Improper hydrogen-bonded cyclohexane C-Hax?Yax contacts: experimental evidence from H NMR spectroscopy of suitable axial cyclohexane models

B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) calculations predicted the presence of improper hydrogen-bonded C-H_ax?Y_ax contacts of different strength in cyclohexane derivatives;¹ it was predicted that the addition of an appropriate bridging fragment X_ax between an axial substituent Y₁ and a cyclohexane carbon would strengthen the improper hydrogen-bonded contact C-H_ax?Y₁ when the X_ax-Y₁ bond vector bisects the cyclohexane ring. To support the theoretical predictions with experimental evidence for this effect, several 2-substituted adamantane analogues with suitable improper H-bonded C-H_ax?O contacts of different strength were synthesized, as models of the corresponding cyclohexane derivatives, and their ¹H NMR spectra were recorded at 298 K. The ¹H NMR signal separation within the cyclohexane ring γ-CH₂s is increased when the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)-calculated strength of the H-bonded C-H_ax?O=C_ax contact interaction is increased.     

Adsorption of block copolymers in nanoporous alumina

We have studied the adsorption of end-attaching block copolymer chains inside the cylindrical pores of nanoporous alumina. Highly asymmetric PS-PEO block copolymers, with a small PEO anchoring block and a long PS dangling block, were allowed to adsorb onto porous alumina substrates with an average pore diameter of ∼200 nm from toluene solution. The adsorption process was monitored using FTIR spectroscopy, whereas depth profile analysis was performed by means of XPS and Ar⁺ ion sputtering. It is found that the PS-PEO adsorption kinetics in porous alumina are ∼4 orders of magnitude slower than the corresponding case of a flat alumina substrate. It appears that chains adsorbed near the pore entrance early on tend to form a barrier for chains entering the pore at later times, thereby slowing down the adsorption process significantly. This effect is much more pronounced for large chains whose dimensions are comparable with the pore diameter. The equilibrium adsorbance value is also affected by chain size due to the additional entropic penalty associated with chain confinement, the adsorbance falling substantially when the chain dimensions become comparable with the pore diameter. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1676–1682, 2010     

Responsive Copolymer Brushes of Poly[(2‐(Methacryloyloxy)Ethyl) Trimethylammonium Chloride] (PMETAC) and Poly(1H,1H,2H,2H‐Perfluorodecyl acrylate) (PPFDA) to Modulate Surface Wetting Properties

Polymer brushes have a large potential for controlling properties such as surface lubrication or wetting through facile functionalization. Polymer chemistry, chain density, and length impact on the wetting properties of brushes. This study explores the use of diblock copolymer brushes with different block length and spatial arrangement of the blocks to tune surface wettability. Block copolymer brushes of the polyelectrolyte [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (PMETAC) with a contact angle of 17° and a hydrophobic block of ¹H, ¹H, ²H, ²H‐perfluorodecyl Acrylate (PPFDA) with a contact angle of 130° are synthesized by RAFT polymerization. By changing the sequence of polymerization either block is synthesized as top or bottom block. By varying the concentration of initiator the length of the blocks is varied. Contact angle values with intermediate values between 17° and 130° are measured. In addition, by changing solvent pH and in presence of a different salt the contact angle of the copolymer brushes can be fine tuned. Brushes are characterized by atomic force microscopy, Raman confocal microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

     

Determination of the antifouling booster biocides irgarol 1051 and diuron and their metabolites in seawater by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector

A method for the simultaneous determination of two antifouling booster biocides, diuron (1-(3,4 dichlorophenyl) 3,3 dimethyl urea) and irgarol 1051 (2-methylthio-4-tert-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-triazine), and their metabolites, DCPMU (1-(3,4 dichlorophenyl)-3 methyl urea), DCPU (1-(3,4 dichlorophenyl) urea), DCA (3,4 dichloroaniline) and M1 (2-methylthio-4-tert-butylamino-s-triazine) in seawater by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was developed. The optimization of the extraction procedure included the type of sorbent and the type of the organic solvent for the elution. Optimization of the liquid chromatography (LC) separation was also performed and the robustness of the developed separation was tested, in respect to the effect of three factors (column temperature, flow rate and initial strength of acetonitrile) on the retention times, peak resolution and peak area of the six compounds. The optimized procedure included off-line extraction of these compounds from seawater samples using C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. The inter-day precision of the developed procedure was less than 14% (as R.S.D.s) for all the tested compounds. Satisfactory recoveries (higher than 82%) were obtained for all substances, except for DCA, for which low recovery was obtained (30.5%). The limits of detection (LODs) of the substances varied between 0.005 (DCPMU) and 0.026 (M1) μg L⁻¹.     

Investigation of the incorporation of electrolyte anions in porous anodic Al2O3 films by employing a suitable probe catalytic reaction

A new method has been developed capable of describing the incorporation of electrolyte anions along the pore wall surface and across both the barrier layer and the pore wall oxide after the establishment of the steady state of growth of porous anodic Al₂O₃ where other methods cannot be applied to obtain reliable results. The knowledge of the nature/composition of anodic oxides as regards the incorporation of species like electrolyte anions is of specific importance for both the understanding of the electrochemical mechanism of oxide production and growth and the scientific and technological applications of porous anodic Al₂O₃ films. The method consists of the selection and use of a suitable catalytic probe reaction on porous anodic oxides at thicknesses varying from a value near zero up to the maximum limiting thickness and the treatment of the experimental reaction rate results by a properly developed mathematical formalism. This method was employed in anodic Al₂O₃ films prepared in H₂SO₄ anodizing electrolyte at a constant bath temperature and different current densities using as a probe reaction the decomposition of HCOOH on these oxides, which is almost exclusively a dehydration reaction, at relatively high reaction temperatures, 350 °C and 390 °C, where the effect of other species except SO₄ ²⁻ incorporated in the oxide on the reaction rate is eliminated. It has been shown that the fraction of the intercrystallite surfaces occupied by SO₄ ²⁻ follows a parabola-like distribution. It has a significant value at the pore base surface, depending on the current density, then it passes through a maximum along the pore wall surface and across both the barrier layer and the pore walls near the pore bases at positions depending on the current density and then becomes almost zero at the mouths of the pores of the oxide with the maximum limiting thickness and at both the Al₂O₃/Al interface and cell boundaries. The maximum value of the surface coverage is almost independent of the current density and is always near 1, showing an almost complete saturation of intercrystalline surfaces at these positions. The above distribution of surface coverage predicts a qualitatively similar distribution of the SO₄ ²⁻ bulk concentration across both the barrier layer and pore wall oxide around the pore bases. The method may be improved and developed further either for a more detailed investigation of the above films or to investigate films prepared in other pore-forming electrolytes. Received: 30 July 1998 / Accepted: 30 September 1998     

Self‐Assembling Nanomaterials using Magnetic Nanoparticles Modified with Polystyrene Brushes

Magnetic nanomaterials have been studied in order to generate novel nanocomposites that display both the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles and the ability to self‐assemble of the amorphous block copolymer matrix. Towards this goal, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles have been modified with PS brushes by ATRP in order to improve both the dispersion and the affinity of the nanoparticles with one of the blocks of a polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐polystyrene block copolymer. This method of preparation of nanocomposites opens new strategies for the generation of magnetic nanomaterials. The samples are characterized using DSC and atomic and magnetic force microscopies.

