Chemical modification of poly(vinyl chloride) by nucleophilic substitution

The reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in nucleophile (Nu)/ethylene glycol (EG) or Nu/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution was found to result in the substitution of Cl in PVC with Nu from solution, in addition to the straight elimination of HCl, both of which led to the dechlorination of PVC. Examined Nu⁻ were I⁻, SCN⁻, OH⁻, N₃⁻, and the phthalimide anion. For the Nu/EG solution, elimination was favoured over substitution for all Nu⁻. The ratio of substitution to dechlorination was notable, descending in the order OH⁻ > SCN⁻ = N₃⁻ > phthalimide anion > I⁻. For the Nu/DMF solution, the ratio of substitution to dechlorination was high, in the order SCN⁻ > N₃⁻ > I⁻ > phthalimide anion. In both cases, the orders of the ratios were similar to those of the nucleophilic reactivity constant, I⁻ > SCN⁻ > N₃⁻ > phthalimide anion, except for I⁻. The low ratio for I⁻ was attributable to the elimination of HI after the substitution of Cl in PVC with I in solution, because I⁻ is a strong nucleophile, as well as an excellent leaving group. Comparing the effect of EG and DMF on the substitution of Cl in PVC with Nu in solution, the ratio of substitution to dechlorination was higher for I⁻, SCN⁻, N₃⁻, and the phthalimide anion in DMF than in EG. The substitution of Cl in PVC with Nu in solution was found to occur preferentially in DMF versus EG.     

Bioactive Gel Coatings Derived from Vinyltrimethoxysilane

An ethanol (EtOH) solution of polymerized vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), about 20-mers, was mixed with an aqueous solution of calcium acetate (Ca(OAc)2) and refluxed in N2 for 1 h to give sols of a typical composition VTMS : H2O : EtOH : Ca(OAc)2 = 1 : 9 : 8 : 0.05 (mol). Homogeneous films could be produced, by dip-coating, on Nylon6® and soda-lime glass, but not on polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene. The gel films did not deposit apatite within 14 days of soaking in a simulated body fluid whereas films abraded with emery paper as well as bulk gels deposited apatite on the surfaces within 7 days, indicating the present gel was suitable for bioactive coatings on Nylon6®     

Backward polarization of π−p elastic scattering from 2.22 to 3.50 GeV/c

We have measured the polarization in π^? backward elastic scattering at 2.22, 2.46, 2.71 and 3.50 GeV/c incident momenta, in the u-range?1.0 ≦u≦0.1 (GeV/c)². The experiment used a polarized proton target and detected both pions and protons. We have found large discrepancies between the new data and the result of even the latest phase-shift analysis.     

Application of atomic stereomicroscope to surface science

A stereograph of atomic arrangement was displayed directly on the screen of display-type spherical-mirror analyzer without any computer-aided conversion process for the first time. This stereoscopic photograph enables viewing three-dimensional atomic arrangement. This technique was realized taking advantage of the phenomenon of circular dichroism in photoelectron angular distribution. The azimuthal shifts of forward focusing peaks in a photoelectron angular distribution taken with left and right helicity light in a special arrangement are the same as the parallaxes in a stereo view of atoms. Hence a stereoscopic recognition of three-dimensional atomic arrangement is possible, when the left eye and the right eye respectively view the two images obtained by left and right helicity light simultaneously.     

A pressure and temperature study on solubility and micelle formation of sodium perfluorodecanoate in aqueous solution

Both the critical solution temperature (CST, or the Krafft temperature) and the critical solution pressure (CSP, or the Tanaka pressure) were determined for sodium perfluorodecanoate (NaPFDe) in water, and the result shows that the Krafft temperature is raised with the increase in the Tanaka pressure. A thermodynamic analysis has been made on the data for the critical micellization concentration (cmc) and of the solubility at various temperatures and pressures. The estimated change in the partial molal volume, resulting from micelle formation from the singly dispersed state and from the hydrated solid state, was found to be conspicuously higher for NaPFDe compared to hydrocarbon surfactants. This has been ascribed to the more pronounced role of carbon chain-water interactions and water structure effects of the fluorocarbon surfactants.     

Simple construction of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane,bicyclo[3.3.0]octane,and related benzo derivatives by palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation

[reaction: see text] Bicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes (hydrindanes) and bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes (octahydropentalenes) are easily synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylations. Additionally, benzo-fused bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes are prepared for the first time through intramolecular coupling between silyl enol ethers and aromatic rings in the presence of catalytic palladium acetate.     

A photocatalytic membrane reactor for VOC decomposition using Pt-modified titanium oxide porous membranes

Porous titanium oxide membranes with pore sizes in the range of 2.5–22 nm were prepared by a sol–gel procedure, and were applied for decomposition of methanol and ethanol as model volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a photocatalytic membrane reactor, where oxidation reaction occurs both on the surface and inside the porous TiO₂ membrane while reactants are permeating via one-pass flow. Methanol was completely photo-oxidized by black-light irradiation to CO₂ when methanol at a concentration of 100 ppm was used at a feed flow rate of 500 × 10⁻⁶ m³/min, but the conversion decreased when the MeOH concentration in the feed was increased. Pt-modification was carried out by photo-deposition, and led to a decrease in pore diameter. Using Pt-modified membranes, a nearly complete oxidation of methanol up to 10,000 ppm at a feed flow rate of 500 × 10⁻⁶ m³/min was observed. Thus, such membranes would be effective for purifying a permeate stream after one-pass permeation through the TiO₂ membranes. The decomposition of ethanol is also discussed.     

Homogeneous SiGe crystals grown by using the traveling liquidus-zone method

It is indispensable to estimate a diffusion coefficient in a solution zone in order to grow a homogeneous crystal by using the traveling liquidus-zone (TLZ) method. To estimate the diffusion coefficient of Ge in the SiGe solution zone, result of a two-dimensional numerical simulation is compared with an experimental result. From the comparison, the diffusion coefficient is estimated to be 9.5×10⁻⁵ cm²/s. By using this coefficient, a sample translation rate for obtaining a homogeneous SiGe crystal is determined. By translating samples with appropriate rates, homogeneous Si_0.5Ge_0.5 crystals are successfully grown. The typical Ge composition is 0.496±0.006 for more than 13 mm long. The experimental result shows the homogeneity of ±1.2% in the mole fraction. This deviation corresponds to the variation of less than ±0.03% in the lattice constant. Since this variation is negligibly small, the homogeneity is excellent. Thus it is found that the TLZ method is the universal growth technique, which is applicable to the crystal growth of not only the III–V compounds but also the IV–IV compounds.     

Synthesis of Hydrotalcite from Seawater and Its Application to Phosphorus Removal

10.0 wt% milk of lime was added to seawater containing AlCl 3 at Mg/Al molar ratio of 3.0 until pH 10.5 with stirring, and kept at 25;C for 1 h. Hydrotalcite (HT) was precipitated as a single phase, and Mg 2+ and Al 3+ were quantitatively precipitated. The chemical composition was [Mg 0.75 Al 0.25 (OH) 2 ][(SO 4 ) 0.06 (Cl) 0.02 (OH) 0.11 *];0.27H 2 O* (*Balance). A 100 mg-P/L Na 2 HPO 4 solution and the HT were shaken at 25;C. Phosphate removal increased with increasing time and the HT quantity, and was the highest at pH 7-9. Phosphate ion could be quantitatively removed, adding 8 times the stoichiometric quantity of the HT at pH 8.7 for 6 h.