Patterned polyfluorene surfaces by functionalization of nanoimprinted polymeric features

A new procedure is described for surface grafting polymer brushes by step-growth polymerization from initiator-embedded polymeric thin films and micron- and nanometer-scale patterns. An imprint lithographic process, nanocontact molding, was used to prepare thin patterned cross-linked polyacrylate network films on silicon wafers that incorporated 4-bromostyrene in the networks. These networks present reactive 4-bromophenyl functionality at the surface that act as attachment sites for the subsequent Ni(0)- mediated step-growth condensation polymerization of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dihexylfluorene The step-growth polymerization medium consisted of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dihexylfluorene, Ni(0)-catalyst, and bipyridine in a toluene/dimethylformamide solvent mixture. The resulting growth of polydihexylfluorene brushes from the patterned surface was monitored by contact angle, optical spectrometry, surface profilometry and AFM. Brush growth was conducted from patterned features ranging from 100 microm to 100 nm in width and 50 nm in height. The optical and fluorescence behavior of the polyfluorene brushes was similar to that of thin polyfluorene films made by spin coating.     

Review of Sublimation Thermodynamics of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds and Heterocycles

This review details sublimation vapor pressure and thermodynamic data on 85 polycyclic aromatic compounds and heterocycles from the early 1900s through 2012. These data were collected using a variety of vapor pressure measurement techniques, from effusion to gas saturation to inclined‐piston manometry. A brief overview of each measurement technique is given; these methods yield reproducible sublimation vapor pressure data for low volatility organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic compounds and heterocycles. Several conclusions can be drawn from this literature survey, specifically that there remains a dearth of data on the sublimation thermodynamics (and fusion thermodynamics) of heteroatomic high molecular weight aromatic compounds, inhibiting a holistic understanding of the effect of specific heteroatoms and substituent position on the thermodynamics of these compounds. However, we can clearly see from the data that there are a variety of potential intermolecular interactions at work that generally tend to increase the enthalpy of sublimation and decrease the vapor pressure of a substituted polycyclic aromatic compound/polycyclic heterocycles versus its parent compound.     

Measurement of microchannel fluidic resistance with a standard voltage meter

A simplified method for measuring the fluidic resistance (R_fluidic) of microfluidic channels is presented, in which the electrical resistance (R_elec) of a channel filled with a conductivity standard solution can be measured and directly correlated to R_fluidic using a simple equation. Although a slight correction factor could be applied in this system to improve accuracy, results showed that a standard voltage meter could be used without calibration to determine R_fluidic to within 12% error. Results accurate to within 2% were obtained when a geometric correction factor was applied using these particular channels. When compared to standard flow rate measurements, such as meniscus tracking in outlet tubing, this approach provided a more straightforward alternative and resulted in lower measurement error. The method was validated using 9 different fluidic resistance values (from ∼40 to 600 kPa s mm⁻³) and over 30 separately fabricated microfluidic devices. Furthermore, since the method is analogous to resistance measurements with a voltage meter in electrical circuits, dynamic R_fluidic measurements were possible in more complex microfluidic designs. Microchannel R_elec was shown to dynamically mimic pressure waveforms applied to a membrane in a variable microfluidic resistor. The variable resistor was then used to dynamically control aqueous-in-oil droplet sizes and spacing, providing a unique and convenient control system for droplet-generating devices. This conductivity-based method for fluidic resistance measurement is thus a useful tool for static or real-time characterization of microfluidic systems.     

Diazoalkanes in the Reactions with Dialkyl (Thio)-Phosphites

Abstract

The photochemical, thermo-catalytical and thermal reactions of diazoalkanes with dialkyl (thio)phosphites were studied.

Thus, the photolysis of dimethyldiazomalonate and methyl-diazoacetate with dialkyl(thio)phosphites gives P-H insertion products only upon triplet-sensitized conditions (i), whereas diphenyldiazomethane gives P-H insertion products upon direct photolysis as well (ii). The investigation of 31 the reaction mechanism is based on CIDNP ³¹P method. The catalytical reactions (iii) are a convenient method of preparing (thio)phosphonates.     

Base-catalyzed cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes with concomitant oxidation of alcohols to ketones: An alternative route for synthesis of the Claisen-Schmidt condensation products

Base-catalyzed C–C cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes was achieved, when an alcoholic solution of an aryl-aldehyde was stirred under reflux for 45 h in the presence of a catalytic (20 mol%) amount of K₂CO₃. The consistent formation of α,α′-bis-(benzylidene) alkanones was obtained in moderate to good yields using various secondary alcohols and substituted aryl-aldehydes. Herein, α,α′-bis-(benzylidene)alkanones, which are the classical products of Claisen-Schmidt (cross aldol) condensation, have been synthesized via an alternative strategy using secondary alcohols. Bis-(benzylidene) alkanones are an integral part of various drug regimes and the production of bis-(benzylidene) alkanones without using any precious metal is a major outcome of the present reaction.     

The synthesis and thermal curing parameters of a novel quinoxaline monomer with terminal ethynyl thermoset and phenylethynyl intramolecular cycloaddition postcure capability

The Synthesis of 3,3′-bis(4-[3-ethynylphenoxy]phenyl)-7,7′-bis(phenylethynyl)-2,2′-diphenyl-6,6′-biquinoxaline (I) was accomplished by the reaction of 2,2′-bis(phenylethynyl)-5,5′-diaminobenzidine (II) and 4-(3-ethynylphenoxy)benzil. Thermal analysis of I indicated a softening temperature of 107°C, followed by an exotherm above 150°C that corresponded to a independent crosslinking reaction of the terminal acetylene groups and an intramolecular cycloaddition (IMC) reaction of the 2,2′-bis(phenylethynyl)biphenyl moieties. In the synthetic work substantial improvements were made in the synthesis of II. The sample of I was cured at 200°C and the maximum partially cured transition temperature attained was 280°C. A sample of 3,3′-bis(4,[3-ethynylphenoxy]phenyl)-2,2′-diphenyl-6,6′-biquinoxaline (IV) was similarly tested as a model without IMC capability and its corresponding value was 250°C. The difference between these two values is discussed briefly.     

Existence for evolutionary problems with linear growth by stability methods

We establish that solutions to the Cauchy–Dirichlet problem

${?}_{t}u?\mathrm{div}(D_{\xi }f(x,Du))=0$

for functionals $f:\mathrm{\Omega }\times {\mathbb{R}}^{N\times n}\to [0,\infty )$ of linear growth can be obtained as limits of solutions to flows with p-growth in the limit $p\downarrow 1$. The result can be interpreted on the one hand as a stability result. On the other hand it provides an existence result for general flows with linear growth.