A consistent model for the thermal decomposition of NCN3 and the singlet– triplet relaxation of NCN

The thermal decomposition of cyanogen azide (NCN₃) and the subsequent collision‐induced intersystem crossing (CIISC) process of cyanonitrene (NCN) have been investigated by monitoring excited electronic state ¹NCN and ground state ³NCN radicals. NCN was generated by the pyrolysis of NCN₃ behind shock waves and by the photolysis of NCN₃ at room temperature. Falloff rate constants of the thermal unimolecular decomposition of NCN₃ in argon have been extracted from ¹NCN concentration–time profiles in the temperature range 617 K <T< 927 K and at two different total densities: k(ρ ≈ 3 × 10^?6 mol/cm³)/s^?1=4.9 × 10⁹ × exp (?71±14 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 30%); k(ρ ≈ 6 × 10^?6 mol/cm³)/s^?1=7.5 × 10⁹ × exp (‐71±14 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 30%). In addition, high‐temperature ¹NCN absorption cross sections have been determined in the temperature range 618 K <T< 1231 K and can be expressed by σ /(cm²/mol)= 1.0 × 10⁸ ?6.3 × 10⁴ K^?1 × T (± 50%). Rate constants for the CIISC process have been measured by monitoring ³NCN in the temperature range 701 K <T< 1256 K resulting in k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 1.8 ×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1=2.6 × 10⁶× exp (‐36±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%), k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 3.5×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1 = 2.0 × 10⁶ × exp (?31±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%), k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 7.0×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1=1.4 × 10⁶ × exp (?25±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%). These values are in good agreement with CIISC rate constants extracted from corresponding ¹NCN measurements. The observed nonlinear pressure dependences reveal a pressure saturation effect of the CIISC process. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 30–40, 2013     

Measurements of light scattering changes induced by a strong optical field in solutions of tRNA

Changes in light scattering induced by a strong laser beam, as predicted theoretically by Kielich, were measured for unfractionated yeast transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) solutions. The vertically polarized electric field of a strong laser pulse (λ = 1060nm) amounted to 4.5 × 10³ esu cgs; its duration was 10 nsec. A weak incident laser beam (λ = 630nm) was also polarized vertically and the vertical and horizontal intensity components of the light scattered through 90° at the latter wavelength were measured. These measurements together with previous results from measurements of Rayleigh light scattering and light scattering in a magnetic field permitted evaluation of the tensor of third-order polarizability (c = 3 × 10^?30 esu cgs, c = ?373 × 10^?30 esu cgs) and the anisotropy of the third-order polarizability components with its sign (δ_c = +56 × 10^?2, δ_c = +0.25 × 10^?2 for tRNA monomer and aggregate, respectively). The new method described may be useful for studies of macromolecules and macromolecular complexes of biological importance.     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of CHXCFX (X = H,F) with OH (253–328 K) and NO3 (298 K) radicals and O3 (236–308 K)

Rate constants for the reactions of OH and NO₃ radicals with CH₂?CHF (k₁ and k₄), CH₂?CF₂ (k₂ and k₅), and CHF?CF₂ (k₃ and k₆) were determined by means of a relative rate method. The rate constants for OH radical reactions at 253–328 K were k₁ = (1.20 ± 0.37) × 10^?12 exp[(410 ± 90)/T], k₂ = (1.51 ± 0.37) × 10^?12 exp[(190 ± 70)/T], and k₃ = (2.53 ± 0.60) × 10^?12 exp[(340 ± 70)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The rate constants for NO₃ radical reactions at 298 K were k₄ = (1.78 ± 0.12) × 10^?16 (CH₂?CHF), k₅ = (1.23 ± 0.02) × 10^?16 (CH₂?CF₂), and k₆ = (1.86 ± 0.09) × 10^?16 (CHF?CF₂) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The rate constants for O₃ reactions with CH₂?CHF (k₇), CH₂?CF₂ (k₈), and CHF?CF₂ (k₉) were determined by means of an absolute rate method: k₇ = (1.52 ± 0.22) × 10^?15 exp[?(2280 ± 40)/T], k₈ = (4.91 ± 2.30) × 10^?16 exp[?(3360 ± 130)/T], and k₉ = (5.70 ± 4.04) × 10^?16 exp[?(2580 ± 200)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 236–308 K. The errors reported are ±2 standard deviations and represent precision only. The tropospheric lifetimes of CH₂?CHF, CH₂?CF₂, and CHF?CF₂ with respect to reaction with OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃ were calculated to be 2.3, 4.4, and 1.6 days, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 619–628, 2010     

