Volume dependence of thermal conductivity and bulk modulus for poly(propylene glycol)

The thermal conductivity λ and heat capacity per unit volume of poly(propylene glycol) PPG (0.4 and 4.0 kg·mol⁻¹ in number-average molecular weight) have been measured in the temperature range 150–295 K at pressures up to 2 GPa using the transient hot-wire method. At 295 K and atmospheric pressure, λ = 0.147 W m⁻¹K⁻¹ for PPG (0.4 kg·mol⁻¹) and λ = 0.151 W m⁻¹K⁻¹ for PPG (4.0 kg·mol⁻¹). The temperature dependence of λ is less than 4 × 10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹K⁻² for both molecular weights. The bulk modulus has been measured in the temperature range 215–295 K up to 1.1 GPa. At atmospheric pressure, the room temperature bulk moduli are 1.97 GPa for PPG (0.4 kg·mol⁻¹) and 1.75 GPa for PPG (4.0 kg·mol⁻¹). These data were used to calculate the volume dependence of $ \lambda ,g\, = - \left( {\frac{{\partial \lambda /\lambda }}{{\partial V/V}}} \right)_T $. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure (liquid phase) we find g = 2.79 for PPG (0.4 kg·mol⁻¹) and g = 2.15 for PPG (4.0 kg·mol⁻¹). The volume dependence of g, (∂g/∂ log V)_T varies between −19 to −10 for both molecular weights. Under isochoric conditions, g is nearly independent of temperature. The difference in g between the glassy state and liquid phase is small and just outside the inaccuracy of g of about 8%. The theoretical model for λ by Horrocks and McLaughlin yields an overestimate of g by up to 120%. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 345–355, 1998     

Volume dependence of thermal conductivity and isothermal bulk modulus up to 1 GPa for poly(vinyl acetate)

The thermal conductivity λ and heat capacity per unit volume of poly(vinyl acetate) (260 kg mol⁻¹ in weight average molecular weight) have been measured in the temperature range 150–450 K at pressures up to 1 GPa using the transient hot-wire method, which yielded λ = 0.19 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The bulk modulus K has been measured in the temperature range 150–353 K up to 1 GPa. At atmospheric pressure and room temperature, K = 4.0 GPa and (∂K/∂p)_T = 8.3. The volume data were used to calculate the volume dependence of λ, $g = - \left( {\frac{{\partial \lambda /\lambda }}{{\partial V/V}}} \right)_T .$ The values for g of the liquid and glassy states were 3.0 and 2.7, respectively, and g of the latter was almost independent of volume and temperature. Theoretical models can predict the value for g of the glassy state to within 25%. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1451–1463, 1998     

Ionic interaction behavior and facilitated olefin transport in poly(n‐vinyl pyrrolidone):Silver triflate electrolytes; Effect of molecular weight

Interactions of cation/anion and cation/polymer in poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP):silver triflate (AgCF₃SO₃) electrolytes with different weight‐average molecular weights (M_w's) of 1 × 10⁶ (1 M), 3.6 × 10⁵ (360 K), 4 × 10⁴ (40 K), and 1 × 10⁴ (10 K) have been studied with IR and Raman spectroscopies. According to the change of the C?O peak, coordination of silver ions by C?O in a low M_w (10 or 40 K) PVP matrix tend to be always thermodynamically favorable than high M_w (1 M or 360 K) PVP, demonstrating that the polymer matrix of low M_w dissolves silver salts more effectively. In addition, silver cations interact with both larger SO and smaller CF₃ to form ion pairs, and the former interaction is stronger than the latter in a monomer or low M_w polymer matrix (40 K, 10 K), as demonstrated by theoretical ab initio calculation or experimental spectroscopy, respectively. However, CF₃ interacts more favorably with silver cation than SO in high M_w (1 M and 360 K) PVP, which is ascribed to the steric effect of the bulky SO anion by highly entangled polymer chains. Despite the superior dissolving property of the low M_w polymer matrix, the membranes consisting of low M_w PVP and AgCF₃SO₃ exhibited poor separation performance for propylene/propane mixtures in comparison with those of high M_w, presumably because of the poor mechanical property for membrane formation in low M_w PVP. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1813–1820, 2002     

Kinetic study of gas-phase reactions of pinonaldehyde and structurally related compounds

Rate constants for the reactions of OH, NO₃, and O₃ with pinonaldehyde and the structurally related compounds 3-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutan-2-one, cyclobutyl-methylketone, and 2,2,3-trimethyl-cyclobutyl-1-ethanone have been measured at 300±5 K using on-line Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The rate constants obtained for the reactions with pinonaldehyde were: k_OH=(9.1±1.8)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_NO3=(5.4±1.8)×10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_O3=(8.9±1.4)×10⁻²⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results obtained indicate a chemical lifetime of pinonaldehyde in the troposphere of about two hours under typical daytime conditions, [OH]=1.6×10⁶ molecule cm⁻³. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 527–533, 1997.     

