Synthesis of Linear Oligomers of (R)-3-Hydroxybutyrate and Solid-State Structural Investigations by electron microscopy and X-ray scattering

Repetitive treatment of the biopolymer P(3-HB) (molecular weight > 10⁵ Dalton, storage or s-P(3-HB)), with lithium hexamethyl disilazanid (LHMDS) at ?70° in THF leads to a mixture of oligomers with increasingly sharp distribution around a 15-, 30-, and 45mer. Discrete fragments are also isolated when P(3-HB) is heated under reflux (89°) in neat Et₃N. Linear oligo(3-HB) derivatives ( 3-7 ) containing up to 96 3-HB units are synthesized using an exponential segment-coupling strategy. These oligomers are used to calibrate size-exclusion chromatography columns for the analysis of oligo(3-HB) samples from the different sources. The linear oligo-(3-HB) derivatives also served as a model with respect to the physical properties of high molecular weight P(3-HB) and were investigated as such by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS). The thicknesses of the lamellar crystallites (long periods) formed by the 8mer, 16mer, and 32mer, are ca. 26, 52, and 53 Å, respectively, indicating that the 32mer molecules are folded once, very tightly, into a ‘hair-pin’-type conformation. High-molecular-weight P(3-HB), which was crystallized in a similar way, also has a lamellar crystallite thickness of ca. 50–65 Å. Thus, the treatment of P(3-HB) with LHMDS at low temperature causes etching of the amorphous regions, an effect well known in polymer science for studying the regularity of chain folding. The ca. 50-Å packing within the tight folds of P(3-HB) is discussed in view of its possible function in ion transport through cell membranes.     

Synthese monodisperser linearer und cyclischer Oligomere der (R)-3-Hydroxybuttersäure mit bis zu 128 Einheiten

Monodisperse Linear and Cyclic Oligo[(R)-3-hydroxybutanoates] Containing up to 128 Monomeric Units Using benzyl ester/(tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl ether protection, (COCl)₂/pyridine esterification conditions, and a fragment-coupling strategy (with H₂/Pd-C debenzylation and HF · pyridine desilylation), linear oligomers of (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (3-HB) containing up to 128 3-HB building blocks (mol. weight > 11 000 Da) are assembled (Schemes 1,2,5, and 6). In contrast to the previously employed protecting-group combination, and due to the low-temperature esterifying conditions, this procedure leads to monodisperse oligomers: all steps occur without loss of single 3-HB units. The product oligomers with two, one, and no terminal protecting groups (mostly prepared in multi-gram amounts) are characterized by all standard spectroscopic methods, especially by mass spectroscopy (Figs. 2 and 3), by their optical activity, and by elemental analyses. Cyclization of the oligo[(R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acids] with up to 32 3-HB units, using thiopyridine activation and CuBr₂ for the ring closure, produces oligolides consisting of up to 128 ring atoms (Scheme 7). Mixed oligolides containing 3-HB and (R)-3-hydroxypentanoic units are prepared from the corresponding linear trimers, using Yamaguchi's method for the ring closure (Scheme 8 and Fig.4 (X-ray crystal structures of two folded conformers)). Comparisons of melting points (Table 1), of [α] values (Tables 2 and 3), of ¹H-NMR coupling constants (Table 3), and of molecular volume/hydroxyalkanoate unit (Table 4) of linear and cyclic oligomer derivatives and of the high-molecular-weigh polymer show that the monodisperse oligomers appear to be surprisingly good models for the polymer. Besides this insight, our synthesis is supplying the samples to further test the role of P(3-HB) (ca. 140 units) as a component of complexes forming channels through cell-wall phospholipid bilayers.     

