Optimal laser control of ultrafast photodissociation of I2- in water: mixed quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulation

A linearized optimal control method in combination with mixed quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulation is used for numerically investigating the possibility of controlling photodissociation wave packets of I(2)(-) in water. Optimal pulses are designed using an ensemble of photodissociation samples, aiming at the creation of localized dissociation wave packets. Numerical results clearly show the effectiveness of the control although the control achievement is reduced with an increase in the internuclear distance associated with a target region. We introduce effective optimal pulses that are designed using a statistically averaged effective dissociation potential, and show that they semiquantitatively reproduce the control achievements calculated by using optimal pulses. The control mechanisms are interpreted from the time- and frequency-resolved spectra of the effective optimal pulses.     

Protonation-induced structural change of lyotropic liquid crystals in oley- and alkyldimethylamine oxides/water systems

Lyotropic phase behavior of the nonionic and the half-ionized oleyldimethylamine oxide (OlDMAO)/water systems was investigated using polarized light microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Nonionic OlDMAO formed isotropic micellar solution, nematic, hexagonal, cubic, and lamellar liquid crystalline phases as the surfactant concentration increased. In contrast, half-ionized OlDMAO (i.e., 1:1 mixture of the nonionic and the protonated species) had a greater tendency to form bilayer structures, and the phase diagram became quite similar to those of double-chained ionic surfactants rather than single-chained ones, despite the introduction of positive charges to the nonionic one. The preference of the bilayer structures in the half-ionized OlDMAO was interpreted in terms of the dimers stabilized by the hydrogen bond between the nonionic and protonated species. For alkyldimethylamine oxides with a saturated hydrocarbon chain (CnDMAO, chain length: n = 14, 16, and 18), the phase sequence of lyotropic liquid crystals was hardly affected by the protonation, but an elongation of the cylinders of the hexagonal phase was observed for the half-ionized C14DMAO. Consequently, it can be considered that the dominant bilayer formation of the half-ionized OlDMAO is attributed to the combined effect of the hydrogen-bonded dimer formation and the cis-double-bond configuration of the alkyl chain.     

Preparation and characterization of novel polyaryloxydiphenylsilanes with high glass transition temperature by melt polycondensation of dianilinodiphenylsilane with bisphenols

Novel polyaryloxydiphenylsilanes with reduced viscosities of 0.31–0.65 dL/g were obtained by the melt polycondensation of dianilinodiphenylsilane with three bisphenols, 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 3 (4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,3-trimethyl-5-indanol, and 9,9-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene, at 200–320°C in vacuo. These polymers are all amorphous and readily soluble in a wide variety of organic solvents such as chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, cyclic ethers, and polar aprotic solvents. Because of their bulky and/or rigid ring structures, polyaryloxydiphenylsilanes containing diphenylhexafluoropropane, phenylindane, and diphenylfluorene units in the main chain have high glass transition temperatures of 106, 112, and 172°C, respectively. They are thermally stable showing almost no weight loss up to 350°C in air. Colorless, transparent, but brittle films are obtained from these polymers by solution casting. Ultraviolet transmission is sharply cut off by these polyaryloxydiphenylsilane films at ca. 300 nm, and the cut-off wavelength depends on the bisphenols used.     

Studies on polymers containing functional groups. II. Polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene

The polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene with free-radical and cationic initiators and without an initiator was examined. The structures thus obtained were estimated. Although polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene was rather complicated, according to the results, it appeared that each polymerization more or less might simultaneously follow the two types of mechanisms: normal vinyl polymerization and polymerization through the addition to benzene nuclei. The proportion of addition to benzene nuclei was considered to be highest in the polymerization with BF₃·(OEt)₂ and lowest in that with azobisisobutyronitrile. Degrees of polymerization of these polymers were low in all cases (42–82). Some brief experiments on copolymerization of o-hydroxystyrene were carried out.     

