New (1R,4R)-2-arylidene-p-menthan-3-ones with a bridging ester group in the arylidene fragment. Synthesis and behavior in liquid-crystalline systems

(1R,4R)-2-(4-Hydroxybenzylidene)- and (1R,4R)-2-(4"-hydroxybiphenyl-4-yl)methylene-p-menthan-3-ones were synthesized by condensation of (–)-menthone with O-tetrahydropyran-2-yl derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4"-hydroxy-4-formylbiphenyl, respectively, in a DMSO—base medium followed by the removal of the protective group. The reactions of these hydroxy derivatives with 4-alkylbenzoic, 4-alkyloxybenzoic, trans-4-alkylcyclohexane-4-carboxylic, and 4"-alkylbiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids afforded three series of new chiral esters. Compounds containing the arylidene moiety with three benzene rings were found to exhibit liquid-crystalline properties. The characteristic features of these compounds are discussed based on the results of studies by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering. It was found that the mesomorphic compounds under study can form a smectic A mesophase, twist grain boundary mesophases (TGBA), and blue phases in a wide temperature range. Upon dissolution of certain of chiral compounds in 4"-cyano-4-pentylbiphenyl, a rather high twisting power and the thermal stabilizing effect on mesophases were observed.     

The size distribution for theA g RB f−g Model of polymerization

This paper gives the equilibrium distribution of polymer sizes for Flory'sA _g RB _f–g model of polymerization. In this model, the polymers are composed of structural units withg functional groups of the typeA and (f-g) functional groups of the typeB. Reaction is subject to three conditions: (1) Functional groups of the typeA react only with those of typeB, and vice versa. (2) Intramolecular reactions do not occur [and therefore only branched-chain (noncyclic) polymers and formed]. (3) Subject to conditions (1) and (2), all functional groups are equally reactive. The derivation employs Stockmayer's statistical mechanical method (first used on Flory'sRA _f model), coupled with a recursion giving the number of distinct polymers which may be assembled fromk units of theA _g RB _f–g type. We also give distributions for a limiting case of theA _g RB _f–g model, the so-calledA _g RB model. This paper completes the solution of the Smoluchowski coagulation equation (monodisperse case) for the kernelsa _ij =A + B(i +j)+ Cij. The proof will be given in another publication.     

A Procedure for Transforming Impedance Spectra for the Determination of Mechanism of Electrochemical Reactions

Transformation of impedance spectra into relaxation time spectra (RTS) is used for determining contributions of individual processes of the oxygen electroreduction reaction (OER) to the polarization resistance of the electrochemical cell. The transformation technique involves the solution of the convolution equation found with the aid of a modified Van Cittert iteration algorithm checked on model impedance spectra. The technique, when used to analyze impedance spectra of electrochemical cells air|Pt|YSZ|YSZ + Pt|air, shows that the conversion of a globular structure of the YSZ + Pt cermet layer to a columnar one is accompanied by a change of peak amplitudes in RTS. The revealed RTS dynamics when heated to 750°C is compared with peculiarities of individual processes in OER.     

Variational reactive scattering calculations: computational optimization strategies

Summary We have developed efficient and accurate techniques for the calculation of quantum mechanical reaction probabilities of atom-diatom exchange reactions in the gas phase, and we have optimized a computer code employing these techniques and applied it sucessfully to several systems. In this paper we consider further strategies for improving the algorithm to allow even more demanding applications. In this context, improvement means that equivalent results can be obtained using fewer computational resources (computer time or storage) or that an equivalent expenditure of resources can yield higher accuracy. The new strategies discussed here lead to improvement in both of these areas. Two areas of special focus in the present paper are (i) the finite difference boundary value method used for calculating distorted wave Green's functions and regular solutions for scattering by the distortion potential and (ii) the choice of the distortion potential itself. Among other results included here is the first application of the outgoing wave or scattered wave variational principle to reactive scattering.     

