Amphiphilic membranes crosslinked and reinforced by POSS

This article concerns the synthesis and characterization of novel tricomponent amphiphilic membranes consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) segments cocrosslinked and reinforced by octasilane polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (octasilane‐POSS) cages. Rapid and efficient network synthesis was effected by cocrosslinking diallyl‐telechelic PEG (A‐PEG‐A) and divinyl‐telechelic PDMS (V‐PDMS‐V) with pentamethylpentacyclosiloxane (D₅H), using Karstedt's catalyst in conjunction with Et₃N cocatalyst and water. Films were prepared by pouring charges in molds and crosslinking by heating at 60 °C for several hours. The films were characterized by sol fractions and equilibrium swelling both in hexane and water, extent of crosslinking, contact angle hysteresis, oxygen permeability, thermogravimetric analysis, and mechanical properties. The crosslinking of octasilane‐POSS achieved by the same catalyst system was studied in separate experiments. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4337–4352, 2004     

Measurements and simulations of particle dispersion in a turbulent flow

A particle imaging technique has been used to collect droplet displacement statistics in a round turbulent jet of air. Droplets are injected on the jet axis, and a laser sheet and position-sensitive photomultiplier tube are used to track their radial displacement and time-of-flight. Dispersion statistics can be computed which are Lagrangian or Eulerian in nature. The experiments have been simulated numerically using a second-order closure scheme for the jet and a stochastic simulation for the particle trajectories. Results are presented for non-vaporizing droplets of sizes from 35 to 160 μm. The simulations have underscored the importance of initial conditions and early droplet displacement history on the droplet trajectory for droplets with large inertia relative to the turbulence. Estimates of initial conditions have been made and their effect on dispersion is quantified.     

Cyclolinear polysiloxanes. II. Crosslinking and characterization

The synthesis and characterization of two groups of novel networks prepared from cyclolinear polysiloxanes are described. The first group of networks from cyclolinear polysiloxanes (N‐CLPSs) was synthesized by the hydrosilation of vinyl‐terminated cyclolinear polyorganosiloxanes [prepared from diacetoxydiethyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄Et₂OAc₂) or diacetoxytriethylpentamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D₅Et₃OAc₂)] with a copolymer of dimethylsiloxane and methylhydrosiloxane as the crosslinking agent. Hydrosilation was effected with a platinum carbonyl catalyst with a cyclovinylsiloxane moderator. The second group of networks (N‐eCLPSs) was prepared similarly with extended cyclolinear polysiloxanes. The mechanical properties of the novel networks were comparable to those of polydimethylsiloxane networks (N‐PDMS). The oxygen permeabilities were similar to or slightly higher than that of N‐PDMS. The glass‐transition temperatures of D₄Et₂OAc₂‐ and D₅Et₃OAc₂‐based N‐CLPSs were ?67.8 and ?90.8 °C, respectively, whereas the incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane spacers into similar N‐eCLPSs lowered their glass‐transition temperatures to ?109.7 and ?115.0 °C. Upon heating to 800 °C in air, N‐CLPSs yielded more residue than N‐eCLPSs, which in turn yielded more residue than N‐PDMS. These results may have been due to the presence of T units in the cyclic siloxane units, which may have inhibited chain degradation or the formation of volatile products. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4053–4062, 2006     

Cationic polymerization with boron halides. V. Synthesis of poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) and poly(styrene-b-isobutylene)

Block copolymers of isobutylene and styrene, PIB-b-PSt and PSt-b-PIB, have been prepared by a two-step synthesis involving (1) preparation of terminally chlorinated (telechelic) polyisobutylene or polystyrene “prepolymers” by using the H₂O/BCl₃ initiator system and (2) blocking from these telechelic prepolymers a second polymer segment by using an alkyaluminum, e.g., Et₂AlCl coinitiator. The telechelic polyisobutylene and polystyrene contain tertiary and benzylic chlorine termini, respectively. Block copolymer characterization included detailed selective solvent extraction procedures, coupled with GPC determinations, PMR, solubility, and intrinsic viscosity studies. The synthesis of PIB-b-PSt and PSt-b-PIB provides direct chemical evidence for the presence and position of active chlorine termini in BCl₃-coinitiated olefin polymerizations.     

Organoruthenaborane Chemistry. X. The SM2-catalysed formation of [ l-(η6-C6Me6)-isocloso-RuB9H9], and some B-phenylamino derivatives. NMR and X-ray diffraction studies

The action of SMe₂ on the ten-vertex nido-ruthenaborane [6-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuB₉H_l3] ( 1 ) provides a high-yield route to the unsubstituted isocloso-ruthenaborane [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuB₉H₉] (2). The benzene analogue [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuB₉H₉] is prepared similarly. By contrast, reaction of (1) with PhNH₂ gives a variety of B-phenylamino isocloso derivatives, including orange crystals of [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)-2-(PhNH)-isocloso-1-RuB 9 H₈] ( 3 ), red-orange [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)-2,3-(PhNH)₂-isocloso-1-RuB₉H₇] ( 4 ) and dark-red [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)-5,6,7-(PhNH)₃-isocloso-1-RuB₉H₆] ( 5 ). Detailed ¹H and ¹¹B nmr properties of these various compounds are described. The structure of ( 3 ) has been established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of the solvate [1-(η⁶-C₆Me₆)-2-(PhNH)-isocloso-1-RuB₉H₈] · 1/2 CH₂Cl₂; the crystals were monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 1895.1(3), b = 1556.6(3), c = 1716.4(3) pm, β = 104.37(1)° and z = 8.     

Thermally reversible polymer systems by cyclopentadienylation. I. A model for termination by cyclopentadienylation of olefin polymerization

The reaction between tert-butylchloride (t-BuCl) and dimethylcyclopentadienylaluminum (Me₂AlCPD) was studied as a model for initiation by the tert-butyl cation (t-Bu^⊕) and termination by cyclopentadienylation by the Me₂Al(CPD)Cl^? counteranion of isobutylene polymerization. All reaction products formed in this model system have been identified and quantitatively determined. A comprehensive scheme that indicates pathways to these products was developed (scheme III). It is proposed that the predominant product, tert-butylcyclopentadiene (t-BuCPD), arises in the collapse of the t-Bu^⊕-Me₂Al(CPD)Cl^? ion pair, mainly by CPD^? transfer to the tert-butyl cation. The minor products are neopentane (t-BuMe) and isobutylene (i-C₄H₈), which are probably formed, respectively, by Me^? transfer to and proton loss from the t-butyl cation. Cyclopentadienylation selectivity increases by lowering the temperature and extrapolation of results suggests 100% cyclopentadienylation at ?55°C. The t-BuCl/Me₂AlCPD ratio strongly influences the overall reaction pathway. The reaction is first order in t-BuCl with ΔE_a of ca. 7 kcal/mole (1,2-dichloroethane or chlorobenzene solvents, +24 to ?29°C). Indirect evidence indicates that the kinetic product of cyclopentadienylation is 5-t-BuCPD and that this isomer cannot be tert-butylated; that is, the initiation of 5-t-BuCPD polymerization by t-Bu^⊕ is sterically unfavorable. Detailed analysis of the chemistry and kinetics of the t-BuCl/Me₂AlCPD model system holds important clues to the controlled polymerization of olefins leading to macromolecules with cyclopentadiene (CPD) termini.