Conformational and stereoelectronic investigation in 1,2-difluoropropane: The gauche effect

The effect of attaching an additional fluorine atom at C-2 in 1-fluoropropane (FP), giving 1,2-difluoropropane (DFP), on its conformational equilibrium, is theoretically evaluated. This substitution causes critical implications on the conformer stabilities of DFP (TG, GT and GG conformations) and the steric and electrostatic interactions should favor the conformer with fluorine atoms trans. However, the gauche effect plays a major role in describing the energies balance in DFP, shifting the equilibrium towards the conformation in which the two fluorine atoms are gauche. The origin of this effect is discussed through an NBO analysis, which allows the evaluation of both classical and non-classical (hyperconjugation and bent bonds) interactions as the prevailing factors governing the conformational equilibrium of molecules containing the 1,2-difluoroethane fragment.     

Adsorption of a single polymer chain on a surface: A molecular dynamics simulation study

We performed simulations of the physical adsorption of a single globular chain on a surface of hemispherical shape by means of molecular dynamics simulations. For the chain, we took advantage of a united atom model. Interactions within the chain were limited to stretching, bending, and torsional as well as nonbonded interactions between the nonadjacent atoms. The interaction between each chain element and the surface formation are reigned by a Lennard–Jones potential. In this article, we focused on differences in the behavior of the adsorbed globule to the free unadsorbed one particularly in two different zones of the immediate vicinity of the surface. There were strong indications for a localized acceleration of the dynamics as compared with the bulk that appears in an increase of trans–gauche switches. For explanation we came up with an adsorption scenario. Special attention was given to the shift of the percentage of trans and gauche conformations within the globule in dependence on the strength of the adsorption potential that might be related to crystallization or glass transition. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2333–2339, 2001     

Polyethylene terephthalate–multiwall nanotubes nanocomposites: Effect of nanotubes on the conformations,crystallinity and crystallization behavior of PET

PET‐nanotube composite samples were manufactured by mixing neat PET with a PET‐multiwall carbon nanotube masterbatch. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was utilized to monitor the gauche and trans conformations of the polymeric chains with respect to the nanotube content. The crystallinity as well as the crystallization behavior of the polymer were studied via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An increase of the trans conformations and crystallinity was recorded at low NT contents followed by a sharp decrease at 1 wt % of nanotubes, further addition of nanotubes led once again to increase of the trans conformations and crystallinity. This behavior was attributed to the aggregations formation which as shown via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was initiated at concentrations above 0.5 wt %. Discordance between the FTIR and DSC results in the case of the PET sample showed that the later bears relatively more trans non‐crystalline conformers than the nanocomposite samples. Thus it appears that the nanotubes incorporate the trans non‐crystalline segments into the crystalline phase. This work has shown that even a minor addition of carbon nanotubes (even 0.1 wt %) alters the crystallization behavior of the polymer dramatically, yielding a novel nanocomposite material rather than a simple mixture of two ingredients. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 668–676, 2008     

High‐resolution solid‐state NMR study of the domain structure and molecular motion in drawn films of a vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer with 73 mol % vinylidene fluoride

The heterogeneous higher order structure and molecular motion in a single crystalline film of a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and trifluoroethylene (TrFE) copolymer with 73 mol % VDF was investigated with the ¹H–¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning NMR technique. A transient oscillation was observed in plots of the ¹³C peak intensity versus the contact time for the CH₂, CHF, and CF₂ groups. On the basis of the extended cross‐relaxation theory of spin diffusion, we determined that the oscillation behavior was caused by the TrFE‐rich segments in the chain and that the crystal consisted of VDF‐rich and TrFE‐rich domains. The former had TrFE‐rich segments in VDF and TrFE fractions of 0.24 and 0.27, respectively, and the latter had VDF‐rich segments in a VDF fraction of 0.49. The spin–lattice relaxation time T_1ρH in the rotating frame for each group was minimal in the three temperature regions of β, α_b, and α_c (↑) on heating and in the two temperature regions of α_1D and α_c (↓) on cooling. The α_c (↑) and α_c (↓) processes depended on the first‐order ferroelectric phase‐transition regions on heating and cooling, respectively. The motional modes for the other processes were confirmed by the T_1ρH minimum behavior of the VDF and TrFE groups in the TrFE‐rich domain and the VDF‐rich segments in the VDF‐rich domain. The β and α_b processes were attributed to the flip–flop motion of the TrFE‐rich segments and the competitive motion of the TrFE‐ and VDF‐rich segments in the ferroelectric phase, respectively. The α_1D process was due to the one‐dimensional diffusion motion of the conformational defects along the chain in the paraelectric phase, accompanied by the trans and gauche transformation of the VDF conformers of ttg⁺tg^? and g⁺tg^?tt. The effect of the competitive motion of the TrFE‐rich segment on the thermal stability of the VDF‐rich segment in the chain near the Curie temperature was examined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1026–1037, 2002     

