Spontaneous molecular orientation of polyimides induced by thermal imidization (4): Casting- and melt-induced in-plane orientation

Driving forces of in-plane chain orientation of polyimides (PIs) and their precursors were discussed and the mechanisms were proposed. A polyimide precursor, poly(amic acid) (PAA) derived from 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (s-BPDA) with p-phenylenediamine (PDA) showed a certain degree of in-plane orientation in its solution-casting process and clear molecular weight dependence. The results allowed us to propose the casting-induced in-plane orientation mechanism of the rigid PAA chains. The imidization-induced in-plane orientation mechanism was also discussed by investigating how residual solvent content influences the degree of in-plane orientation of resultant PI films. The results suggested that the magnitudes of the PI chain in-plane orientation are dominated by a combined effect of the initial PAA orientation, apparent stretching based on a great thickness decrease, and the molecular mobility during thermal imidization. In a system derived from s-BPDA with 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB), the effect of molecular mobility during thermal imidization was predominant when cured under usual thermal conditions owing to the presence of the trifluoromethyl groups contributing to weakened intermolecular interaction. In s-BPDA/TFMB and s-BPDA/m-TOL systems (m-TOL = m-tolidine), a melt-induced in-plane orientation phenomenon was observed at temperatures corresponding to their T_g’s when the extents of in-plane chain orientation (f values) were monitored as a function of temperature in the stepwise heating process. This behavior is very curious because there are no appreciable dimensional, morphological, and structural changes as some driving forces just above the T_g of s-BPDA/TFMB.     

A rapid, acetonitrile-free, HPLC method for determination of melamine in infant formula

A simple, precise, accurate and validated, acetonitrile-free, reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is developed for the determination of melamine in dry and liquid infant formula. The separation is performed on a Kromasil C18 column (150 mm × 3.2 mm I.D., 5 μm particle size) at room temperature. The mobile phase (0.1% TFA/methanol 90:10) is pumped at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min⁻¹ with detection at 240 nm. Melamine elutes at 3.7 min. A linear response (r > 0.999) is observed for samples ranging from 1.0 to 80 μg mL⁻¹. The method provides recoveries of 97.2-101.2% in the concentration range of 5-40 μg mL⁻¹, intra- and inter-day variation in <1.0% R.S.D. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values are 0.1 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.2 μg mL⁻¹, respectively.     

PVT of amorphous and crystalline polymers and their nanocomposites

The Pressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) of polystyrene (PS), polyamide-6 (PA-6) and their clay-containing polymeric nanocomposites (CPNC) were determined at T = 300-600 K and P = 0.1-190 MPa, thus in the molten, glassy and semicrystalline phase. The melt and glass behavior was interpreted following the Simha-Somcynsky (S-S) cell-hole free volume theory while that of the semicrystalline phase using S-S and the Midha-Nanda-Simha-Jain (MNSJ) cell theory describing crystalline quantum interactions. The theoretical analysis yielded two sets of the interaction parameters, one from the S-S and the other from the MNSJ model. The derivative properties: the compressibility, κ, and thermal expansion coefficient, α, were computed as functions of T, P and clay content, w. These functions, crossing several transition regions, were significantly different for the amorphous PS than for the semicrystalline PA-6. The isobaric PS plots of κ and α vs. T detected secondary transitions at T_β/T_g ≈ 0.9 ± 0.1 and at T_c/T_g = 1.2 ± 0.1. Addition of clay severely affected the vitreous phase (physical aging). In PA-6 systems the behavior was distinctly different than in PS, viz. κ = κ(T) followed a similar function across the melting zone, while α = α(T) dependencies were dramatically different for the solid and molten phase. The theoretical functions in reduced variables provided good basis for explanation of the observed dependencies.     

