Molecular dynamics in polyethylene and ethylene-1-butene copolymer investigated by NMR methods

1H and 13C NMR spectra and 1H spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ and T_1ρ have been employed to study the structure and molecular dynamics in polyethylene and ethylene-1-butene copolymer in the temperature range from 100 to 370 K. Results are interpreted in terms of α, β and γ -relaxation, as well as methyl group rotation. The activation energies for all motions were established. The incorporation of 1-butene into ethylene chain leads to an increase of mobility in amorphous and crystalline phases as well as appearance the 13C resonance characteristic to the monoclinic structure in addition to the orthorhombic observed in both polymers. The crystallinity degree derived from T_1ρ in studied polymers is close to that determined using DSC method.     

Crystallization in ultra-thin polymer films: Morphogenesis and thermodynamical aspects

We present a computer model for polymer crystallization in ultra-thin films where chains are considered as dynamical units. In our model chains can change their internal state of order by cooperative motions to improve thermodynamic stability. The interplay between reorganization, enthalpic interactions and the morphology of crystals enables us to explain many properties of growth, morphogenesis and melting of polymer lamellae. We emphasize the relation between the thermodynamic stability of non-equilibrium crystals and morphological features which are beyond the average thickness of the lamellae. In particular, we show that melting of polymers is preceded by reorganization processes and the stability of polymer crystals is not necessarily related to the structure formed at the crystallization point. The simulations allow for the determination of some non-equilibrium properties such as the internal energy and the non-equilibrium heat capacity. We show that multiple-peak melting endotherms result from morphological transformations. The results of our computer simulations are compared with AFM observations in ultra-thin polyethyleneoxide films.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-(benzylimino-methyl)-4-R-phenol containing the trans(PPh3),cis(CO,Cl)-{Ru(PPh3)2(CO)Cl} unit

Reactions of [Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂] with 2-(benzylimino-methyl)-4-R-phenol (H^RL, R = H, Cl, Br and OMe) in boiling methanol in presence of triethylamine afford ruthenium(II) complexes of general formula [Ru(^RL)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl] in 57-64% yield. Microanalysis, spectroscopic (infrared, electronic and NMR) and cyclic voltammetric measurements have been used for the characterization of the complexes. Crystal structures of two representative complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The carbonyl, the chloride, the N,O-donor ^RL⁻ and the two mutually trans PPh₃ molecules assemble a distorted octahedral CClNOP₂ coordination sphere around the metal centre in each complex. The complexes display the Ru(II) → Ru(III) oxidation in the potential range 0.62-1.16 V (vs. Ag/AgCl).     

Structural characterization and ferroelectric ordering in (C3N2H5)5Sb2Br11

A ferroelectric crystal (C₃N₂H₅)₅Sb₂Br₁₁ has been synthesized. The single crystal X-ray diffraction studies (at 300, 155, 138 and 121 K) show that it is built up of discrete corner-sharing bioctahedra and highly disordered imidazolium cations. The room temperature crystal structure has been determined as monoclinic, space group, P2₁/n with: , and and β=96.19^°. The crystal undergoes three solid-solid phase transitions: ) discontinuous, continuous and discontinuous. The dielectric and pyroelectric measurements allow us to characterize the low temperature phases III and IV as ferroelectric with the Curie point at 145 K and the saturated spontaneous polarization value of the order of along the a-axis (135 K). The ferroelectric phase transition mechanism at 145 K is due to the dynamics of imidazolium cations.     

The 160.44 day Lu as a new gamma calibration standard

Gamma emissions in the decay of 160.44 day isomer ^177mLu were analyzed with a 60 cc, coaxial HPGe detector. The energies and intensities of 50 gamma transition - 40 of which belong to the daughter ¹⁷⁷Hf, that was excited by beta decay of the isomer, and 10 to the isomeric transition in ¹⁷⁷Lu were precisely determined. These precise values have resulted in an internally consistent decay scheme for ^177mLu. These gamma intensity and gamma emission probability measurements will help in making the long lived ^177mLu available as a calibration standard for HPGe detectors and also for other applications.     

