Modification of polycondensation of isophthalic and terephthalic acids and bisphenols with tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine by the presence of additives

In copolycondensation with 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (BPP) and bisphenols (BPs) containing various alkylidene linkages, the associative interactions between BP moieties in the resulting oligomers most likely affected the reaction. To modify the interactions to favorably control the reaction, several additives were examined in a two‐stage polycondensation of an equimolar mixture of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, first with BPP (50 mol %) and next with additional BPP. Of additives used, diphenylmethane of an equivalent to BPP in the preformed oligomers was most effective. The results are discussed in terms of the distributions of resulting oligomers prepared at 70% extent of reaction. Better results were obtained when the distributions showed profiles similar to the theoretical one calculated on the basis that the reactivity of the oligomers is the same independent of their chain lengths. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 970–975, 2003     

Structural control of self-assembled nanofibers by artificial beta-sheet peptides composed of D- or L-isomer

A novel method for the control of peptide self-assembly has been developed by using synthetic triblock-type beta-sheet peptides composed of l- or d-amino acid, 1L and 1D, as building blocks. The peptides 1L and 1D self-assemble into beta-sheet nanofibers with left- and right-handed twists, respectively, under appropriate condition. On the other hand, the 1L/1D binary mixture was found to form only globular aggregates at the same condition. Thus, amyloid-like nanofiber formation and its nanostructure could be successfully regulated by the stereospecificity of the constituent peptide species.     

Microwave spectrum of nitroxyl

The microwave spectrum of HNO has been observed and analyzed. Both a-type and b-type transitions have been measured. The rotational constants obtained are A = 553903.0 ± 2.7 MHz, B = 42308.52 ± 0.10 MHz, and C = 39169.46 ± 0.10 MHz. In the analysis of the spectrum, centrifugal distortion corrections are tentatively taken into account by using the centrifugal distortion constants determined by Dalby. The quadrupole coupling constants for nitrogen in HNO are determined to be χ_aa = 0.36 ± 0.56 MHz, χ_bb = ? 5.46 ± 0.30 MHz, and χ_cc = 5.10 ± 0.26 MHz. The dipole moment and its components determined from the Stark effect measurement are μ_total = 1.67 ± 0.03 D, μ_a = 1.03 ± 0.01 D, and μ_b = 1.31 ± 0.02 D. The microwave spectrum of DNO has been reanalyzed by taking into account the centrifugal distortion effect. The inertia defects for HNO and DNO have been calculated. The results are limited in precision by the lack of reliable force constants.     

Magnetic circular dichroism spectra of triphenylene and coronene

The absorption spectra of triphenylene (I) and coronene (II) are assigned by using the MCD spectra and the results of the SCF screened potential π-MO CI calculations. The calculated Faraday A/D values for the ¹E and ¹E_1u excited states of I and II are in excellent agreement with the experimental values, in contrast to the calculated Faraday B value for the ¹E_1u state of II.     

Frequency Measurement of Pure Rotational Transitions of D(2)O from 0.5 to 5 THz

Frequencies of pure rotational transitions of D(2)O were measured in the region 0.5-5 THz with a high-precision far-infrared spectrometer using a tunable radiation source. Measured frequencies of about 150 spectral lines, 30 of them being newly measured lines, provide an excellent frequency standard for the far-infrared region together with our previous measurements on H(2)(16)O, H(2)(17)O, and H(2)(18)O. Molecular parameters of Watson's A-reduced Hamiltonian have been obtained to reproduce the observed frequencies. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.