Relationship between kinetic chain length and radical polymerization rate

In the copolymerization of monomers M₁ and M₂ which form polymer radicals of chain length n of N¹_n with electron on a M₁ type and N²_n with one on a M₂ type, it is assumed that the specific rates of termination between N¹_n and N¹_n and N¹_s, N¹_n and N²_s, and N²_n and N²_s are k_α(ns)^?a, k_β(ns)^?a, and k_γ(ns)^?a, respectively, where k_α, k_β, and k_γ are the rate constants of reaction between segment radicals in the respective termination, and a is constant. The relation between kinetic chain length n? and polymerization rate R_p is derived as: 1/n? = 1/n?₀ + const. (R_p)^A(a), where n?₀ is the kinetic chain length of the polymer formed by transfer and A (a) is unity (predominance of transfer) and 1/(1–2a) (no transfer). In the copolymerization between methyl methacrylate (M₁) and styrene (M₂) at 60°C, when R_p → 0, k_r12/k₁₂ + k_r21/k₂₁ = 5.9× 10^?5 is obtained, where k_r12 and k_r21 are the rate constants of transfer of N¹ to M₂ and N² to M₁, and k₁₂ and k₂₁ are the rate constants of propagation of N¹ to M₂ and N² to M₁. In the absence of transfer, the a value is found to be 0.065 ± 0.008, from the relation between n? and R_p, regardless of the monomer composition. Such a value is also estimated by setting b = 0.72 in a = 0.153 (2b–1), where b is the constant in the Mark-Houwink equation. Further, the value of k_β is found to be 1.18 × 10⁹l./mole-sec, which is comparable with the diffusion-controlled rate of reaction between small molecules. The rate of reaction between segment radicals is fivefold larger than the polymer-polymer termination when transfer predominates.     

Coordination Behavior of Sterically Protected Phosphaalkenes on the AuCl Moiety Leading to Catalytic 1,6‐Enyne Cycloisomerization

Mes*‐substituted 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene, 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,4‐diphosphinidenecyclobutene, 2,2‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐1‐phosphaethene, and 3,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐diphosphapropenes (Mes*=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl) were employed as P ligands of gold(I) complexes. The (E,E)‐2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene functioned as a P2 ligand for digold(I) complex formation with or without intramolecular Au–Au contact, which depends on the conformation of the 1,3‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene. The 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,4‐diphosphinidenecyclobutene, which has a rigid s‐cis P?C? C?P skeleton, afforded the corresponding digold(I) complexes with a slight distortion of the planar diphosphinidenecyclobutene framework and intramolecular Au–Au contact. In the case of the 2,2‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐1‐phosphaethene, only the phosphorus atom coordinated to gold, and the sulfur atom showed almost no intra‐ or intermolecular coordination to gold. On the other hand, the 1,3‐diphosphapropenes behaved as nonequivalent P2 ligands to afford the corresponding mono‐ and digold(I) complexes. Some phosphaalkene–gold(I) complexes showed catalytic activity for 1,6‐enyne cycloisomerization without cocatalysts such as silver hexafluoroantimonate.     

Photoinduced desorption of sulfur from gold nanoparticles loaded on metal oxide surfaces

We now report photoinduced sulfur desorption from the surfaces of Au nanoparticles loaded on metal oxides. This reaction occurs in water at ordinary temperature and pressure. Nanometer-sized Au particles have been formed on the surfaces of various metal oxides by deposition-precipitation (Au/oxides). Elemental sulfur (S8) is selectively adsorbed on the Au nanoparticle surfaces of Au/oxides in an atomic state at a coverage of (theta) 1/3. Irradiation (lambdaex > 300 nm) of the sulfur adsorbed Au/anatase TiO2 in water has led to reductive desorption of the sulfurs at room temperature. Electrochemical measurements using Au/oxides indicate that the driving force for this reaction is the photoinduced upward shift of Fermi energy of the metal oxide-supported Au nanoprticles. This study will open up a novel and wide application of heterogeneous photocatalysis for thermal catalysts.     

Aqueous Titanate Sols from Ti Alkoxide-α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acid System and Preparation of Titania Films from the Sols

Aqueous titanate sols were prepared by reactions of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TIP) with -hydroxycarboxylic acids in water. IR and Raman spectra, and elemental analyses of the precipitates obtained from the sols revealed that the carboxylates were chelated to titanium but the Ti species were polymerized to form a cluster that had a colloidal nature. Spin-coating of titania (TiO₂) thin films from these sols was also examined. Interestingly, it was found that (004) preferentially oriented anatase films with refractive index of 2.54 were obtained from TIP-lactic acid-NH₃ (1:1:1, molar ratio) aqueous sol. This crystallographic orientation was characteristic of the TIP-lactic acid-NH₃ (1:1:1) system, and was not affected by the kinds of substrates used and the heating rate of the film. TEM observation indicated that small anatase grains had already formed at 200°C. Therefore, the crystallographic orientation might depend strongly on the structure of the chemical species of the precursor solutions.     

