Dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate: Mechanism of particle formation

The mechanism for the formation of micron-size polymer particles in the dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate was investigated by applying dynamic light scattering to monitor the evolution of the average particle size in the early stages of the polymerization. In addition, the contributions of physically adsorbed stabilizer and graft copolymer were evaluated by measuring the bound, unbound (adsorbed), and free stabilizer, and by determining the amount of added stabilizer required in seeded dispersion polymerizations. Twenty nanometer particles (termed nuclei) were the smallest particles detected and are considered to be formed by aggregation of growing polymer chains precipitating from solution as they exceed their critical chain length. Aggregation of these nuclei with themselves and their aggregates continues until mature and stable particles are formed. This occurs when sufficient stabilizer occupies the particle surface which includes both the polymeric stabilizer [poly(vinylpyrrolidone)] and its graft copolymer which is created in situ. The effects of process variables are discussed based on this mechanistic picture of the dispersion polymerization process. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polyparametric modification equation for estimating thermodynamic properties of energetic nitro compounds

Calculation methods, based on hybrid density-functional theory with the basis sets of B3LYP/ 6-311+G (2d, p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d, p)and B3LYP/6-31+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d, p), were applied to determine the thermodynamic characteristics of various energetic nitro compounds. A parametric modification equation and the least-squares approach were used to identify 21 of the energetic research compounds. The atomization energies of these 21 compounds have an average relative error of 0.21–0.25% of the experimental values. The enthalpy (H _f) and the Gibbs energy (G _f) of formation have mean absolute errors of 10.8–11.4 kJ/ mol (2.6–2.7 kcal/mol) and 10.0–10.3 kJ/mol (2.4 kcal/ mol), respectively. The enthalpy and the Gibbs energy of formation obtained exceed those in the literature obtained by semiempirical calculations. The calibrated least-squares parameters and parametric equations were used to predict H _f and G _f for the five newly developed energetic nitro compounds for further applications.Acknowledgements. The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China for financial support of this work under grant no. NSC-91-2113-M-014-003. The National Center for High-Performance Computing providing the computation facility is also acknowledged.     

Thermodynamic study of N-trifluoroacetyl-O-alkyl nipecotic acid ester enantiomers on diluted permethylated beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase

Thermodynamic studies were performed on 12 pairs of N-trifluoroacetyl-O-alkyl nipecotic acid ester enantiomers on diluted permethylated beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase (CP Chirasil-Dex CB). The influence of ester alkyl group structure on interaction with permethylated beta-cyclodextrin (Me-CD) and enantioselectivity was studied. The types of alkyl groups studied included n-alkyl (C1-C5) and groups containing branching at differing locations relative to the chiral center of the molecule. The results show that for a given molecular weight, the n-alkyl esters have stronger interactions with Me-CD than esters containing branched alkyl groups. However, although having weaker interactions with Me-CD, esters containing alpha-branched alkyl groups exhibit higher enantioselectivity than the corresponding n-alkyl or beta-branched isobutyl esters. From the retention data, thermodynamic parameters were estimated using the retention increment method and enthalpy-entropy compensation plots (ln R' versus deltaH) were constructed. The results suggest that ester enantiomers with branching at the alpha-carbon of the ester alkyl group have additional and/or different types of enantioselective interactions with Me-CD than the C1-C5 n-alkyl esters or beta-branched isobutyl ester. In order to obtain a qualitative sense of the interaction with Me-CD, structures of the diastereomeric complexes formed between Me-CD and some of the ester enantiomers were modeled using simulated annealing molecular dynamics.     

On-line testing of gas chromatographic columns with a programmable computing integrator

Summary A program is described which calculates the number of effective plates and the coating efficiency over the entire range of a test chromatogram. The peak widths at half height are derived by assuming a Gaussian peak shape. The interpolated peak width at k=4 is used for computing a standardized number of effective plates. Plate height, column permeability, overall performance and a novel parameter called sampling efficiency are calculated from 5 other figures — i. e. carrier gas code, pressure drop, column length, column temperature and particle size.Dedicated to Dr. Leslie S. Ettre for his 60th birthday.     

