Effect of nanotube functionalization on the properties of single‐walled carbon nanotube/polyurethane composites

A commercially available aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane formulated with a methylene bis(cyclohexyl) diisocyanate hard segment and a poly(tetramethylene oxide) soft segment and chain‐extended with 1,4‐butanediol was dissolved in dimethylformamide and mixed with dispersed single‐walled carbon nanotubes. The properties of composites made with unfunctionalized nanotubes were compared with the properties of composites made with nanotubes functionalized to contain hydroxyl groups. Functionalization almost eliminated the conductivity of the tubes according to the conductivity of the composites above the percolation threshold. In most cases, functionalized and unfunctionalized tubes yielded composites with statistically identical mechanical properties. However, composites made with functionalized tubes did have a slightly higher modulus in the rubbery plateau region at higher nanotube fractions. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns indicated that the dispersion reached a plateau in the unfunctionalized composites that was consistent with the plateau in the rubbery plateau region. The room‐temperature modulus and tensile strength increase was proportionally higher than almost all increases seen previously in thermoplastic polyurethanes; however, the increase was still an order of magnitude below what has been reported for the best nanotube–polymer systems. Nanotube addition increased the hard‐segment glass transition temperature slightly, whereas the soft‐segment glass transition was so diffuse that no conclusions could be drawn. Unfunctionalized tubes suppressed the crystallization of the hard segment; whereas functionalized tubes had no effect. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 490–501, 2007     

Rotational contour analysis of the electronic origin band in the emission spectrum of the orthoxylyl radical at 4683 Å

The rotational contour of the 4683 Å emission band of the o-xylyl radical was studied at high resolution. Calculations of the rotational contour of this hybrid band were made in the rigid rotor approximation for various sets of values of the excited state rotational constants and directions of the transition moment μ. Matching of computed and experimental rotational features showed that μ is oriented at +37° or ?37° with respect to the b inertial axis. The nature of the excited states of o-xylyl and the methyl-to-ring interaction are discussed with respect to these two possible assignments     

Structural and electronic comparative analysis of aminopyridazines showing anti-GABA activity. Crystal structure of 2-(carboxy-3′-propyl)-3-amino-6-cyclohexylpyridazinium bromide.Ab initio Mulliken population analysis of the 6-phenyl-substituted analog compared to GABA

The crystal structure of 2-(carboxy-3-propyl)-3-amino-6-cyclohexylpyridazinium bromide has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques and refined by full-matrix least squares. The compound crystallized in the tri-clinic space groupP ¯1 witha=10.275(1),b=11.215(1),c=7.082(1) Å,=91.84(1),=102.21(1), =106.77(1)°, andZ=2. FinalR-factor is 0.045. The main structural results are very similar to the ones observed for the 6-phenyl analog. These two compounds are GABA-A antagonists.Ab initio molecular orbital calculations, with STO-3G and 4-31G basis sets, suggest that the exocyclic nitrogen accurately mimics the nitrogen atom of GABA.     

The size of sums of sets,II

We prove inequalities which give lower bounds for the Lebesgue measures of setsE +K whereK is a certain kind of Cantor set. For example, ifC is the Cantor middle-thirds subset of the circle groupT, then $$m(E)^{1 - log2/log3} \leqq m(E + C)$$ for every BorelE ?T.     

The “Facilitated Transition” hypothesis as an explanation for the gemdialkyl effect

A new technique of searching the conformational space of transition states was used to explore the cause of the rate acceleration in the gem-dialkyl effect in intramolecular cyclization reactions. Several previous hypotheses were discarded and a new hypothesis was advanced based on this new data. This hypothesis, the “Facilitated Transition” hypothesis, states that increased steric hindrance reduces the overall activation energy by facilitating rotation through the transition state. The older “Reactive Rotamer” hypothesis was eliminated by generating all conformations of the starting materials using the and computer programs and demonstrating that no relationship is found between rate increase and a change in the concentration of “reactive rotamers”.     

