Orientation of free radicals in monoolefin addition reactions.
Orientation of free radicals in addition reactions with unsymmetrical monoolefins
SEARCH · Search NASA
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Orientation of free radicals in addition reactions with unsymmetrical monoolefins
Variants of the class I ligase ribozyme, which catalyzes joining of the 3' end of a template bound oligonucleotide to its own 5' end, have been made to evolve in a continuous manner by a simple serial transfer procedure that can be carried out indefinitely. This process was expanded to allow the evolution of ribozymes that catalyze three successive nucleotidyl addition reactions, two template-directed mononucleotide additions followed by RNA ligation. During the development of this behavior, a population of ribozymes was maintained against an overall dilution of more than 10(exp 406). The resulting ribozymes were capable of catalyzing the three-step reaction pathway, with nucleotide addition occurring in either a 5' yieldig 3' or a 3' yielding 5' direction. This purely chemical system provides a functional model of a multi-step reaction pathway that is undergoing Darwinian evolution.
Experimental data in low temperature and high temperature oxidations are examined from the point of view of reported quantitative inconsistencies. Activation energies for tBuO2 metathesis reactions with alkanes appear to be 7 kcal/mole higher than for comparable reactions of HO2. Related isomerization reactions are examined in the light of these differences without reaching any simple conclusions. The Russell mechanism for a 6-membered, cyclic, transition state for termination of primary and secondary alkyl peroxy radicals is shown to be either inconsistent with thermochemical data, or else unique to solution reactions. Addition reactions of O3 with olefins and acetylenes are shown thermochemically to have the possibility of following concerted and biradical pathways, respectively. Recent data showing strong inhibition by PbO coated surfaces of both oxidation and pyrolysis of i-C4H10 are examined in terms of mechanism.
Rate constants for the reaction of atomic chlorine with hydrogen peroxide were measured from 265-400 K using the flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence technique. Analytical techniques were developed to measure H2O2 under reaction conditions. Due to ambiguity in the interpretation of the analytical results, the data combine to give two equally acceptable representations of the temperature dependence. The results are compared to previous work at 298 K and are theoretically discussed in terms of the mechanism of the reaction. Additional experiments on the H + H2O2 reaction at 298 and 359 K are compared with earlier results from this laboratory and give a slightly revised bimolecular rate constant.
Research on high temperature resin systems has intensified. In the Aerospace Industry, the motivation for this increased activity has been to replace heat resistant alloys of aluminum, stainless steel and titanium by lighter weight glass and carbon fiber reinforced composites. Applications for these structures include: (1) engine nacelles involving long time exposure (thousands of hours) to temperatures in the 150 to 300 C range, (2) supersonic military aircraft involving moderately long exposure (hundreds of hours) to temperatures of 150 to 200 C, and (3) missile applications involving only brief exposure (seconds or minutes) to temperatures up to 500 C and above. Because of fatigue considerations, whenever possible, it is preferable to bond rather than mechanically fasten composite structures. For this reason, the increased usage of high temperature resin matrix systems for composites has necessitated the devlopment of compatible and equally heat stable adhesive systems. The performance of high temperature epoxy, epoxy phenolic and condensation polyimide adhesives is reviewed. This is followed by a discussion of three recently developed types of adhesives: (1) condensation reaction polyimides having improved processing characteristics; (2) addition reaction polyimides; and (3) bismaleimides.
The oxidation of stoichiometric mixtures of benzene and toluene behind incident shock waves was studied for a temperature range from 1700 to 2800 K and a pressure range from 1.1 to 1.7 atm. The concentration of CO and CO2 produced were measured as well as the product of the oxygen atom and carbon monoxide concentrations. Comparisons between the benzene experimental data and results calculated by use of a reaction mechanism published in the open literature were carried out. With some additional reactions and changes in rate constants to reflect the pressure-temperature range of the experimental data, a good agreement was achieved between computed and experimental results. A reaction mechanism was developed for toluene oxidation based on analogous rate steps from the benzene mechanism. Measurements of NOx levels in an actual flame device, a jet-stirred combustor, were reproduced successfully by use of the reaction mechanism developed from the shock-tube experiments on toluene. These experimental measurements of NOx levels were reproduced from a computer simulation of a jet-stirred combustor.
