Swelling of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels in water-aprotic solvent mixtures

The swelling volume of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) gel in aprotic solvents (acetonitrile (AcN)-, tetrahydrofuran (THF)-, 1,4-dioxane (DO)- and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO))-water mixtures was measured at 25°C. The gel swollen in water shrank first and then reswelled with addition of the aprotic solvents. At an intermediate mole fraction (XDMSO) range of DMSO-water mixtures, the gel demonstrated a reentrant swelling phenomenon the hydrated gel shrank first on addition of a small amount of solvent, showed a typical wide reentrant transition, and gradually reswelled in the range near pure solvent. On the other hand, the gels in AcN-, THF-, and DO-water mixtures demonstrated a reentrant-convex swelling phenomenon: the gels reswelled after a reentrant phase transition in low Xorg (XAcN, XTHF and XDO), showed a maximum swelling in the intermediate Xorg region, and shrank again gradually in the high Xorg region. Such a swelling behavior of the gel was interpreted by correlating with solution properties of the aqueous aprotic solvent mixtures.The strength of hydrogen bonding around amide groups of the homopolymer was examined in pure solvents (water, THF, and DMSO) and in all proportion of aqueous THF to observe the relation with swelling behavior of gel by spectrum analysis of the amide I and II bands of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The swelling properties of gels in solvents and the aqueous mixtures were well correlated with the peak shifts of amide groups of the homopolymer.     

Selective solvation of Ag(I) iodate in methanol-dimethyl sulphoxide mixtures

The selective solvation of silver(I) iodate was studied in methanoldimethyl sulohoxide mixtures at 30° C by solubility and EMF measurements. The solubility of the salt increases continuously with the addition of dimethyl sulphoxide after a slight decrease into X_DMSO =0.1. The Gibbs energy of transfer of silver cation (determined on the basis of ferrocene reference method) decreases continuously while that of the iodate ion increases with the addition of dimethyl sulphoxide. The solvent transport number passes through a maximum (Δ = 2.0) around X_DMSO = 0.5. These results were interpreted as arising due to a heteroselective solvation of the salt, the silver ions being preferentially solvated by dimethyl sulphoxide and the iodate ion by methanol in these mixtures.     

Ternary β-Cyclodextrin Complexes as Models of Allosteric Effects

Two guests reacting with cyclodextrins (CDs) may form ternary complexes, in addition to the common competition of 1:1 complexes. One of the guests can really be included into the cavity of the CD, while the second guest molecule is either inserted close to the first one or attached to the outer surface of the supramolecule by H-bonding. There is a further possibility when the included guest bears a substituent outside the cavity and the second guest can interact with it. The properties of the ternary species formed are highly influenced by the solely (or primarily) included guest. The changes are attributed to the altered properties of the hydrophilic domain of the CD. The phenomena can be proved by NMR data obtained for some binary systems of -CD inclusion complexes and acetic acid and by the stability constants of the ternary complexes formed. Allosteric effects as well as coenzyme/apoenzyme/substrate interactions could be well modelled by these types of CD complexes.     

侧链对聚对苯撑乙炔溶解性和光谱性能的影响

利用钯催化反应合成了一类侧链含不同烷氧取代基(甲氧基，辛烷氧基，十二烷氧基)的聚时苯撑乙炔，讨论了侧链烷氧取代基对聚对苯撑乙炔的分子量和溶解性的影响，比较了聚合物的紫外吸收光谱和荧光光谱特征。     

Synthesis of Fullerene-Acrylamide Copolymer Nanoball and Its Lubrication Properties

A novel fuUerene-acrylamide copolymer was synthesized via radical polymerization. It is soluble in polar solvents such as water, dimethyl sulfoxide etc. The product was characterized by FTIR, UV-Vis and GPC. TEM analysis shows that the average particle diameter is about 46 nm. Four-ball tests show that the addition of a certain concentration of the fullerene copolymer to base stock (2 wt% triethanolamine and 0.5 wt% OPZ aqueous solution) can effectively raise the load-carrying capacity (PB value) and the antiwear ability. SEM analysis shows that the addition results in reducing diameter of wear scar and decreasing wear.     

Valency and molecular structure

Valency is defined for each molecular orbital. The molecular orbital valency values are shown to be a good measure of the bonding nature of the molecular orbital. Comparisons are made with photoelectron spectral studies and Mulliken overlap population analysis.The variation of molecular valency and molecular orbital valency with bond angle is studied. It is found that for all the molecules presently considered, energy is linearly related to valency and that the molecular valency reaches a maximum at the equilibrium bond angle. It is also shown that the molecular orbital valency can serve as a quantitatively reliable ordinate for Mulliken-Walsh diagrams.     

