Genetic and hybrid algorithms for graph coloring

Some genetic algorithms are considered for the graph coloring problem. As is the case for other combinatorial optimization problems, pure genetic algorithms are outperformed by neighborhood search heuristic procedures such as tabu search. Nevertheless, we examine the performance of several hybrid schemes that can obtain solutions of excellent quality. For some graphs, we illustrate that genetic operators can fulfill long-term strategic functions for a tabu search implementation that is chiefly founded on short-term memory strategies.     

A practical way of grafting maleic anhydride onto polypropylene providing high anhydride contents without sacrificing excessive molar mass

This study reports a reactive extrusion process leading to very high levels of anhydride grafting (2.5–3 wt %) along polypropylene backbone without recovering grafted PP waxes at the die exit. Such high graftings are attainable without excessive degradation of the PP chain by using a brominated reagent. Simultaneously, this brominated reagent allows the tuning of the grafted PP crystallinity via epimerization of the PP backbone. Indeed, the synthesis of a mainly isotactic/atactic stereoblock polymer containing high levels of grafted succinic anhydride moieties is demonstrated by NMR and melting enthalpies recorded by DSC are definitely observed depressed and broadened. Grafting levels of around 3 wt % have been achieved and ascertained by both chemical titration and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, FTIR spectroscopy reveals an unusual observation: for the first time, only one single pair of symmetric and asymmetric carbonyl stretching bands are observed on those grafted PP, while, in other processes of anhydride grafting, those symmetric and asymmetric bands were both split in at least two bands. This suggests, for the here reported process, the absence of interacting grafted anhydride rings, i.e., absence of closely grafted anhydride moieties and absence of poly(maleic anhydride). All those observations support that this “bromine route” brings a really new grafting process for PP. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2936–2947, 2008     

Application of a 1H δ‐resolved 2D NMR experiment to the visualization of enantiomers in chiral environment,using sample spatial encoding and selective echoes

We present the application of a 2D broadband homodecoupled proton NMR experiment to the visualization of enantiomers. In a chiral environment, the existence of diastereoisomeric intermolecular interactions can yield—generally slight—variations of proton chemical shifts from one enantiomer to another. We show that this approach, which relies on a spatial encoding of the NMR sample, is particularly well suited to the analysis of enantiomeric mixtures, since it allows, within one single 2D experiment, to detect subtle chemical shift differences between enantiomers, even in the presence of several couplings. This sequence, which uses semiselective radio‐frequency (rf) pulses combined to a z‐field gradient pulse, produces different selective echoes in various parts of the sample. The resulting homonuclear decoupling provides an original δ‐resolved spectrum along the diagonal of the 2D map where it becomes possible to probe the chiral differentiation process through every proton site where the resulting variation in the chemical shift is detectable. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of this approach, regarding other experiments which provide homodecoupled proton spectra. This methodology is applied to the observation of enantiomers of (1) ( ± )2‐methyl‐isoborneol coordinated to europium (III) tris[3‐(trifluoromethyl‐hydroxymethylene)‐(+)‐camphorate] in isotropic solution, and (2) ( ± )3‐butyn‐2‐ol dissolved in a chiral liquid‐crystal solvent, in order to show the robustness of this pulse sequence for a wide range of chiral samples. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Controlled reduction of polypropylene isotacticity and crystallinity by epimerization during reactive processing

Amorphous and low crystallinity polypropylenes were produced by reactive processing of commercial isotactic polypropylenes in the presence of a peroxide (2,5‐dimethyl‐2,5‐di(tert‐butylperoxy)hexane) and N‐bromosuccinimide. Characterization of the modified polypropylene microstructures using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed that crystallinity loss is correlated with the epimerization of numerous methynes randomly along the polymer backbone, leading to decreasing isotacticities ([mmmm]) and average isotactic block lengths. Moreover, degradation usually induced by peroxide was shown to be comparatively limited in additional presence of N‐bromosuccinimide. This fast and easy process therefore allows the production of polypropylene plastomers and elastomers with controlled and homogeneous crystallinities and isotacticities, and relatively low molecular weight distributions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4505–4518, 2009     

Synthesis of triblock copolymers from glycolysed poly(ethylene terephthalate) by living radical polymerization

Valorization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste has been achieved using glycolysis. The resulting diols were employed for the synthesis of triblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization using copper (I) bromide and (1,1,4,7,10,10)‐hexamethyltriethylenetetramine as catalyst system. Macroinitiator was obtained after depolymerization of PET waste followed by functionalization of the obtained glycolysate with 2‐bromoisobutyrate bromide. Polymerization of styrene (S) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) has been achieved leading to PS‐b‐PETG‐b‐PS and (PS‐stat‐PGMA)‐b‐PETG‐b‐(PS‐stat‐PGMA) triblock copolymers. Best results were obtained at 100 °C. At this temperature, termination reaction were negligible and the measured number‐average molar mass of the product increased linearly with monomer conversion in agreement with the theoretical M_n with low polydispersity products achieved. Polymers were also characterized by ¹H NMR. This work presents a original valorization of PET waste as (PS‐stat‐PGMA)‐b‐PETG‐b‐(PS‐stat‐PGMA) copolymer could be used as heat curable coatings. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 433–443, 2008     

The Single Crystal Structures of the Copper Usovites Ba2CaCuV2F14 and Ba2CaCuCr2F14

The results of single crystal X‐ray structure determinations are reported for Ba₂CaCuV₂F₁₄ (a = 1383.6(3), b = 540.89(8), c = 1493.1(3) pm, β = 91.65(3)°) and Ba₂CaCuCr₂F₁₄ (a = 1381.1(5), b = 535.5(1), c = 1481.4(6) pm, β = 91,50(4)°), both isotypic with usovite (space group C2/c, Z = 4). The resulting average distances are V‐F: 193.8 pm, Cr‐F: 190.7 pm, and Cu‐F: 209.2 resp. 207.1 pm for the Jahn‐Teller elongated [CuF₆] octahedra. Within the cross‐linked double chains of octahedra F‐bridged trimers M‐Cu‐M, magnetically studied earlier, are confirmed and discussed.     

New trends in aerogel physics

Aerogels offer an exceptional association of interesting structural peculiarities and physical properties: large nanoporosity, huge internal surface, very low sound velocity, high thermal resistance, excellent optical transparency can be obtained on the same sample. A better understanding of these properties is directly related to progresses in the knowledge of the structure and dynamics of aerogels, which are reviewed in this paper. The peculiar properties of aerogels opened recently the way to interesting developments, which are also discussed.     

Photo-thermal oxidation of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers: Part 3—Influence of the excitation wavelengths on the oxidative evolution of polyurethanes in the solid state

The detrimental oxidative reactions which occur in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers based on aromatic isocyanate monomers during irradiation with polychromatic light (λ > 300 nm) may be accounted for by the interference of two mechanisms. The first mechanism, observed at λ < 330–340 nm, involves a photo-Fries rearrangement. The second mechanism is a photo-induced hydroperoxidation. The photo-Fries products exhibit an anti-ultraviolet effect and partially inhibit the photo-induced oxidation. In contrast to aromatic polyurethane elastomers, aliphatic models exposed to ultraviolet light undergo a photo-induced oxidation which is independent of the excitation wavelength.