High temperature pyrolysis of 1,5-cyclooctadiene and 4-vinylcyclohexene in shock waves

1,5-cyclooctadiene or 4-vinylcyclohexene mixture diluted with argon was heated to temperatures in the range 880–1230 K behind reflected shock waves. Profiles of IR-laser absorption were measured at 3.39 μm. From these profiles, rate constants k₁ and k₂ for the decyclization reactions 1,5-cyclooctadiene → biradical and 4-vinylcyclohexene → biradical were evaluated as k₁ = 5.2 × 10¹⁴ exp(?48.3 kcal/RT) s^?1 and k₂ = 3.5 × 10¹⁴ exp(?55.3 kcal/RT) s^?1, respectively. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electron‐Self‐Exchange Kinetics of the Cyclooctatetraene/Cyclooctatetraene Radical‐Anion Couple

Rate constants k_hom and k_het are reported for the homogeneous electron‐self‐exchange and the heterogeneous electrochemical electron‐transfer reactions, respectively, of the cyclooctatetraene/cyclooctatetraene^? (COT/COT^.?) redox couple. In acetonitrile, the values k_hom (298 K)=(5±3)×10⁵ M ^?1 s^?1 and k_het (295 K)=8×10^?3 cm s^?1 are found, whereas slightly faster rates are obtained in dimethylformamide, namely, k_hom (298 K)=(1.6±0.6)×10⁶ M ^?1 s^?1 and k_het (295 K)=2×10^?2 cm s^?1. The k_hom rates are obtained from electron spin resonance (ESR) line broadening whereas the k_het rates are measured at a mercurized Pt electrode by using Nicolson’s method. The slowness of both electron‐transfer reactions is caused by the high inner‐sphere reorganization energy that results from the inevitable conformational change that takes place upon going from the tub‐like COT molecule to the planar COT^.? anion. The rates are well‐understood in terms of Marcus theory, including an additional medium inner‐sphere mode which is responsible for the flattening of COT.     

Kinetic studies on the metal(II) tartarate–peroxomonosulfate reaction

The kinetics of oxidation of tartaric acid (TAR) by peroxomonosulfate (PMS) in the presence of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions was studied in the pH range 4.05–5.20 and also in alkaline medium (pH ～12.7). The rate was calculated by measuring the [PMS] at various time intervals. The metal ions concentration range used in the kinetic studies was 2.50 × 10^?5 to 1.00 × 10^?4 M [Cu(II)], 2.50 × 10^?4 to 2.00 × 10^?3M [Ni(II)], 0.05 to 0.10 M [TAR], and µ = 0.15 M. The metal(II) tartarates, not TAR/tartarate, are oxidized by PMS. The oxidation of copper(II) tartarate at the acidic pH shows an appreciable induction period, usually 30–60 min, as in classical autocatalysis reaction. The induction period in nickel(II) tartarate is small. Analysis of the [PMS]–time profile shows that the reactions proceed through autocatalysis. In alkaline medium, the Cu(II) tartarate–PMS reaction involves autocatalysis whereas Ni(II) tartarate obeys simple first‐order kinetics with respect to [PMS]. The calculated rate constants for the initial oxidation (k₁) and catalyzed oxidation (k₂) at [TAR] = 0.05 M, pH 4.05, and 31°C are Cu(II) (1.00 × 10^?4 M): k₁ = 4.12 × 10^?6 s^?1, k₂ = 7.76 × 10^?1 M^?1s^?1 and Ni(II) (1.00 × 10^?3 M): k₁ = 5.80 × 10^?5 s^?1, k₂ = 8.11 × 10^?2 M^?1 s^?1. The results suggest that the initial reaction is the oxidative decarboxylation of the tartarate to an aldehyde. The aldehyde intermediate may react with the alpha hydroxyl group of the tartarate to give a hemi acetal, which may be responsible for the autocatalysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 620–630, 2011     

Rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with n‐propanol and iso‐propanol between 237 and 376 K

The rate coefficients for the reaction OH + CH₃CH₂CH₂OH → products (k₁) and OH + CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ → products (k₂) were measured by the pulsed‐laser photolysis–laser‐induced fluorescence technique between 237 and 376 K. Arrhenius expressions for k₁ and k₂ are as follows: k₁ = (6.2 ± 0.8) × 10^?12 exp[?(10 ± 30)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, with k₁(298 K) = (5.90 ± 0.56) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and k₂ = (3.2 ± 0.3) × 10^?12 exp[(150 ± 20)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, with k₂(298) = (5.22 ± 0.46) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The quoted uncertainties are at the 95% confidence level and include estimated systematic errors. The results are compared with those from previous measurements and rate coefficient expressions for atmospheric modeling are recommended. The absorption cross sections for n‐propanol and iso‐propanol at 184.9 nm were measured to be (8.89 ± 0.44) × 10^?19 and (1.90 ± 0.10) × 10^?18 cm² molecule^?1, respectively. The atmospheric implications of the degradation of n‐propanol and iso‐propanol are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 10–24, 2010     

Novel cyclohexyl‐substituted salicylaldiminato–nickel(II) complex as a catalyst for ethylene homopolymerization and copolymerization

The cyclohexyl‐substituted salicylaldiminato–Ni(II) complex [O? (3‐C₆H₁₁)(5‐CH₃)C₆H₂CH?N‐2,6‐C₆H₃ⁱPr₂]Ni(PPh₃)(Ph) ( 4 ) has been synthesized and characterized with ¹H NMR and X‐ray structure analysis. In the presence of phosphine scavengers such as bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) [Ni(COD)₂], triisobutylaluminum (TIBA), and triethylaluminum (TEA), 4 is an active catalyst for ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with the polar monomers tert‐butyl‐10‐undecenoate, methyl‐10‐undecenoate, and 4‐penten‐1‐ol under mild conditions. The polymerization parameters affecting the catalytic activity and viscosity‐average molecular weight of polyethylene, such as the temperature, time, ethylene pressure, and catalyst concentration, are discussed. A polymerization activity of 3.62 × 10⁵ g of PE (mol of Ni h)^?1 and a weight‐average molecular weight of polyethylene of 5.73 × 10⁴ g^.mol^?1 have been found for 10 μmol of 4 and a Ni(COD)₂/ 4 ratio of 3 in a 30‐mL toluene solution at 45 °C and 12 × 10⁵ Pa of ethylene for 20 min. The polydispersity index of the resulting polyethylene is about 2.04. After the addition of tetrahydrofuran and Et₂O to the reaction system, 4 exhibits still high activity for ethylene polymerization. Methyl‐10‐undecenoate (0.65 mol %), 0.74 mol % tert‐butyl‐10‐undecenoate, and 0.98 mol % 4‐penten‐1‐ol have been incorporated into the polymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6071–6080, 2004     