A temperature dependence study of the gas-phase reaction of the nitrate radical with 3-fluoropropene followed by laser induced fluorescence detection

Absolute rate coefficient for the gas-phase reaction of NO₃ with 3-fluoropropene has been measured using the discharge-flow technique coupled to a LIF detection system for a range of temperatures from 296 K to 430 K. The measured room temperature rate constant is (0.39 ± 0.02) × 10⁻¹⁴ molecule⁻¹ cm³ s⁻¹. The Arrhenius expression k = (7.17 ± 3.34) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(2248 ± 169)/T] is proposed for the reaction. The reactivity of alkenes containing halogen atoms is discussed and compared to that of simple alkenes, on the basis of the correlations between the reactivity against NO₃ and the ionization potential of the alkenes. Tropospheric half life of 3-fluoropropene has been estimated at night and during daytime for typical NO₃ and OH trophospheric concentrations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 29: 927–932, 1997.     

Synthesis of end-capped polyester from SmI2-catalyzed Tishchenko-type polyaddition of dialdehydes

SmI₂-catalyzed polyaddition of 1,12-dodecanedial followed by treatment with benzaldehyde gives a polyester (1) containing three structural units, [OCH₂-(CH₂)₁₀-CH₂O], [OCH₂-(CH₂)₁₀-CO], and [CO-(CH₂)₁₀-CO], in the main chain and an OCH₂Ph end-capping group. GPC analysis of 1 shows molecular weights of M_n = 5.5 × 10³ and M_w = 14 × 10³. The ¹H-NMR spectrum reveals the polymer structure with the COOCH₂Ph end group as well as the M_n value (2.6 × 10³) calculated based on an amount of the end-capping group and lower than that estimated from GPC. Mixtures of terephthalaldehyde and 1,12-dodecanedial in several molar ratios undergo similar polyaddition catalyzed by SmI₂ to give the corresponding copolyesters after treatment with benzaldehyde. Increase in the ratio of 1,12-dodecanedial causes increase in yield and molecular weight of the copolymer. Terephthalaldehyde shows a tendency to give alcohol-side —O—R—O— unit in the polyester, whereas 1,12-dodecanedial is mostly incorporated as the acid-side —CO—R′—CO— unit. Terminal aldehyde group derived from dodecanedial is capped effectively by benzaldehyde to give the COOCH₂Ph end group. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2821–2825, 1997     

Ru and Sm catalyzed polyaddition of dialdehydes to give polyesters. Application of Tishchenko type reactions to polymer synthesis

RuH₂(PPh₃)₄ catalyzed Tishchenko type polyaddition of terephthal-aldehyde gives aromatic polyester ( 1 ), which contains three structural units, [OCH₂ C₆H₄ CH₂O] ( 1a ), [OCH₂ C₆H₄ CO] ( 1b ), and [CO C₆H₄ CO] ( 1c ). ¹H-NMR spectrum shows the presence of the three units in a 1 : 2 : 1 ratio. Isophthalaldehyde also undergoes similar polyaddition to give another aromatic polyester ( 2 ), while 1,12-dodecanedial gives an aliphatic polyester ( 3 ) containing the following structural units: [OCH₂ (CH₂)₁₀ CH₂O] ( 3a ), [OCH₂ (CH₂)₁₀ CO] ( 3b ), and [CO (CH₂)₁₀ CO] ( 3c ). The above polymers have M_n of 2.7 × 10³−5.4 × 10³ and M_w of 4.3 × 10³ − 9.7 × 10³, respectively. Mixtures of terephthalaldehyde and 1,12-dodecanedial produce copolymers, which contain the units 1a–1c and 3a–3c in a random sequence. In the copolymerization, terephthalaldehyde shows a strong tendency to give 1c units, whereas 1,12-dodecanedial predominantly affords 3a units. SmI₂ also catalyzes polyaddition of terephthalaldehyde to give the corresponding polyester with M_n of 1.7 × 10³ and M_w of 3.7 × 10³, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1265–1273, 1997     

Studies on the oxidation mechanism of H2S based on direct examination of the key reactions

