Structure and hydration of polycytidylic acid from the data of infrared spectroscopy, EHF dielectrometry and computer modeling

The aim of this paper is to summarize the original results concerned with the elucidation of the role of water environment in the formation of different structures of polyribocytidylic acid (poly(rC)), depending on the pH, temperature and ion content. To solve this problem, we studied the hydration of poly(rC)-K⁺ in films differing in water content, by methods of infrared spectroscopy and piezogravimetry, and in solution, using the dielectric measurements at a wavelength of 7.6 mm (extremely high frequencies — EHF). The experimental results were confirmed by a Monte Carlo simulation of the interaction between water molecules and single-strand and double-strand poly(rC) fragments in clusters of 800 water molecules. A model of hydration of double-strand complex of poly(rC)⁺-poly(rC) has been proposed based on our results and the known X-ray parameters of the complex. The obtained results and proposed structure of poly(rC)⁺-poly(rC) suggest that, the stabilization of this complex occurs due to intra- and inter-chain water bridges, together with the hydrogen bonds between neutral and protonated cytosines in pairs.     

Polymeric photoinitiators based on side-chain benzoin methyl ether and tertiary amine moieties for fast UV curable coatings

The synthesis is reported of a new series of polymeric photoinitiators obtained by copolymerization of a-methylolbenzoin methyl ether acrylate (MBA) with different N,N-dialkylamino alkyl acrylates. The copolymers have been fully characterized and employed in the photoinitiated polymerization and crosslinking reactions of a standard acrylic formulation for clear curable coatings. The photoinitiation activity of the above systems has been measured by using microwave dielectrometry and differential photocalorimetry, and compared with that found for the corresponding low-molecular-weight models. The results clearly indicate that the copolymeric systems display a remarkable decrease of the induction period and an improved overall activity in the UV curing of the acrylic coatings. An interpretation of the experimental findings is also reported.     

Pressure effects on Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions in supercritical difluoromethane.

Dielectrometry is used as a novel technique for following the rate of a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction in supercritical (sc) difluoromethane. Although the process was not optimized, good product yields were obtained and reaction rates were found to be larger than in CO2 at comparable conditions. The reaction order is determined using the initial rate method and the reaction is shown to be first-order with respect to both anisole and t-butyl chloride. The reaction rate constant is unaffected by pressures above 120 bar but close to the critical pressure the value decreases with increasing pressure. It is also shown that the product distribution for the alkylation of anisole shows significant pressure dependence with substitution at the ortho-position being favored at lower pressures, which is ascribed to hydrogen bonding. This pressure dependency is not observed in sc CO2 or using toluene as a substrate, which supports the idea that hydrogen bonding may be important in the reaction mechanism. The effect of the different reagents and temperature on the rate of the alkylation reaction was also determined.     

Time evolution of dielectric parameters during the crosslink of epoxy resins

The d.c. conductivity and the dielectric constant of an epoxy resin cured with a diamine were examined in a frequency interval extended up to 10¹⁰ Hz. The analysis of the dielectric behavior has permitted gaining a better knowledge of the relationships between dielectric parameters and the physical and chemical modifications of the systems. The results indicate that the chemical kinetics of the crosslink process is closely paralleled by the change in time of the dielectric parameters so that dielectrometry provides valuable information on conversion, relaxation times, glass transition temperature and gelation.