Equilibrium,kinetics, and mechanism of the malonic acid–iodine reaction

The equilibrium constant for the reaction CH₂(COOH)₂ + I₃^? ? CHI(COOH)₂ + 2I^? + H⁺, measured spectrophotometrically at 25°C and ionic strength 1.00M (NaClO₄), is (2.79 ± 0.48) × 10^?4M². Stopped-flow kinetic measurements at 25°C and ionic strength 1.00M with [H⁺] = (2.09-95.0) × 10^?3M and [I^?] = (1.23-26.1) × 10^?3M indicate that the rate of the forward reaction is given by (k₁[I₂] + k₃[I₃^?]) [HOOCCH₂COO^?] + (k₂[I₂] + k₄[I₃^?]) [CH(COOH)₂] + k₅[H⁺] [I₃^?] [CH₂(COOH)₂]. The values of the rate constants k₁-k₅ are (1.21 ± 0.31) × 10², (2.41 ± 0.15) × 10¹, (1.16 ± 0.33) × 10¹, (8.7 ± 4.5) × 10^?1M^?1·sec^?1, and (3.20 ± 0.56) × 10¹M^?2·sec^?1, respectively. The rate of enolization of malonic acid, measured by the bromine scavenging technique, is given by k_en[CH₂(COOH)₂], with k_en = 2.0 × 10^?3 + 1.0 × 10^?2 [CH₂(COOH)₂]. An intramolecular mechanism, featuring a six-member cyclic transition state, is postulated to account for the results on the enolization of malonic acid. The reactions of the enol, enolate ion, and protonated enol with iodine and/or triodide ion are proposed to account for the various rate terms.     

Radiation-induced oxidation of polyethylene,ethylene–butene copolymer,and ethylene–propylene copolymer

Oxygen consumption and yield of oxidation products during γ-irradiation were studied on five types of polyethylene (PE), ethylene–butene copolymer (EB), and ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR) using gas chromatography, mass spectrography, and high-resolution NMR. Samples were irradiated in oxygen under pressure from 0 to 500 torr by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays up to 20 Mrad at 22–25°C. In enough oxygen, oxygen consumption and yield of oxidation products are independent of oxygen pressure for low-density PE, EB, and EPR. The G values of oxygen consumption were 14–18.4 for PE, 11.6 for EB at 1 × 10⁶ rad/h, and 8.3 for EPR at 2 × 10⁵ rad/h. The oxidation products determined were carboxylic acid (? CH₂? CO? OH), H₂O, CO₂, and CO. The oxygen consumption and oxidation products for PE were found to increase with increasing crystallinity.     

Kinetic Study of the Bromine-Catalyzed Isomerization of Maleic Acid in Aqueous Ce(IV)-Br−-H2SO4 Medium

The presence of ceric and bromide ions catalyzes the isomerization of maleic acid (MA) to fumaric acid (FA) in aqueous sulfuric acid. A kinetic study of this bromine-catalyzed reaction was carried out. The reaction between ceric ion and maleic acid is first order with respect to Ce(IV). For [Ce(IV)]₀=5.0×10^?4 M, [H₂SO₄]₀=1.2 M, μ=2.0 M (adjusted by NaClO₄), and [MA]₀=(0.5–1.0)M, the observed pseudo-first-order rate constant (k₀₃) at 25° is k₀₃=7.622×10^?5 [MA]₀/(1+0.205[MA]₀). The reaction between ceric and bromide ions is first order with respect to Ce(IV). For [Ce(IV)]₀=5.0×10^?4 M, [H₂SO₄]₀=1.2 M, μ=2.0 M, and [Br^?]₀=(0.025–0.150)M, the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k₀₂) at 25° is k₀₂= (4.313±0.095)x10^?2[Br^?]²+(2.060±0.119)x10^?3[Br^?]. The reaction of Ce(IV) with maleic acid and bromide ion is also first order with respect to Ce(IV). For [Ce(IV)]₀=5.0×10^?4 M, [MA]₀=0.75 M, [H₂SO₄]₀=1.2 M, μ=2.0 M, and [Br^?]₀= (0.025–0.150)M, the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k₀₃) at 25° is k₀₃= (5.286±0.045)x10^?2[Br^?]²+(3.568±0.056)x10^?3[Br^?]. For [Ce(IV)]₀=5.0 × 10^?4 M, [Br^?]₀=0.050 M, [H₂SO₄]₀=1.2 M, μ=2.0 M, and [MA]₀=(0.15–1.0)M at 25°, k₀₃=(2.108×10^?4+2.127×10^?4[MA]₀)/(1+0.205[MA]₀). A mechanism is proposed to rationalize the results. The effect of temperature on the reaction rate was also studied. The energy barrier of Ce(IV)—Br^? reaction is much less than that of Ce(IV)—MA reaction. Maleic and fumaric acids have very different mass spectra. The mass spectrum of fumaric acid exhibits a strong metastable peak at m/e 66.5.     

