THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK
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ALCOA '* ALUMINUM B? i COILED TUBE!
THIS N E W
1
the molten state. T h e mixture is heated to a t e m p e r a t u r e sufficient to vaporize a portion of t h e volatile salt a n d the vapor of this salt is t h e n brought into contact with natural b r o m i n e gas. Thereafter t h e bromine gas is separated from the vapor of the volatile bromide. T h e separated bromine gas contains t h e radioactive bro mine as the result of a double exchange process. M e t h o d a n d A p p a r a t u s for Material Separation. Pat. 2,606,291. This patent covers an i m p r o v e d linear type of material separator for separating large quantities of mixed isotopes in a relatively short p e riod of time. T h e apparatus comprises in part means for modulating charged par ticle beams to effect separation of the components thereof and other means for analyzing t h e velocity modulated charged particle b e a m s to effect collection of t h e separated components. Electrodeposition of M e t a l Salts. Pat. 2,608,530. T h i s p a t e n t covers a process for quantitatively electrodepositing uran ium fluoride from a dilute aqueous solu tion of uranyl nitrate containing dissolved sodium fluoride t h e concentration thereof being in t h e r a n g e of 2 5 to 300 times t h e concentration of t h e uranyl nitrate. Fluorination Process. Pat. 2,608,593. This patent covers a method for the periluorination of a hydrocarbon which is ac complished w i t h o u t scission of *he carbon structure of t h e hydrocarbon. T h e vapor ized h y d r o c a r b o n is passed over solid cerium tetrafluoride in a reaction zone at a t e m p e r a t u r e b e t w e e n about 100° to about 450° C . a n d above the boiling point of the starting hydrocarbon. A perfluorinated organic c o m p o u n d having the car bon structure of t h e starting hydrocarbon is subsequently separated from t h e reac tion products.
SCIENCE If y o u ' r e l o o k i n g for t h e lowest cost, c o r r o s i o n - r e s i s t a n t t u b e you can b u y , it's called A l c o a U T I L I T U B E * . ( U p to 4 0 % less t h a n o t h e r c o r r o s i o n - r e s i s t a n t metals.) If y o u w a n t a t u b e t h a t stands u p well u n d e r v i b r a t i o n and also f o r m s a n d flares easily, t h a t ' s Alcoa U T I L I T U B E . If you h a v e m a n y j o b s for coiled t u b e , see w h a t A l c o a U T I L I T U B E can d o : fuel oil and gasoline l i n e s — i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n l i n e s — b r a k e a n d hy d r a u l i c lines—refrigerants (except methyl chloride)—oil a n d grease lines. U T I L I T U B E a n d fittings a r e available f r o m y o u r a l u m i n u m distribu tor. L o o k for his n a m e in y o u r classified telephone directory. Write for a copy of the new booklet, ALCOA UTILITUBE.
ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA 8 3 4 - K Gulf Bldg.
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Pittsburgh 19, Pennsylvania
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AV-COA UTILIBUBE
AL (/M f NI/M. COMPANY OF AMERICA J
4390
CHEMICAL
Merck Group Devises Total Synthesis of Cortisone An entirely n e w method for preparing cortisone synthetically has been devised by a Merck research team headed by Lewis II. Sarelt. the chemist whose first partial synthesis of cortisone from ox bile led to commercial production of the antiarthritis d r u g . Starting material for the o()-step p r o c e d u r e is beir/oquinono, as it is for t h e total synthesis developed by R. 13. W o o d w a r d and coworkers at Harvard ( C & K N , May 7, 1951, page 1847). Unique to Dr. Sarett's procedure is its stereospecifirity. In describing the pro cedure in t h e Oct. 5 issue* of tin; Journal of the American Chemical Society ( p a g e 4 9 7 4 ) , the authors point out thai in each reaction w h i c h produces a fixed asymmetric enter, the ratio of isomer having the same configuration as t h e end product to all oilu-r isomers is greater than unity.
