Metal insulator transition characteristics of macro-size single domain VO2 crystals

The metal insulator transition (MIT) characteristics of macro-size single-domain VO₂ crystal were investigated. At the MIT, the VO₂ crystal exhibited a rectangular shape hysteresis curve, a large change in resistance between the insulating and the metallic phases, in the order of ～10⁵, and a small transition width (i.e. temperature difference before and after MIT) as small as 10^?3°C. These MIT characteristics of the VO₂ crystals are discussed in terms of phase boundary motion and the possibility of controlling the speed of the phase boundary, with change in size of crystal, is suggested.     

Synthesis of (-)-aphanorphine using aryl radical cyclization

[structure: see text] The synthesis of (-)-aphanorphine was achieved by using Bu(3)SnH-mediated aryl radical cyclization of 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(2-bromo-4-methoxyphenylmethyl)-2-methoxycarbonyl-4-(phenylthiomethylene)pyrrolidine, leading to exclusive formation of the 6-exo cyclization product.     

Hyperbranched modification of unsaturated side chains of polyethylene introduced by γ-ray irradiation under a 1,3-butadiene atmosphere

 Amino and other functional groups were introduced to a polyethylene substrate starting from the unsaturated pendant and bridge groups (collectively called side chains) of polyethylene, which had been prepared by γ-ray irradiation under an atmosphere of 1,3-butadiene of the polyethylene substrate (the drawn film of ultra-high- molecular-weight polyethylene, Mˉv: 5 × 10⁶). 2-Aminoethylamino groups were introduced to the side chains through treatment either with bromine or with peracetic acid vapor followed by immersion in ethylenediamine. Introduction of amino groups were confirmed by Fourier transform IR spectrometry, ninhydrin test, and acid–base titration. Starting from 2-aminoethylaminated polyethylene, modification cycles to grow a dendrimer on the film were applied; these consisted of 2-methoxycarbonylethylation and 2-aminoethylamidation. This technique resulted in hyperbranched modification of the polymer. The product is a kind of dendrimer grown on the surface of polyethylene film with amplified amino ends and has anion-exchange capacity and absorbs acid dye. Its application in practical uses is discussed. Received: 31 March 2000 Accepted: 2 January 2001     

Twist bend nematic liquid crystals prepared by one-step condensation of 4-(4-Pentylcyclohexyl) benzoic acid and alkyl diol

Twist bend nematic (N_TB)-forming 9OCCHP5 and 11OCCHP5 dimers were synthesised by one-step condensation of 4-(4-pentylcyclohexyl) benzoic acid and alkyl diol with yields as high as 80%. Although each dimer formed the N_TB phase only during the cooling process in a narrow temperature width as large as 4°C, their equiweight mixture formed an N_TB phase during both the heating and cooling processes, displaying elliptical polygonal domains and rope-like optical texture. The N_TB temperature range became wider by 29–38°C and reduced the orientational order parameter significantly from 0.39 to 0.29 with decreasing temperature.     

Capillary gas chromatography of hydroxylated bile acid stereoisomers of the allo and normal series

Relative retention times and methylene unit (MU) values were determined for 56 bile acids of the allo (5 alpha, A/B-trans) and normal (5 beta, A/B-cis) series, which differ from one another in the number, position and configuration of the hydroxyl groups at positions C-3, C-6, C-7 and/or C-12. The bile acids were derivatized to their methyl ester O-trimethylsilyl ethers (Me-TMS) and methyl ester O-dimethylethylsilyl ethers (Me-DMES), and chromatographed on fused-silica capillary columns, chemically bonded with non-selective OV-1 and selective PEG-20M liquid phases. Of the four possible combinations of derivatives and columns examined, Me-DMES on OV-1 and Me-TMS on PEG-20M were most suitable. The differences in the MU values between the 5 alpha- and 5 beta-series, and between the Me-DMES and Me-TMS ether derivatives, are also summarized. These retention data would be helpful in the identification of closely related bile acid stereoisomers or for estimation of their structures. photolysis.     

Electron microscope study of viscoelastic cationic surfactant systems

Some cationic surfactants such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) show a very spectacular viscoelasticity in solution, in even very diluted states, with some aromatic substances added, such as salicylic acid. Formerly, the authors established that the remarkable solution behaviour was the result of the entanglement of such enormously elongated giant micelles, based on recognition of the existence of large aggregates, through direct observation of them as substantial images under the electron microscope.In this report, we further confirm the relation between micelle length and solution viscoelasticity after arbitrarily obtaining different size aggregates by altering the media pH, or by admixing shorter chain length surfactants than CTAB, which alone did not induce viscoelasticity.     

Diastereo- and Enantiocontrolled Synthesis of (–)-Allosedamine via Cycloaddition of a Chiral Nitrone

The piperidine alkaloid (–)-allosedamine ( 1 ) has been synthesized, in 21% overall yield, in nine steps starting from the formyl-ester 4 . The synthesis features the reaction cascade 7 → 3 → 2 , involving asymmetric electrophilic enolate hydroxyamination, hydroxylamine/aldehyde condensation, and nitrone/styrene cycloaddition, as well as the reductive N/O cleavage-decyanation 12 → 1 .     

The nature of marbled Terra Sigillata slips: a combined μXRF and μXRD investigation

In addition to the red terra sigillata production, the largest Gallic workshop (La Graufesenque) made a special type of terra sigillata, called “marbled” by the archaeologists. Produced exclusively at this site, this pottery is characterized by a surface finish made of a mixture of yellow and red slips. Because the two slips are intimately mixed, it is difficult to obtain the precise composition of one of the two constituents without contamination from the other. In order to obtain very precise correlation at the appropriate scale between the color aspect and the elemental and mineralogical phase distributions in the slip, combined electron microprobe, X-ray micro spectroscopies and micro diffraction on cross-sectional samples were performed. The aim of this study is to discover how potters were able to produce this unique type of terra sigillata and especially this particular slip of an intense yellow color. Results show that the yellow component of marbled sigillata was made from a titanium-rich clay preparation. The color is due to the formation of a pseudobrookite (TiFe₂O₅) phase in the yellow part of the slip, the main characteristics of that structure being considered nowadays as essential for the fabrication of stable yellow ceramic pigments. Its physical properties such as high refractive indices and a melting point higher than that of most silicates widely used as ceramic colorants are indeed determinant for this kind of application. Finally, the red parts have a similar composition (elementary and mineralogical) to the one of standard red slip.