Kinetic study of the crosslinking reaction of 1,2‐polybutadiene with dicumyl peroxide in the absence and presence of vinyl acetate

The crosslinking reaction of 1,2-polybutadiene (1,2-PB) with dicumyl peroxide (DCPO) in dioxane was kinetically studied by means of Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FTNIR). The crosslinking reaction was followed in situ by the monitoring of the disappearance of the pendant vinyl group of 1,2-PB with FTNIR. The initial disappearance rate (R₀) of the vinyl group was expressed by R₀ = k[DCPO]^0.8[vinyl group]^−0.2 (120 °C). The overall activation energy of the reaction was estimated to be 38.3 kcal/mol. The unusual rate equation was explained in terms of the polymerization of the pendant vinyl group as an allyl monomer involving degradative chain transfer to the monomer. The reaction mixture involved electron spin resonance (ESR)-observable polymer radicals, of which the concentration rapidly increased with time owing to a progress of crosslinking after an induction period of 200 min. The crosslinking reaction of 1,2-PB with DCPO was also examined in the presence of vinyl acetate (VAc), which was regarded as a copolymerization of the vinyl group with VAc. The vinyl group of 1,2-PB was found to show a reactivity much higher than 1-octene and 3-methyl-1-hexene as model compounds in the copolymerization with VAc. This unexpectedly high reactivity of the vinyl group suggested that an intramolecular polymerization process proceeds between the pendant vinyl groups located on the same polymer chain, possibly leading to the formation of block-like polymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4437–4447, 2004     

Improvement of basic performances of a nickel-metal hydride battery

To develop a sealed-type nickel-metal hydride battery for use in portable equipment or in electric vehicles, investigations were conducted on negative electrodes using AB₅-type hydrogen storage alloy and positive electrodes. For the cycle life performance of the battery, alkaline treatment of the alloy and the substitution of more than 50% to the alloy with Co were effective. For the positive electrode, zinc as a solid solution in the nickel positive electrode obviously prevented γ-NiOOH from being formed in the charging process of β-Ni(OH)₂ and suppressed the migration of the electrolyte solution in the separator to the active material of the positive electrode. Also, hydrophobic treatment of the surface of the alloy was effective to prevent the elevation of the battery internal pressure of the battery in high rate charge.     

VISUAL PIGMENTS—10. SPECTROSCOPY AND PHOTOPHYSICAL DYNAMICS OF RETINOL AND RETINYL ETHER

Abstract— The absorption and emission spectra, lifetimes and quantum yields of all-trans retinol have been examined as a function of solvent and temperature. In addition, the spectroscopy of retinyl ether and 2 other polyene alcohols have been determined. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that the singlet excited state of retinol and retinyl cther is of a forbidden character and of the type loosely called ¹A^-_g. Retinol forms a dimer in an alkane solvent when cooling from 298 to 77 K. A general structure for the dimer is proposed.     

Polyaddition reaction of biscarbodiimides. II. Synthesis of polyguanidines by polyaddition reaction of biscarbodiimides with diamines

A series of polyguanidines was prepared by the polyaddition reaction of biscarbodiimides with diamines. The polyaddition reaction was carried out in solution. The polymers thus obtained had intrinsic viscosities up to 0.84 and molecular weights up to 15000. The structure of the polymers was identified by comparison of their infrared spectra with those of model compounds, elementary analysis, and a study of the reaction conditions. Thermogravimetric study indicated that the polyguanidines decomposed over 170°C under nitrogen. The polyguanidines were highly resistant to hydrolytic degradation by strong acid or alkali. The polyguanidines had basic groups and formed stable hydrochloric salts when they were treated with hydrochloric acid.     

