Electrohydrodynamic instability in some nematic cyanobiphenyls in an a.c. electric field

Electrohydrodynamic instability in homeotropically oriented nematic samples of 4'-n-octyl-4-cyano-biphenyl and 4'n-alkyloxy-4-cyanobiphenyl, (n = 8.9) have been studied in an a.c. electric field. The domain patterns during the instability in these compounds in a very low frequency a.c. field are very similar to those in a d.c. field. The domain patterns observed at higher frequencies have been identified as 'maltese crosses' or 'crossed isogyres'. The electro-convective 'isotropic' flows near the electrode play an important role in the observed instability.     

Brominated poly(isobutylene‐co‐para‐methylstyrene) (BIMS)‐clay nanocomposites: Synthesis and characterization

In this work, preparation and properties of different nanoclays modified by organic amines (octadecyl amine, a primary amine, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a tertiary amine) and brominated polyisobutylene‐co‐paramethylstyrene (BIMS)‐clay nanocomposites are reported. The clays and the rubber nanocomposites have been characterized with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The X‐ray diffraction peaks observed in the range of 3 °–10 ° for the modified clays disappear in the rubber nanocomposites. TEM photographs show predominantly exfoliation of the clays in the range of 12 ± 4 nm in the BIMS. In the FTIR spectra of the nanocomposites, there are common peaks of virgin rubber as well as those of the clays. Excellent improvement in mechanical properties like tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus is observed on incorporation of the nanoclays in the BIMS. Structure‐property correlation in the above nanocomposites is attempted. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4489–4502, 2004     

Studies on the curing kinetics of epoxy resins using mixture of nadic/or maleic anhydride and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone

Curing kinetics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) in the presence of maleic anhydride (MA)/or nadic anhydride (NA) or mixture of MA/NA: 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) in varying molar ratios were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Curing behaviour of DGEBA in the presence of varying amounts of DDS:MA/NA was evaluated by recording DSC scans at heating rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20°C min⁻¹. The peak exotherm temperature depends on the heating rate, structure of the anhydride as well as on the ratio of anhydride: DDS. Thermal stability of the isothermally cured resins was evaluated by thermogravimetry. The char yield was highest in case of resins cured using mixture of DDS:MA (0.75:0.25; sample EM-1) and DDS:NA (0.75:0.25, sample EN-1).     

Hubbard-type solution in the planar approximation

The Hubbard solution to the Hubbard model showed a non-trivial metal-insulator transition. The value of the one-particle density of states at the Fermi energy in that solution decreased continuously with increasing value of the Hubbard interaction and vanished at a critical value of the interaction. Such a solution is derived from a planar model, as an approximation to the exact construction of the model's one-particle Green function.     

Design,synthesis, and characterization of main‐chain,aromatic polyesters based on 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene

A series of new thermoplastic polyesters based on 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with flexible aliphatic spacers have been synthesized and characterized for the first time. The thermal properties of these polyesters based on EDOT are comparable to those of conventional polyesters based on the 1,4‐phenyl unit, indicating that EDOT is a viable replacement for the phenyl units. The glass‐transition and melting‐transition temperatures decrease monotonically with an increase in the spacer length. Theoretical calculations have revealed that the core angle for EDOT is comparable to that of unsubstituted thiophene and hence should be compatible with the formation of the mesophase. This has been confirmed experimentally by the synthesis of a main‐chain, thermotropic, liquid‐crystalline polyester based on EDOT that exhibits fluid birefringence. In fact, this is the first report in which a main‐chain, liquid‐crystalline polymer based on 3,4‐disubstituted thiophene has been successfully designed and synthesized. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3479–3486, 2006     

Microbial Transformation of Sesquiterpenes, (−)‐Ambrox® and (+)‐Sclareolide

The microbial transformation of (?)‐Ambrox^® ( 1 ), a perfumery sesquiterpene, by a number of fungi, by means of standard two‐stage‐fermentation technique, afforded ambrox‐1α‐ol ( 2 ), ambrox‐1α,11α‐diol ( 3 ), ambrox‐1α,6α‐diol ( 4 ), ambrox‐1α,6α,11α‐triol ( 5 ), ambrox‐3‐one ( 6 ), ambrox‐3β‐ol ( 7 ), ambrox‐3β,6β‐diol ( 8 ), 13,14,15,16‐tetranorlabdane‐3,8,12‐triol ( 9 ), and sclareolide ( 10 ) (Schemes 1 and 2). Further incubation of compound 10 with Cunninghamella elegans afforded 3‐oxosclareolide ( 11 ), 3β‐hydroxysclareolide ( 12 ), 2α‐hydroxysclareolide ( 13 ), 2α,3β‐dihydroxysclareolide ( 14 ), 1α,3β‐dihydroxysclareolide ( 15 ), and 3β‐hydroxy‐8‐episclareolide ( 16 ) (Scheme 3). Metabolites 2 – 5, 12, 13 , and 16 were found to be new compounds. The major transformations include a reaction path involving hydroxylation, ether‐bond cleavage and inversion of configuration. Metabolites 11 – 16 of sclareolide showed significant phytotoxicity (Table 1). The structures of the metabolites were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic techniques.