Chain-length dependent termination in pulsed-laser polymerization, 2. On the prospects of determining the bimolecular termination constant kt from the second moment of the chain-length distribution

The correct (event weighted) average of k_t, 〈k_t〉, has been calculated for pseudostationary laser-induced polymerization for a kinetic scheme with chain-length dependent termination and compared to the average k̄_t obtained by formally solving for k_t the expression for the second moment of the chain-length distribution valid for chain-length independent termination (represented by the product of rate of polymerization ν_p and weight average degree of polymerization P̄_w). It is shown that there is a fair agreement between the two quantities. This may be used to recover experimentally the power-law governing the dependence of k_t on chain-length, especially its exponent.     

New aspects of chain-length dependent termination

A survey is given on a selection of recently developed methods for the evaluation of the rate coefficient k_t of termination and its chain-length dependence. In particular these are the time-resolved single-pulse pulsed laser polymerization (TR-SP-PLP), the single pulse pulsed laser polymerization in combination with the analysis of the molecular weight distribution produced (SP-PLP-MWD), the methods yielding an average k_t either from the second moment of the chain-length distribution (CLD) or from the rate of polymerization, and a method focusing on the chain-length dependence of k_t consisting in an analysis of the CLD resulting from PLP experiments carried out at low pulse frequencies (LF-PLP). The results obtained by these methods are compared and discussed. The role of the shielding of the two radical chains by their appendant coils is emphasized.     

Chain-length dependent termination in pulsed-laser polymerization, 3. On the prospects of determining the bimolecular termination constant kt from rate data

The correct (event-weighted) average of k_t, 〈k_t〉, has been calculated from simulation data for pseudostationary laser-induced polymerization for a kinetic scheme with chain-length dependent termination and compared to the average k̄_t which is obtained by employing the formal procedures, originally designed for the evaluation of individual rate constants from rate data in the case of chain-length independent termination. Satisfactory (and in fact excellent) results are obtained only if the complete equation for the conversion per laser pulse is solved for k̄_t. This leads to an almost perfect recovery of the power-law governing the dependence of k_t on chain-length, especially the exponent.     

Monte Carlo simulation of chain length distribution in radical polymerization with transfer reaction

In this paper, the basic principle and a Monte Carlo method are described for numerically simulating the chain-length distribution in radical polymerization with transfer reaction to monomer. The agreement between the simulated and analytical results shows that our algorithm is suitable for systems with transfer reaction. With the simulation algorithm, we confirm that transfer reaction has a similar effect as disproportionation on the molecular weight distribution in radical polymerization with continuous initiation. In the pulsed laser (PL) initiated radical polymerization with transfer reaction, the ‘waves’ on the chain-length distribution profile become weaker as the ratio of transfer reaction rate constant, k_tr, to the propagation rate constant, k_p, is increased in the case with either combination-type or disproportionation-type termination. Moreover, it seems that the combination termination has a broadening effect on the waves. Therefore, k_p can also be determined by precisely locating the inflection point L_o on the chain-length distribution profile for radical polymerization with transfer reaction, unless k_tr is large enough to smear out the waves on the chain-length distribution.     

The Importance of Chain-Length Dependent Kinetics in Free-Radical Polymerization: A Preliminary Guide

The effect of chain-length dependent propagation at short chain lengths on the observed kinetics in low-conversion free-radical polymerization (frp) is investigated. It is shown that although the values of individual propagation rate coefficients quickly converge to the high chain length value (at chain lengths, i, of about 10), its effect on the average propagation rate coefficients, 〈k_p〉, in conventional frp may be noticeable in systems with an average degree of polymerization (DP_n) of up to 100. Furthermore it is shown that, unless the system is significantly retarded, the chain-length dependence of the average termination rate coefficient, 〈k_t〉, is not affected by the presence of chain-length dependent propagation and that there exists a simple (fairly general) scaling law between 〈k_t〉 and DP_n. This latter scaling law is a good reflection of the dependence of the termination rate coefficient between two i-meric radicals, k, on i. Although simple expressions seem to exist to describe the dependence of 〈k_p〉 on DP_n, the limited data available to date does not allow the generalization of these expressions.     