Interaction between amphiphiles and water molecules in concentrated bilayer aqueous colloids

Interaction between amphiphiles and water molecules in micelle or bilayer structure has been investigated using aqueous colloids of various amphiphiles through the rheological data and the spin-lattice relaxation timeT ₁ of the proton of water molecule.T ₁ of the water proton has been measured by the inversion recovery method and determined as a single exponential relaxation process.The chemical shift of the water proton is almost independent of the amphiphilic concentration; however, it shifts toward a higher magnetic field with increasing temperature in a way similar to that in pure water and in the amphiphilic aqueous systems. These facts mean that there is no significant difference in the magnetic field environment of the water protons in these systems.The water molecule is not necessarily bound in the fully developed micelle or bilayer (rod-like or lamella) structure which induces the high viscosity or high rigidity of the colloidal system. On the other hand, the water molecule is bound in the micelle colloids of amphoteric amphiphiles or amphiphiles whose molecular assembly creates a relatively strong electrostatic field. The activation entropy of the bound water is negative and this suggests that water molecules assume some ordered structure in the bound state.     

Solvent extraction of the ion-pairs of chromium(VI) and molybdenum(VI) with trioctylmethylammonium chloride and benzyldimethylcetylammonium chloride

The number of capriquat molecules per chromium(VI) atom in the chromate-capriquat ion-association complex has been found to be between one and two. The distribution ratio in the extraction of chromium(VI) with capriquat is dependent on the dielectric constant of the organic solvent, with a minimum at a dielectric constant of about 8. The absorption spectra of the ion-pair extracted into cyclohexane, carbon tetrachloride, benzene and n-butanol are very similar to that of chromate in aqueous solution. The absorption spectra of the chromium(VI)-capriquat extracts in these organic solvents gradually change to an absorption spectrum similar to that of HCrO(4)(-) in aqueous solution. Chromium(VI)-capriquat extracted into chloroform and 1,2-dichloroethane gives absorption spectra similar to that of HCrO(4)(-)in aqueous medium. The chromium(VI)-capriquat species extracted into 1,2-dichloroethane may be (Q(+))(2).CrO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n). In contrast, chromium(VI) is extracted with capriquat into the other organic solvents from ammoniacal medium as a mixture of (Q(+))(2).CrO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n) and Q(+).NH(4)(+).CrO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n). The spectral change is ascribed to the change of the extracted species from (Q(+))(2).CrO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n) and Q(+)NH(4)(+).CrO(4)(-)(H(2)O)(n) to Q(+).HCrO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n-1). The chromium(VI)-zephiramine species extracted is formulated as (Q(+), NH(4)(+))(2)CrO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n).(Q(+).Cl(-))(m). Molybdenum(VI) is extracted with capriquat into the same organic solvents as a mixture of (Q(+))(2).MoO(4)(2-)(H(2)O)(n) and Q(+).NH(4)(+).MoO(4)(2-).(H(2)O)(n).     

Regioselectivity of Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatic compounds with several cyclic anhydrides

The Friedel-Crafts acylations of various aromatic compounds with cyclic anhydrides such as 2-(p-substituted phenyl)butanedioic, 3-phenylpentanedioic and homophathlic anhydrides were carried out under various conditions in order to obtain informations about the regioselectivity of the ring opening of the cyclic anhydrides and about the possible reaction pathways in the acylations.     

Electrochemical formation of stable ferrocene anion and the formal rate constant of the ferrocene0/− electrode

A reversible cyclic voltammogram for the one-electron reduction of ferrocene in 1,2-dimethoxyethane is recorded under experimental conditions that enable the ferrocene anion to exist for a few minutes. The formal rate constant of the ferrocene^0/? electrode, determined by cyclic voltammetry at ?45°C, ca. 10^?3 cm s^?1, is in striking contrast with that of ferrocene^+/0, > 10^?1 cm s^?1. The distortion of the ferrocene molecule caused by reduction may be a reason for this difference in electron-transfer rate.     

Application of preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography for separation of methyl gallate from Acer truncatum Bunge

Preparative separation of methyl gallate in leaves extract of Acer truncatum Bunge was conducted using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-ethanol-water at volume ratios of 5:1:5 (v/v/v). In a single operation, 57.5 mg of methyl gallate was obtained from 120 mg of the extract. HPLC analyses of the counter-current chromatography (CCC) fraction revealed that the methyl gallate was having over 97% purity. Its structure was identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.