Roughness and anisotropy effects on wettability of polytetrafluoroethylene and sodium-treated polytetrafluoroethylene

The effect of roughness on wettability of skived polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon) and Na-treated PTFE film were studied by advancing contact angle measurements. The effect of an anisotropic force field of elongated Na-treated PTFE on the shear bond strength were also studied as a function of elongation. The results are analyzed in terms of London dispersion γs^d and Keesom polar γs^p contributions to surface energy γs. It was found that the roughness effect on wettability of PTFE is significant for untreated PTFE and negligible for Na-treated PTFE. Our shear bond strength σ_b analysis of elongated Na-treated PTFE showed that σ_b is influenced by an anisotropic force field and the σ_b increases with the fractional polarity p = γs^p/γs but decreases with the dispersion fraction d = γs^d/γs of solid-vapor surface tension γs = γs^d + γs^p     

Wetting properties of bis(trifluoromethyl)carbinyl acrylate polymers

A series of bis(trifluoromethyl)carbinyl acrylate monomers [Y-C(CF₃)₂ O? CO? CH?CH₂] in which Y is CH₃, CH₃CH₂, CH₃CH₂CH₂, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂, C₆H₅, H, F, CF₃, N₃, CN, and CH₃OCH₂CH₂O, was prepared. Polymers were easily prepared from all of these monomers except where Y = CN, wherein a variety of initiation methods failed to produce high molecular polymer. Wettabilities of the polymer films were examined by means of contact angle measurements by using n-alkane test liquids and water. Values of the dispersion force contribution (γs^d) and the polar force contribution (γs^p) to the solid surface energy were calculated by employing both geometric and harmonic mean approximations. Values of γs^d calculated by either method agreed well with γ_c (critical surface tension) values determined graphically from contact angle data employing n-alkane test liquids, confirming the suggestion that γ_c is an approximate measure of the dispersion force contribution to solid surface energy. Values of γs_d ranged from 15 dyne/cm (Y = F or CF₃) to 25 dyne/cm (Y = C₆H₅). Values of the polar force contribution to solid surface energy (γs^p) varied from 0.6 dyne/cm (Y = CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂) to 3.4 dyne/cm (Y = CH₃OCH₂CH₂O) when calculated by the geometric mean equation. The values of γs^p obtained from the harmonic mean equation followed the same trend upon varying substituents, but were larger in value, ranging from 2.9 dyne/cm (Y = CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂) to 7.5 dyne/cm (Y γ CH₃OCH₂CH₂O).     

Crystallization behavior,tensile behavior and hydrophilicity of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polyethylene glycol blends

In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weight was added into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) through melt blending. The hydrophilicity, processability, mechanical properties of the blends were investigated. Moreover, to understand fully, the crystallization and melting behavior, crystalline structure, molecular interactions of the blends were also studied. Results revealed that the addition of PEG evidently enhances the ductile and reduces the rheological torque of PVDF, what’s more, the contact angle of the blends with water was greatly reduced. The solid surface tension γ_s, chromatic dispersion part γ _s ^d and polar part γ _s ^p suggested the surface tension of the blend gradually increased from 38.31 to 55.65 mJ/m² with the increase of PEG-20000 content.Wherein the dispersion part of the tension changed little, the polar part of the tension increased significantly from 5.74 to 20.41 mJ/m², indicating that the addition of PEG greatly enhanced the polar part of surface tension of the blend, and therefore evidently enlarged the hydrophilic property of the blends. Besides, to elucidate the related effecting mechanism, the crystallization and molecular interaction of the blends were also studied.     

Reactions and wetting properties of 1:1 perfluoroalkyl allyl and methallyl ether–maleic anhydride copolymers

Polymers with fluoroalkyl side-groups on three of every four carbon atoms along the polymer main chain were made by treating 1 : 1 copolymers of perfluoroallyl (or methallyl)ethers and maleic anhydride with SF₄, and then esterifying the resulting acid fluoride groups with 1H, 1H-pentadecafluorooctanol. Surface wettability of these polymers by polar and non-polar liquids was studied. The critical surface tension (γ_c) was found by Zisman's method. The dispersion force component of polymer surface energy (γ_s^D) and the polar component of surface energy (γ_s^p) were calculated by the respective methods of Fowkes and Owens. The γ_c values for several of the highly fluorinated polymers were lower than previously reported for any fluoropolymer but not so low as has been observed for the surface of an oriented perfluoroacid monolayer. In the range 11.4–18.5 dyne/cm, γ_c approximates γ_s^D for the fluorinated surfaces; however at lower γ_c values, considerable difference between γ_c and γ_s^D was noted.     

