Phosphazene-based ionic liquids: synthesis, temperature-dependent viscosity, and effect as additives in water lubrication of silicon nitride ceramics

Phosphazene rings with (dimethylamino)ethoxy (1, 2), pyridylmethoxy (3), or (dimethylamino)propoxy (4) chains were synthesized and quaternized at the substitutent nitrogen by treatment with methyl iodide at 35 degrees C over 3-6 h to give polyiodo salts, 5-8. Subsequent metathesis with LiN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) or NaBF(4) gave the respective ionic salts, 9-13. The amide salts, 9-12, were viscous liquids with pour points at 55-100 degrees C, and the tetrafluoroborate salt, 13, was a solid, mp 168 degrees C. The compositions of 2 and 5-13 were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 were viscous liquids (d(25) = 1.67 g cm(-3); eta(25) = 0.76-1.56 mPa s(-1) ) with pour points at approximately 15 degrees C. The solid polyquaternary salts, 5-8, melted at 130-194 degrees C. The ionic liquids, 9-12, had an average density of approximately 1.73 g cm(-3) at 25 degrees C, and viscosities (25 degrees C) ranged between 68.3 and 139.2 mPa s(-1). A plot of the viscosities of 9-12 vs temperature revealed an almost linear correlation between 55 and 120 degrees C. Friction and wear properties of water with 0.25 wt % of 9-12 as boundary lubricant additives were evaluated on Si(3)N(4)/Si(3)N(4) ceramic interfaces. The most significant observation is that they caused a decrease in the running-in period.     

Total synthesis of dysiherbaine

A convergent total synthesis of the marine natural product dysiherbaine was accomplished. The key steps of the synthesis are an alkylation at the gamma-carbon of a protected glutamate with a highly substituted pyran derived from mannose, which was followed by a ring-contraction cascade reaction, which simultaneously gave the tetrasubstituted carbon and the hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran ring system of the natural product.     

Method for the collection and analysis of volatile compounds in the breath

A new method is described for the collection and assay of volatile compounds in the breath. Subjects expired into a pump-assisted collecting apparatus in which the breath was drawn through a water trap and then through an adsorptive trap where the volatile compounds were captured on graphitized carbon and molecular sieve. The sample was subsequently eluted from the trap by thermal desorption, concentrated by two-stage cryofocusing, then assayed by gas chromatography with flame ionization and flame photometric detection. Several compounds were regularly observed in the breath of normal human volunteers, including peaks eluting with the same retention times as isoprene, ethanol, acetone, acetaldehyde and carbon disulfide. As a quantitative assay for endogenous isoprene in the breath, the method was sensitive, linear, accurate and reproducible. This method provided a number of advantages: the collection technique was acceptable to volunteers and could be used at sites remote from the laboratory. The automated assay allowed isoprene and several other volatile compounds in the breath to be observed consistently and with improved sensitivity.     

Electropolymerization of aminophthalic acids. I. Polymerization of 4-aminophthalic acid

4-Aminophthalic acid has been polymerized in almost quantitative yield to low molecular weight polymer by electrochemical initiation at a platinum anode. Systems involving the acid, amine salt, and the ammonium salt have been explored; the acid and/or the amine salt of the acid provides the best means of obtaining polymer. Maximum molecular weight is attained in a very short time at low current densities (～2 hr at 50 mA). Thermogravimetric data indicate a temperature stability comparable to polyamide-imide polymers (400°C). Long reaction times and high current densities decrease molecular weight and polymer yield.