Unexpected end‐groups of poly(acrylic acid) prepared by RAFT polymerization

Low‐molecular‐weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization with a trithiocarbonate as chain‐transfer agent (CTA). With a combination of NMR spectroscopy and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, the PAA end‐groups of the polymer were analyzed before and after neutralization by sodium hydroxide. The polymer prior to neutralization is made up of the expected trithiocarbonate chain‐ends and of the H‐terminated chains issued from a reaction of transfer to solvent. After neutralization, the trithiocarbonates are transformed into thiols, disulfides, thiolactones, and additional H‐terminated chains. By quantifying the different end‐groups, it was possible to demonstrate that fragmentation is the rate limiting step in the transfer reaction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5439–5462, 2004     

The binding of manganese(II) and zinc(II) to the synthetic oligonucleotide d(C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G)2. A 1H NMR study

The interaction of the synthetic oligonucleotide d(C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G)2 with two different transition-metal ions has been investigated in aqueous solution by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy. The effects on the DNA due to the presence of manganese(II) or zinc(II) have been monitored by observing the paramagnetic broadening and diamagnetic shifts of the non-exchangeable proton resonance lines, respectively. The 1H NMR spectra acquired during the course of the manganese(II) titration show very distinct broadening effects on certain DNA resonance lines. Primarily, the H8 resonance of G4 is affected, but also the H5 and H6 resonances of C3 are clearly affected by the metal. The results imply that the binding of manganese(II) to DNA is sequence specific. The 1H spectra obtained during the zinc(II) titration reveal diamagnetic shift effects which largely conform with the paramagnetic broadening effects due to the presence of manganese(II), although this picture is somewhat more complex. The H8 resonance of G4 displays a clearly visible high-field shift, while for the other guanosine H8 protons this effect is absent. The H1' and H2' protons of C3 show an effect of similar strength, although in the opposite direction, while H5 and H6 of C3 are only slightly affected. Local differences in the structure of the DNA and the basicities of potential binding sites on different base steps in the sequence might account for the observed sequence selectivity.     

Encapsulation of ZnS:Mn2+ nanocrystals with diblock copolymers

The encapsulation of the nanocrystalline manganese‐doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Mn) in poly(styrene‐b‐2vinylpyridine) (PS‐PVP) diblock copolymers is reported. Below the critical micelle concentration in the absence of nanocrystals (NCs), inverse micelles of PS‐PVP were induced by adding ZnS:Mn NCs, the presence of which was confirmed by scanning force microscope and dynamic light scattering. In toluene, a PS‐selective solvent, the less‐soluble PVP blocks preferentially surround the ligand‐coated ZnS:Mn NCs. For PS‐PVP encapsulated ZnS:Mn NCs, the ratio of blue emission to orange emission of ZnS:Mn NCs is dependent on both the concentration of PS‐PVP and the solvent quality. The pyridine of PVP blocks form complexes with the Zn atoms via the nitrogen lone pair and thus the sulfur vacancies are passivated. As a result, the defect‐related blue emission is selectively quenched even when the micelles are not formed. As the concentration of PS‐PVP encapsulating the ZnS:Mn NCs increases, the intensity of blue emission decreases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3227–3233, 2006     

Quantum field theories of vortices and anyons

We develop the quantization of topological solitons (vortices) in three-dimensional quantum field theory, in terms of the Euclidean region functional integral. We analyze in some detail the vortices of the abelian Higgs model. If a Chern-Simons term is added to the action, the vortices turn out to be anyons, i.e. particles with arbitrary real spin and intermediate () statistics. Localization properties of the interpolating field, scattering theory and spin-statistics connection of anyons are discussed. Such analysis might be relevant in connection with the fractional quantum Hall effect and two-dimensional models of HighT _csuperconductors.     

Periodic solutions of some infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems associated with non-linear partial difference equations. II

This is our second paper devoted to the study of some non-linear Schrödinger equations with random potential. We study the non-linear eigenvalue problems corresponding to these equations. We exhibit a countable family of eigenfunctions corresponding to simple eigenvalues densely embedded in the band tails. Contrary to our results in the first paper, the results established in the present paper hold for an arbitrary strength of the non-linear (cubic) term in the non-linear Schrödinger equation.     

The determination of molybdenum and tungsten in sea and surface water

A simple method for the determination of molybdenum and tungsten in sea and surface water is presented. Molybdenum and tungsten are concentrated on activated charcoal by adsorption as the ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate complex; the optimal pH for adsorption is 1.3. Mo and W are then determined by thermal neutron activation, forming ⁹⁹Mo (T_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} = 66.7 h) and ¹³⁷W (T_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} = 23.8 h), respectively. The ^99mTc daughter of ⁹⁹Mo is measured as soon as the equilibrium between ^99mTc(T_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}= 6 h) and ⁹⁹Mo is established. The detection limits are 0.05 μg Mo l^-1 and 0.05 μg W l^-1 (or 0.001 μg W l^-1 after a simple chemical separation).     

Some investigations on the photostabilization of polypropylene

The effect of substituted hydroxybenzophenone, benzotriazole and organic metal complexes on the photooxidation of PP films has been studied. It has been established that NiDBTC added in 1.0 wt. % is the most effective photostabilizer.While in the case of other stabilizers there is a slight increase in the Co content even during the induction period, with the application of NiDBTC practically no oxidation can be observed before the stabilizer completely disappears. This means that NiDBTC inhibits the photooxidation of the polymer even in low concentration.

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Synthesis of enantiomerically enriched allenes by (-)-sparteine-mediated lithiation of alkynyl carbamates

[reaction: see text]. The alpha-deprotonation of alkynyl carbamates 3 with the chiral base (-)-sparteine (4)/n-butyllithium, transmetalation with ClTi(O(i)()Pr)3, and subsequent substitution with an aldehyde results in the formation of enantioenriched 4-hydroxyallenyl carbamates 11. Stereoselection is determined by dynamic resolution of the lithium/(-)-sparteine complexes by selective crystallization.     

Über die Polymerisation des Phosphornitrilchlorids II

Zusammenfassung Die Polymerisation des Phosphornitrilchlorids in Substanz erweist sich als thermisch gestartete Radikalpolymerisation, die mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit und gleicher Temperaturabhängigkeit wie die durch Sauerstoff aktivierte Polymerisation in Lösung verläuft. Schon geringer Lösungsmittelzusatz bringt die thermische Polymerisation zum Erliegen. Ein Reaktionsschema mit Start-Kette-Abbruch wird diskutiert, das sowohl die Substanz- wie die Lösungspolymerisation wiedergibt. Der seinerzeit beschriebene Einfluß von Sauerstoff auf den Ablauf der Polymerisation erfährt dadurch eine wesentliche Korrektur.Die Depolymerisation von polymerem Phosphornitrilchlorid wird von 350 bis 600° C verfolgt und als gegenläufige Reaktionsfolge zur Polymerisation gefunden. Für das aus Polymerisation und Depolymerisation resultierende Gleichgewicht werden Druck- und Temperaturabhängigkeit festgestellt.Mit 8 Abbildungen.Herrn Prof. Dr.A. Klemenc zu seinem 70. Geburtstage gewidmet.Als I soll die ArbeitPatat-Kollinsky ¹ Über die Polymerisation des Phosphornitrilchlorids¹ gelten, die im folgenden Text auch mit (I) bezeichnet wird.— Eine Literaturzusammenstellung Phosphornitrilchlorid findet sich in der Monographie vonL. F. Audrieth, R. Steinmann undA. O. F. Toy, Chem. Rev.32, 109 (1943).