Kinetic and mechanistic study of the quasiliving cationic polymerization of styrene with the 2-phenyl-2-propanol/AlCl3 · OBu2 initiating system

The cationic polymerization of styrene with the 2-phenyl-2-propanol (CumOH)/AlCl₃ · OBu₂ initiating system at various dibutyl ether concentrations in a mixture of 1,2-dichloroethane and n-hexane (55:45 v/v) at −15 °C was investigated. The experimental results showed that an increase in dibutyl ether concentration leads to a noticeable decrease in the polymerization rate as well as to the more controlled polymerization in terms of molecular weight (M_n) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) evolutions. The kinetic investigation revealed that the polymerization proceeds in two stages. The first stage is characterized by high polymerization rate and slow initiation relative to propagation. During this stage molecular weight decreases or does not change and MWD increases with conversion. In the second stage considerably slower quasiliving polymerization of styrene occurs. The quasiliving nature of the styrene polymerization by the CumOH/AlCl₃ · OBu₂ system is proved and mechanistic scheme of the polymerization is proposed.     

Influence of electronic and steric effects and hydrogen bonding on1H and13C spectral parameters in azo compounds

V. I. Vernadskii Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences; Turin University, Turin, Italy. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 91–101, November–December, 1992.     

Structure and dynamics of self-assembled poly(ethylene glycol) based coiled-coil nano-objects.

Herein we describe the structure and dynamics of self-assembled nano-objects generated from poly(ethylene glycol) based (PEG-ylated) coiled-coil hybrid block copolymers. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments on spin-labeled samples provided a strong indication for a parallel alignment of the peptide helices in at least the dimeric coiled-coil nano-object and indicated that the PEG chains are folded rather closely around the peptide core of the nano-objects. The EPR results were supported by AFM studies, which revealed the presence of discrete nanosized objects in thin, spin cast films of the block copolymers on mica substrates. Since their size and structure may be engineered via directed mutations in the amino acid sequence, these nano-objects may be interesting building blocks for the development of supramolecular materials with various potential applications.     

Nonvalent interactions in the crystal structures of (Et4N)2[Mo3S7Br6] and (Et4N)(H9O4)[Mo3S7Cl6] clusters

Crystal structures of (Et₄N)₂[Mo₃S₇Br₆] (I) and (Et₄N)(H₉O₄)[Mo₃S₇Cl₆] (II) clusters belonging to the class of Mo₃S ₇ ⁴⁺ were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals I are orthorhombic a=19.106(3), b=12.930(2), c=29.887(5) Å, V=7383(2) ų, space group Pbca, Z=8, d_calc=2.253 g/cm³, R(F)=0.0402, wR(F²)=0.0587 for 2493 F_hkl>4σ. Crystals II are monoclinic, a=17.106(3), b=18.882(4), c=11.006(2), Å, β=126.13(3)°, V=2871.2(9) ų, space group Cc, Z=4, d_calc=2.147 g/cm³, R(F)=0.0181, wR(F²)=0.0445 for 2307 F_hkl>4σ. Structure I has an anion dimer with 3S_ax…Cl=3.258(4)–3.404(4) Å; the dimer is similar to that observed in the structures of A₂[M₃X₇Hal₆], A=Ph₄P⁺, Ph₃EtP⁺, and PPN⁺. In structure II, infinite chains of anions bonded by 3S_ax…Cl contacts of 3.183(3)–3.394(3) Å were found. A similar phenomenon was established earlier for the structure of (Et₄N)(H₉O₄)[Mo₃S₇Br₆] (III), which is not isostructural to II. Compounds II and III also differ in the structure of the H₉O₄ ⁺ cation: infinite helix in II and pyramid in III.     

Avarol and isoavarol from a Pacific Ocean sponge Dysidea sp.

