Multinuclear NMR studies of end-groups in polymers—III. Search for abnormal end-groups derived from azoisobutyronitrile

Samples of azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN), labelled with deuterium and nitrogen-15, have been used to initiate polymerizations and copolymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate. As in the case of [¹³C]-AIBN, the chemical shift associated with an end-group labelled with a particular isotope depends upon the nature of the attached monomer unit but there is no evidence of more than one type of end-group.     

Planar bilayer studies reveal multiple conductance states for synthetic anion transporters

Compounds of the general type R(1)(2)NCOCH(2)OCH(2)CO-(Gly)(3)-Pro-(Gly)(3)-OCH(2)Ph insert in phospholipid bilayers and conduct ions. Different levels of activity were observed when R(1) was either decyl or octadecyl, as judged either by Cl(-) release, detected by ion selective electrodes, or carboxyfluorescein dequenching, detected by fluorescence. Either method reports average behavior for all ionophores over all liposomes. These methods also show that at least two ionophores are involved in the formation of each pore. Planar bilayer experiments reported here confirm pore formation by these compounds but identify more than one conductance state for each. The pseudo-dimer, in which two molecules of the type shown above are covalently linked, shows only two conductance states, of which one is dominant. This state has been characterized by use of a current-voltage plot.     

Magnesium chloride supported catalysts for olefin polymerization. XIX. Titanium oxidation states,catalyst deactivation,and active site structure

A precise method for the determinations of Ti⁺², Ti⁺³ and Ti⁺⁴ was developed. The CW-procatalyst before activation contains mostly Ti⁺⁴ ions with 6% Ti⁺³ and 4% Ti⁺² ions. Activation with AlEt₃ alone at room temperature reduced all the titaniums to lower valence states consisting of 71% Ti⁺³ and 29% Ti⁺². Reduction is incomplete when methyl-p-toluate was present as external Lewis base during activation: at 25°C the distribution of Ti⁺⁴ : Ti⁺³ : Ti⁺² is 36% : 25% : 38%; the distribution at 50°C is 37% : 22% : 40%. Aging of the activated catalyst caused little or no changes in the distribution of [Ti⁺ⁿ]; whereas the catalytic activity decays rapidly with aging. The aged catalysts have polymerization activity comparable to the decreased activity of the catalyst during a polymerization. The [Ti⁺ⁿ] was determined for the CW-catalyst during the course of a decene polymerization; they were found to be Ti⁺⁴ : Ti⁺³ : Ti⁺² = 30% : 27% : 43%, which did not change with polymerization time. These results suggest that the reducibility of Ti⁺⁴ species by AlEt₃ or 3AlEt₃/MPT to different valence states is predicated by their structures. These species do not undergo further changes in their oxidation states during either aging or polymerization. Their decays probably involve nonreductive metathesis reactions like those known for zirconium alkyls. Possible structures for the stereospecific and nonspecific sites are proposed.     

Evidence for two ferryl species in chloroperoxidase compound II

Using a combination of density functional calculations and M?ssbauer spectroscopy, we have examined chloroperoxidase compound II (CPO-II). The M?ssbauer spectrum of CPO-II suggests the presence of two distinct ferryl species in an approximately 70:30 ratio. Density functional calculations and cryogenic reduction and annealing experiments allow us to assign the major species as an Fe(IV)OH intermediate. The M?ssbauer parameters of the minor component are indicative of an authentic iron(IV)oxo species, but we have found the 70:30 ratio to be pH invariant. The unchanging ratio of component concentrations is in agreement with CPO-II's visible absorption spectrum, which shows no change over the enzyme's range of pH stability.     

Chain extension of polyesters PET and PBT with two new diimidodiepoxides. II

Two new diglycidyl ester compounds containing preformed imide rings for better thermal stability were prepared to be used as chain extenders for PET and PBT. The preparation of these compounds was carried out in two steps. In the first step, diimidodiacids were prepared from pyromellitic anhydride and 3-aminopropanoic acid or 4-(aminomethyl)benzoic acid. From these diimidoacids, in a second step, diimidodiepoxides were obtained by reaction with epichlorohydrin. The aforementioned diimidodiepoxides were used as chain extenders for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with satisfactory results. The polyester samples obtained from various residence times in the reactor, were characterized by solution viscosity measurements, carboxyl, and hydroxyl end-group determination. Starting from a PET having intrinsic viscosity ([η]) of 0.60 dL/g and carboxyl content (CC) of 42 equiv/10⁶ g, one could obtain PET with [η] of 1.16 and CC below 5 equiv/10⁶ g. The typical reaction condition for the coupling of PET was its heating with the chain extender under argon atmosphere above its melting temperature (280°C) for several minutes. Analogous results were obtained for PBT. The hydroxyl content in all cases was increased. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A variation principle for energy differences between states of two different Hamiltonians