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
Actually, in t h e synthesis each of the ratios is 8:1 or better. Another interesting feature of the Sarett synthesis is that the essential oxygen atom at position 11 of the cortisone mole cule is built into t h e nucleus from the start. During t h e course of t h e procedure, dehydrocorticosterone and 11-ketoprogesterone are synthesized. Principal coworkers in t h e research, which began in 1948, were Glen E. Arth, Robert M. Lukes, Roger E . Beyler, George I. Poos, William F . Johns, and James M. Constantin. Magnamycin M a y H e l p When O t h e r Antibiotics Fail A new antibiotic, Magnamycin, which m a y prove effective against bacteria which are immune to such antibiotics as penicillin and streptomycin, has been dis covered in the biochemical research labo ratories of Chas. Pfizer & Co. T h e drug is now undergoing extensive clinical trials, a n d early reports indicate that these tests will confirm test-tube results showing that bacteria which can live in the presence of other antibiotics, cannot survive attack by this latest drug. According to Pfizer scientists, Magna mycin does not have cross-resistance with other antibiotics of general use. In tests on animals, Magnamycin was found to destroy most gram-positive bacteria, such as the pneumonia germ and streptococci, a n d to hit large viruses and Rickettsia such as the organisms which cause psittacosis a n d Rocky Mountain spotted fever, respec tively. T h e drug is ineffective against gram-negative bacteria, t h e Pfizer re searchers report. Antihyaluronidase Agent Acts As O r a l C o n t r a c e p t i v e Use of phosphorylated hespiridin as an oral contraceptive has proved effective in preliminary trials, according to Benjamin F . Sieve, a Boston physician. Dr. Sieve tested the drug on 300 couples for periods ranging from three to 30 months. Only two unplanned pregnancies resulted and these arose from failure to take the drug. T h e drug, which is sometimes pre scribed by physicians to overcome bleed ing from capillaries and other fragile ilood vessels, is apparently effective alter idministiation lor 10 days. However, it mist be taken daily after that for the iffects wear off in about two days. Botii lusband and wife take the druji- lour loses for the wile ;·ικ1 three for the hus band at mealtimes and bedtime daily. Phosphorylated hespiridin has been bought to inhibit the action of hyaimondase, the enzyme which hastens the pasage» of fluids through membranes and )ther tissues, it is believed that hyahuon[dasc is an important factor in impni : ;naMon, helping the sperm penetrate the ova. if this theory is correct, the antihyahunns dase drug would act to prevent this pene-ration. 1 Dr. Sieve emphasized, in his report in V O L U M E 3 0,
NO.
4 2
Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA*) is a mild, pleasant smelling, high boiling primary alcohol containing the characteristic heterocyclic furan ring. Its reactions are generally those of a primary alcohol. (A reaction chart is yours for the asking.) J n addition to the usual reaction character istics of a primary alcohol, T H F A can be made to undergo reactions involving the ring such as ring opening to open chain compounds which in some cases may be recyclized to form other important ring compounds. USES 1» To make pla$tïcÎ2ers such as tetrahydrofurfuryl oleate. 2 · As a chemical intermediate. For example dehydration yields 2,3-dihydropyran which is in turn the precursor of such interesting compounds as l # 5-pentanediot # tetrohydropyron and lysine. S e Solvent for dyes, resins and olher interesting compounds. Those having solvent problems in connection with styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl butyral, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, " A " stage phenol-aldehyde resins and rosin would do well to investigate this solvent. Wrii&
for Technical
Bulletin
PROPERTIES OF THFA (PURE COMPOUND) Soiling point/C, (743mm.) Specific gravity, 20, 20 C Refractive index η 20 D Flash point (open tup) C
177.5 1.064 1.4505 75-80
87* Β
· · Reg, IJ. S. Pel. Off,
The Quaker Oats Company
CHEMICAL DEPT.
333W T h e M f t f t h o n d i i e Mart, Chlcano 54, III.rum Room S33W, 120 Well Si., Now York 5, Ν. Υ. Hoo"r*433W f P. O. Box -1376, Portland 8, Qrmjon In Vur^pot QugW**r Qqis-Graonprodufttn N. V., In Son FraneUco; Th·* CM;*» in Ch.-rr.ic--:! Comjifiny R..m*-riJuru, th.- ΝΜί.. Hand.,, Qur^.M O M I ' * I :*>«„«-) S Α., &'J, Rye Pqjcfyier, Pom 8*% fronce ïn Japon; f . KanfmqHu & Company Ltd., Tokyo \n Australia; Cw.ft «i. Ccmpo.,/, Pry , L«,J , ^.d-.-y
Ο C T O B E R· 2 0, 1 9 5 2
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THE C H E M I C A L W O R L D THIS WEEK
Sodium Peroxide COMBUSTION
BOMBS
the Oct. 10 issue of Science, t h a t these r e sults are only preliminary and m u c h more clinical data should b e g a t h e r e d before general use of t h e d r u g as a n antifertility agent is w a r r a n t e d . Sensitive Seismograph W i l l Measures Earth Strains
For r a p i d c o m b u s t i o n oxide t o d e t e r m i n e :
reactions
with
sodium
Arsenic, Boron, Bromine, C h l o r i n e , Fluorine, Phosphorus, Selenium, Silicon o r Sulfur . . .