X-ray diffraction study on the thermal expansion behavior of cellulose Iβ and its high-temperature phase

Oriented films of cellulose prepared from algal cellulose were hydrothermally treated to convert them into highly crystalline cellulose Iβ. The lateral thermal expansion behavior of the prepared cellulose Iβ films was investigated using X-ray diffraction at temperatures from 20 to 300 °C. Cellulose Iβ was transformed into the high-temperature phase when the temperature was above 230 °C, allowing the lateral thermal expansion coefficient of cellulose Iβ and its high-temperature phase to be measured. For cellulose Iβ, the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of the a- and b-axes were α_a = 9.8 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹ and α_b = 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹, respectively. This anisotropic thermal expansion behavior in the lateral direction is ascribed to the crystal structure and to the hydrogen-bonding system of cellulose Iβ. For the high-temperature phase, the anisotropy was more conspicuous, and the TECs of the a- and b-axes were α_a = 19.8 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹ and α_b = −1.6 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹, respectively. Synchrotron X-ray fiber diffraction diagrams of the high-temperature phase were also recorded at 250 °C. The cellulose high-temperature phase is composed of a two-chain monoclinic unit cell, a = 0.819 nm, b = 0.818 nm, c (fiber repeat) = 1.037 nm, and γ = 96.4°, with space group = P2₁. The volume of this cell is 4.6% larger than that of cellulose Iβ at 30 °C.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Activation of Cyclobutanols: Formation of Cyclohexane Derivatives with Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

The activation of carbon–carbon σ bonds is a complementary method to access uncommon and difficult‐to‐prepare organometallic species. Herein, we describe the activation of tert‐cyclobutanols through an enantioselective insertion of a chiral rhodium(I) complex into the C? C σ bond of the cyclobutane, forming a quaternary stereogenic center and an alkyl‐rhodium functionality that initiates ring‐closure reactions. This technology provides access to a variety of substituted cyclohexane derivatives with quaternary stereogenic centers. The formation of different product families can be controlled by the employed set of reaction conditions and additives. In general, high yields and excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99 % ee are obtained.     

手性有机酸保留指数的手性指数及原子类型电拓扑指数模型

基于手性碳原子的取代基次序规则,提出分子手性指数(wj),结合原子类型电拓扑指数(En)研究18种手性羟基酸和氨基酸的薄层色谱保留指数(RM)的定量关系(QSRR).经最佳变量子集回归建立最佳四元数学模型,传统的相关系数(R2)为0.969,留一法(LOO)的交互验证系数(Q2)为0.943,结果证明具有良好的稳健性及预测能力.根据进入该模型的4个结构参数(wj,E13,E16,E17)可知,影响手性有机酸保留指数的主要因素是分子的二维结构特征(如襒O,—OH,—NH2)和分子的手性特征.综上所述,新建wj及En对手性有机酸的保留指数表征具有合理性与有效性,为预测手性有机酸的保留指数提供一种有效方法.     

芴二聚体三重激发态能量转移的理论研究

利用电子结构计算和电子转移速率理论,研究了芴二聚体的三重激发态能量转移过程. 应用限制性密度泛函理论构造得到非绝热态后,计算了控制能量转移的两个重要参数{电子耦合强度和重组能. 电子耦合强度的波动利用电子动力学模拟计算. 通过对上述参数相关函数的计算,成功得到了体系哈密顿量的对角元和非对角元波动,并应用微扰理论和波包扩散方法得到了能量转移速率. 结果表明,静态和动态的波动都明显地增加了能量转移速率,但是动态波动导致的速度增加却小于静态波动.     

A2( MoO4)3(A=Al,Cr,Fe)结构与相变的Raman光谱研究

用XRD、Raman光谱和DSC研究了Al2 (MoO4)3、Cr2( MoO4)3和Fe2 (MoO4)3的结构与相变.Al2(MoO4)3、Cr2 (MoO4)3和Fe2 (MoO4)3在室温下为单斜相,分别在483 K、673 K和783 K附近转变为正交相.发现MO4四面体的对称和反对称伸缩振动模的频率和相对强...     

快速烧结合成Zr1-xMxW2O8(M=Hf,Sn,Y)固溶体的Raman光谱研究

首次采用快速烧结合成技术制备了Zr1-xMxW2O8 (M=Hf,Sn,Y)系列固溶体.制备的合适条件为:温度1523～1553 K,时间30 min～1 h,同传统固相反应烧结相比,该方法合成时间和能耗显著降低.XRD和Raman光谱分析表明,Zr1-xMxW2O8 (M=Hf,Sn,Y)固溶体具有α-ZrW2O8的...