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Street dust samples from urban and suburban areas were collected from the city of Karak, Jordan, during the summer season of 2004. Samples were analyzed for their heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, and Mn). The results showed that all heavy metals are higher in city urban areas than the surrounding suburbs. The distribution and concentrations of heavy metals in all areas show automobile originated sources such as emissions and wear and tear of automobiles were the main source of pollution. Despite the fact that the city of Karak and the capital Amman are under the same climatic conditions and same type of fuel used in both cities, the heavy metal concentrations of street dust samples were lower in Karak than Amman due to the lower traffic density.

MINDO-Forces calculations have been performed with complete optimization of the geometries on stepwise fluorinated cyclopropanones and their enols. Increase in the number of fluorine atoms causes destabilization of cyclopropanone. Perfluorinated enol was found to be present in substantial concentration, as was mentioned in previous work. This is supported by calculations of Gibbs free energies and isodesmic reactions. Geometrical parameters, heats of formation, electron densities, dipole moments and orbital energies (HOMO-LUMO) are reported.

Precipitation events were collected during the period from October 1996 to April 1997 from two sites in the city of Amman, Jordan. The samples were analyzed for major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and NH4+), major anions (F-, Cl-, NO3- and SO42-), in addition to heavy metals (Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+). High levels of Ca2+ and SO42- were observed. The results were comparable with some regional values and they indicate that about 58% of Na+ and Cl- are of marine origin, while Ca2+, K+ and a large fraction of SO42- are of soil dust origin. Heavy metals were detectable in most of the samples, zinc showed the highest concentrations. Significant correlation was obtained between zinc and lead, which may indicate automobile emission source.

The condensation of doubly deprotonated triphenylglycol propionate 4a and imines 1 leads to the formation of trans β-lactams 5 in a diastereoselective and enantioselective manner (85 to > 97% e.e.). On the other hand, the lithium enolates of the propionates 4b,c, derived from triphenylglycol as well, afford predominantly cis 2-azetidinones 6 in 87 to > 97% e.e.

As part of our continuing investigation of Jordanian Colchicum species, (-)-colchicine content in C. brachyphyllum Boiss.Haussk. ex Boiss and Colchicum tunicatum Feinbr (Colchicaceae), growing wild in Jordan, was determined during different growth stages. Using external reference standard, a reverse-phase gradient photo-diode array high performance liquid chromatography (PDA-HPLC) method was adapted. Underground parts in both species and during different growth stages, always showed higher (-)-colchicine content than the above ground parts. In C. brachyphyllum total (-)-colchicine content of underground parts during flowering stage was found to be about 0.15% (wt/wt), while that of aerial parts was only about 0.04% (wt/wt). In C. tunicatum total (-)-colchicine content of underground parts was found to be 0.12% (wt/wt), and 0.13% (wt/wt) during flowering and vegetating stages, respectively, while that of aerial parts was only about 0.04% (wt/wt) and 0.02% (wt/wt), respectively. In C. tunicatum, stems, roots and unripe seeds are the main storages of (-)-colchicine at flowering, vegetating and seeding stages, respectively, while in C. brachyphyllum, corms are the main storage of (-)-colchicine at flowering and seeding stages.