The heterogeneous interaction of Br(2P3/2) and Br(2P1/2) with surfaces of Teflon™ and polycrystalline nickel

Pulses of Br(²P_3/2) and Br(²P_1/2) (=Brast;) have been exposed to Teflon (PTFE) and to polycrystalline Ni surfaces in a Knudsen cell. The Br and Br* atom densities have been measured as a function of time using [3 + 2] Resonance Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization (REMPI) at 461.9 and 459.1 nm, respectively, and an absolute calibration of the sum of the density of Br and Br* on Teflon at ambient temperature has been measured to result in identical values within experimental error for both Br and Br*, namely γ(Br) = (5.6 ± 1.5) · 10^?5, if an appropriate correction for the radiative lifetime of Br* of 0.77 s^?1 is applied. The uptake coefficients for Br and Br* on polycrystalline Ni seem to be identical: γ(Br) = γ(Br*) = (5.6 ± 1.8) · 10^?3 and independent of temperature in the range 295 to 500 K. A possible exception is the value for γ(Br*) of 2.3 · 10^?3 at T = 295 K which seems to be significantly lower than the remainder of the uptake data. In the temperature range 500 to 700 K the uptake coefficients for both Br and Br* can be expressed as . The system has a small positive activation energy in the range 3.3 to 4.5 kcal/mol. Br* seems to be less reactive than Cl* with respect to surface deactivation on poly Ni by a factor of six. In analogy to Cl the present system is characterized by kinetic complications in conjunction with the reversible surface poisoning of bromine, both atomic and molecular, on surfaces of Teflon (PTFE) and poly Ni that leads to the decrease of Br and Br* uptake with increasing exposure. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Interatomic potential for the X1Σ state of Be2, revisited

An extended geminal model has been applied to determine the interatomic potential for the X¹Σ state of Be₂. By adopting a (23s, 10p, 8d, 6f, 3g, 2h) uncontracted Gaussian‐type basis, the following spectroscopic parameters are obtained: R_e = 4.633 a.u. (4.63 a.u.), D_e = 945 ± 15 cm (790 ± 30 cm), G(1)–G(0) = 221.7 cm^?1 (223.8 ± 2 cm^?1), G(2)–G(1) = 175.0 cm^?1 (169 ± 3 cm^?1), G(3)–G(2) = 123.1 cm^?1 (122 ± 3 cm^?1), and G(4)–G(3) = 80.8 cm^?1 (79 ± 3 cm^?1), experimental values in parentheses. The calculated binding energy is substantially higher than the accepted experimental value. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

A quartz crystal microbalance study of β-cyclodextrin self assembly on gold and complexation of immobilized β-cyclodextrin with adamantane derivatives

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to study the self-assembly of per-6-thio-β-cyclodextrin (t₇-βCD) on gold surfaces, and the subsequent inclusion interactions of immobilized βCD with adamantane-poly(ethylene glycol) (5,000 MW, AD-PEG), 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid (AD-C) and 1-adamantylamine (AD-A). From a 50 μM solution of t₇-βCD in 60:40 DMSO:H₂O, a t₇-βCD layer was formed on gold with surface density of 71.7 ± 2.7 pmol/cm², corresponding to 80 ± 3% of close-packed monolayer coverage. Gold sensors with immobilized t₇-βCD were then exposed alternately to six different concentrations of AD-PEG, 500 μM AD-C or 500 μM AD-A aqueous solutions for association, and water for dissociation. Association of AD-PEG conformed to a Langmuir isotherm, with a best fit equilibrium constant K = 125,000 ± 18,000 M⁻¹. For AD-C and AD-A, association (k _a ) and dissociation (k _d ) rate constants were extracted from kinetic profiles by fitting to the Langmuir model, and equilibrium constants were calculated. The parameters for AD-C were found to be: k _a = 100 ± 5 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, k _d = 110 (±18) × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, and K = 9,400 ± 1,700 M⁻¹. For AD-A, k _a = 58 ± 6 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, k _d = 154 (±7) × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, and K = 3,800 ± 400 M⁻¹. The results demonstrate the utility of QCM as a tool for studying small molecule surface adsorption and guest–host interactions on surfaces. More specifically, the kinetic and thermodynamic data of AD-C, AD-A, and AD-PEG inclusion with immobilized t₇-βCD form a basis for further surface association studies of AD-X conjugates to advance surface sensory and coupling applications.     

