Direct evidence for the gas phase thermal polymerization of styrene. Determination of the initiation mechanism and structures of the early oligomers by ion mobility

We present here direct evidence for the thermal self-initiated polymerization of styrene in the gas phase and establish that the initiation process proceeds via essentially the same mechanism (the Mayo mechanism) as in condensed phase polymerization. Furthermore, we provide structural identifications of the dimers and trimers formed in the gas phase.     

Spectrophotometric and titrimetric determination of gallium in minerals and ores using semimethylthymol blue

The composition, overall stability constant and molar absorptivity of the chelate of gallium(III) ion with semimethylthymol blue, SMTB, were determined spectrophotometrically in acetate buffer (pH 4.5–5). A violet Ga(SMTB) chelate was formed with logarithmic overall stability constant of 18.0±0.1 (I=0.1) and molar absorptivity of 4.25×10⁴l mol^–1cm^–1 (_max 580 nm). SMTB is proposed as a new reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of micro-molar amounts of gallium(III). The colour development depends on time, temperature, pH and buffer species. The interference of different cations, anions and organic acids on gallium(III) determination was also investigated. Beer's law was obeyed for 3.5–31.3 gGa(III)/25ml (0.14–1.25 g ml^–1). SMTB was used for the spectrophotometric determination of gallium in different grade minerals and ores and the results were of acceptable error and relative standard deviation. Comparison between the two suggested methods and atomic absorption spectrometry for Ga(III) determination was carried out.     

Stepwise hydration and multibody deprotonation with steep negative temperature dependence in the benzene.+ -water system

We studied the stepwise hydration and solvent-mediated deprotonation of the benzene*+ cation (Bz*+) and found several unusual features. The solvent binding energies DeltaH on-1,n for the reactions Bz*+(H2O)n-1 + H2O --> Bz*+(H2O)n are nearly constant at 9 +/- 1 kcal mol-1 for n = 1 to 8. We observed a remarkable sudden decrease in the entropy of association accompanying the formation of Bz*+(H2O)7 and Bz*+(H2O)8, indicating strong orientational restraint in the hydration shells of these clusters consistent with the formation of cagelike structures. We observed the size-dependent deprotonation of Bz*+ in a cooperative multibody process, where n H2O molecules (n >/= 4) can remove a proton from Bz*+ to form protonated water clusters. We measured, for the first time, the temperature dependence of such a process and found a negative temperature coefficient of a magnitude unprecedented in any chemical reaction, of the form k = AT-67+/- 4, or in an Arrhenius form having an activation energy of -34 +/- 1 kcal mol-1. The temperature effect may be explained by Bz*+ and four H2O molecules needing to be assembled from gas-phase components to form the reactive species. Such large temperature effects may be therefore general in solvent cluster-mediated reactions.     

All-Solid-State PVC Membrane Ag+-Selective Electrodes Based on Diaza-18-Crown-6 Compounds

Two diaza-crown ether compounds were synthesized and evaluated as Ag⁺-selective carriers in polyvinylchloride (PVC) membrane electrodes of solid-state type. The all-solid-state PVC membrane electrode based on N,N-Dibenzyl-dibenzo-diaza-18-crown-6 exhibited a super-Nernstian response (75±10mV per decade) over the concentration range of 1×10^–1 to 7×10^–6M of Ag⁺ ion and a detection limit of 3×10^–6M, at a wide range of pH (pH 4–7). The response time of the electrode was fast (less than 10s), and it can be used for three months without any significant deviation in potential. The proposed all-solid-state PVC membrane electrodes revealed high selectivity toward Ag⁺ ion with respect to alkali, alkaline earth, heavy and transition metal ions. A flow-through cell of all-solid-state PVC membrane Ag⁺-selective electrode based on N,N-Dibenzyl-dibenzo-diaza-18-crown-6 has also been prepared and applied for flow-injection analysis of Ag⁺ ion in solution.     

Synthesis of Some Pyrimidine 2-Oxo(Thio)-4,6-Dione Derivatives

5-Arylidenes 1a and 1b, on reaction with ethyl cyanoacetate and diethyl malonate in the presence of ammonium acetate under Michael condensation, yield pyridine derivatives 2 and 3, respectively. Cyclopentapyrimidine derivative 4 can also be obtained by the reaction of 1a with malononitrile in the presence of piperidine. The reaction of 5-arylidene lb with monochloroacetic acid in an alkaline medium gives the thiazol derivative 5. Also, spiro-[3′, 5′]cyclohexenyl pyrimidine derivative 6 could be obtained from the reaction of 1d with maleic anhydride. On the other hand, 5-arylidene 1e reacts with maleic anhydride to give 2-thiobarbituric acid derivative 7. The condensation reaction of 2-thiovioluric acid 8 with some hydrazines affords the triazole derivatives 9a-d. Finally, barbituric acid condenses with isatin to give 5-arylidene 1f, which can be cyclized with phosphorous pentoxide to afford 10.     

