Synthesis of Optically Active P‐Chiral and Optically Inactive Oligophosphines

A series of optically active P‐chiral oligophosphines (S,R,R,S)‐ 2 , (S,R,S,S,R,S)‐ 3 , (S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S)‐ 4 , and (S,R,S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S,R,S)‐ 5 with four, six, eight, and 12 chiral phosphorus atoms, respectively, were successfully synthesized by a step‐by‐step oxidative‐coupling reaction from (S,S)‐ 1 . The corresponding optically inactive oligophosphines 1′ – 5′ were also prepared. Their properties were characterized by DSC, XRD, and optical‐rotation analyses. While optically active bisphosphine (S,S)‐ 1 and tetraphosphine (S,R,R,S)‐ 2 behaved as small molecules, octaphosphine (S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S)‐ 4 and dodecaphosphine (S,R,S,R,S,R,R,S,R,S,R,S)‐ 5 exhibited the features of a polymer. Furthermore, DSC and XRD analyses showed that hexaphosphine (S,R,S,S,R,S)‐ 3 is an intermediate between a small molecule and a polymer. Comparison of optically active oligophosphines 1 – 5 with the corresponding optically inactive oligophosphines 1′ – 5′ revealed that the optically active phosphines have higher crystallinity than the optically inactive counterparts. It is considered that the properties of oligophosphines depend on the enantiomeric purity as well as the oligomer chain length.     

Synthesis, π‐Face‐Selective Aggregation,and π‐Face Chiral Recognition of Configurationally Stable C3‐Symmetric Propeller‐Chiral Molecules with a π‐Core

The C₃‐symmetric propeller‐chiral compounds (P,P,P)‐ 1 and (M,M,M)‐ 1 with planar π‐cores perpendicular to the C₃‐axis were synthesized in optically pure states. (P,P,P)‐ 1 possesses two distinguishable propeller‐chiral π‐faces with rims of different heights named the (P/L)‐face and (P/H)‐face. Each face is configurationally stable because of the rigid structure of the helicenes contained in the π‐core. (P,P,P)‐ 1 formed dimeric aggregates in organic solutions as indicated by the results of ¹H NMR, CD, and UV/Vis spectroscopy and vapor pressure osmometry analyses. The (P/L)/(P/L) interactions were observed in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, and they were also predominant over the (P/H)/(P/H) and (P/L)/(P/H) interactions in solution, as indicated by the results of ¹H and 2D NMR spectroscopy analyses. The dimerization constant was obtained for a racemic mixture, which showed that the heterochiral (P,P,P)‐ 1 /(M,M,M)‐ 1 interactions were much weaker than the homochiral (P,P,P)‐ 1 /(P,P,P)‐ 1 interactions. The results indicated that the propeller‐chiral (P/L)‐face interacts with the (P/L)‐face more strongly than with the (P/H)‐face, (M/L)‐face, and (M/H)‐face. The study showed the π‐face‐selective aggregation and π‐face chiral recognition of the configurationally stable propeller‐chiral molecules.     

Kinetics and Protein‐Inhibitor Docking Studies of Enantiomers of exo‐2‐Norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamates as Pseudomonas Lipase Inhibitors to Probe the Enantioselectivity of the Enzyme

The Pseudomonas species lipase inhibition shows enantioselectivity for R‐enantiomer over S‐enantiomer of exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamates. R‐, S‐, and racemic‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamates are all characterized as pseudo substrate inhibitors of the enzyme. Thus, the mechanism for Pseudomonas species lipase‐catalyzed hydrolysis of the inhibitor is formation of the first enzyme‐inhibitor Michaelis complex via nucleophilic attack of the active site serine to the inhibitor (K_i step) then formation of the butylcarbamyl enzyme intermediate from this complex (k₂ step). Comparison of bimolecular rate constants (k_i = k₂ / K_i) of the inhibitors indicates that R‐enantiomer is 1.8 times more potent than S‐enantiomer. Thus, Pseudomonas species lipase shows enantioselectivity of 1.8 for R‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butyl‐carbamate over S‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate. Protein‐ligand interaction studies on both enantiomers of exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate as inhibitors of Pseudomonas species lipase using AutoDock suggest that R‐enantiomer binds more tightly into the active site of the enzyme than S‐enantiomer. The norbornyl ring of S‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate is repulsive to Ser 82 and His 251 of the catalytic triad as well as to Met 16 of the oxyanion hole. These repulsions may create few unfavorable interactions between S‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate and the enzyme and make this inhibitor a less potent one.     

