A stopped-flow study has shown that tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)porphyrin iron(III) chloride reacts rapidly (<3 ms) with hydrogen peroxide to form a FeIII–H2O2 complex where log K = 2.39. This subsequently undergoes rapid intramolecular conversion (k = 4.4 s−1) to an iron(IV) intermediate, which in turn reacts with hydrogen peroxide (k′ = 54.3 M−1 s−1) to reform the original FeIII–H2O2 complex.

Catalysis of the Diels–Alder reaction between simple dienes and acrolein is catalysed by silica, carbon, magnesium perchlorate and the organic compound bis-resorcinolanthracene, all in the solid state. Quantification allows the catalysis to be identified as predominantly general acid for silica, pre-organisation of diene for carbon and bis-resorcinolanthracene, and Lewis acid for magnesium perchlorate. For the last, heterogeneous catalysis is far greater than homogeneous and an explanation for this is suggested.Enhancement of the rate of Diels–Alder reaction by solids such as silica, carbon, magnesium perchlorate and bis-resorcinolanthracene can be comparable to, and in the case magnesium perchlorate much greater than, that of homogeneous catalysts.

13C NMR and Langmuir trough measurements have been used to monitor physico-chemical changes taking place during the carbonation of a calcium hydroxide in hexadecane suspension in the presence of calixarene and stearic acid as stabilizers. The initial reaction, before carbonation, is characterized by neutralization of the outer surface of the suspended calcium hydroxide particles by the surfactant species present. However, it is observed that after approximately 30% carbonation, particles close to the final size (ca. 6 nm diameter) are formed; these are then converted into calcium carbonate nano-particles without significant further change in size. It is therefore proposed that a fragmentation process is responsible for the rapid reduction in particle size. Inferences are made regarding the composition of the carbonate ‘core’ and the surfactant surface on the basis of the 13C NMR results.

A new mixed calixarate/stearate calcium carbonate overbased detergent has been prepared and characterised by NMR, NMR, IR, Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. In addition, Langmuir trough and dynamic light scattering experiments have been carried out. These are interpreted in terms of a calcium stearate- and calcium calixarate-stabilised CaCO3 particle of ca. 6 nm diameter; there is evidence for a reservoir of excess surfactant inverse micelles.

The total spontaneous resolution of N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N′-cyano-N,N″ ,N″-trimethylguanidine, a compound which shows only conformational chirality, is described; variable temperature NMR experiments show that rotation of the dimethylamino group is rapid in solution at room temperature as is conformer interconversion by rotation of the arylmethylamino group.

A stopped-flow study has shown that tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)porphyrin iron(III) chloride reacts rapidly (<3 ms) with hydrogen peroxide to form a FeIII–H2O2 complex where log K = 2.39. This subsequently undergoes rapid intramolecular conversion (k = 4.4 s−1) to an iron(IV) intermediate, which in turn reacts with hydrogen peroxide (k′ = 54.3 M−1 s−1) to reform the original FeIII–H2O2 complex.