One-dimensional porphyrin H-aggregates induced by solvent polarity

A series of new porphyrin derivatives possessing the side arms of alkyl-substituted thiophene oligomer were synthesized. The effects of solvent polarity on the formation of supramolecular assembly have been studied by UV-vis absorption, fluorescence emission, and TEM measurement. The linear-shape porphyrin derivatives bearing two thiophene pentamers at meso-position showed the significant spectral changes in both blue-shift and band broadening of Soret bands which indicate the formation of a relatively larger porphyrin H-aggregate that occurred in nonpolar solvent such as n-hexane.     

Synthesis and structure of multicomponent crystals of fullerenes and metal tetraarylporphyrins

The preparation of fullerene complexes with metal tetraarylporphyrins in the presence of excess ferrocene (Cp(2)Fe) results in the formation of new solvent-free and multicomponent molecular crystals. New isomorphous complexes of C(60) with PyZnTPP (ZnTPP identical with zinc 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrinate) and PyCoTPP (CoTPP identical with cobalt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrinate) containing Cp(2)Fe and the isostructural C(70) complex with PyZnTPP have been prepared. The crystal structures of the new layered C(60) complexes CoTMPP x C(60) (obtained in the presence of Cp(2)Fe) and CoTMPP x 2C(60) x 3C(7)H(8) (obtained in the absence of Cp(2)Fe) have been described (CoTMPP identical with cobalt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-methoxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrinate). Cobalt atoms of the PyCoTPP and CoTMPP molecules are weakly coordinated to C(60) with Co...C(C(60)) distances in the 2.64-2.82 A range, whereas zinc atoms of PyZnTPP, as well as cobalt atoms of the CoTMPP molecules in the solvent-free phase, form only van der Waals contacts with fullerenes. Different packing arrangements in the crystals of fullerene-porphyrin complexes have been discussed.     

Prediction and estimation of solvent diffusivities in polyacrylate and polymethacrylates

The relationship between polymer side‐chain length and the hole free volume that is effective for solvent diffusion was investigated for polyacrylates and polymethacrylates on the basis of free‐volume theory. Measurements of a polymer's viscoelasticity and solvent diffusivity provided experimental evidence for polymer segment mobility, and the results indicated that hole free volume in a linear polymer increases with hydrocarbon side‐chain length. Because the molecular mechanisms of polymer viscoelasticity and diffusivity are identical, the free‐volume parameters obtained for polyacrylates and polymethacrylates by measuring the polymer viscoelastic‐temperature dependence can reliably be used in predicting the solvent diffusion coefficient. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1393–1400, 2003     

Optimization of multicomponent solvent selection in high-performance liquid chromatography using a statistical method

A computer-assisted method is presented for optimization of multicomponent solvent mobile phase selection for separation of O-ethyl-N-isopropyl phosphoro (thioureido) thioates in reversed-phase HPLC and four geometric isomers of pesticides Decis in normal-phase HPLC. The method is based on Snyder's solvent selection triangle concept using a statistical method. The optimization of the separation over the experimental region is based on a special polynomial estimation from seven experimental runs, and resolution (R_s) is used as the selection criterion. Excellent agreement was obtained between predicted data and experimental results.     

Anomalous solvent shift effect and observation of phosphorescence in bilirubin

Bilirubin IX-α has a large extinction coefficient but shows a weak blue-shift in solvents of increasing dielectric constant. A blue-shift is typical of an n → π^* transition, and is here interpreted in terms of the amide group present in the terminal pyrrole rings. Compounds undergoing n → π^* transitions usually form triplet states. With bilirubin, an emission is observed at 77 K; evidence is presented that this may be phosphorescence from an excited triplet state. The energy of this triplet level is 230 kJ mole^?1, thus bilirubin should be capable of sensitizing the formation of ¹Δ_g O₂.     

Growth of columnar hydrogel colloidal crystals in water-organic solvent mixture

A novel emulsion method has been demonstrated to grow columnar hydrogel colloidal crystals by mixing an aqueous suspension of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide-co-allylamine microgels with organic solvent, driven by the coalescence of micelles consisting of organic oil droplets coated by many microgels. This method leads to microgel colloidal crystals of several centimeters growing from the top to the bottom along the gravity direction. Both temperature and polymer concentration play critical roles for the formation of columnar crystals. A phase diagram has been determined, and it can be used as a guide to selectively grow different crystals, including columnar crystals and randomly oriented crystals, and enable the coexistence of columnar crystals and randomly oriented crystals.     

Prediction of latent heat of vaporization of multicomponent mixtures

A very simple method has been developed for predicting the differential latent heat of vaporization involved in vapor-liquid equilibria of multicomponent mixtures. The technique uses the UNIFAC method for predicting activity coefficients.In order to establish this method, 88 binary systems and 13 ternary systems, both nonazeotropic and azeotropic, were tested successfully. On the basis of the 101 systems investigated, the mean overall deviation between the observed and predicted values was found to be 4.6%. Despite the fact that the majority of the systems tested were azeotropic, a consequence of the small amount of data available for the differential heats of nonazeotropic systems, the method proposed is equally applicable to nonazeotropic systems.For azeotropic mixtures, it is possible to predict the latent heat (integral or differential) by means of an analytical equation which involves only the parameters of Antoine's equation, with a mean overall deviation of 6.1%.From the differential heats obtained by the proposed method, it is possible to calculate integral heats by applying equations derived here which relate these quantities.     

