Rational materials design of sorbent coatings for explosives: applications with chemical sensors

A series of chemoselective polymers had been designed and synthesized to enhance the sorption properties of polymer coated chemical sensors for polynitroaromatic analytes. To evaluate the effectiveness of the chemoselective coatings, a polynitroaromatic vapor test bed was utilized to challenge polymer coated surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with different explosive vapors. Dinitrotoluene detection limits were determined to be in the <100 parts per trillion ranges. ATR-FTIR studies were used to determine the nature of the polymer-polynitroaromatic analyte interactions, and confirm the presence of hydrogen-bonding between polymer pendant groups and the nitro functional groups of polynitroaromatic explosive materials.     

Additions of enantiopure alpha-sulfinyl carbanions to (S)-N-sulfinimines: asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino sulfoxides and beta-alphamino alcohols

The addition of the lithium anions derived from (R)- and (S)-methyl and -ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides to (S)-N-benzylidene-p-toluenesulfinamide provides an easy access route to enantiomerically pure beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides. Stereoselectivity can be achieved when the configurations at the sulfur atoms of the two reagents are opposite (matched pair), thus resulting in only one diastereoisomer, even for the case in which two new chiral centers are created. The N-sulfinyl group primarily controls the configuration of the carbon bonded to the nitrogen, whereas the configuration of the alpha-sulfinyl carbanion seems to be responsible for the level of asymmetric induction, as well as for the configuration of the new stereogenic C-SO carbon in the reactions with ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides. An efficient method for transforming the obtained beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides into optically pure beta-amino alcohols, based on the stereoselective non-oxidative Pummerer reaction, is also reported.     

Organotransition-Metal Metallacarboranes. 46. Multidecker Sandwiches of the Cobalt Group Metals(,)(1)

The double-decker sandwich complex CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(4)H(4)) (1a) was prepared via deprotonation of nido-2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(4)H(6) to its mono- or dianion and reaction with (CpIrCl(2))(2) in THF and isolated as a colorless air-stable solid; the B(4)-chloro derivative 1b was also obtained. Decapitation of 1a and 1b with TMEDA afforded colorless nido-CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(5)) (2a) and its 4-chloro derivative 2b. Chlorination of 1a by Cl(2) or N-chlorosuccinimide gave the symmetrical species CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(4)H(3)-5-Cl) (1c), which was decapped to yield nido-CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(4)-5-Cl) (2c). The triple-decker complexes CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(2)-4[6]-Cl)IrCp (3), an orange solid, and dark green CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(2)-4[6]-Cl)CoCp (5) were prepared from 2a and nido-CpCo(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(5)) (4a), respectively, by deprotonation and reaction with (CpIrCl(2))(2) in THF. Reaction of the 2c(-) anion with Rh(MeCN)(3)Cl(3) gave the dark green tetradecker complex [CpIr(Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(2)-5-Cl)](2)RhH (6). In an attempt to prepare a heterotrimetallic Co-Rh-Ir tetradecker sandwich, a three-way reaction involving the deprotonated anions derived from CpCo(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(4)-5-Cl) (4b) and 2c with Rh(MeCN)(3)Cl(3) was conducted. The desired species CpCo(Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(2)Cl)RhH(Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(2)Cl)IrCp (7) and the tetradeckers [CpCo(Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(2)Cl)](2)RhH (8) and 6 were isolated in small quantities from the product mixture; many other apparent triple-decker and tetradecker products were detected via mass spectroscopy but were not characterized. All new compounds were isolated via column or plate chromatography and characterized via NMR, UV-visible, and mass spectroscopy and by X-ray crystal structure determinations of 1a and 3. Crystal data for 1a: space group C2/c; a = 28.890(5) ?, b = 8.511(2) ?, c = 15.698(4) ?, beta = 107.61(2) degrees; Z = 8; R = 0.049 for 1404 independent reflections having I > 3sigma(I). Crystal data for 3: space group P2(1)/c; a = 11.775(4) ?, b = 15.546(5) ?, c = 15.500(5) ?, beta = 103.16(3) degrees; Z = 4; R = 0.066 for 2635 independent reflections having I > 3sigma(I).     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.     

Dynamic purity determinations. I. Location of the solidus by nuclear magnetic resonance

The error in purity determinations by differential scanning calorimetry has been studied on two different kinds of systems, metallic and organic, the latter with different types of impurities added. The organic systems have been corrected for solid-solubility error by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique.The impurities chosen for the organic systems were either quite dissimilar to the matrix or similar enough to render solid solution probable. This solid solution leads to deviations from the equation used for dynamic purity determinations. The nuclear magnetic resonance determination of the solidus establishes the proper starting temperature for area summation on a DSC curve.