A modification of a variation principle due to Delves, is derived which permits the direct calculation of energy differences between states of two different Hamiltonians: [Δ ??] = 〈X₀| ??_x – W_x|X₁〉 – 〈Y₀|??_y – W_y|y₁〉 + 〈X₀| Δ ??|Y₀〉 · 〈X₀| Y₀〉^?1. Δ ?? = ??_y – ??_x, |X₀〉 and |Y₀〉 are the wave functions for the X and Y states and |X₁〉 and |Y₁〉 are functions defined in the text. The principle is applied to a few simple examples.     

Ultraviolet-induced responses in two species of climax tropical marine macrophytes.

In tropical regions nominal reductions in stratospheric ozone could be detrimental to marine organisms that live near their upper tolerance levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature. Well-known plant responses to UV include inhibition of photosynthesis, reductions in chlorophyll content, morphological changes and production of UV absorbing compounds such as flavonoids. An assessment of the effects and responses of two tropical marine macrophytes to full solar radiation and solar radiation depleted of UV were conducted in southwestern Puerto Rico. Changes in concentration of photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments, and in leaf optical properties of the red mangrove Rhizophora mangle and the seagrass Thalassia testudinum, were evaluated in field exclusion experiments. Rhizophora mangle exposed to full solar radiation showed lower leaf reflectance and a shift of 5 nm in the inflection point of the red edge. Thalassia testudinum samples excluded from UV had significant increases in total chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. These marine macrophytes showed increments in their concentration of UV-B absorbing compounds with exposure to UV radiation. Results indicate that even minor increases in UV radiation at low latitudes could have significant effects on the pigment composition of these climax species.     

Perturbation theory for excited states. IV

Two of the perturbation methods developed in Paper I (CIPT and SCPT) are extended for use with uncoupled Hartree-Fock perturbation theory. Corrections to the uncoupled results are discussed and it is found that it is possible to correct using functions which when applied to ground state calculations are equivalent to the geometric approximation. It is also shown that CIPT and SCPT can be applied to ground state calculations and that when coupled perturbed orbitals are used CIPT and SCPT are equivalent to the usual coupled perturbation theory.     

RP-HPLC method for estimation of sesamin in two Zanthoxylum species

Zanthoxylum naranjillo and Z. tingoassuiba (Rutaceae) are traditional herbal medicines with various biological activities including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimalarial action. In this work, we have developed a simple HPLC-DAD method to quantify sesamin, a bioactive lignan present in Z. naranjillo and Z. tingoassuiba; egonol was the internal standard. According to the developed method, 11.07 ± 1.66, 8.69 ± 0.95, and 15.11 ± 0.72 µg/mL sesamin was present in the ethanol extract of Z. naranjillo leaves, in the methanol extract of Z. naranjillo leaves, and in the methanol extract of Z. tingoassuiba bark, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.32 and 1.06 µg/mL, respectively. The developed method can be easily applied during routine analysis of sesamin in these medicinal plants.     

One and two body densities for excited states of the helium confined atom

A study of the first excited states of the helium atom confined under impenetrable spherical walls is carried out. Both single particle and two body, intracule and extracule, densities are constructed. Crossing levels and Hund's rule are analyzed in terms of the contribution to the total energy from kinetic, electron–nucleus, and electron–electron energies. A study about the behavior of the single particle and two body densities is carried out. The Multiconfiguration Parameterized Optimized Effective Potential method is employed with a cut-off factor to account for Dirichlet boundary conditions. Single particle density is analytically constructed whereas the Monte Carlo algorithm is used to calculate two body densities.     

Correlation diagrams for electronic states of H2O and fragment species

Electronically excited H₂O can split into fragment species, such as OH + H, H₂ + O or O + H + H. Dissociation processes of H₂O are discussed by means of correlation diagrams based upon recent experimental and the theoretical evidences as well as symmetry properties of the atomic and molecular orbitals concerned. In addition, the rotational behaviour exhibited by OH(A²Σ⁺)_split from H₂O is discussed in detail.     

