Studies on the ultra-fine transition metal particles dispersed in polymer matrix

A series of complexes of styrene-4-vinylpyridine copolymers (SVP) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) and transition metal chlorides were prepared. The transition metal-polymer complexes were used to prepare the ultra-fine metallic particles dispersed in polymer matrix by chemical reduction. The effects of the ion concentration and the polymer backbone on the size of these metal particles were studied. It was found that the transition metal ions may coordinate to pyridine groups in precursor polymers after blending. Upon reduction, the metal ions were transformed into the corresponding metal particles in the range of nanometer scale. The protective polymers take an important role to prevent metal particles from oxidation and excessive aggregation.     

Metal complexes of poly(acrylic acid): synthesis, characterization and thermogravimetric studies

Thermogravimetric studies of the sodium salt of poly(acrylic acid), its modified sodium salt and its various metal complexes were made. The thermal stabilities of the various systems decreased in the order: poly(acrylic acid) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Zn(II) > Fe(III) > Cu(II) > polymeric sodium salt. The higher thermal stabilities of the polymer-metal complexes result from the development of stable ring structures in the polymer matrix upon coordination with metal ions. The metal-ion complexation of carboxylate ligands of linear poly(acrylic acid), optimization of the complexation conditions and infra-red and ultraviolet-visible spectrometric characterizations are also illustrated.     

Thermal degradation of poly(vinylpyridine)s

The thermal stability and the temperature at which maximum degradation yields are detected were quite similar for both poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP). However, considerable differences among the thermal degradation products of both polymers were detected indicating a correlation between the polymer structure and the degradation mechanism. Direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry analyses revealed that P2VP degrades via a complex degradation mechanism, yielding mainly pyridine, monomer, and protonated oligomers, whereas depolymerization of P4VP takes place in accordance with the general thermal behaviour of vinyl polymers. The complex thermal degradation behaviour for P2VP is associated with the position of the nitrogen atom in the pyridine ring, with σ-effect.     

Preparation and Characterization of Polyesterurethane Metallopolymers Containing Transition Metal Ions

Several series of metallopolymers (MP) were synthesized from a MDI-based polyesterurethane and various transition metal ion species, namely, copper(II), manganese(II), cobalt(II), iron(III) and chromium(III). Each series of MP were prepared by using different initial molar ratios urethane groups/metal ions (U/M). MP were characterized in comparison with the parent polyurethane (PU) by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile testing. The transition metal ions form coordination complexes with polyurethane functional groups, the intermolecular complexation resulting in the crosslinking of polymer chains. As a consequence, modifications take place in the original structure of PU, e.g. hydrogen bonding and crystallinity of the hard-segment domains. MP compared with PU present differences in viscoelastic and mechanical behaviors, which generally indicate the reinforcing effect of metal ions on the polyurethane matrix, as well in thermal stability. It was revealed that each transition metal ion has specific effects on the structure and properties of PU. The implications and mechanisms behind these observations are discussed.     

Quantitative relationship and application of 3‐benzylketoimine metal dichlorides in the analysis of volatile hydrocarbons

The paper concerns the analysis of volatile hydrocarbons on newly designed and produced capillary columns. According to the type of coating used, the columns are of the PLOT type, and according to the adsorbate‐adsorbent type interactions they belong to the category of complexation GC. The adsorbent used was silica, whose surface was modified with bonded 2‐(3‐triethoxysilylpropylimino)‐3‐(benzyl)‐pentanone‐4 to change the adsorption characteristics. The presence of the ketoimine group of strongly electron‐accepting properties permitted the binding of transition metals. The metal ions are capable of interacting selectively with nucleophilic compounds including olefins. The transition metal ions used for sorbent modification were copper(II) chlorides and nickel(II) chlorides. The supported adsorbent was immobilised by bonding the modified silica to the column walls by a film of poly(dimethylsiloxane). Due to this strategy, the coating was very stable, no sorbent loss from the column was observed and the column could be washed with solvent. Besides exemplary separations, the paper quotes retention parameters of the group of compounds analysed and presents a discussion of the specific interactions between the adsorbate and adsorbent.     

