Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of low molecular mass compounds containing the 1,4-bis(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl)benzene unit

The synthesis and characterization of low molecular mass compounds containing 1,4-bis(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl)benzene is reported. All compounds are fluorescent in solution. Due to the flat shape of the conjugated unit, smectic-like packing is observed at high temperatures for some of the synthesized compounds. Moreover the insertion of a lateral flexible alkoxy unit strongly destabilizes the smectic order whilst promoting the appearance of a nematic phase in the case of the shortest methoxy unit. The mesogenic character of this unit may be of interest in the synthesis of liquid crystalline polymeric systems, taking advantage of both the fluorescent properties and the peculiar molecular structure of the liquid crystalline state.     

Ueber die Untersuchung und Werthbestimmung von Phenolen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

State of supported rhodium nanoparticles for methane catalytic partial oxidation (CPO): FT-IR studies

The effect of pretreatments as well as of rhodium precursor and of the support over the morphology of Rh nanoparticles were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. Over a Rh/alumina catalyst, both metallic Rh particles, characterized by IR bands in the range 2070-2060 cm-1 and 1820-1850 cm-1, and highly dispersed rhodium species, characterized by symmetric and asymmetric stretching bands of RhI(CO)2 gem-dicarbonyl species, are present. Their relative amount changes following pretreatments with gaseous mixtures, representative of the catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) reaction process. The Rh metal particle fraction decreases with respect to the Rh highly dispersed fraction in the order CO approximately CO/H2 > CH4/H2O, CH4/O2 > CH4 > H2. The metal particle dimensions decrease in the order CH4/O2 > H2 > CH4/H2O > CO > CO/H2. Grafting from a carbonyl rhodium complex also increases the amount and the dimensions of Rh0 particles at the catalyst surface. Increasing the ratio (extended rhodium metal particles/highly dispersed Rh species) allows a shorter conditioning process. The surface reconstruction phenomena going on during catalytic activity are related to this effect.     

An extension of a theorem of K. Yamada to equations “with memory”

Dipartimento di Matematica, Via Buonarroti, 2-56100 Pisa, Italy. Published in Litovskii Matematicheskii Sbornik (Lietuvos Matematikos Rinkinys), Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 282–301, April–June, 1991.     

Quality assessment on airborne particulate matter of k0-INAA

The analysis of airborne particulate matter (APM) by k ₀-NAA was assessed using: (1) BCR reference material (RM) simulated air-filters, (2) synthetic air-filters prepared by spiking blank filters with standard solutions, and (3) real APM filters. k ₀-INAA is a suitable technique for the analysis of APM, delivering accurate and precise results. However, the quality assessment of APM analysis appears to be a difficult task.     

Two-sex age structured dynamics in a fixed sex-ratio population

An age structured model is considered in order to analyze the growth of a two sex population with a fixed age-specific sex ratio. The model is intended to give an insight into the dynamics of a population where the mating process takes place at random and the proportion between females and males is not influenced by environmental or social factors, but only depends on a differential mortality or on a possible transition from one sex to the other (e.g. in sequential hermaphrodite species).First a basic model, asymptotically linear, is considered and its ergodicity is studied. Survival thresholds and their dependence on the sex ratio are then analyzed, in connection with the optimal sex ratio to guarantee survival.A further model including logistic effect is also considered and discussed in connection with existence and stability of steady states.     

Mesophasic properties of low molecular weight analogues of nematogenic polycarbonates

The mesophasic behaviour of the following compounds has been investigated by DSC, X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy methods: CH₃(CH₂)₄-CO-R-A _n -R-CO-(CH₂)₄-CH₃,n=9 14, 16 CH₃(CH₂)₄-CO-R-B _n -R-CO-(CH₂)₄-CH₃,n=2, 3A _n=-CO-O-(CH₂)_n–4-O-CO-,B _n =-CO-(OCH₂CH₂) _n -O-CO-,R=-O-Ø-C(CH₃)=N-N=(CH₃)C-Ø-O-,Ø=-C₆H₄ They have been assumed to be low molecular weight models of homologous nematogenic polymers.All the examined compounds exhibit nematic mesomorphism. On complete analogy with the corresponding polymers, the thermodynamic data relative to the nematic-isotropic phase transition show a very reduced, if any, odd-even fluctuation. These data are compared with those obtained for very similar compounds, both polymeric and non-polymeric, containing ester linkages between the rigid and flexible groups, to provide evidence of the reliability of the dimeric compounds as models of the polymeric homologues.

---

Zusammenfassung Das mesophasische Verhalten der folgenden Verbindungen wurde mittels DSC, Röntgendiffraktion und optischer Mikroskopie untersucht: CH₃(CH₂)₄-CO-R-A _n -R-CO-(CH₂)₄-CH₃;n=914, 16 CH₃(CH₂)₄-CO-R-B _n -R-CO-(CH₂)₄-CH₃;n=2, 3A _n =-CO-O-(CH₂)_n-4-O-CO-;B _n =-CO-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-O-CO-;R=-O-C₆H₄-C(CH₃)=N-N=(CH₃)C-C₆H₄-O-. Die Verbindungen wurden als Modelle homologer nematogener Polymere mit niedrigem Molekulargewicht angesehen. Alle untersuchten Verbindungen zeigen einen nematischen Mesomorphismus. Analog zu den entsprechenden Polymeren zeigen die sich auf den nematisch-isotropen Phasenübergang beziehenden thermodynamischen Daten eine, wenn überhaupt, sehr reduzierte ungerade-gerade Fluktuation. Diese Daten werden mit denen verglichen, die für sehr ähnliche, sowohl polymère als auch nicht-polymere Verbindungen mit Esterbindungen zwischen den starren und flexiblen Gruppen erhalten wurden, um Beweise für die Zuverlässigkeit der auf dimeren Verbindungen aufbauenden Modelle für polymère Homologe zu erhalten.

---

, : CH₃(CH₂)₄-CO-R-A _n -R-CO-(CH₂)₄-CH₃ n=914,16 CH₃(CH₂)₄-CO-R-B _n -R-CO-(CH₂)₄-CH₃ n=2, 3A _n =-CO-O-(CH₂) _n–4-O-CO-;B _n =-CO-(OCH₂CN₂) _n -O-COR =-O--C(CH₃)=N-N=(CH₃)C--O- =C₆H₄ , . . — , , , - . , , ,

---

---

The financial assistance of the Ministero Pubblica Istruzione is acknowledged.     

Liquid crystal behaviour of linear copolymers—I

The molar volumes of some mesophasic linear homo- and copolymers have been measured as a function of temperature. Both the liquid crystal phase (nematic) and the isotropic liquid have been examined. The polymer chain is characterized by an alternating sequence of rigid groups and flexible spacers. The molar volumes measured for the liquid crystal phase give evidence for a substantially disordered conformation taken by the flexible spacers in the nematic phase. Analogies between homo- and copolymers are discussed.