Optically Active Conjugated Polymer from Solvent Chirality Transfer Polymerization in Monoterpenes

Disubstituted acetylene monomers [1,2‐diphenylacetylenes (DPAs: DPA‐pC1, DPA‐mC1, DPA‐pC8); 1‐phenyl‐2‐hexylacetylene (PHA‐pC1)] are tested for asymmetric polymerization in chiral monoterpenes used as solvents and compared with the corresponding monosubstituted acetylene monomer [1‐phenylacetylene (PA‐pC1)]. DPA‐pC1 containing a trimethylsilyl group in the para‐position of the phenyl ring produces an optically active polymer with a large Cotton effect, despite the absence of a stereogenic center. The polymer sample obtained by polymerization in 87% ee (–)‐α‐pinene shows the strongest CD signal (g_CD value at 385 nm: ∼3.2 × 10⁻³). The Cotton bands of the polymers obtained in (–)‐ and (+)‐α‐pinenes show the opposite sign in the CD signals. Theoretical calculations show that only the cis‐cisoid model adopts a helical conformation. A time‐correlated single photon counting experiment shows that the emission of the chiral polymer originates from a virtually single excited species with a 98% component fraction. This polymer solution does not show any significant decrease in g_CD value over a wide temperature range of 20 to 80 °C. No noticeable decrease in the g_CD value is detected when the polymer solution is kept at relatively low temperatures for a prolonged period (35 d). In contrast, the other polymers show no CD signal.

     

Influence of desorption and sorption of water on the purity of perfluorooctanoic acid

The composition of impurities in perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was measured and determined to be notably different between lots. Since the purity of PFOA varied, the accuracy of prepared calibration solution concentrations was reduced. In this study, factors influencing the purity were investigated using a Karl Fischer titrator and a LC/MS to support the development of reference materials. The results showed variances of water and isomer/homologue contents under different ambient conditions during sample handling. Moreover, these variances, especially for water, greatly affected the purity of PFOA (0.95–0.99 kg kg^?1). Therefore, PFOA of reliable purity should be used for the preparation of calibration solutions.     

Water content variation of p-n-heptylphenol reference material

Water content variation of candidate p-n-heptylphenol (HP) reference material (ampoule form) for preparation of a primary standard solution based on the Japan Calibration Service System, a national standards dissemination system, under the Measurement Law of Japan, was examined by a Karl-Fischer water content meter. As prepared samples, liquid-phase HP and upper, middle, and lower layers of solid-phase HP were measured since characteristic phase transition occurs near room temperature (melting point: 28.98 °C). As a result of water content in liquid- and solid-phase HP, water content variation among three layers of solid-phase is found in within ampoules, though water content variation of liquid-phase is not found. Between-ampoule variation of water content is also found using total ampoules of liquid-phase HP used to eliminate within-ampoule variation. Moreover, water content variation is secondarily confirmed by the results of the amount-of-substance fraction of HP based on a differential scanning calorimeter. From these results in this study, it is concluded that within- and between-ampoule variations of water content may depend on phase transition and water loss during ampouling of candidate reference material, respectively.     

Thermo-driven chiroptical switching polysilane featuring 2-cyclopentylethyl side group

A new rod-like helical polysilane, poly{(S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl-(2-cyclopentylethyl)silane}, was found to undergo a thermo-driven, helix-helix transition at –33 ° C in isooctane associated with the discontinuous changes in the Si -Si *transition energy and intensity in the transition temperature region. This is the first example of a helix-helix transition polysilane with a cycloalkyl group. A similar rod-like polysilane derivative, poly{(S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl-(1-cyclopentylmethyl)silane}, however, did not undergo any helix-helix transition between –61 and 80 ° C.     

The Christiansen effect of brightly colored colloidal dispersion with an amphiphilic polymer

A novel coloration phenomenon in a colloidal dispersion with an amphiphilic polymer was found. The dispersion consists of tetrahydrofuran (THF), an aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate (Na(2)S(2)O(3).5H(2)O), and hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC). The dispersion was emulsified by HPC as an amphiphilic polymer, so that the aqueous phase was confined in droplets in the THF matrix. It typically appeared bluish violet at room temperature and turned into blue with increasing temperature. In this system, the refractive indices of the inside and outside of the droplet coincided at a certain wavelength at which the light passes through without scattering, which is called the Christiansen effect. The color observed was successfully simulated by Mie's scattering theory in combination with the Christiansen effect.     

Olefin polymerization by (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium(IV) complexes of the type, Cp′TiCl2(N=CBu2)-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems

Effects of substituents on cyclopentadienyl group for homopolymerization of ethylene, 1-hexene, and for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization using a series of nonbridged (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium complexes of the type, Cp′TiCl₂(N=C^tBu₂) [Cp′ = Cp (1), ^tBuC₅H₄ (2), C₅Me₅ (Cp^*, 3), and indenyl (4)] have been explored in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst. Complexes 1–3 showed the similar catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization although the activity by 4 was somewhat low, whereas the activity for 1-hexene polymerization increased in the order 1 > 4 2 > 3. These complexes showed significant activities for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization affording high molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene)s with unimodal molecular weight distributions, and the activity increased in the order: 4 > 1 2, 3. The r_Er_H values in the polymerization by 1–3 at 40 °C were 0.35–0.52 which clearly indicate that the 1-hexene incorporation in the copolymerization did not proceed in a random manner. The r_E values by 1–3 were 6.0–6.4 and the values were independent upon the cyclopentadienyl fragment employed; the r_E values by 4 at 40 °C were 10.2–10.9 which were close to those by ansa-metallocene complex catalysts. These values were influenced by the polymerization temperature, and the 1-hexene incorporation by 1–4 became inefficient at higher temperature, although the observed activities especially by 1, 4 were highly remarkable.     

Computing handedness: quantized and superposed switch and dynamic memory of helical polysilylene.

Two new conjugating helical polymers comprising a rodlike silicon backbone and enantiopure chiral pendants, poly[(R)-3,7-dimethyloctyl-(S)-3-methylpentylsilylene] (PS-1) and its diastereomeric poly[(S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl-(S)-3-methylpentylsilylene] (PS-2), were prepared. Molecular mechanics calculations of PS-1 and PS-2 model oligomers indicated a double well potential energy curve corresponding to almost enantiomeric helices with dihedral angles of 150-160 degrees (P-motif, global minimum) and 200-210 degrees (M-motif), regardless of their tacticity. Experimentally, it was found that PS-1 in dilute isooctane revealed switchable ambidextrous helicity on application of a thermal energy bias. Although PS-1 featured three distinct switching regions, viz. "region 1, between -80 and -10 degrees C", "region 2, between -10 and +10 degrees C", and "region 3, between +10 degrees C and +80 degrees C", the switching properties were interpreted as the result of superposed P- and M-helicities, undergoing dynamic pseudo-racemization or oscillation. Oscillating helicity in region 2 was roughly estimated to be about 13 cm(-)(1). The superposed helicity in region 2 was critical since it afforded molecular recognition ability with a dynamic memory function that was highly susceptible to solvent molecular topology and volume fraction. This could lead to potential as a molecular information processor to serve as a gauge of chemical properties. On the other hand, PS-2 could not switch its preferential screw-sense in the range of -80 to +80 degrees C. This may be related to greater differences the potential energy curve between P- and M-motifs.