Effect of temperature and molecular weight on the rate of spreading of polystyrene melts on plane soda lime glass surfaces

The effect of temperature T and weight-average molecular weight M?_w on the rate of spreading of polystyrene melts on plane solid surfaces has been examined. The activation energy E of spreading was estimated to be 25.2 ± 3 kcal/mole, which is of the same magnitude as the activation energy for flow of polystyrene melts. The rate of spreading was found to be inversely proportional to M?_w raised to the 1.5 power. This rate of spreading, measured as the time rate of increase in the liquid–solid contact area, dA/dt, could be expressed as where γ_1v is the melt surface tension and θ_d and θ_s are the dynamic and static contact angles, respectively. The numerical value of K has been calculated to be (6.025 ± 3.693) × 10^?14 in the temperature range of 110–260°C and for the values of M?_w from 2000 to 37000.     

Mutual annihilation of triplet excitons in a nearly one-dimensional system: 1,4-dibromonaphthalene

The analysis of the variation with incident flux of the time dependence of the delayed fluorescence in conjunction with the determination of the absolute ground state-first excited triplet absorption coefficients at room temperature, yields the value of γ_tot = (5.5 ± 2.0) × 10^?12 cm³ s^?1, for the total triplet-triplet annihilation rate constant in 1,4-dibromonaphthalene crystals. The one-dimensional mutual annihilation rate constant for the triplet exciton motion restricted to linear chains along the crystal c axis is γ¹_tot = (1.0 ± 0.4) × 10³ cm s^?1. The results are discussed in terms of recent theories of mutual annihilation of triplets in one-dimensional systems.     

Kinetic study of the reactions of atomic chlorine with several volatile organic compounds at 240–340 K

The rate constant for the reactions of atomic chlorine with 1,4‐dioxane (k₁), cyclohexane (k₂), cyclohexane‐d₁₂(k₃), and n‐octane (k₄) has been determined at 240–340 K using the relative rate/discharge fast flow/mass spectrometer (RR/DF/MS) technique developed in our laboratory. Essentially, no temperature dependence for these reactions was observed over this temperature range, with an average of k₁ = (1.91 ± 0.20) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k₂ = (2.91 ± 0.31) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k₃ = (2.73 ± 0.30) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and k₄ = (3.22 ± 0.36) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. The kinetic isotope effect of the reaction of cyclohexane with atomic chlorine has also been determined to be 1.14 by directly monitoring the decay of both cyclohexane and cyclohexane‐d₁₂ in the presence of chlorine atoms, which is consistent with the literature value of 1.20. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 386–398, 2006     

Gas-phase elimination kinetics of 1-substituted ethyl acetates. Effect of polar substituents at the α carbon of secondary acetates

The gas-phase elimination of several polar substituents at the α carbon of ethyl acetates has been studied in a static system over the temperature range of 310–410°C and the pressure range of 39–313 torr. These reactions are homogeneous in both clean and seasoned vessels, follow a first-order rate law, and are unimolecular. The temperature dependence of the rate coefficients is given by the following Arrhenius equations: 2-acetoxypropionitrile, log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.88 ± 0.29) – (203.3 ± 2.6) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; for 3-acetoxy-2-butanone, log ±₁(s^?1) = (13.40 ± 0.20) – (202.8 ± 2.4) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; for 1,1,1-trichloro-2-acetoxypropane, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (12.12 ± 0.50) – (193.7 ± 6.0) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?; for methyl 2-acetoxypropionate, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (13.45 ± 0.05) – (209.5 ± 0.5) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; for 1-chloro-2-acetoxypropane, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (12.95 ± 0.15) – (197.5 ± 1.8) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; for 1-fluoro-2-acetoxypropane, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (12.83 ± 0.15)– (197.8 ± 1.8) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; for 1-dimethylamino-2-acetoxypropane, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (12.66 ± 0.22) –(185.9 ± 2.5) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; for 1-phenyl-2-acetoxypropane, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (12.53 ± 0.20) – (180.1 ± 2.3) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1; and for 1-phenyl?3?acetoxybutane, log ?₁ (s^?1) = (12.33 ± 0.25) – (179.8 ± 2.9) kJ/mol (2.303RT)^?1. The C_α? O bond polarization appears to be the rate-determining process in the transmition state of these pyrolysis reactions. Linear correlations of electron-releasing and electron-withdrawing groups along strong σ bonds have been projected and discussed. The present work may provide a general view on the effect of alkyl and polar substituents at the C_α? O bond in the gas-phase elimination of secondary acetates.     

