Predicting the Mechanical Properties of Binary Blends of Immiscible Polymers

We couple a morphological study of an immiscible binary AB mixture with a micromechanical simulation to determine how the spatial distribution of the A and B domains and the interfacial region (interphase) affects the mechanical behavior of the blend. The morphological studies are conducted through a three-dimensional Cahn-Hilliard (CH) simulation. Through the CH calculations, we obtain the size and structure of the domains for different blend compositions. The output of the CH model serves as the input to the Lattice Spring Model (LSM), which consists of a three-dimensional network of springs. In particular, the location of the different phases is mapped onto the LSM lattice and the appropriate force constants are assigned to the LSM sites. A stress is applied to the LSM lattice and we calculate the elastic response of the material. We find that the local stress and strain fields are highly dependent on the morphology of the system. By integrating the morphological and mechanical models, we can isolate how modifications in the composition of the mixture affect the macroscopic behavior. Thus, we can establish how choices made in the components affect the ultimate performance of the material.     

A new route to 2-styrylbenzimidazoles

An attempt was made to prepare 2-benzylquinoxalin-3-one by hydrolyzing the azlactone, 2-phenyl-4-benzylidene-5-oxazolone to β-phenylpyruvic acid and then treating this in situ with o-phenylenediamine (OPDA). The initial hydrolysis apparantly proceeded only as far as opening the azlactone ring forming 2-benzamidocinnamic acid which condensed with OPDA to form a substituted styrylbenzimidazole.     

Photoelectron Spectra of Azabenzenes and Azanaphthalenes: I. Pyridine,diazines, s-triazine and s-tetrazine

The experimental and theoretical basis of a recently proposed reassignment of the bands in the PE. spectra of pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine and pyrazine is discussed in detail. A characteristic feature of the derived orbital sequence is that it takes the ‘through-space’ and ‘through-bond’ interaction between the ‘lone pair’ basis orbitals explicitly into account. A simple parametrization of the orbital energies, based on HMO-type models for the π-orbitals and for the ‘lone pair’ linear combinations, yields excellent agreement with the observed band positions in the PE. spectra of s-triazine and s-tetrazine. Our new assignment is compared to those proposed previously.     

Crossover from Mott to Efros-Shklovskii variable range-hopping in Si:P

The low-temperature conductivity of uncompensated insulating Si:P with P concentration just below the metal-insulator (MI) transition shows with decreasingN a crossover from Mott variable range hopping (VRH) to Efros-Shklovskii VRH. From the concentration dependence of the Mott temperatureT _M a correlation-length exponent ν=1.1 is obtained which is compatible with the conductivity exponent μ=1.3 for metallic samples.     

PEG-m-THPC-mediated photodynamic effects on normal rat tissues

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of malignancies uses light to activate a photosensitizer preferentially accumulated in cancer cells. The first pegylated photosensitizer, tetrakis-(m-methoxypolyethylene glycol) derivative of 7,8-dihydro-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-hydroxyphenyl)-21-23-[H]-porphyrin (PEG-m-THPC), was evaluated in non-tumor-bearing rats. The aim of this study was to assess the photodynamic threshold for damage and its sequelae in normal rat tissue. Thirty-five Fischer rats were sensitized with 3, 9 or 30 mg/kg body weight PEG-m-THPC. Colon, vagina and perineum were irradiated with laser light of 652 nm wavelength and an optical dose of 50, 150 or 450 J/cm fiber length. Temperature in the pelvis was measured during PDT. Three days following PDT the effect on skin, vagina, colon, striated muscle, connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels was assessed by histology. The healing of the above-mentioned tissues was assessed on two rats 3 and 8 weeks after PDT using 9 mg/kg PEG-m-THPC activated with 450 J/cm laser light. No dark toxicity was observed. PDT using 30 mg/kg PEG-m-THPC induced severe necrosis irrespective of the optical dose. Body weight of 9 or 3 mg/kg activated with less than 450 J/cm induced moderate or no damage. No substantial increase in body temperature was seen during PDT. Tissues with severe PDT-induced damage seem to have a good tendency to regenerate. We conclude that within the dose required for tumor treatment PEG-m-THPC is a safe photosensitizer with promising properties. PDT of the colon mucosa below 9 mg/kg PEG-m-THPC and 150 J/cm seems to be safe. All other tissues can be exposed to 9 mg/kg PEG-m-THPC activated with less than 450 J/cm laser light with little side effects.     

Phosphan-, Phosphit- und Phosphido-Komplexe des Vanadiums(V)

Phosphane, Phosphite, Phosphido, Complexes of Vanadium(V) Complex formation of tert-butylimidovanadium(V)trichloride ( 1 ) with phosphanes und phosphites has been studied. Syntheses of phosphidovanadium(V) compounds ^tC₄H₉N?VCp(NH^tC₄H₉)[P(SiMe₃)₂] and ^tC₄H₉N?VCp(NⁱProp₂)(PR₂) (R?SiMe₃, Ph) are described starting from the corresponding chlorovanadium(V) complexes. The reaction of 1 with silver hexafluorophosphate yields a bis(fluoro)phosphidovanadium(IV complex [(μ-PF₂)₂V₂Cl₂)(N^tC₄H₉)₂]; as primary intermediate product of the unknown redox reaction a cationic vanadium(V) complex [^tC₄H₉N?VCl₂ · PPh₃]⁺PF₆^? has been isolated. 1 reacts with an excess of diisopropylamine forming ^tC₄H₉N?V(NⁱProp₂)Cl₂ ( 16 ); in addition the following diisopropylamido-tert-butylimidovanadium(V) compounds ^tC₄H₉N?VCp(NⁱProp₂)Cl ( 3 ) and ^tC₄H₉N?V(NⁱProp₂)X₂ (X?CH₂CMe₃, O^tC₄H₉, CH₃COO) has been prepared. All compounds obtained are characterized by ¹H, ⁵¹V, ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 16 and 3 indicate a planar coordination sphere of the amido nitrogen atom.