Ultrafast SET‐LRP of methyl acrylate at 25 °C in alcohols

Alcohols are known to promote the disproportionation of Cu(I)X species into nascent Cu(0) and Cu(II)X. Therefore, alcohols are expected to be excellent solvents that facilitate the single‐electron transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) mediated by nascent Cu(0) species. This publication demonstrates the ultrafast SET‐LRP of methyl acrylate initiated with bis(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethane and catalyzed by Cu(0)/Me₆‐TREN in methanol, ethanol, 1‐propanol, and tert‐butanol and in their mixture with water at 25 °C. The structural analysis of the resulting polymers by a combination of ¹H NMR and MALDI‐TOF MS demonstrates the synthesis of perfectly bifunctional α,ω‐dibromo poly(methyl acrylate)s by SET‐LRP in alcohols. Moreover, this work provides an expansion of the list of solvents available for SET‐LRP. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2745–2754, 2008     

Crystallographic data for KNO2III at −35 °C and KNO2VII at −100°C

KNO₂ III below ?13°C is monoclinic, space group P2₁ or P2₁/m, with a₀, b₀, c₀ = 4.677, 9.650, 6.395 Å, β = 93.8° at ?35°C. There is a further phase transformation between ?35°C and ?100°C to a new phase KNO₂ VII, which is also monoclinic, space group P2₁ or P2₁/m: with a₀, b₀, c₀ = 8.397, 4.773, 7.644 Å, β = 112° at ?100°C. Both these phases appear to be ordered.     

Thermo- and photooxidation of polyisobutylene. I. Evolutions at temperatures above 50°C

Polyisobutylene films (PIB) were submitted to a thermal oxidation at 100°C and to a photooxidation by exposure to long-wavelength radiations (λ ≥ 300 nm) at 60°C. The modifications of the chemical structure resulting from the oxidation were determined by FT-IR analysis of the polymer films, coupled to chemical treatments that converted specifically the oxidation products. Dissolution of oxidized samples permitted analysis of the polymer by ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR. The structure of the volatile products was determined by mass spectroscopy analysis of the gas phase. Identification of the numerous products formed permitted the proposal of a scheme that accounts for the oxidation of PIB. When the irradiations are carried out at a temperature above 50°C, the depolymerization is favored and the mechanism involves two main routes of oxidation. A direct oxidation starts with the oxidation of radicals obtained by homolysis of the C C bonds on the main chain, and an induced oxidation involves hydrogen abstraction on the methylene and methyl groups by radicals formed by the direct oxidation of the polymer. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1689–1701, 1997     

Dissociation Constants of P-Nitroanilinium Ion in Tetrahydrofuran-Water Mixtures at 25°C by Spectrophotometric Measurements

A spectrophotometric method has been used for the determination of the dissociation constant of P-nitroaniline indicator (which has a charge type A⁺B⁰) in various THF-water solvent mixtures at 25°_C. The dissociation constant is found to decrease with the addition of THF which indicates that the basicity of the medium is increased by the addition of the organic solvent. The relative basicity of the medium is compared with other aqueous-organic solvent mixtures and the trend of decreasing basicity is in the order THF-H₂O> DMF-H₂O > AN-H₂O > HAC-H₂O.     

Carbon nanofibers grown on sodalime glass at 500°C using thermal chemical vapor deposition

Carbon nanofibers are grown homogeneously on a large area of nickel-deposited sodalime glass substrate by thermal chemical vapor deposition of acetylene at 500°C. The diameters of carbon nanofibers are uniformly distributed in the range between 50 and 60 nm. Most of the carbon nanofibers are curved or bent in shape, but some fractions are twisted. They consist of defective graphitic sheets with a herringbone morphology. The maximum emission current density from the carbon nanofibers is 0.075 mA/cm² at 16 V/μm, which is sufficient for commercializing the carbon-nanofibers-based field emission displays.     

SET‐LRP of vinyl chloride initiated with CHBr3 in DMSO at 25 °C

The development of Cu(0)/TREN/CuBr₂‐catalyzed SET‐LRP of VC initiated with CHBr₃ in DMSO at 25 °C is reported. The use of CuBr₂ additive allows for the first LRP of low molecular weight VC (target DP = 100), as well as lower Cu powder loading levels, improved I_eff and control in the synthesis of higher molecular VC, targeted degree of polymerization = 350, 700, 1,000, 1,400. ¹H NMR and HSQC confirm the bifunctionality of CHBr₃ as an initiator and suggest that deleterious side‐reactions such as the formation of allylic chlorides occur primarily at the onset of the reaction. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4130–4140, 2009     

Surface tension of water at 100°C

The surface tensions of water samples of various degrees of purity were measured at 100°C using the Wilhelmy slide method. The purest water, obtained by constant redistillation and overflowing of the distillate surface assayed at 60.22 dyn/cm which may be compared with 58.74 dyn/cm (σ = 5.994 mg/mm) reported in the literature. Samples of distilled water of lesser purity gave values between σ = 59.48 dyn/cm and σ = 60.16 dyn/cm. It is concluded that the accepted value at 100°C for water should be increased by 2.5%.     