per
Iodine,
In coal, coke, o r g a n i c compounds, p e t r o l e u m and p e t r o l e u m p r o d u c t s , r u b b e r and other organic materials. The 4 8 - p a g e PARR M a n u a l N o . 121, furnished w i t h every PARR Peroxide Bomb a p p a r a t u s , is available on r e q u e s t . W r i t e f o r your free c o p y .
PARR INSTUMENT CO., MOLINE, ILLINOIS EST. 1899 . MAKERS OF CALORIMETERS AND PRESSURE REACTION EQUIPMENT
Ceramic to Metal
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4392
Researchers at University of California at Los Angeles have developed a virusspotting technique which m a y help pre vent the spread of virus disease anions orchid plants. T h e simple technique, developed in t h e laboratory, is dependent upon physical and chemical identification and purification of virus. Rabbits a r e in jected with purified orchid virus prepara tion a n d antibodies a r e formed in tht rabbit's blood as a result. T h e s e antibodies are enntaiiied in t h e serum which sepa rates from t h e blood when taken from the rabbit. Juice from an orchid plant Κ mixed with the serum And a marked precipitation oc curs if viruses a r e present. Virus-fret plants -diow no precipitation. T h u s far. the virus disease in Cattleya orchid* hav< been studied, hut UCLA scientists think
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Virus S p o t t i n g Technique Aids Orchid G r o w e r s
The rotor SHAFT shown here consist o! meta! hcinil- îittaehed - e c t i r e h l u ceramic nn\y and a i r t x p i r u l i Stu[κιk*>Π p r e c i s i o n m a n i i l ' a c l i i n ' . < )n a iiKi— p r o d u c t i o n bar-i-. eotiriMllï'irilV »>j r o i | ] | ( o i ! t ' H ^ . f u r example, i-'held t i . le— than " 0 . 0 0 1 i n . Likew i-e. t lit*-Ira in:-ai ni - p l e a d e r » . - L u n l - ο Π - and t r i m m e r » -how η be low inert l l i r e x a c t i n g r e q u i r e m e n t » n\ tin· - r r \ i c r l'or uliM-h t h r \ arc | t h e m e t h o d w i l l see a p p l i c a t i o n w i t h other made. K*'ailil\ asailahl·* in p r o d u c t i o n j viruses. q u a n i i t i r - . St upah* d i hin ceramic a»semblic» |frr o p p o r t u n i - i E m b r y o G u i n e a P i g C a n n o t t i r - to reduce en-l-. iile,ea»e p | o ; Synthesize Vitamin C d n r i i o n and i m p r o s r electrical a n d
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First precise measurement of large-scale strain patterns of t h e earth's crust will be a t t e m p t e d with a sensitive instrument soon to b e installed in a m o u n t a i n tunnel in t h e San Gabriel Mountains in Califor nia. T h e special secular linear strain seismograph is being designed a n d built by t h e California Institute of Technology seismologieal laboratory. It is hoped that strains as small as a 0.001-inch compression in two miles of rock can b e observed with t h e sensitive fused quartz strain meter. T h e far distant hope is that studies with t h e n e w meter may lead to e a r t h q u a k e forecasting, b u t CalTech is cautious in pointing out that it is not predicting or forecasting a n y earthquakes. As far as present knowledge indicates, such prediction is only a pos sibility in the3 distant future.
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I Researchers at Columbia f ni\ersit\ j h a \ e been able fo prove that embryonic | guinea pigs are e n a b l e to synthesize vita m i n C f i o a ; u l i i · - ! . - · . l ' u t i l n o w . i* \va» b e l i e v e d ihat t h e e.jihlNO i m h i e a p i l l ant h u m a n c o u l d - \ n t h e s i / e t h e v i t a m i n he l o r e b i r t h a n d that this a b i l i t y ;j>radiiall> disappeared alteiward. O l a l l animals the liuiuea p i g a n d p r i m a t e - ; a i e u:iahl« to s y n t h e s j / e \ i t a m m C a n d must in^es tli* v i t a m i n i n a l r e a d y s \ n t h e s . j / e d ïorv i n t'oods. I ' m i t ' l t h e d t i e i t i o i l t i l ('.. Ci. Kîllt» o i the ( .''jliimlu'a c h e m i s t r y d e p a r t m e n t , tie leseatth team injected laheh'd uhu-jts.