Reaction Rates of t-Butyl and Pivaloyl Radicals in Solution

The rate constants of the unimolecular decomposition of the pivaloyl radical (k_D) and of the bimolecular self terminations of pivaloyl (k₁) and t-butyl radicals (k₂) in liquid methylcyclopentane are determined by ESR.-spectroscopy: The viscosity dependence of (k₂) is analysed with respect to diffusion control of the reaction. Comparison of (k_D) values of different acyl radicals reveals a strong dependence of the activation energies on radical structure.     

Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy Enhanced by Dynamics: The Role of Charge Transfer and Photostability in the Selection of Photosensitizers

Progress in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer should benefit from a rationale to predict the most efficient of a series of photosensitizers that strongly absorb light in the phototherapeutic window (650–800 nm) and efficiently generate reactive oxygen species (ROS=singlet oxygen and oxygen‐centered radicals). We show that the ratios between the triplet photosensitizer–O₂ interaction rate constant (k_D) and the photosensitizer decomposition rate constant (k_d), k_D/k_d, determine the relative photodynamic activities of photosensitizers against various cancer cells. The same efficacy trend is observed in vivo with DBA/2 mice bearing S91 melanoma tumors. The PDT efficacy intimately depends on the dynamics of photosensitizer–oxygen interactions: charge transfer to molecular oxygen with generation of both singlet oxygen and superoxide ion (high k_D) must be tempered by photostability (low k_d). These properties depend on the oxidation potential of the photosensitizer and are suitably combined in a new fluorinated sulfonamide bacteriochlorin, motivated by the rationale.     

A chemical approach to the problem of slow initiation in living cationic polymerizations

The effect of slow initiation on initiation efficiency and MWD has been investigated, with regard to the living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene. The initiating system trans−2,5-diacetoxy-2,5-dimethyl−3–hexene(DiOAcDiMeH₆)BCl₃ has been investigated at −35°C in CH₃Cl. Based on considerations valid also for anionic polymerizations, the following methods have been applied to increase the initiation efficiency: 1. Increasing [M_o]/[I_o] (batch, AMI) or [ΔM].j/[I_o] (IMA). The applicability of this method is limited by the solubility of the polymer. 2. Increasing k_i/k_p, by (i) increasing k_i, e.g., by introducing an electron withdrawing substituent into the initiator, (ii) decreasing k_p, e.g., by the addition of a strong electron donor (DMSO) to the system, (iii) using Cl-CH₂-CH₂-Cl.     

Electrochemical Investigations Give Some Insights into the Coordination Chemistry of New Stable Iridium(+1), Iridium(0), and Iridium(−1) Complexes

The redox chemistry of the stable tetracoordinated 16 valence electron d⁸‐[Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂]⁺(PF₆)^? and pentacoordinated 18 valence d⁸‐[Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂Cl] complexes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (tropp^Ph=dibenzotropylidenyl phosphine). The experiments were performed using a platinum microelectrode varying scan rates (100 mV/s–10 V/s) and temperatures (? 40 to 20 °C) in tetrahydrofuran, THF, or acetonitrile, ACN, as solvents. In THF, the overall two‐electron reduction of the 16 valence electron d⁸‐[Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂]⁺(PF₆)^? proceeds in two well separated slow heterogeneous electron transfer steps according to: d⁸‐[Ir^+I (tropp^Ph)₂]⁺+e^?→d⁹‐[Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂]+e^?→d¹⁰‐[Ir^?I(tropp^Ph)₂]^?, [k^s₁=2.2×10^?3 cm/s for d⁸‐Ir^+I/d⁹‐Ir⁰ and k^s₂=2.0×10^?3 cm/s for d⁹‐Ir⁰/d¹⁰‐Ir^?I]. In ACN, the two redox waves merge into one “two‐electron” wave [k^s_1,2=7.76×10^?4 cm/s for d⁸‐Ir^+I/d⁹‐Ir⁰ and d⁹‐Ir⁰/d¹⁰‐Ir^?I] most likely because the neutral [Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂] complex is destabilized. At low temperatures (ca. ? 40 °C) and at high scan rates (ca. 10 V/s), the two‐electon redox process is kinetically resolved. In equilibrium with the tetracoordianted complex [Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂]⁺ are the pentacoordinated 18 valence [Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂L]⁺ complexes (L=THF, ACN, Cl^?) and their electrochemical behavior was also investigated. They are irreversibly reduced at rather high negative potentials (? 1.8 to ? 2.4 V) according to an ECE mechanism 1) [Ir^+I(tropp^Ph)₂(L)]+e^?→[Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂(L)]; 2) [Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂(L)]→[Ir(tropp^Ph)₂]+L, iii) [Ir⁰(tropp^Ph)₂]+e^?→[Ir^?I(tropp^Ph)₂]^?. Since all electroactive species were isolated and structurally characterized, our measurements allow for the first time a detailed insight into some fundamental aspects of the coordination chemistry of iridium complexes in unusually low formal oxidation states.     

