Dielectric properties of three‐ring fluorinated compounds

Four three‐ring compounds, consisting of two cyclohexyl rings and one mono‐ or difluorinated phenyl ring, were studied using dielectric spectroscopy methods over a broad frequency range (1 kHz–3 GHz). They exhibit a nematic phase in a broad temperature interval, enriched by a smectic B phase in one case. The static and dynamic dielectric properties were analysed. It was established that the bridging CH₂CH₂ group placed between cyclohexyl and phenyl rings considerably changes the reference frame of the molecule, unlike the situation when it links two cyclohexyl rings. In the nematic and smectic B phases the motion around the short axis is a Debye process, whereas the rotation around the long axis is split into two processes: independent rotation of the whole molecule and its fluorophenyl part.     

The position effect of nitro group on the anion sensing performance of benzimidazole–naphthalimide derivatives

Six benzimidazole–naphthalimide naked-eye probes containing nitrobenzoquinone have been designed and synthesized to study the positional effect of –NO₂ group on their anion recognition abilities in DMSO. The push–pull character of –NO₂ rendered the anion-binding site hydrazinium –NH more acidic and thus easier for hydrogen bonds or deprotonation. So disubstituted isomer responded to F^?, CN^?, AcO^? and H₂PO₄^?; para-substituted isomer responded toward F^? and CN^?; and ortho-substituted isomer responded to F^? due to the forming of intramolecular hydrogen bond between oxygen in nitro and hydrogen in hydrazine. The ortho-substituted isomer demonstrated highly sensitive and selective detection toward F^? with a distinct color change from orange to blue-green accompanied by UV–Vis absorption redshift and fluorescence turn-on; the detection limits were in the range of 7?×?10^?8 mol/L. Theoretical calculations and TBAOH titration confirmed the recognition mechanism was deprotonation process.

     

The effect of replacing a benzene ring with a saturated six-membered ring on the mesomorphic properties of 4,4′-disubstituted diphenyldiacetylenes

We present new results of experimental investigations of azimuthal director reorientation dynamics for a nematic liquid crystal on solid substrates. Two types of substrate with weak anchoring were studied: glass/polystyrene and glass/UV‐activated dye. Slow and fast relaxation processes were observed in both cases under the action of a strong ‘in‐plane’ electric field. The slow surface reorientation and memory effects were controlled by two parameters: the electric voltage and the excitation time. It was established that the increase of the excitation time results in a slowing of the relaxation of the system to the initial state after turning off the electric field. A phenomenological model of a gliding of easy axes is proposed to explain the slow relaxation process.     

The cooperative effect of a hydroxyl and carboxyl group on the catalytic ability of novel β-homoproline derivatives on direct asymmetric aldol reactions

Novel β-homoproline derivatives, 2-hydroxy-2-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetic acids (R,S)- and (S,S)-1a-d, were synthesized. All of the prepared compounds were used as organocatalysts in the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with several ketones. Among these catalysts, (R)-2-hydroxy-2-((S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl)acetic acid (R,S)-1a showed good catalytic ability in the formation of aldol product 13 (up to 69% ee, 95% yield), which was similar to the results catalyzed by l-proline (71% ee, 96% yield). Relatively low yields and low enantioselectivities were observed in aldol reactions catalyzed by (S,S)-1a, for example, 13 was obtained in 55% yield and 13% ee. The aldol reaction catalyzed by the methyl-protected carboxylic acid 1b and esters 1c,d produced much lower chemical yields and enantioselectivities during the formation of 13. The cooperative effect of the (R)-configured hydroxyl group and the carboxyl group was found to play an important role in inducing enantioselectivity in the aldol reaction. Relatively high diastereoselectivities (anti:syn = 85:15) and enantioselectivity (anti, 83% ee) were observed in the aldol reactions of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with cyclohexanone, which was catalyzed by (R,S)-1a.     

