Highly active, hexabutylguanidinium salt/zinc bromide binary catalyst for the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides

An experimentally simple and inexpensive catalyst system based on hexabutylguanidinium/ZnBr, has been developed for the coupling of carbon dioxide and epoxides to form cyclic carbonates with significant catalytic activity under mild reaction conditions without using additional organic solvents (e.g. the turnover frequencies (TOF, h(-1)) values as high as 6.6 x 10(3) h(-1) for styrene oxide and 1.01 x 10(4) h(-1) for epichlorohydrin). This catalyst system also offers the advantages of recyclability and reusability. Therefore, it is a very effective, environmentally benign, and simple catalytic process. The special steric and electrophilic characteristics of hexabutylguanidinium bromide ionic liquid result in the prominent performance of this novel catalyst system.

Syntheses of Ag, PbSe, and PbTe nanocrystals and their binary self-assembly exploration at low size-ratio

Nanocrystals of Ag, PbSe, and PbTe were prepared via a high-temperature organic solution approach, respectively. Using a size-selection technique, the size-distribution of each set of nanocrystals could be fine-tuned and finally monodisperse products were achieved. Superlattice structure of binary self-assemblies in low size-ratio were also explored and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. It is realized that a success of achieving binary self-assembly pattern is greatly dependent on several key factors including particle size-distributions, relative concentrations of both components, as well as the size-ratios between Ag and PbSe (or PbTe) nanocrystals.

Microstructures and properties of melt-spun and as-cast Mg-20Gd binary alloy

Mg-20Gd(%, mass fraction) samples were prepared using melt-spinning and copper mold casting techniques. Microstructures and properties of the Mg-20Gd were investigated. Results show that the melt-spun ribbon is mainly composed of supersaturated alpha-Mg solid solution phase and the as-east ingot mainly contains alpha-Mg solid solution and Mg5Gd phase. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) curve of the ribbon exhibits a small exothermic peak in the temperature range from 630 to 680 K, which indicates that the ribbon contains a metastable phase (amorphous). Tensile strength at room temperature of the melt-spun ribbon and as-cast specimen are 308 and 254 MPa, respectively. The elongations of the two samples are less than 2%. The fracture surfaces demonstrate that the fracture mode of the as-cast Mg-20Gd is a typical cleavage fracture and that of the melt-spun sample is a combination of brittle fracture and ductile fracture.

Structure image of single crystal of polyethylene

High-resolution electron macroscopic images of lamellar single crystal of polyethylene (PE) have been successfully obtained using high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), although so far the feasibility of obtaining HREM images from such a radiation sensitive polymer is still drastically questioned. The HREM images with a clear two-dimensional periodic structure reported here were recorded in a transmission electron microscope operated at 200 kV. The images consisted of lattice fringes derived from the <001> zone, and the structure images of different lattice fringes were resolved. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such clear structure images of PE have been reported at a molecular level.

A novel way to enhance electroluminescence performance based on soluble binary and ternary europium 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetonate

Five rare earth complexes (Gd(acae)(3), Gd(TFacaC)(3), Eu(acaC)(3), Eu(TFacaC)(3) and Eu(TFacaC)(3)bipy; acac, acetylacetone; TFacac, 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone; bipy, 2,2'-bipyridyl) were synthesized. By comparing the phosphorescence spectra of Gd(acac)(3) and Gd(TFacac)(3) the effect of the replacement of hydrogen by fluorine was examined. Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) based on the corresponding europium complexes as emissive layers were also fabricated by the spin-coating method. The triple-layer-type device with the structure glass substrate/ITO (indium-tin oxide)/PVK [poly(N-vinylcarbazole)]/(PVKEu)-Eu-.(TFacac)(3)bipy:PBD[2-(4-bibipyyl)-5-(4-t-butylbipyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole)]/PBD/Al (aluminum) exhibits a brighter red luminescence than those devices with Eu(acac)(3) and Eu(TFacac)(3) complexes as emissive centers upon applying a d.c. voltage.

Preliminary study on the charge transfer and bond ionicity of binary crystals

Charge transfer and bond ionicity of some monovalent, divalent, and trivalent binary crystals of A(N)B(8-N) type have been investigated using the self-consistent method. The method divides the binary crystal systems into two subsystems which contain only one kind of element each in physical space. The charge transfer values are obtained by adjusting the charge in a self-consistent way. Based on the obtained charge transfer values, an empirical formula for bond ionicity has been proposed. It has been shown that the present results for bond ionicity are in good agreement with the previous theoretical study delivered by Levine and Pauling. The results also indicate that a large magnitude of charge transfer (or less excess charge in the bonding region) gives rise to high bond ionicity (or low bond covalency); this agrees well with the viewpoint that the excess charge in the bonding region is the origin of the formation of bond covalency. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(98)00837-X].

The synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of binary and ternary rare earth complexes with N-phenylanthranilic acid and l,l0-phenanthroline

Some novel binary and ternary complexes of rare earth(Gd, Eu,Tb) with N-Phenylanthranilic acid and 1,10-Phenanthroline were synthesized by homogenous precipitation and their compositions were characterized by,elemental analysis, IR spectra and UV-Vis spectra, The triplet state energies of N-Phenylanthranilic acid was determined to be 24 330 cm(-1) with the phosphorescence spectra of its gadolinium complexes and the energy match between the ligand and the central rare earth ions was studied. The photophysical properties such as luminescence properties and intramolecular energy transfer match between rare earth ions and ligands and between ligands were discussed. The result indicates that terbium complexes with N-Phenylanthranilic acid and 1,10-Phenanthroline have excellent luminescence properties.

Spectroscopic study of luminescence and energy transfer of binary and ternary complexes of rare earth with aromatic carboxylic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline

A series of rare earth (Gd, Eu, Tb) complexes with different substituent group carboxylic acids (ortho-hydroxylbenzioc acid, ortho-aminobenzoic acid and ortho-methoxy benzoic acid) and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized. The spectroscopic studies of the photophysical properties such as luminescence properties, energy match and intramolecular energy transfer were carried out. The lowest triplet state energies of ligands and the intramolecular energy transfer efficiencies were determined with the measurement of low phosphorescence spectra and lifetimes of Gd complexes.

pH-potentiometric study on rare earths and calcium binary and ternary complexes with DL-malic acid and L-hydroxyproline

The stability constants of M-L binary system and M-L-L' (M = La3+ similar to Yb3+, Y3+ and Ca2+; L= DL-malic aicd, L' = L-hydroxyproline) ternary system were determined by pH-(0)-tentiometric method under the simulating physiological condition(37 degrees C, I=0.15 mol/L NaCl). The complex species MpLqLr'H-s(abbr as pqrs) in the sytems were ascertained by program COMPLEX. The results show that there are three species(1101, 1100 and 1200) in M-L binary system and one species(1010) in M-L' binary system. In addition to the above four species, a new species, 1112 was found in the M-L-L' ternary system, which is the only species of mixed ligands. Rare earth ions form more stable complexes than calcium ion does and the stability differences between their complexes in the ternary system are less than that in the binary system. The distributions of all the species in La-L-L' ternary system vs pH are discussed.

Photophysical properties of some binary and ternary complexes of rare earth ions with aminobenzoic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline

Photophysical properties (e.g. luminescence and energy transfer) of binary and ternary complexes of Gd3+, Eu3+, and Tb3+ with aminobenzoic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline were studied in connection with their spectroscopic characterization. Intramolecular energy transfer between center ions and ligands as well as between ligands is discussed in detail.

Study on binary system comprising a non-mesogen and a mesogen

Mixed liquid crystal formation has been studied in a new binary system comprising paranitroazobenzene derivatives, in which one component was a mesogen and the other was a non-mesogen. The mixtures were found to exhibit a monotropic nematic phase which was converted to an enantiotropic phase in specific ranges of temperature and concentration. The latent liquid crystal-isotropic transition temperature (LTP) of the non-mesogen was obtained by using the extrapolation method of the transition temperature-composition curve and the equal-G analysis method. The LTPs of the non-mesogen obtained by the above two methods showed good agreement with each other. The low-temperature transition of the mixtures detected by DSC was attributed to a change of the crystallite size.

Synthesis, luminescence and intramolecular energy transfer of binary and ternary rare earth complexes with aromatic carboxylic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline

A series of binary and ternary rare earth complexes with para-substitued benzoic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized. The phosphorescence spectra were measured and the lowest tripler state energies of ligands were determined, the phosphorescence lifetimes were obtained and intramolecular energy transfer mechanism between ligands was studied. The luminescence properties were also measured and were in agreement with the prediction. The energy match and intramolecular energy transfer process in these binary and ternary complexes were discussed in detail.

Application of digital image analysis to the study of banded spherulite during growing and melting process

A digital image analysis(DIA) technique can be applied directly to the image obtained by polarizing microscope. The time-resolved DIA apparatus including image collecting, showing and data analysis has been home-made. As an example, it has been used to study the banded spherulite in the blends of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile) (SAN).

Synthesis, luminescence properties and energy transfer of binary and ternary rare earth complexes with aromatic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline

A series of binary and ternary rare earth (Gd, Eu, Tb) complexes with ortho hydroxyl benzoic acid, pam aminobenzoic acid, nicotinic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized. Phosphorescence spectra and lifetimes of Gd complexes were measured and the lowest triplet state energies of gadolinium binary complexes end the intramolecular energy transfer efficiencies were determined. The luminescence properties and energy transfer process of Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes were discussed.

The photophysical properties of binary and ternary complexes of rare earths with conjugated carboxylic acids and 1,10-phenanthroline

Results of photophysical properties of the complexes of Gd3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ with conjugated carboxylic acids (3,4-funandicarboxylic acid and nicotinic acid) and 1,10-phenanthroline are reported. Whether between central ions and ligands or between the two ligands, it is found that the intramolecular energy efficiency is a sensitive function of the relative positions of the resonance energy levels of the central ions and the lowest triplet states of the ligands. Couplings of rare earth ions to the ligands are discussed in detail. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.