Specific Photographic and Luminescent Properties of Sulfur + Gold–Sensitized Silver Halide Emulsions

It was found that the introduction of univalent gold ions at the initial step of sulfur sensitization could lead to a dramatic fall in the light sensitivity (S) and a considerable increase in the intensity of low-temperature ( = 77 K) luminescence (I) of silver sulfide clusters produced by sensitization. An increase in the hold time was accompanied by an increase in S and a decrease in I. The fall in S is associated with the oxidation of the silver moiety in (Ag₂S)_pAg⁺ _k or (Ag₂S)_qAg⁰ _n (q > p) clusters, which are light sensitivity centers. AgBr(I) emulsions subjected to sulfur + gold-sensitization exhibited a flash of IR-excited green luminescence from paired iodine centers. The appearance of this flash is due to the generation of deep electron traps by sulfur–gold sensitization.     

Protecting‐Group‐Free Total Synthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids by Nickel‐Catalyzed Annulation of o‐Halobenzaldimine with an Alkyne as the Key Step

An efficient short total synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids including oxyavicine, oxynitidine, and oxysanguinarine is described. Thus, N‐methyl‐o‐bromobenzaldimines 1 b – d undergo regioselective cyclization with 4‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)but‐3‐yn‐1‐ol ( 2 b ) in the presence of [Ni(cod)₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene). In situ oxidation of the resultant isoquinolinium salts gives isoquinolinone derivatives 5 b – d with benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl substitution at the C₃ atom and a (CH₂)₂OH group at the C₄ atom. Later, oxidation of the alcohol group in 5 b – d to the aldehyde moiety followed by acid‐catalyzed cyclization and dehydration completes the total syntheses to give oxyavicine, oxynitidine, and oxysanguinarine in 67, 65, and 60 % yields, respectively. The synthesis requires four steps from o‐bromobenzaldehyde derivatives. Transformations of these alkaloids to the other alkaloids in this family are also discussed herein.     

New aspects of pseudostationary polymerization and their application

Contrary to the stationary state little thought has been given so far to the general principles of the pseudostationary state. In this discourse an attempt is made to demonstrate that — within wide limits — arbitrary initiation profiles may be used to determine k_p/k_t (k_p = rate constant of chain propagation, k_t = rate constant of chain termination) from the frequency dependence of rate of polymerization (in analogy to the rotating-sector technique) as well as to evaluate k_p from the chain-length distribution (CLD) of samples prepared under pseudostationary conditions. Adverse factors like nonspontaneous transformation of absorbed photons into primary radicals do not invalidate this result. The existence of a universal relationship (independent of the initiation profile) is proved to exist for the second moment of the CLD of samples prepared under pseudostationary initiation conditions for constant (chain-length independent) k_t. Pseudostationarity, however, might be also achieved if not the initiation but the termination is periodically varied. In this case the CLD has a completely different shape but allows determination of k_p likewise. Finally, the case of chain-length dependent k_t is shortly discussed in connection with pulsed-laser initiation. Although the general equation for the second moment of the CLD does not apply any longer for this case some generality appears to exist under these conditions, too.     

