Preparative isolation of (+)-beta-eudesmol fromAmyris balsamifera

Summary Optically pure (+)-beta-eudesmol is a possible starting material for the synthesis of several termite defense compounds. A two step procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of (+)-beta-eudesmol from commercially availableAmyris balsamifera oil (syn. West Indian sandalwood oil), containing 8% beta-eudesmol, was developed. Step one consisted of an efficient vacuum distillation of the total oil. Step two was a medium pressure LC separation with an AgNO₃ impregnated silica gel stationary phase. Several other separation procedures failed due to the presence of many closely related sesquiterpene alcohols (75% of the oil).     

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy. A new tool for interpreting infrared spectra

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy is used to study atactic polystyrene. 2D IR is a technique based on time-resolved detection of IR signals in response to an external perturbation, such as mechanical strain. Since different chemical functional groups respond to the applied perturbation at unique and often different rates, characteristic time-dependent variations of the IR-band intensities are observed. Correlation analysis of the dynamic variation of the IR signals yields a new spectrum defined by two independent wave numbers. Peaks located on a 2D IR spectral plane imply interactions and connectivities among chemical functional groups. By spreading convoluted IR bands over two dimensions, the spectral resolution is also greatly enhanced.     

Glass transition of atactic polystyrene probed at the submolecular level by dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD) spectroscopy

Dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD) spectroscopy is a rheo-optical characterization technique developed specifically to probe the submolecular dynamics of polymer segments. The technique combines the measurement of submolecular orientation based on the directionally selective absorption of polarized IR light with a small-amplitude oscillatory tensile deformation used in dynamic mechanical analysis. A DIRLD spectroscopic study of atactic polystyrene reveals that a dramatic change in the reorientation behavior of aromatic side groups is observed around the glass transition temperature of 100 °C. The transition point for the main chain backbone, on the other hand, is observed at a much higher temperature around 125 °C. Thus, the macroscopically observable glass transition of polystyrene seems to be dominated by the dynamics of side groups rather than that of the coordinated motions of polymer segments along the backbone. This result suggests a fundamental similarity between the glass transition phenomena of polymers and those of small-molecule inorganic glasses.     

Enhancing the information content of vibrational spectra through sample perturbation

Infrared and Raman band frequencies, intensities and line shapes are often sensitive to the local molecular environment determined by molecular conformation, surrounding matrix, temperature, pressure, etc. The variety of local environments experienced by a condensed-phase molecule can lead to vibrational spectra with broad bands containing many overlapped spectral features. The spectral resolution of these overlapped features can be enhanced by making perturbations to the sample environment. Examples of perturbations which can be applied to the sample to enhance the information content of infrared spectra are changes in temperature, concentration and mechanical strain. In each instance, the spectra obtained as a function of the perturbation can be cross-correlated to produce a two-dimensional correlation map defined by two independent wavenumber axes. in this representation, infrared bands which respond to the perturbation in a similar or different manner can be clearly identified. This information can be used to help resolve overlapped bands and make unambiguous band assignments.     

Investigations into beam monitors at the AEg ̄ IS experiment

Detailed diagnostic of antiproton beams at low energies is required for essentially all experiments at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD), but will be particularly important for the future Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA) and its keV beam lines to the different experiments. Many monitors have been successfully developed and operated at the AD, but in particular beam profile monitoring remains a challenge. A dedicated beam instrumentation and detector test stand has recently been setup at the AE \(\bar {g}\) IS experiment (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy). Located behind the actual experiment, it allows for parasitic use of the antiproton beam at different energies for testing and calibration. With the aim to explore and validate different candidate technologies for future low energy beam lines, as well as the downstream antihydrogen detector in AE \(\bar {g}\) IS, measurements have been carried out using Silicon strip and pixel detectors, a purpose-built secondary emission monitor and emulsions. Here, results from measurements and characterization of the different detector types with regard to their future use at the AD complex are presented.     

Dynamic rheo-optical characterization of a low-density polyethylene/perdeuterated high-density polyethylene blend by two-dimensional step-scan FTIR spectroscopy

Dynamic mechanical analysis coupled with polarized step-scan FTIR transmission and two-dimensional correlation analysis (2D FTIR) has been used to monitor the submolecular orientational responses of the components of a semicrystalline 50 : 50 blend of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and perdeuterated high-density polyethylene (d*-HDPE) to a small amplitude uniaxial 23.47 Hz sinusoidal mechanical strain. Perdeuteration of the HDPE component allowed the distinction of its response from that of the LDPE in the blend samples. The experiments were carried out at room temperature. Analysis of the data indicates that the crystalline parts of the two components reorient at different rates, with the functional groups of the high-density portion reorienting faster, in general, than those of the LDPE in response to the mechanical strain. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Submolecular dynamics of amorphous polymers probed by two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy was used to probe the submolecular dynamics of atactic polystyrene. 2D IR is a powerful analytical technique especially suited for the elucidation of localized motions of polymer segments. In 2D IR, a polymer sample is excited by a small-amplitude oscillatory strain at a frequency in the acoustic range. The fluctuation of IR dichroism signals resulting from the strain-induced reorientation of electric dipole-transition moments is monitored with a time-resolved spectrometer. Spectra defined by two independent wavenumber axes are constructed by applying a correlation analysis to such signals. The 2D spectra provide detailed information about the local dynamics of submolecular constituents of the system. From the sign of cross peaks in the synchronous 2D IR spectrum of glassy polystyrene, it is shown that the main-chain backbone of polystyrene reorients in the direction of applied strain. Cross peaks in an asynchronous 2D IR spectrum reveal highly localized reorientational motions of phenyl side groups occurring more or less independently of the main-chain realignment. In the glassy state, the phenyl ring tends to fold back along the main-chain, indicating that there exists a highly constrained local distortion of side groups during deformation.