Energies of organic compounds. Progress report, September 1, 1976--June 30, 1977

Two automated reaction calorimetry systems are being constructed. The first, using a quartz thermometer probe, is essentially complete, and has been tested. The second uses a high precision digital voltmeter coupled to a microprocessor, and measures the resistance of a thermistor. The advantage of the second system lies in the small size of the temperature probe. The calorimeter systems have been used in measuring the heat of hydration of orthoesters which is a model for the steric effects in converting a tetrahedral carbon to trigonal. It has been used to measure the heat of adding trifluoroacetic acid to alkenes. This reaction is useful for the determination of the difference in heats of formation between isomeric alkenes, the heats of hydration of alkenes, and the heats of formation of secondary and tertiary alcohols. It has been used in measuring the heat evolved in adding acetic acid across strained carbon-carbon single bonds