SYNDIOSPECIFIC POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH MULTI-NUCLEAR TITANIUM COMPLEXES

Two multi-nuclear titanium complexes [Ti(η5-Cp*)Cl(μ-O)]3 (1) and [(η5-Cp*TiCl)(μ-O)2(η5-Cp*Ti)2(μ-O)(μ-O)2]2Ti (Cp* = C5Me5) (2) have been investigated as the precatalysts for syndiospecific polymerization of styrene. In the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, complexes 1 and 2 display much higher catalytic activities towards styrene polymerization, and produce the higher molecular weight polystyrenes with higher syndiotacticities and melting temperatures (Tm) than the mother complex Cp*TiCl3 does when the polymerization temperature is above 70℃and the Al/Ti molar ratio is in the low range especially.     

Study of the hydrogen bonding of 1,4-bis[(3,4,5-trihexyloxyphenyl)hydrazide]phenylene in crystalline and liquid crystalline phases using infrared,Raman, and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy

The vibrational bands of a dihydrazide derivative, 1,4-bis[(3,4,5-trihexyloxyphenyl)hydrazide]phenylene (TC6), observed in the Raman and infrared spectra were assigned. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding vibrational bands due to CO and NH groups in the low-frequency Raman spectra were observed at 111 and 94 cm⁻¹ in the crystalline and liquid crystalline (LC) phases, respectively. The sequential order of changes in the hydrogen bonding and alkyl chains was opposite in the crystalline and LC phases. The modifications in the hydrogen bonding occurred prior to conformational changes in the hydrocarbon chains in the crystalline phase; however, a reverse trend was observed in the LC phase. Simultaneously, the two-dimensional (2D) IR and Raman correlation spectroscopic analysis showed that the amide I band of TC6 in the LC phase comprised at least five distinct bands. In addition, the hetero 2D correlation between the NH and CO groups confirmed that no free NH and CO groups existed in the LC phase.     

CALCULATION OF THE YOUNG’S MODULUS OF AN ADSORBED POLYMER LAYER

 Polymer layers adsorbed to a surface or in a confined environment often change their mechanical properties. There is even the possibility of solidification of the confined layer. To judge the stiffness of such a layer, we used the Hertz model to calculate the Young’s modulus of the polymer layer in the confinement of AFM experiments with silicon nitride tip with a radius of curvature of R » 50 nm and a glass sphere attached to the cantilever R = 5 mm. Since there is no visible indentation of the layer in the AFM experiments, the layer is either penetrated very easily, or the indentation is too small to be seen in a force curve. The latter would be the case for a polymer layer with a Young’s modulus above 4 ´ 10⁸ Pa in case of an experiment with a silicon nitride tip and 4 ´ 10⁵ Pa in case of a glass sphere.     

Nature of the Ring‐Banded Spherulites in Blends of Aromatic Poly(ether ketone)s

Summary: The ring‐banded spherulites in liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) (LC‐PAEK) and poly(aryl ether ether ketone) (PEEK) blends with a higher content (>50%) of LC‐PAEK are investigated by polarizing light microscopy (PLM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The results indicate that the light core and rings of the ring‐banded spherulites under PLM are mainly composed of an LC‐PAEK phase, while the dark rings consist of coexisting phases of PEEK and a small amount of LC‐PAEK. The formation of the ring‐banded spherulites is attributable to structural discontinuity caused by a rhythmic radial growth.

PLM image of ring‐banded spherulites in a 70:30 LC‐PAEK/PEEK blend caused by rhythmic growth.     

Self-assembly of chemically linked rod-disc mesogenic liquid crystals

A series of new molecular discs (RDn, here n is the number of carbon atoms between the rod and disc mesogens) was synthesized via the chemical attachment of six cyanobiphenyl calamitic (rod) mesogens (R) linked to the triphenyl discotic (disc) mesogen (D) with a series of six alkyl chain linkages (n = 6-12). In this study, phase structures, transitions, and liquid crystalline (LC) behavior of the RD12 compound with 12 carbon atoms in each alkyl chain linkage between the rod and disc mesogens were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) allowed us to identify three ordered phases below the isotropization temperature: nematic (N) LC and K1 and K2 crystalline phases. On the basis of the structural results obtained via 2D WAXD experiments on oriented samples and SAED experiments on single crystals, the K1 crystalline unit cell was determined to be triclinic with the dimensions of a = 1.36 nm, b = 1.45 nm, c = 2.11 nm, alpha = 85 degrees, beta = 100 degrees, and gamma = 50 degrees. The K2 phase was metastable with respect to the K1 phase. It also possessed a triclinic unit cell with a = 1.40 nm, b = 1.51 nm, c = 1.92 nm, alpha = 87 degrees, beta = 117 degrees, and gamma = 62 degrees. Molecular packing models for the crystalline phases were proposed on the basis of the diffraction results. In the whole range of ordered structures, it was found that RD12 molecular discs are intercalated. Both triphenyl discotic mesogens and cyanobiphenyl calamitic mesogens are completely interdigitated.     

