Thermal and dilute-solution properties of zwitterionic copolymers

We report the synthesis, characterization, thermal and dilute-solution properties of zwitterionic copolymers of the sulfobetaine type, where the proportion of ionic groups is varied over a wide range. Two different structures are considered: poly (2-vinyl pyridine sulfopropyl betaine) and poly (4-vinyl pyridine sulfopropyl betaine). Synthesis is carried out to obtain random copolymers which are further characterized and their ionic content determined. At low proportions of ionic groups, the behavior is similar to that observed in ionomers, with substantial differences between the two structures, Increased interaction among the zwitterionic groups at higher charge densities is evidenced, which leads to the formation of clusters and agglomerates. An increase in the intrinsic viscosity with salt content in aqueous solutions is also observed. This behavior is analogous to that of homopolymers with 100% ionic content, but with particular features of interest.     

The influence of the liquid crystalline core geometry on the mesogenicity of novel chiral 2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles

The synthesis and characterization of seven novel (R)-2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles are described. The propanonitriles were prepared to evaluate their potential use as thermochromics and ferroelectric dopants, as well as to determine their twist sense properties. The materials exhibit smectic and chiral nematic phases of high thermal stability; the mesogenic behaviour of the nitriles is directly related to the type of two-ring core unit employed. The effects of the different molecular geometries and polarizabilities of the liquid crystalline cores on mesophase stability are discussed, particularly in relation to other members of this series. The chiral nematic phase of the propanonitriles is assigned as having a left-handed twist sense from contact preparation studies, and this is in agreement with rules relating absolute configuration and molecular structure to helical twist sense.     

Tuning the acceptors in catalyzed cyclizations initiated by allenes. Silylstannylation/cyclization of allene-aldehydes for synthesis of polyalkylated indolizidines including 223A congeners

Starting from succinamide and 1,2-heptadiene-4-ol, a racemic allene-aldehyde substrate, 20, suitable for R(3)SiSnR'(3)-mediated cyclization was synthesized in six steps and in 21% yield. Stereoselective cyclization (relative cis configuration at the new stereogenic centers of the homoallyl alcohol generated) proceeded smoothly, giving a mixture of indolizidinols bearing five contiguous stereocenters in a combined yield of 80%. Relative configurations of each of the products were unequivocally established by a combination of 2D NMR experiments and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The major indolizidinol obtained in 32% yield was elaborated into indolizidine 5,8-epi-indolizidine 223A via a five-step reaction sequence in 32% overall yield. The second major component (24%) of the key cyclization yielded, in four steps, indolizidine 6,8-epi-223 in 14% yield. Even though revision of the initially postulated structure foiled our original synthetic plans for the natural product, indolizidine 223A, the new stereoselective cyclization strategy and several selective transformations of the indolizidine derivatives reported here may find further applications for the synthesis of highly alkylated indolizidine and other related alkaloids.     

ESR spectra of AsF2−6 and SbF2−6

ESR spectra observed in γ-irradiated CsAsF₆ and CsSbF₆ matrices have been assigned to the free radicals AsF^2?₆ and SbF^2?₆ respectively. The large, isotropic central-atom hyperfine interactions and isotropic g-values of these species suggest that they possess ²A_tg ground-states in O_h symmetry. The contribution to the semi-occupied orbital of the central-atom valence s atomic orbital is ≈ 0.6, greater than in the halogen hexafluorides (≈0.4) and the chalcogen hexafluoride anions (≈ 0.5). Variation of the central-atom hyperfine interaction with temperature is interpreted in terms of a second-order Jahn-Teller effect involving a low-lying ²T_1u excited state.     

Synthesis of 1-Aza-8-thiabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene 8,8-dioxide and its conversion to a strained spirocycle via photoinduced SO2-N bond cleavage

A route to the doubly unsaturated bridgehead sultam 12 has been developed. When irradiated at 350 nm, this conjugated diene is isomerized via a two-photon process to the structurally novel spiro heterocycle 17 constituted of cyclobutene, thietane dioxide, and pyrrolidine rings. A probable mechanism for the generation of 17 and select reactions thereof are reported. [reaction: see text]     

First successful reaction of a silyl anion with hafnium tetrachloride

Hafnium tetrachloride reacts with the tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl potassium tmen adduct (1) to form a [tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl]trichlorohafnium tmen complex (2); reaction of 2 with 2,6-dimethylphenylisonitrile leads to insertion into the silicon hafnium bond (4).     

Advances in Acoustical Holography

The most recent branch of holography, acoustical holography employing acoustical radiation, presents a variety of new and highly interesting possible applications: Thus objects can be imaged in a turbid liquid medium (marine research); the technique can be used for non-destructive investigations of the internal structure of objects that are opaque to light (testing of materials) and is possibly also a potential tool for the three-dimensional imaging of biological structures (biomedical diagnosis).     

Ab initio analytical potential energy surface and quasiclassical trajectory study of the O(+)((4)S)+H(2)(X (1)Sigma(g) (+))-->OH(+)(X (3)Sigma(-))+H((2)S) reaction and isotopic variants

An analytical potential energy surface (PES) representation of the O(+)((4)S)+H(2)(X (1)Sigma(g) (+)) system was developed by fitting around 600 CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ ab initio points. Rate constant calculations for this reaction and its isotopic variants (D(2) and HD) were performed using the quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) method, obtaining a good agreement with experimental data. Calculations conducted to determine the cross section of the title reaction, considering collision energies (E(T)) below 0.3 eV, also led to good accord with experiments. This PES appears to be suitable for kinetics and dynamics studies. Moreover, the QCT results show that, although the hypotheses of a widely used capture model are not satisfied, the resulting expression for the cross section can be applied within a suitable E(T) interval, due to errors cancellation. This could be a general situation regarding the application of this simple model to ion-molecule processes.