Photocrosslinkable polyesters with conjugated double bonds: Reciprocity effect in laser recording

The reciprocity effect under intense illumination was studied with photocrosslinkable polyesters of p-phenylenebis(α-cyanobutadiene carboxylic acid) (I), m-phenylenebis(α-cyanobutadiene carboxylic acid) (II), and p-phenylenebis(acrylic acid) (III), with an argon ion laser as a light source. The reciprocal sensitivities of I, II, and III were 5.0, 1800, and > 10⁵ mJ/cm², respectively. II and III required sensitization to enhance their sensitivities to a level at which reciprocity effects could be measured. I obeyed the reciprocity law over a wide range of exposure times from seconds to microseconds. Both II′, a copolyester of II, and III showed a dramatic decrease of sensitivity in high-intensity/short-time exposure when sensitized by 9,10-phenanthraquinone and pyrylium salts.     

Thermodynamic study of niobium oxides with ONb ratios from 2.47 to 2.50 using a high-temperature galvanic cell

The partial molar free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of oxygen in niobium oxides with $\text{O}\text{Nb}$ ratios from 2.47 to 2.50 were measured with a galvanic cell in the temperature range from 1084 to 1325 K. The partial molar enthalpies of oxygen of the Nb₂O_5?x and V phases were observed to be nearly independent of composition, indicating the presence of only weak interactions between defects. The value of the slope for the plots of log x in Nb₂O_5?x against log P_O2 was observed to be $\text{?1}\text{5.2}$ which is interpreted in terms of a defect structure involving both singly ionized and doubly ionized oxygen vacancies. The previously proposed phase diagram in the vicinity of Nb₂O_5?x was confirmed by the present emf measurements.     

Synthesis and antiulcer activity of optical isomers of 2-(4-chlorobenzoylamino)-3-[2(1H)-quinolinon-4-yl]propionic acid (rebamipide).

The enantiomers of 2-(4-chlorobenzoylamino)-3-[2(1H)-quinolinon-4-yl] propionic acid [(+/-)-1, rebamipide, OPC-12759], a new antiulcer agent that enhances mucosal resistance, were synthesized from optically active alpha-amino acid derivatives of 2(1H)-quinolinone. The key intermediates, alpha-amino acid derivatives, were prepared by asymmetric synthesis and optical resolution. The (+)-1 was about 1.7 times as potent as the (-)-isomer in antiulcer activity against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers.     

Large-scale separation of metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes

In the applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), it is extremely important to separate semiconducting and metallic SWNTs. Although several methods have been reported for the separation, only low yields have been achieved at great expense. We show a separation method involving a dispersion-centrifugation process in a tetrahydrofuran solution of amine, which makes metallic SWNTs highly concentrated to 87% in a simple way.     

Self-assembling structures of long-chain phenyl glucoside influenced by the introduction of double bonds

Four long-chain phenyl glucoside amphiphiles possessing a saturated or unsaturated long alkyl chain group as the self-assembling unit of a highly organized molecular architecture were synthesized. Their self-assembling properties were investigated by EF-TEM, SEM, CD, FT-IR, and XRD. Compound 2 possessing one double bond in the lipophilic portion showed twisted helical fibers, which formed a bilayered structure with a 3.59 nm period, while compound 3 showed the helical ribbons and left-handed nanotubular structures with 150-200 nm inner diameters and ca. 20 nm of wall. Very interestingly, compound 4 possessing three double bonds showed a nanotubular structure with ca. 70 nm of inner diameter through a helical ribbon, which formed a loose bilayered structure with 4.62 nm. These results indicate that self-assembling properties strongly depend on the number of cis double bonds.     

Neutron activation analysis of mercury contents in head hair of dentists in Japan

Mercury contents in head hair of 58 dentists employed at the NUSD hospital and 50 dentists employed at the private hospitals or clinics were determined using neutron activation analysis. The arithmetic means were 5.8 ppm and 5.2 ppm, and geometric means were 5.4 ppm and 4.8 ppm, respectively. They were much lower than the values reported in the past year, and agreed well with those of normal Japanese men of the same age. Therefore, it was concluded that the mercury pollution in the working environment of dentists might be practically non-existent in Japan today.     