8-AminoBODIPYs: cyanines or hemicyanines? The effect of the coplanarity of the amino group on their optical properties

The role of the amino group twisting ability in the BODIPY photophysics for nonsterically hindered and constrained molecular structures was studied. When a coplanar disposition of the amino and the BODIPY core is feasible, a hemicyanine-like delocalized π-system gives rise to novel blue and efficient BODIPY laser dyes. The key role of such rotamer is confirmed by newly synthesized derivatives where the amino and the BODIPY core are electronically decoupled by steric repulsions.     

The effect of β-cyclodextrin on the properties of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles

The effect of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar properties was studied by the determination of the diffusion coefficient, D. When the CTAB micelles have a spherical structure, D firstly increased and then remained unchanged, while the micellar aggregation number, N, decreased with the addition of ß-CD. When the CTAB concentration was less than the first critical micellar concentration, CTAB molecules could be included into ß-CD cavities with the molar ratio of CTAB to ß-CD being about 1:1. However, when the CTAB concentration was higher than the first critical micellar concentration, mixed spherical micelles were formed with the molar ratio of CTAB to ß-CD being 9:1.     

The effect of activated fillers on the properties of styrene–acrylic adhesives

Results of kaolin modification by thermal activation, sonication and 3% solution of acetic acid are considered. It is shown that the introduction of thermally activated kaolin to compositions based on styrene–acrylic filming agents increases the adhesion characteristics by 1.25–1.4 times (for steel and cement–sand surfaces) and cohesive strength by 1.5–2 times.     

The effect of stoichiometry on curing and properties of epoxy–clay nanocomposites

Epoxy–clay nanocomposites have been prepared with an organically modified montmorillonite. The epoxy network was based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) cured with diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM). The stoichiometry DGEBA–DDM was varied, the molar ratio of amine hydrogen/epoxy groups, r, ranged from 0.85 to 1.15. The influence of stoichiometry on curing and properties of the nanocomposites was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. All nanocomposites had intercalated clay structures. The clays accelerated the curing reaction whose rate was also increased when increasing r. The heat of reaction, −ΔH (J/g epoxy), increased as r increased, reaching a constant value for r ≥ 1. In the presence of clays −ΔH was lower than in the neat DGEBA–DDM. The glass transition temperature (T _g) of the neat epoxy thermosets reached a maximum at r = 1; however, the nanocomposites showed the T _g maximum at 0.9 < r < 1. The presence of clay lowered the T _g for r > 0.94 and raised T _g for r ≤ 0.85. The elastic modulus of neat epoxy thermosets reached a maximum in the rubber state and a minimum in the glassy state at r = 1. The nanocomposites showed similar behavior, but the maximum and the minimum values of the elastic modulus were reached at stoichiometry r < 1. The comparison of the properties of neat epoxy with those of the nanocomposites varying the stoichiometry indicates that the clay itself induces stoichiometric changes in the system.     

New chiral Schiff's bases with a 1,3,4‐thiadiazole ring in the mesogenic core: synthesis,mesomorphic and ferroelectric properties

Two new homologous series of chiral esters derived from Schiff's bases containing a 1,3,4‐thiadiazole unit (series 6 and 7) were synthesized and their liquid crystalline and ferroelectric properties investigated. All the compounds of series 6 exhibit SmC*–SmA dimorphism and the compounds of series 7 exhibit a SmC* phase. All the compounds of these series are ferroelectric liquid crystals.     