The predictive accuracy for estimating infinite dilution activity coefficients by γ∞-based UNIFAC

The predictive accuracy for estimating infinite dilution activity coefficients by a modification of the UNIFAC method wherein the group interaction parameters were based on only data (referred to as -based UNIFAC) has been studied. Estimates and measured values were compared for six prototypical solutes in a series of homologous n-alkanes, l-alcohols and alkanenitrile solvents. Despite the fact that the interaction parameters were derived using only data, this approach still gave serious errors due to several inherent problems in the original UNIFAC model. Its performance is sometimes even poorer than that of the original UNIFAC method. For example for nitromethane in alcohols and p-dioxane in nitriles values predicted by the -based UNIFAC are essentially zero. The large errors for these systems are most likely due to inaccurate interaction parameters in the -based UNIFAC method.     

原子结构参数的改进Xa法计算

六十年代后期,在Hartree－Fock-Slater法的基础上,提出了Xα法［1］．用于原子结构计算的Xα法与HF（Hartree－Fock）法的主要区别在于：用简单的统计平均交换势替代了HF法中计算最为困难的电子交换势,从而在保持较高理论严谨性和计算精确度的同时,大大减少了计算工作量,近年来获得了广泛的应用．我们尝试用经过适当修改的Xα方法,计算原子参数,解决分子结构中的某些问题．用原子参数解决分子问题,历来是化学和物理工作者常用的方法．本工作的意图是引入一个比HF法简单的容易在微机上实现的某种表现原子参数的计算方法,提供…     

Absolute rate calculations: atom and proton transfers in hydrogen-bonded systems.

We calculate energy barriers of atom- and proton-transfer reactions in hydrogen-bonded complexes in the gas phase. Our calculations do not involve adjustable parameters and are based on bond-dissociation energies, ionization potentials, electron affinities, bond lengths, and vibration frequencies of the reactive bonds. The calculated barriers are in agreement with experimental data and high-level ab initio calculations. We relate the height of the barrier with the molecular properties of the reactants and complexes. The structure of complexes with strong hydrogen bonds approaches that of the transition state, and substantially reduces the barrier height. We calculate the hydrogen-abstraction rates in H-bonded systems using the transition-state theory with the semiclassical correction for tunneling, and show that they are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. H-bonding leads to an increase in tunneling corrections at room temperature.     

Generalized criterion of solvent polarity as a tool for control of chromatographic process

The generalized (reductive) criterion of solvent polarity was obtained by the method of multiparametric optimization of the Snyder index P", Hildebrand parameter _T , permittivity _r , and solvatochromism parameter E _T (30). Possibilities of employing this criterion for estimation of the elution power of normal and reversed mobile phases used in high-performance liquid chromatography were considered.     

Interactions of D-Maltose and Sucrose with Some Amino Acids in Aqueous Solutions

Calorimetric titrations have been performed at 298.15 K in aqueous solutions to derive the stability constants and thermodynamic parameters of the interactions of D-maltose and sucrose with some amino acids (glycine, DL-alanine, DL-leucine, and L-serine). The apparent molal volumes of the disaccharides in dilute aqueous solutions of the amino acids have been determined from density measurements at 298.15 K. In contrast to D-maltose, sucrose was found to associate with the amino acids and these associated species are preferentially entropy stabilized. These results are interpreted in terms of the influence of the nature of the solutes, their specific conformations, and hydration, on the ability of the disaccharides to form associated complexes with the amino acids.     

Study of the Behavior of an EC Mechanism Using Cyclic and Derivative Chronopotentiometric Techniques with Spherical Electrodes

The theory for an EC mechanism in chronopotentiometric techniques – reversal chronopotentiometry, cyclic chronopotentiometry and reciprocal derivative chronopotentiometry – is developed. The equations of this article are valid for spherical electrodes of any size and present a compact and easy‐to‐manage form. Methods for determining kinetic parameters of the chemical reaction are proposed and the influence of the electrode radius is discussed. We conclude that large errors in the determination of these parameters are committed if electrode sphericity is neglected. Reciprocal derivative chronopotentiometry has been applied in its traditional form (dt/dE vs. E), and in a more recently proposed modality consisting of plotting dt^1/2/dE vs. E. These techniques are very convenient for studying an EC mechanism since the response is obtained in the form of peaks which are quantitatively related to the kinetic parameters of the chemical reaction. A comparison of the chronopotentiometric methods analyzed leads us to conclude that working curves based on the dt^1/2/dE vs. E curves are more suitable to obtain accurate values of the rate constants of the chemical reaction.