The influence of variant PE-b-PEO segments on physical properties of LLDPE graft copolymers

A method was adopted to fix a series of polymers of PE-b-PEO with different PEO/PE segments on the chains of LLDPE. Maleic anhydride (MA) reacting with hydroxyl group of PE-b-PEO (mPE-b-PEO) was used as the intermediate. The structures of intermediates and graft copolymers were approved by H-1 NMR and FTIR. XPS analysis revealed a great amount of oxygen on the surface of grafted copolymers although the end group of PEO was fixed on the LLDPE chains through MA. Thermal properties of the graft copolymers as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that PE segments in the grafted monomers could promote the heterogeneous nucleation of the polymer, increase T., and crystal growth rate.

Effective enhancement of peroxydisulfate electrochemiluminescence on C-60/DDAB films

Effective enhancement of electrochermluminescence (ECL) of peroxydisulfate on a C-60/didodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (C-60/DDAB) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface is reported in this paper. The C60/DDAB film gave lower cathodic current in the presence of peroxydisulfate than that from a bare GCE. To our surprise, electrochemiluminescent intensity from peroxydisulfate reduction was effectively enhanced on the C60/DDAB film, which was 50 times and 250 times higher than those from a DDAB film coated and bare GCE, respectively. Moreover, the ECL onset potential on the C60/DDAB film was about -0.9 V, which positively shifted 200 mV compared with that from the bare GCE. Dissolved oxygen and the applied potential also affected the electrochemiluminescent intensity. The presence of oxygen decreased the intensity, and the intensity reached maximum at the applied potential of -1.7 V. The unique property will greatly enrich ECL studies and applications based on fullerenes.

Preparation and chracaterization of novel graft copolymers of LLDPE

A series of novel fluorine surfactants, a, b, c, d, e and their acrylates, A, 13, C, D and E, were synthesized via poly( ethylene oxide) ( PEG) ( 200, 600, 1000, 2000, 5000) and perfluorooctane poly (ethylene oxide) ether as the main starting materials. Their chemical structures were characterized by means of FTIR and H-1 NMR. The surface activity and surface tension( y) of surfactants a, b, c, d and e were evaluated by maximum bubble pressure method. Surfactants A, 13, C, D and E were adopted as the grafting monomers of linear low density polyethere( LLDPE), and grafting reaction was carried out by melt reactive extrusion procedure. Their surface properties were characterized with measuring contact angle and XPS. It was found that the hydrophilic property of the graft copolymers was better than the palin LLDPE. Thermal properties of graft copolymers were studied by DSC. It was found that their crystalline temperatures of graft copolymers were faster than that of the plain LLDPE.

The real role of carbon in Pt/C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

A new electrocatalysis of carbon materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt/C catalysts was discovered. It was found that there exist two kinds of electroactive sites on these supports of carbon materials, which can effectively electrocatalyze the reduction of peroxide intermediated from oxygen reduction on Pt, as this provides continuous driving force to move the equilibrium toward the production of peroxide from ORR.

Electrosynthesis and characterization of 1,2-dibenzyl C-60: A revisit

A reinvestigation of the reaction between C-60(2-) and benzyl bromide in benzonitrile containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) has shown that there are more reaction products than previously reported. Use of a silica rather than a "Buckyclutcher I" column for HPLC purification led to isolation of two previously unattained products in the reaction mixture, one of which was identified as 1,2-(PhCH2)(2)C-60 by UV-vis and NMR. The earlier incorrectly assigned 1,2-(PhCH2)(2)C-60 was identified as the methanofullerene C61HPh by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The electrochemistry of genuine 1,2-(PhCH2)(2)C-60 shows that its first reduction potential in PhCN containing 0.1 M TBAP is cathodically shifted by 100 mV with respect to E-1/2 for reduction of 1,4-(PhCH2)(2)C-60, indicating that the addition pattern significantly affects the electrochemistry of derivatized C-60. Visible and near-IR spectra of the monoanion and dianion of 1,2-(PhCH2)(2)C-60 are also reported.

Electrocatalytic reduction of 1,2-diiodoethane by anions of supramolecular complex of (beta-CD)(2)/C-60 in DMF solution

The homogeneous electrocatalytic reduction of 1,2-diiodoethane by anions of the supramolecular complex of (beta-CD)(2)/C-60 in DMF solution is reported. The results show that the trianion of (beta-CD)(2)/C-60 exhibits electrocatalytic behavior towards the reduction of 1,2-diiodoethane, whereas the diani on is unable to reduce the diiodoethane. The second-order catalytic rate constant in DMF solution was determined to be 3.1 x 10(5) M-1 s(-1) by analysis of voltammetric responses under pseudo-first-order conditions with respect to (beta-CD)(2)/C-60. The results suggest that the host beta-cyclodextrin molecules have little effect on the electrocatalytic ability of the encapsulated C-60 toward organic halides.

