The structure of wholly aromatic polyesters with bulky side chains: Poly(phenylene phenyl-terephthalate)

Abstract

The thermotropic polyester prepared from phenyl-terephthalic acid and hydro-quinone is highly crystalline, despite the probable random 2-and 3-disposition of the phenyl substituents. The x-ray pattern of melt-spun fibers contains 18 Bragg reflections that are indexed by a monoclinic unit cell with dimensions a = 28.0 Å. b = 4.89 Å, c = 12.48 Å (fiber axis), and γ = 114.8°, containing monomer units of four chains. In the ac-plane, the chains are arranged in pairs with the phenyl side chains interdigitated; successive pairs of chains are staggered by about c/2. We have used molecular mechanics modeling to simulate arrays of chains with random 2-and 3-disposition of the side chains on the terephthalic acid units and have compared the results with those for a similar structure in which all the substituents were at the 2-position. The refined model for random substitution is distorted, but the average separations of the monomer units are within experimental error of the observed unit cell dimensions, and their standard deviations are very similar to those derived from the line-broadening data. The potential energy of the random substitution model is only about 1 kcal/mol of monomer higher than that for the model with all 2-substitution, indicating the random substitution is not a problem for the formation of an ordered structure.     

Molecular Packing in Crystalline Domains of Unsymmetrical Poly(benzoxazole-imide): Investigation using Modeling of a Model Compound

To probe the molecular packing in crystalline domains of an unsymmetrical poly(benzoxazole-imide) (BPDA-BOA) introduced alternating phenylbenzoxazole and bisphthalimide units via the two-step polymerization of 5-amino-2-(4- aminophenyl)benzoxazole (BOA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), the crystal structure of its model compound, 5-phthalimido-2-(4-phthalimidophenyl)benzoxazole (PA-BOA), was investigated using powder wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) combined with molecular modeling using a Materials Studio program. Powder WAXD pattern of the model compound can be well indexed in terms of amonoclinic unit cell with parameters of a = 12.005 Å, b = 3.837 Å, c = 23.562 Å, β = 96.711°. There are two molecules in the unit cell with the space group of P2 (3). Based on the crystal structure of the model compound powders and the WAXD analysis of poly(benzoxazole-imide) film, it can be concluded that the projection of the monomer repeat length of the poly(benzoxazole-imide) chains in the chain directionis around 19.0 Å, and the interchain side-by-side distance and face-to-face distance between the centroids of two neighboring BPDA-BOA chains are around 6.10 and 4.01 Å, respectively. The difference of molecular packing between the poly(benzoxazole-imide) chains in their crystalline domains and the model compounds in their crystals are also presented. Both the side-by-side and face-to-face π-π stacking distances between two neighboring polymer chains in the poly(benzoxazole-imide) crystalline domains are significantly larger than the corresponding values between two neighboring molecules in the model compound crystals due to a more kinked and twisted conformation.     

The polymorphism of poly(vinylidene fluoride). I. The effect of head-to-head structure

The phenomenon of polymorphism in poly(vinylidene fluoride) has been observed recently by several authors. It has also been reported that high-resolution NMR measurements demonstrate the presence in this polymer of head-to-head linkages, resulting from the “backward” addition of from 5-6% of the monomer units. Since the van der Waals radii of fluorine (1.35 Å) and hydrogen (1.1-1.2 Å) are similar, the cocrystallization in a polymer chain of units that differ only by the substitution of fluorine atoms for hydrogen atoms is not unexpected. The two polymorphic forms of poly(vinylidene fluoride), examined in this investigation, have different chain conformations. Chains in phase I have a planar zigzag conformation, while chains in phase II are assumed to exhibit a 2₁ helical conformation. The incorporation into the polymer chain of small amounts of tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene comonomer favored the crystallization of phase I. This is in accord with the relative abilities, deduced from consideration of atomic size, of these comonomers to cocrystallize with vinylidene fluoride units in the two indicated chain conformations of the polymer. Since tetrafluoroethylene units are present in the head-to-head structure in the homopolymer, it can be concluded that the elimination of the head-to-head structure will eliminate or restrict crystallization in phase I.     

Preface

Phenylethyl ammonium trichloromercurate exhibits a structural phase transition at 402K Phase I—(402K)→ Phase II

This transition has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric measurements and X-ray diffraction. The space groups and the cell parameters of both phases were determined by X-ray diffraction from single crystals and powder samples. Phase I has space group I2 or I2/m, a = 25.88(2) Å, b = 7.792(3) Å; c = 5.971(4) Å; β = 96.14(1)°. Phase II has orthorhombic symmetry, space group Cmm2 or C222 with a = 25.91(1) Å; b = 7.836(5) Å; c = 6.116(4) Å.     