(4-Vinylpyridine-Styrene) Copolymer as Host Polymer for Chromophoric Complexes with Potential Second Order Nonlinear Optical Properties

A series of new metal containing polymers for second order nonlinear optics have been prepared by grafting Cu (II) and Pd (II) chromophoric complexes on a preformed (4-vinylpyridine-styrene) copolymeric backbone. The metallated polymers have been chemically and physically characterized. They show high glass transition temperatures, high thermal stability and good solubility. Their properties have been compared with analogous metallated poly(4-vinylpyridine) samples: variations in the polymeric backbone, as well as in ligands, metal, and metallation ratio, allow to tune their properties.     

The cation-chelation mechanism of metal-ion sorption by polyurethanes

The mechanism of sorption of ions by polyurethanes has been investigated through detailed studies of the extraction of cobalt(II) thiocyanate and the salts of several organic acids. Polyether-based polyurethanes. particularly those containing poly(ethylene oxide), were found to be distinctly superior to polyesters in the sorption of salts and performed much better than might be expected by analogy with monomeric liquid solvents. The results were judged to be inconsistent with several possible mechanisms, including adsorption, solvent extraction, weak or strong base anion-exchange, and complexation of metal anions by the polymer. A new proposal, termed the cation chelation mechanism (CCM), was advanced to account for the observations. In this view, a number of cations (including those of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, some transition metals, NH(+)(4), RNH(+)(3) and perhaps H(3)O(+)) may be multiply complexed (chelated) by portions of the polymer, thus facilitating the sorption of accompanying anions. As predicted by the mechanism, moderately strong and selective complexation of several cations was observed to occur with the following order of selectivity: Li(+) < Na(+) < Cs(+) < Rb(+) < K(+) approximately NH(+)(4) < Ag(+) approximately Tl(+) < Ba(2+) < Hg(2+) < Pb(2+). Such behaviour parallels that known for many crown and non-cyclic polyethers and is therefore identified with the polyether portions of the polymer, which are thought to adopt helical conformations surrounding the complexed cations. The cation-chelation mechanism may be widely applicable to the sorption of ions of several types by polyether-based polyurethanes, particularly when large, hydrophobic anions (such as anionic metal complexes) are accompanied by an excess of chelatable cations.     

Investigation on C2-ceramide complexes with transition metal ions using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) is applied for the investigation of C(2)-ceramide complexes with transition metal ions. Ceramide plays an important role in the regulation of various signaling pathways leading to proliferation, differentiation or apoptotic cell death. The formation and fragmentation of doubly charged cluster ions as well as singly charged cluster ions of C(2)-ceramide with transition metal ions (Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+) and Ni(2+)) are studied by ESI-MS/MS in the positive mode. Tube lens offset voltage and concentrations of C(2)-ceramide and transition metals are optimized to determine the best conditions for generating doubly charged cluster ions. The fragmentation pathways of metal ion complexes with C(2)-ceramide and the compositions of these complexes are determined by collision induced dissociation (CID). All transition metal ions (Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+) and Ni(2+) except Cu(2+)) shows similar complexation with C(2) ceramide. The unique complexation behavior of copper(II) is responsible for the different geometry of the complexes and relatively lower affinity of ceramide to copper(II) than those to other transition metals.     

Metal complexation of crosslinked polyacrylamide-supported dithiocarbamates: Effect of the molecular character and extent of crosslinking on complexation

Dithiocarbamate functions were incorporated into different polyacrylamide matrices crosslinked with a flexible and hydrophilic crosslinking agent, tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate (TEGDA), and their complexation behaviours were investigated. Crosslinked polyacrylamides with varying extents of the tetrafunctional TEGDA crosslinks were prepared by free radical solution polymerization at 60°C using potassium persulphate as initiator in ethanol. The dithiocarbamate functionality was incorporated into these polyacrylamides by a two-step polymer-analogous reaction involving (i)trans-amidation with ethylenediamine and (ii) dithiocarbamylation of the aminopolyacrylamide with carbon disulphide and alkali. The complexations of dithiocarbamate with Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Hg(II) ions were followed under different conditions. The metal ion intake varied with the extent of the crosslinking agent and the observed trend in complexation is Hg(II) > Cu(II)> Zn(II)> Co(II)> Ni (II). The time-course of complexation, the possibility of recycling, swelling characteristics, and spectral and thermal analyses were carried out. The thermal stability increases upon complexation with metal ions.     

