Contrasting thermal behavior and low-temperature flexibility of PDMS-grafted and poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate)-grafted polyurethane

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was grafted onto polyurethane (PU) to form a P series, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) was graft-polymerized onto PU to form an E series. The spectroscopic, thermal, tensile, shape memory, and low-temperature flexibility properties of the P and E series were compared. With an increase in the PDMS content, the T_g of the P series gradually increased, whereas the T_g of the E series was not affected by an increase in the EHA content. The tensile strength of the P and E series sharply increased with the PDMS or EHA content without a significant decrease in tensile strain. The shape recovery of the P and E series remained high after four repeated tests. However, shape retention of the P series significantly decreased with an increase in the PDMS content. Finally, the P series demonstrated excellent low-temperature flexibility from ?35°C compared with the E series and control PUs.     

Azomesogens with polar chloro,nitro and phenolic –OH substituents

Two new mesogenic homologous series containing chloro, nitro and phenolic hydroxy groups were synthesised and their molecular structures characterised by a combination of element analysis and standard spectroscopic methods. The mesomorphic behaviour of the compounds of both series was investigated by polarising optical microscopy and, in some cases, differential scanning calorimetry. All the compounds of both the series exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase. In series I higher members also exhibit an enantiotropic smectic A (SmA) mesophase, whereas in series II the enantiotropic SmA mesophase commences somewhat earlier for the middle members. The mesomorphic properties of both series are compared with each other and also with the properties of other structurally related series to evaluate the effects of different polar substituents on mesomorphism.     

Azomesogens containing an ethoxyethyl terminal chain: synthesis and characterization

Two homologous mesogenic series, the ethoxyethyl 4-(4'-n-alkoxyphenylazo)benzoates (I) and the ethoxyethyl [4-(4'-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)phenylazo]-4'-benzoates (II), both containing a terminal ethoxyethyl chain, have been synthesized. In series I, all nine members synthesized exhibit only an enantiotropic smectic A mesophase. In series II, all 12 homologues exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase; a smectic A phase appears in the n-butyloxy derivative as a enantiotropic phase and persists through to the n-hexadecyloxy member. The mesomorphic properties of both series are compared with each other and also with the properties of other structurally related series to evaluate the effects of the ethoxyethyl chain on mesomorphism.     

A Series of Potent CREBBP Bromodomain Ligands Reveals an Induced‐Fit Pocket Stabilized by a Cation–π Interaction

The benzoxazinone and dihydroquinoxalinone fragments were employed as novel acetyl lysine mimics in the development of CREBBP bromodomain ligands. While the benzoxazinone series showed low affinity for the CREBBP bromodomain, expansion of the dihydroquinoxalinone series resulted in the first potent inhibitors of a bromodomain outside the BET family. Structural and computational studies reveal that an internal hydrogen bond stabilizes the protein‐bound conformation of the dihydroquinoxalinone series. The side chain of this series binds in an induced‐fit pocket forming a cation–π interaction with R1173 of CREBBP. The most potent compound inhibits binding of CREBBP to chromatin in U2OS cells.     

Insight into the nonlinear absorbance of two related series of two-photon absorbing chromophores

A comprehensive photophysical study of the linear and nonlinear absorption properties has been carried out on two series of two-photon absorbing dyes to gain insight into how structure-property relationships influence observed nonlinear absorption. The materials studied consist of an electron accepting benzothiazole group connected to an electron donating diphenylamine via a fluorene bridging group. Two series differ from each other by the addition of one phenyl group and for each series one-arm (dipolar, AF240 and AF270), two-arm (quadrupolar, AF287 and AF295), and three-arm (octupolar, AF350 and AF380) versions were studied. Overall the AF240 series exhibits higher intrinsic two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections than the AF270 series as well as enhanced nanosecond nonlinear absorption, with an increase with number of branches. The enhanced nanosecond nonlinearity is understood by taking into account the contribution from the singlet and triplet excited states and was verified by a two-photon assisted excited-state absorption model that satisfactorily predicts the nonlinear absorption of the chromophores.     

Constant-isomer benzenoid series and their topological characteristics

Summary New constant-isomer series are presented. Two classes of constant-isomer series based on the topological correspondence of their member benzenoids are identified. The isomer numbers for the constant-isomer series alternate between singlet and doublet occurrence. Constant-isomer series with the same isomer number possess a pairwise one-to-one topological correspondence between their benzenoid membership. A correspondence also exists between threefold monoradical and diradical benzenoids belonging to these constant-isomer series. These topological relationships represent a new paradigm that we ascribe as an edge effect of our periodic table for benzenoids.     