The effect of structure and phase transformation on the mechanical properties of Re₂N and the stability of Mn₂N

First‐principles calculations were carried out on recently synthesized Re₂ and Re₃ as well as hypothetical Tc and Mn nitrides. It is found that structure and covalent bonds play an important role in determining mechanical properties. Under a large strain along (0001)〈101 0〉direction, Re₂N undergoes a phase transformation with a slight increase in ideal shear strength. On the other hand, it is transformed into a phase with weaker mechanical properties, if the strain is along Re₂〈1 21 0〉 direction. Mn₂N can be synthesized under moderate conditions due to its more negative formation energy. Re₂N, Re₃N, and Mn₂N show structure‐related mechanical property under larger strains to ReB₂ but exhibit much lower ideal strengths, which is attributed to the larger ionicity of cation–anion bond. Three‐dimensional framework of strong covalent bonds is thus highly recommended to design superhard materials. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Quantum chemical studies on the structures, properties and decomposition of the azido derivatives of trinitrobenzenes

The geometries,heats of formation and electronic structures of 15 azido-derivatives of 1,2,3-TNB (Ⅰ),1,2,4-TNB (Ⅱ) and 1,3,5-TNB (Ⅲ) have been studied using quantum chemical AMI method at HF level.The effect of azido substitution on the structures and properties of TNBs has been discussed and the relative stability of the title compounds has been established.The processes of the decomposition of the title compounds by breaking C-NO2,C-N3 and CN-N2 bonds are investigated at UHF-AM1 level.It is shown that the decomposition of the title compounds may be initiated by the cleavage of both C-NO2 and N-N2 bonds.     

DFT study of the conductance of molecular wire:The effect of coupling geometry and intermolecular interaction on the transport properties

The density functional theory (DFT) combining with the non-equilibrium Green functions (NEGF) method is applied to the study of the electronic transport properties for a Di-thiol-benzene (DTB) molecule coupled to two Au(111) surfaces. The dependence of the transport properties on the bias, the coupling geometry of the molecule-electrode interface, and the intermolecular interaction are examined in detail. The results show that the existence of the hydrogen atom at the end of the DTB molecule would significantly decrease the transmission coefficients, and then the differential conductance (dI/dV). By changing the position of the DTB molecule located between two electrodes a maximum value of calculated current is observed. It is also found that the intermolecular interaction will strongly influence the transport properties of the system studied.     

Amide,urea and thiourea‐containing triphenylene derivatives: influence of H‐bonding on mesomorphic properties

The synthesis and thermotropic properties are reported for a series of hexaalkoxytriphenylenes that contain an amide, urea or thiourea group in one of their alkoxy tails. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding abilities of these molecules have a disturbing influence on the formation and stability of the columnar liquid crystalline phases. The stronger the hydrogen bonding the more the liquid crystallinity is suppressed, probably due to disturbance of the π–π stacking of the triphenylene discs. As a direct result, urea‐ and amide‐containing triphenylene derivatives are not liquid crystalline, but several thiourea derivatives show hexagonal columnar mesophases.     

The effect of the precursor structure on the catalytic properties of the nickel—chromium catalysts of hydrogenation reactions

The influence of the Ni²⁺/Cr³⁺ ratio in the precursor compound on the formation of the catalyst structure and its transformation upon the thermal treatment and reductive activation in hydrogen was studied. The precursors with the cation ratio Ni²⁺/Cr³⁺ = (2.3–3)/1 represent a homogeneous system of the stichtite-type structure. The treatment of the precursors at T ～400 °C in an inert atmosphere forms a nanosized phase of the NiO-type structure with the lattice parameter a = 4.186±0.005 Å. At 600 °C the lattice parameter of this phase decreases to the tabulated value (a = 4.177±0.005 Å). The phase of nickel chromite of the cubic spinel structure with the lattice parameter a = 8.320±0.005 Å is also observed. Hydrogen activation of the catalyst preheated at 300 °C in an inert gas leads to the formation of Ni⁰ crystallites with a size of ～5.5 nm and a specific surface area of ～7.0 m² g^?1. This catalyst exhibits high activity and selectivity in benzene hydrogenation and preferential CO hydrogenation in the presence of CO₂. The catalysts with the ratio Ni²⁺/Cr³⁺ = 1/(2?3) containing nickel and chromium hydroxocarbonates as precursors are less active in the hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane.     