Effect of solvent on photochemically induced olefin metathesis by tungstenhexacarbonyl

Effect of solvents on photochemically induced metathesis of pentene-2 by W(CO)₆ has been investigated. Structure of the catalyst and a reaction mechanism are proposed.

---

-2 W(CO)₆. .

     

Thresholdless switching induced by polar anchoring in antiferroelectric liquid crystals

We present a novel thresholdless switching mode in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell which is stabilized by the presence of polar anchoring at the cell surfaces and the antiferroelectric nature of the material. We also suggest other possible configurations which are induced by strong polar anchoring and possess quite different director structures and optical characteristics.     

Thresholdless switching induced by polar anchoring in antiferroelectric liquid crystals

We present a novel thresholdless switching mode in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal cell which is stabilized by the presence of polar anchoring at the cell surfaces and the antiferroelectric nature of the material. We also suggest other possible configurations which are induced by strong polar anchoring and possess quite different director structures and optical characteristics.     

Immobilization of colloidal crystals, formed by polymer-grafted silica in organic solvent, in physical gels

Immobilization of colloidal crystals by gelation of polymer-grafted silica suspension in acetonitrile with alkyl amides derived from amino acids was investigated. Addition of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-isoleucylaminooctadecane (Z-Ile-C18) and 1,12-bis(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-valylamino)dodecane [Bis(Z-Val)-C12] to poly(maleic anhydride-co-styrene)-grafted silica suspension in acetonitrile resulted in formation of physical gels preserved colloidal crystal structure. From the reflection spectra, intersphere distance and size of crystallite in the gel formed with Bis(Z-Val)-C12 were confirmed to be mostly same as those of colloidal crystals in suspension.     

Structural peculiarities and electrical properties of multicomponent oxide crystals. Mixed anionic conductors

Electrical and dielectric properties, and ionic transport numbers of “pure” and rare earth elements doped Bi_5.8PO_11.2(BPO), and Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂(BGO) crystals are studied. Anisotropy of electrical properties in BPO is examined. Relations between the structure, physical properties, and transport mechanisms in BPO and BGO are discussed. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 687–692. The article is published in the original. Published by report at IX Conference “Fundamental Problems of Solid State Ionics”, Chernogolovka, 2008.     

Structural peculiarities and electrical properties of multicomponent oxide crystals. Alkali ion conductors

Electrical and dielectric properties of anisotropic, “pure” and rare earth doped, K₅Bi(MoO₄)₄ (KBMO), β-BaB₂O₄ (BBO), and CsLiB₆O₁₀ (CLBO) single crystals are studied. Cationic conductivity by alkali ions is found in these crystals. Anisotropy of their electrical and dielectric properties is examined. Relations between the structure and transport mechanisms are discussed. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 679–686. The article is published in the original. Published by report at IX Conference “Fundamental Problems of Solid State Ionics”, Chernogolovka, 2008.     

Dynamic transition in tRNA is solvent induced

Dynamics of tRNA was studied using neutron scattering spectroscopy. Despite vast differences in the architecture and backbone structure of proteins and RNA, hydrated tRNA undergoes the dynamic transition at the same temperature as hydrated lysozyme. The similarity of the dynamic transition in RNA and proteins supports the idea that it is solvent induced. Because tRNA essentially has no methyl groups, the results also suggest that methyl groups are not the main contributor of the dynamic transition in biological macromolecules. However, they may explain strong differences in the dynamics of tRNA and lysozyme observed at low temperatures.     

Multiscale dewetting of triblock copolymer thin film induced by solvent vapor

Multiscale dewetting of poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene/butylenes‐b‐styrene) (SEBS) triblock copolymer thin films induced by volatile solvent vapor treatment were observed in this study. Film rupture occurred at first and produced macroscopic holes. Near‐regular droplets (which represented a compromise between complete disorder and perfect order) could be formed at the last stage. The mechanism of solvent‐driven dewetting was discussed by comparing with that of thermal‐induced dewetting. Similar to thermal‐induced dewetting, the block copolymer thin films initially break up through the nucleation of holes that perforated the films. The rapid growing holes became unstable and formed nonequilibrium fingering patterns. The films exhibit autophobic or autodewetting phenomena. The velocity of the holes growth was nearly a constant (3.3 μm/min). The stages of the dewetting were quite similar to that found for homopolymer and block copolymer thin films dewetting on solid or liquid substrates under thermal treatment. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2874–2884, 2005     

New cholesteric liquid crystals induced by intermolecular hydrogen bonding

New cholesteric liquid crystals induced by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between 3-cholesteryloxycarbonylpropanoic acid (MCB) and 4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-4-stilbazoles ( n SZ); between MCB and N -(4-pyridylmethylidiene)anilines ( n -PMA) were prepared. Their liquid crystalline properties were investigated by DSC, polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Cholesteric and smectic phases were observed. In order to study the influence of covalent and non-covalent bonding upon the liquid crystal behaviour several new covalently bonded N -\[4-(3-cholesteryloxycarbonylpropionyloxy)benzylidiene]-4-alkoxy anilines were investigated.