Methane plasma polymerization by low‐temperature cascade arc discharge for enhanced adhesion of primer to thermoplastic olefins

Improvement of primer adhesion to thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) by methane plasma polymerization with a low‐temperature cascade arc discharge was investigated. Methane plasma with a low‐temperature cascade arc plasma torch can be used for improving the primer adhesion to TPOs. Tape‐adhesion tests (ASTM 3359‐92a method) demonstrated this improvement, with a rating of 0 for untreated TPOs and 5 for methane plasma‐polymerized TPOs at certain plasma conditions even for aging at 60 °C and 80% relative humidity for 5 days. The adhesion to primer for the soft, flexible TPOs (ETA‐3041c and ETA‐3101) was easily enhanced. The adhesion to primer for the hard and brittle TPOs (ETA‐3183) needs to optimize the plasma conditions to pass the dry‐ and wet‐adhesion test with methane plasmas. To relate the surface characteristics of methane plasma‐polymerized TPOs to adhesion performance with primer, the wettability and polarity of TPOs were evaluated by the contact‐angle measurements of primer and deionized water to TPOs. TPO surface morphology was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy. The surface composition was characterized with electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2004–2021, 2003     

Surface modification on thermoplastic olefins by low‐temperature cascade arc discharge‐air plasmas for enhanced adhesion with primer

Improvement of primer adhesion to thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) by surface modification with a low‐temperature cascade arc discharge‐air plasmas was investigated. Air plasma with a low‐temperature cascade arc plasma torch can be used for improving the primer adhesion to TPOs. Tape‐adhesion tests (ASTM 3359‐92a method) demonstrated this improvement with a rating of “0” for untreated TPOs and “5” for air plasma‐modified TPOs at certain plasma conditions even for aging at 60 °C and 80% relative humidity for 5 days. The adhesion to primer for the soft and flexible kind of TPOs (ETA‐3041c and ETA‐3101) was easily enhanced. The adhesion to primer for the hard and brittle TPOs (ETA‐3183) needs to optimize the plasma conditions to pass the wet‐adhesion test using air plasmas. To relate the surface characteristics of air plasma‐modified TPOs to adhesion performance with primer, the wettability and polarity of TPOs were evaluated by the contact‐angle measurements of primer and deionized water to TPOs. TPO surface morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. The surface composition was characterized with electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 623–637, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10122     

Reduction of methylene blue by thiocyanate: kinetic and thermodynamic aspects

This article reports the reduction of methylene blue (MB) by thiocyanate ions (SCN(-)) in aqueous and micellar solutions. Thiocyanate ions are found to be an effective reducing agent for the decolorization of methylene blue under ambient condition. Effects of salting-in and salting-out agents have been investigated for real-time application in the reduction process. The salting-in agent urea has been found to uniquely enhance the rate of the reduction of MB by thiocyanate ion in the presence of micelles. Again, the catalytic activity of nanoparticles in the reduction of MB has also been studied. Detailed kinetic and thermodynamic aspects have been considered to realize the interaction between methylene blue and thiocyanate. Kinetic studies revealed that the reaction is reversible and follows first-order reaction kinetics.     

Facile and stereoselective access to nonracemic tricyclic cyclobutanes by asymmetric intramolecular Michael-aldol reaction: thermodynamic equilibrium and activation by iodonium ion.

Intramolecular Michael-aldol reactions of (-)-phenylmenthyl enoates tethered to cycloalkanone affords tricyclic cyclobutanes with high degrees of diastereochemical control. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies revealed that the Michael-aldol reaction is reversible under conditions in which trimethylsilyl iodide is used in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane at ambient temperature. Different levels of diastereoselectivity are observed when this cyclization process is carried out under kinetic vs thermodynamic conditions. Finally, an influence of added iodonium donors on the reaction rate has been noted.     

Nickel boride mediated chemoselective deprotection of 1,1-diacetates to aldehydes and deprotection with concomitant reduction to alcohols at ambient temperature

A variety of 1,1-diacetates have been chemoselectively and efficiently deprotected to the corresponding aldehydes as well as deprotected and concomitantly reduced to the corresponding alcohols in high yields at ambient temperature with nickel boride generated in situ using different molar ratios of sodium borohydride and nickel (II) chloride in methanol at room temperature. Deprotection and reduction of a variety of aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic acylals have been achieved efficiently. Mild reaction conditions, easy work-up, high yields and chemoselectivity demonstrate the efficiency of this new method.     

