Structure and properties of the mesophase of syndiotactic polystyrene. II. Effect of stepwise extraction on the preparation of the mesophase

In this study, a novel stepwise extraction method has been examined. The guest molecules housed between the helices of the clathrate δ form of syndiotactic polystyrene can be removed completely with this method. A systematic study of the preparation of a solvent‐free mesophase (emptied clathrate) membrane, its helical and residual solvent contents, and its structural transformations has been performed. In this first attempt, an enhancement in the TTGG helical content has been observed in the extracted membrane, and a conceptual mechanism is proposed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 269–273, 2003     

New liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s: The role of nitro groups in the phase behavior

New hydrogen‐bonded liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s (PEA)s were obtained from 1,4‐terephthaloyl[bis‐(3‐nitro‐N‐anthranilic acid)] (5) or 1,4‐terephthaloyl[bis‐(N‐anthranilic acid)] (6), with or without nitro groups, respectively, through the separate condensation of each with hydroquinone or dihydroxynaphthalene. The dicarboxylic monomers were synthesized from 2‐aminobenzoic acid. The phase behavior of the monomers and polymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction methods. Monomer 5, containing nitro groups, exhibited a smectic liquid‐crystalline phase, whereas the texture of monomer 6 without nitro groups appeared to be nematic. The PEAs containing nitro groups exhibited polymorphism (smectic and nematic), whereas those without nitro groups exhibited only one phase transition (a nematic threaded texture). The changes occurring in the phase behavior of the polymers were explained by the introduction of nitro groups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1289–1298, 2004     

Structure and properties of the mesophase of syndiotactic polystyrene—III. Selective sorption of the mesophase of syndiotactic polystyrene

Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) has various crystalline forms such as α, β, γ, and δ forms, and a mesophase depending on the preparation method. In this study, we focused on the mesophase with the molecular cavity of sPS, which is obtained by step‐wise extraction of the guest molecules from the sPS δ form. To prepare the mesophase containing different shapes and sizes of the cavity, two kinds of the sPS δ form membrane cast from either toluene or chloroform solution were first prepared and then the guest molecules were removed by a step‐wise extraction method using acetone and methanol. We could succeed in the preparation of two kinds of mesophase with different shapes and sizes of the molecular cavity. Either toluene or chloroform vapor sorption to the sPS mesophase membranes was examined at 25 °C. Sorption analysis indicates that the mesophase with large molecular cavities can mainly sorb large molecules; on the other hand, the mesophase with small cavities can sorb only the small molecules, and is unable to sorb a large amount of large molecule because the cavity was too small to sorb the large molecules. Therefore, the sPS mesophase membrane has sorption selectivity based on the size of the molecular cavity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 238–245, 2004     

A rapid and efficient method for 1,3-dithiolane synthesis

A mild, efficient and solvent-free protocol for conversion of aldehydes and ketones into their corresponding 1,3-dithiolanes using 1,2-ethanedithiol in the presence of a catalytic amount of SnCl₂·2H₂O is reported.     

Working group report: Neutrino and astroparticle physics

This is the report of neutrino and astroparticle physics working group at WHEPP-7. Discussions and work on CP violation in long baseline neutrino experiments, ultra high energy neutrinos, supernova neutrinos and water Cerenkov detectors are discussed.     

Dielectric studies under high pressure on strongly polar liquid crystals exhibiting monolayer smectic A phase

Dielectric studies have been performed at elevated pressures on two compounds of a homologous series possessing a strongly polar terminal group and three phenyl rings in their molecular structure. This is the first high pressure dielectric study on such systems that exhibit a monolayer smectic A phase. Also notable is the fact that these compounds show a dual frequency response, a promising feature for fast liquid crystal display devices. The low frequency relaxation recorded in the nematic and smectic A phases is attributed to the reorientation of the molecules about the short axis. The temperature and pressure dependence of the relaxation frequency of this mode as well as the involved activation parameters are discussed. At a given relative temperature the relaxation frequency decreases as the pressure is increased. However, the parameter that characterizes the temperature dependences of the relaxation frequency, viz., the activation enthalpy, has a very weak dependence on pressure. In contrast, the activation volume shows a linear decrease with temperature.     

alpha-thiocyanation of carbonyl and beta-dicarbonyl compounds using (dichloroiodo)benzene-lead(II) thiocyanate

The combination reagent (dichloroiodo)benzene and lead(II) thiocyanate in dichloromethane effects oxidation of various enol silyl ethers, ketene silyl acetals, and beta-dicarbonyl compounds, thereby providing an efficient and convenient method for alpha-thiocyanation of carbonyl and beta-dicarbonyl compounds.     

Protic acid (HClO4 supported on silica gel)-mediated synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated-O-glucosides and a chiral furan diol from 2,3-glycals

Perchloric acid supported on silica gel acts as an excellent reagent system in converting glucals into 2,3-unsaturated-O-glucosides in good to excellent yields in short reaction time with good alpha selectivity. Primary, secondary, and allylic alcohols, phenols, and thiols react with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl glucal with equal ease. In addition to this, a chiral furan diol is obtained from unprotected D-glucal or D-galactal in good yields.     

On the mechanism of nanopore filling of SAPO-5 molecular sieve by nitrogen molecules

SAPO-5 molecular sieve was synthesized according to patent literature and characterized with X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), and solid state magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. The material of particles in the micrometer region was found to consist of ca. 20 nm microcrystallites packed in mostly parallel orientation to ca. 200 nm sized agglomerates. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm was measured at 77.6 K over ca. 7 decades of pressure up to pore saturation. The course of the isotherm is interpreted to consist of filling of the nanopores (diameter, 0.73 nm) up to 2N(2)/unit cell, subsequent multilayer adsorption on the outer surface of the agglomerates, and, finally, pore condensation in the interparticle adsorption space. The nanopore adsorption can be quantitatively reproduced with the statistical mechanical model of a quasi one-dimensional lattice gas taking intermolecular interactions into account. The evaluated energy parameters are of physically reasonable magnitude and agree with literature data. The multilayer part of the adsorption isotherm can be well represented by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller model yielding a specific outer space area (63 m(2) g(-)(1)) which is consistent with estimated geometrical and pore size analysis data.     

Novel gallium-mediated C3-allylation of indoles and pyrroles in aqueous media promoted by Bu4NBr

A mild and efficient protocol for the coupling of indoles and pyrroles with allyl halides such as allyl bromide, crotyl bromide and propargyl bromide in the presence of gallium metal in a Bu₄NBr-DMF-H₂O system has been developed. The reaction is equally effective when cadmium is used in lieu of gallium and the corresponding 3-allyl indoles and 3-allyl pyrroles were obtained in almost comparable yields.