Thermal decomposition and cobalt species transformation of carbon nanotubes supported cobalt catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

The effect of calcination condition on the cobalt species and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was studied. It was found that higher calcination temperature resulted in decreased FTS activities because CNTs were consumed by oxidation in air at temperature higher than 230°C. Cobalt species went through transformation from Co3O4 to metallic Co in Ar by autoreduction at temperature over 500°C. The autoreduction route might be Co3O4→CoO→Co or Co3O4→Co2C→Co. Reduction at temperature higher than 500°C also resulted in decreased FTS activities due to the methanation of CNTs in hydrogen.     

Chain transfer to solvent in two-state anionic polymerization, 1. Fast exchange between propagating species

A theoretical consideration of molecular weights and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymers formed in anionic polymerization proceeding via active centres of two different types under conditions of chain transfer to solvent with a fast exchange between propagating species is presented. Analytical expressions for number-and weight-average degrees of polymerization are obtained. Expressions for P_n and P_w are shown to be the same as in a one-centre process with the apparent intensity of chain transfer proportional to the weight fraction of the polymer formed via “transferring” centres. The polymers formed possess a moderately wide unimodal MWD. The dependence of the polydispersity index on the effective intensity of chain transfer goes through a maximum; for M₀/I₀ = 10³ the maximum value of P_w /P_n is ca. 4,6. The method is suggested for the estimation of the relative reactivity in chain propagation of two active centres from the dependence of molecular weight on initiator mixture composition. The effects of association of active centres on the average molecular weights are analyzed. The case when one of the centres is dormant is also considered.     

Comparison of multichannel and two-state calculations for H-atom transfer between two nearly degenerate states

Multichannel and two-state calculations are made for a collinear H-atom transfer between two heavy masses. The particular reaction studied is on where the initial vibrational state of the reactants is nearly degenerate with a vibrational state of the products. The two sets of results for the reaction probability are in good agreement with each other.     

Tandem catalysis of one metallocene catalyst combined with two different cocatalysts for preparing branched polyethylene

Tandem catalytic systems, consisting of ethylene bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride with two different cocatalysts, alkylaluminum(diethylaluminium chloride or trialkylaluminum) and methylaluminoxane, were employed in preparing branched polyethylene from ethylene as sole monomer. The catalytic system rac-Et(Ind)2Zr Cl2/Al Et2Cl/MAO exhibited high incorporation(29.0/1000C). The oligomerization and copolymerization reaction conditions in the tandem catalytic system, as well as the different cocatalysts, have effects on the catalytic activity and the properties of the obtained polymer, such as melting temperature, crystallinity, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Moreover, the oligomerization reaction condition is the main factor in altering the properties and structures of polyethylene.     

A Cu-based metal-organic framework with two types of connecting nodes as catalyst for oxygen activation

Using a ditopic organic linker 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoic acid (H₂pba), FICN-6, a metal-organic framework containing both Cu₂(O₂CR)₄ and Cu₃(OH)(pyz)₃(O₂CR) secondary building units (SBUs), was synthesized. FICN-6 adopts in an unusual intercatenated structure with SBUs from two distinct networks connecting to each other. Presence of Cu₃ clusters makes FICN-6 a good heterogeneous catalyst for oxygen activation and aerobic oxidative C-C coupling of organic boronic acids.     

One catalyst for two distinct reactions: sequential asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reaction and diethylzinc addition

This paper describes the successful development of a series of chiral zinc catalysts containing (R)-3,3′-Br₂-BINOL ligand and various diimine activators for enantioselective HDA reaction of Danishefsky's diene with aldehydes through a combinatorial approach, affording the corresponding 2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one derivatives in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The application of this type of catalysts was also extended to the diethylzinc addition to the benzaldehyde, affording the corresponding secondary alcohol with up to 94.5% ee under optimized conditions. On the basis of these facts, the integration of two distinct enantioselective reactions, HDA and diethylzinc addition reactions, has been realized in one-pot with the promotion of a single chiral zinc catalyst in a sequential manner. The impact of diimine additive on the catalytic system of HDA reaction was also investigated by probing the nonlinear effect of reaction system. The positive nonlinear effect exhibited in the catalytic system could be attributed to the poor solubility of the heterochiral zinc species. On the basis of various experimental findings disclosed in this research, a possible mechanism for the asymmetric induction in the 3,3′-Br₂-BINOL/Zn/diimine catalyzed enantioselective HDA reaction of Danishefsky's diene with aldehydes was outlined.