Polymer supported catalysts for oxidation of phenol and cyclohexene using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant

Polymer supported transition metal complexes of N,N′-bis (o-hydroxy acetophenone) hydrazine (HPHZ) Schiff base were prepared by anchoring its amino derivative Schiff base (AHPHZ) on cross-linked (6 wt%) polymer beads and then loading iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II) ions in methanol. The loading of HPHZ Schiff base on polymer beads was 3.436 mmol g⁻¹ and efficiency of complexation of polymer anchored HPHZ Schiff base for iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II) ions was 83.21, 83.40 and 83.17%, respectively. The efficiency of complexation of unsupported HPHZ Schiff base for these metal ions was lower than polymer supported HPHZ Schiff base. The structural information obtained by spectral, magnetic and elemental analysis has suggested octahedral and square planar geometry for iron(III) and copper(II) ions complexes, respectively, with paramagnetic behavior, but zinc(II) ions complexes were tetrahedral in shape with diamagnetic behavior. The complexation with metal ions has increased thermal stability of polymer anchored HPHZ Schiff base. The catalytic activity of unsupported and polymer supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of metal ions was evaluated by studying the oxidation of phenol (Ph) and epoxidation of cyclohexene (CH). The polymer supported metal complexes showed better catalytic activity than unsupported metal complexes. The catalytic activity of metal complexes was optimum at a molar ratio of 1:1:1 of substrate to oxidant and catalyst. The selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) in oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene was better with polymer supported metal complexes in comparison to unsupported metal complexes. The energy of activation for oxidation of phenol (22.8 kJ mol⁻¹) and epoxidation of cyclohexene (8.9 kJ mol⁻¹) was lowest with polymer supported complexes of iron(III) ions than polymer supported Schiff base complexes of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions.     

Erratum to: Investigation of metal-oligonucleotide complexes by nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry in the positive mode

The formation and fragmentation of multiply metal-coordinated oligonucleotides was studied by nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode. Fundamental aspects of the gas-phase behavior of metal-oligonucleotide complexes are revealed. The addition of transition metal ions, such as iron(II), iron(III), and zinc(II), leads to very stable metal-oligonucleotide complexes which show heavily altered fragmentation patterns in contrast to uncomplexed oligonucleotides. The site of metal ion complexation was located by collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. It was found that all three metal ions investigated predominantly coordinate to the central phosphate groups of the oligonucleotides. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the fragmentation of such complexes depends highly upon the metal ion complexed as well as on the sequence of the nucleobases in the oligonucleotide.     

Investigation of metal-oligonucleotide complexes by nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry in the positive mode

The formation and fragmentation of multiply metal-coordinated oligonucleotides was studied by nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode. Fundamental aspects of the gas-phase behavior of metal-oligonucleotide complexes are revealed. The addition of transition metal ions, such as iron(II), iron(III), and zinc(II), leads to very stable metal-oligonucleotide complexes which show heavily altered fragmentation patterns in contrast to uncomplexed oligonucleotides. The site of metal ion complexation was located by collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. It was found that all three metal ions investigated predominantly coordinate to the central phosphate groups of the oligonucleotides. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the fragmentation of such complexes depends highly upon the metal ion complexed as well as on the sequence of the nucleobases in the oligonucleotide.     

Approach combining on-line metal exchange and tangential-flow ultrafiltration for in-situ characterization of metal species in humic hydrocolloids

This paper deals with the development and optimization of an analytical procedure using ultrafiltration and a flow-injection system, and its application in in-situ experiments to characterize the lability and availability of metal species in humic-rich hydrocolloids. The on-line system consists of a tangential flow ultrafiltration device equipped with a 3-kDa filtration membrane. The concentration of free ions in the filtrate was determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry, assuming that metals not complexed by aquatic humic substances (AHS) were separated from the complexed species (M–AHS) retained by the membrane. For optimization, exchange experiments using Cu(II) solutions and AHS solutions doped with the metal ions Ni(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), and Zn(II) were carried out to characterize the stability of the metal–AHS complexes. The new procedure was then applied in-situ at a tributary of the Ribeira do Iguape river (Iguape, São Paulo State, Brazil) and evaluated using the ions Fe(III) and Mn(II), which are considered to be essential constituents of aquatic systems. From the exchange between metal–natural organic matter (M–NOM) and the Cu(II) ions it was concluded that Cu(II) concentrations >485 μg L^?1 were necessary to obtain maximum exchange of the complexes Mn–NOM and Fe–NOM, corresponding to 100% Mn and 8% Fe. Moreover, the new analytical procedure is simple and opens up new perspectives for understanding the complexation, transport, stability, and lability of metal species in humic-rich aquatic environments.     