A rapid radiochemical procedure for indium

A rapid radiochcmical procedure was developed for the separation of indium radionuclides from a mixed fission-product solution. An alcoholic pyridine solution is added to a uranium solution containing indium and tin carriers. The resulting tin precipitate is separated from the indium-containing solution by filtering through a cellulose membrane filter. The decontamination factor for tin is 2·10³. Other fission products are only partially removed. The chemical yield of indium is about 44%, and the time required for the separation is about 10 sec. After the tin-separated indium has decayed, the tin daughters of indium are removed from all the other fission products at a specified time and measured, so that the amount of indium present at the time of the tin precipitation is determined.     

cis-UROCANIC ACID FAILED TO AFFECT in vitro HUMAN LANGERHANS CELL ALLOSTIMULATORY FUNCTION

Abstract— -Urocanic acid (UCA) represents the major ultraviolet B (UVB, 290–320 nm)-absorbing component of the skin. Trans-UCA is naturally produced in the stratum corneum and converts to the cis isomer upon UVB irradiation. In this study, we examined the effect of purified cis -UCA (about 99% of cis isomer) on the human Langerhans cell (LC) allostimulatory function by using the mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction (MELR). We found that addition of increasing amounts (6.5–400 μg/mL) of purified cis-UCA or (rara-UCA did not modify the T-cell response supported by enriched LC (eLC: 8–25% LC) as well as purified LC (pLC: 70–90% LC) suspensions. Because cis-UCA had no effect on the allostimulatory function of untreated LC, we investigated whether this compound could modify T-cell proliferation induced by UVB-irradiated LC. The UVB exposure of eLC or pLC to 100 J/m² significantly inhibited the capacity of both suspensions to mount a T-cell response. However, addition of cis- UCA did not potentiate this UVB-induced immunosuppression. The eLC or pLC were then incubated with cis-UCA for 18 h at 37°C and washed before adding to allogeneic T cells. The obtained proliferative response was similar to that induced by control LC incubated in medium alone, demonstrating that pretreatment with cis -UCA did not alter human LC function. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that cis-UCA has no direct effect on human LC antigen-presenting function.     

Synthesis of 1,4-polyisoprene support of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon), a stimulating compound for the latex production by the Hevea brasiliensis

2-Chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon) is a well known stimulating product used to improve the latex production by the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Its chemical fixation in side position of 1,4-polyisoprene chains by weak chemical bond was considered in order to prepare new derivatives having prolonged stimulating activity. The synthesis was considered by using a chemical modification procedure according to a two-step process. Firstly, an epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene intermediate was prepared by partial epoxidation of 1,4-polyisoprene. Secondly, the grafting of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid was achieved by using the reactivity of the P-OH acidic function (or a P-OSiMe₃ derived from P-OH) of the reagent toward oxirane rings of epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene. It was noted that grafting yields are improved when the reaction is carried out in bulk or in a non-polar solvent, and more especially in neutral conditions, that is by replacing ethephon with its trimethylsilylated derivatives [monotrimethylsilyl 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid or, more especially, di(trimethysilyl) 2-chloroethylphosphonate]. With this latter, the addition occurs by the intermediate of the P-OSiMe₃ bond, and the formation of 2-oxo-l,3,2-dioxaphospholane structures is highly favored.     

Diverse redox-active molecules bearing O-, S-, or Se-terminated tethers for attachment to silicon in studies of molecular information storage

A molecular approach to information storage employs redox-active molecules tethered to an electroactive surface. Attachment of the molecules to electroactive surfaces requires control over the nature of the tether (linker and surface attachment group). We have synthesized a collection of redox-active molecules bearing different linkers and surface anchor groups in free or protected form (hydroxy, mercapto, S-acetylthio, and Se-acetylseleno) for attachment to surfaces such as silicon, germanium, and gold. The molecules exhibit a number of cationic oxidation states, including one (ferrocene), two [zinc(II)porphyrin], three [cobalt(II)porphyrin], or four (lanthanide triple-decker sandwich compound). Electrochemical studies of monolayers of a variety of the redox-active molecules attached to Si(100) electrodes indicate that molecules exhibit a regular mode of attachment (via a Si-X bond, X = O, S, or Se), relatively homogeneous surface organization, and robust reversible electrochemical behavior. The acetyl protecting group undergoes cleavage during the surface deposition process, enabling attachment to silicon via thio or seleno groups without handling free thiols or selenols.