Helical silica nanotubes: Nanofabrication architecture,transfer of helix and chirality to silica nanotubes

A series of neutral gelators and cationic amphiphiles derived from 1,2 diphenylethylenediamine (I) and 1,2-cyclohexanediamine (II) was synthesised. Helical silica nanotubes were prepared utilising these organic gelators through sol-gel polycondensation of tetraethoxy silane, (TEOS-silica source). Right- and left-handed helical nanotubes respectively were obtained from a 1: 1 mass mixture of optically active, (1S,2S)-III-(1S,2S)-V neutral gelator and (1S,2S)-IV-(1S,2S)-VI cationic amphiphile and a 1: 1 mass mixture of optically active, (1R,2R)-III-(1R,2R)-V neutral gelator and (1R,2R)-IV-(1R,2R)-VI cationic amphiphile, indicating that the handedness of the helical nanotubes varied with the change in the neutral gelator precursors used. The nanotubes were characterised by SEM images.     

Hydrostannylation of phosphaalkenes [1]

Hydrostannylation reactions of the phosphaalkenes 9,11, and 21 with the triorganotin hydrides 1 proceed by different routes. Whereas the trior-ganotin hydrides 1a,b undergo regioselective 1,2-addition to the P/C double bond of the P-aminophosphaalkene 9 to furnish the 2-stannylphosphanes 17a,b, the 1,2-addition products to the P-halophosphaalkenes 11 and 21 can only be postulated as the reactive intermediates 20 and 23, respectively. The reactions of 11 with 1a,b proceed with cleavage of the triorganotin halide via the diphosphene 15 to furnish the cyclophosphanes 18 and 19. On the other hand, the hydrostannylation reactions of the phosphaalkene 21 are not selective, and the 1,3-diphosphetane 22 is isolated as one of the reaction products. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 9:453–460, 1998     

On unicyclic conjugated molecules with minimal energies

The energy of a graph is defined as the sum of the absolute values of all the eigenvalues of the graph. Let U(k) be the set of all unicyclic graphs with a perfect matching. Let C _g(G) be the unique cycle of G with length g(G), and M(G) be a perfect matching of G. Let U ⁰(k) be the subset of U(k) such that g(G)≡ 0 (mod 4), there are just g/2 independence edges of M(G) in C _g(G) and there are some edges of E(G)\ M(G) in G\ C _g(G) for any G∈U ⁰(k). In this paper, we discuss the graphs with minimal and second minimal energies in U ^*(k) = U(k)\ U ⁰(k), the graph with minimal energy in U ⁰(k), and propose a conjecture on the graph with minimal energy in U(k).      

Intershell nl4f electron correlation effects

The pair correlation energies for some nl4f pairs of the ground state of the Yb atom are calculated for the first time. The partial wave (PW ) increments to the second-order pair energies are generated using numerical first-order radial pair functions obtained as the solution of two-dimensional differential equations. The analysis of the PW s contributions shows the dominant role of the df, fg, and gh PW s for the 4d4f pair, of the pf and dg PW s for the 4p4f and 5p4f pairs, and of the sf and pg PW s for the 4s4f, 5s4f, and 6s4f pairs. A discussion of the similarities and differences of the structure of the correlation energy found in this paper with those calculated earlier for smaller atoms is given.     