1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride in combination with triethylamine: an improved catalytic system for hydroacylation/reduction of activated ketones

A rapid, economic, and high yielding methodology has been developed for hydroacylation/reduction of activated ketones by using 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride as a catalyst in combination with triethylamine. The reaction proceeded at an ambient temperature via generating N-heterocyclic carbene in situ that interacted with the (hetero)aryl aldehyde employed. While the reduction of ketones takes place in MeOH, the hydroacylation process was found to be effective in THF for both electron rich and deficient aldehydes.     

Lanthanide–imidazole complexes as latent curing agents for epoxy resins

Imidazoles have for some time been recognized as curing agents for epoxy resins. Once the resin and the imidazole compound are mixed there is a relatively short time in which the mixture can be used, since the polymerization (curing) reaction occurs to some extent even at room temperature causing the reaction mixture to thicken. In order to circumvent this problem we have found that imidazoles can be complexed with organo-lanthanide compounds thereby tying up the imidazole and retarding its rate of reaction in the cure of epoxy materials at ambient temperatures. When it is desired to enhance the rate of cure the temperature of the mixture is simply raised. This paper concerns studies of the epoxy cure reaction with the M(THD)₃–IM series. M represents the lanthanide metals Eu, Ho, Pr, Dy, Yb, and Gd, and THD is 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione. Cure reactions were followed by differential scanning calorimetry and in some cases by infrared spectroscopy. We have demonstrated that these organo-lanthanide–imidazole complexes are effective thermally latent curing agents for epoxy resins. At a temperature of 150°C cure is quite rapid. In the course of these studies it has also been determined that there is an inverse correlation between the lanthanide ionic radius in the complex and the temperature at which the cure reaction occurs. Thus the Yb compound, where the imidazole is most strongly bound, cures at the highest temperature and Pr, where imidazole is bound most weakly, at the lowest. Consistent with these facts is the observation that the Yb compound also gives the longest latency period when mixed with epoxy resin.     

Cu(I) and Zn(II) complexes of 7-azaindole-containing scorpionates: structures, luminescence and fluxionality

A new scorpionate borate ligand K[HB(7-azain)3](1, 7-azain = 7-azaindolyl) has been obtained from the reaction of KBH4 with excess 7-azaindole. The scorpionate ligand 1 was found to be able to form complexes with Zn(II) and Cu(I) ions. Complex 2 with the formula [BH(7-azain)3](ZnCl) has been obtained from the reaction of ZnCl2 with 1. Complex 3 with the formula [BH(7-azain)3][Cu(PPh3)] has been obtained from the reaction of [Cu(PPh3)2(CH3CN)2][BF4] with . The crystal structures of 1-3 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses which revealed that has a dimeric structure linked together by two K+ ions, 2 has a symmetric tripodal structure with all three 7-azaindolyl groups being coordinated to the Zn(II) center, and 3 has an asymmetric structure with two of the 7-azaindolyl groups being coordinated to the Cu(I) center and the third 7-azaindolyl group uncoordinated. Variable temperature 1H NMR experiments established that 3 is highly dynamic in solution involving a rapid exchange between the coordinated and the non-coordinated 7-azaindolyl groups. All three compounds display blue emission in the solid state at ambient temperature. However, in solution at ambient temperature, compounds 1 and 2 display bright blue emission while compound 3 has no emission at all. At 77 K, solutions of all three compounds display blue-green phosphorescent emission with a long decay lifetime (> 2 ms).     

Hydrogenation of substituted nitroarenes by a polymer-bound palladium(II) Schiff base catalyst

The catalytic activity of a polymer-bound palladium Schiff base catalyst was investigated toward the reduction of aryl nitro compounds under ambient temperature and pressure. The dependence of the rate of hydrogenation of o-nitroaniline and o-nitrotoluene on substrate concentration, catalyst concentration and temperature has been determined. Based on the results obtained a plausible mechanism for the hydrogenation reaction is proposed and a rate expression is deduced. The energy and entropy of activation have been evaluated from the kinetic data. The polymer-bound catalyst was found to be better than its homogeneous analog PdCl₂(NSBA) [NSBA = N-salicylidene benzylamine] for both stability and reusability. Recycling studies revealed that the catalyst could be used six times without metal leaching or significant loss in activity.     