微孔型聚丙烯腈固体电解质的结构与导电性能研究

用蒸汽相沉析法和液相沉析法分别制备了两类高孔隙率的聚丙烯腈 (PAN)微孔膜 .用扫描电子显微镜对微孔膜的形态进行了观察 ,发现前者为均匀的蜂窝状结构 ,而后者则具有不对称的三层次结构 .又用这两类微孔膜分别制备了两个系列的微孔型PAN电解质 .电性能测试表明前者的室温电导率较高 ,可以达到 4×10 - 3 S cm ,后者的电导率则相对较低 .微孔膜本身诸因素对微孔型PAN电解质电导率的影响顺序为微孔膜结构—孔隙率—微孔孔径     

Dimer liquid crystals with bent mesogenic units

Three series of dimer liquid crystals containing an aromatic and a cholesteryl mesogenic unit were synthesized and investigated The compounds within the series differ in the length of the spacer connecting the mesogenic groups. Two of the three series contain an aromatic mesogenic group that is connected to the spacer at a meta-position instead of the para-position. Due to the presence of this bent mesogenic group, the odd-even effect in the transitional properties that is normally observed for dimer liquid crystals is reversed as compared with that of the third series, which contains a para-substituted aromatic mesogenic group. The reversed odd-even effect is found for the isotropization temperatures, the associated enthalpy changes and also for the optical properties.     

Distinction of gaseous soot precursor molecules and soot precursor particles through photoionization mass spectrometry

Samples were drawn from sooting premixed low-pressure ethylene oxygen flames and investigated through photoionization mass spectrometry using either KrF or ArF lasers as the radiation source. With the former, mass spectra were obtained as described in the literature and characterized through a series of signal groups, one for each C-number and extending to about m/z 1000, assigned as a PAH series. When the ArF laser was used the same series was observed with a somewhat higher sensitivity. In addition, a new series was observed overlaid on the PAH series and starting at about m/z 680. The new series exhibited abundant ions and it completely dominated the spectrum beyond m/z 1000. This series was identified as being the spectrum of soot precursor particles. Through measurement of the ionization order it was concluded that at least two photons are needed for ionization of PAHs whereas the particles need only one photon. Consequently, they can be measured with high sensitivity when an ArF laser is used as the radiation source. Furthermore, the discrimination of soot precursor molecules and soot precursor particles becomes possible through photoionization and this enables an improved understanding of the mass spectra. This should allow a particle growth mechanism to be deduced in the near future.     

Chiral liquid crystalline m-nitrotolans and tolans: synthesis and mesomorphic properties

Two homologous series, 4'-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-4-substituted 3-nitrotolans (Ia-d) and 4'-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-4-substituted tolans (IIa-c), with substituents (S)-2-methyl-1-butyl and n-alkyl, were synthesized by Sonogashira's coupling. Their mesomorphic behaviour is reported. The thermal stability of the series II is higher than that of series I. Series I melting points and clearing points are lower than those of series II. None of the chiral tolans or m-nitrotolans have an enantiotropic smectic C phase. When the chiral chains are changed to n-alkyl groups in compounds Ia,b and IIa, an enantiotropic smectic C phase is seen. All compounds have a nematic or cholesteric phase, and two homologues of series II present a monotropic smectic C phase with mosaic texture. The mesophases were characterized using optical polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry.     

Dimesogenic compounds consisting of cholesterol and azobenzene-based moieties: dependence of liquid crystal properties on spacer length and fluorination of the terminal chain

The liquid crystalline (LC) properties of two series of non-symmetric dimesogenic compounds consisting of cholesterol and azobenzene-based moieties interconnected by ω-oxyalkanoyl spacers of varying length are compared: one series (AOC-n) has an octyloxy chain attached to the azobenzene mesogen unit while the other (AOCF-n) has a perfluoroheptylmethyloxy chain. In general, compounds bearing the fluorinated alkoxy chain exhibited LC properties over a much broader temperature range than those with the alkoxy chain. In addition, the AOC-n series exhibited the chiral smectic C (SmC*), smectic A (SmA) and cholesteric (N*) phases depending on the length of the central spacer, whereas the AOCF-n series favoured the formation of only the SmA phase with the N* phase completely suppressed. Both series showed an odd-even dependence of the isotropization temperature on spacer length.     

