Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of silyl enol ethers with grignard reagents. Regio- and stereocontrolled synthesis of olefins

The substitution of the siloxy group in silyl enol ethers with Grignard reagents to form olefins is accomplished by use of nickel acetylacetonate or phosphine-nickel complexes as catalysts, the stereo- and regiochemistry of coupled olefins depending upon the nature of the catalyst and reaction conditions employed.     

Preparation and properties of polyarylates and copolyarylates from phenylindanedicarbonyl chloride and bisphenols

A series of polyarylates having inherent viscosities of 0.4–1.1 dL/g was prepared by the two phase polycondensation of 1,1,3-trimethyl-3-(4-chloroformylphenyl)indanecarbonyl chloride with various bisphenols in an organic solvent–aqueous alkaline solution system in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. Similarly, copolyarylates of high molecular weights were prepared from a mixture of the phenylindanedicarbonyl chloride, terephthaloyl chloride, and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-phenyl)propane. All the polyarylates were characterized by their amorphous nature and high solubility in organic solvents. They gave transparent and tough films by the solution casting. The films had tensile strength of 33–46 MPa, elongation at break of 3–16%, and tensile modulus of 1.2–1.6 GPa. These polyarylates had glass transition temperatures in the range of 205–310°C, and began to decompose at ca. 350°C in air.     

A pressure and temperature study on solubility and micelle formation of sodium perfluorodecanoate in aqueous solution

Both the critical solution temperature (CST, or the Krafft temperature) and the critical solution pressure (CSP, or the Tanaka pressure) were determined for sodium perfluorodecanoate (NaPFDe) in water, and the result shows that the Krafft temperature is raised with the increase in the Tanaka pressure. A thermodynamic analysis has been made on the data for the critical micellization concentration (cmc) and of the solubility at various temperatures and pressures. The estimated change in the partial molal volume, resulting from micelle formation from the singly dispersed state and from the hydrated solid state, was found to be conspicuously higher for NaPFDe compared to hydrocarbon surfactants. This has been ascribed to the more pronounced role of carbon chain-water interactions and water structure effects of the fluorocarbon surfactants.     

Aromatic polydiketopiperazines

Aromatic polydiketopiperazines have been prepared from bis-2-chloroacetamides of aromatic diamines in the presence of an epoxide as HCl acceptor and a quaternary ammonium halide catalyst. The structures of the polymers were characterized by infrared and NMR spectra. These polymers were soluble in organic acids such as formic acid, dichloroacetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid but insoluble in common organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that these polymers decomposed at 300–340°C.     

Phase Behavior and Thermal Properties for Binary Blends of Bacterial Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)s with Narrow‐Comonomer‐Unit Compositional Distribution

The miscibility and the effect of compositional distribution on physical properties were investigated for binary blends of biosynthesized poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] and comonomer compositionally fractionated poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)s [P(3HB‐co‐3HH)] with narrow compositional distribution. Biosynthesized P(3HB‐co‐3HH) samples were compositionally fractionated using solvent (chloroform)/nonsolvent (n‐heptane) mixtures. The binary blends of fractionated P(3HB‐co‐3HH)s with different 3HH unit content were prepared by casting from solution in chloroform. The miscibility and the thermal properties of these blends were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the two components are miscible in the amorphous phase when the difference in 3HH unit content between the two component polymers of these blends is less than 20 mol‐%, subsequently they are immiscible when the difference is larger than 30 mol‐%. By comparing the thermal properties of the binary blends of fractions, with those for the fractions themselves, and with those for the bacterially as‐produced unfractionated copolyesters, the effects of compositional distribution on the properties of copolyesters were discussed.

Glass transition temperatures of blends PHB/H10, H10/H20, and PHB/H20 versus total 3HH unit content in the blends. The solid lines are the best fits of the experimental results of the P(3HB‐co‐3HH) fractions with narrow compositional distribution.     