Using modulated DSC to investigate the origin of multiple thermal transitions in frozen 10% sucrose solutions

Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) was used to investigate the effect of annealing on multiple thermal transitions in frozen aqueous sucrose solutions. Two thermal transitions were detected from the reversing heat flow. Here, to maintain consistency with terminology used in the practice of freeze-drying [1], the higher temperature is denoted, T^′g, and the lower transition is given the symbol, T^″g. The transition at low temperature is usually believed to be a true glass transition. However, the origin of the transition at high temperature is still highly controversial. Based upon a study of 10% sucrose solutions with different cooling histories and annealing conditions, we suggest that the transition at high temperature is also a glass transition. We conclude that the lower transition is a glass transition of a phase plasticized by a higher than equilibrium amount of unfrozen water, and the higher transition, T^′g, corresponds to a glass transition in a maximally freeze-concentrated solute phase.     

Mg-doping experiment and electrical transport measurement of boron nanobelts

We measured electrical conductance of single crystalline boron nanobelts having α-tetragonal crystalline structure. The doping experiment of Mg was carried out by vapor diffusion method. The pure boron nanobelt is a p-type semiconductor and its electrical conductivity was estimated to be on the order of 10^-3 (Ω cm)⁻¹ at room temperature. The carrier mobility of pure boron nanobelt was measured to be on the order of 10⁻³ (cm² Vs⁻¹) at room temperature and has an activation energy of ∼0.19 eV. The Mg-doped boron nanobelts have the same α-tetragonal crystalline structure as the pristine nanobelts. After Mg vapor diffusion, the nanobelts were still semiconductor, while the electrical conductance increased by a factor of 100-500. Transition to metal or superconductor by doping was not observed.     

Synthesis and properties of PPE-type conjugated polymers containing tricarbonyl(arene)chromium unit in the main chain

Novel π-conjugated polymers containing (η6-arene)Cr(CO)₃ in the main chain based on poly(p-phenylene-ethynylene) were prepared by the Sonogashira coupling reaction of η6-(1,4-diethynylbenzene)tricarbonylchromium with 1,4-diiodo-2,5-dialkoxybenzenes. The polymers were soluble in common organic solvents and characterized by NMR and FT-IR spectra. The polymers exhibited an absorption maximum at around 390 nm, which showed a red shift of approximately 30 nm compared to that of the model compound. Cyclic voltammogram showed a single reversible oxidation peak derived from the (η6-arene)Cr(CO)₃ unit.     

Action des hydrazines fluoroalkylées sur les phosphoallènes: synthèse d’hydrazones N-fluoroalkylées β-phosphonatées

Ten phosphorylated β-hydrazones of structure R₂P(O)C(NNHR_F)CHR₂′ were prepared in 54-91% yield by heating the allenes R₂P(O)CHCCR₂′ with fluorinated hydrazines H₂NNHR_F in chloroform or methanol [R=Ph, OCH₂C(Me)₂CH₂O or OCH₂C(Me)(Pr)CH₂O, R′=H or Me and R_F=CH₂CF₃ or C₆F₅]. Two cyclohexyl derivatives were prepared similarly from R₂P(O)CHCCy. The triphenyl derivatives Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(NNHCH₂CF₃)Ph and Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(NNHC₆F₅)Ph were made in 91 and 68% yield by heating the ketones Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(O)Ph with an ethanol solution of the corresponding hydrazines. The stereochemistry of the hydrazones was determined by multinuclear NMR experiments. Compounds with C(NNHR_F)Me groups exist as a mixture of Z and E isomers, with the Z form predominating (fluorinated group syn to phosphorus). Those with C(NNHR_F)CHMe₂, C(NNHR_F)Cy or C(NNHR_F)Ph groups were formed selectively, the Z isomers being the only products. The results are explained by steric hindrance, the bulkier isopropyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl group disfavouring the E configuration. , , , NMR data, coupling constants and IR data are reported.     

A unified approach to the density-potential mapping in a family of time-dependent density functional theories

It is shown that the density-potential mapping and the V-representability problems in the time-dependent current density functional theory (TDCDFT) are reduced to the solution of a certain many-body nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). The derived NLSE for TDCDFT links the earlier NLSE-based formulations of the time-dependent deformation functional theory (TDDefFT) and the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). We establish a close relation between the nonlinear many-body problems which control the existence of TDCDFT, TDDFT, and TDDefFT, and thus develop a unified point of view on the whole family of the TDDFT-type theories.     

Organoaluminum fluorides

In this review we introduce a survey of organoaluminum fluorides with some examples of other related aluminum-fluorine compounds. A systematic overview of currently available synthetic methods for the preparation of organoaluminum fluorides is presented first. Then major examples of molecular structures of different classes of compounds are discussed in connection with their structural parameters and and NMR spectroscopic characteristics.     

