M.S.

Since the ordinary methods for the preparation of a-diketones are rather long and rarely yield a high percentage of product, the attempt was made to perfect some short, simple, direct method whereby the straight and mixed a-diketones could be prepared. / M.S.

M.S.

M.S.

M.S.

1. Strontium does not easily react with n-butyl bromide in ether or benzene to produce an organostrontium compound. Strontium amalgam reacts to give a trace of the butyl mercury compound, perhaps through the formation of an organostrontium compound as intermediate. 2. The conversion, 2BuLi + SrCl₂ = 2LiCl + Bu₂Sr, seems to proceed predominantly to the left, perhaps because of relative solubilities of the lithium and strontium halides in the solvents used. 3. The conversion, Bu₂Hg + Sr = Hg + Bu₂Sr, appears to proceed to a slight extent to the right. So far, this reaction seems to offer the most promise in synthesizing an organostrontium compound. / M.S.

A sample of cellulose nitrate was to be fractionated into a series of fractions differing from each other with respect to the degree of polymerization. The method chosen was to be one which would give a large number of fractions, each one attaining as high a degree of homogeneity with respect to chain length as could be reached without too great refinement of procedure. The degree of polymerization of the fractions was to be determined by viscosity measurements using the Staudinger viscosity equation (109) and then using a suitable solvent, a quantitative determination of the solubility of each fraction was to be attempted. From any solubility data obtained an attempt was to be made to determine if any relationship existed between the degree of polymerization and the solubility. Solubility is dependent upon the nitrogen content of the nitrate. Therefore, the nitrogen content of each fraction was to be determined, in order to draw valid conclusions from the solubility data. / M.S.

The prime result has been the development of an experimental procedure for producing a definite dielectric effect when water is added to an acetone solution of cellulose nitrate. This effect depends not only on the purity, dryness and concentration of the cellulose nitrate, but also on the average degree of polymerization. This last dependency is shown in Figure V, and its theoretical aspects will be discussed in the next section. The discontinuity at the precipitation region is a general effect, not depending on such extreme conditions. / M.S.

1. Improved methods for carrying out the reaction between sodium and acetic anhydride have been presented. Separation of reaction products and quantitative determination have been made easier by means of the improvements. 2. The only products isolated from either room-temperature or high-temperature runs have been sodium acetate and a resinous material believed to be a polymer of diacetyl. No diacetyl has been isolated from the original products of any reaction. 3. Comparison has been made between reactions at room temperature and runs made at high temperatures. Room temperature reactions have been found to give the same products as high-temperature runs but in much smaller amounts. 4. Theoretical discussion of the reaction is presented. A possible mechanism for formation of the resin are proposed. 5. Suggestions for future study of the problem are given. / M.S.

The important facts developed by the investigation are: Group III can be subdivided into two divisions without much injury to the delicacy of the individual tests. [See document for Scheme of Analysis For Group III] [See document for Diagramatic Scheme of Group III] The successful division of this group has eliminated the possibility of certain metals oxidizing during their initial precipitation and washing.* That the present of chromium precipitates an additional eleven per cent of zinc, but does not appreciably effect manganese. That different concentrations of ammonium hydroxide and ammonium chloride will precipitate varying amounts of zinc and manganese. The writer feels quite sure that his method requires less time and is less expensive than other methods.* / M.S.