New interstellar molecules propenal (CH2CHCHO) and propanal (CH3CH2CHO) have been detected largely in absorption toward the star-forming region Sagittarius B2(N) by means of rotational transitions observed with the 100-m Green Bank Telescope (GBT) operating in the range of 18 GHz (lambda approximately 1.7 cm) to 26 GHz (lambda approximately 1.2 cm). The GBT was also used to observe the previously reported interstellar aldehyde propynal (HC2CHO) in Sagittarius B2(N) which is known for large molecules believed to form on interstellar grains. The presence of these three interstellar aldehydes toward Sagittarius B2(N) strongly suggests that simple hydrogen addition on interstellar grains accounts for successively larger molecular species: from propynal to propenal and from propenal to propanal. Energy sources within Sagittarius B2(N) likely permit the hydrogen addition reactions on grain surfaces to proceed. This work demonstrates that successive hydrogen addition is probably an important chemistry route in the formation of a number of complex interstellar molecules. We also searched for but did not detect the three-carbon sugar glyceraldehyde (CH2OHCHOHCHO).
Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G** level were employed to characterize the critical points for adducts, isomers, products, and intervening transition states for the reactions between benzene and the ethynyl (C2H) or cyano (CN) radicals. Both addition reactions were found to have no barriers in their entrance channels, making them efficient at the low temperature and pressure conditions that prevail in the haze-forming region of Titan's atmosphere as well as in the dense interstellar medium (ISM). The dominant products are ethynylbenzene (C6H5C2H) and cyanobenzene (C6H5CN). Hydrogen abstraction reactions were also characterized but found to be non-competitive. Trajectory calculations based on potentials fit to about 600 points calculated at the ROMP2/6-31+G** level for each interaction surface were used to determine reaction rates. The rates incorporated any necessary corrections for back reactions as ascertained from a multiwell treatment used to determine outcome distributions over the range of temperatures and pressures pertinent to Titan and the ISM and are in good agreement with the limited available experimental data.
Venus currently has a hostile surface environment with temperatures of ~460 ºC, pres-sures near 92 bars, and an atmosphere composed of super critical CO2 hosting a myriad of other potentially reactive gases (e.g., SO2, HCl, HF). However, it has been proposed that its surface may not have always been so harsh. Models suggest there may have been billions of years of clement conditions allowing an Earth-like environment with liquid water oceans. If such conditions existed, it is possible Venus formed a similar array of hydrous or aqueous minerals as seen on other planets with liquid surface water (e.g., Mars, Earth). Based on thermodynamic modeling, many of these phases would not be stable under the current atmospheric conditions on Venus, dehydrating due to the high temperatures and low concentration of H2O in the atmosphere. However, the rate of decomposition of these phases may allow them to remain present on the surface over geologic time. For example, experiments on the reaction rate of tremolite (Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2) show a 50% decomposition time of 2.7 Gyr for micrometer sized grains in unreactive atmospheres (i.e., without SO2) at 740 K, and a 50% decomposition time of 70 Gyr for crystals several millimeters to centimeters in size. If hydrous minerals can remain on the surface of Venus over geologic time, it has implications for our detection of evidence of these past environments, and also for the overall water budget of the planet. If after surficial dehydration the planet was able to still store water in its crust, possible processes such as subduction or metamorphism could still have operated using stored water long after liquid surface water evaporated. Several previous studies have focused on experimental investigations of mineral stability on Venus. In particular, the works of studied the decomposition rate of tremolite under conditions relevant to Venus. As their focus was on decomposition of the mineral due to lack of water in the atmosphere, their experiments were undertaken using only CO2 or N2 gas at atmospheric pressure. Re-cent experiments have examined reactivity of other minerals with the Venusian atmosphere using more complex gas compositions at similar pressures to those seen on Venus. These studies show reaction of silicate minerals with atmospheric components on relatively short timescales (i.e., on the order of days). The reported reactions of silicate materials in both studies produced iron oxides, Ca sulfates, and Na sulfates. These ions are present in many amphiboles, and Ca was proposed by Johnson and Fegley to potentially have an important role in the decomposition mechanism for tremolite, with the Ca-O bond being the first to break during decomposition. The potential involvement of Ca in both processes raises the question of whether or not the reaction to form a secondary mineral phase will influence the rate of amphibole break-down (e.g., discussion in for tremolite). Additionally, reaction of Ca with atmospheric gases may result in a different secondary mineral assemblage than simple amphibole decomposition, which will need to be recognized when searching for evidence of past hydrated minerals on the Venusian surface. In order to understand the effect of this reaction on the overall preservation potential of amphibole on the surface of Venus, we are conducting experiments in both reactive and nonreactive atmospheres using the mineral actinolite (Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2), an amphibole with similar crystal structure to tremolite that contains both Ca and Fe.