CHEMICALANDENGINEERINGNEW
under the skin of pregnant guinea pigs. After allowing sufficient time for the compound to filter through the mother's body into its offspring's circulatory system, thescientists removed the embryo and analyzed it chemically. Despite careful testing of the vitamin C found in the embryo, highly-sensitive Geiger counters failed to pick up any trace of radioactive carbon. Thus it became apparent that the vitamin present could have come only from food eaten by the parent guinea pig. Further Studies. Another problem the research group is attacking, is the disappearance of vitamin C in the adrenal glands after an injection of ACTH. It has been found that test animals injected with the hormone experience a sharp drop in the amount of ascorbic acid in their adrenals. Several possibilities have already been tested, and the evidence so far indicates that the vitamin does not disintegrate into other compounds hut leaves the adrenals intact. Superconcentrated G r a p e Juice C a n Be D i l u t e d Sîx-to-One A "superconcentrated" grape juice which can be diluted with six parts of water to one part of juice has been developed by scientists at the Eastern Regional Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture. A four-ounce can of the new product yields 70% more juice than the present six-ounce can which is diluted only three to one. The process for making t h e concentrate involves stripping the juice of its volatile or aromatic flavors and concentrating these stripped flavors to about 150 times the flavor strength of fresh juice. After the removal of pectin to prevent gelling, the juice is concentrated and t h e concentrated flavors returned to it. The process was first perfected by ERRL in 1944 for apple juice concentration.
LOF R e s e a r c h G r a n t s Six major projects dealing with fundamental research in glass, including some preparing for the oncoming application of atomic force to industry, are now being supported by Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Co. Among the special projects sponsored by LOF is one dealing with fundamental glass studies related to nuclear physics and atomic energy in connection with the Phoenix Project at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. The overall project is bringing together more than 400 scientists in widely scattered fields to pool their work to "make a united attack on the problems of how to live with the atom." Robert L. Hess will surpervise the glass studies. In connection with the LOF program there will be graduate fellowships directed by Dr. Hess at University of Michigan. Lihhey-Owens-Fmd is also sponsoring Ο L U Μ Ε
3 0, Ν Ο .
BENZOPHENONE (diphenyl ketone) is a n intriguing intermediate w i t h a n active carbonyl g r o u p c o n necting t w o phenyl groups. Its use in perfumes is well k n o w n , but its potential in synthesis may still b e e x p l o i t e d . It has b e e n suggested as an intermediate for certain anrihistaminics, hypnotics and other pharmaceuticals; insecticides; dielectric m e d i a ; a n d as a gas a b s o r b i n g medium. ΚAY-FRIES
SPECIFICATIONS..,
melting point
4 y
.
Φ
46,5° — 48.5° C.
m o l t e n color
®
below l O O H a z e n Scale
odor
φ
characteristic (rosegeranium type)
Typical reactions of B E N Z O P H E N O N X RCH2MgX
+
C 6 H 5 COC 6 H 5
H20
(CoH5)2C(OHOCH2R - f MgX(OH) Substituted Benzhydrol
Grig πα rd compound
RESEARCH
V
benzophenone
XCRHCOOC 2 H 5 + H 2 + C 6 H 5 C O C 6 H j ^ ° M (QH 5 ) 2 C(OHJCRHCOOC 2 H 5 -f HX Subst. hafoacid ester
ethyl 3-hydroxy*-3, 3-diphenyI2-subst. piropforaate +
H2
C6H5COC6H5
catalyst
(C6H5)2CHOH benzhydrol
the reduction, other products may be obtained by varying t h e conditions. H202
•+
QH5COC6H
C6H5C0OC^H.-,-f- H 2 0
5
hydrogen peroxide C02
+ H? +
. O C T O B E R
phenyl benzoat^
QH 5 COC € i H 5
Na
(C 6 H 5 )i.C(OH)C0OH benzîlîc acid
TECHNICAL
BULLETIN
AVAILABLE
American-British Chemical Supplies, Inc. Selling Agents for
KAY-FRIES CHEMICALS, INC. !iLS, IIC. }QQ Madison Avenue. New York 16, Ν. Υ".
2 0,
1952
MUtray Hill 6*066!
4393
