Deep Mourning for Dr. Yang Shixian Dr. Yang Shixian A Life of Dedication

Dr.Yang Shixian(Shao-tseng Yang),the Editor-in-chief of the Chemical Journalpassed away on February 19,1985,was a well-renowned Chinese educationa-list and chemist.He was deputy to the first five Sessions of the National People’sCongress,member of the Standing Committee of the Fifth and Sixth Sessions of theChinese Poeple’s Political Consultative Conference,member of the Academic Councilof the Chinese Academy of Sciences,director and then honorary director     

Polylactones. 13. Transesterification of Poly(L-Lactide) with Poly(Glycoude), Poly(β-Propio-Lactone), and Poly[ε -Caprolactone)

Homogeneous blends of poly(L-lactide) (M _n = 30 000 to 40 000) and poly(β-propiolactone) or poly(ε-caprolactone) were prepared in solution. The solvent-free blends were subjected to transesterification catalyzed by means of methyl triflate, triflic acid, boron trifluoride, or tributyltin methoxide at 100 or 150°C. At 100°C, transesterification was barely detectable even after 96 h. When poly(β-propiolactone) was used as the reactant at 150°C, degradation was faster than transesterification regardless of the catalyst. The same negative result was obtained for heterogeneous blends of poly(L-lactide) and poly(glycolide). In the case of poly(ε-caprolactone), copolyesters with slightly blocky sequences were obtained with tributyltin methoxide as catalyst, whereas the acidic catalysts caused rapid degradation. The copolyesters were characterized by means of ¹H-NMR spectroscopy with regard to their molar composition, by means of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy with regard to their sequences, and by means of differential scanning calorimetry with regard to crystallinity.     

Lattice vibration spectra. Part XCV. Infrared spectroscopic studies on the iron oxide hydroxides goethite (α), akaganéite (β), lepidocrocite (γ), and feroxyhite (δ)

Infrared spectra (IR, FIR, DRIFT, 90 and 295 K) and DSC measurements of the various polymorphs of iron oxide hydroxide, viz. goethite (α), akaganéite (β), lepidocrocite (γ), and feroxyhite (δ), and of deuterated specimens are reported. They are discussed with respect to the crystal structures proposed in the literature, the hydrogen bonds present, the energies of the OH stretching, OH bending (librational), and translational modes, and their thermal decomposition. From the two space groups proposed for β- and γ-FeO(OH), the groups I4/m and Cmc2₁, respectively, seem to be more reliable. The disorder of the OH⁻ ions of γ-FeO(OH) has not been confirmed in contrast to that of δ-FeO(OH). The intraionic O(H,D) distances of γ- and δ-FeO(OH) derived from neutron powder diffraction studies have to be doubted. The greater strength of the OHOH hydrogen bonds of lepidocrocite, for example, compared to that of the OHO hydrogen bonds of goethite despite the larger hydrogen bond acceptor capability of O²⁻ is due to the strong cooperativity of the hydrogen bonds of the γ-polymorph. The extremely different strength of the hydrogen bonds of isostructural α-AlO(OH) (v_OH = 2950 cm⁻¹, 295 K), α-MnO(OH) (v_OH = 2686 cm⁻¹), and α-FeO(OH) (v_OH = 3130 cm⁻¹) is caused by the different synergetic effect of the metal ions involved, especially that of Mn³⁺ due to its Jahn-Teller behaviour. The decomposition temperatures and heats of the various FeO(OH) modifications as well as the halfwidths of the DSC peaks evidence a much faster decomposition rate of akaganéite than those of the other polymorphs. This is obviously due to the Cl⁻ ion impurities present in this compound.     

Coordination Polymers. IV. Physicochemical Studies on Chelate Polymers of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) with a Schiff Base of 4,4′-(4,4′-Biphenylylene Bisazo)di-(salicylaldehyde) with m. Toluidine

Coordination polymers of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) with a Schiff base derived from 4,4′ - (4,4′ -biphenylylene bisazo) di (salicylaldehyde) and m-toluidine have been prepared. All the polychelates are dark colored and insoluble in common organic solvents. Magnetic susceptibility and electronic and IR spectra of the polychelates have been studied. All the polychelates except Cu(II) show octahedral structures while Cu(II) polychelate is suggested to be a square planar.