Iminodiacetic acid functionalised organopolymer monoliths: application to the separation of metal cations by capillary high-performance chelation ion chromatography

Lauryl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate monoliths were polymerised within fused silica capillaries and subsequently photo-grafted with varying amounts of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The grafted monoliths were then further modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA), resulting in a range of chelating ion-exchange monoliths of increasing capacity. The IDA functional groups were attached via ring opening of the epoxy group on the poly(GMA) structure. Increasing the amount of attached poly(GMA), via photo-grafting with increasing concentrations of GMA, from 15 to 35 %, resulted in a proportional and controlled increase in the complexation capacity of the chelating monoliths. Scanning capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (sC⁴D) was used to characterise and verify homogenous distribution of the chelating ligand along the length of the capillaries non-invasively. Chelation ion chromatographic separations of selected transition and heavy metals were carried out, with retention factor data proportional to the concentration of grafted poly(GMA). Average peak efficiencies of close to 5,000 N/m were achieved, with the isocratic separation of Na, Mg(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) possible on a 250-mm-long monolith. Multiple monolithic columns produced to the same recipes gave RSD data for retention factors of <15 % (averaged for several metal ions). The monolithic chelating ion-exchanger was applied to the separation of alkaline earth and transition metal ions spiked in natural and potable waters.     

Mechanism of thermal dehydrochlorination

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes ofo-hydroxyacetophenone Girard-P hydrazone were prepared by using the organic ligand and the corresponding transition metal chlorides. The protonation and formation constants were evaluated for the organic ligando-hydroxyacetophe-none Girard-P hydrazone and its transition metal complexes, respectively. The thermal behaviour of the test materials was established by means of DTA. Their semiconducting parameters were evaluated through DC-conductivity measurements, and their thermodynamic parameters were evaluated, assigned and interpreted. The mechanism of thermal dehydrochlorination of the metal chloride complexes was proposed.     

Polymer Supported Schiff Base Complexes of Iron(III), Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Ions and their Catalytic Activity in Oxidation of Phenol and Cyclohexene

The polymer supported transition metal complexes of N,N′‐bis (o‐hydroxy acetophenone) hydrazine (HPHZ) Schiff base were prepared by immobilization of N,N′‐bis(4‐amino‐o‐hydroxyacetophenone)hydrazine (AHPHZ) Schiff base on chloromethylated polystyrene beads of a constant degree of crosslinking and then loading iron(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions in methanol. The complexation of polymer anchored HPHZ Schiff base with iron(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions was 83.30%, 84.20% and 87.80%, respectively, whereas with unsupported HPHZ Schiff base, the complexation of these metal ions was 80.3%, 79.90% and 85.63%. The unsupported and polymer supported metal complexes were characterized for their structures using I.R, UV and elemental analysis. The iron(III) complexes of HPHZ Schiff base were octahedral in geometry, whereas cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes showed square planar structures as supported by UV and magnetic measurements. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of HPHZ Schiff base and its metal complexes was used to analyze the variation in thermal stability of HPHZ Schiff base on complexation with metal ions. The HPHZ Schiff base showed a weight loss of 58% at 500°C, but its iron(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions complexes have shown a weight loss of 30%, 52% and 45% at same temperature. The catalytic activity of metal complexes was tested by studying the oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene in presence of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. The supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions showed 64.0% conversion for phenol and 81.3% conversion for cyclohexene at a molar ratio of 1∶1∶1 of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, but unsupported complexes of iron(III) ions showed 55.5% conversion for phenol and 66.4% conversion for cyclohexene at 1∶1∶1 molar ratio of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide. The product selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was 90.5% and 96.5% with supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions, but was found to be low with cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions complexes of Schiff base. The selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was different with studied metal ions and varied with molar ratio of metal ions in the reaction mixture. The selectivity was constant on varying the molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide and substrate. The energy of activation for epoxidation of cyclohexene and phenol conversion in presence of polymer supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions was 8.9 kJ mol^?1 and 22.8 kJ mol^?1, respectively, but was high with Schiff base complexes of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions and with unsupported Schiff base complexes.     