Thermal analysis via molecular dynamics simulation

Thermal analysis by classical molecular dynamics simulations is discussed on hand of heat capacity of crystals of 9600 atoms. The differences between quantum mechanical and classical mechanical calculations are shown. Anharmonicity is proven to be an important factor. Finally, it is found that defects contribute to an increase in heat capacity before melting. The energy of conformational gauche defects within the crystal is only about 10% due to internal rotation. The other energy must be generated by cooperative strain. The conclusion is that the next generation of faster computers may permit wider use of molecular dynamics simulations in support of the interpretation of thermal analysis.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Formation of a Macrocycles‐in‐a‐Macrocycle Superstructure with All‐gauche Conformation by Reversible Radical Association

The formation of an unprecedented macrocycles‐in‐a‐macrocycle (MIM) superstructure by reversible radical–radical association of a triphenylamine based monomer terminated with three dicyanomethyl radicals is presented. The reaction yield is nearly quantitative and the obtained macrocycle contains three small dimeric macrocycles according to X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The six monomer molecules are linked by nine long dynamic covalent C(sp³)?C(sp³) bonds that all adopt a gauche conformation. Such a conformation favors the formation of a MIM structure rather than a 2D network with an all‐anti conformation. Two enantiomers with left‐/ right‐handed chirality exist in the single crystals of the superstructure.     

Raman Analysis of Polymerization of APST Molecule

In this work we investigated the solidification of aminopropylsilanetriol dissolved in water (∼25%) under different conditions by Raman spectroscopy. The solidification was carried out at three different temperatures 8 °C, 23 °C and 60 °C. The influence of electromagnetic radiation on the polymerization process was also studied. Samples were held to solidify in dark and at UV (254 nm and 356nm) spectral range. In order to investigate the influence of the substrate on the resulting polymer structure, teflon, PVC, glass, brass and silica were used. Best ordered polymerized structure was achieved for samples deposited on plastics and solidified in dark, at room temperature.     

Syntheses and Structures of Zinc(II) Co‐Ordination Polymers Bridged by Flexible Bidentate Nitrogen Ligands

The reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and bpp (bpp = 1,3‐Bis(4‐pyridyl)pronpane) in CH₃OH afforded the complex [Zn(bpp)(NO₃)₂]_n, 1 . The IR has been recorded and the structure has been determined. Crystal data for 1: Space group P2(1)/n, a = 11.749(1), b = 11.413(1), c = 11.942(1) Å, β = 96.06(6)°. V = 1592.5(3) ų, Z = 4 with final residuals R1 = 0.0484 and wR2 = 0.0984. The complexes show supramolecular structure in the solid state by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction.     

Lower bounds on entropy for polymer chains on a square and a cubic lattice

Rigorous lower bounds on the entropy per particle as a function of the fractiong of thegauche bonds of a system of semiflexible polymer chains is obtained in the thermodynamic limit. Only square and cubic lattices are considered. For the case of a single chain havingl monomers, the bound is obtained for all gg=2/3. For the case of p>1 chains, each havingl monomers, wherel is a multiple of 4, the bound is obtained for all gg=13/90. In both cases, it is shown that the entropy is alwaysnonzero for all 0<gm(l), whereg _m(l) =(l-2)/l. Thiscontradicts the prediction from the Flory-Huggins approximations that the entropy is zero for allgg₀, whereg ₀ is some finite nonzero number. It is also pointed out that it isnot impossible to pack a lattice with disordered configurations of rodlike chains with finite entropy, again contradicting an assertion by Flory that it is impossible to do so. Finally, it is concluded that onecannot trust the Flory-Huggins approximations at least at low temperatures. The study also casts doubts on the validity of the Gibbs-DiMarzio theory of glass transitions in polymeric systems.