Photoinitiators for UV and visible curing of coatings: Mechanisms and properties

The radiation curing industry is one of the most rapidly developing fields in the entire coatings industry. The low toxicity, cheapness, speed, control and ease of formulation and operation are some of the main advantages of this growing technology. UV and/or visible light radiation is used to induce photochemical polymerization or crosslinking of a monomer, oligomer or prepolymer formulation containing a certain type of unsaturation, such as an acrylic group, and an appropriate initiator. The latter is used to absorb the light energy and transform it into active species, such as radicals or ions, capable of inducing such reactions. Applications extend to general coatings for paper, board, wood, tapes, compact discs and holograms, inks, photoresists for imaging processes and adhesives for welding and sealing in electronic circuit boards. The photoinitiator is the key to the control of these processes and, in recent years, has seen many new developments. These include the need for water-soluble, co-reactive and polymeric structures with low migration rates, as well as cheaper UV/ visible sensitizers with enhanced speed. New and effective cationic systems are also on the scene and, although expensive, are attracting significant academic and commercial interest.     

The observation of a large gauche preference when 2-fluoroethylamine and 2-fluoroethanol become protonated

The energies of the gauche and anti conformers of 2-fluoroethylamine, 2-fluoroethanol and their protonated analogues are calculated using density functional theory. Unlike the non protonated systems, the protonated systems show a strong gauche effect where the C-F and the C-(+)NH(3) or C-F and C-(+)OH(2) bonds are gauche rather than anti to each other. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 2-fluoroethylammonium compounds identify the same conformational preference.     

Ab initio MO-SCF calculation on a model of anomalous water

Ab initio calculations are carried out on the planar hexamer model of anomalous water using a variety of basis sets. The results are compared to results of similar calculations on free water and water in the ice I-like puckered ring configurations.

---

Zusammenfassung Es werden ab initio-Rechnungen für das planare Hexamer-Modell von anomalem Wasser unter Verwendung mehrerer BasissÄtze durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse werden mit Resultaten Ähnlicher Rechnungen über freies Wasser und Wasser in der I-Eis Ähnlichen Konfiguration verzerrter Ringe verglichen.

---

Résumé Calculs ab initio sur le modèle hexamérique plan de l'eau anormale en utilisant différentes bases. Les résultats sont comparés à ceux de calculs similaires sur l'eau libre et sur l'eau dans une configuration cyclique compacte analogue à celle de la glace I.

     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelates in polypropylene—Part I: Excited state quenching versus UV antioxidant action under polychromatic irradiation

The photo-stabilising action of three metal chelates—nickel (II) 2,2′ thiobis (4-tert-octylphenylato) n-butylamine and the nickel and calcium derivatives of bis (ethyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) phosphonate, in polypropylene—is examined using normal and second order derivative ultraviolet, infra-red and phosphorescence spectroscopic techniques and hydroperoxide analysis. Whilst all three stabilisers quenched the phosphorescence emission of a powerful photo-sensitiser, benzophenone, there was no protective action during photo-sensitised oxidation of the polymer. In the case of anthraquinone, there was no quenching and no protection. Processing history plays a dominant rôle in controlling the photo-stabilising performance of the chelates. Each stabiliser operates differently, being dependent on its relative stability during processing and photo-oxidation and on the formation and destruction of polymeric and antioxidant hydroperoxides during processing. Metal chelates operate by inhibiting polymer hydroperoxide formation during processing and acting as ultraviolet stable chain terminators or by giving products during the early stages of photo-oxidation which are themselves effective stabilisers.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelate stabilisers in polypropylene: Part VII—Additive interactions

The interactions of three metal chelates (nickel (II) 2,2′-thiobis (4-tertoctyl-phenolato), n-butylamine (Cyasorb UV 1084) and the nickel and calcium derivatives of bis(ethyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) phosphonate (Irgastab 2002 and Irganox 1425)) with other commercial additives, in the stabilisation of polypropylene film, are examined using normal and second-order derivative ultraviolet and infra-red spectroscopic techniques. It is shown that the observed behaviour is dependent on the particular additive, the processing history of the polymer and the metal chelate concerned, and is therefore highly complex. All three chelates show antagonism with a hindered piperidine, bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate (Tinuvin 770), in unprocessed polymer, whereas one of the chelates behaves synergistically with this additive in processed samples. The chelates also show antagonism with a primary antioxidant, tris((3-(3′,5′-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-2′'-aceto-ethyl)) isocyanurate (Goodrite 3125), whereas, with a secondary antioxidant, distearyl pent-aerithrityl diphosphite (Weston 618), their behaviour is synergistic in both unprocessed and processed polymer. Two of the chelates show synergism with 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone (Cyasorb UV 531), the remaining chelate showing antagonism. Mixtures containing a three-additive system show a more complex behaviour. The results are explained in terms of hydroperoxide decomposition, inhibition, stabiliser dispersion, ultraviolet stability and additive compatibility.     

Electrophotographic and microwave photodielectric studies on titanium dioxide pigments in the solid state

In this paper, we report some novel preliminary findings on the photoactivity of titanium dioxide pigments using photoconductive and microwave dielectric techniques. A variety of pigment types were investigated by both methods, including the two crystalline forms of titanium dioxide, anatase and rutile, and a variety of coated pigments. Analysis of the data obtained indicates that there are possible relationships between the photoconductive and photodielectric results, and that these may be used to characterize the pigment types rapidly. Photoconductive measurements were carried out on pigmented films of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). Uncoated pigments were found to be more photoconductive than coated pigments with the anatase modification being the more active. It is believed that the pigments act as “trapping” sites to the holes produced by PVK, and that the more photoactive the pigment, the easier it is to regenerate the holes. Various factors influence the band gap of the pigment and these have a significant effect on the photoactivity and photoconductivity of the pigment samples. These include the presence of traps and recombination centres (present as coatings on the surface of the pigment particle) and impurities which can act as acceptors or donors.

