Morphological study of the organization behavior of rod-coil copolymers and their blends in thin solid films

A detailed study of the self-assembly ability of triblock coil-rod-coil copolymers containing a rigid di(styryl)-anthracene segment covalently linked to oxadiazole-based blocks and their binary blends with oxadiazole-based homopolymers is presented here. The self-organized microdomains seem to pack into a fascinating ordered hexagonal structure obtained at a critical concentration without any significant influence of the sample preparation method, based on evidence obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence microscopy studies. The compatibilization efficiency of these coil-rod-coil copolymers in polymer blends composed of an electron-accepting polyoxadiazole and a luminescent polyanthracene-based pair was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The common feature of all observed morphologies is the compatibilizing function of the rod-coil molecule, which intercalates between the incompatible domains to prevent the formation of well-defined phase separated nanostructured surfaces.     

Novel rectangular [Fe4(mu4-OHO)(mu-OH)(2)](7+) versus "butterfly" [Fe4(mu3-O2](8+) core topology in the Fe(III)/RCO2(-)/phen reaction systems (R = Me,Ph; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline): preparation and properties of [Fe4(OHO)(OH)(2)(O2CMe)(4)(phen)(4)](ClO4)(3), [Fe4O2(O2CPh)(7)(phen)(2)](ClO4), and [Fe4O2(O2CPh)(8)(phen)(2)

The preparations, X-ray structures, and detailed physical characterizations are presented for three new tetranuclear Fe(III)/RCO(2)(-)/phen complexes, where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline: [Fe(4)(OHO)(OH)(2)(O(2)CMe)(4)(phen)(4)](ClO(4))(3).4.4MeCN.H(2)O (1.4.4MeCN.H(2)O); [Fe(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(7)(phen)(2)](ClO(4)).2MeCN (2.2MeCN); [Fe(4)O(2)(O(2)CPh)(8)(phen)(2)].2H(2)O (3.2H(2)O). Complex 1.4.4MeCN.H(2)O crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, with a = 18.162(9) A, b = 39.016(19) A, c = 13.054(7) A, beta = 104.29(2) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 8963.7 A(3). Complex 2.2MeCN crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, with a = 18.532(2) A, b = 35.908(3) A, c = 11.591(1) A, beta = 96.42(1) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 7665(1) A(3). Complex 3.2H(2)O crystallizes in space group I2/a, with a = 18.79(1) A, b = 22.80(1) A, c = 20.74(1) A, beta = 113.21(2) degrees, Z = 4, and V = 8166(1) A(3). The cation of 1 contains the novel [Fe(4)(mu(4)-OHO)(mu-OH)(2)](7+) core. The core structure of 2 and 3 consists of a tetranuclear bis(mu(3)-O) cluster disposed in a "butterfly" arrangement. Magnetic susceptibility data were collected on 1-3 in the 2-300 K range. For the rectangular complex 1, fitting the data to the appropriate theoretical chi(M) vs T expression gave J(1) = -75.4 cm(-1), J(2) = -21.4 cm(-1), and g = 2.0(1), where J(1) and J(2) refer to the Fe(III)O(O(2)CMe)(2)Fe(III) and Fe(III)(OH)Fe(III) pairwise exchange interactions, respectively. The S = 0 ground state of 1 was confirmed by 2 K magnetization data. The data for 2 and 3 reveal a diamagnetic ground state with antiferromagnetic exchange interactions among the four high-spin Fe(III) ions. The exchange coupling constant J(bb) ("body-body" interaction) is indeterminate due to prevailing spin frustration, but the "wing-body" antiferromagnetic interaction (J(wb)) was evaluated to be -77.6 and -65.7 cm(-1) for 2 and 3, respectively, using the appropriate spin Hamiltonian approach. M?ssbauer spectra of 1-3 are consistent with high-spin Fe(III) ions. The data indicated asymmetry of the Fe(4) core of 1 at 80 K, which is not detected at room temperature due to thermal motion of the core. The spectra of 2 and 3 analyze as two quadrupole-split doublets which were assigned to the body and wing-tip pairs of metal ions. (1)H NMR spectra are reported for 1-3 with assignment of the main resonances.     

Synthesis of N-acyl-2-pyrrolidinones from the corresponding N-acyl-GABA derivatives

In this work, the synthesis of 1-(pyridine-3-carbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-one ( 1a ) and 1-(2-propyl-1-pentanoyl)pyrrolidin-2-one ( 1b ) by cyclization of the corresponding GABA derivatives, is reported. Two different methods are developed. For the synthesis of 1a , the parent molecule 4-[(pyridine-3-carbonyl)-amino]butanoic acid ( 2a ) is treated first with thionyl chloride and then with triethylamine. The second derivative, 1b , is produced by an intramolecular dehydration of 4-(2-propylpentanoylamino)butanoic acid ( 2b ) using an acid catalyst.     