Two hydroquinone-group-containing terpenoids have been isolated from a Pacific Ocean spongeDysidia, sp. One of them has been identified by physicochemical methods as the previously known avarol. The second, isoavarol, obtained for the first time, differs from avarol by the 4(11)-position of the double bond.Pacific Ocean Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, USSR Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 358–361, May–June, 1990.     

Adsorption of benzene on the V2O5/γ-Al2O3 catalyst

Adsorption of benzene on the V₂O₅/-Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied in the temperature interval from 443 to 493 K and at partial pressures of the adsorbate ranging from 1 to 400 Pa. The adsorption isotherms were plotted. The isosteric heats and various entropy characteristics of adsorption were determined. Mobility of benzene in the adsorption layer is restricted compared to the model of ideal dimeric gas. The adsorbed amounts of benzene and chlorobenzene are compared.     

Mechanistic study of thermal behavior and combustion performance of epoxy resins: I homopolymerized TGDDM

Tetraglycidyl 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) undergoes homopolymerization on heating. Intramolecular reactions which compete with crosslinking favor the formation of cyclic structures with increasing thermal and fire resistance of the resin, whereas physical mechanical properties tend to decrease. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of TGDDM is studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal volatilization analysis with characterization of volatiles evolved and residue left. Thermal degradation of poly-(TGDDM) starts at 260°C with elimination of water from secondary alcoholic groups which is a typical pathway for epoxy resin degradation. Resulting unsaturations weaken bonds in the β-position and provoke the first chain breaking at allyl–amine and allyl–either bonds. With increasing temperature, saturated alkyl–ether bonds and alkyl carbon–carbon bonds are broken first, followed by the most stable alkyl–aryl bonds at T>365°C. The combustion performance of TGDDM is discussed on the basis of the thermal degradation behavior.     

Crystal Structures of Two Re(V) Complexes of 3,5-Dimethylpyrazole with Linear and Bent [OReOReO]4+ Fragments

The crystal structures of two new dimer compounds of Re(V) containing an [OReOReO]⁴⁺ fragment have been studied. Re₂O₃Cl₄(3,5-Me₂pzH)₄ (I): space group P2¹/n, Z = 4, a = 10.180(3), b = 18.132(3), c = 16.601(2) , = 94.60(2)°, V = 3054.4(1) ³, d _calc = 2.059 g/cm³, R ₁ = 0.0513, wR₂ = 0.1493 for 4701 I_hkl > 2 _I of 4926 measured reflections; Re₂O₃Cl₂(-3,5-Me₂pz)₂(3,5-Me₂pzH)₂2[(3,5-Me₂pzH₂)Cl] (II): space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, a = 16.904(2), b = 14.573(1), c = 17.401(2) , = 107.23(1)°, V = 4094.2(7) ³, d _calc = 1.848 g/cm³, R ₁ = 0.025, wR₂ = 0.0514 for 6102 I_hkl > 2 _I of 6315 measured reflections (Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer, MoK, graphite monochromator). Compound I has a molecular structure, where molecules are dimers Re₂O₃Cl₄(3,5-Me₂pzH)₄ with a bridging O atom. In II, the dominant motif is the ReOCl(3,5-Me₂pzH) fragments bridged by the pyrazole molecules and the O atom.     

Synthesis and optical properties of thiol-stabilized PbS nanocrystals

Thiol-capped water-soluble PbS nanocrystals (NCs) stabilized with 1-thioglycerol, dithioglycerol, or a mixture of 1-thioglycerol/dithioglycerol (TGL/DTG) were prepared via one-stage synthesis at room temperature. We found that NCs stabilized with a TGL/DTG mixture show efficient and stable infrared photoluminescence centered in the second "biological window" (1050-1200 nm). Under optimized conditions, full width at half-maximum of the PL emission peak was from 70 to 100 nm. PbS NCs were stable to precipitation and aggregation for the time period from 2 to 3 months when stored in the dark under room temperature. Room-temperature photoluminescence quantum efficiency of NCs was from 7 to 10%. When NCs were stored at 37 degrees C, their PL emission red-shifted, consistent with the NC growth.