Chain‐end lactonization of polyacrylates prepared by photopolymerization

The structural change of the end groups of UV‐cured acrylates with time has been investigated as well as photopolymerization behavior. 2‐Ethylhexyl acrylate, n‐lauryl acrylate, 2‐(2‐ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate, and 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate were used as a monomer in the current study. In order to mimic industrial conditions, the photopolymerization was conducted with relatively high UV intensity (576 mW/cm²) using a common photoinitiator 1‐hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone. Conversion‐time profile gave a linear first‐order plot suggesting that the steady state was hold throughout the polymerization. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectra of the resultant polymers indicated the number of the hydroxycyclohexyl chain‐ends decreased with storage time at room temperature. Instead, a lactonic ring appeared to form at the chain‐end by transesterification of the hydroxycyclohexyl group with the ester side chain of the adjacent acrylate according to the results of mass spectrometry and ¹³C NMR. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1161–1171     

Tailoring of polyacrylates with combined initiators

This article summarizes possibilities of tailoring polyacrylates and polymethacrylates prepared by anionic polymerization initiated with combined (mixed) initiators especially those containing alkali metal tert-alkoxides as stabilizing additives. First part gives a short overview of side reactions in anionic polymerization of polar vinyl monomers and the ways of solving the problem. Second part is devoted to the anionic polymerization of acrylic and methacrylic esters initiated with mixed initiators. Examples of synthetic methods are given for the preparation of special polymeric products based on acrylates, and the necessity of using different polymerization conditions for individual acrylic esters is demonstrated with respect to branching of the ester alkyl group.     

Phase behaviour of the dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide-water system

The phase behaviour of the twin-tailed surfactant dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide with water was studied by DSC, FT-IR, X-ray and polarizing microscope. The phase diagram of DODAB-water system is very similar to that of DODAC-water. The dihydrate is in equilibrium with isotropic solution below 55°C. Above this temperature there is a lamellar liquid crystalline region, in equilibrium with isotropic liquid and solid crystals of DODAB·2H₂O, up to 69°C. From 69 to 86°C, the lamellar mesophase is in equilibrium with ‘waxy’ anhydrous DODAB. From 86 to 116°C and very high DODAB content, there is a very narrow region of existence of inverse hexagonal mesophase, in equilibrium via a narrow biphase region with lamellar mesophase. AtT > 116°C an isotropic liquid appears. There seems to exist two different lamellar mesophases, one of them between 10 and 40 wt.% DODAB and the other between 60 and about 97 wt.% DODAB, with a biphase zone between them.     

Low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide on Pd(Pt)/CeO2 catalysts prepared from complex salts

Catalysts containing cerium oxide as a support and platinum and palladium as active components for the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide were studied. The catalysts were synthesized in accordance with original procedures with the use of palladium and platinum complex salts. Regardless of preparation procedure, the samples prepared with the use of only platinum precursors did not exhibit activity at a low temperature because only metal and oxide (PtO, PtO₂) nanoparticles were formed on the surface of CeO₂. Unlike platinum, palladium can be dispersed on the surface of CeO₂ to a maximum extent up to an almost an ionic (atomic) state, and it forms mixed surface phases with cerium oxide. In a mixed palladium-platinum catalyst, the ability of platinum to undergo dispersion under the action of palladium also increased; as a result, a combined surface phase with the formula Pd _x Pt _y CeO_{2 ? δ}, which exhibits catalytic activity at low temperatures, was formed.     

Electro-combustion of polyacrylates with boron-doped diamond anodes

The electro-combustion of water soluble polymeric contaminants like polyacrylates (PA) in aqueous acid solution using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode has been investigated by bulk electrolysis in 1 mol dm⁻³ HClO₄ under galvanostatic conditions in a wide range of PA concentrations and current densities. In all cases complete electro-combustion of PA has been achieved and this is the first successful report for the electro-combustion of soluble organic polymers.The experimental chemical oxygen demand (COD) and instantaneous current efficiency (ICE) values are well predicted from a theoretical model which suppose that the rate of electro-combustion of PA with electrogenerated active intermediates (probably hydroxyl radicals) is a fast reaction and is controlled by mass transport of PA towards the anode (concept of the “ideal anode” for electro-combustion).     

