Study of bulk chain coupling reactions. I. Reaction between bisoxazolones and amine-terminated polyamide 12

2,2′-Bis(4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)-oxazolone) ( B3 ) and 2,2′-(1,2-ethylene)-bis(4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)oxazolone) ( B4 ) have been reacted in the bulk with α, ω-diamino polyamide-12 ( PA12 ) of M?_n = 1000. The reactions have been studied by SEC, and ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and resulting polymers characterized by DSC and TGA. The chain coupling reaction is fast and gives high molar mass polymers within 10 min at 200°C with B4 while some side reactions occur with B3 leading to polymers of lower molar mass. The crystallinity of resulting polymers is lower than that of starting oligomer. However, the thermal stability is higher. Model reactions using B3 or B4 and hexamethylene diamine or 1-dodecanamine have been carried out and studied. An intramolecular cyclodehydration giving 2-imidazolin-5-ones takes place during the reactions. Higher cyclization extent is found in the presence of amino group excess. 2-Imidazolin-5-one heterocyclic structures are also observed in the chains of the polymers obtained from PA12 and B3 or B4 . © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Application of a chemical equilibrium model to thermodynamic functions of transfer of alcohols from water to aqueous surfactants

In ternary aqueous solutions, hydrophobic solutes such as alcohols tend to aggregate with surfactants to form mixed micelles. These systems can be studied by meas of the functions of transfer of hydrophobic solutes from water to aqueous solutions of surfactant. These thermodynamic functions often go through extrema in the critical micellar concentration (CMC) region of the surfactant. A simple model based on interactions between surfactant and hydrophobic solute monomers, on the distribution of the hydrophobic solute between water and the micelles and on the shift in the CMC induced by the hydrophobic solute, can simulate the magnitude and trends of the transfer functions using parameters which are mostly derived from the binary systems. In order to check the model more quantitatively, volumes and heat capacities of transfer of alcohols from water to aqueous solutions of a nonionic surfactant, octyldimethylamine oxide, were measured. A quantitative agreement was achieved with three adjustable parameters. Good fits are also obtained for the transfers to the ionic surfactants, octylamine hydrobromide and sodium dodecylsulfate. When the equilibrium displacement contribution is small, the distribution constants and the partial molar properties of the alcohols in the micellar phase agree well with the parameters obtained with similar models.     

Dioxo-2,5 pipérazines. 1. La synthèse des carboxythiazolo dioxo-2,5 pipérazines

A new and general synthesis of 2,5-dioxopiperazine condensed with the thiazolidine ring is described. The synthesis involves the use of N-ethoxy carbonyl-2-ethoxy-1-2-dihydroquinoleine (EEDQ) as activating agent to form the 2,5-diketopiperazine (EEDQ) as activating agent to form the 2,5-diketopiperazine ring. By this method 9-carbobutoxy-7,7-dimethyl-2,5-dioxo-8-this-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0] nonane (6) and 9-carboxy-8,8 dimethyl-2,5-dioxo-7-thia-1,4-diazabicy clo [4.3.0] nonane (8) were obtained, with near quantitative yield, from 4-carboxy-2-carbobutoxy-5,5 dimethylthiazolidine (4). The former was transformed into acid 7 by hydrolysis with barium bydroxyde and the latter was esterified with diazornethane thus producing a methylester 9. The use of the ethy lester of N-(2-cabobutoxy-4-carboxy-5,5-dimethyl-thiazolidine)glycine (10) for synthesis of 6 was also successful. The spectromethric data were interpreted and confirm the proposed structure of the new compounds.     