Asymptotic Functional Form Preservation Method for the Perturbation Theory: Application to Anharmonic Oscillators

The asymptotic functional form preservation method is developed for the perturbation theory to obtain the energy eigenvalues of anharmonic oscillators. The conventional energy perturbative series expansion for the anharmonic oscillator is strongly divergent even if the anharmonicity is small. Employing a transformation containing an unphysical parameter, we analytically continue this series expansion into a new series expansion applicable to all the range of the perturbation parameter. The unphysical parameter is determined by the principle of minimal sensitivity. This new series expansion is reduced to the conventional energy perturbative series expansion for small anharmonicity, and it preserves the correct asymptotic functional form when the perturbation parameter tends to infinity. Then, we use the full‐range energy series expansion to calculate the energy eigenvalues of the anharmonic oscillator. In addition to excellent energy eigenvalues obtained for the oscillator with small and strong anharmonicity, accurate energy eigenvalues can be obtained using the full‐range energy series expansion when the perturbation parameter tends to infinity.     

DISTINGUISHING OF TWO VOLCANIC ROCK SERIES IN THE LANCANG GROUP, YUNNAN PROVINCE, SW CHINA AND ITS GEOLOGICAL IMPLICATION

The detailed study on petrochemistry and geochemistry shows that meta-volcanics from Huimin and meta-basalts from Suyi belong, respectively, to different volcanic series. The former is of non-alkalic volcanic series and the latter is of straddle A-type alkslic series. Based on their geochemical characteristics of REE, LIL, HFS and Nd, Sr isotope elements, we suggest that Huimin volcanics were formed in an island arc setting and Suyi basalts were formed in a back-continental arc extensive setting. These two volcanic series have not petrogenic relationship.     

A photo‐oxidizable kinetic pathway of three‐component photoinitiator systems containing porphrin dye (Zn‐tpp), an electron donor and diphenyl iodonium salt

A series of kinetic experiments were conducted involving visible‐light activated free radical polymerizations with three‐component photoinitiators and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Three‐component photoinitiator systems generally include a light‐absorbing photosensitizer (PS), an electron donor and an electron acceptor. To compare kinetic efficiency, we used thermodynamic feasibility and measured kinetic data. For this study, 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphyrin zinc (Zn‐tpp) and camphorquinone (CQ) were used as the PSs. The Rehm‐Weller equation was used to verify the thermodynamic feasibility for the photo‐induced electron transfer reaction. Using the thermodynamic feasibility, we suggest two different kinetic mechanisms, which are (i) photo‐reducible series mechanism of CQ and (ii) photo‐oxidizable series mechanism of Zn‐tpp. Kinetic data were measured by near‐IR spectroscopy and photo‐differential scanning calorimetry based on an equivalent concentration of excited state PS. We report that the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism using Zn‐tpp produced dramatically enhanced conversions and rates of polymerizations compared with those associated with the photo‐reducible series mechanism using CQ. It was concluded from the kinetic results that the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism efficiently retards back electron transfer and the recombination reaction step. In addition, the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism provides an efficient secondary reaction step that involves consumption of the dye‐based radical and regeneration of the original PS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3131–3141, 2009     

The shape of CUSUM — an indicator for tendencies in a time series

Summary CUSUM (cumulative sum) can be seen as integral of the attached time series. Therefore the shape of CUSUM allows conclusions as to the type of an instationarity inherent in the time series to be made. This indirect way is advantageous for the evaluation of time series with high random fluctuations. The theoretical background for the information to be derived from the shape of CUSUM as well as examples for application (time series, distribution analysis) are shown in this paper.     

Synthesis, mesomorphic properties and structural study by semi-empirical calculations of amides containing the 1,3,4-thiadiazole unit

The synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of a new series of amides (series 2a-f , 3a-d and 4a-d ) incorporating pyridine and 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings are reported. No homologues of the series 2 show mesomorphic properties. In the series 3 only the highest homologues ( 3d ) displays an enantiotropic SmA mesophase; the compound 3c exhibits a monotropic SmA mesophase, and the homologues 3a , b display no liquid crystal properties. The amides 4b-d display an enantiotropic SmA phases and the first homologue ( 4a ) exhibit only crystalisotropic transition. These series are compared with previously reported Schiff's bases and amide analogues. A structural study by AM1 semi-empirical calculation is also described.     