Epitaxial heterostructures: side-to-side Si-ZnS, Si-ZnSe biaxial nanowires, and sandwichlike ZnS-Si-ZnS triaxial nanowires

Epitaxial semiconducting heterostructures: side-to-side Si-ZnS, Si-ZnSe biaxial nanowires, and sandwichlike ZnS-Si-ZnS triaxial nanowires were grown via a simple two-stage thermal evaporation of mixed SiO and ZnS or SiO and ZnSe powders under a precise temperature control. Each nanowire had a uniform diameter of 40-120 nm and length ranging from several to several tens of micrometers. Subnanowires of Si, ZnS, and ZnSe within them had a diameter of 20-50, 40-60, and 20-50 nm, respectively. The optical property (nanoscale cathodoluminescence) was also investigated from these new structures. It is proposed that the Si nanowires formed through disproportionation of SiO to Si in the first evaporation stage and then served as one-dimensional nanoscale substrates (or templates) for an epitaxial growth of ZnS or ZnSe nanowires in the following thermal evaporation of ZnS or ZnSe powders. The present results suggest that the simple method might be useful for the synthesis of many other heterostructures containing Si and II-VI or III-V semiconducting composite nanowires to meet the growing demands of nanoscale science and technology.     

Easy synthesis of beta-O-4 type lignin related polymers

The beta-O-4 structure is the most abundant substructure in lignin. Lignin related polymers composed of only the beta-O-4 structure were prepared using simple aromatic compounds as starting materials. Acetophenone derivatives were brominated, polymerized in the presence of K2CO3 and reduced with NaBH4 to give the lignin related polymers. These are linear polymers which resemble natural lignins in their structures, although they do not have a gamma-hydroxymethyl group. The number average degree of polymerization (DPn) was determined with peracetate of the polymers by gel permeation chromatography. The DPn of guaiacyl type polymers ranged from 15.2-21.4, where the value for the syringyl type was 11.3 and for the p-hydroxyphenyl type 16.9. The Guaiacyl type polymer was very soluble in usual lignin solvents such as 1, 4-dioxane-water (96 : 4, v/v) and DMSO, but only slightly soluble in acetone-water (9 : 1, v/v).     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyesters and copolyesters containing phenylindane unit

Aromatic polysters and copolyesters of high molecular weights with phenylindane units were prepared from combinations of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,3-trimethyl-5-indanol and bisphenol A with isophthaloyl and terephthaloyl chloride by two-phase polycondensation in a nitrobenzene-water system with various phase-transfer catalysts. The phenylindane-containing polyesters and copolyesters were amorphous and readily soluble in a wide range of solvents that included chloroform, m-cresol, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethylformamide. The glass transition temperatures of the phenylindane-derived polyisophthalate and polyterephthalate were 235 and 253°C, respectively, which were higher than those of the corresponding bisphenol A analogs by some 50°C. These polymers began to lose weight around 400°C in air and nitrogen atmospheres.     

An analysis of an induced-fit type inclusion phenomenon of a paracyclophane with benzene by means of van der waals potential calculations

The binding process of the paracyclophane 1 with benzene is classified into two types; namely simple fit and induced fit. In the former case, it is assumed that the geometry of the host is fixed to that in the free state during complexation. On the basis of the MMP2 calculations, the induced fit type process, allowing all motional freedoms of the host and the guest, is essential in forming the stable inclusion complex with benzene. By the use of van der Waals potential maps, it is confirmed that the force-field inside the cavity of the host is effective for the inclusion of benzene.     

Mechanical degradation of filter polymer materials: Polyphenylene sulfide

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is known as a material resistant to high temperature and chemicals; however, there are arguments on the durability of PPS non-woven fabrics to chemicals, such as nitric acid (HNO₃), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and hydrochloric acid (HCl). Therefore, this work aims at investigating the degradation of PPS non-woven fabrics in HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and HCl, and at confirming acid durability of PPS non-woven fabrics. In addition, this paper also studies the interaction among these three acids by measuring the retention of strength in binary or tertiary mixtures of these three acids. A discussion has been made on the acceleration/retardation of PPS degradation by the interactive effects, and also on the chemistry related to the degradation by these acids. Furthermore, there is a linear relationship between the nitric acid concentration and the proportion of carbon in the remaining PPS structures after 100 h of acid exposure. Also, this proportion of carbon is a good indicator of the retained strength in PPS fabrics.