Wavelength dependence of the quantum efficiencies of the primary processes in formaldehyde photolysis at 25°C

The quantum efficiencies of the primary processes in formaldehyde photolysis (?₁ and ?₂) were determined as a function of wavelength in the range from 2890 to 3380 Å and at 25°C: CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1); CH₂O + hν → H₂ + CO (2). The estimates of ?₂ were derived from Φ_H2 values obtained in photolyses of CH₂O-isobutene mixtures at high isobutene concentrations where H-atom scavenging was essentially complete. Values of ?₁ + ?₂, obtained from the Φ_H2 values from the pure CH₂O photolyses, were very near unity at all but the longest wavelengths employed: Φ_H2 = ?₁ + ?₂ = 1.02 (2930 Å); 1.12 (3130 Å); 1.06 (3150 Å); 1.01 (3250 Å); 1.0 (3335 Å); 0.75 (3380 Å). Our results showed that the onset of photodissociation of CH₂O by process (1) was at 3370 ± 10 Å; this corresponds to D(H-CHO) = 84.8 plusmn; 0.3 kcal/mol. The values of ?₁ increased regularly with decreasing wavelength from 0 at 3370 Å to ～0.7 at 3175 Å. Little further variation in ?₁ occurred from 3175 to 2890 Å. For experiments at λ = 3300 Å, the addition of CO₂ (～300 torr) reduced ?₂, while the effect on ?₁ appeared to be small. The present results coupled with the solar irradiance estimates of Peterson [24] and the extinction data for CH₂O from McQuigg and Calvert [7] were used to make new estimates of the apparent first-order rate constants (min^?;1 × 10³) of process (1) in the lower atmosphere at various solar zenith angles (in parentheses): 2.31 (0°); 2.17 (20°); 1.71 (40°); 0.92 (60°); and 0.17 (78°). The corresponding first-order rate constants (min^?1 × 10³) for solar light absorption by CH₂O in the lower atmosphere are 7.74 (0°); 7.38 (20°); 6.18 (40°); 3.80 (60°); and 0.96 (78°).     

Determination of activity coefficients in aqueous solutions of trichloroacetic acid from emf measurements at 25°C

Values of the emf for the cell: Na-glass|Na₂Succ(m), Hg₂Succ|Hg, have been measured. These values of E have been used with Hückel's extended Debye and Hückel equation to obtain the mean ionic activity coefficient values for Na₂Succ in aqueous solutions of several concentrations, m. The values of γ_± thus obtained have been adjusted to Pitzer's equation, with b = 1.2 and α = 2.0 to find Pitzer's parameters and then the values for both the osmotic coefficients and the activity of water. Finally, the standard potential of the Hg₂Succ|Hg electrode has been determined and from this value the solubility-product equilibrium constant for mercurous succinate has also been calculated.     

Acceleration and Selective Monomer Addition during Aqueous RAFT Copolymerization of Ionic Monomers at 25 °C

An acceleration effect and selective monomer addition during RAFT copolymerization of the oppositely‐charged ionic monomers in dilute aqueous solution at 25 °C are reported. The reaction is conducted using a non‐ionic water‐soluble polymer as a macromolecular chain transfer agent under visible light irradiation. A fast iterative polymerization can be induced, even in dilute solution, by the favorable ionic interactions and in situ self‐assembly of zwitterionic growing chains. Selelctive monomer addition is achieved in the statistical copolymerization due to the ion‐pairing of the oppositely‐charged monomers, such as precisely the same reaction rates at a 1:1 of monomer ratio, otherwise a faster reaction of the minor monomer component over the major one. These behaviors open up an avenue towards the rapid synthesis of sequence‐controlled zwitterionic polyelectrolytes that can satisfy the demands of emerging biological applications.

