Synthesis of natural rubber-based telechelic cis-1,4-polyisoprenes and their use to prepare block copolymers via RAFT polymerization

A new trithiocarbonate functionalized cis-1,4-polyisoprene was obtained from oxidative degradation of natural rubber followed by reductive amination and amidation. The structure of the resulting functionalized cis-1,4-polyisoprene was confirmed by a combination of ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and FTIR spectroscopy. ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that the trithiocarbonate functionality was equal to one. The well-defined trithiocarbonyl-end functionalized cis-1,4-polyisoprene was used as a macromolecular chain transfer agent (macroCTA) to mediate the RAFT polymerization of t-BA using AIBN as the initiator ([t-BA]₀/[macroCTA]₀/[AIBN]₀ = 250/1/0.2) in toluene at 60 °C. The resulting PI-b-P(t-BA) diblock copolymer presents an unimodal SEC trace shifted toward higher molecular weight in comparison with the SEC trace of the macroCTA, indicating that the polymerization of the second block is effective. The characteristics of the copolymer were determined by SEC = 26,000 g mol⁻¹, PDI = 1.76) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy ( (PI) = 62 and (P(t-BA)) = 87).     

Thermodynamics of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100-cationic surfactants mixtures at the cloud point

This study investigates the effects of gemini and conventional cationic surfactants on the cloud point (CP) of the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) in aqueous solutions. Instead of visual observation, a spectrophotometer was used for measurement of the cloud point temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters of these mixtures were calculated at different cationic surfactant concentrations. The gemini surfactants of the alkanediyl-α-ω-bis (alkyldimethylammonium) dibromide type, on the one hand, with different alkyl groups containing m carbon atoms and an ethanediyl spacer, referred to as “m-2-m” (m = 10, 12, and 16) and, on the other hand, with –C₁₆ alkyl groups and different spacers containing s carbon atoms, referred to as “16-s-16” (s = 6 and 10) were synthesized, purified and characterized. Additions of the cationic surfactants to the TX-100 solution increased the cloud point temperature of the TX-100 solution. It was accepted that the solubility of non-ionic surfactant containing polyoxyethylene (POE) hydrophilic chain was a maximum at the cloud point so that the thermodynamic parameters were calculated at this temperature. The results showed that the standard Gibbs free energy , the enthalpy and the entropy of the clouding phenomenon were found positive in all cases. The standard free energy increased with increasing hydrophobic alkyl chain for both gemini and conventional cationic surfactants; however, it decreased with increasing surfactant concentration.     

Structures and properties of the tin-doped carbon clusters

A systemic density functional theory study of the tin-doped carbon clusters has been carried out using B3LYP method with TZP+ basis set. For each species, the electronic states, relative energies and geometries of various isomers are reported. Except for smaller SnC₂ and the largest , the Sn-terminated linear or quasi-linear isomer is the most stable structure for clusters. The electronic ground state is alternate between ³Σ (for n-odd member) and ¹Σ (for the n-even member) for linear SnC_n and invariably ²Π for linear and , except for SnC/SnC⁺/SnC⁻,, and . The incremental binding energy diagrams show that strong even–odd alternations in the cluster stability exist for both neutral SnC_n and anionic , with their n-even members being much more stable than the corresponding odd n − 1 and n + 1 ones, while for cationic , the alternation effect is less pronounced. These parity effects also reflect in the ionization potential and electron affinity curves. By comparing with the fragmentation energies accompanying various channels, the most favorable dissociation channel for each kind of the clusters are given. All these results are very similar to those obtained previously for the clusters.     

Ab initio electronic and rovibrational structure of

The electronic structure of the ground state of has been investigated using relativistically-corrected CCSD(T) in conjunction with ANO-RCC (Mg) and aug-cc-pVQZ (H) basis sets. The molecular potential energy surface possessed minima corresponding to both ¹A₁ and equilibrium structures (with a ¹Σ⁺ transition state). The ¹A₁ structure possessed R_e and θ_e values of 2.0297 Å and of 22.09°, respectively. The higher-energy structure exhibited an R_e value of 2.1658 Å. Property surfaces were constructed to calculate rovibrational energies and spectral line intensities for the ground states of , (¹A′) MgHD²⁺ and . For the vibration ground state of , the vibration-averaged R_e and θ_e values were calculated to be 2.0209 Å and 22.53°, respectively. The A, B and C rotational constants were calculated to be 58.0, 2.21 and 2.11 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Modeling of vibration–electronic–chemistry coupling in the atomic–molecular oxygen system

The comprehensive analysis of the kinetic processes in the atomic–molecular oxygen system is conducted on the base of the novel state-to-state model involving both electronically and vibrationally excited O₂ molecules: and O(³P), O(¹D) atoms as well as vibrationally excited O₃(¹A₁) molecules. The model describes properly experimental data on the total removal rate of vibrationally excited molecules, the temporal evolution of the population of , and on the variation of vibrational temperature of behind strong shock wave. It is demonstrated that to describe with reasonable accuracy the variation of macroscopic flow parameters (pressure, temperature, density, and velocity) in the post shock region it is sufficient to use the widely applied model of mode approximation but in order to predict properly the species concentrations and populations of vibronic states of molecules just downstream the shock front it is needed to use state-to-state consideration.     

