Synthesis of high molar mass poly(alkylene phosphate)s by polyaddition of diepoxides to difunctional phosphoric acids: Unusual elimination of the side reactions

The reaction between diepoxides and difunctional acids of phosphorus was studied as a potential route to linear polyesters of phosphoric acid. The reaction between diepoxide and P? OH groups in H₃PO₄ and related acids leads to linear phosphates, but cyclic phosphates are also formed as side products. The formation of such unreactive groups terminates polyaddition. However, cyclization is practically eliminated when the epoxide ring is fused to another ring, such as in cyclohexene oxide. A commercially available diepoxide containing two cyclohexene oxide moieties, 3,4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl‐3,4‐epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate (ERL), was, therefore, used for polyaddition studies. Indeed, in the polyaddition of ERL with ethylphosphoric acid, high molecular weight (number‐average molecular weight up to 10⁴) linear polyphosphates were obtained. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3024–3033, 2001     

Simultaneous treatment of polymer surface by EUV radiation and ionized nitrogen

In this paper chemical modification of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiation in a presence of ionized nitrogen was demonstrated for the first time. Nitrogen gas, injected into an interaction region, was ionized and excited by the EUV radiation from a laser-plasma source. The ionization degree and excited states of nitrogen were investigated using EUV spectrometry and the corresponding spectra are presented. Chemical modification of polymer after combined EUV and ionized nitrogen treatment was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A?significant contribution of nitrogen atoms in near-surface layer of the polymer after the treatment was demonstrated.     

Discontinuous synchrony in an array of Van der Pol oscillators

We show the phenomenon of complete synchronization in an network of coupled oscillators. We confirm that non-diagonal coupling can lead to the appearance or disappearance of synchronous windows (ragged synchronizability phenomenon) in the coupling parameter space. We also show the appearance of clusters (synchronization in one or more group) between coupled systems. Our numerical studies are confirmed by an electronic experiment.     

Chain‐growth limiting reactions in the cationic polymerization of 3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane

3‐Ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane (EOX) polymerizes readily to branched multihydroxyl polyethers. Molecular weights of the polymers are, however, limited, and macromolecules are predominantly cyclic. This indicates that intramolecular chain transfer to polymer (back‐biting) proceeds in the system. Repeating units in poly‐EOX contain two nucleophilic sites that may participate in back‐biting, namely ether groups and hydroxyl groups. Analysis of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectra of poly‐EOX prepared in the presence of analogous polyether that does not contain HO? groups (poly(3,3‐dimethyloxetane)‐poly‐DMOX) shows that the ether group in the repeating unit of poly‐DMOX does not participate in chain transfer to the polymer. However, when DMOX was polymerized in the presence of poly‐EOX, clear evidence of participation of HO? groups in intramolecular chain transfer was obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 245–252, 2004     

Kinetics of Polymerization of 1,3-Dioxolan Initiated by C6H5COSbF,and (C6H5)3C+SbF8 Salts

Polymerizations of 1,3-dioxolan initiated by oxycarbenium salt CeHsCO⁺SbFe^? and triphenylmethylium salt (C6H₅)₃C⁺SbF₆ ^? proceed with induction periods. C₆H₅CO⁺SbF6 initiates polymerization by a direct addition, while initiation with (C₆H₅CO⁺SbFe^?proceeds through the intermediately formed 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium salt. Kinetic analysis of polymerization of 1,3-dioxolan, initiated by oxycarbenium salt or triphenylmethylium salt revealed that, in spite of different chemisty of initiation, both processes proceed with a slow initiation on monomer and fast initiation on polymer. The pertinent kinetic equations were derived and it was found, that the rate constant of propagation (k) does not depend on the structure of initiator used, being equal to 25 ± 5 liter/mole-sec (0°C, CH₂Cl₂ or CH₃NO₂).     

Electrochemically Induced Synthesis of Poly(2,6‐carbazole)

The formation of a poly(2,6‐carbazole) derivative during an electrochemical polymerization process is shown. Comparison of 3,5‐bis(9‐octyl‐9H‐carbazol‐2‐yl)pyridine and 3,5‐bis(9‐octyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐yl)pyridine by electrochemical and UV–Vis‐NIR spectroelectrochemical measurements and DFT (density functional theory) calculation prove the formation of a poly(2,6‐carbazole) derivative. Both of the compounds form stable and electroactive conjugated polymers.

     

Terahertz properties of fluorinated liquid crystals

In this article, optical properties of four fluoro-substituted 4-propyl-4′-[(4-ethylphenyl)ethynyl] biphenyls and liquid crystal mixture A are presented in the terahertz (THz) range. Birefringence, refractive indices and absorption coefficients for ordinary and extraordinary ray of liquid crystals are described in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 THz. It shows that the measured parameters are dependent on the number and placement of fluorine atoms in the molecules. Measurements have been performed using time-pulsed spectroscopy.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of atom transfer radical polymerization macroinitiators derived from poly(3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane)

The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis of macroinitiators for atom transfer radical polymerization prepared by the functionalization of a multihydroxyl, highly branched polyether, poly(3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane), allows the exact determination of the macroinitiator functionality, providing information on the number of bromine atoms in individual macromolecules, in contrast to NMR analysis, which gives average values. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 608–614, 2004     

The Gompertzian curve reveals fractal properties of tumor growth

The normalized Gompertzian curve reflecting growth of experimental malignant tumors in time can be fitted by the power function y(t)=at^b with the coefficient of nonlinear regression r0.95, in which the exponent b is a temporal fractal dimension, (i.e., a real number), and time t is a scalar. This curve is a fractal, (i.e., fractal dimension b exists, it changes along the time scale, the Gompertzian function is a contractable mapping of the Banach space R of the real numbers, holds the Banach theorem about the fix point, and its derivative is 1). This denotes that not only space occupied by the interacting cancer cells, but also local, intrasystemic time, in which tumor growth occurs, possesses fractal structure. The value of the mean temporal fractal dimension decreases along the curve approaching eventually integer values; a fact consistent with our hypothesis that the fractal structure is lost during tumor progression.     

A New Fluorescent Sensor Based on 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline Skeleton. Part 2

A novel fluorescent dye bis-(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-(1,3,4-triphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-6-ylmethyl)-amine (P1) has been synthesized and investigated by means of steady state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. This compound acts as sensor for fluorescence detection of small inorganic cations (lithium, sodium, barium, magnesium, calcium, and zinc) in highly polar solvents such as acetonitrile. The mechanism which allows application of this compound as sensor is an electron transfer from the electron-donative part of molecule (amine) to the acceptor part (pyrazoloquinoline derivative), which is retarded upon complexation of the electro-donative part by inorganic cations. The binding constants are strongly dependent on the charge density of the analyzed cations. The 2/1 complexes of P1 with Zn(++) and Mg(++) cations posses large binding constants. Moreover, in the presence of these cations a significant bathochromic shift of fluorescence is observed. The most probable explanation of such behaviour is the formation of intramolecular excimer. This is partially supported by the quantum chemical calculations.