U-Shaped dimeric liquid crystals derived from phthalic acid

Details of the transitional properties of four homologous series of U-shaped liquid crystal materials, the benzene-1,2-di-(4-carboxyalkoxybenzylidene-4-n-alkylanilines), are presented. The spacers incorporate 3 to 6 methylene units, whilst terminal aliphatic chain lengths are varied from 1 to 12 units. Members of the two homologous series with an odd number of methylene units in the spacer form nematic and smectic phases as a function of terminal chain length. Materials with an even number of methylene units in the spacer are purely smectogenic, and in both series the first two homologues form only smectic B phases. For all four series the higher homologues show the phase sequence SF/I-SC-SA-I. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that these smectic phases are composed of molecules arranged in bilayers.     

Synthesis of two naphthyl-containing homologous series of mesogenic ligands and the related metallomesogens containing Cu(II)

Two new naphthyl-containing homologous series of mesogenic ligands, the 4-n-alkoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene-2'-naphthylamines (series I) and 4(4'-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzylidene-2'-naphthylamines (series II), as well as the related metallomesogens of higher homologues containing a Cu(II) atom, have been synthesized. All the ligands and complexes were characterized by a combination of elemental analysis and standard spectroscopic methods. In series I, n-heptyloxy and n-octyloxy derivatives are non-mesogenic whereas the remaining higher members synthesized exhibit a monotropic nematic mesophase. In series II, all the members synthesized exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase. All the metallomesogens of series I synthesized exhibit a monotropic smectic A mesophase, except for the n-octyloxy derivative, which is non-mesogenic, whereas metallomesogens of series II exhibit enantiotropic nematic mesophases up to the n-tetradecyloxy derivatives; the n-tetradecyloxy and n-hexadecyloxy derivatives also exhibit smectic C mesophases. All the members of series II and their metallomesogens exhibit mesophases with wide temperature ranges and greater thermal stability as compared to series I and their metallomesogens, respectively. The mesomorphic properties of both the present series and their metallomesogens are compared with each other and with other structurally related series to evaluate the effect of the naphthalene moiety on mesomorphism.     

Azomesogens containing a β-chloroethyl terminal chain: synthesis and characterisation

In this paper, we present the synthesis and characterisation of two new mesogenic homologous series, β-chloroethyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoates (I) and the β-chloroethyl [4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)phenylazo]-4”-benzoates (II), containing a terminal β-chloro ethyl chain. Series I was synthesised by alkylation of β-chloroethyl 4-(4′-hydroxy phenylazo) benzoate with an appropriate alkyl halide, whereas series II was synthesised by esterification of β-chloroethyl 4-(4′-hydroxyphenylazo) benzoate with an appropriate 4-n-alkoxybenzoic acid. The molecular structures of these new compounds of both the series were characterised by combination of element analysis and a standard spectroscopic method. The mesomorphic behaviour was studied mainly by use of a polarised microscope and, in some cases, differential scanning calorimeter as well. In series I, all nine members synthesised exhibited only an enantiotropic smectic A mesophase. In series II, all 12 homologues exhibited an enantiotropic nematic mesophase; a smectic A phase appeared in the n-octyloxy derivative as an enantiotropic phase and persisted through to the n-hexadecyloxy member. The mesomorphic properties of both series were compared with each other and also with the properties of other structurally related series to evaluate the effects of the β-chloroethyl tail on mesomorphism.     

Novel potassium channel activators. II. Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives: modification of the aromatic part.

Three new series of analogues related to 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivative 1a were synthesized and evaluated for their potassium channel activating activity. In the first series I, where the 6,7-positions were disubstituted, it was found that an electron-withdrawing substituent was preferable at the 6 position, but either an electron-withdrawing or releasing substituent without bulkiness was tolerated at the 7 position. In the second series II, where several heterocycles were introduced into the 6,7-positions, the oxadiazole derivative 6 showed more potent activity than cromakalim. In the third series III, where the benzene ring was replaced by a pyridine ring, borane complex 16 had equivalent activity to cromakalim. Especially, compound 6 showed a potent hypotensive effect with a long duration of action in the spontaneous hypertensive rat and had a lesser increasing effect on intracranial pressure in dogs than 1a and levcromakalim, showing a good profile as an antihypertensive agent.