Interaction of poly(styrene sulfonate) with polycations carrying charges in the chain backbone

The interaction between sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (NaSS) and side-chain charged polycation polymer (pendent type) or main-chain charged polycation polymer (integral type) has been studied. It was found that the polyion complex (the reaction product of these polyelectrolytes) of pendent–pendent type has an equimolar composition at any mixing ratio of two component polymers. However, a polyion complex of integral–pendent type can form a water-soluble complex with a ratio of [polycation]/[polyanion] = 1/3, in addition to a complex with a equimolar composition. The mechanism of formation of this specific complex is discussed.     

The first oxovanadium ring in [[O[double bond]V(salen)]2(mu-F)][VO(salen)][BF4].(CH2Cl2)x crystals

The crystal structure of [{O=VV(salen)}2(mu-F)][VIVO(salen)][BF4].(CH2Cl2)x revealed a hollow cavity with a diameter of 5.3 A that penetrates through the crystal, and a remarkable cyclic chain of the [VO(salen)] unit, a motif that has never been fashioned from oxometal building blocks. These features endow the crystal with a molecular sievelike property for the rapid, reversible, and size-selective absorption of guest CH2Cl2 molecules.     

Measurement Accuracy in Phase-Shifting Point Diffraction Interferometer with Two Optical Fibers

A phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI) with point sources of two single mode optical fibers has been developed, which will be appropriate for the surface figure measurement of large aperture optics on a sub-nanometer scale. To reduce the measurement error factors, a fiber optic plate (FOP) is used as a projection plane for interference pattern. Errors caused by imperfection of optical alignment, such as position of point sources and tilt of FOP, are minimized by analyzing the measured phase data with an original method. Measurement accuracy in the PS/ PDI is estimated with the interference pattern produced by the two optical fiber sources. If inhomogeneity of the FOP and a systematic error of the PS/PDI are eliminated, the measurement accuracy of the present system is estimated to be less than 4nm P-V and 0.7nm rms, respectively, at a measurement wavelength of 632.8 nm.     

Anomalous thermochromic transition of poly(di‐n‐octylsilane)

The thermochromic behavior of poly(di‐n‐octylsilane) {[Si(C₈H₁₇)₂]_n; PDOS} was studied by ultraviolet (UV) absorption, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction measurements. The structure of PDOS in the low‐temperature phase strongly depended on not only the temperature but also the rate of cooling, that is, the thermal history. Temperature‐dependent UV absorption spectra were highly dependent on thermal hysteresis. Cooled rapidly (10 K/min), PDOS showed two absorption peaks at 3.32 and 3.51 eV in low‐temperature‐ordered phases, whereas a single absorption peak at 3.32 eV became predominant with slow cooling (0.3 K/min). The appearance of the two peaks at low temperatures suggested that a mixture of different conformations was introduced by rapid cooling. A fiber diffraction pattern measured at 240 K after rapid cooling also showed evidence of the existence of novel conformation. A temperature‐dependent powder X‐ray diffraction pattern changed significantly between 270 and 280 K. Rapid cooling reduced the intensity of the X‐ray diffraction peak in this temperature region. This intensity change was explained by the conformational mixture in the polymer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 1085–1092, 2001     

Furan derivatives. Part 10. Synthesis of cyclohepta[cd]benzofuran

Cyclohepta[cd]benzofuran 2 was synthesized by heating (5-oxo-5H-benzocyclohepten-4-yloxy)acetic acid 16 with sodium acetate in acetic anhydride or by photocyclization of 16 in acetonitrile. Several reactions of cyclohepta[cd]benzofuran 2 were examined. Protonation of 2 with trifluoroacetic acid occurred at the 2-position to give a tropylium ion 17 . Catalytic hydrogenation of 2 with palladium on charcoal proceeded smoothly to give tetrahydrocyclohepta[cd]benzofuran 18 . The Diels-Alder reaction of 2 with tetracyano-ethylene produced an adduct 19 . Formylation of 2 with phosphorus oxychloride and dimethylformamide occurred easily at the 2-position to afford compound 20 . Cyclohepta[cd]benzofuran 2 has both properties of heptafulvene and benzofuran.     

Furan derivatives. Part 12 . Synthesis of 2,5-dioxacyclohepta[jkl]-as-indacenes

A variety of 2,5-dioxacyclohepta[jkl]-as-indacenes 5, 7–14 were synthesized as a new heterocycle by the treatment of diethyl (5,9-dioxobenzocyclohepten-1,4-diyloxy)diacetates 4a-e with potassium hydroxide or sodium hydride in dioxane. The mechanism of furan-ring formation from 4a-e was discussed.     

Dissipative crystallization of aqueous solutions of hydroxypropyl cellulose

Drying dissipative structures of aqueous solutions of hydroxypropyl cellulose, their viscosities of 2 wt.% solutions ranging from 2 to 2,000 mPa.s were studied on a cover glass, a watch glass, and a Petri glass dish. The thickness profile of the dried film shows the coexistence of a low round hill and a high broad ring on a cover glass. The broad ring size increased as molecular weight and/or concentration of the polymers increased on a cover glass and a watch glass. Microscopic drying crystal patterns of HPC changed as a function of the distance from the film center, which is one of the typical results of the dissipative crystallization. Rod-like microscopic drying patterns originated in the cholesteric liquid crystalline structures were observed. The rods oriented mainly parallel and in some case perpendicularly to the radial direction of the dried film except the central area, where the rods distributed at random. These orientation effects were significant for low molecular weight samples and in a watch glass.     

Dissipative crystallization of sodium salt of deoxyribonucleic acid

Drying patterns of aqueous solutions of sodium salt of deoxyribonucleic acid (NaDNA) were studied on a cover glass, a watch glass, and a Petri glass dish at room temperature. Orientation of the rod-like single crystals of NaDNA molecules in the radial direction was observed especially at low polymer concentrations. The ratios of the size of the broad ring against initial size of the liquid on a cover glass and a watch glass were very small between 0.05 and 0.1 compared with those of the typical polyelectrolytes. Main cause is the compact conformation of NaDNA forming single or double stranded helix structures in the dried film. Microscopic drying patterns were long rods accompanied with the many short rods especially on a cover glass. Thick and short rods and dendritic crystals were fogrmed at the inward and outward areas of the dried films, respectively, on a watch glass and a Petri glass dish. Rod-like and dendritic crystals resembled the distorted hedrite and/or spherulite structures. Dissipative crystallization such as the orientation and accumulation of the single crystals of NaDNA were observed and the importance of the convectional and sedimentation processes was demonstrated during the course of crystallization.