Unexpectedly high young's moduli recorded for iPP/HDPE blends

Young's moduli of a series of quenched isotactic polypropylene/high‐density polyethylene blends were measured. The moduli of many of the blends exceeded the upper bound, calculated from the parallel model with the moduli of the two quenched homopolymers as those of the two components. In fact, both components crystallized at higher temperatures in the blends than they did on their own. It is argued that the higher crystallization temperatures of the components lead to higher component moduli and that this can explain the observation that the measured moduli of the blends apparently exceeded the upper bound. The implications of this work are discussed in light of other studies concerning the measurement and calculation of blend moduli. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1404–1414, 2001     

Binary-phase spatial filter for real-time swept-source optical coherence microscopy

We report a novel scheme to optimize the focusing condition for real-time, swept-source optical coherence microscopy. The axial and lateral behaviors of four-zone binary-phase spatial filters are presented numerically. A nearly constant axial intensity distribution along an extended depth of focus of 1.5 mm and a lateral resolution of 5 microm are experimentally verified. The A-line scan rate is up to 16 kHz, yielding a frame rate of 25 Hz and 640 lines per image.     

Sustainable Synthesis of Chiral Tetrahydrofurans through the Selective Dehydration of Pentoses

L ‐Arabinose is an abundant resource available as a waste product of the sugar beet industry. Through use of a hydrazone‐based strategy, L ‐arabinose was selectively dehydrated to form a chiral tetrahydrofuran on a multi‐gram scale without the need for protecting groups. This approach was extended to other biomass‐derived reducing sugars and the mechanism of the key cyclization investigated. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of a range of functionalized chiral tetrahydrofurans, as well as a formal synthesis of 3R‐3‐hydroxymuscarine.     

Fabrication of spiropyran-containing thin film sensors used for the simultaneous identification of multiple metal ions

In this article, a methacrylate-based spiropyran-containing copolymer was used as a colorimetric sensor to identify multiple metal ions simultaneously. Through UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, the relative binding affinity of merocyanine to each metal ion was investigated by displacement studies of a bound metal ion with a second metal ion of a higher binding affinity. We also show that because each metal ion gives rise to a distinct spectral response, partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) can be used to analyze the UV-vis absorbance spectra to identify the two metal ions that are present in solution at varying concentrations simply by dipping a coated polymer substrate into solution after irradiation. Partial least-squares regression analysis (PLS) was used to determine the metal ions in solution for several binary mixtures quantitatively. We also demonstrate that the quantitative determination depends on the relative binding preference of merocyanine to each metal ion.     

Surface-confined nickel mediated cross-coupling reactions: characterization of initiator environment in Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation

Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation (KCTP) has proven to be an excellent strategy toward the synthesis of well-defined conjugated polymers. In this report, Ni(0) species are reacted with surface-bound aryl bromides to yield KCTP initiators of structure (aryl)Ni(II)-Br. Surface-confined Kumada reactions are carried out with a ferrocene functionalized Grignard reagent to quantify initiator coverage, ligand exchange, and Kumada reaction kinetics. In addition, surface-initiated Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation (SI-KCTP) is carried out from the fabricated initiators to modify SiO(2) and ITO surfaces. Uniform poly(3-methylthiophene) films with thicknesses between 40 and 65 nm were characterized using a variety of spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques.     

Cystic fibrosis: CFTR correctors to the rescue

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) correctors are small molecules that target the most common cause of cystic fibrosis: misfolded F508del-CFTR. Using differential scanning fluorimetry, Sampson et?al. (2010) identify a CFTR corrector that interacts directly with the CFTR domain affected by the F508del mutation.     