The saturated hydrocarbons ethane (C2H6) and methane (CH4) along with carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) were detected in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake with the use of high-resolution infrared spectroscopy at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The inferred production rates of molecular gases from the icy, cometary nucleus (in molecules per second) are 6.4 X 10(26) for C2H6, 1.2 X 10(27) for CH4, 9.8 X 10(27) for CO, and 1.7 X 10(29) for H2O. An abundance of C2H6 comparable to that of CH4 implies that ices in C/1996 B2 Hyakutake did not originate in a thermochemically equilibrated region of the solar nebula. The abundances are consistent with a kinetically controlled production process, but production of C2H6 by gas-phase ion molecule reactions in the natal cloud core is energetically forbidden. The high C2H6/CH4 ratio is consistent with production of C2H6 in icy grain mantles in the natal cloud, either by photolysis of CH4-rich ice or by hydrogen-addition reactions to acetylene condensed from the gas phase.
A method and system for storing and generating hydrogen. The method comprises generating hydrogen and heat from the reaction of a metal or metal compound with water. The heat generated from this reaction may then be converted to other forms of energy such as by passing the heat through a thermal electric device to recover electrical energy for storage in a battery. In an alternative and preferred embodiment, the heat is used to drive additional reactions for generating more hydrogen and is preferably used to drive an endothermic dehydrogenation reaction resulting in increased hydrogen generation and consumption of the heat.
A synthesis scheme was developed for a host of nonclassical addition-type thermoplastics (ATT) that can be cured by an addition reaction, leading to a linear polymer structure. The synthesis involves the reaction of an acetylene-terminated prepolymer with either a bismaleimide (BMI) or a biscitraconimide. A new polymer, designated LaRC-RP80, synthesized using this scheme, was found to exhibit several significantly improved properties over the commercial BMI, Kerimid 601, including an eight-fold increase in toughness while maintaining a high Tg, a higher (by 167 C) heat stability, and a 50-percent increase in moisture resistance. In addition, LaRC-RP80 has good hot/wet lap shear strength and processes easily at 288 C without voids in the finished product.
Additive Runge-Kutta (ARK) methods are investigated for application to the spatially discretized one- dimensional convection-diffusion-reaction (CDR) equations. Accuracy, stability, conservation, and dense-output are first considered for the general case when N different Runge-Kutta methods are grouped into a single composite method. Then, implicit-explicit, (N = 2), additive Runge-Kutta (ARK(sub 2)) methods from third- to fifth-order are presented that allow for integration of stiff terms by an L-stable, stiffly-accurate explicit, singly diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta (ESDIRK) method while the nonstiff terms are integrated with a traditional explicit Runge-Kutta method (ERK). Coupling error terms of the partitioned method are of equal order to those of the elemental methods. Derived ARK(sub 2) methods have vanishing stability functions for very large values of the stiff scaled eigenvalue, z['] yields -infinity, and retain high stability efficiency in the absence of stiffness, z['] yield 0. Extrapolation-type stage- value predictors are provided based on dense-output formulae. Optimized methods minimize both leading order ARK(sub 2) error terms and Butcher coefficient magnitudes as well as maximize conservation properties. Numerical tests of the new schemes on a CDR problem show negligible stiffness leakage and near classical order convergence rates. However, tests on three simple singular-perturbation problems reveal generally predictable order reduction. Error control is best managed with a PID-controller. While results for the fifth-order method are disappointing, both the new third- and fourth-order methods are at least as efficient as existing ARK(sub 2) methods.
