RESEARCH
would react with 2-bromo-2,2-dinitroethyl acetate. Then, one mole of the salt would release 1,1-dinitroethylene which would immediately condense with a second mole of the same com-
pound to make a chemical with a dinitro group. This thought was proved, explains Frankel, by using a phthalimide salt or salts of organic nitro compounds in the
ACS Award—Fisher Award in Analytical Chemistry
JAMES J. LINGANE Over the past quarter of a century, James J. Lingane has carried on a careful and concerted attack on the problems of electroanalysis. His research has led not only to a better understanding of the theory of electrode processes; it also has broadened their application and resulted in new and more effective tools for the analytical chemist. His work, says one colleague, "is an outstanding ex- James J. Lingane of Harvard (left) example of an integrated effort amines Fisher Award, of which h e is aimed at wringing a full measure recipient. George L . Buc, Fisher Sciof usefulness from electroanalyt- entific, holds the award up for Lingane's inspection. Award was presented at the ical methods." general meeting Monday night Lingane is probably best known for his studies of polaroga book which has now gone through raphy. Some of his earliest, as well three editions. H e is also the author as many more recent publications, of "Electroanalytical Chemistry." helped to establish the theoretical Lingane stems from St. Paul, foundations of this field. In all his Minn., where he was born 49 years research, in fact, he has stressed inago. After receiving his doctorate vestigation of underlying principles. in physical chemistry from UniverNot content with basic studies alone, sity of Minnesota in 1938, he taught however, he also has developed inat Minnesota and University of Calistrumentation and methods needed fornia. In 1941 he joined Harvard's to apply fundamentals to practical chemistry staff as an instructor. T w o use. years ago he was named chairman of Polarography is but o n e of Lin- the Harvard chemistry department. gane's interests. He was a pioneer His work has won him many in the field of coulometry, for in- honors prior to the Fisher Award in stance, and much of his recent work Analytical Chemistry. H e has an has been in this area. A fellow honorary master's degree from Haranalytical chemist credits him for vard. He has served as chairman being largely responsible for a re- and vice chairman of analytical sescent upsurge of interest in coulo- sions at the Gordon Research Conmetric methods. His research, too, ferences. And, in 1953, he was has spanned potentiometry, titration Priestley lecturer at Penn State. He methods, and inorganic analysis, as also has served on the advisory well as the classical methods of ana- boards of Analytical Chemistry and lytical chemistry. JACS. In 1947 he was cited b y a Well over 100 research papers poll of the Chicago Section of the reflect Lingane's efforts. With I. M. ACS as one of the "10 ablest" anaKolthoff, he wrote "Polarography/* lytical chemists.
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APRIL
2 8,
1958
reaction instead of potassium iodide. Salts with dinitroethyl groups were formed. When these are treated with formaldehyde and then methyl acrylate, they make polynitroalcohols and esters —a new area in polynitro chemistry, concludes Frankel.
Silicon Aromatics Silicon anologs of the benzene series may open up new fields of inorganic chemistry, including a simple route to pure silicon
m
ACS NATIONAL MEETING
Silicon analogs of the aromatic compounds well k n o w n
in
carbon
chemistry may Inorganic have been * preChemistry pared· for the first time. Grant Urry of Washington University, St. Louis, says that the physical and chemical properties so far examined strongly support the idea that these new silicon compounds are completely analogous to compounds of the benzene series. Urry told the Division of Inorganic Chemistry he forms a new sub-chloride of silicon, Si 6 Cl 6 , by passing SiCl4 vapor over ferrosilicon or silicon at elevated temperatures. Urry feels that Si 6 Cl e may b e analogous in structure to hexachlorobenzene, based on physical and chemical evidence obtained so far. This would be the first simple silicon compound prepared in which the silicon bonds are similar to carbon-carbon aromatic links, h e says. He prepared other aromatic silicon compounds from the hexachloro derivative by straightforward procedures. For example, reaction with dimethylmercury gives S i 6 ( C H 3 ) 6 , and the chloride can be converted to the parent hydrosilicon, Si 6 H 6 , by reduction with lithium borohydride. Urry believes that these compounds represent an important step in the route to a more complex chemistry of silicon—a route that doesn't depend on the polymeric nature of silicon oxides. He also suggests that silicon analogs of dibenzene chromium should have remarkable electrical properties. And the new sub-halides might well prove to be one of the simplest routes to ultra pure silicon.