Macromonomers from vinyl and cyclic monomers prepared by initiation with stable carbenium salts

The initiation of polymerization of α-methylstyrene and p-methoxystyrene with 9-anthranylmethyl salts proceeds by hydride transfer from the monomer to the initiator. As a result, macromonomers with a double bond as head group are formed. These products polymerize and copolymerize by radical and ionic mechanism leading to graft and block copolymers. Styrene and α-caprolactone polymerize with the same initiator by cationation of the monomer. In this case each macromonomer contains one photoreactive anthranylmethyl group which may photodimerize. As a result copolymers of the type A? A or A? B are produced.     

Interaction of sodium cholate with dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride vesicles in aqueous dispersion

Mixtures of dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DODAC) cationic vesicle dispersions with aqueous micelle solutions of the anionic sodium cholate (NaC) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, turbidity and light scattering. Within the concentration range investigated (constant 1.0 mM DODAC and varying NaC concentration up to 4 mM), vesicle → micelle → aggregate transitions were observed. The turbidity of DODAC/NaC/water depends on time and NaC/DODAB molar concentration ratio R. At equilibrium, turbidity initially decreases smoothly with R to a low value (owing to the vesicle–micelle transition) when R = 0.5–0.8 and then increases steeply to a high value (owing to the micelle–aggregate transition) when R = 0.9–1.0. DSC thermograms exhibit a single and sharp endothermic peak at T_m ≈ 49 °C, characteristic of the melting temperature of neat DODAC vesicles in water. Upon addition of NaC, T_m initially decreases to vanish around R = 0.5, and the main transition peak broadens as R increases. For R > 1.0 two new (endo- and exothermic) peaks appear at lower temperatures indicating the formation of large aggregates since the dispersion is turbid. All samples are non-birefringent. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) data indicate that both DODAC and DODAC/NaC dispersions are highly polydisperse, and that the mean size of the aggregates tends to decrease as R increases.     

Thermochemistry of complex salts of transition metal perchlorates with tetrazole ligands

The combined use of combustion and solution calorimetry was proposed as a method for determining the standard enthalpy of formation of the complex salts of transition metals, viz., cobalt(II), nickel(II), and zinc, with the organic ligand (5-aminotetrazol-1-yl)acethydrazide. The enthalpies of solution in water and in a 0.1 M solution of hydrochloric acid were measured for the complex salts and ligand. The enthalpy of combustion of the ligand was determined by the combustion calorimetry method, and its standard enthalpy of formation was calculated. The thermochemical cycle was developed for determining the standard enthalpy of formation of the complex salts. The reliable values of the enthalpies of formation of the salts in the standard states were obtained, and the enthalpies of formation of the earlier unknown complex ions were determined.     

Thermochemistry of complex salts of transition metal perchlorates with tetrazole ligands

Standard enthalpies of formation of transition metal (cobalt, nickel, and zinc) complex salts with an organic ligand 5-aminotetrazol-2-ylacetohydrazide (ATH-2) were obtained by combustion and solution calorimetry. The enthalpy of combustion of the ligand was determined using combustion calorimetry and the standard enthalpy of formation of the ligand was calculated. For calculations by reaction calorimetry, a thermochemical cycle was developed that allows determination of the standard enthalpy of formation of complex salts. The enthalpies of solution of the ligand and transition metal complex salts in water and in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid were determined. The data obtained allow calculations of the enthalpies of salts formation and the enthalpies of three new complex ions. The enthalpies of position isomerization in different compounds were analyzed.     

A rational synthesis of polyacrylates with discogenic side groups

The ferric chloride mediated oxidative coupling of 3,3 ,4,4-tetrahexyloxybiphenyl with 2-hexyloxyanisole followed by demethylation gave 3,6,7,10,11-pentahexyloxy-2-hydroxyor triphenylene. Reaction with tert -butyldimethylsilyl-protected 6-bromohexanol, removal of the protecting group, and condensation with acryloyl chloride methacryloyl chloride gave acrylate and methacrylate monomers with hexamethylene 'spacers'. Alternatively, reaction of 3,6,7,10,11-pentahexyloxy-2-hydroxytriphenylene with 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol followed by acryloyl chloride or methacryloyl chloride gave acrylate and methacrylate monomers with diethylenoxy 'spacers'. Both of the poly(acrylate) homopolymers and the poly(methacrylate) homopolymer with the diethylenoxy 'spacer' gave columnar liquid crystal phases. This is contrary to the current perception that the methacrylate polymer backbone is too inflexible to be incorporated in columnar phases.     