A structure-based analysis of the vibrational spectra of nitrosyl ligands in transition-metal coordination complexes and clusters

The vibrational spectra of nitrogen monoxide or nitric oxide (NO) bonded to one or to several transition-metal (M) atom(s) in coordination and cluster compounds are analyzed in relation to the various types of such structures identified by diffraction methods. These structures are classified in: (a) terminal (linear and bent) nitrosyls, [M(σ-NO)] or [M(NO)]; (b) twofold nitrosyl bridges, [M₂(μ₂-NO)]; (c) threefold nitrosyl bridges, [M₃(μ₃-NO)]; (d) σ/π-dihaptonitrosyls or “side-on” nitrosyls; and (e) isonitrosyls (oxygen-bonded nitrosyls).Typical ranges for the values of internuclear N–O and M–N bond-distances and M–N–O bond-angles for linear nitrosyls are: 1.14–1.20 Å/1.60–1.90 Å/180–160° and for bent nitrosyls are 1.16–1.22 Å/1.80–2.00 Å/140–110°. The [M₂(μ₂-NO)] bridges have been divided into those that contain one or several metal–metal bonds and those without a formal metal/metal bond (M?M). Typical ranges for the M–M, N–O, M–N bond distances and M–N–M bond angles for the normal twofold NO bridges are: 2.30–3.00 Å/1.18–1.22 Å/1.80–2.00 Å/90–70°, whereas for the analogous ranges of the long twofold NO bridges these are 3.10–3.40 Å/1.20–1.24 Å/1.90–2.10 Å/130–110°. In both situations the N–O vector is approximately at right angle to the M–M (or M?M) vector within the experimental error; i.e. the NO group is symmetrical bonded to the two metal atoms. In contrast the threefold NO bridges can be symmetrically or unsymmetrically bonded to an M₃-plane of a cluster compound. Characteristic values for the N–O and M–N bond-distances of these NO bridges are: 1.24–1.28 Å/1.80–1.90 Å, respectively. As few dihaptonitrosyl and isonitrosyl complexes are known, the structural features of these are discussed on an individual basis.The very extensive vibrational spectroscopy literature considered gives emphasis to the data from linearly bonded NO ligands in stable closed-shell metal complexes; i.e. those which are consistent with the “effective atomic number (EAN)” or “18-electron” rule. In the paucity of enough vibrational spectroscopic data from complexes with only nitrosyl ligands, it turned out to be very advantageous to use wavenumbers from the spectra of uncharged and saturated nitrosyl/carbonyl metal complexes as references, because the presence of a carbonyl ligand was found to be neutral in its effect on the ν(NO)-values. The wide wavenumber range found for the ν(NO) values of linear MNO complexes are then presented in terms of the estimated effects of net ionic charges, or of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating ligands bonded to the same metal atom. Using this approach we have found that: (a) the effect for a unit positive charge is [plus 100 cm^?1] whereas for a unit negative charge it is [minus 145 cm^?1]. (b) For electron-withdrawing co-ligands the estimated effects are: terminal CN [plus 50 cm^?1]; terminal halogens [plus 30 cm^?1]; bridging or quasi-bridging halogens [plus 15 cm^?1]. (c) For electro donating co-ligands they are: PF₃ [plus 10 cm^?1]; P(OPh)₃ [?30 cm^?1]; P(OR)₃ (R = alkyl group) [?40 cm^?1]; PPh₃ [?55 cm^?1]; PR₃ (R = alkyl group) [?70 cm^?1]; and η⁵-C₅H₅ [?60 cm^?1]; η⁵-C₅H₄Me [?70 cm^?1]; η⁵-C₅Me₅ [?80 cm^?1]. These values were mostly derived from the spectra of nitrosyl complexes that have been corrected for the presence of only a single electronically-active co-ligand. After making allowance for ionic charges or strongly-perturbing ligands on the same metal atom, the adjusted ‘neutral-co-ligand’ ν(NO)*-values (in cm^?1) are for linear nitrosyl complexes with transition metals of Period 4 of the Periodic Table, i.e. those with atomic orbitals (…4s3d4p): [ca. 1750, Cr(NO)]; [1775,Mn(NO)]; [1796,Fe(NO)]; [1817,Co(NO)]; [ca. 1840, Ni(NO)]. Period 5 (…5s4d5p): [1730 Mo(NO)]; [—, Tc(NO)]; [1745,Ru(NO)]; [1790,Rh(NO)]; [ca. 1845, Pd(NO)]. Period 6 (…6s4f5d6p), [1720,W(NO)]; [1730,Re(NO)]; [1738,Os(NO)]; [1760,Ir(NO)]; [—, Pt] respectively. Environmental differences to these values, e.g. data taken in polar solutions or in the crystalline state, can cause ν(NO)* variations (mostly reductions) of up to ca. 30 cm^?1.Three spectroscopic criteria are used to distinguish between linear and bent NO groups. These are: (i) the values of ν(¹⁴NO) themselves, and (ii) the isotopic band shift – (IBS) – parameter which is defined as [ν(¹⁴NO)–ν(¹⁵NO)], and, (iii) the isotopic band ratio – (IBR) – given by [ν(¹⁵NO/ν¹⁴NO)]. The former is illustrated with the ν(¹⁴NO)-data from trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) and tetragonal pyramidal (TP) structures of [M(NO(L)₄] complexes (where M = Fe, Co, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir and L = ligand). These values indicate that linear (180–170°) and strongly bent (130–120°) NO groups in these compounds absorb over the 1862–1690 cm^?1 and 1720–1525 cm^?1-regions, respectively. As was explicitly demonstrated for the linear nitrosyls, these extensive regions reflect the presence in different complexes of a very wide range of co-ligands or ionic charges associated with the metal atom of the nitrosyl group. A plot of the IBS parameter against M–N–O bond-angle for compounds with general formulae [M(NO)(L)_y] (y = 4, 5, 6) reveals that the IBS-values are clustered between 45 and 30 cm^?1 or between 37 and 25 cm^?1 for linear or bent NO groups, respectively. A plot of IBR shows a less well defined pattern. Overall it is suggested that bent nitrosyls absorb ca. 60–100 cm^?1 below, and have smaller co-ligand band-shifts, than their linear counterparts.Spectroscopic ν(NO) data of the bridging or other types of NO ligands are comparatively few and therefore it has not been possible to give other than general ranges for ‘neutral co-ligand’ values. Moreover the bridging species data often depend on corrections for the effects of electronically-active co-ligands such as cyclopentadienyl-like groups. The derived neutral co-ligand estimates, ν(NO)*, are: (a) twofold bridged nitrosyls with a metal–metal bond order of one, or greater than one, absorb at ca. 1610–1490 cm^?1; (b) twofold bridged nitrosyl ligands with a longer non-bonding M?M distance, ca. 1520–1490 cm^?1; (c) threefold bridged nitrosyls, ca. 1470–1410 cm^?1; (d) σ/π dihaptonitrosyl, [M(η²-NO)], where M = Cr, Mn and Ni; ca. 1490–1440 cm^?1. Isonitrosyls, from few examples, appear to absorb below ca. 1100 cm^?1.To be published DFT calculations of the infrared and Raman spectra of complexes with formulae [M(NO)_4?n(CO)_n] (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively) are used as models for the assignments of the ν(MN) and δ(MNO) bands from more complex metal nitrosyls.     

