Dilute solutions of nylon 12—II. Relationship between intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight

Samples of poly(12-dodecanelactam) (polylaurolactam, nylon 12) with $\text{M}$_n 1 × 10³?33 × 10³ were prepared. Polymerizations initiated with water or with lauric acid proceeded under conditions for minimum changes in end-group concentration. Values of $\text{M}$_n were calculated from the end-group content and $\text{M}$_n from light scattering in the mixture m-cresol/60 vol% of 2.2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol. From measurements of intrinsic viscosity in m-cresol, the relationship [n] ? $\text{M}$_n was established in the given range of $\text{M}$_n. The relationship [n] ? $\text{M}$_w for $\text{M}$_w from 3.3 × 10³ to 125 × 10³ has been established.     

Heterogeneous reactions of solid nickel(II) complexes

The influence of different modes of preparation on the stoichiometry of thermal decomposition of isothiocyanatonickel(II) complexes with ammonia was studied. It was found that the complex Ni(NCS)₂(NH₃)₄ (I) prepared by heterogeneous reaction undergoes decomposition in two steps (–2 NH₃, –2 NH₃), while for complex II, of the same composition but prepared by homogeneous reaction from solution, the decomposition proceeds in three steps (–1 NH₃, –1 NH₃, –2NH₃). Electronic and infrared absorption spectra were used for the study of the spectral properties of the starting complex. It was found that the different stoichiometries of thermal decompositions of complexes I and II do not cause differences in the bonding strength of the ammonia molecules (chemical factor); this effect is rather brought about by physical factors such as different imperfections of the crystal lattice.

---

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß der Herstellung auf die Stöchiometrie der thermischen Zersetzung von Amin-Komplexen des Isothiocyanatonickels wurde studiert. Der Zerfall des Komplexes Ni(NCS)₂(NH₃)₄ (I), hergestellt durch heterogene Reaktion, verlief in zwei Etappen (–2 NH₃, –2 NH₃). Beim selben Komplex (II), hergestellt durch homogene Reaktion in Lösung, wurden jedoch drei Etappen beobachtet (–1 NH₃, –1 NH₃, –2 NH₃). Die Eigenschaften des Ausgangsproduktes wurden durch Elektronen- und IR-Spektroskopie untersucht. Das unterschiedliche thermische Verhalten ist nicht auf eine verschiedene Bindungsstärke der NH₃ Moleküle, sondern auf physikalische Ursachen, wie z. B. Unregelmässigkeiten im Kristallgitter zurückzuführen.

---

Résumé On a étudié l'influence des diverses méthodes de préparation sur la stoechiométrie de la réaction de décomposition thermique des complexes de l'isothiocyanate de nickel(II) avec l'ammoniac. On a établi que le complexe Ni(SCN)₂(NH₃)₄, (I), préparé rar réaction hétérogène, subit une décomposition en deux étapes (–2NH₃, –2NH₃), tandis que le complexe (II), de même composition, mais préparé par réaction homogène, à partir de solutions, se décompose en trois étapes (–1NH₃,–1NH₃, –2NH₃). Les propriétés spectrales du complexe initial ont été étudiées par absorption électronique et infrarouge. On a trouvé que les différences de stoechiométrie des réactions de décomposition thermique des complexes (I) et (II) n'apportaient pas de différences entre les énergies de liaison des molécules d'ammoniac (facteur chimique). C'est plutôt à des facteurs physiques, comme les différentes imperfections du réseau cristallin, que cet effet serait dû.

---

(II) . , Ni(NCS)₂(NH₃)₄ (I), , (–2NH₃,–2NH₃). , II , , (–1 NH₃,–1 NH₃ –2NH₃). . , I II ( ), , .

     

Surface anchoring of nematic liquid crystal 8OCB on a DMOAP‐silanated glass surface

Dynamic light scattering spectroscopy has been used to determine the temperature dependence of the anchoring strength of the nematic liquid crystal 8OCB on DMOAP‐silanated glass surfaces inducing homeotropic alignment. Wedge‐type glass cells with known thickness profile starting from 150 nm to several microns have been used in the experiments. The relaxation rates of the nematic fluctuations with the wave vector perpendicular to the confining surfaces have been measured as a function of the cell thickness. Fitting of the thickness dependence of the relaxation rate allows for straightforward determination of the surface extrapolation length and therefore also the strength of the surface anchoring, which is 1×10^?4 J m^?2. The overall experimental accuracy of the experiments is discussed.     