Isolation of C60(CF3)n (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) with high compositional purity

The high temperature reaction of C₆₀ with silver(I) trifluoroacetate followed by 500 °C sublimation and subsequent HPLC purification has led to the isolation of the five trifluoromethyl[60]fullerenes C₆₀(CF₃)_n (n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10). Four of them have >90% compositional purity. Two of the compounds, C₆₀(CF₃)₄ and C₆₀(CF₃)₆, were obtained as C₁-symmetry isomers with >90% isomeric purity, and a sample of C₆₀(CF₃)₂ also contained ca. 15-20% of a C_s-symmetry isomer of C₆₀(CF₃)₄. The new compounds were characterized by IR and EI mass spectrometry (all five compounds), NMR spectroscopy (C₆₀(CF₃)₂, C₆₀(CF₃)₄, and C₆₀(CF₃)₆), and 2D COSY NMR spectroscopy (C₆₀(CF₃)₄ and C₆₀(CF₃)₆). Calculations at the AM1 and DFT levels of theory have led to the prediction of the most likely structures for C₆₀(CF₃)₂, C₁-C₆₀(CF₃)₄, C_s-C₆₀(CF₃)₄, and the two most likely structures of C₁-C₆₀(CF₃)₆.     

Chromatographic retention prediction and octanol-water partition coefficient determination of monobasic weak acidic compounds in ion-suppression reversed-phase liquid chromatography using acids as ion-suppressors

Although simple acids, replacing buffers, have been widely applied to suppress the ionization of weakly ionizable acidic analytes in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), none of the previously reported works focused on the systematic studies about the retention behavior of the acidic solutes in this ion-suppression RPLC mode. The subject of this paper was therefore to investigate the retention behavior of monobasic weak acidic compounds using acetic, perchloric and phosphoric acids as the ion-suppressors. The apparent octanol-water partition coefficient (K^″ow) was proposed to calibrate the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) of these weak acidic compounds, which resulted in a better linear correlation with log kw, the logarithm of the hypothetical retention factor corresponding to neat aqueous fraction of hydroorganic mobile phase. This log K^″ow−log kw linear correlation was successfully validated by the results of monocarboxylic acids and monohydrating phenols, and moreover by the results under diverse experimental conditions for the same solutes. This straightforward relationship not only can be used to effectively predict the retention values of weak acidic solutes combined with Snyder-Soczewinski equation, but also can offer a promising medium for directly measuring Kow data of these compounds via Collander equation. In addition, the influence of the different ion-suppressors on the retention of weak acidic compounds was also compared in this RPLC mode.     

Reactions of β-methoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones with 2-pyridinecarboxamidrazone: A convenient route to trifluoromethylated 4,5-dihydro-1H-1-picolinoylpyrazole hydrochlorides

A new series of six 3-aryl-5-hydroxy-5-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1-picolinoylpyrazole hydrochlorides were synthesised in one-step in high yields by the reaction of β-methoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones with 2-pyridinecarboxamidrazone in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The hydrochloride salts were easily converted to the respective new series of free trifluoromethylated 4,5-dihydro-1H-1-picolinoylpyrazoles using triethylamine in anhydrous diethyl ether. X-ray structure and NMR data from the pyrazole hydrochlorides are reported.     

Lithium ion insertion and extraction reactions with Hollandite-type manganese dioxide free from any stabilizing cations in its tunnel cavity

Lithium ion insertion and extraction reactions with a hollandite-type α-MnO₂ specimen free from any stabilizing cations in its tunnel cavity were investigated, and the crystal structure of a Li⁺-inserted α-MnO₂ specimen was analyzed by Rietveld refinement and whole-pattern fitting based on the maximum-entropy method (MEM). The pH titration curve of the α-MnO₂ specimen displayed a monobasic acid behavior toward Li⁺, and an ion-exchange capacity of 3.25 meq/g was achieved at pH>11. The Li/Mn molar ratio of the Li⁺-inserted α-MnO₂ specimen showed that about two Li⁺ ions can be chemically inserted into one unit cell of the hollandite-type structure. As the amount of Li content was increased, the lattice parameter a increased while c hardly changed. On the other hand, the mean oxidation number of Mn decreased slightly regardless of Li content whenever ions were exchanged. The Li⁺-inserted α-MnO₂ specimen reduced topotactically in one phase when it was used as an active cathode material in a liquid organic electrolyte (1:1 EC:DMC, 1 mol/dm³ LiPF₆) lithium cell. An initial discharge with a capacity of approximately 230 mAh/g was achieved, and the reaction was reversible, whereas the capacity fell steadily upon cycling. About six Li⁺ ions could be electrochemically inserted into one unit cell of the hollandite-type structure. By contrast, the parent α-MnO₂ specimen showed a poor discharge property although no cationic residues or residual H₂O molecules remained in the tunnel space. Rietveld refinement from X-ray powder diffraction data for a Li⁺-inserted specimen of (Li₂O)_0.12MnO₂ showed it to have the hollandite-type structure (tetragonal; space group I4/m; a=9.993(11) and ; Z=8; R_wp=6.12%, R_p=4.51%, R_B=1.41%, and R_F=0.79%; S=1.69). The electron-density distribution images in (Li₂O)_0.12MnO₂ showed that Li₂O molecules almost fill the tunnel space. These findings suggest that the presence of stabilizing atoms or molecules within the tunnel of a hollandite-type structure is necessary to facilitate the diffusion of Li⁺ ions during cycling.     