Additive Runge-Kutta (ARK) methods are investigated for application to the spatially discretized one-dimensional convection-diffusion-reaction (CDR) equations. First, accuracy, stability, conservation, and dense output are considered for the general case when N different Runge-Kutta methods are grouped into a single composite method. Then, implicit-explicit, N = 2, additive Runge-Kutta ARK2 methods from third- to fifth-order are presented that allow for integration of stiff terms by an L-stable, stiffly-accurate explicit, singly diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta (ESDIRK) method while the nonstiff terms are integrated with a traditional explicit Runge-Kutta method (ERK). Coupling error terms are of equal order to those of the elemental methods. Derived ARK2 methods have vanishing stability functions for very large values of the stiff scaled eigenvalue, z(exp [I]) goes to infinity, and retain high stability efficiency in the absence of stiffness, z(exp [I]) goes to zero. Extrapolation-type stage-value predictors are provided based on dense-output formulae. Optimized methods minimize both leading order ARK2 error terms and Butcher coefficient magnitudes as well as maximize conservation properties. Numerical tests of the new schemes on a CDR problem show negligible stiffness leakage and near classical order convergence rates. However, tests on three simple singular-perturbation problems reveal generally predictable order reduction. Error control is best managed with a PID-controller. While results for the fifth-order method are disappointing, both the new third- and fourth-order methods are at least as efficient as existing ARK2 methods while offering error control and stage-value predictors.
The Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) experiment, an instrument suite to be flown on Mars Surveyor 2001, will include a tool for doing simple mineralogical scratch and streak tests on particles from the Martian regolith. The Abrasion Tool will be applied to particles that adhere themselves to highly polished substrates of various hardnesses. Granular soil components will be subjected to a compressive force of about 3 N using a leaf spring. The spring will be applied with a paraffin actuator capable of a 0.76 mm throw to achieve a maximum displacement of about 7.5 mm at the tip of the tool. The pressure per grain will be dependent on the grain size, the number of grains that adhere to the substrate and the number of grains in compression. The pressure per particle is expected to be on the order of 100 MPa - 1 GPa. The MECA sample wheel containing the substrates will be rotated after the particles are placed in compression to produce scratches or pits. A primary goal of the Abrasion Tool is to identify quartz (Mohs' hardness = 7) using substrates of varying hardnesses. Quartz is considered hazardous to future human explorers of Mars because it can cause silicosis of the lungs if it is of respirable size. It is also hazardous to machinery, structures, and space suits because of its ability to abrade and scratch surfaces. Since large quantities of minerals harder than quartz are not expected, any scratches produced on polished quartz substrates might be reasonably attributed to quartz particles, although there may be minerals such as impact metamorphic diamond in the soils. Careful calibration of the tool will be necessary to ensure that grains are not overloaded; for example, a steel ball pressed into glass will produce a Hertzian fracture, even though it is softer than glass. Other minerals, such as magnetite (Mohs' hardness = 6.5) have been shown to scratch glass ceramics such as Zerodur (Mohs' hardness = 6.5). Thus, minerals can be differentiated: note that regardless of the mineral species, if any particle is harder than 6.5 it will certainly be an interesting discovery for both planetary geology and human exploration concerns. The scratches will be identified using the 6X optical microscope and profiled with the atomic force microscope included in the MECA instrument suite. Analysis of the scratch morphology will yield evidence concerning the shape of the particle responsible for producing each scratch. For example, angular grains should leave vertical cracks with microconchoidal lateral chipping, while rounded grains might leave chatter marks, or nested partial Hertzian cracks. Particle shape can thus be inferred from these indentation modes, as well as material hardness. In addition, particle size information may also be available if pits caused by rolling particles can be identified. Converse to scratching, the minerals may be crushed at their contact points, and be smeared onto the target substrates to leave what geologists refer to as "streaks". These are cold-welded trails of mineral material that have structure and color indicative of mineral composition. The AFM will determine the morphology of these streaks, while the microscope will ascertain the color. On the harder substrates, we might expect streaking to dominate; on the softer substrates, scratching may dominate. Progressions of material interactions across the substrate selection will be a valuable source of data for mineral discrimination. It should also be noted that many minerals have coatings (such as iron oxides), and these will have to be differentiated from the host mineral grains; laboratory tests will establish the effects of such coatings on the scratch results. Finally, we note that the microscope will provide corroborative data regarding likely mineral species by grain shapes, fracture patterns, surface textures, color, and UV fluorescence reactions. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
