Anionic polymerization methods: An efficient tool for the synthesis of tailor-made macromolecules

The criteria of livingness, as applied to anionic polymerizations, are discussed. A number of restrictions have to be taken into consideration, if anionic polymerizations are to be applied to the synthesis of model polymers, Several examples of synthesis of tailor-made polymers via anionic polymerization are presented, namely end-functionalizations, chain extensions, end-to-end cyclizations, block copolymer synthesis, grafting processes, methods to make star polymers. In each case the reliability of the methods is discussed thoroughly.     

Stereoelectronic Features of a Complex Ketene Dimerization Reaction

The amidation reaction of a tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-one-4-carboxylic acid is a key step in the multi-kilogram-scale preparation of the antimalarial drug SJ733, now in phase 2 clinical trials. In the course of investigating THIQ carboxamidations, we found that propanephosphonic acid anhydride (T3P) is an effective reagent, although the yield and byproducts vary with the nature and quantity of the base. As a control, the T3P reaction of a 3-(2-thienyl) THIQ was performed in the absence of the amine, and the products were characterized: among them are three dimeric allenes and two dimeric lactones. A nucleophile-promoted ketene dimerization process subject to subtle steric and stereoelectronic effects accounts for their formation. Two novel monomeric products, a decarboxylated isoquinolone and a purple, fused aryl ketone, were also isolated, and mechanisms for their formation from the ketene intermediate are proposed.     

A redox-mediator pathway for enhanced multi-colour electrochemiluminescence in aqueous solution

The classic and most widely used co-reactant electrochemiluminescence (ECL) reaction of tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(ii) ([Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺) and tri-n-propylamine is enhanced by an order of magnitude by fac-[Ir(sppy)₃]³⁻ (where sppy = 5′-sulfo-2-phenylpyridinato-C²,N), through a novel ‘redox mediator’ pathway. Moreover, the concomitant green emission of [Ir(sppy)₃]³⁻* enables internal standardisation of the co-reactant ECL of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺. This can be applied using a digital camera as the photodetector by exploiting the ratio of R and B values of the RGB colour data, providing superior sensitivity and precision for the development of low-cost, portable ECL-based analytical devices.

A water-soluble Ir(iii) complex is shown to enhance the ‘remote’ mechanism of the most widely used co-reactant ECL reaction of tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(ii) with tripropylamine.     

Non-markovian effects in NMR relaxation processes: An application to molecular dynamics in branched and cross-linked solid polymers

The dynamic of restricted rotatranslation of mobile structural defects along a polymer chain are treated with an equation of motion with a non-Markovian, stochastic force. The MORI/KUBO/ZWANZIG representation gives a stochastic process with a memory where the loss of correlation is dependend on the restriction of diffusional motion of defects. The influence of crosslinks and branchings of the polymer chains on the molecular dynamics are discussed. The analytical spectral densities of ω^−-α-type characterized by the fractal dimensions of the relevant processes in the different polymeric systems, e. g. cis-polybutadiene, cis-polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene-rubber, high density and linear low density polyethylenes, are compared with the observed NMR data.     

Structure and properties of Na-magadiite dependent on temperature

The mechanism of the thermal behaviour of Na-magadiite at a temperature range from 293–573 K was developed based on X-ray diffraction, DTA, DTL, Q-TG, and gravimetric measurements. A structure model (BRANDT et al.) previously proposed was additionally used. It is possible to show that there probably is a connection between the typical modifications of basal spacing and significant shiftings of silicate sheets. Different steps of dehydration, decrystallization and structure variations can be ascribed to the several thermal transitions. The results depend on sample treatment such as the existent or not existent solid-water vapour interaction and the establishment of equilibrium. It seems that there is a predominance of the first mentioned influence.     

Self-assembled networks of conducting polyaniline in bulk polymers: A new class of conducting polymer blends

This review of the current status of conducting polymers will focus on recent progress which demonstrates that the initial promise of the late 1970's has become reality. Conducting polymers are now available as materials with truly unique properties: They combine the important electronic and optical properties of semiconductors and metals with the attractive mechanical properties and processing advantages of polymers. Conducting polymer blends based upon polyaniline (PANI) are a new class of materials in which the threshold for the onset of electrical conductivity (σ) can be reduced to volume fractions below 1%, well below that required for classical percolation (16% by volume for globular conducting objects dispersed in an insulating matrix in three dimensions). The origin of this remarkably low threshold for the onset of electrical conductivity is the self-assembled network morphology of the PANI polyblends which forms during the course of liquid-liquid separation. Since the average density of the conducting network near threshold is small, the conductivity increases smoothly and continuously over many orders of magnitude as the concentration of conducting polymer increases above threshold. The low percolation threshold and the continuous increase of σ(f) above threshold are particularly important; as a result of this combination, conducting polyblends can be reproducibly fabricated with controlled levels of electrical conductivity while retaining the desired mechanical properties of the matrix polymer.^1-3)     

Complexes of tricoordinate hypervalent pnictogens with pentamethylcyclopentadienylruthenium

The complexes of a pentamethylcyclopentadienylruthenium moiety with hypervalent tricoordinate pnictogens are reported. A unique mode of complexation is observed for each of the different pnictogens (P, As, Sb). The phosphorus derived complex exhibits an 8-electron tetrahedral bonding environment at phosphorus. The antimony derived complex maintains a 10-electron bonding system at antimony with a pseudo-trigonalbipyramidal geometry at antimony. The arsenic-containing complex is formed with destruction of the original arsenic heterocycle and formation of a trinuclear Ru–Ru–As ring. Remarkably, the formation of the arsenic ruthenium complex can be reversed to reconstruct the original arsenic heterocycle.