溯源辨析“活化分子”概念在化学教材中的角色定位*

“活化分子”作为国内化学教育领域广为人知的科学概念,在各类相关化学教材中都有介绍。然而在国外多种经典化学教材中却完全没有“活化分子”的概念,反映出国内外化学教育领域对化学反应速率理论相关知识点的处理上存在明显的差异与分歧。通过溯源关键历史文献,回顾了“活化分子”概念的形成及其在化学反应速率理论发展过程中的角色演变,指出“活化分子”概念已经退出反应速率理论的舞台,在教材中应更多地呈现其在科学史方面的价值,而不是科学价值。     

从“最强酸碱”话题入手介绍超强酸、超强碱

酸碱质子理论是普通化学中的重要模块。学习酸碱质子理论一般从弱酸水溶液入手,若将应用范围扩展为所有含质子的化合物,该理论将被赋予更多的内涵。在含质子的已知化合物中,K_a的范围十分宽广,跨越了100个数量级以上。哪种酸碱“最强”一直是学生间喜闻乐见的话题,以此话题出发,介绍了常见的超强酸、超强碱与相关概念及应用。这些概念的介绍不仅拓展了学生的视野,更能够加深学生对酸碱质子理论的理解,对未来分析化学、无机化学、有机化学的教育产生积极意义。     

Preparation of modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes as a reinforcement for epoxy shape‐memory polymer composites

Effectively improving the mechanical properties and thermal resistance of epoxy shape‐memory polymers (ESMPs) without affecting their shape‐memory performance is necessary to expand these polymers in practical applications. In this article, modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared and used as efficient reinforcement for enhancing the comprehensive properties of ESMPs. Increases of nearly 289% to 444% for impact strength and 112% to 184% for tensile force were obtained by adding only 0.1 to 1 wt% epoxy‐modified MWCNTs. The addition of unmodified and carboxyl‐modified MWCNTs was also investigated but showed less impact on the mechanical properties of the ESMPs than epoxy‐modified MWCNTs. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) showed that less than 1 wt% modified MWCNTs can enhance the heat resistance of ESMPs greatly. Although the shape recovery time for composite materials increased upon adding the MWCNTs, the entire recovery time was still less than 1 minute, and the shape recovery rate was relatively high, nearly 100%.     

Nature of Alkali- and Coinage-Metal Bonds versus Hydrogen Bonds

We have quantum chemically studied the structure and nature of alkali- and coinage-metal bonds (M-bonds) versus that of hydrogen bonds between A−M and B⁻ in archetypal [A−M⋅⋅⋅B]⁻ model systems (A, B=F, Cl and M=H, Li, Na, Cu, Ag, Au), using relativistic density functional theory at ZORA-BP86-D3/TZ2P. We find that coinage-metal bonds are stronger than alkali-metal bonds which are stronger than the corresponding hydrogen bonds. Our main purpose is to understand how and why the structure, stability and nature of such bonds are affected if the monovalent central atom H of hydrogen bonds is replaced by an isoelectronic alkali- or coinage-metal atom. To this end, we have analyzed the bonds between A−M and B⁻ using the activation strain model, quantitative Kohn-Sham molecular orbital (MO) theory, energy decomposition analysis (EDA), and Voronoi deformation density (VDD) analysis of the charge distribution.     

Computational studies on two novel energetic nitrogen‐rich compounds based on tetrazolone

Two novel energetic nitrogen‐rich compounds 1,4‐diaminotetrazol‐5‐one ( DATO ) and 1,4‐dinitrotetrazol‐5‐one ( DNTO ) were proposed first and studied by quantum chemistry method with B3LYP/6‐31G* level of theory. The optimized geometry, IR predicted spectrum and thermochemical parameters, frontier molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential were calculated for inspecting the electronic structure, molecular stability and chemical reactivity. The important macroscopic properties including density, enthalpy of formation, detonation parameters and impact sensitivity have been predicted as well. As a result, two designed compounds DATO and DNTO possess positive enthalpy of formation (395.79 and 342.77 kJ/mol), impressive detonation parameters (D = 8.80 km/s, P = 33.69 GPa; D = 8.89 km/s, P = 34.98 GPa) superior to the remarkable explosive RDX, acceptable sensitivities and might be promising candidates of energetic materials. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A paradigm shift in rate determining step from single electron transfer between phenylsulfinylacetic acids and iron(III) polypyridyl complexes to nucleophilic attack of water to the produced sulfoxide radical cation: a non‐linear Hammett

Mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of phenylsulfinylacetic acids (PSAAs) by iron(III) polypyridyl complexes in aqueous acetonitrile medium has been investigated spectrophotometrically. An initial intermediate formation between PSAA and [Fe(NN)₃]³⁺ is confirmed from the observed Michaelis–Menten kinetics and fractional order dependence on PSAA. Significant rate retardation with concentration of [Fe(NN)₃]³⁺ is rationalized on the basis of coordination of a water molecule at the carbon atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen of the metal polypyridyl complexes by nucleophilic attack at higher concentrations. Electron‐withdrawing and electron‐releasing substituents in PSAA facilitate the reaction and Hammett correlation gives an upward ‘V’ shaped curve. The apparent upward curvature is rationalized based on the change in the rate determining step from electron transfer to nucleophilic attack, by changing the substituents from electron‐releasing to electron‐withdrawing groups. Electron‐releasing substituents in PSAA accelerate the electron transfer from PSAA to the complex and also stabilize the intermediate through resonance interaction leading to negative reaction constants (ρ). Conversely, electron‐withdrawing groups, while retarding the electron transfer exert an accelerating effect on the nucleophilic attack of H₂O which leading to low magnitude of ρ⁺ compared to high ρ^? values of electron‐releasing groups. Marcus theory is applied, and a fair agreement is seen with the experimental values. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transient spectroscopic characterization of the ring‐opening reaction of tetrahydrochromeno[2,3‐dimethyl]indole

Tetrahydrochromeno is a structural variant of spiropyran that undergoes a reversible ring‐opening to generate a colored nitrophenolate intermediate. Earlier work confirmed this intermediate through trimethylsilyl cyanide trapping under continuous irradiation. We have performed transient absorption spectroscopy to further characterize the mechanism of the ring‐opening reaction. Excitation at 355 nm produced a transient species with an absorption maximum at 445 nm, which we assign to the nitrophenolate unit of the ring‐opened product. The transient absorption decays after ~970 ns with small optical density changes corresponding to a 0.15 quantum yield. Exposure to oxygen did not exhibit a significant deleterious effect on the photoisomerization of the chromeno dye. Time‐dependent density functional theory corroborated spectroscopic assignments of the starting chromeno and the putative ring‐opened intermediate. The excited state behavior of this system parallels the structurally similar oxazine system reported by Raymo and coworkers. The one significant difference is the longer lifetime of the photochemically generated intermediate from chromeno. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Excited‐state hydrogen bond strengthening of coumarin 153 in ethanol solvent: a TDDFT study

So far, coumarin dyes have been extensively studied with various means to understand their photophysical behaviors and photochemical properties. Here, our performing time‐dependent density functional theory calculation is aimed at exploring the excited‐state hydrogen bonding dynamics of coumarin 153 (C153) in protic ethanol (EtOH) solvent. The calculated results suggest that the excited‐state hydrogen bond C?O?H?O between C?O group and O?H group in the C153‐EtOH complex is strengthened, and the S₀ → S₁ transition of the complex corresponds to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) hopping to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The excited‐state hydrogen bond strengthening has been further confirmed by its larger binding energy in the S₁ state than in the S₀ state. In addition, because of the formation of the hydrogen bond C?O?H?O, a red shift of about 7 nm occurs in the electronic spectra of the C153‐EtOH complex, which is in good accordance with the experiment result. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于包层模谐振的三包层石英特种光纤温度传感特性研究

提出了一种基于包层模谐振的光纤温度传感器. 它是通过将三包层石英特种光纤(TCQSF)两端分别与普通单模光纤(SMF)电弧熔接构成的SMF-TCQSF-SMF结构. 根据耦合模理论, 首先将TCQSF等效为三个同轴波导, 按各波导模场的分布特点标量计算其传输模式的色散曲线, 并深入研究其耦合长度与传输谱线之间的关系; 其次根据光纤的热光效应及热膨胀效应, 分析计算该传感器的温度灵敏度; 最后选取耦合长度为一个拍长时的传感器进行温度传感实验. 实验结果表明, 在35-95 ℃的温度变化范围内, 其温度灵敏度为73.74 pm/℃, 与理论计算结果一致. 因此, 该传感器具有结构简单、制备容易、灵敏度高、包层模激发可控等优点, 可用于工业生产、生物医学等温度传感领域.     

基于(火积)理论的“+”形高导热构形通道实验研究

基于构形理论和■理论,对"+"形高导热通道的方形构造体开展导热实验研究,并对不同优化目标和不同高导热通道布置形式下的构造体导热性能进行比较.结果表明:对于"+"形高导热通道的方形构造体,实验和数值计算所得到的构造体最高温度点均位于"+"形高导热通道两分支之间,实验和数值计算所得到的构造体平均温差和■耗散率的误差均在可接受范围内,这从定性和定量的角度证明了导热构形优化结果的正确性.与"H"形高导热通道的方形构造体相比,构造体内高导热通道采用一级"+"形布置使得其导热■耗散率得到降低.■耗散率最小的一级"+"形高导热通道构造体最优构形与最大温差最小的构造体最优构形相比,前者的导热■耗散率降低了5.98%,但最大温差提高了3.57%.最大温差最小目标有助于提高构造体的热安全性,■耗散率最小目标有助于提高构造体的整体导热性能.在保证热安全性能的前提下,实际微电子器件设计中可采用■耗散率最小的构造体最优构形以提高其整体导热性能.