Controlled polymerization of epoxides: Metal‐free ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether initiated by tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride in the presence of protic compounds

Metal‐free controlled ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) was achieved using tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (Bu₄NF) as an initiator in the presence of water and ethanol as chain transfer agents (CTAs). Number‐averaged molecular weight of poly(GPE) increased with an increase of [GPE]₀/([Bu₄NF]₀ + [CTA]₀) values, showing relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. NMR spectroscopic analysis exhibited a formation of ethoxy groups as well as FCH₂ at the initiating polymer chain‐end when ethanol was used as the CTA in the polymerization. These results indicate that Bu₄NF acts as a catalyst as well as the initiator for this polymerization system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Substituents effect on the properties of sulfonated polyimide copolymers

A series of sulfonated polyimide (SPI) copolymers containing methyl, methoxy, or fluorine groups were synthesized to elucidate the substituents effect on their proton conducting properties as well as thermal, hydrolytic, and oxidative stability for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. SPIs of high molecular weight (M_w > 200 kDa, M_n > 80 kDa) along with the ion exchange capacity (IEC) varying between 1.34 and 1.91 mequiv/g were obtained, which gave tough, ductile, and flexible membranes by solution casting. The thermal properties of the SPIs were dominated by the electronic structure of the sulfonated aromatic rings. The electron‐donating methyl groups lowered the thermal decomposition temperature. The hydrolytic and oxidative stability was roughly in the order of IEC (the higher IEC membranes were less stable). Fluorine groups, either as ? F or ? CF₃, had negative effect on the hydrolytic and oxidative stability. In the water uptake and proton conductivity, hydrophobic components are rather more influential than the substituents. It was found out that the SPI(5, 8, 0.7) containing bis(phenoxy)biphenylene sulfone moieties as a rigid hydrophobic component showed the best balanced properties in terms of the stability and the proton conductivity for its rather low IEC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4469–4478, 2008     

Preparation and superconducting properties of YBa2Cu4O8

Samples of YBa₂Cu₄O₈ are prepared by means of a new high oxygen pressure technique employing oxygen-HIP. Both magnetization and resistivity measurements show the superconductivity transition at 82.5 K. The lower and upper critical fields of YBa₂Cu₄O₈ are obtained from the magnetization measurements. The Ginzburg-Landau parameters, ζ(0)=17 Å, λ(0)=2400 Å, are estimated from these results.     

Analysis of red phosphorus in resins using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Although red phosphorus is used as a flame retardant for polymer materials, no analysis methods for it in resins has been established. Analysis methods for red phosphorus in resins were investigated using pyrolysis-gas chromatograpy/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) by paying attention to the fact that it has a sublimation property. We found that the mass spectrum of red phosphorus shows a series of ions at m/z=62, 93 and 124, and a fragment pattern indicating that red phosphorus (P4=124, P=31) was pyrolytically decomposed. The coefficient of the correlation between the content of red phosphorus in the resin and the peak intensity in Py-GC/MS was 0.9781. The relative standard deviations of this analysis method was 6.29% (n=5). Py-GC/MS was applicable not only to qualitative analysis but also to the quantitative analysis of red phosphorus.     

Energy-Preserving $H^1$--Galerkin Schemes for the Hunter-Saxton Equation

We consider the numerical integration of the Hunter–Saxton equation, which models the propagation of weakly nonlinear orientation waves. For the equation, we present two weak forms and their Galerkin discretizations. The Galerkin schemes preserve the Hamiltonian of the equation and can be implemented with cheap H~1 elements. Numerical experiments confirm the effectiveness of the schemes.     

Proton conductive polyimide ionomer membranes: Effect of NH,OH, and COOH groups

A new series of sulfonated polyimide (SPI) copolymers containing NH, OH, or COOH groups were synthesized by the polycondensation of 1,4,5,8‐naphthalnetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′‐bis(sulfopropoxy)‐4,4′‐diaminobiphenyl, and 3‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐5‐(3‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (SPI‐8‐m), 3,5‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (SPI‐8‐p), 3,6‐diaminocarbazole (SPI‐9), 3,5‐diamino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (SPI‐10), bis(3‐aminopropyl)‐amine (SPI‐11), 2,6‐diaminopurine (SPI‐12), 2,4‐diamino‐6‐hydroxyprymidine (SPI‐13), or 3,5‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzoic acid (SPI‐14). The obtained SPIs were soluble in polar organic solvents and gave tough and flexible membranes by solution casting. The SPI membranes having NH and COOH groups showed high thermal (decomposition temperature ≈200 °C) and mechanical (maximum stress >22 MPa) stability. Introducing NH groups, especially triazole and carbazole groups, was effective in improving proton conductive properties of SPI membranes at low humidity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2846–2854, 2010     

