Shape memory epoxies based on networks with chemical and physical crosslinks

Epoxies are an important family of shape memory polymers (SMP) due to their excellent stability and thermo-mechanical endurance and the high values of shape fixity and shape recovery. Actuators based on these materials can be designed for large tensile elongations (e.g., 75% or higher) or large recovered stresses (e.g., 3 MPa or higher). However, meeting these requirements simultaneously is a difficult task because changes in the crosslink density affect both variables in opposite ways. We show that an SMP based on an epoxy network with both chemical and physical crosslinks could be strained up to 75% in four repeated shape memory cycles with tensile stresses close to 3 MPa. Shape fixity and shape recovery values were close to 98% and 96%, respectively, for everyone of the cycles, without any significant change between the first and subsequent cycles.     

Tetra-2,3-pyrazinoporphyrazines with externally appended thienyl rings: synthesis, UV-visible spectra, electrochemical behavior, and photoactivity for the generation of singlet oxygen

A series of pyrazinoporphyrazine macrocycles carrying externally appended 2-thienyl rings, represented as [Th(8)TPyzPzM], where Th(8)TPyzPz = tetrakis-2,3-[5,6-di(2-thienyl)pyrazino]porphyrazinato anion and M = Mg(II)(H(2)O), Zn(II), Co(II), Cu(II), or 2H(1), were prepared and isolated as solid air-stable hydrated species. All of the compounds, completely insoluble in water, were characterized by their UV-visible spectra and electrochemical behavior in solutions of dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridine. Molecular aggregation occurs at concentrations of ca. 10(-4) M, but monomers are formed in more dilute solutions of 10(-5) M or less. The examined octathienyl compounds [Th(8)TPyzPzM] behave as electron-deficient macrocycles, and UV-visible spectral measurements provide useful information about how the peripheral thienyl rings influence the electronic distribution over the entire macrocyclic framework. Cyclic voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical data confirm the easier reducibility of the compounds as compared to the related phthalocyanine analogues, and the overall redox behavior and thermodynamic potentials for the four stepwise one-electron reductions of the compounds are similar to those of the earlier examined octapyridinated analogues [Py(8)TPyzPzM]. Quantum yields (Φ(Δ)) for the generation of singlet oxygen, (1)O(2), the cytotoxic agent active in photodynamic therapy (PDT), and fluorescence quantum yields (Φ(F)) were measured for the Zn(II) and Mg(II) complexes, [Th(8)TPyzPzZn] and [Th(8)TPyzPzMg(H(2)O)], and the data were compared to those of corresponding octapyridino macrocycles [Py(8)TPyzPzZn] and [Py(8)TPyzPzMg(H(2)O)] and their related octacations [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzZn](8+) and [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzMg(H(2)O)](8+). These measurements were carried out in DMF and in DMF preacidified with HCl (ca. 10(-4) M). All of the examined Zn(II) compounds behave as excellent photosensitizers (Φ(Δ) = 0.4-0.6) both in DMF and DMF/HCl solutions, whereas noticeable fluorescence activity (Φ(F) = 0.36-0.43) in DMF/HCl solutions is shown by the Mg(II) derivatives; these data might provide perspectives for applications in PDT (Zn(II)) and imaging response and diagnosis (Mg(II)).     

Solid-state radical grafting reaction of glycidyl methacrylate and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) in supercritical carbon dioxide: surface morphology and adhesion

Solid-state radical grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) was performed using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) impregnation technology. The polymer films were firstly impregnated in the scCO(2) phase with the GMA using benzoyl peroxide as thermal initiator. The grafting degree and surface morphology of the samples may be controlled by the following factors: time, temperature, and pressure of impregnation. A 2(3) factorial design to evaluate the main and interaction effects of such factors on the grafting of the PMP by GMA (grafting response) was elaborated from FTIR data. The superior and inferior limits of the levels were defined on basis of a P-x-y diagram for binary system CO(2)+GMA that provided the location of the transition curves of such a system. Better grafting response was obtained for pressure of 130 bar, temperature of 70°C and time of 7h. The PMP-g-GMA films exhibited a thermal profile similar to that of the unmodified polymer. Adhesion characteristics of polymer films are dependent on grafting degree of GMA.     

Photolysis of (3-methyl-2H-azirin-2-yl)-phenylmethanone: direct detection of a triplet vinylnitrene intermediate

The photoreactivity of (3-methyl-2H-azirin-2-yl)-phenylmethanone, 1, is wavelength-dependent (Singh et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 1199-1206). Irradiation at short wavelengths yields 2P, whereas longer wavelengths produce 3P. Laser flash photolysis of 1 in acetonitrile using a 355 nm laser forms its triplet ketone (T(1K), broad absorption with λ(max) ~ 390-410 nm, τ ~ 90 ns), which cleaves and yields triplet vinylnitrene 3 (broad absorption with λ(max) ~ 380-400 nm, τ = 2 μs). Calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) reveal that T(1K) of 1 is located 67 kcal/mol above its ground state (S(0)) and has a long C-N bond (1.58 ?), and the calculated transition state to form 3 is only 1 kcal/mol higher in energy than T(1K) of 1. The calculations show that 3 has significant 1,3-carbon iminyl biradical character, which explains why 3 reacts efficiently with oxygen and decays by intersystem crossing to the singlet surface. Photolysis of 1 in argon matrixes at 14 K produced ketene imine 7, which presumably is formed from 3 intersystem crossing to 7. In comparison, photolysis of 1 in methanol with a 266 nm laser produces mainly ylide 2 (λ(max) ~ 380 nm, τ ~ 6 μs, acetonitrile), which decays to form 2P. Ylide 2 is formed via singlet reactivity of 1, and calculations show that the first singlet excited state of the azirine chromophore (S(1A)) is located 113 kcal/mol above its S(0) and that the singlet excited state of the ketone (S(1K)) is 85 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the transition state for cleaving the C-C bond in 1 to form 2 is located 49 kcal/mol above the S(0) of 1. Thus, we theorize that internal conversion of S(1A) to a vibrationally hot S(0) of 1 forms 2, whereas intersystem crossing from S(1K) to T(1K) results in 3.     

