The initial oxidation of magnesium: an in situ study with XPS,HERDA and ellipsometry

The initial oxidation of magnesium at oxygen partial pressures between 1.3 × 10^?8 and 1.3 × 10^?5 Pa and at temperatures ranging from 273 to 550 K has been investigated in situ with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry and high resolution elastic recoil detection analysis (HERDA). Quantitative analysis of the XPS spectra showed a clear oxygen deficiency with respect to MgO for the initial oxide. HERDA measurements confirmed this relatively low oxygen content in the thin oxide layers formed. Ellipsometry measurements showed that the electronic structure of the initially formed oxide differs significantly from that of bulk MgO. The band gap values at room temperature for the oxide layers investigated are clearly smaller than the value for bulk MgO. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of the phosphinyl analog of α-ketoglutaric acid

It was shown by³¹P and¹³C NMR spectroscopy that methyl(3-carboxy-3-oxopropyl)phosphinic acid (4-methylhydroxyphosphinyl-2-oxobutyric acid) (1) and the amide (2) of the latter exist in keto forms in non-aqueous solutions. In aqueous solutions an equilibrium between the keto,gem-diol, and enol forms has been observed. The proportions of the diol and enol forms increase as the acidity of the media increases. Silylation of acid 1 with hexamethyldisilazane gives the tris(trimethylsilyl) derivative of enol form (3) (Z- andE-isomers).Translated fromIzyestiya Akadetnii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 125–128, January, 1994.     

Structural integration of tellurium oxide into mixed-network-former glasses: connectivity distribution in the system NaPO(3)-TeO(2).

Sodium phosphate tellurite glasses in the system (NaPO(3))(x)(TeO(2))(1-) (x) were prepared and structurally characterized by thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a variety of complementary solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Unlike the situation in other mixed-network-former glasses, the interaction between the two network formers tellurium oxide and phosphorus oxide produces no new structural units, and no sharing of the network modifier Na(2)O takes place. The glass structure can be regarded as a network of interlinked metaphosphate-type P(2) tetrahedral and TeO(4/2) antiprismatic units. The combined interpretation of the O 1s XPS data and the (31)P solid-state NMR spectra presents clear quantitative evidence for a nonstatistical connectivity distribution. Rather, the formation of homoatomic P--O--P and Te--O--Te linkages is favored over mixed P--O--Te connectivities. As a consequence of this chemical segregation effect, the spatial sodium distribution is not random, as also indicated by a detailed analysis of (31)P/(23)Na rotational echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiments.     

Vacuum Ultraviolet Photolysis of Polyethylene,Polypropylene, and Polystyrene

Using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), quartz crystal microbalance (QMB) measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in combination with chemical derivatization techniques the VUV photolysis of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) was investigated. A mass balance obtained from the quantification of the data was used to suggest reaction path ways. Although PE and PP behave similar, the mass loss is about 8 times higher in the case of PP. These differences originate from the higher disproportionation to recombination ratio for the branched polymer. Both polymers form double bonds and at extended treatment times they tend to crosslink. PS is rather stable due to the possibility of the energy dissipation by fluorescence.     

Acetylenic/cyanoacetylenic complexes: simulation of the Titan’s atmosphere chemistry

The structures and energies of the 1:1 acetylene/cyanoacetylene, acetylene/dicyanoacetylene and cyanoacetylene/dicyanoacetylene complexes in solid argon matrices have been investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory. For the three complexes, predicted frequency shifts for the L shaped structures, characterized by a hydrogen bond between the nitrogen of the cyano group and the acetylenic proton, were found to be in good agreement with those experimental. Only in the case of acetylene/cyanoacetylene complex, we obtained a second minimum with a T shaped structure characterized by an interaction between the proton of cyanoacetylene and the Π system of acetylene. It appears clearly that HC₃N acts as an electrophile or as a nucleophile in these complexes.     

Matrix-isolation-FTIR spectroscopy with an integrating sphere

The use of an integrating sphere for the measurement of absorption spectra of thin films is described. The thin film (for example a rare gas matrix) is grown directly on the inside surface of the sphere. Multiple reflections inside the integrating sphere lead to significant enhancement of weak absorptions of the film, increasing the sensitivity of such measurements.     