Pristine Basal‐ and Edge‐Plane‐Oriented Molybdenite MoS2 Exhibiting Highly Anisotropic Properties

The layered structure of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is structurally similar to that of graphite, with individual sheets strongly covalently bonded within but held together through weak van der Waals interactions. This results in two distinct surfaces of MoS₂: basal and edge planes. The edge plane was theoretically predicted to be more electroactive than the basal plane, but evidence from direct experimental comparison is elusive. Herein, the first study comparing the two surfaces of MoS₂ by using macroscopic crystals is presented. A careful investigation of the electrochemical properties of macroscopic MoS₂ pristine crystals with precise control over the exposure of one plane surface, that is, basal plane or edge plane, was performed. These crystals were characterized thoroughly by AFM, Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, voltammetry, digital simulation, and DFT calculations. In the Raman spectra, the basal and edge planes show anisotropy in the preferred excitation of E_2g and A_1g phonon modes, respectively. The edge plane exhibits a much larger heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant k⁰ of 4.96×10^?5 and 1.1×10^?3 cm s^?1 for [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? and [Ru(NH₃)₆]^3+/2+ redox probes, respectively, compared to the basal plane, which yielded k⁰ tending towards zero for [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? and about 9.3×10^?4 cm s^?1 for [Ru(NH₃)₆]^3+/2+. The industrially important hydrogen evolution reaction follows the trend observed for [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? in that the basal plane is basically inactive. The experimental comparison of the edge and basal planes of MoS₂ crystals is supported by DFT calculations.     

Kinetic investigation of gas‐phase reactions between the OH‐radical and o‐, m‐, p‐ethyltoluene and n‐nonane in air

We have carried out relative rate experiments (T = 294 ± 2 K, atmospheric pressure) to investigate the OH‐oxidation of o‐, m‐, and p‐ethyltoluene and n‐nonane (k₁, k₂, k₃, and k₄ respectively). The experiments were performed in a 2‐m³ smog chamber with Teflon coated walls. The rate constants obtained are (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 with two sigma uncertainties): k₁ = (1.36 ± 0.07) × 10^?11; k₂ = (2.12 ± 0.26) × 10^?11; k₃ = (1.47 ± 0.04) × 10^?11, and k₄ = (0.95 ± 0.02) × 10^?11. The measured rate constants are in accordance with previously published data, so that a coherent group of values for the compounds studied can be established. Atmospheric implications, ozone, and particle production are discussed. In addition, we have determined the amount of o‐, m‐, and p‐ethyltoluenes in different types of gasoline. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 367–378 2004     

Kinetic Study of Peroxidase‐Catalyzed Coupling of Benzene‐1,4‐diamine and N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)naphthalen‐1‐amine: Development of Micromolar Hydrogen Peroxide Reaction System