Effect of pyridazine structure on thin‐film polymerization and phase behavior of thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyesters

An intensive study has been conducted to compare the effects of malei hydrazine (MH) and hydroquinone (HQ) on the liquid crystallinity and phase transition behavior in the ABA/HQ/TFTA and ABA/MH/TFTA copolyesters (p‐acetoxybenzoic acid (ABA) and tetrafluoroterephthalic acid (TFTA)). These two copolyesters were prepared by thin‐film polymerization and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing light microscope (PLM), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), as well as Cerius² computational simulation. Characterization and comparison of the liquid crystalline (LC) evolution and morphology changes of HQ moiety with corresponding MH moiety suggest that ABA/MH/TFTA system is energetically favorable to mesophase formation than ABA/HQ/TFTA system. When the films are quenched, a surface microcrack decoration is observed in both systems. Both systems, which have the persistence ratio larger than 6.42, satisfy the minimum requirement for the LC formation by molecular science software. The ABA/MH/TFTA film exhibits only one single peak transition. However, two distinct transitions have been observed in the ABA/HQ/TFTA system. The average Avrami exponent, n, is ～1.2, and PLM and WAXD results suggest mesophase transition in ABA/MH/TFTA film. As reflected by the results obtained from PLM, WAXD, and DSC studies, the phase transition is confirmed as crystal → nematic → isotropic in ABA/HQ/TFTA copolyester. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2230–2242, 2005     

以5-甲基-3-吡唑甲酸为配体构建的具有六方孔道的钴(Ⅱ)、镍(Ⅱ)超分子化合物：合成、晶体结构和性质

利用5-甲基-3-吡唑甲酸,分别与CoCl2·6H2O和Ni(NO3)2·6H2O反应,得到了配合物[M(MPA)2(H2O)2](1:M=Co;2:M=Ni)(HMPA=5-甲基-3-吡唑甲酸)。用元素分析、红外光谱、X-单晶衍射结构分析对其进行了表征。配合物1和2的晶体结构参数如下:配合物1和2的晶体都属于六方晶系,空间群为R3c。配合物1的晶胞参数为a=1.483 94(4)nm,b=1.483 94(4)nm,c=3.207 66(6)nm,V=6.117 2(3)nm3,Z=18;配合物2的晶胞参数为a=1.466 53(14)nm,b=1.466 53(14)nm,c=3.243 0(6)nm,V=6.04 03(14)nm3,Z=18。金属离子与来自2个5-甲基-3-吡唑甲酸配体中的2个氮原子及2个氧原子,2个水分子中的2个氧原子配位,形成八面体配位构型。配合物中的独立结构单元[M(MPA)2(H2O)2]通过分子间氢键形成具有六方孔道的三维结构。热重分析表明配合物1和2具有较高的热稳定性。此外,考察了配合物1和2的荧光和电化学性质。CCDC:900677,1;900678,2。     

Monotropic smectic A to double layer smectic C transition of biphenyl containing liquid crystal acetylene

5-[（4’-Heptoxy-4-biphenylyl）carbonyloxy]-1-pentyne（A-3,7） was synthesized and the phase structures and transitions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）,wide angle X-ray diffraction（WAXD）,polarized light microscopy（PLM） and the molecular packing in the crystal and liquid crystalline phases were simulated by molecular dynamic simulation.The results showed that the sample formed thermodynamically metastable SmA and SmC₂ phases before crystallized during cooling and the crystal phase directly transformed into isotropic phase during heating.     

Dimesogenic liquid crystalline organosiloxanes

Liquid crystalline (LC) organosiloxanes with two terminal cyanobiphenylyl groups attached to a linear or cyclic siloxane center through an aliphatic spacer (CH₂) _n with i = 10 were synthesized. The ability of compounds to pass into the LC state was confirmed by thermooptical, X-ray diffraction, and calorimetric measurements. The temperatures and the enthalpies of phase transitions were determined. The types of LC structures and the capability of one compound for polymesomorphism to form the chiral S_mC* phase without a chiral center in the mesogenic group were established. The temperatures and the enthalpies of the reversible phase transitions, crystal S_mC S_mA melt and crystal S_mA melt, for linear and cyclic LC organosiloxanes, respectively, were determined. Models of molecular packing in the S_mA and S_mC* phases were proposed based on X-ray diffraction data. A specific feature of the S_mA phases of new LC organosiloxanes is a negative gradient of the temperature dependence of the interlayer spacing.     