Matrix-isolation FT-IR and DFT theoretical studies of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in Mannich bases

FT-IR Ar-matrix isolated spectra were studied for dichloro- (Cl₂-MB) and tetrachloroderivatives (Cl₄-MB) of the ortho Mannich base. The spectra were analyzed based on the DFT calculated frequencies and intensities and compared with those recorded in CCl₄ solution in the region of the ν(OH) and ν(OD) vibrations. The matrix-isolated spectra are characterized by narrower ν(OH) and ν(OD) bands with much better resolved fine structure than in solution. The fine structure originates from the anharmonic coupling with the low frequency modes as well as from Fermi resonance. The ν(OD) band shapes can be reproduced exclusively by assuming the Fermi resonance with overtones and summation of the frequencies of modes into which the bridge atoms are involved. The frequency isotopic ratio (ISR) is for both compounds 1.33 while the half-width ratios are equal to 1.82 and 1.94, for Cl₂-MB and Cl₄-MB, respectively.     

Steroid polyols from the Far-Eastern starfish Henricia sanguinolenta

A new polyhydroxylated steroid (20R,24S)-5-cholestane-3,6,15,24-tetraol and a known glycoside, laeviuscoloside G, was isolated from the Far-Eastern starfish Henricia sanguinolenta, collected in the sea of Okhotsk, and characterized.     

Solid-phase fluorescence spectroscopy for the determination of acetylsalicylic acid in powdered pharmaceutical samples

A rapid, simple and rugged procedure without requiring any prior sample treatment was developed for the determination of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in tablets formulations by solid-phase fluorescence spectroscopy. The method was carried out on powdered samples, consisting of an active substance dispersed in lactose, maize starch, talc and magnesium stearate. Previous knowledge of the sample bulk composition is needed for proper application of the method. Wavelengths for maximum excitation and emission were 288 and 318 nm, respectively, and the fluorescence intensity was linear with ASA concentration within the 50-170 mg g⁻¹ range. Detection and quantification limits were 2.2 and 7.3 mg g⁻¹, and the analytical frequency was 200 h⁻¹. For a typical sample, the relative standard deviation of results was estimated as 2.3% (n = 10). Accuracy was assessed by comparing the analytical results obtained with the proposed method with those related to a reference method recommended by British Pharmacopoeia: no differences between the methods were found at the 95% confidence level.     

Dynamic chirality: keen selection in the face of stereochemical diversity in mechanically bonded compounds

The template-directed syntheses, employing bisparaphenylene-[34]crown-10 (BPP34C10), 1,5-dinaphthoparaphenylene-[36]crown-10 (1/5NPPP36C10), and 1,5-dinaphtho-[38]crown-10 (1/5DNP38C10) as templates, of three [2]catenanes, whereby one of the two bipyridinium units in cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) is replaced by a bipicolinium unit, are described. The crude reaction mixtures comprising the [2]catenanes all contain slightly more of the homologous [3]catenanes, wherein a "dimeric" octacationic cyclophane has the crown ether macrocycles encircling the alternating bipyridinium units with the bipicolinium units completely unfettered. X-ray crystallography, performed on all three [2]catenanes and two of the three [3]catenanes reveals co-conformational and stereochemical preferences that are stark and pronounced. Both the [3]catenanes crystallize as mixtures of diastereoisomers on account of the axial chirality associated with the picolinium units in the solid state. Dynamic (1)H NMR spectroscopy is employed to probe in solution the relative energy barriers for rotations by the phenylene and pyridinium rings in the tetracationic cyclophane component of the [2]catenanes. Where there are co-conformational changes that are stereochemically "allowed", crown ether circumrotation and rocking processes are also investigated for the relative rates of their occurrence. The outcome is one whereby the three [2]catenanes containing BPP34C10, 1/5NPPP36C10, and 1/5DNP38C10 exist as one major enantiomeric pair of diastereoisomers amongst two, four, and eight diastereoisomeric pairs of enantiomers, respectively. The diastereoisomerism is a consequence of the presence of axial chirality together with helical and/or planar chirality in the same interlocked molecule. These [2]catenanes constitute a rich reserve of new stereochemical types that might be tapped for their switching and mechanical properties.