Structure–property relationships of ring-containing nylon 66 copolyamides

Several series of nylon 66 copolyamides were prepared with up to 30 mole-% substitution of ringed comonomers of the type X-(CH₂)_n-R-(CH₂)_n-X, where n = 0, 1, or 2; X = ?NH₂ or ? CO₂H; and R = phenylene, cyclohexylene, or naphthyle. The ring structure was correlated with glass transition temperature and melting point. The important features of ring structure fall into the following categories: ring isomerism, aromaticity, diamine vs. diacid substitution, chain length, and ring substitution. Proper “fit” (isomorphism) of the comonomer into the nylon 66 chain appears to be the main criterion for ringed copolymers of high T_g and high melting point.     

Influence of the bridging azine ligand on the rate of ligand substitution in a series of dinuclear platinum(II) complexes

A series of azine‐bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complexes of the type [{trans‐Pt(NH₃)₂(OH₂)}₂(μ‐azn)](ClO₄)₄ (where azn = pyrazine (pzn, Pt1 ), 2,3‐dimethylpyrazine (2,3‐pzn, Pt2 ), and 2,5‐dimethylpyrazine (2,5‐pzn, Pt3 )) were synthesized to investigate the influence of the bridging azine ligand on the reactivity of the platinum(II) centers. The pK_a values of the complexes were determined via acid–base titration, and the rate of substitution of the aqua moiety by a series of neutral nucleophiles, viz. thiourea (TU), 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐thiourea (DMTU), and 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyl‐2‐thiourea (TMTU), was determined under pseudo‐first‐order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using standard spectrophotometric techniques. The introduction of the methyl groups to the bridging azine linker in Pt2 and Pt3 leads to a moderate increase in the pK_a values obtained for the first and second deprotonation steps, respectively, as a result of the increased σ‐donor capacity of the bridging azine ligand trans to the aqua moiety. A comparison of the rate constants, k₁ and k₂, at 298 K, obtained for the substitution of the aqua moieties from Pt1 , Pt2 , and Pt3 by TU, shows that the introduction of the σ‐donating methyl groups on the bridging azine ligand in Pt2 and Pt3 results in a corresponding decrease in the reactivity, by ca. five times for the first substitution step and ca. 10 times for the second substitution step. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/LACVP** level of theory for the complexes demonstrate that the introduction of electron‐donating methyl groups results in (i) increased steric hindrance over the metal centers and (ii) decreased the positive charge on the metal center and increases energy separation of the frontier molecular orbitals (E_HOMO – E_LUMO) of the ground‐state platinum(II) complexes, leading to a less‐reactive metal center. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 161–174, 2011     

(4,6‐Dimethyl‐2‐sulfanylidenepyrimidin‐1‐ium) trichlorido(thiourea‐κS)zinc(II)

The title compound, (C₆H₉N₂S)[ZnCl₃{SC(NH₂)₂}], exists as a zincate where the zinc(II) centre is coordinated by three chloride ligands and a thiourea ligand to form the anion. The organic cation adopts the protonated 4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐sulfanylidenepyrimidin‐1‐ium (L) form of 4,6‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione. Two short N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds involving the pyrimidine H atoms and the [ZnCl₃L]⁻ anion form a crystallographically centrosymmetric dimeric unit consisting of two anions and two cations. The packing structure is completed by longer‐range hydrogen bonds donated by the thiourea NH₂ groups to chloride ligand hydrogen‐bond acceptors.     

Crystal‐smectic E mesophases in a series of 2‐(4‐n‐alkylphenyl)indenes

A series of 2‐(4‐n‐alkylphenyl)indenes (3) with different alkyl substituents (CH₃ to C₁₀H₂₁) were synthesized and systematically characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction compared with 2‐phenylindene (3a). Depending on the alkyl chain length, highly ordered crystal‐smectic E mesophases were observed and confirmed by X‐ray diffraction for the derivatives 3h–3k with heptyl to decyl chains (n = 6?9). For 3f with a pentyl side chain (n = 4), an X‐ray crystal structure analysis was carried out.     

