Photocyclization reactions. Part 4 . Synthesis of naphtho[1,8-bc]-furans and cyclohepta[cd]benzofurans using photocyclization of Ethyl 2-(8-Oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-naphthyloxy)acetates and ethyl 2-(5-Oxo-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-4-yloxy)acetates

Photocyclization reactions were carried out on ethyl 2-(8-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-naphthyloxy)acetates 1a-e and ethyl 2-(5-oxo-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-4-yloxy)acetates 2a-e in acetonitrile. Irradiation of 1a-e gave naphtho[1,8-bc]furanols 3a-e and naphtho[1,8-bc]furans 4a-e in 33–83% yields and ethyl acrylates 5b-d were produced in 3–25% yields during irradiation of 1b-d . On the other hand, 2a-e afforded cyclohepta[ad|benzofuranols 6a-e and cyclohepta[ad]benzofurans 7a-e in 44–87% yields. Ethyl acrylates 8b-d were also produced in 7–43% yields from irradiation of 2b-d . Substituent effects on photocyclization and reaction pathways are discussed.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of nitroethylene

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of nitroethylene in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran glass has been studied and discussed in reference to the results obtained from ESR measurements. No postpolymerization occurred at the temperature below ?150°C. In the temperature range between ?135°C and ?78°C, the polymer yield decreased with increasing postpolymerization temperature. The polymer yield increased linearly with the increase of the preirradiation dose in the range below 0.9 × 10⁶ r. The mean value for chain initiation was estimated to be about 1.3. The following correlations were observed between the results of the postpolymerization and ESR measurements. The postpolymerization started in the temperature range between ?140°C and ?135°C, where the ESR spectrum due to the anion radicals of nitroethylene disappeared. The polymer yield of the postpolymerization decreased with the photoirradiation at ?196°C before warming the samples in parallel with the photobleachability of the anion radicals observed in the glassy mixture by the ESR method. It was concluded from these results that the radiation-induced postpolymerization was initiated by the anion radicals of nitroethylene formed by the capture of electons.     

Polymerization and reaction of tetraoxane with various olefins catalyzed by BF3O·(C2H5)2

The copolymerization of tetraoxane with various olefins by BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ in ethylene dichloride at 30°C has been studied. The gas chromatographic technique was employed for the determination of concentration of each compound. The rate of tetraoxane consumption was decreased by the addition of olefins in the order of; no addition > trans-stilbene > styrene > 1,1-diphenylethylene > 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether > cyclohexene ≥ indene ≥ α-methylstyrene. The formation of the methanol-insoluble copolymer of tetraoxane and olefin was not confirmed. However, 4-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxane and 4,4-diphenyl-1,3-dioxane were formed in the reaction of tetraoxane with α-methylstyrene and 1,1-diphenylethylene, respectively. 4,4-Diphenyl-1,3-dioxane was identified on the basis of the molecular weight measurement, elemental analysis and NMR and infrared spectroscopy. On the other hand, 1,3-dioxane derivatives were not formed in the reaction of tetraoxane with α,β-disubstituted olefins. Monomer composition dependence of the copolymerization of tetraoxane with 1,1-diphenylethylene or α-methylstyrene has been studied. The amount of 4,4-diphenyl-1,3-dioxane formed reached a maximum at a monomer composition of 1:1 in the reaction of tetraoxane with 1,1-diphenylethylene. The formation of cyclic dimer of α-methylstyrene was suppressed by tetraoxane.     

Electron spin resonance study of poly-3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane irradiated with electron beams and ultraviolet light

Poly-3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane (poly-BCMO) was irradiated at ?196°C with electron beams and ultraviolet light, and observed ESR spectra were compared. A three-line spectrum (coupling constant of about 21 gauss) and a two-line spectrum (coupling constant of about 18 gauss) were observed after irradiation with electron beams in vacuo. They were attributed to free radicals and respectively. On the other hand, a three-line spectrum (coupling constant of about 20 gauss) and an asymmetric singlet spectrum were observed after ultraviolet irradiation in vacuum. They were assigned to free radicals and ? CH₂? O·, respectively. Mechanisms of radical formation were discussed in each case. When poly-BCMO was irradiated with electron beams at ?196°C in the presence of air, peroxy radicals were produced after subsequent treatment at ?78°C. The reaction between alkyl radicals and oxygen molecules was found to be diffusion-controlled.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. IV. Stereospecific polymerization of propenyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 and Al2(SO4)3–H2SO4 complex

The cis- and trans-propenyl alkyl ethers were polymerized by a homogeneous catalyst [BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂] and a heterogeneous catalyst [Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex]. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and tert-butyl propenyl ethers were used as monomers. The steric structure of the polymers formed depended on the geometric structures of monomer and the polymerization conditions. In polymerizations with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C., trans isomers produced crystalline polymers, but cis isomers formed amorphous ones except for tert-butyl propenyl ether. On the other hand, highly crystalline polymers were formed from cis isomers, but not from the trans isomers in the polymerization by Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex at 0°C. The x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomers were different from those produced from the cis isomers, except for poly(methyl propenyl ether). The reaction mechanism was discussed briefly on these basis of these results.     

Carrier-envelope phase measurement by all-optical poling with a polar side-chain polymer

Dependence of all-optical poling efficiency on carrier-envelope phase (CEP) could be measured using photoisomerization of dye molecules which are covalently bound to a polymer main chain and have large difference in static dipole moment between the ground state and excited state. Increased chromophore density leads to an order of magnitude reduction in signal-detection time from a dye doped polymer. Analysis of all-optical poling experiments with CEP changes clearly showed the presence of polarization restoring force to zero polarization. This enables resetting of SH activity in the all-optical poling process to be used for fast response loop of CEP stabilization. Phenomenological model could explain well the difference in the growth-and-decay dynamics of poling between sample of dye doped in polymer studied previously and that grafted to a polymer main chain used in the present paper.     

[IrCl(cod)]2-catalyzed direct oxidative esterification of aldehydes with alcohols

[IrCl(cod)]₂ catalyzed the oxidative esterification of a variety of aldehydes with methanol as a solvent in combination with K₂CO₃ under mild conditions (rt, 12 h). The oxidative esterification reaction of aliphatic aldehydes also took place with olefinic alcohols as reagents in toluene under similar conditions.     

Long-range propagation of annular beam for lidar application

Long-range propagation characteristics of an annular beam were examined from the viewpoint of lidar application. The annular beam permits to use a reflecting telescope for transmission and improves the transmission efficiency because it can pass through the telescope without the obstruction of the telescope’s secondary mirror. As the annular beam can enlarge up to the telescope diameter, it can be eye-safe and its divergence is also reduced.The annular beam generated by a couple of Axicon prisms; conical prisms, transforms its beam shape into the central peak narrow beam; nearly non-diffractive beam, through the far-field propagation. We evaluated how the central peak intensity and its width of the transformed beam change in long-range of 3-100 km. The difficulty of the optical arraignment and the requirement of the beam quality to obtain the enough performance of the beam shape transformation were also examined theoretically and experimentally for the lidar application. The stability of the transformed beam was also confirmed in the atmospheric fluctuation.