INO thermodynamic properties and ultraviolet spectrum

The equilibrium I₂(g) + 2NO(g) = 2INO(g) has been studied at room temperature by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. The equilibrium constant has been measured as K_p = (2.7 ± 0.3) × 10^?6 atm^?1 at 298 K. Third-law calculations lead to ΔH°_f,298 (INO) = 120.0 ± 0.3 kJ/mol. The relative absorption spectrum of INO has been measured between 225 and 300 nm. Quantitative measurements gave ?(λ_max = 238 nm) = (1.79 ± 0.5) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm and ?(410 nm) = 234.7 ± 21 L/mol·cm.     

Low‐rate dynamic contact angles on poly(methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate, 30/70) and the determination of solid surface tensions

Low‐rate dynamic contact angles of 12 liquids on a poly(methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate, 30/70) P(MMA/EMA, 30/70) copolymer were measured by an automated axisymmetric drop shape analysis‐profile (ADSA‐P). It was found that five liquids yield nonconstant contact angles, and/or dissolve the polymer on contact. From the experimental contact angles of the remaining seven liquids, it is found that the liquid–vapor surface tension times cosine of the contact angle changes smoothly with the liquid–vapor surface tension (i.e., γ_l|Kv cos θ depends only on γ_l|Kv for a given solid surface or solid surface tension). This contact angle pattern is in harmony with those from other methacrylate polymer surfaces previously studied.^45,50 The solid–vapor surface tension calculated from the equation‐of‐state approach for solid–liquid interfacial tensions¹⁴ is found to be 35.1 mJ/m², with a 95% confidence limit of ± 0.3 mJ/m², from the experimental contact angles of the seven liquids. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2039–2051, 1999     

Determination of thermodynamic stability of CdMoO4 by knudsen effusion vapor pressure measurement method

Thermodynamic stability of CdMoO₄ was determined by measuring the vapor pressures of Cd and MoO₃ bearing gaseous species. Th vaporization reaction could be described as CdMoO₄(s)+MoO₂(s) =Cd(g)+2/n(MoO₃)_n (n=3, 4 and 5). The vapor pressures of the cadmium (p _Cd) and trimer (p _(MoO3)3) measured in the temperature range 987≤T/K≤1111 could be expressed, respectively, as ln (p _Cd/Pa) = –32643.9/T+29.46±0.08 and ln(p _(MoO3)3/Pa) = –32289.6/T+29.28±0.08. The standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation of CdMoO₄(s), derived from the vaporization results could be expressed by the equations: °_f G _{CdMoO4 (s)} ⁰= –1002.0+0.267T±14.5 kJ mol^–1 (987≤T/K≤1033) and °_f G _{CdMoO4 (s)} ⁰ = –1101.9+0.363T±14.4 kJ mol^–1 (1044≤T/K≤1111). The standard enthalpy of formation of CdMoO₄(s) was found to be –1015.4±14.5 kJ mol^–1 .     