Unique charge ordering of manganese in a new mixed valent phosphate

A new mixed-valent manganese phosphate, , has been synthesized using hydrothermal method. Its monoclinic C2/c structure (a=12.5506(16) Å, b=10.4816(18) Å, c=13.6723(10) Å, β=103.758(11)°) forms a 3D framework of MnO₆ octahedra, MnO₅ trigonal bipyramids, PO₄ and PO₃OH tetrahedra. The main structural feature of this phosphate deals with its [Mn₄O₁₆]_∞ chains running along , which are interconnected through PO₄ and PO₃OH tetrahedra, forming intersecting tunnels running along [110], and [001]. The geometry of the [Mn₄O₁₆]_∞ chains and the charge ordering of manganese in the latter are unique: they consist of trimeric units of divalent manganese “” alternating with single trivalent Mn^IIIO₆ octahedra along . In each “” unit one central Mn^IIO₆ octahedron shares two opposite edges with two Mn^IIO₅ trigonal bipyramids. Along , one Mn(II) octahedron alternates with one Mn(III) octahedron by sharing one corner. The relationships between the structure of this unique charge ordered phosphate and other manganese phosphates are discussed.     

Physico-chemical properties of some electrolytes in water and aqueous sodiumdodecyl sulfate solutions at different temperatures

The viscosities of some mineral salt viz.; potassium chloride, potassium nitrate, magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate, at different concentrations have been determined in water and in binary aqueous solution of sodiumdodecyl sulfate (SDS) (0.007 mol · kg⁻¹ and 0.01 mol · kg⁻¹) at different temperatures. The data have been analyzed using Jones–Dole equation and the derivative parameters B and A have been interpreted in terms of ion–solvent and ion–ion interactions respectively. The change of Gibbs free energy of activation , enthalpy of activation , and entropy of activation for viscous flow of the solutions were calculated using Eyring equation, which depicts the mechanism of viscous flow. The structure making/breaking nature of the studied electrolytes has been discussed in the light of first derivative of B-coefficient (dB/dT) over temperatures. Potassium chloride and potassium nitrate acts as structure breaker in water where as all the salts are structure makers in aqueous SDS solutions, i.e. the postmicellar and pre-micellar regions.     

Diffusion coefficients of the ternary system (2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin + caffeine + water) at T = 298.15 K

Ternary mutual diffusion coefficients measured by Taylor dispersion method (D₁₁, D₂₂, D₁₂, and D₂₁) are reported for aqueous solutions of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) + caffeine at T = 298.15 K at carrier concentrations from (0.000 to 0.010) mol · dm⁻³, for each solute, respectively. These diffusion coefficients have been measured having in mind a better understanding of the structure of these systems and thermodynamic behaviour of caffeine and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in solution. For example, from these data it will be possible to estimate some parameters, such as the fraction of associated species HP-β-CD (X₁) and caffeine (X₂) in this complex, the monomer and dimer fractions, and , respectively, and the limiting diffusion coefficients of the HP-β-CD, , of the dimers caffeine entities, , and of those complexes (1:1), .     

Is Cd2 truly a van der Waals molecule? Analysis of rotational profiles recorded at the , transitions

Rotational profiles of the ²²⁸Cd₂ isotopomer recorded in the (υ′, υ″) = (26, 0), (27, 0), (42, 0), (45, 0), (46, 0), (48, 0) vibrational bands of the transition were analysed. As a result, the , , , , and excited- as well as the ground-state rotational constants of the (¹¹⁴Cd)₂ were determined. The analysis allowed determining the absolute values for the and excited- and ground-state bond lengths, respectively. The obtained result – the – distinctly shorter than that obtained with assumption of pure ground-state van der Waals bonding, supports a theoretical prediction of a covalent admixture to the bonding. Analysis of the partially-resolved rotational profile recorded in the (υ′, υ″) = (38, 0) band of the same isotopomer recorded at the transition allowed estimating the rotational constant in the B1_u state.     

Spin-state transition of iron in ( perovskite

The redox behavior of iron during heating of a high-performance perovskite for ceramic oxygen separation membranes was studied by combined electron energy-loss (EELS, esp. ELNES) and Mössbauer spectroscopical in situ methods. At room temperature, the iron in (Ba_0.5Sr_0.5)(Fe_0.8Zn_0.2)O_3-δ (BSFZ) is in a mixed valence state of 75% Fe⁴⁺ in the high-spin state and 25% Fe³⁺ predominantly in the low-spin state. When heated to , a slight reduction of iron is observed that increases the quantity of Fe³⁺ species. However, the dominant occurrence is a gradual transition in the spin-state of trivalent iron from a mixed low-spin/high-spin to a pure high-spin configuration. In addition, a remarkable amount of hybridization is found in the Fe–O bonds that are highly polar rather than purely ionic. The coupled valence/spin-state transition correlates with anomalies in thermogravimetry and thermal expansion behavior observed by X-ray diffraction and dilatometry, respectively. Since the effective cationic radii depend not only on the valence but also on the spin-state, both have to be considered when estimating under which conditions a cubic perovskite will tolerate specific cations. It is concluded that an excellent phase stability of perovskite-based membrane materials demands a tailoring, which enables pure high-spin states under operational conditions, even if mixed valence states are present. The low spin-state transition temperature of BSFZ provides that all iron species are in a pure high-spin configuration already above ca. making this ceramic highly attractive for intermediate temperature applications ().     

