Photoinduced optical anisotropy in films of photochromic liquid crystalline polymers

The light-induced modification of the optical properties of photochromic liquid crystalline (side-group) polymers (LCPs) containing azobenzene moieties was studied. Films of such polymers were irradiated with unpolarized and linearly polarized light. Unpolarized irradiation results in a modification of the order parameter, whereas the director orientation remains constant. The light-induced disturbance of the supramolecular order is strongly dependent on the structure of the polymer. A correlation with the enthalpic stability of the liquid crystalline phases is given. Linearly polarized irradiation causes a modification of the order parameter and a reorientation of the side-groups towards a direction perpendicular to the electric vector of the actinic light. This reorientation process is caused by an angular-dependent photoselection within the steady state of the photoisomerization of the azobenzene units. The amount and kinetic of the reorientation differ considerably as a function of certain structural features of the polymers, such as the content of photochromic moieties and the lengths of the spacer chains between the polymeric backbone and the rod-like moieties. It is shown that under certain circumstances the angular-dependent photoselection process may cause a reorientation of the non-photochromic moieties by a cooperative process. The result is a light-induced rotation of the optical axis of the LCP and thus an efficient modification of the birefringent and dichroic properties. This effect can be used in optical data storage.     

Vapor-liquid equilibria for the system water + tert.-pentanol at 4 temperatures

Precise isothermal vapor-liquid equilibrium data at 10, 30, 55 and 70°C for the system water + tert.-pentanol were measured using a computer-operated differential static apparatus. Activity coefficients at infinite dilution were derived from the experimental P − x data in the dilute region using a flexible Legendre polynomial, and the vapor-liquid-liquid locus was derived directly from the P − x data near the liquid-liquid phase boundary. Heteroazeotropic points were measured directly by distillation using a rotating band column. Furthermore the UNIQUAC and the NRTL models were used to correlate the experimental P − x data and to derive the azeotropic data.

Experimental H^E data were taken from literature and used together with the experimental P − x data to simultaneously fit temperature dependent interaction parameters for UNIQUAC and NRTL. The parameters were used to predict the azeotropic composition over a large temperature range. The results were compared with those of a simple analytical thermodynamic equation using only the pure component vapor pressure data, heats of mixing in the heterogeneous region and the azeotropic composition at one temperature.

Heats of mixing were measured at 140°C with the help of a flow calorimeter in order to determine the slope of H^E vs. x₁ in the heterogeneous region. The H^E data were used to check the reliability of the G^E model parameters and the equation to calculate the temperature dependence of the heteroazeotropic composition.     

Cyano-modified pre-coated plates — a medium polar modification for high performance thin-layer chromatography

Summary The introduction of a cyano-modified, pre-coated layer substantially widens the selectivity of stationary phases in thin-layer chromatography. This is a moderately polar sorbent based on silica gel 60, which can be used both in adsorption chromatography and in reversed-phase chromatography. This new pre-coated layer is particularly suitable for separation of steroids, alkaloids and derivatized amino acids. The possibility of separating habitforming drugs and preservatives in the presence of ionpair reagents is also discussed.     

Vicinal13C-13C coupling via nn,nno and cn paths

From the vicinal ¹³C-¹³C coupling constants determined for a series of bi(poly) cyclic azo-, azoxy- and imino-compounds an independent increment for the NN-, NNO- and NC units of ca. 15, 3–4 and ca.8 Hz resp. was deduced.     

Electronic structure of the azide ion using the SCF Xα SW method

The electronic structure of the azide ion is investigated using the SCF Xα scattered wave method. Calculated ionization energies are compared with values determined by electron spectroscopy. Transition state calculations for π_g → π*_u, σ_u → π*_u and σ_g → π*_u single electron transitions yield excitation energies near 5.7, 11.0, and 12.0 eV respectively.     