Crystal structures of n-alkanes with branches of different size in the middle

We synthesized four branched n-alkane samples C35-C1, C35-C4, C35-C6, and C35-C4Ph with the same number of carbons as the main chain, n = 35, to which the methyl, butyl, hexyl, and butyl phenyl groups were respectively attached at the middle, and also the corresponding linear homologue of C35, and studied their crystalline structures from DSC, IR, and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction measurement, and computer simulation. Solid-solid phase transitions characteristic of linear alkane C35 are not observed for any branched alkanes, and their melting temperatures Tm are lowered to 325.2, 318.5, 314.3, and 314.1K, respectively. Main chains of branched alkane molecules are not folded, irrespective of length and chemical structure of branches, but are extended to take the planar zigzag form in the solid state. The branches of C35-C4 and C35-C6 are also aligned inside the crystal in the extended form. Data analyses on solution-grown crystallized samples reveal that, with increasing the branch length, their crystal structures transform from polymorphic forms of the orthorhombic (P2(1)2(1)2(1)) and the triclinic (P) for C35-C1 and C35-C4 to the unique triclinic form for C35-C6 and C35-C4Ph, so as to minimize extra surface energy invoked by introduction of long branches.     

Proton-block strategy for the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides without base protection,capping reaction,and P-N bond cleavage reaction

A new N-unprotected phosphoramidite method called the "proton-block" approach was developed for the chemical synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides based on the hitherto simplest and rational principle of acid-base reactions. This concept involves protection of the nucleobases of deoxycytidine and deoxyadenosine with "protons" to convert them to unreactive protonated bases during condensation by use of promoters having pK(a) values lower than 2.8. This strategy was applied to the synthesis of d[CpT] and d[ApT] to check the side reactions associated with the base residues. In this "proton-block" method, 5-nitrobenzimidazolium triflate (NBT) was found to be the best promoter, and THF was superior to CH(3)CN as the solvent so that the concomitant detritylation due to the inherent acidity of the promoter could be greatly suppressed. Application of this strategy to the solid-phase synthesis gave d[CpT], d[ApT], d[ApA], d[CpC], and d[GpT] as almost single peaks in HPLC analysis. Similarly, d[ApApApT] and d[CpCpCpT] were successfully synthesized without significant side reactions. Finally, d[CpCpCpCpCpCpT] and d[ApApApApApApT] were obtained as the main products. In the case of a longer oligomer, d[CpApGpTpCpApGpTpCpApGpT], a mixed solvent of CH(3)CN-N-methylpyrrolidone (1:1, v/v) was superior to THF so that the desired oligodeoxynucleotide could be isolated in a satisfactory yield. These results suggest that DNA synthesis can be carried out simply by using the protonated bases at the oligomer level not only without base protection but also without the capping reaction and the posttreatment of branched chains with MeOH-benzimidazolium triflate that previously was requisite. It is concluded that most of the reactions and solvent effects involved in this strategy can be explained in terms of simple acid-base reactions. Some problems associated with the previous posttreatment are also discussed with our own results.     

Synthesis of well-defined polymers with protected silanol groups by atom transfer radical polymerization and their use for the fabrication of polymeric nanoparticles

Copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of a protected silanol group-holding methacrylate, methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MOPS), was investigated. In a dry condition using carefully distilled solvent and monomer, the polymerization proceeded in a living fashion providing a low-polydispersity polymer with a predicted molecular weight. The ATRP in conjunction with the sequential monomer addition of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and MOPS afforded a block copolymer of the type PMMA-b-poly(MMA-r-MOPS). The heat treatment of a solution of the block copolymer in the presence of a catalytic amount of ammonia gave a polymeric core-shell nanoparticle with a shell of PMMA moieties and a core of the poly(MMA-r-MOPS) blocks cross-linked via the condensation of the trimethoxysilane groups of the MOPS moieties.     

Cu-Chelex as a selective adsorbent for o-nitroso derivatives of phenolic substances

Summary Chelex resins in several metal forms were tested for selective uptake of o-nitrosonaphthols and o-nitrosophenols from aqueous solution. Cu-Chelex was the most efficient resin over a wide pH range, and the taken-up nitroso compounds were effectively eluted with concentrated ammonia: acetonitrile (4:1, v/v) after washing the resin with acetonitrile to eliminate non-specific binding. The upper and lower limits of uptake capacity of the resin for 1-nitroso-2-naphthol were 0.5 mol/100 mg and 1.25 mol/100 mg, respectively. A preliminary recovery experiment using urine and cucumber juice showed that Cu-Chelex would be useful for screening of o-nitroso derivatives of phenolic substances in complicated samples such as biological fluids and foods.