Synthesis,thermal analysis,and spectroscopic and structural characterizations of tetranuclear nickel(II) cubane-type clusters with 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes or 2-hydroxyphenones

In this study, three novel tetranuclear nickel(II) cubane-type clusters with the general formula [Ni₄(L)₄(μ₃-CH₃O)₄(CH₃OH)₄] [L: the anion of 5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), 2-hydroxypropiophenone (2), and 2-hydroxybenzophenone (3)] were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of each compound contains a tetranuclear cubane core [Ni₄O₄] based on an approximately cubic array of altering nickel and oxygen atoms with intracluster metal–metal separations of 3.04–3.14 Å. Each Ni(II) atom is surrounded by two oxygen atoms from the ligand (L) and by the μ₃-CH₃O oxygen atom that bridges three Ni atoms of the cubane core. The coordination sphere of Ni is completed with one methanol molecule and making six-coordinate with a distorted octahedral geometry. These complexes were characterized also by spectroscopy (IR and UV–Vis). Simultaneous TG/DTG–DTA techniques were used to analyze their thermal behavior under inert atmosphere, with particular attention to determine their thermal degradation pathways, which was found to be a multi-step decomposition accompanied by the release of the ligand molecules. Finally, the kinetic analysis of the decomposition processes was performed for the first step of complex (3), since only this verifies the requirement of applying an isoconversional method like Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS). For this step, we found the average value E _a = 107.8 ± 4.5 kJ mol^?1.     

Heats of Mixing of Mixed Solvent Solutions of Alkali Metal Salts of Substituted Benzenesulfonic Acids

The enthalpy change on mixing solutions of methyl-substituted benzenesulfonic acids and their salts, with salts having a common cation or anion, at constant ionic strength in mixtures of 1,4-dioxane with water, were measured at 25°C. The heat effects of mixing solutions having a common anion increase almost linearly with the reciprocal value of the dielectric constant of the solvent. The heat effects of mixing solutions having a common cation, which are all negative in water-rich solutions, become endothermic after a certain value of the dielectric constant is passed. The results are discussed in terms of the solute-solvent structural properties. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

IR spectroelectrochemical studies of Fe2V4O13, FeVO4 and InVO4 thin films obtained via sol-gel synthesis

In this paper we generalize the IR spectroscopic properties of M³⁺VO₄ (M=Fe, In) orthovanadate and Fe₂V₄O₁₃ films. The films were prepared using the sol-gel synthesis route from M³⁺ nitrates and vanadium oxoisopropoxide. The vibrational bands in the IR absorbance spectra of the films are classified in terms of terminal V-O stretching (1050–880 cm^–1), bridging V-O^...Fe and V^...O^...Fe stretching (880–550 cm^–1), mixed V-O-V deformations and Fe-O stretching (<550 cm^–1) modes. Ex situ IR spectra of films were measured after consecutive charging/discharging to various intercalation coefficients x and correlated to the current peaks in the cyclic voltammetry curves measured in 1 M LiClO₄/propylene carbonate electrolyte. We classified the ex situ IR spectra of charged/discharged films according to their vibrational band changes. The results reveal that, for small values of the intercalation coefficient, crystalline FeVO₄, InVO₄ and Fe₂V₄O₁₃ films exhibit a simultaneous decrease in the intensity of all IR bands while the band frequencies remain unaffected. For the higher intercalation levels, IR mode frequencies are shifted, signaling the presence of reduced vanadium. Further charging leads to an amorphization of the film structure, which was established from the similarity of the IR spectra of charged films with those of amorphous films prepared at lower annealing temperatures. The results confirm that ex situ IR spectroelectrochemical measurement is an effective way to assess the structural changes in films with different levels of intercalation. Electronic Publication     

Kinetic Determination of Iodide by the Oxidation Reaction of Benzidine with Chloramine B

A kinetic method was developed for the determination of iodides by their catalytic effect on the oxidation of benzidine with Chloramine B. The determination limit of iodide is 2 × 10^–4 g/mL. It was demonstrated that the proposed method can be used for the determination of iodides in water, soil, and kelp.     

Adamantyl ferrocene derivatives: Antioxidant abilities and effects on model lipid membranes

A series of homoannularly and heteroannularly substituted adamantyl ferrocene derivatives has been synthesized and their effects on membrane fluidity were investigated using liposomes as the membrane models. The liposome formulations of adamantyl ferrocene derivatives were characterized by using dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence anisotropy measurements. It was demonstrated that adamantyl ferrocene derivatives incorporated into the liposome significantly affect the structure of the lipid bilayer. The results of the study have revealed that adamantyl ferrocene derivatives, compounds 9 – 12, partition into the hydrophobic/hydrophilic interface of the membrane, causing a significant decrease in membrane fluidity. The antioxidant potential of synthesized compounds was assessed with DPPH method and it was shown that the examined compounds possess certain antioxidant activity.