Effect of hydrophobic amino acids on the conformational change of decapeptides in micellar environments

A series of peptides containing various hydrophobic amino acids [methionine (Met), leucine (Leu), norleucine (Nle), phenylalanine (Phe), 2-aminooctanoic acid (Aoc), and 2-aminodecanoic acid (Ade)] were synthesized and their conformations were studied using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in different solvents such as water, methanol, and aqueous solution of ammonium tetradecanesulfonate. Peptides containing hydrophobic amino acids with linear side chains formed -sheets in water and methanol. Electrostatic interaction between the charged side chain (lysine) and a micelle consisting of an anionic surfactant, ammonium tetradecanesulfonate, is necessary for the formation of -helices in micellar environments. The conformational transition from -helix to -sheet structure required moderate hydrophobicity and linear side chains. This conformational transition depended on the surfactant concentration.     

The characteristic fragment ions and visualization of cationic starches on pulp fiber using ToF‐SIMS

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) was used to investigate the distribution of cationic starch on pulp fiber. To identify the characteristic fragment ions of the cationic starches, deuterium‐labeled cationic starches were prepared and analyzed using ToF‐SIMS. The starch 2‐hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride derivative generated characteristic fragments at m/z 58 and 59, which were identified as [H₂C?N(CH₃)₂]⁺ and [N(CH₃)₃]^+·, respectively. The fragmentation patterns were also suggested. From the imaging analysis, the adsorption of the cationic starch on fibers was uneven on individual fibers, as well as between fibers. This may have been on account of fiber morphology and structure. On examining scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, the quaternary ammonium starch derivative (QS) did not penetrate the fiber. No migration of cationic starch was observed under various drying conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with formaldehyde and polymer stereoregularity. Model compounds

The reaction of stereoisomers of pentane-2, 4-diol and heptane-2, 4, 6-triol with formaldehyde was investigated as a model for the formalization reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) in order to determine effect of the stereochemical configuration of the polyol molecules on the reaction. The isotactic (meso) diol portion reacted with formaldehyde to give cis-formal several times faster than did the syndiotactic (dl) diol portion to give trans-formal at 30–80°C. In the reaction of heterotactic (meso-dl) triol which provides both the isotactic and syndiotactic diol portions in a molecule, the proportion of trans-formal in the total formal decreased as the reaction proceeded. This shows that the formation of cis-formal is also favored thermodynamically to a greater extent, and hence the intramolecular migration of trans-formal to cis-formal did occur during the reaction. The rates of hydrolysis of formals of the diols were compared with those of the triols in order to see the effect of a hydroxyl group adjacent to the formal ring on the reaction. No appreciable rate difference was observed between the dimer and trimer models both in cis- and trans- formals. Therefore it was deduced from these results that the increase of the rate of hydrolysis of poly(vinyl formal) with the increase of hydroxyl groups along the polymer chain is a characteristic of macromolecules that is not observed in the low molecular weight models.     

Determination of electrochemical kinetic parameters by square-wave polarography: Polarographic reduction of Zn(II) in 1 M KCl,KBr, and KNCS solutions

A new method of determining electrochemical kinetic parameters by square-wave polarography was presented, in which the faradaic current at θ/2, θ being the half-period of superimposed square-wave voltage, was used for the analysis. The method gave the following kinetic parameters for the electrode reaction, Zn(II) + 2e(Hg), in aqueous solutions at 25° C: k_c^θ=0.0052 cm s^?1 and α_c=0.36 in 1 M KCl, k_c^θ=0.011 cm s^?1 and α_c=0.30 in 1 M KBr, and k_c^θ=0.020 cm s^?1 and α_c=0.52 in 1 M KNCS. Induced adsorption of Zn(II) on the dropping mercury electrode was suggested in solutions containing thiocyanate ions.     

Chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition of lithium amides to enoates

The external chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric conjugate addition reaction of lithium amides with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters provided beta-amino esters in high yields and high enantioselectivities.     

A simple and easy access to 3-N-alkyl-5-vinyloxazolidinones mediated by palladium-phosphine catalysts

A new entry for the synthesis of 3-alkyl substituted 5-vinyloxazolidin-2-one derivatives 2 from cis-2-butenylene-1,4-dicarbonate 1 and primary amines mediated by palladium-phosphine catalysts is described. The scope and limitation, a plausible mechanism, and an asymmetric version of the reaction are also discussed.