Transmission electron microscopy study of phase morphology in polypropylene/ethylene-octene copolymer blends

Blends of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-octene copolymers (EOC) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The EOC contained 28, 37, 40 or 52 wt% of octene. Only the 50/50 PP/EOC ratio was used for all blends. None of the blends was fully miscible, there was always two-phase morphology. TEM observation followed by image analysis by ImageJ software revealed that the largest particles were in blend containing EOC-28 and the smallest were in blend with EOC-52. The coarsening rate at 200 °C was evaluated by TEM. The glass transition temperature (T_g) shift indicated partial miscibility. Partial miscibility was then confirmed by direct observation of bright PP lamellae in EOC dark phase.     

Synthesis and catalytic epoxidation activity with TBHP and H2O2 of dioxo-, oxoperoxo-, and oxodiperoxo molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) compounds containing monodentate or bidentate phosphine oxide ligands: crystal structures of WCl2(O)2(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2, MoCl2(O)2dppmO2.C4H10O, WCl2(O)2dppmO2, Mo(O)(O2)2dppmO2, and W(O)(O2)2dppmO2

The dioxo tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes WCl2(O)2(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)2dppmO2, and MoCl2(O)2dppmO2, the oxoperoxo compounds WCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)(O2)dppmO2, and MoCl2(O)(O2)dppmO2, and the oxodiperoxo complexes, W(O)(O2)2dppmO2 and Mo(O)(O2)2dppmO2 have been prepared and characterized by IR spectroscopy, 31P NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. The structural and X-ray crystallographic data of compounds WCl2(O)2(OPMePh2)2, WCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2, MoCl2(O)2dppmO2.4H10O, WCl2(O)2dppmO2, Mo(O)(O2)2dppmO2, and W(O)(O2)2dppmO2 are also detailed. All complexes were studied as catalysts for cis-cyclooctene epoxidation in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) or H2O2 as an oxidant. The Mo-based catalysts showed a superior reactivity over W-based catalysts in the TBHP system. On the other hand, in the H2O2 system, the W-based catalysts (accomplishing nearly 100% epoxidation of cyclooctene in 6 h) are more reactive than the Mo catalysts (<45% under some conditions). Various solvent systems have been investigated, and ethanol is the most suitable solvent for the H2O2 system.     

Screening for drugs in serum by electrospray ionization/collision-induced dissociation and library searching

Factors influencing in-source collision-induced dissociation (ESI/CID) of organic molecules in a Perkin-Elmer/SCIEX ionspray source have been investigated. Breakdown curves of four drugs and organic compounds were acquired by monitoring the intensities of MH+ and specific fragment ions while ramping the orifice voltage. Haloperidol, diazepam, 1,4-acetamido-acetoxybenzene and diacetamido-1,2-benzene were found to be substances with characteristic breakdown curves, with maximums and points of intersection at orifice voltages between 20 and 70 V. The breakdown curves of haloperidol were used for comparison of ESI/CID with ionspray and turboionspray sources on three PE/SCIEX-API instruments. Using standardized source parameters and mass resolution, very similar fragmentation graphs were obtained for haloperidol with all instruments. Infusion of varying concentrations of haloperidol (0.1 to 10 micrograms/mL with ionspray, and 0.01 to 1 microgram/mL with turboionspray) yielded comparable breakdown curves. With turboionspray, a preconcentration of the aerosol occurred, yielding higher ion abundances. Solvent pH and the ratio of aqueous ammonium formate/acetonitrile had minor effects on the degree of fragmentation of haloperidol in a wide range. With these preconditions, a currently expanding mass spectral library of 400 drugs was set up by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with alternating orifice voltages (20, 50, and 80 V, respectively) in a looped experiment. An example of drug identification in a patient's serum with library search is shown.     

Comparison of SERRS and RRS excitation profiles of [Fe(tpy)2]2+ (tpy = 2,2':6',2'‐terpyridine) supported by DFT calculations: effect of the electrostatic bonding to chloride‐modified Ag nanoparticles on its vibrational and electronic structure

Nonresonance (or normal) Raman scattering (NRS), resonance Raman scattering (RRS), surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and surface‐enhanced RRS (SERRS) spectra of [Fe(tpy)₂]²⁺ complex dication (tpy = 2,2':6',2''‐terpyridine) are reported. The comparison of RRS/NRS and SERRS/SERS excitation profiles of [Fe(tpy)₂]²⁺ spectral bands in the range of 445–780 nm is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, Raman depolarization measurements, comparison of the solid [Fe(tpy)₂](SO₄)₂ and solution RRS spectra, and characterization of the Ag nanoparticle (NP) hydrosol/[Fe(tpy)₂]²⁺ SERS/SERRS active system by surface plasmon extinction spectrum and transmission electron microscopy image of the fractal aggregates (D = 1.82). By DFT calculations, both the Raman active modes and the electronic states of the complex have been assigned to the symmetry species of the D_2d point group. It has been demonstrated that upon the electrostatic bonding of the complex dication to the chloride‐modified Ag NPs, the geometric and ground state electronic structure of the complex and the identity of the three different metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (¹MLCT) electronic transitions remain preserved. On the other hand, the effect of ion pairing manifests itself by a slight change in localization of one of the electronic transitions (with max. at 552 nm) as well as by promotion of the Herzberg–Teller activation of E modes resulting from coupling of E and B₂ excited electronic states. Finally, the very low, 1 × 10⁻¹¹ M SERRS spectral detection limit of [Fe(tpy)₂]²⁺ at 532‐nm excitation is attributed to a concerted action of the electromagnetic and molecular resonance mechanism, in conjunction to the electrostatic bonding of the complex dication to the chloride‐modified Ag NP surface. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intercalation chemistry of layered vanadyl phosphate: a review

