Pepper, David

You can tell that the head chef and manager, David Chen, has studied in the West for a while. The stuffed bell pepper - a pepper stuffed with water chestnuts, mushrooms, carrots and tofu - is an example of the nice crossover between East and West. There are a number of other non-traditional Chinese entrees as well. 

Prof. Szwarc also contributed to the understanding of mechanisms of cationic polymerizations. In addition to the previously mentioned study of the cationic polymerization of styrene initiated by trifluoroacetic acid, he developed novel methods of initiation of cationic polymerization, e.g., the initiation of cationic polymerization by transfer of Cl " and N02 ions, and initiation by electron-transfer. In cooperation with deSorgo and David Pepper, he carried out the first stop-flow study of cationic polymerization that demonstrated the formation of the positive polystyryl cation and allowed its spectrum to be recorded. This work was published in J.C.S. Chem. Comm. 419, (1973). He was the first to point out that cationic polymerization induced by ionizing radiation is propagated by free cations [Makromol. Chem. 35a. 123 (I960)]. 

Protonation of vinyl monomers initiates their cationic polymerization. Hopefully, the presence of the resulting carbonium ions might be observed spectrophotometrically and then their concentration in the polymerizing system could be determined. In cooperation with Prof. David Pepper, who stayed with us for 6 months, we investigated by stop-flow technique polymerization of styrene initiated by perchloric acid. The formation of the -CH2 CH(Ph) was indeed observed and the propagation constant calculated. This study is continued by Pepper and the detailed features of the reaction require further clarification. 

Michael de Sorgo, David C. Pepper, and Michael Szwarc,... 

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