By conducting an excimer laser photolysis (193 and 248 nm) behind shock waves, three elementary reactions important in the oxidation of H₂S have been examined, where, H, O, and S atoms have been monitored by the atomic resonance absorption spectrometry. For HS + O₂ → products (1), the rate constants evaluated by numerical simulations are summarized as: k₁ = 3.1 × 10⁻¹¹exp|-75 kJ mol⁻¹/RT| cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ (T = 1400-1850 K) with an uncertainty factor of about 2. Direct measurements of the rate constants for S + O2 → SO + O (2), and SO + O₂ → SO₂ + O (3) yield k₂ = (2.5 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ exp|-(15.3 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹/RT| cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ (T = 980-1610 K) and, k₃ = (1.7 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹² exp|-(34 ± 11) kJ mol⁻¹/RT| cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ (T = 1130-1640 K), respectively. By summarizing these data together with the recent experimental results on the H(SINGLE BOND)S(SINGLE BOND)O reaction systems, a new kinetic model for the H₂S oxidation process is constructed. It is found that this simple reaction scheme is consistent with the experimental result on the induction time of SO₂ formation obtained by Bradley and Dobson. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 57–66, 1997.     

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     

Viscometric properties of dilute polystyrene/dioctyl phthalate solutions

We report viscometric data collected in a Couette rheometry on dilute, single‐solvent polystyrene (PS)/dioctyl phthalate (DOP) solutions over a variety of polymer molecular weights (5.5 × 10⁵ ≤ M_w ≤ 3.0 × 10⁶ Da) and system temperatures (288 K ≤ T ≤ 318 K). In view of the essential viscometric features, the current data may be classified into three categories: The first concerns all the investigated solutions at low shear rates, where the solution properties are found to agree excellently with the Zimm model predictions. The second includes all sample solutions, except for high‐molecular‐weight PS samples (M_w ≥ 2.0 × 10⁶ Da), where excellent time–temperature superposition is observed for the steady‐state polymer viscosity at constant polymer molecular weights. No similar superposition applies at a constant temperature but varied polymer molecular weights, however. The third appears to be characteristic of dilute high‐molecular‐weight polymer solutions, for which the effects of temperature on the viscosity curve are further complicated at high shear rates. The implications concerning the relative importance of hydrodynamic interactions, segmental interactions, and chain extensibility with increasing polymer molecular weight, system temperature, and shear rate are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 787–794, 2006     

Thermal expansion of epoxide–amine networks in the glassy state

The dilatometric curves of 21 epoxide–amine network samples made from five distinct epoxide–amine pairs, with variable amine/epoxide functional ratio values for three of these pairs, were recorded in the 200 K to T_g (glass‐transition temperature) − 50 K temperature range. The curves display a quasiparabolic shape consistent with an expansion law derived from a thermodynamic study [Bongkee, C. Polym Eng Sci 1985, 25(18), 135]: where V and V₀ are the volumes at T and 0 K, respectively, and A is a coefficient that varied for the studied samples between 2.5 × 10⁻⁷ and 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ K⁻². A tentative study of the structure–property relationships in this field revealed that A does not depend significantly on the crosslink density, the cohesive energy density, the T_g, or the local mobility. In contrast, A seems to be sharply related to the chain flexibility, which essentially depends on the aromatic content in the studied structural series. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 537–543, 2000     

Synthesis and properties of polyacetylenes with adamantyl groups

Three disubstituted acetylenes with an adamantyl group—1-(p-adamantylphenyl)-2-chloroacetylene (ClpAdPA), 1-(p-adamantylphenyl)-1-propyne (pAdPP), and 1-(p-adamantylphenyl)-2-phenylacetylene (pAdDPA)—polymerized in good yields in the presence of MoCl₅- or TaCl₅-based catalysts. The highest weight-average molecular weights of poly(ClpAdPA), poly(pAdPP), and poly(pAdDPA) reached 3.6 × 10⁵, 1.1 × 10⁶, and 6.0 × 10⁶, respectively. The polymers were yellow to white solids and completely soluble in toluene, chloroform, and so forth. These polymers thermally were fairly stable, and the onset temperatures of weight loss in air were over 360 °C. Poly(pAdPP) and poly(pAdDPA) provided free-standing films by solution casting, and their oxygen permeability coefficients (P_O2) at 25 °C were 8.6 and 55 barrers [1 barrer = 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ · (STP) · cm/(cm² · s · cm Hg)], respectively, which are relatively small compared to those of other substituted polyacetylenes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4546–4553, 1999     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of chlorine atoms with ethane,propane, and n-butane