Molecular Recognition of Pyranosides by a Family of Trimeric, 1,1′-Binaphthalene-Derived Cyclophane Receptors

The synthesis and carbohydrate-recognition properties of a new family of optically active cyclophane receptors, 1 – 3 , in which three 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol spacers are interconnected by three buta-1,3-diynediyl linkers, are described. The macrocycles all contain highly preorganized cavities lined with six convergent OH groups for H-bonding and complementary in size and shape to monosaccharides. Compounds 1 – 3 differ by the functionality attached to the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol spacers. The major grooves of the spacers in 2 are unsubstituted, whereas those in 1 bear benzyloxy (BnO) groups in the 7,7′-positions and those in 3 2-phenylethyl groups in the 6,6′-positions. The preparation of the more planar, D₃-symmetrical receptors (R,R,R)- 1 (Schemes 1 and 2), (S,S,S)- 1 (Scheme 4), (S,S,S)- 2 (Scheme 5), and (S,S,S)- 3 (Scheme 8) involved as key step the Glaser-Hay cyclotrimerization of the corresponding OH-protected 3,3′-diethynyl-1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol precursors, which yielded tetrameric and pentameric macrocycles in addition to the desired trimeric compounds. The synthesis of the less planar, C₂-symmetrical receptors (R,R,S)- 2 (Scheme 6) and (S,S,R)- 3 (Scheme 9) proceeded via two Glaser-Hay coupling steps. First, two monomeric precursors of identical configuration were oxidatively coupled to give a dimeric intermediate which was then subjected to macrocyclization with a third monomeric 1,1′-binaphthalene precursor of opposite configuration. The 3,3′-dialkynylation of the OH-protected 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol precursors for the macrocyclizations was either performed by Stille (Scheme 1) or by Sonogashira (Schemes 4, 5, and 8) cross-coupling reactions. The flat D₃-symmetrical receptors (R,R,R)- 1 and (S,S,S)- 1 formed 1 : 1 cavity inclusion complexes with octyl 1-O-pyranosides in CDCl₃ (300 K) with moderate stability (ΔG⁰ ca. −3 kcal mol⁻¹) as well as moderate diastereo- (Δ(ΔG⁰) up to 0.7 kcal mol⁻¹) and enantioselectivity (Δ(ΔG⁰)=0.4 kcal mol⁻¹) (Table 1). Stoichiometric 1 : 1 complexation by (S,S,S)- 2 and (S,S,S)- 3 could not be investigated by ¹H-NMR binding titrations, due to very strong signal broadening. This broadening of the ¹H-NMR resonances is presumably indicative of higher-order associations, in which the planar macrocycles sandwich the carbohydrate guests. The less planar C₂-symmetrical receptor (S,S,R)- 3 formed stable 1 : 1 complexes with binding free enthalpies of up to ΔG⁰=−5.0 kcal mol⁻¹ (Table 2). With diastereoselectivities up to Δ(ΔG⁰)=1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ and enantioselectivities of Δ(ΔG⁰)=0.9 kcal mol⁻¹, (S,S,R)- 3 is among the most selective artificial carbohydrate receptors known.     

Theory of polydisperse reacting polymer systems

The kinetics of irreversible reactions between polymer chains of different molecular weights are studied, with emphasis on the case of highly reactive end groups. We calculate the rate constant k(N, M) for reaction between chains of lengths N and M respectively, in dilute and semi-dilute solutions and in the melt. In all cases, k(N, M) is dominated by the shortest chain: the limit k(N) ≡ k(N, ∞) is well-defined and scales as if both chains were of length N. In dilute solutions k(N, M) obeys mean field theory, being proportional to the equilibrium reactive group contact probability. For melts and concentrated solutions, k(N, M) follows diffusion-controlled laws: k(N, M) ≈ (R/τ_N)ƒ(M/N) where R_N and τ_N are the coil size and relaxation time of the shortest chain N, and ƒ(M/N) is a cross-over function describing the approach to the asymptotic form k(N) for M/N ≫ 1. We calculate the leading contributions to this cross-over function, which has universal forms depending on the concentration regime. The implications of these results for high-conversion free-radical polymerization are discussed.     