Transition metal complexes of poly(vinylpyridines)

The structures of the precipitates of free-radical poly(4-vinylpyridine) (Vpy), free-radical poly(2-Vpy) and isotactic poly(2-Vpy) with M(II)Cl₂ (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) obtained from solution have been investigated. The polymer compounds are similar to the known crystalline monomeric Vpy complexes and, with one exception, are crosslinked by the metal dichloride. Co(II) and Zn(II) are tetrahedrally coordinated by the polymer, while the Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are probably tetrahedral and square-planar, respectively. Because of the constraints of the polymeric ligands the stoichiometries of the complexes are not exactly the same as those of the monomeric Vpy complexes and from one to two Vpy units per metal halide are on average not coordinated. Atactic and isotactic poly(2-Vpy) showed marked differences with regard to coordination of Ni(II). The questions of stereochemistry of the coordinated metal ion, stoichiometry of the complexes, intermolecular versus intramolecular complexation of the polymer chain, and the influence of polymer tacticity on the crystallizability of polymer complexes are discussed.     

Poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(L‐lactide) star block copolymer hydrogels crosslinked by metal–ligand coordination

The aqueous solution behavior and thermoreversible gelation properties of pyridine‐end‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(L ‐lactide) (PEG–(PLLA)₈–py) star block copolymers in the presence of coordinating transition metal ions were studied. In aqueous solutions, the macromonomers self‐assembled into micelles and micellar aggregates at low concentrations and formed physically crosslinked, thermoreversible hydrogels above a critical gel concentration (CGC) of 8% w/v. In the presence of transition metal ions like Cu(II), Co(II), or Mn(II), the aggregate dimensions increased. Above the CGC, the gel–sol transition shifted to higher temperatures due to the formation of additional crosslinks from intermolecular coordination complexes between metal ions and pyridine ligands. Furthermore, as an example, PEG–(PLLA)₈–py hydrogels stabilized by Mn(II)–pyridine coordination complexes were more resistant against degradation/dissolution when placed in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C when compared with hydrogels prepared in water. Importantly, the stabilizing effect of metal–ligand coordination was noticeable at very low Cu(II) concentrations, which have been reported to be noncytotoxic for fibroblasts in vitro. These novel PEG–(PLLA)₈–py metallo‐hydrogels, which are the first systems to combine metal–ligand coordination with the advantageous properties of PEG–PLLA copolymer hydrogels, are appealing materials that may find use in biomedical as well as environmental applications like the removal of heavy metal ions from waste streams. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Effect of stereochemistry on the electrospray ionization tandem mass spectra of transition metal chloride complexes of monosaccharides

The effect of stereochemistry on the complexation of aldohexoses (glucose, mannose, galactose, allose and talose) and ketohexoses (fructose, tagitose and sorbose) with transition metal chlorides (CoCl(2), NiCl(2), MnCl(2) and ZnCl(2)) has been investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization of methanolic solutions of hexoses containing metal chlorides gave abundant ions corresponding to [M + MetCl](+) and [2M + MetCl](+) which on collision-induced dissociation gave characteristic fragment ions. The fragmentation pathways have been confirmed by examining methyl glucoside and several isotopically labeled glucoses. Eliminations of H(2)O and HCl, C-C cleavages and elimination of metalhydroxychloride are the competing fragmentation pathways observed. All these pathways seem to be influenced by the stereochemistry of the molecule. The fragmentation of the dimeric complexes, [2M + MetCl](+), is also controlled by the stereochemistry of the molecule. The abundance of the product ions corresponding to elimination of HCl is found to increase with increasing number of axial hydroxyl groups in aldohexoses. [2M + MetCl](+) dissociates by elimination of HCl followed by C(2)H(4)O(2) in aldohexose complexes and by elimination of HCl followed by C(3)H(6)O(3) in ketohexose complexes.     

Chromium retention properties of N-alkyl quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine)

The ability of solid N-alkyl quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) with hexyl, octyl and decyl bromide for the retention of chromate and dichromate forms of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions is studied. The retention of Cr(VI) was investigated by batch equilibrium procedure and this study was supported by UV-vis spectrophotometry, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and thermal analysis (glass transition temperature and thermal degradation). The retention of Cr(VI) was possible in the range of concentrations between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 1 × 10⁻³ mol/L and it was dependent on the length of the polyelectrolyte side aliphatic chain. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that solid phase, (N-alkyl quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine), with Cr(VI) (P4VPyC8-Cr(VI)) is slightly more stable than P4VPyC8 in absence of Cr(VI). Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements indicate that the segmental movements are restricted due to the presence of chromate and/or dichromate ions in the solid phase.