Thermal surface ionization of some complex salts

Thermal ionization on the surface of a heated wire is applied to the volatilization products of alkali salts of carboxylic and sulfonic acids, and to quaternary ammonium salts. The mass spectra of the alkali salts exhibit almost exclusively cationized molecules. They provide evidence for the evaporation of intact clustered molecules even under conditions of a slow rate of evaporation of the salts. The method appears to be of interest for selective detection of alkali salts from complex mixtures. With the ammonium salts [R₄N]⁺ ions are formed by thermal surface ionization of intact salt molecules. The evaporation of these molecules could be detected at rather low temperatures.     

Thermal study of the interaction of crystalline surfactant with water; The dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride-water system

Dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DOAC) was completely dehydrated under high vacuum and at a temperature above its transition temperature (96.7°C) which was first discovered by us. Thermoanalytical studies on DOAC-water systems indicate that two successive phase changes of coagel → gel and gel → liquid crystal appear due to the increasing structural disorders of polar head groups and hydrocarbon chains, respectively. Furthermore, it is revealed that three types of water exist, i.e., bound, intermediate and free. On the basis of a bilayer-lamellar structure model, a predominant role of the intermediate water in these transitions is pointed out.     

Lamellar metal-organic complex and its rod-like nanoparticles prepared with ultrasonic technique

Metal-organic complex (H3NCH2CH2NH2)3[MoO2(OC6H4O)2] with a lamellar morphology has been syn- thesized. Its crystal structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the crystal was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The metal-organic nanoparticles have been prepared by using an ultrasonic method. The morphology of the as-prepared nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The possible formation mechanism has also been proposed.     

Dual bimodal polyethylene prepared by intercalated silicate with nickel diimine complex

The ethylene polymerization was catalyzed by the intercalated montmorillonite with the nickel complex, [ArN?C(Me)? C(Me)?NAr]NiBr₂ (Ar = 2,6‐C₆H₃ (i‐Pr)₂). Polymer with low melting point and high molecular weight was produced at the early stage of polymerization followed by formation of polymer with high melting point and low molecular weight. It is proposed that the gallery of silicate lowers the propagation rate of polymerization and frequency of “chain walking” process of nickel complex anchored inside the gallery, which produces polymer with low molecular weight and low branching, whereas the nickel complex immobilized on the surface of silicate generates polymer with high molecular weight and high branching. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5506–5511, 2005     

Studies of solid-state ion-selective electrodes prepared from semiconducting organic radical-ion salts

The primary redox reactions for solid-state ion-selective electrodes prepared from electronically semiconducting salts of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (tcnq) can be identified by considering the redox properties of their constituent ions or molecules. Three different processes involving the couples, Mⁿ⁺/M⁰, 2tcnq^o/(tcnq^-)₂ and (tcnq^-)₂/2tcnq^2- are possible depending on salt composition. Ionic product values determined by potentiometric and atomic absorption methods are in excellent agreement for several such salts; K_s(K₂tcnq₂)=5.8±1.2·10^-11(pot.), 1.7±1·10^-11 (a.a.s.); K_s(Cdtcnq₂) = 3.0±0.5·10^-9 (pot.), 2.9±0.3·10^-9(a.a.s.); K_s(Pbtcnq₂) = 1.3±0.3·10^-10 (pot.), 0.96±0.2·10^-10(a.a.s.); and indicate that the lower activity limit for electrode response is controlled by the solubility of the sensor material itself. Comparisons of predicted and observed standard electrode potentials provide quantitative support for an ion-exchange mechanism of interference. The behaviour of electrodes prepared from Cu₂tcnq₂ (copper(I)) and Cutcnq₂ (copper(II)) is explained on the basis of an interference mechanism and considerations of solid-state equilibria.     

Optically active polymeric salts prepared from amino acids and polysulfonylpyrrolidinium chloride

Possibility of preparing optically active polymers from N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-sulfur dioxide copolymer and optically active acids was studied by the ion-exchange method.     

Mass spectral fragmentation of metal dithiocarbamate complex salts

A summary of the mass spectra of metal dithiocarbamate complex salts (ML₂ and ML₃) is presented. Only divalent metal dithiocarbamate ions without an electronic configuration containing an inert s-orbital electron pair exhibited both expulsion of a ligand radical (L) and the neutral even electron species (L–H) generated from the ligand via hydrogen transfer to the metal-containing fragment ion. Divalent metal dithiocarbamate ions can be generated either by direct electron impact ionization of gas phase ML₂ molecules or ionization of ML₃ molecules followed by loss of a ligand radical. A highly stable sp² hybridized, gas phase ion of a monobidentate lead dithiocarbamate complex is proposed.