One-pot,one-step,and selective terpolymerization of ethylene oxide,propylene oxide,and COS to copoly(thioether)s with tunable thermal properties

Facile construction of sulfur-rich polymers using readily available raw chemicals is an area aggressively pursued but challenging. Herein we use common feedstocks of ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), and carbonyl sulfide (COS) to synthesize copoly(thioether)s which are traditionally produced from unpleasant and difficult to store episulfides. In this protocol, the EO/COS coupling selectively generates a pure poly(ethylene sulfide) (PES) with melting temperature (T_m) values up to 172°C and high yields up to 98%. The EO/PO/COS terpolymerization leads to the incorporation of soft poly(propylene sulfide) (PPS) and hard PES segments together, affording a random PES-co-PPS copoly(thioether) with the complete consumption of EO and PO. Additionally, by simply varying the EO/PO feeding ratio, the obtained copoly(thioether)s possess tunable thermal properties, T_m values in the range of 76–144°C, and excellent solubility. These copolymerizations are conducted in one-pot/one-step at industrially favored reaction temperatures of 100–120°C using catalysts of common organic bases, suggesting a facile and practical manner. Especially, the copoly(thioether) exhibits high refractive indices up to 1.68 owing to its high sulfur content, suggesting a broad application prospect in optical materials.     

Synthesis of partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfone) multiblock copolymers bearing perfluorosulfonic functions

Partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfone) multiblock copolymers bearing perfluorosulfonic functions (ps‐PES‐FPES), with ionic exchange capacity (IEC) ranging between 0.9 and 1.5 meq H⁺/g, are synthesized by regioselective bromination of partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfone) multiblock copolymers (PES‐FPES), followed by Ullman coupling reaction with lithium 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoro‐2‐(1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoro‐2‐iodoethoxy)ethanesulfonate. The PES‐FPES are prepared by aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction by an original approach, that is, “one pot two reactions synthesis.” The chemical structures of polymers are analyzed by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The resulted ionomers present two distinct glass transitions and α relaxations revealing phase separation between the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic domains. The phase separation is observed at much lower block lengths of ps‐PES‐FPES as compared with the literature. AFM and SANS observations supported the phase separation, the hydrophilic domains are well dispersed but the connectivity to each other depends on the ps‐PES block lengths. The thermomechanical behavior, the water up‐take, and the conductivity of the ps‐PES‐FPES membranes are compared with those of Nafion 117^® and randomly functionalized polysulfone (ps‐PES). Conductivities close or higher to those of Nafion 117^® are obtained. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1941–1956     

Synthesis of bioactive indolocarbazoles: synthesis, nucleophilic ring-opening and chiral base desymmetrisation of a cyclic sulfate intermediate

A number of new functionalised bridged indolocarbazole systems have been prepared by ring-opening reactions of a key cyclic sulfate intermediate, prepared from the corresponding diol by the action of sulfuryl diimidazole and DBU. The same cyclic sulfate also undergoes an unprecedented asymmetric rearrangement to a chiral ketone, on treatment with a chiral lithium amide base.     

New liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s: The role of nitro groups in the phase behavior

New hydrogen‐bonded liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s (PEA)s were obtained from 1,4‐terephthaloyl[bis‐(3‐nitro‐N‐anthranilic acid)] (5) or 1,4‐terephthaloyl[bis‐(N‐anthranilic acid)] (6), with or without nitro groups, respectively, through the separate condensation of each with hydroquinone or dihydroxynaphthalene. The dicarboxylic monomers were synthesized from 2‐aminobenzoic acid. The phase behavior of the monomers and polymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction methods. Monomer 5, containing nitro groups, exhibited a smectic liquid‐crystalline phase, whereas the texture of monomer 6 without nitro groups appeared to be nematic. The PEAs containing nitro groups exhibited polymorphism (smectic and nematic), whereas those without nitro groups exhibited only one phase transition (a nematic threaded texture). The changes occurring in the phase behavior of the polymers were explained by the introduction of nitro groups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1289–1298, 2004     

Influence of radiation on thin ZnS-Tb films

Changes in thin zinc-sulfide films under the action of the γ-radiation of Co⁶⁰ are studied by investigating electroluminescence spectra of terbium embedded in these films as a luminescent probe. It is shown that changes in the relation of the intensities of bands, a decrease in their halfwidth and the background component, and simplification of the spectrum are observed in a short-wave region of the Tb radiation spectrum that corresponds to⁵D₃→⁷F_j transitions. The same modification of the radiation spectrum is characteristic of ZnS films whose crystalline structure is ordered in the course of thermal annealing at a temperature of 350°C. Based on the analysis of the data obtained it is inferred that irradiating the ZnS films with small radiation doses of 10⁴–10⁵ rad leads to the ordering of their crystalline structure due to the elimination of one of the types of structural defects. Institute of Physics of Semiconductors, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 45, Nauka Ave., Kiev-28, 252650. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 338–341, May–June, 1997.     