Optical studies on two tilted smectic phases of meta‐substituted three‐ring liquid crystal compounds

Null transmission ellipsometry and depolarized reflected light microscopy have been performed on freestanding films of two achiral meta‐substituted three‐ring compounds. These compounds exhibit two different tilted smectic phases, SmC₁ and SmC₂. Our studies confirmed previous results obtained from another achiral meta‐substituted three‐ring compound that the SmC₁ and SmC₂ phases are SmC and SmC_A, respectively.     

The effect of sintering conditions on the properties of WC–10wt%Co PIM compacts

The powder injection molding (PIM) process has an advantage of near net shaping of homogeneous micro structure and density at the complicate form. This study was investigated for microstructure and mechanical properties of WC–10%Co insert tool alloy fabricated by PIM process. The WC–10%Co feedstock mixed with wax binder was fabricated by two blade mixer. After WC–10%Co feedstocks were injection molded, debinding process was carried by two-steps methods with solvent extraction and thermal debinding. The binder was eliminated with normal hexane for 12 h at 50 °C by solvent extraction, and subsequently thermal debinding was examined for 1 h at the temperature 900 °C. After debinding process, the specimens were sintered at vacuum or N₂/H₂ mixed gas atmosphere at 1380 °C. The microstructure and phase were observed by FE-SEM. In the case of sintered at 1380 °C in vacuum atmosphere, the hardness was 1600 Hv, and the relative density of WC–10%Co was 92.5%. The density of WC–10%Co sintered at 1380 °C in mixed gas atmosphere was 87.5% and the hardness was lower than 1400 Hv. Residual carbon contents of sintered at vacuum and mixed gas atmosphere were 5.4 wt%.     

The effect of olefinic terminal chains on the mesomorphic properties of 4,4′-disubstituted diphenyldiacetylenes

New diphenyldiacetylenes of the type with A, B = H and/or F; m = 0, 1; n = 1–4; and X = C _n H_2n+1, F, CF₃ or CN were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties determined by hot stage polarizing microscopy and DSC. When m = 0, all of these compounds showed only a nematic phase except when X = CF₃ when both nematic and smectic A phases were seen. Both clearing and melting temperatures were higher than those reported for substitution with the corresponding alkyl chains but the much larger increase in clearing temperatures produced considerably wider nematic phases. Eutectic mixtures of a few of these olefins yielded nematic materials also having much wider temperature ranges and higher clearing temperatures than the eutectic mixtures of the alkyl compounds, while retaining their high birefringence and low viscosities. Such materials are of interest for beam-steering devices. Four of the diacetylenes with m = 1 (A, B = H) were also prepared (X = C₆H₁₃, F, n= 2, 3). When X was C₆H₁₃ (n=2), the nematic range was smaller in the 2- than in the 1-olefin but wider than in the alkyl series. When X=F, either no nematic phase or a monotropic one was observed, whereas the 1-olefins gave a much wider nematic phase. Both transition temperatures were lower than those for the corresponding 1-olefin and alkyl analogues. The compound with X=C₆H₁₃ and n=2 had a melting temperature below room temperature.     

The effect of terminal chain modifications on the mesomorphic properties of 4,4′-disubstituted diphenyldiacetylenes

The typical sidewalls produced in the fabrication of protrusion electrodes are proposed to create a low voltage (4.5 V_rms) and high transmittance (93%) blue-phase liquid crystal display (BP-LCD). The tilted electrodes produce a strong horizontal electrical field that reduces the operating voltage considerably. The common problem of the ‘dead zones’ is solved by reflecting the light onto the electrodes. In order to estimate the phase retardation of the reflected light, a ray tracing simulation program for anisotropic mediums has been developed. The proposed device is more competitive than vertical field switching based BP-LCD and also, has the advantages of protruded in-plane-switching structures. These facts make this technology a potential candidate for the next generation of BP-LCDs.