     

Kinetic simulation of single electron transfer–living radical polymerization of methyl acrylate at 25 °C

A mechanistic comparison of the ATRP and SET‐LRP is presented. Subsequently, simulation of kinetic experiments demonstrated that, in the heterolytic outer‐sphere single‐electron transfer process responsible for the SET‐LRP, the activation of the initiator and of the propagating dormant species is faster than of the homolytic inner‐sphere electron‐transfer process responsible for ATRP. In addition, simulation experiments suggested that in both polymerizations the rate of deactivation is similar. In SET‐LRP, the Cu(II)X₂/L deactivator is created by the disproportionation of Cu(I)X/L inactive species, while in ATRP its concentration is mediated by the bimolecular termination. The combination of higher rate of activation with the creation of deactivator via disproportionation provides, via SET‐LRP, an ultrafast synthesis of polymers with very narrow molecular weight distribution at room temperature. SET‐LRP is mediated by a catalytic amount of Cu(0), and under suitable conditions, bimolecular termination is virtually absent. Kinetic and simulation experiments have also demonstrated that the amount of water available in commercial solvents and monomers is sufficient to induce the disproportionation of Cu(I)X/L into Cu(0) and Cu(II)X₂/L and, subsequently, to change the polymerization mechanism from ATRP to SET‐LRP. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1835–1847, 2007.     

Calorimetric study of the ionization process for 2,4-dinitrophenol in water—dimethylsulphoxide mixtures at 25°C

The ionization and solution enthalpies of 2,4-dinitrophenol were measured calorimetrically at 25°C in water—DMSO mixtures ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 mole fraction of DMSO.

The greater acidity of 2,4-dinitrophenol with respect to 2,5-dinitrophenol is explained on the basis of the observation that in the anion the π-withdrawing resonance effect of the para nitro group stabilizes the benzene ring while in the undissociated molecule the contrary is true.     

The quantum efficiency of the primary processes in formaldehyde photolysis at 3130 Å and 25°C

The mechanism of the photolysis of formaldehyde was studied in experiments at 3130 Å and in the pressure range of 1–12 torr at 25°C. The experiments were designed to establish the quantum yields of the primary decomposition steps (1) and (2), CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1): CH₂O + hν → H₂ + CO (2), through the effects of added isobutene, trimethylsilane, and nitric oxide on Φ_CO and Φ. The ratio Φ_CO/Φ was found to be 1.01 ± 0.09(2σ) and (Φ + Φ_CO)/2 = 1.10 ± 0.08 over the range of pressures and a 12-fold change in incident light intensity. Isobutene and nitric oxide additions reduced Φ to about the same limiting value, 0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively, but these added gases differed in their effects on Φ_CO. With isobutene addition Φ_CO/Φ reached a limiting value of 2.3; with NO addition Φ_CO exceeded unity. The addition of small amounts of Me₃SiH reduced Φ to 1.02 ± 0.08 and lowered Φ_CO to 0.7. These findings were rationalized in terms of a mechanism in which the “nonscavengeable,” molecular hydrogen is formed in reaction (2) with ?₂ = 0.32 ± 0.03, while the “free radical” hydrogen is formed in reaction (1) with ?₁ = 0.68 ± 0.03. In the pure formaldehyde system these reactions are followed by (3)–(5): H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3); 2HCO → CH₂O + CO (4); 2HCO → H₂ + 2CO (5). The data suggest k₄/k₅ ? 5.8. Isobutene reduced Φ by the reaction H + iso-C₄H₈ → C₄H₉ (20), and the results give k₂₀/k₃ ? 43 ± 4, in good agreement with the ratio of the reported values of the individual constants k₃ and k₂₀.     

Calorimetric study of the ionization process for 2,5-dinitrophenol in water—dimethylsulfoxide mixtures at 25°C

The ionization and solution enthalpies of 2,5-dinitrophenol were measured calorimetrically at 25°C in water—DMSO mixtures ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 mole fraction of DMSO.

The effect of the nitro group in the ortho position seems to prevail over that of the nitro group in the meta position.

The greater acidity of dinitrophenol with respect to the mononitro isomers is explained on the basis of the interference of the nitro group in the metaposition on the interactions between the nitro group in the ortho position and the hydroxyl group or phenolate oxygen.     

Potentiometric study of chloro complexes of some divalent transition metal cations in dimethyl sulphoxide at 25°C

Formation of the chloro complexes of manganese(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) in DMSO has been studied potentiometrically at 25°C. The con- centration stability constants for the ionic strength of 0.1 mol kg are derived and discussed. The stability of the divalent transition metal cations towards the chloride anion follows the sequence Mn &> Co &> Ni << Cu &> Zn disobeying the Irving-Williams series.     