Synthesis of Monodisperse Macromolecular Bicyclic and dendritic compounds from (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid and analysis by fragmenting MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy

As previously shown, oligo- and poly(β-hydroxyalkanoates) have a high tendency to form lamellar crystallites with ca. 50-Å thickness which corresponds to chain lengths of 16 units (Fig. 1). To have monodisperse model compounds, we have now prepared bicyclic derivatives with three parallel ( 27 – 29 ) or two parallel and an antiparallel chain ( 68 – 70 ) consisting of up to 16 3-hydroxybutanoate (3-HB) units. We also prepared dendritic compounds ( 71 – 75 , 82 – 85 ) containing oligo(3-HB) chains which cannot possibly be arranged as in the lamellae; the branching units were prepared from trimesic acid (= benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid). So far, none of the prepared samples formed crystals or contained crystalline domains which would have been suitable for single-crystal or powder-diffraction X-ray analysis. The terminally deprotected dendrimers ( 74 , 75 , and 85 ) are multi-anionic (up to 12 peripheral CO₂H groups) and biodegradable. The macromolecular HB derivatives (molecular weight up to 10150 Da) have been fully characterized by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, [α]_D, and elemental analysis. Especially important is the analysis by mass spectrometry with the MALDI-TOF technique (Fig. 2), proving that the products are monodisperse; application of a new variation of this MS method (post source decay = PSD or fragment analysis by structural time of flight = FAST^TM) allows for the observation of metastable fragment ions and, thus, is a tool for structural oligomer analysis (Fig. 3).     

Preparation and Structure of Oligolides from (R)-3-Hydroxypentanoic Acid and comparison with the hydroxybutanoic-acid derivatives: A small change with large consequences

Cyclic oligomers of (R)-3-hydroxyvaleric acid (3-HV) are prepared from the monomer by three different methods, giving various ratios of the oligomers. The macrocycles containing three to twelve 3-HV units (12- to 48-membered rings) are isolated in pure form by chromatography. The triolide 3 can be separated by distillation and isolated on large scale. Biopol, the copolymer of (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (3-HB) and (R)-3-hydroxyvaleric acid (3-HV), is degraded to mixtures of Me- and Et-substituted triolides (‘mixolides’) with high crystallization tendency. The X-ray crystal structures of the tetrolide 4 , pentolide 5 , hexolide 6 , heptolide 7 , and of two ‘mixolides’ (with inclusions of solvent) have been determined (Figs. 3–7, 10, and 11) and are compared with those of the corresponding 3-HB derivatives reported previously. From the structural data, a 3₁ and a 2₁ helix of 3-HV can be modelled, and the latter one compared with helix structures of P9(3-HB) and P(3-HV) derived from stretch-fibre X-ray scattering. Crystals of a water-containing NaSCN complex of the triethyl triolide 3 were obtained in good quality for X-ray analysis. The structure (Figs. 12, 13, and Table 6) contains an interesting array of C?O and H₂O O-atoms around the Na⁺ ions along a channel-type tube (a-axis of the crystal) which may be relevant to the role of P(3-HB) and P(3-HV) as components of cellular ion channels.     

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates): A Fifth Class of Physiologically Important Organic Biopolymers?

Along with polyisoprenoids, polypeptides, polysaccharides, and polynucleotides, Nature contains a further group of biopolymers, the poly(hydroxyalkanoates). The commonest member of this group, poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] P(3-HB), had been identified by Lemoigne as early as the 1920s, as a storage substance in the microorganism Bacillus megaterium made up of more than 12000 (3-HB) units. However, the widespread distribution and significance of these biopolymers has only become clear recently. The work of Reusch, in particular, has shown that low molecular weight P(3-HB) (100–200 3-HB units) occurs in the cell membranes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The function of P(3-HB) in the latter sources is largely unknown; it has been proposed that a complex of P(3-HB) and calcium polyphosphate acts as an ion channel through the membrane. Indeed, it has even been speculated that P(3-HB) plays a role in transport of DNA through the cell wall. In the present article, the following subjects will be discussed: metabolism of P(3-HB) and analogous polyesters in the synthesis and degradation of storage materials; P(3-HB) as a starting material for chiral synthetic building blocks; synthesis of cyclic oligomers (oligolides) of up to ten 3-HB units, and their crystal structure; high molecular weight bio-copolymers of hydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate (BIOPOL) as biologically degradable plastics; nonbiological production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from 3-hydroxy carboxylic acids and the corresponding β-lactones; specific synthesis of linear oligomers with a narrow molecular weight distribution, consisting of about 100 (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate units, by using an exponential coupling procedure; structure of the polyesters, and a comparison with other polymers; the experimental results which led to the postulation of a P(3-HB) ion channel through the cell wall; modeling of P(3-HB) helices of various diameters, by using the parameters obtained from the crystal structures of oligolides; formation of a crown ester complex and ion transport experiments with the triolide of 3-HB. The article describes one example of the contributions that synthetic organic chemists can make to important biological problems in an interdisciplinary framework.     