The absorption spectrum of water near 750 nm by CW-CRDS: contribution to the search of water dimer absorption

The absorption spectrum of natural water vapour around 750 nm has been recorded with a typical sensitivity of 3 x 10(-10) cm(-1) using a cw cavity ring down spectroscopy set up based on a Ti:sapphire laser. The 13 312.4-13 377.7 cm(-1) spectral interval was chosen as it corresponds to the region where water dimer absorption was recently measured (K. Pfeisticker et al., Science, 2003, 300, 2078-2080). The line parameters (wavenumber and intensity) of a total of 286 lines of water vapor were measured by a one by one fit of the lines to a Voigt profile. For the main water isotopologue, 276 lines were measured with line intensities as weak as 5 x 10(-29) cm molecule(-1)i.e. about 50 times smaller than the weakest H(2)16O line intensities included in the 2004 edition of the HITRAN database. On the basis of the predictions of Schwenke and Partridge, all but 16 lines could be assigned to different isotopologues of water (H(2)16O, H(2)18O, and HD16O) present in natural abundance in the sample. A total of 272 energy levels of H(2)16O were determined and rovibrationally assigned to 18 upper vibrational states. Half of them had not been reported previously. The importance of the additional absorbance resulting from the observation of many new weak lines is discussed in relation to the detection of water dimer absorption and compared to the absorbance predicted by Schwenke and Partridge. The quality of the line parameters of water monomer is shown to be of crucial importance to identify the absorbance of the water dimer in the considered region.     

Control of the morphology of linear and cyclic PS-b-PI block copolymer micelles via PS addition

We have studied the effect of polystyrene (PS) homopolymer addition on the morphology of self-assembled block copolymer micelles made from linear or cyclic poly(styrene-b-isoprene), PS-b-PI, in a selective solvent for the PI block (heptane). Both copolymers have the same composition: the degree of polymerization is 290 for the PS block, and 110 for the PI block, and we focused on the influence of the addition of small amounts of PS homopolymer on the micellar morphology. For the copolymer concentrations considered, the linear copolymer self-organizes into spherical micelles while the cyclic copolymer forms cylindrical micelles. PS and PI chains constitute the core and the corona of these micelles, respectively, due to the different affinity of the blocks for heptane. Consequently, the PS homopolymer added is "solubilized" into the micellar core. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) data combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the addition of PS homopolymer induces a drastic change in the micellar organization. Indeed, a morphological transition, from spheres to cylinders for the linear copolymer, and from cylinders to vesicles for the cyclic copolymer, is observed. These results highlight the fact that a small incorporation of PS homopolymer is clearly sufficient to modify the morphology (size and shape) of the micelles. This approach could be a key parameter for the design/control of micelles for specific applications in nanotechnology.     

Glassy carbon electrode modified with a film of poly(Toluidine Blue O) and carbon nanotubes for nitrite detection

This work describes the modification of a glassy carbon electrode with poly(Toluidine Blue O) (GC/poly-TBO) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) for the electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite. GC/poly-TBO was prepared by electropolymerization and used as such or after immobilizing SWCNT on the polymeric film to give a composite GC/poly-TBO-SWCNT electrode. The electrochemical and catalytic behavior of both electrodes was studied comparatively. It was observed that the presence of SWCNT contributed to enhance the electrocatalytic response for nitrite oxidation, as measured by amperometry at +0.92 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl_sat and pH 7. The response was linear with respect to the nitrite concentration in the 0.001–4 mM range, with a detection limit of 0.37 μM (based on signal to noise ratio of 3) for GC/poly-TBO-SWCNT. The proposed method was also applied to the determination of nitrite in a wastewater sample and compared to the spectrophotometric method.     