Double Elimination Voltammetry of Short Oligonucleotides

In connection with adsorptive stripping (AdS) technique, elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) in double mode was successfully employed in the analysis of homo‐ODNs: 5′‐AAA AAA AAA‐3′ (dA₉) and 5′‐CCC CCC CCC‐3′ (dC₉), and hetero‐ODNs: 5′‐CCC AAA CCC‐3′ (H3), 5′‐CAC CAC CAC‐3′ (H4), and 5′‐ACC CAC CCA‐3′ (H9) on hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Analogously to single EVLS function E4 (conserving the diffusion current I_d and eliminating kinetic and charging currents I_k, I_c) for the electroactive substance adsorbed, the double EVLS function E4 yields well readable peak‐counterpeaks of reducible nucleic acid bases (adenine A and cytosine C). In comparison with single EVLS these peak‐counterpeaks are higher by more than one order of magnitude (twenty times for dA₉, fourteen times for dC₉, from eight to sixteen times for hetero‐ODNs). The increase of reduction signals with higher resolution was also observed using other two EVLS functions in double mode, the functions E5 eliminating I_c and I_d, but conserving I_k and E6 eliminating I_d and I_k, but conserving I_c. The amplifications of double /single EVLS signals of A and C range from 3.4 to 8.4, and from 3.1 to 8.3 for E5 and E6, respectively. It was proved that AdS double EVLS offers a new, fast, simple and inexpensive electroanalytical tool, which can be considered as a device not only for very good resolution of A and C in ODNs, but also for sensitive detection of changes in the primary structure of nucleic acid bases in ODN chains, depending on experimental conditions, such as pH, temperature, and time and potential of accumulation.     

Oxidative Catalysis by TAMLs: Obtaining Rate Constants for Non-Absorbing Targets by UV-Vis Spectroscopy

Understanding the catalysis of oxidative reactions by TAML activators of peroxides, i. e. iron(III) complexes of tetraamide macrocyclic ligands, advocated a spectrophotometric procedure for quantifying the catalytic activity of TAMLs for colorless targets (k_II′, M⁻¹ s⁻¹), which is incomparably more advantageous in terms of time, cost, energy, and ecology than NMR, HPLC, UPLC, GC-MS and other similar techniques. Dyes Orange II or Safranin O (S) are catalytically bleached by non-excessive amount of H₂O₂ in the presence of colorless substrates (S₁) according to the rate law: −d[S]/dt=k_Ik_II[H₂O₂][S][TAML]/(k_I[H₂O₂]+k_II[S]+k_II′[S₁]). The bleaching rate is thus a descending hyperbolic function of S₁ : v=ab/(b+[S₁]). Values of k_II′ found from a and b for phenol and propranolol with commonly used TAML [Fe^III{o,o′-C₆H₄(NCONMe₂CO)₂CMe₂}₂(OH₂)]⁺ are consistent with those for S₁ (phenol, propranolol) obtained directly by UPLC. The study sends vital messages to enzymologists and environmentalists.     

Two polymorphs of 4‐propyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐naphtho[1,2‐b]pyran‐5,6‐dione

Two polymorphs of the title compound, C₁₆H₁₆O₃, have been obtained from the same solution. One polymorph, (I_m), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁, while the other, (I_o), crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. The cell constants of the two polymorphs are surprisingly similar. Whereas the a and b axes are equal in the two structures, the c axis in (I_o) is twice as long as that in (I_m). The monoclinic angle β is 95.084 (9)° compared with 90° in the orthorhombic crystal system. The cell volume of (I_m) is almost exactly half of the cell volume of (I_o). The packing motifs are also very similar in the two structures. However, whereas the molecules in (I_m) are related by a twofold screw axis just in the direction of the b axis, in (I_o) there are twofold screw axes along all three directions of the unit cell.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of acrylic acid in aqueous solution

Aqueous acrylic acid in the presence of cupric chloride has been subjected to γ-irradiation under various reaction conditions and the molecular weights of the resultant poly(acrylic acid) measured. The results, taken in conjunction with previous findings on the dependence of the rate of polymerization on intensity, monomer concentration, and cupric chloride concentration, indicate chain termination solely by cupric ion (rate constant k_tCu) and chain transfer to polymer (rate constant kf). Values have been obtained for k_tCu/k_p, k_f/k_p and G(radical) of acrylic acid. On the basis of these data a theoretical chain-length distribution has been derived which agrees well with distribution measured by gel-permeation chromatography.     