The polymerization of ethylene with a soluble titanium-aluminium complex

The reaction between biscyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride and aluminium alkyls and alkyl chlorides has been examined by ESR spectroscopy, and by the abilities of the various resulting complexes to initiate the polymerization of ethylene at 1 atm and ambient temperature. In general, it is concluded that the active initiating species is a Ti(IV) complex, and not the paramagnetic Ti(III) complexes. Accordingly, the development of an ESR spectrum is accompanied by a fall off in initiating efficiency, decrease in polymerization rate and increased molecular weight of the polymers produced. The reduction of Ti(IV) to Ti(III) during the polymerization accounts for the fall in rate with conversion; addition of an oxidizing agent (1:2-dichloroethane) to the polymerization converts Ti(III) to Ti(IV), as observed by the disappearance of the ESR signal, and increases the efficiency of the polymerization. Block copolymers of ethylene with propylene and butadiene have been prepared with this initiator; the efficiency in producing blocks has been used to study the decomposition of the active sites by a first order reduction process.     

Evaluation of micro-electrospray ionization with ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry

In recent years, the resolving power of ion mobility instruments has been increased significantly, enabling ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to be utilized as an analytical separation technique for complex mixtures. In theory, decreasing the drift tube temperature results in increased resolution due to decreased ion diffusion. However, the heat requirements for complete ion desolvation with electrospray ionization (ESI) have limited the reduction of temperatures in atmospheric pressure ion mobility instruments. Micro-electrospray conditions were investigated in this study to enable more efficient droplet formation and ionization with the objective of reducing drift tube temperatures and increasing IMS resolution. For small molecules (peptides), the drift tube temperature was reduced to ambient temperature with good resolution by employing reduced capillary diameters and flow rates. By employing micro-spray conditions, experimental resolution values approaching theoretically predicted resolution were achieved over a wide temperature range (30 to 250 °C). The historical heat requirements of atmospheric pressure IMS due to ESI desolvation were eliminated due to the use of micro-spray conditions and the high-resolution IMS spectra of GLY-HIS-LYS was obtained at ambient temperature. The desolvation of proteins (cytochrome c) was found to achieve optimal resolution at temperatures greater than 125 °C. This is significantly improved from earlier IMS studies that required drift tube temperatures of 250°C for protein desolvation.     

Vanadium dodecylamino phosphate: A novel efficient catalyst for synthesis of polyhydroquinolines

A novel vanadium dodecylamino phosphate was synthesised by an instant reaction between phosphoric acid and vanadyl acetylacetonoate using dodecylamine as the structure-directing agent at ambient temperature. The physicochemical characteristics of the material were investigated by a variety of analytical techniques. XRD studies revealed the presence of vanadium phosphate and hydrated vanadium phosphate phases in the framework of the material. The catalytic application of this material toward in the synthesis of polyhydroquinolines via Hantzsch condensation was investigated at ambient temperature. This method affords high yields within short reaction times. The influence of various reaction parameters such as different solvents, catalyst dosage, effect of aldehydes, and reusability was studied and a plausible mechanism proposed.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Alkenes/ α‐Bromoacetophenones with Aldehydes: A Facile Entry to α,β‐Epoxy Ketones

A novel, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed direct oxidative coupling of styrenes with aldehydes has been described for the synthesis of α,β‐epoxy ketones in good yields. This unprecedented regioselective oxidative coupling employs NBS/DBU/DMSO (DBU=1,8‐diazabicyclo [5.4. 0] undec‐7‐ene, DMSO=dimethylsulfoxide, NBS=N‐bromosuccinimide) as an oxidative system at ambient conditions. Additionally, first NHC‐catalyzed Darzens reaction of α‐bromoketones and aldehydes under mild reaction conditions has also been described. Interestingly, mechanistic studies have revealed the preferred reactivity of NHC with alkene/α‐bromoketone rather than aldehydes, thus proceeding via the ketodeoxy Breslow intermediate.     

Chemiluminescence accompanying solid-phase interaction of terbium(III) sulfate with xenon difluoride

It has been found that solid-phase interaction of anhydrous terbium(III) sulfate powder with xenon difluoride at room temperature is accompanied by chemiluminescence (CL). The formation of terbium( IV) and ozone in the course of the reaction has been observed spectrophotometrically. Two CL emitters, xenon in the Xe(I)* oxidation state (540, 580 nm) and Tb(III)* (490, 545, 590 nm), have been revealed. Emission by the former is observed at the beginning of the reaction. After the consumption of xenon difluoride, the emission is due to excited Tb(III) generated as a result of reduction of the Tb(IV) intermediate.     

