Non-linear scission/recombination kinetics of living polymerization

Living polymers are formed by reversible association of primary units (unimers). Generally the chain statistical weight involves a factor σ < 1 suppressing short chains in comparison with free unimers. Living polymerization is a sharp thermodynamic transition for σ ≪ 1 which is typically the case. We show that this sharpness has an important effect on the kinetics of living polymerization (one-dimensional association). The kinetic model involves i) the unimer activation step (a transition to an assembly-competent state); ii) the scission/recombination processes providing growth of polymer chains and relaxation of their length distribution. Analyzing the polymerization with no chains but unimers at t = 0 , with initial concentration of unimers M ≳ M ^* (M^* is the critical polymerization concentration), we determine the time evolution of the chain length distribution and find that: 1) for M ^* ≪ M ≪ M ^*/σ the kinetics is characterized by 5 distinct time stages demarcated by 4 characteristic times t₁, t₂, t₃ and t^*; 2) there are transient regimes (t ₁ ≲ t ≲ t ₃) when the molecular-weight distribution is strongly non-exponential; 3) the chain scissions are negligible at times shorter than t₂. The chain growth is auto-accelerated for t ₁ ≲ t ≲ t ₂ : the cut-off chain length (= polymerization degree 〈n〉_w N ₁ ∝ t ² in this regime. 4) For t ₂ < t < t ₃ the length distribution is characterized by essentially 2 non-linear modes; the shorter cut-off length N₁ is decreasing with time in this regime, while the length scale N₂ of the second mode is increasing. (5) The terminal relaxation time of the polymer length distribution, t^*, shows a sharp maximum in the vicinity of M^*; the effective exponent is as high as ∼ σ^-1/3 just above M^*.     

Fibril stability in solutions of twisted -sheet peptides: a new kind of micellization in chiral systems

The problem of fibril (fibre) formation in chiral systems is explored theoretically being supported by experiments on synthetic de novo 11-mer peptide forming self-assembled -sheet tapes. Experimental data unambiguously indicate that the tapes form fibrils of nearly monodisperse thickness ca . 8-10 nm. Fibril formation and stabilisation are attributed to inter-tape face-to-face attraction and their intrinsic twist, correspondingly. The proposed theory is capable of predicting the fibril aggregation number and its equilibrium twist in terms of molecular parameters of the primary tapes. The suggested novel mechanism of twist stabilisation of finite aggregates (fibrils) is different to the well-known stabilisation of micelles in amphiphilic systems, and it is likely to explain the formation and stability of fibrils in a wide variety of systems including proteinaceous amyloid fibres, sickle-cell hemoglobin fibres responsible for HbS anemia, corkscrew threads found in chromonics in the presence of chiral additives and native cellulose microfibrillar crystallites. The theory also makes it possible to extract the basic molecular parameters of primary tapes (inter-tape attraction energy, helical twist step, elastic moduli) from the experimental data. Received 7 May 1999 and Received in final form 15 February 2000     

High precision delta(17)O isotope measurements of oxygen from silicates and other oxides: method and applications

The use of infrared laser-assisted fluorination to release oxygen from milligram quantities of silicates or other oxide mineral grains is a well-established technique. However, relatively few studies have reported the optimisation of this procedure for oxygen-17 isotope measurements. We describe here details of an analytical system using infrared (10 μm) laser-assisted fluorination, in conjunction with a dual inlet mass spectrometer of high resolving power ( approximately 250) to provide (17)O and (18)O oxygen isotope measurements from 0.5-2 mg of silicates or other oxide mineral grains. Respective precisions (1) of typically 0.08 and 0.04 per thousand are obtained for the complete analytical procedure. Departures from the mass-dependent oxygen isotope fractionation line are quantified by Delta(17)O; our precision (1) of such measurements on individual samples is shown to be +/-0.024 per thousand. In turn, this permits the offset between parallel, mass-dependent fractionation lines to be characterised to substantially greater precision than has been possible hitherto. Application of this system to investigate the (17)O versus (18)O relationship for numerous terrestrial whole-rock and mineral samples, of diverse geological origins and age, indicates that the complete data set may be described by a single, mass-dependent fractionation line of slope 0.5244+/- 0.00038 (standard error). Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aggregation processes in self-associating polymer systems: Computer simulation study of micelles in the superstrong segregation regime

We present the results of extensive molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo studies of the self-organization in the solution of short polymer chains with strongly attracting head groups at their end. The formation of micelles (multiplets) is studied in detail. Both two dimensional (2d) and three-dimensional (3d) systems are considered. The off-lattice and lattice models under study incorporate physical factors which control micelle structure and growth in the so-called superstrong segregation regime. These factors include (i) conformational effects associated with short-range excluded-volume interaction between the tails of flexible-chain molecules and (ii) very strong attraction of head groups. Our computer simulations of 3d micelles, constructed a priori from chains with strong attraction of head groups (with the characteristic energy ≈ 10 k_BT), show that size and shape of the micellar core depends crucially on the radius r_c of the interaction of head-groups. If the value of r_c is comparable with chain length, then micelles of nearly spherical shape emerges. The decrease of r_c can induce a sharp polymorphic transition from the micellar core which is spheric in shape to a disk-like (bilayer-shaped) aggregate. Such molecular organization differs from the commonly held notion of a radially symmetric micellar core. On the other hand, these findings fall into line with a recent theory of the super strong segregation regime. When the starting configuration is a random one (i.e., no micelles were a priori formed) the type of final microstructures, emerging as a result of micellization in the superstrong segregation regime, also depends essentially on the radius of head-head attraction. In the case of three-dimensional systems and/or short range attractive potentials we always obtain many small spherically shaped aggregates which, once formed at initial stages of micellization, remain stable for all time scales. Such a behavior is due to both the strong head-head attraction and the screening (repulsive) action of micellar shells creating insurmountable potential barriers. As a result, we deal with kinetically “frozen-in” microstructures which are not reversible and cannot exchange molecules with one another. In dense systems, we observe the formation of a (quasi) periodic pattern of alternating microdomains.     

