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.     

Low cost bifunctional initiators for bidirectional living cationic polymerization of olefins. I. isobutylene

We describe the discovery of novel low cost bifunctional initiators 2,4,7,9‐tetramethyl‐tricyclo[6.2.0.0³⁶]deca‐1(8),2,6‐triene‐4,9‐diol (bBCB‐diOH) and 4,9‐dichloro,2,4,7,9‐tetramethyl‐tricyclo[6.2.0.0³⁶]deca‐1(8),2,6‐triene (bBCB‐diCl), for living cationic bidirectional polymerization of olefins, for example, isobutylene. bBCB‐diOH was quantitatively synthesized in one step by UV radiation of commercially available diacetyl durene (DAD) and bBCB‐diCl by hydrochlorination of bBCB‐diOH. These molecules, in conjunction with TiCl₄ coinitiator, initiate the living polymerization of isobutylene. Livingness was demonstrated by linear conversion versus molecular weight (MW) plots and narrow MW distributions. Polymerizations are slower than those initiated by the universally used “hindered” bifunctional initiator 5‐tert‐butyl‐1,3‐bis(1‐chloro‐1‐methyl)benzene and are suitable for rate studies. Herein, we report the synthesis, by the use of bBCB‐diCl, of relatively low MW (M _n < 3000 g mol^?1) allyl‐telechelic polyisobutylene (PIB) used for the synthesis of PIB‐based polyurethanes and that of relatively high MW (M _n > 30,000) living PIB telechelics for the synthesis of thermoplastic elastomers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3716–3724     

Configurational Lability at Tetrahedral Phosphorus: syn/anti-Isomerization of a P-Stereogenic Phosphiranium Cation by Intramolecular Epimerization at Phosphorus

Tetrahedral main-group compounds are normally configurationally stable, but P-epimerization of the chiral phosphiranium cations syn- or anti-[Mes*P(Me)CH₂CHPh][OTf] (Mes*=2,4,6-(t-Bu)₃C₆H₂) occurred under mild conditions at 60 °C in CD₂Cl₂, resulting in isomerization to give a syn-enriched equilibrium mixture. Ion exchange with excess [NBu₄][Δ-TRISPHAT] (Δ-TRISPHAT=Δ-P(o-C₆Cl₄O₂)₃) followed by chromatography on silica removed [NBu₄][OTf] and gave mixtures of syn- and anti-[Mes*P(Me)CH₂CHPh][Δ-TRISPHAT]?x[NBu₄][Δ-TRISPHAT]. NMR spectroscopy showed that isomerization proceeded with epimerization at P and retention at C. DFT calculations are consistent with a mechanism involving P-C cleavage to yield a hyperconjugation-stabilized carbocation, pyramidal inversion promoted by σ-interaction of the P lone pair with the neighboring β-carbocation, and ring closure with inversion of configuration at P.     

Synthesis of 2D Germanane (GeH): a New,Fast, and Facile Approach

Germanane (GeH), a germanium analogue of graphane, has recently attracted considerable interest because its remarkable combination of properties makes it an extremely suitable candidate to be used as 2D material for field effect devices, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis. Up to now, the synthesis of GeH has been conducted by substituting Ca by H in a β‐CaGe₂ layered Zintl phase through topochemical deintercalation in aqueous HCl. This reaction is generally slow and takes place over 6 to 14 days. The new and facile protocol presented here allows to synthesize GeH at room temperature in a significantly shorter time (a few minutes), which renders this method highly attractive for technological applications. The GeH produced with this method is highly pure and has a band gap (E_g) close to 1.4 eV, a lower value than that reported for germanane synthesized using HCl, which is promising for incorporation of GeH in solar cells.     

Nobel Prize and structural chemistry II

During the past six decades, most discoveries in chemistry had structural aspects. Our brief overview selected some of the most conspicuous cases that were recognized by Nobel Prizes. They include studies of the chemical bond and stereochemical aspects, new methodologies of structure determination, and the structure of new materials.     

Practical Methods for Solid-State NMR Distance Measurements on Large Biomolecules: Constant-Time Rotational Resonance

Simple modifications of the rotational resonance experiment substantially reduce the total experimental time needed to measure weak homonuclear dipolar couplings, a critical factor for achieving routine internuclear distance measurements in large biomolecular systems. These modifications also address several problems cited in the literature. Here we introduce a constant-time rotational resonance experiment that eliminates the need for control spectra to correct for effects from variable RF heating, particularly critical for accurate long-distance measurements. This reduces the total number of experiments needed by as much as a factor of 2. Other improvements incorporated include achieving selective inversion with a delay rather than a weak pulse (P. R. Costa et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119, 10487-10493, 1997), which we observe results in the elimination of oscillations in peak intensities for short mixing time points. This reduces the total experiment time in two ways. First, there is no longer a need to average different "zero"-time points (S. O. Smith et al., Biochemistry 33, 6334-6341, 1994) to correct for intensity variations. Second, short-mixing-time lineshape differences observed in large membrane-bound proteins only appear with the weak-pulse inversion and not when using the delay inversion. Consistent lineshapes between short and long mixing times permit the use of a single spectrum for subtraction of natural abundance background signals from all labeled-protein time points. Elimination of these effects improves the accuracy and efficiency of rotational resonance internuclear distance measurements.