Nuclear Physics in Norway, 1933–1955

In the late 1940s and the 1950s, Norwegian nuclear scientists, engineers, and administrators were deeply split over their nation’s goals, organization, politics, and tools for research in nuclear physics. One faction was determined to build a nuclear reactor in Norway, while another fiercely opposed the reactor plans and focused on particle accelerators. The first faction comprised scientific entrepreneurs and research technologists, the second academic scientists, most of whom began their research careers in nuclear physics in the 1930s. To understand this conflict, I trace the development of nuclear research in Norway from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s, placing it within an international context. Roland Wittje is working on his habilitation thesis in the History of Science Unit at the University of Regensburg, Germany.     

Concentrated electrolyte solutions at high temperatures and pressures

A survey is given of recent experimental results obtained from high-temperature, high-pressure investigations with water, aqueous solutions, and ionic fluids. Data on the static dielectric constant of water to 550°C and 5 kbar are given and discussed with respect to their relation to water structure. Infrared and Raman spectra of HDO in pure water have been obtained to 400°C and 4 kbar, which give information on hydrogen bonding. Xe–H₂O and CO₂–H₂O mixtures were investigated in the infrared. Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes were investigated by absorption spectroscopy in aqueous solutions of high chloride content to 350°C and 2–6 kbar. The gas-liquid critical point of ammonium chloride was found at 880°C and 1635 bars. This fluid appears to be predominantly ionic even in the critical region. The possibility of converting pure polar fluids such as ammonia and water into concentrated ionic solutions by self-ionization at very high pressures is mentioned.This paper was presented at the symposium, The Physical Chemistry of Aqueous Systems, held at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 12–14, 1972, in honor of the 70th birthday of Professor H. S. Frank.     

Heats of solution of gaseous hydrocarbons in water at 25°C

The heats of solution at 25°C for a number of hydrocarbon gases are reported as measured by a calorimetric method. There is excellent agreement between the standard enthalpy changes of solution measured calorimetrically and those derived from high precision temperature dependent solubility measurements. However the calorimetrically determined standard enthalpies of solution of a number of gases are greatly improved over values obtained from low precision temperature dependent solubility measurements. A method is presented to readily estimate the standard errors in the standard enthalpy change for any process derived from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant for the process. Comparison of the standard enthalpies and entropies of solution of hydrocarbon gases in water shows that the standard free energies of solution for all hydrocarbon gases investigated are dominated by unfavorable entropy contributions. A strong linear correlation between the standard entropy of solution and the number of hydrogens in the hydrocarbon molecule is found. This correlation suggests that the hydrocarbon hydrophobic effect is regulated by the number of allowable configurations of a water molecule in contact with each C–H group.     

Interactions of Pb(II) with particles of a polluted river

Pb(II) interactions with the surface of suspended matter from a polluted river was studied using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) technique. Three sampling sites were selected and studies have been done with samples collected in different times of the year (winter, autumn and summer). The values have been compared with those obtained in spring in the same conditions [Sci. Total Environ. 151 (1994) 101].Particles were separated by centrifugation and suspensions of the freeze-dried particles were titrated with Pb(II), being measured the labile metal fraction by DPASV. For comparison, suspensions of river water without any separation have also been titrated.Results show that surface metal complexes are inert, within the time scale of the analytical technique and desorbed organics from surfaces, form labile Pb(II) complexes in solution. For each sample it was determined the capacity for Pb complexation of particles and desorbed organics and the differential function has been estimated. Despite the heterogeneity of ligands, the systems interpreted in a discontinuous way, present one or two kinds of dominant ligands with Pb affinity.     

One-step synthesis of highly water-soluble magnetite colloidal nanocrystals

A high-temperature solution-phase hydrolysis approach has been developed for the synthesis of colloidal magnetite nanocrystals with well-controlled size and size distribution, high crystallinity, and high water solubility. The synthesis was accomplished by the hydrolysis and reduction of iron(III) cations in diethylene glycol with a rapidly injected solution of sodium hydroxide at an elevated temperature. The high reaction temperature allows for control over size and size distribution and yields highly crystalline products. The superior water solubility is achieved by using a polyelectrolyte, that is, poly(acrylic acid) as the capping agent, the carboxylate groups of which partially bind to the nanocrystal surface and partially extend into the surrounding water. The direct synthesis of water-soluble nanocrystals eliminates the need for additional surface modification steps which are usually required for treating hydrophobic nanocrystals produced in nonpolar solvents through the widely recognized pyrolysis route. The abundant carboxylate groups on the nanocrystal surface allow further modifications, such as bioconjugation, as demonstrated by linking cysteamine to the particle surface. The monodisperse, highly water-soluble, superparamagnetic, and biocompatible magnetite nanocrystals should find immediate important biomedical applications.     