1H NMR Studies of 1-Ethylimidazole Binding to Cytochrome C

Abstract

Kinetic and equilibrium data for 1-EtIm binding to cyt c at temperature range of 303–319K have been determined at pH 7.0 by using ¹HNMR method. Thermodynamic values (ΔH°=39.5 kJ mol^?1, ΔS° = 154 J mol^?1K^?1 and Ea = 142 kJ mol^?1) are obtained from Van't Hoff and Arrhenius's relations. Some hyperfine shifted resonances of l-EtIm cyt c have been assigned for the first time using 1D saturation transfer experiments. The origin of the asymmetric spin density distribution in heme groups of 1-EtIm cyt c and the reason of low affinity of cytochrome c for 1-EtIm are also discussed move toward upfield from original position. However, Te-2, 4 substituents in cyt c are more electron withdrawing than the propionic acid side chains, which lead to the 5-methyl group going toward downfield.     

Tetragonal rare earth (R) Iron borides,R1+εFe4B4 (ε≅0.1), with incommensurate rare earth and iron substructures

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of a new structural series of ternary borides with composition R_1+εFe₄B₄ (R = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, 0.11(Pr) ≤ε≤ 0.15(Tb) are reported. The compounds are built of incommensurate substructures of rare earth atoms (linear strings ?? c?), iron atoms (chains of edge sharing tetrahedra ?? c?),and boron atom pairs. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of one representative (Sm_1.13Fe₄B₄) based on a commensurate structure model (composition : Sm₁₇(Fe₄B₄)₁₅, a = 7.07 Å, c ≡ 17c_Sm ≡ 15c_Fe= 58.69 Å, space group P4₂/n) revealed a periodic twist modulation of the Fe tetrahedra chains around c?. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on single crystals of another representative (Nd_1.11Fe₄B₄) revealed ferromagnetic ordering at T_c = 13 K. Above this temperature the magnetic properties are dominated by ferromagnetic inclusions (Fe₂B, Nd₂Fe₁₄B).     

Phase transition in a chloro-elpasolite,Cs2KInCl6

Using high-purity starting materials, we synthesized a new room-temperature Cs₂KInCl₆ phase (I): monoclinic (C2/c), a = 25.484(11), b = 7.699(2) and c = 13.225(3) Å, β = 100.69(3)°. A ferroelasticparaelastic phase transition is noted at T_c = 100°C (by Thermal Analysis and X-ray, Raman-scattering, electrical permittivity versus temperature) leading to the prototype Fm3m phase(II) with a = 10.870(5) Å, quenchable when very slightly spoiled by impurities.     

Pressure-dependent phase transition in the ordered BaBi0.7Nb0.3O3 perovskite

BaBi_0.7Nb_0.3O₃, an ordered perovskite, crystallizes in a centrosymmetric rhombohedral structure with the space group R3¯. The refined cell parameters obtained from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data for the rhombohedral phase at ambient pressure are a=6.109 (2) Å and α=60.3 (1)°. The pressure-dependent synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction studies show a phase transition around 8.44±1 GPa, where it transforms from rhombohedral structure to a monoclinic structure. The lattice parameters obtained for the monoclinic phase at a pressure of 15±1 GPa are a=5.91 (2) Å, b=6.25 (3) Å and c=8.22 (1) Å with monoclinic angle, β=88 (1)°.     

Synthesis,structural study and thermal behaviour of a new compound: trirubidium bis(hydrogen sulphate) dihydrogen arsenate Rb3(HSO4)2.5(H2AsO4)0.5

Mixed crystals Rb₃(HSO₄)_2.5(H₂AsO₄)_0.5 have been prepared by slow evaporation from aqueous solution at room temperature. The crystals were characterized by X-ray single analysis, which revealed that Rb₃(HSO₄)_2.5(H₂AsO₄)_0.5 crystallizes in the space group P with lattice parameters: a = 7.471(3) Å; b = 7.636(1) Å; c = 12.193(2) Å; α = 71.91(1)°; β = 73.04(6)° and γ = 88.77(2)°. In this structure, the ordered S(1)O₄ and the disordered S(3)/AsO₄ tetrahedra are connected by O–H..O hydrogen bonds, to a zigzag chains running in the b-direction. These chains are, in turn, bonded to one another by disordered hydrogen bridges O–H..H–O, to give a planar structure, with hydrogen-bonded sheets, laying parallel to (1 0 0). Each disordered tetrahedron is linked to a tetrahedron neighbouring S(2)O₄ by ordered hydrogen bonds. Broader peaks in IR spectrum of the title material support the assumption of disordered structure. Thermal analysis of the superprotonic transition in Rb₃(HSO₄)_2.5(H₂AsO₄)_0.5 showed that the transformation to the high-temperature phase occurs by one-step process at 404 K. Thermal decomposition of this compound takes place at much higher temperatures, with an onset of approximately 473 K.     