Cyclische Oligomere von (R)-3-Hydroxybuttersäure: Herstellung und strukturelle Aspekte

Cyclic Oligomers of (R)-3-Hydroxybutanoic Acid: Preparation and Structural Aspects The oligolides containing three to ten (R)-3-hydroxybutanoate (3-HB) units (12-through 40-membered rings 1–8 ) are prepared from the hydroxy acid itself, its methyl ester, its lactone (‘monolide’), or its polymer (poly(3-HB), mol. wt. ca. 10⁶ Dalton) under three sets of conditions: (i) treatment of 3-HB ( 10 ) with 2,6-dichlorobenzoyl chloride/pyridine and macrolactonization under high dilution in toluene with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (Fig. 3); (ii) heating a solution (benzene, xylene) of the β-lactone 12 or of the methyl ester 13 from 3-HB with the tetraoxadistanna compound 11 as trans-esterification catalyst (Fig. 4); (iii) heating a mixture of poly(3-HB) and toluene-sulfonic acid in toluene/1,2-dichloroethane for prolonged periods of time at ca. 100° (Fig. 6). In all three cases, mixtures of oligolides are formed with the triolide 1 being the prevailing component (up to 50% yield) at higher temperatures and with longer reaction times (thermodynamic control, Figs. 3–6). Starting from rac-β-lactone rac- 12 , a separable 3:1 to 3:2 mixture of the l,u- and the l,l-triolide diasteroisomers rac- 14 and rac- 1 , respectively, is obtained. An alternative method for the synthesis of the octolide 6 is also described: starting from the appropriate esters 15 and 17 and the benzyl ether 16 of 3-HB, linear dimer, tetramer, and octamer derivatives 18–23 are prepared, and the octamer 23 with free OH and CO₂H group is cyclized (→ 6 ) under typical macrolactonization conditions (see Scheme). This ‘exponential fragment coupling protocol’ can be used to make higher linear oligomers as well. The oligolides 1–8 are isolated in pure form by vacuum distillation, chromatography, and crystallization, an important analytical tool for determining the composition of mixtures being ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy (each oligolide has a unique and characteristic chemical shift of the carbonyl C-atom, with the triolide 1 at lowest, the decolide 8 at highest field). The previously published X-ray crystal structures of triolide 1 , pentolide 3 , and hexolide 4 (two forms), as well as those of the l,u-triolide rac- 14 , of tetrolide ent- 2 , of heptolide 5 , and of two modifications of octolide 6 described herein for the first time are compared with each other (Figs. 7–10 and 12–15, Tables 2 and 5–7) and with recently modelled structures (Tables 3 and 4, Fig. 11). The preferred dihedral angles τ₁ to τ₄ found along the backbone of the nine oligolide structures (the hexamer and the larger ones all have folded rings!) are mapped and statistically evaluated (Fig. 16, Tables 5–7). Due to the occurrence of two conformational minima of the dihedral angle O? CO? CH₂? CH (τ₃ = + 151 or ?43°), it is possible to locate two types of building blocks for helices in the structures at hand: a right-handed 3₁ and a left-handed 2₁ helix; both have a ca. 6 Å pitch, but very different shapes and dispositions of the carbonyl groups (Fig. 17). The 2₁ helix thus constructed from the oligolide single-crystal data is essentially superimposable with the helix derived for the crystalline domains of poly(3-HB) from stretched-fiber X-ray diffraction studies. The absence of the unfavorable (E)-type arrangements around the OC? OR bond (‘cis-ester’) from all the structures of (3-HB) oligomers known so far suggests that the model proposed for a poly(3-HB)-containing ion channel (Fig. 2) must be modified.     