A novel chromogenic method to measure the peroxidase activity using para‐phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (=benzene‐1,4‐diamine hydrochloride; PPDD) and N‐(1‐naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (=N‐(2‐aminoethyl)naphthalen‐1‐amine; NEDA) is presented. The PPDD entraps the free radical and gets oxidized to electrophilic diimine, which couples with NEDA to give an intense red‐colored chromogenic species with maximum absorbance at 490 nm. This assay was adopted for the quantification of H₂O₂ between 20 and 160 μM . Catalytic efficiency and catalytic power of the commercial peroxidase were found to be 4.47×10⁴ M ^?1 min^?1 and 3.38×10^?4 min^?1, respectively. The catalytic constant (k_cat) and specificity constant (k_cat/K_m) at saturated concentration of the co‐substrates were 0.0245×10³ min^?1 and 0.0445 μM ^?1 min^?1, respectively. The chromogenic coupling reaction has a minimum interference from the reducing substances such as ascorbic acid, L ‐cystein, citric acid, and oxalic acid. The method being simple, rapid, precise, and sensitive, its applicability has been tested in the crude vegetable extracts that showed peroxidase activity.     

Kinetics of phenyl radical reactions with propane,n‐butane,n‐hexane,and n‐octane: Reactivity of C6H5 toward the secondary C?H bond of alkanes

The kinetics of C₆H₅ reactions with n‐C_nH_2n+2 (n = 3, 4, 6, 8) have been studied by the pulsed laser photolysis/mass spectrometric method using C₆H₅COCH₃ as the phenyl precursor at temperatures between 494 and 1051 K. The rate constants were determined by kinetic modeling of the absolute yields of C₆H₆ at each temperature. Another major product C₆H₅CH₃ formed by the recombination of C₆H₅ and CH₃ could also be quantitatively modeled using the known rate constant for the reaction. A weighted least‐squares analysis of the four sets of data gave k (C₃H₈) = (1.96 ± 0.15) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1938 ± 56)/T], and k (n‐C₄H₁₀) = (2.65 ± 0.23) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1950 ± 55)/T] k (n‐C₆H₁₄) = (4.56 ± 0.21) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1735 ± 55)/T], and k (n?C₈H₁₈) = (4.31 ± 0.39) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1415 ± 65)T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the temperature range studied. For the butane and hexane reactions, we have also applied the CRDS technique to extend our temperature range down to 297 K; the results obtained by the decay of C₆H₅ with CRDS agree fully with those determined by absolute product yield measurements with PLP/MS. Weighted least‐squares analyses of these two sets of data gave rise to k (n?C₄H₁₀) = (2.70 ± 0.15) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1880 ± 127)/T] and k (n?C₆H₁₄) = (4.81 ± 0.30) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1780 ± 133)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the temperature range 297‐‐1046 K. From the absolute rate constants for the two larger molecular reactions (C₆H₅ + n‐C₆H₁₄ and n‐C₈H₁₈), we derived the rate constant for H‐abstraction from a secondary C? H bond, k_s?CH = (4.19 ± 0.24) × 10¹⁰ exp[?(1770 ± 48)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 49–56, 2004     

Free‐radical copolymerization of styrene and m‐isopropenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzyl isocyanate studied by 1H NMR kinetic experiments

The free‐radical copolymerization of m‐isopropenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (TMI) and styrene was studied with ¹H NMR kinetic experiments at 70 °C. Monomer conversion vs time data were used to determine the ratio k_p × k_t^?0.5 for various comonomer mixture compositions (where k_p is the propagation rate coefficient and k_t is the termination rate coefficient). The ratio k_p × k_t^?0.5 varied from 25.9 × 10^?3 L^0.5 mol^?0.5 s^?0.5 for pure styrene to 2.03 × 10^?3 L^0.5 mol^?0.5 s^?0.5 for 73 mol % TMI, indicating a significant decrease in the rate of polymerization with increasing TMI content in the reaction mixture. Traces of the individual monomer conversion versus time were used to map out the comonomer mixture composition drift up to overall monomer conversions of 35%. Within this conversion range, a slight but significant depletion of styrene in the monomer feed was observed. This depletion became more pronounced at higher levels of TMI in the initial comonomer mixture. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1064–1074, 2002     