The intercalation chemistry of layered α_I modification of vanadyl phosphate and vanadyl phosphate dihydrate is reviewed. The focus is on neutral molecular guests and on metal cations used as guest species. The basic condition for the ability of the neutral molecules to be intercalated into vanadyl phosphate is a presence of an electron donor atom in them. The most commonly used guest compounds are those containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur as electron donor atoms. Regarding the molecules containing oxygen, various compounds were used as molecular guests starting from water to alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, lactones, and esters. An arrangement of the guest molecules in the interlayer space is discussed in connection with the data obtained by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, IR and Raman spectroscopies, and solid-state NMR. In some cases, the local structure was suggested on the basis of quantum chemical calculations. Besides of those O-donor guests, also N-donor guests such as amines, nitriles and nitrogenous heterocycles and S-donor guests such as tetrathiafulvalene were intercalated into VOPO₄. Also intercalates of complexes like ferrocene were prepared. Intercalation of cations is accompanied by a reduction of vanadium(V) to vanadium(IV). In this kind of intercalation reactions, an iodide of the intercalated cation is often used as it serves both as a mild reduction agent and as a source of the intercalated species. Intercalates of alkali metals, hydronium and ammonium were prepared and characterized. In the case of lithium and sodium intercalates, a staging phenomenon was observed. These redox intercalated vanadyl phosphates undergo ion exchange reactions which are discussed from the point of the nature of cations involved in the exchange. Vanadyl phosphates in which a part of vanadium atom is replaced by other metals are also briefly reviewed.     

Hydrogen Bonding in Pyridine N-Oxide/Acid Systems: Proton Transfer and Fine Details Revealed by FTIR, NMR, and X-ray Diffraction

The H-bonded complexes of pyridine N-oxide (PyO) with H(2)O, acetic, cyanoacetic, propiolic, tribromoacetic, trichloroacetic, trifluoroacetic, hydrochloric, and methanesulfonic acids have been studied by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical DFT calculations. Correlations between vibrational frequencies of the NO stretching and PyO ring modes and geometric parameters of the H-bond have been established. FTIR experiments show and DFT calculations confirm that definite discontinuity is present in the vicinity of the midpoint in the proton transfer pathway. The established correlations significantly aid in the understanding of fine effects such as the isotope (deuteration) effect, crystal-to-solution transition, or criticality of aqueous solutions induced by ionic pairs. Geometric isotope effect in the ionic H-bond aggregate of PyO·H(D)Cl was found to be extraordinary large. Measured FTIR, CP/MAS, and high-resolution (13)C NMR spectra indicate that H-bond in the PyO·HCl complex in polar solvent can potentially be more ionic than in the crystal. Vibrational modes of ionic pairs originating via proton transfer in H-bond complexes can provide new information concerning the interionic interaction and its role in the phase separation and mezo-structuring processes. The results are compared to the relevant data for PyO·HCl complex in argon matrix.     

Positional targets for lingual consonants defined using electromagnetic articulography

The study examined the positional targets for lingual consonants defined using a point-parameterized approach with Wave (NDI, Waterloo, ON, Canada). The overall goal was to determine which consonants had unique tongue positions with respect to other consonants. Nineteen talkers repeated vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) syllables that included consonants /t, d, s, z, , k, g/ in symmetrical vowel contexts /i, u, a/, embedded in a carrier phrase. Target regions for each consonant, characterized in terms of x,y,z tongue positions at the point of maximum tongue elevation, were extracted. Distances and overlaps were computed between all consonant pairs and compared to the distances and overlaps of their contextual targets. Cognates and postalveolar homorganics were found to share the location of their target regions. On average, alveolar stops showed distinctively different target regions than alveolar fricatives, which in turn showed different target region locations than the postalveolar consonants. Across talker variability in target locations was partially explained by differences in habitual speaking rate and hard palate characteristics.     

Tetra­ammonium benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetra­carboxyl­ate tetrahydrate

The anions in the title compound, 4NH₄⁺·C₁₀H₂O₈^4?·4H₂O, are held together by regular hydrogen bonds from the carboxyl­ate O atoms to the ammonium cations and water mol­ecules, forming a three‐dimensional network.     

{Bis­[2‐(2‐oxido‐1‐naphthylmethylidene­amino)­phenyl] disulfide}chloroiron(III)

The crystal structure of the title compound, {bis­[2‐(2‐oxido‐2‐naphthyl­idene­amino)­phenyl] di­sulfide‐κ⁵O,N,S,N′,O′}chloroiron(III), [FeCl(C₃₄H₂₂N₂O₂S₂)], has been determined. The structure consists of monomeric iron(III) complexes with distorted octahedral coordination. The di­sulfide functions as a pentadentate ligand and the Fe^III atom is coordinated through two N, two O and one S atom, and one chloride ion. The distance between the second S atom and the Fe^III atom is a non‐bonding 3.8473 (14) Å.     

5‐Chloro‐N‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl­phenyl)­salicyl­ald­imine

The title compound, N‐(5‐chloro‐2‐oxido­benzyl­idene)‐2‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl­anilinium, C₁₄H₁₂ClNO₂, is a tridentate Schiff base with almost planar molecules. Each mol­ecule contains a strong intramolecular N—H?O hydrogen bond [2.576 (2) Å]. There is also an intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bond [2.695 (2) Å] linking neighbouring mol­ecules into infinite chains along the [101] direction.