Study on Self-assembly of Poly(ethylene glycol)- block-poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer and Poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate)- block-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer in Ethanol

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG) copolymer was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG-block-PEG) copolymer with PEG chain, and PBLG-block-PEG copolymer was prepared by a standard N-carboxyl-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate anhydride (NCA) method. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the components of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG. The self-association behaviors of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in ethanol were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic laser scattering (DLS), and viscometry. The experimental results revealed that the different molecular structures could exert marked effects on the self-assembly behaviors of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in ethanol. PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG could self-assemble to form polymeric micelles with a core-shell structure in the shapes of plump spherical and regular rice-like, respectively. Effects of the introduction of PBLG homopolymer on the average particle diameter of the micelles of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG and influence of testing temperature on the critical micelle concentration of different copolymers were studied.     

Determination of Retention Factors of s-Triazines Homologous Series in Water Using a Numerical Method Basing on Ościk's Equation

The retention factors in pure water for a homologous series of s-triazines were calculated by a numerical method basing on Ościk's equation and were correlated with log k _w values obtained by linear and parabolic extrapolation. Chromatographic data (log k _w ) were compared with the software-calculated partition coefficients in the n-octanol/water system (Alog P, IAlog P, clog P, log P _Kowin , xlog P, log P _ACD and log P _Chem.Off.) as alternative hydrophobicity indices. The effect of organic modifier (methanol and acetonitrile) and its concentration in the mobile phase used for log k _w evaluation were investigated. Very good linear correlations were found between log k _w values calculated by the numerical method and log P _ACD , log P _Chem.Off . and clog P values, independent of organic modifier type.

     

Effect of diffusion on rates and molecular weights in graft polymerization

A theoretical analysis has been made of the graft polymerization process in terms of the quantitative interrelationship between the initiation rate R_i, the k_p/k_t^1/ ratio of the monomer, the equilibrium solubility M of the monomer in the polymer, the polymer film thickness L, and the diffusivity D of the monomer in the polymer. It is shown how the values of these parameters in any grafting system interact to lead to diffusion-controlled graft polymerization. Whether graft polymerization is diffusion-free or diffusion-controlled depends on the values of K_p, d, k_p/k_p^1/2, and L as gathered in the parameter A = [(K_p/k_t^1/2)R_i, D,/^1/2] L/2. When the values of the various terms are such that A is less than 0.1 (i.e., D is large while R_i, k_p, and L are small), the reaction is diffusion-free. When A is greater than 3 (i.e., D is small while R_i, k_p, and L are large), the reaction is diffusion-controlled. The derived equations showing the relationship between kinetic and diffusional parameters are theoretically applicable to all grafting systems, i.e., for all monomer-polymer combinations under all conditions of reaction temperature, radiation intensity and polymer film thickness. The theoretical analysis has been verified for the rate and degree of polymerization for the radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene to polyethylene.     

Synthesis of Phenyl- and Benzyl-Substituted Pyrrolidines and of a Piperidine by Intramolecular C-Alkylation. Synthons for tricyclic skeletons

The construction of new or novelly functionalized annulated and bridged tricylic compounds by two consecutive C,C-bond formations (a and b in la , Scheme 1) is described. In a first step, chloroalkyl-substituted aminonitriles yielded pyrrolidines 8 , 15a , 15b , 23 , 25 and piperidine 18 by carbanionic ring closure (Schemes 5, 6, 7 and 8). Subsequent Friedel-Crafts cyclization transformed the β-aminonitriles 8 , 15a , 15b , and 18 either directly or via their carboxylic acid derivatives to the indeno [1, 2-c]pyrrole, 2, 5-methano-3-benzazocine, benz [f]isoindoline and 1, 4-ethano-2-benzazapine skeletons 11 , 16a , 16b and 21 , respectively (Schemes 5, 6 and 7). By classical ring expansion reactions the pyrrolo [3, 4-c]isoquinoline and benzopyrano-[3, 4-c]pyrrole skeletons 28 resp. 31 were obtained from 11 (Scheme 9).     

Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalysis by Quaternary Ammonium Ions Derived from Cinchona-Alkaloid Analogs Containing 1,1′-Binaphthalene Moieties

The synthesis and catalytic properties of a new type of enantioselective phase-transfer catalysts, incorporating both the quinuclidinemethanol fragment of Cinchona alkaloids and a 1,1′-binaphthalene moiety, are described. Catalyst (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 with the quinuclidine fragment attached to C(7′) in the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene residue was predicted by computer modeling to be an efficient enantioselective catalyst for the unsymmetric alkylation of 6,7-dichloro-5-methoxy-2-phenylindanone ( 1 ; Scheme 1, Fig. 1). Its synthesis involved the selective oxidative cross-coupling of two differently substituted naphthalen-2-ols to afford the asymmetrically substituted 1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (±)- 17 in high yield (Scheme 3). Chromatographic optical resolution via formation of diastereoisomeric camphorsulfonyl esters and functional-group manipulation gave access to the 7-bromo-1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (−)-(aS)- 11 (Scheme 4). Nucleophilic addition of lithiated (−)-(aS)- 11 to the quinuclidine Weinreb amide (+)-(3R,4S,8R)- 8 afforded the two ketones (aS,3R,4S,8R)- 27 and (aS,3R,4S,8S)- 28 as an inseparable mixture of diastereoisomers (Scheme 6). Stereoselective reduction of this mixture with DIBAL-H (diisobutylaluminum hydride; preferred formation of the C(8)−C(9) erythro-pair of diastereoisomers with 18% de) or with NaBH₄ (preferred formation of the threo-pair of diastereoisomers with 50% de) afforded the four separable diastereoisomers (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 29 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 30 , (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 31 , and (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 32 (Scheme 6). A detailed conformational analysis, combining ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular-mechanics computations, revealed that the four diastereoisomers displayed distinctly different conformational preferences (Figs. 2 and 3). These novel Cinchona-alkaloid analogs were quaternized to give (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 5 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 6 , and (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 7 (Scheme 7) which were tested as phase-transfer agents in the asymmetric allylation of phenylindanone 1 . Without any optimization work, (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 was found to catalyze the allylation of 1 yielding the predicted enantiomer (+)-(S)- 3b in 32% ee. The three diastereoisomeric catalysts (+)- 5 , (+)- 6 , and (−)- 7 gave access to lower enantioselectivities (6 to 22% ee's), which could be rationalized by computer modeling (Fig. 4).     

Relating Total π-Electron Energy and Resonance Energy of Benzenoid Molecules with Kekulé- and Clar-Structure-Based Parameters

Within classes of isomeric benzenoid hydrocarbons various Kekulé- and Clar-structure-based parameters (Kekulé structure count, Clar cover count, Herndon number, Zhang–Zhang polynomial) are all mutually correlated. This explains why both the total π-electron energy (E), the Dewar resonance energy (DRE), and the topological resonance energy (TRE) are well correlated with all these parameters. Nevertheless, there exists an optimal value of the variable of the Zhang–Zhang polynomial for which it yields the best results. This optimal value is negative-valued for E, around zero for TRE, and positive-valued for DRE. A somewhat surprising result is that TRE and DRE considerably differ in their dependence on Kekulé- and Clar-structure-based parameters.     

On molecular topological properties of hex‐derived networks

Topological indices are numerical parameters of a molecular graph, which characterize its topology and are usually graph invariant. In quantitative structure–activity relationship/quantitative structure–property relationship study, physico‐chemical properties and topological indices such as Randić, atom–bond connectivity (ABC), and geometric–arithmetic (GA) index are used to predict the bioactivity of chemical compounds. Graph theory has found a considerable use in this area of research. In this paper, we study hex‐derived networks HDN1(n) and HDN2(n), which are generated by hexagonal network of dimension n and derive analytical closed results of general Randić index R_α(G) for different values of α, for these networks of dimension n. We also compute the general first Zagreb, ABC, GA, ABC₄, and GA₅ indices for these hex‐derived networks for the first time and give closed formulae of these degree‐based indices for hex‐derived networks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