Kinetics of Epoxy–Amine Curing Accompanied by the Formation of Liquid Crystalline Structure

The curing of a mesomorphic epoxy has been studied by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and differential scanning calorimetry. PLM in combination with wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction proves the formation of a liquid crystalline (LC) structure. An advanced isoconversional method reveals that the formation of the LC structure is accompanied by a dramatic decrease in the effective activation from ∼60 to ∼10 kJ · mol⁻¹. A kinetic model of the phenomenon has been discussed.

The dependence of the activation energy on the extent of conversion for isothermal curing of the diglycidyl ether of 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl/2,6‐diaminopyridine (diamonds) and DGEBA/2,6‐diaminopyridine (circles) systems.     

Polyampholyte-tuned lyotrop lamellar liquid crystalline systems

The influence of a polyampholyte, i.e., poly(N,N′-diallyl-N,N′-dimethyl-altmaleamic carboxylate) (PalH), on the lamellar liquid crystalline (LC) system sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/decanol/water was investigated by means of microdifferential scanning calorimetry, small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXS), and cryo-scanning electron microscopy. After incorporating PalH into the lamellar liquid crystalline system, SAXS measurements show that three different LC phases exist: i.e., a swelling, slightly swelling, and non-swelling one. At pH 4, the positively charged polymer with an extended conformation can directly adsorb at the anionic head groups of the surfactant and more compact vesicles are formed at room temperature. At pH 9, the electrostatic interactions between the polyampholyte (in a more coiled conformation) and the sulfate head groups of the SDS are leveled off and incompact vesicles are formed at room temperature. That means in presence of the polyampholyte the morphology of the LC phase, i.e., the supramolecular vesicle structure, can be tuned by varying the pH and/or the temperature.

SULFATION OF PACHYMAN WITH CHLOROSULFONIC ACID USING THE IMPROVED WOLFROM METHOD

High purity polysaccharide of pachyman was isolated from the powder of Poria cocos sclerotium with an yield of 77.8%. The intrinsic viscosity of polysaccharide was found to be 78.95 mL/g in DMSO solution at 25℃. The isolated polysaccharide was reacted with chlorosulfonic acid to obtain pachyman sulfate using the improved Wolfrom method. The results of the orthogonality experiment on the sulfation reaction identified that the effectiveness of the reaction conditions on the degree of sulfation and the value of intrinsic viscosity is in the following order: molar ratio of chlorosulfonic acid to glucoside (3-5) ＞ reaction temperature (60-80℃) ＞ reaction time (1-2 h). The kinetic studies of the pachyman sulfationindicated that the hydrolysis is accompanied with the sulfation process. The decrease in intrinsic viscosity of the sulfated pachyman is proportional to the increase in the degree of sulfation under the mild reaction conditions of ＜ 80℃,chlorosulfonic acid/glucoside mole ratio ＜ 5, and reaction time ＜ 2 h. Beyond the above reaction conditions, excessive loss of -OH group occurs during hydrolysis. The NMR results indicated a complete sulfation on C-6 and a partial sulfation on the C-2 and C-4 of glucoside.     

Hydrogen bonded arylamide-linked cholesteryl dimesogenic liquid crystals: a study of the length and side chain effects

Dimesogenic compounds 1a-c, 2a-i, and 3, that are composed of a hydrogen bonding-induced straight arylamide spacer and two appended cholesterol groups, have been designed and synthesized. The backbones of the rigid spacers of 1a-c, 2a-i, and 3 contain one, three, and five benzene units, which bear two, six, and ten alkoxyl (methoxyl, n-octoxyl, or n-dodecoxyl) groups, respectively. The thermal and optical properties of the compounds are investigated by using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. It is revealed that 1a-c exhibit one or two liquid crystalline (LC) phases, 2a-i exhibit no, one or two LC phases, while 3 exhibits one LC phase in a wide temperature range. Generally, the more and longer alkoxyl chains facilitate the formation of the LC phases at low temperature. Notably, compound 2g, which bears two methoxyl and four dodecoxyl groups, displays a blue-red color change during both the heating and cooling cycle. The result illustrates that dimesogens with large rigid spacers can exhibit different LC phases when long aliphatic chains are appended to balance the strong stacking of the rigid backbones.     