Absolute (flash photolysis) and relative (FTIR-smog chamber and GC) rate techniques were used to study the gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms with C₂H₆ (k₁), C₃H₈ (k₃), and n-C₄H₁₀ (k₂). At 297 ± 1 K the results from the two relative rate techniques can be combined to give k₂/k₁ = (3.76 ± 0.20) and k₃/k₁ = (2.42 ± 0.10). Experiments performed at 298–540 K give k₂/k₁ = (2.0 ± 0.1)exp((183 ± 20)/T). At 296 K the reaction of Cl atoms with C₃H₈ produces yields of 43 ± 3% 1-propyl and 57 ± 3% 2-propyl radicals, while the reaction of Cl atoms with n-C₄H₁₀ produces 29 ± 2% 1-butyl and 71 ± 2% 2-butyl radicals. At 298 K and 10–700 torr of N₂ diluent, 1- and 2-butyl radicals were found to react with Cl₂ with rate coefficients which are 3.1 ± 0.2 and 2.8 ± 0.1 times greater than the corresponding reactions with O₂. A flash-photolysis technique was used to measure k₁ = (5.75 ± 0.45) × 10⁻¹¹ and k₂ = (2.15 ± 0.15) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 298 K, giving a rate coefficient ratio k₂/k₁ = 3.74 ± 0.40, in excellent agreement with the relative rate studies. The present results are used to put other, relative rate measurements of the reactions of chlorine atoms with alkanes on an absolute basis. It is found that the rate of hydrogen abstraction from a methyl group is not influenced by neighboring groups. The results are used to refine empirical approaches to predicting the reactivity of Cl atoms towards hydrocarbons. Finally, relative rate methods were used to measure rate coefficients at 298 K for the reaction of Cl atoms with 1- and 2-chloropropane and 1- and 2-chlorobutane of (4.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹, (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁰, (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, and (7.0 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 43–55, 1997.     

A computational study of the reaction kinetics of methyl radicals with trifluorohalomethanes

Ab initio calculations have been used to characterize the transition states for halogen abstraction by CH₃ in reactions with CF₄, CF₃Cl, CF₃Br, and CF₃I (1–4). Geometries and frequencies were obtained at the HF/6-31G(d) and MP2=full/6-31G(d) levels of theory. Energy barriers were computed via the Gaussian-2 methodology, and the results were employed in transition state theory analyses to obtain the rate constants over 298–2500 K. There is good accord with literature measurements in the approximate temperature range 360–500 K for reactions (2–4), and the computed activation energies are accurate to within ±6 kJ mol⁻¹. Recommended rate constant expressions for use in combustion modeling are k;₁=1.6×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.41 exp(−13150 K/T), k₂=8.4×10⁻²⁰(T/K)^2.34 exp(−5000 K/T), k₃=4.6×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.05 exp(−3990 K/T), and k₄=8.3×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.18 exp(−1870 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of flame suppression chemistry. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 179–184, 1998.     

Simultaneous Determination of Dopamine and Ascorbic Acid Using the Nano‐Gold Self‐Assembled Glassy Carbon Electrode

Electrochemical behavior of dopamine (DA) was investigated at the gold nanoparticles self‐assembled glassy carbon electrode (GNP/LC/GCE), which was fabricated by self‐assembling gold nanoparticles on the surface of L ‐cysteine (LC) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via successive cyclic voltammetry (CV). A pair of well‐defined redox peaks of DA on the GNP/LC/GCE was obtained at E_pa=0.197 V and E_pc=0.146 V, respectively. And the peak separation between DA and AA is about 0.2 V, which is enough for simultaneous determination of DA and AA. The peak currents of DA and AA were proportional with their concentrations in the range of 6.0×10^?8–8.5×10^?5 mol L^?1 and 1.0×10^?6–2.5×10^?3 mol L^?1, with the detection limit of 2.0×10^?8 mol L^?1 and 3.0×10^?7 mol L^?1 (S/N=3), respectively. The modified electrode exhibits an excellent reproducibility, sensibility and stability for simultaneous determination of DA and AA in human serum with satisfactory result.     