Structural phase transitions in Cu2–x Te crystals (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25)

Structural phase transitions in Cu_2–x Te crystals have been investigated by high-temperature X-ray diffraction.

At room temperature Cu₂Te and Cu_1.90Te specimens are two-phased, i.e. they consist of an orthohombic phase with a = 7.319, b = 22.236, c = 36.458 Å and a hexagonal phase with a = 4.150, c = 7.188 Å. The changes in both compounds take place generally in the hexagonal phase with increasing temperature. At 821, 873 K they transform to a FCC phase. Monocrystals of the other compounds at room temperature crystallize in the hexagonal system and at 673, 773, 723 K, respectively, they transform to a FCC phase. It is determined that as the cation deficiency increases the crystal quality becomes better.     

Phase transitions in rubidium hydrogen sulfate: crystal structures at 293 and 200 K

The crystal structure of the paraelectric phase of rubidium hydrogen sulfate has been redetermined at room temperature to be monoclinic with a = 14.3503(14), b = 4.6187(4), c = 14.3933(14)?Å, β = 118.03(1)° (space group P2₁/n). Both the sulfate groups are found to be ordered, unlike in previous reports. The crystal structure of the ferroelectric phase at 200?K belongs to the noncentrosymmetric space group Pn with a = 14.2667(12), b = 4.5878(4), c = 14.2924(12)?Å, β = 118.01(1)°, with distorted sulfate groups. The change in the Rb coordination is discussed in terms of bond-valence-sum calculations. Variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction patterns at temperatures above 393?K indicate a possible reduction in symmetry, suggesting a phase transition.     

Probing polymer nanocomposite morphology by small angle neutron scattering

Polyamide nanocomposite films were prepared from nanometer-sized silica particles having particle radius of gyration (R _g) of about 66 Å and trimesoyl chloride-m-phenylene diamine-based polyamides having macromolecular units of about 100–140 Å. The nanoscale morphology of the samples was characterized using small angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS reveals that silica nanoparticles interact well with the polyamide units only at limited silica loading.     

Heteronuclear Multiple-Quantum Coherence NMR Spectroscopy of Im-cyt C

Some ¹³C chemical shifts of the CH_n groups in the aliphatic side chains of Im-cyt c have been determined for the first time based on the H chemical shifts of their attached protons with the aid of heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) spectroscopy. Comparison of chemical shifts of these specifically assigned ¹³C and H resonances from Im-cyt c with those from cyt c indicates that ¹³C-NMR spectra may provide an opportunity to probe the electronic structure and conformational changes induced by axial ligand substitution.     

The ferroelectric phase transition in tridymite type BaAL2O4 studied by electron microscopy

The paraelectric-ferroelectric (PE-FE) phase transition in stuffed tridymite BaAl₂O₄ was studied in situ by transmission electron microscopy. Electron diffraction revealed that the PE and FE phases have hexagonal symmetry. The PE-FE phase transition is accompanied by a doubling of the cell dimensions in the a-b plane. The transition is reversible, takes place over a wide temperature range (400–670 K.) and the interfaces related to the transition have a fluctuating character. The crystal structure of the high temperature PE phase was determined by high resolution electron microscopy. The structures of the PE phase (space group P6₃22, a≈ 5.22 Å, c ≈ 8.8 Å) and of the FE phase (space group P6₃, a= 10.4469(1)Å, c = 8.7927(1)Å) differ mainly by the configuration of the Al-O strings oriented along the c-axis. In the PE phase all the strings are equivalent whereas straight and corrugated strings alternate in an ordered manner in the FE phase resulting in doubling of the a and b cell parameters. Translation and orientation domains due to the decrease of the translation and point symmetry were frequently observed.     

Order-disorder transition in Na3Bi(PO4)2

Na₃Bi(PO₄)₂ exhibits several phase transitions at about 575, 820 and 905°C. The structure was determined at ambient temperature (α-form) and above the first transition (β-form). The α-form cell is monoclinic with a = 19.86(1), b = 5.353(6), c = 13.96(3) Å, β = 110.64(7)°, Z = 8, space group P2₁/ _c ; the structure was solved from 3769 independent reflections to an R value, calculated on intensities, of 0.069. The β-form cell is orthorhombic with a = 18.71(3), b = 7.18(2), c = 5.429(7) Å, Z = 4, space group Pnam; the structure was solved to an R value, calculated on structure factors, of 0.055 using intensities of 858 unique reflections measured on a single crystal at 650°C. Both structures are related to that of glaserite. At high temperature, one of the PO₄ tetrahedra is statistically disordered over two positions related by the m-mirror. Below the transition, ordering of this ion leads to a unit cell of lower symmetry. At the transition, two individuals grow on the two sides of the m-mirror which disappears; thus, at ambient temperature, the crystals are systematically twinned. Above the second transition, the unit cell is hexagonal.     

