Miscibility and isothermal crystallization behavior of polyamide 6/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend

An investigation of miscibility and isothermal crystallization behavior of Polyamide 6 (PA6)/Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blends was conducted. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) analysis indicated that the interactions between the carbonyl groups of PA6 and hydroxyl groups of PVA increase as the weight ratios of PA6 to PVA of PA6/PVA specimens increase. This interaction between PA6 and PVA leads to their miscibility in the amorphous region and even some extent effects on their crystal phase, respectively. Further isothermal crystallization behavior of PA6/PVA indicate that the miscibility of PVA in PA6 leading difficulty in crystallization of PA6. Several kinetics equations are employed to describe the effects of PVA on the crystallization properties of PA6 in PA6/PVA blends in detail. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1360–1368, 2008     

Mechanism of N-octadecyl-N′-maleoyl-L-phenylalanine self-assembled into supramolecular structures

N-Octadecyl-N′-maleoyl-L-phenylalanine(ODMA-L-Phe)was synthesized through the condensation,deprotection and acid- ylation reaction of BOC-L-phenylalauine,octadecylamine and maleic anhydride,ODMA-L-Phe can self-assemble in some organic solvents and turned them into thermally reversible physical supramolecular organogels.The morphology of ODMA-L-Phe aggregates was characterized by polarized optical microscopy(POM)and field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM). The aggregates of ODMA-L-Phe were needle-like fibrils with diameters of approximately 100-200 nm.The mechanism of ODMA- L-Phe serf-assembly in organic solvents was investigated using ~1H NMR and circular dichroism(CD).The results indicated that hydrogen bonding was one of the main driving forces for the self-assembly of ODMA-L-Phe.     

Two Disparate 2‐fold Interpenetrating Frameworks Constructed from ZnII, 4,4′‐Dipyridyl Disulfide and Maleic/ Fumaric Acid

The reaction of Zn^II nitrate with maleic acid (H₂mal) / fumaric acid (H₂fum) and 4,4′‐dipyridyl disulfide (4‐pds) resulted under same conditions in two distinct interpenetrated compounds, namely [Zn(4‐dps)₂(H₂O)₂]·2Hmal ( 1 ) and [Zn(4‐dps)(fum)] ( 2 ). In 1 , Hmal anion adopts bridging mode based on hydrogen bonding, affording a 2‐fold parallel interpenetrated 3D→3D α‐Po net hydrogen‐bonded framework, in which 1D double‐stranded chains are formed, and then extended to a 3D supramolecular architecture combining second‐sphere hydrogen‐bonded interactions. For 2 , fum dianion takes on bis‐dentate bridging coordination fashion, furnishing a 2‐fold interpenetrated 2D→2D (4,4) layered coordination network, in which the tetrahedral Zn^II atoms are interlinked by 4‐dps and fum. Additionally, the compound 2 shows strong fluorescence in the solid state at room temperature.     

Determination of phenolic compounds in modern and old varieties of durum wheat using liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry

An evaluation of the grain functional components of Italian durum wheat cultivars was conducted. The raw material was obtained from the field trial performed in 2006–2007 at the Experimental Farm of the University of Bologna, (Bologna, Italy). The aim of this study was to define the phytochemical profile of ten varieties, comprised of old and modern durum wheat genotypes, including quantitative and qualitative phenolic and flavonoid content (free and bound forms). The results showed that mean values of total phenolic compound and total flavonoid content in old wheat varieties (878.2 ± 19.0 μmol gallic acid equivalent/100 g of grain and 122.6 ± 25.4 μmol catechin equivalent/100 g of grain, respectively) did not differ significantly from those detected in modern genotypes (865.9 ± 128.9 μmol gallic acid equivalent/100 g and 123.5 ± 20.6 μmol catechin equivalent/100 g, respectively). However, the HPLC–ESI-TOF-MS analysis highlighted remarkable differences between modern and old cultivars. The interpretation of the mass spectra allowed the identification of 70 phenolic compounds, including coumarins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavones, isoflavones, proanthocyanidins, stilbenes and lignans. The free extracts of ancient wheat varieties showed the presence of a mean number of phenolic compounds and isomer forms (8.7 ± 2.5 and 7.7 ± 4.7 respectively) significantly higher than in modern genotypes (4.4 ± 2.9 and 2.0 ± 2.4, respectively). A similar trend was observed also for the bound phenolic fraction. Moreover, the phytochemical profiles showed the presence of unique phenolic compounds in both free and bound fractions of some of the investigated wheat genotypes. Results highlighted that investigated old wheat cultivars may offer unique nutraceutical values for their peculiar contents in bioactive phytochemicals, suggesting their uses into a wide range of regular and specialty products naturally enriched with health-promoting compounds.     

A guide for ambitious professionals

Contents of Chinese journal of lasers volume 17, number 3, March 1990     

Trace mild acid-catalysed Z → E isomerization of norbornene-fused stilbene derivatives: intelligent chiral molecular photoswitches with controllable self-recovery

Stilbene derivatives have long been known to undergo “acid-catalyzed” Z → E isomerization, where a strong mineral acid at high concentration is practically necessary. Such severe reaction conditions often cause undesired by-reactions and limit their potential application. Herein, we present a trace mild acid-catalyzed Z → E isomerization found with stilbene derivatives fused with a norbornene moiety. By-reactions, such as the migration of the C C double bond and electrophilic addition reactions, were completely inhibited because of the ring strain caused by the fused norbornene component. Direct photolysis of the E isomers at selected wavelengths led to the E → Z photoisomerization of these stilbene derivatives and thus constituted a unique class of molecular switches orthogonally controllable by light and acid. The catalytic amount of acid could be readily removed, and the Z → E isomerization could be controlled by turning on/off the irradiation of a photoacid, which allowed repeated isomerization in a non-invasive manner. Moreover, the Z isomer produced by photoisomerization could spontaneously self-recover to the E isomer in the presence of a catalytic amount of acid. The kinetics of Z → E isomerization were adjustable by manipulating catalytic factors and, therefore, unprecedented molecular photoswitches with adjustable self-recovery were realized.

Quantitative Z → E isomerization was catalyzed by trace mild acids to offer molecular switches orthogonally controllable by acid and light.     

Multi-scale HPC system for multi-scale discrete simulation-Development and application of a supercomputer with 1 Petaflops peak performance in single precision

mputing mode. The preliminary applications of this machine in areas of multi-phase flow, molecular dynamics and so on are reported, demonstrating the supercomputer as a paradigm of green computation in new architecture.     

Nickel(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation reaction of functionalized organozinc reagents with aromatic aldehydes

In the presence of a silylating reagent and catalytic amount of Ni(acac)₂, organozinc halides reacted with aromatic aldehydes to give the corresponding dialkylation products in good to excellent yields under mild conditions.