THE PHOTOEXCITED TRIPLET STATE OF TETRAPHENYL CHLORIN, MAGNESIUM TETRAPHENYL PORPHYRIN AND WHOLE CELLS OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDI. A LIGHT MODULATION-EPR STUDY

Abstract— The photoexcited triplet states of frozen solutions of tetraphenyl chlorin (TPC), magnesium tetraphenyl porphyrin (MgTPP) and whole cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardi have been studied by light modulation-EPR spectroscopy. The porphyrins were chosen to be studied as model compounds for chlorophyll molecules, From EPR spectra the zero field splitting parameters (ZFS) were calculated. For TPC, |D| = 0.0364 ± 0.0002 cm^-1, |E| = 0.0063 ± 0.0002 cm^-1. For MgTPP, |D| = 0.0310 ± 0.0002 cm^-1. For chloroplasts, |D| = 0.0280 ± 0.0004 cm^-1, |E| = 0.0032 ± 0.0004 cm^-1. In all compounds studied, except MgTPP, electron spin polarization (ESP) was observed. From the analysis of the kinetic curves at each canonical orientation we evaluated the spin lattice relaxation rate W, the depopulation rate constants k_p, and the ratio between the population rate constants, A_p, at zero magnetic field. For TPC in ethanol-toluene (5:1) k_x= (0.70 ± 0.10) × 10³ s^-1, k_y= (0.40 ± 0.07) × 10³ s^-1, k_x= (0.24 ± 0.05) × 10³ s^-1; A_x:A_y:A_z? 1.0:0.6:0.4; W= (2.60 ± 0.40) × 10³ s^-1. For MgTPP, only the total decay rate constant, k_T, was calculated: (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10 s^-1 in n-octane and (4.8 ± 0.8) × 10 s^-1 in ethanol. The results for TPC and MgTPP are compared to those reported previously for chlorophyll. It is concluded that the dynamics of the photoexcited triplet state in chlorophylls are mainly governed by the chlorin macrocycle. From the EPR spectrum and ZFS parameters of chloroplasts, we propose that both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are the main constituents of the EPR spectrum. From the analysis of the kinetic curves we obtain separately the kinetic parameters for chlorophylls a and b, k^a_x= (1.30 ± 0.20) × 10³ s^-1, k^a_y;= (0.85 ± 0.15) × 10³ s^-1k^a_x= (0.32 ± 0.05) × 10³ s^-1; A^a_x:A^a_y:A^a_z? 1.0:0.7:0.2; W^a= (1.20 ± 0.20) × 10³ s^-1; k^b_x= (0.56 ± 0.09) × 10³ s^-1, k^b_y= (0.30 ± 0.04) × 10³ s^-1, k^b_z= (0.06 ± 0.01) × 10³ s^-1; A^b_x:A^b_y:A^b_x? 1.0:0.6:0.1; W^b= (5.00 ± 0.80) × 10³ s^-1. These results are very close to those found separately for chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b oligomers in vitro.     

Adsorption and thermodynamic properties of dissymmetric gemini imidazolium surfactants with different spacer length

A series of dissymmetric gemini imidazolium surfactants with different spacer length ([C_mC_sC_nim]Br₂, m + n = 24, m = 12, 14, 16, 18; s = 2, 4, 6) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopy. Their adsorption and thermodynamic properties were investigated by the surface tension and electrical conductivity methods. Consequently, the surface activity parameters (cmc, γ_cmc, π_cmc, pC₂₀, cmc/C₂₀, Γ_max, A_min) and thermodynamic parameters (ΔG_m^θ, ΔH_m^θ, ΔS_m^θ) were obtained. The effects of the dissymmetry (m/n) and the spacer length (s) on the surface activity and micellization process of surfactants have been discussed in detail.     

Beam-foil lifetime study of then=3 complex in al-like Ti9+

The beam-foil spectrum obtained using a beam of Ti³⁺ ions of energy 10 MeV has been studied over the wavelength range from 14 nm to 80 nm. New assignments are suggested for 18 levels belonging to the levels of the 3p ³, 3s 3p 3d and 3s ² 4p configurations. The lifetimes of these levels, as determined from conventional multi-exponential curve fitting of their intensity decay curves, are typically about 30% longer than is forecast by theory. The same decay curves have also been used to represent the effect of cascade repopulation on the decay curves obtained for the resonance doublet levels of the 3s 3p ² and 3s ² 3d configurations. A discussion is given of the possible techniques for cascade correction in beam-foil lifetime measurements, and of the inclusion of a window function to represent the vignetting effect close to the foil. Lifetimes obtained using these techniques for the 3s ² 3d levels (38±6 ps for J=3/2, 36±5 ps for J=5/2), and the 3s3p ^{2 2} S level (99±6 ps),² P levels (60±15 ps for J=1/2, 50±15 ps for J=3/2) and² D levels (820±30 ps for j=3/2, 870±40 ps for J=5/2) are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aquation of pentaaqua (trichloroacetato-O)-chromium(2+) ion

