Modeling and simulation of free radical polymerization of styrene under semibatch reactor conditions

The first part of this approach is concerned with the elaboration of a radical polymerization model of styrenne, based on a kinetic diagram that includes chemical and thermal initiation, propagation, termination by recombination and chain transfer to the monomer. Furthermore, volume contraction during polymerization is considered, as well as the gel and glass effects. The mathematical formalism that describes the model in terms of moments is explored in detail. The model was then used to predict the changes in monomer conversion and molecular weight after intermediate addition of initiator and monomer. The results of this operation are dependent on the conditions of the reaction mass, quantity, and moment of substance addition. Therefore, the simulations were performed at different times with respect to the gel effect; before, during and after this phenomenon, and also with respect to different temperatures and initiators. Increasing the initiator concentration before the gel effect leads to an earlier appearance of the phenomenon and to a decrease in molecular weight. The ratio reveals a polydispersity index smaller for the intermediate addition of initiator. No significant changes take place during or after the gel effect. If along with the initiator, unreacted monomver (used to dissolve the initiator) enters the reactor, a small dip in conversion is observed. The general conclusion of this paper reveals the intermediate addition of initiator as a method to control polymer properties and to prevent the “dead-end” polymerization of styrene.     

Preparation and characterization of Mg(II)-, Ca(II) and Cd(II) complexes of 1,2-ethanediol and water

Mixed ligand complexes of different compositions were prepared with water, sulfate ion and 1,2-ethanediol as ligand. IR spectra and the thermoanalytical curves of the complexes were recorded. Oxygen atoms bound by one or two coordinate bonds to the metal ion, or by hydrogen-bonds in the crystal, were observed. As for the water molecule, 1,2-ethanediol molecules of crystal and monohydrate type were found, depending on the type of binding of the oxygen atoms.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A study of the polarographic behaviour of meso-tetra(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)porphine and its copper and magnesium complexes and its analytical applications

The investigation of the electrochemical reduction and the adsorption of meso-tetra(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)porphine (T(4-TMAP)P) at a mercury electrode in alkaline solution shows that the overall reduction involves three two-electron steps, of which the first step is reversible and the latter two are irreversible. In addition, T(4-TMAP)P and its metal complexes of Cu(II) and Mg(II) can be strongly adsorbed on the surface of a mercury electrode. The adsorption phenomena have been utilized as a preconcentration step for the determination of trace amounts of the two ions by single sweep polarography. For copper, the detection limit is 1 × 10^–8 mol dm^–3, for magnesium, 1 × 10^–7 mol dm^–3, the latter being limited by the reagent blank. The proposed method was applied to the determination of Cu and Mg in various types of samples (chemicals, hair and liver tissues) with satisfactory results.     

Direct calculation of ionization potentials of closed-shell atoms and molecules

Vertical ionization potentials, electron affinities and information about quasi-particles can be obtained by using the technique of the single-particle propagator. The expansion of the self-energy part up to third order perturbation theory can be evaluated numerically, but does not lead, in most cases, to satisfying results. A theoretical and numerical analysis of the diagrammatic expansion of the self-energy part requires the introduction of a renormalized interaction and renormalized hole and particle lines.     

Reaction of cyclopentadienyllutetium anthracenide with azobenzene. Synthesis and molecular and crystal structure of the binuclear complex [C5H5(THF)Lu(μ−η2:η2−PhN—NPh)]2(THF)2 and its dynamic behavior in solution

The reaction of the cyclopentadienyllutetium anthracenide, C₅H₅Lu(C₁₄H₁₀)²⁻(THF)₂ (1), with azobenzene yielded the [C₅H₅(THF)Lu(μ−η²:η²−PhN—NPh)]₂(THF)₂ (2) binuclear complex. The structure of the reaction product was established by X-ray structural analysis. The dynamic behavior of complex2 in a THF-d₈ solution was studied by¹H NMR spectroscopy in the temperature range of 265–330 K. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1667–1671, September, 1997.     

Quantum chemical studies on electrophilic addition

The geometries of the 2-chloroethyl and ethylenechloronium cations, two possible intermediates in the electrophilic addition of chlorine to ethylene, have been fully optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations employing the split valence shell 4-31G basis set.These geometries were then used to compute more accurate wave functions using Dunning's double-zeta basis set. The bridged chloronium ion was found to be more stable by 9.35 kcal/mole, the opposite order of stability from the C₂H₄F⁺ ions. Interconversion of the two C₂H₄Cl⁺ cations was computed to have a barrier of 6.25 kcal/mole.The activation energy for this chlorination reaction, using the ethylenechloronium cation and a chlorine anion at infinite separation as the model for the activated complex, was computed to be 128.7 kcal/mole, showing that this is not a feasible gas phase reaction.     

Lipids from Five Cotton Varieties

Seed characteristics and the lipid and fatty-acid compositions were determined for the new cotton varieties ASh-25, Omad, 9771-I, Termez-43, and Bukhara-6.     

Palladium-catalyzed ring expansion reaction of 1-alkynylcyclobutanols with aryl iodides: an efficient route to 2-disubstituted methylenecyclopentanones

The reaction of 1-alkynylcyclobutanols with aryl iodides in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ and Et₃N in acetonitrile at 80°C for 24 h gives 2-disubstituted methylenecyclopentan-1-ones in modest to good yields. The tandem insertion-ring expansion process proceeds via the formation of an alkynyl π-complex, followed by migration of a carbon-carbon bond of the tert-alkanol to form the cyclopentanones stereoselectively.     

LC-ESI-MS Determination of Bilobalide and Ginkgolides in Canine Plasma

A sensitive and selective method using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection was developed for the quantification of bilobalide and ginkgolides in canine plasma. The analytes were extracted with diethyl ether-dichloromethane-isopropanol (6:3:1, v/v) after spiking the samples with daidzein (internal standard). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of the method was 2.5 μg L⁻¹ for ginkgolide B and 10.0 μg L⁻¹ for bilabolide, ginkgolide A and ginkgolide C. The accuracy of the method was within 15% of the actual values over a wide range of plasma concentrations. The intra-day and inter-day precision was better than 15% (R.S.D.). Finally, the LC-ESI-MS method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of ginkgolides and bilabolide after administration of Ginkgo biloba extracts to dogs.     

N- and O-Alkylation of 3-indolylcyclopropylacetic acid derivatives

2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-methyl-3-indolyl)cyclopropylacetic acid, its amide and esters, and the corresponding alcohol, viz., the product of ester reduction by LiAlH₄, were synthesized. The chemoselectivity of N- and O-alkylation of these compounds was studied. Selective monoalkylation at the nitrogen atom of the heterocycle, O-alkylation to the side chain, or dialkylation at both nucleophilic sites can be carried out under conditions of phase-transfer catalysis. The N-acylation at the indole fragment of nitrile of this acid occurs only under the Vilsmeier—Haak formylation conditions.