Theoretical and experimental approaches to kinetics at the collapse transition of a homopolymer

Summary We discuss some recent theoretical studies of the kinetics of the collapse transition in homopolymers. An isolated polymer is modelled using computer simulation, and a time-dependent mean-field theory. The mean-field theory is analysed analytically for early stages, and for short polymers the equations are studied numerically. The results of simulation and theory are compared yielding, we argue, a consistent physical picture. Quantitative comparisons are not yet given, but seem relatively promising. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4– 1994.     

Metabelian groups with a single defining relation and the Magnus embedding

Translated from Matematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 597–605, April, 1995.     

Synthesis of 3-imino and 3-ylideno derivatives of 4-fluoro-5-polyfluoroalkyl-1,2-dithiolenes

Reactions of 4-fluoro-5-polyfluoroalkyl-1,2-dithiol-3-thiones with hydroxylamine and hydrazines occur with replacement of the thiocarbonyl by imino group affording oximes and hydrazones respectively. N-Alkyl-and N-aryl-3-imino-1,2-dithiolenes formed in reactions of 3-chlorothio-1,2-dithiolium salts with primary alkyl-or arylamines. 3-Chlorothio-1,2-dithiolium salts react with compounds possessing an active methylene group yielding 3-ylideno derivatives of 1,2-dithiolenes.     

Synthesis of 4-Benzylsulfonyl-5-polyfluoroalkyl-ν-triazoles from 1,1-Dihydropolyfluoroalkyl Benzyl Sulfones

The reaction of 1,1-dihydropolyfluoroalkyl benzyl sulfones with sodium azide or trimethylsilyl azide in the presence of tertiary amines gives ammonium salts of 4-benzylsulfonyl-5-polyfluoroalkyl--triazoles. The proposed reaction scheme includes the participation of catalytic amounts of azide ion in the cyclization of the formed intermediate vinyl azides to triazoles. X-ray analysis of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane salt of 4-benzylsulfonyl-5-(-H-hexafluoropropyl)--triazole has been carried out.     

Size and persistence length of molecular bottle-brushes by Monte Carlo simulations

Single-chain simulations of densely branched comb polymers, or "molecular bottle-brushes" with side-chains attached to every (or every second) backbone monomer, were carried out by off-lattice Monte Carlo technique. A coarse-grained model, described by hard spheres connected by harmonic springs, was employed. Backbone lengths of up to 100 units were considered, and compared with the corresponding linear chains. The backbone molecular size was investigated as a function of its length at fixed arm size, and as a function of the arm size at fixed backbone length. The apparent swelling exponents obtained by a power-law fit were found to be larger than those for the corresponding linear polymers, indicative of stiffening of the comb backbone. The probability distribution function for the backbone end-to-end distance was also investigated for different backbone lengths and arm sizes. Analysis of this function yielded the critical exponents, which revealed an increase in the swelling exponent consistent with values found from the molecular size. The apparent persistence length of the backbone was also determined, and was found to increase with increasing branching density. Finally, the static structure factors of the whole bottle-brushes and of their backbones are discussed, which provides another consistent estimate of the swelling exponents.     

Reduction of 4-fluoro-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione with sodium sulfide: Synthesis of fluoro-containing sulfur-rich heterocycles

Treatment of 4-fluoro-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione with 2 equivalents of sodium sulfide gives after acidification 3,4-difluoro-2-mercapto-1,6,6aλ⁴-trithiapentalene, which can be further reduced by sodium sulfide to 3,5-difluoro-4-mercapto-thiopyran-2-thione.     

Synthesis of a new polyfluorinated vinylogue of tetrathiafulvalene through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ethyl beta-bromoperfluorodithiocrotonate with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

The ethyl ester of beta-bromoperfluorodithiocrotonic acid reacts with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to give 1,4-difluoro-2,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)-but-2-ene-1,4-diylidene-2,2'-bis(4',5'-dicarbomethoxy-1',3'-dithiole) (4), a new type of vinylogue of tetrathiafulvalene. The thermal transformations of this compound lead, depending on the temperature, to the formation of the cyclization products: 11,14-difluoro-2,3,8,9-tetra(carbomethoxy)-12,13-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetrathiadispiro[4.0.4.4]tetradeca-2,8,11,13-tetraene (8) or 5,8-difluoro-6,7-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,3-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4-benzodithiine (11).     

Sulfonimidamides and Imidosulfuric Diamides: Compounds from an Underexplored Part of Biologically Relevant Chemical Space

Two novel solid reagents—1-sulfonimidoyl- and 1-sulfamimidoyl-3-methylimidazolium derivatives—for the synthesis of sulfonimidamides and imidosulfuric diamides, respectively, were developed. It is shown that these reagents are very effective in substitution reactions with various N- and O-nucleophiles; therefore, they significantly extend the accessibility to the chemical space covered by organosulfur(VI) compounds with S=N bonds. In addition, previously unknown imidosulfuric diamides with free imino nitrogen groups were prepared, and their physical and chemical properties were characterized (including molecular geometry, pK_a, Log P, microsomal stability, and reactivity towards typical electrophiles). Similar to other organosulfur(VI) derivatives with S=N bonds, these compounds can be considered as promising bioisosteres of amides, ureas, or sulfonamides.