High resolution nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectra of hydrocarbon groupings

The interpretation of ABC-type spectra is discussed in relation to several series of calculated spectra; some frequency and intensity sum rules are indicated.

The hydrogen spectra of some vinyl derivatives, X. CH = CH₂ (X = F, Cl, Br, O and C) have been analysed. It is shown that

and that a modified correlation holds between the J^gem coupling constants of CH₂ groups and the H-C-H angle in a range of molecules. All three coupling constants of the vinyl compounds decrease approximately linearly with the electronegativity of X; these effects are probably transmitted through the sigma bonds. By contrast the difference between the chemical shift of the = CH₂ group and that of the XHC = group is approximately linearly dependent on Taft's resonance parameter, σ_R , suggesting that the pi-electron distribution is principally concerned in this case.     

A dual-frequency Belousov Zhabotinskii oscillating reaction with ethyl acetoacetate as organic substrate

The experimental behavior of the cerium- and manganese-catalyzed Belousov Zhabotinskii oscillating reaction with ethyl acetoacetate as organic substrate has been investigated. Under certain conditions the system displays two types of temporal oscillations. Damped highfrequency oscillations appear immediately after the addition of potassium bromate solution to complete the reaction mixture. These high-frequency oscillations may be regarded as being superimposed on an induction period of the type found in the reaction using malonic acid. After the induction period, low-frequency oscillations of the normal type are obtained. Both the high-frequency and the low-frequency oscillations can be monitored with a platinum redox or with a bromide specific ion electrode.