Circular dichroism and resonance Raman comparative studies of wild type cytochrome c and F82H mutant

The UV-visible, circular dichroism (CD), and resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the wild type yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (WT) and its mutant F82H in which phenylalanine-82 (Phe-82) is substituted with His are measured and compared for oxidized and reduced forms. The CD spectra in the intrinsic and Soret spectral region, as well as RR spectra in high, middle, and low frequency regions, are discussed. From the analysis of the spectra, it is determined that in the oxidized F82H the two axial ligands to the heme iron are His-18 and His-82 whereas in the reduced form the sixth ligand switches from His-82 to Met-80 providing the coordination geometry similar to that of WT. Based on the spectroscopic data, the conclusion is that the porphyrin macrocycle is less distorted in the oxidized F82H compared to the oxidized WT. Similar distortions are present in the reduced form of the proteins. Frequency shifts of Raman bands, as well as the decrease of the or-helix content in the CD spectra, indicate more open conformation of the protein around the heme. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Mechanism-transformation synthesis and characterization of poly(styrene-b-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) diblock copolymer

By mechanism-transformation (anionic --> cationic) poly(styrene-6-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) diblock copolymer, PS-b-PEOx, was synthesized in two steps. The first step is the polymerization of styrene block capped with ethylene oxide and its tosylation; the second step is the cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline. The products were thoroughly characterized by various methods, such as H-1-NMR, IR, DMA, TEM and SAXS. The results show that the copolymer obtained possesses high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution.

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of endohedral metallofullerenes Tb@C-2n

Endohedral metallofullerenes Tb@C-2n were synthesized and extracted with high-yield by K-H carbon-are evaporation and an effective pyridine extraction technique at high-temperature high-pressure. Laser-desorption-ionization time-of-flight (LD-TOF) mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), solid-state fluorescent emission spectroscopy and gas phase derivation reaction with the self-chemical ionization mass spectrometric ion system of vinyl acetate were employed for studying the electronic structures, fluorescent properties and gas phase reactivities of metallofullerenes Tb@C-2n. The experimental results suggest that endohedral metallofullerenes Tb@C-2n would have the approximate structures of Tb3+@C-2n(3-) similar to other metallofullerenes, good fluorescent emission properties and active reactivities in gas phase ion-molecular reactions.

Gas phase derivatization of endohedral metallofullerenes R@C-82 and R-2@C-80 (R = Nd, Ce)

Endohedral metallofullerenes Ce@C-82, Ce-2@C-80, Nd@C-82 and Nd-2@C-80 undergo gas phase ion/molecule reactions with the ion system from self-chemical ionization of vinyl acetate, and exohedral derivatives are thus generated, A new heterocycle is formed from metallofullerenes and a C2H3O+ cation, Endohedral metallofullerenes show much higher reactivities than empty fullerenes during the association and the charge and proton transfer processes, The strong electron-donating character of endohedral metallofullerenes is due to their unique super-atom-like electronic structures. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

High-yield synthesis and extraction of endohedral metallofullerenes Dy@C-2n

The successful encapsulation of dysprosium(Dy) into fullerene cages by activating the Dy2O3 containing graphite rods in situ, ''back-burning'' carbon-arc evaporation with a high-yield of pyridine extraction technique is reported.

Electrochemical identification of intermediate forms of urea denaturation of horse heart cytochrome c

The electrochemical identification of the urea denaturation of horse heart cytochrome c in bulk solution at the 4,4'-dithiodipyridine-modified gold electrode is reported. The results are similar to the three-step transitions of equilibrium studies (Myer et al., Biochemistry, 19 (1980) 199) of urea denaturation of cytochrome c in bulk solution. This method permits a clear resolution of which of the three steps of urea denaturation is electrochemically related. In addition, by analysing the effects of urea on the structural forms of cytochrome c and on the solution properties, as well as the cyclic voltammetric responses of the protein, the individual forms of the urea denaturation of cytochrome c can be understood. The results reflect the superposition of protein denaturation on the electrode surface and in solution.

SYNTHESIS, SOLUTION DYNAMICS AND X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF NEODYMIUM-YLIDE COMPLEXES, [(C(5)H(4)R)(3)NDCH2P(ME)PH(2)] (R=H, BU(T))

The interaction of [(C(5)H(4)R)(2)NdCl.2LiCl] (R = H, Bu(t)) with one equivalent of Li[(CH2)(CH2)PPh(2)] in refluxing tetrahydrofuran gave the purplish-blue complex [(C(5)H(4)R)(3)NdCH2P(Me)Ph(2)] in 50% yield. The compounds have been fully characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. Variable temperature P-31{H-1} NMR spectroscopy indicated the existence of the following equilibrium: [(C(5)H(4)R)(3)NdCH2P(Me)Ph(2)] + THF reversible arrow (C(5)H(4)R)(3)Nd(THF) + CH2=P(Me)Ph(2). At room temperature, the exchange between the coordinated and free ylide ligand is slow on the NMR time scale.

Crystallization Behavior of Poly(tetrahydrofuran-b-methyl methacrylate) Diblock Copolymer

Crystallization behavior of a series of newly synthesized poly (tetrahydrofuran-b-methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray scattering and diffraction techniques. The results show that the