S‐endo‐2‐Norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate as a Potential Pseudomonas Lipase Inhibitor to Probe the Enantioselectivity of the Enzyme by Kinetic and Molecular Docking Evaluation

Obesity is a complex health issue and it can cause many health and social problems. Previous studies reported that lipase is a main target for obesity treatment. We synthesized R‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate and S‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate as potential pseudomonas lipase inhibitors to probe the enantioselectivity of the enzyme and demonstrated that R‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate had better enzyme enantioselectivity, ki and the docking model with Pseudomonas species lipase in our previous studies. In this article, we reported the property of the Pseudomonas species lipase inhibitors, R‐and S‐endo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate and compared the docking models of these two compounds with R‐ and S‐exo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamates by AutoDock. We found that S‐endo‐2‐norbornyl‐N‐n‐butylcarbamate has the best enantioselectivity, ki and docking model and this study could provide useful information about enzyme enantioselectivity for the development of Pseudomonas species lipase inhibitors for obesity treatment.     

TL glow-curve deconvolution functions for various kinetic orders and continuous trap distribution: Acceptance criteria for E and s values

The glow curve deconvolution (GCD) analysis of a composite thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve into its individual glow-peaks needs appropriate equations describing a single glow peak. In the present work, new single glow peak equations are presented, which are produced by transformation of the I(n ₀,E,s,T) and I(n ₀,E,s,b,T) single glow-peak equations into I(I _m,T _m,E,T) and I(I _m,T _m,E,b,T), respectively. Moreover, equations of the forms I(I _m,T _m,w,b,T) are also introduced. The proposed equations have two basic advantages: (1) they use parameters, which are directly obtained from the experimental glow peaks and (2) their accuracy is equal to that of the original thermoluminescence single glow-peak equations.     

Relationships on the effect of water on glass transition temperature and young's modulus of nylon 6

The glass transition temperature T_g of nylon 6 decreases monotonically toward a finite value T_gl upon increase of the moisture content. The mechanism of this decrease entails the reversible replacement of intercaternary hydrogen bonds in the accessible regions of the polyamide. The limiting glass transition temperature T_gl is approached when the moisture content approaches W_l, which corresponds to the amount of water required for complete interaction with all accessible amide groups. Denoting with T_g0 the glass transition temperature of the dry polymer, the effect of water on T_g is represented by the equation, T_g = (ΔT_g)₀ exp{?[ln(ΔT_g)₀]W/_τW_l} + T_gl, where (ΔT_g)₀ = T_g0 ?T_gl, and τ = W(T_gl+1)/W_l. This equation appears to be generally applicable to hydrophilic polymers, since correspondingly calculated data are also in very good agreement with experimental data for polymers such as nylon 66, poly(vinyl alcohol), and polyN-vinylpyrrolidone. The effect of water of Young's modulus E of nylon 6 is represented by an analogous relationship, and the quantity In[(E?E_l)/(T_g?T_gl)] is a linear function of the moisture content.     

Biodegradation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Films in Natural Environments

Summary: Biodegradation of film specimens from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) of two types – poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) – was analysed in different environments: tropical sea waters of the South China Sea (Nha Trang, Vietnam) and soils in the environs of Hanoi (Vietnam), Nha Trang (Vietnam) and Krasnoyarsk (Siberia, Russia). In seawater, the mass loss of the specimens of both types was almost equal. However, in tropical soils, PHB degraded quicker than PHBV. In the Siberian soil, the degradation rate of the PHBV was generally higher than that of PHBV. Analysis of molecular mass of PHA specimens showed its decreasing during biodegradation. In the tropical sea conditions, PHA degrading microorganisms were represented by bacteria of Enterobacter, Bacillus and Gracilibacillus genera. Among PHA degrading bacteria, Burkholderia, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Mycobacterium and Streptomyces genera were identified in Vietnamese soils, and Variovorax, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Xanthomonas genera in Siberian soils. Micromycetes of Gongronella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium and Trichoderma genera exhibited PHA degrading activity in Vietnamese soils, and Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Acremonium, Verticillium and Zygosporium genera – in Siberian soils.