Solid-state carbon-13 NMR of phenolics in NASA rocket motors and Michael addition of anthraquinone dianion with different acceptors

Solid-state CP/MAS C-13 NMR was carried out to analyze the phenolic resins in NASA rocket motors. Nine samples were analyzed in duplicate. Discriminant function analysis was performed to analyze a total of 14 variables by the software STATISTICA. Results show that the three variables, P3A, P3%, and P4A, may be used to distinguish pocketed from non-pocketed samples. This research shows that solid-state CP/MAS C-13 NMR is a powerful technique to study phenolic resins and discriminant analysis is a promising method to describe or predict which variables could discriminate pocketed from non-pocketed throats.; The mechanism of anthrahydroquinone dianion (AHQ2-) catalyzed delignification was investigated. Several Michael acceptors were tried to see if they would form an adduct formation with anthrahydroquinone. Results show that some less crowded alpha,beta unsaturated ketones do react with AHQ2-, and quinone methide (QM) is a very important intermediate in lignin chemistry and also a Michael acceptor. More studies are needed to check if other Michael acceptors are reactive with AHQ 2- and what other Michael donors could react with QM.