Some thermodynamic aspects of highT c superconductors

Thermochemical and thermodynamical properties of HTSC phases are reviewed for the Y-Ba-Cu-O system and also presented for the newly calculated Bi-Sr-Cu-O system stressing out stoichiometric and phenomenological viewpoints. Simulated data are listed for (H ₂₉₈ ^o -H _o ^o , phase transformation temperatures, standard entropies, standard enthalpies of formation, heat capacities in crystalline phase, etc. Pseudobinary phase diagrams are treated showing the effect of oxygen partial pressure particularly illustrated on the (Sr, Bi, Ba)-Cu-O system.The work was carried out under the project No. A 2010532 supported by the Grant Agency of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and the grant No. 104/97/0589 financed by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic.     

Some selected problems of nonaqueous microemulsions — phase diagrams and variation of the composition in the quaternary and ternary systems

A variety of quaternary and ternary systems of the type of dodecane/aliphatic alcohols/Na-dodecyl sulphate/water or a water-replacing component (formamide, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, propylene carbonate, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile) were subjected to a comparative analysis of microemulsification. The compositions of the systems of the type of oil/surfactant/cosurfactant/water or nonaqueous liquid were changed with respect to surfactant (Na-dodecyl sulfate and triton X 114) concentration, cosurfactant (homologous aliphatic alcohols) concentration and mixing ratio of water and water-replacing component. The appertaining phase diagrams were plotted and compared with those of aqueous systems.The experimental results suggest that the phase regions, which are designated as nonaqueous microemulsions, probably represent, not only microemulsions in the usual sense, but a separate kind of mixed phase whose microstructure is examined by special studies. Analogously to aqueous microemulsion systems, transparency and spontaneous formation of homogeneous multicomponent systems cannot serve as the sole criteria for waterless microemulsion formation. But they are important guiding properties of microemulsion formation in multicomponent systems.The variety of components involved in the chemical composition and the current insufficient knowledge do not permit to generally decide whether nonaqueous systems can be assigned to microemulsions or to molecular solutions. For clarifying this problem a detailed examination of the miscibility behavior, especially that of binary systems as a function of temperature, and the role that surfactant and cosurfactant play in the formation of homogeneous systems will be necessary.     

Liquefaction of corn stover and preparation of polyester from the liquefied polyol

This research investigated a novel process to prepare polyester from corn stover through liquefaction and crosslinking processes. First, corn stover was liquefied in organic solvents (90 wt% ethylene glycol and 10 wt% ethylene carbonate) with catalysts at moderate temperature under atmospheric pressure. The effect of liquefaction temperature, biomass content, and type of catalyst, such H₂SO₄, HCl, H₃PO₄, and ZnCl₂, was evaluated. Higher liquefaction yield was achieved in 2 wt% sulfuric acid, 1/4 (w/w) stover to liquefying reagent ratio; 160°C temperature, in 2h. The liquefied corn stover was rich in polyols, which can be directly used as feedstock for making polymers without further separation or purification. Second, polyester was made from the liquefied corn stover by crosslinking with multifunctional carboxylic acids and/or cyclic acid anhydrides. The tensile strength of polyester is about 5 MPa and the elongation is around 35%. The polyester is stable in cold water and organic solvents and readily biodegradable as indicated by 82% weight loss when buried in damp soil for 10 mo. The results indicate that this novel polyester could be used for the biodegradable garden mulch film production.     

Metal ion distribution and solubility of Mn1−xCux(HCOO)2 · 2 H2O Mixed Crystals [1–5]

The metal ion distribution on the two metal sites of monoclinic Mn_1?xCu_x(HCOO)₂ · 2(H,D)₂O mixed crystals are studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopic methods. The spectral regions 3 200–3 400 cm^?1 (v_OH), 2 875–2 990 cm^?1 (v_CH), 2 330–2 500 cm^?1 (v_OD of matrix isolated HDO molecules), 1 350–1 400 cm^?1 (symmetric CO₂ stretching modes), 570–950 cm^?1 (H₂O librations), and 490 cm^?1 (M? O lattice modes) are mostly sensitive to the metal ions present. The frequency shifts of these bands with increasing content of copper show that Cu²⁺ prefers the M(1) site, coordinated by HCOO^? only. The strengths of the hydrogen bonds increase on going from manganese to copper formate, due to the increased synergetic effect of Cu²⁺. Solubility and X-ray data of the mixed crystals are included. Irrespective of the same crystal structure, two series of mixed crystals are formed: eutonic area at 0.65 ≥ x ≥ 0.5.