Synthesis of 7-Hydroxyspiropyran

The 7-acetoxyspiropyrans (4a and 4b) have been prepared by the reaction of Fischer's bases (3) with 2,4-diacetoxybenzaldehyde in refluxing ethanol in moderate yields. The acetyl group of 7-acetoxy-spiropyran 4a was easily removed to give a 7-hydroxyspiropyran 6 in high yield under the basic condition.     

On the Ricci dark energy model

We study the Ricci dark energy model (RDE) which was introduced as an alternative to the holographic dark energy model. We point out that an accelerating phase of the RDE is that of a constant dark energy model. This implies that the RDE is not a new model of explaining the present accelerating universe.     

Double metal cyanide catalyst prepared using H3Co(CN)6 for high carbonate fraction and molecular weight control in carbon dioxide/propylene oxide copolymerization

Simple mixing of H₃Co(CN)₆ and ZnCl₂ in methanol resulted in precipitates of [ZnCl]⁺₂[HCo(CN)₆]^2?, constituting a new type of double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst exhibiting a high performance in carbon dioxide (CO₂)/propylene oxide (PO) copolymerization. High‐molecular‐weight poly(propylene carbonate‐co‐propylene oxide)s [poly(PC‐co‐PO)s] (M_n～40,000) were consistently obtained with high carbonate fractions (～60 mol %) and a high selectivity (>95%) with the new type of DMC catalyst. Conventional preparation of the DMC catalyst using K₃Co(CN)₆ and ZnCl₂ required removing KCl through thorough washing and resulted in lower carbonate fractions (10–40 mol %), which depended on the washing conditions. Feeding hydrophobic diols such as 1,10‐decanediol as chain transfer agent preserved the high carbonate fraction (～60%) and enabled precise control of the molecular weight, including preparation of a low‐molecular‐weight poly(PC‐co‐PO)‐diol (M_n ～2000), which was a flowing viscous liquid with a low T_g (?30 °C) suitable for polyurethane applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4811–4818     

Plasma Characteristics of a Ni–Zn Ferrite Enhanced Internal-Type Inductively Coupled Plasma Source Operated at 2 and 13.56 MHz

Plasma and electrical characteristics of an internal-type inductively coupled plasma source with a Ni–Zn ferrite module installed near the antenna were investigated for different rf power frequencies of 2 and 13.56 MHz. Due to the lower heating of the Ni–Zn ferrite module on the antenna for the operation at 2 MHz compared to the operation at 13.56 MHz, higher plasma density and lower rf rms antenna voltage were resulted for the operation at 2 MHz in addition to more stable plasma characteristics. By the application of 500 W of rf power to the source, a high plasma density of 8 × 10¹¹ cm⁻³ which is about four times higher than that with 13.56 MHz could be obtained at the pressure of 10 mTorr Ar. When photoresist etch uniformity was measured for the operation with 2 MHz by etching photoresist on a 300 mm diameter substrate using 10 mTorr Ar/O₂ (9:1) mixture, the etch uniformity of about 5.5% could be obtained.     

Synthesis of polystyrene brush on multiwalled carbon nanotubes treated with KMnO4 in the presence of a phase‐transfer catalyst

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were effectively functionalized with KMnO₄ in the presence of a phase‐transfer catalyst at room temperature. The hydroxyl functionalized MWNTs were reacted with a vinyl‐group carrying silane‐coupling agent and the terminal vinyl groups were used to fabricate polystyrene (PS) brushes by solution polymerization. Finally, PS‐encapsulated MWNTs were obtained. The synthesis results were verified from FT‐Raman, thermal gravimetric analysis, energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, and transmission electron microscope. PS‐encapsulated MWNTs had much improved dispersion stability in hydrophobic medium, toluene since grafted hydrophobic PS interacts with media and has improved compatibility. This functionalization technique would provide a facile route to prepare various polymer brushes on the surface of MWNTs to improve the dispersion of MWNTs for potential applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4413–4420, 2007     

Synthesis and properties of an ionic polyacetylene with aromatic heterocycles

A new ionic polyacetylene with two aromatic heterocycles (pyridyl and thienyl) was prepared by the activation polymerization of 2‐ethynylpyridine by using 3‐(6‐bromohexyloxy)methylthiophene without any additional initiator or catalyst. The activated acetylenic triple bond of N‐substituted‐2‐ethynylpyridinium bromide, formed at first quaternarization process, was susceptible to linear polymerization. The instrumental analysis data on the polymer structure revealed that the polymer have the conjugated polyene backbone structure with the designed two aromatic heterocycles. The photoluminescence peak is located at 510 nm corresponding to a photon energy of 2.43eV. The electrochemical properties of this ionic polyacetylene were also measured and discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5679–5685, 2007     

Synthesis, solid-state structures and metal ion complexation behavior of 2-picolyloxy lariat ethers

Three new 2-picolyloxy lariat ether compounds are prepared and solid-state structures are determined for two of them. Complexation behavior for a series of lariat ethers with pyridyl-containing side arms toward alkali metal cations and Ag⁺ is assessed by two-phase metal picrate extraction from aqueous solutions into chloroform and in homogeneous solutions by isothermal titration calorimetry in methanol.