Polyester oligodiols by cationic AM copolymerization of L,L‐lactide and ε‐caprolactone initiated by diols

Cationic copolymerization of L,L ‐lactide (LA) and ε‐caprolactone (CL) initiated by low molecular weight diols in the presence of acid catalyst gives corresponding copolyesters terminated at both ends with hydroxyl groups in practically quantitative yield. Copolymerization proceeds by Activated Monomer mechanism. LA is consumed preferentially and at the later stages of copolymerization the reaction mixture is enriched with CL. In spite of that, random distribution of both units is observed and end‐groups are mainly ? LA‐OH groups and not ? CL‐OH groups. This is explained by the fact that to reach high conversion of both comonomers the relatively long reaction times are required and at those conditions transesterification reaction becomes significant. Thus the microstructure of copolymers and the nature of the end‐groups is governed by transesterification rather then by the kinetics of comonomers incorporation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3090–3097, 2007     

Identification of friction in inerter with constant and variable inertance

Meccanica - This paper presents the experimental identification of the friction force in the inerter with constant and variable inertance. The change of intertance is possible due to the...     

Application of spline functions in calculating the surface excess isotherm according to the gibbs isotherm

Spline functions are proposed for computing the surface excess isotherms for the adsorption of 2-hydroxy-5-alkyl-benzophenone oximes at toluene/water and octane/water interfaces. The proper choice of boundary conditions, sub-intervals and type of the functions used to compute the first derivative is discussed. The spline functions give the values of the surface excess which can then be used in describing the kinetics and mechanism of copper extraction by hydroxyoximes.     

Kinetics and mechanism of H+(aq)-assisted aquation of [Cr(N3)(S-pdtra)]− and [Cr(N3(edtrp)]−ions

Two new complex anions, [Cr(N3)(S-pdtra)]– and [Cr(N3)(edtrp)]–, were obtained in solution by N3–/HN3 anation of the aqua analogues (S-pdtra = S-propane-1,2-diamine-N,N,N-triacetate, edtrp = ethylenediamine-N,N,N-tripropionate). Aquation of these species in acidic media leads to the same geometrical isomers as those used for the synthesis. The aquation rate is strongly dependent upon [H] and is substantially higher in D2O than in H2O. Protonation of the coordinated azide was not observed spectrophotometrically. The rate law and activation parameters have been determined and discussed.     

Polyethers containing stable ionic end-groups

Polyethers of low and medium molecular weight containing at both ends stable ionic groups (phosphonium ions) were obtained by living cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran initiated by difunctional initiator, trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, followed by termination with triphenylphosphine. It was shown, that products contain significant quantities of low molecular weight diphosphonium salt; a plausible explanation is presented. Alternative approach to the synthesis of diionically terminated polyethers was based on the conversion of hydroxyl end-groups of polyether diols, which can be obtained by cationic Activated Monomer (AM) polymerization of e.g. oxiranes, into phosphonium ion end-groups. Using this approach, poly(ethylene oxide)'s with M_n ranging from 300 to 3400, terminated at both ends with stable ionic groups, were prepared and characterized. Measurements of NMR relaxation times and viscosity measurements provide the evidence for the aggregation of ionic end-groups. The potential applications of inter- and intramolecular aggregation are discussed. It is shown, that intramolecular aggregation of ionic terminal groups in low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) leads to cyclic structures resembling crown ethers and showing comparable efficiency for complexing cations.     

Functionalization of polyurethanes by incorporation of alkyne side-groups to oligodiols and subsequent thiol–yne post-modification

A versatile and upscalable method for the synthesis of polyurethanes (PUs) bearing pendant functionalities at the hard–soft segment interface from easily accessible commercial oligodiols is described. Reactive alkyne groups were introduced to polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) diols by cationic ring-opening polymerization of glycidyl propargyl ether using these oligodiols as macroinitiators. The resulting oligodiols, with alkyne side groups located at both chain ends, were subsequently reacted with 1,4-butanediol and hexamethylene diisocyanate for the synthesis of PUs, containing several pendant alkyne groups between the soft and hard segments. The functionalized PUs based on different soft segments (PTHF, PCL or PDMS) have been further modified via metal-free thiol–yne chemistry. Proper reaction conditions were found for quantitative radical thiol–yne coupling reactions with benzyl mercaptan and thioglycerol.     

Sub‐Picosecond Singlet Exciton Fission in Cyano‐Substituted Diaryltetracenes

Thin films of 5,11‐dicyano‐6,12‐diphenyltetracene ( TcCN ) have been studied for their ability to undergo singlet exciton fission (SF). Functionalization of tetracene with cyano substituents yields a more stable chromophore with favorable energetics for exoergic SF (2E(T₁)?E(S₁)=?0.17 eV), where S₁ and T₁ are singlet and triplet excitons, respectively. As a result of tuning the triplet‐state energy, SF is faster in TcCN relative to the corresponding endoergic process in tetracene. SF proceeds with two time constants in the film samples (τ=0.8±0.2 ps and τ=23±3 ps), which is attributed to structural disorder within the film giving rise to one population with a favorable interchromophore geometry, which undergoes rapid SF, and a second population in which the initially formed singlet exciton must diffuse to a site at which this favorable geometry exists. A triplet yield analysis using transient absorption spectra indicates the formation of 1.6±0.3 triplets per initial excited state.     

Push–Pull Buta‐1,2,3‐trienes: Exceptionally Low Rotational Barriers of Cumulenic CC Bonds and Proacetylenic Reactivity

A variety of asymmetrically donor–acceptor‐substituted [3]cumulenes (buta‐1,2,3‐trienes) were synthesized by developed procedures. The activation barriers to rotation ΔG^≠ were measured by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy and found to be as low as 11.8 kcal mol^?1, in the range of the barriers for rotation around sterically hindered single bonds. The central C?C bond of the push–pull‐substituted [3]cumulene moiety is shortened down to 1.22 Å as measured by X‐ray crystallography, leading to a substantial bond length alternation (BLA) of up to 0.17 Å. All the experimental results are supported by DFT calculations. Zwitterionic transition states (TS) of bond rotation confirm the postulated proacetylenic character of donor–acceptor [3]cumulenes. Additional support for the proacetylenic character of these chromophores is provided by their reaction with tetracyanoethene (TCNE) in a cycloaddition‐retroelectrocyclization (CA–RE) cascade characteristic of donor‐polarized acetylenes.     

Kinetics and mechanism of aquation of [Cr(NCS)(edtrp)]-, [Cr(NCS)(R-pdtrp)]-, [Cr(edtrp)(NCSHg)]+ and [Cr(R-pdtrp) (NCSHg)]+ complexes. Unexpected rate retardation in strongly acidic media for NCS- ligand release

Three new complex ions, [Cr(NCS)(R-pdtrp)]^-, [Cr(R-pdtrp)(NCSHg)]⁺ and [Cr(edtrp)(NCSHg)]⁺, that are derivatives of the trans-equatorial isomers of [Cr(R-pdtrp)(H₂O)]⁰ and [Cr(edtrp)(H₂O)]⁰ (edtrp= ethylenediamine-N,N,N-tripropionate, R-pdtrp= R-propane-1,2-diamine-N,N,N-tripropionate) have been obtained and characterized in solution. Rate constants and activation parameters, including, in two cases, volumes of activation, have been determined. Rate retardation for NCS^- ligand release has been observed with increasing acidity within the pH 0–2 range. The mechanism of the reactions has been discussed.