Optical constants and integrated intensities of liquid hexafluorobenzene between 4000 and 250 cm at 25 °C

The optical constants (real and imaginary refractive indices) of hexafluorobenzene were determined at 25 °C via transmission measurements. Experimental absorbance spectra measured on a Nicolet Impact 410 FTIR were converted to imaginary refractive indices using methods described in the literature. The real refractive indices were obtained by Kramers–Kronig transformation of the imaginary refractive indices. From the complex refractive indices, the molar absorption coefficient (E_m) and complex molar polarizability spectra were calculated. The integrated intensities for the E_1u fundamentals were obtained from the areas under the bands in the spectrum. These integrated intensities are compared to those for benzene and benzene-d₆ in the literature.     

Low-temperature specific heat of polystyrene and related polymers (1.6° to 4°K)

The specific heat of polystyrenes of different origin and molecular weight, of α-substituted and ortho-substituted polystyrenes, and of polystyrenes crosslinked with different amounts of divinylbenzene have been measured between 1.6 and 4°K. The specific heat of all samples shows a temperature dependence that can not be explained by assuming a Debye frequency spectrum for the vibrational modes in these polymers. Good agreement is obtained by fitting the data to a superposition of a Debye T³ term and an Einstein specific heat with a characteristic temperature of 15–18°K. This localized frequency mode may have its origin in the one-dimensional nature of the polymer chain. A simple calculation of the length of a polystyrene chain necessary to obtain these characteristic temperatures shows reasonable agreement with the number of Einstein oscillators observed in the samples.     

Unusual H2-forming chain reaction in the 3130-Å photolysis of formaldehyde-oxygen mixtures at 25°C

A kinetic study has been made of the 3130-Å photolysis of CH₂O (8 torr) in O₂-containing mixtures (0.02–8 torr) and in the presence of added CO₂ (0–300 torr) at 25°C. Quantum yields of formation of H₂, CO, and CO₂ and the loss of O₂ were measured. Φ and Φ_CO were much above unity. In an explanation of these unexpected results, a new H-atom-forming chain mechanism was postulated involving HO₂ and HO addition to CH₂O: CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1) H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3) H + O₂ + M → HO₂ + M (6) HCO + O₂ → HO₂ + CO (8) HO₂ + CH₂O → (HO₂CH₂O) → HO + HCO₂H (15) HO + CH₂O → H₂O + HCO? (16); HCO? → H + CO (19) HO + CH₂O → H₂O + HCO (17) and HO + CH₂O → HCO₂H + H (18). When the results are rationalized in terms of this mechanism, the data suggest k₁₆ ? k₁₇ and k₁₆/k₁₈ ? 0.5. The data require that a reassessment of the relative rates of reactions (7) and (8) be made, since in the previous work HCO₂H formation was used as a monitor of the rate of reaction (7) HCO + O₂ + M → HCOO₂ + M (7). The present data from experiments at P = 8 torr and P = 1–4 torr give k₇[M]/(k₇[M] + k₈) ≥ 0.049 ± 0.017. These data coupled with the k₈ estimates of Washida and coworkers give k₇ ≥ (4.4 ± 1.6) × 10¹¹ l²/mol²·sec for M = CH₂O. The reaction sequence proposed here is consistent with the observed deterimental effect of O₂ addition on the laser-induced isotope enrichment in HDCO. In additional studies of CH₂O-O₂-isobutene mixtures it was found that Φ was equal to ?₂ as estimated in O₂-free CH₂O-isobutene mixtures. These results suggest that the increase in CO (ν = 1) product observed with O₂ addition in CH₂O photolysis does not result from perturbations in the fragmentation pattern of the excited CH₂O, but it is likely that it originates in the occurrence of the exothermic reaction HCO + O₂ → HO₂ + CO (ν = 1).     

Dependence on strain rate of the nucleation of cracks in polystyrene at 293°K

The processes associated with the deformation and fracture of polystyrene tested in uniaxial tension have been studied over a range of strain rates from 1.4 × 10^?2 to 4.3 × 10^?7 sec^?1 and at constant stresses between 4.1 and 2.9 kg/mm². The effect of strain rate on the surface craze distribution prior to fracture, the fracture stress, the mechanism of nucleation of cracks, and the nature of fracture surfaces associated with slow and fast crack propagation have been determined. The changes in fracture surface appearance have been studied using optical and stereoscan microscopy. The observations are consistent with the model presented in a previous paper. Fracture is preceded by craze formation, cavitation in the craze, coalescence of cavities to form large planar cavities which propagate slowly until a critical stage is reached at which fast crack propagation occurs. The effect of changes of strain rate and material variables on these processes is discussed.