A balloon measurement of the isotopic composition of galactic cosmic ray boron, carbon, and nitrogen

The isotopic compositions of galactic cosmic ray boron, carbon, and nitrogen have been measured at energies near 300 MeV amu^-1, using a balloon-borne instrument at an atmospheric depth of ~5 g cm^-2. The calibrations of the detectors comprising the instrument are described. The saturation properties of the cesium iodide scintilla tors used for measurement of particle energy are studied in the context of analyzing the data for mass. The achieved rms mass resolution varies from ~ 0.3 amu at boron to ~ 0.5 amu at nitrogen, consistent with a theoretical analysis of the contributing factors. Corrected for detector interactions and the effects of the residual atmosphere, the results are ^(10)B/B = 0.33^(+0.17)_(-0.11), ^(13)C/C = 0.06^(+0.13)_(-0.01), and ^(15)N/N = 0.42 (+0.19)_(-0.17). A model of galactic propagation and solar modulation is described. Assuming a cosmic ray source composition of solar-like isotopic abundances, the model predicts abundances near earth consistent with the measurements.

Norbornenyl- and nortricyclyl free radicals

The number, symmetry, and product-forming capabilities of the intermediates in the photoinitiated reductions of endo- and exo-5- bromonorbornene and 2-bromonortricyclene with tri-n-butyltin hydride at temperatures between -10° and 22° were investigated.

Three mechanisms were evaluated:

1. The 5-norbornenyl- and 2-nortricyclyl radicals isomerize reversibly with the former producing nortricyclene by abstraction of hydrogen from tri-n-butyltin hydride.

2. The 5-norbornenyl- and 2-nortricyclyl radicals isomerize reversibly, but some norbornene can be formed from the 2-nortricyclyl radical or some nortricyclene can be formed from the 5-norbornenyl radical by abstraction of hydrogen.

3. There is intervention of a "bridged" radical which may be for med reversibly or irreversibly from the 5-norbornenyl- and 2-nortricyclyl radicals.

Within small error limits, the ratios of norbornene to nortricyclene as a function of the concentration of tri-n-butyltin hydride are consistent with the first mechanism.

In the reductions with tri-n-butyltin deuteride, primary deuterium isotope effects of 2. 3 and 2. 1 for the abstraction of deuterium by the 2-nortricyclyl- and 5-norbornenyl radicals, respectively, were found. The primary deuterium isotope effects were invariant with the concentration of tri-n-butyltin deuteride, although the ratios of norbornene to nortricyclene changed appreciably over this range. This is consistent with the first mechanism, and can accommodate the formation of either product from more than one intermediate only if the primary kinetic deuterium isotope effects are nearly equal for all reactions leading to the single product.

The reduction of endo-5-bromonorbornene-5, 6, 6-d₃ with tri-n-butyltin hydride or tri-n-butyltin deuteride leads to both unrearranged and rearranged norbornenes. The ratios of unrearranged to rearranged norbornene require that the 5-norbornenyl-5, 6, 6-d₃ radical isomerize to an intermediate with the symmetry expected of a nortricyclyl free radical. The results are consistent with mechanism 1, but imply a surprising normal secondary kinetic deuterium isotope effect of about 1.25 for the abstraction of hydrogen by the 5-norbornenyl- 5, 6, 6-d₃ radical.

Approximate calculations show that there does not appear to be any substantial difference in the stabilities of the 5-norbornenyl and 2-nortricyclyl radicals.

Although the results can not exclude a small contribution by a mechanism other than mechanism 1, no such contribution is required to adequately explain the results.