X-ray diffraction studies on homologous thallium soaps below the temperature range of the neat phase 2. Structure models of crystalline modifications in the temperature range below the neat phase

In Part 1 were discussed the results of X-ray diffraction measurements on homologous thallium soaps, the lattice parameters and the unit cells of the different phases: phase C₁, phase C₂, phase I, phase II, and the neat phase.The aim of Part 2 is the development of structural models, based on data on lattice parameters, packing densities of hydrocarbon chains and head groups. In order to supplement our experimental data we carried out infrared-spectroscopic measurements at different temperatures within the existence regions of these phases to get additional information on alterations in configurations of head groups and hydrocarbon chains of thallium soaps in these phase regions.By comparing the structural models we can generalize that the phase C₁, phase C₂, phase I, and phase II have some properties in common: they form crystalline structures, their unit cells are monoclinic, and the angles and are orthogonal. The amount of the lattice parametersc is equal to the distances of two molecular bilayers and/or twice the distance between the lamellae.Among the normal lamella, the molecules form a herring-bone-like packing. This indicates that the lamellar structure of the liquid-crystalline neat phase is already preformed in these crystalline modifications of phase C₁, phase C₂, phase I, and phase II. These crystalline phases differ in their lattice parameters and their packing coefficients. The transition from the crystalline phase I or phase II into the neat phase is accompanied by a temperature-dependent contraction of the distances between the lamellae, which originates in the fluidity of the hydrocarbon chains. Simultaneously, the lattice parametersa andb are drastically shortened and attain dimensions considerably lower than the values obtained in crystalline modifications. The X-ray scattering properties of the Tl⁺-ions suggest that the Tl⁺-ions exist in a fluid-like state within the head groups region of the neat phase.We came to the conclusion that the thallium-oxygen-bond is remarkably less polar than the bonds between alkali ions and oxygen resulting from the electro-negativity of the metal-oxygen-bonds of the alkali soaps, in comparison to the thallium soaps. Hence, the absence of polymorphic liquid-crystalline semiphases of thallium soaps is due to the low polarity of the thallium-oxygen-bond. Structure formation of Tl-soaps is mainly influenced by the hydrocarbon chain packing.     

Unusual Crystallization Behavior in Nylon‐6 and Nylon‐6/Montmorillonite Nanocomposite Films

Summary: The crystallization behavior of nylon‐6 and nylon‐6/montmorillonite nanocomposite films with different heat histories was investigated by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). For nylon‐6 films isothermally crystallized above 170 °C or annealed at 200 °C and then quenched in ice water, a crystalline peak appeared at 2θ = 28.5°. This crystalline peak was strong in intensity for the former and weak for the latter. However, for nylon‐6 films cooled in air after isothermal crystallization or annealing, no crystalline peak at 2θ = 28.5° was observed in the WAXD patterns. For nylon‐6/montmorillonite nanocomposite films annealed above 140 °C, a crystalline double peak was observed between the α1 and α2 peaks. The possible origins of the peak at 2θ = 28.5° and the crystalline double peak are discussed.

WAXD patterns of isothermally crystallized nylon‐6/montmorillonite nanocomposite films.     

镧系金属杂-2,3,4,5-四苯基环戊二烯环状化合物的合成及其表征

二苯乙炔和金属锂在乙醚中反应得到1,4-二锂四苯基丁二烯,再与无水氧化希土反应得到了两种系金属条-2,3,4,5-四苯基环戊二烯环状化合物。通过元素分析、红外光谱、核磁共振谱、热失重及电子能谱的分析,对所合成的化合物进行了表征;并对化合物的水解产物作了红外光谱、质谱和核磁共振谱分析,确认下列两种化合物的存在:     

Phase polymorphism of [Zn(DMSO)6](ClO4)2 studied by differential scanning calorimetry

Four solid phases of [Zn(DMSO)₆](ClO₄)₂ have been detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Specifically, the phase transitions were detected between: metastable phase KII ↔ supercooled phase K0 at , stable phase KIb ↔ stable phase KIa at , stable phase KIa ↔ stable phase K0 at . At T_m2 = 389 K crystals partially and at T_m1 = 465 K completely melts. From the entropy change values it was concluded that the phases: K0 and K0′ are the orientationally dynamically disordered phases, so called ODDIC crystals, and phases KIa, KIb and metastable KII are dynamically ordered but with some degree of positional disorder.