As NASA and other space agencies prepare for future long-term space missions beyond the LEO, the cumulative impact of risk factors encountered in space increases substantially rising concerns about astronauts health. Application of on-board medications to mitigate clinical symptoms associated with certain medical conditions and illnesses is the first line of response to ensure sustainable health and performance of crew. Unfortunately, very limited research has been conducted to determine efficacy of the earth-based pharmaceuticals in a microgravity environment. In some instances, orally administered medications taken during flight were reported to be less effective than expected. Evaluation of series of experiments involving astronauts from shuttle flights shows notable individual variability to several pharmaceuticals during flight. These data provide reasonable assumption of perturbation in CYP450 enzymes during spaceflight, which contribute to the hepatic metabolism of the majority of drugs and therefore may have significant effects on therapeutic efficacy and increase treatment-related toxicity. The genes encoding the CYP450 enzymes are highly variable in humans. Inheritable variations of CYP450 hepatic metabolizer enzymes and transport proteins play a crucial role in the inter-individual variability of drug efficiency and risks of adverse drug reactions. Additionally, there are some reports that document changes in the levels of production of drug-metabolizing enzymes in microgravity. Therefore, in order to provide a safe and effective pharmaceutical treatment in space, medications selection should be based not only on the specific efficacy of medications but also on the individual drug sensitivity and flight-induced changes in metabolism of astronauts chosen for a particular mission. To our knowledge, there was no pre-flight drug sensitivity testing on a genetic level for any of the previous manned NASA space missions. Therefore, technologies capable of predicting and managing medication efficacy, side effects, and toxicity of drugs based on individual genetic variability of crew members are increasingly needed. In this report, we present results of testing the market available Personalized Prescribing System (PPS), a comprehensive, non-invasive solution for safer, targeted medication management for every crew member. Statistical accuracy and simplicity of non-invasive sample analysis demonstrate the feasibility of drug sensitivity assessment and record-keeping tool for flight surgeons and astronauts in applying the recommended medications for situations arising in flight. The information on individual drug sensitivity will translate into personalized risk assessment for adverse drug reactions and treatment failures for each drug from the medication kit as well as predefined outcome. This will address the HHC’s raised “Concern of Clinically Relevant Unpredicted Effects of Medication” as recently updated.
Ignition delay times in mixtures of methane, silane, and oxygen diluted with argon and nitrogen were measured behind reflected shock waves generated in the chemical kinetic shock tube at Langley Research Center. The delay times were inferred from the rapid increase in pressure that occurs at ignition, and the ignition of methane was verified from the emission of infrared radiation from carbon dioxide. Pressures of 1.25 atm and temperatures from 1100 K to 1300 K were generated behind the reflected shocks; these levels are representative of those occurring within a supersonic Ramjet combustor. Expressions for the ignition delay time as a function of temperature were obtained from least squares curve fits to the data for overall equivalence ratios of 0.7 and 1.0. The ignition delay times with argon as the diluent were longer than those with nitrogen as the diluent. The infrared wavelength observations at 4.38 microns for carbon dioxide indicated that silane and methane ignited simultaneously (i.e., within the time resolution of the measurement). A combined chemical kinetic mechanism for mixtures of silane, methane, oxygen, and argon or nitrogen was assembled from one mechanism that accurately predicted the ignition of methane and a second mechanism that accurately predicted silane hydrogen ignition. Comparisons between this combined mechanism and experiment indicated that additional reactions, possibly between silyl and methyl fragments, are needed to develop a good silane methane mechanism.
The synthesis of resins with terminal acetylene groups has provided a promising technology to yield high performance structural materials. Because these resins cure through an addition reaction, no volatile by-products are produced during the processing. The cured products have high thermal stability and good properties retention after exposure to humidity. Resins with a wide variety of different chemical structures between the terminal acetylene groups are synthesized and their mechanical properties studied. The ability of the acetylene cured polymers to give good mechanical properties is demonstrated by the resins with quinoxaline structures. Processibility of these resins can be manipulated by varying the chain length between the acetylene groups or by blending in different amounts of reactive deluents. Processing conditions similar to the state-of-the-art epoxy can be attained by using backbone structures like ether-sulfone or bis-phenol-A. The wide range of mechanical properties and processing conditions attainable by this class of resins should allow them to be used in a wide variety of applications.