Microwave dielectric measurements were carried out on the different anatase and rutile pigments, each exhibiting a different microwave resonant frequency loss depending on the nature of the crystalline modification and the coating. However, on illumination on the pigments with polychromatic light in the microwave cavity, the resonant frequency losses exhibit shifts, the nature of which depend on the pigment type and the coating. Thus the anatase pigments exhibit greater responses than the rutile pigments, particularly with regard to the shift in the resonant frequency values and the change in the Q factor of the resonant peak. The resonant frequency values of the anatase samples are also higher than those obtained for the rutile samples. Furthermore, the frequency shifts are in opposite directions, with the anatase modification exhibiting a more rapid shift to lower frequencies and rutile a slower shift to higher frequencies. It appears that, when the anatase samples are irradiated, their dielectric properties change from those characteristic of a conductor-like material to those of an insulator-like material. However, these changes are reversible once the illumination is terminated. With the rutile samples, irradiation increases the resonant frequency values and hence their dielectric constants. Thus the pigments appear to become more like conductors.     

Oxidation processes in blue water pipe

The thermal, hydrolytic and photochemical oxidation of blue water pipe material has been studied using Fourier Transform infra-red microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and hydroperoxide analysis. The results indicate that oxidation of the pipe occurs predominantly on the outer surface and to a lesser extent on the bore, often with little or no change in the middle layers, FTIR analysis of microtomed sections of the pipe supports the DSC analysis (oxidation induction time at 200°C—OIT) and indicates leaching and consumption of the polymer antioxidants at the outer surface of the pipe. Oxidation profiles at 80°C in water, as measured using carbonyl index, indicate an unusual hydrolytic oxidation and extraction of the carbonylic oxidation products only at the outer pipe surface to a depth of about 0·5 mm resulting in high hydroperoxidation levels. These oxidation analyses are consistent with density profile changes through the pipe wall. Whilst water is concluded to have an important influence in controlling pipe stability, which, in turn, is governed by the temperature and extractability of the polymer antioxidants, ultraviolet light is also seen to have a similar detrimental effect. The influence of these various degradative parameters on the long-term stability of pipe is discussed with a view to elucidating the mechanisms involved.     

Bio-orthogonal affinity purification of direct kinase substrates

Protein phosphorylation is a major mechanism of post-translational protein modification used to control cellular signaling. A challenge in phosphoproteomics is to identify the direct substrates of each protein kinase. Herein, we describe a chemical strategy for delivery of a bio-orthogonal affinity tag to the substrates of an individual protein kinase. The kinase of interest is engineered to transfer a phosphorothioate moiety to phosphoacceptor hydroxyl groups on direct substrates. In a second nonenzymatic step, the introduced phosphorothioate is alkylated with p-nitrobenzylmesylate (PNBM). Antibodies directed against the alkylated phosphorothioate epitope recognize these labeled substrates, but not alkylation products of other cellular nucleophiles. This strategy is demonstrated with Cdk1/cyclinB substrates using ELISA, western blotting, and immunoprecipitation in the context of whole cell lysates.     

Stereoselective reductase-catalysed deoxygenation of sulfoxides in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

Direct and indirect evidence, of unexpected stereoselective reductase-catalysed deoxygenations of sulfoxides, was found. The deoxygenations proceeded simultaneously, with the expected dioxygenase-catalysed asymmetric sulfoxidation of sulfides, during some biotransformations with the aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas putida UV4. Stereoselective reductase-catalysed asymmetric deoxygenation of racemic alkylaryl, dialkyl and phenolic sulfoxides was observed, without evidence of the reverse sulfoxidation reaction, using anaerobic bacterial strains. A purified dimethyl sulfoxide reductase, obtained from the intact cells of the anaerobic bacterium Citrobacter braakii DMSO 11, yielded, from the corresponding racemates, enantiopure alkylaryl sulfoxide and thiosulfinate samples.     

On the nature of the Møller-Plesset critical point

It has been suggested [F. H. Stillinger, J. Chem. Phys. 112, 9711 (2000)] that the convergence or divergence of M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory is determined by a critical point at a negative value of the perturbation parameter z at which an electron cluster dissociates from the nuclei. This conjecture is examined using configuration-interaction computations as a function of z and using a quadratic approximant analysis of the high-order perturbation series. Results are presented for the He, Ne, and Ar atoms and the hydrogen fluoride molecule. The original theoretical analysis used the true Hamiltonian without the approximation of a finite basis set. In practice, the singularity structure depends strongly on the choice of basis set. Standard basis sets cannot model dissociation to an electron cluster, but if the basis includes diffuse functions then it can model another critical point corresponding to complete dissociation of all the valence electrons. This point is farther from the origin of the z plane than is the critical point for the electron cluster, but it is still close enough to cause divergence of the perturbation series. For the hydrogen fluoride molecule a critical point is present even without diffuse functions. The basis functions centered on the H atom are far enough from the F atom to model the escape of electrons away from the fluorine end of the molecule. For the Ar atom a critical point for a one-electron ionization, which was not previously predicted, seems to be present at a positive value of the perturbation parameter. Implications of the existence of critical points for quantum-chemical applications are discussed.