Smith, Eugene

A laser refractometer was used to measure the refractive index of synthetic urine samples ranging in specific gravity of 1.028g/mL to 1.010g/mL. When analyzing a urine sample, it’s very important that the sample is not destroyed. Laser refractometry is a nondestructive analytical method that can determine the concentration of a sample based on its refractive index. The instrument used in this study utilizes an inexpensive laser that passes through a cuvet filled with a sample, and its deflection is measured on a linear photoarray. A hydrometer was used to measure and confirm the specific gravity. After three trials, it was found that urine samples exhibiting a higher specific gravity had the lowest peak value (40) while the samples with the lowest specific gravity had the highest peak value (114). The range of values found during this experiment can be applied to future tests as a standard to be compared against.

The catalytic activation of C-H bonds and the subsequent functionalization of hydrocarbons into heteroatom containing products is an area of fundamental importance in chemistry. Three different iridium pincer complexes for C-H activation were synthesized, IrCl3NNN, IrCl3NNN methyl, IrCl3NNNN (NNN= bis-((benzoimidazol))amine), (NNNmethyl = bis-(benzoimidazol)methyl)amine), and (NNNN = tris-((benzoimidazol))amine). These complexes were analyzed for C-H activation between benzoic acid and KOD/D2O solutions. We found that the C-H activation did not proceed catalytically. Also iron containing derivatives containing similar ligand motifs were synthesized , FeCl3NNNN, FeCl3IPI, FeCl3BPB, FeCl3BPB-OH (IPI = 2,6-diimidizoylpyridine, BPB = 2,6-dibenzoimidizoylpyridine, BPB-OH = 4-hydoxy-2,6,dibenzoimidizoylpyridine) and studied for their reactivity towards C-H bonds, O2 and N2 in aqueous basic media. The iron complexes were analyzed for the possibility of using them as O-atom or N-atom transfer reagents for hydrocarbon oxidation. Preliminary results suggest that upon reduction the iron complexes are capable of direct reaction with O2 and N2.

The goal is to refine an iOS application that can identify a compound of interest with a level of accuracy deemed acceptable to law enforcement personnel. Central to this projects development was simplicity and ease of operation while maintaining accuracy and precision in the collected measurements. The process will begin with subjecting a sample to a plurality of colorimetric spot tests to yield a unique combination of resultant test colors. The resultant test colors are then compared with reference colors to define a set of sample reference colors. The device tested here utilizes a much more objective approach to determine matches. Indexed reference color sets associated with the compound of interest are generated and displayed on the screen of the application for the user, as well as saved on the device as a photo for easy record keeping. The simplicity of this entire process is captured by the camera application, and rapidly displays the results of the test on the screen of the iOS device.

The stereoselectivity ofthe Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene and maleic
anhydride towards its exo adduct was improved in perfluorinated solvents, in comparison
to a reaction carried out in hydrocarbon solvents and a solvent free reaction. When using
FC-70, the reaction of in situ generated cyclopentadiene and maleic anhydride produced
exo- norbomene-cis-5,6-dicarboxylic anhydride and endo- norbomene-cis-5,6-
dicarboxylic anhydride in a ratio of 52:32 according to GC-MS analysis. In hydrocarbon
solvent, mesitylene, the ratio of exo/endo was found to be 23:52, indicating a more
kinetically-controlled reaction. Separation of the reaction products by radial
chromatography provided the endo adduct in 89% purity and the exo adduct in 47%
purity.

Colorimetric testing is frequently used to identify unknown substances in the field. These tests are composed of a solution which changes colors in the presence of certain drugs. Each solution can yield a variety of colors to test compounds, but the tests are nonspecific. The speed of colorimetric analysis has made it ideal for onsite preliminary drug tests. In particular, the Froehde’s solution can identify various opiates and hallucinogens; and the Duquenois-Levine test can identify cannabinoids. Our analysis revealed that the Froehde’s test yields results beyond what is stated in the literature, but that these results are not very specific. The Duquenois-Levine test yields a number of different results, but its criteria for a positive result keep it a more specific test.

Visible spectrometers record the absorption of electromagnetic radiation as a function of wavelength, and the spectral data contains both qualitative and quantitative information. While these instruments are an essential tool for chemists, students often have limited access to quality instruments due to their high cost. The components used to construct visible spectrometers are moderately inexpensive due to recent technological advances, yet instruments remain expensive. The long term goal of this study is to develop a visible spectrometer accessible to students using readily available and inexpensive components. To accomplish this goal, a prototype instrument was calibrated. Resolution was determined by recording data for samples that absorb visible light at specific wavelengths. To assess the utility of the spectrometer for quantitative analysis, signal intensities were obtained as a function of sample concentration.