Preparation and liquid-crystalline properties of toluene-4-sulphonyl urethane of hydroxypropylcellulose

A novel liquid-crystalline polymer, the toluene-4-sulphonyl urethane of hydroxypropylcellulose (TSUHPC), was prepared through chemical modification of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) of M_w = 60000 g mol^-1. The resulting polymer was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing microscopy. It was found that thermotropic liquid crystal phases are formed between about 60°C and 110°C. Concentrated solutions of TSUHPC in acetone and N,N-dimethylacetamide exhibit cholesteric behaviour, at room temperature. When approaching the lyotropic mesophase to solid transition, either by cooling or by solvent evaporation, very interesting arborescent structures of a seemingly fractal nature may be observed, depending on the kinetics of the transition. A banded texture can be observed when the polymer is sheared near the transition to the isotropic phase.     

An analysis of electrodisintegration of nuclei using E1 virtual radiation spectra evaluated with coulomb distorted waves

Data on the ratio of photodisintegration to electrodisintegration of several nuclei (¹²C, ⁶³Cu, ⁶⁴Zn, ¹⁰⁹Ag, ¹⁸¹Ta and ¹⁹⁷Au) are compared with the theoretical ratios predicted by plane-wave and distorted-wave calculations. The analysis with distorted waves shows that all data are compatible with photoabsorption through dominant E1 transitions, as can be explained by the electric dipole sum rule. This outcome does not agree with published conclusions for high Z using the plane-wave approximation.     

Four-fold magnetic anisotropy in a Co film on MgO(0 0 1)

The development of devices based on magnetic tunnel junctions has raised new interests on the structural and magnetic properties of the interface Co/MgO. In this context, we have grown ultrathin Co films (≤30 Å) by molecular-beam epitaxy on MgO(0 0 1) substrates kept at different temperatures (T_S). Their structural and magnetic properties were correlated and discussed in the context of distinct magnetic anisotropies for Co phases reported in the literature. The sample characterization has been done by reflection high energy electron diffraction, magneto-optical Kerr effect and ferromagnetic resonance. The main focus of the work is on a sample deposited at T_S=25 °C, as its particular way of growth has enabled a bct Co structure to settle on the substrate, where it is not normally obtained without specific seed layers. This sample presented the best crystallinity, softer magnetic properties and a four-fold in-plane magnetic anisotropy with Co〈1 1 0〉 easy directions. Concerning the samples prepared at T_S=200 and 500° C, they show fcc and polycrystalline structures, respectively and more intricate magnetic anisotropy patterns.     

Nucleation of electroactive β-phase poly(vinilidene fluoride) with CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 nanofillers: a new method for the preparation of multiferroic nanocomposites

Multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials show enormous potential for technological developments. Multiferroic composites are more attractive for applications due to their enhanced properties with respect to single-phase multiferroic materials. In this paper we report on the nucleation of the electroactive β-phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, by the addition of CoFe₂O₄ and NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in order to prepare poly(vinylidene fluoride)/ferrite nanocomposite for multiferroic and magnetoelectric applications,. The dispersed ferrite nanofiller particles strongly enhance the nucleation of the β-phase of the polymer matrix. In this way, magnetoelectric polymer nanocomposites can be processed avoiding the usual α- to β-phase transformation by stretching of the polymer matrix.     

Bifurcation curves of a logistic equation when the linear growth rate crosses a second eigenvalue

We construct the global bifurcation curves, solutions versus level of harvesting, for the steady states of a diffusive logistic equation on a bounded domain, under Dirichlet boundary conditions and other appropriate hypotheses, when a, the linear growth rate of the population, is below λ₂+δ. Here λ₂ is the second eigenvalue of the Dirichlet Laplacian on the domain and δ>0. Such curves have been obtained before, but only for a in a right neighborhood of the first eigenvalue. Our analysis provides the exact number of solutions of the equation for a≤λ₂ and new information on the number of solutions for a>λ₂.     

Reactions in the rechargeable lithium-O2 battery with alkyl carbonate electrolytes

The nonaqueous rechargeable lithium-O(2) battery containing an alkyl carbonate electrolyte discharges by formation of C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2), Li(2)CO(3), HCO(2)Li, CH(3)CO(2)Li, CO(2), and H(2)O at the cathode, due to electrolyte decomposition. Charging involves oxidation of C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2), Li(2)CO(3), HCO(2)Li, CH(3)CO(2)Li accompanied by CO(2) and H(2)O evolution. Mechanisms are proposed for the reactions on discharge and charge. The different pathways for discharge and charge are consistent with the widely observed voltage gap in Li-O(2) cells. Oxidation of C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2) involves terminal carbonate groups leaving behind the OC(3)H(6)O moiety that reacts to form a thick gel on the Li anode. Li(2)CO(3), HCO(2)Li, CH(3)CO(2)Li, and C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2) accumulate in the cathode on cycling correlating with capacity fading and cell failure. The latter is compounded by continuous consumption of the electrolyte on each discharge.     

New succinyl‐spaced pyrazoles: Regioselective synthesis of 1,4‐bis[5‐(trichloromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]butane‐1,4‐diones

The facile and convenient access by a conventional procedure in ethanol as solvent to a new series of succinyl‐spaced pyrazoles including 1,4‐bis[5‐(trichloromethyl)‐5‐hydroxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]butane‐1,4‐diones (64–82%) and the respective dehydrated derivatives as 1,4‐bis[5‐(trichloromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]butane‐1,4‐diones in 57–82% yields, from the regioselective cyclocondensation reactions of 4‐substituted 4‐methoxy‐1,1,1‐trichloroalk‐3‐en‐2‐ones with succinic acid dihydrazide, where the 4‐substituents are Me, Ph, 4‐FC₆H₄, 4‐ClC₆H₄, 4‐NO₂C₆H₄, 2‐furyl, and 2‐thienyl, is reported. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 2011.     

Regioselective synthesis and characterization of new 3‐aryl‐7‐trifluoromethyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3–a]pyrimidines

The regioselective synthesis and characterization of a new series of 3‐aryl‐7‐trifluoromethyl[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3–a]pyrimidines from the oxidative heterocyclization of 2‐(N′‐benzylidenehydrazino)‐4‐trifluoromethylpyrimidines with copper dichloride is described. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

New one-pot, efficient, and regioselective method for the synthesis of 3-Trifluoromethyl-1H-1-phenylpyrazoles and alkyl 3-carboxylate analogs

An efficient and regioselective procedure for the synthesis of a series of alkyl(aryl/heteroaryl) substituted 3-trifluoromethyl-1H-1-phenylpyrazoles and alkyl 3-carboxylate analogs, from the cyclocondensation reactions of 4-alkoxy-1,1,1-trihaloalk-3-en-2-ones [CX₃C(O)CR²=CR¹(OMe/OEt), where R¹ = H, Me, Ph, 2-Furyl; R² = H; R¹-R² = -C₄H₈- and X = F, Cl] and 1-phenylsemicarbazide in an acidified alcoholic medium (R³OH/H₂SO₄), where R³ = Me, Et, Prⁱ was successfully applied and is described here in detail.