Solid-State CP/MAS 13C-NMR Spectra of Oligolides derived from 3-hydroxybutanoic acid

The solid-state CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR spectra (cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning ¹³C-NMR) of eight lower cyclic and one linear oligomers and several polymers of (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (3-HB) are reported. The polymeric samples of different origin and molecular weight give remarkably similar and well resolved spectra, indicating considerable similarity in the conformations of the molecules and homegeneity in the solid-state environment. The crystalline cyclic oligomers 1 – 8 containing 3–9 units of 3-HB give very well resolved spectra. The number of nonequivalent positions in the solid state can be identified and is in accord with structures from X-ray diffraction where these were determined. The spectra of the oligolides become increasingly similar to those of the polymer as the ring size increases. This spectral evidence supports the view of a homogeneous and well defined conformation for the polymeric material (as proposed previously, based on other experiments).     

Preparation,Structure, and Properties of All Possible Cyclic Dimers (Diolides) of 3-Hydroxybutanoic Acid

In connection with the proposed structure of a trans-membrane cellular ion channel consisting of a complex between poly[(R)-3-hydroxy butanoate] (P(3-HB)) and calcium polyphosphate, CaPP_i (ca. 150 units each), which is supposed to contain s-cis-bonds or even more highly strained ester conformations, we have prepared and studied the properties of the cyclic dimer of 3-HB, the diolide 1 . All possible forms of 1 , the rac-, the meso-, and the enantiomerically pure (R,R)- and (S,S)-compounds were prepared, purified, and characterized. The synthesis (Scheme 1) started from dimethyl succinate with the key step being the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the rac- and meso-2,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,4-diones 5 . The rac-diolide 1 was resolved by preparative chromatography on a Chiralcel OD column (Fig.1). The crystal structures of rac- 1 (Fig.3) and of meso- 1 (Fig.5) were determined by X-ray diffraction: the diolides 1 contain s-cis-ester bonds and an ester group with a conformation half way to the transition state of rotation (Fig.2). Strain energies for the diolides 1 of up to 17.8 kcal/mol are suggested. Accordingly, these compounds show reactivities similar to those of carboxylic-acid anhydrides or even acid chlorides. They cannot be chromatographed on silica gel, and they react with primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, and with amines to form derivatives of open chain 3-HB ‘dimers’, hydroxy acids 6 , esters 7 , and amides 8 (Scheme 2). The rate of acid-catalyzed ring opening of the diolides 1 with alcohols has been measured (Fig.6 and 7). From the results described, we conclude that it is unlikely for strained and reactive ester conformations to occur as part of ion channels through phospholipid bilayers of cells.     

Crystalline morphology and thermal properties for random copolyesters of (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid with different hydroxyalkanoic groups

The solid‐state structures and thermal properties of melt‐crystallized films of random copolymers of (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid (3HB) with different hydroxyalkanoic acids such as (R)‐3‐hydroxypentanoic acid (3HV), (R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoic acid (3HH), medium‐chain‐length (R)‐3‐hydroxyalkanoic acids (mcl‐3HA; C8‐C12), 4‐hydroxybutyric acid (4HB), and 6‐hydroxyhexanoic acid (6HH) were characterized by means of small‐angle X‐ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical microscopy. The randomly distributed second monomer units except for 3HV in copolyesters act as defects of P(3HB) crystal and are excluded from the P(3HB) crystalline lamellae. The lamellar thickness of copolymers decreased with an increase in either the main‐chain or the side‐chain carbon numbers of second monomer units. In addition, the growth rate of spherulites decreased with an increase in the carbon numbers of second monomer units for copolymers with an identical comonomer composition. These results indicate that the steric bulkiness of second monomer unit affects on the crystallization of 3HB segments in random copolyesters.     

