Layered droplet microstructures in sheared emulsions: finite-size effects

We investigate the influence of confinement on the steady state microstructure of emulsions sheared between parallel plates, in a regime where the average droplet dimension is comparable to the gap width between the confining walls. Utilizing droplet velocimetry, we find that the droplets can organize into discrete layers under the influence of shear. The number of layers decreases from two (at relatively higher shear rates) to one (at lower shear rates), as the drops grow slightly larger due to coalescence. We argue that the layering and overall composition profile may be controlled by the interplay of droplet collisions (which can cause separation of droplet centers in the velocity gradient direction), droplet migration toward the centerline (due to wall effects), and droplet packing constraints. We also study the effects of mixture composition on droplet microstructure, and summarize these results in the form of a morphology diagram in the parameter space of mass fraction and shear rate. We find that formation of strings of the suspended phase (reported earlier by our group in flow-visualization studies on confined emulsions) is observed over a broad composition window. We also find a stable (nontransient) morphology wherein the droplets are arranged in highly ordered pearl-necklace chain structures.     

Pattern recognition display methods for the analysis of computed molecular properties

Summary Pattern recognition methods, particularly the unsupervised learning techniques, are well suited for the preliminary analysis of the large data sets produced by computer chemistry. The use of linear and non-linear display methods for such exploratory analysis are exemplified with the aid of two data sets of biologically active molecules. Advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are discussed.     

Elimination of methane from protonated acetaldehyde: The Ab initio transition state

The transition state (TS) for loss of CH₄ from protonated acetaldehyde has been located at the second-order Moller-Plesset (MP2)/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The activation energy is predicted to be 263.9 kJ/mol starting from the more stable form (methyl and hydrogen E) and 261.6 kJ/mol starting from the less stable form (methyl and hydrogen Z) that is required for reaction. The products (methane and the formyl ion) are predicted to lie 136.6 kJ/mol below the TS for their formation. MP2 methods underestimate the heats of formation of both the TS and the reaction products by about 40 kJ/mol when compared with experiment. Restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) calculations give much more accurate relative energies. The MP2 TS leads directly to fragmentation and is described as a protonation of the methyl group by the acidic proton on oxygen. Under RHF theory the reaction is stepwise. An RHF TS similar to the MP2 TS leads to a nonclassical intermediate (which is stable at this level of theory) that has one of the C---H bonds protonated. This mechanism (protonation of an alkyl group) appears to be a general one for high energy 1,2 eliminations from organic cations. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 1994, 5, 1102-1106)     

Fe3O4 nanoparticle-supported copper(I) pybox catalyst: magnetically recoverable catalyst for enantioselective direct-addition of terminal alkynes to imines

An Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle-supported copper(I) pybox catalyst, which exhibits excellent reactivity and yields products with good enantioselectivity, was developed. As a proof of concept, six optically active propargyl amines were obtained in excellent yields. The catalyst can be magnetically removed and recycled easily six times without a decrease in activity or enantioselectivity.     

Dense packings of hard spheres of different sizes based on filling interstices in uniform three-dimensional tilings

A systematic survey is presented of the maximum packing fractions obtained by decorating the 28 uniform tilings of three-dimensional space with spheres of one size and then filling the interstices of these tilings, starting with the largest, with spheres of different sizes. A number of size ratios and structures are identified that have not, to date, been considered in problems involving the packing of spheres of different sizes.     

Hydrophilic sulfonated bis-1,2,4-triazine ligands are highly effective reagents for separating actinides(iii) from lanthanides(iii) via selective formation of aqueous actinide complexes

We report the first examples of hydrophilic 6,6′-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (BTBP) and 2,9-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (BTPhen) ligands, and their applications as actinide(iii) selective aqueous complexing agents. The combination of a hydrophobic diamide ligand in the organic phase and a hydrophilic tetrasulfonated bis-triazine ligand in the aqueous phase is able to separate Am(iii) from Eu(iii) by selective Am(iii) complex formation across a range of nitric acid concentrations with very high selectivities, and without the use of buffers. In contrast, disulfonated bis-triazine ligands are unable to separate Am(iii) from Eu(iii) in this system. The greater ability of the tetrasulfonated ligands to retain Am(iii) selectively in the aqueous phase than the corresponding disulfonated ligands appears to be due to the higher aqueous solubilities of the complexes of the tetrasulfonated ligands with Am(iii). The selectivities for Am(iii) complexation observed with hydrophilic tetrasulfonated bis-triazine ligands are in many cases far higher than those found with the polyaminocarboxylate ligands previously used as actinide-selective complexing agents, and are comparable to those found with the parent hydrophobic bis-triazine ligands. Thus we demonstrate a feasible alternative method to separate actinides from lanthanides than the widely studied approach of selective actinide extraction with hydrophobic bis-1,2,4-triazine ligands such as CyMe₄-BTBP and CyMe₄-BTPhen.     

1-AMINO-1-ARYL- AND 1-AMINO-1-HETEROARYL-METHANEPHOSPHONIC ACIDS AND THEIR N-BENZHYDRYL–PROTECTED DIETHYL ESTERS: PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

n-Benzhydryl-protected diethyl[3.3pc] esters of 1-amino-1-aryl- (phenyl, cumyl, p-dimethylaminophenyl, piperonyl, 1′-naphthyl, 9′-anthryl, 1′-pyrenyl) and 1-amino-1-heteroaryl- (furyl, 2′-thienyl, 3′-thienyl, 2′-pyrrolyl)-methanephosphonic acids, prepared by the addition of diethyl phosphite to the corresponding benzhydryl imines, have been isolated, purified, and characterized. The presence of chiral α -carbon and prochiral phosphorus in these esters gives rise to complicated features in their NMR spectra, which are discussed. Hydrolysis of the crude 1-aryl compounds in situ gave modest yields of the corresponding aminophosphonic acids (except for 1′-pyrenyl). Of the 1-heteroaryl derivatives, only the 2′-thienyl compound gave the expected aminophosphonic acid; in other cases, alternative[-18pc] modes of decomposition may occur under hydrolytic conditions. NMR and mass spectral data are given for all products.     

Switchable Ambient‐Temperature Singlet–Triplet Dual Emission in Nonconjugated Donor–Acceptor Triarylboron–PtII Complexes

Double the fun! Singlet–triplet dual emission at ambient temperature has been achieved in compounds containing a triarylboron acceptor and an N‐(2′‐pyridyl)‐7‐azaindolyl donor group bridged by a tetrahedral Si linker (see figure). Pt^II chelation and chelate‐mode switching from N,N to N,C have been found to greatly enhance phosphorescent emission. Furthermore, both singlet and triplet emission bands are responsive to fluoride ions.

     

Intercalates of α-Sn(HP04)2·H2O with aromatic and heterocyclic bases and some comments on their orientation in the interlayer region

The intercalation of amines into -tin(IV) hydrogen phosphate, -Sn(HP0₄)₂·H₂0, (-SnP) can occur to give mono- or bilayers of the guest molecule. The distribution and orientation of the amines is influenced by geometrical factors, acidity of the guest molecule and moreover, the degree of charge localisation of the guest organic cations. Regarding the monolayer formation, there are two possibilities. The first is that aromatic amines form monolayers with parallel orientation of the amine with respect to the phosphate layer, when the charge is delocalised over the aromatic ring. Monolayer formation with perpendicular orientation occurs when the positive charge is localised in opposite parts of the aromatic ring molecule. Bilayer formation occurs when the positive charge is localised in one part of the molecule and simultaneous interaction with two adjacent layers is not possible.