Ceric Ion Initiated Graft Polymerization onto Poly(vinyl Alcohol)

This paper describes the kinetics of the ceric ion-initiated graft co-polymerization of vinyl acetate-acrylonitrile to poly(vinyl alcohol). The graft copolymerization rate R_p was found to be first order with respect to the total concentration of the comonomer mixture [M], the concentration of vinyl alcohol repeating units [PVA], and the mole fraction of vinyl acetate in the comonomer feed mixture. R_p was independent of cerous ion. The grafting rate was independent of ceric ion above a ceric concentration of 0.0020 M but first order in ceric ion below that concentration. Rp initially increased rapidly with [H⁺] to a maximum and then decreased and levelled off at hgher [H⁺]. The rate of ceric ion disappearance was first order in [PVA], independent of [MI, and increased with increasing [H⁺] with a leveling off at high [H⁺]. A reaction mechanism.     

Complexation and Transport of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Cations by p-tert-Butyldihomooxacalix[4]arene Tetraketone Derivatives

The binding properties of three p-tert-butyldihomooxacalix[4]arene tetraketone derivatives (tert-butyl 2b, adamantyl 2c and phenyl 2d) in the cone conformation and one derivative (methyl 2a) in a partial cone conformation, towards alkali and alkaline earth metal cations have been established by extraction studies of metal picrates from water into dichloromethane, stability constant measurements in methanol and acetonitrile, and by ¹H NMR spectrometry. Transport experiments of metal picrates through a dichloromethane membrane were also performed. The results are compared to those obtained with closely-related calix[n]arene derivatives (n = 4 and 5) and discussed in terms of the substituents, size and conformational effects. Methylketone 2a is a poor binder for all the cations studied, due to its partial cone conformation. Ketones 2b, 2c and 2d show high extraction and complexation levels for the alkali cations, with similar profiles and preference for K⁺ and Na⁺ (plateau selectivity). Towards alkaline earth cations, these ketones show a strong peak selectivity for Ba²⁺ in extraction, but a plateau selectivity for Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ in complexation. The nature of the substituent attached to the ketone function has some influence on their binding properties, with phenylketone 2d being a slightly weaker binder than ketones 2b and 2c. ¹H NMR titrations confirm the formation of 1:1 complexes between the ketones and the cations studied, also indicating that they should be located inside the cavity defined by the phenoxy and carbonyl oxygen atoms. Ketones 2b, 2c and 2d show transport rates that do not follow, in general, the same trends observed in extraction and complexation.     

Stability constants of metal complexes of macrocyclic ligands with pendant donor groups

Abstract

In our studies of the stability constants of metal complexes, we have investigated a number of macrocyclic ligands with pendant donor groups. The ligands are characterized by the fact that they have nitrogen donors in the macrocyclic ring and oxygen or sulfur donors in the pendant arms. These ligands represent seven different macrocycles, and by varying the pendant donor groups, ten different ligands are indicated. The affinities of these ligands for fifteen metal ions will be described. The Fe(III) complex of triazanonane with o-hydroxypyridyl or o-hydroxybenzyl pendant donor groups are the most stable ferric complexes ever reported. The In(III) complex of triazacyclononane with pendant mercaptoethyl donor groups, is exceptionally stable. Also, the Ca(II) complex of DOTA probably has the highest stability of any calcium(II) complex. These, and other comparisons will be made on the basis of the thermodynamic stability constant data for the ligands described.     

Onset of Chiral Adenine Surface Growth

The structure and stability of adenine crystals and thin layers has been studied by using scanning tunneling microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and density functional theory calculations. We have found that adenine crystals can be grown in two phases that are energetically quasi‐degenerate, the structure of which can be described as a pile‐up of 2D adenine planes. In each plane, the structure can be described as an aggregation of adenine dimers. Under certain conditions, kinetic effects can favor the growth of the less stable phase. These results have been used to understand the growth of adenine thin films on gold under ultra‐high vacuum conditions. We have found that the grown phase corresponds to the α‐phase, which is composed of stacked prochiral planes. In this way, the adenine nanocrystals exhibit a surface that is enantiopure. These results could open new insight into the applications of adenine in biological, medical, and enantioselective or pharmaceutical fields.     

Density Functional Theory Calculations on Rhodamine B and Pinacyanol Chloride. Optimized Ground State,Dipole Moment,Vertical Ionization Potential,Adiabatic Electron Affinity and Lowest Excited Triplet State

The ground state configuration of the gas phase cationic dyes pinacyanol chloride and rhodamine B are optimized with HF/6–311 + G(2d,2p) method and basis set. B3PW91/6–311 + G(2df,2p) functional and basis set is used to calculate the Mulliken atom charge distribution, total molecular energy, the dipole moment, the vertical ionization potential, the adiabatic electron affinity and the lowest excited triplet state, the last three as an energy difference between separately calculated open shell and ground states. The triplet and extra electron states are optimized to find the relaxation energy. In the ground state optimization of both dyes the chloride anion migrates to a position near the center of the chromophore. For rhodamine B the benzoidal group turns perpendicular to the chromophore plane. For both dyes, the LUMO is mostly of π character associated with the aromatic part of the molecule containing the chromophore. The highest occupied MOs consist of three almost degenerate eigenvectors involving the chloride anion coordinated with σ electrons in the molecular framework. The fourth highest MO is of π character. For both molecules in the gas phase ionization process the chloride anion loses the significant fraction of electric charge. In electron capture, the excess charge goes mainly on the dye cation.     

The organocatalytic enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with azomethine ylides applied to the asymmetric synthesis of densely substituted pyrroloisoquinolines

The synthesis of densely functionalized pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines was accomplished using the organocatalytic [3+2] cycloaddition between enals and azomethine ylides under iminium catalysis developed in our group some years ago as the key step. The cycloaddition proceeds smoothly yielding the corresponding pyrrolidine as a single endo diastereoisomer with enantiopurity in the range of 94–96% and further manipulations of the obtained cycloadducts using high yielding reaction protocols and a final mesylation/intramolecular N-alkylation sequence allowed the synthesis of target compounds in which the integrity of all stereocenters installed during the first step is maintained.     

A STUDY OF THE PRIMARY ELECTROVISCOUS EFFECT IN PYREX GLASS SUSPENSIONS.

An experimental investigation on the electrokinetic phenomenon known as primary electroviscous effect is described for suspensions of Pyrex glass, a highly charged and well known material. By means of an automatic method, the viscosity of the suspensions is measured for different volume fractions of solids, at various electrolyte concentrations and pH values. These measurements allow the estimation of the electroviscous coefficient, p. The electrophoretic mobility was determined for the same systems and zeta potential calculated from these experimental data in order to carry out the comparison between the measured values of p and different theoretical predictions. A qualitative agreement between theory and experiment was found in many cases, but the rigorous theories seem to systemmatically underestimate the experimental p values. The reasons for this disagreement are discussed in addition to the general trends of the electrokinetic behaviour of Pyrex glass.     

Influence of composition and roughness on the pigment mapping of paintings using mid-infrared fiberoptics reflectance spectroscopy (mid-IR FORS) and multivariate calibration

Mid-infrared fiberoptics reflectance spectroscopy (mid-IR FORS) is a very interesting technique for artwork characterization purposes. However, the fact that the spectra obtained are a mixture of surface (specular) and volume (diffuse) reflection is a significant drawback. The physical and chemical features of the artwork surface may produce distortions in the spectra that hinder comparison with reference databases acquired in transmission mode. Several studies attempted to understand the influence of the different variables and propose procedures to improve the interpretation of the spectra. This article is focused on the application of mid-IR FORS and multivariate calibration to the analysis of easel paintings. The objectives are the evaluation of the influence of the surface roughness on the spectra, the influence of the matrix composition for the classification of unknown spectra, and the capability of obtaining pigment composition mappings. A first evaluation of a fast procedure for spectra management and pigment discrimination is discussed. The results demonstrate the capability of multivariate methods, principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA), to model the distortions of the reflectance spectra and to delimitate and discriminate areas of uniform composition. The roughness of the painting surface is found to be an important factor affecting the shape and relative intensity of the spectra. A mapping of the major pigments of a painting is possible using mid-IR FORS and PLS-DA when the calibration set is a palette that includes the potential pigments present in the artwork mixed with the appropriate binder and that shows the different paint textures. Graphical Abstract

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Room Temperature Ionic Liquids in Asymmetric Hetero-Ene Type Reactions: Improving Organocatalyst Performance at Lower Temperatures

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have been widely used as (co)solvents in several catalytic processes modifying, in most of the cases, the catalyst activity and/or the selectivity for the studied reactions. However, there are just a few examples of their use in hydrogen bonding organocatalysis. In this paper, we show the positive effect of a set of imidazole-based ionic liquids ([bmim]BF₄ and [hmim]PF₆) in the enantioselective addition of formaldehyde tert-butylhydrazone to prochiral α-keto esters catalyzed by a sugar-based chiral thiourea. Reactions performed in the presence of low percentages of RTILs led to an increase of the catalyst activity, thereby making possible to work at lower temperatures. Thus, the chiral tert-butyl azomethyl tertiary alcohols could be obtained with moderate to good conversions and higher enantioselectivities for most of the studied substrates when using up to 30 vol% of [hmim]PF₆ as a cosolvent in processes performed in toluene.