Smectic layer structure of ferroelectric liquid crystal formed between fine polymer fibres

This paper describes the alignment of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) structures formed between aligned polymer fibres, where the FLC smectic layers are determined by polarising microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The FLC/polymer composite films were formed from a nematic phase FLC/monomer solution using a photopolymerisation-induced phase separation method. It was found that bending of the FLC smectic layers was induced in both the film plane and the cross-sectional plane at the phase transition from smectic A to chiral smectic C of the FLC material. The light transmittance properties of the composite film between crossed polarizers was analysed by light propagation simulation in several optical anisotropic media, based on the evaluated smectic layer model.     

Selective matching of catalyst element and carbon source in single-walled carbon nanotube synthesis on silicon substrates

We have studied the compatibility of various catalysts for ethylene and ethanol chemical vapor deposition (CVD) syntheses of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on Si substrates. A strong selectivity between the catalyst elemental species and carbon source was found; SWNT yield for Fe (Co) catalysts was much higher for ethylene (ethanol) CVD than for ethanol (ethylene) CVD. This strong and completely opposite selectivity implies significantly different SWNT growth mechanisms for ethanol and ethylene CVD on Si substrates.     

Molecular manipulation of two- and three-dimensional silica nanostructures by alkoxysilylation of a layered silicate octosilicate and subsequent hydrolysis of alkoxy groups

A novel methodology for constructing molecularly ordered silica nanostructures with two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) networks has been developed by using a stepwise process involving silylation of a layered silicate octosilicate with alkoxytrichlorosilanes [ROSiCl(3), R = alkyl] and subsequent reaction within the interlayer spaces. Alkoxytrichlorosilanes react almost completely with octosilicate, bridging two closest Si-OH (or -O(-)) sites on the silicate layers, to form new five-membered rings. The unreacted functional groups, Si-Cl and Si-OR, are readily hydrolyzed by the posttreatment with a water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or water/acetone mixture, leading to the formation of two types of silicate structures. The treatment with a water/DMSO mixture produced a unique crystalline 2-D silicate framework with geminal silanol groups, whereas a water/acetone mixture induced hydrolysis and subsequent condensation between adjacent layers to form a new 3-D silicate framework. The 2-D structure is retained by the presence of DMSO molecules within the swelled interlayer spaces and is transformed to a 3-D silicate upon desorption of DMSO. The structural modeling suggests that both of the 3-D silicates contain new cagelike frameworks where solvent molecules are trapped even at high temperature (up to 380 degrees C, in the case of acetone). Both 2-D and 3-D silica structures are quite different from known layered silicates and zeolite-like materials, indicating the potential of the present approach for precise design of various silicate structures at the molecular level.     

Highly thermostable and low birefringent norbornene‐styrene copolymers with advanced optical properties: A potential plastic substrate for flexible displays

This article reports the synthesis and characterization of an extremely high thermostable cyclic olefin copolymer with advanced optical properties resulting from the vinyl addition copolymerization of norbornene with styrene catalyzed by a substituted fluorenylamidodimethyltitanium catalyst [Me₂Si(3,6‐tBu₂Flu)(tBuN)]TiMe₂ activated with a [Ph₃C] [B(C₆F₅)₄]/Al(iBu)₃ cocatalyst using o‐dichlorobenzene as solvent. The prepared copolymer possesses a glass transition temperature as high as polyimide (T_g > 300 °C) and a high transmittance which is comparable with that of the conventional optical resins ([T] > 90%). The incorporation of polystyrene, which exhibits a negative birefringence into the vinyl‐added polynorbornene that possesses an intrinsic positive birefringence, effectively reduced the birefringent magnitude of the norbornene‐styrene copolymer due to a mutual compensation between these opposite‐sign birefringences. The absence of any functional and aromatic heterocyclic groups and the presence of highly hydrophobic saturated bicyclic rings in the copolymer main chains effectively prevented the diffusion of water/oxygen and thus enhanced the dimensional and optical stabilities of the material. Preliminary results on the characterization of the thermal stability, mechanical, and optical properties of the vinyl‐added norbornene‐styrene copolymers indicate that they satisfy all the rigorous requirements for a polymer to be applied as a flexible substrate for the manufacturing of the flexible displays. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Estimation of relative binding free energy based on a free energy variational principle for the FKBP-ligand system

Predicting an accurate binding free energy between a target protein and a ligand can be one of the most important steps in a drug discovery process. Often, many molecules must be screened to find probable high potency ones. Thus, a computational technique with low cost is highly desirable for the estimation of binding free energies of many molecules. Several techniques have thus far been developed for estimating binding free energies. Some techniques provide accurate predictions of binding free energies but high large computational cost. Other methods give good predictions but require tuning of some parameters to predict them with high accuracy. In this study, we propose a method to predict relative binding free energies with accuracy comparable to the results of prior methods but with lower computational cost and with no parameter needing to be carefully tuned. Our technique is based on the free energy variational principle. FK506 binding protein (FKBP) with 18 ligands is taken as a test system. Our results are compared to those from other widely used techniques. Our method provides a correlation coefficient (r ² ) of 0.80 between experimental and calculated relative binding free energies and yields an average absolute error of 0.70 kcal/mol compared to experimental values. These results are comparable to or better than results from other techniques. We also discuss the possibility to improve our method further.     

Penultimate unit effects in free radical copolymerization

The penultimate unit effects (PUEs) on the propagation, termination, and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) processes in free radical copolymerization are discussed on the basis of recent publications. The propriety of the implicit and explicit PUE models in propagation and chain transfer processes is commented. The penultimate termination model with the geometric-mean approximation and the related rate equation are highlighted.     

Synthesis of the racemic and optically active forms of gizzerosine,the inducer of gizzard erosion in chicks

The racemate and both the (R)- and (S)-forms of gizzerosine [2-amino-9-(4-imidazolyl)-7-azanonanoic acid] were synthesised, and the (S)-isomer was identified as the toxic substance in fish meal causing severe gizzard erosion (black vomit) in chicks.     

Cationic polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals via zwitterion formation with cyanoallene

This article deals with the polymerization of the cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) 2‐methylene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (2), 2‐methylene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxane (3), 4,7‐dimethyl‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (4), 2‐ethylidene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (5), 2‐phenylmethylene‐1,3‐dioxolane (6), and 2‐isopropylidene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (7) in the presence of cyanoallene (1). For 2 and 3, the homopolymerization of the CKAs proceeded without ring opening, and the number‐average molecular weights of the obtained polymers depended on the feed ratio of 1. However, the reactions of 1 with 4–7 afforded no polymers but did afford spirocyclic 1 : 1 adducts possessing cyclobutane rings. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2075–2081, 2000