Force Measurements between Semifluorinated Thiolate Self-Assembled Monolayers: Long-Range Hydrophobic Interactions and Surface Charge

Long-range interactions between self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of semifluorinated alkanethiols have been studied by direct force measurements in water and aqueous NaCl solutions. SAMs prepared from three different thiols, with identical fluorinated head groups but varying hydrocarbon spacer lengths, were investigated: CF(3)(CF(2))(9)(CH(2))(x)SH, where x=2, 11, or 17. Force measurements show that the interactions in water and electrolyte solutions are composed of both double-layer interactions emerging from what appears to be charges adsorbed onto the surfaces and long-range "hydrophobic" attractions, in excess of the expected van der Waals forces. The three investigated thiols produce similar results in force measurements, though the contact angles with water are slightly different. The "hydrophobic" attraction has the form of step-like attractive discontinuities in the force profiles at separations ranging from 20 to 40 nm, caused by bridging of microscopic bubbles residing at the surfaces. The shape or range of these discontinuities are not significantly affected by replacement of the water with either 1 mM or 1 M NaCl solutions. The origin of the charges causing the electrostatic double-layer interaction is unclear, but some possible causes are discussed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Base‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Ketones and Esters and Insight into the Mechanism

Simple bases (KOtBu, KOH) catalyze the silane‐promoted reduction of ketones and esters to alcohols and of aldimines to amines. The inexpensive silane PMHS (polymethylhydrosiloxane) can be used as the reducing reagent. Double and triple bonds, as well as nitro‐ and cyano‐groups are tolerated. Careful dosing of the silane allows for chemoselective reduction of a more reactive group in the presence of a less reactive group (for example, aldehyde reduction in the presence of ketone/ketone reduction in the presence of ester group). Mechanistic studies showed that addition of base to silanes leads to silicate species, which are the acting reducing agents. Under basic conditions, hydrosiloxanes (tetramethyldisiloxane, TMDS; PMHS) convert into simple silanes (H₂SiMe₂, H₃SiMe), making this a practical method to generate these challenging silanes.     

Thermal properties of volatile ruthenium(III) complexes

Complexes of ruthenium(III) with the following beta-diketone derivatives: 2,4-pentanedione (Ru(acac)₃), 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione (Ru(hfac)₃), and 2-methoxy-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanedione (Ru(mdhd)₃) were synthesized, purified, and identified by chemical analysis and melting points. By difference-scanning calorimetry (DSC) in vacuum the thermodynamic characteristics of melting processes were defined. Using the static method with quartz membrane zero-manometer, the temperature dependencies of saturated and unsaturated vapor pressure were obtained for Ru(hfac)₃. The standard thermodynamic characteristics of vaporization processes enthalpy ?H _T* and entropy ?S° _T* were determined.     

Magnesium Hexafluoridozirconates MgZrF6·5H2O,MgZrF6·2H2O,and MgZrF6: Structures,Phase Transitions,and Internal Mobility of Water Molecules

The MgZrF₆ · n H₂O (n = 5, 2 and 0) compounds were studied by the methods of X‐ray diffraction and ¹⁹F, MAS ¹⁹F, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. At room temperature, the compound MgZrF₆ · 5H₂O has a monoclinic C‐centered unit cell and is composed of isolated chains of edge‐sharing ZrF₈ dodecahedra reinforced with MgF₂(H₂O)₄ octahedra and uncoordinated H₂O molecules and characterized by a disordered system of hydrogen bonds. In the temperature range 259 to 255 K, a reversible monoclinic ? two‐domain triclinic phase transition is observed. The phase transition is accompanied with ordering of hydrogen atoms positions and the system of hydrogen bonds. The structure of MgZrF₆ · 2H₂O comprises a three‐dimensional framework consisting of chains of edge‐sharing ZrF₈ dodecahedra linked to each other through MgF₄(H₂O)₂ octahedra. The compound MgZrF₆ belongs to the NaSbF₆ type and is built from regular ZrF₆ and MgF₆ octahedra linked into a three‐dimensional framework through linear Zr–F–Mg bridges. The peaks in ¹⁹F MAS spectra were attributed to the fluorine structural positions. The motions of structural water molecules were studied by variable‐temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

gem-Bromochlorospiropentane reactivity toward methyllithium: an unusual carbenoid rearrangement

A skeletal carbenoid rearrangement of the gem-bromochlorospiropentanes in the presence of methyllithium has been studied. The synthetic and mechanistic aspects of this rearrangement as well as the influence of the halogen atom nature on the reaction pathway are discussed.     

Removal of hydrogen sulfide from methane in a barrier discharge

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - A process of removal of hydrogen sulfide from methane in a barrier discharge is investigated. A complete removal of hydrogen sulfide is achieved in one pass...     

Effect of electrode material on contact high-voltage polarization in a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer

High-voltage polarization processes occurring in alternating fields of various frequencies in extruded films of vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymers are studied. Remanent polarization typical for ferroelectric polymers with a polar cell appears during crystallization in the nonpolar α phase. This effect is associated with the presence of a highly imperfect ferroelectric (or antiferroelectric) phase in the copolymer, where chains assume planar zigzag conformations. The magnitude of remanent polarization depends on the frequency of the applied bipolar sawtooth voltage. This observation may be explained by the fact that the resulting field is created not only by the external source but also by the space charge that is contributed by carriers injected from electrodes. With the use of deposited Au and Al, the role of electrode material in polarization and conduction processes is ascertained. In the case of Al, Al₂O₃ and new Al-C chemical bonds are formed on the polymer surface. Owing to formation of these additional dielectric layers at the copolymer/metal interface, electrodes may be blocked partially. The above new chemical bonds facilitate formation of deeper surface traps for carriers; as a result, the remanent surface potential appears in polarized samples even after storage in the short-circuit mode.     

The Destruction of Carbon Tetrachloride Dissolved in Water in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Oxygen

The kinetics of decomposition of tetrachloromethane (TCM) in its aqueous solutions and the kinetics of decomposition products formation was investigated under the action of DBD at atmospheric pressure in oxygen in a falling-flow reactor. The range of initial concentrations of TCM was 25–325 μmol/l, the discharge power—2–11 W and O₂ flow rates—1–3 cm³/s. It is shown that the kinetics of the TCM decomposition can be described by the equation of pseudo-first kinetic order. The rate constant depended weakly on the discharge parameters and was?~?5 s^?1. The energy efficiency of the decomposition, depending on the parameters, was 0.1–1.3 molecules per 100 eV. When the residence time of the solution with the discharge zone is more than 1 s, it is possible to achieve almost 100% degree of TCM decomposition. It is shown that the main products of the TCM decomposition in the liquid phase are aldehydes and Cl^? ions, and in the gas phase—the molecules CO and CO₂. The results for energy efficiency are compared with the results obtained in other AOP’s processes (Fenton process, photocatalytic process, the radiation process by the action of high-energy electron flux). It is shown that the action of the DBD is more effective than the action of the above processes.