An EPR and 1H NMR active mixed-valence manganese (III/II/III) trinuclear compound

A mixed-valence Mn(III)-Mn(II)-Mn(III) trinuclear complex of stoichiometry MnIIIMnIIMnIII(Hsaladhp)2(Sal)4.2CH3CN (1), where H3saladhp is a tridentate Schiff-base ligand, has been structurally characterized with X-ray crystallography. The Mn(III)Mn(II)Mn(III) angles are strictly 180 degrees as required by crystallographic inversion symmetry. The complex is valence-trapped with two terminal Mn(III) ions in a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The Mn(III)...Mn(II) separation is 3.495 A. The trinuclear complex shows small antiferromagnetic exchange J coupling. The magnetic parameters obtained from the fitting procedure in the temperature range 10-300 K are J1 = -5.7 cm-1, g = 2.02, zJ = -0.19 cm-1, and R = 0.004. The EPR spectrum was obtained at 4 K in CHCl3 and in tetrahydrofuran glasses. The low-field EPR signal is a superposition of two signals, one centered around g = 3.6 and the other, for which hyperfine structure is observed, centered around g = 4.1 indicating an S = 3/2 state. In addition, there is a 19-line signal at g = 2.0. The multiline signal compares well with that observed for the S2 or S0* states of the oxygen-evolving complex. 1H NMR data reveal that the trinuclear compound keeps its integrity into the CHCl3 solution. Crystal data for complex 1: [C54H52N4O18Mn3], M = 1209.82, triclinic, space group P1, a = 10.367(6) A, b = 11.369(6) A, c = 13.967(8) A; alpha = 112.56(1) degree, beta = 93.42(2) degrees, gamma = 115.43(1) degree, Z = 1.     

Complexes derived from the general copper(II)/maleamic acid/N,N′,N′′-chelate reaction systems: Synthetic,reactivity, structural and spectroscopic studies

The synthetic investigation of the Cu^II/maleamate(−1) ion (HL⁻)/N,N′,N′′-chelate general reaction system has allowed access to compounds [Cu₂(HL)₂(bppy)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O (1·H₂O), [Cu(HL)(bppy)(ClO₄)] (2) and [Cu(HL)(terpy)(H₂O)](ClO₄) (4) (bppy = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine, terpy = 2,2′;6′,2′′-terpyridine). In the absence of externally added hydroxides, compound [Cu₂(L′)₂(bppy)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) was obtained from MeOH solutions; L′⁻ is the monomethyl maleate(−1) ligand which is formed in situ via the Cu^II-assisted HL⁻ → L′⁻ transformation. In the case of tptz-containing (tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) reaction systems, the Cu^II-assisted hydrolysis of tptz to pyridine-2-carboxamide (L1) afforded complex [Cu(L1)₂(NO₃)₂] (5). The crystal structures of 1–5 are stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions. Characteristic IR bands of the complexes are discussed in terms of the known structures and the coordination modes of the ligands.     

Ferromagnetism in an extended three-dimensional, diamond-like copper(II) network: a new copper(II)/1-hydroxybenzotriazolato complex exhibiting soft-magnet properties and two transitions at 6.4 and 4.4 K

The use of the substituted benzotriazole ligand btaOH (1-hydroxybenzotriazole) in copper(II) chemistry has yielded a structurally and magnetically very interesting complex. The [Cu2(O2CMe)4(H2O)2]/btaOH.H2O/aqueous NH3 (1:4:4, 1:3:3, 1:2:2) reaction system in MeOH gives dark brown-green [Cu(btaO)2(MeOH)]n (4) in approximately 80% yield. 4 crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4(3)2(1)2 with (at 25 degrees C) a = 9.915(1) A, b = 9.915(1) A, c = 14.715(2) A, and Z = 4. The structure consists of a 3D, diamond-like copper(II) lattice. The CuII atom has a square pyramidal geometry with four btaO- ligands at the basal plane. The btaO- ion functions as a bidentate bridging ligand, with N(3) and the deprotonated oxygen being the ligating atoms. Dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements, together with low-field (10 G) and high-field (up to 5000 G) magnetization data, are consistent with ferromagnetic interactions on the scale of the crystal lattice with two critical temperatures: 6.4 and 4.4 K. The former critical temperature could correspond to a transition from a paramagnetic to a ferromagnetic state; the latter one, to a transition from a ferromagnetically ordered state to its 3D ordering. The magnetic data, along with the field dependence of the magnetization and the EPR data, are also in line with a soft magnet. Moreover, the EPR studies performed on 4 reveal unique features reported for the first time in the field of molecular magnetism.     

A proof of W. T. Gowers' theorem

W. T. Gowers' theorem asserts that for every Lipschitz function and 0$">, there exists an infinite-dimensional subspace of such that the oscillation of on is at most . The proof of this theorem has been reduced by W. T. Gowers to the proof of a new Ramsey type theorem. Our aim is to present a proof of the last result.

     

Sensitivity analysis and decomposition of unreliable production lines with blocking

The analysis of finitebuffered, unreliable production lines is often based on the method of decomposition, where the original system is decomposed into a series of twostage subsystems that can be modeled as quasi birthdeath processes. In this paper, we present methods for computing the gradients of the equilibrium distribution vector for such processes. Then we consider a specific production line with finite buffers and machine breakdowns and develop an algorithm that incorporates gradient estimation into the framework of Gershwin's approximate decomposition. The algorithm is applied to the problem of workforce allocation to the machines of a production line to maximize throughput. It is shown that this problem is equivalent to a convex mathematical programming problem and, therefore, a globally optimal solution can be obtained.