Trissarcosine barium(2 + ) dibromide—a new complex of N‐methylglycine

We obtained a new complex containing sarcosine (CH₃NH₂⁺CH₂COO⁻) and barium(2 + ) dibromide (TSBB) in 3:1 molar ratio, as well as its deuterated analog. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements show that TSBB crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c. The unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 18.345(4) Å, b = 10.668(2) Å, c = 8.9212(18) Å, β = 91.86(3)°, and Z = 4. The structure was determined with final R₁ = 0.0396 (for I > 2σI). The crystal possesses a pseudohexagonal symmetry down c axis showing the resemblance to the crystal structure of trissarcosine calcium chloride (TSCC). There are N HBr hydrogen bonds (HB) of six types. TSBB crystal undergoes a phase transition at 416 K (heating)–415 K (cooling) of continuous nature. The spectroscopic [Infrared (IR) and Raman] investigation of the crystal was performed at room temperature. The results are discussed with respect to the crystallographic data, as well as the results obtained for TSCC crystal. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structure refinement of AlN and GaN

We have refined the structure parameters of AlN and GaN using X-ray intensities from single crystals collected with an automatic single crystal diffractometer. The lattice constants and the u values are a = 3.110 Å, c = 4.980Å, u = 0.3821 for AlN and a = 3.190Å, c = 5.189 Å, u = 0.377 for GaN. The final R-values for anisotropic temperature factors are equal to 0.015 for AlN and 0.026 for GaN. The effective atomic charges in these compounds are estimated.     

X-ray diffraction analysis and occurrence of multiple phases in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors

Starting composition 1112 for Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-oxide yields multiphase super-conductors with the proportion of constituent phases depending sensitively on the annealing temperature. The R-T curves show zero resistivity and the transition corresponding toT _c = 80 K phase prominently. However, indexing of X-ray diffraction peaks reveals presence of 80 K (lowT _c) as well as 108 K (highT _c) phase. The lowT _c phase thus corresponds to the orthorhombic structure with a unit cell ofa = 5.4Å,b = 27 Å andc = 30.56 Å. This is further understood to be composed of a pseudotetragonal cell ofa =b = 5.41 Å. The highT _c phase similarly pertains to the orthorhombic structure withc = 36 Å.     

The bond force constants of graphene and benzene calculated by density functional theory

Stretching (k_r) and bending (k_θ) bond force constants appropriate to describe the bond stiffness of graphene and benzene are calculated using density functional theory. The effect of employing different exchange-correlation functionals for the calculation of k_r and k_θ is discussed using the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) and the local density approximation (LDA). For benzene, k_r = 7.93 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.859 mdyn Å rad^-2 using LDA, while k_r = 7.67 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.875 mdyn Å rad^-2 using GGA. For graphene, k_r = 7.40 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.769 mdyn Å rad^-2 using LDA, while k_r = 6.88 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.776 mdyn Å rad^-2 using GGA. This means the difference between the bond force constants for benzene and graphene can be as large as ～12%. The comparison between these two systems allows for elucidation of the effect of periodicity and substitution of carbon atoms by hydrogen in the stiffness of C–C bonds. This effect can be explained by a different redistribution of the charge density when the systems are subjected to strain. The parameters k_r and k_θ computed here can serve as an input to molecular mechanics or finite element codes of larger carbon molecules, which in the past had frequently assumed the same bond force constants for graphene, benzene or carbon nanotubes.     

A neutron diffraction study of the high pressure structural phase transition in (CD3ND3)2MnCl4

Abstract

High-pressure neutron diffraction experiments have been performed at room temperature on a powdered sample of the perovskite type-layer compound (CD₃ND₃)₂MnCl₄. A phase transition from the orthorhombic room-temperature phase (ORT) to a new high-pressure phase (HP) is demonstrated at 20.5 ± 0.2 kbars. A monoclinic unit cell with lattice parameters a = 6.824 (5) Å; b = 7.409 (8) Å c = 17.126 (12) Å and β = 82.94(9)° has been inferred for the HP phase, consistent with a two-dimensional perovskite-type structure. The HP phase appears to be much more compact than ORT; it is characterized, in particular, by an important compression (?10%) of the inter-layer distance. Space groups P2/c or P2₁/c consistent with the experimental data have been deduced for the HP phase, after group theoretical considerations based on shear transformation and order-disorder mechanisms.