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     

Highly branched and high‐molecular‐weight polyethylenes produced by 1‐[2,6‐bis(bis(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl)‐4‐MeOC6H2N]‐2‐aryliminoacenaphthylnickel(II) halides

A series of unsymmetrical 1‐[2,6‐bis(bis(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl)‐4‐MeOC₆H₂N]‐2‐aryliminoacenaphthene‐nickel(II) halides has been synthesized and fully characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), ¹³C NMR, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. The structures of Ni1 and Ni6 have been confirmed by the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. On activation with cocatalysts either ethylaluminum sesquichloride or methylaluminoxane, all the title nickel complexes display high activities toward ethylene polymerization up to 16.14 × 10⁶ g polyethylene (PE) mol^?1(Ni) h^?1 at 30 °C, affording PEs with both high branches (up to 103 branches/1000 carbons) and molecular weight (1.12 × 10⁶ g mol^?1) as well as narrow molecular weight distribution. High branching content of PE can be confirmed by high temperature ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the PE exhibited remarkable property of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with high tensile strength (σ_b = 21.7 MPa) and elongation at break (ε_b = 937%) as well as elastic recovery (up to 85%), indicating a better alternative to commercial TPEs. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 130–145     

Ethylene polymerization with long‐lifetime monopendant thienyl‐substituted group 4 metallocenes

A series of group 4 metallocenes (RCp)[Cp―(bridge)―(2‐C₄H₃S)]MCl₂ [M = Ti ( C1 , C2 , C3 , C4 ); M = Zr ( C5 , C6 , C7 , C8 )] bearing a pendant thiophene group on a cyclopentadienyl ring have been synthesized, characterized and tested as catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. The molecular structures of representative titanocenes C2 and C4 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and revealed that both complexes exist in an expected coordination environment for a monomeric bent metallocene. No intramolecular coordination between the thiophene group and the titanium center could be observed in the solid state. Upon activation by methylaluminoxane (MAO), titanocenes C1 , C2 , C3 , C4 showed moderate catalytic activities and produced high‐ or ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (M_v 70.5–227.1 × 10⁴ g mol^?1). Titanocene C3 is more active and long‐lived, with a lifetime of nearly 9 h at 30 °C. At elevated temperatures of 80–110 °C, zirconocenes C5 , C6 , C7 , C8 displayed high catalytic activities (up to 27.6 × 10⁵ g PE (mol Zr)^?1 h^?1), giving high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (M_v 11.2–53.7 × 10⁴ g mol^?1). Even at 80 °C, a long lifetime of at least 2 h was observed for the C8/MAO catalyst system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rate constants for the elementary reactions between CN radicals and CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H6, and C2H2 in the range: 295 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 700

Pulsed laser photolysis, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence experiments have been carried out on the reactions of CN radicals with CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₂H₂. They have yielded rate constants for these five reactions at temperatures between 295 and 700 K. The data for the reactions with methane and ethane have been combined with other recent results and fitted to modified Arrhenius expressions, k(T) = A′(298) (T/298)ⁿ exp(?θ/T), yielding: for CH₄, A′(298) = 7.0 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = 2.3, and θ = ?16 K; and for C₂H₆, A′(298) = 5.6 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = 1.8, and θ = ?500 K. The rate constants for the reactions with C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₂H₂ all decrease monotonically with temperature and have been fitted to expressions of the form, k(T) = k(298) (T/298)ⁿ with k(298) = 2.5 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.24 for CN + C₂H₄; k(298) = 3.4 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.19 for CN + C₃H₆; and k(298) = 2.9 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.53 for CN + C₂H₂. These reactions almost certainly proceed via addition-elimination yielding an unsaturated cyanide and an H-atom. Our kinetic results for reactions of CN are compared with those for reactions of the same hydrocarbons with other simple free radical species. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.