Physicochemical and catalytic characterizations of materials prepared from copper malonate by thermal decomposition or chemical reduction

Results of Carr and Galwey [1] concerning copper malonate (CM) decomposition in vacuo at 510 K prompted present studies on the utility of CM as a low-temperature precursor of oxide-supported copper catalysts. CM deposited upon metal oxides has been converted to copper particles by vacuum thermal decomposition or reduction with aqueous hydrazine. Using the dehydrogenation of isopropanol to acetone as a catalytic probe reaction, comparisons are made between levels of catalytic activity and selectivity induced in TiO₂, MgO and Ca(OH)₂ supports by copper deposited thereon. Effects of particle size, prereduction temperature, and support reducibility are described and evidence is given for a strong metal support interaction (SMSI)-like inhibition of activity of Cu/TiO₂ by prior high temperature reduction.     

Reduction of Methylene Green by EDTA:Kinetic and Thermodynamic Aspects

The reduction of methylene green (MG) into protonated leuco dye with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in aqueous alkaline medium was studied spectrophotometrically at λ_max 660 nm. EDTA behaved as an effective electron donor during the reduction of MG in an aerobic condition. Consumption of EDTA in the reduction of MG means that it is oxidized. This is an unexpected result since EDTA does not normally function as a reducing agent. The nitrogen-containing chelating agents with secondary or tertiary nitrogen behaved as an electron donor in photochemical reaction of dye. The rate of reduction depends upon pH in the same way as the base titration of EDTA. Effects of salt and temperature have been investigated for the reduction process. The salting agent KNO₃ has been found to uniquely enhance the rate of reduction of MG by EDTA in the aerobic condition. Detailed kinetic and thermodynamic aspects have been discussed to realize the interaction between MG and EDTA. Kinetic studies revealed that reaction was sensitive and regeneration of oxidized form of the dye was observed. Reversible first order reaction kinetics with respect to EDTA, MG and NaOH was found.     

Sodium Borohydride–Solid LiClO4: An Effective Reagent for Reducing Aldehydes and Ketones in Aprotic Solvent

An efficient and simple method for the reduction of aldehydes, ketones and acid chlorides has been accomplished by using NaBH₄–solid LiClO₄ in mild conditions at ambient temperature with complete chemoselectivity in reduction of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. The reaction is fast with high yield and simple workup.     

Catalysis and regioselectivity of the aqueous Heck reaction by Pd(0) nanoparticles under ultrasonic irradiation

An aqueous Heck reaction carried out under ultrasonic irradiation at the ambient temperature (25 degrees C) has been shown in this study to afford high yields of corresponding products. It was found that as a catalyst for the reaction palladium forms nanoparticles in-situ, characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses, and can be recycled. Furthermore, the Heck reaction under such mild and environmentally friendly conditions offers excellent regioselectivity of para- over ortho-substitution in phenyl iodides especially with electron-donating groups.     

高温水中多产物反应模型的构建及机理研究

建立了高温水中的反应模型并采用密度泛函理论(DFT)对香叶醇在高温水中的反应路径进行了研究. 通过前线轨道分析确定了反应的可能性. 高温水中香叶醇的反应路径与常温水中不同, 从常态下的酸催化反应路径转变为高温水状态下的酸碱共催化路径, 计算所得反应能垒为205.8 kJ/mol. 分别计算分析了高温水环境和周围水分子对反应能垒的影响, 结果表明, 高温水对反应物零点能的影响最大为0.966 kJ/mol, 水分子个数的影响最大可达94.7 kJ/mol. 官能团周围水分子个数变化对反应所产生的的影响大于高温水环境的影响.     

The application of metal-organic frameworks in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction

In recent years, the research of nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions has attracted wide attention for their relatively low energy consumption, in which rational design of electrocatalysts is the key to achieve high-performance NRR. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new kind of porous material, have been intensively studied in the past few decades owing to not only their structural versatility and tunability but also intrinsic porosity. Due to their structural features, MOFs also have potential applications in mild condition electrocatalysis of NRR. In this review, the recently experimental and theoretical studies of MOFs in NRR electrocatalysts are briefly summarized.