Kinetics of the reactions of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and of chlorine atoms (Cl) with methylethylether over the temperature range 274–345 K

The rate constants for the gas-phase reactions between methylethylether and hydroxyl radicals (OH) and methylethylether and chlorine atoms (Cl) have been determined over the temperature range 274–345 K using a relative rate technique. In this range the rate constants vary little with temperature and average values of k_MEE+OH = (6.60_−2.62^+3.88) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k_MEE+Cl= (34.9 ± 6.7) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were obtained. The atmospheric lifetimes of methylethylether have been estimated with respect to removal by OH radicals and Cl atoms to be ca. 2 days and ca. 30–40 days, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 231–236, 1997.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of cis-3-Hexen-1-ol,cis-3-Hexenylacetate,trans-2-Hexenal,and Linalool with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 at 296 ± 2 K,and OH radical formation yields from the O3 reactions

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the four oxygenated biogenic organic compounds cis-3-hexen-1-ol, cis-3-hexenylacetate, trans-2-hexenal, and linalool with OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃ have been determined at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air using relative rate methods. The rate constants obtained were (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 units): cis-3-hexen-1-ol: (1.08 ± 0.22) × 10^?10 for reaction with the OH radical; (2.72 ± 0.83) × 10^?13 for reaction with the NO₃ radical; and (6.4 ± 1.7) × 10^?17 for reaction with O₃; cis-3-hexenylacetate: (7.84 ± 1.64) × 10^?11 for reaction with the OH radical; (2.46 ± 0.75) × 10^?13 for reaction with the NO₃ radical; and (5.4 ± 1.4) × 10^?17 for reaction with O₃; trans-2-hexenal: (4.41 ± 0.94) × 10^?11 for reaction with the OH radical; (1.21 ± 0.44) × 10^?14 for reaction with the NO₃ radical; and (2.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?18 for reaction with O₃; and linalool: (1.59 ± 0.40) × 10^?10 for reaction with the OH radical; (1.12 ± 0.40) × 10^?11 for reaction with the NO₃ radical; and (4.3 ± 1.6) × 10^?16 for reaction with O₃. Combining these rate constants with estimated ambient tropospheric concentrations of OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃ results in calculated tropospheric lifetimes of these oxygenated organic compounds of a few hours. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

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.     

Kinetics of the reactions of O3 and OH radicals with a series of dialkenes and trialkenes at 294 ± 2 K

Rate constants for the gas phase reactions of O₃ and OH radicals with 1,3-cycloheptadiene, 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, and cis- and trans-1,3,5-hexatriene and also of O₃ with cis-2,trans-4-hexadiene and trans -2,trans -4-hexadiene have been determined at 294 ± 2 K. The rate constants determined for reaction with O₃ were (in cm³ molecule^-1s^?1 units): 1,3-cycloheptadiene, (1.56 ± 0.21) × 10^-16; 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, (5.39 ± 0.78) × 10^?17; 1,3,5-hexatriene, (2.62 ± 0.34) × 10^?17; cis?2,trans-4-hexadiene, (3.14 ± 0.34) × 10^?16; and trans ?2, trans -4-hexadiene, (3.74 ± 0.61) × 10^?16; with the cis- and trans-1,3,5-hexatriene isomers reacting with essentially identical rate constants. The rate constants determined for reaction with OH radicals were (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 units): 1,3-cycloheptadiene, (1.31 ± 0.04) × 10^?10; 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, (9.12 × 0.23) × 10^?11; cis-1,3,5-hexatriene, (1.04 ± 0.07) × 10^?10; and trans 1,3,5-hexatriene, (1.04 ± 0.17) × 10^?10. These data, which are the first reported values for these di- and tri-alkenes, are discussed in the context of previously determined O₃ and OH radical rate constants for alkenes and cycloalkenes.     

Dynamic light scattering studies of atactic and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate)s in dilute theta solution

The present article considers the coil‐to‐globule transition behavior of atactic and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylates), (PMMA) in their theta solvent, n‐butyl chloride (nBuCl). Changes in Rh in these polymers with temperature in dilute theta solutions were investigated by dynamic light scattering. The hydrodynamic size of atactic PMMA (a‐PMMA‐1) in nBuCl (M_w: 2.55 × 10⁶ g/mol) decreases to 61% of that in the unperturbed state at 13.0°C. Atactic PMMA (a‐PMMA‐2) with higher molecular weight (M_w: 3.3 × 10⁶ g/mol) shows higher contraction in the same theta solvent (α_η = R_h(T)/R_h (θ) = 0.44) at a lower temperature, 7.25°C. Although syndiotactic PMMA (s‐PMMA) has lower molecular weight than that of atactic samples (M_w: 1.2 × 10⁶), a comparable chain collapse was observed (α_η = 0.63) at 9.0°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2253–2260, 1999