The kinetics of the aquation of (H₂O)₅Cr(O₂CCCl₃)²⁺ have been examined at 35–55°C and 1.00M ionic strength with [H⁺] = 0.01?1.00M. The reaction follows the rate equation -d ln [Cr_total]/dt = (a[H⁺]^?1 + b + c[H⁺])/(1 + d[H⁺]), where [Cr_total] is the stoichiometric concentration of the complex. At 45°C a = (1.41 ± 0.03) × 10^?7M/s, b = (1.66 ± 0.02) × 10^?5 s^?1, c = (7.0 ± 0.8) × 10^?5M^?1·S^?1 and d = 2.3 ± 0.3M^?1. Two mechanisms consistent with this rate law are discussed, with evidence being presented in favor of an ester hydrolysis mechanism involving steady-state intermediates. Equilibrium and activation parameters were determined.     

Linear correlation of polar substituents in the gas-phase pyrolyses of ethyl α-substituted acetates

The pyrolysis kinetics of several ethyl esters with polar substituents at the acyl carbon have been studied in the temperature range of 319.8–400.0°C and pressure range of 50.5–178.0 torr. These eliminations are homogeneous, unimolecular, and follow a first-order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the Arrhenius equations: for ethyl glycolate, log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.75 ± 0.30) – (201.4 ± 3.8) kJ/mol/2.303RT; for ethyl cyanoacetate, log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.19 ± 0.18) – (191.8 ± 2.1) kJ/mol/2.303RT; for ethyl dichloroacetate, log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.62 ± 0.36) – (193.9 ± 4.3) kJ/mol/2.303RT; for ethyl trichloroacetate, log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.27 ± 0.09) – (185.1 ± 1.0) kJ/mol/2.303RT. The results of the present work together with those reported recently in the literature give an approximate linear correlation when plotting log k/k₀ vs. σ* values (ρ* = 0.315 ± 0.004, r = 0.976, and intercept = 0.032 ± 0.006 at 400°C). This linear relationship indicates that the polar substituents affect the rate of elimination by electronic factors. The greater the electronegative nature of the polar substituent, the faster is the pyrolysis rate. The alkyl substituents yield, within experimental error, similar values in rates which makes difficult an adequate assessment of their real influence.     

Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactivity of 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylidenenorbornane

Pd-catalyzed double carbomethoxylation of the Diels-Alder adduct of cyclo-pentadiene and maleic anhydride yielded the methyl norbornane-2,3-endo-5, 6-exo-tetracarboxylate ( 4 ) which was transformed in three steps into 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-idenenorbornane ( 1 ). The cycloaddition of tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) to 1 giving the corresponding monoadduct 7 was 364 times faster (toluene, 25°) than the addition of TCNE to 7 yielding the bis-adduct 9 . Similar reactivity trends were observed for the additions of TCNE to the less reactive 2,3,5,6-tetramethylidene-7-oxanorbornane ( 2 ). The following second order rate constants (toluene, 25°) and activation parameters were obtained for: 1 + TCNE → 7 : k₁ = (255 + 5) 10^?4 mol^?1 · s^?1, ΔH≠ = (12.2 ± 0.5) kcal/mol, ΔS≠ = (?24.8 ± 1.6) eu.; 7 + TCNE → 9 , k₂ = (0.7 ± 0.02) 10^?4 mol^?1 · s^?1, ΔH≠ = (14.1 ± 1.0) kcal/mol, ΔS≠ = ( ?30 ± 3.5) eu.; 2 + TCNE → 8 : k₁ = (1.5 ± 0.03) 10^?4 mol^?1 · s^?1, ΔH≠ = (14.8 ± 0.7) kcal/mol, ΔS≠ = (?26.4 ± 2.3) eu.; 8 + TCNE → 10 ; k₂ = (0.004 ± 0.0002) 10^?4 mol^?1 · s^?1, ΔH≠ = (17 ± 1.5) kcal/mol, ΔS≠ = (?30 ± 4) eu. The possible origins of the relatively large rate ratios k₁/k₂ are discussed briefly.