Aqueous self-aggregates of amphiphilic zinc 3-hydroxy- and 3-methoxy-chlorins for supramolecular light-harvesting systems

Aqueous aggregates of zinc 3¹-hydroxy- and 3¹-methoxy-13¹-oxo-chlorins possessing a hydrophilic tetraoxyethylene chain were prepared. Zinc 3¹-methoxy-chlorin formed a well-ordered aggregate without intermolecular hydrogen bonding which has been widely accepted in most structural models for BChl-c, d, e aggregates in a major light-harvesting antenna of green photosynthetic bacteria, chlorosome.     

Precise determination of bromine in PP resin pellet by instrumental neutron activation analysis using internal standardization

Instrumental neutron activation analysis with the internal standardization was applied to the precise determination of Br in polypropylene resin of candidate certified reference material. The known amount of ¹⁹⁷Au was used as an internal standard to compensate for neutron flux inhomogeneity, to improve the γ ray measurement uncertainty and the linearity of the calibration curves. The reliability of the proposed method validated using analytical results of BCR-681. The analytical result of Br in the sample was consistent with that obtained by ID-ICPMS. The relative expanded uncertainty (k = 2) was 1.5 %, and it was equivalent to that of ID-ICPMS.     

Synthesis, structure and α-olefin polymerization activity of group 4 metal complexes with [OSSO]-type bis(phenolate) ligands

The tetradentate [OSSO]-type bis(phenol) ligands, [{2,2′-(HOC₆H₂-4,6-R₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}] (R = ^tBu, 2; Br, 3) react with MBz₄ (M = Zr, Hf) to yield the corresponding dibenzyl complexes, [M{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-R₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}Bz₂] (R = Br, M = Zr, 4^Br; Hf, 5^Br; R = ^tBu, M = Hf, 5) in a good to very good yield. Zirconium diamido complexes, [Zr{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-R₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}(NMe₂)₂] (R = ^tBu, 6; Br, 6^Br) were prepared in a reaction of the corresponding disodium salt of 2 or 3 generated in situ with ZrCl₂(NMe₂)₂(THF)₂. Heating of 6 with TMSCl at 35 °C afforded zirconium dichloro complex, [Zr{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-^tBu₂)₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SCH₂}Cl₂] (7), whereas the titanium analog 8 was prepared in a direct reaction with TiCl₄. While for complexes 4^Br, 5, 5^Br, 6, 6^Br and 7 single C₂-symmetric isomers were observed in solution at room temperature, as revealed by the NMR spectroscopic data, titanium complex 8 formed as a mixture of cis-α (8a) and cis-β (8b) isomers in a ratio of approx. 20:80% (measured in CD₂Cl₂). The VT NMR studies revealed a reversible conversion of 8a into 8b above 60 °C. The X-ray crystal structure determination of complexes 4^Br, 5^Br and 7 confirmed their C₂-symmetrical configuration in the solid state with cis-arranged benzyl/chloro groups and the trans-coordination of two bulky phenolato moieties. The zirconium dibenzyl complexes exhibit good catalytic activities in homopolymerization of 1-hexene (atactic poly(1-hexene), PDI = 1.5-1.7) and vinylcyclohexane (isotactic poly(vinylcyclohexane), PDI = 1.2-1.8) upon activation with a co-catalyst. In both polymerizations no increase of activity was observed for the complex 4^Br with electron-withdrawing substituents on phenolate rings. Moreover, polymerization of liquid propylene catalyzed by the titanium dichloro isomeric mixture 8 afforded at 5 °C ultrahigh molecular weight atactic/isotactic polypropylene mixtures.     

Low-temperature phase of Li2FeSiO4: crystal structure and a preliminary study of electrochemical behavior

A nearly single-phase of a low-temperature (LT) phase of Li(2)FeSiO(4) is prepared by a hydrothermal method at 150 °C. We report the detailed crystal structure of LT-Li(2)FeSiO(4) (S.G. Pmn2(1)) by applying Rietveld/MEM analysis to the synchrotron XRD pattern. LT-Li(2)FeSiO(4) shows 150 mA h g(-1) as the positive electrode materials of rechargeable batteries.