Stripping the latex: the challenge of miniemulsion polymerization without initiator,costabilizer and surfactant

When finally processed to provide the function for which the latex was selected―binding, protecting, finishing―components such as surfactant, costabilizer or initiator become generally useless, not to say detrimental. In this study, we show that miniemulsion photopolymerization provides a suitable method to create latex without the apparent addition of these three compounds. Indeed, UV-driven monomer self-initiation can create initiating radicals without the aid of initiator, the fast in situ photogenerated polymer can hinder Ostwald ripening with the assistance of external costabilizer, and finally, UV-transparent clay can replace conventional surfactant to ensure colloidal stabilization. Each strategy has been developed individually before being combined together to end up with a unique miniemulsion procedure free of initiator, costabilizer and surfactant. Such approach paves the way to a simplified and environmentally improved pathway towards aqueous polymer dispersions.     

Mechanism of Formation of Cadmium Oxalate Liesegang Rings

Qualitative and semiquantitative study of the Liesegang rings formed by the reaction of oxalic acid and cadmium chloride in the acidic range of pH in silica hydrogel is made. The behaviour of Jablczynski's space constant and Morce-Pierce's time constant at various temperatures, pH and concentration of outer electrolyte is studied. The possible mechanisms for the above observed behaviour are suggested. The deviations from Isemura's general obserations are interprerted by considering two particular aspects, viz., comparatively larger crystals constituting the rings and the irreversibility of inner and outer electrolytes.     

Synthesis,characterization, and crystal structures of two new divalent metal complexes of N,N'-bis(phosphonomethyl)-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6: a hydrogen-bonded 1D array and a 3D network with a large channel

Reaction of N,N'-bis(phosphonomethyl)-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 (H(4)L) with copper(II) acetate in 1:1 ethanol/water mixed solvents afforded a new crystal-engineered supramolecular metal phosphonate, Cu(H(2)L) (complex 1). By reaction of the same ligand with cadmium(II) nitrate in a 2:1 (M/L) ratio in methanol, a cadmium(II) complex with a 3D network structure was isolated, Cd(2.75)(L)(H(2)O)(7) x 1.5NO(3) x 7H(2)O x MeOH (complex 2). The copper(II) complex crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a =10.125(4), b = 14.103(6), and c = 14.537(6) A, beta = 91.049(8) degrees, V = 2075.4(16) A(3), and Z = 2. The Cu(II) ions in complex 1 are 6-coordinated by two phosphonate oxygen atoms, two nitrogen, and two oxygen atoms from the crown ether ring. Their coordination geometry can be described as Jahn-Teller-distorted octahedral, with elongated Cu-O(crown) distances (2.634(4) and 2.671(4) A for Cu(1) and Cu(2), respectively). The other two crown oxygen atoms remain uncoordinated. Neighboring two Cu(H(2)L) units are further interlinked via a pair of strong hydrogen bonds between uncoordinated phosphonate oxygen atoms, resulting in a one-dimensional supramolecular array along the a axis. The cadmium(II) complex is tetragonal, P4(2)/n (No. 86) with a = 20.8150(9) and c = 18.5846(12) A, V = 8052.0(7) A(3), and Z = 8. Among four cadmium(II) atoms in an asymmetric unit, one is 8-coordinated by four chelating phosphonate groups, the second one is 8-coordinated by 6 coordination atoms from a crown ring and two oxygen atoms from two phosphonate groups, the third Cd(II) atom is octahedrally coordinated by three aqua ligands and three phosphonate oxygen atoms from three phosphonate groups, and the fourth one is 6-coordinated by four aqua ligands and two oxygen atoms from two phosphonate groups in a distorted octahedral geometry. These cadmium atoms are interconnected by bridging phosphonate tetrahedra in such a way as to form large channels along the c direction, in which the lattice water molecules, methanol solvent, and nitrate anions reside. The effect of extent of deprotonation of phosphonic acids on the type of complex formed is also discussed.     

Nitration of 2-substituted pyrimidine-4,6-diones,structure and reactivity of 5,5-gem-dinitropyrimidine-4,6-diones

Nitration of some 2-substituted pyrimidine-4,6-diones in sulfuric acid was studied, which afforded previously unknown 5,5-gem-dinitropyrimidine-4,6-diones in high yields. The gem-dinitro products were easily attacked by nucleophiles with concomitant formation of gem-dinitroacetyl derivatives, which in turn could be further hydrolyzed to salts of dinitromethane and triureas.     

Comparison of solubility of gases and vapours in wet and dry alcohols,especially octan‐1‐ol

Equations for the solubility of gases and vapours into dry alcohols from methanol to decan‐1‐ol and into water‐saturated alcohols from butan‐1‐ol to decan‐1‐ol have been compared through the use of the Abraham solvation equation. It is shown that there are noticeable differences in solvation into the dry and wet alcohols, and that these differences become larger as the alcohols become smaller and take up more water. The two main factors that lead to the differences in solvation are the solute hydrogen‐bond basicity, B, and solute size, L. Increase in solute hydrogen‐bond basicity favours the wet alcohols and increase in solute size favours the dry alcohols. Solute hydrogen‐bond acidity plays no part, because the hydrogen‐bond basicity of water, wet alcohols and dry alcohols is almost the same. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design and development of a fiber-optic immunosensor utilizing near-infrared fluorophores

The design and application of a fluorescent fiber-optic immunosensor (FFOI) are reported. The FFOI is utilized for the detection of antibody/antigen binding within the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. The technique is developed through the combined use of fiber-optic, semiconductor laser-excitation, fluorescence detection, NIR dye, and immunochemical techniques. The antibody is immobilized on the FFOI and utilized as a recognition component for trace amounts of specific antigen. The FFOI is constructed to utilize an antibody sandwich technique. The assay involves the immobilization of the capture antibody on the sensing tip of the FFOI followed by the exposure of the immobilized sensing tip to the antigen. The antigen-coated FFOI is then introduced to a second antibody previously labeled with the NIR dye. Typical measurements are performed in about 15 min. A semiconductor laser provides the excitation (780 nm) of the immune complex. The resulting emission is detected by a silicon photodiode detector (820 nm). The intensity of the resulting fluorescence is directly proportional to the concentration of the antigen. The sensitivity of the analysis reaches 10 ng/ml and the response time is 10–15 min.     

Paratropicity and antiaromaticity: role of the homo-lumo energy gap

Doubly charged systems derived from fused benzenoid polycycles reveal an unquenched delocalization of 4 n π-electrons and hence are predicted to possess antiaromatic character. The magnitude of the paratropic ¹H NMR chemical shifts, due solely to the paramagnetic secondary field sustained in these species, was found to depend linearly upon the magnitude of LUMO-HOMO energy gaps of the corresponding systems. The existence of such a correlation enables a comprehensive treatment of the various factors which determine the antiaromatic character and the subtle interrelations between those factors. This, in turn, leads to a deeper understanding of antiaromaticity.