Free Radical Formation from Excited States of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids and esters in solution as studied by electron spin resonance

During UV.-irradiation of aliphatic carboxylic acids and esters in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions various alkyl and acyl type radicals derived from parent compounds and solvents have been observed by ESR.-spectroscopy. The structures of the radicals point to α-cleavage, β-dehalogenation and photoreduction as major photolytic processes of carboxylic acids and esters. The relative contributions of these processes to the overall photodecompositions depend on the carboxyl substituents, on solvent and temperature. Similarities of carboxyl and carbonyl group photochemistry are discussed.     

Synthesis of 2,5-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepins and 5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[b]oxocines based on [3+3] cyclizations of 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers)

Functionalized 2,5-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepins and 5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[b]oxocines were prepared based on a ‘[3+3] cyclization-olefin-metathesis’ strategy.     

A non-aqueous organometallic route to highly monodispersed copper nanoparticles using [Cu(OCH(Me)CH2NMe2)2

Good quality, highly monodispersed capped copper metal nanoparticles have been synthesised in a non-hydrolytic approach using thermal decomposition of the Cu(II) precursor [Cu(OCH(Me)CH2NMe2)2] in a hot coordinating solvent without further reducing agents; the copper nanoparticles have been characterised by optical spectroscopy (UV/VIS), electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (SAED), and dynamic light scattering (DLS).     

Thermisch stimulierte Ströme in Hochdruckpolyäthylen

Zusammenfassung Zur Untersuchung des Leitungsmechanismus in Polyäthylen (LDPE) wurden Messungen thermisch stimulierter Ströme im Temperaturbereich von –190 bis +40 °C durchgeführt. Dabei treten, abhängig von der Polarisationstemperatur, bis zu vier, teilweise nur als Schulter ausgeprägte Maxima auf. Zwei Peaks bei tiefer Temperatur, die im wesentlichen unabhängig von der Polarisationstemperatur sind, werden mit Injektion und Trapping von Ladungsträgern (Elektronen oder Löcher) in Verbindung gebracht. Der Hauptpeak bei hoher Temperatur, dessen Erscheinen abhängig von der Polarisationstemperatur ist, kann mit einer Dipolorientierung PE-eigener Dipole erklärt werden.

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Summary Thermally stimulated currents have been measured in low-density polyethylene in the temperature range from –190 to +40 °C. In this range four peaks are discernable, of which two near –170°C and –135°C are interpreted in terms of electron or hole injection and subsequent detrapping. The depolarisation phenomenon at higher temperatures is strongly sensitive to polarisation temperature and can be explained in terms of dipole orientation.

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Die diesem Bericht zugrunde liegenden Arbeiten werden mit Mitteln des Bundesministers für Forschung und Technologie im Rahmen des Technologieprogramms gefördert. Die Verantwortung für den Inhalt liegt jedoch allein bei den Autoren.     

Heterocyclic alpha-alkylidene cyclopentenones obtained via a Pauson-Khand reaction of amino acid derived allenynes. A scope and limitation study directed toward the preparation of a tricyclic pyrrole library

The synthesis of a novel class of tricyclic pyrroles has been accomplished by using a Pauson-Khand/Stetter/Paal-Knorr reaction sequence. Full details of the Pauson-Khand reaction of amino acid tethered allenynes 4a-e and 9a-d are disclosed. The study of this reaction led to the discovery of an unprecedented substituent effect on the diastereoselectivity of the Mo(CO)6 mediated allenic Pauson-Khand reaction. It was found that amino acid tethered allenynes with aromatic side chains afford alpha-alkylidene cyclopentenones with the opposite diastereoselectivity compared to those with aliphatic side chains. This effect has been attributed to complexation of the metal mediator to the aromatic ring in the substrate. Furthermore, an isomerization of one of the diastereomers of the alpha-alkylidene cyclopentenones was encountered, leading to eventual decomposition. The stable diastereomers were found to react well in the Stetter reaction leading to 1,4-diketones that were converted to pyrroles. The observation that the first generation of 2-alkyl-substituted pyrroles was unstable led to a second generation of 2-carboxamide pyrroles with sufficient stability for biological tests which are in progress.