Rate constants for the reactions of O(3P) with selected monoterpenes

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of O(³P) atom with a series of monoterpenes have been determined at ambient temperature (ca. 302–309 K) and atmospheric pressure using a relative rate technique. Using the literature rate constants for O(³P) + isobutene, cis and trans-2-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 2-methyl-2-butene, and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene as the standards, the O(³P) rate constants derived for the terpenes (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹s ⁻¹) are 2.8 ± 0.4 for α-pinene, 2.8 ± 0.5 for β-pinene, 3.1 ± 0.5 for Δ ³-carene, 3.5 ± 0.5 for 2-carene, 2.6 ± 0.5 for camphene, 7.6 ± 1.2 for d-limonene, 9.0 ± 1.6 for γ-terpinene, and 10.7 ± 1.6 for terpinolene. The relative rate constants in this work agreed with literature values to within ± 10% for the standard alkenes, and to within ± ca. 35% for the terpenes. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and Structure of Linear and Cyclic Oligomers of 3-Hydroxybutanoic Acid with Specific Sequences of (R)- and (S)-Configurations

To study the stereoselectivity of enzymatic cleavage of poly(3-hydroxybutyrates) (PHB) in a well-defined system (purified depolymerase and monodisperse substrate of specific relative configuration), linear and cyclic oligomers of HB (OHBs) containing (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxybutanoate residues were synthesized. The starting material (R)-HB was prepared from natural sPHB, and (S)-HB by enantioselective reduction of 3-oxobutanoate with yeast or with H₂/Noyori-Taber catalyst (Scheme 2). The HB building blocks were then protected (O-benzyl/tert-butyl ester; Scheme 3) and coupled to give dimers 3 , 4 , tetramers 5 – 9 , and octamers 10 – 18 ; for analytical comparison, a 3mer, 5mer, 6mer, and 7mer ( 19 – 22 ) were also prepared. Two of the tetramers were subjected to macrolactonization conditions (Yamaguchi) to give the cyclic tetramers 23 and 25 and octamers 24 and 26 . All new compounds were fully characterized (m.p., [α]_D, CD, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, MS, elemental analysis). Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses were performed with oligolides 24 and 25 (Figs. 2 and 4), and the structures, as well as the crystal packing, were compared with those of analogs containing only (R)-HB units or consisting of 3-amino- instead of 3-hydroxybutanoic-acid moieties.     

Orientation and relaxation in uniaxially stretched styrene-co-methyl methacrylate random copolymers

Orientation and relaxation behavior in uniaxially stretched styrene-co-methyl methacrylate random copolymers was investigated. When compared at a reference temperature T = T_g + constant, orientation of methyl methacrylate units (MMA) decreases while styrene units orientation increases with a decrease in the styrene percentage. This behavior can be related to intermolecular interactions between MMA units and to the stiffness of styrene-MMA units, which do not undergo conformational changes upon stretching. Both monomer units relax the same in a given copolymer and chain relaxation increases when the styrene percentage increases. Orientation relaxation of styrene and MMA units can be reduced to two general relaxation master curves whatever the blend composition, when the results are compared at same monomeric friction coefficient. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Metal-ion Binding to Host Defense Peptide Piscidin 3 Observed in Phospholipid Bilayers by Magic Angle Spinning Solid-state NMR

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of the innate immune system. They have attracted interest as novel compounds with the potential to treat infections associated with multi-drug resistant bacteria. In this study, we investigate piscidin 3 (P3), an AMP that was first discovered in the mast cells of hybrid striped bass. Prior studies showed that P3 is less active than its homolog piscidin 1 (P1) against planktonic bacteria. However, P3 has the advantage of being less toxic to mammalian cells and more active on biofilms and persister cells. Both P1 and P3 cross bacterial membranes and co-localize with intracellular DNA but P3 is more condensing to DNA while P1 is more membrane active. Recently, we showed that both peptides coordinate Cu²⁺ through an amino-terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) motif. We also demonstrated that the bactericidal effects of P3 are linked to its ability to form radicals that nick DNA in the presence of Cu²⁺. Since metal binding and membrane crossing by P3 is biologically important, we apply in this study solid-state NMR spectroscopy to uniformly ¹³C-¹⁵N-labeled peptide samples to structurally characterize the ATCUN motif of P3 bound to bilayers and coordinated to Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺. These experiments are supplemented with density functional theory calculations. Taken together, these studies refine the arrangement of not only the backbone but also side chain atoms of an AMP simultaneously bound to metal ions and phospholipid bilayers.     