Catalytic transformation of methane over in-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite in the presence of ethene

Methane is shown to react with ethene over In-loaded ZSM-5 to higher hydrocarbons such as propene and toluene at around 673 K. Such methane conversion is not catalyzed by proton-exchanged ZSM-5 (H-ZSM-5) under the same conditions, only C2H4 being converted to higher hydrocarbons. By using 13C-labeled methane (13CH4) as a reactant, the reaction paths for the formation of propene, benzene and toluene were examined. 13C-labeled propene (13CC2H6) is formed by the reaction of 13CH4 with C2H4. The lack of 13C-labeled benzene revealed that propene is not transformed to benzene, which instead originates entirely from C2H4. The 13C atom is inserted both into the methyl group and benzene ring in the toluene formed. This indicates that toluene is formed by two reaction paths; the reaction of 13CC2H6 with butenes formed by the dimerization of C2H4 and the reaction of benzene with 13CH4. The existence of the latter path was proved by the direct reaction of 13CH4 with benzene. The reaction of methane with benzene was also carried out in a continuous flow system over In-loaded ZSM-5. The reaction afforded 7.6% and 0.9% yields of toluene and xylenes, respectively, at 623 K.     

Kinetic study of the γ radiolysis of polyethylene

A kinetic study was made of the formation of hydrogen and trans-vinylene unsaturation in the radiolysis of polyethylene induced by γ rays with a dose rate of 6.35 × 10⁵ rad/hr at 30–100°C in vacuo. The rates of the formation of hydrogen and trans-vinylene unsaturation were described by the zero-order formation kinetics with respect to each concentration combined with the first-order disappearance. The apparent rate constant for the formation of hydrogen increased gradually with rising irradiation temperature to give the activation energy of 0.6 kcal/mole. On the other hand, those for the disappearance of hydrogen and the formation and disappearance of trans-vinylene unsaturation were almost independent of temperature. The G values for crosslinking and main-chain scission were obtained from the gel data by using the Charlesby-Pinner equation, and the activation energy of 1.5 kcal/mole was given for both of them. On the basis of these results the reactions induced by γ rays in solid polyethylene were discussed.     

An investigation on a broad infrared band with the maximum at approximately 1300 cm(-1) in magnesia cement,phase 3

In magnesia cement, phase 3, a broad and strong infrared band was observed with the maximum at approximately 1300 and 1050 cm(-1) in the H and D systems, respectively. To clarify the origin of the 1300 cm(-1) band the temperature dependency of the infrared spectra of the H system was observed and the spectra analyzed on the basis of a strong vibrational coupling of the OH stretching with lattice modes. The fitting was quite well, giving rise to the origin of the 1300 cm(-1) band of the OH stretching.     

Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene‐b‐poly (1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isoprene) block copolymers with azobenzene side groups

Polystyrene‐b‐poly(1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isoprene) block copolymers with azobenzene side groups were synthesized by the esterification of azobenzene acid chloride with polystyrene‐b‐hydroxylated poly(1,2‐isoprene‐ran‐3,4‐isopenre) block copolymers for creating new photochromic materials. The resulting block copolymers with azobenzene side groups were characterized for structural, thermal, and morphological properties. IR and NMR spectroscopies confirmed that the polymers obtained had the expected structures. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements by heating runs clearly showed the glass transitions of polystyrene and polyisoprene main chains and two distinct first‐order transitions at temperatures of azobenzene side groups around 48 and 83 °C. The microstructure of these block copolymer films was investigated using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and near‐field optical microscopy (NOM). TEM images revealed typical microphase‐separated morphologies such as sphere, cylinder, and lamellar structures. The domain spacing of microphase‐separated cylindrical morphology in the NOM image agreed with that of the TEM results. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2406–2414, 2002