Studies in some new initiator systems for vinyl polymerization. III. Amine–halogen systems as redox initiators

Amine–halogen redox systems are very efficient initiators of polymerization of a number of vinyl monomers in benzene media and are rather inefficient initiators in aqueous media. A large number of aliphatic amines and a few aromatic amines have been used. Among the halogens, chlorine and bromine are very effective. Iodine initiates with a few amines only. Endgroups incorporated are halogen and amine totalling an average of nearly one per chain in the case of polymerization in benzene media and 0.5–0.7 per chain in polymerization in aqueous media. In the light of endgroup results, a mechanism of initiation through halogen and amine radicals has been suggested.     

Recent Advances On Direct Formylation Reactions

Aldehydes serve as the key functional group in organic synthesis and are valuable intermediates. The various advanced methods of direct formylation reactions have been reviewed in this article. Overcoming the drawbacks of the traditional methods of formylation, newer methods involving homo and heterogenous catalysts, one pot reactions, solvent free techniques are elaborated, which can be performed under mild conditions and using inexpensive resources.     

Non-resonant microwave absorption studies of superconducting MgB2 and MgB2 + MgO

Non-resonant microwave absorption (NRMA) studies of superconducting MgB₂ and a sample containing ∼10% by weight of MgO in MgB₂ are reported. The NRMA results indicate near absence of intergranular weak links in the pure MgB₂ sample. A linear temperature dependence of the lower critical field H _c1 is observed indicating a non-s wave superconductivity. However, the phase reversal of the NRMA signal which could suggest d wave symmetry is also not observed. In the MgB₂ + MgO sample, much larger low field dependent absorption is observed indicating the presence of intergranular weak links. The hysteretic behavior of NRMA is compared and contrasted in the two samples. In the pure MgB₂ sample, a large hysteresis is observed between the forward and the reverse scans of the magnetic field indicating strong pinning of flux lines. This hysteresis saturates a few degrees below T _c while in the MgB₂ + MgO sample, a much slower increase of hysteresis with decreasing temperature is observed, a signature of weaker pinning.     

Studies in some new initiator systems for vinyl polymerization. IV. Amino acids as the reducing component

Amino acids have been found to form good redox initiator systems with halogens (Cl₂ and Br₂), KBrO₃, KMnO₄, and Fe(NH₄)(SO₄)₂. The three systems, viz., glycine–Cl₂, taurine–Cl₂, and sulfamic acid–Cl₂ incorporate amine, carboxy (or sulfoxy), chlorine, and hydroxy endgroups in the resulting polymers, the monomer investigated being mainly methyl methacrylate. On the basis of endgroup results it is suggested that initiation through amino acid radical, chlorine radical and also through some hydroxyl radicals takes place. The probable termination mechanism is discussed.     

Studies in some new initiator systems for vinyl polymerization. Part I. Molecular halogens or halates as one component

Several new initiating systems involving a molecular halogen, halates, or perhalate as one of the components and a reducing metal salt, ammonia, an amine or an organic compound as the other component, have been introduced for the aqueous (and in a few cases the non-aqueous) polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Some of the resulting polymers have been subjected to endgroup analysis by the application of the ultrasensitive dye techniques recently developed in our laboratory. Reducing metal salt—halogen-initiated polymers are found to incorporate hydroxyl and halogen endgroups, while polymers initiated by amine—halogen systems incorporate hydroxyl and halogen as well as amino endgroups. However, in the ammonia—halogen system polymers incorporate only halogen endgroups. On the basis of the results of the endgroup analysis of the polymers an attempt has been made to explain the probable initiation mechanism with regard to the nature and identity of the initiating species involved in such processes.     

The Performance of an Electrorheological Fluid in Dynamic Squeeze Flow: The Influence of Solid Phase Size

This paper is concerned with an experimental investigation of a comparison of the rheological performance of an ER fluid, consisting of a carrier with a range of solid phase sizes, in oscillatory squeeze-flow under DC conditions. The fluid is sandwiched between two parallel plane electrodes, the upper one stationary and the lower one oscillating normal to its plane. It is seen that the dynamic performance of the fluid, in terms of the capacity for the transmission of imposed forces across the fluid, is highly dependent on the size of the dispersed solid phase and has an optimum value which is dependent on the mean value of the interelectrode gap. In addition the paper includes some measurements of the current through the fluid which may help to shed some further light on the mechanism of the ER effect. Finally the implications of the results to vibration control are discussed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Studies on some radical transfer reactions by entrapping the radicals as polymer end groups. II. Reactions of ȮH radicals with amino acids

The reaction of ?H radicals with a number of aliphatic amino acids has been studied by entrapping the resultant radicals as end groups of poly(methyl methacrylate) that have been detected and estimated by the sensitive dye partition technique. The rate constants of the reaction (in mol^?1 L S^?1) of 7 amino acids at 25°C and at pH 1.00 have been determined as 8.33 × 10⁸ for glycine, 2.56 × 10⁹ for β-alanine, 2.01 × 10⁹ for β-alanine, 3.99 × 10⁹ for 4-amino butyric acid, 7.56 × 10⁹ for (1+) valine, 1.42 × 10¹⁰ for (1?) leucine, and 5.98 × 10¹⁰ for 6-amino caproic acid. Glycine, α-alanine, β-alanine, and 4-amino butyric acid produced radicals that underwent deamination and incorporated only carboxyl-bearing end groups in the polymer. The other amino acids, leucine, valine, and 6-amino caproic acid, produced at least two types of radicals, radicals that underwent deamination and those that remained intact, and incorporated in the polymer both carboxyl- and amine-bearing end groups but in different amounts. The latter type of radicals were about 29% from 6-amino caproic acid, 23% from leucine, and 18% from valine. The change of pH from 0.80 to 2.72 did not produce any significant change in the end group profile of the polymer obtained, indicating no appreciable change in the rate of the reaction of ?H radicals with the simplest amino acid glycine in the pH range studied.     

Ultrasonic study of molecular interaction in binary liquid mixtures at 30°C

Densities ρ and ultrasonic speeds u of the binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with 1-butanol and tert-butanol, at 30°C, over the entire composition range were measured. From these data isentropic compressibility, K _s, intermolecular free length L _f, relative association R _A, acoustic impedance Z, molar sound speed R _m, deviations in isentropic compressibility ΔK _s, and excess volume V ^E were calculated. The variation of these parameters with composition of the mixture helps us in understanding the nature and extent of interaction between unlike molecules in the mixtures. Further, theoretical values of ultrasonic speed were evaluated using theories and empirical relations. The relative merits of these theories and relations were discussed.     

Rheology of semi-dilute solutions of calf-thymus DNA

We study the rheology of semi-dilute solutions of the sodium salt of calf-thymus DNA in the linear and nonlinear regimes. The frequency response data can be fitted very well to the hybrid model with two dominant relaxation times τ₀ and τ₁. The ratio (τ₀/τ₁) ∼5 is seen to be fairly constant on changing the temperature from 20 to 30°C. The shear rate dependence of viscosity can be fitted to the Carreau model.