On the diffusion of free carriers in β-rhombohedral boron

To determine the diffusion of untrapped carriers in β-rhombohedral boron, we constructed a feedback pico-ammeter based on pulse integration technique. This enabled measuring deviations from the bias in a 10⁹ Ω sample in the order of 1 nA with 0.7 ms time resolution. For the first time, we obtained the drift velocity of optically generated untrapped electron-hole pairs 106(20) cm s⁻¹ yielding for the band-determined diffusion coefficient and for the carrier mobility . Fitting Fick's second law to the measured trap-determined dispersion of carriers yields the ambipolar diffusion coefficient D^*=0.043(14) and 0.28(10) cm² s⁻¹ at 260 and 340 K, respectively. The thermal activation energy of 0.18 eV agrees with the well-known trapping levels in β-rhombohedral boron.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy of neptunyl species

Systematics of hyperfine parameters from ²³⁷Np Mössbauer resonance data of compounds with Np in a high formal charge state are discussed with respect to electronic structure properties. In neptunyl(VI) species, we find a linear correlation between the isomer shift and the strength of quadrupole interaction. Both scale linearly with the actinide-oxygen bond length, stressing the central role of this parameter. Some compounds show paramagnetic relaxation spectra which makes their analysis difficult. The hyperfine interactions are often not rotational symmetric indicating a deviation from the simple linear O-Np-O configuration. Mössbauer spectra of NpO₃·2H₂O reveal that this compound should be described as a neptunyl. A comparison of hyperfine parameter systematics indicates that the Np valence electron properties in Np(VII) species are basically similar to those in Np(VI) neptunyls.     

A short, simple and general approach for the synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidine and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidine

A general and efficient stereoselective approach for the synthesis of (3S,4S) and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidines, a part of the structure of AG-7352, a naphthyridine antitumor agent and quinoline antibacterial compounds has been described.     

High-energy optical absorption in f-compounds

Over a large energy domain, the electronic spectra of f-compounds arise mainly from three types of electronic transitions: f-f transitions, f-d transitions and ligand to metal charge transfer. The first transitions can be predicted quite successfully via an empirical Hamiltonian exploiting the symmetry of the system under consideration and evaluating the radial dependence of the various interactions felt by the f-electron through adjustable phenomenological parameters. The two other electronic transitions can be modelled via the refined spin pairing theory. Both similarities and differences in chemical and spectroscopic behavior of lanthanides and actinides will be briefly discussed.     

Mixed micelles of homologous perfluoropolyether anionic surfactants in water

The mixtures of sodium and ammonium salts of three homologous perfluoropolyether carboxylic acids having Cl-terminated perfluoroalkyl group (Cl-PFPE) and differing in the average molecular weight (MW) were examined. The surfactants, namely n2, n3 and n4, have two, three and four PFPE units, respectively. Each surfactant was studied alone and in mixture with the other surfactants with the same counterion. NMR chemical shifts were measured for each surfactant and for the mixtures in different concentrations. For a given mixture the micelle composition, X_i, can be determined from the observation of the chemical shifts of the micellar components. It was found that Cl-PFPE surfactant mixtures form in water mixed micelles which contain the surfactants in equilibrium with monomeric species. The analysis of NMR chemical shift variations allowed evaluating the partition of the various surfactants in the mixed aggregates as a function of the total concentration. Composition of mixed micelles resembles ideal mixing predictions particularly at high surfactant concentrations.