Corrosion of Ni in 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide room-temperature ionic liquid: an in situ X-ray imaging and spectromicroscopy study

This paper reports a pioneering application of soft X-ray scanning transmission microscopy (STXM), combined with micro-spot X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), for the investigation of the corrosion of metal electrodes in contact with room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL). Using an open electrochemical cell in vacuo we explore some fundamental aspects of the aggressiveness of the 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([BMP][TFSA]) RTIL towards Ni under in situ electrochemical polarisation. The possibility of imaging electrochemically-induced morphological features in conjunction with micro-XAS and XRF spectroscopies has provided unprecedented details regarding the space distribution and chemical state of corrosion products.     

In situ FTIR spectroelectrochemical study on the mechanism of ethylene glycol electrocatalytic oxidation at a Pd electrode

The adsorption and electrooxidation pathways of ethylene glycol (EG) on polycrystalline palladium surfaces have been investigated in both alkaline and acidic media by in situ FTIR spectroscopy in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry. Palladium exhibits a high electrocatalytic activity in alkaline solution with low onset oxidation potentials and high current densities, depending on the pH, as well as on the supporting electrolyte. Higher potentials are required for EG oxidation in acidic solutions, where the catalytic performance decreases with increasing the pH. The products and intermediates of EG oxidation on Pd are influenced by the pH. In alkaline media, both C(2) species (glycolate, glyoxal, glyoxylate and oxalate) and C(1) species (formate and carbonate) are formed in mutual concentrations depending on the pH. In contrast, CO(2) is selectively produced in acidic aqueous solution.     

One-electron oxidation of ferrocenes by short-lived N-oxyl radicals. The role of structural effects on the intrinsic electron transfer reactivities

A kinetic study of the one electron oxidation of substituted ferrocenes (FcX: X = H, COPh, COMe, CO(2)Et, CONH(2), CH(2)OH, Et, and Me(2)) by a series of N-oxyl radicals (succinimide-N-oxyl radical (SINO), maleimide-N-oxyl radical (MINO), 3-quinazolin-4-one-N-oxyl radical (QONO) and 3-benzotriazin-4-one-N-oxyl radical (BONO)), has been carried out in CH(3)CN. N-oxyl radicals were produced by hydrogen abstraction from the corresponding N-hydroxy derivatives by the cumyloxyl radical. With all systems, the rate constants exhibited a satisfactory fit to the Marcus equation allowing us to determine self-exchange reorganization energy values (λ(NO˙/NO(-))) which have been compared with those previously determined for the PINO/PINO(-) and BTNO/BTNO(-) couples. Even small modification of the structure of the N-oxyl radicals lead to significant variation of the λ(NO˙/NO(-)) values. The λ(NO˙/NO(-)) values increase in the order BONO < BTNO < QONO < PINO < SINO < MINO which do not parallel the order of the oxidation potentials. The higher λ(NO˙/NO(-)) values found for the MINO and SINO radicals might be in accordance with a lower degree of spin delocalization in the radicals MINO and SINO and charge delocalization in the anions MINO(-) and SINO(-) due to the absence of an aromatic ring in their structure.     

Steric control on the redox chemistry of (η5-C9H7)2Yb(II)(THF)2 by 6-aryl substituted iminopyridines

A steric control on the reductive capacity of ytterbocenes towards iminopyridine ligands is described. The reaction of (η(5)-C(9)H(7))(2)Yb(THF)(2) with a series of 6-organyl-2-(aldimino)pyridyl ligands (IPy) takes place with the replacement of two THF molecules by one IPy unit. In contrast to the rich reductive ytterbocene chemistry described in the presence of the unsubstituted (aldimino)pyridyl ligand, all 6-aryl substituted IPys scrutinized hereafter are involved into the metal coordination as neutral bidentate {N,N} or tridentate {N,N,S; N,N,O} ligands, with no changes of the metal oxidation state in the final complexes. A series of Yb(II) metallocene complexes of general formula (η(5)-C(9)H(7))(2)Yb(II)(η(2) or η(3))[2,6-(i)Pr(2)(C(6)H(3))N=CH(C(5)H(3)N)-6-R)] have been isolated and completely characterized. The stereo-electronic role of the aryl substituents in the IPy ligands on the ytterbocene redox chemistry has also been addressed.     

Effect of the irrigation with residual wastewaters on microbial soil activity of the ornamental flowers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dahlia pinnata)</Emphasis> cultures monitored by isothermal calorimetry

A microcalorimetric method was applied to study microbial soil activity of ornamental flower (Dahlia pinnata) plantations when irrigated with potable water and wastewaters. The samples were irrigated with potable water PW sample (reference) and treated wastewaters from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Station of Asa Norte in Brasilia City (Brazil). Three different water treatments were applied to irrigate soil samples, named TW1, TW2, and TW3 samples. The increase of the microbial soil activity observed in TW1 sample must have occurred because of the high amount of organic waste dissolved in wastewater used for irrigation. This rise indicates that the present treated wastewater can affect natural life cycle. However, only a low alteration in microbial soil activity was observed in the TW2 and TW3 samples, which suggests that these wastewater treatments can be normally used to irrigate soils without bringing environmental consequences, once they offer a great opportunity to upgrade and protect the environment.