Self-assembly and structure transformations in living polymers forming fibrils

The classical isodesmic one-dimensional model for equilibrium polymerization is generalized in order to describe self-assembly in systems forming fibrils. The model was applied to peptide solutions forming -sheet tapes which can further aggregate into stacks of various thickness: double tapes and fibrils (several double tapes stacked together). We found that in some cases the model yields several step-like transitions as the concentration increases: first from monomers to single or double tapes, and then to fibrils. The abruptness of the first transition is controlled by the free energy penalty for transformation of a peptide from random coil to a straight -strand conformation (the latter is characteristic for tapes). If both single and double tapes are allowed, the length of the aggregates after the first transition can be very large with high scission energies. For very low energies of attraction between double tapes, the transition from double tapes to fibrils happens separately (above the first transition), and it is even more abrupt and produces extremely long fibrils. The theoretical findings are used to extract the characteristic molecular parameters for the self-assembly of the de novo peptide DN1 forming polymeric -sheets in water. Received 28 June 1999     

Regularities of adsorption of zinc acetate from aqueous solutions onto the surface of modified activated carbons

The dependence of the characteristics of Zn(OAc)₂/C catalysts for vinyl acetate synthesis on the solution circulation rate, on the temperature and initial concentration of zinc acetate solution, and on the procedures for modification of activated carbons with oxidants was studied with the aim to achieve uniform distribution of the supported active component (zinc acetate). Oxidation of activated carbons with hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid increases the adsorption rate and the amount of adsorbed zinc acetate. Treatment of the support with acetic acid leads to an increase in the adsorption capacity for zinc acetate, to more uniform distribution of the active component over the surface, and to enhancement of the catalyst activity. The hydrodynamic regime of stirring in the two-phase system consisting of the support and zinc acetate solution is an important factor determining the activity and stability of the zinc acetate catalyst for vinyl acetate synthesis.     

泥沙输运模拟综述——现状及其发展趋势

随着流体力学中数值方法的飞速发展,计算模型已经成为研究流体运动,泥沙输运和不同环境(诸如河流,湖泊及沿海地区)中相应污染物归趋过程等方面非常有吸引力的工具,在过去的30多年里,发展了许多计算水动力学/泥沙输运模型.文章追溯当前具有代表性的(一维、二维、三维)模型的发展历程,描述他们各自的特点,优势及局限,力图作为对模型方面感兴趣读者的第一指南,同时也为大家讨论模型的局限性,未来的发展趋势和研究需求方面搭建一个平台.给出了模型的表达,时空特性,水动力学和沉积物的耦合方式,处理非恒定流,推移质和悬移质,泥沙交换过程,泥沙类型(粘性或非粘性)及非均匀泥沙输运的能力.总结了不同模型的应用实例,读者可以运用这些例子作为研究模型设置,模型率定及模型验证的参考.给出了选择泥沙输运模型应遵循的原则,模型输入及率定方面存在的问题及改进的途径.探讨了现有水动力学/泥沙输运模型在处理复杂湍流,泥沙携带,流动与输沙耦合,非均匀泥沙,离散和扩散系数,河岸来沙处理等方面的局限性及改进的方向.最后,对基于多相流思想的泥沙输运模型及其它一些交叉性问题作了评述与展望.     

Nitropyridines: VI. Synthesis of 2-aryl(hetaryl)- and 2,3-polymethylene-5-nitropyridines

Previously unknown 2-aryl-, 2-hetaryl-, and 2-cyclopropyl-5-nitropyridines and 2,3-polymethylene-5-nitropyridines were synthesized by reactions of 1-methyl-3,5-dinitropyridin-2(1H)-one with various cyclic and acyclic ketones in the presence of ammonia.     

同步荧光光谱法测定石油中的晕苯

用苯做溶剂对原油样品进行逐级稀释,恒波长同步荧光法对原油样品中晕苯进行定性、定量分析。分别从溶剂选择、波长差、狭缝宽度等参数对其测定的光谱条件进行优化。实验结果表明：用苯为溶剂、Δλ=6nm,狭缝宽度为2.5nm,为原油样品中晕苯的最佳测试条件。所建立方法测定晕苯的线性范围为0.5—100μg/mL,校准曲线的相关系数r大于0.99,相对标准偏差小于3%（n=5）。该法分析快速、准确,对石化工厂中对原油样品中晕苯的快速检测具有一定的应用价值。