---

Zusammenfassung Der Fehler in Reinheitsbestimmungen mittels Differential-Scanning-kalorimetrie wurde an zwei verschiedenartigen Systemen untersucht, metallisch und organisch, wobei zu letzteren verschiedentliche Verunreinigungen zugefügt wurden. Der durch Feststoff-Feststofflöslichkeit verursachte Fehler in den organischen Systemen wurde mittels einer kernmagnetischen Resonanzmethode korrigiert.Die für die organischen Systeme gewählten Verunreinigungen waren entweder sehr verschieden von der Matrix, oder aber genügend ähnlich, um feste Lösungen wahrscheinlich zu machen. Diese festen Lösungen führen zu Abweichungen von der für dynamische Reinheitsbestimmungen angewendeten Gleichung. Die Bestimmung der kernmagnetischen Resonanz des Feststoffs ermöglicht die Bestimmung der richtigen Anfangstemperatur für die Flächen-summierung auf der DSC-Kurve.

---

: . . . , , , , . , . -.

---

---

On leave from The Institute for Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland.

---

The authors are grateful to the National Science Foundation for its support through Research Grant CHE 76-08765, and to S. E. Walter for assistance with some calculations.     

The effect of a low-frequency sound source (acoustic thermometry of the ocean climate) on the diving behavior of juvenile northern elephant seals,Mirounga angustirostris

Changes in the diving behavior of individual free-ranging juvenile northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, exposed to the acoustic thermometry of the ocean climate (ATOC) sound source were examined using data loggers. Data loggers were attached to the animals and measured swim speed, maximum depth of dive, dive duration, surface interval, descent and ascent rate, and descent and ascent angle along with sound pressure level (SPL). The ATOC sound source was at a depth of 939 m and transmitted at 195 dB re: 1 microPa at 1 m centered at 75 Hz with a 37.5-Hz bandwidth. Sound pressure levels (SPL) measured at the seal during transmissions averaged 128 dB and ranged from 118 to 137 dB re: 1 microPa for the 60-90 Hz band, in comparison to ambient levels of 87-107 dB within this band. In no case did an animal end its dive or show any other obvious change in behavior upon exposure to the ATOC sound. Subtle changes in diving behavior were detected, however. During exposure, deviations in descent rate were greater than 1 s.d. of the control mean in 9 of 14 seals. Dive depth increased and descent velocity increased in three animals, ascent velocity decreased in two animals, ascent rate increased in one animal and decreased in another, and dive duration decreased in only one animal. There was a highly significant positive correlation between SPL and descent rate. The biological significance of these subtle changes is likely to be minimal. This is the first study to quantify behavioral responses of an animal underwater with simultaneous measurements of SPL of anthropogenic sounds recorded at the animal.     

Spin-singlet clusters in the ladder compound NaV2O5

The space group of alpha(')-NaV2O5 turns below T(c) = 34 K from Pmmn with all V sites equivalent, into Fmm2 with three independent vanadium sites per layer. This is incompatible with models of charge ordering into V4+ and V5+. Our structure determination indicates that the phase transition consists of a charge ordering with three distinct valence states, formally V4+, V4.5+, and V5+. The singlet formation is not associated with dimerization on the spin ladder, but with the formation of spin clusters. Finally, we ascribe the quadrupling of the c axis to the large polarizability of the V2O5 skeleton.     

Dependence of pulser driving responses on electrical and motional characteristics of NDE ultrasonic probes

Acoustic performance in ultrasonic transmitters can be improved by means of a suitable electrical driving response and matching/tuning networks. It is important to predict this electrical response, but doing so is not easy because it departs notably from the nominal pattern with the loading probes. In practice, the analysis of HV pulser spikes in NDE applications requires fairly complex models in the transient regime and, in addition, non-linear problems could arise, especially in the case of tuned transmitters. In this paper, the most relevant influences of loading characteristics of NDT ultrasonic probes on the pulser electrical driving responses are evaluated in time and frequency domains. Conventional pulse generators and typical NDE pulsers are considered. Driving responses are analysed across commercial ultrasonic probes and, alternatively, across similar purely electrical loads. Distinct influences on pulser responses from electrical and motional sections of the probes are identified. All these aspects are studied on the basis of experimental and computer results.     

Auditory evoked potentials in two short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

The hearing sensitivities of two short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) were investigated by measuring auditory evoked potentials generated in response to clicks and sinusoidal amplitude modulated (SAM) tones. The first whale tested, an adult female, was a long-time resident at SeaWorld San Diego with a known health history. Click-evoked responses in this animal were similar to those measured in other echolocating odontocetes. Auditory thresholds were comparable to dolphins of similar age determined with similar evoked potential methods. The region of best sensitivity was near 40 kHz and the upper limit of functional hearing was between 80 and 100 kHz. The second whale tested, a juvenile male, was recently stranded and deemed non-releasable. Click-evoked potentials were not detected in this animal and testing with SAM tones suggested severe hearing loss above 10 kHz.