     

A statistical model of free-radical copolymerization/crosslinking reactions

A statistical model for network formation by the free-radical copolymerization and crosslinking reaction with small crosslinker content is used to obtain expressions for structural averages as a function of reaction parameters. The analysis accounts for reaction features that are characteristic of free-radical mechanisms and can be adapted to include cyclization, various modes of termination, and the gel effect. Profiles for structural averages such as the weight average molecular weight, the sol weight fraction, the molecular weight between crosslinks, and the number of elastically active network chains are obtained as functions of conversion.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and biological studies of new antimony(III) complexes with thiones. The influence of the solvent on the geometry of the complexes

Five new antimony(III) complexes with the heterocyclic thiones 2-mercapto-benzimidazole (MBZIM), 5-ethoxy-2-mercapto-benzimidazole (EtMBZIM), and 2-mercapto-thiazolidine (MTZD) of formulas {[SbCl(2)(MBZIM)4]+.Cl-.2H(2)O. (CH(3)OH)} (1), {[SbCl(2)(MBZIM)4]+.Cl-.3H(2)O.(CH3CN)} (2), [SbCl(3)(MBZIM)2] (3), [SbCl(3)(EtMBZIM)(2)] (4), and [SbCl(3)(MTZD)2] (5) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, far-FT-IR, differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, and conductivity measurements. Complex {[SbCl2(tHPMT)(2)]+Cl-}, (tHPMT = 2-mercapto-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidine), already known, was also prepared, and its X-ray crystal structure was solved. It is shown that the complex is better described as {[SbCl3(tHPMT)(2)]} (6). Crystal structures of all other complexes (1-5) have also been determined by X-ray diffraction at ambient conditions. The crystal structure of the hydrated ligand, EtMBZIM.H2O is also reported. Compound [C(28)H(24)Cl(2)N(8)S(4)Sb.2H(2)O.Cl.(CH(3)OH)] (1) crystallizes in space group P2(1), with a = 7.7398(8) A, b = 16.724(3) A, c = 13.717(2) A, beta = 98.632(11) degrees, and Z = 2. Complex [C(28)H(24)Cl(2)N(8)S(4)S(b).Cl.3H(2)O.(CH(3)CN)] (2) corresponds to space group P2(1), with a = 7.8216(8) A, b = 16.7426(17) A, c = 13.9375(16) A, beta = 99.218(10) degrees , and Z = 2. In both 1 and 2 complexes, four sulfur atoms from thione ligands and two chloride ions form an octahedral (Oh) cationic [SbS(4)Cl(2)]+ complex ion, where chlorides lie at axial positions. A third chloride counteranion neutralizes it. Complexes 1 and 2 are the first examples of antimony(III) compounds with positively charged Oh geometries. Compound [C(14)H(12)Cl(3)N(4)S(2)S(b)] (3) crystallizes in space group P, with a = 7.3034(5) A, b = 11.2277(7) A, c = 12.0172(8) A, alpha = 76.772(5) degrees, beta = 77.101(6) degrees, gamma = 87.450(5) degrees, and Z = 2. Complex [C(18)H(20)Cl(3)N(4)O(2)S(2)S(b)] (4) crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 8.6682(6) A, b = 10.6005(7) A, c = 13.0177(9) A, alpha = 84.181(6) degrees, beta = 79.358(6) degrees, gamma = 84.882(6) degrees, and Z = 2, while complex [C(6)H(10)Cl(3)N(2)S(4)S(b)] (5) in space group P2(1)/c shows a = 8.3659(10) A, b = 14.8323(19) A, c = 12.0218(13) A, beta = 99.660(12) degrees, and Z = 4 and complex [C(8)H(16)Cl(3)N(4)S(2)S(b)] (6) in space group P1 shows a = 7.4975(6) A, b = 10.3220(7) A, c = 12.1094(11) A, alpha = 71.411(7) degrees, beta = 84.244(7) degrees, gamma = 73.588(6) degrees, and Z = 2. Crystals of complexes 3-6 grown from acetonitrile solutions adopt a square-pyramidal (SP) geometry, with two sulfur atoms from thione ligands and three chloride anions around Sb(III). The equatorial plane is formed by two sulfur and two chloride atoms in complexes 3-5, in a cis-S, cis-Cl arrangement in 3 and 5 and a trans-S, trans-Cl arrangement in 4. Finally, in the case of 6, the equatorial plane is formed by three chloride ions and one sulfur from the thione ligand while the second sulfur atom takes an axial position leading to a unique SP conformation. The complexes showed a moderate cytostatic activity against tumor cell lines.