Synthesis, spectral and thermal properties of homo- and copolymers of 2-[(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)amino]-2-oxo-ethyl methacrylate with styrene and methyl methacrylate and determination of monomer reactivity ratios

The methacrylate monomer, 2-[(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)amino]-2-oxo-ethyl methacrylate (IAOEMA), was synthesized by reacting 2-chloro-N-(5-methylisoxazol)acetamide dissolved in acetonitrile with sodium methacrylate in the presence of triethylbenzylammoniumchloride (TEBAC). The free-radical-initiated copolymerization of IAOEMA, with styrene (ST) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) solution at 65 °C using 2,2^′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator with different monomer-to-monomer ratios in the feed. The monomer (IAOEMA) and copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral studies. The copolymer composition was evaluated by nitrogen content in polymers led to the determination of reactivity ratios. The reactivity ratios of the monomers were determined by the application of Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tüdös methods. The analysis of reactivity ratios revealed that ST and MMA are more reactive than IAOEMA, and copolymers formed are statisticalle in nature. The molecular weights (M_w and M_n) and polydispersity index of the polymers were determined using gel permeation chromagtography. Glass transition temperatures of the copolymers were found to increase with an increase in the mole fraction of IAOEMA in the copolymers. The apparent thermal decomposition activation energies (E_d) were calculated by Ozawa method using the SETARAM Labsys TGA thermobalance.     

New resveratrol oligomers in the stem bark of Vatica pauciflora

Five new resveratrol oligomers; pauciflorols A-C (1-3), isovaticanols B (6) and C (8), and three new oligostilbene glucosides; pauciflorosides A (11), B (13), C (14), were isolated from the stem bark of Vatica pauciflora (Dipterocarpaceae) together with known 17 resveratrol oligomers (4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 15-25) and bergenin (26). The structures of isolates were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The typical and characteristic spectral properties of some resveratrol oligomers were also discussed.     

Kinetics of the solvolysis of [Co(Rpy)4Cl4]+ with R = 4-t-Bu, 3-Me or 3-Et in mixtures of urea with water

Summary The kinetics of the solvolysis of complex ions trans-[Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺, with R = 4-t-Bu, 3-Me and 3-Et, have been investigated in mixtures formed by adding urea to water, which enhances the dielectric constant and decreases solvent structure. Differential effects of the changes in solvent structure on the initial and transition states are found to be important factors controlling changes in the rate constant with solvent composition. The variation of the enthalpy and the entropy of activation with solvent composition are contrasted with their variations found for the solvolysis of [Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ in mixtures where solvent structure is enhanced by additions of a co-solvent to water. The application of a free energy cycle to the process of the initial state going to the transition state suggests that the Co³⁺ cation in the transition state is more stable than the Co³⁺ cation in the initial state in the water + urea mixtures.     

Physicochemical studies of a new series of aryloxide complexes,Na2[Co(OAr)4].nTHF

Summary By the interaction of anhydrous CoBr₂ or CoBr₂·2THF with different sodium aryloxides, a new series of complexes of general formula Na₂[Co(OAr)₄]·nTHF (OAr =o-nitro,o-chloro,o-bromo,m-chloro,p-bromo, 2,4-dichloro, 2,6-dichloro, or 2,4-dimethylphenoxide;n = 1, 3, 4 or 5) were prepared and characterized by physicochemical means. The electronic spectra and magnetic measurements suggest a tetrahedral geometry for cobalt(II). Heating the complexes led to reversible loss of THF with an accompanying colour change.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of iron(II) complex with tetradentate nitrogen ligands under conditions of atom transfer radical polymerization

Four tetradentate nitrogen ligands, viz. dichloro{[N,N^′-diphenyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (1), {[N,N^′-dioctyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (2), {[N,N^′-dibenzyl-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine} (3), and (1R,2R)-(−)-N,N^′-di(quinoline-2-methyl) di-iminocyclohexane (4), were investigated as novel complexing ligands in iron-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate where ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate was the initiator in o-xylene at 90 °C. With ligands 1 and 2 the experimental molecular weights increased gradually with monomer conversion. High to moderate conversions (87%, 43%) were obtained in relatively short times (90 min for 1 and 30 min for 2), which indicates an efficient catalyst system, but after these times a dramatic increase in viscosity of the polymerization medium led to loss of control. It is noteworthy that polymerization proceeded in a controlled manner with ligand 1, which has two rather bulky substituents on the N-atom. Such bulky ligands did not work for a copper-based system, where they led to excessive terminations or other side reactions. When the bulkiness of the substituents was significantly increased, as in ligand 3, a decrease in polymerization rate and loss of control occurred. Ligand 4 was less efficient than the other ligands, probably because the ethylene bridge was replaced by cyclohexane bridge.