Smectic liquid-crystalline phases of F(CF2)7(CHOH)(CH2)8H and F(CF2)9(CHOH)(CH2)10H Comparison with other partially fluorinated molecules

Partially fluorinated alcohols F(CF₂)_m(CHOH)(CH₂)_nH (where m = 7, n = 8 and m = 9, n = 10) exhibit highly ordered smectic liquid-crystalline phases, as confirmed by optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Miscibility studies show that the smectic phases of the two alcohols are not of the same type. The related partially fluorinated ketones F(CF₂)_mCO(CH₂)_nH do not form a detectable mesophase. This is rather surprising since the (more polar) corresponding alcohols and the (less polar) analogous iodides and n-alkanes do. A brief discussion of the results and a comparison among partially fluorinated alkanes with various functional groups are presented.     

High-precision measurements of 17O/16O and 18O/16O of O2 and O2/Ar ratio in air

A method for high-precision and high-accuracy mass spectrometric measurements of the ratios among the three oxygen isotopes, and of the O(2)/Ar ratio, is presented. It involves separation of the O(2)-Ar mixture from air and includes a fully automated system that ensures highly reliable sample processing. Repeated measurements of atmospheric oxygen yield the repeatability (+/-SE x t, standard error of the mean (n = 12) multiplied by Student's t-factor for a 95% confidence limit) of 0.004, 0.003 and 0.2 per thousand for delta(18)O, delta(17)O and delta O(2)/Ar, respectively.     

Comparison of “bottom-up” and “top-down” strategies for the estimation of the uncertainty in organic elemental analysis

The estimation of uncertainty in organic elemental analysis for C, H, N and S is reported. Both “bottom up” and “top down” strategies are used for uncertainty calculations. The bottom up approach used the results of C, H, N, and S obtained from the homogeneity study of two pure chemicals (toluene-4-sulfonamide and 4(6)-methyl-2-thiouracil). Two calibration systems, K factor and calibration curve, were applied in this study and no significant differences were obtained. For the “top down” approach, we used the data obtained from a proficiency test on both pure chemicals from among 45 Spanish laboratories. Both approaches are compared and discussed below.     

Diffusivity fractionations of H2(16)O/H2(17)O and H2(16)O/H2(18)O in air and their implications for isotope hydrology

We have determined the isotope effects of (17)O and (18)O substitution of (16)O in H(2)O on molecular diffusivities of water vapor in air by the use of evaporation experiments. The derived diffusion fractionation coefficients (17)alpha(diff) and (18)alpha(diff) are 1.0146 +/- 0.0002 and 1.0283 +/- 0.0003, respectively. We also determined, for the first time, the ratio ln((17)alpha(diff))/ln((18)alpha(diff)) as 0.5185 +/- 0.0002. This ratio, which is in excellent agreement with the theoretical value of 0.5184, is significantly smaller than the ratio in vapor-liquid equilibrium (0.529). We show how this new experimental information gives rise to (17)O excess in meteoric water, and how it can be applied in isotope hydrology.     

On the minimum number of blocks of a maximal partial spread in STS(v) and SQS(v)

We give some results on the minimum number of blocks which a maximal partial spread can have in an STS(v) or in an SQS(v).This work has been supported by GNSAGA (C.N.R) and MPI,1986.     

THE INFLUENCE OF SMECTIC PHASES OF PERFLUORODECYL DECANE ON THE PHOTOREACTIONS OF PERFLUOROHEPTYL OCTYL KETONE. AN EXAMPLE OF MICROSCOPIC DISORDER IN HIGHLY ORDERED LAYERED PHASES*

The consequences of solvent order, imposed by the two smectic phases of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4, 4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10-heneicosylfluoroeicosane (F10H10, a “diblock” molecule) on the photochemistry of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5.6,6,7,7-pentadecylfluoro-8-hexadecanone (F7COH8) were investigated. Results from irradiations of F7COH8 in smectic F10H10 are compared to those obtained in hexane, perfluorohexane, and the isotropic phase of F10H10. They are complemented by ²H-NMR experiments on F10H10 solutions of F7COH8 deuterated at the methylene alpha to the carbonyl, and differential scanning calorimetry thermograms. More than 85% of the photoproducts are derived from carbonyl reduction and Norrish II processes. Based upon the ²H-NMR spectra and Norrish II photoproduct ratios, the microscopic environment experienced by the locus of reaction of F7COH8 in smectic F10H10 is not very restrictive towards the solute shape changes that must occur. This conclusion was not anticipated because the macroscopic order of the smectic phases of F10H10 is high.     

On the cardinality of blocking sets in PG(2,q)

Denote by PG(2,q) the finite desarguesian projective plane of order q, where q=p^h, p a prime, q>2. We define the function m(q) as follows: m(q)=q, if q is a square; m(q)=(q+1)/2, if q is a prime; m(q)=p^h–d, if q=p^h with h an odd integer, where d denotes the greatest divisor of h different from h. The following theorem is proved: For any integer k with q+m(q)+1 k q²–m(q), there exists a blocking set in PG(2,q) having exactly k elements.To Professor Adriano Barlotti on his 60th birthday.Research partially supported by G.N.S.A.G.A. (CNR)