Polyarylates. IV. Synthesis of block copolymers via two-step interfacial polycondensation

A new method for preparing block copolyarylates via two-step interfacial polycondensation is proposed. First, oligomers with acid chloride end groups were obtained from interfacial polycondensation with a mole ratio of bisphenol A to diacid chloride(s) less than I. In the second step, two reaction systems containing various oligomers were mixed thoroughly and more bisphenolate was charged into this mixture. The synthesis of the block copolyarylates was justified from the viewpoint of statistics, and of differences in molecular weight between oligomers and block copolymers. These block copolyarylates could be differentiated from polyarylates through crystal-line behavior and solubility in m-cresol analyses.     

Mass spectra of aryl substituted N-t- butylbenzamides: Substituent effects on unimolecular ion decomposition

The major reactions of aryl substituted N-t-butylbenzamides upon electron-impact involve direct cleavage of a methyl radical, the loss of a butene molecule with the transfer of one hydrogen, or the loss of a butenyl radical with the transfer of two hydrogens. The last of these processes parallels the mass spectral behavior of aliphatic amides. Substituent effects indicate that electron-withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring enhance the two hydrogen transfer process, while electron-donating groups enhance the single hydrogen transfer process. Ion abundances, ionization potentials and appearance potentials are discussed with respect to correlation with σ⁺ values.     

Preparative isolation of terpene trilactones from Ginkgo biloba leaves

This study investigated and compared some techniques for the preparative isolation of terpene trilactones, including ginkgolides (GA and GB, etc.) and bilobalide (BB), from Ginkgo biloba leaves. The crude Ginkgo biloba L. extracts (GBE) were prepared using an extractor with solvent refluxing operated under an optimal extraction condition. The extraction yield was 20-23% and the purity of terpene trilactones was about 1.0-1.4 wt%. Before the isolation operations, the extracts were dissolved in de-ionized water. The isolation procedures included the method of liquid-liquid extraction and the method of column chromatography. For the method of liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate as the organic solvent operated under the optimal extraction conditions, the purity, concentration ratio, and yield of terpene trilactones were 13.5-18.0%, 15-16, and >99%. For the method of column chromatography, XAD-7HP, XAD-4, and C-18 adsorbents with different polarities were used as the packing materials. Only for the XAD-7HP column, a part of more polar impurities was efficiently separated with the majority of terpene trilactones by a proper step-gradient elution, which resulted in an efficient isolation: the purity, concentration ratio, and yield of terpene trilactones were approximately 20, approximately 15, and approximately 80%. In comparison, the XAD-7HP column achieved the highest purity, but at the expense of the yield of terpene trilactones; on the contrary, the liquid-liquid extraction method, achieving the highest yield but with a slightly lower purity, was proved to be superior to the method of column chromatography in the current isolation stage.     

Solution behavior of ampholytic styrene ionomers

In this article are described the solution properties of ampholytic ionomers obtained by the radical copolymerization of styrene with the ion-pair comonomer 3-methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate. The solution properties were studied in mixed solvents, with a good solvent for the polystyrene backbone and another for the ionic moieties, and in the individual good solvent of benzyl alcohol. The data obtained strongly support extensive intermolecular ionic interactions in solution.     

On the structure-function relationship of nitrogenase M-cluster and P-cluster pairs

It A proposed that the M-cluster cage (Kim-Rees model) in active N₂-ase can exert shape-selective molecular-sieve effects in molecular recognition of exogenous substrates, by providing inside multinuclear active-sites the cavity for N₂, C₂H₂, cyclopropene, and N₂O reduction, with [Mo-3Fe]-site available only for N₂ reduction: on the other handn-RC— CH,n-RC— N,n-RN-C , C—N^– and N₃ ^–, are bound outside the cavity at the [2Fe]-site left by the labilizable ligand Y. A terminal carboxylate of the Mo-bound (R)-homocitrate is just in position to protect a H₂-evolution site on the P-cluster pair from CO inhibition, and also to take part in mediating a P-cluster-to-Mo-site H⁺-relay system (involving two hydrogen-bonded H₂O) specifically required for N. reduction. The nonreducibility of CO at the [Mo-3Fe]-site is also explained. Experimental support for molecular-sieve effects of M-cluster cage has been obtained from the observed decrease in ethene-cis-d: selectivity by competitive inhibition of HC—CH reduction in D₂O by N—N.Dedicated to Jiaxi Lu on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Synthesis of carbonate-containing high temperature poly(arylene-siloxanylenes)