A kinetic study of the oxidation of 2-pyridinemethanol, 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and 2,6-pyridinedimethanol by chromium(VI) in acidic aqueous media

Oxidation of 2-pyridinemethanol (2-pyol), 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (2,6-pydol) and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (2-pyal) by Cr^VI was studied under pseudo-first-order conditions in the presence of a large excess of reductant and at various H⁺ _aq concentrations; [Cr^VI] = 8 × 10^–4 M, [reductant] = 0.025–0.20 M, [HClO₄] = 1.0 and 2.0 M (I = 1.2 and 2.1 M) or 0.5–2.0 (I = 2.1 M). A parabolic dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k _obs) versus [H⁺] was observed for all the reductants. A linear dependence of k _obs on [2,6-pydol] and, unusually, higher than first-order dependence on [2-pyol] and [pyal] was established. The apparent activation parameters for reactions studied at constant [H⁺] at I = 1.2 and 2.1 M were determined. The presence of chromium species at the intermediate oxidation states: Cr^V, Cr^IV and Cr^II, was deduced based on e.s.r. measurements and the kinetic effects of Mn^II or O₂ (Ar), respectively. Comparison of the available second-order rate constants for aromatic alcohols and aldehydes demonstrated that chelating abilities of the reductant facilitates the redox process, whereas the electron-withdrawing effect caused by protonating the pyridine nitrogen atom acts in the opposite direction. The unusual low reactivity of 2-pyol was ascribed to intramolecular hydrogen bond formation.     

Kinetics of oxidation of o-dianisidine by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of antibody complexes of iron(III) coproporphyrin

The complex of iron(III) coproporphyrinl (FeCPI) with antibody D5E3 was studied as an artificial peroxidase, usingo-dianisidine as a substrate. At saturation with respect to antibody, the initial rates ofo-dianisidine oxidation are practically the same for free and bound FeCPI at a concentration 5 × 10^-9M, but the catalytic rate constant (k_c) for bound FeCPI exceed (k_c) for free FeCPI by two-to threefold. This difference can be explained by a real enhancement of (k_c) at the antibody-active site. The dependence of initial rates of the reaction on substrate concentrations obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and revealed substrate activation at high concentrations ofo-dianisidine. A comparison of the Stern-Volmer constants foro-dianisidineinduced quenching of the porphyrin fluorescence proves that antibody-bound coproporphyrin is equivalently accessible to the substrate as protoporphyrin bound to apoperoxidase from horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Based on analysis of the (k_c) dependence on H₂O₂ concentrations in the FeCPI-antibody system, we suggest that interaction with hydrogen peroxide is the rate-limiting step for the oxidation reaction.     

A kinetic study of the oxidation of 3- and 4-pyridinemethanol,and 3- and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde by chromium(VI) in acidic aqueous media

Oxidation of 3-pyridinemethanol (3-pyol), 4-pyridinemethanol (4-pyol), 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (3-pyal) and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (4-pyal) by Cr^VI was studied under pseudo-first-order conditions in the presence of a large excess of reductant and at various H_aq ⁺ concentrations; [Cr^VI] = 8 × 10^–4 M, [reductant] = 0.025–0.20 M, [HClO₄] = 1.0 and 2.0 M (I = 1.2 and 2.1 M) or 0.5–2.0 (I = 2.1 M). A linear dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k _obs) on [reductant] and a parabolic function of k _obs versus [H⁺] lead to the rate law: –d[Cr^VI]/dt = (a + b[H⁺]²)[reductant][Cr^VI], where a and b describe the reaction paths via HCrO₄ ^– and H₃CrO₄ ⁺ species respectively, and are composite values including rate constants and equilibrium constants. The apparent activation parameters were determined from second-order rate constants at 1.0 and 2.0 M HClO₄, at three temperatures within the 293–323 K range. The presence of chromium species with intermediate oxidation states – Cr^V, Cr^IV and Cr^II, was deduced based on e.s.r. measurements and the kinetic effects of Mn^II or O₂ (Ar), respectively. The alcohols were oxidized to the aldehydes, and carboxylic acids and the aldehydes to the carboxylic acids. Chromium(III) was in the form of the [Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺ complex.