Free energy of mixing of cross-linked polymer blends

Free energy of mixing of cross-linked polymer blends is derived, as a modification to the Flory-Huggins-de Gennes free energy functional for linear polymer blends. The latter arrives from the assumption of mean-field, short-range thermal interactions among ideal Gaussian chains. However, upon cross-linking a linear chain, the chain no longer remains Gaussian; new chain architectures belying the threadlike image of linear chains emerge. Fractal dimensions of these nonlinear chain clusters convene and command new entropic interactions. Topological constraints by cross-links introduce long-range nonequilibrium elastic forces. Relatively shorter range steric repulsions between fractal network surfaces may arrive if cross-linking is carried out inside the blend's thermodynamically unstable region. Modified free energy has been used to highlight experiments on phase instability of cross-linked polymer blends.     

Radiationless transitions in trivalent lanthanide ions embedded in solids

Radiationless transitions in lanthanide ions embedded in glassy and crystalline hosts have been briefly reviewed. The correlations of multiphonon relaxation rates with energy gaps, vibrational frequencies, temperatures and electronic symmetries have been discussed. The essence of various theories, such as Nth order methods, non-adiabatic Hamiltonian method, dynamic coupling model has also been presented.     

Reagents for new heteroannelation reactions III. 2-(Methylthio)-2-thiazoline

Summary A variety of partly novel tri- and tetracyclic hetero systems were obtained by reaction of heteroaromatic 2-aminoesters with 2-(methylthio)-2-thiazoline, yielding double-annelation of a thiazolo[2,3-b]pyrimido moiety in a one-pot process.On leave from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh     

Regioselective synthesis of the bridged tricyclic core of Garcinia natural products via intramolecular aryl acrylate cycloadditions

[reaction: see text] Two different routes to the tricyclic core of Garcinia-derived natural products are described. The first approach is based on a tandem Claisen/Diels-Alder rearrangement and delivers the desired lactone 14. The second approach, employing a Wessely oxidation/Diels-Alder protocol, leads to the same caged heterocycle, albeit with modified constitution.     

Luminescence of Ce3+ in Y2SiO5 nanocrystals: Role of crystal structure and crystal size

Here, we report the role of crystal structure and crystal size on the photoluminescence properties of Ce3+ ions in Y2SiO5 nanocrystals. The emission at 430 nm (5d1 --> 4f1) and lifetime of the excited state of Ce3+ ion doped Y2SiO5 nanocrystals are found to be sensitive to the crystal structure, crystal size, and dopant concentration. It is found that the overall lifetime tau of 0.5 mol % Ce doped Y2SiO5 nanocrystals are 8.78 and 3.45 ns for 1000 and 1100 degrees C heat-treated samples with the same crystal structure (X1-Y2SiO5 phase), respectively. However, a significant increase in the overall lifetime (35.21 ns) is observed for the 1300 degrees C annealed 0.5 mol % Ce doped Y2SiO5 sample having a different crystal structure (X2-Y2SiO5 phase). We found that the decay kinetic is biexponential. It is explained that the fast component arises due to sequential hole-electron capture on the luminescent ions and the slow component arises from isolated ions. Our analysis suggests that modifications of radiative and nonraditive relaxation mechanisms are due to local symmetry structure of the host lattice and crystal size, respectively.     

Remarkably mild and efficient catalytic Sakurai reaction of N-alkoxycarbonylamino sulfones with allyltrimethylsilane using indium(III) chloride

The Sakurai reaction of N-alkoxycarbonylamino sulfones with allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of indium(III) chloride at room temperature produces the corresponding protected homoallylic amines in high yields.     

Effect of trace amounts of water on organic solvent transport through gamma-alumina membranes with varying pore sizes

The transport behavior of toluene and n-hexane in gamma-alumina membranes with different pore diameters was studied. It was shown that the permeability of water-lean hexane and toluene is in agreement with Darcy's law down to membrane pore diameters of 3.5 nm. The presence of molar water fractions of 5-8 x 10(-4) in these solvents led to a permeability decrease of the gamma-alumina layer by a factor of 2-4 depending on pore size. In general, a lower permeability was found for hexane than for toluene. Moreover, in the presence of water a minimum applied pressure of 0.5-1.5 bar was required to induce net liquid flow through the membrane. These phenomena were interpreted in terms of capillary condensation of water in membrane pores with a size below a certain critical diameter. This is thought to lead to substantial blocking of these pores for transport, so that the effective tortuosity of the membrane for transport of hydrophobic solvents increases.     

A polyaniline-containing filter paper that acts as a sensor, acid, base, and endpoint indicator and also filters acids and bases

In this paper we report a new idea for synthesizing polyaniline in an ordinary filter paper. The synthesis was carried out by a process in which aqueous acidic aniline solution and the oxidizing agent H(2)O(2) was added to the paper drop by drop and in sequence. Uniform polymerization could be obtained with the addition of reagents in either sequence. The polymer formation led to a green coloration of the paper. Formation of the emeraldine salt of polyaniline was confirmed by UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopic measurements were made for surface characterization of the polymer formed in the paper. The same paper was used as a sensor for ammonia in vapor and in solution, for acid and base as well as endpoint indication, and also to filter acids and bases. We found that, using the polymer-containing paper, ammonia concentrations in a solution as low as 14 ppm could be measured.