Solid-State NMR Study of Phase Separation and Order of Water Molecules and Silanol Groups in Polysiloxane Networks

Homogeneity and structure of organically modified polysiloxane networks prepared by sol-gel co-condensation, as well as location and nature of water molecules and silanol groups were studied by 1D and 2D solid-state NMR. ¹H–²⁹Si and ¹H–¹H interatomic distances were estimated from variable contact-time CP/MAS experiments, ¹H NMR chemical shifts and off-resonance WISE NMR. A structure model of these networks is proposed and discussed. The fraction of proton-inaccessible units Q⁴ in the networks decreases with increasing amounts of dimethylsiloxane (D) and methylsiloxane (T) units. In contrast to systems prepared by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with dimethyl(diethoxy)silane (DMDEOS), proton-inaccessible units form essential fraction in networks prepared by co-condensation of TEOS with methyl(triethoxy)silane (MTEOS). The proton-accessible part of the networks with high O/Si ratios is nano-heterogeneous phase, which is composed of water containing Q ⁱ particles separated by copolymer domains. The overall homogeneity and uniformity of binding sites around silanol groups increases by co-condensation TEOS with DMDEOS or MTEOS, while the amount of physisorbed water as well as the hydrogen bond strength decreases, as compared with neat silica gel prepared by polycondensation of TEOS.     

9-fluorenylphosphines for the Pd-catalyzed sonogashira, suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions in organic solvents and water

The lithiation/alkylation of fluorene leads to various 9-alkyl-fluorenes (alkyl=Me, Et, iPr, -Pr, -C18H25) in>95% yields, for which lithiation and reaction with R2PCl (R=Cy, iPr, tBu) generates 9-alkyl, 9-PR2-fluorenes which constitute electron-rich and bulky phosphine ligands. The in-situ-formed palladium-phosphine complexes ([Na2PdCl4], phosphonium salt, base, substrates) were tested in the Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides in organic solvents. The Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides at 100-120 degrees C leads to>90% yields with 1 mol% of Pd catalyst. The Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides typically requires 0.05 mol% of Pd catalyst at 100 degrees C in dioxane for quantitative product formation. To carry out "green" cross-coupling reactions in water, 9-ethylfluorenyldicyclohexylphosphine was reacted in sulphuric acid to generate the respective 2-sulfonated phosphonium salt. The Suzuki coupling of activated aryl chlorides by using this water-soluble catalyst requires only 0.01 mol% of Pd catalyst, while a wide range of aryl chlorides can be quantitatively converted into the respective coupling products by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water at 100 degrees C. Difficult substrate combinations, such as naphthylboronic acid or 3-pyridylboronic acid and aryl chlorides are coupled at 100 degrees C by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water to obtain the respective N-heterocycles in quantitative yields. The copper-free aqueous Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides generates the respective tolane derivatives in>95% yield.     

A Sensitive Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite in Water and Soil

A highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite in water and soil has been developed. The reaction of nitrite with acidified potassium iodide to liberate iodine which oxidizes leuco‐crystal violet (LCV) to form crystal violet having absorption maxima at 590 nm forms the bases of this method. In aqueous medium the system obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 μg per 25 mL (0.004–0.04 ppm), while in an extractive system the range is 0.025–0.25 μg in 100 mL (0.00025–0.0025 ppm). The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 1.54 × 10⁶ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1 and 44 pg cm^?2, respectively.     

Supramolecular framework adducts constructed of hexamethylenetetramine,aquated alkali metal cationic clusters,and hexacyanoferrates(II/III)

The reaction of alkali metal hexacyanoferrate(II/III) with (CH₂)₆N₄ (hexamethylenetetramine, abbreviated HMT) in an acidic medium yielded crystalline compounds of stoichiometries HK₂[Fe¹¹¹(CN)₆]·2HMT·4H₂O, H₂K₂[Fe¹¹(CN)₆]·2HMT·4H₂O, and HNa₂[Fe¹¹¹(CN)₆]· 2HMT·5H₂O. Their crystal structures are based on a packing of three molecular components: neutral and/orprotonated HMT, hexacyanoferrate, and an alkali metal ion-water cluster. The resulting three-dimensional supramolecular framework is constructed from the coordination of the alkali metal ion by aqua ligands as well as [Fe(CN)₆]{n–} and HMT units, and further stabilization is achieved by hydrogen bonding between water molecules and the noncoordinated nitrogen atoms of HMT and hexacyanoferrate.