A method for the first synthesis of high molecular weight carbonate-containing siloxanylene polymers was successfully developed. The procedure covered the preparation and polymerization of pure carbonate-containing bis-silanols which included bis(4-hydroxydimethylsilylphenyl)-carbonate, bis[4-(1-hydroxy-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxanyl)-phenyl] carbonate, and their meta analogs. Because conventional siloxane polymerization methods, such as the heterocondensation of bis-silanols with diaminosilanes or homocondensation reactions catalyzed by alkali reagents, decomposed carbonate linkages, a new polymerization technique that involved the use of phosgene was used. The procedure was both facile and effective in the polymerization of other arylene bis-silanols.     

Determination of trace amounts of rare earth elements by neutron activation analysis after preconcentration using hydrated magnesium oxide

A preconcentration method of 13 rare earth elements (REES) was studied for neutron activation ananlysis (NAA). Hydrated magnesium oxide was used as the preconcentration agent to absorb the REES ions from aqueous solution onto the solid magnesium oxide, which was separated and analyzed. It was observed that the Langmuir equation for isothermal adsorption was well obeyed by the REES under the condition studied. The efficiency of the preconcentration process using hydrated magnesium oxide was critically examined for each of REE and for mixture of REES by preparing a known volume of solution containing known amount of trace REES. NAA was used to analyze REES recovered by the preconcentration process. It was found that the REES recoveries were satisfactory and the preconcentration process is reliable. There are several resort resort areas in Taiwan where local people are enjoying its hot spring water. It is generally believed that the hot spring water spa would bring about some sorts of therapeutic functions. The preconcentration method developed above, was applied to analyze the trace amounts of REES in hot spring wate in Taiwan.     

Evaluating adsorption ability of granite to radioselenium by chemical sequential extraction

A good understanding of the migration of selenite, Se(IV), through deep granitic layers depends on a good understanding of the geochemistry of these layers. Chemical sequential extraction is applied herein to evaluate the ability of granite to adsorb Se(IV) in DW, GW and SW systems. The experimental results indicate that the removal of crystalline Fe oxides reduces the adsorption of Se(IV), suggesting its importance in granite. The normalized concentrations of Se(IV) adsorbed onto crystalline Fe oxides is approximately 0.0301, 0.0330 and 0.0335 mole Se(IV) adsorbed/mole of Fe in DW, GW and SW systems. Kinetic adsorption experiments are conducted to elucidate the results of the chemical sequential extraction. Both the treated and the untreated granite take the same time to reach their equilibrium, suggesting that crystalline Fe oxides dominate the adsorption of Se(IV). Meanwhile, the one-site model suffices to simulate the kinetics of adsorption.     

Electrochemical Detection of 2‐Naphthol at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Tosflex Film

In this study, a Tosflex (a perfluoro‐anion‐exchange membrane) modified glassy carbon electrode has been used to detect 2‐naphthalenol (2‐naphthol) in aqueous solutions in order to demonstrate the electroanalytical application of Tosflex. 2‐naphthol polymerizes upon electrochemical oxidation at a glassy carbon electrode; however, the current related to this oxidation is too small for analytical purpose at low concentration level. A Tosflex polymer modified glassy carbon electrode (TFGCE) was found of having capability to improve the detection limit because 2‐naphthol molecules deprotonated in basic solutions to form 2‐naphtholate anions that were accumulated to TFGCE by the anion‐exchange characteristic of Tosflex. The accumulated 2‐naphtholate anions were determined with the following differential pulse voltammetry. With 3 minutes accumulation at +0.05 V, the dependence of oxidation current versus concentration was linear from 8×10^?7 M to 1×10^?5 M with a regression coefficient of 0.999 and a detection limit of 2×10^?7 M. Unlike many other anion‐exchange polymer modified electrodes, the TFGCE is stable at highly basic condition.