Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors bearing biphenyl units and their use in ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A range of new imidazolium and imidazolinium chlorides bearing biphenyl units on their nitrogen atoms was synthesized. They differed by the electron-withdrawing or -donating nature and the steric bulk of the substituents on their aromatic rings. These various N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors were combined with the [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ dimer and potassium tert-butoxide to generate the corresponding ruthenium-arene complexes [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(NHC)] in situ. The catalytic activity of these species was investigated in the photoinduced ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclooctene. The results obtained confirmed the necessity of blocking the ortho-positions of the phenyl rings in the vicinity of the metal center in order to attain high catalytic efficiencies. They also showed that changing the steric and electronic properties of the substituents on the remote phenyl rings of the biphenyl units had no significant influence on the outcome of the polymerization.     

Thermal analysis of Vectran® fibers and films

Vectra^® liquid crystalline polymers (LCP's) were introduced as commercial products in the mid-1980's. The first of these (Vectra A130) was a wholly aromatic thermotropic copolyester ofp-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Vectra A130 is a thermotropic LCP that can be melt spun into filaments that on heat treatment are characterized by high strength and high modulus. Vectra resin can also be extruded into films. In the fiber or film form this material is commercially known as Vectran^®. Heat treatment enhances the tensile strength of Vectran fiber variants. Because of this, the elucidation of the physical transformations taking place in the internal structure of the material during heating has always been an important subject. Several thermal techniques are used to indicate clearly that what is observed as a glass transition is unlike the conventional glass transition in typical semicrystalline polymers. There is also an indication of the presence of multiple states of mesophase aggregation that collapse into a single state when taken to high enough temperatures.     

Selective Oxidation of Methane to Methanol Using Molecular Oxygen on MoOx／（LaCoO3＋Co3O4） Catalysts

Comparatively high CH3OH selectivity (60.0%) and yield (6.7%) were obtained on MoOx/(LaCoO3 Co3O4) catalysts in selective oxidation of methane to methanol using molecular oxygen as oxidant. The interaction between MoOx and La-Co-oxide modified the molecular structure of molybdenum oxide and the ratio of O^-/O^2- on the catalyst surface, which controlled the catalytic performance of MoOx/(LaCoO3 Co3O4) catalysts.     

Hydraulic activity of C4A3Cr in presence of C4A3S

This paper deals with synthesis and assessment of the hydraulicity of C₄A₃Cr, analog phase C₄A₃S to , relevant to the phase chemistry and properties of sulfoaluminate cements. C₄A₃Cr, synthesized at 1250 °C is well crystallized phase, latently hydraulic, with hydration accelerated in the presence of C₄A₃S, or CS. Calorimetric curves show reciprocal influence of sulfate and chromate phase in hydration of C₄A₃S-C₄A₃Cr system. The total heat expressed at hydration is nearly the same for all specimens, but the rate of heat evolution depends on the ratio of C₄A₃S/C₄A₃Cr phases. X-ray diffraction pattern and DTA curves showed that, increasing content of C₄A₃Cr in hydrating mixture results in a coexistence of two types of ettringite (chromate and sulfate ettringite) hydrogarnet, gibbsite and monosulfate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

STUDY ON STYRENE-BUTADIENE BLOCK COPOLYMER FOR THE MODIFICATI0N OF TIRE TREAD

This paper mainly deals with the design and synthesis of a novel styrene-butadieneblock copolymer. When this copolymer is used in the tread portion of tyres, it can improvewet skid resistance and reduce rolling resistance without sacrificing its general physical-mechanical properties. The visco-elastic curve of tire tread using the novel copolymer asits rubber portion was showed. Reactivity ratios for two monomers in the polymerizingsystem were calculated. The diagrams of differelitial, integral and finite difference calculithroughout the whole molecular chain were presented. The influence of the micro- andmacro-structure of the copolymer chain on wet skid resistance and rolling resistance wasdiscussed     

The 2-(diphenylphosphino) ethyl group (DPPE) as a new carboxyl-protecting group in peptide chemistry

The use of the 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl group for carboxyl-protection of amino acids or peptides is described. This group is easily introduced by esterification using 2-(diphenylphosphino) ethanol in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine. These Dppe esters are stable under the standard conditions for peptide synthesis. Deprotection is carried out under mild conditions by quaternisation using methyl iodide followed by a β-elimination induced by fluoride ion or potassium carbonate.     

Determination of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in apple extracts by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in apple tissues has been described. This method is based on the derivatization of ACC with 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (FQ), and separation and quantification of the resulting FQ-ACC derivative by capillary electrophoresis coupled to laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF). Our results indicated that ACC derivatized with FQ could be well separated from other interfering amino acids using 20 mM borate buffer (pH 9.35) containing 40 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 10 mM Brij 35. The linearity of ACC was determined in the range from 0.05 to 5 microM with a correlation of 0.9967. The concentration detection limit for ACC was 10 nM (signal-to-noise = 3). The sensitivity and selectivity of this described method allows the analysis of ACC in crude apple extracts without extra purification and enrichment procedure.     

Oxidation of allylic alcohols, amines, and sulfides mediated by assembled triphase catalyst of phosphotungstate and non-cross-linked amphiphilic copolymer

A novel catalyst PWAA, an assembled complex of phosphotungstic acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀) and a non-cross-linked copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide with an ammonium, was developed. It is an amphiphilic, cross-linked, and supramolecular insoluble complex and showed catalytic activity on oxidation with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. PWAA, used in 2.7×10⁻⁵-2.0×10⁻³ mol equiv., catalyzed oxidation of allylic alcohols, amines, and sulfides efficiently. The turnover number (TON) of PWAA reached up to 35,000. PWAA showed a good stability in organic/aqueous media and was reused three to five times.     

Dehydrogenation of methanol on low Cu and Re—Cu catalysts supported on sibunite

The activity and selectivity of mono- and bimetallic catalysts containing copper and rhenium on sibunite were studied in the decomposition of methanol to methyl formate (MF), water, H₂, CO, and CO₂at 200—400 °C. Methane is also formed on rhenium-containing catalysts at 300—400 °C. The dehydrogenating activity and selectivity to form MF are higher on the copper-sibunite catalysts than on the rhenium-sibunite samples. The introduction of 0.25% Re into the 4% copper-containing catalyst enhances its total activity and stability.