Optical properties of cadmium sulfide nanocrystal film prepared by electrochemical synthesis at liquid-liquid interface

Dendritic nanocrystalline CdS film was deposited at liquid-liquid interface of surfactants and an electrolyte containing 4 mmol L⁻¹ cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) and 16 mmol L⁻¹ thioacetamide (CH₃CSNH₂) with an initial pH value of 5 at 15 °C by electrochemical synthesis. The nanofilm was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The surface morphology and particle size of the nanofilm were investigated by AFM, SEM and TEM, and the crystalline size was 30-50 nm. The thickness of the nanofilm calculated by optical absorption spectrum was 80 nm. The microstructure and composition of the nanofilm was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), showing its polycrystalline structure consisting of CdS and Cd. Optical properties of the nanofilm were investigated systematically by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. A λ_onset blue shift compared with bulk CdS was observed in the absorption spectra. Fluorescence spectra of the nanofilm indicated that the CdS nanofilm emitted blue and green light. The nanocomposites film electrode will bring about anodic photocurrent during illumination, showing that the transfer of cavities produces photocurrent.     

Scanning probe microscopy studies of PbS surfaces oxidized in air and etched in aqueous acid solutions

Natural n-type PbS single crystals have been studied using AFM, STM and STS after long-term oxidation in air at ambient temperatures and extensive etching in aqueous acid solutions, in contrast to previous work devoted to initial corrosion of fresh surfaces. The exposure of PbS to atmosphere at high relative humidity for several days yields widespread loose oxidation products; the process is much slower at low humidity. Surface morphologies diverge after the treatment in 1 M perchloric and hydrochloric acid solutions at room temperature and become widely different at elevated temperatures, displaying commonly etch pits up to several micrometers in size and depth along with rather uniformly distributed 20-100 nm protrusions of PbS phase. The changes both in topography and semiconducting properties of PbS found by tunneling spectroscopy have been explained in terms of the non-uniform distribution of donor- and acceptor-type defects D⁺/D⁻ in the metal depleted surface layer, which are generated by chemical reactions and, in turn, determine the rates of the PbS corrosion. In particular, the D⁻ centers exhibit a self-catalyzing effect on the non-oxidative local dissolution of PbS in HCl media, resulting in the deep etch pits.     

Synthesis and properties of triethylammonium 2,2,5-triphenyl-1,3,2,5-dioxaborataphosphorinane

The reaction of bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylphosphine with isobutyl diphenylborate in the presence of triethylamine leads to the formation of triethylammonium 2,2,5-triphenyl-1,3,2,5-dioxaborataphosphorinane (1). The reaction of compound 1 with electrophilic reagents (O, S, Se, CH₂O, RHal) leads to quaternization of the phosphorus atom, giving the corresponding phosphine oxides, sulfides, and selenides and P,B-containing betaines. In the reactions of compound 1 with amines aminomethylphosphines of the diazaphosphorinane and diazadiphosphacyclooctane series are formed. Ammonium 1,3,2,5-dioxaborataphosphorinanes dissociate in solutions and enter into ion exchange with phosphonium iodides, leading to phosphonium 1,3,2,5-dioxaborataphosphorinanes. The latter, in the case of the aminomethylphosphonium cation, undergo intramolecular rearrangement with the formation of P,B-containing betaines and aminomethylphosphines.Deceased.A. E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Kazan' Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 420083 Kazan'. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1398–1405, June, 1992.     

Syntheses,crystal structures and blue emission of three zinc(II) coordination polymers with a 4,4′‐dicarboxybiphenyl sulfone ligand

Three novel zinc complexes [Zn(dbsf)(H₂O)₂] ( 1 ), [Zn(dbsf)(2,2′‐bpy)(H₂O)]·(i‐C₃H₇OH) ( 2 ) and [Zn(dbsf)(DMF)] ( 3 ) (H₂dbsf = 4,4′‐dicarboxybiphenyl sulfone, 2,2′‐bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine, i‐C₃H₇OH = iso‐propanol, DMF = N,N‐dimethylformamide) were first obtained and characterized by single crystal X‐ray crystallography. Although the results show that all the complexes 1–3 have one‐dimensional chains formed via coordination bonds, unique three‐dimensional supramolecular structures are formed due to different coordination modes and configuration of the dbsf^2? ligand, hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions. Iso‐propanol molecules are in open channels of 2 while larger empty channels are formed in 3 . As compared with emission band of the free H₂dbsf ligand, emission peaks of the complexes 1–3 are red‐shifted, and they show blue emission, which originates from enlarging conjugation upon coordination. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphological and chemical study of the initial growth of CdS thin films deposited using an ammonia-free chemical process

We study the initial growth stages of CdS thin films deposited by an ammonia-free chemical bath deposition process. This ammonia-free process is more environmentally benign because it reduces potential ammonia release to the environment due to its high volatility. Instead of ammonia, sodium citrate was used as the complexing agent. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM), Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the morphological and chemical modifications at the substrate surface during the first initial stages of the CdS deposition process. Additionally, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical transmission spectroscopy measurements were carried out to compliment the study. XPS results show that the first nucleation centers are composed by Cd(OH)₂ which agglomerate in patterns of bands, as demonstrated by AFM results. It is also observed that the conversion to CdS (by anionic exchange) of the first nucleus begins before the substrate surface is completely covered by a homogenous film.