Formation of Long,Multicenter π‐[TCNE]22− Dimers in Solution: Solvation and Stability Assessed through Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Purely organic radical ions dimerize in solution at low temperature, forming long, multicenter bonds, despite the metastability of the isolated dimers. Here, we present the first computational study of these π‐dimers in solution, with explicit consideration of solvent molecules and finite temperature effects. By means of force‐field and ab initio molecular dynamics and free energy simulations, the structure and stability of π‐[TCNE]₂^2? (TCNE=tetracyanoethylene) dimers in dichloromethane have been evaluated. Although the dimers dissociate at room temperature, they are stable at 175 K and their structure is similar to the one in the solid state, with a cofacial arrangement of the radicals at an interplanar separation of approximately 3.0 Å. The π‐[TCNE]₂^2? dimers form dissociated ion pairs with the NBu₄⁺ counterions, and their first solvation shell comprises approximately 20 CH₂Cl₂ molecules. Among them, the eight molecules distributed along the equatorial plane of the dimer play a key role in stabilizing the dimer through bridging C?H???N contacts. The calculated free energy of dimerization of TCNE ^{. ?} in solution at 175 K is ?5.5 kcal mol^?1. These results provide the first quantitative model describing the pairing of radical ions in solution, and demonstrate the key role of solvation forces on the dimerization process.     

Recherches théoriques sur la structure électronique de molécules contenant des atomes hybridés en sp

Résumé La structure de la molécule d'allène est étudiée à l'aide de la méthode LCAO améliorée. On met en évidence la nécessité d'introduire d'une part l'interaction des systèmes et avec les liaisons C-H et d'autre part un déplacement d'électrons dans les liaisons C-H. La distance interatomique C₁-C₂ est alors bien retrouvée et les charges nettes, presque nulles, sont en accord avec ce que suggère la réactivité chimique de la molécule. La transition permise A ₁ B ₂ est trouvée en bonne place; les trois autres étant un peu basses. Le problème de la réduction des intégrales faisant intervenir la couche 1s est abordé.

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The improved LCAO theory is used to study the structure of the allene molecule. We show that we must introduce on the one hand the interaction of the and systems with the C-H bonds and on the other hand an electrons displacement in the C-H bonds. The bond distance C₁-C₂ is then found in good agreement with the experimental value and the net charges, almost null, are in agreement with what suggests the chemical reactivity of the molecule. The allowed transition A ₁ B ₂ is found at the right place; the other three being a little low. The problem of the integrals reduction, making to intervene the 1s shell, is approached.

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Zusammenfassung Die Struktur von Allen wird mit Hilfe der verbesserten LCAO-Methode untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, daß eine Wechselwirkung zwischen - und -System mit den C-H-Bindungen und eine Elektronenverschiebung längs der C-H-Bindungen eingeführt werden müssen. Der C₁-C₂-Bindungsabstand stimmt mit der Erfahrung überein. Die Nettoladungen sind fast Null, wie die chemische Reaktivität zeigt. Der erlaubte Übergang A ₁ B ₂ wird gut plaziert angegeben; aber die drei anderen liegen ein wenig zu tief. Das Problem der Integralreduktion mit 1s-Atomorbitalen wird behandelt.

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Nous tenons à remercier ici M. le Professeur André Julg (Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, Faculté des Sciences, Marseille) pour les nombreuses discussions que nous avons eues avec lui sur ce sujet, et qui a bien voulu relire le manuscrit.

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Les calculs numériques ont été effectués par nos soins sur l'ordinateur PB 250 du Centre de Calcul Numérique de la Faculté des Sciences de Marseille.     

Multivariate optimization of a solid phase microextraction-headspace procedure for the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes in effluent samples from a waste treatment plant

A method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) has been optimized for the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in water released from a waste treatment plant. The extraction step was optimized using fractional factorial and central composite designs including the following experimental factors: saline concentration; extraction time; desorption time; agitation velocity; headspace volume. A multiple function was used to describe the experimental conditions for simultaneous extraction of the compounds. The procedure, based on direct SPME at 50 degrees C, using a polydimethylsiloxane fiber, showed good linearity (r>0.997 over a concentration range 2-200 microg L(-1)) and repeatability (relative standard deviation (RSD)<4.23%) for all compounds, with limits of detection ranging from 0.05 to 0.28 microg L(-1), and limits of quantification ranging from 0.14 to 0.84 microg L(-1). Concentrations of the target compounds in these samples were between 145.8 and 1891 microg L(-1).