An investigation of comparative substitution behavior of bifunctional trans-platinum(II) complexes with symmetric and asymmetric alkylamine ligands

This study was undertaken to investigate the comparative substitution behavior of mononuclear trans-platinum(II) complexes with symmetric and asymmetric amine ligands. The rate of substitution of the aqua moeities from the complexes trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (tPt), trans-[Pt(NH₃)(NH₂C₂H₅)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (tPt2H₂O), trans-[Pt(NH₃)(NH₂C₃H₇)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (tPt3H₂O), [trans-Pt(OH₂)₂(NH₂CH₃)₂](ClO₄)₂ (tPtM), and [trans-Pt(OH₂)₂{NH₂CH(CH₃)₂}₂](ClO₄)₂ (tPtR), by three nucleophiles, namely thiourea (TU), 1,3-dimethylthiourea (DMTU), and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylthiourea (TMTU) was studied under pseudo–first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. All the substitution reactions of each of the trans-platinum(II) complexes proceeds by a stepwise mechanism involving rate-determining substitution of the first aqua ligand followed by a fast second substitution step, without any intermediates formed. The reactions were second order overall (rate = k_obs[complex] where k_obs = k₂[nucleophile]), first order in both [complex] and [nucleophile]. The reactivity of the complexes was essentially governed by both steric and electronic factors. Comparing the second-order rate constants for the substitution reactions of the mononuclear diaqua trans-platinum(II) complexes with the thiourea-based nucleophiles, the observed trend follows: tPt > tPt2H₂O > tPtM > tPt3H₂O > tPtR. This reactivity trend is consistent with the pK_a values obtained for the first deprotonation step. The reactivity of the nucleophiles with the complexes decreases with an increase in steric demand in the following order: TU > DMTU > TMTU. The low positive values of activation enthalpy and large negative values of activation entropy indicate an associative mechanism of substitution in all the complexes. The computational modeling using density functional theory calculations was employed to provide theoretical interpretation of kinetic data.     

Bridge‐Splitting Reactions of Platinum(II) Complexes with Parametalated Pyridine Spacer Groups: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study

Substitution reactions of three dinuclear Pt(II) complexes connected by a pyridine‐bridging ligand of variable length, namely [ cis‐{PtOH₂(NH₃)₂}₂–μ–L]⁴⁺, where L = 4,4′‐bis(pyridine)sulfide ( Pt1 ), 4,4′‐bis(pyridine)disulfide ( Pt2 ), and 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane ( Pt3 ) with S‐donor nucleophiles (thiourea, 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐thiourea, and 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyl‐2‐thiourea) and anionic nucleophiles (SCN^?, I^?, and Br^?) were investigated. The substitutions were followed under pseudo–first‐order conditions as a function of the nucleophile concentration and temperature, using stopped‐flow and UV–visible spectrophotometric methods. The observed pK_a values were, respectively, Pt1 (pK_a1: 4.86; pK_a2: 5.53), Pt2 (pK_a1: 5.19; pK_a2: 6.42), and Pt3 (pK_a1: 5.04; pK_a2: 5.45). The second‐order rate constants for the lability of aqua ligands in the first step decreased in the order Pt2 > Pt3 > Pt1 , whereas for the second step it is Pt1 > Pt2 > Pt3 . The obtained results indicate that introduction of a spacer atom(s) on the structure of the bridging ligand influences the substitution reactivity as well as acidity of the investigated dinuclear Pt(II) complexes. Also nonplanarity of the bridging ligand of Pt1 complex significantly slows down the rate of substitution due to steric hindrance, whereas release of the strain enhances the dissociation of the bridging ligand. The release of the bridging ligand in the second step was confirmed by the ¹H NMR of Pt1‐Cl with thiourea in DMF‐d₇. The temperature dependence of the second–order rate constants and the negative values of entropies of activation (ΔS^#) support an associative mode of the substitution mechanism.     

Kinetics of phenyl radical reactions with propane,n‐butane,n‐hexane,and n‐octane: Reactivity of C6H5 toward the secondary C?H bond of alkanes