Experimental and computational study on the molecular energetics of benzyloxyphenol isomers

This paper reports a combined experimental and computational thermochemical study of 4-benzyloxyphenol. Static bomb combustion calorimetry and Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique were used to determine the standard (p^° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of combustion, , and of sublimation, , respectively, from which the standard (p^° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, were derived.For comparison purposes, the gas-phase enthalpy of formation of this compound was estimated by G3(MP2)//B3LYP calculations, using a set of gas-phase working reactions; the results are in excellent agreement with experimental data. G3(MP2)//B3LYP computations were also extended to the calculation of the gas-phase enthalpies of formation of the 2- and 3-benzyloxyphenol isomers. Furthermore, this composite approach was also used to obtain information about the gas-phase acidities, gas-phase basicities, proton and electron affinities, adiabatic ionization enthalpies and, finally, O–H bond dissociation enthalpies.     

Isolation and X-ray structural characterization of a dicationic homotrimer of 2,3,6,7-tetramethoxy-9,10-dimethylanthracene cation radical

Electrochemical oxidation of 2,3,6,7-tetramethoxy-9,10-dimethylanthracene (1) showed that it undergoes a highly reversible electrochemical oxidation (E_ox = 0.81 V vs SCE) and forms a modestly stable cation-radical salt in solution. X-ray crystallography established that 1⁺ crystallizes as a (centrosymmetric) dicationic homotrimer via a close cofacial association of a pair of cationic and one neutral molecule of 1 with an interplanar separation of ∼3.2 Å. The structure of the dicationic homotrimer was also reproduced by DFT calculations. Furthermore, the structure of a dicationic spiro adduct, formed by a slow decomposition of a solution of 1⁺, was also established by X-ray crystallography.     

Reactions of pyridyl donors with halogens and interhalogens: an X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman investigation

Three different N-donors L, namely N-ethyl-N′-3-pyridyl-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (1), N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (2), and tetra-2-pyridyl-pyrazine (3), bearing one, two and four pyridyl substituents, respectively, have been reacted with halogens X₂ (X = Br, I) or interhalogens XY (X = I; Y = Cl, Br). CT σ-adducts L · nXY, bearing linear N?XY moieties (L = 3; X = I; Y = Br, I; n = 2), and salts containing the protonated cationic donors H_nLⁿ⁺ (L = 1 − 3; n = 1, 2, 4), counterbalanced by Cl⁻, Br⁻, , , , , I₂Br⁻, , or anions, have been isolated. Among the reactions products, (H1⁺)Cl⁻, (H1⁺)Br⁻, , , and 3 · 2IBr have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The nature of the products has been elucidated based on elemental analysis and FT-Raman spectroscopy supported by MP2 and DFT calculations.     

Geometries, stability and aromaticity of , [M(Al2P2)] (M = Li, Na, K, Cu) and N(Al2P2) (N = Be, Mg, Ca, Zn) clusters

Geometrical structure, aromaticity and other properties of , [M(Al₂P₂)]⁻ (M = Li, Na, K, Cu) and N(Al₂P₂) (N = Be, Mg, Ca, Zn) species are theoretically investigated with density functional theory (DFT) methods. Calculation results show that for species, the planar structure, with D_2h symmetry at the ¹A_g state, is the global minimum at the B3LYP/6-311+G_* level. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis indicates the existence of delocalization in the most stable species and its pyramidal complexes. Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) and molecular orbital (MO) analysis further reveal that that pyramidal [M(Al₂P₂)]⁻ and N(Al₂P₂) species preserve the aromatic nature of the most stable unit.     

Self-assembly, crystal structure and photoluminescent properties of a novel organic–inorganic hybrid coordination polymer: [CdCl3(CH3)3NH]

A novel organic–inorganic coordination polymer [CdCl₃(CH₃)₃NH] 1 was synthesized by the reaction of CdCl₂ with trimethylamine (TMA) at 170 °C for 5 days in ethanol and structurally characterized by means of X-ray single diffraction. The title compound affords a one-dimensional chain structure. It crystallizes in hexagonal system space group P6(3)/m with , , , γ=120.00°, , Z=2, , F(000)=266, Mr=277.86, , the final R=0.0420 and ωR=0.1020 for 355 observed reflections with I>2σ(I). The title compound consists of cation [(CH₃)₃NH]⁺ and anion chain , and they are combined by static attracting forces in the crystal. TG–DTA, XRD and IR data for the title compound are reported and discussed. The photoluminescent properties of the compound 1 were also investigated.