Vibrational spectroscopic and force field studies of copper(II) chloride and bromide compounds,and crystal structure of KCuBr3

Vibrational spectroscopic and force field studies have been performed of 15 related copper(II) chloride and copper(II) bromide compounds, including hydrated salts crystallizing in ternary aqueous systems with alkali and ammonium halides. For halocuprates with distorted octahedral coordination characteristic stretching Raman wavenumbers, corresponding to symmetric stretching Cu^II X modes in the equatorial plane, were found in the ranges 247–288 cm⁻¹ for X = Cl, and 173–189 cm⁻¹ for X = Br, while the low‐wavenumber stretching modes for the weaker axial Cu X interactions varied considerably. The tetrahedral coordination for Cs₂CuCl₄ and Cs₂CuBr₄ leads to somewhat lower Cu X symmetric stretching wavenumbers, 295 and 173 cm⁻¹, respectively. The assignments of the copper–ligand stretching vibrations were performed with the aid of normal coordinate calculations. Correlations between force constants, averaged Cu X stretching wavenumbers and bond distances have been evaluated considering the following aspects: (1) Jahn–Teller tetragonal distortion (axial elongation) of the octahedral copper(II) coordination environment, (2) differences between terminal and bridging halide ligands (3) effects of coordinated water and the influence of outer‐sphere cations. Force constant ratios for terminal and bridging metal–halide bonds reveal characteristic differences between planar and tetrahedrally coordinated M₂X₆ species. In the hydrated copper(II) halide complexes, the halide ligands are more strongly bound than coordinated water molecules. The crystal structure of KCuBr₃ (K₂Cu₂Br₆), which was determined to provide structural information for the force field analyses, contains stacks of planar dimeric [Cu₂Br₆]²⁻ complexes held together by weak axial Cu Br interactions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chain transfer to solvent in two-state anionic polymerization, 1. Fast exchange between propagating species

A theoretical consideration of molecular weights and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymers formed in anionic polymerization proceeding via active centres of two different types under conditions of chain transfer to solvent with a fast exchange between propagating species is presented. Analytical expressions for number-and weight-average degrees of polymerization are obtained. Expressions for P_n and P_w are shown to be the same as in a one-centre process with the apparent intensity of chain transfer proportional to the weight fraction of the polymer formed via “transferring” centres. The polymers formed possess a moderately wide unimodal MWD. The dependence of the polydispersity index on the effective intensity of chain transfer goes through a maximum; for M₀/I₀ = 10³ the maximum value of P_w /P_n is ca. 4,6. The method is suggested for the estimation of the relative reactivity in chain propagation of two active centres from the dependence of molecular weight on initiator mixture composition. The effects of association of active centres on the average molecular weights are analyzed. The case when one of the centres is dormant is also considered.     

A three parameter kinetic model of formation of linear polyurethane from 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate and butane‐1,4‐diol

A model of linear isothermal polymerization of two bi‐functional monomers, one of which has alike functional groups of different reactivities, is presented. The model has been applied to the polymerization of 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate (TDI)^a and butane‐1,4‐diol carried out in solution at 86 or 101°C. The rate constant K of the reaction between an isocyanate group in position 4 of TDI and a hydroxy group, the ratio κ of reactivities of groups in position 4 relative to that in position 2, and the ratio k_φ of reactivities of an isocyanate group in the monomer relative to that at the end of an oligomer chain, have been evaluated from experimental data to be 6.51·10^–4 dm³·mol^–1·s^–1, 1.47, and 1.55 at 86°C, and 17.2·10^–4 dm³·mol^–1·s^–1, 1.55, and 1.62 at 101°C, respectively.     

Simulation‐Assisted Evaluation of Acetylene Effect on Macromolecular Crosslinking Rate under Polyethylene Irradiation

Gel content data on acetylene accelerated radiation crosslinking (R.A. Jones, J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 1994 , 32, 2049) have been used to illustrate a new method to determine macromolecular crosslinking and scission yields. The sol‐gel analysis data have been plotted as log(sol) versus log(dose) resulting in quite linear plots having different slopes. The linear approximations with the least squares method resulted in gel‐points with a high accuracy. Computer simulations have shown the plot slope to be dependent on relative rate of competitive macromolecular scission. The scission/crosslink ratios have been found from the plot slopes using simulation software GelSim6. As a result acetylene gas has been found to be accelerating both crosslinking and scission rates: 60 times and 130 times, respectively. Obviously, the radiation yield of radicals is increased due to acetylene inhibiting the recombination of primarily induced radicals in a cage.

Gel content vs. irradiation dose data plotted as log(sol) versus log(dose). Numbers near the curves indicate concentrations of acetylene gas (mmol · kg⁻¹).