The kinetics of C₆H₅ reactions with n‐C_nH_2n+2 (n = 3, 4, 6, 8) have been studied by the pulsed laser photolysis/mass spectrometric method using C₆H₅COCH₃ as the phenyl precursor at temperatures between 494 and 1051 K. The rate constants were determined by kinetic modeling of the absolute yields of C₆H₆ at each temperature. Another major product C₆H₅CH₃ formed by the recombination of C₆H₅ and CH₃ could also be quantitatively modeled using the known rate constant for the reaction. A weighted least‐squares analysis of the four sets of data gave k (C₃H₈) = (1.96 ± 0.15) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1938 ± 56)/T], and k (n‐C₄H₁₀) = (2.65 ± 0.23) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1950 ± 55)/T] k (n‐C₆H₁₄) = (4.56 ± 0.21) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1735 ± 55)/T], and k (n?C₈H₁₈) = (4.31 ± 0.39) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1415 ± 65)T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the temperature range studied. For the butane and hexane reactions, we have also applied the CRDS technique to extend our temperature range down to 297 K; the results obtained by the decay of C₆H₅ with CRDS agree fully with those determined by absolute product yield measurements with PLP/MS. Weighted least‐squares analyses of these two sets of data gave rise to k (n?C₄H₁₀) = (2.70 ± 0.15) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1880 ± 127)/T] and k (n?C₆H₁₄) = (4.81 ± 0.30) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1780 ± 133)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the temperature range 297‐‐1046 K. From the absolute rate constants for the two larger molecular reactions (C₆H₅ + n‐C₆H₁₄ and n‐C₈H₁₈), we derived the rate constant for H‐abstraction from a secondary C? H bond, k_s?CH = (4.19 ± 0.24) × 10¹⁰ exp[?(1770 ± 48)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 49–56, 2004     

The α‐effect in micelles: Nucleophilic substitution reaction of p‐nitrophenyl acetate with N‐phenylbenzohydroxamate ion

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants have been determined for the nucleophilic substitution reactions of p‐nitrophenyl acetate with p‐chlorophenoxide (4‐ClC₆H₄O^?) and N‐phenylbenzohydroxamate (C₆H₅CON(C₆H₅)O^?) ions in phosphate buffer (pH 7.7) at 27°C. The effect of cationic, (CTAB, TTAB, DTAB), anionic (SDS), and nonionic (Brij‐35) surfactants has been studied. The k_obs value increases upon addition of CTAB and TTAB. The effect of DTAB and other surfactants on the reaction is not very significant. The micellar catalysis and α‐effect shown by hydroxamate ion have been explained. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 26–31, 2006     

Does increased chelation enhance the rate of ligand substitution at PtII (N,N,N) centres? A detailed kinetic & mechanistic study

The rate of substitution of the chloride and aqua moieties from the platinum(II)-amine complexes, viz. [Pt(dien)Cl]Cl(Pt1-Chloro) and [Pt(en)(NH₃)Cl]Cl (Pt2-Chloro) and their corresponding aqua analogues, viz. [Pt(dien)(OH₂)] (ClO₄)₂ (Pt1-Aqua) and [Pt(en)(NH₃)(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ (Pt2-Aqua), by a series of neutral and anionic nucleophiles,viz. thiourea (TU), 1,3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (DMTU), 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (TMTU), iodide (I⁻) and thiocyanate (SCN⁻), was determined under pseudo first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV/Visible spectrophotometry and standard stopped-flow techniques. The observed pseudo first-order rate constants for the substitution reactions obeyed the simple rate law k _obs = k ₂[Nucleophile]. Second-order kinetics and negative activation entropies, ca. −93 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and −71 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, for the chloro and aqua complexes respectively, support an associative mode of activation. The rate of substitution of both the chloro and aqua moieties are observed to decrease with an increase in the steric bulk of the neutral nucleophiles, whilst rate of substitution by SCN⁻ was observed to be faster than that of I⁻, in correlation with the observed nucleophilicities of the two nucleophiles. A comparison of the second-order rate constants, k ₂, at 298 K, obtained for the substitution reactions of Pt1and Pt2 shows that an increase in chelation in moving from Pt2 to Pt1 results in a corresponding increase in the reactivity, by a factor of ca. 3, (28.31 ± 0.15 and 8.02 ± 0.13 m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for Pt1 and Pt2 respectively, in the case of substitution of the aqua species by TU). Computational analysis of the chloro complexes, viz. Pt1-Chloro, Pt2-Chloro and [Pt(NH₃)₃Cl]Cl (Pt3) support this conclusion by demonstrating that the Pt–N bond trans to the leaving group is shortened and that the Pt–Cl bond is lengthened when chelation is increased from Pt3 to Pt1. Consequently, these results suggest that the increase in reactivity of Pt1 over Pt2, promoted by increased chelation, is as a result of ground state destabilization.     

