Kinetic and EPR studies on radical polymerization. Radical polymerization of di-2[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl itaconate

The polymerization of di-2[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl itaconate (1) with dimethyl 2,2-azobisisobutyrate (2) was studied, in benzene, kinetically and spectroscopically with the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. The polymerization rate (R _p) at 50°C is given by the equation:R _p=k[2]^0.48 [1]^2.4. The overall activation energy of polymerization was calculated to be 34 kJ·mol^–1. From an EPR study, the polymerization system was found to involve EPR-observable propagating polymer radicals of 1 under the actual polymerization conditions. Using the polymer radical concentration, the rate constants of propagation (k _p) and termination (k _t) were determined. With increasing monomer concentration,k _p(1.54.3 L·mol^–1·s^–1 at 50°C) increases andk _t (1.0·10⁴4.2·10⁴ L·mol^–1·s^–1 at 50°C) decreases, which seems responsible for the high dependence ofR _p on the monomer concentration. The activation energies of propagation and termination were calculated to be 11 kJ·mol^–1 and 84 kJ·mol^–1, respectively. For the copolymerization of 1(M ₁) and styrene (M ₂) at 50°C in benzene the following copolymerization parameters were found:r ₁=0.2,r ₂=0.53, Q₁=0.57, ande ₁=+0.7.     

Six new cycloartane glycosides from cimicifuga rhizome

Three new 15-hydroxy-trinor type (1-3), a new tetranor type (4), and two new 3,15,23,24-tetrahydroxy-16-oxo type cycloartane glycosides (5, 6) were isolated from the rhizome of Cimicifuga heracleifolia KOMAROV. Their structures were determined by the use of the 2D-NMR techniques and chemical evidence.     

Complete phase diagram of DNA unzipping: eye, Y fork, and triple point

We study the unzipping of double stranded DNA by applying a pulling force at a fraction s (0< or =s < or =1) from the anchored end. From exact analytical and numerical results, the complete phase diagram is presented. The phase diagram shows a strong ensemble dependence for various values of s. In addition, we show the existence of an eye phase and a triple point.