Main‐Chain Scission of a Charged Fifth‐Generation Dendronized Polymer

During divergent synthesis of the next higher‐generation dendronized polymer (DP), the fifth‐generation DP, PG5, with a number‐average degree of polymerization, (i.e., number of monomeric units) P_n, of ca. 500 underwent main‐chain scission. This happened in the step when its peripheral Boc groups were removed by the treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and thus a heavily charged polyelectrolyte formed as an intermediate. Atomic Force Mircoscopy (AFM) analysis of the product after drop‐casting onto mica showed a large majority of short deprotected PG5 chains with P_n of ca. 40, as well as some smaller features that by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy were assigned to the hypothetical monomer, deprotected MG5. This behavior is compared to a recently reported main‐chain scission of a closely related PG5 which, however, resulted in significantly longer fragments. While this difference cannot yet be fully explained, questions are formulated which will guide future research.     

Dual-mode recognition of transition metal ions by bis-triazoles chained pyrenes

Fluorescent chemosensors 7−10, with variable methylene chain length as spacers between the two triazole methyl ether units, have been synthesized under ‘Click’ condition, where the bistriazoles are used as the metal ion binding sites and the pyrenes as the fluorophores. Compound 10, having the longest methylene chain among 7−10, shows monomer and excimer fluorescence quenching in acetonitrile toward Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Cr³⁺ ions, however, it shows an enhanced monomer but a decreased excimer emission when complexed with Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions.     

Chitosan‐Glutamate Oxidase Gels: Synthesis,Characterization, and Glutamate Determination

The biopolymer chitosan (CHIT) was chemically modified with glutaric dialdehyde (GDI) and used for the covalent immobilization of enzyme glutamate oxidase (GmOx). The relationships between the loaded, retained, and active units of GmOx in the CHIT‐GDI‐GmOx gels were determined by electrochemical assays. The latter indicated that on average ca. 95% of the GmOx was retained in the CHIT‐GDI matrix that was loaded with 0.10–3.0 units of the enzyme. The maximum activity of the GmOx immobilized in the gels corresponded to ca. 5% of the activity of the free enzyme. Platinum electrodes coated with CHIT‐GDI‐GmOx gels (films) were used as amperometric biosensors for glutamate. Such biosensors displayed good operational and long‐term stability (at least 11 h and 100 days, respectively) in conjunction with low detection limit of 0.10 μM glutamate (S/N=3), linear range up to 0.5 mM (R²=0.991), sensitivity of 100 mA M^?1 cm^?2, and short response time (t_90%=2 s). This demonstrated an efficient signal transduction in the Pt/CHIT‐GDI‐GmOx+glutamate system. The CHIT‐GDI‐GmOx gels constitute a new biosensing element for the development of glutamate biosensors.     

Synthesis and polymerization of fluorinated monomers bearing a reactive lateral group—part 8—study of the tetrafluoroethylene-propylene rubber modification by 4,5,5-trifluoro-4-penten-1-ol as a comonomer

The radical terpolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with propylene (P) and 4,5,5-trifluoro-4-penten-1-ol (FA3) for the synthesis of fluorinated polymers bearing hydroxy side groups is presented. The polymerization was carried out in emulsion and in a batch operation, initiated by a redox system containing tert-butylperoxybenzoate. The reaction proceeded without any induction period and in a stationary state at low conversion (up to 12%). The presence of the trifluorovinyl hydroxy monomer in the ternary system sharply decreased the polymerization rate, in contrast to that of the TFE/P binary one. The order of the reaction about FA3 was 1.25. The terpolymer compositions were determined by elemental analysis by ¹H- and ¹⁹F-NMR spectroscopy. An almost equimolar ratio of TFE and P base units in the terpolymer was found, while the FA3 was inserted between TFE/P blocks. The presence of P increased the polymerization rate and lowered the chain transfer coming from FA3 when compared to the TFE/FA3 binary system. Thermal properties were assessed. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) slightly decreased with the FA3 content. The decomposition temperatures were also affected, showing two steps of decomposition related to the amount of FA3 in the copolymer, and is discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3991–3999, 1999     