Thermal Stability of n‐Acyl Peroxynitrates

Peroxynitrates (RO₂NO₂), in particular acyl peroxynitrates (R = R′C(O) with R′ = alkyl), are prominent constituents of polluted air. In this work, a systematic study on the thermal decomposition rate constants of the first five members of the series of homologous R′C(O)O₂NO₂ with R′ = CH₃ ( =PAN), C₂H₅, n‐C₃H₇, n‐C₄H₉, and n‐C₅H₁₁ is undertaken to verify the conclusions from previous laboratory data (Grosjean et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 1994, 28, 1099–1105; Grosjean et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 1996, 30, 1038–1047; Bossmeyer et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 2006, 33, L18810) that the longer chain peroxynitrates may be considerably more stable than PAN. Experiments are performed in a temperature‐controlled, evacuable 200 L‐photoreactor made from quartz. n‐Acyl peroxynitrates are generated by stationary photolysis of mixtures of molecular bromine, O₂, NO₂, and the corresponding parent aldehydes, highly diluted in N₂. Thermal decomposition of R′C(O)O₂NO₂ is initiated by the addition of an excess of NO. First‐order decomposition rate constants k₁ of the reactions R′C(O)O₂NO₂ (+M) → R′C(O)O₂ + NO₂ (+M) are derived at 298 K and a total pressure of 1 bar from the measured loss rates of R′C(O)O₂NO₂, correcting for wall loss of R′C(O)O₂NO₂ and several percentages of reformation of R′C(O)O₂NO₂ by the reaction of R′C(O)O₂ radicals with NO₂. With increasing chain length of R′, k₁(298 K) slightly decreases from 4.4 × 10^?4 s^?1 (R′ = CH₃) to 3.7 × 10^?4 s^?1 (R′ = C₂H₅), leveling off at (3.4 ± 0.1) × 10^?4 s^?1 for R′ = n‐C₃H₇, n‐C₄H₉, and n‐C₅H₁₁. Temperature dependencies of k₁ were measured for CH₃C(O)O₂NO₂ and n‐C₅H₁₁C(O)O₂NO₂ in the temperature range 289–308 K, resulting in the same activation energy within the statistical error limits (2σ) of 0.9 and 1.5 kJ mol^?1, respectively. A few experiments on n‐C₆H₁₃C(O)O₂NO₂, n‐C₇H₁₅C(O)O₂NO₂, and n‐C₈H₁₇C(O)O₂NO₂ were also performed, but the results were considered to be unreliable due to strong wall loss of the peroxynitrate and possible complications caused by radical‐sinitiated side reactions.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the NH2 + HNOx reactions,part II: Kinetics and mechanism for NH2 + HONO

The kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of NH₂ with HONO have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constant prediction. The potential energy surface of this reaction has been computed by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on geometries optimized at the CCSD/6‐311++G(d, p) level. The reaction producing the primary products, NH₃ + NO₂, takes place via precomplexes, H₂N???c‐HONO or H₂N???t‐HONO with binding energies, 5.0 or 5.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The rate constants for the major reaction channels in the temperature range of 300–3000 K are predicted by variational transition state theory or Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory depending on the mechanism involved. The total rate constant can be represented by k_total = 1.69 × 10^?20 × T^2.34 exp(1612/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 300–650 K and 8.04 × 10^?22 × T^3.36 exp(2303/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 650–3000 K. The branching ratios of the major channels are predicted: k₁ + k₃ producing NH₃ + NO₂ accounts for 1.00–0.98 in the temperature range 300–3000 K and k₂ producing OH + H₂NNO accounts for 0.02 at T > 2500 K. The predicted rate constant for the reverse reaction, NH₃ + NO₂ → NH₂ + HONO represented by 8.00 × 10^?26 × T^4.25 exp(?11,560/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, is in good agreement with the experimental data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 678–688, 2009     

Stereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition in bispseudosandwich complexes of bis(18-crown-6) stilbene with alkanediammonium ions

Due to hydrogen bonding, bis(18-crown-6) stilbene forms 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 2 complexes with H₃N⁺(CH₂) _n NH₃ ⁺ 2ClO₄ ⁻ salts (n = 2—10, 12). The length of the polymethylene chain in the diammonium ions affects the phototransformation direction of stilbene and the composition of the products. In the 2: 2 bispseudosandwich complexes with relatively short alkanediammonium ions (n = 2—4), the stereoselective reaction of [2+2] photocycloaddition proceeds to form mainly the rctt-isomer of the cyclobutane derivative. The structure of rctt-cyclobutane derivative as a complex with H₃N⁺(CH₂)₄NH₃ ⁺2ClO₄ ^- was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the NH2 + HNOx Reactions,Part I: Kinetics and Mechanism for NH2 + HNO

The kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of NH₂ with HNO have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constant prediction. The potential energy surface of this reaction has been computed by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on geometries optimized at the CCSD/6‐311++G(d, p) level. The major products of this reaction were found to be NH₃ + NO formed by H‐abstraction via a long‐lived H₂N???HNO complex and the H₂NN(H)O radical intermediate formed by association with 26.9 kcal/mol binding energy. The rate constants for formation of primary products in the temperature range of 300–3000 K were predicted by variational transition state or RRKM theories. The predicted total rate constants at the 760 Torr Ar pressure can be represented by k_total = 3.83 × 10^?20 × T^+2.47exp(1450/T) at T = 300–600 K; 2.58 × 10^?22 × T^+3.15 exp(1831/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 600?3000 K. The branching ratios of major channels at 760 Torr Ar pressure are predicted: k₁ + k₃ + k₄ producing NH₃ + NO accounts for 0.59–0.90 at T = 300–3000 K peaking around 1000 K, k₂ accounts for 0.41–0.03 at T = 300–600 K decreasing with temperature, and k₅ accounts for 0.07–0.27 at T > 600 K increasing gradually with temperature. The NH₃ + NO formation rate constant was found to be a factor of 3–10 smaller than that of the isoelectronic reaction CH₃ + HNO producing CH₄ + NO, which has been shown to take place by barrierless H‐abstraction without involving a hydrogen‐bonding complex as in the NH₂ case. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 677–677, 2009     

Modeling the Effects of Primary Radicals in Free‐Radical Polymerization

The effects of non‐ideal initiator decomposition, i.e., decomposition into two primary radicals of different reactivity toward the monomer, and of primary radical termination, on the kinetics of steady‐state free‐radical polymerization are considered. Analytical expressions for the exponent n in the power‐law dependence of polymerization rate on initiation rate are derived for these two situations. Theory predicts that n should be below the classical value of 1/2. In the case of non‐ideal initiator decomposition, n decreases with the size of the dimensionless parameter α ≡ (k_tz /k_dz) √r_ink_t, where k_tz is the termination rate coefficient for the reaction of a non‐propagating primary radical with a macroradical, k_dz is the first‐order decomposition rate coefficient of non‐propagating (passive) radicals, r_in is initiation rate, and k_t is the termination rate coefficient of two active radicals. In the case of primary radical termination, n decreases with the size of the dimensionless parameter β ≡ k_t,s r_in^1/2/k_p,s M r_t,l^1/2, where k_t,s is the termination rate coefficients for the reaction of a primary (“short”) radical with a macroradical, k_t,l is the termination rate coefficients of two large radicals, k_p,s is the propagation rate coefficient of primary radicals and M is monomer concentration. As k_t is deduced from coupled parameters such as k_t /k_p, the dependence of k_p on chain length is also briefly discussed. This dependence is particularly pronounced at small chain lengths. Moreover, effects of chain transfer to monomer on n are discussed.     

The thermal decomposition of water

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection of OH‐radicals at 308 nm, corresponding to a total path length of 1.749 m, has been used to study the reaction H₂O + M → H + OH + M between 2196 and 2792 K using 0.3, 0.5, and 1% H₂O, diluted in Kr. As a result of the increased sensitivity for OH‐radical detection, the existing database for this reaction could be extended downward by ～500 K. Combining the present work with that of Homer and Hurle, the composite rate expression for water dissociation in either Ar or Kr bath gas is k_{1,Ar(or Kr)} = (2.43 ± 0.57) × 10^?10 exp(?47117 ± 633 K/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 over the T‐range of 2196–3290 K. Applying the Troe factorization method to data for both forward and reverse reactions, the rate behavior could be expressed to within <±18% over the T‐range, 300–3400 K, by the three‐parameter expression k_1,Ar = 1.007 × 10⁴ T^?3.322 exp(?60782 K/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 A large enhancement due to H₂O with H₂O collisional activation has been noted previously, and both absolute and relative data have been considered allowing us to suggest k₁, H₂ O = 1.671 × 10² T^?2.440 exp(?60475 K/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the rate constants with H₂O bath gas over the T‐range, 300–3400 K. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 211–219, 2006     

Two New Silver(I) Ammine Complexes by Displacement Reaction Between [Ag(NH3)2]+ Ions and Different Pyridine‐4,5‐Imidazoledicarboxylic Acids

[Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ ions are chosen as an initial reaction precursor because of its simple displacement reaction and intrinsic arrangement as well as specific coordination directionality. Two new silver(I) ammine complexes, Ag₂(NH₃)HL² ( 2 ) and Ag₂(NH₃)₂HL³ ( 3 ), were obtained by a simple substitution reaction between [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ ions and pyridine‐4,5‐imidazoledicarboxylic acid [H₃L² = 2‐(3′‐pyridyl) 4,5‐imidazoledicarboxylic acid and H₃L³ = 2‐(4′‐pyridyl) 4,5‐imidazoledicarboxylic acid]. Silver dimers are connected into a 2D layer and 1D chain in complexes 2 and 3 , respectively. In complex 2 two kinds of displacement reactions (mono‐substituting and bis‐substituting) occurred between the ammine molecules in [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ ions and H₃L², however, only the mono‐substituting reaction occurs in complex 3 .     

Kinetics of the reactions of C2H5, n‐C3H7, and n‐C4H9 radicals with Cl2 at the temperature range 190–360 K

The kinetics of the C₂H₅ + Cl₂, n‐C₃H₇ + Cl₂, and n‐C₄H₉ + Cl₂ reactions has been studied at temperatures between 190 and 360 K using laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectrometry. Decays of radical concentrations have been monitored in time‐resolved measurements to obtain reaction rate coefficients under pseudo‐first‐order conditions. The bimolecular rate coefficients of all three reactions are independent of the helium bath gas pressure within the experimental range (0.5–5 Torr) and are found to depend on the temperature as follows (ranges are given in parenthesis): k(C₂H₅ + Cl₂) = (1.45 ± 0.04) × 10^?11 (T/300 K)^{?1.73 ± 0.09} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (190–359 K), k(n‐C₃H₇ + Cl₂) = (1.88 ± 0.06) × 10^?11 (T/300 K)^{?1.57 ± 0.14} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (204–363 K), and k(n‐C₄H₉ + Cl₂) = (2.21 ± 0.07) × 10^?11 (T/300 K)^{?2.38 ± 0.14} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (202–359 K), with the uncertainties given as one‐standard deviations. Estimated overall uncertainties in the measured bimolecular reaction rate coefficients are ±20%. Current results are generally in good agreement with previous experiments. However, one former measurement for the bimolecular rate coefficient of C₂H₅ + Cl₂ reaction, derived at 298 K using the very low pressure reactor method, is significantly lower than obtained in this work and in previous determinations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 614–619, 2007     

Synergism in cationic gemini – additive systems

A series of dicationic gemini surfactants with the general formula C₁₆H₃₃(CH₃)₂N⁺?(CH₂)_s?N⁺(CH₃)₂C₁₆H₃₃, 2Br^? (where s?=?4–6), designated as 16-s-16, were synthesised. Their interaction with organic additives: n-alcohols (C₃H₇OH, C₇H₁₅OH, C₈H₁₇OH) and the corresponding amines (C₃H₇NH₂, C₇H₁₅NH₂, C₈H₁₇NH₂) in the absence and presence of KNO₃ at 30°C was studied viscometrically to observe their effect on assembly formation and micellar transition. The simultaneous presence of KNO₃ and organics induced rich aggregates morphologies in the gemini micellar systems by giving high viscosity values. On comparing the behaviour of the gemini surfactant series for a given alkyl chain length of the organic additive, the spacer is found to markedly influence the behaviour; shorter the spacer, earlier the sphere-to-rod transition. In the case of the conventional surfactant, CTAB, the concentration of KNO₃ used with the geminis was insufficient to induce any transition.     

Guest‐Induced 2‐D Metallopolycapsular Networks Based on a 1,3‐Alternate Calix[4]arene Derivative

Solvothermal reactions of the calix[4]arene tetraacetic acid (H₄CTA) with zinc nitrate in the presence of α,ω‐diaminoalkanes afford two‐dimensional metallopolycapsular networks of the formula {[Me₂NH₂]₂[G@(Zn₂(CTA)₂)] ? (DMF)₂ ? (H₂O)₄}_n (G=⁺NH₃–(CH₂)_n–NH₃⁺, n=2, 3, 4; DMF=N,N‐dimethylformamide). These metallopolycapsular networks are built up of metallocapsules that consist of two CTA and two Zn^II ions. Short alkanediyldiammonium (⁺NH₃–(CH₂)_n–NH₃⁺, n=2, 3, 4) guest ions are accommodated in each capsule of the metallopolycapsular network through a variety of supramolecular interactions. The thermal behaviours and the solid‐state photoluminescent properties of these complexes were also investigated.