Complexes in polymers IV. FTIR microscopic characterization of thin organic polymer films containing embedded transition-metal carbonyl complexes

Thin films of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene-polyacrylonitrile copolymer (PS-AN), containing various embedded transition-metal complexes, have been studied by FTIR microscopy. The spatial distributions of the transition-metal carbonyl complexes throughout the thin organic polymer films have been determined by a two-dimensional IR mapping procedure. The spectral variations observed in the distribution of the metal carbonyls throughout the different polymer films are discussed. The IR data show that the technique used to prepare the organometallic-embedded thin films (viz. freeze-drying of solutions followed by hot mechanical pressing of the residues) does in general lead to homogeneous films which may eventually find industrial application, e.g. as membrane sensors for small molecules.     

Mechanism of the reaction of neutral and anionic N-nucleophiles with α-halocarbonyl compounds

N-Acylalkylation of neutral and anionic N-nucleophiles with α-halocarbonyl compounds was investigated by quantum chemical methods in terms of the density functional theory and by experimental methods for 2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-1(10)H-5-one, its N-anion, and simpler model structures. High reactivity of these reagents is determined primarily by stabilization of transition states (TS) by bridge bonds involving halogen or nitrogen atoms rather than by conjugation, as has been commonly accepted. Bridged TS are formed by both the substitution mechanism S _N 2 and the addition-elimination mechanism. α-Haloalkyl-substituted zwitterions, which are potential intermediates of stepwise N-acylalkylation of neutral N-nucleophiles, do not exist in the isolated state, but they are rather efficiently stabilized upon solvation. These zwitterions, as well as analogous O-anions generated from anionic N-nucleophiles, can serve as intermediates of N-acylalkylation, as was demonstrated by localization of the corresponding TS. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1150–1164, June, 2007.     

2‐Cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate mediated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of acrylonitrile targeting a polymer with a higher molecular weight

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) mediated by 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate was first applied to synthesize polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with a high molecular weight up to 32,800 and a polydispersity index as low as 1.29. The key to success was ascribed to the optimization of the experimental conditions to increase the fragmentation reaction efficiency of the intermediate radical. In accordance with the atom transfer radical polymerization of AN, ethylene carbonate was also a better solvent candidate for providing higher controlled/living RAFT polymerization behaviors than dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. The various experimental parameters, including the temperature, the molar ratio of dithiobenzoate to the initiator, the molar ratio of the monomer to dithiobenzoate, the monomer concentration, and the addition of the comonomer, were varied to improve the control of the molecular weight and polydispersity index. The molecular weights of PANs were validated by gel permeation chromatography along with a universal calibration procedure and intrinsic viscosity measurements. ¹H NMR analysis confirmed the high chain‐end functionality of the resultant polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1272–1281, 2007     

A comparative study on the interaction between tin(II) porphyrin and selected group 8B metals for potential application as reduction catalysts

We study the interaction between tin(II) porphyrin (SnPor) with platinum and non-precious Group 8B metals (iron, cobalt and nickel) by density functional theory and discuss the electronic properties of the resulting products. We also model the interaction of the resulting compounds with water where applicable. Our studies indicate that, SnPor-Ni possesses electronic properties similar to SnPor-Pt, suggesting that it may possess similar photocatalytic properties for reduction reactions, such as converting water to hydrogen gas.     

Homoclinic and Periodic Orbits Arising Near the Heteroclinic Cycle Connecting Saddle-focus and Saddle Under Reversible Condition

In this paper, we study the dynamical behavior for a 4-dimensional reversible system near its heteroclinic loop connecting a saddle-focus and a saddle. The existence of infinitely many reversible 1-homoclinic orbits to the saddle and 2-homoclinic orbits to the saddle-focus is shown. And it is also proved that, corresponding to each 1-homoclinic （resp. 2-homoclinic） orbit F, there is a spiral segment such that the associated orbits starting from the segment are all reversible 1-periodic （resp. 2-periodic） and accumulate onto F. Moreover, each 2-homoclinic orbit may be also accumulated by a sequence of reversible 4-homoclinic orbits.     

Scientific legacy of Stanley Ruby

Stanley L. Ruby (1924–2004) made major contributions to Mössbauer spectroscopy and was the first to suggest the feasibility of observing the Mössbauer effect using synchrotron radiation. In this article we recall his scientific legacy that have inspired his scientific colleagues.     

Imidazol(in)ium carboxylates as N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors for Suzuki-Miyaura reactions

Simple catalysts formed in situ from palladium acetate and a variety of imidazolium and imidazolinium carboxylates and dithiocarboxylates have been screened in the coupling of aryl halides with trans-2-phenylvinylboronic acid. Imidazol(in)ium carboxylates show an excellent activity, which compares to that displayed by the parent imidazol(in)ium chlorides, whereas imidazol(in)ium dithiocarboxylates are poorly efficient. Interestingly, the base employed exerts a profound influence on the trans/cis stereochemistry of the coupling product.     

Crystal field analysis of the magnetization curves of R2Fe17 and R2Fe17H3 (R=Tb,Ho,Er)

In this paper the values of the crystalline-electric-field parameters A_nm for R₂Fe₁₇ and R₂Fe₁₇H₃ (R=Tb,Ho,Er) are evaluated by fitting calculations to the magnetization curves measured on the single crystal at several temperatures. The fitted A_nm for R₂Fe₁₇ are strikingly different from those for the corresponding R₂Fe₁₇H₃. The energy gaps between the lowest four energy levels for Ho ions in Ho₂Fe₁₇₂ can be reproduced by using the fitted A_nm and exchange field 2μ_BH_ex, which estimated from the fit of the temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization combined with inelastic neutron scattering experiment.