Mechanistic study into the direct epoxidation of propene over gold/titania catalysts

The epoxidation of propene over gold/titania based catalysts was investigated using different techniques. Infrared spectroscopic information showed that one key step in the reaction mechanism is a reaction catalyzed by gold between titania surface groups and propene. In this reaction step, a bidentate propoxy species is formed on titania. This species adsorbs strongly on the catalyst, and it is the same species which is formed when propene oxide adsorbs on titania. Gravimetrical adsorption experiments and catalytic tests show that product adsorption and desorption are important factors determining the catalytic activity and the catalyst stability. By combining the information from different techniques, a kinetic mechanism is proposed.     

Direct determination of the enantiomeric purity of oxyphenonium using chiral HPLC with post-column extraction detection

Summary A method is described for the determination of the enantiomeric purity (enantiomeric excess) of the anticholinergic drug oxyphenonium. The method for this quaternary ammonium compound is based on the direct HPLC analysis with a chiral stationary phase. Two kinds of 1-acid glycoprotein-bonded phases were used.For the detection a post-column extraction with fluorescence detection of the ion-pair counter ion dimethoxyantracene sulphonate was used.     

Asymmetric Induction at C(β) and C(α) of N-Enoylsultams by Organomagnesium 1,4-Addition/Enolate Trapping

The 1,4-addition of alkylmagnesium chlorides to conjugated N-enoylsultams and subsequent ‘enolate trapping’ with aq. NH₄Cl or MeI/hexamethylphosphoric triamide generated centers of asymmetry at C(β) and/or at C(α) with good to excellent π-face defferentiation as demonstrated by the conversions 1 → 2 , 1 → 4 , and 8 → 9 . This holds also for the regioselective 1,4-addition of EtMgC1 to a dienoylsultam ( 15 → 16 ). Reactive conformations 1 ^≠, 8 ^≠, 13 , and 14 are postulated in agreement with X-ray evidence which also served for the structure determination of the product 9j .     

Linear optical properties of frequency doubling polymers

Measurements of linear optical properties of methylmethacrylate copolymers with non-linear optical 4-alkoxy-4-alkylsulfone stilbene side-chains are presented. From there two methods for phase matching are discussed; one aiming to equalize the refractive indices of the fundamental and the second harmnic wave, the other to suppress the destructive character of the interference. The matter of photo stability of frequency doubling polymers is also discussed.     

Proton-14N double resonance study of the structural phase transitions in the perovskite type layer compound (CH3NH3)2CdCl4

Using a proton-nitrogen double resonance technique we have determined the quadrupole coupling of¹⁴N in the room temperature orthorhombic (Cmca), the low temperature tetragonal (P4₂/ncm), and the monoclinic low temperature (P2₁/c) phases of (CH₃NH₃)₂CdCl₄. In all these phases all nitrogens are chemically equivalent demonstrating that the disorder in the orientations and H-bonding arrangements of the CH₃-NH₃ groups in theC m c a andP4₂/ncm phases is indeed dynamic and not static. In the monoclinic phase the¹⁴N quadrupole coupling constant equalse ² qQ/h=880 kHz and the asymmetry parameter is=0.20, wherease ² qQ/h=790 kHz,=0.1 in the tetragonal low temperature phase ande ² qQ/h=726 kHz,=0.21 in the room temperature orthorhombic phase. The observed increase in the¹⁴N quadrupole coupling constant on going from the orthorhombic phase to the tetragonal low temperature phase which is coupled with a simultaneous decrease in the asymmetry parameter can be understood in terms of a partial freezing in of the dynamic disorder in the C-N bond directions whereas the¹⁴N quadrupole coupling tensor in the monoclinic phase is characteristic of a frozen in C-N bond in a deformed lattice, where the N-H — Cl bonds are of different length.     

A model for describing the thermodynamics of multivalent host-guest interactions at interfaces

A model has been described for interpreting the binding of multivalent molecules to interface-immobilized monovalent receptors through multiple, independent interactions. It is based on the concept of effective concentration, C(eff), which has been developed before for multivalent binding in solution and which incorporates effects of lengths and flexibilities of linkers between interacting sites. The model assumes: (i). the interactions are independent, (ii). the maximum number of interactions, p(max), is known, (iii). C(eff) is estimated from (simple) molecular models. Simulations of the thermodynamics and kinetics of multivalent host-guest binding to interfaces have been discussed, and competition with a monovalent competitor in solution has been incorporated as well. The model was successfully used to describe the binding of a divalent guest to self-assembled monolayers of a cyclodextrin host. The adsorption data of more complex guest-functionalized dendrimers, for which p(max) was not known beforehand, was interpreted as well. Finally, it has been shown that the model can aid to deconvolute contributions of multivalency and cooperativity to stability enhancements observed for the adsorption of multivalent molecules to interfaces.     

Graphene growth on h-BN by molecular beam epitaxy

The growth of single layer graphene nanometer size domains by solid carbon source molecular beam epitaxy on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) flakes is demonstrated. Formation of single-layer graphene is clearly apparent in Raman spectra which display sharp optical phonon bands. Atomic-force microscope images and Raman maps reveal that the graphene grown depends on the surface morphology of the h-BN substrates. The growth is governed by the high mobility of the carbon atoms on the h-BN surface, in a manner that is consistent with van der Waals epitaxy. The successful growth of graphene layers depends on the substrate temperature, but is independent of the incident flux of carbon atoms.     

A new sample preparation technique for organochlorines in cod liver oil combining SPE and NP-HPLC with HRGC-ECD

An overview is given describing phenomena at heated microelectrodes where matter and heat energy are simultaneously emitted into the solution. With controlled electric heating, virtual “quiescent” periods as well as ones with constant streaming conditions are found that depend on the heating time. A close look at a permanently heated wire reveals a well defined structure with stationary concentration, temperature and flow rate profiles. The observed phenomena can be utilised for analytical measurements, e.g. with the novel method “Temperature Pulse Voltammetry” (TPV).