William A. Glasson

Bio: William A. Glasson is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Hydrolysis & Kinetics. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 3 publications receiving 156 citations.

Effective Molarities for Intramolecular Reactions

Abstract: Publisher Summary The first step toward unravelling the mechanism of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is to specify the mechanisms available for the reaction concerned. Many of these reactions are not observed when the relevant groups are allowed to come together in bimolecular processes in aqueous solution. For mechanistic work involving intermolecular reactions, it is necessary to use activated substrates. An attractive alternative is to study intramolecular reactions. These are generally faster than the corresponding intermolecular processes. Thus, groups like carboxyl and imidazole are involved at the active sites of many enzymes hydrolyzing aliphatic esters and amides. Therefore, mechanistic studies of intramolecular reactions play an important part in elucidating the chemistry of the groups involved in enzyme catalysis and in defining the mechanisms available for particular reactions.

Ruby under pressure

Abstract: The ruby luminescence method is widely used for pressure measurement in the diamond anvil cell and other optically transparent pressure cells. With this application in mind, we briefly review the ground-state physical properties of corundum (α-Al2O3) with some emphasis on its behavior under high pressure, survey the effects of temperature and stress on the R-line luminescence of ruby (Cr-doped corundum), and address the recent efforts towards an improved calibration of the R-line shift under hydrostatic pressures beyond the 50 GPa mark.

Alcoholysis, saponification and the preparation of fatty acid methyl esters

Abstract: Evidence is offered to support the contention that methanolysis precedes the saponification of esters in methanolic solutions of sodium hydroxide. This results from the hydroxide-alkoxide equilibrium which greatly favors methoxide formation even in the presence of rather considerable amounts of water. Saponification-reesterification methods of methyl ester formation are shown to be actually extensions of methanolysis procedures. A simplified method is proposed for the preparation of fatty acid methyl esters.

Characterization of Barium Titanate Powders: Barium Carbonate Identification

Abstract: A range of methods for the detection of barium carbonate contaminant in barium titanate powder has been assessed, namely: X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with EDS-X-ray microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gas chromatography (GC) for analysis of carbon, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The most satisfactory procedure for the detection of the small amounts of BaCO3 commonly present is FT-IR. Surface analyses by XPS show that the carbonate is present as a discrete phase and is not a surface film on barium titanate particles.