Tacticity of poly(butyl-α-cyanoacrylate) chains in nanoparticles: NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations were applied for structural characterization and determination of the preferred stereochemical sequence distribution of the monomer units in the homopolymer chains of poly(butyl-α-cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles. The stereochemical sequence distribution of the monomer units was defined by analysis of their high-resolution 1D ¹H and ¹³C NMR and 2D J-resolved, ¹H/¹³C HSQC and ¹H/¹³C HMBC NMR spectra. The results were verified by employment of B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations and are consistent with the preferred tendency of polymer chains of PBCN to adopt syndiotactic placements. The proton and carbon chemical shielding were calculated at BPW91/6-31+G(2d,p) level using the GIAO approach and B3LYP/6-31G(d) optimized geometry.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the anionic polymerization of cyclohexadienes initiated by naphthalene radical anions and dianions

The anionic polymerization of 1.3-cyclohexadiene (1.3-CHD) was investigated in temperatures that ranged from 25 to ?77°C. Initiation by lithium naphthalene (N^?·,Li⁺) in tetrahydrofuran at ?20°C yields polymers with fairly narrow molecular weight distribution. The M?_w of these polymers so prepared is ca. 20,000. Polymerization of 1.3-CHD conducted at room temperature is accompanied by the dehydrogenation and disproportionation of the monomer, especially when N^?·,K⁺ acts as initiator. Oligomers are formed when hexamethylphosphoramide is used as a solvent. The mechanism of the initiation of the polymerization of 1.3-CHD by N^?·,Li⁺ was elucidated and the rate constants at ?20°C in tetrahydrofuran of the elementary reactions were determined. It was established that the dianions formed by disproportionation of N^?·,Li⁺ act as effective initiators for 1.3-CHD. The adducts formed constitute the cyclohexanyl and naphthyl carbanionic groups. The former carbanions (λ_max ～ 275 nm) propagate the polymerization. The initially formed dimeric adducts are stabilized by the separation of the carbanionic end groups by the additional monomer units. Chain transfer to the monomer limits the growth of the polymers. The isomerization of the cyclohexadienyl anions, formed as result of chain transfer, may be followed by the elimination of lithium hydride. The latter reaction represents a termination step. Addition of 1.4-CHD to the reaction mixture enhances the chain transfer and the termination.     

ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS AS POTENTIAL FUNGICIDES. PART I. N-(ω-GUANI-DINOALKYL)AMINOALKANEPHOSPHONIC ACIDS AND THEIR AMINOPHOSPHONIC PRECURSORS: PREPARATION,NMR SPECTROSCOPY,AND FAST ATOM BOMBARDMENT MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

N-(ω-Aminoalkyl)- and N-(ω-guanidinoalkyl)-aminoalkanephosphonic acids have been prepared from α, ω-diaminoalkanes by reaction with chloromethanephosphonic acid (or an ester of a halogeno-alkanephosphonic acid), followed by treatment with S-methylisothiouronium chloride. Ethylene diamine yielded 1-phosphonomethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine. A number of 1:1 salts of the α, ω-diamines and chloromethanephosphonic acid are also reported. Doubly charged zwitterionic structures are assigned to both ω-amino and ω-guanidino compounds on the basis of ³¹P and ¹³C nmr data. Thus the addition of an excess of acid (D₂SO₄) causes the ³¹P chemical shift to move to higher field, from ca. 8 to 14 ppm, whilst ¹ Jpc increases from ca. 130 to 150 Hz. The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of the terminal methylene groups in the polymethylene chain are unaffected by acidification.

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry gives rise to characteristic [M + H]⁺ ions, frequently as the base peak, and to fragmentations involving the loss of phosphorous acid, or the formation of ions resulting from carbon-nitrogen or carbon-carbon cleavage. The compounds show activity against a number of fungal pathogens and other microbial organisms.