Viscosity of aqueous solutions of polysaccharides and hydrophobically modified polysaccharides: Application of Fedors equation

Amphiphilic polysaccharides have been obtained by hydrophobic modification of a neutral bacterial polysaccharide, dextran. Various amounts and types of aliphatic hydrocarbon groups have been attached to dextran.The solution behaviour of unmodified dextran samples and amphiphilic dextran derivatives is characterized by viscometric measurements. The overall viscosity behaviour of unmodified polysaccharides is described up to C × [η] = 3, using the equation of Fedors [Fedors RF. Polymer 1979;20:225] which involves only a concentration parameter. The latter is shown to depend on the hydrodynamic volume of the macromolecules in solution.The equation of Fedors is shown to conveniently estimate the viscosity behaviour of amphiphilic dextran derivatives up to C × [η] = 1. The interdependence between Fedors parameter and other viscometric characteristics (intrinsic viscosity, Huggins coefficient) is evidenced. These results are extended to the data of other authors.     

Diffusion coefficients of 2-fluoroanisole, 2-bromoanisole, allylbenzene and 1,3-divinylbenzene at infinite dilution in supercritical carbon dioxide

The Taylor–Aris chromatographic technique was employed for the determination of diffusion coefficients of 2-fluoroanisole, 2-bromoanisole, allylbenzene and 1,3-divinylbenzene at infinite dilution in supercritical carbon dioxide from 313.16 to 333.16 K and pressures between 15 and 35 MPa. As expected, the diffusivities rise when temperature increases and pressure decreases. Numerous predictive equations are compared with experimental data: Lai–Tan, Liu–Ruckenstein cluster formula, Woerlee, Hippler–Schubert–Troe, Catchpole–King, Eaton–Akgerman, He, He–Yu, Liu–Silva–Macedo, Funazukuri and coworkers, Dariva–Coelho–Oliveira, Zhu–Lu–Zhou–Wang–Shi and the Liu–Ruckenstein RHS formula. The equations of He, He–Yu and Catchpole–King are the best of all, but cannot be used in the whole range of temperatures and solvent densities.     

Monolayer adsorption isotherms and a disordered medium model

A model of disordered medium is proposed to describe the monolayer adsorption isotherm on heterogeneous surfaces. The model is based on the premise that adsorption medium consists of separate regions in each of which there is a permanent local equilibrium constant, the character of the changes of which is determined by the disorder parameter of the medium. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 189–193, May–June, 2006.     

Adsorption of p-Nitrophenol in Untreated and Treated Activated Carbon

The adsorption of p-nitrophenol in one untreated activated carbon (F100) and three treated activated carbons (H₂, H₂SO₄ and Urea treated F100) was carried out at undissociated and dissociated conditions.To characterize the carbon, N₂ and CO₂ adsorption were used. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the surface of the activated carbon.The experimental isotherms are fitted via the Langmuir homogenous model and Langmuir binary model. Variation of the model parameters with the solution pH is studied. Both Q _max and the adsorption affinity coefficient (K ₁) were dependent on the PZC of the carbons and solution pH. The Effect of pH must be considered due to its combined effects on the carbon surface and on the solute molecules. Adsorption of p-nitrophenol at higher pH was found to be dependent on the concentration of the anionic form of the solute.     

Thermodynamic issues associated with combined cyclic voltammetry and wafer curvature measurements in electrolytes

A thermodynamic framework has been provided for the interpretation of combined cyclic voltammetry and surface stress measurements, the latter being obtained from wafer curvature or beam deflection measurements of a solid electrode as a function of applied potential (so-called voltstressograms). Firstly, the derivation of electrocapillarity equations for solid electrodes has been critically reviewed by starting from the Gibbs adsorption equation appropriate for solid–electrolyte interfaces. This allowed us to demonstrate the critical importance of elastic surface strain in the thermodynamic boundary conditions of the partial derivatives intervening in the interpretation of voltstressograms. From these considerations, it was shown for the first time that the electrocapillarity equations for solid electrodes are not appropriate for describing the variation of surface stress with potential obtained from wafer curvature measurements, because such measurements are intrinsically incompatible with the constant strain condition implied in the electrocapillarity equations. An alternative explanation is provided for the experimentally observed proportionality between the current density, measured in cyclic voltammograms, and the first derivative of surface stress with respect to potential, obtained from voltstressograms.