the interatomic distances, the valence distribution Cu⁺V⁵⁺O₃ is proposed. This represents a unique example of Cu⁺ in an octahedral environment.     

Stereochemistry of cyclic ether formation—II : Intramolecular cyclisation of secondary aliphatic alcohols to tetrahydrofuran-type ethers

The mechanism and stereochemistry of δ-C atom functionalisation in the reactions of secondary straight-chain aliphatic alcohols with lead tetraacetate, ceric ammonium nitrate, and heavy metal (Pb⁴⁺, Hg²⁺, Ag⁺) salts (AcO)^?1, O^2?, CO₃^2?-halogen (I₂, Br₂, Cl₂) combinations are discussed. By demonstrating the intermediacy of 5-bromo-2-hexanol, it was confirmed that the dark silver oxidebromine induced cyclisation of 2-hexanol (and alcohols in general) involves (as the other hypohalite reactions) intramolecular 1,5-hydrogen abstraction by alkoxy radicals and formation of δ-bromohydrins. A novel and simple procedure for obtaining tetrahydrofurans from alcohols by way of the hypochlorite reaction, using silver or mercuric salts and chlorine, is described.     

A decomposition procedure for the determination of arsenic in marine samples

The use of wet and dry ashing procedures to decompose marine biological tissues and to degrade organoarsenic compounds to inorganic arsenic for analysis by zinc-column arsine generation and atomic-absorption spectrophotometry was investigated. Wet ashing with nitric, sulphuric and perchloric acids (10:2:3 v/v) released the largest percentage of arsenic from fish tissue and quantitatively degraded methylated and other organoarsenic compounds to inorganic arsenic. The arsenic concentrations found when standard reference materials were ashed with this acid mixture were in agreement with the certified values.     

Cleavage by halogens of carbon—cobalt bonds in organometallic complexes of cobalt(III) : III. Kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of organobis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(III) complexes with iodine in chloroform

The kinetics of the reaction between organocobaloximes, RCo(DH)₂H₂O, and iodine have been investigated. They reveal the participation of an RCo(DH)₂H₂O · I₂ intermediate which undergoes intramolecular transalkylation and acts as an electrophile towards a second organocobaloxime molecule. The trend in reactivity as the R group is varied is discussed.     

“鱼”乐圈大揭秘

This article introduces the relationship between chemistry and fish farming, fish selling, and fish food. The nitrogen cycle process in fish ponds is introduced to explain the fish farming. "Yufuling" is used as the entry point to fish selling to connect food safety with chemistry. Fishy smell is explained from a chemical perspective for fish food. This paper aims at making a scientific explanation of life phenomena, deepening the consciousness of chemical life, helping people establish a correct view of chemical science, and inspiring youth to learn to use the knowledge that they have learned to explain life phenomena. This paper also tries to show the youth that life cannot be separated from chemistry, and chemistry cannot be separated from life.     

Hydrogen bonding between solvation shells around gd3+ from cooperative vibronic spectra

Cooperative vibronic spectra involving Gd³⁺ electronic transitions and the vibrational transitions of nearby water molecules are used to determine the stretching spectrum for isotopically dilute OH in a solution of GdCl₃ in D₂O. The OH stretching spectrum of water molecules in the first hydration sphere is shifted to lower energy than that of the bulk liquid.     

Some developments in reaction and solution microcalorimetry,with particular reference to its use in biochemistry and cellular biology

The field of isothermal microcalorimetry as applied to systems of interest for aqueous solution chemistry, biochemistry and in cellular biology is briefly reviewed. Some techniques recently developed in the author's laboratory are described.